A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own ROTG or Guardians of Childhood
Family
"I love it!" Jackie exclaimed as she stared at the books her mother had gotten her. "Thanks, momma." She said kissing her mother on the cheek.
"Your welcome little one," Sophie said with a chuckle.
Jessica smiled at the gift before handing over the next gift to Sarah. She immediately tore off the wrapping and smiled when she saw a lock picking kit she turned to glance at her brother who just shrugged looking a bit too innocent.
"I mean if you want to be on the naughty list, getting into places that your not supposed to seems like a good way to start," Jonathan said.
"We're not supposed to be encouraging that." Nicholas chided beside him Katherine hid her grin behind her hands.
Jonathan shrugged. "Maybe, but perhaps learning to use that will mean she has less time to steal my things."
"That is true," Katherine said. "Besides she'd still be trying to get on the naughty list anyway. At least lock picking is a semi-useful skill. Never know when you need to get into or out of a place that's locked."
"Challenge accepted," Sarah said to her brother looking it over. "Cause I can totally do both."
Jonathan glared at her but otherwise decided to ignore that statement. "The manual even has suggestions for common household items. Like hair clips and the like." Jonathan said.
"That's what the guy at the store said."
"Cool," Sarah said. "Definitely better than what Santa got me."
"You were on the naughty list," Jonathan said.
"Yep," Sarah said. "And I think he gave me enough coal to start a fire tonight…." She turned to her father. "That is… if mom and dad say I can?"
"If you behave," Nicholas said. "Which means no stealing."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Sarah said. "I get it. Be good today. I can do that."
"You sure about that?" Jackie said with a grin.
Sarah glared at Jackie and picked up and Pillow and smacked her with it. In a second Jackie picked up another Pillow and smacked Sarah with it.
"Girls!" Sophie and Jessica shouted at the same time stepping forward and grabbing the pillows out of their daughters' hands.
"Attack each other with pillows after we finish opening gifts alright?" Jessica said.
Jackie and Sarah both pouted. "Alright." They said together.
"Good," Jessica said before sitting back down and handing the next gift to Nicholas. "From me to you."
Nicholas opened it and pulled out a watch with the engraving 'forever and always' written on the back. He smiled and kissed Jessica. "Thank you, Jess."
After opening presents a quick breakfast Jonathan once again asked Jackie's help bring all his unopened Santa gifts upstairs. This time Jackie knew what to expect when he handed Jackie one of his wrapped gifts.
"Last year it was easy to determine that at least one of the gifts was yours," Jonathan said.
"The only piece of clothing I asked for was for you. " He said. "This year, the only way I could tell was if I opened all the gifts and that doesn't seem right."
"That's fine," Jackie said. "We could just take turns opening them, and we'll figure out whose gifts are whose that way. We did that for the rest of my gifts last year anyway."
"Alright," Jonathan said picking out a gift at random and handed it to Jackie. "You first."
Jackie walked out of the room with new gifts of Jonathan that was securely squared away in the bottomless bag that Jonathan had made for her last Christmas. The only gift that wasn't the completely ordinary necklace that Jonathan had gotten himself for her for Christmas 'cause you're a girl and girls like Jewelry-I've heard.
Jackie chuckled still even if it was plastic it was white and blue her two favourite colours and she liked it so much.
"Jackie?" Sarah said stepping forward. "Have fun in Jonathan's room?"
Jackie nodded. "He wanted to show me his present."
Sarah chuckled. "He's so shy." She said linking arms with Jackie. "Anywhoo, you have another hour before you have to head off to your grandmothers. Want to spend it at the ice palace? Both of our moms are fine with it, I asked."
Jackie chuckled. "Yes, please!"
"Pretty cool of your Mom to let us come here alone," Sarah said before looking up. "Well almost alone," She said as up above Nyx flew overhead.
"It's the Ice Palace, your dad put a barrier around it, so only those who already know about it would be able to find it. Only you, me, Mom, Uncle Jamie and your family know about it." Jackie said. "None of those people would tell anyone else about it."
"I know," Sarah said.
"Besides we're nine," Jackie said. "When Uncle Jamie was nine, he was sledding around half of Burgess by himself."
"Wasn't that an accident though?" Sarah said. "He slipped on one of your dad's ice patches and your dad just… kept that ice patch going?"
