Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 10

"It's okay Jamie," she heard Jack murmur, drawing the boy out from where he had been hiding behind him. Jamie clung tight to Jack's hand, his head bowed, revealing black and white hair, a physical sign of what Pitch had done to the once bright child.

She met North's gaze, relieved he had listened and was staying put, so she nodded at him and then flew slowly towards the two, landing lightly in front of Jamie. That got him to lift his head, still golden eyes taking her in nervously.

"Are…are you the Tooth Fairy?" he asked quietly even as he pressed back against Jack who wrapped his arm around Jamie, making her bite back a coo at how sweet they were together.

Instead she just smiled gently at the new Spirit, hiding her pain at how hesitant his identification of her had been. He didn't remember her, she could tell. "Hello Jamie," she held her hand out and forced herself to remain still, waiting for Jamie to make the next move.

Jamie looked at her hand and then back at Jack who smiled gently at him, nodding. Jamie looked back at her, biting her lip, but then he slowly reached back to her. His skin was cold and pale but not sickly like he had been in Pitch's lair. No…he appeared healthy now which was a massive relief. He was stunning as a Spirit and she wondered what he had looked like as he grew up, feeling bad all over again that they had never gone back to spend time with the children outside of their duties.

"Can you help me?" he asked nervously.

"You're having trouble with your memories?" she asked, and he nodded.

"I…I can't remember and sometimes I forget things I did know."

"He didn't recognise me a few days ago and then later he did but couldn't remember my name," Jack clarified. "It seems to come and go but he seems to really only remember me and Sophie."

"I didn't recognise her," Jamie admitted, looking away in shame.

She watched Jack tug him even closer, kissing the side of his head tenderly. "She looks different, it's not surprising," Jack reassured him.

She looked over at the girl with Aster and had to agree, Sophie looked very different to the toddler she remembered. "I'm the Guardian of Memory, Jamie." She held out his Tooth Box. "When a child loses a tooth my fairies collect it and with it their memories, so that when needed we can help them. That your memory is…fluctuating is worrying, and we may need to work on that first, I don't want to give you your memories back only for you to forget them again," she explained.

Once again Jamie looked to Jack and it made sense, with his memory a mess, Jack would be his rock, the one thing he could be certain of. If Jack's behaviour when they'd discovered Jamie was missing or when he'd been found hadn't revealed their relationship, Jamie's behaviour and the way he looked at Jack would have. She hated Pitch for a lot of reasons, what he had done to Jamie just made it so much worse.

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Sophie looked back at where Jamie was sitting with Jack on a couch, the Tooth Fairy sitting opposite them, gently holding her brothers hands in hers, talking too softly for her to hear. She was scared for Jamie but if anyone could help him, it would be the Guardians.

She leant against Bunny, listening as he argued with Santa…North. She'd missed them all and if it hadn't been for Jack she might have thought meeting them was a dream. But now she'd never have to say goodbye to them ever again. She'd never grow up and forget like Jamie had and that made her happy. She missed her Mom and her friends, but nothing could change that.

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Once Tooth had come up with a plan for working on Jamie's memory, they returned home since the noise and activity of the Workshop made Jamie uncomfortable. Though Sophie went to the Warren with Bunny with careful instructions to watch how she reacted to the heat. Some of those tied to Winter were fine, others would become ill, and they didn't know how she would handle it.

"You okay?" he asked as Jamie lay on their bed, seeing him trembling slightly. He sat beside him, running his fingers through soft bi-coloured hair.

"Hate this," he mumbled, pressing into his touch.

"I know," he wished there was more he could do but memories weren't his area of expertise, unless someone wanted them gone, not that he'd ever done that. "Tooth will help and even if it can't be fixed, you'll always have me and Sophie. I think the Guardians would like to be your friends too, even if you don't remember them."

Jamie nodded slightly and Jack got into bed with him, content to just hold him and offer comfort.

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Jamie sat at the low table, sipping at the drink Tooth called tea as she fluttered about. He was scared but he wanted his memories back, wanted to stop forgetting things. Jack wasn't far, out in the main areas with the little fairies cooing over his teeth. He'd wanted to stay but Tooth had said no, that his presence could affect the magic since they were so closely tied together. At least he was allowed to be in the Palace and didn't have to stay even further away.

