It was way past night fall when I finally felt like I could return home. Over the course of the day, I had helped in the creation of over 20 snow men, helped kids down a sledding hill more times that I really could count, lead carols and got in two separate snowball fights. Jack was around the whole time, but now there was an absence of him.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Small pricks of the cold air hit every inch of my exposed skin, and it made me feel alive. My fingers felt numb in my gloves, yet I found it really hard to care. A very pleasant peppermint hot chocolate sat in my stomach and radiated enough heat for me to be satisfied with myself.

I felt a breeze next to me that was somehow different than all of the other small little zephyrs that night.

"Sorry about that. Little Josephine was having trouble walking on the ice, so I wanted to make sure she didn't fall over on her way home." He grinned. It was the small things for him. "Ready to go?"

"Yes, I am ready." I was slightly nervous about this mode of transportation, but it was much more safer than the alternative.

He held out his arm, which I looped mine around. Within a moment, we were air borne and on our way.


It was not much later that we returned to the cabin. It was odd to see it from such a different angle than I had before. With the snow coating everything, it almost looked like something from a movie.

Rather than going inside to talk, we sat on the roof. The view was magnificent. I had put the fire on inside so the smoke and heat would radiate from the chimney. This was my chance to talk to him about questions that had been building up all day. I only hoped that now I had the chance, I wouldn't forget or balk.

"So now can I ask you questions?" I pulled my legs in criss cross, and folded my hands in my lap.

"Yes, you can." Jack mimicked my position, only he had his staff across his lap.

"What is with the staff? Like, what does it do?"

"It's a way I channel my power. Kind of like a wand, I suppose, because it's about the only way I know how to release my powers without blowing things up."

"Where did you get it?" I remembered when I got to clutch it for a moment. The way it breathed and emanated the strange aura was curious.

"I woke up and found it there at my origin." He shrugged. "I've just always had it."

I couldn't help but wonder more about the staff. It seemed so alluring to me. Tentatively, I reached out and touched the staff. A small pulse of power met my palm, a chill dancing its way up my arm.

"Any more questions you have for me?"

I returned my hand to my lap and worked my fingers. They felt like ice cubes. My mind was blank at the moment. Even after pausing for a while, there was almost nothing.

"Do you have any minions or a boss or something?"

He knit his eye brows together. It was too dark for me to really see him much, the only light being from the moon and his staff. Everything seemed to have a dull glow thanks to the snow. But he did seem to be thinking of something a bit.

"Define boss."

"Somebody who tells you what to do. You know what a boss is."

"Well, duh, of course I do." He idly toyed with his staff, making it roll a bit in his hands. "But, there is somebody who tells me what to do. He rarely does it, so it's not like 'make it snow there, Jack'."

"What about minions?"

"I like your use of the word. No, I do all of my work on my own." He jumped up, strutting down the peak of the roof like a cat on a fence. His swagger boasted confidence and pride. "This is a one man show!"

"Doesn't it get lonely?" I inquired.

He stopped dead in his tracks. All traces of pride and confidence were melting away as fast as snow under a flame thrower. His shoulders stooped ever so slightly and I noticed a hesitation in his step that had not been there a moment before.

"Eh, you get used to it after awhile."

I recalled what he had said earlier. Only believers could see them. Jack Frost was not exactly one of the myths you heard about all the time. Lonely was probably a way to define him and his way of life.

"So, where do you live during the summer? Do you just travel around a lot?"

He did not acknowledge this question, or me, really. I could tell by his stature that he probably spaced out and was in his own world.

Internally, I cursed myself. The smallest things would set some people off, and for each person it was unique. Looks like I had found Jack's and hit it dead center. It would probably be best for me to let him go off and think through things. Then again, that could be one of the worst things for me to do.

But, seeing as I was dealing with an immortal and I was getting kind of tired, I decided to head in for the night.

"Hey, Jack, can you help me down?"

He was shortly torn from his reverie. "Hm? Oh, sure." With a swift movement, he put his crook around me and floated down to the ground. All though it was terrifying, I managed to get down safely.

"Bye," I said as I entered my home. There really was no need for me to turn back to see how he was doing, but I did any way. He had already left to go wherever he goes when he wants to think about stuff.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a colorful flash. By the time I looked over, there was nothing there. Maybe my eyes were pulling tricks on me. Then again, it could be something totally different from how things were turning out to be for me.

Without the full assurance and confidence that I was alone, I receded into my cabin and locked the door.

Author's Note: Sorry for the short chapter, you guys. I just found this the perfect end. Any way, review to make my day and all that good stuff. One thing you could tell me is your opinion on this: I am thinking about writing stories involving the guardians, but more of a collection of one shots. Some of them might deal with Jack as a human, or maybe the others on expeditions. Might be amusing.