Hello everyone! This is the latest of the many stories I've been whipping out with my writing soulmate Jarjarblinx1. She's amazing and puts up with me, so please go check out her page as well!

Another thanks to Ginger11-on over on tumblr for letting us use her art as the cover art for this story. Go bask in her amazingness!

Enjoy! And please review if you have the time and/or will...

4 minutes…

"Alright everyone, get your backpacks and line up!"

3 minutes…

"Lydia, why are you in line?"

"'Cause you told us to, Mr. Frost."

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Nuh uh."

"Are you sure?" He held out a pink backpack with a knowing smile and was met with a gap-toothed grin.

"Oops!"

2 minutes…

"Does everyone have all of their stuff?"

"Yes, Mr. Frost!" came the unanimous reply.

1 minute...Oh, screw it.

"I'll let you guys go early today." He opened the door, and let out the stream of excited children. One by one they all went home until one little girl was left. "Sophie? Are you okay?"

"He's late." She sat on one of the benches dejectedly.

"Don't worry. I'm sure he'll be here soon. It's a holiday weekend, so maybe he's just trying to get through all the parents in the parking lot right now." If it had been another child, he would have been more upset having to wait for his student to be picked up. Sophie, though, had been special to him since the first day of school a few weeks ago. "See? Here he comes right now!"

"Sophie! Oh, my gosh! I'm so, so sorry I'm late. I couldn't find parking!" A brunette teenager came running up to them, out of breath.

"It's okay, Jamie. I've been keeping her company. She's been waiting very patiently for her big brother. I think that deserves an ice cream, don't you, Sophie?" He gave a wink to the little blonde girl.

"Ice cream! Ice cream! Yeah, Jamie!"

"Alright, Sophie. We'll get some ice cream on the way home. Thanks for waiting with her, Mr. Frost."

"Anytime. Have a great holiday weekend, you guys." Jack waved the two off. He was glad to see the excited skip return to Sophie's step, her fairy wing backpack and tutu flouncing around her. He turned to head back into his classroom. Some quick tidying of the place was all he needed to do before grabbing his wallet and locking up.

As much as kids and parents love three day weekends and holidays, teachers love them even more. It was only a few weeks into the school year, and Jack could already tell this year was going to be a tough one. He'd taught kindergarten in the years before, but this class seemed like it was going to give him an extra big headache. Of course there were angels and perfectly well-behaved kids in his class, Sophie being one of them. Along with the angels he was also so fortunate as to have a pair of twins with way too much energy, a girl with no filter, a kid who couldn't stop playing with his private parts, a little girl with princess syndrome, and a suck-up, every teacher's biggest annoyance.

Luckily for him, he had a whole three days to spend however he wanted. Not two like every other weekend. Three. Jack unlocked his bike and sped off to the grocery store on his way home. Weekends like this he usually liked to spend binge watching all of the shows and movies he didn't have the time or energy to watch during the week. Nothing goes better with a couch potato marathon than a heaping pile of junk food.

With every aisle he travelled, his mental shopping list was being marked. Chips? Check. Supplies for bean dip? Check. Soda? Check. Marshmallows? Check. Oreos? Not check. Still need those. The last item on his list proved to be the most difficult to find. Where are all the extra filling ones? Blue eyes perused the shelves desperately. He'd always preferred Double Stuf to single since he'd started buying them, but the moment he'd tried a Mega Stuf his heart had been sold for good. At this point he would have even gone back to double, but he couldn't find either of them for his life. Ah ha! Why on earth would they put these on the top shelf when most people who want cookies are kids? Poor shelving tactics…

Jack stepped on the bottom shelf to get a better view. The last two packages of Mega Stuf were shoved way to the back of the top shelf. "Of course," he groaned. He stretched as far as he could, his fingers just barely brushing the cool plastic packaging. "Gotcha!" A short lunge forward won him his prize. He realized too late that he'd accidentally pushed the other package into the cereal boxes on the shelf of the next aisle. "Uh oh…" Jack could only watch as the poorly stacked boxes dominoed out of control and toppled off the shelf. A groan from the other side had him running to the next aisle to help up the man he'd accidentally dropped all of the cereal on. "I am so sorry! Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay." The man rubbed at his head with a chuckle, his smooth accent almost making Jack shiver with delight. "I feel like I just had ten boxes of cereal dropped on me though." He knelt down and began picking up the boxes, glancing at Jack's basket as he grabbed. "Mega Stuf oreos almost run out again?"

