Chapter 2:
What's Meant To Be Will Always Find A Way
A.N: Introducing some new characters here: Anne and Jacob: Jamie's parents. Raina and Vincent as Vanessa's parents. Hope you enjoy and please do review!
Disclaimer: I Do Not Own The Rise of The Guardians
Ooo
The next day, Jack goes back to see Jamie.
He slips into the room, latching the window shut behind him and tries not to trip over any of the toys and books strewn over the floor.
He has a second to chuckle at the slack jawed boy fast asleep on the bed when the door creaks open and Jack's heart gives a tell-tale tug as it swings open to reveal her.
And spirits help him, but he is absolutely enamored. Even with her hair in the messiest of buns, sleep crusting in her eyes and body covered in a pair of shapeless pajamas, she looks radiant to him.
Her eyes are narrowed, scanning the room furtively. When they glance over him, there is a moment where she takes a second look and for a heart stopping second, Jack feels the hope in him rise and he wonders: does she sense him the same way he senses her? Would she feel it if he touches her?
His body glides forward on instinct; wanting to test his theory, but a groan from the bed makes him stop. Jamie turns restlessly on the bed and Jack watches as her face loses that hard edge and gleams impishly, not unlike Jack when he's in the middle of a prank.
With growing fascination, he watches as she smirks and grabs hold of a full water bottle sitting on the bedside table.
Within a second, the cap is off and the bottle upturned over Jamie, who lunges off the bed with a shriek.
"Up and at em sleepy head! It's moving day!" Is the cheerful announcement and then she is gone with a laugh as Jamie splutters uselessly on his now wet sheets.
Jack's bark of surprised laughter is what alerts Jamie to his presence and the boy sends him a glare, "Why didn't you wake me before Ness did that?!"
Jack perks up at his first tidbit of information about her, "Her name's Ness?"
"Ness or Nessie; short for Vanessa." Jamie grumbles as he slides out of bed and stalks towards his closet.
"Vanessa." The name rolls off his tongue and there's an innate sense of rightness as he says it. "It suits her. She's moving here?"
"No; we're helping her family move into their home. I told you yesterday that they- hey!" Jamie pops his head up from where he's rooting around for dry clothes. "What happened to you yesterday? You looked terrified and then you ran away before I could talk to you."
Jack runs a hand through his hair, not really sure as to where to start, "It's a lot to explain Jamie and I'm not even sure I understand it. And I'm the one it's happening to."
Jamie's response is cut short when they both hear footsteps on the landing and Vanessa's presence fills the doorway again. Gone are her pajamas and she is now clothed in simple sweats and (Jack's heart thrums happily at this) a royal blue sweater. Her hair has been pulled into a cleaner version of the messy bun with a few strands slipping loose to frame her face.
Once again, Jack is grabbed by that insensible urge to touch. He takes a single step forward and all at once, both Vanessa and Jamie's eyes snap at him. His heart thuds painfully in his chest and her eyes look straight at him and then right past him.
Vanessa lets out a small groan and she shakes her head, "God I'm imagining things."
"Ness?"
She shakes her head again and allows her face to spread into a smile, "Don't worry Jay. Sorry, I came up to tell you your Mom's doing laundry so if you want to give her your wet sheets, now's the time."
"Well, they wouldn't be wet if someone hadn't poured water all over me!" Her resounding laugh to Jamie's indignant statement makes Jack smile.
"I told you I had a decade of pranks to make up for. Now, hand me your sheets and get going! Breakfast is almost ready."
As she leaves with the wet sheets bundled in her arms, Jack doesn't miss how her eyes sweep the room before the door closes.
As soon as the latch clicks shut, Jaime rounds on him, "She saw you! Wait, did she see you? Why can she see you?!"
Well…that's a good place to start as any.
"She doesn't see me…it's more like she can sense me. The same way I can sense her."
"Why?"
Maybe he could go for the short version, "She's my soulmate."
A beat of silence. And then, "Huh?"
