"Your own fears were what were stopping you. I've been trying to tell you for a while now that it'd be okay, but you just wouldn't listen. I don't blame you though. Especially not after what you had to deal with, with that mob." Jamie said gently, he threaded his fingers through Jack's; lightly squeezing. Jack hugged him close.

"Yeah, I didn't even do anything; I didn't steal, I just... I guess." He sighed, not even thinking anymore; trying to forget the mob that had hurt and hunted him. Jamie sighs a little.

"It wasn't anything you did or that they did really, no one makes a mob over those things anymore these days; it was likely the influence of that bastard that got them to rile up like they were from the 1800s."

"Jamie... he's not gonna stop until I go back and I'm thinking, to keep the world, you, and Roxas protected... I might have to."

"I think that'd be the worst idea really. Not just for me and Roxas either. He can spend eternity trying, but me and Roxas are going to spend the same amount of time keeping you safe." Jack winced at Jamie's words, shooting the idea down; he sighed.

"Okay."

"We'll figure something out." Jamie said with a bit of a smile, leaning into Jack.

"I'll make breakfast; hopefully Roxas isn't hungry for more of the blood we fed on."

"Well, you'd know that better than I." Jamie replied after a moment. Jack smiled as Roxas started to awake groggily.

"Hey baby, how you feeling?" Roxas nodded numbly, not hearing what Jack said, but he was starved. Jack smiled.

"Bottle, just in case; I'll make him another if he's still hungry." Jack said, taking another bottle out, he started filling one with blood and the second with normal formula. Jamie picked up Roxas before Jack handed him the first one, Roxas sucked on it greedily.

"Yep, it's always the first bottle isn't it?" Jack said, smiling. Jamie chuckled a little.

"He's a growing boy. Soon enough he won't be needing that bottle anymore." Jack nodded.

"And pretty soon he'll be killing his own prey." He said with a gleaming, fanged, proud smile. Jamie nodded, gently ruffling Roxas' hair affectionately. Jack sat back and watched Roxas feed, but it slowly became apparent the boy's growing fast and soon enough Jack'd have to teach him the basics of being what he was. Jamie handed Jack the empty bottle and took the second, Roxas took to the second bottle much like the first but by the time it is nearly empty he'd slowed down considerably. Once it's empty Jamie burped him, then changed him and Roxas fell asleep near the end of having his diaper changed. Jamie chuckled softly as he settled the boy down for his nap. Jack smiled as he watched, but growled as he felt it; that one feeling, that voice calling him to return.

"Forget it." He hissed. Jamie hugged Jack gently before helping to clean the bottles for the next use. Malfor snickered.

You can't run from me Jack. I'm your creator and you can't run away from the one who made you.

"I will and I can." Jack growled.

"I'll help you too. I'm not leaving you." Jamie murmured, reinforcing Jack's growl with a small blast of light. The other merely chuckled.

So what Jamie you can't destroy me. He smirked, and Jack knew it because he could feel it.

"Get out of my head and stay away from my family Malfor." He blasted the other with his own light; the other actually hissed at that.

Soon Jack, your birthday is coming and you know it won't last long before it takes over. See you soon Jack. Jack shuttered at the parting words. Jamie wrapped his arms around Jack protectively, growling at the other; Jack took deep breaths, shaking.

"Jamie... I don't- I don't know if I can fight him anymore."

"Don't give up love, we're all here for you; don't forget that." Jack winced.

"It hurts so much. Jamie, my birthday isn't that far away." He shivered.

"I am here for you hun."

"I don't know what to do, so I'll just stay with you and Roxas... and we'll see what happens ok?" Jamie nodded, holding Jack close to him. That night Jack had a very uneasy sleep; pain hit him hard, making him whimper.

"No please stop! I w-won't... I can't." He kept mumbling over and over, tossing and turning. Jamie hummed a soft tune he once remembered hearing a mother hum to her child as he tried to soothe Jack's dreams even if he could do little about the pain.

