A/N: Hey everyone, I'm baaaaaaaaaaaacccccccckkkkkk. The lake was pretty cool. I got to see Hummingbirds for the first time. And, I don't think you understand. I LOVE those little things. Just...I love hummingbirds. Anywho, I'd like to thank AlexJohnD for helping me. Because I hiccuped all over the place. Yes. Hiccuped. My little brother started saying it and now I can't stop saying it either. Hiccuped: messed up. But, yeah. Uh. Enjoy?

As soon as the light switched on, a world of color exploded in her face. Paintings – finished and unfinished – laid against chairs, walls, even the ceiling. It was a rather big house, much like her own, but still small against actors' mansions.

A colorfully assortment of bottles hung from the dinning room ceiling like a chandelier made of large, glass crayola crayons. When the door closed behind her, they clanked together with an awkward sound that she just loved. During the day, whenever the light shined through the watercolor painted living room windows, a rainbow would be projected in every place the light could reach. Tooth had tried explaining just how amazing and artistic Aster's house truly was, but, nobody believed that someone with such a gray walled job could be just as she's described.

The Australian sighed as he kicked his shoes off and plopped onto the white couch. "Home sweet home." He slurred, his eyes closing into the comfort.

Tooth nodded and sat on one of the black living chairs across from the couch. "Yeah." She whispered, looking around. "You haven't done anything new."

"Haven' needed too." He exhaled. "Looks good as it is."

She nodded once more. This wasn't a lie, the place was beautiful as it was already. But, there were a few blank spots on the walls that made her fingers twitch. Her bottom lip curled up into her mouth as she looked back over at her friend, not knowing what else to say. No. She knew what to say. Or rather, what to ask. It was the matter of asking it that she didn't know how to do. Should she just come right out and ask it or beat around the bush and make small talk, coaxing him into relaxation?

Finally, she took a silent, deep breath and smiled. "So, how was work today?" She asked cheerfully.

Aster turned and looked at her, making a face of 'isn't it obvious' as he did. "Wha' do ya think, Tooth?" he turned away and placed his hand on his face, trying to massage the muscles behind his skin. "It was horrible. Had an attack, everyone decided to ge' hur' today…"

He closed his eyes as he tried to still his now overly beating heart. It hadn't surprised him in the least as he felt his body flow into a panic attack. The day was full of them ever since he saw that boy in the emergency room. The chart the nurse gave him gave most of the information; his next patient was male, he had broken his leg and arm from falling off a roof, he couldn't feel much in either limb. It seemed like a normal day, even if everyone was busier than normal. But then, when he pulled back the curtain, he saw those eyes. Those eyes. They were green eyes. Green eyes that belonged to a child. They shined like any other child's eyes, only, they were pleading with him. They were baring into his own set of grass fields. Aster had worked with many people before, treating everyone he could. And he had seen children come out of the hospital many times, both with smiles and in caskets. Never, though, had he ever treated a…a child. His hands began to shake at the memory of stuttering into the phone, calling for someone else to cover for him. He could never forget those eyes. They were just like…just like…

"Aster. Are you alright?" Tooth asked, sympathy sown into her voice.

Slowly, he returned from the recent memories. He cleared his throat as he sat up. "Y-yeah…" He sniffled, rubbing a finger under his nose. "I'm fine. Jus' tired."

She forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah. I am, too."

When Aster staggered to his feet, Tooth quickly jumped up and wrapped an arm around his waist, helping him up the stairs. The way he slightly giggled at the touch made her smile and remember those weeks before college when they had first met. It wasn't that long before the first day of the semester, two weeks was it? Possibly three. The small city seemed odd to her at first; being as she was used to forty story company buildings around each corner. Her roommate at the time invited her to a party held at the Blue Goose Tavern, insisting that it'd be a great place to make friends. And indeed it was.

The second floor wasn't as colorful as the first. Black and white photographs hung on the walls, no older then ten years old. Most were of Jack, Tooth, and a few other 'family' members. Others were of Aster with them, smiling. She smiled back at the photos, pushing the master bedroom door open with her foot. Aster mumbled and slurred incoherent words as he fumbled across the floor and onto his bed. He curled up, hugging one of his pillows with slight childness.

