Tooth was mentally cursing Manny for at least not giving her and the rest of the boys a bit of their powers while they were human. She would have killed to have her wings back (at least just to get to Jack a bit faster). She had fallen four times because she still did not get used to be around without them (well… the dark didn't help either).
She made it to the Overland Lake, while thinking what she would say to Jack when she found him and also stopping to catch her breath. She obviously owed him an apology for asking too much, but… he had been a Guardian for three years and he still didn't want to share his past life with the rest. And quite honestly it was odd; true that it took time to share the reason why they were chosen and their past life, but with North it took only 4 months, Sandy took a year (mostly because they really didn't understand very much his sand images at that time), Bunny revealed his while battling Pitch for the first time as a group, and Tooth herself told them in the aftermath of the said battle.
The Guardian of Memories then heard a weak sob coming from behind the tree she was leaning against. Having a vague idea of who was making her least favorite noise in the world, she turned around. Tooth couldn't help but gasp when she saw Jack crying. She had never seen him in this condition.
Jack was sitting at the edge of the Overland Lake, legs leaned against his body and he appeared to be holding something in his hands. As Tooth walked closely towards him, she also heard him talking to himself.
"… I just don't understand why? Why is it so hard for them to understand? Maybe they will… I mean they did accept my apologies after the Easter fiasco and what happened before and after that… but what happened to me, what made me become Jack Frost, will they still accept me after I tell them?" Jack said between sobs.
Tooth then decided to make her presence clear. She really didn't stand him looking so… broken.
"Jack, whatever it is, we will. I will" she said.
Jack jumped out of his position; high alert senses clear in his face (despite the tears).
"Tooth? How long… how long have you been standing there listening?" he asked nervously while trying to wipe out the tears.
"Just enough to hear that you don't know if you should tell us the real reason you became Jack Frost" she said.
Jack sighted. He dropped to the ground, one hand covering his face. The other hand was holding a golden box.
"Is that a memory box?" Tooth asked incredulously. Jack only nodded.
"Yeah, it's- it's my tooth box" he said a bit cautiously.
"But-but you gave it back to me, three years ago. I personally put it in a safe place along with Bunny's, North's, Sandy's and mine; why do you have it?" she asked confused.
"Well I didn't steal it. Manny… gave it back to me" he admitted.
"WHAT?!" Tooth screamed. Jack decided that it was better to go straight to the point before she burst into flames. After Pitch stole them, the safekeeping of the teeth had become a delicate subject.
"Calm down, Manny said he had a reason. Problem is, I don't know wh-" Jack started to say, until realization hit him. He looked at Tooth (who´s face had gone from looking "about to commit murder" to "I don't understand anything"), then at the box, and then at the lake's frozen surface.
"Jack?" Tooth asked. She didn't get a response; Jack was still looking at the lake, breathing heavily.
Then, the puzzle pieces started to piece itself together in Tooth's mind. Jamie's story, Jack´s refusal to get in the water, the mentioning of his sister…
She sat close to Jack, who was still looking at the lake.
"The boy and the girl from the story… they were you and your sister" It wasn't a question, it was a fact. Jack looked at her; panic, sadness and defeat showing in his face. He knew that Tooth was slowly figuring out the riddle. He was being confronted and there was no turning back now.
"But I don't understand something Jack, you said that the legend was wrong, but… the reason behind you becoming the winter spirit… it has something to do with this lake, isn't it?" she said.
"Yes" he answered.
"What happened here, Jack? What made you lose your memories and have a fear of water?" Tooth asked.
Jack only stared at her with a sad look.
"Dose it actually has something to do with your sister?" she continued. He slowly nodded.
"We just wanted to have some fun… winter had been around for just a month, and my 17th birthday had just passed, along with Christmas… and my sister had received a pair of ice skates from North…" Jack started, but cut himself as the tears had started to fall again.
Tooth placed her hand Jack´s shoulder.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. You can tell me when you feel ready. I'm not going to force you. I should have understood that today" she said feeling guilty.
"No, no, it's- it's fine. I- I want you to know…" Jack said. Tooth looked at him surprised. He smiled a bit when he saw her face.
"I'm tired, okay? Hiding secrets is hard, and… you guys are my family now and you are…" he cut himself as he blushed and turned his face.
"So… you were saying that it all started after your sister received a pair of ice skates for Christmas…" Tooth said.
Jack nodded, but he didn't show any indication that he planned to continue the story. Instead, he grabbed Tooth's hand and placed it in his tooth box.
"I think is better if I just show you. I mean… since you are The Tooth Fairy, you can also activate the memory, right?" he said. Tooth slowly nodded.
"All right then…" he said as he took a deep breath and placed his hand on top of Tooth's.
"No turning back now" was Jack´s last thought before the two Guardians got blinded by a golden light.