By the time Charlie and Scott finished delivering presents, the North Pole Christmas Party was already in full swing. Curtis had given a celebratory post-Christmas speech after the most successful Christmas the North Pole had seen in years. Christmas music was bumping through the speakers and the main workshop floor was filled with elves, Calvins, Millers and Greens. All around the workshop folks were dancing and singing along to the music, exchanging presents, and enjoying the snacks that were available. The room erupted into a loud cheers and hollers once everyone's favorite Santa and his son had returned.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Scott shouted over everyone. The party goers began to quiet, and he continued to address the crowd. "Typically, I leave the Posts-Christmas speech in the Head Elf's hands. Curtis did a fantastic job, as always, this year. But given it is my last Christmas as Santa Claus I just wanted to say a few words. I have been lucky enough to serve as Santa for the past 25 years. From what Bernard tells me, I'm one of the longest reining Santas in history and there have been some struggles along the way." There was laughter all around the room as everyone remembered the various ways Christmas had nearly been lost over the past few decades.
"But in those 25 years my family has grown so much. I'm not just talking about Bernard, Buddy, Carol, and my grandkids. I'm talking about each and every one of you. From my very first Christmas you all have been nothing but kind and supportive. It has been an honor to work beside you and tonight when my chapter in the Christmas Handbook comes to an end, I want you all to remember something a very wise elf told me on my first night at the North Pole. Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing. Let that be a reminder to you that Christmas isn't just about delivering presents, making deadlines, or tinsel football. It's about believing…believing that no matter how bad things might seem right now, it can always get better. Thank you all for making my life just a little bit better each day."
For a moment the workshop was so quiet you could hear an ornament drop. Then Curtis began to clap. The others joined in again. The room was quickly filled with more celebratory cheers. Some of the elves were crying. Other's shouted word of encouragement back at Scott.
"Alright, alright," Scott attempted to placate the crowd. "That's enough mushy stuff for now. In a few hours I'll make my official exit, but I just wanted a chance to thank you all. Now let's Deck the Halls like there's no tomorrow!"
"Wow," Holly saddled up to Charlie as the crowd dispersed back to their various activities. "I didn't expect this party to be both so emotional and lively."
"We don't exactly know how to do anything halfway at the North Pole." Charlie told her.
"I love the energy." Holly smiled. "Care to join me for a dance?"
"I would like that." Charlie smiled back. "but it's getting pretty late and I have to take care of something first." Charlie held one hand palm up and snapped the fingers on his other hand. The Jack Frost pinstriped suit appeared in his hand. "I'm going to miss being able to do that."
"Last I saw Jack he was with Lucy at the dessert table." Holly pointed in the direction she'd last seen her brother.
"Thanks." Charlie nodded. "Save a dance for me?"
"Absolutely." She agreed. Charlie did find Jack with Lucy each holding a plate of various desserts.
"Hey Jack," Charlie approaching his quietly.
"Yes!" Jack exclaimed excitedly when he noticed the pinstriped suit tucked under Charlie's arm.
"So how does this work? Do I just put it on and that's it?" Jack's fingers were itching to hold the suit.
"Not exactly. Let's go to the Frost Cabin, we'll have a little bit of privacy there." With another snap of Charlie's fingers, they were both transported to the porch of the Frost Cabin. "Suit's all yours."
Charlie handed the pinstripe suit off to Jack. Jack let himself inside the Frost Cabin. He realized the building had already been emptied of all Charlie's personal belongings. The only familiar decoration was the shelf full of snowflakes. It's supposed to be your guiding light on the darkest of days. Jack remembered Charlie telling him when he first came to the Frost Cabin. Between Santa's heartfelt but ominous speech and Charlie's warning, Jack wondered for the first time exactly what dark forces threatened Jack Frost and the North Pole.
Believing himself to be fully prepared for the task at hand, Jack striped himself out of the clothes he'd arrived in and slowly dressed in the pinstriped suit. Putting on the pants hadn't been too difficult. But when he began to button the white collared shirt, he felt a slight chill settled onto his skin. It was like a suddenly cool breeze on an otherwise warm day. The was no tie with the suit but there was a pinstriped waistcoat. Jack felt like he was putting on a weighted ice pack as he buttoned up the waistcoat.
"Uh, Charlie, is it supposed to feel this cold?" Jack shouted through the door.
"It feels colder the more pieces you put on." Charlie confirmed. "You'll be really uncomfortable for a few minutes. It's an anti-theft feature."
"Why the hell does this suit have an anti-theft feature?" Jack called, already slipping an arm into the jacket. By the time he managed to put his other arm through, Jack thought he might freeze to death. His chest felt tight, like a stretched elastic and he was having trouble breathing. Jack tried to remain calm. Somehow, he knew that panicking would only make things worse.
"Ok Jack, this part is really important. Do you remember me telling you before that you need one good memory? It can be just anything. You have to think about a memory that makes you feel warm. And I don't mean thinking about the ovens at the bakery or a campfire. It has to be emotional warmth."
"What's…yours?" Jack managed to ask between frigid gasps.
"Christmas 1994." Charlie answered. "I was eight years old, it was the year my family started falling together instead of apart. It was the year I learned to believe again. So whenever things got to be too much, whenever I think I can't do it anymore, I think about Christmas 1994 and about eight year old Charlie Calvin and what it felt like to have hope for the first time in a long time. Can you think of something like that?"
Jack closed his eyes. At the moment all he could think about was how cold he felt and how each breath could very well be his last. If this was what freezing to death felt like, her certainly didn't want to have to try it twice. Jack squeezed his eyes shut tighter. He feared he'd lose consciousness soon, his thoughts were getting fuzzy. He could barely remember what was happening around him, let alone conjure a memory.
Then fast as a lightning strike, Jack knew what his warm memory was. Just a few days ago Holly had told Jack that there would never be a better Jack Frost than him. Charlie had also told Jack that it takes a certain kind of person to do this job. For the first time in his life Jack felt like people believed in him. They knew that he would do well. It was their belief and a chance to do well that would warm his heart.
As soon as Jack had his warm memory, he felt himself begin to thaw. The tightness in his chest went away. Breathing was easier and the freeze cold dulled to a slight chill before disappearing completely. Jack heaved a great sigh of relief. Outside Charlie could tell the transfer of power had been completed because he felt cold for the first time in thirteen years.
"Jack, Can I come in?" He asked, knocking on the door. Jack was about to tell Charlie it was his house, he could do whatever he liked. But even as he had the thought, he realized he was Jack Frost now, not Charlie. It was his cabin.
"Of course, you're welcome any time." Jack told him, opening the door.
"I should have worn a jacket." Charlie shivered as he stepped inside. "I forgot how cold being cold is."
"You forgot what being cold felt like?" Jack asked.
"One of the perks of being Frost." Charlie explained. He tucked his hands into his armpits for warmth. "We have a lot to talk about, but I want you to enjoy the party so, last thing for today, I'm going to teach you how to make your first snowflake. Let's head outside."
"Do you want my coat?" Jack offered Charlie the winter parka he'd been wearing, which Charlie gratefully accepted.
"I'll give it back as soon as I've got my red one." Charlie promised.
A/N: More to come on the Frost Curse soon! (Maybe two or three chapters before we find out what it really is!) But it wouldn't be a Calvin Christmas without things not exactly going according to plan.
Thank you to Starrat and Ghostwirter for your reviews of Chapter 16! Fingers crossed I'll be back soon.