1 - 1

"Jack!" Jamie ran up to the winter spirit who grinned at his friend.

"Hey kiddo! What's up?"

"I wanted to introduce you to someone!" Jack blinked, Jamie was tugging his hand to get him to follow him to a girl who was slightly younger than himself. She was looking up at Jack bashfully, her blue eyes weren't as bright as Jack's own, her hair was blonde and kept back from her face in a ponytail despite the cool air.

"Jack, I'd like to meet Amber." Jack crouched down so that he was more on her eye level and she gave him a small smile.

"Hi Amber, I'm Jack Frost. Do you want to play?" She nodded eagerly, despite the shy look she was giving him and glanced over at Jamie who smiled at her.

"Do you know how to make a snowball?" He asked.

"I think so." Jack smiled reassuringly to the girl.

"You can be on my team with Jamie, how's that sound?" Amber seemed to brighten instantly and Jack grinned, summoning up snowballs, he blew on one and tossed it at one of the "enemy" players and before long shrieks of laughter ensued in the snowball fight. Jack allowed himself to be hit a couple of times, but for the most part he made snowballs for both teams instead of actually throwing many himself. He loved this, spending time with his best friend, his first believer and his friends. Even Sophie, who was now six, threw snowballs happily alongside her brother. Too soon it was over and the kids, happy and wet from the snowballs, went home. Jack watched as Sophie and Jamie waved from their porch and Jack was left to his own devices. With a happy sigh, he flew off to his lake. He settled in the middle of the frozen pond, watching the ice glitter with the last of the day's light. He sighed a little, knowing that while he may want to once again go play with Jamie tomorrow that he couldn't because he had duties. It was because of Jamie he was a Guardian now, that was why he visited the boy as often as he could; especially during the winter months when he was allowed to use his powers to cool the area. Summer months weren't so bad, but other spirits got mad if he disrupted the seasons by creating snow out of season. Didn't mean he didn't still do it, just that he kept it in Jamie's room. Keeping the boy cooler in the hot months and sometimes his friends would drop by to cool off and talk with Jack. Now though, with the night closing in, he was alone with his thoughts. Life as a Guardian was better than he'd thought, though he didn't see others often, they were usually too busy with their tasks but they would always say hello now whenever they saw him. Baby Tooth always stopped to chatter for him a little while even if it meant being a little late in delivering a tooth back to the Tooth Palace; since he'd traded his staff for her life in the Antarctica she had developed a bond with him and often sought him out during the rare occasions Jack had found himself at the pole when Tooth was there.

With the new morning, Jack had finished spreading his snow as he had thought to get a head start to perhaps have more time with Jamie. He was drifting along the sidewalk towards the school when he saw a group of kids chasing Jamie, three boys it looked like. He thought at first they were playing a game until he heard one call out.

"You can't get away Bennett!" Jack's eyes narrowed at the underlying maliciousness in the other kid's tone. These boys weren't Jamie's friends. Jamie nearly slipped on some ice, his backpack sent him toppling off balance and its contents began to spill out of the half zipped bag. Jack didn't hesitate to slick the sidewalk in front of the three and the boys yelped as the first slipped and toppled into the two who were behind him. Jack floated down to where Jamie was scrambling to get his things, his eyes lit up when he saw the winter spirit.

"Jack!"

"You're gonna... unh.. pay..." One of the boys said as he rose, but sputtered as a snowball hit him square in the face. The boy roared in anger, but Jack didn't let up. The three boys were pelted with snow until they gave up and scrambled away yelling promises of retribution. Jack frowned after the boys before helping Jamie gather the scattered papers and books.

"Jamie, how long have those boys been bullying you?" He asked with a frown.

"Not long." Jamie replied, smiling his thanks to Jack who floated next to him as he headed back towards his house.

"When did this start?" Jamie shrugged in an answer.

"Somewhere around Easter I think. I'm guessing they and a bunch of others have stopped believing. They haven't been too accepting of those who still do either."

"Have they bullied any of your friends?"

"I don't know. Not that I've seen, they won't bother us if all six of us are together. Not including Sophie. I at least know that she's safe from it." Jack seemed thoughtful as he followed behind his friend, wondering what it was he could do to help. There was no doubt in his mind that he couldn't always be there to save Jamie and he doubted the kid would appreciate it much as he got older. Not that Jack was going to let such a thing happen to his first believer.

"I'm going to talk to North about this. Maybe he can help." Jamie nodded with a smile.

"Are you going now?" Jack nodded with a sigh.

"The sooner we figure this out, the better. I know you wouldn't want Sophie to get caught up in this." Jamie nodded and waved to Jack as he shot off, but he only took off once he saw Jamie was safely in his own yard. He didn't want to think about what would have happened had he not showed up when he had.

