A/N: Thank you for everyone who's taking time to read my story :)Thank you for following, supporting and reviewing my work. You don't know how happy I am that you are reading this 'cause I have to practically beg my best friend to. And for some reasons she discouraged me. I know this is quite confusing. I'm very sorry for my mistakes and the only excuse I can give you is that this is my first story. Not a very good reason, right? *sigh* Sorry for complaining xD

Anyways, you might notice that chapter 3 has been modified. Nikki Pond said that there's a difference between Father and Dad and I'm not gonna argue with that. xD Yup I know there is. I just didn't notice that I've been using the two simultaneously. So the update on that is, well, I stick with Dad. Thank you Nikki Pond for your constant reviews and advices. I very much appreciate it. :D

So yeah this is getting a bit long on with the story :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians

Chapter 4

This is the man Jack treats as his father, his family. The guardians thought.

The one he wanted to be. North thought.

He was supposed to be happy. To know that someone has already got the position. To know someone, after all this years, has been taking care of Jack. He should feel downright happy and jolly. North thought.

But he wasn't.

Sure, he was happy. But he was sad as well. This mixed emotion was both new and familiar at the same time. He felt guilty for feeling like this.

He wanted to be Jack's father figure. He wanted Jack to be his son. But that's not how it works. But there were times that it can work, right? Jack can still think of him as his other father, right? North can only hope.

"Guardians, why did you all follow Jack here?"

The guardians took their time to answer. Bunny responded first, "We helped Jack bring the flowers"

The old man groaned loudly and rubbed his temples. "I'm not an idiot, rabbit! Jack won't need so many helpers for this. Besides you were bickering about him when you first came! Now let me rephrase the question for your little brains to process. Why did all of you have to follow Jack here?"

The three lowered their heads guiltily.

Sandy raised his hand and made sand figures at his head.

"Jack's what?" That's the only thing the old man understood.

"We saw cuts in Jack's wrists." North said making a point.

They waited for what they expect a violent reaction from the old man. He only looked sadder than before.

After a minute of silence, he asked "And?"

"Jack tried to kill himself, mate" Bunny said like it explained everything.

"Will you shut up, Bunny?! My word! Why am I even talking to all of you? You don't know a thing about Jack" Old Man exclaimed.

They all gasped. "Ya mean ya knew?"

"Why would I joke about the boy being a suicidal maniac, huh? Besides Jack already know it's not a solution. And it's been a long time, he wouldn't do it again even if he could. That's why now I can joke about it around."

They all looked down in shame.

"Do you wanna know why and how he got over it?" Old Man asked.

They all nodded.

"Then ask him, I won't tell you" Old Man stuck his tongue out. He's surprisingly childish for his age.

After a minute of staring at the guardians and making them uncomfortable, the old man sighed heavily.

"I know I already said he's ok but can you please take care of him." the old man asked.

The guardians were confused. Why would someone who hates them trust them to take care of his son? And why would the old man even ask that in the first place? While debating this, the old man started to pace.

"I hate you, wanna know why?" he said seriously.

The guardians only looked at him.

"Sure, you never did anything to me but what about Jack?"

They all looked at him curiously.

"You mean to say it never occurred to you that you hurt Jack constantly this last 300 years? I thought no one's that naive! You surprised me guardians!" his voice boomed and he stopped pacing.

"You mean we've been hurting Jack?" Tooth whispered.

"Let's go to the present, shall we? What can a child felt bringing his friends, 'his dad's most hated people', to his home only to find them fighting about him, huh?" Old Man quoted, expecting the shock looks in the guardian's face.

"Well I don't know about you but I think I would be horrified. And I'm no expert but I'm sure it's about the time Jack was called to be a guardian, right?" he looked at them challenging everyone, anyone to argue. They only stared at him like fishes out of water.

"From what I heard, you shoved Jack into a sack and drive him away, a very beautiful way to recruit someone, eh? And Bunny being hard on Jack at first was an understatement." He glared at Bunny.

Bunny looked at him guilt written at his face. Tooth was sobbing and North was bowing his head in shame as well as Sandy.

"You need to understand that even if Jack's quite mature for his age and is quick to forgive. He's still a kid and now I'm sure he thinks he's the one who's wrong and blame himself for everything. The fact that he only stood up to me only when I insulted you, do anyone know what it means?"

They shook their heads.

"They don't deserve this. I don't even deserve their help. They weren't supposed to worry about me." he said firmly telling them what exactly was going through Jack's head.

"Really?" North asked trying to keep his tears from falling. He never even thought the kid thinks like that. He was so ashamed that he thought Jack doesn't deal with those kinds of things just because he was the guardian of fun.

"Jack thinks he does not and will not deserve anything for what he is. I know for a fact that he doesn't lie but that doesn't mean he doesn't hide the truth. Everything he said is according to what the others think. He's quite good at that."

"I'm sorry but I don't get it" Bunny said.

"Jack believes everything he says, guardians. Even if he knew it wasn't entirely his fault, once he claimed that it is. He'll go around believing it." Old man shook his head sadly.

"I wish I could say he believes at everything he was told. But, no! The kid is as stubborn as a mule", he chuckled humorlessly.

Bunny looked at him even more confused. What kind of person does that?

"If you still don't get this, it only means you never cared enough for him" he stated leaving no space for arguments.

The old man turned around and started to walk away.

"Wait, ple-" Bunny said.

The old man raised his index finger. Ice engulfed the guardians and the first thing they thought of was to destroy the ice but nothing worked. Boomerang, dreamsand, sword and wings didn't stand a chance to the old man's ice.

"Guardians, if you want to know more about Jack, follow me. The ice made you invisible for Jack so don't make noises, especially you Bunny" he narrowed his eyes at Bunny.

Bunny gulped and nodded.

A/N: Is the first part okay? 'Cause I wasn't planning to write about what North felt. As you can see, I can't quite express emotions and feelings and I know it wasn't enough but at least I'm trying, right? Excuses xD Sorry. Review please :)