/x/x/x/

Laughter fills the air as children play in the forest surrounding Jack's lake, weaving between the large trunks to avoid snowball missiles from the other children and the Spirit of Winter himself. Four years have passed since the death of Raven's family. Jack has kept his promise throughout the years, giving her comfort when it was needed and fun when she was too sad. Though Jack would never admit it to anyone, watching the children grow up pains him.

Jack is aware the children are reaching the age where they will no longer believe in the Guardians. It is this threat of disbelief that keeps the Spirit in Burgess for the majority of his time. He wants Jamie, Raven, and the other children to believe in him for as long as they possibly can. The children tell him they will always believe in him, though he only smiles sadly at their words before starting a snowball fight or a skating race to distract them.

Jack is in good spirits this day, putting his whole self into the fun he is giving the children of Burgess. He has pushed away the worrying that is so unlike the Guardian of Fun. He notices the children don't seem to be as interested in playing today as they have in past times, however.

"How about some ice skating, guys?" Jack calls cheerily, waving the children to join him at the lake's edge.

The twins seem truly interested in this suggestion, tugging their skates on and jumping onto the ice before the others put on one skate. Jack smiles brightly as he watches them stumble onto the ice. After four years of hanging around Jack Frost, they should be pros at winter activities such as this, though only the twins can be counted as expert skaters. At least they all have fun.

A tap on Jack's arm has him kneeling beside Jamie, a curious look on his face. Jamie doesn't look well, his cheeks pale.

"Jamie, are you okay? You're pale... Maybe you should head home for the day?" Jack suggests, unwilling to allow any of the children to get sick on account of him. Jamie shakes his head urgently.

"It's not me, Jack. You need to know this..." Jamie's voice fades away as he glances towards his friends on the lake. Jack follows his gaze, seeing Raven hasn't joined the others. She is instead sitting on a fallen log, arms crossed over her knees and an indecipherable look on her face.

"Raven's moving."

Those two words send an uncanny numbness down Jack's spine. Children come and go all the time on the whims of their families. He has lost and gained new believers and friends since he was initiated into the Guardians, but never someone so close to him.

"But why? Where?"

Jamie frowns, closing his eyes tightly. "You know she's been moved around different families in town. No one... No one wants to keep her until she's grown up. She's being sent to an aunt or an uncle... in Florida..."

Florida was a state Jack did his best to stay away from. He didn't want to test the possibilities of what would happen to him in an environment that hot. He would be unable to visit her except on the coldest days in the state, and even that was pushing his comfort zone.

"When is she leaving?" Jack mutters, watching Raven closely. Now that he knows she's moving, an understanding of why the children aren't as cheerful rises within him. A close friend is leaving them, and they feel helpless. They have been Raven's surrogate family for the past four years, and she still needs them. Jack finds himself growing upset that none of the adults in Burgess are willing to keep her safe and happy.

"Tomorrow. We just found out today. She didn't want to tell us until the last minute..."

Jack nods. "Go and play with your friends, Jamie. Let me talk to her and see if there's anything that we can do." Jamie's face relaxes in relief. Jack can fix this problem, Jamie believes. Jack can keep their family together. He rushes onto the ice to join his friends, whispering to them excitedly how Jack will make everything better.

Jack moves towards Raven. The girl notices his approach, but simply lowers her head so her hair covers her eyes.

"Hey, Raven." Jack sits beside her, resting his staff in the crook of his arm as he leans forward to try and catch her eye. She turns her head away from him. Jack pushes away the growing hurt from the action, knowing Raven must be just as upset about her situation as Jack and her other friends.

"How long have you known?"

"A week." Raven's whisper carries to Jack's ears.

"You should have told us. I could have..." Jack stops speaking. What could he have done if he'd known earlier than now?

Raven snorts at the silence. "You know there's nothing you could or can do to make this any better, Jack... I'm leaving, and I won't see any of my friends or you ever again..." Her shoulders begin shaking, little gasps escaping her parted lips.

"That's not true! I can come visit you! You know it's not a problem for us Guardians to travel around the world in the blink of an eye." Jack tries his hardest to cheer her up, he really does.

It doesn't work.

Raven turns, her eyes hardened into an icy glare. It shows she is not like the other children, that she is able to pull off such an adult look at the soft age of twelve. Jack quiets, waiting.

"I don't want you to melt, Jack. You've told me before you don't know what hot weather will do to you. I don't want you to die because I'm selfish."

Jack tries again. "Well, then maybe I can have ol' Kangaroo bring you to North's workshop and I can see you there? You know the other Guardians love having you around, and I'm sure North would let you try out all the new toys the Yetis have created."

The idea looks to interest Raven as her glare softens, but then she shakes her head. "It won't be the same. Jack, I don't want to move! I want to stay here! Can't I stay with you? Or with Santa? Or even with Bunny? I don't want to move to stupid Florida! I don't want to leave my friends!"

Jack is left speechless. Oh, he wishes he can take Raven in, to take care of her so she won't have to move away from everything she loves.

Instead of answering, Jack slips his hand into her warm palm, pulling her to her feet. She resists, but he but he is stronger than her. He scoops her up, holding her tightly against his chest before speaking to the wind.

Raven yelps in surprise as they leave the ground, hands tightening in Jack's hoodie as she tries to push herself tighter against the Spirit of Winter. Jack doesn't go too high, just high enough to skim the top branches of the trees. He doesn't want to frighten her, but to give her a memorable experience to last her for the years to come.

