Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 3

Lying in the grass together was nice, no worries or duties, just soaking up the sun. it was meant to be a rather mild summer this year too which would be good. Jamie would be sixteen soon, their time together was limited and the idea of missing some because of a heatwave that made him too sleepy to do much was not good. Next to him, Jamie shifted, moving slightly closer and Jack moved his arm, wrapping it around his shoulders so Jamie curled into his side, head resting over his heart.

It felt so nice to hold Jamie like that and he mentally kicked himself for it. He'd started out daydreaming about Jamie joining the Court, of having his friend forever but it had changed and grown since then. He still wanted Jamie with him forever…just not as his friend. It wasn't the age gap that stopped him saying anything, physically there wasn't much difference and he was a Spirit, they didn't really care about being centuries older or younger. But a human and a Spirit? He was basically immortal, un-aging, and Jamie… it could never happen, the only way would take Jamie from his family and Jack couldn't be that selfish.

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Jamie enjoyed the coolness of Jack's body as he curled into him, his ear pressed to his chest, hearing the ever so slow beat of his heart. Jack had died so the fact he had a pulse at all was surprising. He wanted to say something, to admit how he felt but he was terrified, what if Jack left and never came back? He sighed as he felt cool fingers in his hair, relaxing even more. It was a good thing they were near Jack's lake, where very few ever went, cause if someone saw him he'd look very odd, his head resting on something no one else could see except some kids. Between the sun and Jack's fingers, Jamie began to drift to sleep. "Love…y…Jack…" he mumbled, more asleep than awake, breathing becoming deep and even, not aware of Jack's fingers freezing.

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Jack bit back a chuckle as he felt Jamie relaxing more and more against him, obviously falling asleep. His hand had moved without him thinking and he'd been sure that it would be too much, but Jamie hadn't said anything, if anything he'd pressed into the touch.

"Love…y…Jack…" the mumble was barely audible even to him, but he felt his heart leap and sink in the same moment at the words. No…Jamie had to mean as a brother, he couldn't…could he? Even if he did, all it could do was bring them both pain, briefly for Jamie but his own pain would last for much longer.

"I love you Jamie," he whispered, pressing his lips to the top of Jamie's head. He lay there for a while but eventually he carefully shifted Jamie, getting to his knees before gently lifting the sleeping teen in his arms, his staff lodged carefully, then he flew Jamie home, a little fog in the air to hide the sight of Jamie from any who may look up. He carefully settled Jamie in his bed, brushing his fingers through messy brown hair before turning to leave, freezing as warm fingers grabbed his. He looked back to find Jamie blinking sleepily at him.

"J'ck?"

Jack moved back to his side and smiled softly. "Go back to sleep," he whispered, he'd had too many late nights recently studying.

Jamie blinked but didn't let go of his hand. "Stay," he told him, and Jack hesitated but then moved to recline on the bed and Jamie once again curled into him, falling asleep again.

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Jack collapsed onto his bed. Something had changed since that day and it made him nervous. He was still torn over what Jamie had meant when he'd said he loved him; the teen had been basically asleep at the time. He knew the way his own emotions had turned in that regard and had given up trying to fight them, better to have loved and lost and all that, right? Not that he'd said anything to Jamie…when he was awake anyway.

"And what has our young King acting so dramatic?" a voice called, and he groaned but looked up to find Cailleach in his doorway. Wonderful.

"Go away old hag," he grumbled only to yelp when she swatted at him. Not like the truth was an insult! He felt the bed dip as she sat and sighed but sat up, wrapping his arms around his legs, resting his cheek on his knees. "Let me pine in peace."

"Pining is it? And what lucky Spirit or Being as caught our young King's eye?"

"None," he mumbled.

He could never hide anything from her, she was one of the oldest Winter Spirits still around, maybe the oldest, who knew. No one knew her name anymore either and she wasn't telling. If Skaði was a big sister/aunt-like figure than Cailleach was everyone's crazy old grandmother. How did he end up with so many older female Spirits in his life and why did they all seem to think he needed taking care of?

"Oh? Then…oh Jack, a mortal?" she asked, tone gentler, and he hid his face. A weathered hand came to rest on the back of his neck and then moved up to stroke over his hair. "Someone who called on you?" she asked, and he shook his head.

"Jamie," he whispered. "My first believer," he added since he'd never actually told anyone Jamie's name before. There were some out there who didn't like how he ruled and would see the Burgess kids as his weak point. Cailleach would never do that and she would never tell anyone Jamie's name.