"I can only do what you believe I can." He murmured though he's not sure if his hunch from a dream lately was right or wishful thinking. Jack slowly calmed and his breathing evened out; his form was peaceful now. Jamie continued to hum through the night. Hoping to keep his dreams peaceful. Jack whined some, but slowly it was quieted as he clung to Jamie, his expression peaceful. Jamie held Jack close as he hums, gently threading his fingers through his hair ever so lightly every once and a while. Jack hugged him and snuggled into Jamie's side.

"Mmm... warm, s-safe." He said slowly as he went into a deeper, more comfortable sleep. Jamie wasn't sure how he's warm... being a winter spirit but then again... Perhaps it was the light inside that made him so? It didn't matter, the point was that he'd calmed Jack's dreams and that was his goal anyway. Jack awake the next morning, tired, but he fed Roxas his bottle. Jamie kept close to Jack, he's not sure what was supposed to happen on the coming birthday, but he meant to do what he could to help Jack overcome it. Jack whimpered from the pain, the counterpart was fighting him again. Jamie gently touched Jack's arm, sending a bit of his light through him; he's not sure it will do any good but he has to try... Jack squealed and squirmed away from Jamie at that.

"Owie."

"Sorry." Jamie didn't do it again, wondering how he's going to help but doesn't dwell too much on it least Roxas pick up on it and begin fussing. That's the last thing they need.

"Hey little one, what's got you in a fussy mood today?" Jack asked him. Roxas sniffles.

"Dada owie." He managed after a moment. He patted his head.

"I'm alright sweetheart, no need to worry about me." Roxas clung to Jack for most of the day, refusing to play with most anyone else; though he had let go a few times to play with Jamie. Jack looked at Jamie worriedly; he patted Roxas' head and played the itsy bitsy spider for him and wanted to see if he could play it back. Jamie shared Jack's worry over this, but there's not really much they could do obviously. Roxas clapped and tried to mimic Jack who smiled at him.

" 'Gain dada! Itie bitie spyder!" He giggled. Jack chuckled.

"Alright. The itsy bitsy spider climbed out the water spout..." Jamie watched as Roxas did his best to mimic Jack with his own hands.

"Very good, now can you do it without daddy's help?" Roxas made an attempt to, he managed the motions, but the words are another thing as he still struggled to speak properly.

"Good try Roxy."

"It hard dada."

"You'll get it soon son." Jamie said encouragingly.

"Yeah, you will very soon darling." Jack held his hands up and had him repeat the itsy bitsy spider words. Jamie watched the two of them with a bit of pride, his son was growing up so fast... He swore it seemed like only yesterday they were getting their first glimpse of their little angel, now he was speaking and doing things on his own.

"Good Job Roxy, see now you're gettin' it."

"No Roxy dada." Roxas said with a slight frown, he really didn't like that nickname for some reason. Jamie chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair affectionately. Jack smirked.

"Ok kiddo." Jack gently rubbed his chin. He giggled a bit. Jamie smiled slightly as he watched the pair.

"How about daddy takes you to the zoo?" Jack asked, smiling, but explaining quickly to Jamie that he'd be using his skin so as not have what happened at the cabin happen there. Roxas claps and Jamie nodded.

"I know of a good one that won't have many people." Jamie said, he'd seen it one year while spreading snow.

"Really? That'd be great." Jamie smiled, nodding. Once they were ready he led the way to the small zoo that allowed people to feed the animals and have close interaction. They couldn't touch the animals, but the reverse wasn't true and Roxas had a blast as a lemur climbed into his lap to eat one of the treats the boy held for it. A few animals growled at Jack, they could obviously sense, if not see, his demonic side and didn't like it; which in turn got him a swipe from a young grizzly who was very sedated, oddly, in the petting zoo.

