(takes place several days after "Jumping Right In")

Home For Christmas?

North wasn't sure what Bunny was doing there or when he'd gotten there . . . or how many glasses of eggnog he'd drunk. Or why Bunny was trying to get him to stop anyway.

"Just one more!"

"You've had enough, North! Sweet eggies in a basket, what's gotten into you, mate? It's December! Your busiest month of the year!" said Bunny, pulling North's eggnog away.

"I know that, but I'm entitled to a bit of comisseration!" said North, trying to snatch his glass back.

"And why's that?"

"My son isn't going to be home for Christmas!"

"Your what? When the heck did you acquire one of those? W-wait, you're not talking about Frostbite, are ya?" asked Bunny sounded shaken.

"Jack Frost! He grew up so fast!" North sobbed.

"Alright, I take it you've heard those ridiculous rumors going around too. But you do know Jack isn't actually your son, don't you North? North?!" Bunny looked like he was about to start panicking.

"I know! But he could be! He's got my eyes! And my eyebrows! And my hair!"

Bunny sighed. "He looks like you, I'll give you that, but he's not your son. But wait, what's this about him skipping out on Christmas?"

"He says he has plans," North told the rabbit.

"But the Guardians always celebrate together!" protested Bunny.

"But he did not know that, and made other arrangements," North said.

Bunny scoffed. "Like heck he did. I bet the little brat just wanted to stir up some drama. He'll probably come crawling around Christmas day, being all like, 'My other plans fell through, so I guess you guys will do as a last resort.' I mean, what else could he possibly have going on? Who else would want the little rotten egg around?"

"Icemas Grubuv," said a passing yeti, causing North to sit up a bit straighter.

"What? What is this Icemas you speak of?"

"What?" asked Bunny.

"Not you, Hubert," North told him.

The yeti's name is Hubert? thought Bunny, as the yeti started talking.

"The cold spirits have their own celebration? In Antarctica? Every year? That's why Frosty hasn't been around the past few years? Even the Little Match Girl?"

"Say what now?" asked Bunny.

North finally turned back to him, looking considerably more sober. "Hubert says that all of earth's cold spirits have their own Christmas celebration in Antarctica every year. They were all tired of being left out or shunned by the other immortals from their own parts of the earth, and Jack started bringing them altogether every year for the past thirty or so years."

"Oh. Well that's . . . kind of depressing, actually. But he's got an invitation to our celebration now! What's he want to hang around those creepers for?" Bunny asked.

Hubert said something very loudly and angrily and North held up his hands to placate the yeti.

"Hubert says those creepers are his and Jack's friends, and who are you to judge their celebration without ever having seen it. He says they make a huge tree out of ice every year and decorate it with ice sculpted ornaments. And that the main event each year is Yuki-Onna and Snegurochka slush wrestling to try to win Jack's attention. Haha! My boy! Such a ladies man!"

"You do know he's not really your boy, don't you North?" reminded Bunny.

North's shoulders slouched, making Bunny feel like he'd just suckerpunched his oldest friend.

"Hey, I don't mean to be mean, but it's a fact, North. There's no blood tie between Jack Frost and any of us."

"I know, I know, but . . . but it just feels like there could be. Like he could be the son I never had. Or at least . . . at least like he could have been, had I realized it sooner," sighed North. Over the past few days, since the idea had first been planted in his head by that child in the mall, and since his run in with Jack, and Jack's subsequent rejection of his Christmas invitation, countless memories had been running through North's head, memories of Jack Frost before the Man in the Moon had chosen him to become a Guardian.

Remembering them, North couldn't blame Jack for thinking that nothing special would be happening this Christmas between him and the other Guardians. North recalled seeing the winter spirit watching him as he delivered toys many years, but never once receiving one for himself. He'd always been on the Naughty List. In later years, North remembered how Jack had pointedly not even looked in his direction when they crossed paths, while North was out leaving gifts for children. The last time he'd seen Jack Frost on a Christmas Eve had been a little over thirty years ago, so probably right before the Icemas tradition was begun. Jack had been in Burgess, his usual haunt, looking in on a particularly large family's Christmas party.

How many Christmases had Jack spent alone? Watching through windows but never being a part of the Christmas cheer? And could North really begrudge Jack for finding a way to banish his loneliness during the holidays, even if it meant he couldn't spend Christmas with the boy?

"And here I was planning on teasing you like crazy about how many people think Frost's your son," muttered Bunny.

"Would that he were," North muttered.

"You seriously wish he was that much? Or is this the eggnog talking?" Bunny asked.

"Nevermind. It makes no matter. He is not my son. He's just . . . a work colleague, I guess. Someone who I don't even spend Christmas with."

Bunny gave him an awkward pat on the shoulder. "Come on, buck up, mate. It's not too late for a Christmas miracle. Maybe he'll end up celebrating here with us after all."

Sorry if North's a little ooc. He was brooding on Jack rejecting his offer then drank a little too much eggnog, so the yetis got worried and called Bunny to sort him out. North's starting to realize just how badly he wants Jack to be his son, but hasn't yet realized becoming a family is a gradual process. It's kind of funny I think, how he has to be the patient one for once. Usually it's kids or fans who get all upset and impatient because they want something IMMEDIATELY! But this time it's Santa.