Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 4

Jack kissed Jamie; the teen sprawled naked on the bed beneath him. His Mom would be back tomorrow, so it was their last night of total freedom. It would be hard to explain if he was caught in bed and no one could see his partner. Jamie spread his legs more, looking a little nervous. "Jamie?" he asked, and Jamie blushed.

"Can we, will you…" he took a deep breath. "I want to…"

Jack's eyes widened as he realised what Jamie was asking for. "Are you sure? I'm a Spirit, it won't hurt me at all if you want to try that. From what I've heard the first time is very uncomfortable, even painful, for humans."

Jamie shook his head. "I want it this way," he admitted.

Jack hesitated but while nervous and embarrassed he seemed serious. "We need supplies," he pointed out, he knew that about humans.

Jamie went red again but pointed to the bedside drawer, surprising him. This wasn't a spur of the moment thing then, which was good. He opened the drawer and looked inside, well some of it they wouldn't need. He took out what would be needed and put it on top.

"You sure?" he asked again, and Jamie nodded. "Okay, if you want me to stop at any time then just say it."

"Okay," Jamie agreed so Jack kissed him again. He wanted Jamie well and truly distracted before he started anything more.

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Jamie clung to Jack, feeling cool hands moving all over his body and it felt really good. Jack seemed to know just where to touch him to make it feel amazing after even such a short amount of time. He'd done his research; he knew what he was asking for. He really, really wanted Jack, had for years but…he also wanted to give this to Jack. If he really was going to stop believing soon, then Jack could keep these memories, of happiness and love, and teenage awkwardness forever and hopefully they'd make him happy.

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Jack watched Jamie sleep, unable to help himself when he'd stroke his cheek or arm. Part of him was unable to believe that Jamie had let him do that, no fear or hesitation, just some natural nervousness given his age and inexperience. After the weekend together, it would hurt even worse when he lost him, but he couldn't make himself leave or deny Jamie anything.

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He began his preparations immediately. He'd never worked for the older Spirit, but he knew his reputation. He'd suffered a defeat at the hands of the Guardians a few years back, but that didn't make him any less dangerous. Everything needed to be accounted for before he acted, it had to go off without a hitch or it would be his neck on the chopping board. He hadn't been given a time limit though he knew results would be expected sooner rather than later. Still, he needed somewhere to keep his own prizes and that took time to prepare, so long as he was done before winter set in.

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Jack laughed as Jamie ran across the finish line, Sophie chasing after him as fast as she could.

"No fair! Your legs are longer!" she pouted, and Jamie ruffled her hair, grinning. It was hard to believe she was ten, now older than Jamie had been when they first met. The siblings dropped down in the grass, the summer flowers beginning to die with the coming winter, but it was still warm enough that they weren't wearing jackets.

Jamie shifted so his head was in Jack's lap and he chuckled but began running his fingers through the mop Jamie called hair. "Having fun?"

"Yeah…don't want to go back to school," he grumbled.

"It's your last year isn't it?" Jack asked and Jamie nodded.

"Then college," he sighed, taking Jack's hand. "You'll be able to find me?"

"I'll tell him," Sophie promised softly. They'd had to tell her, and she didn't want to believe it, that Jamie would wake up one day and not believe in Jack.

"See, I'll find you and dump snowballs on you all year round," Jack promised and that got a laugh out of them as planned.

"I'm going over to Katie's, see you tonight," Sophie scrambled up and waved as she dashed off.

Jack bit back a laugh at how obvious she was in giving them time alone but then Jamie kissed him, and he focused on him. They were out of sight of the path and houses thankfully or Jamie would look very odd to anyone passing by. They spent a few hours together before Jamie had to go in for dinner and Jack waved goodbye before heading home.

He checked on how the wrap up down South was going while preparations for the coming Northern winter were worked on. He ignored the knowing looks as he did so, word had spread among those he trusted the most and they were all watching out for him, ensuring he had every free moment possible, all ready to help when the day came.

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Jamie laughed as Sophie recounted just what had happened to a rather annoying bully at school and Jack tried to keep an innocent expression. "You know, the schools around here are getting a rep as being haunted."

"Really?" Jack asked, surprised.

