A/N

Summary: After losing his father and sister in a car crash, Jack and his mother move to Burgess, hoping for a fresh start. Aster thinks Jack is trouble and does his best to ignore him…which becomes suddenly difficult when Jack starts working with him at the local day care, Guardians of Childhood. Human AU. Jackrabbit (JackxBunny).

Sooooo…I should technically be working on other fanfictions I have been woefully neglecting, but inspiration comes as it may. Here's a prologue! Pretty please read and review! Ideas about where the story should go are totally welcome!

Enjoy, friends!

~Smiley

"Every thing's a trigger."

A teen reclined on a leather couch that was too comfortable.

"Name specifics."

A voice that was too soothing spoke to him.

"There are too many. Ice, music, food, TV shows, sidewalk curbs...they all remind me of her. She's just everywhere. Moving didn't help."

She was around every corner. He hadn't gone a minute without seeing her since the accident. Even when his eyes were closed, her face was sketched permanently into the other side of his eyelids. It had become too normal.

"Who is she?" the therapist asked gently.

"You know who."

"Say her name," Mr. Moon suggested. He was too kind, too understanding.

The teen shook his head, tossing white locks back and forth. Speaking it aloud was too painful. "That only makes it worse."

"Sometimes it feels worse right before it gets better." His voice was too calm.

Ice blue eyes blinked hard, aching from the terrible memory. "It's not going to get better, Manny. I can't even look at kid without seeing her in front of me."

The therapist noted this under the long list of ailments of Jack Frost. "And are you experiencing this with older males as well?"

He jerked his head back and forth again, but his messy hair didn't do too much to hide his features. "No, I don't see my father anywhere. I can't tell if that's better or worse."

"Jack," Mr. Moon said in a level voice, "it isn't unusual to see the face of lost loved ones, especially when they are taken so suddenly."

The white-haired teen did not respond.

"However, it has been five years, and you say you are no closer to healing. You find you cannot even get into a car without being overcome with memories of the accident."

Jack Frost only nodded his head. Once.

"And you say neither time nor location has helped you at all?"

One more nod.

"Then it is my professional opinion, Jack, that you should start to actively overcome your grief."

"I don't understand." His eyes flicked towards the Manny, but quickly returned to the ceiling, his thumbs, anywhere else...

"Then allow me to explain. There is a day care center in town called Guardians of Childhood. Have you heard of it?"

"Yeah." He knew of it, vaguely. It was like a place where parents could drop their kids if they had to work, so kids of all ages usually ended up there after school. "It's run by that big Russian guy, right?"

The therapist chuckled. "Correct. I'm the owner of the facility."

"Okay. That's cool." Jack didn't understand what Manny Moon was getting at, but if he was offering a change in topic, then Jack was more than happy to play along.

"I believe that being around children more will help you to heal from the untimely loss of your sister."

Great. No topic change. "Okay." Jack's voice was too stiff.

"That being said, I can get you a job there."

"Where?"

"At Guardians of Childhood."

Jack waited for the punch line. Surely this had to be some joke.

"I don't understand," he finally mumbled. He was saying that too often lately. To his therapist… to God…

"I've been discussing this with your mother for a while. She believes it will help you as well."

Jack sighed. His mother worried about him too much.

"We've already filled out your application. I've spoken to Mr. North, the, uh, big, Russian guy, as you said. He would like you to start on Monday."

"What?"

"He would like you to start on Monday."

That hadn't been what Jack meant, but Mr. Moon knew that. "So…my therapist is going to be my boss, I'm getting a job that is going to make things worse before they get 'better'," he air quoted the words, "you've already talked to my mom, and I have no say in it?"

"Almost. I own the day care, but I won't be your boss. That will be Nicolas St. North. And of course you have a say in this, Jack, but I strongly suggest you giving this opportunity a try before passing judgment. Healing takes time, Jack."

"It's been five years." And those years had been too long. And too short.

"I know, Jack."

"I know you know," Jack replied quickly, effortlessly.

The little timer went off, signaling the end of their weekly session. Jack hopped up, ready to leave.

"Just a minute, Jack." Mr. Moon halted him with his words. Jack turned around, only to be handed a lanyard with a thin pouch of clear, flexible plastic hanging off it. A slip of paper was inside the pouch, reading, "Jack Frost."

"What's this?" Jack asked.

"Your nametag. You start Monday, right after school."

Jack sighed. He could refuse the nametag, refuse the job…

He took the lanyard in his hand.

A/N

Aaaand that's how it starts. I would really love to hear your thoughts! I want to make Jack an ice skater, but obviously that would have to be a huge trigger. Also, do you guys want Aster to be in school with Jack or in college? Any first meeting requests? Let me know, and I'll send you virtual cookies!

Don't forget to review! They make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

~Smiley