It's been seven months since she told all of us she was pregnant, which according to her, makes her eight months pregnant, and I can never get enough of her pregnant belly. She looks so gorgeous, and through the months I had felt the baby kick on the inside, and my heart melted instantly. Many good things happened during her pregnancy so far, but there was a time when she got violently ill. She was three months pregnant and she couldn't keep anything down except broth made with chicken broth, hot water, garlic, onions, and melted butter. She was sick for two weeks, but she recovered. However, as I hold her hand while she sweats out a fever, I realize this illness may be worse than the last. She has had a fever for three days, she hasn't been coherent, her powers aren't working, and nothing seemed to be working on her. Mesi and Adara had done everything they know to do, and for some reason, I had a gut instinct of what would work. I just somehow knew it would work, but I needed to ask them first. "Adara...I know...I don't know how I know, but I know what will help."

"What is it?" She asked as she wiped some of the sweat from Emily's brow.

"I...I'm going to use the portion of Nature magic Manny gave me, and my winter magic...and infuse it into her womb by placing my hands on her belly, focusing on the child with all my heart and soul."

"Jack, that's...that's very dangerous. You could hurt the child." Mesi explained with a guilty expression.

"Please, it's...it's almost like an instinct inside me. I just...I know I can do it. Please, let me. You've tried everything else."

Mesi and Adara looked at each other and sighed together. "Alright." They agreed at the same time and stepped away from Emily.

I stood from my seat and moved to her belly and I gently placed the palms of my hands on the skin of her belly that was exposed to try and help her fever, and I closed my eyes. I focused on my magic and willed it to go inside of Emily as carefully as possible, and as I felt my powers flow from my heart and soul, I instantly knew not only that I had to say something, but I knew WHAT to say. 'Little one, I'm your Father. I love you so much, and I love your Mother too, but she's sick. We need to work together. You are special and unique and you can help her on the inside while I help her on the out. Grab tight to my magic little one and feel it and use it with your own that I somehow know you have.' I felt a tug on my magic, and somehow I felt it envelop the infant entirely, causing my heart to instantly pick up pace as I felt my magic take shape and fuse into the infant. When it wrapped around and infused into the infant I knew the gender instantly. Then, I felt the infant use both nature and winter magic, somehow spreading it through Emily's body and back into me. I slowly released my hands and fell back into my chair, feeling weak from the energy I just exhausted.

"Father!" Adara and Mesi shouted in worry, but then all three of us heard Emily groan.

I looked at her, and noticed her fever was completely gone. Her face was no longer flushed and her breathing was quickly returning to normal. Her muscles also eased. They were no longer as tense as they once were. I happily placed my hand on Emily's belly and laughed out joyfully. "We did it!"

"We? Father, we didn't help you." Mesi tilted her head in confusion.

"No, but she did..." I told them as I looked at where my hand rested.

"Mother did?"

"No, not Emily...the baby helped. The baby has powers, it was a perfect combination of mine and Emily's powers, and I don't know how I knew what to do, but I did...and I knew what to tell her...telepathically...it was strange, but amazing. I told her to grab tight to my to my magic and use it with her own. I didn't know how I knew she had magic, but I knew...and it was all so amazing, and now it's worked."

"W-Wait...you know the gender?" Adara blinked in surprise.

"And she has powers?" Mesi wondered as she looked at Emily's belly.

"And she was able to take hold of your powers and use it with her's?" Adara stared at me with pure fascination in her eyes.

"Yes, yes, and yes!" I laughed out.

"Were you able to determine if the baby was healthy?"

"Oh, well...actually, yes. She's healthy, but small." He chuckled lightly as I looked at Emily. "She's small...but powerful."

"It's...a...she?" I heard Emily groan out.

"Emily!" I whispered out and moved my hand to hold her's.

"H-How...did you...find that...out?"

