A Choice in Time

by The Fandom Garrison

Jack Dawson lost his chance to be with her. He couldn't hold on long enough for the boats, so he was lost, only to be revived by MiM. But what if he was given another chance? A chance to live a normal life, to get married, and die an old man, warm in his bed, not on THAT night... A chance to have Jack Frost never exist. (I OWN NOTHING!)

1. Jack Who?

"Get off her! I said get off her!"

Bunny yelped and ducked just in time, feeling Jack's wildly punching fist skim the hairs on the tips of his ears. The Winter Spirit had been in this semi-conscious bipolar state for the past twenty-four hours after suddenly collapsing on the floor of the globe room, muttering things like, "What have you got, Fabrizio?" He paused and said, sounding crestfallen, "Niente." And that was all that had come from him until North had placed him in his room and he began to get more active.

One of the big four would always be watching over him, and always had something to report at the end of each shift. North, who had watched over him first, said that Jack had clearly mumbled, "We're the luckiest sons of bitches in the world." Before laughing with what North described as pure, innocent elation then falling silent. Later, it was known that Jack suddenly yelled, "WHOO! I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD!" A grin was smacked across his face

Sandy's turn hadn't been nearly as interesting. Only ramblings of things like, "You just seem to be an indoor girl," or "You jump and I jump too." And even a time when Jack, their elusive, secretive boy, had sang, under his breath and a smirk on his face, "Come Josephine, In my flying machine, Going up she goes, Up she goes..." At least, that was what was deciphered from his dreamsand signs.

But when Tooth was doting and fussing on the delirious teen, things had gotten stranger. She swore she heard Jack say, "I love you, Rose." And then the terror began. Jack had begun to toss and turn, screaming at the top of his lungs, "No! I swear it wasn't me! You know I didn't do this- you know me!" And none of Tooth's calming whispers could soothe him. He became even more distressed when he yelled, his young face fraught with pleading and concern, "Please, it'll be okay! You have to go now!" "Please, HELP US!" The fairy, frightened by his confusing screams and cries, had to leave, forcing Bunny to take his shift early.

And it all went down hill from there. As Bunny sat at his bedside, already terribly worried for the young Guardian, he didn't think that Jack could get more frightening (Well, that wasn't the right word. Bunny did not, nor had he ever found Jack scary. Just... concerning.) than he already was, crying out to invisible girls to "Hang on!" and that "I got you!"

Bunny was so wrong.

Now, minutes after the wild blow, Jack's shouts had been reduced to something much worse. The punches and thrashing was gone, and Jack was scaring Bunny out of his wits with what he was doing, freaking the Aussie out just by the sheer unnaturalness of it.

Jack Frost, immortal spirit and human form of frigid winters and freezing snow and the bitter North wind, began.

His teeth chattered, his arms wrapped around himself, and his own frost began to solidly on his pale face.

For a moment, Bunny only watched, horrified and fascinated, as silver tendrils of ice began to form on his body, stiffening his hair, peppering his face, encrusting his clothes, until a pained gasp was torn from the lips of his honorary little brother, snapping him back to his senses. "NORTH!" Bunny bellowed frantically, taking his eyes off the limp, shaking form for an instant. "NORTH, GET IN HERE NOW!" The large Santa burst through the door, followed by Sandy and Tooth.

"What-?" Started Tooth. Then her violet eyes fell on Jack, who was violently shaking and shivering, and her hands flew up to cover her mouth. "That-that..." Her shocked voice was muffled.

"What?" Demanded Bunny. "What's happening to him?"

"He...He's in a..." Tooth couldn't get the words out at first. This almost never happened. Never had there been a memory spurt so strong that it was manifesting itself in the waking world. Something horrible must have happened to Jack to make this happen, something that should have never occurred. So horrible, in fact, that Tooth had to find out. She swallowed hard. "He's in a memory. The worst one, too, which means that it's probably his last." Her voice quivered dangerously, and she took a deep breath. "We need to go into it if we want to help him."