Author's Note: I wrote this chapter while I was sick with COVID. I could feel Jack's pain on a spiritual level. QwQ

Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Winter Child!" ^u^ I hope you all are having a wonderful week so far, but if not, I hope it gets better. =3 Sorry about the bit of a late update...I got caught up binge-reading a fanfiction, and I lost track of time. XD This chapter is another one of my favorites (I'm a sucker for sick fics, hehe X)), so...yeah! I don't really have anything else to say other than I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! =)


~ X ~

Ill Tidings

A cold

A bug

A fever

A flu

None of them are fun to catch

Especially when you're two

...

It was a wonderful winter morning, and the skies were clear and bright. The sun shone through North's window, stirring him from his sleep. The ex-Cossack sat up, smiling at the sight of sunlight. It had been cloudy for the past few days, and not a ray of light had touched the ground. North was pleased to see that the sun had once again taken charge of the morning skies. The dark, cumulonimbuses that had rolled through the skies had seemingly disappeared into thin air—which, since they were clouds, was probably true.

North yawned, and he slipped on his slippers before sliding out of bed. He was about to walk over to Jack's crib to check on him, but he quickly came to the notion that the winter child wasn't there. Jack had his own bedroom now, and North felt a small pang of despondence knowing that Jack was already growing up. He was only two, yes, but North felt like it was just yesterday that he had discovered him in the wintery woods. The young snow sprite had his own space now, and North had to walk across the hall to see him.

As North proceeded to get dressed, he realized this wasn't the first time he thought that he and Jack still shared a room. There had been nights when North would wake up to check on Jack only to find the cradle empty and bare. North would panic, thinking that Jack had escaped the bars of his crib to explore the house in the dark, but he'd then remember that the little boy was asleep in the room across from his. Jack was safe and sound in his bed, cuddling his stuffed arctic fox close as he slumbered.

North sighed, hoping that he would soon grow out of the bothering habit. He had had enough of coming close to a heart attack thinking that Jack was missing.

The ex-Cossack exited his bedroom, fully dressed, and closed the door behind him. He walked a few paces to the other end of the hallway, where the snowflake-decorated door to Jack's bedroom stood. North placed his large hand on the knob, twisting it slowly. He pushed open the door quietly so he wouldn't disturb the sleeping child inside. As he suspected, Jack was still fast asleep. His small form rose and fell under the covers; a shock of white hair spiked out from underneath. Though he couldn't see him from the front, North knew that Jack's stuffed arctic fox, Wawa, was being cuddled to his chest. Jack had named the plush toy the day after his birthday. The winter child knew his colors, his favorite being blue. The white fox was, well, white, hence why he began to call it "Wawa." North found the name rather adorable, and Jack carried the stuffed animal everywhere. Not only did he bring it with him to bed, but he also dragged it along with him to the table, outside, and occasionally the bathroom. North often had to tell Jack to leave Wawa in his bedroom so it (or "she" as Jack stated) wouldn't get soaked. North had to patch the stuffed fox since it had been ripped in some places, but Jack didn't mind. As long as he had his Wawa, he was content enough.

Jack sighed and rolled over in bed. The boy's back had been to North, so the ex-Cossack hadn't been able to see his face. North's brow furrowed in concern when he noticed how labored Jack's breathing was. The winter child's nose was reddened and his cheeks were flushed, giving him a rather sickly appearance. Jack hadn't woken up yet, and it was a little early for him too, so North decided to head downstairs to start breakfast. After that, he'd come and wake the boy and see how he was.

North headed downstairs and made a pot of oatmeal for him and Jack. Once breakfast was complete, North went back upstairs to see if Jack was awake. Oddly, Jack still wasn't up, and North began to grow worried. It was late in the morning, and the winter child's babbling usually came from his room at this time.

North opened the door to Jack's bedroom again, finding that Jack had kicked off his covers. A small frown decorated the little snow sprite's face; Jack appeared to be in some form of discomfort. The child whimpered, shifting in bed. His breaths rattled in his chest.

North walked over to Jack's bedside and shook him lightly. Jack slowly peeled his eyes open; they were fever-glazed.

