This is the last chapter, I'm so happy that you all liked, favorited, and reviewed. Thank you for joining me on this story. Please let me know what you think.

It was dark and Jack stood in a far corner panting. Over his pounding heart he listened for any sounds of pursuit or searching. "Nothing, I gave them the slip. Still, best to keep moving." Quietly he crept to the outline of the door. Hand slightly shaking he turned the nob and peeked out the crack, squinting at the light. No movement, but that didn't mean it was safe. Jack stood still. "… 30 snowflakes, 31 snowflakes," He counted, ears and eyes open for any change. "… 58 snowflakes, 59 snowflakes, 60 snowflakes." Still nothing, he opened the door more and stuck his head out. Left then right he checked, on guard but more confident. Finally he stepped out. "Ok, where to next?"

As he searched for his next hiding place two fury appendages fell on each of his shoulders. The sudden touch caused him to jump, heart skipping a beat then racing. His hands griped his staff, knuckles turning white.

"Got yah, you yank!" A thickly accented voice filtered through his fear filled mind, "Your it!"

Jack breathed deeply in and out. He turned to see the grinning, equally as furry as his arms, face of Bunny. "Ok, you got me. You've gotten good at this game. You all have!" He added the last part as the rest of the Guardians entered the room.

"Well after playing it so often, we should be." Tooth said.

(Flashback)

Jack awoke the morning after helping North and Sandy with the Globe and realized that he'd left the Pole alone the night before. He'd been by himself, traveling over great distances, and nothing bad happened! So when the meeting was held that day he voiced he wanted to start doing his Jobs on his own. It took some convincing but that afternoon he did just that.

The Big Four remained at the Pole to wait for him. North checked the Globe every so often to keep track of Jack's silver light. Returning triumphant, Jack was welcomed with a small party of congratulations. This accomplishment also helped to lift some of the Big Four's concerns as well. And when Jack began staying at his pond instead of always at the Pole, they slipped back into their busy work habits.

This didn't sit right with the Guardian of fun, so he planned a little Game for his teammates. Mid-summer (so neither North nor Bunny were in their holiday rush), almost a year after regaining his confidence and independence, Jack set up a small game of tag. And as incentive procured North's sabers, Bunny's Boomerangs, Sandy's seashell pendent (a gift from the mermaids that lived near his Island of Sleeping sands), and tooth's retired swords. In each item's place he left a simple note.

The notes read:

Tag! Your it! Catch me if you can.

Jack

P.S: To keep it easy I'll be inside the Pole, all rooms are free game. Anywhere except the workshop. (You're welcome North.)

So the game began, Jack hid and re-hid around the Pole while the Guardians searched high and low for him. He'd purposely show them a bit of blue hoodie or a flash of white hair. By following the sightings they were lead to each item in turn and as the hunt went on, they unconsciously began to enjoy themselves. Finely they cornered the trouble maker surrounding him above, below, in front, and behind.

Jack made a dash to get by Bunny, barley avoiding a grab, only to run into a thick white beard and have strong arms wrap him in a secure hug.

"Tag!" North said triumphantly.

"Congratulations," Jack told the Four, as soon as North put him down. "You won!"

Bunny moved to lecture him but Jack raised his arms in surrender. "I know, I know. I shouldn't have procured your things. But in my defense there wasn't really a way to get you to play otherwise. And … you have to admit, you had fun."

With no way to argue otherwise, the Four just stood there till North broke out laughing. "That… is true!"

"Then my work is done!"

There were a few head shakes but the matter was dropped. The games however had just begun. Jack never procured anything again, however he did pester. He'd bother them to the point that they'd chase after him and then rope them into his game. Eventually they started to expect to play whenever he was around. That is when he stopped pestering and started asking.

(End Flashback)

Now surrounded by happy, laughing Guardians, Jack patted himself on the back. The fireplace was aglow in the sitting room where everyone sat nursing a coco or eggnog. Content and happy Jack thought: I'm safe and sound, I have family nearby, and I've successfully gotten the Big Four to lighten up and have fun. What more could I ask for?

With a BIG yawn Jack snuggled deeper into his chair.

Sandy felt someone fall asleep and noticed Jack draped over his chair. Sending a dream Jack's way and happily taking note that it remained gold, full of fun and play, he tapped Tooth on the shoulder and nodded at the sleeping boy.

Bunny and North soon took notice as well. "Time for bed." North scooped Jack into his arms and, with the others following, carried the boy to his room. "Here ve are." He said in a fatherly voice, and opened the door. The blue winter night scene, created by the nightlight North and Sandy gave him, greeted them, but that wasn't all.

As a traveling spirit, with the closest thing to a safe place for his belongings being a tree with a not-hole, Jack hadn't had much to personalize his room at the North Pole but over the years since escaping Pitch he'd received a few gifts. These were now on display before the Guardians who hadn't been in Jack's room for a while, since the boy didn't need to be comforted every night.

Tooth saw in the open window a wind chime that showed the four emblems of the seasons: an intricate blue snowflake, a beautiful pink lily, a bright yellow-orange sun, and an autumn red leaf. "That's from Mother Nature herself." She told the others in a whisper, so as not to wake Jack. "She gave it to him when we bumped into her on one of his winter shepherding trips." The wind chime rang as a cold loving wind came in and caressed Jack as he was laid in bed. "Hello wind." Tooth greeted, and felt a hug of sorts as greeting.

A couple snap shot photos were pinned above the head board of the winter spirits bed and Bunny made out Jack with him and Phil in the warren. Some were of the three posing for the camera and others were shots of them training. The Pooka touched one fondly, in it the three of them were laughing at something while they rested on the grass. Still marveling at how Jack had rigged the camera so Bunny's googies could take the pictures he whispered: "You've come a long way mate, and so have we. All because we have you in our lives!" Jack smiled. As if to agree with Bunny's words, sense of training, playing tag, and other family activities featuring Jack and the Big Four became a part of the boy's golden dream.

North looked to the wall clock hanging on the opposite wall from the bed. It was beautiful and intricate. Ombric's, father time's, handy work was unmistakable as was the magic spell placed on it. The apprentice magician could tell it had the ability to show the time and place of wherever you asked and it was charmed so it would never break or stop running. "Had to show off, didn't you old wizard?" North said at barley a whisper, thinking about his old teacher.

Below the clock a small shelf held Jack's Palm fond in its glass like ice and beside that Sandy noticed a few story books. Each was sinned by Kathrine and Kailash, Mother Goose and her Himalayan Snow goose, and was bookmarked with a beautiful white feather.

With a little extra dream sand, just to be sure, sent Jack's way everyone whispered: "Good night Jack." And walked out of the room. If he woke and needed them they would be nearby, there for him at a moment's notice. There was still, and may always be, some fear. His reaction to being grabbed from behind by Bunny earlier showed that. The wounds had healed but something like what he'd been through leaves scares. However with proper care, overtime the scars can fade and become less noticeable. Jack slept safe, sound, and secure. No nightmares or bad memories invaded his dreams of snow days, rain days, training, and games. He just smiled happily in his sleep.