A/N: Hey guys! So I've been going through some personal stuff (college, dad got into an accident, Church) so I've been pushing this off. God told me how that s wrong so I'll be working on updating sooner. This chapter is from North's POV so please tell me how I did. And I'm sorry if his accent is wrong. But if there's a problem please REVIEW. Speaking of thanks is being noted to: AyameKitsune (Thanks for always being the first to review!), Guest 1 (The ice-cream was my beta-reader's idea!), toothiana123 (I hope this one is good too!), dizappearingirl (I'm a sucker for it to obviously), Annanarra (No more running), Andipandi5 (Thank You!), Guest 2 (I pray that the story touches people, and thanks). So thanks to all of you reviewers and followers and favoriters! So now, please read and review but most importantly, Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians or the characters but I own the Art of Book.

North

"Well, it seems that sweet victory buffet is at end." I looked at the others as they all stared in shock at the doorway Jack went through. I cleared my throat gaining most of their attention. Bunny still stared at the door. "Bunny, you must not go after him.

"And why not?" Bunny growled. "The idiot is going to hurt himself more and-"

"And he is teenage boy. He needs space." I put in quietly. Bunny glared back at me.

"Mate, that's the last thing he needs." I could see that Bunny's anger was just him worrying over Jack but his anger would only put Jack on the defense.

"Then I vill go to him." Bunny visibly relaxed. "But no one else goes." I ordered. He began to protest and I heard Tooth start to join him. "He stays at my workshop. So for now he is my responsibility." I say trying to appease them.

"I, am not, anyone's responsibility." I held in my jump of surprise at Jack's harsh voice. I turned around to see Jack glaring at us. It was lessened by his pale face and labored breathing. He was leaning heavily on his staff but I could see how he was as tense as a warrior ready for battle. "I can take care of myself." He tried to position himself to look more self sufficient but he couldn't.

"I know." I stated calmly.

"Idiot! Why did you come-"

"BUNNYMUND!" Time stood still as I barked Bunny's name. I usually don't intervene in arguments but I was in no mood to see those two argue again. "Jack is my guest and I must make sure he is comfortable." I stared at Jack daring him to argue with me. He looked at the ground in reluctant defeat. It seemed that a pout had accompanied his sour mood. I turn back to the other Guardians. "I thank you for joining me and Jack for victory buffet but other matters have risen and back to grind ve must go." I gave them the same farewell I gave them last time we had this buffet over four hundred years ago. Now that I think about it we hadn't done something like this since that buffet. "Please take any dessert you vish. Ve must do this again sometime soon." My voice carried true sincerity, unlike last time. They all nodded in understanding and began to leave slowly. Tooth was the only one to give me and Jack a tentative hug. When they left I sighed deeply. While it is true that we are all busy, the fact that we have done so little together is a bit saddening.

"Oooooookaaaaaaay," Jack's curious voice brought me out of my thoughts. "What was all that about?" He questioned. He was still breathing hard and still looked in pain but his eyes were full of pure curiosity. I sighed once more.

"Last buffet was over four hundred years ago." I said wistfully.

"Oh." Jack's demeanor seemed to dampen in spirit. "Sorry I ruined it." Jack mumbled in shame. It made my heart ache to see such a fun spirit disheartened so quickly.

"Buffet might have ended early but what bothers me is not that." I reassured him. "Ve have not done something together in the like since last buffet. Ve've not really acted together except fight. Greetings there and here, but no time united." I can only remember the last few times we fought or acted as a unit was when Tooth joined and to fight Pitch in the Dark Ages. But we never did something as helpful as we did the we collected teeth. "The first time ve helped each other was this battle. I never been to Bunny's home before this." I say in thought. Jack voice brought me out of my thoughts.

"You forget North, you guys all have deadlines, and protect children. You said it yourself. You guys are so busying protecting children, you don't have time for children. How would you guys get time for each other?" Jack gave a breathy chuckle but I didn't find anything funny. I saw the wonder only in my work, Telling myself it was so important. Which it is, but how did I let it blind me from everything else. Jack's groan of pain alerted me of my priority at hand.

"Aye, Prikhodite mal'chika. (Come my boy)" I say fondly. I didn't realize I had spoken Russian until Jack made a grunt in confusion. I tended to do that when I was surprised or caught off guard. I coughed, hiding my mistake. "I, ordered Yetis to get medical supplies." Jack lifted a sweaty eyebrow in disbelief. Thankfully one of the Yetis caught on to my mistake and went to prepare the medical room. "Come Jack. Ve must fix up injuries." Jack tried to move forward but when he took his first step he began to sway and started to topple towards the ground. I catch him as he groaned in pain. "It vould help if I carry you Jack."

