Once again, winter had arrived to shower the town with soft white powder, the snow covering every inch of land and submerging the village into a winter wonderland. And with the arrival of the winter, came the arrival of the Winter Ball organised by the Hargreeves every single year. It was a tradition in the town for the family to open up their home and the grounds of their mansion to the townspeople.

Five had too much on his mind to help his family set up the ball for tonight, his thoughts racing about (y/n). He hadn't seen her for weeks when she ran out of his house, not even in the village town square or in her library that he visited every day. He thought maybe she left the town but whenever he teleported onto the stairs, the family portrait would still be up on the wall and he knew she wasn't gone. She couldn't leave that behind.

Five wanted to see her again, to apologise to her and just be near her again. He hoped that she would come to the ball tonight, leaving a dress for her and also fixing her royal crown. This way, maybe she would see that he was ok with her being the forgotten princess from centuries ago, that she deserved to be shown to the world as the Queen of Skonovia by right.

The village bell rung loudly through the night air signalling the time and Five sighs when the final guest had arrived onto the mansion grounds, no sign of (y/n). Maybe he was too late. Maybe he had let her slip through his fingers and would never see her again. Five waited a couple more minutes outside his door, hoping that he would see her but was forced inside as his parents called for him.

The music drifted through the air in a beautiful lullaby, lights twinkling all over the mansion to represent the stars that were hidden behind the clouds in the sky. Champagne was never-ending, people dancing beneath the crystal chandeliers as the celebrations continued on.

Outside the mansion, however, stood one girl. Standing before the doors that were closed as the winter air cooled around her. She looked up at the full moon, wondering if the decision she was making was the wrong one. She looked down at the crown in her hand that was back in its royal glory, glimmering with the royal stones that were once broken and now fixed. A piece of her past was mended in her very hands, still as beautiful as it was when her love had crowned her his princess. She gently brushed her fingers over the crown, feeling a breeze brush over her cheeks gently before she put on the one proof of her regality that she had tried to hide.

The doors to the mansion opened by the guards that greeted her, her face hidden by the crystal masquerade mask she wore. Once again, she was hidden, once again she would disappear. This would be her final goodbye.

The chatter soon turned to quiet whispers as Five turned to look who they were talking about, frozen at the woman that stood at the top of the foyer stairs. His heart thumped loudly in his ears as he saw the woman he had been waiting for this entire time. Five was entranced by (y/n), recognising the dress he had gifted her and the crown he had fixed for her. The long gown was a beautiful light blue to represent the winter with sheer lace and tulle, the gown decorated with lace applique flowers.

The sounds and the people around him instantly disappeared, seeing the woman he had fallen for stand before everyone in her crystal mask. All Five saw was his love, his feet taking him to her as she walked down the steps.

(y/n) stopped before Five, recognising his emerald eyes behind his mask that shone with warmth for her and her heart clenched. "You came Lady (y/n)..." he whispers.

"How many times have I told you to just call me (y/n)." the woman subconsciously replies, her past flashing before her eyes of the memories of both the people she loved saying the same thing.

(y/n) was hesitant about tonight, her heart and mind at war to either leave or see him one more time. She wanted to see him, see the boy that she had fallen for even if she had to bury her feelings for him deep down. "May I have the honour of being your first dance?" (y/n)'s eyes widen, seeing a glimpse of her past flash before her as Five bowed lightly with his hand out. She didn't know if she could take his hand, to let go and be with him. She had to, she couldn't be stuck in the past but...

(y/n) lays her hand in Five's, her heart racing from the familiar warmth that spread through her arms and body as he beamed at her. He gently held her hand in his, laying a soft kiss on it before leading her to the dancefloor. The music played, a sweet melody of a french singer that sang as the enchanting lullaby encased the ballroom in a bubble of magic. (y/n) and Five bowed to each other before standing back up, their opposite arms raised and crossing over the other before they started dancing.

It was the coronation ball all over again, Five and (y/n) not being able to take their eyes off each other as they waltzed. The guests were mesmerised by the young loves, Five never dropping his gaze in case this was all a dream and the woman in his arms would disappear from his sight. The other guests soon joined in on the dance floor but Five held onto (y/n) to spin her beneath his arm and pull her close. He could feel his heart racing and hoped she didn't feel it.

There was a slight panic in (y/n) as Five held her close, looking down at her as if she was his entire world and she didn't want to hurt him. She didn't want herself to be hurt either and Five noticed the tears beginning to shine in her eyes. He brushes his fingers gently across her cheek as she leaned into his touch, slowly taking off her mask.

"You have always been so beautiful my princess." at that moment Five felt (y/n) freeze in her arms, her stepping back as she looked up at him in fear that she had been caught. "(y/n), it's ok-" she trembled from the fear of being thrown away, from being sent somewhere far. "Please don't-" the girl quickly ran away as tears fell down her cheeks from being so foolish, running away from Five as he held her mask and ran after her. The siblings all watched with worry, Klaus and Grace stopping them before they could go after them.

"Let them go." Grace says.

"(y/n)! Please!" Five ran after the frightened girl, not wanting to use his powers but he saw the boat that was docked at the beach next to his family mansion, (y/n) running straight for it and he panicked. "(y/n)!" Five calls out one more time before teleporting in front of her, terrifying her as she stumbles back.

"How-"

"-please don't run away." Five gasps out, holding onto (y/n)'s arms as she looked at him with wide eyes. "Please don't let me lose you again." He mumbles out, bowing his head to hide his tears as he held onto (y/n) tightly. "I can't lose you again. I can't have you slip past my fingers again, not after so many years..."

(y/n) couldn't wrap her head around Five's words as she cried, prying her hands away from his grip. "You... Five-"

"-please... I know that you are the princess of Skonovia-"

"-I have to leave-you were never supposed to know, no one was supposed to know." (y/n) moves to walk past Five but he stops her again.

"-I don't care (y/n)! Princess or not I love you!" (y/n) froze, crying into her hand from those three words she had missed hearing from her love for centuries. "I love you, as you were then, as you are now. I am in love with you and I will always be in love with you no matter what."

"Please... please don't say that..." (y/n) cries out, her head and heart screaming at each other to leave or to stay with Five knowing she would have to watch him die again in front of her. She had to leave, she stayed for too long.

"Please don't go... my heart won't take it-"

"-how do you think I would feel!? I was never supposed to fall in love with you again! I can't watch losing you a third time Five!" the boy broke from the cries of the woman in front of him, holding her ring to her heart. "You perished in my arms twice, I can't watch you leave me for the third time!"

"You won't ever have to go through that again." Five carefully steps towards (y/n), gently holding her cheek to wipe her tears away. "We can find a way, I know we can find a way..." the girl looks at him, understanding what he meant but it was too much of a long risk.

"I want to love you Five... I want to be with you but I can't do this..." (y/n) words quietens as her body leans into his warm touch, his forehead leaning on hers as her heart raced from being in his arms. "it hurts too much..." She gasps lightly as Five pulls her close to his chest with an arm around her waist, the other brushing against her cheek as she leans into his palm.

"You have been in pain for too long, pushing away every moment of happiness..." Five mumbles out sadly. "You deserve to be free and be happy for once..." (y/n)'s world quietens around her, event the loud rushing waves of the ocean crashing against the shore next to her as her body melted into Five's, him leaning incredibly close. "We will find away and you don't have to hide anymore..." Five gasps against (y/n)'s lips that light brush against his own, his senses filled with only her. "You are my star, my snowflake, my love... Let me love you..." (y/n) teared up from Five's words, recognising them as the very same words that he told her in his vows on their wedding day.