"Could feel like that because it's true." Jack started picking up boxes also to distract himself from staring at the incredibly good-looking man. "They were in the back and I almost couldn't reach them and, well, you know what happened." He gave an embarrassed laugh.

"It's no problem. My daughter is absolutely obsessed with them. I often find myself having to reach for the very back."

"I don't know why they'd store them so high when it's usually kids trying to buy them." Jack set the boxes back on the shelf. A little sliver of disappoint shot through him with the realization the guy had a daughter and so was clearly not gay, but he could never resist talking about kids. "You have a daughter? How old is she?"

"She's in first grade. My little baby is all grown up."

Jack laughed. "Don't worry. The older they get, the better conversations you can have."

"I certainly hope so. It's tough having to explain certain things to them."

"You're telling me," he sighed. "I prefer kids when they're old enough cognitively to really understand you. But I still love the little ones," he added quickly. "They're great at having fun."

"They are. Mine is always getting into some sort of adventure. She's unique; she likes boys' things. Comes from being raised by a single dad, I guess."

"There's nothing wrong with that. I don't allow any negative thoughts about gender norms in my class. It's a little hard for some kids at first, but the great part about kids is they don't judge like adults do once you've gotten them used to it." Jack set the last box up on the shelf.

"I don't know if that's how she's going to be, but I love her to death." The man held his hand out with a smile. "Kozmotis Black, single father and bookstore owner."

"Jack Frost, elementary school teacher." Jack took the hand with a smile. "Well, I'm sorry for dumping cereal on you again, but I've got a movie marathon and a three day weekend waiting for me at home." He pushed away the thought that something about this guy seemed familiar to him. "Maybe I'll swing by your store sometime. Do you sell children's books?"

"Of course." He pulled out his wallet and took a business card from one of the sleeves, handing it to Jack. "We have a little of everything. If you like dusty corners and hard to find titles, my place is the right one for you."

"Sounds good. I'll come by soon."

"Enjoy your weekend, Mr. Frost."

"You too, Mr. Black." Jack went back over to his aisle to grab the stuff he'd dropped before. After a quick stop at the cashier, he was heading home with a smile

The bell over the door of the bookshop jingled as the door opened and closed. The man at the register looked up from his book, his gold eyes crinkling behind his glasses. "Mr. Frost. I didn't expect to see you in public during your long weekend."

"I didn't expect to be out either." Jack chuckled. "My cat ran out of food, and I noticed your shop just so happens to be on the same street. So here I am." He turned to a shelf, partially so he wouldn't be tempted to stare and partially to hide the light flush creeping along his cheeks at the man's smile.

"I'm honored." Kozmotis put his book down and folded his glasses up. "What can I help you with today, Mr. Frost? Anything in particular you're looking for? Or are you just browsing?"

"Just browsing." He started to wander around the small shop curiously. The little reading nook brought a smile to his face. "Nice touch," he commented. "Do you have any hidden gem books for kids? I'm always looking to expand my library."

"Back room. Designed just for kids."

"Thanks." Jack walked into the little room, and his jaw dropped. "Holy cow! This is awesome!" His head popped out to look at the shop owner again. "How long have you been in town again?"

"Eight years, although I've only had the shop for six."