Apparently, they were going with the long version. Flopping onto the bed with the boy (but careful to avoid the wet spot), Jack begins to explain. Jaime listens, intently absorbing every new word of information.
"So she can't see you but she can sense you because you're both soulmates?"
"Pretty much."
"So how do we get her to believe in you?"
He has no answer for that and Jack slumps miserably against the bed. Jamie gives his knee a comforting pat, "We'll figure it out okay? Ness has always been a big believer in the impossible so getting her to believe in you and the others shouldn't be too hard. Don't give up just yet."
Jack nods in agreement but he doesn't seem too convinced. In response, Jamie offers a suggestion.
"Why don't you hang around today? You can learn more about Ness and maybe it'll give you a couple of ideas on what to do."
It's not like he has much in the way of plans so Jack agrees. He lounges on the dry spot of the bed while Jamie goes through his morning routine but when the door opens up again, he perks up.
It turns out to be Sophie and she runs excitedly into Jack's open arms, laughing as his cold hands find her stomach. When it's time for breakfast, Jack follows them downstairs and lets himself be drawn into the hustle and bustle of the two families. But more than that, he lets himself observe the woman who is his other half.
Her face is never without a smile and the sound of her laughter fills up the room as she sets down a bowl of food for Abby and grabs Sophie to blow a raspberry into her stomach. Given that she and Sophie have never met before, the little girl is fascinated with Vanessa and she peppers the older girl with questions.
Instead of letting the little blonde get underfoot, Vanessa simply lets Sophie cling onto her back and moves around, helping Anne set the table and keeping up a running commentary about why she's in town. It effectively serves to answer a few of Jack's questions.
Her parents are opening up a new business along with Jamie's dad's help and the woman herself is starting a new job at the local library. He learns that her love for books is only rivalled by her love for food and it shows as she happily scarfs down potatoes, eggs and bacon, even going so far as to steal a strip from Jamie's plate when he isn't looking.
With breakfast done and the table cleared, both families pile into their cars and move from the Bennet residence to the uninhabited Mehta residence. Jack flies close behind and alights on the roof of the new house, watching as boxes are moved from storage containers parked on the driveway and into the residence.
Here Vanessa turns into a drill sergeant; orders spilling from her lips as easily as her laughs. Vincent and Jacob are made to bring boxes upon boxes into specific rooms, Raina and Anna are to unpack said boxes and the two youngsters are given free reign to throw paint balloons at the downstairs study. Vanessa moves through each room, simultaneously being a help and hindrance.
It makes Jack laugh when Raina finally has enough and the woman ends up throwing a dishtowel at her daughter's face when Vanessa turns into too much of a busy body.
Her punishment is to watch over the kids which Vanessa does with a huff but when greeted with Jamie and Sophie, her scowl turns to a smile and they spend the next hour messily splashing the wall with paint.
Jack takes great pleasure in learning these quirks; they're a balm to his soul that aches at being so close to his mate and yet so far. There are instances when he comes close enough to touch her but he never does. She doesn't seem to sense him then but Jack catches how her eyes roam the room; she senses something and that more than anything gives him hope.
The entire day goes by in the same fashion and when dusk finally falls, the top floor is completely furbished and ready for habitation. Upon their return home, everyone takes an hour to shower and change into pajamas, after which the moms decide that tonight's a night for junk food.
They call for delivery and it's a heartwarming sight to see both families spread out across the floor of the living room, sharing pizza slices and watching TV.
Jack understands in that moment what he's missed most of all since becoming a Guardian: the feeling of being part of a family.
As much as he cares for the Guardians, there has always been that sense of mis-belonging and a part of him still misses his old mortal family.
But being here, with Sophie curled up by his side, Jamie hand in his sweater and Vanessa merely a foot away from him; despite the fact that she does not see him, there is a feeling of contentment that he has not felt in a long time.
It's late when everyone finally succumbs to their fatigue; people using one another as pillows and snuggle companions. With everyone fast asleep, Jack decides it's a good time to get the kids upstairs without anyone noticing them moving in midair. He hefts Jamie onto his back and Sophie in his arms. Jamie stirs slightly as he is moved but understands enough to lock his arms around Jack's neck.
