It was the day before Easter. The snow had melted, the ice had defrosted, and flowers were blooming. Sophie Bennett sat on the porch with set of paints and a large pad of paper. Jack Frost stood on the bannister, watching her paint a gray rabbit and Easter Eggs.
"So, you like Easter, huh?" Jack asked, watching Jamie go back and forth along the lawn with push-mower.
"I love Easter. It's… it's a time of new beginnings." Jack had heard this before. Bunny had said the same thing ten years ago. "Spring starts and maybe… the spirit will touch everyone. People will change."
Jack dropped down next to her, frowning. "Still having trouble making friends in school?" Sophie nodded, hiding her face behind a curtain of hair. "Well, if it makes any difference, I don't think you're weird. I think you're imaginative, creative, full of wonder and faith. And an excellent artist."
Sophie buried her face in her hands, ignoring that they were covered in paint. "Th-thank you." she muttered. She was still nervous around him. Especially when they spoke one-on-one. He wished he could find a way to get her to relax.
"I-I'm gonna get something to drink. Want something?" she asked.
"Nah, I'm good."
"Jamie!" she called to her brother over the roar of the mower. "I'm getting a drink! What do you want?"
"Get me some iced tea!"
She nodded and ran into the house. Jamie turned off the machine and plopped onto the stairs with Jack. He wiped his brow and looked back at him. "I could use some snow right about now."
"As you wish." Jack laughed and rolled his hands together to form a snowball. He held it over the teen who had closed his eyes. Jamie flinched at the impact.
"Thanks, bro." Jamie wiped the snow along his face to cool down. "Y'know," Jamie looked up at Jack. "I think Sophie has a crush on you."
Jack started at Jamie. What? What was he talking about? "A crush?"
"You know… she likes you. Think's you're cute or funny or whatever girl base that kind of thing on."
Jack wasn't sure what to make of this. He had never thought about this sort of thing before. He had never thought about relationships or love. He had never thought about girls in such a way.
But Sophie? He… somehow… He didn't feel weird about her affections. If she had those affections. Jamie wasn't certain. But now that he had brought them up, maybe it would be worth looking into? No. No, shouldn't. He wasn't going to lead her on. He hoped he wasn't. She was cute and charming and wonderful, but it wasn't something he was sure he could even able to return. Being an immortal spirit, was it even possible to love? He was so confused.
Jack must have been making a face without realizing it. Jamie started laughing.
"Dude, it's okay. Calm down. It's probably just a phase or something. It'll pass." Jamie brushed hair out of his face. "She just acts different around you than she does anyone else. She might just not be used to being around a Guardian. Probably still star-struck. I mean, it's kind of hard not to be, right?"
"So… it might not be… 'a crush?'" Jack replied uncertainly.
"Maybe. I dunno. I haven't seen her worked up around anyone like she gets around you."
Jack opened his mouth to respond, but the front door opened and Sophie walked out, holding four cups. One was stained with paint and baring fresh water to clean her brushes, two were ice tea, and one was iced hot chocolate. She set them down and handed the ice tea to Jamie and the iced hot chocolate to Jack.
Jack smiled as he looked into the cup. "But, I didn't ask for—"
"I know, but I know you really liked it when I made it during the winter. So, I made it just in case." she said quite as she stirred the fresh water with a green brush. "You know, Jack, you never told me about the Easter Bunny. I mean… what happened when I was a kid. I remember eggs with legs and a pink river, but… I don't remember much."
Jack sipped his drink. An idea dawned and he quickly set it down. "You know what? I'm not gonna tell you about it." Jack lept over Jamie and landed in front of front steps, looking excited. "You guys be ready to go in an hour. I've got some things I need to get."
He called for the wind to take him away, leaving the siblings to exchange confused glances.
An hour later, Jamie and Sophie sat on the steps, Jamie looking fresh after finishing the lawn and Sophie cleaning up her paints.
"Jack, what's going on?" Jamie asked. Jack smirked and held up a snow globe he had stolen from North.
"We're going on a field trip." He shook it and pastels glowed through the falling snow. He tossed it and a shining portal appeared.
"Jack, where—?"
"Just come on!" He beckoned them, grabbing their arms and pulling them through the portal.
