"Who were you talking to?" Emma set the tray down in front of her brother.
"Huh?" Then Jack remembered the Guardian stalkers in his room. "Oh, um, no one. Just talking to myself."
"Oh." Emma leaned forward and placed a hand on Jack's forehead. "Are you sure you're all better now?"
"Awww, how sweet!" Tooth cooed from outside. Jack, who was fully aware of their presence, sent them a death glare.
"Go away!" He mouthed.
"No way!" Mouth Bunny.
"Shoo!"
"Make us!"
"Scram, you kangaroo!"
"Why you-!"
"Jack?" Emma studied her brother. "Oh, um, sorry." Jack laughed. "Yeah, I'm all better. Just a little tired, that's all."
"I can't believe I let you outside." Emma pouted guiltily.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Jack bent down and rubbed her head assuringly. "It wasn't your fault, kiddo. Really."
Emma looked up into her brother's warm eyes and smiled. She leapt forward and thrust her arms around his neck, and soon the two were tightly embracing each other.
"Hey..." Tooth looked at the scene sadly. "When do you think it's gonna happen?"
"You mean when he turns into Guardian?" North asked. Tooth nodded. "Who knows. We'll just have to wait."
"You don't think he-" Bunny couldn't finish the statement. The Guardians already knew what he was saying, but they didn't want to think about it.
The boy standing before them was definitely the Jack they knew. But his weak, frail body made them think otherwise. Jack Frost was an energetic, upbeat boy who flew around throwing snowballs and spreading wintry fun.
"Jack!"
The kids from earlier suddenly burst into the room. They crowded around Jack's bed in a rush.
"You're alive!"
"You okay?"
"You idiot!"
"Calm down, children." Mrs. Johnson said from the doorway. "Give Jack some space."
"You're so stupid." Ginny huffed, but relief clearly showed on her face. "Ah, ya know she was worried." Henry grinned and grabbed his friends head under his arm. He playfully ruffled his already unruly hair and laughed.
William and a bunch of other little kids jumped on top of Jack and buried him with hugs.
"It's nice to see Jack like this." Tooth smiled. "He seems happy."
"Indeed." North nodded happily. Sandy nodded as well, and a smiley face of sand formed above his head.
"But..." Bunny wondered.
"C-Can't breathe." Jack wheezed beneath the pile of kids.
"How long will it last?"