Hey there. This story is a fill in one while I work on the end of Hide and Seek. I've been meaning to write/post this one for a while so why not now.

FIGHTING THE WIND

He was late. Why was Jack Frost always late? There was always some excuse. Snow day in Canada accidentally turned into a blizzard, stranded polar bear, refreezing a lake for an ice skating competition. He had even heard that he had to stop an avalanche once which Bunny doubted very much but hadn't said anything when Sandy had jabbed him in the ribs. It was a Guardian meeting tonight. The lights were starting to fade a little in some places so they had agreed to meet tonight to think of ways to fix it and boost the children's belief. The youngest member of their group was once again no where to be seen.

"North it's been an hour! Seriously where is the bludger?" Bunny yelled.

"Give it a few more minutes,"

"You're way to lenient with the kid, mate"

"What if something's happened?" Tooth asked biting her finger nails in worry.

"No nothing is wrong. My belly is fine. Actually that's a lie, it's empty and grumbling. Do you think we can start eating?"

Before even waiting for a reply North grabbed a chicken drum stick and sank his teeth into the juicy meat. Rolling his eyes Bunny went back to glaring at the fire. Five minutes later Bunny's ears twitched at an unusual sound. Someone was knocking on the front door! He slowly got to his feet and stared at the others as it happened again.

"North, were you expecting someone?" Bunny asked cocking an eyebrow.

"No, no one," North said bewildered heading towards the door to answer it as the knocking became louder and faster.

"I wonder who it is?" Tooth whispered.

Sandy made a question mark and they nodded in agreement. They had no idea who it could possibly be. North gripped the handle of the colossal doors and swung it open. Standing in the doorway was Jack Frost. His clothes were torn to shreds, twigs and leaves were stuck in his hair that was half covered in mud and when he walked into the light he had a slight limp and scratches on his cheeks, arms and legs. The look on his face could rival Bunny's when he's in a bad mood. To say Jack was not happy was the understatement of the century. He shoved past North, subconsciously freezing two thirds of the door as he dragged his staff behind him. The others stared after him. Jack Frost surprised them almost every day but this topped the list. Jack just used a door. Even more surprising he knock!

"Jack ya alright there mate?"

"Fine," the teen grumbled not looking in their direction.

"Ya sure because ya just used a door. Do ya even remember how to use one?"

"Shut up," Jack whispered

He should really stop but Bunny was annoyed by Jack's lateness, "What happened huh? Thought you would come on your high horse and be fashionably late with a grand entrance?"

"Shut up Bunny!" Jack yelled.

"No you get away with everything ya know. Ya can't just show up late when ever ya feel like it Frost. Are you even listening? I bet ya not because you never do. Stop walking away from me you little bugger. Get back here! Frost!"

"SHUT UP!" Jack screamed.

A wave of blistering cold ice shot out. Bunny was blown off his feet and slightly frozen to the wall by his ears. Tooth was hanging on to the back of the couch and Sandy had taken shelter already guessing what was going to happen on the other side of the couch. North was on the floor, the door having been wrenched from his hands and slammed shut dragging him along with it.

"Leave me alone!"

They looked up in question. Jack wasn't addressing the Guardians. He was talking to…the air? The wind picked up again. It circled around Jack as he walked away trying to blow him over or trip him. It howled in their ears and chilled them from the inside. A miniature tornado was brewing in the lounge room of the Pole. Discarded pieces of plastic and wood from the toys were picked up and thrown at Jack. The teen smiled and used his staff as a bat. Most he hit perfectly others missed and some found their mark hitting the boy.

"Would you make up your mind! You're getting what you wanted, so enjoy it and leave me be!"

Jack broke into a run and disappeared down the hallway. There was the sound of a slamming door. The wind rushed back through and out the window that Jack would usually enter from.

"What the hell just happened?" Bunny asked chipping away at the ice on his ears with his boomerangs.

"Honestly I have no idea but I think we should find out," Tooth said helping North up.

There was a scream of anger that froze them in place. Sandy made a sun and they all nodded, not needing further explanation.

"You're right Sandy. We will ask in morning. Right now we leave Jack to cool down. I just made very bad pun," North said with a chuckle.

"Not now North. I agree with Sandy though. Is it alright if we all sleepover here?" Tooth asked starting to pick up the debris.

"Da! We will all have sleepover. We can stay up and-"

"Alrighty then night," Bunny said hopping off to bed.

"Wait we have to-"

"I will see you in the morning everyone" Tooth called over her shoulder.

"Tooth we can play-" North began again.

Sandy made a moon and bed, waved goodbye, yawned and followed the other two. North slouched.

"Okay another day then," He yelled with no reply, "oh," He huffed and then went to bed too.

The next morning everyone was gathered around the dining table silently eating breakfast. That was everyone except Jack Frost. Once the dishes were cleared away they continued to sit there with no sign of Jack. Every five minutes Tooth would sneak a glance down the hall way hoping to see that mop of white hair flying towards them. Finally she couldn't bare it.

"I'm going to find him. He can't stay in his room all day,"

"I agree with Tooth. Come on," North said jumping up and leading the way.

They all stopped outside the wooden iced door. It was silent. Hopefully the boy hadn't flown off. North was the one to open the door first. The cold hit him in the face making his nose go a bit red from it and his breath plume. Sitting under the window sill back against the wall, hood up and head lowered was Jack Frost. He didn't look up to see who had entered the room. It was pretty obvious anyway. He knew he would have to explain himself. Jack had never been that fond of the truth. In fact he tended to avoid it at all costs. This time however there was no backing down or hiding. He wanted so desperately to fly away. He would have except he was grounded, literally. They were staring at him, edging closer each second until finally they were only a few steps away from him. Still he refused to meet their eyes.