They move up the stairs quietly and Jack deposits Sophie in her bed, pulling the covers over her body. Maybe its just the sense of family from before, but it makes Jack lean down to press a kiss to the little girl's forehead. He smiles at her little sniffle and pulls the door shut.
He's just pulled Jamie's covers up when the now familiar tug emanates in his gut and he turns to see Vanessa slip into the room. Jack immediately hops onto the other side of the bed, leaning against his staff and watching as she moves closer to Jamie.
Vanessa takes a second to upright an overturned action figure on the bedside table before settling herself on the edge of the bed. She runs a gentle hand over Jamie's head. "Look at you tough guy; getting you and Soph up the stairs and into bed." Jamie mumbles a bit, curling into the warmth on his cheek.
Vanessa smiles tenderly and in very reminiscent gesture, bends to kiss Jamie's head. It makes Jack smile and his features soften as he watches her.
"Good night Jamie. Sleep well." Vanessa rises up and turns for the door.
And Jack; thinking nothing of it, whispers right back in her wake, "Good night Vanessa."
The reaction is immediate.
She halts mid-step and whirls around, strands hair flying about her face and eyes wide in fear. The next second, she runs to Jamie and shakes the boy awake.
"Jamie, wake up! Wake up damnit!"
Being jerked around so harshly snaps the boy awake and he reaches out for the older girl in alarm, gripping her shoulders tight.
"What?! What is it? What's happening?"
Vanessa wastes no time in pulling him out of bed, "We need to get out of here. I think your room's haunted."
Jamie digs his feet into the carpet, pulling both of them to a stop, "What? Why would you think that?"
Vanessa runs an agitated hand through her hair, pulling it out of the bun and eyes scan the room in fear. They graze over Jack, who for his part, is watching with wide eyes and heart beating hard against his chest.
"There's a presence. I can't explain how or why but I've been feeling it since yesterday. It was faint but this morning when I woke up, I had this feeling that there was something in your room; I came to check it out but there was nothing. And this entire day, I felt it following me- us! I enter a room and all of a sudden, I have chills down my spine and just right now, I swear to God, I heard something call my name. This thing is haunting us and I don't- I can't-"
Jamie pulls her into his chest just as the tears can make an appearance and Vanessa clutches the young teen tight, crying into his shoulder.
Jamie runs his hands down her back in an attempt to comfort her and he turns to see Jack's face twisting in pain and he looks at Jamie with agony in his sapphire eyes, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
Jamie shakes his head, "It's alright. You'll be okay." His words are for both of them.
Vanessa pulls back from him, rubbing at her face, "How can you say that?"
Jamie smiles and pats her cheek. Pulling her hand, he takes her back to his bed and seats her down, "Because I know we're not being haunted. I can promise you that."
"Then what-"
"Do you believe in magic Ness?"
The abrupt change in subject startles both Jack and Vanessa and she look at him with incredulity in her eyes.
"What does that have to do with this?"
Jamie pins the girl with a stare and Vanessa has the strange realization that the young boy suddenly looks older than his age of 13 years.
"It has everything to do with it. Do you believe in magic, yes or no?"
In her moment of silence, Jack finds himself clutching his staff tight; fingers contorting painfully over the carved wood.
Vanessa sighs and pulls her hair out of its bun to let it fall softly around her shoulders, "Why does that matter Jaime?"
Realizing that Vanessa might keep skirting the question, Jaime changes tactics, "What if I told you that there is magic present right now? That all the things you've ever thought were true actually exist, like fairies?"
"What, like the Tooth Fairy?"
Even in the face of her minor scepticism, Jack feels excitement rising in him.
Jaime nods eagerly, "Yes! The Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and the Sandman. They're Guardians; protecting children and their dreams. Even Jack Frost!"
"Jack Frost?"
The sound of his name falling from her lips sparks something in Jack and it eases some of the pressure in his chest.
"You're telling me that all of those guys are real? Jamie that's ridiculous!"