"Darn, my senses were off," he chuckled. "I'm usually really good at pegging who is new in town and who's not. I guessed wrong. I thought you were new here since I hadn't seen you before." Jack's fingers ran over the brightly covered books in the room. "Your selection is pretty eclectic."

"I try to have a nice variety. My daughter gets bored if she has to read the same books all the time, so I figured I'd better keep the store well stocked with new things."

"She must love coming to work with her dad with a room like this. I can't believe this has been here for six years and I haven't found it. I love bookstores like yours."

"It's a hidden gem, really. The only reason I can keep it open is because I had some money put aside. I don't get a lot of customers."

"Well, you can consider me your new regular. I love having books in my class that parents can't find at just any bookstore. It makes them more special."

"Then I consider this a job well done." Kozmotis looked at the collection stuffed between Jack's arms. "Do you want help walking those out to your car?"

"Oh, no it's okay. I didn't drive today. How much do I owe you?" He set the stack on the counter and pulled out his wallet.

Kozmotis opened each book and typed in the prices into an old register. The thing sounded like it was going to break at any second. "$45.50 will be your total today." He reached under the table and pulled out a couple of canvas bags, putting the books inside. "There. Now you'll be able to carry your cat food as well."

"You didn't have to do that. I have a basket on my bike for trips like this. I appreciate the thought though." Jack pulled out $50 and passed it over to shop owner with a smile. "Keep the extra to pay for the bags. I know those things aren't cheap enough to be giving out for free."

The shop owner took the bill and gave Jack exact change. "Please, I insist. A free gift for a new customer."

"You're sure?" After a confirming nod, he smiled gratefully. "Well, thank you. It's much appreciated. I'll definitely be back for sure."

"Please do. It's nice to finally meet someone who appreciates books around here. Nowadays, if they can't read it on their phones, people don't want to read."

"Very true. That's why I like to have special books in my class. There's nothing like being able to hold a book in your hands. When do you usually get new books in? I'd like to come by to see what you get."

"Once a month on the first monday of the month."

"Then you can expect to see me at least that often." Jack picked up his bag of books with a giddy smile. "Thanks again for the bags and also for having such an awesome shop." He made his way towards the door, pausing halfway out. "By the way, do you like coffee or tea or anything?"

"I drink both, though as a native Brit, I do prefer tea."

"I'll keep that in mind. Have a good day."

"See you again, Mr. Frost. Enjoy the books!"

"We will!" His heart fluttered at the smile he received when he left. After a quick stop at the pet shop, Jack hopped on his bike and headed home to continue his marathon.

Two Mondays later, the teacher found himself walking into the bookshop as soon as his day ended. Jack brightened at seeing the owner once again at his desk reading. "For you, sir." He slid a hot cup of tea across the space to him.

"Oh, you are a lifesaver," Kozmotis groaned, taking the cup between his hands and taking a slow sip. "Just in time, too. I just got my delivery. Would you like to help me unpack it?"

"I'd love to! Is there somewhere I can set my bag?"

"Sure. I'll put it behind the desk." He held his hand out and took Jack's bag, tucking it under the desk. "Come with me, and you'll be in a world of pure imagination."

"Okay then, Willy Wonka." Jack followed the shop owner with a grin. "How's the tea? I know you said you like tea, but I wasn't sure if you're an Earl Grey or chamomile type of guy."

"I'm British. As long as it's tea, I'm satisfied." Kozmotis led Jack into the back room, which was crammed with new cardboard boxes. "Here's a box cutter. Help yourself. If you see anything you like, feel free to take your pick."

"Great. I wanted to do something to apologize for dumping a shelf of boxes on you, and I kinda figured you wouldn't want a strange guy buying you lunch." Jack got to work on one of the boxes.

Kozmotis smiled. "I could do lunch."

"Really?" Blue eyes turned to stare in shock.

"Sure. Are you officially asking?"

"Only if the answer is going to be yes."

"Then ask me."

"May I buy you lunch, Mr. Black, to make up for showering you in cereal?"