"AHH!" Jamie distracted the beast with the light from within, keeping it from taking another swipe at Jack; he made sure that the other animals behaved too. They had enough trouble as it was, he didn't want people realizing that the animals were antsy around Jack for a reason. As it was, a few children at the zoo waved at the three of them though the adults mostly seemed confused at this. Only a handful of them at this zoo seemed to believe enough to see them. Jack watched out for a goat that seemed to be preparing to charge him; Roxas looked at that and giggled. The animals moved as if to protect him, that's when Jack snaps; picking up his baby he glared and growled at all the animals. 'This is my child back the fuck off...' kind of look was sent to them and they backed off both of them. Roxas giggled, clapping as he's too young to understand; Jamie sighed inwardly, but when a rogue goat tried to head butt Jack while he's not looking, Jamie steered the thing into a nearby fence with a bit of illusion. He took the two into the nursery to look at the baby animals next, baby chicks peeped at them from behind a glass window; reminding Jamie of the chicken he'd been raising since the day Jack had brought Peepers home the day he'd hatched... he'd meant to serve it to Jamie but Jamie had fed the chick instead of eating it. He'd made sure to leave the chick more than enough food before he'd left the cavern.

"Aww, would you look at that kiddo, aren't they cute?" Jack wondered, actually, how Peepers was doing; he had an idea that they should probably go back to the cavern. Roxas giggled, his eyes widening at the baby chicks.

"Peepers! Peepers!"

"I knew he'd remember Jamie, now we gotta get Peepers from the den." Jack said, annoyed; not really wanting a chicken as a pet. Jamie chuckled a little.

"Yeah, it's his first pet... more or less. At least you didn't try feeding me a snake or anything, at least Peepers is a safe pet... more or less."

"Well, I suppose we could get Peepers from the den; that way I know he's alive." Jack sighed.

"After this let's go pick him up." Jamie nods and points out a cage where a bunch of eggs are hatching... it's a bunch of baby snakes though; harmless garter snakes, but there are a lot of them and they are barely as long as Jamie's middle finger as they emerged from their eggs for the first time to snack on the tiny crickets hopping about their cage as their first meal. Jack smiled as Roxas was fascinated at the birth.

"Dada, Dada did I come from from a eggs?" He asked excitedly; Jack looked at Jamie, unsure how to tell him of his birth.

"Well... something similar to that." Jamie chuckled.

"No son, you didn't come from an egg, but you were wrapped up like a gift." Jamie said after a moment's thought.

"Gwift?" He asked curiously; Jack chuckled and sent over the bond.

Really Jamie? Why don't I just tell him of bubble time? Jamie chuckled and knelt down to playfully bop his nose, making him giggle.

"Yes, you were a very special and wonderful gift."

When he's older, perhaps. Explaining that would mean explaining in depth of things he's too young for right now. Besides, I don't think he'd understand even if we did. Jack smiled.

Alright, but when he asks why girls have viginas I'm not staying around to tell him.

Gee, thanks for the support. Jamie replied back with a hint of sarcasm, though he radiated love along the bond as well; he could handle that... he hoped. It wasn't going to be any time soon though and the next cage was full of more eggs, it was more baby chicks who were just hatching, some were damp from having just hatched, laying down and panting, a couple were as fluffy as the first group they'd seen and still others were in the middle of hatching, some resting still half in the eggs while others struggled to get out of the shell.

"Look at that Rox, they're hatching." Suddenly they hatched faster, took one look at Jack and starting peeping and running around in fear; Jack arched his eyebrows before sighing. Another one, that hatched though, stood at the edge of the glass peeping hungrily and staring at Jack like it was demanding he feed it.

"Look at the nerve of that one." Jamie said with a bit of a laugh, pointing at the damp chick that had lain down but peeped at them between pants. Roxas clapped happily and they stay to watch another one hatch before moving on to a couple of baby lemurs that were climbing about their cage in a small birthing facility. Jack snickered and looked at the chick but there was no way he could feed it even if he wanted to because it was behind glass and there wasn't anything for it to eat that wasn't outside of a dish set off to one side with water. From there they moved on to the bird habitat. Jamie paid for them to be able to feed the birds nectar and instructs Roxas to hold it still as they step into what looked like a small forest; colorful birds are everywhere and flit about. Soon a couple of them, barely bigger than Roxas' plushies, flittered down to perch on Jamie and Roxas to eat the nectar. After a few moments of hesitation, several began perching on Jack... it seemed to become as much of a game as to try and get the nectar he had. Jack Jolted as soon he was "attacked"...

"AHH! Everywhere!" He threw a stick, but they kept flying after him anyway. Jamie chuckled.

