Thank you to Hidden-Feeling for following and favouriting, and thank you to Puella Puchra for the reviews and for allowing me to do to this mini story.
A few days later Jackie was back on the Bennett's door stop, looking like she hadn't slept well, and she hadn't. She'd stayed up late to try and get the reports finished on time and had to deal with the usual nightmares, but that wasn't an issue. She could run on a few hours sleep at this point.
What she wasn't expecting was for Jack to land next to her. He looked a lot better than when she last saw him and was dressed exactly the same. Actually... He was wearing similar pants that weren't quite so battered, and that was about it for changes.
"What are you doing here?" they asked each other at the same time.
"I got invited for lunch." once again, at the same time.
"Anyone would think you two are doing this on purpose." Taboo groaned.
The two ice movers chuckled at that, then Jack looked a little remorseful.
He shook his head, "If Jackie says anything today, it'll be a miracle."
"Quiet kid?"
"Yeah. Quiet, likes reading." Jack paused, seemingly not able to have anything else to say.
"Sounds like we'll hit it off then."
"Huh?"
Jackie managed to smile instead of smirk. "You just described me when I was ten."
"Are we going to stand on this doorstep all afternoon?" Taboo grumbled from Jackie's hood.
"I'd better ring. You're the dad, I'm just the guest." Jackie half smiled at Jack before ringing the bell.
There was a quicker response than last time, and Sophie actually smiled, at both of them, not just at Jack.
"Hi you two, come in, soup's almost ready so if you want to sit at the table."
Jackie followed the other two in, with Jack outright sniffing the air, and Taboo mimicking. The ice tiger was actually poking her muzzle out of Jackie's hood, and Jackie carefully pushed her back into hiding with her finger. No need to freak out the kid just yet.
"Smells good." Jack commented.
"It's just tomato."
"Can't go wrong with a good tomato." Jackie added. She was quite partial to gazpacho, for obvious reasons, but highly doubted that what was on the menu given the steam coming off the pot. She tugged at her hoodie collar, already feeling uncomfortably hot.
The front door led right into the kitchen, the in the centre of which was a square table, big enough for four, or six if you squashed someone on either end, maybe eight if everyone was very friendly. The fridge was against the back wall, to the right of the fridge was a door, with a stove along the other wall. On that stove was a large pot of soup and not far on Jackie's left was the kitchen sink.
It was a cosy kitchen and very homely, reminding Jackie of her parents kitchen, only, a little smaller.
"Take a seat." Said Sophie, before leaning out the door by the fridge and calling up the stairs. "Jackie, lunch is almost ready, and your dad and a guest is here!"
There was a thundering sound from upstairs, which sounded like more than one pair of feet. Jackie moved around to the door, hopefully so she could see who was coming downstairs without being seen herself.
A young girl, no older than ten, with ivory white hair, pale skin and bright blue eyes was running down the stairs, although slightly in front was another girl the same age whose hair colour was the exact opposite. Her face was also a lot lighter than the white haired girl's, you got the impression she laughed a lot more. Both girls where in jeans and t shirts, although the white haired girl was barefoot, while the black haired one was in boots still.
"Can Sarah stay as well?" the white haired girl asked Sophie. Had to be Jackie, the older Jackie had recognised those features immediately. She looked so much like her father.
"I figured you'd ask. I've got an extra place set up."
Jackie looked over and did indeed see five places set up at the table.
"All mothers are psychic." Taboo chuckled, and the younger Jackie shook her head suddenly, like she had ringing in her ears.
"Are you alright Jackie?" her friend asked, Sarah. Jackie guessed, she had heard about her from some reports a few years ago.
"I..." Jackie looked right at the older Jackie, who looked equally concerned. "I'm fine."
Jackie was tempted to snort. She'd heard that excuse many times before, usually from her own mouth.
Sophie looked through from the kitchen to see how older Jackie was standing. "What are you doing?"
"Standing here."
"You can sit down you know." Sophie chuckled, shaking her head. Jackie Davies had always been a weird one.
Jackie went back into the kitchen, and was followed by her younger namesake and Sarah.
"Who are you?" Sarah asked, and Jackie turned around to answer.
"Jackie Davies. I'm an old friend of your parents." she nodded to Jackie to indicate that it was hers and not Sarah's parents that she meant.
"Both of my parents?" younger Jackie asked quietly.
"Yes." Jackie nodded. "I knew your dad when your mom was still a toddler."
"That's weird to think about Jackie." Jack groaned, to which older Jackie laughed.
"Lighten up old man."
"Old man!" he looked playfully affronted. "Says the biologically oldest person in the room."
"Said the chronologically oldest person in this room." Jackie shot back, grinning. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Jackie giving her an odd look. Obviously she had worked out that there was more to this guest than met the eye.
"If you're old friends, why haven't we seen you before?" asked Sarah.
Smart girl.
"Sophie and I had a falling out for a while. We recently decided to patch things up." she explained everything and nothing at the same time.