"No!" Jack yelled quickly. "I-I just need a crutch." At first I thought it was pride that caused him to refuse help, but then I saw the tremor of fear as he clenched his hand tighter around his staff. So I said nothing as Jack used his staff to push himself up. I just nodded and walked slowly beside him. As we walked he kept glaring at his feet, breathing to the rhythm of of his steps. A light petal pink tint graced his cheeks. Whether it was from embarrassment or something else I couldn't tell. We walked slowly towards the medical room. The long, straining, silent walk reminded me of the long trails that my brothers in arms and I would take. Me in the forefront, the weaker injured ones in the back, relying on my protection. It was nice.

"Ah, here ve are." I lead Jack in the med room. I turned around to see that he stood in the doorway, observing the room. Hesitation and surprise written on his face. "Jack," I called to him and his wide blue eyes went to me. "Is something wrong?"

"Uh," he paused, looking around the room again. "It's, weird." I could tell that he was uncomfortable. He kept griping the teddy bear in his pocket. "I know I stayed in the room for the past few days, but knowing that it's just a medical room." Jack trailed off, his eyes distant. I knew then what the problem was. He wanted a more permanent lodging. Him being in the medical room enforced that his stay was only temporary. I reached out to say something but all of sudden he gripped his waist tighter. "Nevermind. Let's get this examination over with. I think I'm done for the day." He said with a weary smirk.

"Alright, we get going now." I nodded "You sit on bed and I vill get supplies." I ordered before turning my back to get the supplies. It had been a while since I last did this and honestly, I hate to even think it, but Bunny is better than I at healing. Physically at least. When the stupid Rabbit deals with emotions he's too abrasive and aggressive. "And take off hoodie. I need to check ribs." I heard Jack groan in protest, yet he didn't say anything so I took that as a plus. When I turned back to him I froze. It was hard to imagine that the broken boy in front of me was the carefree boy I fought with. His head was turned to the side, eyes focused on the door, avoiding me and his body. His torso was still a light purple and blue, yet it shimmered in the light. Thank for God and the Man in the Moon for Jack's supernatural healing. "You have been healing by yourself?" I approached him gently, lightly going over the bruises with my fingers. He hissed in pain but nodded lightly.

"Yeah. Faster." Jack gasped. I ignored the scars on his body, with extreme difficulty, as I examined his bruises. I could tell that some weren't from the fall in battle. In fact it seemed that he had some for a while.

"How long have you had bruises?" I asked as I grabbed some of Bunny's herbal cream. He left some with me with orders to give Jack some everyday. Even now I want to roll my eyes at Bunny's incessant worry. Jack didn't answer for a while. His breathing was harder every time I went over a bruise.

"Don't know." Jack gasped. I moved away from his ribs and he sighed in relief. "For like a week or two maybe." He made to grab his sweatshirt. I grabbed his hand quickly.

"No, no, no." I chided. I was going to laugh but there was a quick look of panic in Jack's eyes. He gulped as he stared at the hoodie specifically its pocket. The bear and a jewelry box were poking out of the pocket. "You can not put hoodie back on now. " I ordered he nodded drawing his hand back but his eyes kept going back to the hoodie. "The Yetis told me about the toys, Jack." I already knew about his little escape but he looked happy. So what if a few things were messed with. It was worth it to see him smile.

"I should've known that they would've told you. " Jack mumbled. "Look I was going to give them back. I just got a little stir crazy and, ow!" He had moved his arms to help explain himself. I didn't realize how expressive Jack was.

"Jack, all is rain right." I said to soothe him. For some reason he looked puzzled. Then he gave a breathy chuckle.

"Right as rain North." I shrugged indifferently.

"No matter." I dismissed quickly. My language was not the problem. "Back to toys." I ignored Jack's groan. "Why did you pick those two to keep?" I nodded towards the toys. Jack's eyes widen in surprise then he looked at the toys. He seemed to get further away from the present but the smile on his face was wistful. "Jack?" He moved to rub his head but winced in pain. He shook his head instead.

"The bear reminds me of my human sister. I can't remember her name but I remember seeing her bright smile as she played with her bear. She called it Patchy because of all his patchwork." Jack moved his hand and began petting the bear. "How is it I can remember the name of her stuffed bear, yet I don't remember hers?" Jack's icy blue eyes were misty and his whole body sagged with a sadness that came through years of pain. I grabbed the jewelry box and put it in his line of sight.

"Vhat about this one?" When I asked him about the box he was still looking at the bear, his eyes getting darker and more distant. It scared me. The look in his eyes reminded me of the young warriors that were traumatized by war. The ones that lost the ability to have hope or wonder. "Jack?" No response. "Jack!" I yelled loudly. He jumped and immediately gasped in pain.