"Jack? Are you feeling alright, moy mal'chik?" asked North gently. Jack whimpered, and he sniffed. North placed his hand against Jack's head; he was burning up.

A running fever, congestion, and sudden fatigue…All the symptoms Jack showed gave way to a cold. Or something perhaps worse. Whatever illness plagued him, Jack was in serious pain. The winter child whined, and he rolled onto his back. He hugged Wawa close to his chest.

"Hot…" the winter child whimpered. Since Jack was a snow sprite, it was natural for him to be cold. North had done plenty of reading on snow sprites and their preferences. So whenever Jack said he was hot, North did everything he could to cool him down.

But the boy had a fever, which meant that he must've felt that heat ten times more than the average person. Jack had never been this sick before, and North found himself panicking a little when he realized that he didn't know exactly what to do.

After a few more moments of thought, North settled on doing what one would do to treat someone with a cold, but he would change the things that required heat. Instead of a warm bath or bowl of soup, a cool dip in the tub and a refreshing cup of water should do the trick. At least that was what North hoped.

North scooped Jack out of bed gently, and the winter child leaned against him, closing his eyes. He felt so warm…North had grown accustomed to feeling the chill that Jack normally brought with him.

"Don't worry, my boy. I will help you get better, okay?" said North. Jack nodded slowly, and North carried him to the bathroom. The ex-Cossack started a cool bath for the winter child. Since Jack was sick, he was extra sensitive (and rather grumpy too). North knew that Jack hated baths, but he made it extremely difficult to bathe him with his crying. Jack kicked and splashed around in the water, knocking over bars of soap and other items that were in his path. North managed to wash him down, but he had to change clothes since he was sopping wet afterward.

North changed Jack into a long-sleeved blue onesie, knowing that regular clothing would be too uncomfortable for Jack in the state he was in. The ex-Cossack carried the winter child downstairs. Jack's cheeks were still as red as roses, and his pointed little nose sniffed whatever gunk was clogging it. At this point, North knew that Jack had more than just a regular cold. The young snow sprite had complained about his head hurting as he got him changed, and he could barely move without whimpering in pain. From as far as North could tell, Jack had the flu. A very bad case of it in fact.

Jack coughed, and his throat burned with pain. He whined, and North felt even more sorry for him.

North prepared two bowls of oatmeal for him and Jack. Both bowls were at a reasonable temperature, and the soft meal would go easy on Jack's irritated throat compared to toast or cereal. North placed Jack in his high chair, and the winter child sneezed, a flurry of snowflakes bursting from his nose. A small trail of snot dribbled down his nose.

"Bless you," said North. He wiped the boy's nose with a handkerchief. Jack rubbed his nose as the ex-Cossack sat before him, placing Jack's bowl of oatmeal in front of him. He lifted a spoonful of oatmeal for Jack to eat, but he frowned and turned away.

"You need to eat, Jack. It will help you feel better," said North. He held up the spoon again, but Jack stubbornly refused to eat. The process repeated a few more times, and Jack grew increasingly irritated.

"Jack, please. Just one bite," pleaded North.

"No!" Jack snapped. North sighed, wondering what he could do to get Jack to eat. He placed the spoon back in the bowl and turned Jack's chin so he was facing him.

"Jack, if you want to get better, you need to eat. You won't heal without any food in your system," explained North. Jack softened. "I only want to help you, but for me to do that, you will have to let me."

The young snow sprite looked at North as he lifted the spoon again. Tentatively, Jack opened his mouth, and North spooned in the oatmeal. Jack swallowed, wincing as his throat pained him just a little.

"Good. Now another," coaxed North. He continued to feed Jack spoonfuls of oatmeal until the bowl was finished. Afterward, North gave Jack a bottle of orange juice to wash down the meal and help with his sore throat. As Jack gulped down his juice, North sifted through the cabinets for any medicines that he could give Jack to help with his flu. He frowned when he discovered that he didn't have many.

North decided to ask Aster if he had any treatments he could give him. The Pooka was a health expert, and he had supplied North with many medicines for Jack since he was a baby. He was bound to have something that could calm Jack's fever. And perhaps he'd have a few more elixirs and treatments that could help his ill little boy.