"I...I couldn't stand by and watch you be in pain so I...well, it was strange...I didn't know how I knew to do it, or what to do, or how to do it, but I was able to combine the nature magic Manny gave me and my winter magic...and I sent it to her. I told her to hold tight to my magic and use it with her own to help make you better, because you were sick...I don't know how I knew that she had powers, but she does. She has powers and magic, and...anyway, I felt a tug on my magic, and it wrapped around and enveloped her. That's how I found out she was a girl...and then I could somehow feel that it spread through you, and I felt it spread through me, so I slowly moved away, and you already started to look better, and now you're awake."

She opened her eyes and looked at me with a soft knowing smile as she held onto my hand tighter. "Fatherly instinct. You have a very strong fatherly instinct, and it's as much a part of your heart and soul as your magic and powers are."

With an overjoyed warmth in my heart, I gently took her hand and gave it gentle kiss. "We're having a girl." I giggled.

"Yes, and she has powers and magic."

"Oh! I didn't even ask! How are you feeling?"

"Better now. How long have I been out and how long have you been by my side."

"Not long..." I trailed off with a slightly embarrassed expression.

"You've been out for three days..." Mesi snitched. "...and he hasn't gotten an ounce of sleep. He's also not eaten. He's been next to you this entire time."

Her eyes widened as she looked at me with a worried look. "Jack, why haven't you eaten or slept?"

"I...I was scared. I didn't want to wake up, and...and you not be there. I was scared that I would lose you and our child, and it would be all my fault, because I got you pregnant...and...I didn't want to wake up and have lost you both. I wanted to be here in case anything happened. I love you so much...more than you know, and I..."

"Shh..." She tried to calm me as she took her hand out of mine to lightly grab my arm and gently moved her thumb back and forth. "...I'm here now, it's okay, but you need sleep, and afterwards you need a meal."

"Mother, you should stay in bed for another day just in case." Mesi warned with a gentle smile. "If you want, we can bring you and Father your meals. Nimbus is out right now causing a bunch of storms, because of how worried he is about not just you, but Father as well."

"Yes, and Abungu is brooding in the forest while Summer and Autumn help keep Flora calm and distracted. Meanwhile, Isla and Bram are currently cooking lunch."

"We would appreciate the meals very much, but I feel bad that you have to bring it all the way up here..."

"Don't feel bad, Mother." Adara interrupted her. "We all love you, and worry about you. We all just want to take care of you...and Father." At her last words she sent me a challenging look.

I laughed out a scoff and shook my head as I stood and made my way to my dresser. I picked up the bag of dream sand and brought it over to the bed. I got comfortable next to my pregnant wife and underneath the covers before I turned to Adara and handed her the bag. "Here, I admit defeat."

"Good!" Adara sternly nodded her head as she carefully took the dream sand bag and sprinkled some over my eyes. I briefly saw snowflakes and snowdrops float above my head before everything went black.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

When I opened my eyes I was in the same place I dreamed about twenty years ago, and again I heard talking, but when I made it up the hill, whoever else was talking with the rabbit who calls himself my conscience was gone. "Why am I here?"

"Good question." He hummed as he laid on his back with his arms behind his head. "Come and look at the stars with me."

I shrugged my shoulders and did as he asked. I laid on my back like he did and placed my arms behind my head. "Hey, the last time I was here...it was twenty years ago, and I heard you talking to someone, and again this time...but both times when I come up the hill...you're alone. Who were you talking to?"

"What you heard was a memory. My memory. You see, just as much as I'm a part of you and you a part of me...so are my memories and your memories...but you can't see them yet."

"Yet? So I eventually will?"

"I hope."

"Do you have any idea how ironic it is that you look a little like the Easter Bunny, and you say you hope?"

"Yes, I am well aware that the Easter Bunny is the Guardian of Hope. I'm a part of you, remember?"

"Yeah, but you haven't said what you fully mean by that. The explanation you gave me...is still a bit confusing."

"You'll know eventually, but until then, I can't tell you anything...I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sure you have a good reason."