"Sit down, soup's coming through." Sophie had picked up the pot of soup from the stove and was carrying it over.
The two youngest shot towards their seats while Jack and Jackie made their way more slowly round, letting everyone else sit down in their usual places. Sophie sat with back to the fridge, while the younger Jackie sat opposite. With so many people Jack sat next to Sophie and Sarah next to Jackie, leaving the older Jackie to sit at the last place that was set, which Sophie had thoughtfully put on the end furthest from the stove.
Even then she felt too hot to be comfortable, so just took off her hoodie altogether, revealing a pair of fairly muscled arms, not bodybuilder like, more lithe that that. You probably still wouldn't to challenge her to an arm wrestle though.
Sophie started ladling out the soup into the bowls while Sarah and young Jackie talked amongst themselves.
Having Sarah here did put a spanner in the works, but Jackie could work around it. Sarah was quite interesting as well, so maybe she knew more than she let on.
Older Jackie watched the younger, seeing how she used her power to cool the soup. It did seem to take some concentration, with both hands a few centimetres from the sides of the bowl, but she managed to cool the whole bowl.
It was impressive from someone so young, especially since Jackie's method involved frosting over each spoonful individually.
Jackie realised that she was staring and looked down at her soup, so not to freak out the kid.
"Why were you staring?"
Jackie looked up as the younger Jackie asked the question. Astute and a little suspicious. She noted. In response she shrugged and smiled. "Nice technique."
Younger Jackie and Sarah froze.
"You, know?" Jackie asked quietly.
"Yes. I know Jack, and I have seen you around in Burgess. Once I'd worked out that your dad was Jack your appearance changed to match your powers. Such an unconscious illusion is classic of a half immortal."
The entire table went silent.
"...I just put my foot in it, didn't?" Jackie tried to act nonchalantly as she took another spoonful of soup. She very deliberately frosted over the soup, making it clear what she was doing before swallowing.
Young Jackie was more curious now.
"Who are you?"
" A relative." Jackie suddenly stopped when she realised how bad that sounded. "Not a half sister I'd like to point out." she recovered.
"Then what?"
I really hadn't hoped to get to this point so soon.
"Somewhat simplified, your cousin. I'm entirely sure of the exact relation-"
"You're waffling." Jack said, and Jackie shot him a side eye look.
"I'm Descended from Jack's old family and Jack taught me, many years ago." that was the simplest explanation Jackie could give, and looking at the younger's face she didn't quite buy it, even if it wasn't a lie.
Change the subject, change the subject.
"Anyway, you two are in school right? How's it going?"
"Fine." was younger Jackie's response, clamming up. Meanwhile Sarah regarded older Jackie suspiciously, but said nothing.
Jack and Sophie tried to get the conversation started up again, but older Jackie stayed out of it, feeling like it was best to keep quiet for now. She'd probably just freak her out even more than she already had.
She did try some small talk, asking about what books the younger two liked. The conversation then turned to Frozen, and then a serenade of 'Let it Go' from Sarah began.
Grin and grin bear. Grin and bear it. There was nothing wrong with Sarah's singing, it's just Jackie hated that song.
Once the soup was done Sophie took the younger Jackie to one side, quickly talking to her before sending her to the living room, quickly sending the other Jackie after her. She quickly grabbed and pulled on her hoodie before going through the small hallway to the living room.
"Hi." Jackie stood in the doorway, then walked over to one of the couches, sitting opposite to younger Jackie. Oddly enough it was the exact same setup as when Jackie was here to talk to Sophie. "I wasn't too overwhelming there, was I?"
Jackie shook her head, but the older one wasn't quite so convinced.
"Okay, so, your mom's told you about me, and you probably guessed that there's more to it, and I'm going to explain."
Jackie gave a rundown of Descendants and HOG, with the younger Jackie listening intently.
"So, a Descendant, that's what you are." she asked once older Jackie had stopped talking.
"Yes."
Younger Jackie shifted slightly in her seat. "Momma said you wanted to help with my powers. Why?"
"There's several reasons. I know what it's like to go through life being self taught, which is doable, but you are far more powerful than I am. More power is harder to control and there are proper techniques for that, which is what I'd teach you."
"You said there were several reasons." she prompted.
"You're a half immortal, Pitch won't be the last immortal that causes trouble, and he might not be the worst. I want you to be ready for that."
"Why?"
Such a simple question, and it would have the exact same question Jackie would have asked at the age. It carried so much weight. Why would you do that for someone you don't know? Why would you care? Why are you so interested in my well being?
"Initially, because Jack asked me. I said I'd think about it, and I did, and I came to the conclusion that we are in fact blood relatives. I protect my family. As a half immortal you will walk a different path to me, I will not always be around to protect you and you probably wouldn't want me to be, I just want my family to be safe."
Jackie then shrugged. "I doubt you share that, but it's just how I see it."
Younger Jackie nodded slowly, taking it all in. Whether she would accept it was another question, it would probably take time.
"What about this HOG? Could I join that?"