"What's your point?"
"Just that before that your Uncle was playing in the park in front of your house."
"Still, it wasn't like he was grounded afterwards for leaving the Park," Jackie said as they entered the woods just by the pond where Jack Frost saved his little sister.
They walked through some trees and they found themselves staring up at The Ice Palace that Jackie Bennett had made. The eternal snow cloud forever snowing above the palace creating their winter wonderland right there in Burgess even in the summer months.
"Yeah because it was an accident," Sarah said as they walked up the steps of the palace and opened the doors.
"Whatever, I can handle myself. Especially in Winter."
"That I believe," Sarah said with a smile. "What are we gonna do now?"
Jackie smiled and let snowfall from her fingertips. "Play?"
Sarah smiled and lifted her arm as Nyx flew onto her arm before burrowing as far as she could into Sarah's Jackie.
Both Sophie and Nicholas had insisted that Nyx accompany them in case something happened. She could fly back to the Jessups and warn them. (Though that was as a last resort, the first and foremost was Sarah using her phone to contact them.)
Nothing would happen though. Nothing happened in Burgess, not since Pitch.
They were safe.
Jackie shook her head almost willing the sudden anxiety to go away and turn to Sarah. "Do you still have your skates hidden away here?"
"Duh," Sarah said. "This is the only place we can skate outside of the winter months."
Jackie smiled. "Want to Skate?" She said. "Without the risk of drowning?"
"Like I'd drown with you right there," Sarah said with a smile before scooping up a fist full of snow that Jackie had creating and flung it at the young halfling. "I'd rather have a snowball fight instead."
Jackie chuckled and a snowball appeared in her hand. "Think you can take me?"
Sarah threw another snowball. "Don't count me out just yet."
Jackie chuckled and tossed a snowball at Sarah who immediately retaliated by picking up more snow from the floor. Jackie ran through the palace as she laughed leaving only ice, frost, and snow in her wake.
"So how did I know that I would find my niece and the Troublemaker of Burgess at the Ice Palace," Jamie said as he stepped toward the Ice palace.
"Momma called you didn't she?" Jackie said with a giggle. "She said she would."
"Yeah, she wanted me to get you home, it's almost time for you to get ready for Grandma's," Jamie said holding out a gloved hand for her.
Jackie pouted but turned to Sarah to say goodbye. "Bye Sarah." She said before she walked toward her uncle.
"By Jackie, Have fun out your grandmothers," Sarah said as she and Jackie left the woods.
"We were having fun." She
"I know sweetie," Jamie said. "But you and your mother have commitments to keep. It's Christmas and your extended family wants to see you."
Jackie pouted. "Only cause I'm the youngest Bennett, if any of Momma's cousin had a child they would be fawned over, and I would be-."
Jamie sighed and picked up his niece. "That's not true," Jamie said. "You would still be loved."
"I know that," Jackie said. "But there's only so much attention, and a newborn baby is far more interesting than me."
"You know that's not true," Jamie said. "How was Sarah's?"
Jackie smiled. "It was fun, we opened presents, and had breakfast. Sarah's brother Jonathan got Sarah a lock-picking kit, and last night Sarah's grandmother Katherine told us stories about Nightlight."
"Nightlight… hmm… he was the Man in the Moon's Guardian before he became a Guardian of Childhood, right?"
Jackie nodded. "Yeah. I think Katherine and he were more than friends. She doesn't talk about him like she talks about Santa Clause and Santa was her best friend."
"Ah, ah, ah, that's gossiping young lady," Jamie said. "You know better than that."
Jackie pursed her lips and nodded. "Ok." She said leaning her head on Jamie's leather Jackie that had grown cold in the December air.
Jamie opened the door to his old home and Jackie blinked at the sudden warmth in the house. Her hands frosted over slightly to cool herself off and she put her frosted hands on her neck to help cool off in the warmer air.
She could see her mother, Grandma Sally and Isabella sitting in the living room. Sophie had a mug of hot chocolate in her hands. (Jackie knew because it was the only type of hot beverage that her mother would entertain during the holidays. Coffee was for work stuff, and she wasn't working) Grandma Sally was wearing a long-sleeved wool sweater that told Jackie however warm she found it to be, Sally at least found it cold and Isabella held her mug in her hands as she laughed at something Sophie just said.
