A/N: Hey guys, sorry about the last chapter. I don't usually do cliff hangers. But anyway special thanks, like a giant big fat thank you to Punkalunk. My new Beta-Reader and this is the first beta-read chapter. Yeah! Tell me what you guys think. Speaking of reviews, Hint Hint. Thank you to the following reviewers: Animago, AyameKitsune, gh0ster, Guest, Brenne, and Candy Phantom. You guys are awesome! Some more awesome people are you guys that followed and favorited. I love you guys too! Not in a love-love way I just love your guys support! Anyway Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own ROTG.

Jack-

"Jack!" The voice was worried but distant, like I was underwater. Did I fall into the lake again? I tried moving anything, but my body was so sore and I was exhausted. What happened? My hand was able to grab something that felt like a sheet. A sheet? I don't have a bed.

"Jack." This voice was more clear, assertive, and heavily accented. Almost sounded how I pictured kangaroos would sound like if they could talk. Wait, kangaroo? Was that Bunny? Why is he at the lake? My hand touched the sheet again. Maybe I'm not at the lake…

"Jack, awake up." That was definitely North. If his accent hadn't given him away, you could tell by the way he mixed up one of the simplest English phrases. So then the first voice must've been Tooth. Tooth, Bunny, North, and mostly likely Sandy were around me, but where? I smelled…pine trees and cookies? The Pole! But why am I at the-

Again, I was slammed with memories of what just happened. I was trying to get out, to leave. Then I, I fainted in front of Tooth, I think. It doesn't matter. I still need to get away. I shot up, my eyes squinting as they searched the bright room for my staff. I only registered the pain after I noticed my staff lying at the foot of the bed. The pain caused a weird strangled sound to come out of my mouth but I wanted to get out of here. I tried reaching for my staff but a huge, stupid furry paw stopped me.

"Oh no you don't." said Bunny. I didn't even have to see his arrogant face to know he was smirking and enjoying himself. I just pushed his paw away.

"Don't tell me what to do Kangaroo." I huffed. The most essential part of getting out of here was my staff, and I was going to get it. I reached for it again but two small hands rested on my shoulders. The dainty one was definitely Tooth's and the thicker one must've been Sandy.

"Jack, please." Tooth begged. It took everything in me to not look at her face. If I looked at her I would lose my anger, my passion to get out. And for some reason that's what I was holding onto right now. Sandy even tried to float in front of me, but I just avoided his gaze and moved past him. That hurt like hell, but that was okay. The pain kept things in perspective.

"Jack." I heard North's deep Russian voice call behind me.

"What now?" I lashed harshly, not to anyone in particular. I didn't look back at him but he didn't reply so I was good. I continued the agonizing trip to the foot of bed. Yet, when I reached the foot of the bed, my staff was gone. I couldn't help the labored breaths that came out. I was drained, angry, in pain, and I just needed to leave. I frantically searched for my staff and finally looked behind me. North stood next to Bunny at the head of the bed with my staff in his hands, gently inspecting it. Why did they keep stopping me? Most people just let me leave. Why are they doing this? "North," I growled. "Give me my staff, now!" I tried to maintain my tone, but what started out as a snarl came out as more of a gasp in the end. North's curious gaze went from my staff, to me, then down to the staff again. I felt like a kid that got caught stealing a cookie before dinner. I felt so guilty, but why? Why is this so hard? All I want to do is leave. That's not a bad thing. Then why does it feel so horrible? I gulped and wiped my hands on my ragged brown pants. "North can I have my staff? Please?" I muttered. I started gripping the sheets tighter. I didn't like my staff in other people's hands. It was at their mercy. And in extension, so was I.

"No need to be scared, Jack. We just want to make sure you are alright." North's gaze softened and I immediately calmed down. That made me freak out more internally. Why did I listen to North? Am I beginning to trust the Guardians? Why do I want to? Frost was building up in my hands, reacting to my confused state. If I didn't leave now they definitely would kick me out, which I dreaded most of all. That scared me most of all.