"You may, Mr. Frost."

"Awesome. If I didn't have parent-teacher conferences this week, I'd be free for lunch. I can do sometime next week if you want." Jack set aside a few books for himself. "Or the weekend would work."

"I have a parent-teacher conference Tuesday, at 5:30. Could I meet you afterward?"

"So dinner instead of lunch? Sure."

"Fantastic. I assume you work at the elementary school in town?"

"The one and only," Jack stated proudly. "So how do you want all these stocked?" He looked around at the various piles of books surrounding him now. "Is there a certain organization system you use?"

"Not really. Just a simple divide by genre and then in alphabetical order." Kozmotis opened a box and began filing the books. "I can meet you at the school. That's where my conference is."

"Alright." He started taking the books he'd sorted out to the shop to stock. "If I don't run into you sometime during the night, I'll probably end up back in my room at the end of it all. I'm in K-3."

"K-3? Interesting."

"Not really. It's just like any other room."

Kozmotis smiled over at him. "I think my conference is near there."

"Then it'll be easy for us to find each other." Jack reached up high to put away a book and smiled over his shoulder.

"Would it be rude if I were to ask you if you're single?"

"Huh?" The teacher lost his grip on the books in his hand in his shock. The clattering on the ground was the first thing to snap him back to reality, and he lunged to pick them up with an embarrassed blush. "I...um...sorry!"

"Are you always this nervous?" Kozmotis knelt down and helped Jack. "I just want to know how I should dress."

"Not usually, no. I just," he paused to glance up at him, suddenly becoming aware again of how attractive Kozmotis was. "I wasn't expecting a question like that."

"Now that you are expecting it, are you single?"

"I am." Jack held the books tight to his chest. "I don't know if I should ask this, but are you...you know…" He tried to search for the right word that wouldn't be overly blunt.

"Am I...single?"

"Gay," he blurted out, quickly covering his mouth. "Sorry!"

Kozmotis chuckled deeply, putting another book on the shelf. "I am a widower of six years, and I'm more bisexual if anything. I don't care about gender as long as there's real affection."

"Ah."

"Is that a problem?"

"Nope. Not at all." Jack shook his head before turning to continue his stocking. "Just realizing I'm an idiot for not remembering that was a possibility."

"This can still be a dinner between friends, Mr. Frost. I don't mind."

"No, no, no. Don't get the wrong idea. I'd love to go on a date date with you if you'd like. I'm just being my usual scatterbrained self." He turned to look back at the shop owner. "For some reason all I could think was that I know you have a daughter so you must have been with women so why would you be asking me if I was single? It makes sense now."

"I couldn't be straight and also attracted to you?" He cocked an eyebrow teasingly.

"Not usually. That typically means you're bisexual. Which...I so conveniently forgot was a possibility in my shock and then embarrassed myself. So there you have it."

"You're very strange, Mr. Frost."

"So I've been told."

"Strange in a good way."

"In the good kinda way you'd still be interested in going on a date?"

"I never said I stopped being interested, Mr. Frost. In fact, I'd say my interest has increased."

"So you're into awkward teachers?" Jack teased.

"No. Just one."

"That's good. That'd be a pretty odd preference."

"Everyone has their type, Mr. Frost. Perhaps awkward teacher is mine."

"Touché." Jack finished up his handful of books and returned to the back room for another stack. "So tell me more about your daughter?"

"Seraphina. She's the love of my life. After her mother died, I became a mother to her as well as a father. She's so brave and strong. I adore her."

"Seraphina is your daughter?! Since you told me you had a daughter, I've been trying to figure out which little girl might be yours. All this time she was right in front of me," he laughed.

"You teach near my daughter's class. That's why your room number interested me."

"I'm not her teacher. My class is kindergarteners. But she's in our partner class, so I see a lot of her."

"I didn't make the connection. She's certainly mentioned you enough times."