"They like you." The birds seem to chirp at one another as they hop from Jack's arms, to shoulders to his head, but they don't attack him though they do seem to threaten one another occasionally as they fight over who gets to eat from Jack's cup. Roxas giggled, upsetting the bird on him. It chirped at him before settling again to eating. Jack snickered.

"I'm all out of bird food, honestly fellas." They looked at Jack, noticing no bird food but insist on pecking his head for bugs.

"Ow, stop that." Jamie chuckled and gently shooed away the birds that pecked at Jack's head. The others flit over to him and Roxas now, trying to get more food. A baby bird, about Roxas' age, would not leave him alone.

"Peep Peep" Jamie chuckled and pointed to the bird.

"I think it likes you a lot."

"Peep Peep Peep" It followed Roxas about; Roxas hid behind Jack's leg. The baby bird followed and Roxas ran to Jamie away from the baby bird; it stared up at Jamie, cocking its head to the side as if to say 'why is he running from me? I wanna play with him.' Jamie chuckled.

"It's okay son. He just wants to play. He'd probably follow us home if he wasn't locked up in here." In fact, he did, hiding in Roxas' pocket. Jamie didn't notice the bird until it poked its head out of Roxas' pocket when they get to the cavern. He groaned a little.

"Oh man... Jack... we have another pet..."

"A what?!" Jack growled, the little bird peeped at Roxas and he giggled. Jamie sighed as the bird peeped in Roxas' pocket, just making the boy giggle all the more.

"Oh. OH no, we're sending that thing straight back to the zoo no ands, ifs or b-" Looking at Roxas' face, Jack couldn't do it.

"Oh fine, give it here." Roxas handed him the bird; it peeped at Jack, staring with its bright blue eyes.

"Ok, fine, we're keeping you." The bird peeped happily, gently nibbling at Jack's nose like giving him a kiss.

"Well, that's cute." Jack sighed.

"Alright, what shall we name him?" Jack handed the baby bird back to Roxas who looked at it for one second as it had bright icy blue feathers and blue eyes.

"BLUE!" Jack looked down at it.

"Blue it is then, I should probably set up a little aviary for it." Jamie sighed and nodded. He went into the nursery and set up one made of never melt ice for the thing, using a few lamps to keep the area warm along with adding Peepers to the bottom of the aviary before he came out. The entire thing encased in transparent ice to keep the heat in and to allow full view but keep the birds in as well.

"Okay Blue, let's get you into your new home." He said as he took the bird from Roxas and headed back into the nursery with Roxas toddling behind. Jack pinched the bridge of his nose; all day he had fought back the urge to kill everyone... thing around him.

"Get out of me damn it." The demonic voice spoke back.

I can't, I'm your true self and it's coming Jack. You can't run anymore. Jack shivered before burying the voice and following Jamie. Jamie puts Blue in its new home and got some more bread for Peepers who was staring at him through the ice like 'feed me' though the bird only ate part of what's given as it's not all that hungry at the moment. Jack watched with a sigh. What am I gonna do? My birthday's coming soon and it's right... I can't run from it forever. It was later that night that it got worse; Jack screamed in pain like something was trying to crawl out of his chest... something was trying to take control. Jamie sat with Jack all night, doing his best to soothe Jack; humming a tune through the night like the night before to try and soothe his dreams if nothing else. Jack cried and whimpered, clinging to Jamie before he falls into a peaceful sleep once more; only Jamie noticed symbols were burned into his wings; a backwards six and other symbols Jamie couldn't really compare in description, symbols of magic and only a few he'd seen before. Jamie held Jack close to him as he hummed, doing his best to soothe Jack and keep his dreams peaceful. Jack sniffled, nuzzling into Jamie's neck; his horns lightly scratching against him as Jack nuzzled him some more. Jamie gently ruffled Jack's hair affectionately, not minding the slight scratching. He'd been through worse after all, this was nothing and he barely felt it really. Jack smiled and, in the middle of a dream, nibbled on Jamie's neck. Jamie chuckled softly, ruffling Jac

k's hair as he inwardly told his libido to cool it; that Jack was just having a nice dream about food... which was a good thing. Not that doing that helped too much, especially when Jack bit harder before going slack and limp. Jamie winced a little, not in pain so much as that it just made things worse... He had other things to think about though and did his best to divert his attention as he continued to hum and keep Jack close to him. Jack awoke the next morning, sad and holding his head; he couldn't help himself... his demonic side took over and he'd ate Peepers. Roxas didn't notice the missing bird because at the time he was playing with Blue. Jamie did, however and decided to put a ward on the nursery to keep Jack out for the time being. Eating a bird was one thing... but there was a greater risk Jamie didn't want to consider. He was going to protect their son. Jack groaned, his stomach grumbling because it didn't agree with eating a live chicken. Jack sighed.