"I do, and it's simply that you're not ready yet. So, to get off the topic...you're having a girl, huh?"

I immediately propped myself up on my elbow to turn and look at him. "How did you...?" He simply turned his head to me and raised an eyebrow at me, and I got the message. I went back to looking up at the stars and let out a frustrated sigh. "Right...we're a part of each other. You knew already."

"Yes, and I've got to say, she's quite beautiful."

My eyes widened as I turned my head. "You...but how?"

"I'm a part of your soul, Jack. I'm closer to your magic and your powers than you are"

"I told Sandy about the last time I saw you...he said that we were kindred spirits, but it would be impossible because you were dead."

"He did say that. I remember. He also told you that a part of me lives on somewhere."

"Yeah...in a reincarnation...but that was a long time ago, and he said that the only likely explanation would be if you lived on in your reincarnation, and that your reincarnation would be out there somewhere. He said that they would've had to be born as such."

"He's right, and that is true."

"Do you know who your reincarnation is?"

"I do."

"Do I know them?"

"No, I'm afraid. You don't know him, but perhaps the two of you will meet someday."

"How? Aren't they mortal?"

"Oh, reincarnations aren't limited to mortals, but he was...once. However, he had been turned into an immortal."

"What? When?"

"I can't tell you that."

I rolled my eyes and laid on my back again with a groaning sigh. "You can't tell me anything useful!"

"I can. It just won't be what you want to know right away."

"Hmm...so...can you tell me what you were like?"

"What I was like?"

"Yeah, I want to know, considering I don't think I'll be able to learn much else. Sandy told me that the Easter Bunny was your older brother."

"He was, and is." He grinned proudly before letting out a sigh. "Very well...I guess now's the time." He grunted out as he got up.

I quickly stood and walked next to him. "Now's the time for what?"

"That I show you. You asked one of the right questions."

"ONE OF!? There's MORE right Questions!?"

"Oh, yes. Many more. Now, c'mon."

Without saying another word I followed him down the other side of the hill, and quickly noticed another hill at the very bottom of the one we were on, which seemed to be about two hundred feet above the one at the bottom. I then saw that there were windows, doors, a chimney, five different gardens, and on the furthest end of the hill there was an oak and maple tree hovering over the middle of it. I looked a bit closer, and saw a sky light at the top of that part of the hill. "This...this was your home, wasn't it?"

"We called it a burrow, but yes. It was considerably large, but that's what happens when you live with your mother, father, and five other siblings."

"FIVE!?"

"Yes, and Sandy was right. Bunny was the oldest, and I was the youngest." I continued to follow him until we made it inside the burrow. "This used to be my home."

"Wow! It's beautiful!" I breathed out as I noticed all of the nature made furniture that seemed to meld in perfectly with the earth, and the fireplace seemed to be made of polished purple marble. The chairs were made of wood, but had layers upon layers of moss on them, and the table in front of the fireplace was a perfect oval, and it shined a beautiful maple color.

"My mother would've greatly appreciated your words. She never thought the house was clean enough. Come, I want to show you something."

"Alright." I followed him down the long hallway until we made it to a door that looked EXACTLY like mine.

"Now, when we go in here, I want you to remember what your room looks like. Even the most minuscule of things can make a great difference. Can you do that?"

"Yes."

"Good." He opened the door and we walked through, and my breath caught in my throat, because it didn't just look like my room. It WAS my room. However, there were some differences. "What differences do you see?"

"There are snowdrops everywhere." I chuckled lightly as I continued to look around. "The grass is a bit different though. In my room it has blue tips like outside of the burrow, but in here, the tips are white. There's also paintings...but the images are blurred...except this one." I told him as I walked over to a large rectangular painting of him. "Who painted this?"

"Bunny did. He was an excellent painter. The best, in fact."