"N-North…?"

North turned around. Jack was looking up at him, and the bottle of orange juice finished. The winter child's eyes were half-lidded and about to slip closed.

"M'sleepy…" murmured Jack, rubbing his eyes. North softened, and he picked up Jack from his chair. He carried him into the living room and lay him on the couch. North placed a pillow under the boy and draped a blanket over him. Jack yawned.

"Get some rest, moy mal'chik," said North.

Jack rolled onto his back and looked at North. "Want Wawa," he said.

North nodded, and he retrieved the stuffed arctic fox from upstairs. Once Wawa was in Jack's hands, the little boy smiled, hugging the plush animal close. Jack yawned one last time before falling asleep. North ran a hand through the winter child's hair before retreating to the study to write a note to Aster, requesting for medicines.

Two days later, Aster stopped by North's with a couple of Pookan recipes in hand. Poor Jack had caught the flu, and North had asked if he had any medicines that could help the boy. Aster packed the best, most effective medications that he had, but he made sure to alter them so they would work the same way on Jack. Most of the medicines Aster had worked on humans, Pookas, and any other warm-blooded being. With Jack being a snow sprite, however, he had different bodily chemistry, so a few things needed to be changed in the treatments.

Aster knocked on the door, and North opened it soon afterward. He smiled at Aster.

"Hello, Bunny," he greeted. Aster's ear twitched in irritation.

"How many times have I told ya ta quit callin' me that?" snapped Aster. North only shrugged in amusement, and he stepped aside so Aster could enter.

"Jack is in living room," said North, so Aster headed there. Jack was tucked in on the couch; the little boy's nose was redder than a strawberry, and his cheeks looked as if they had been painted with a bright red brush. His blue eyes were glassy and pale, but he managed to flash a small smile in Aster direction, almost looking like his normal self.

Aster sat next to Jack. "Hey there, mate. How are ya feelin'?" he asked softly.

Jack wiped his runny nose with his sleeve. "Wanna play."

North chuckled. "He's been saying that all day."

"The kit's always on the move, huh?" remarked Aster. Jack was a very active child. He was always moving around. Often he would be found toddling or running around the house with energy equal to that of a young wolf pup. He was so bright and full of energy, that North sometimes had trouble getting him to bed. But now that he was sick, Jack was sluggish and hardly moving. His body aches made it difficult for him to run, and he didn't move much unless he was being carried by North.

Jack squirmed, trying to get out of his blankets. North stopped him.

"You need to rest, Jack," he said. Jack frowned, and he lay back down. Aster smirked in amusement, and he pulled out a few medicine containers.

"These'll help Frostbite with his aches and fever. Give him a little dose of each in the morning and before he goes ta sleep," instructed Aster.

North nodded, and he headed to the kitchen to grab a spoon. Suddenly, Jack sneezed, causing a burst of snowflakes to appear. Aster jumped in surprise.

"Crikey, mate. That was loud," said Aster. Jack smiled apologetically, and he broke off into a fit of coughs. Aster pitied the little snow sprite. Being left out in the cold for so long had weakened his immune system. Jack didn't fall under the category of a sickly boy, he still caught illnesses from time to time, and it took him some time to get over them. This particular flu, however, raged through Jack's body relentlessly. Aster had never seen Jack this feeble since North had found him in the woods.

Jack's throat was raspy, and he was still coughing when Aster pulled himself out of his thoughts. His spring-green eyes landed on Jack's bottle sitting on the side table, half empty (or half full) with cool, clear water. Aster handed it to Jack, and the little boy took it. Jack swallowed down what was left inside the bottle, and he finished it with a contented sigh. Aster set the empty bottle aside.

Jack hugged Wawa close and rubbed his runny nose. "Hurts…" he murmured.

"I know, mate. I know," said Aster. He pulled out a handkerchief and held it against Jack's nose. "Here. Blow."

The winter child did so, and Aster folded the used cloth. "You'll soon be well and chipper if ya keep on restin'. So take care of yerself fer me, alright?"

Jack nodded, and North returned to the living room with a spoon and medicine vile in hand. He poured some of the concoction onto the spoon and knelt in front of Jack. North lifted the spoon to his mouth. Jack scrunched his nose and turned away.