"Really, North!" He wheezed. I was shocked at how much he was still able to move even though he seemed to be in extreme pain. He began to rock back and forth in small slow motions. "You, practically, gave, me, a, heartattack." His voice was still breathy but he held a small smirk on his face.

"Sorry. I vanted to know about jewel box." I said handing it to him. His rocking stopped as he slowly leaned forward to take it.

"It reminded me of something. Nothing really interesting." He said vaguely.

"Nothing really interesting!" I yelled in disbelief. Jack jumped again but not as badly. "Jack, I know about girl." I said softly, gazing at Jack's face. He averted my gaze by looking at the box. "Her name vas Susan Fickley. She vas bold girl. The year her mama died she vrote in her letter that she only vished that I could heal her mama so they could play together. Yet as her mama became sicker she became more naughty. Susan ended up on naughty list and I did not give present." My heart ached at the regret of not being able to give Susan and children like her presents. Yet I knew that before I just accepted the list as it was. The reason behind its choice didn't matter to me, until I saw Susan. "I got a letter from Susan apologizing for her behavior and many thanks for gift. I vas very confused. I vent to her house and saw gift. She vore a crystal snowflake that showed her and her mama building snowman." Jack's cheeks became a light pink. I put a hand on his shoulder gently. I tried to ignore the very small flinch he made."Ever since then I have tried to leave naughty kids small presents such as candy. Years later her daughter asked for one vhen she lost papa in var. I tried to replicate work, but I never could. My vork is pretty, yet there vas such a fragile beauty to the necklace. Vhen more necklaces came round I vas curious. That's how I came across you." Jack looked back up at me. "At first I vas jealous that such a young spirit could create something that was better than my gifts." I chuckled. My pride was a bit damaged but I wouldn't really admit that. "But instead of taking credit for yourself you gave it to me. That is how I knew you could be a Guardian." Jack looked away from me and eased away from my touch.

"And I did such a wonderful job of that." Jack mumbled sarcastically. I stared at Jack as we entered an awkward silence. I tried to say something but I knew he was referring to Easter when we all believed the worse in him. I honestly didn't know what to say. Finally something came to me.

"Jack," I called softly. "Ve vere wrong." Saying the 'w' in wrong was difficult with my accent, but it put enough emphasis on the word. For now Jack was staring back at me in confusion. "Vhen you needed people to see the best in you ve didn't." He was about to protest but I needed him to hear what I had to say. "You could have Susan believe in you. You could have made her see you. Yet you made her believe in me. You saw her needs before your own. My hopelessness and despair made me forget that." I got into his face, my eyes boring into his. "I promise that even vhen you forget you, I von't. I von't forget the selfless Guardian who sees vhat kids need. Never again." I felt tears come to my eyes as I saw tears come to Jack's eyes. He breathed deeply holding in something but then he genuinely gave me a small smile.

"Thanks North. It's nice to know that I have a backup memory somewhere safe." I chuckled at his cheeky response.

"Of course! My vorkshop is the safest place in vorld." Just as I finished that a loud crash echoed. "Ahhhh, Eti glupyye el'fy. (Stupid Elves)" I mummered harshly. Jack laughed and gasped in pain.

"Great safety. Oww! God, why does it always hurt to laugh?" He laughed breathlessly.

"Jack?" He seemed to be getting his breathing back to normal but he didn't speak. He just nodded and waved his hand to motion that he was alright. "You get rest Jack. I vant to give you right tour of vorkshop later." I patted his shoulder gently. My smile grew when he didn't flinch.

"Sounds good North." I tried to go help him relax into the bed but he shook his head. "I may be a young boy in your eyes North but I don't need help, old man." Jack said cheekily. I shook my head but I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped my mouth. I walked slowly to the door just in case he needed me. "North." I thought he needed help but when I turned he was already laying down looking to the side. "Um, thanks." I felt him tense, debating in his mind something I didn't know. So I stayed silent, letting him build the courage to say what he needed to say. "Can I keep the toys?" His voice was small and I could feel the hope and embarrassment in him. I knew he couldn't see it but I felt an enormous grin appear on my face and I contained my joyful chuckle.

"Of course, Jack." I heard him yawn a thanks. In this moment I felt his wonder of simply feeling something akin to the word home. He closed his eyes as I started closing the door. "Sleep vell my friend." I left it open a slit to watch as he fell into a deep and blissful slumber. As I closed the door I realized, he considered my workshop as safe. He hoped it could be his home. And I felt my own wonder and hope growing because I wanted him to be here. I wanted Jack to feel at home, safe, I wanted to be his father. Before, even with the Guardians, the want for a family was there but I could always push it to the side. Now, as I look at Jack's door, the want is stronger than ever. "Bozhe, pozhaluysta. (God Please)" I begged. "If Jack wants a father, I hope that one day he vill be able to say I am his father."