"Okay...that makes sense." I rolled my eyes. "Let's see..." I looked up and noticed that the skylight was more intricate than the one in my room. The frame of the skylight was the same, but there were etchings in a language I didn't know. The language was written in a combination of curves, swirls, lines, and portions of different flowers as well as dots in some areas. "What language is that?" I asked as I pointed up to the skylight.

"That's Pookan language." He sighed out. "It says, 'Though the stars above me shine brightly, I shall close my eyes and tonight I shall dream sweetly and lightly. Though I am of ice and snow, I hold the knowledge that all Pooka know. I know of bravery, fear, love, hate, life, death, the other seasons that I am not born of such as Spring, Summer, and Fall, yes, I know them all. However, as I look up to the stars tonight I know another more beautiful thing, and I know it down to my every bone. What I know is...that I am never alone.'"

"That's a beautiful poem. Did you write that?"

"No, I did not."

"Your mother?"

"No."

"Your father?"

"No."

"Bunny?"

"Yes."

"Your sib-wait! BUNNY WROTE THAT!?"

"Yes, he did. It's a spell."

"A-A spell!? He...he knew magic originally!?"

"Yes, he was a painter, warrior, scholar, brother, son, best friend, and sorcerer. The spell was a protection spell. It protected me from nightmares, the dark, and my own self doubt."

"And...what were you?" I asked, trying to get my mind off of the fact that I likely learned more about Bunny than Bunny wanted me to know.

"I was a sorcerer, scholar, brother, son, mate, and I had been told, a good friend."

"What type of magic did you use?"

"Winter magic. Same as you. You see...although Spring, Summer, and Fall Pooka were entirely common...the one that was extremely rare was me. The winter or Snow Pooka. We were very rare. So much so, in fact, that my mother and father had to look up everything that I would need growing up."

"Were you trouble like me?"

"Oh, you have no idea." He laughed out and I found myself grinning like a fool. "I used to play pranks on Bunny constantly! Not to mention my mother and father. Not only that, but often times Bunny and I would race, and if you asked him...that is...if he would be willing to tell you...he would say that I cheated, but really, I just used what I've been given...winter magic, and if that helped me get a bit ahead..." He shrugged and gave me a knowing look, and I couldn't help but double over laughing.

"Yeah, we're alike you and I."

"Yes we are." He sighed out. "There's a reason why I brought you here. Do you remember when I told you that the older you get and the more you become yourself, the more we become each other in a way?"

"Yeah...but that also confuses me...because if what Sandy said was true...that shouldn't make sense. If you're part of your reincarnation...you can't become a part of me."

"I know it's confusing, and honestly, it's not that entirely easy for me to understand either, but I REALLY need you to trust me that you will know someday, and not bring up the connection again."

"O-Okay...I promise."

"Good, and thank you. Now, where was I...oh yes! Well, you know how Mother Nature told you that your room is connected to your heart and soul?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I am too...and we're...kindred spirits..." He smiled at the term and then started to continue. "...so, the more and more yourself you become, the more you'll be able to see in here...such as the blurred paintings, and more things will appear. Not only that, but your room will change as well, because your soul will grow slightly."

"I think I understand."

"I'm glad, because it's time for you to wake up. Until we speak again, Jack."

oOoOoOoOoOo

"...ther?" Bram questioned with concern.

"Is he sick?" I heard Flora questioned worriedly.

"I'm not sure, Flora."

I slowly blinked my eyes open and I heard a relieved sigh next to me. "Oh! Thank goodness!" I looked to who spoke, and saw an extremely relieved Emily.

"What happened?"

"Well, um...your room changed slightly..." She told me as she looked at the ground. "...and you've been asleep for three days."

I looked down to the ground and noticed the tips of the grass had changed to white. I looked up and noticed the engraving on my skylight, and somehow, I could understand the language. It wasn't merely just remembering what he had said, I knew which symbol combinations made certain letters or words. "Weird..."

"I'd say, but hey, it's an improvement."

"Did the others' rooms change like this?"