North sighed. "He does not like it," he said. "It's been difficult feeding him since he fell ill."

"Well, he's gonna have ta drink it if he wants ta get better," said Aster. The Pooka turned to Jack. "The medicine will help ya heal, mate. Ya need ta take it. Please?"

Jack hesitated, but when North lifted the spoon again, he took the dosage and swallowed it. Jack let out a small noise of disgust, sticking out his tongue at the flavor.

"Doesn't taste very well, but it does the trick," said Aster, smiling lightly at Jack's reaction to the medicine. Aster stood up, and he turned to North. "If ya need anything else ta treat Frostbite here, just let me know."

"I will," said North. "Thank you, Bunny."

Aster stiffened at the nickname, but he let it go for now. "No problem, North. I have ta leave now, but I'll stop by again soon. I'm sure Tooth and Sandy will probably come over once they're free as well."

"It will be nice to see them," said North. "And I think Jack will like the company."

Jack sneezed again, a flurry of snowflakes appearing in midair. He sniffed and smiled sheepishly. Aster laughed.

"Anyway, I'll see ya mates later," he said. "Get well soon, Frostbite."

Jack smiled, and North closed the door behind Aster when he left.

For the next few days, Jack's flu went up and down. Some days he felt better while other days, his illness whipped him. The bug that Jack caught went up and down, but recently, Jack had been feeling much worse.

Today was one of the days when Jack's flu strangled him. The winter child was extra cranky due to the pain, and he cried almost all the time. North had work to do, but he had to pull himself away to calm Jack down, which took a while. Regardless of Aster's medicine, Jack still felt terribly sick. North tried to soothe the young snow sprite as he wailed on the couch, griping about his sore throat and headache.

As North tried to allay Jack, there was a knock at the door. It was barely audible due to Jack's crying, but North picked it up, and he headed to the door. Upon arriving at it, North heard the familiar fluttering of wings accompanied by the light, gentle swirling of dreamsand. North opened the door, instantly knowing it was Tooth and Sandy on the other side without even seeing them.

"Hello, North!" Tooth said happily. Sandy smiled in greeting. The sound of Jack's loud cries reached their ears, and they winced at the sound.

"Oh no…is my Sweet Tooth okay?" asked Tooth concerningly as she fluttered into the house. Sandy floated in behind her, just as worried. Tooth flitted over to the couch where Jack cried like there was no tomorrow. Tears slipped down his cheeks and his wails only grew louder and louder. Tooth and Sandy were pained at the sight of him. So was North.

"He just woke up from nap," North explained, walking into the living room. He sighed. "I have been trying to calm him down all this time."

Tenderly, Tooth lifted Jack into her arms, making sure that Wawa was still in his grip. Jack continued to cry, and Tooth began to hum softly, rocking the little boy in her arms. As soft as a siren, she sang a lullaby that her parents sang to her when she was young. The lilting notes and gentleness of her voice calmed Jack down. The warming lullaby laced around Jack; he sniffed as his cries came to an end. Jack hiccuped and looked up at Tooth, who continued to rock him as a mother would to her child. Jack's eyes fluttered, Tooth's singing lulling him to sleep. Sandy sent a stream of dreamsand in Jack's direction to ensure he'd sleep well. At long last, Jack yawned and closed his eyes, cuddling Wawa close to his chest. A small smile decorated his face as he snuggled into Tooth, golden snowflakes and snowmen swirling lazily over his head. Silence took hold, and the echoes of Jack's cries disappeared.

North sighed in relief. "Thank you Tooth and Sandy," he said. "I probably would still be here trying to calm Jack if you had not arrived."

"No worries, North," said Tooth. She shifted Jack in her arms and inquired, "How has Jack been doing the past few days?"

North shook his head. "Not good," he replied. "It seems as if he's getting worse as time goes on."

Sandy's dreamsand swirled into the image of one of Aster's medicines. A question mark hovered next to the elixir.

"I have given him Bunny's medicine," said North. "I'm glad that he supplied it to me. It has kicked in, and I think it's doing its job, but Jack still has long way to go before he's better. However, Jack has been suffering from harsher effects from flu…I hope he isn't growing any more ill."