"No, it's not. They are real and they exist and I know because I've seen them!"
"What? Jamie, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny don't exist. They're made up tales."
Jamie's eyes narrow, "You once told me you believe in the impossible. Did you lie?"
Vanessa looks a little ashamed under Jamie's gaze, "No, I didn't lie. I've always believed that there are things in this world that cannot be explained; that there is a bigger force at play."
"Then why are you so against this?"
She runs an agitated hand through her curls, "I don't- I don't know. I guess I'm just freaking out. As much as I always believe in magic, I guess it's a little different when you're actually confronted with the possibility of it being real."
"I get that. But I can promise you that they're real! In fact-" Jamie chances a quick look at Jack near the window.
There's an indiscernible nod to Jamie's unspoken question and the brunette looks back at woman on his bed. "One of them is here right now."
"What?" There's the feeling of her heart dropping into her stomach and Vanessa glances around the room. "Is it- is it the presence I've been feeling? What does he want with me?"
For the first time in the conversation, Jamie looks apologetic, "That's not for me to tell. But I promise you; he's not going to hurt you. Just give him a chance."
"A chance to do what?! Jamie!" Vanessa reaches out to grab the boy's shirt but Jamie dances away and she's left by herself on the bed.
"Just stay there. Breathe. He'll show himself to you. In a way."
There are so many questions that are itching to burst from her mouth but Vanessa doesn't let them spill. Instead, she takes a deep breath and turns so that she's isn't facing Jamie anymore but the window.
The pale light of the half-moon falls on her and it offers a modicum of comfort. She takes another lungful of air and closes her eyes.
And she feels it. That creeping chill that's been haunting her since yesterday makes itself known and Vanessa feels her body tense, her fists clenching in the fabric of her sweats. But she forces herself to relax; Jamie said this "Guardian" wouldn't hurt her and she trusts Jamie.
There's a shift in the air and a cool breeze drifts over Vanessa, causing her to shudder slightly at the drop in temperature.
The next second, her eyes snap open and her breath escapes her in a gasp. Her head snaps down to her lap where she is met by the sight of her hands. But what sends her heart racing is not what she sees but what she feels.
Icy coldness envelops her hands, causing Vanessa to clench them. And then the cold touch caresses the back of her fist, stroking her knuckles until she loosens them. Of their own accord, her fingers loosen their grip and they face palm up on her lap while the icy touch grazes over them.
"You're cold." She whispers into the room and she sucks in a breath when the faint whispers of a chuckle wash over her.
The cold only reminds her of one thing and Vanessa lets the corners of her lips curl up, "Jack Frost?"
When the icy cold leaves her hands, her eyebrows furrow. When they return to bop her on the nose unexpectedly, Vanessa snaps her eyes open and rubs at her nose with a giggle.
"Jack Frost nipping at my nose; that's ironic." But she frowns again when her eyes meet emptiness. She turns to Jamie.
"Why can't I see him? I feel him."
Jamie worries his bottom lip between his teeth and his eyes are fixated on a spot in front of Vanessa. She swivels around to the empty space and reaches a hand out, "You're right in front of me, aren't you? Why can't I see you?"
"He doesn't know." Jamie answers and she turns back once again. "You obviously believe in him; if you can feel his hands. But maybe it's not enough. Maybe-"
Jamie cocks his head, as if listening to someone else. And then he frowns, "You really think that would help?"
"What? What did he say?" Vanessa demands, turning from Jamie to where she thinks Jack might be.
"Jack says that maybe he should bring you to the Pole. The Book of Guardians might have some answers."
"You want me to go to the North Pole?" Comes her deadpan response and Jamie winces slightly.
"Yes? But you'll get to see the reindeer and Santa!"
Vanessa drops her face in her hands and lets out a slightly hysterical chuckle, "Oh, what is my life? I have an invitation to go to the North Pole to see a winter spirit who's stalking me!"
"Oh, he doesn't like that. Jack says he wasn't stalking you; he was just…watching you. Protectively. Like a soulmate would."