"The child?"

"He'll be sixteen in three months. Physically we're about the same age." Not like he knew his actual age, he just guessed from watching humans. He assumed he was somewhere between sixteen and nineteen.

"And within the year, he will stop believing," she crooned sympathetically, and he shuddered but nodded.

"He knows I'm the Snow King, has for a few years and I keep hoping that knowledge will let him keep believing in me but…"

"It won't," she finished for him, it hadn't worked for his predecessors. "It may allow him to regain that belief though," she offered him hope at least. "How does he feel?"

"He said he loves me, but he was practically asleep, and I haven't been able to bring it up, to ask how."

"Jack Frost, scared?" she teased, and he groaned. "You have a choice to make then Jack, Spirit up and confess." She kept stroking his hair.

"Why do you have to be right all the time?" he asked rhetorically, and she cackled, pressing a kiss to the back of his neck before leaving him alone.

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Jamie sat on a log near Jack's lake, hopping he'd have the time to stop by. School was now out for the summer and his birthday was coming closer. He'd decided, he was going to say something before he turned sixteen, it was close enough. Sometimes in his dreams he heard Jack whispering he loved him and that gave him hope. He smiled as a cold wind ruffled his hair. "Jack," he whispered and then he heard the familiar laugh. He opened his eyes and turned, grinning at the sight of the Winter Spirit as he landed as softly as a snowflake.

"Hey Jamie, waiting long?" Jack asked, moving to sit with him.

"Not long," he promised. What should he do? Just say it and hope for the best? He shifted a little, pressing his leg to Jack's and Jack didn't pull away, he never did. He was very tactile, and Jamie wasn't surprised, not after centuries of only member of the Court able to touch him. "How was Argentina?" he asked, and Jack grinned.

"Cold and snowy."

Jamie noticed Jack fidgeting with his staff, rolling it around between his hands…something he usually did when nervous. "Jack?" he reached out and put his hand over Jack's, seeing the stark difference in their skin tones. "What's wrong?" he felt Jack freeze under his touch. "Jack?" had he done something wrong?

"Jamie…I…"

This was reminding him of the discussion about myths and Jack's Title years ago and he was really getting worried. "Jack please, have I done something wrong?"

"What? No!" Jack shook his head, looking at him, blue eyes wide.

It hit him then, he didn't have to look up at Jack anymore, they were the same height now. He needed to stop staring before he did something crazy like…oh…Jack's lips were cool and smooth and felt really nice. Jack pulled back, eyes even wider, almost gasping for air and Jamie was terrified he'd ruined everything.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Jack whispered.

Wait, what? "For what?" he asked. Unless…he hadn't been the one to start that kiss? He lifted a trembling hand and pressed it to Jack's cheek. "Jack," he whispered and then hesitantly leant in, pressing his lips to Jack's.

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Jack couldn't help it, leaning in and pressing his lips to Jamie's, they were so warm, soft, a little chapped from the cold. He pulled back, unable to control his breathing, terrified he had just ruined everything. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he whispered, pleading silently for Jamie to forgive him, staring at him, waiting for everything to end.

He heard Jamie's question but before he could say anything a trembling hand pressed against his face and he couldn't help leaning into the warmth.

"Jack," Jamie whispered, voice full of too many emotions for Jack to work out, and then he was slowly leaning in, pressing his lips to Jack's.

Oh…so he had meant what Jack had hoped. He took in a shaky breath and kissed back, feeling the hand on his cheek slip back into his hair, his own hand lifting to grip Jamie's shoulder. "Jamie," he murmured when they parted so Jamie could breath. He breathed but he needed it a lot less than a living human did.

"I love you," Jamie breathed nervously, and Jack felt his heart actually speed up for the first time he could remember. Even when fighting with Jokul his heart hadn't raced so fast.

"I love you Jamie," he said before Jamie could pull away.

Jamie slowly grinned at him and then they were kissing again, Jack gently pulling him closer until they tumbled off the log and into the grass, laughing, Jamie landing on top of him. Jamie made no move to get off him and Jack tugged him in for another kiss. "I've loved you for years, but I was scared you'd think I was too you," Jamie admitted when they stopped, staring down at him.

Jack felt a stab of sorrow, if only Jamie had said something then… though depending on how many years it was then Jamie was right, he would never have kissed a thirteen year old like that. "Oh Jamie," he reached up, pushing Jamie's hair back from where it was trying to fall into his eyes. He had to tell him, to tell him what was coming in the next year, no matter how much it would hurt them both. Reluctantly he nudged Jamie up, letting him sit up as well, this time leaning against the log. Jamie leant against him, head on his shoulder, and Jack wrapped his arm around him. "There's something important we need to talk about Jamie." He felt the teen tense slightly in reaction to his words.