The Palace was amazing, even busier than the Workshop, but it wasn't as chaotic and noisy, so it was nicer. The colours were incredible too, but he wished it was colder. The humidity helped, Jack had been teaching him how to pull the moisture from the air and use it to keep himself cool, but he definitely preferred their home to anywhere else.

"Are you ready Jamie?" she asked kindly after a while and he nodded nervously. She carefully put her hand over his, smiling gently. "It won't hurt Jamie," she promised, leading him to a pile of pillows.

He lay down on them, trying not to fidget, and then she began to speak…or sing….or…his eyes drifted shut.

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She watched the magic work, Jamie going still. She hadn't had to do anything like this in centuries, it was a good thing she didn't forget. His mind…was a disaster zone, just what had Pitch done to him? He'd ripped his memories apart, changed some, implanted new ones…Winter's magic had pieced together what it could and had done an incredible job, but she still had a lot of work ahead of her. She had to fix the damage before she could restore his childhood memories.

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Jack walked through the halls with Jamie at his side, the first time he had left their rooms with a desire to actually explore the Palace rather than because they were going somewhere. After three sessions with Tooth his ability to consistently remember had vastly improved. He always recognised Jack and Sophie now, knew their names without prompting, and he wasn't forgetting newly made memories either.

Jack nodded to various people as they paused to let them pass, feeling Jamie tense each time, but no one stopped to talk, only offering brief acknowledgment of their King and his Consort.

"Jamie!" Sophie called, running towards them and Jamie smiled at his sister, catching her easily. It was good to see him being more himself with her again, more siblings than almost strangers.

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Aster watched as Jamie followed Sophie into the warren, golden eyes wide as he looked around in wonder, his hand clasped firmly in hers. Tooth had let them know that the sessions with Jamie were going well although she hadn't begun working on restoring his old memories yet, apparently he was able to remember some things himself now beyond Sophie and Frost. He didn't look so timid anymore which was good, it meant Frost wasn't encouraging that kind of behaviour.

"Welcome to the Warren," he told the boy as he approached the siblings and Jamie offered a small smile.

"It's…incredible."

"Not too warm?" he asked in concern, but Jamie shook his head. Aster had shifted the course of the river a bit since Sophie's first visit, making more pools to raise the humidity a little since Tooth said that worked at her place. He couldn't raise it too much due to all the plants though. "Come on, got somethin' to show ya," he motioned for them to follow and took off, Sophie laughing.

"Come on Jamie!" she called, and he glanced back to see her flying low, Jamie blinking after them before he broke into a run. Must be annoying to be the only one out of the three who couldn't fly at all. Maybe he'd learn Frost's method one day?

Aster led them through the Warren, taking a longer route to let Jamie see more, and then he pulled back some vines to reveal a new section. Sophie happily slipped past, but Jamie hesitated warily. "It's okay Jamie," he reached out slowly and ruffled the long bi-coloured hair, seeing golden eyes widen in surprise at the move. "There's nothing dangerous, just a surprise I've been workin' on for Sophie, but I think you'll enjoy it too."

"Okay," Jamie nodded and then looked away. "Sorry."

"You've got nothing to apologise for kiddo," Aster assured him, and Jamie stepped through, Aster following him, feeling the temperature beginning to drop as they moved into another cave. They stepped out into it and the siblings froze, Aster leaning against the wall to watch their reactions.

Sophie suddenly squealed and threw herself at him, hugging him tightly. "I love it! Thank you Bunny."

"Aster," he said, and she blinked at him in confusion. "My name's Aster," he told them both.

Jamie stared at him but then smiled. "It's beautiful Aster. You did all this for Sophie?"

Aster shrugged, lifting a foot to scratch his ear. "I know the Warren's a touch warm for you lot, bout time this place had some winter plants."

The grin his answer got from Jamie was the one he remembered from the kid who'd helped save them so long ago and not the small smiles he'd glimpsed since Jamie had been rescued. Then he yelped when Sophie nailed him with a snowball. "Sophie," the teen shook his head but glanced at Aster who laughed and waved them on, getting dragged in by Sophie as well.

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Jamie lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, going through his newly recovered memories. He remembered his family…his friends…all people he'd never see again. Well, he could see them, but they wouldn't be able to see him. None of them had been among those who had changed from human, they had been rescued in time and remembered nothing of what had happened. Part of him thought they were lucky but…he was with Jack forever now because of what had happened.