"There's a little girl in my class who has some social difficulties. They kind of bonded, so she'll join my class sometimes to help her out."

"That's my girl. She does that."

"She's pretty remarkable."

"Thank you for taking care of her. I'm always afraid she's lying when she says everything's fine at school. I just don't want her to be bullied."

"No way! I'd never let her get bullied, and neither would her teacher. I wish she would have been in my class last year. I have a feeling she would have made an adorable kinder."

"I tried homeschooling for a short time. But then I felt like she was missing out on so much."

"That's what I don't like about homeschooling, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a teacher. There's definitely pros and cons to it. I feel when they're so young they need the socialization of school more than the knowledge."

"Why did you become a teacher?"

"Why did you open a bookshop? It's what I love. I love kids, and I love helping them grow and being a positive role model for them."

"Very honorable. I bet you make a great teacher."

"Thanks." He blushed. "I'd like to think I'm alright at it, but everyone has their screw ups at times."

"That's the good thing about kids. They don't care about mistakes." Kozmotis reached out, brushing some dust off Jack's cheek. "I bet the other teachers have a crush on you."

"No way." Jack laughed and moved away to shelve some more books, using the act to hide another blush. "Only one. She made the mistake of coming onto me when she first started at the school. For obvious reasons it didn't work, but we've been best friends since."

"So I don't have any competition right now?"

"As sad as it sounds, no. Only my extremely needy cat."

"I can accept that," Kozmotis teased. "I hope I'm better company than a cat."

"I'll be the judge of that once I've spent enough time with you to know." Jack grinned, a glint in his eyes.

"Then I'll have to be on my best behavior at dinner."

"Don't worry too much. I'm a pretty patient guy; I can put up with a lot. Kinda have to with my job." Jack finished up his box of book and moved to help Kozmotis with his. He came back in smiling fondly at the next book in his stack. "You ordered the Guardians Of Childhood series?"

"Of course. Seraphina is absolutely in love with those books."

"Not many of my kids have heard of them. The ones who have love them."

"I'll admit, I like them too. Don't tell anyone, but I think I have a crush on the author."

"Oh, really? Must be a pretty special person to earn a crush from you." Jack walked into the kids room to put away the books.

"It's probably some spinster in the Midwest."

Jack's head poked out of the room with a suspicious look. "What do you know?"

"Nothing. Nobody does. The author's identity is completely secret. They don't do signings or book tours or interviews. I'm just guessing, but I have no idea."

"You're a liar. You know." He went back to shelving books. "It's not like it's a big secret or anything."

"The name is clearly an alias, and there's never a picture. I have no idea who this person is. Even when I looked them up, nothing. You probably know more than me."

"How do you have a crush on the author then? For all you know he or she could be hideous."

"I can tell a lot about an author through their writing. This person has a good heart, a beautiful soul. Someone who writes like this...I don't care if they're hideous."

"That's very thoughtful of you." After a final look at the cover, fingers running over the silver script saying "The Man in the Moon; Written and Illustrated by: Jack Frost". He slid it onto a shelf. "What do you think about the author playing themselves to be Jack Frost and writing of his adventures with his friends?"

"I think the author is charmingly endearing. If they asked me to dinner, I'd say yes."

"Sounds like I'm the one who should be concerned about having competition. I'm not too sure how I feel about them using my name. I guess I can't exactly copyright it or anything; it's a folk tale." A look outside made him realise how late it had gotten. "I should probably be getting home."

"Okay." Kozmotis walked with Jack back to the front of the shop, handing him his bag. "Oh, and you have no competition. I'd like to see where this could go before even considering going to dinner with them."

"That's reassuring to hear," he laughed. "Thanks." Jack slipped his backpack on. "I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Of course. Good night, Mr. Frost."

"Goodnight, Kozmotis."

Hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter! Like most of our recent stories, this one is fully written already and will be posted as I have time to edit.

Remember, reviews make the world go round!