From behind his back, Sandy pulled out a pouch of dreamsand so Jack would be able to sleep soundly. North took the small bag and thanked the Sandman.

"And I'm happy to help you organize your orders and letters, North," Tooth offered. The Tooth Fairy was an expert when it came to organization, so North hastily accepted the offer.

"Thank you both," said North. Tooth handed Jack to him. The little boy didn't stir. "I could use some help right now, but I will first take Jack to bed."

Tooth nodded. "Sandy and I will be waiting in the study," she said. The two hovered into the ex-Cossack's office, and North walked up the stairs with Jack in his arms. He held the winter child close as he arrived at the boy's bedroom door. He opened the door and stepped inside. He paused.

Making a small turn, North reached out and opened the door to his room, and he walked inside. Jack's cradle was pressed against the wall, and the young snow sprite was still small enough to fit in it. Gingerly, North placed Jack in the crib. Jack pulled Wawa closer and buried his face into the stuffed animal's fur with a sigh. North smiled, placing a quilt over the boy, and he soundlessly left Jack to sleep.

The other Guardians had been extremely helpful to North during the time Jack was sick. Aster supplied the ex-Cossack with various medicines and elixirs, and Sandy frequently refilled Jack's dreamsand supply whenever it ran low. Tooth organized all of North's orders and even sent letters back to the ones who asked questions. When North came back to work, he wouldn't have to do much to catch up.

Aster, Tooth, and Sandy also tended to Jack whenever he fussed or cried. North was grateful for their help, and he could tell Jack was too. Sandy entertained the young snow sprite with his dreamsand while Aster colored with him when he had the time. The two created rather fascinating illustrations, and North had hung a few of Jack's on his bedroom wall. Tooth smothered Jack with calming hugs and reassuring kisses. She provided him with lullabies whenever he grew upset, telling him that he'd get well soon.

Jack was still gravely ill, but he appreciated the attention and care he received. North hadn't seen the winter child laugh or smile in days, so it was nice to hear his laughter and see his smile whenever he and the Guardians entertained him.

Still, Jack's flu was relentless, and North struggled to keep his fever down. Jack spent a lot of time lying on the couch sleeping during the day, but it was at night that his illness would truly ravage him. Jack seemed to be hotter than the sun at nightfall, and he cried from the discomfort. His throat tightened and his nose ran like a waterfall, and North often had to stay with him as he slept. Jack was in so much pain during the night, which was why North had moved him to his bedroom so he could keep a close eye on him.

It was one of these nights that North was up late, reviewing his inventory while Jack slept in the cradle across his bed. The two-year-old's cheeks and nose were reddened, and his heavy breathing could be heard from North's bed. North looked up; the candle next to Jack's bed flickered and danced, illuminating the boy's flushed face. Jack frowned; he rolled over, a deep sigh leaving his lips. North could hear his congestion. The dreamsand over Jack's head had disappeared a few moments ago, meaning he would wake up at any moment. North sighed, hoping that his boy would get better soon. He couldn't stand to see Jack in such an ailing condition.

Jack whimpered where he lay, his eyes slowly peeling open. North stood up and walked over to his crib side; the soaked cloth he placed on Jack's head was dry. Jack opened his feverish eyes, and he looked at North. North's heart sunk; he looked so feeble.

"Hello, moy mal'chik. How are you feeling?" asked North gently. He removed the dry cloth and placed his hand against Jack's head. It was still burning.

Jack blinked tiredly, and he sniffed. Pain swam in his fever-glazed eyes. North wove his hand through the little boy's hair. Jack closed his eyes and sighed, feeling slightly comforted by North's touch.

"I assume you want to go back to sleep," said North. Jack hugged Wawa and he nodded. "I will give you medicine, and then you can rest."

North kept a vial of one of Aster's medicines on his side table for quick access. He also planned on giving Jack some more dreamsand so that he'd—hopefully—sleep through the rest of the night. North walked over to grab the dreamsand and medicine when Jack suddenly whimpered. It was loud and rimmed with pain.

North turned around, concerned. "Jack? What is wrong?"