"Sometimes. If they lost themselves at some point, and found themselves again, their room would change. That's the only explanation we've ever gotten." Emily explained to me. "So, what was it you figured out?"

"Um...honestly? I'm not entirely sure."

"What do you mean?"

"I...hmm..." I looked to Flora and Bram and smiled at them. "I know the two of you want to know too, but I think...for now...this is something I have to speak with Emily about."

"Okay! I'm glad you're better, Father."

"Thank you, Flora."

"I'll bring you something to eat in an hour."

"Greatly appreciated, Bram." Once they left and closed the door, I sunk myself further into the pillows. "Okay...so where do I even start!?" I groaned out.

"How about the beginning? I have come to find that the beginning is usually the best start to anything."

I let out a snort as I rolled my eyes. "That's not much better. Okay...so...on my one hundredth birthday...or rather...the night before...I dreamed of a strange land I had never been to. It had two moons and another planet in the sky. The grass looked like the grass from my room, and I heard people talking. I walked up a hill towards the sound and saw someone who kind of looked like Bunny, but he wasn't for obvious reasons. His fur was white as snow, his markings were snowflakes, and he was taller than Bunny. He also didn't have an Australian accent."

"That's..."

"Yeah...I figured you would know him...Sandy explained a bit...he said that we really must be kindred spirits, but that it was impossible, because he had died. Then, he seemed to come to a realization or a conclusion or...something! Either way, he said that the only way that was possible is if a part of him lived on somewhere like in a reincarnation. I thought that was a good thing, but apparently not, because whoever he's reincarnated into, they don't know it. So, in the first dream...we had a conversation and he tried to tell me he was a part of me, and that he had been waiting for me for one hundred years...the night before I turned one hundred years old. It was weird...anyway, he also told me that there were things he couldn't answer and things that he could. I asked him why I had seen him then and not in the beginning and he told me that he was one half of a whole...and I was the other."

"Sounds rather interesting. So...what happened during this one?"

"Well...he took me to the burrow he and Bunny used to live in...oh yeah...he also admitted to being Bunny's brother...anyway, he took me to the burrow they used to live in, and it was so beautiful on the inside. Then, he took me to his room, and you and Sandy were right. His room and mine are very similar. He asked me to look around for differences though, and I noticed three immediate differences. One, a painting done by Bunny apparently, the grass tips, and the poem on the ceiling."

"Wait...you know what that says?" She asked me with a surprised expression on her face as she pointed up to the skylight.

"Yeah...do you?"

"I know every language ever created."

"Wow..." I blinked at her several times. "...well okay then." I chuckled lightly with an amused smile. "Anyway, he told me what it read, and he told me that it was a protection spell placed by Bunny. He then told me that the more 'myself' I become, the more I would be able to see in the burrow, and the more my room will change. He also said that someday I'll know everything that involves him...it's very strange." I looked up at the ceiling and let out a confused sigh as I pursed my lips. "Not as strange as actually being able to read it now."

"You're able to do what?"

I looked at her, and noticed she seemed surprise, but what type of surprise was the question running around in my head. I could see her eyes were widened, but her smile didn't show any hints to me. I looked down to my hands briefly and then I looked to her with a concerned expression. "Is that a bad thing?"

"No, it's just...there are only...well, if what you're saying is true...there WERE only four people who could read the Pookan language, which is what that's written in. The four people were myself, Pitch Black, Sandy, and Bunny. Tell me..." She trailed off as she leaned over to her side of the bed to grab a notepad and pencil, and she started scratching away at the paper with the pencil. "...what does this say?"

I narrowed my eyes at the curves, flower petals, dots, and squiggles, and I knew what it read as if she had written it in English. "It says 'I love you, Jack Frost.' It says that right?"

"That's exactly right."

"Emily..." I sighed out in mild frustration. I reached for her and wrapped my arms around her. "What's happening to me, Emily?"