"Whoaaaaaaaah." Jamie looked around the Warren, wide-eyed. "Where are we?"
Sophie stared. She recognized it. She remember this, Jack could see it on her face clear as day. She ran through the path set for the eggs to walk. Jamie ran after her, calling for her to wait up. Jack flew over them, grinning.
"Hey! Anyone home?" Jack called.
"If you've come to gloat about how Canada still has snow, I don't have time for you, you bloody bugger!" Bunnymund called from around a hill.
"Bunny!" Sophie cried, excited as she ran and lept at E. Aster Bunnymund. The surprised Guardian caught her and looked from Jack to Sophie and back.
"Jack, why—"
"The ankle-biter missed you." Jack smirked.
Bunnymund looked back at Sophie, his eyes widened in recognition. "It's been… it's been years. You've grown."
Sophie bite her lip through a grin. "Bunny… I remember now." She put her hand on his nose. "I forgot how big you were."
Bunnymund chuckled and set her down, patting her head. "You here to help out?"
"Can I? Please?" Sophie asked, jumping up and down. "And Jamie? Jamie, too?"
"'Course! The more the merrier!" Bunnymund beckoned to Jamie and Jack. "Well then, let's go, shall we?"
The four of them explored and traveled the Warren, making Easter Eggs. Sophie painted intricate designs on hers, while Jamie wrote inspirational quotes. Jack did his best to decorate some, but his hands ended up freezing the paint before he could finish. Bunnymund took the eggs from him, refusing to let him touch any more. Sophie and Jamie laughed. The two had found companionship with one another, though it was fun to argue. The other Guardians minus Sandy thought they they were serious when they fought. But it was just how they bonded.
They finished the eggs well into the night and watched them go through the tunnels. Sophie leaned against Bunnymund, yawning. Jamie ruffled her hair when he noticed her exhaustion.
He looked to Bunnymund. "You know, you were always her favorite Guardian."
"Jamie!" she shoved him against Jack indignantly. He snickered.
"Oh, am I now?" Bunnymund grinned.
"Hey, what about me? What about all the fun we have?" Jack feigned offense.
"I-I just—we—I—"
"She just knows who's the best Guardian and who has the best holiday." Bunnymund smirked.
Sophie's face burned and she leaned over Jamie to reach into Jack's hoodie pockets, feeling around for something.
"Whoah, hey, what are you looking for?"
"Another snow globe, I'm going home." She grumbled.
"I don't have another one." Jack laughed, pushing her gently away by the shoulders. Jamie raised his eye brows at Jack, holding back a snicker. "Besides, I'm joking. Calm down, Soph."
"You are so mean, Jack Frost." She crossed her arms.
"Sophie, what's that?" Jamie pointed towards one of the tunnels. There was a large stone egg, moving on it's own. Jamie would remember them moving, but Sophie had not. She suddenly got excited and jumped to her feet, running towards it. Jamie stood to follow her and winked at Bunny and Jack before running after her.
Bunnymund chuckled, getting settled. "So, you've been hanging out with these guys?"
"Yeah… you know… every once in a while…" Jack rubbed the back of his head.
"Do you think you'll be ready, then?" Bunnymund gave him a serious look. Jack frowned.
"Ready for what?"
"For when they stop believing in us. In you. They're going to get old." Bunnymund explained. "It's only a matter of time."
Jack watched the two climb on top of the egg for a ride. "I'll… I'll be alright. Besides… I don't think these two can ever stop believing. After taking a ride with North and this, how could they stop believing?"
"That may be true." Bunnymund shrugged, ushering along a straggling egg. "But they're… not like us. They won't be around for as long as we will be. Will you be prepared for that?"
Jack fell silent. He didn't know. He'd never grown attached to anyone over the past 300 years. This was the first time…
Would he be okay after they left this world? He didn't know. Only time would tell. And he'd take it one day at a time and savor the days he had with them.
A/N: Hm, seems like people aren't as interested in this RotG story as they are in my other one. Oh well. I enjoy writing it. I hope those of you who take the time to read it enjoy it to. I haven't posted on in ages. I think it's because once I post something on here, I lose motivation. It feels like a very negative place. For me. I think I prefer tumblr. But this is a good place to archive stories, anyway.
Well, I'm grateful to those that read! I hope you are enjoying the story so far!