"Jack?" Tooth asked.

"Go away,"

"There is something wrong and we are here to help," North said.

"No,"

"See that's the thing mate we aren't askin' for your permission. Spill the beans Frostbite. What was that all about last night and no lying?" Bunny snapped.

He wasn't in the mood for nonsense. He knew the boy would try hard to avoid the truth. What he hadn't figured out was why the kid hadn't flown away yet like he always did. Jack looked up and glared at Bunny. Suddenly the window began to shake as the wind outside slammed against it. Jack got to his feet and spun on his heels to face the window.

"I know already! I'll tell them and then we'll see. Now leave. Me. Alone!"

With that Jack aimed his staff and froze the window so you couldn't see out of it. Propping his staff up against the wall Jack slumped back down to the ground, his knees brought to his chest, head resting on them and staring at the Guardians.

"Alright, fine you guys win, I'll tell you. The Wind and I….we had a fight."

Bunny tried to suppress the urge to laugh at the story, "The wind talks to ya, does it?"

"Yeah it does. Why?"

"Oh, nothing never mind continue," Bunny said all urge to laugh forgotten as he realised Jack for once wasn't joking.

"Gee thanks for giving me permission."

"What was fight over?" North asked encouragingly.

"Well you see, I had landed at my lake to refreeze it, as I do every night in Winter. The Wind was trying to grab my attention but I wouldn't listen because I knew I was late to your meeting. I was sorta lost in my own mind and then suddenly I was plummeting towards the ground. It caught me again and then demanded….."

"Yes Jack?" Tooth said encouragingly.

"It demanded to l-leave me….."

The mixture of emotions on Jack's face were overwhelming. He was angry. Angry that the Wind would even think that! He was upset. Upset that it didn't want to be with him. He was betrayed. Betrayed by his oldest friend who had sworn to never leave his side, which had always been there in the darkest times. He was scared. Scared by the possibility that the Wind wouldn't come back to him. He was worried. Worried that maybe the Wind didn't like him anymore. The Guardians saw all those emotions and understood the basic reason for why Jack had been so distraught. He didn't want to be alone.

"The Wind had said that…it wanted a break. To…I don't know, to rest, to have no wind in the world for a day or two or something. I just…I just didn't want it to go. I know it's selfish but…urgh don't worry you guys don't understand. Bottom line is getting here was difficult when your ride is tossing you about like a rag doll. There you have. Now go on then tell me I'm wrong, that I need to get over my self. Come on let's hear it!"

No one said a word. They stared at the teen who had his head buried on his arms that were draped over his knees on the ground. They could never properly understand, but they understood enough to know Jack was clingy and hated the idea of being alone. Sighing Bunny crouched down to the kid's level. Someone had to talk some sense into the boy.

"Jack listen,"

"Here it comes," He muttered.

"Now stop whining and listen to me. Look at me Frostbite, come on. Okay good now what I was gonna say is we get that ya don't want ta be alone. That ya afraid the Wind won't come back, but ya gotta be reasonable mate. Everyone needs a break once in a while. Think about it. Has the Wind ever left ya before?"

"No," Jack sniffled.

"Alright well has it ever betrayed you in any way?"

"No,"

"Is it your friend?"

Jack glanced behind him at the window and a hint of smile played across his lips. He turned back to Bunny and nodded.

"See Jack that's the thing," Tooth said also coming to sit on the floor, "real friends don't leave you and if they do they will come back,"

"Tooth's right mate. Let the Wind go for a few days,"

"You can stay here at Pole with me and others if they have time," North piped up.

Sandy gave him the thumbs up and an encouraging nod. Jack sighed. They were right. They usually always were, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. Sensing this the Wind finally threw open the shutters and circled around the teen, hugging him in it's comforting breeze. He couldn't keep someone, even the Wind prisoner because that's what he was trying to do. The Wind had to roam free. Jack stood up and walked to the window.

"Sorry I got mad at you. You've been there since the very beginning and haven't failed me. You better come back though,"

The Wind rustled his hair affectionately. The only kind of affection he had been given in his 300 years of being alone and unwanted.

"I'll see you soon then,"

The Wind left then. It went incredibly still after that. Jack smiled, picked up his staff and jumped into the air. He didn't expect to land back on his feet with a thud. Bewildered he tried again. He looked at the window, to his staff and back again then groaned.

"Oh what I can't fly anymore!"

"Yep looks like your grounded mate,"

"This sucks," Jack huffed walking out of the door towards the kitchen.

"Oh wow walking, what a weird and silly thing to do," Bunny said sarcastically rolling his eyes.

"I know! Bet I can still beat you in a race though," Jack smirked.

"Oh yeah, care to put that to the test Frost?"

"Alright then. First to breakfast wins. Ready set go!"

With that the pair took off. It was obvious Bunny was faster. Jack stopped at the hallway veering off towards the kitchen where Bunny had sprinted down. Jack chuckled to himself. The yetis had prepared breakfast for them in the dining room. Sandy had told him that as he had left the room, in his silently sneaky way. Jack casually strolled into the dining room and took his seat at the table and began to dig in. He even stole a few eggs from Bunny's plate. Maybe being grounded had its perks. Jack frowned at that and shoved the egg in his mouth. No way. A very annoyed Bunny came barrelling towards him then. He couldn't wait for the Wind to return.

Yay. Thanks everyone who gave me some ideas for Hide and Seek. If you have anymore please please tell me! I'm going back to school really soon so hopefully I can finish it before then. Bye for now