A/N: I wasn't gonna post this until tomorrow, but your pleas for more have been heard. Plus, I'm really psyched about this chapter. Grab some tissues, 'cause it's gonna be a crier. (At least, after writing this I couldn't believe that I wrote something so heartbreaking.)
Side note: For all you book fans, William is indeed named after William Joyce (hee hee, that makes me warm and fuzzy on the inside)
Onwards ho!
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And they fell into the portal that had opened up under their feet.
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Holly gasped and doubled over. Pitch was at her side, immediately, holding her up so she wouldn't fall. Holly leaned on him, catching her breath, "Dang, that took more energy than I thought it would."
The others looked around themselves.
Sandy frowned, sand snow falling over his head.
North translated, "Sandy iz right. Shouldn't it be winter?" The forest was green, spring flowers blossoming.
Holly looked at the snowglobe and memories in her hands like she was about to take them out of here, but then she sighed, "I told you. I had something to show you." She licked her lips, "It's... hard to put into words. You have to see it."
She pushed a branch down and they could see the lake, still frozen, even in Spring. A boy stood there with his back to them. He leaned on his shepherd's staff.
Tooth's hands flew to her mouth, "That's Jack."
Holly only nodded. Her focus was entirely on her brother.
Another voice startled them, "Jack!" A blonde boy ran into the clearing by the lake, his head turning right and left while he looked, "Jack, where are you? Your mom is worried out of her mind!"
Jack either couldn't hear the boy or he was ignoring him. His gaze never left the lake.
Holly gasped when she saw the blonde boy, "Will!"
Tooth tilted her head, "Will?"
"William Bennett," frost laced it's way on Holly's cheeks, Tooth wondered absently if that was how a winter spirit blushed, "He was Jack's best friend. I- I used to have a huge crush on him."
Tooth held back a giggle, definitely a blush.
Will saw Jack and sighed, "Not again."
He walked over to where his friend was, "Jack?" No reaction.
Will bit his lip, debating what to do. He walked up behind him, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder.
Jack jumped, gasping. He turned around quickly, nearly hitting Will with his staff.
Will jumped back, "It's me, Will!"
Jack looked up and Holly heard sharp inhales from her companions. She hadn't seen him herself for 300 years, but it was still as heartbreaking as ever.
He looked like he hadn't slept in days, tears flowing freely down his face. But the thing that really broke their hearts was his empty eyes. There was no hope, no wonder, no fun. His center was completely broken.
Will shook his friend, "Have you been here the whole time?! Your mother is worried sick!"
Jack pushed away from Will, "Leave me alone." His voice was thick from tears.
Will just stared at him. He bit his lip again and then shook his head, "You know, she wouldn't want you to be like this."
Jack froze. Holly did too.
Will continued, "She always said she loved your laugh, your smile. Jack, she loved you."
Jack turned around, "Don't talk about her!"
"Why not?!" Will shot back, "You can't just bury yourself, Jack!"
Will's voice became pleading, "Jack, you are going to end burying yourself if you keep this up. You hardly eat, hardly sleep, you can't live like this!"
Jack shook his head, "I don't deserve to live." He stared off at the lake, not really seeing it.
Will and the rest of the Guardians froze. Jack's head hung low, "I- I couldn't save her, Will. She believed in me, and- and I let her down," Jack's sobs echoes across the empty lake, "I make a mess of everything."
Will's eyes softened, "Jack-"
Jack stared at the ground, "I promised that she'd be alright. I promised to protect her. Will, I was her guardian!" Jack was breathing hard, practically hyperventilating, "I'm not a guardian." They all winced at that.
Holly was crying, silently, but they could see her shoulders shaking.
Will's eyes widened, "Jack, it wasn't your fau-"
"Yes, it was!" Jack yelled at his friend, "She died because of me." Jack fell to his knees, sobbing into his hands, "She died, Will, because I couldn't save her."
Will swallowed nervously. He was so worried for his friend. He had been heart-broken at Holly's death, but he had accepted it and moved on. Jack hadn't been able to do that and Will was beginning to realize that he never would.
Will stood there while his friend cried, awkwardly shuffling his feet. Eventually, after a few minutes, he knelt down and put a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Jack, please, don't bury yourself. Your mom still needs you. I- I'm still your friend, I still need you."
Jack just shook his head and Will felt his heart leap into his throat. Jack had no will to live.
They all watched silently as Will helped his friend to his feet and helped Jack get back home.
"He died the next day," Holly whispered, as soon as they were out of sight. She didn't even bother to wipe at the tears freezing on her cheeks, "I never saw him again."