Set after the movie. Some more from the Forever arch, but it's not really a continuation. I know someone requested some stuff like this, but I lost who it was.

"You've been quiet this whole time," Jack reminded him softly.

Jamie looked up from where Sammy and Nikki were playing in the yard. "Just thinking. That's all."

"What're you thinking about?"

The man looked at the frost spirit to his left. He'd never really noticed how small Jack was until now. They both sat on the porch swinging bench, but Jack's legs swung freely under him as he used his staff to rock them both. "You," Jamie answered simply, studying his old friend.

Jack made a face that Jamie could not quite identify. "Why me?"

"Thinking about things that I never could have understood as a child."

"Hmm? Like what?"

"Like… Magic. It's science that we don't understand yet. So I'm just trying to puzzle out what you could possibly be."

Jack looked away from him and to the child and dog. He was quiet for a long time and Jamie was not sure he was actually going to answer. "Maybe I'm a mass hallucination," he finally said quietly.

"What?"

Jack suddenly perked up, looking a little excited. "Think about it! Maybe I'm a mass hallucination. All the kids see me because of something in their brains. Something with chemicals and science-y stuff."

Jamie laughed. "If you're a mass hallucination, then why do you look the same to every child? Wouldn't you be different for everyone?"

"Yeah, and what if I am? Every time I get described by humans, I always have white hair and blue eyes. So if everyone told one child that I have brown hair and eyes then I would look like that to them."

"If so, then you would not have changed since the last time I saw you, and yet you have new clothing," Jamie replied, gesturing to the snowy cloak draped over the back of the bench and old timey blouse that Jack was wearing.

"The blouse is the same, the hoodie got ruined," he replied. "You've grown up, Jamie. It wouldn't be a stretch for you to come up with something that would make me change."

"But I did not know until just now that you were wearing the shirt under the hoodie."

"Technically it's a different blouse, but it's made from what was left of the one I died in."

"That's another thing that puts holes in your theory of mass hallucination. You have sentience and a back story. You've had a life and a personality. Those things can't be transferred but through you, so you can't be a hallucination."

Jack was thoughtful for a moment. "Ever heard of Tulpai?"

"What? No, what are they?"

"They're like imaginary friends except sometimes humans don't outgrow them. They can be as real as any of us. But they're restricted to one person, so I guess you're right. What else could I be?"

"I don't know, I was thinking maybe an alien? Or another sentient race on the planet that only children are aware of. And what about the weather. You can influence it."

"That could very well be chalked up to an illusion as well."

"Why are you trying to disprove your existence?"

"I'm not, I'm just thinking."

"Well, what about all that time you spent invisible? What good is a hallucination if no one sees it?"

Jamie almost swallowed his words. Sixteen years was a long time for a human, but for Jack it was a mere blink in the last three hundred. Jack frowned, his eyes darkening as he looked to the horizon. There was a clearing storm over the west and the sun was setting through silver clouds. Jack was silent for a long moment.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

"No, you didn't. For a long time, Jamie, I did not know what the hell I was or what I was supposed to be doing."

Jamie had never heard Jack curse, so he was a little surprised. "But you found out now."

"Yeah, but it still hurts to be alone sometimes." He was quiet again and the two of them stared at the horizon.

Jamie sometimes forgot that Jack was older than him. Sure, he looked like a kid, but he had more life experience than Jamie could ever hope to have. "What's it like?"

"Hmm?"

"Being that old? What's it like watching the world change?"

Jack seemed in a thoughtful mood, chewing on the question for a long time. "Sad. And happy, I guess. It's hard to fall in love or make friends because they get old and grow up." He looked over with a sad smile, nudging Jamie's shoulder lightly. "They stop believing in you."

"I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault. I was supposed to protect you and I wasn't there."

"They were just bullies. I should be ashamed that I let them get to me."

"I still should have been there."

"You're over thinking this."

Jack actually laughed at that. "Says the man that is trying to figure out the secrets to my existence."

It was nearly dark now and the evening chill was setting in. "I should go make dinner," Jamie finally broke the silence. "Want to stay? I'm making stew."

"Nah, eating is a habit I'm trying not to form."

Jamie shot him a look and Jack waved him off. He flouted off the bench, landing on the wood deck as light as a snowflake. He pulled the cloak off the back of the seat and in a flourish of motion, wrapped it around his shoulders. He clicked the clasp on the front and pulled up the hood. "I should be off, anyway. I gotta go make sure that lake is solid as a rock. Don't want anyone else falling in."

The awkward conversation was leaving a sour taste in Jamie's mouth. He stood and wrapped the smaller boy into hug. Jack stiffened like the first time Jamie had hugged him, but he relaxed and returned it. Jamie pulled away and the two looked at each other for a long moment, both unsure of what to say.

"So, um… Maybe I can come for dinner when you guys make something like pizza. I can't really eat soup."

Jamie felt a little silly at that. They were making soup tonight to warm up. Jack was the very epitome of cold. Logic said he would like colder dishes. The man grinned. "Of course. Just give me a shout out."

Jack smirked. "I'll take you to Santoff Claussen one of these days and have the elves cook for you. You will never want to leave after that."

"I thought there were rules against people going to magical hideouts," Jamie replied, thinking back on a conversation they had had what felt like a million years ago.

Jack's smile only turned wicked. "There are rules against children, but not a single one against adults." Without waiting for Jamie to formulate a reply, a cold wind rushed past Jamie and picked Jack right off the ground and tossed him into the air. The man lost the winter spirit in the growing darkness as he called Sammy in for the night.

Afterword: I did not mean to sound so terse in the last a/n, guys. It was just the way it came out. Sorry about that. I swear someone requested Jack and adult Jamie, but for some reason I managed to lose who it was. Or maybe I am imagining things and no one requested it. Oh well, here you go anyway! Tulpai, or Tuplas are a real thing. Look it up, It's pretty cool, actually.