Hi guys! I focused on this one first. It's PLEASE COME BACK only for Jack's POV. This was written on prompt by a guest named Yuki. THIS IS FOR YOU! :D

Chapter 1: Goodbye

I didn't want to leave Jamie. Really, I loved the kid, more than I should.

It was Thursday when all our concerns came to a head; the Lights of the Believers were dimming… and for some, they even turned dark. How does that happen? And how does that impact the community where the Light is located in? I shudder at the thought.

North instructed us to be ready for a confrontation. The darkness seemed to be centered on the South Pole. I repressed the urge to laugh at the irony of the situation. It wasn't that hard, really. The tension at the Globe Room was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

After dismissing the assembly, I immediately summoned the Wind to take me to the lake where I died. As I landed on the slightly damp ground coated with fallen leaves, I remembered asking Santa if I could keep the lake frozen year-round. He replied vehemently that, no, I couldn't, because (a.)It would attract suspicion and (b.) I would "upset the balance of Nature".

So following the worn path to the lake, leaving trails of frost in my wake that slowly melted into the ground, I somersaulted straight to the middle of the lake. The wind helped sustain me long enough to do an upside-down pirouette in mid-air and land in an Indian-seat style position in the middle of the still water. I hovered above the surface of the lake with the help of the Wind, exactly two inches from the surface of the water. My staff lay on my lap, the crook gently brushing the surface, causing gentle ripples to distort the surface.

I closed my eyes and mediated. Yes, I meditated. I've been doing this for a while since the disturbance of the Believer's Lights began. I find that sitting in the middle of the lake, may it be frozen or not, thinking of everything and nothing at the same time helps me get my priorities straight. But why in the middle of the lake where I died? Why not somewhere else where no bad memories have the potential to surface?

I find the thought of my death somewhat… tranquil. Wow, real deep. But seriously, my death could've happened in a more… different way. It's just that… oh, how to explain? I just find the place calming, many things happened here: my death, my rebirth, my Guardianship… many memories, mostly good. Maybe that's why I'm attracted here.

Anyway, I sat still; the Wind whistled around me as they danced around the fallen leaves and twigs as they twirled around the trees. The sun was hidden in a thick veil of clouds, yet scattered rays managed to pierce through the veil as they illuminated random spots of the landscape. The air smelled faintly of rain. I was aware of all of this as I sat and thought.

.

How powerful will this guy be?

.

Will we be okay? Are we enough?

.

How are we going to beat him?

.

How much have I changed?

.

This brought another wave of questions that I have yet to sort into priorities. But I came up with one question that towered over all my problems at the moment:

How will Jamie react?

I stiffened. My heart immediately clenched at the pain I would surely inflict on the child should I leave without saying goodbye. Okay, so saying goodbye was required as part of the solution. Should I tell him what we're going up against? Probably.

What if we don't make it back? Should I really keep Jaime waiting for us?

I reeled. My heart and brain was beating fast. The temperature around the lake dropped considerably and a gusty North Wind swept out of nowhere. I drifted from my meditative position in mid-air and floated down to the lake's surface, causing frost patterns to emanate and decorate the lake. A few moments, later the lake was frozen solid for a good six feet or so.

No. I won't do that to him. Better a have your heart broken than your hope held high and crushed underfoot. Besides, we'll come back.

We have to.

Two days later, I tapped on Jamie's window early in the morning. The sun had not even risen yet. The wind that howled outside of Jamie's window was cool, and I vaguely wondered why Jamie closed it in the first place. The boy was sleeping soundly inside, his mouth slightly agape as Sandy's dream sand continued to grant him the sweet dreams he so deserved. A fresh burst acidic guilt fried my heart as I imagined Jamie's broken face when I told him that I was leaving for good.

I tapped more insistently; Sandy's dream sand faded into nonexistence as Jamie stirred. I put my palm against the window pane. Delicate frost patterns began to creep up the glass as Jamie awoke. He rubbed his sleepy eyes into staring at the frost pattern I created. He smiled widely, his eyes alight. My heart clenched again. It's been happening a lot lately. I breezed into his room, not bothering to close the window since I expected to be gone after ten minutes, tops.

I wasn't even settled down when Jamie immediately came over and said. "Jack, what's wrong?"

I winced internally. I looked at him while keeping my head bowed; I couldn't look at him straight in the eye while I literally broke the kid's heart.

"Jamie… something's come up," I said, keeping the emotion out of my voice as I sat on his bed. I relished in the warmth in the brought me for a split-second before returning my attention to the concerned and confused child before me.

"What is it?" he asked, his face scrunched up in concern as he eyed me while standing up.

"There's something you should know…" I began.

For five whole minutes, he said nothing. His eyes were wide, and glistening with unshed tears. I resisted the urge to hug him then and there. Because then he would know I never wanted to leave him in the first place. I waited eagerly for him to say something.

Another five minutes, the cold wind outside wrapped around us like a coat of frost. I immediately regretted not closing the window on Jamie's behalf. I stopped waiting for a response after five more minutes of waiting.

He took a deep breath. A small hope shone inside me, yet, it was crushed when Jamie never said another word. I gazed at him one last time, remembering his brown, messy hair, his chocolate eyes, and the innocence that radiated through and through. I turned around, and I summoned the Wind to take me to North's workshop.

"Jack!" he called.

"Yes, Jamie?" I asked, my voice giving way to hope.

"Umm… I…" he stuttered. I smirked, mentally. Jamie was just too cute.

.

.

.

Cute?

I stiffened. But thankfully, Jamie didn't notice as he was still trying to find a way to speak his thoughts.

"IthinkIloveyou" I heard mutter low and fast. I didn't hear him, but I thought he just said "I think I love you".

Crap.

"Huh?" I asked, feigning innocence. Maybe I'm just assuming. That's right. Maybe I just imagined him saying those words.

But why would I imagine something like that?

"I think I. love. you." He finally managed to say. He punctuated the last three words. My frozen heart soared. Was I expecting this all along? The boy's voice was thick with emotion. My soaring heart clenched once more at the pain I inflicted upon it. His voice… it was too sad—too worn—to belong to a thirteen-year-old.

"So please… don't go." He said, his eyes began to glisten with unshed tears. I stared at him; my heart was being torn apart by his teary eyes. I can't forget his voice, so full of emotion… too much emotion for a thirteen-year-old to have. I tried to convey all of what I'm feeling into that moment; my regret, my pain, my love.

I inched closer, and I leaned in. Jamie continued to watch with teary eyes, though they were now cautious and wary. Our lips met.

It was my first kiss, a fact I would never let anyone know.

Yet when I pulled away, I imagined I felt Jamie wince at the loss of contact. I looked at him with confusion. Wasn't that one kiss enough?

"What's wrong?" I asked. My eyes betrayed the sadness and the hope I felt at that moment.

"Now that… I'm just…" he stammered. He was on the verge of sobbing; his breathing began to pick up. Then, he bowed his head and began to shake uncontrollably. Pitiful sounds rose from his throat and I immediately rushed over to him and pulled him into a tight hug.

He continued to sob as I whispered sweet nothings to his ear, all the while dreading the moment when I would have to let go of my precious believer.