Welcome to the story everyone! I'm so glad you're joining me for the telling of this tale. This story started out as what I thought would be a short fanfic—three chapters at most. Boy was I wrong! It took me on an incredible journey, going places I never thought I'd go, but in the end it was well worth it. Things are going to be crazy, fun, and maybe even a little scary from time to time, but it's going to be a fun story. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. You're probably ready to get started reading, so I'll let you get to it. Without further ado, "Melting Jack"!

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"Jack! Jack!" Jack Frost smiled as he saw his young friend Jamie come racing towards him from the school building.

"Hey squirt," Jack replied, ruffling the boy's hair. "How ya doin'?"

"Great," Jamie said, practically jumping up and down with excitement. "Do you have time to play today?"

"Are you kidding me? I always have time for my first believer," Jack told him with a grin.

"Awesome!" Jamie cried, punching the air. "Do you want to come to the playground with me and the others?"

Jack stiffened slightly, his grin freezing on his face. Usually he would be more than happy to go with Jamie to the park. In fact, he had been doing it all spring. But not that summer was almost upon them, it was beginning to get hot outside—very hot. So hot, in fact, that by this time of year Jack had usually moved to the Southern hemisphere, both to help the other harbingers of winter with the weather, and for his own safety. He honestly didn't know what would happen if he stayed out in the heat too long, but he'd had enough close encounters to be wary of it.

"Well kiddo," he finally said, "maybe not today. It's pretty hot, and as you might guess, since I'm a winter spirit I don't do so well in the heat."

"Oh." Jamie looked up at him with big eyes. "I understand."

"Thanks." Jack gave him a grateful smile. "Do you mind hanging out here in the shade?"

Jamie gave him a big smile. "Sure!" For the next hour Jack regaled him with stories of his travels, illustrating with frost images. Jamie watched with rapt attention for most of the time, but near the end, Jack noticed that he was getting antsy.

"What's wrong Jamester?" Jack asked, breaking off mid-story.

"It's nothing," Jamie said quickly.

"Nothing? You look like a whole family of earthworms just took up residence in your shirt. C'mon, you can tell me." Jack gave him an encouraging smile.

"Well…" Jamie hesitated for a minute, then blurted, "Jack, what happens if you get too hot? Will you melt? Will you d-die?"

"What?" Jack wondered if the boy was joking, but the expression on his face was sincerely concerned. Jack shook his head. "Honestly, I don't know Jamie. I've never actually had the chance to test that theory." The look of horror on Jamie's face caused him to continue quickly, "But hey, I'm sure I'll never have to. I know how to take care of myself, and I'd never let myself overheat. So don't you worry about it, okay?"

"All right," Jamie reluctantly agreed. Then his face brightened. "Oh hey, I just remembered. I'm having a birthday party next week!"

"Good for you," Jack said, laughing at how easily the little boy could forget his troubles. It never ceased to amaze him just how resilient kids could be.

"I was thinking it would be really cool if you came," Jamie continued. He reached into his backpack and pulled out five envelopes. "Sophie asked me to invite Bunnymund, so I thought maybe you could invite the other Guardians too."

"Wow." Jack took the envelopes, staring down at them in surprise. "I don't know what to say."

"Please say yes," Jamie begged. "A lot of my relatives and friends are coming, and there's going to be a bounce house and cake and ice cream—"

"Ice cream, huh?" Jack chuckled, carefully tearing open one of the envelopes and pulling out the invite. He looked down and was pleasantly surprised to see that the invite was covered in sparkling blue and white snowflakes. In the corner was pasted a crayon drawing of himself.

"It's a Jack Frost party," Jamie explained, reddening a little. "I-I was hoping that you wouldn't mind. I chose the theme because you're my hero."

Jack felt his heart swell with pride. "Well you can't very well have a Jack Frost party without the King of Frost present, huh?" he asked.

"So you'll come?" Jamie exclaimed.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Jack replied, giving him a friendly noogie.

"Awesome!" Jamie looked like he was going to burst with happiness as he swung his backpack over his shoulder. "I've got to go now, but I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay," Jack told him waving goodbye. He shook his head, chuckling quietly as the little boy took off across the school yard. Then he winced as he felt a hot ray of sun hit the top of his head. "Augh," he cried quietly, moving out of the sunbeam's path. Tenderly he rubbed the spot, which felt like it was on fire. He knew that it was time for him to head somewhere cooler, but the heat was making him feel sluggish and as limp as a melted cold pack. With great effort he forced himself off of the ground and set course northward. Fortunately, the closer he moved toward the pole, the more energized he felt. He didn't even notice the on strand of hair that had come into direct contact with the sunlight fading slowly from brown back to white.