"'m alright, Toothy." He muffled into the pillow. "Jus' need sleep…"

Tooth sighed and smiled, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow during the meeting. And Aster…" She bit her lip and stayed silent for a moment. Finally, she shook her head. "…just know you can talk to me anytime. Alright?"

"…alright."

"Dad, before the party can we uh, you know…take down all the sports memorabilia?"

It wasn't that Hiccup hated all the unwashed jock straps and news clippings, but, it was rather embarrassing to have people over with all that gracing his home's walls. It had taken him a few years to get used to having Gobber over with all that and he was supposed to get used to it in just a few hours? No. No way. He wasn't doing it.

Stoick cleared his throat as he looked over the list of things they would need for the small party. "Why would I take it all down? Those are all my achievements."

Hiccup looked out into the hallway from his seat in the kitchen and began to wonder just where his father's high school diploma was. After all, wouldn't that be considered an achievement? His eyes slowly moved from the hallway walls, out the window, and toward the old tree house. The light was off but somehow, he doubted Jack was actually asleep.

"It's just a bit embarrassing is all…" Hiccup whispered as he trailed off into his own thoughts.

He often wondered what life was like for other people. Was the cashier really having a good day? Maybe that child alone on the swings is waiting for their friend. Sometimes, others would give him a small indication about what their life is like, what they are really thinking, how they were really doing. He even could tell when his father was lying or sad which is harder then it sounds. But Jack…he couldn't read anything off of Jack.

He had muscles, which suggested he worked out. Yet, whenever Hiccup saw him, he was being a bum. He flashed girls an overly annoying charming smile but never asked any of them out. His facial expression stayed pretty much the same and nothing he wore gave him a sense of Jack's home life. Well, his lack of shoes did make him wonder even harder. Ugh. This was confusing. If his father wasn't in the room, Hiccup would be ripping his hair out.

Hiccup wrinkled his nose in thought, gaining Stoick's attention. "Son? Is something wrong?"

"No, I'm just thinking." He scratched his hairline and turned to the large man.

Stoick smiled slightly and looked back down at the list in his hands. "Excited about seeing Astrid again, are you?"

Hiccup blushed at his father's comment. "A-a little. I haven't seen her in so long, I forgot what she looks like and things."

"Well, I'm sure not much has changed." This is what Stoick was hoping for, at least.

Many times he had talked to the fathers and mothers of his son's classmates; setting up dates and other such things. He thought that since Hiccup never took a step forward in trying for a relationship, he might as well give him a shove in the right direction. Within his middle school year, Hiccup had been on nine dates. Four dates in Freshmen and Sophomore years. By now, Stoick figured, he should have a steady girlfriend.

In a strange and awkward way, Astrid was his last hope in his son ever having a girlfriend.

Hiccup yawned and stood up. "I'm gonna head off to bed."

"Alright. Goodnight, Hiccup."

"Night!" The brunet called from the hallway.

When he walked into his room and closed the door, he looked back at it and stared at the picture taped to the dark wood right above the knob. It was of his mother and him at the park. Both smiling, both happy, both alive. A slight smile played on his lips. Bringing his fingers up to them, he kissed them lightly before lightly placing them on his mother's head. This was his nightly ritual.

"Night, mom." He whispered.

In truth, Hiccup wasn't tired. Even after he had stripped down and put on his pajamas he still wasn't sleepy. The warmth and comfort the bed gave off didn't seem to ease him into even daring to close his eyes.

For hours he laid there staring at the ceiling. He listened with closed eyes as his father walked down the same hallway and entered his own bedroom. Hearing this, a small memory came to him. It wasn't much and was even slightly choppy in some areas, but it was a part of his life and he flowed into it without hesitation.

He remembered boots much too big for his small feet and a coat that encased him like a turtle's shell. A stuffed dragon which he still held onto during lonely nights. A sparkling smile full of kindness and acceptance that moved with a voice he couldn't quiet place. The words that came out were jumbled but made him smile all the same. Then, he heard four taps in the back of his mind. And then it sprung back to life again.

