I woke up the next morning to all the windows in my room covered in frost with pictures scratched onto them. (It was a lovely surprise and made my morning much more enjoyable.) I didn't want to get out of my nice warm bed, but I knew I had to as I had promised Jamie I would take to the lake out in the forest and teach him to ice skate. So I got up and went to make myself some breakfast.

When I got to the bottom of the stairs I found that every window in the house was covered in frost with the scratched out pictures. I went into the kitchen to see the window over the sink had words scratched on it. Said I'd watch out for you. That's when it really hit me; Jack had stayed outside my house all night to draw these. (I didn't know if I should find it creepy or sweet, but I think he meant the second one so I went with it.) My mouth had dropped open. I thought he was just going to walk me home, not stay until the sun came up. I smiled happily as I ate and made snacks for later. Just as I finished packing up the food I heard Jamie knock then walk in the door. (I've told him that he could just walk in as I unlock the door every time I'm home and awake, but he still knocks before doing so.)

"Luna?"

"In here, kiddo. Give me a minute to get my coat." I go back up the stairs to put on my coat (it's a tad heavier than my hoodie) and slip on some gloves (if I fall on the ice.) I grab my skates and make my way to the front door.

"Lu, why are there pictures on all the windows?" I hear Jamie call from the front room

"I think Jack put them there last night while I was sleeping." I call back to him

"So that's what he was doing." He said with understanding in his voice. At this point I had come to stand in front of him.

"What do you mean?"

"I couldn't sleep last night. I looked out my window and saw him flying all around. When I asked what he was doing he just said that he had a promise to keep. Then he asked what I was still doing up and I told him I was excited about skating with you today. He asked if he could tag along. I told him that he'd have to ask you."

"I wouldn't mind if you don't kiddo. Come on, we should get going. You have a lot to learn." With that we started toward the lake, Jamie's mom calling to us to be careful. I said that we would be and we both waved as we walked away. We joked and chatted the whole way there. Before we knew it we were at the lake and Jamie was pulling on his skates. I stood waiting for him after I had put mine on the ground.

"Aren't you going to put yours on?" He asked me, pointing to where I had put the skates in the snow.

"Not yet. I want you to learn a little before I do. I'll be able to reach you faster if you fall."

"Wow. I never thought about it like that." He looked behind me and his eye went wide with more happiness. "Hi, Jack!"

"Hey, kiddo." (What was with him and my nickname for Jamie!?) He ruffles Jamie's hair then turns to me and gives a dramatic bow.

"My lady." I laugh at this and give him a curtsy, playing along.

"My good sir. I liked the presents you left."

"I'm glad." He told me with a smile I couldn't help, but to return.

"Would you mind if I hung around here for a while? Just to make sure that nothing happens." He looked over at the ice sadly. I wondered why, but I wasn't going to say anything in front of Jamie.

"Yeah, I don't mind." After I said this he smiled again, but it didn't reach his eyes. He was still looking down when he turned back to me.

"Why are you wearing shoes?" I look at my feet when he asks me and give him the same answer I had told my brother.

"If he falls or something, I'll be able to get to him faster. I want him to learn before I get out there myself."

"That the most sensible thing I've heard." He said with awe in his voice. I just shrugged. It's what I always did to teach kids how to skate. I was the only older kid willing to help out the younger ones.

"I'm going to be up there." Jack pointed to a lower branch in one of the trees closest to the lake. The second I nodded my understanding he flew up in the tree. He sat there like he'd done so a million times. He was laying back (but could still see the entire mass of water before him) with one leg hanging down and the staff he always held was tightly grasped in his hand. He eyes were wide and watched our every move.

Jamie looked over at me with a sly grin. "I think somebody likes you."

I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing. "I doubt that. I met him yesterday."

He gave me the yeah,and? Look. I just shook my head at him.

"Why don't we get on the ice?"
"Lu?"

"Yeah?"

"I can't stand up." I roll my eyes and hold out both my hands for him to grab. I pull him to a standing position. He stands for a moment then nearly falls over again. Once he's still I help guide him over to the frozen water.