Sally stepped forward and pinched Jackie's cheeks. "Hey, little one!" She said, Jackie, smiled through the pain of having her cheeks pinched, while
"Hi, Grandma," Jackie said. "It's nice to see you."
"I haven't seen you in so long!"
"Grandma," Jackie said with a smile. "You saw me four days ago on my Birthday!"
"I know Silly. It's still not enough time in-between visits."
Jackie smiled but said nothing not entirely sure what she could say to that. Jamie put her down on the floor and Jackie walked off to Isabella.
"Hi, Miss Isabella," Jackie said hugging Isabella.
Isabelle smiled and returned the hug. "Hey Jackie, it's good to see you again."
Jackie smiled and looked down, belatedly notice a silver ring with a diamond centre on her fingers. Isabella noticed the glance and smiled putting a finger to her lips.
"Later." She whispered.
Jackie's eyes widened and she smiled covering her mouth Isabella covered the ring with her other hand.
"When's everyone else coming by?" Jackie asked. "They are coming here today right?"
"Yes," Sally said. "And they should be by in about an hour or so."
"Which reminds me," Sophie said bending down to grab Jackie's knapsack that was by her feet. "You should go change."
Jackie nodded as she realized why Sophie hadn't come to pick her up, it was so she had time to head home and pick up the clothes she needed to wear for the Christmas party that night.
Jackie sighed and grabbed the backpack before she ran upstairs to change. Closing the door on the room that had been hers back when she and Sophie had lived there.
It was emptier, the bed was gone, but the old rocking chair that every member of her family had used at some point to rock her to sleep was still there. As well as boxes of baby clothes.
Jackie had been in the room since they moved out four years prior but seeing it so different, hit her in a way she hadn't expected.
Instead of changing her clothes in that room, she instead decided to change in the bathroom and turned and left hers (and Jamie's) old bedroom.
20 minutes later Jackie came down the stairs wearing the red dress with white accents that her mother had bought for her two weeks before. Her mother came forward and smiled and hugged her. She's brushed her hair and instead of tying her hair back like she preferred she instead decided to let it hang down.
"You look beautiful Winter Sprite," Sophie whispered.
Jackie smiled. "Thank you, Momma." She said just as the door opened and the guests start to arrive. Starting with Aunt Lissa, Uncle Geoffrey with their youngest daughter Jessica walked through the door.
"Hey, little Jessie," Sophie said hugging her youngest cousin. "How's college life treatin' ya?"
Jessica chuckled. "Oh, you know." She said with a shrug. "It's just as you warned me, two weeks in and I'd forgotten what a proper night's rest felt like."
Sophie chuckled. "Yep, even when I was living at home- that's how it felt like for me."
"I got your next book," Jessica asked hanging her coat up. "It's so good."
Sophie smiled. "Thanks! Would you believe me if I told you that it took me forever to write it? By the time I was done with it, I never wanted to see it again."
"I found it to be amazing," Jessica said.
"Good means my hard work paid off," Sophie said. "And that's good too because it means I can get to the next book in the series. The book I've been looking forward to."
Jessica's eyes widened. "Does that mean that Tiana and Jason are going to get together in the next book? Finally?"
"He's in a love triangle-he could choose the other one."
"Well I mean yeah, but Jason and Tiana are just perfect for each other."
"You'll just have to wait for the next book to come out to know for sure," Sophie said before she turned around. "Hey Jackie, come say hi to your cousin."
Jackie skipped forward. "Hi, Jessica."
"Hello, little Jackie," Jessica said. "How's my favourite cousin?"
Jackie chuckled. "My mom's fine."
Jessica smiled. "I meant you silly."
"Where's Jennifer and Joanna?" Jackie asked.
"Jennifer's coming along with her boyfriend." Jessica said, "Joanna's bringing along a couple of friends too, I hope that's alright."
Sophie shrugged. "It ain't my house anymore. I live on the other side of the pond. Mom's the one who you should talk to."
Jessica chuckled.
Slowly but surely everyone else arrived. Mike and Ike, Joanna and her friends Siobhan and Allen, Jennifer and her boyfriend David.
Sophie smiled and mingled with all of them. She spoke about her books, Jackie talked about her classes and the sleepover she'd had last night with her best friend Sarah.