"Because I'm human?" he asked, sounding nervous, and Jack nodded.

"How many adults do you think believe in the Guardians or can see Spirits?" he asked softly, and Jamie frowned, thinking about it.

"Some? I'm guessing it's rare."

"It's…impossible," he admitted.

"I don't…what?" Jamie stared at him in confusion.

"Something to do with the magic of what we are. Very, very few Spirits can be seen by an adult who has to believe to see them. The Guardians can't be seen by any adult," he explained tightly, and he saw Jamie pale.

"And...you?" his voice was shaky, and Jack tightened his hold in reaction.

"Jack Frost can't be seen by adults," he admitted, feeling Jamie trembling against him. "But the Snow King can. I don't know what that'll mean for you, whether you'll be able to remember and believe I'm both or if the two will split in your mind, one a childhood imaginary friend and the other real, I just don't know." And now Jamie was shaking, and Jack pulled him into his lap, arms wrapped around him. "You saw me when no one else ever has, I've never heard of a believer being in love with a Spirit before, and I am the Snow King as well. If anyone can beat the age limit, we can," he couldn't promise but there was some hope.

Jamie pressed his face to his shoulder, and he could feel the teen's breathing hitch. "How…how old…"

"The cut off's seventeen but it happens any time after sixteen," he answered, rubbing his back, trying to sooth him.

"I…I can't…lose you," Jamie sobbed, and Jack held him tighter, icy tears threatening.

"You won't. I'll never give up trying to help you see me, even if I have to wear that horribly formal getup." And it was so tempting now, to offer to take him away, to keep Jamie with him forever. Depending on what he became, he may be visible to anyone, if he didn't become a Spirit, he wouldn't have to lose his sister. But his Mother…the woman adored her kids, to lose Jamie… "I love you."

"I'm sorry," Jamie whispered. "Should have told you…"

"It's okay," he promised. He reached out to gently touch the snowflake hidden by Jamie's shirt, feeling his magic resonate under his touch, Jamie shivering, eyes wide. "This isn't just for protection," he admitted. "I never wanted you to walk through me, so it's made to melt when…I'd feel it when it happened."

"I don't want it to melt," Jamie told him.

"I know."

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Jamie sat in Jack's lap, clinging to him, his best friend, the person he loved, and he was terrified of losing that. The idea that one day he'd wake up and believe this was all what? An imaginary friend? A game? How could he ever think this wasn't real? He looked up into bright ice blue eyes, with the colour you'd expect his eyes to be cold, but they weren't. he shifted, pressing his lips to Jack's and Jack pulled him closer if that was possible, kissing him back. When Jack hesitantly moved to deepen the kiss Jamie parted his lips, he'd never kissed someone before and just hoped he was doing it right.

When they stopped Jack gently ran his hands over his face and then back through his hair and it felt really nice. "Mom's at work and Sophie's at a friends," he suggested.

"Jamie?" Jack looked surprised and Jamie shifted nervously.

"My room's more comfortable than the grass," he explained.

Jack nodded and Jamie got up so Jack could and then he slipped his hand into Jack's as they walked, feeling Jack squeeze his hand gently. They made it back to the house and then upstairs to his room. Jamie stretched out on his bed after piling up the pillows and Jack joined him. Jack held him and Jamie relaxed in his arms, mind still reeling from everything Jack had told him.

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Why me?" he asked nervously. "There have to be so many Spirits out there who,"

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"No Jamie," he shook his head. "They want the Snow King, not me," he explained. Jamie and the others, they wanted to be friends with Jack Frost. Jamie loved him, not the King. He gently ran his fingers up and down Jamie's bare arm, tracing patterns on warm skin. "I tried to not say anything," he admitted. "Because even if you felt the same it couldn't last."

"Jack…" Jamie looked up at him.

"A friend pointed out that either I take what time we have together and then try to reach you once you stops believing or live without ever knowing. I'd rather have some time with you than nothing, if you want that." He guessed he had his answer when Jamie kissed him again.

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"So who is it?"

Jamie looked over at Caleb in confusion. "Who?" he asked in confusion.

"Whoever you're crushing on or secretly dating or whatever," he grinned, and Jamie blinked, oh. "So, who is it? Someone we know."

