This chapter deals with Jack trying to get around his guilt and asking various people for advice since he doesn't know what to do about Kayla's situation. Review, review, review!
Jack got upped a stretched, knowing that his fellow guardians must be anxiously waiting for him. Suddenly, he felt a 1000 years old. Just then a sound could be heard from the chimney and Jack knew that North should be here, delivering the presents to every children's' house before tomorrow. He suddenly felt ashamed of not explaining himself and just running of like that.
He made his way softly downstairs as he caught North coming out from the chimney, a smaller bag in his hands.
"Jack! What're you doing here? You gave me a scare," North said in a soft voice, thick with his Russian accent.
"Sorry… Oh, North, I'm so sorry for running away like that," Jack said as North put down his bag and wrapped an arm around Jack's shoulders.
"Jack, its okay, I would be mad to if someone wrongly accused now would I? I'm sorry too, for leaving you to deal with the rest of them, instead of clearing things up before I left. I knew that that blizzard wasn't your fault, Jack, you're not the old you anymore," North said with a gentle look on his face.
The gentle look on North's face was enough to make Jack feel even worse than before. He got out of North's reassuring hug as he braced himself to tell the bad news.
"North, I did something horrible…" Jack continued his tale, never censoring anything out, he admitted that the ice sheet was an accident and not intentional. He also said he now felt like a murderer. "Jeez, I never meant any harm, and now look what happened!" Jack cried softly in anguish, all of his self guilt landing on him like a ton of bricks.
North just listened with an impassive face. "You accidently killed a family?" North asked his tone even.
Jack just nodded as he closed his eyes, waiting for the onslaught of North's anger, to tell him what a horrible person he was and that he didn't deserve to be a guardian. Instead of saying all that, North surprised him.
"I think we need to hold a meeting with the rest of them first, Jack and see what we can make out of this," North said, his voice still betraying no emotion.
Jack just nodded as North summoned the rest of the guardians.
Just as they were about to step out of Mrs. Montgomery's window into the night, North took out a big red wrapped present out of his bag and put it under the Christmas tree.
"It's not much but I hope it at least puts a flicker of happiness in that poor child," North said softly and stepped into the chimney, back to his sleigh. Jack used the window instead and in a flash he was standing on the roof with North.
They didn't have to wait long before the arrival of the other guardians as one by one they all filed in. Bunnymund was the last one as the group looked on towards the ground, where a hole suddenly opened up from the ground.
"Damn it, I hope they didn't set me up, those black eyes," Bunnymund muttered as he looked around for them and nearly shrieked with shock as he suddenly sound his friends behind him. Ah, the perks of being able to fly, Jack thought with a small smile on his face as the Sandman doubled up in silent laughter.
"Alright, alright, what's happening? Why'd you call us here North, you could've met us at your place you know," Bunnymund said with a suspicious look on his face.
Tooth nodded as she asked, "What's the problem North? Why'd you call us all here?"
North glanced at Jack. No way am I breaking this news to them.
Jack sighed.
"Guys, I'm the problem here, I did something terrible," Jack admitted.
Bunnymund just snorted as he retorted sarcastically," Forgot to create another blizzard, mate?"
North, Tooth and Sandy all fixed Bunnymund with a hard stare.
"Let the kid continue his story," North admonished him.
Jack took a deep breath. "Okay, North called you guys here to tell you guys that I've messed up, I've accidently killed a family," Jack finished and looked up to find the other guardians with shock written on their faces.
"I was so mad that you guys accused me of doing something I didn't that I took my anger out by freezing the streets and everything around it. I didn't know that there were still cars up here and one skidded on the ice I created and smashed into a tree. The parents both died in the hospital but the kid's alive, though shocked and scared," Jack finished as a few tears escaped his ice cold blue orbs at the thought of what he had done.
Tooth gasped. "Oh no, Jack…"
"Mate, what the…? How could you've been so careless?" Bunnymund asked as his face contorted into shock.
Sandy just had exclamation marks formed all over his head.
"It was an accident guys, I didn't mean, nor could I have stopped it, the accident happened too fast," Jack said and he resisted the urge to fall to the ground and puke.
There was silence for a while. Tooth was the first to speak up.
"Guys, we can't hold it against him, it was also partially our fault that we accused Jack of something he didn't do. Plus he didn't know that his actions would have such dire consequences," Tooth said as she nervously flitted around each guardian.
"He didn't know? He didn't know?! Mate, you're a guardian, you guard people no matter what, and not let your emotions take over and cause something that could hurt someone like that. Not hurt, but kill them! Think before you act Jack, use your frost up brain for kangaroo's sake," Bunnymund said in a livid tone as he looked at Jack.