"I'm fine. You know, fainting isn't that bad. I was unconscious before I even hit the ground." I laughed nervously. Just play dumb Jack, they'll leave you alone. Great I'm talking to myself. Maybe I did hit my head a little too hard. Or maybe you were already crazy before. That could definitely be true. I really only had the Wind and myself to talk to. Unfortunately only one of those people were good company. Hint I wasn't talking about the Wind. But the Wind does nag a lot. I was rudely interrupted in my conversation with myself by Bunny's exasperated groan.

"You see? That's what I was talking about!" Bunny pointed to me. I gasped in protest but Bunny just keep going. "No matter what we do the stubborn bloke won't admit to anything. Probably could be dying and he would say 'I'm fine.'" He began rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration, because of me. As if I asked them to invade my privacy. As if I was the one who asked to be a burden. Fury swirled in me a bitter chill settled into the room from my anger.

"Well I'm sorry for bothering you and causing you so much frustration you arrogant kangaroo. But I didn't ask for your help. And I never would. Wouldn't want to be a selfish, irresponsible teenager." I spat. Bunny stepped back like he was shot. I was so angry it took me a while to realize what I had said. I just threw his words back at him. The words from 1968. The same words that had burned into my head. The words that proved that I was just a bother for everyone. I looked away from Bunny in shame. The silence in the room was thick and cold. The bed was even began to gather some frost thanks to me. Great! Now, I couldn't control my mouth or my powers. Everyone kept looking between Bunny and me in worry and confusion, everyone except North. North's gaze stayed on me the whole time. I could see his mind trying to figure me out like I was some sort of puzzle. If only it were that easy, North. "Sorry. That," I paused, feeling everyone's eyes on me. "That was uncalled for. Can I please just leave?" I begged not looking at any of them. I didn't want them to see how, how scared I was. Whether I was scared if they said yes or no, I didn't know. I couldn't think. All kinds of emotions were swirling around inside me that I couldn't identify. All I knew, was that I was scared and vulnerable. Two states I never ever felt comfortable or wanted to be in. I heard North's heavy footsteps approach me.

"Jack." He whispered in front of me. I didn't look up. It was hard enough to hold back the tears. If anyone saw them, I couldn't bear it. I would break down, and cry. Jack Frost never cried. Whatever North's gaze was, it wouldn't help me hold my tears back. "Jack, look at me." This time he lifted my chin and I had no choice but to look at North. His eyes were so gentle and so bright. It took everything in me to not hug him and cry. That only wore me out more. Why was I so weak? "Do you really vant to leave?" He asked gently. My breath caught in my throat. Now that I was presented with the choice to leave… I… I… all I wanted to do was cry. Once again I couldn't think. I could barely breathe, and this time, it wasn't because of the pain I was in. A least the physical pain. I didn't know what I wanted. I always ran. I needed to run. But do I? Running kept me safe, but what did that even mean? What was I running from? A home? A family? Nothing? What was I doing? I don't know what to do, maybe I never did. But the Guardians were giving me a choice. I had a choice… and honestly, I really wanted to stay.

AAGH! STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT! Stop telling yourself that! Suddenly my gut hurt and my chest felt heavy. I was once again reminded that they would never accept me. They couldn't possibly care. I ran away from loneliness, rejection, disappointment, myself. But all that seemed to make it worse. Jack Frost makes everything worse… Why would they want you to stay? You are just a bother, a nuisance, a mess-up. Staying with them only proves how selfish you are. They helped you get Jaime and the others. Tooth even let you keep your memories. Bunny let you into his Warren. How much are you going to take from them? What will they take from you? Why did that voice sound so much like mine? Why was it always right?

"I can't." I whispered, my voice trailed off. Why did I sound so freaking broken? I was fine. Yet my hands trembled, my eyes watered, and the stupid pain in my chest tingled. The pain called to me. The pain wanted, no needed to be physical. If I made the pain physical I could deal with it. It would all go away.