Vanessa's head snaps upwards the same time Jamie slaps a hand across his mouth and a wintry breeze swirls into the room.
"What did you say?" She asks quietly. When Jamie refuses to respond, she turns to the empty space, "I'm your soulmate?"
Of course, there's no answer but at that moment, Vanessa finds that she doesn't particularly care. The questions spill unbidden from her lips, "Is that why I can feel you? Your presence, your touch; because we're somehow connected to each other. And you've been following me all day because you were hoping I would suddenly see you? But when I couldn't…"
She trails off and Jamie watches as she slumps on the bed, "You're the reason I keep getting these pangs in my chest. I'm feeling your pain, aren't I?"
Jamie watches as she reaches a hand out to seemingly clutch at nothingness. That is before Jack drifts forward slightly, with wet eyes and takes the hand in his own to press up against his face.
Vanessa closes her eyes as the cold seeps into her palm and she whispers, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you like that."
Jack feels the twinge in his chest at seeing her tears and he traces a finger over the dark skin, trying to wipe it away, "I'm sorry too. I wish you could see me."
Jamie speaks up then, keeping his voice quiet, "You should go to the North Pole. Maybe there you'll find some answers."
Vanessa begins to nod, "Yes; I'll come to the Pole and-" She's cut off by the cold touch against her lips.
Her unasked question is answered by Jamie. "Change of plans: he'll bring the answers to you. He's asking for two days; if he doesn't find an answer in two days, he'll take you there himself."
"Is there a reason he doesn't want me to go?"
"Well, it is the North Pole. Even with all your winter clothes, you'd be unable to stand the temperatures. I don't even know if I could protect you with my magic." Jack waits for Jamie to relay his response and watches as Vanessa's expressive eyes swirl with emotion.
Finally, she turns back to him, her eyes not really finding his own but locking onto a spot near his chest, "Alright then. Two days and then you're gonna figure out a way to get me to the North Pole and we're going to figure out some answers. Deal?"
Vanessa takes the bop of cold on her nose as a yes and she giggles as she rubs at the skin, "You really love that whole "nipping at the nose" thing don't you?"
Jack finds himself grinning in response, "Only for you."
Jamie makes a face at that cliché comment but his snarky remark is interrupted by the sound of a yawn and he sees Vanessa slap a hand over her mouth in slight mortification. She turns to the digital clock blinking away on Jamie's table, "Oh god, it's already two in the morning! I didn't realize how late it is."
Jack pulls back slightly from Vanessa, "You two should sleep. You need your rest."
Jaime's answering yawn makes him snicker. The young boy rubs at his eyes, "We'll see you soon Jack."
Jack lets a smile grace his features and turns to Vanessa who has just pulled her hair into a low ponytail and is now looking in his direction. He reaches out a hand to her but stops and he turns to Jamie, "Would you give us a second?"
Jamie gives him a suspicious look but when Jack gives him a pretty good attempt at puppy dog eyes, the boy relents. He turns for the door, "I'll be in the hall. Don't you try anything fishy." His warning is partly cut off by the door closing and finally, the two of them are alone.
Letting his feet touch the ground, Jack finds that he is a few inches taller than the brunette, who looks both confident and nervous.
Jack smiles and lets his hand graze a lock of hair that's escaped the ponytail. He tucks it behind her ear and then allows his fingers to trail her jaw.
Vanessa breathes in deep and exhales a laugh, "You're crazy, you know that? To fall for someone like me. Absolutely lunatic."
There's no bite behind the words, so Jack laughs and leans in to press his forehead against hers, watching as her eyes drift shut.
"Maybe we're both lunatics. We'll see in two days."
And then, before he can lose that tiny spark of courage, he leans down and presses a cold kiss to her lips.
In the three seconds that Vanessa gasps and snaps her eyes open, Jack is out the window, his laughter trailing behind him.
She stares out the open window, her hand still feeling the last traces of ice on her lips. Then Vanessa smiles, "Two days, Jack Frost. Two days."
Ooo
A.N: Man that was no where close to how I planned to write it…