Jack cringed from Bunnymund's stare as he knew what the Guardian of Hope was saying was true. He suddenly felt smaller than dirt.
Everybody then turned to look at North. They all may have been guardians but ultimately, it's North that should decide what was to happen.
"Bunnymund and Tooth is right, it was our fault for accusing you, but you should have been more careful Jack, you can't just go around freezing things if you feel angry," North said, a sudden look of compassion graced his face. "Never in my life have I seen a guardian's actions like this," North said in a semi amused tone.
Jack turned to Sandy for something, help, advice, anything, but the little golden man just shook his head and a sad smiley formed on his head.
"Jack, you can't undo what happened, but for once, you could help the child by being there with her. Be her personal guardian, you owe it to her," North said as he gave Jack a sad smile.
Jack looked at the varying looks of compassion on his fellow guardian's face. Even Bunnymund looked weary like he wanted nothing more than to pretend this conversation never happened.
"Can we go meet her?" Tooth asked as she stole a glance to North and Jack, a look of compassion and sadness on her beautiful features.
Jack nodded. "She fell asleep just minutes ago, I think its okay for us to visit her," Jack said.
He led the way to Kayla's bedroom window, eased it open gently and stepped in. A gust of cold wind ran through the room as the other guardians stepped in and Bunnymund closed the window.
The five guardians stood over Kayla's bed, watching her little frame curl up against the sudden gust of coldness, her brown hair splayed across the pillow and her delicate porcelain face scrunched up in an adorable way as her dream played out in her mind.
"She's beautiful," Tooth cooed as she glanced over at Jack with small smile on her face.
"Yeah, and she loves my snow tricks too," Jack said in a soft tone as he recalled Kayla's happy face at seeing snow falling over them.
North then spun around to face Jack. "Jack, make a guardian promise that you'll always take care of this child no matter what, be with her, as a brother or friend, anything she needs," North said with a hard glint in his eyes.
"I promise, I'll do whatever it takes to be there for Kayla," Jack nodded solemnly.
"The guardian promised is sealed," North said. "Now let's us all go home and get everything sorted out," he said in a weary tone as everyone took their turns climbing out of the window. Everyone, except Jack.
"Jack, sweetie, are you coming?" Tooth asked in a worried tone as Bunnymund, Sandy and North looked on at him.
Jack just shook his head. "It's okay, I'll stay here tonight with Kayla to take care of her," Jack said with a smile on his face as he looked at the rest of them.
The rest of the guardians just nodded as they left Jack alone to be with Kayla. Bunnymund gave him an apologetic smile before he jumped out the window. Jack reciprocated the smile as he turned to close the window and lay on the bed next to Kayla.
When she felt a weight lay on the bed next to her, Kayla turned around and hugged Jack's body closer to hers. Jack was slightly alarmed at never being so close to a child before that he was momentarily stunned. He then recovered and wrapped his arms around her as he stroked her hair and felt a peace he didn't feel at all throughout the whole day. Jack found it amusing that as an immortal, he couldn't sleep but he still felt tired. Like his energy was drained and he had to replenished it.
Jack sat in silence, pondering over the day, for what felt like a few hours. Unbeknownst to him, night had already turned to dawn as the first weak rays of sunlight filtered through Kayla's window. Christmas morning, Jack thought as he looked at the little four year old girl asleep in his arms. She hadn't moved at all throughout the whole night as she still clung through his jacket, head on his shoulder. He wondered how she would react for today. He gave her a warm smile as he felt her stirring. The first thing Kayla saw when she opened her eyes was Jack smiling at her. She smiled back at him as she rubbed her eyes and asked him for the time.
"7.00 sharp," Jack replied.
Kayla nodded as she gave a small yawn, and then looked as if she just remembered something. "Oh! Merry Christmas, Jack," she said as she grinned at him but it slowly faded away.
"I miss my mummy and daddy, Jack," she said as she held onto his arms and tears fell down her face.
"I know you do Kayla, I know," he said as he gave her a reassuring hug as she cried into his shoulder. He held her until her crying subsided and turned to hiccups.
Jack then turned to look at her. "Look, I know this way not be the best time, but just for today only, why don't you try to enjoy Christmas and try not to be too sad, Santa wouldn't want all his efforts at getting you a perfect gift go to waste now wouldn't he?" Jack said as he grinned at her.
"Okay," Kayla said, only half certain as she wore her sweater and followed Jack out of the room. He held out his hand for her to take and was amused at the thought of how he had to bend his frame a little so that he could be in line with her.