1 - 2

Jamie looked up at the sky from his bedroom. Watching sadly as the last traces of snow melted. I guess he didn't come this year either... and with the last of the snow gone... I promise to be good all year and not ask for anything else, all I ask for... Jamie sighed as he closed his eyes, pouring his heart into his wish. He was thirteen now, still that didn't stop him from wishing to see his best friend. He'd even wrote North, telling him that he didn't want any gifts this year; knowing that the Guardian would get it even though Christmas was over. He just wanted to see Jack again. He missed his friend. There was always snow, but he hadn't seen Jack since the day that Jack had saved him from some bullies. He was still bullied, but now it was subdued as word had spread about what had happened to the three two years ago who had tried to pick on Jamie outside of school. It was now down to just insults in the halls, having graduated from elementary school, Jamie was only now starting to settle into traveling the halls of middle school from one class to the next as well as his locker. There were no more incidents of children chasing him or threatening him physically, at least not yet. Though since at least four of the six of his little group, the only ones really still believing now, were together in every class there wasn't a bully with the guts to try and take on any of them. Jamie and his friends seemed isolated from the rest of their classmates, but no one really bothered them and they always came up with games on their own. When it came to doing projects, they always did them as a group and the teachers didn't protest only because the group always seemed to do them so well and other students didn't seem too keen in wanting to have too much to do with the group.

"Jack, done already?" Jack looked up from the window sill he was sitting on to see North approach him. He smiled a little, absently tugging on his hood as if it could shield his face more.

"Yep."

"Have you visited Jamie?"

"Of course."

"You didn't let him see you did you?" Jack's response was to look back out the window again, the snow outside falling gently.

"You miss the boy."

"Of course, but you are always telling me to not be seen. Having a favorite child is inappropriate. Plus humans live such short lives..." He leaned back against the window sill frame, as if he was trying to convince himself as much as the other Guardian.

"Kids stop believing in us by the time they're ready to head off to high school and Jamie is only a year from that now." He said with a shrug, turning to his fellow Guardian, if it was affecting him it wasn't clear on his face. He seemed calm, but far from happy.

"I know Jamie is special to you. He still wants to see you, so why not? Is good you keep in mind that they grow up, forget us, and die, but that is not now. You should make most of what time you have. Prepare heart for when time come, but until then, enjoy your friendship." Jack's lips twitched into a soft smile.

"You're right. Next winter I will." North gave him a smile before heading off to give yetis more instructions on toys and catch up on work for next Christmas. Jack watched the other Guardian leave before turning back to the window. As much as he feared that his first believer would stop believing in him, he knew it was inevitable, but as North had said, he still had some time before that happened; however little it was. With lifted spirits, Jack began to ponder what he should do with Jamie when he saw him again as well as what he would do to pass the time away quickly. He knew that it would be a long summer in Burgess for him, but he at least had all that time to plan what he was going to do.

1 - 3

"Hey Bennett! Maybe now you'll stop daydreaming!" A harsh voice rang out, Jamie sat sprawled on the concrete; in the last year the bullies had gotten bolder, he felt the sting of the punch, already he could tell he was going to have a bruise from it. He narrowed his eyes at his tormentors. Only one of the boys was in his class, the other two were older kids who'd been held back a year. They were considered the school delinquents and did whatever they wanted. Jamie scowled, more because he knew that they weren't about to give up and they weren't going to be satisfied with this. He'd seen what happened to others who'd been "visited" by this trio. Jamie had been an easy target, not being caught alone until today. As soon as the boys took a step forward towards him, Jamie steeled himself for more, but there was a softened "thud" as several feet of snow suddenly fell onto the three bullies, nearly burying them completely. Jamie blinked in surprise.

"Cold!" One of the boys cried out, another shuddered before asking aloud.

"Why does it have to be cold all of the sudden?" Jamie, confused, glanced up at a nearby fence. Jack was sitting there with a smile on his face.

"Hey Jamie, long time no see!" Jamie just sort of stared while Jack shifted his attention to the bullies and began pelting them mercilessly with snowballs, they let out some choice curses that Jack didn't think was appropriate for their age.

"Get out of here!" He yelled at the group, despite that he knew they couldn't hear him and continued pelting them until they an off; yelling curses at their unseen assailant. Jack floated down, kneeling next to Jamie.

"Hey, you okay?" His face was filled with concern, he lightly touched Jamie's face, the coldness of his touch stealing away the pain.

"Oh Jamie... I should have come sooner. I'm sorry." Jamie lurched forward, embracing Jack in a hug; startling the young Guardian.

"I've missed you so much." Jamie said, his words muffled against the hoodie. Jack smiled a little. Jack shifted a little to return the hug.

"Me too, kiddo." More than you will ever know. After a moment, Jack stood up, releasing the boy.