"How am I to explain this to Roxas?"

"You don't. Let me worry about that if he ever notices. For the time being, I don't think he will. Short attention span remember?" Jamie said, trying to soothe Jack's fears though there's nothing he could do about the stomach pain from having eaten the live chicken.

"Oh God Jamie... what if next time it isn't a chicken? What if- what if next time... it's you or R-roxas." Jack gulped and nearly vomited at that... in fact he did, right into his begonias.

"MY BEGONIAS!" Jamie sighed.

"I have already thought of that love. I have taken precautions. Roxas and Blue are safe and I can fend for myself." Jack grunted.

"Jamie... I won't be me at that time. Are you sure you can...?" Worry in his eyes.

"I am aware of that love. I have already planned for the worst. Have a bit of faith in me as well as yourself." He placed a gentle kiss to Jack's cheek.

"O-okay." He slowly calmed down and then tried to save his dying begonias; Jamie gave Jack a hand in trying to save the plant.

"Aww man." He groaned, realizing it had already died.

"Well, Tooth said I have to pay her 50 bucks if I couldn't keep it alive for more than 6 years."

"Um, well that's a bummer. Tell you what. Bet I can get her to wave the bet..."

"No a deal's a deal." He smiled.

"Plus it was Baby Tooth's favorite house; basically she could live inside the flower, it was like a bed."

"How about a different sort of wager then? If I can't convince Tooth you lost the bet but not due to your own fault, without making a wager with her myself, I'll pay half the bet... but if I win this little wager, you owe me one good kiss... what say you?" Jamie had never really had a reason to bet anything before, but he considered this a good wager and he was good if he lost, but he had a feeling he could win this bet and it would be well worth it.

"Ok fine." He said, smiling and he stretched out for a little while.

"Well it's Roxas's bloodlust feeding time; time to go hunting basically."

"You go hunting then. Tomorrow we go to Tooth's and our wager begins." Jamie went into the nursery and picked up Roxas who was on the ceiling while Blue was flying about; he's trying to catch the bird, but it avoided him.

"Roxas, what did I say about being on the ceiling?"

"Dat it dirty."

"Right. Now come down."

"Otay." Roxas dropped and Jamie caught him, he giggled but Jamie wasn't amused as he carried the giggling boy back out. Jack smiled a toothy grin; like Niko, the bird hid as Jack's eyes zeroed in on it. It went back to the safety of the cage.

"Better hurry hun or else we won't have any pets anymore." He said, looking hungrily at the bird.

"The bird will be fine as long as it's in the nursery." Jamie replied bluntly, handing over the still giggling Roxas. Jack smiled only to glare at the nearest clock as finally the changes began; Roxas shrieked as if dying. Jack held him close, whispering the native tongue, whispering he'd be fine. Everything would be ok and that he'd be ok. Jamie murmurs gentle reassurances to the boy as well, staying with him through the transformation. Jack nearly wanted to scream himself as he felt it, that dark aura trying to take over.

"Stop." He panted, Roxas had transformed fully.

"Well, new record; it usually took me more than 2 minutes."

"I'm sure he'll make new records as he gets older. He is part of both of us after all. See you two later tonight." Jack's wings unfurled and snapped, they were off; his body language different, again it was predatory, dangerous and ready to kill.

"Come Roxas, daddy's gonna show you how to kill for real." His voice deeper. Jamie watched, it wasn't the way Jack was standing that made him uneasy so much as what he said. What in the world was that supposed to mean? Jack smirked and flew off, Roxas closer to him as they went to where the gargoyle statues were.