"I've promised you for years now that I would take you flying, Raven." Jack says, resting his cheek against the top of her head. She has hidden her face in his shoulder. "I won't drop you, Raven. Take a look."

Raven cautiously turns her head, opening her eyes slowly though she refuses to relinquish her death grip on Jack's neck. The sun is closer to the horizon, signaling it is past mid-day. The other children will have to go home soon, but Jack refuses to let Raven go home in such a mood.

"This will be different than flying in North's sleigh, so if you get too scared, be sure to tell me so I can fly lower, okay?"

Raven bites her lip, looking up at Jack. "I trust you, Jack."

Jack grins. He speaks to the wind, and the two begin flying over the frozen treetops. Raven whimpers, but bravely keeps her head turned outwards to watch the passing trees and sky.

The Guardian doesn't know what he can possibly say, so allows his actions to speak for him. The two fly over the town of Burgess, the houses small to Raven's wondering eyes. The people look as small as ants, and Raven finds herself wishing they have as much power as the small creatures. The town is quickly behind them as Jack takes her farther than she has journeyed before, sparkling snow and trees over-taking the civilized areas.

"Where do you want to go?"

Raven sinks into deep thought, wondering where she would like to visit. After a few moments of silence, the dark-haired girl huffs in annoyance.

"I don't know. Do you know anywhere pretty?"

Jack can't help the affectionate smile that spreads across his lips. Children are so innocent. He wishes they never have to grow out of their dreams of beauty and light.

"I'm sure I can find somewhere for you. Be sure to hold on tight."

The place Jack settles on is about twenty minutes outside of town the opposite way of his lake. The clearing is encircled by trees that have grown for close to a hundred years. The clearing is covered in a small blanket of snow which will increase by a few inches before the two leave. Jack sets Raven on her feet, watching her explore the new area in wonder. The animals that call the clearing home know Jack, but are wary of the new intruder. Raven's honest interest in them soon draws a few birds from their nests that flitter around her, chirping as they inspect her.

Jack leans against his staff, watching the sight with a gentle smile. Raven looks at him over her shoulder, her smile bright and happy unlike her previous mood. The change of area does wonders for her. If only this happiness didn't have to end...

/x/x/x/

Jack keeps his hand over Raven's interlocked fingers, making sure she doesn't fall from his back as they fly back to his lake. The sun is beginning to set, the sky blending into crisp oranges, reds, pinks, and purples. Raven's eyes are trained intently on the spectacle. She has seen the sunset from the ground, but never from the air.

The wind takes them higher at Jack's command so Raven can see the full beauty of nature's cycle.

"Jack, I don't want to leave this." She whispers in his ear. He closes his eyes, blank on what he can possibly tell her.

When he re-opens them, the sun has half-way disappeared beyond the horizon.

"Can't we just follow the sun, Jack? So the day I have to leave never comes?"

Jack chuckles at her child-like reasoning. "If it were possible, I would."

The wind lessens, letting Jack float lower and lower, the sun disappearing completely as they reach the ground. Raven slides from his back, moving towards the edge of the lake. She is sad again, by the droop evident in her shoulers, though she is no longer crying.

"Raven, you'll be okay. The other Guardians will be able to watch over you. You know how to call them if you need them."

"But I don't want them! I want you!" She turns, her little eyes cold and enraged. "They're fun to be around... I like to paint eggs with Bunny, and I like playing with Baby Tooth. I like the piggyback rides from the Yetis and Santa, and I like seeing the dreams Sandy can create. But they aren't you! You're fun, and happy, and you actually have time for someone like me!"

Jack is taken aback by her outburst. She clenches her hands into fists, stomping her foot. "My stupid aunt doesn't want me! Why is she taking me now, after four years, huh?! If she cared, wouldn't she have wanted me to live with her right after my family died? Wouldn't she, Jack?!"

Now the tears come, and Raven rubs furiously at them as if they burn her skin. "I'm wanted here. I'm happy here. Why do the grown-ups want to ruin that? Why won't you let me stay with you, Jack?"

Jack shakes his head, floating forward to kneel in front of the upset child. "You can't stay with me, Raven. You may be more attuned to my cold than the others, but you'd soon get frostbite, or hypothermia. I would rather you be healthy than get sick living with me." He grips her shoulder, meeting her eyes with difficulty. It is always hard to dash a child's dream, especially when it has never been done before.

"You have to go, if that's what the adults are telling you... I can't take care of you like you need to be taken care of. I'll do my best to visit you for as long as you believe, Raven, I promise..."

The look of destroyed hope breaks Jack's heart. He's the Guardian of Fun, he shouldn't have to tell a child this! Why do adults have to ruin everything, making him break the heart of a child he's protected and cherished for years?

Raven shoves Jack away from her, throwing off his balance so he lands in the snow. He looks at her, bewildered hurt flashing across his eyes. She glares at him, tears streaming down her face.

"I hate you!" She screams, stomping her foot again before running back towards town, her sobs echoing back to a crushed Jack Frost.

/x/x/x/

Jack doesn't have the chance to see Raven again before she leaves. Winter calls him to other places in the States, so by the time he arrives home, she's three days departed.

Her final words still resonate painfully in his heart, a cruel mockery of the peaceful scene in the woods.

/x/x/x/

That month was the first time in many years the residents of Burgess, Pennsylvania had to deal with freezing rain. The adults found it annoying and dangerous. Jamie and the other children realized it was Jack Frost's sadness manifesting without his control over the friend that was now out of their reach.

/x/x/x/