It takes all morning for him to learn how to keep his balance and make his way around a little on his own. It didn't take as long for him to grasp the moving forward part. I looked over a Jack a few times during the lesson, his eyes open and watchful. For the last hour or so though they had been closed. He looked to be dozing.

Jamie and I were getting ready to take a break to eat our snacks and give me a chance to put my skates on. I was half way to the edge, being able to move faster with just shoes on, while Jamie was still working his way over because he said he wanted to do it himself.

"Luna!" I head Jamie call to me, there was fear in his voice. I turned to him, that's when I heard it. A quiet cracking. I looked at the ice to see small, almost not there breaks in it. It wouldn't have been hard to get off the ice before it broke, but Jamie had frozen in fear, staring at the ice under him. My mind went blank for half a second (this had never happened before and it just had to be when I was with him) then I moved toward him, slowly.

"Jamie, honey, hey look at me." I didn't do anything, not even move until he looked up. There were tears in his eyes that he refused to let fall.

"Lu, I'm scared."

"I know. I know. Just keep looking at me, okay? I wouldn't let you fall, would I?" As I'm talking I take small, careful steps closer to him, making my way behind him, thankful I had yet to put my blades on. He never once takes his eyes off of me.

"No, you wouldn't. You never let anything bad happen."

"That's right. This is no different. I know you're scared, but I need you to move toward me. Can you do that?"

"I can't! I don't remember how!" He sounded even more distressed than he had before.

"It's okay, it's okay." I was quick to reassure him. "I know, tell me my favorite story. The one about Easter." The tears had started to fall down his face as I continued my way to him. I wasn't really sure what I was going to do when I got there, but I had an idea. It was also better than being so far away from him right now. He nodded shakily as he began his tale of what had happened over the holiday, just months before. By the time he was half-way through I was almost behind him. He had his head turned so that he could still see me as he told his story. My idea was that I would push him over to the safer side of the ice where I would be able to go over and pull him back to the edge. (In the back on my mind I wondered where Jack had gone as him flying would have been helpful.) The cracks were larger now and both of us standing on them didn't help. Jamie was to the part where he turned the black sand to gold and went to save the Sandman when I put my hands on his back.

"Okay kiddo, I'm going to push you had hard as I can so you go over to the thinker ice. If you keep going try to aim for the edge. If you fall, make sure you don't hit your skates, okay?"

"I'll try." He said as he turned his head back to face in front of him.

"That my brave little brother. On three. Ready? One… two…THREE!" I shoved him as hard as I could and watched as he slid over to the safer part if the ice. He came to a stop close to the edge where we had put our things. I heard the ice cracking get louder. I guess me shoving Jamie didn't help the matter. I could see the ice breaking and feel my heart beating in my ears. I knew I had to get over to my brother before I fell through. I could hear Jamie laugh with relief, that was until he turned around. He saw where I was and what was happening to the ice. He seemed more scared than when he was out here himself. I took small, careful steps back the way I had come. As the ice broke more I saw a flash of blue over by Jamie. I assumed that Jack had come back and taken him off the ice. Just as I was starting to breathe again the ice I was standing on was no longer there. I screamed as I fell into the should-be-frozen water below. I tried to swim up, but my arms and legs wouldn't listen to my brain. I knew what drowning felt like and this was it. It felt like I'd been down there for hours when it was only seconds. I thought I was going to die. That's when I felt a pair of thin arms grab my waist and pull me up, out of the water. Whoever had pulled me out took me over to Jamie, who was standing there in his bare feet (I thought I told him to wear socks.) The last thing I remember is a deep voice telling Jamie to grab our things then follow to my house. Then everything went dark.

A/N I have to say, I'm really proud of this one. I hope you guys like it as much as I do. I gave myself writers cramp today because of all the writing I did. (exams, ugh) If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I will be very happy to answer if I know the answer. Review and tell me what you think of it! See you tomorrow!