"Aww, the cute couple walking out at night alone." He smiled.

"Go for the weak one darling and remember, make it quick; bite the neck and suffocate them." He slinked in the shadows, watching Roxas make to first kill, the girl, as Jack went for the man. Jamie understood a little of what Jack meant by what was coming, he'd seen the signs but he wasn't sure he could do anything about it... not unless... but he didn't think Jack had that sort of belief in him and even if he did... would it really work or was it only a theory? Still... he'd gotten the dream from Sandy... was Sandy really trying to tell him something or was it just a normal dream? Jack snickered happily as Roxas had taken down the red headed woman with ease, Jack had to chase his food as it ran away.

"Good job Roxas." There was no verbal response except a growl of approval from Roxas. Roxas happily munched on his meal. Jamie, meanwhile, read a book. Hoping to find something that might help him when the time came. Jack happily growled at Roxas before telling him take what he needed and to follow him home. Roxas looked at what's left... it's not much... A couple of limbs really and he hadn't eaten the head... Well, he didn't much care for the head so he just left it where it was and grabbed the arm and leg that was left. He toddled over to Jack with the gnawed on appendages. Jack smiled and flapped his wings.

"Hmm, I really should teach you how to mark stuff but that can wait for a later date." He said, smiling a fanged smile.

"Alright slow down buckaroo or you're gonna-" Roxas crashed into the wall after having flown to fast into the window. "crash." Jack sighed and rubbed his head, kissing the owies bye-bye. Roxas just gave Jack a fanged smile, obviously not caring too much that he'd crashed as he happily waved the appendages.

"Come on let's put these away for later huh?" He said, taking the appendages and sticking them in the very bloody freezer in the kitchen, leaking blood to the floor.

"Might have to cut these up eh Roxas?" He snickered and cleaned up the mess and put the appendages in a drawer in the fridge before smirking.

"Sun up soon son, so calm down ok?" He said, knowing how painful it was to revert back as well. Roxas flapped his little wings, hovering a moment; a little too excited to calm down just yet. Jack smiled a little and used the power he had to make the boy more sleepy and numb to the changes just as the sun came over the horizon. Jack grunted himself, not used to the light anymore. Roxas yawned and floated down, his eyes drooping from the spell. As the sun rose he transformed back to the sweet little angel he was.

"Sweet dreams Roxas." Jack set him in the crib, tucking him in and sat into the rocking chair. Jamie had dropped off to sleep, sitting in the other chair in the nursery; a cushioned one he'd gotten from North last time they were up at the pole. Seeing him, Jack got up with a smile and pet Jamie's hair back; picking him up easily, without waking him, he took him to bed. Tucking him in, Jack sighed and sat at the window sill a while before falling asleep. Jamie was up though when Roxas fussed a little for his breakfast. He fed the boy and draped a light blanket over Jack, murmuring softly.

"Looks like you wore your father out last night." Jack snored, as if in response to that; his wings drooped; Jamie was right, Jack was exhausted. Jamie entertained Roxas as Jack slept, at least until Roxas settled down for a nap after his lunch and a changing. Jack groaned tiredly.

"What's going on?"

"Just go back to sleep love." Jamie said gently. Jack grunted before slowly closing his eyes only to hear insistent peeping of the blue bird.

"AUGH!" He growled; Jamie chuckled and managed a silence spell over the cage so Jack could get back to sleep. Jack glare at the bird in the cage before going back to sleep. Jamie, having seen the look, decided to put a protective barrier around the cage... as much for Roxas as the bird's sake. Jack slept for almost the entire day, when night time came he opened his eyes, they were feral looking. By the time Jack woke, Jamie had moved him to the normal bed; currently Jamie was in the nursery with Roxas, reading Mother Goose rhymes to him.

"Ugh how long have I been out?" He whispered.

All day. His darker half said, Jack growled.

"Why's that?" Jamie was unaware of the 'conversation' as Roxas tried reading some of the words as he sat in Jamie's lap, looking at the book and trying to sound out some of the words.

"Very good Roxas." The boy grinned up at Jamie.

Well you tired yourself out and I was starved; yeesh don't be mad at me, I'm only you after all.