"Yep," Sophie agreed. "Rumour is some bullied kid who died in winter."

"Oh…oops?" Jack shrugged and Sophie laughed.

Jamie just leant in and kissed him before getting up to clear the dishes and grab the ice cream, glad their Mom was on night shift. "Go do your homework."

"Yes Dad," Sophie rolled her eyes and Jamie ruffled her hair.

"Help me clean up?" he asked, and Jack nodded, standing to help. It all felt very…domestic and for a moment he could imagine that this was their life, that they could be a normal couple. "Can you stay for a while?"

"A couple of hours, then I have to get to Russia," Jack promised, and Jamie led him up to his room, putting in a movie while they cuddled in his bed. He was almost asleep when Jack slipped out of the bed, feeling his lips brush against his. "I'll see you tomorrow night," he promised, and Jamie hummed softly, shifting onto his side.

"L've," he mumbled, not seeing the soft smile on Jack's face before he left. He was soon deeply asleep, unaware of the water droplets dripping onto his mattress only to evaporate immediately.

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Jack froze, eyes wide in shock, as he felt it. "No…" he whispered, struggling to hold onto his control. He had too…it was only meant to be a mild storm… "Skaði," he called on the wind, dropping to his knees, tears streaming from his eyes, freezing on his cheeks.

"My King," she whispered, crouching over him protectively, bow in hand. She would never use his true name away from the safety of the Palace.

"It hurts," he whimpered, and her eyes went wide in shock. The next thing Jack knew he was being scooped up in her arms, cradled to her chest and then she was standing. She gently lowered him onto his own bed, her skill and magic powerful enough that he never felt the shift in location. She sat beside him, rubbing his back, until darkness claimed him.

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"Jamie?"

"Yeah Soph?" he hefted his backpack higher, absently rubbing his chest, feeling as if something should be there.

"Is Jack coming tonight?" she asked, and he frowned.

"Who?" was that a new friend, but then why ask him? The only Jack he knew of…he almost laughed, remembering playing as a kid in the snow with the others, making up stories of Jack Frost. He didn't see her stop and stare in horror before tears welled in her eyes only to be wiped away.

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"Jack!" Sophie threw herself at the Winter Spirit she'd found by the lake and he looked up, catching her. "I'm sorry," she sobbed, feeling him hold her tighter. "Jamie…he was walking me to school, and I asked if you were coming and he…he…"

"I know," Jack whispered. He touched her Snowflake necklace. "His melted overnight, I felt it."

"It's not fair!"

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Jack walked alone the powerline, shadowing Jamie as he walked home from school, laughing with his friends, the kids who had once believed in him. Jack Frost had other believers now, thanks to those same kids writing stories and putting them online but losing them still hurt. They were laughing, looking forward to the snow and Christmas holidays, talking about college applications. Cupcake had left Burgess for New York and a dance degree and now the rest of them would be scattering across the country.

They were his kids and yet none of them remembered him as anything more than a myth, an imaginary friend. They'd mentioned him once and for a split second he'd seen something on Jamie's face, something that gave him hope. Enough hope he'd nailed Jamie in the back of the head with a snowball as he walked home later that day, despite there being no snow on the ground. Jamie had looked around, confused, and Jack had seen him touch his chest where the Snowflake once sat…he still wore the leather cord it had hung from. Was he torturing himself for no reason?

When the group parted he dropped down to walk beside Jamie, reaching out to brush his hand over his cheek right before he went inside. "Love you," he told him but there was no reaction and he left.

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He stood in the woods just outside of the town, watching the target house. It was handy that it was on the edge of town, opposite a park that lead into the woods. He stayed well away from the already iced over lake nearby though, able to feel the Magic it radiated, and he did not want to get the attention of whoever that magic belonged to. He waited patiently as lights in various rooms turned on and off. Finally, the house went dark and he smirked.

He lifted his flute to his lips and began to play a soft, melancholy tune. Not the kind of tune he was known for, but older targets took something a little different. He would make sure to get the one he had to, and any others who answered the tune, before changing tunes for his more usual prey.