When they approached the living room, Kayla gave a surprised gasp. Jack also was momentarily shocked. Red tinsel was hanging from every beam in the ceiling; the fireplace was decorated with snowflakes and huge stockings filled with presents. Holly's were decorated around the room, giving it a warm, Christmas-y feeling. But what was most astonishing was a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the middle of the room. There were all sorts of different presents under the tree, with the most amusing being Easter Eggs.
Bunnymund, Jack thought as he gave a little chuckle. It seems that the rest of the guardians were doing their best to make Kayla and her grandmother feel a little bit better this Christmas.
Kayla was still standing wide eyed. "Woah… Jack, did you do all this?" she asked and looked at him through excited eyes.
Jack knelt down so that his face was leveled with hers. He shook his head. "I didn't, but I think the rest of them did. Look! You even got Easter Eggs from the Easter bunny," Jack said as he pointed to the Christmas tree. "Kayla, we guardians always try our best to help out a child in need, it's what we do," he said, to make her understand.
Kayla nodded and looked around the room with unconcealed glee. She then ran to the fireplace, taking in the filled stockings. "Wow! Can I open them already?" she asked in excitement.
"Yes dear, of course you can," said the voice of Mrs. Montgomery as she appeared in the hallway. Jack froze in shock until her remembered that adults couldn't see him and that Jamie, Sophie and Kayla were the only mortals who could. He relaxed and let out a small laugh at his silliness.
Kayla ran to her grandmother to give her a hug. "Merry Christmas Nana," she said as she wrapped her arms around Mrs. Montgomery's waist.
"Merry Christmas to you to dear, now hurry up and open your gifts," Mrs., Montgomery said as she directed Kayla to the pile of gifts under the tree.
Kayla looked towards Jack. "Let's go open some gifts," she said in glee and tore open her first present 15 minutes and 4 presents later, Kayla was done as her face flushed a happy glow, one that can only be brought by great joy.
All the while, Jack just sat patiently beside her, running some comments about the various gifts. "And that toy doll was painted by a yeti in the North Pole, he always gets the colors wrong," Jack said in an amused tone as he watched her face light up in curiosity.
"A yeti did this? I thought that elves made the gifts," she said as her forehead creased into a thoughtful look.
"No they don't, the elves were just made to believe that they do make those gifts," Jack chuckled as he took in her look of amazement.
"Wow… Have you been to Santa's workshop before?" she asked, her eyes as wide as brown discs.
"Yup, I tried breaking in a few times but I never got passed them yetis. Only when they wanted to choose me as a guardian did they invite me to Santa's workshop. By shoving me into a bag and tossing me into a magic portal," he rolled his eyes at that memory.
"Really? Santa never scolded the yetis for doing that to you?" Kayla asked in a disapproving tone at the thought of someone hurting her new friend.
"On the contrary, it was Santa's idea," Jack said. He laughed as he took in her surprised expression. Kayla then got over the shock and laughed along with Jack.
"Kayla, honey, what're laughing at? And who're you talking to?" Mrs. Montgomery asked as she poked her head out of the kitchen.
"I'm talking to my friend, Jack Frost Nana," Kayla replied in an innocent tone.
Mrs. Montgomery just gave a small smile and shook her head. "Sure, sweetie, make sure that Jack Frost doesn't really get in, you might catch a cold. Now, go clean this place up and get ready for brunch, I made waffles," Mrs. Montgomery said with a smile as she went back into the kitchen.
"Oops," Jack said as he looked at Kayla with a huge grin on his face.
Kayla just laughed before her expression turned serious. "She can't see you?" she asked.
Jack shook his head. "Not many people can see me. So far it's only you, Jamie, his little sister, Sophie and his friends that can see me," Jack said.
"Oh… Were you ever lonely?" Kayla asked as she tried wrapping her head around that new bit of information.
Jack gave an internal sigh. Too deep, to fast, he though as he just gave her a small shrug. Just then Kayla's grandmother called her over for brunch. Before she left, Jack called her and told her he needed to go and fulfill his guardian duties and will be back tonight. He also wished her a Merry Christmas.
"Merry Christmas to you to, Jack, see you later," she said as she gave him a quick hug and ran to have her brunch.
Jack just smiled at her, as he turned and flew out through the chimney. North would have a field day if he saw how Jack had to leave. Jack just gave a small chuckle as he let the wind take him wherever he wished to go. He then commanded the wind to take him to Asia as he flew with the speed of light pass the mountains and rivers in Tibet, across the Great Wall of China, and over the city of Shanghai. He then stopped to sit on a high building as he contemplated everything that had happened. He then realized that he needed to talk to someone, anyone about the conflicting emotions he felt throughout the whole day.
