"Jack, are you alright? You're pretty quiet."

Jack sighed, pulling off the hood of his frosted jacket. He shook his head, floating on the wind to settle in a nearby branch. "She…"

"Alice, right?" Jaime called up to the winter spirit. "What happened to her?"

"Pitch." He answered truthfully. It was Pitch's fault.

"What did he do?"

"Don't worry about it." Jack faked a smile, hopping down from the branch. "But, will you help me find something?"

"Sure, what are we looking for?"

"A box. A small one, with a necklace inside."

"A jewlry box? Why?"

"I lost it around here."

"Sure!"

He said he wasn't going to come back here for a while. But, he knew he was going to have to one day or another.

And it felt better now that Jaime was around.

"It's okay Tooth, he's just upset, he'll come around."

"But Jack's right, we don't understand. We weren't there. We didn't have the relationship he had with her. We were family to her… not…"

"Not Jack." The animalistic Guardian placed a hand on Tooth's back, "He'll come around, mate. That servant's with him. He'll be okay."

"Speaking of Servant. He seems… strange, no?" North cut in, his hand against his chin.

"Now that you mention it, that bloke wasn't surprised to see me or Sandy; he didn't even care."

"Someone who can see, but doesn't care."

"If you're going to talk about me, try to do it quietly."

The four turned to see aforementioned servant standing in the middle of the room, dusting something from his shoulders.

"I don't mind you talking about me; I don't really, but try to do it quietly." Eric stated, face still deadpanned. "I'm trying to concent-" Eric paused, his chin rising until his face was staring through the open window above. The moon was full, reigning from the night before. "What do you mean? She's…" Eric dropped his head, immediately pulling his arms up in defense.

"What's going on, Eric?"

"He's here."

"Who's here, mate?"

"Well, that's a sight for sore eyes. Eric, long time no fear. Oh, how I miss your screams."

"Oh… him." Bunnymund commented, "How does he know you?"

"Don't. Ask."

"On a serious note, how's Jack?" The man coated in black called out, a smirk hidden in his voice. "Still mourning I'd expect."

"Pitch, you went too far!" Tooth cried out, fluttering closer to the nightmarish man. "You killed someone!"

"Yes, I'm quite aware, and I'll bet, you want to know why?"

"Yes, I would." Eric stated, his arms still up and defensive.

"Well, in truth, she was going to die anyways. I just made it happen. She was destined to die."

"That's it? That's your reason?"

"That's a simple question, yes." Black sand floated to the ground and the Guardian's feet, "Why else? And had it not been for her fear, I wouldn't have been able to escape those confines. It was a beautiful fear. All the fear of a simple little friend forgetting her when she was gone. It was a thank you."

"How-how-how is that a thank you? Killing someone?"

"If you knew the truth, you'd understand."

"I highly doubt I would."

Eric's arms dropped slightly, "Why have you come here?"

"To see how little Jack was holding up, that's all."

"He's not here."

"Hmm, I can see that." The man slipped into the shadows, "Since he's not here, I'll be going now."

"Jack, I can't find it…"

"It's got to be around her somewhere… it's gotta be."

"Jack, I'm cold, and I want to go back inside."

"But I have to find it. It had to fall out around here…"

"Jack, Sophie's cold too."

Sophie? Had she followed Jaime when the two of them came out here?

"You guys… can go, I'll keep looking."

"I'm sorry, Jack. And I hope you feel better soon."

"…Thanks, Jaime."

With that, Jack watched the two children disappear into the wooded area surrounding the lake, hand in hand. The velvet box was still missing, and he'd combed the place over four times. But it had to still be here. He had it before it happened. He caught sight of the moon glaring down on him.

"You said everything would be alright!" He shouted at the satellite, "This isn't alright! Alice is gone! She's gone!"

He slammed his staff into the ice, effectively cracking it beneath his feet. He cringed at the sound. It echoed to the same tune as the sound that had led to Alice's…

"You could at least tell me why…" Jack called loudly.

"Jack, I've told you already a few times before why."

Jack staff was immediately raised to defensive height. "What do you want, Pitch?"

Pitch merely chuckled, hands becoming visible from behind his back, "What do I want? Isn't it more of what you want?" The obsidian sand trailed behind the man as he circled the winter spirit. "It's a shame you didn't take the deal, Jack."

"You killed her."

"Yes, that was me. I will not lie about that. It was me who killed her, but you're the one who let her die."

"I couldn't do anything."

"Because you didn't take the deal, Jack." Jack winced at the nightmarish fingers that brushed against his face, pulling away. Earning a slight chuckle, "Which is why I'm offering you another deal, now that you've seen what I can do to those who oppose me."

"I won't be making that deal! You're just a lia-"

"I can bring Alice back."

Jack's words came to a halt at the man's words. Bring Alice back? Pitch had the power to do that? Bring back those he'd killed?

"And all you have to do," Pitch's fingers touched Jack's face again, causing the lucid eyes to stare into his, "Is leave the Guardians and join me."

"And I'll have Alice back."

"Forever."

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,

Jack Frost nipping at your nose…" The song played over the radio. He'd missed hearing the name of the artist who sang this version.

Boots crunched next to him. The awesome sound of snow compressing beneath feet. Well, he found it pleasing to his ears. Especially when it was the snow he had conjured up.

He turned to look at her. She was smiling, just like he always wanted. To keep that smile on her face. Other than wearing her smile, she adorned her cerulean hoodie, and a matching set of ear muffs, scarf, and gloves. She was still wearing her knee length shorts and socks, but now she had snow white snow boots on. Flakes of white fluff speckling her actually brushed strands.

"Tell me a story. One you've told before."

"I can't… I don't know any." He answered with a smirk.

"Then I'll tell you one…" She paused, "Once upon a time, winter was split. Split between the two years, leaving the dead days alone. Winter at the end, and beginning of the next year that followed. The dead days fall in the dead of winter. Due to air currents, the moon used to have to control the weather. But he didn't want to anymore, because it took up most of his time."

Jack blinked, his eyes coming into focus to stare into the nightmare's amber ones. He pulled away from the obsidian sand, holding his head, "What was that for?!" He cried, craning his head up to stare at the moon. "Why are you making me remember that?"

He got no reply from the satellite, instead the man commented, "Remembering something?"

"Go away!"

"What's your answer, Jack?"

"I'm still not joining you, Pitch!" Jack shouted, sending a blast of frigid air at the man.

"You'll regret it, Jack Frost."

"I highly doubt I will."

"But where did that get you last time?"

"Go!"

"Have it your way, Frost."

The man returned to the shadows, slipping out of the area. Jack shook his head and took to the sky, the wind knowingly taking him back to the others.

Don't worry, Jackson.

Everything will be alright.

I promise…

o.O

I'm in a writing spirit. So much that I probably upload another chapter later.

Would that be alright?

As always, thank you for the reviews/favorites/follows.

Shout out to chipmunk3245 who left an amazing review. Thank you shim.

O.o