"Come on, let's get you fixed up. You'll only be numb for a little while." Jamie nodded and soon the two were sitting in Jamie's bedroom, Jack had tended to the bruise with some gauze and tape from a first aide kit that Jamie had gotten.

"Those three were pretty nasty, I know some kids are like that, but do you get bullied on a regular basis?" Jack asked, he felt guilty that he hadn't been there earlier to stop the bullies as he had the first time that there had been such an issue. Jamie shook his head.

"Of course not. It's just that I was alone. They don't mess with any of us if we're together or Cupcake would beat the crap out of them. If growing up means stop believing than I don't ever want to grow up." Jack gave him a rueful smile as he messed up the boy's hair affectionately.

"It doesn't mean you should get hurt trying to convince non-believers. I've got so many believers thanks to you. Word about Jack Frost has gotten around the world pretty fast with today's technology."

"I've you to thank as well." Jack tilted his head to the side curiously.

"Oh?" Jamie gave him a look that made Jack a little nervous that the boy knew something, and he was right.

"For saving me all those times. Don't play dumb, I know it was you." Jack stared, a little wide-eyed and not sure what to expect. The kid was a lot sharper than he'd thought, he'd sworn he'd been discreet... apparently not discreet enough.

"You kept me from falling into a half frozen lake last year and before that, I was seperated from my classmates on a trip through the local woods and you led me, Claude and Caleb out of them and back to the group." Oh crap... Jack thought.

"Eh... don't mention it." He said, trying to ease the mood as he saw the intense look in the young teen's eyes, but his friend wasn't having any of it.

"If you were always there, watching over me, why didn't you show yourself?!" Jack felt floored by the guilt that washed over him at the anger he saw in the boy's eyes. Jamie had him there, oh he had wanted to... so many times... but...

"Well... I got other things to attend to. Being a Guardian and all." The excuse sounded hollow, even to him. He felt relieved though that the anger seemed to subside in his friend, that was until he saw the look that came into the boy's eyes next. It was something like shocked hurt, it twisted at Jack's heart even as the boy spoke.

"You're right. I'm not the only kid in the world. I'm sorry Jack... that was... self-centered of me."

"Hey now, don't make that face. You're not selfish, Jamie and I'm here now aren't I?" Jamie nodded slightly.

"Tell you what, how about I take you for a ride to compensate for lost time?" Jamie nodded a little, seeming to perk up. Jack took his hand and Jamie stepped out of the window with him, he trusted Jack without hesitation. Jack swung his staff around so that Jamie stepped onto it when he stepped out of the window.

"Have a seat." He said with a grin and Jamie sat down.

"Hang on." The ground shot up beneath them and Jack headed out over to where his lake was, hovering there as the last of the sun's rays began to disappear over the horizon. He shifted to set next to Jamie as he pointed the staff so that they could see Burgess below as well as the lights of cities beyond. As night fell, the city below began to light up. Jamie watched with wide eyes as the darkening landscape was slowly littered with lights of the city.

"Whoa ho! This is amazing! I can even see my house from here!" Jack watched his friend in silence, he'd seen this many times over his 300 years and it was an experience he'd never shared with anyone before, but he was glad he'd shared it with Jamie. When Jamie shifted a little, Jack held out his free hand.

"Easy there kiddo, you'll fall." Jamie laughed a little.

"I know you won't let me." The confidence in the boy's voice warmed Jack's heart. When Jamie laid his head against Jack after a long while, staring out at the lights, Jack decided he should probably get his friend home before he became too tired. Once back in Jamie's bedroom, the boy turned to him with a smile that reminded Jack of the first time he'd spoken to the boy four years ago.

"Thanks Jack, I had so much fun!" He changed into his pajamas quickly and then climbed into the bed, as he was settling in, sticking his feet under the covers, he looked at Jack who stood next to the bed.

"Jack... do you think you could come back again, soon?"

"Well..." He hesitated to make the promise, not sure if he should.

"Please?" Jack sighed inwardly, he couldn't say no.

"Alright." It was worth it to see the smile on the boy's face as he snuggled beneath his covers. Jack flicked off the bedroom light, watching as Jamie snuggled further under the covers before drifting off to sleep. He watched the boy for a moment, a small smile on his face. It was hard to think that four years ago he'd been in this room with Tooth, unseen, no friends except the Guardians who were struggling against Pitch just to survive so they could protect the children from the Boogeyman. Pitch had been silent since that time, but that didn't mean the fight with him was over; as the shade had so aptly put, there would always be fear. As Jack turned to leave a drawing on the wall caught his eye, he moved over to it and couldn't help but smile a little. After that fateful Easter, Jamie had added Jack to the original drawing of him flying on his sled. It made Jack feel warm inside to find that it was still there.