He missed his Mom now, he knew Sophie did too, but how much worse was it for her? She'd gone to bed with them safe in their rooms only to wake up in the morning to find them gone. All of their friends too…the police were probably still looking for them, for any clues as to what had happened. They were all their Mom had but now they were gone, and she'd never know why or how.

He felt the bed dip and turned his head to find Jack sitting beside him, blue eyes dark with concern, a hand lifting to gently run through his hair, and Jamie leant into it.

"How are you?" he asked in concern.

"I…I remember," he whispered, rolling onto his side, pressing closer and Jack lay down to hold him. "Mom…" he choked out, trembling in grief and Jack held him, rocking him gently as he cried for everything he'd lost.

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

Jamie knew Jack could have offered him a place in the Court at any time, especially once they were together, but he never had. Jamie had always wondered if maybe Jack hadn't wanted him forever but now he understood; Jack hadn't wanted to take him away from his life, from his family and friends.

He also remembered the night the Piper had taken him and how he'd been struggle to remember….he'd been so close to remembering Jack, he knew he had been. He remembered being hit by a snowball when there'd been no snow on the ground, knew now it had been Jack trying to get through to him, if only they'd had a few more days or weeks…

His tears dried and he lifted his head, pressing his lips to Jack's. "I love you. I missed you, I knew something was missing, and I was trying so hard to work out what…I was so close that night," he admitted, feeling Jack's arms tighten around him.

"Shh, it's okay. I know, I saw you a few times looking confused or like you knew you'd forgotten something, it gave me hope." Jack smiled softly at him. "I missed you so much."

"I'm never leaving you, ever," Jamie promised.

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Jack found himself fiddling with the golden box Tooth had given him, still torn over what to do with it. he could just give it back to her and let it go, he hadn't really been curious in centuries and they'd be safe with her if he ever changed his mind.

"At least if you drop that, it will be easy enough to spot in the snow," Cailleach commented as she joined him on the balcony. "Have you decided?"

He shook his head. "Would remembering change anything? It's been so long since I was curious but now…"

"It will not change who you are Jack but perhaps knowing how you became a Spirit would give you true peace," she offered, and he stared down at the box, running his finger down the top, seeing it light up.

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She rolled her eyes; she hadn't meant to do it right then! He was perched on the balcony railing and if he fell then it was a long way down. She reached out and wrapped an arm around his waist to ensure he wouldn't fall, seeing the vacant look in his eyes.

Time passed but then he jerked against her, gasping and shaking his head. "Easy Jack," she murmured, and he relaxed, panting.

"I…I saved her," he choked, and she lifted her other hand to run through his hair.

"Who?"

"My little sister," he whispered. "The ice cracked under her and I saved her!"

Cailleach nodded, that was something Jack would do, it was good to know he hadn't changed. He had likely drowned under the ice, there were far worse ways to die in winter; at least it would have been quicker than many of them.

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Jamie wasn't surprised to find out Jack had had a little sister when he was human, not with how good he'd always been with Sophie. Getting his human memories back didn't change Jack at all, he'd lived so long as a Spirit that a few years of memories wouldn't mean a lot overall.

No one had noticed anything different either, that was obvious as Jamie watched the Court from his place beside Jack. it still felt a little strange, to sit beside Jack in a Throne of ice, helping to rule the Winter Court, but Jack had asked him to. He didn't just want him at his side in private but in public, to rule beside him. He didn't know a thing about ruling, but he had plenty of time to learn now.

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"You sure you want to do this?" Jack asked and they both nodded, staring up at the house. "Want me to come with you?" he offered, and Jamie hesitated but then reached for his hand and Jack took it, following them to the house.

The house was quiet and locked up, at least on the ground floor, so they flew up to what had been Jaime's window, Sophie under her own power while Jack took Jamie. Jack had gotten very god over the years at getting that window open and soon they were inside, Sophie slipping away to her room while Jamie stared around. Jack was just happy that Jamie recognised everything.

Eventually, Jamie left the bedroom, heading slowly down the hall to the only one that was now occupied, hesitating outside before slipping inside. Jack remained in the doorway and Jamie watched his Mom sleep, wishing there was something he could do.