"Why?" North asked curiously. My eyes widen in shock pulling me out of whatever pit I was going to fall into. I gaped for an answer. Why did it matter why I couldn't stay? Why did they want to know? Why did they freaking care? Something was bubbling up in me but I didn't know what it was. I was too worn out and too stressed out to figure out what it was. "Why can't you stay, Jack?" North asked again. I put my hands to my head. All the emotions and stress pounded in my heart and head. I couldn't focus. I just, I just….

"I don't deserve to!" I yelled. It was the first thing that came to my mind when he repeated the question, and as soon as I said it my eyes widened. I felt tears slowly fall from my eyes. I realized that, with every fiber in my body, I believed that I didn't deserve a place to stay, a home, a family. I didn't even deserve a bed. I backed away from North and looked away from his eyes. "I-I just need to go, okay? Please." I hated how desperate I sounded. I hated how broken and vulnerable I was. I hated the sadness in all of their eyes. Right now, I just wanted all of this to go away. Because most of all, I hated myself. I saw my staff enter my line of vision. I looked back at North hesitantly. A sad small smile on his face.

"Well, Jack. You are free to go. But do know that we, would like you to stay. Because you are our family, and we would like to be yours. You do deserve this, Jack." I grabbed my staff slowly. My eyes trailing the Guardians' every move. For some reason I felt very on guard and defensive. I wanted to believe North, I did, but all I could see was their untrusting faces and feel the pain in my chest radiate through me. Their faces became more down casted as they noticed my apprehension. I relaxed some. I really didn't like to make things awkward or tense. Yet it was I all I seemed to do with the Guardians. I rubbed my head in frustration. I was too exhausted to think about complicated things like feelings and myself.

"Jack?" Tooth flittered towards me, her brows creased in worry. I looked at each of them and saw something in their eyes that promised, something. I even felt a breeze pushing me back into the bed. I sighed as I scooted towards the wall using it as support for my back, brought my legs to the chest, and I put my staff between my legs. The gentle breeze stopped but I knew it was still there. The Wind really did have my best interests at heart. It saved my life more times than I could count. Sometimes I think the Wind is something else entirely. Like an actual being that thinks and feels. Whatever the Wind was, if it believed that I was safe with the Guardians, then maybe, just maybe, I could stay. I rested my head on the pillow behind me and sighed tiredly, hoping more than ever, that I would be fine.

"Do you mean that? All of you?" I just had to be sure, one more time. And as I spoke, my eyes pleaded with a similar intention. Please don't leave me… I held his breath, waiting for their reaction. In each of their eyes I saw sincerity. It was something that I still couldn't process, but somewhere inside of me I knew that they would at least try and for now that was good enough. I couldn't help the small smile of relief that splayed on my placid face. I probably looked like an idiot. Maybe I was for trusting people I've barely know. "Well, if we're done with all this emotional stuff, I'm gonna get some sleep. If you guys could not watch me sleep like creepers that would be great." I smirked at them. Tooth and North smiled brightly. Sandy gave me a thumbs up and started heading out.

"I trust you're not going to leave as soon as we turn our backs?" Bunny questioned, arms crossed and eyebrows raised. It seemed that we would deal with what I said later, which was totally fine by me.

"Yep. Totally gonna leave. This bed isn't even worth staying to listen to you badger me." Wow, my default sarcasm is horrible. And this bed is super comfortable. I barely remember my human life and I never had a bed in this second life. Second life? Did that count if I didn't remember the first one. Either way, I didn't think they would be this comfortable. I leaned my head deeper into the pillow. It seemed like all my energy was zapped out of me. I could feel my eyes closing and I tried to keep them open, but it felt so good to close them. I heard voices drone on about something but someone put a blanket over me. Weird, I never knew how something so simple could feel so good. I see people do it all the time but experiencing it is very different. The last coherent thing I heard was North's soothing voice.

"Sleep well, my friend." I didn't open my eyes or reply, but I couldn't help smiling again as that warm feeling comforted me again. For the first time someone called me their friend. It felt, nice. Then blissful sleep took over me before I knew it.