Hi! Next chapter is up :) And sorry it took me so long, but I had my reasons.
The next memory began and the guardians were still in the woods, facing the little cottage Jack had once called home so many years ago. It was still springtime, or again. They didn't know yet how much time had passed.
Unsure of what will happen next they looked at each other. 'So what now?' The others shrugged at Tooths question.
Just then the door of the cottage opened and the brown-haired Jack, not looking older than in the last memory, emerged with a tall man in his middle ages. He had the same messy brown hair as Jack, but his eyes weren't chocolate-brown but had a deep green color. Curiously, the guardians watched the man and the boy. They could nearly feel the love of these two towards each.
The man had a hand on Jacks shoulder as he walked outside with him. He knelt in front of Jack and looked him deep in the eyes.
'Okay, you and I both know you will do great! You have done it before, Jackson!' The voice of the man was gentle and caring.
'O-Okay, who is this and what is he talkin' about?' Bunnys confusion was written all over his face, just like the other guardians. Jack tore his eyes reluctantly away from his past self. He was about to answer, when the younger Jack did it for him.
'But Dad! I'm not a shepherd, I'm just the town trickster!'
The winter spirit looked at Bunny with a weary smile. Bunnymund raised an eyebrow. 'A shepherd, really?' Jack frowned but then smiled mischievously. 'No! How did you get this idea? I was a tailor, Bunny! That's why I have this awesome magical needle to spread winter all over the world, you know!' Jack laughed at Bunnys blank expression and the others snickered. 'Yeah, yeah... I get it...' Bunny grumbled but then nudged the winter spirit with a small smile. Their attention turned back to the memory.
Jack looked with big eyes at his father. 'And you were always with me, whenever we herded the sheep! I've never done it before ALONE!'
The boy dropped his head sadly and whispered. 'I'm no good... everybody always says it and they are right.' A small tear fell from his normally so joyful eyes.
The guardians winced slightly and watched with an aching heart the scene before them. It was not new to them, that Jack had a low self-esteem. But never had they thought the youngest guardian would have been so insecure even as a human. It hurt them to know Jack needed someone to reassure him so badly and it hurt them even more to know they hadn't been helping at all in the last 300 years. They gave each other on last glance before looking back at the man and the boy before them.
Jacks father no longer smiled. An angry expression adored his features.
'Who said that?' Jack sniffled silently. 'Mary-Ann Burgess... '
The man smiled sadly at his distressed son and whipped the single tear away. 'You know Jacky, only because her father is the town founder doesn't mean she is always right!' The boy looked surprised up when the older man chuckled lightly. 'And how come you didn't tell her your piece of mind like you always do? I've never heard of you just accepting something.'
'How do you know I didn't do it?' Jack fathers laughing boomed through the silent woods. 'Because it would have been all over the town by now, that's why! As you said, you are the town trickster!' At this Jack joined in the laughter.
'Well good to know, your attitude isn't like this because of us!' North laughed as well and punched the winter spirit lightly in the shoulder.
The laughter slowly faded and Jacks father ruffled his son's hair lovingly. His expression grew serious again but a small smile still visible in his green eyes.
'Now... back to business, son! The sheep need to be herded and you are the only shepherd available since I have to go to town.' He stood up and looked down at his son. A frown returned to the boys face. 'But how can I be a shepherd...' His father put a finger to his chin and nodded his head slowly. 'You are right... something is missing you to be a real shepherd... But what can it be!?' Jack furrowed his eyebrows. He knew this look. It ment his father was up to something. His suspicions were affirmed when the man raised his finger like an idea had hit him. He turned around and walked back inside the house, leaving his son alone outside. 'Dad?' The small boy called after a while but didn't follow him.
Even the guardians were curious now. What was this man up to? They didn't know except for Jack Frost, who just smiled at the sweet memory.
When the man came back he held something behind his back with a mischievous glint in his eyes. In this very moment the resemblance between Jack and his father was incredibly striking.
Jacks father smiled at his sons attempts to look behind his back and finally brought the item out. It was a shepherd staff with a crooked ending.
The young boys eyes grew wide and looked back and fro between his father and the shepherd staff. Unsure of what to do.
'My boy, you are now a real shepherd. Nobody could doubt your herding abilities with this, right?' He smiled brightly when he placed the staff in his sons small hands.
Jack held the staff tight to his chest and grinned at his father.
'I promise you, I will be the best shepherd you can think of! I will make you proud of me, dad.'
The man placed a soft kiss to his forehead and replied: 'I already am. I will always be proud of you!'
The guardians were moved to tears. This was the second memory they had watched and again they had seen the love between Jack and his family. It was amazing to see the tight bonding they shared. But Jacks future lingered in the back of their heads, for they knew he would be forced to leave his caring family behind soon. They knew it and Jack himself knew it as well, but they just wanted to enjoy these sweet moments for as long as possible.
Hope you like it! And thank you all for your reviews!