They left before dawn, a few things form Jamie's room in a bag that he wanted to keep, including some family photos.

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Jack let his hands wander over pale skin, Jamie making little noises of pleasure, leaning up for a kiss. Despite Jamie having had his memories fully back and stable for over a year, sleeping naked in the same bed every night, they hadn't done anything more than cuddle and kiss. They hadn't felt ready but now they finally did. Jamie's body was different to how it had been before, but he'd had the time to learn those changes and now he had centuries to learn everywhere that made him feel good too.

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Jamie grinned at Tooth and kissed her cheek. "Merry Christmas."

She laughed and hugged him. "Merry Christmas, Jamie, Jack. Sophie not with you?" she asked as they headed over to the couch farthest from the fireplace.

"She was at the Warren so she's coming with Aster," Jack answered as they sat.

"She's grown," Jamie admitted, sounding worried.

"She isn't a Spirit, Jamie, not like us. She might keep growing to adulthood before it stops," it sounded like Jack had told him that before, but she understood that Jamie would still worry for his sister.

Looking at Jack and Jamie, they were so obviously in love and Jamie was growing into his position as Consort to the Snow King. She was just glad she'd been able to help fix Jamie's memories; she knew Jack would never have left him, but their lives would be easier this way.

"How old is she now?" she asked.

"Sixteen," Jamie sighed. "We're basically the same age physically now." Despite the fact Jamie was now in his twenties he still looked the same as when he had become a Spirit. Which was good since Jack obviously didn't age either.

"Anyone caught her eye yet?" Tooth teased and bit back a laugh as they both blanched.

"What?!" Jamie's eyes were wide in shock or horror.

"She's too young!" Jack argued and she lost it.

"And how old was Jamie when you too got together?" she pointed out and Jamie groaned, burying his face in his hands.

"She doesn't spend a lot of time with anyone outside of us and Aster, well there's Cailleach but no way," Jack pointed out.

"That you know of," and then she held her hands up in surrender, giving up on the teasing. "Well, at least North has nice weather."

Jack half bowed in his seat since he'd obviously had a hand in that. They chatted happily while waiting for the others to arrive for the annual party. They had only started after Jamie and the children had been saved and it had taken a bit to convince Jack that he really was welcome but now the two might as well be Guardians considering how often they spent time with them.

And sometimes she wondered…just who had brought Jack back as a Spirit, she didn't think it was Mother Nature and if it had been the Man in the Moon…was he originally intended to be one of them? Had his Destiny been thrown off track by being challenged by the previous King? His powers had been very useful against Pitch…purposely so? Jack had never told them about how he had become a Spirit although she knew he'd looked at his memories years ago, he'd even given her the box back for safe keeping. No matter how curious she was, she would never peak, it wasn't her place.

The doors opened and Aster rushed in, Sophie following him, laughing. Yes, she was growing up and…oh, well, that could be very interesting. Then again, it could just be a teenage crush, even if it wasn't, Aster guarded his heart closely.

Eventually North returned from his rounds and the party really began as Sandy appeared minutes later.

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Jamie stood on the frozen lake, Jack's lake, head tipped back to stare up at the stars. He felt familiar arms wrap around him and leant back against Jack.

"Happy?" Jack murmured and Jamie turned around, kissing him.

"Yes," he told him. It still hurt, to know his Mom was gone now, but he knew the pain would lessen with time, although he would never forget her. "And no regrets," he promised, seeing the flicker of emotion in Jack's eyes.

"None?"

"Jack…if I'd never met you, I'd be Pitch's loyal….something, Sophie would have been left with the Piper, all my childhood friends would belong to the Fey… none of what happened was because of you, it ended well because of you. Meeting you was the best thing to ever happen to me," he swore, and Jack relaxed, pressing their foreheads together before kissing him. "Although…having an alien as a potential brother-in-law is a little odd."

Jack laughed at that. "Sophie's very determined to make that happen. Tooth said he's hidden at her place a few times."

"She'll wear him down eventually and…I know she'll be safe with him."

"She will," Jack agreed and then kissed him. "Ready to go home?" he asked, and Jamie grinned.

"Yeah," he reached out for the wind, laughing as he was lifted up, Jack following him into the sky.

The End.