Technically, except none of them believed anymore and saying he was with Jack Frost, well he could guess their reactions. "It's nothing," he denied.

"Riiight," Caleb smirked and then he was up to bat.

Jamie sighed and watched Caleb take his place at the plate before looking over at the stands, fighting a grin when he spotted a patch of familiar white hair in the crowd. Jack made it to every game he could, had since they'd started playing baseball in the summer when they were ten. Back then they'd all known Jack was watching and cheering for them and he'd sit with Monty and Pippa. Now Jack sat alone to keep the chill from bothering anyone and it hurt to see him alone.

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It was taking far longer than he would have liked to regain his power. They thought they had won, that he was out. He would prove them wrong and he knew just how to do it. he glanced at the dark globe and at one particular light, smirking. Yes, he knew just what to do.

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Jamie laughed, collapsing on the bed, yanking Jack down with him, the Spirit grinning and laughing as well as they tumbled onto the mattress. They kissed, hands wandering over clothing and then Jack's hand slipped under his shirt to run across his stomach, Jack watching him, and he grinned. He wriggled out of his shirt, tossing it aside. Not like Jack had never seen him shirtless, he spent a lot of summer in Jack's lake swimming after all, once Jack had assured them all years ago that he didn't mind them doing it.

"Not too cold?" Jack asked as his hands moved over tanned skin and Jamie shook his head.

Jamie slipped a hand under Jack's hoody, feeling cold, smooth, skin under his. Jack sat up enough to yank it off and then bent down to kiss him again. "Mom's at Aunt Mary's for the weekend and Sophie's with friends," he told him after a while of kissing and touching. "Can you stay?"

Jack stared at him before grinning. "It's Spring and past Easter so no worries there," he answered.

Jamie had turned sixteen last month and it felt like a clock ticking down over them. If…if Jack's idea of helping him believe again failed then all Jack would have for the rest of existence was memories, so he wanted Jack to have as many wonderful ones as possible. He loved Jack and he wanted more than just kissing too. He'd looked things up online and had made an embarrassing visit to a chemist, though he wasn't sure if it was all needed considering Jack wasn't human. He hoped Jack wanted more too but was too nervous to actually asked so instead he moved his hands lower, to the ties of Jack's pants. Jack froze and Jamie swallowed.

"Jamie?" Jack stared at him before relaxing and nodding and Jamie fumbled with them until Jack laughed and undid them himself, wriggling out of them, leaving him naked. His skin was flawless and smooth, as pale as snow, and hairless. Jack kissed him and Jamie's hands moved to his hips, exploring the skin there hesitantly. When the kiss ended he reached for the drawstring of his sweatpants. "You don't have to," Jack told him, but he shook his head.

"Want to," he promised, he was just nervous, his body was nothing like Jack's. He got them undone and Jack helped him yank them and his underwear off. Jack stared down at him and Jamie fought not to blush. Jack smiled at him, hand skimming down his side and ever lower and Jamie bit his lip to keep quiet. Jack wrapped his hand around him, and Jamie gasped as he began stroking.

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Jack held Jamie as he slept, fingers idly tracing patterns on his skin. He honestly hadn't expected that, but he had definitely enjoyed it. Jamie was very handsome, and he could stare at him forever. His skin was tanned from days in the sun and so much warmer than his own. He wasn't innocent, he'd had brief dalliances over the centuries but never anything long or with emotions involved. He had to ensure that no one thought they could sleep their way into a higher position at Court or anything. Jamie only wanted to be with him because they loved each other.

They hadn't 'gone all the way' as modern teens termed it. He didn't want to rush Jamie into it, not when Jamie had never even kissed anyone else. He had the feeling Jamie had plans for the weekend though and he didn't want to say no, he wanted to be with him. He pulled Jamie even closer and the teen mumbled in his sleep but didn't wake.

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Jamie yelped as the water went cold and then Jack was there, grinning, and he laughed, moving back to let him into the shower with him. Jack pressed him against the tile, kissing him hungrily and Jamie wrapped his arms around him. Was it really only last night the first time he'd seen Jack naked? As far as Jamie was concerned, Jack should be naked all the time…he was a teenager after all.

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He emerged from the shadows, smirking at the other Spirit. "Good, right on time."

"What do you want with me?"

"A job. See that house?" he pointed and got a nod.

"I want the older teen within delivered to me. You can keep any others who come."

"All this for one kid?"

"Vengeance my dear fellow is always worth the effort. Now, do we have a deal?"

"Deal."

TBC…