So... I'm still alive lol. I abandoned this (and fanfiction in general) so long ago, and decided to try my hand at writing again. It's trash, I'm so sorry, but it's the first thing I've written since 2014 lmaooo.

Hope you enjoy, and hope I remember to post some more instead of getting writers block for 7 years again.

Flock, n

To move or come together in large numbers

"Happy New Year!"

North could be heard above all the rabble, all of the spirits, legends and holiday figureheads collected together in the pole to see the new year in together.

Cheers, whoops, and celebratory shouts barely drowned him out, the man was in his element. He always hosted New Years at the Pole, but this one was extraordinarily special as the Guardians were also celebrating the year they had managed to overthrow Pitch's plans and continue with their jobs as they'd been tasked with doing. It had taken some months, but Hope had managed to be restored, Dreams were sweeter, children had fonder Memories, and North had pulled out all of the stops with Christmas to ensure he spread as much Wonder and brought he and the other guardians back to fun strength.

It helped now, that Jack was also a Guardian. He brought Fun wherever he could, inspiring snowball fights, snow days, and helping children find ways to enjoy themselves as much as he could. He helped them tip the scales back to ensure they were all stronger than ever.

Tooth was hovering around, nursing a glass of honeyed mead and chatting animatedly with Mother Nature and Father Time about who knows what, occasionally flitting back to direct her fairies to different sectors around the globe where teeth were hidden under pillows. New Years' or not, she worked three hundred sixty-five days a year and stopped for nobody.

Sandy was floating about, holding a tumbler which contained a liquid as gold as his sleep sand, watching as Bunny and the Groundhog bickered about one thing or another, a bemused expression on his face as the two animals shot snide comments back and forth, the Leprechaun sat to the side, his shocking red hair dishevelled as he downed another pint and prodded the two along with their arguments, chipping in with the odd remark to spur on the argument and laughing loudly when they took the bait.

Yeti walked through the throngs of mythic beings, offering refills on drinks and carrying platters of food around, whilst the elves did their best to sneak food away for themselves.

The only one not mixing in was Jack, who instead was stood to the side, watching with mild interest as everyone laughed, chatted and settled in with one another like old friends. He felt a little left out, watching as everyone came together, figureheads he knew about, had met briefly before, and those he'd never even heard of before, those from different cultures and countries. He hadn't noticed the old Russian approach him until he laid a heavy hand on his shoulder.

"Jack! Why are you not enjoying yourself?" He boomed, shaking the younger Guardians' shoulder, his cheeks flushed from one too many drinks, his baby blue eyes twinkling at him. "Make yourself at home! Drink and be merry!"

Jack merely smiled, looking around but not making a move forward, biting his lip slightly and looking up at the older man.

"I just, uh… I don't really know anyone. I've never been to one of your parties before," he said, shrugging as nonchalantly as he could, although deep down he felt a little left out, a little excluded.

"Ah yes, is my fault," North acknowledged solemnly, having the good grace to look a little abashed. "But you are here now Jack, you are reason we are all here. Thanks to you, we were able to stop Pitch and rebuild the children's belief. You should at least try to enjoy yourself. Make new friends, yes?"

Jack nodded in agreement, clutching his staff and walking over to a girl with blond hair and blue eyes, who was curled up on a futon just watching the revelries. She wore a dress made up of scraps sewn together, looking awfully relaxed as she turned and nodded to him as he approached.

"Hi, I'm Jack, uh, Jack Frost-" he began, extending his hand to her by way of greeting.

"Hello Jack, Jack Frost," she replied with a smile, grasping his hand in hers, beaming up. "I know who you are. I'm Autumn… but you can call me Tommy."

"Hi Tommy," he smiled, his icy blue eyes shining, as he perched next to her on her seat. They spent the evening chatting, laughing, watching the countless others mingling together. By the time she yawned and stretched, announcing her departure, others had started milling out too, propping one another up to combat their drunkenness, a chorus of a very tone deaf version of Auld Lang Syne being sang by the Selkie and the Wulver in thick Scottish accents as they tumbled out the door.

The Guardian of Fun smiled to himself, deciding that his first foray into North's New Years' bash wasn't so bad, having made a new friend. And maybe he wouldn't mind coming together with everyone to celebrate when the time came around again.