Jack didn't reply. The winter child's breathing grew heavier, and his eyes were wide and glassy. He held Wawa in a death grip, and he kicked off his covers.

North was struck with alarm, and he hurried back to Jack's cradle. "Jack, what is wrong? What hurts?"

The young snow sprite gave no response. Sweat beaded Jack's brow, and his eyes welled with tears. He curled into himself and began to cry.

North picked up Jack and sat down in the rocking chair, trying to comfort the winter child but he didn't know what ailed him. Jack's fever raged on, and he started to cry even harder. Wawa slipped out of his grip and thudded against the floor. Fear gripped North's heart.

"What hurts, moy mal'chik? What hurts?" North asked frantically.

"T-T-Tummy!" Jack wailed, wrapping his arms around his stomach. He shuddered, and his face grew deathly pale. North suddenly realized what was about to happen. Jack gagged, and North quickly whisked him to the bathroom. He held Jack over the toilet, and the winter child threw up, vomiting whatever was left from his dinner. When he finished, Jack slumped against North, exhausted. A few stray tears drifted down his cheeks. North flushed the toilet and grabbed a tissue, wiping Jack's mouth. The young snow sprite drew in a shuddering breath, trembling.

"It's okay, my boy. It's okay…" soothed North. He carried Jack back to the bedroom and picked up Wawa from the floor. He handed the stuffed arctic fox to Jack; the winter child took it and hugged it close. The ex-Cossack headed downstairs and gave Jack some water to rinse out his mouth, and the boy gulped the cool liquid down until the bottle was empty. North put a few drops of Aster's medication inside it. Either because he was tired or he just didn't notice that Jack didn't detect the flavor.

North set the empty bottle down and walked back upstairs into the bedroom. He once again sat in the rocking chair and began to rock. He rubbed circles on the little snow sprite's back to calm him down. Eventually, Jack stopped shuddering, and his breathing evened out. His eyes slipped closed, and he snuggled closer to North for comfort. North prepared another wet cloth, brushed Jack's bangs out of the way, and placed it on his head. North also sprinkled a bit of dreamsand over the winter child so he'd rest well.

North hoped that when Jack had thrown up, whatever flu or bug that tore through his system had been expelled too. North tucked Jack into his crib, but the young snow sprite frowned, missing North's presence. North picked the boy up again, deciding he could sleep with him. He climbed into bed, holding Jack close. Jack smiled, and North smiled too. He soon fell asleep to the wind whistling outside, and both ex-Cossack and snow sprite slept through the night.

After that night, Jack's fever finally broke and his flushed face began to return to its normal color. The boy still had a runny nose, a cough, and a sneeze, but even those weren't as vigorous as they were before. Jack's flu was fading away, and the young snow sprite was returning to his normal self. Jack was laughing and smiling again, and he even managed to climb out of bed one day. North found him in the living room, happily playing with Wawa and the rest of his toys.

North invited the other Guardians over, and they were just as glad to see that Jack's illness had finally resided. They watched with smiles on their faces as Jack pretended to be an explorer, Wawa being his loyal partner.

"I'm glad that Jack is finally getting better," said Tooth. "But I wonder how he got so sick in the first place."

"There was a flu outbreak in Lunslruna Capital and Olsulurstia. Maybe some people from there came ta Santoff Claussen with it, and Frostbite here managed ta catch it," assumed Aster.

"I am just happy that Jack is back to normal," said North. Jack ran out of the living room and lifted his arms, asking for North to pick him up. The ex-Cossack grinned and did so, holding Jack close to his chest. Jack's nose twitched, and he sneezed. A burst of snowflakes appeared, and the winter child rubbed his nose.

"'Scuse me," he said. North chuckled.

"Well…almost back to normal," he said. And the other Guardians and Jack laughed as well.


Author's Note: ...Yeah, I can't come up with anything else to say here. XD But I did have a lot of fun writing this chapter. =3 It's over 4,000 words (holy cannoli OuO). I feel like my word count grows the more I write, haha. X)

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you in the next one! =) (Can you all believe that it's almost December already? Man...Time waits for no one. QwQ).

Until the next chapter!

~BeyondTheMoon1203