It hurt to hide a part of herself. But fortunately, her powers and the other world weren't the only things about her.
Jackie mainly talked to Jessica. The second youngest person there.
It felt awkward being the youngest person there with a ten year age gap between you and the next person, but Jessica didn't seem to mind.
"How's school?"
"It's fine," Jackie said. "I like reading comprehension. I get to read a lot of new books. I like
Science too, specifically in relation to the weather."
Jessica smiled. "Is that so?"
"Mmmhmm," Jackie said.
"Any particular books you do like?"
Jackie smiled and went into detail about the story she had had to read for class. About a girl and a boy and their adventures through the desert and the lengths the two of them had to go through just to survive.
"You also said you liked learning about weather," Jessica said. "What's your favourite season?"
"Winter," Jackie said without thinking. "I prefer the cold, more than I prefer the heat."
"I like winter too," Jessica said. "Ice Skating, and Sledding, snowball fights and snowmen. It's just so much fun."
Jackie smiled and her eyes lit up. "Yeah, but I like the weather too. I always feel more comfortable in the cold than I do in the heat."
"I understand," Jessica said. "You can always add another layer. You can't take off infinite layers of clothing in the heat."
"Yeah."
Before they could talk anymore they were called to dinner. Jackie frowned when she went close to the table and noticed that all of the food had steam rising off the plate not even close to the table yet and she was uncomfortable from all the heat. She and Sophie shared a look and Sophie smiled.
She'd cooled down her food multiple times before, had had to do it for the last few Christmases. Still… it would have been nice to not have to risk her secret that her mother was insistent she keep, just so she could eat her food.
Jackie blinked and noticed that her hands had frosted over again. With a sigh, she shook her hands and the frost felted away.
She sat at the table by her mom and carefully served herself some mashed potatoes and slices of turkey. Then as subtly as possible positioned her hands at the side of the bowl and concentrated on cooling her plate until the steam was gone.
The plate frosted over a little but not in a way that anyone would notice unless they were looking for it.
"So Jackie." Aunt Lissa said. "How's school?"
Jackie shrugged. "It's fine. I like Science and Reading."
"Science?" Auntie Lissa said. "Interesting. What do you like about Science?"
"I like learning about the weather. How it changes and what makes the climate warmer or colder." Jackie said before going into detail about what makes snow and the air cold.
Then that somehow snowballed into how people survived in sub-0 temperatures with no indoor heating and Joanna piped in with things she'd learned from her history courses in University. That reminded Jackie of a story she read that took place in Colonial times, and Sophie piped in with knowledge of the town of Burgess which was founded during the Colonial times, and before anyone knew it the entire table was talking and laughing.
Before everyone knew it dinner was over and Isabelle and Jamie were clinking their glasses with their fork.
"We have an announcement to make." Jamie while he and Isabelle stood up.
Jackie's eyes widened and she stared at the two of them as she swung her legs eagerly waiting for the news.
"Isabella and I… have decided to take the next step in our relationship," Jamie said as Isabella flashed her ring. "I asked her to marry me last night and she said yes! We're going to get married."
For a moment the table was silent but the Sophie was the first one out of her seat.
"Congratulations!" She shouted giving Jamie and Isabella a hug.
Afterwards, everyone followed suit. They all stood and hugged and shook hands as everyone congratulated the couple on their future together.
"Congratulations," Jackie said softly. "I can't wait to see the wedding."
"You'll be in the wedding party," Isabella said while beside her Jamie grinned. "Obviously."
Jackie's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Of course," Isabella said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "We'd be honoured to have you in it."
Jackie stared at them for a long moment before her eyes widened and slowly she started to smile.
So yeah. Jamie and Isabella aren't going to get married right away. (Infact their still unmarried by the next Christmas, and then the events of Phonecalls happen and the postpones the wedding even more,) but I can say that by the time Jackie is fourteen The two of them have tied the not.
Jackie's sense of belonging is one she struggles with for pretty much her entire life. Jack's return does help, but she always knows in the back of her mind that she is a girl of two worlds and doesn't really comfortably fit in either. Being with Sarah and Jonathan help immensly because they are in a similar situation as hers. (Though it's slightly more voluntary on their part. They can choose to walk away from the mythical Jackie can't.)