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Jamie lay in bed, unable to sleep, there was something bugging him, but he couldn't work out what. Like something he should know but was just out of reach. He huffed in frustration and rolled over, seeing the darkness outside from the new moon. He yawned and stretched, closing his eyes…the music was nice…so soft…calling…

Jamie sat up on the edge of his bed and then stood up, walking to his door, opening it and walking out into the hall. His eyes were half open, face slack, every step methodical as he walked down the stairs and to the front door. He left the house without any hesitation, despite his bare feet and only wearing a pair of thin pants and a t-shirt, goose bumps breaking out on his skin as he walked. He didn't react as others joined him, including his friends.

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He watched the boy leave his house, marking which one he was, as others joined him, more than had been expected actually. That was interesting, then again Burgess had been the scene of the battle, all that magic had likely lingered and affected the kids nearby. They filed into the woods, walking to him and then they sat down, bodies relaxing, heads falling forward as their eyes closed, asleep. He waited a minute or two for any stragglers and then stopped playing, watching them carefully to make sure none showed signs of waking.

Satisfied, he lifted his flute again and began playing a happy, light, dancing tune.

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In her bedroom, Sophie got out of bed and began following in her brother's footsteps, their Mother sleeping peacefully in her own room, unable to hear the music her children had. A lot more children were walking the streets to the happier tune, all of them under eleven. Eventually, they entered the clearing where the others slept, joining them.

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He grinned as he saw all of the ones who had come to his call. It had been a while since he had such a good haul. He looked over as a patch of shadow moved and then formed into Pitch Black who looked over the crowd of children and what did they call them in modern times…teens? He moved to the correct child and used his flute to push his head up, the boys eyes fluttering open part way, unfocused and vacant. "This is the one you wanted, right?"

Pitch glided forward and smirked at the hypnotised boy. "Very nice work. How long will he remain in this state?"

"Until sunup."

"Then our bargain is done," Pitch gripped the boys shoulder, tugging him to his feet, the boy moving with the motion, walking placidly along with the ancient Spirit he wouldn't be able to see or be touched by normally.

He watched as they vanished, swallowed by shadows and then he turned to the rest. He grinned and began to play a new tune, the children collapsing to the ground, before slowly disappearing.

The Spirit once known as the Pied Piper of Hamelin laughed in joy.

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She looked up at the urging of her fairies, seeing the lights filling the sky. She took off at top speed for the Pole, the last to arrive. "Is it Pitch?" she asked, and North pointed to the Globe. The lights in Burgess were almost all gone.

"To the Sleigh!" North called and they rushed to the stable, not even Bunny complaining, not after last time.

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Jack frowned and straightened from his relaxed sprawl on the throne, the Court immediately noticing the change. Something was wrong….something….Sophie! She was in danger. He met Cailleach's eyes and the hag nodded, moving to the dais even as he vanished. He changed into his Jack Frost clothing and grabbed his staff before leaving the Palace. One good thing about Burgess being so far away, his ability to teleport had strengthened a lot over the last nine years.

He appeared inside the Bennett home and stared at Sophie's empty bed before going to Jamie's room, finding his bed just as empty, though their Mother was sleeping peacefully in her room. He closed his eyes and let his magic rise, feeling his lake react and…he snarled in rage and above Burgess storm clouds began to gather.

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He glanced up and frowned as he saw the storm clouds….that was rather sudden. He kept playing, picking up the pace a little, more than half of the children already gone. He would keep a handful for himself, the rest would be sold on, the Fey were always willing to pay well.

He barely ducked in time, a boomerang flying through where his head had been. He spun around, eyes widening as he saw the Guardians themselves. How? He'd been so careful! This was not the plan.

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Pitch pushed the boy into one of the cages that had once held the Tooth Fairies and he slumped in it, staring vacantly ahead, body limp. He glanced up and smirked, perfect. The Guardians had arrived and would deal with the Piper, they would believe it was all his doing, the children gone. There would be nothing to indicate he had taken their precious 'Last Light'. When he was done with the boy, nothing of that light would remain in him and he would be his instrument to torment the Guardians with, perhaps even defeat them.

He did wonder if the boy still believed, he had to be close to the cut off age if not passed it. it didn't bother him, despite what those do-gooders and others believed, there were ways to bring it back, especially for Spirits like him. Everyone feared something.

TBC…