Tap

Tap

Tap

Tap

The sound rang in his ears and forced him to open his eyes. His mouth felt dry as he smacked his lips together, his hand whipping away the drool line that froze to his cheek. When he heard the tapping once more, he looked up at his window to see Jack smiling his charming smile. His white hair spiked up everywhere and, even from where he sat on his bed, he could see the other's brown roots showing.

"Hey Hic!" The seventeen year old whispered when he finally opened the window. "Mind if I come in?"

Hiccup pressed his lips together tightly as he watched Jack step through without even getting a yes or no. "I don't think my opinion matters on weather you can come in or not."

"I just woke up and I can't fall back to sleep." He said, sitting at the foot of the brunet's bed.

They stared at each other in silence for at least ten minutes; Jack shooting him a smile and a chuckle, Hiccup rolling his eyes every time he did. It wasn't until Toothless came walking in that he finally said something.

"Well?" He shrugged, petting the black lab when he jumped onto the bed. "What do you want me to do about it?"

"Entertain me."

"What?" For some reason, a chill crawled up his spine and caused him to bring his blankets up over his chest and shoulders.

Jack laughed. "You heard me, you turtle. Entertain me."

Hiccup didn't know much about entertaining himself let alone other people. Movies and video games were completely out of the question seeing as his father would wake up almost instantly at the loud noise. Then, it hit him. It was a small game he played in middle school on the first day.

"Twenty questions." He said. "You ask me twenty questions about myself and I'll ask you twenty questions about yourself."

And the game was on. The first ten to fifteen were easy questions. Favorite colors, favorite animals, favorite foods. Hiccup couldn't help but chuckle and groan when Jack talked about his favorite food: cheese pizza with chocolate pudding. Something about it seemed familiar and it tugged at him slightly as the game continued. As the questions went on, the two soon found themselves laying on the bed, Toothless snuggled in between them as they stared at the ceiling.

The oldest of the two chewed the inside of his cheek as he thought of his final question, his teeth baring into a childlike grin when it came to mind.

"Alright, alright, alright, I got one." Jack chuckled. "What was your first kiss like?"

The fifteen year old blinked as he stared at the ceiling. "I've never kissed anyone before."

Jack's eyes seemed to go wide at the comment and he turned his head to look at the younger teen. Something inside him dropped almost like a metal pan hitting a kitchen floor. It was true. He could see it in his face. Hiccup couldn't remember a thing. The white haired boy bit his lip and turned back to the ceiling.

"I see." Swallowing, he smiled again and chuckled. "Maybe it's because you're such a nerd."

"Shut up."

"Your turn."

"Alright."

Hiccup cleared his throat and thought hard. This was the last question in the game. It had to be good. Finally, he smiled. "Why don't you wear shoes?"

The question seemed to take him by surprise. Jack turned his head to him. "I do wear shoes."

The brunet turned his head toward him as well. "Only when I force them on your feet for school."

Jack sighed as he thought it over. The question itself seemed harmless but the answer was deeper than he thought anyone would expect. He looked down at his bare feet, taking note of the grass that dried and stuck to his soles.

"I don't know." He muttered. "Maybe because…I don't want to walk another mile in them."

"Walk another mile?" Hiccup whispered.

"Yeah." Jack wiggled his toes and thought back to his early years. Before the Family. During the time that was now a dark hole in the other's memory. "Nobody could walk a mile in my shoes…"

A/N: I asked the same question to myself. Why doesn't Jack wear shoes? Then I thought about it. 300 years ALONE. Everybody IGNORING him. All those miles he has walked in that life. And then after becoming a Guardian, he threw those shoes away so he wouldn't have to walk another mile in them. Yeah, sure, he didn't have them as a human but that's understandable. Poor family, more than likely sold them for food. But, after all that, becoming Jack Frost and seeing people in shoes, I just thought he'd at least steal a pair. Eh, that was what I thought. I could be completely wrong and over analyzing it. Anyway, yeah. - ADAM

Reviews = Motivation = Chapters