She held me close to her, well...as close as she could with her belly being the way it was...and she rubbed circles into my back. "Whatever it is, I don't think it's bad. I also think that if he can't tell you certain things, heed his warnings, but stay vigilant on every word and every movement he makes. Don't do so in a way that's rude or distrusting, but do so in a way that you would try and understand a friend."

"Can you tell me his name?"

"I cannot."

"What!?" I questioned a little too loudly, but in here it didn't matter all that much, and I pulled away from her. "Why!?"

"I..." As I looked into her beautiful eyes, searching for my answer, I suddenly found it.

"You were told not to by Manny...weren't you?"

"I-I was." She answered, but then she quickly yet gently took my hands into her's. "But you have to understand, I want to tell you. I've wanted you to know, but he explained a few things to me, and I understood why he didn't tell you. It's not that he wants to keep you in the dark about this...it's that he has to. You can't figure this out by being told. It's...it's like one of my enchantments...unless everything is exactly correct, and unless everything happens in the way it's supposed to, then the enchantment won't take hold. I love you, and nothing will change that. I may not know your true purpose or why he created you the way he did...and I have a strong feeling that there's a greater purpose than winter...but either way...I may not know all that, but I do know one thing. The Pooka in your dreams...he was a good person, and I believe still is, but he also knows that if he tells you why he's there, his name, who he is, who he was, and anything in between...before the time is right...then what he's there for and what he's meant to do...will never happen."

"I...I understand I think." I turned my hands so that I could hold her hands as well, and I gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have snapped. It's just...it's all so frustrating."

She gave me a sympathetic grin and moved my hands to her belly. "I understand, but maybe for now, you can focus on our daughter. She needs you after all. We both do, and so do your other children."

"You're right. I'll try my best, I promise, but I can't promise that I won't be frustrated still, but I can try my best."

"I'm not asking you to not be upset at your situation." She grinned as she shook her head. "I'm asking that you distract yourself with your family first, and be frustrated later."

"Hmm..." I chuckled lightly. "...the word 'later' coming out of your mouth has proven to be quite the relative term."

"Smart mouth."

"All day every day." I smiled at her softly. "So...while I was out...did Adara and Mesi happen to give you a time frame when you may go into labor?"

"They said I will likely go into labor when I'm nine and a half months along."

"That far away?" I pouted and rested my hand on her belly. "Can't you come a bit sooner?"

"Don't you dare!" She laughed out brilliantly as she playfully swatted my hand away. "You know it's going to be extremely painful for me!"

"And I promise you..." I kissed her on the cheek with a wide grin on my face. "...I'll be there for it all."

"You better, or you'll face something far more dangerous than Mother Nature."

"Oh, and what could that be?" I asked curiously with a tilt of my head.

"Your wife." She gave me a wicked smirk as she gently placed her hand on the left side of my face. "And the mother of your child."

"Yup." I quickly agreed as I smiled at her lovingly. "That is definitely scarier than Mother Nature."

"Glad to know that you recognize power." She gave me a quick kiss on the lips, and it affected me as it always did. It left me wanting more, and feeling a bit dizzy.

I rushed forward and threaded her hair through my fingers as I grabbed the back of her neck while the other hand grabbed her shoulder. Knowing I would always have permission, I dove my tongue into her mouth and kissed her with as much passion as I could without melting at the feeling of her lips on mine, or the feeling of her tongue quickly gaining dominance. I then gently tugged on her hair, causing her to gasp and moan, which gave me back control of the kiss. Once I decided the kiss was over, I slowly backed away, panting slightly from the feeling of it all, but her appearance afterwards was beautiful. She was panting as well, and her eyes were dilated as she looked into mine. I smirked at her and gave a slight chuckle. "Judging by your reaction, you recognize power as well."

"Oh, just you wait until after the baby is born and after I'm healed. I'll get you back."

"Oh promises promises." I teased as I gave her a quick chaste kiss.

"We shall see." She giggled and kissed me back.