"You could, the only people who would try stop you would probably be your parents, but it's not a decision to make lightly. And I'm afraid to say that you would stand out there as well."
"I could show my powers." she reasoned, it was always one of HOG's big draws.
"Yes, you could, but it was also mean that you would have to follow our rules, which you might not like."
Younger Jackie nodded again, then glanced towards the door.
"Sarah's listening."
Jackie stifled a curse. "Interesting girl your friend." she said instead. "I hear she can talk to animals."
"Do you think she's a Descendant?"
"Unlikely. Animal languages tends to be a taught skill, and she doesn't fit the physical description for some of them." older Jackie quickly explained. The funny thing was that Sarah's brother had been thought to be a Descendant of North, and as the nearest Head she had to organise observation to check. Basically she got someone to spy on him. He hadn't come up as one, but both siblings abilities had been noted and filed, just in case.
"We might want to wrap this up soon. That paperwork needs to be in in an hour and I can already hear my ears ringing from Jason." Taboo prompted.
"What is that?" younger Jackie shook her head again. "Was someone talking?"
Mentally, Jackie and Taboo looked at each other.
"What did it say?" older Jackie asked, curious.
"Something about paperwork? It didn't sound right."
Jackie nodded. "I know who that is. Would you like to meet her?"
Jackie looked unsure, but nodded, curious.
Older Jackie reached up to her hood and Taboo hopped onto her palm. She brought her hand down and out for the half immortal to look at.
"This, is Taboo."
Taboo leapt out of her hand and grew to full size, shaking herself off. The ice tiger had a completely solid ice body, with stripes of slightly darker ice. The details had been added and changed over the years, properly retractable claws, fangs that fit properly in her mouth, even a tongue, not that she needed it. If you were good with ice, like both Jackies, you could see the wear and tear where she had been repaired over the years.
"Finally! I was getting really bored in there." Taboo blinked her glowing pale blue eyes in the second or so it took her to adjust to the change in size.
"It talks!" young Jackie had pulled her feet onto the couch, but was looking at Taboo curiously. "How is it still whole? Mine don't last that long."
"Less of the 'it' if you don't mind."
"Sorry."
"I'm not completely sure." admitted older Jackie. "I made her in a stressful situation and I'd already gotten good at making tigers, I can only assume I poured too much magic into her, and she become solid and sentient. It was a bizarre end to that story."
"Especially when I nearly knocked Jack Frost out of the sky!"
"Especially when you did that." Jackie sighed, but was amused by the memory.
Jackie was leaning forward in her seat, curious, but wary.
"You can touch her if you want." the older ice mover prompted.
Taboo obliged by going over and slumping down in front of the couch, having to push the coffee table away a bit and being careful not to scratch the wooden floor. Jackie reached down and traced a finger across her back. Taboo made a soft rumbling noise and Jackie jerked her hand back.
"Stop teasing her." Jackie admonished Taboo.
Taboo twitched her tail, but remained silent as Jackie tried again, although she did attempt a purr.
"If you really want her to purr, the best way to do it is to scratch her behind the ears." offered older Jackie, and the younger obliged.
Taboo rumbled and purred, leaning her head into the scratch.
"Ooooh, that's good."
"And just like that she's turned from predator to kitty cat."
"Screw you."
"It's true and you can't deny it."
"I wanna go!" the two Jackie's heard from the door.
"Come on in then." older Jackie sighed. "Since you heard everything. There's another ear."
"No no no, wait!" Sarah came charging in and after moving the coffee table out of the way, starting scratching Taboo's other ear energetically, not seeming too bothered by the cold.
"I hate you." Taboo complained while she purred like an engine.
"Sure you do." Jackie smirked.
She let it continue for a few minutes, before standing up. "Okay, I have to go, but I guess I could leave Taboo in your care for a few hours?"
"No, no. Jackie!" Taboo tried to get up, but the scratching was too much for her. She fell back to the floor, her tail swishing back and forth lazily as the two continued their attack.
Jackie got up, but before she left the room, she turned to the two kids.
"Oh, and everything you heard in this room, even me being here. You tell no one, got it?"
The two of them nodded, before going back to the helpless Taboo, who was alternating between irritable rumbling and purring. Although the difference wasn't that obvious if you didn't know Taboo, or tigers for that matter.
Grinning Jackie walked out of the lounge and found Sophie and Jack talking in the kitchen. Sophie was trying to wash up, but Jack was making life difficult by trying to freeze the water. Although Sophie seemed pretty adept at keeping him at bay.
"I need to go." Jackie announced. "But I will be back for Taboo in a bit. They seem to be having fun in there."
"Did Jackie agree?" Sophie asked.
"She never actually gave me an answer, I'll ask again when I get back."
"You brought Taboo to win her over didn't you?" Jack smirked, pausing in his attack.
"Jack Frost! You make me sound Machiavellian!" Jackie cried. "That wasn't my intention, for all I knew Taboo could have terrified her."
Jack gave her an unconvinced look.
"...It was an on the fly plan, and it seems to have worked." Jackie smirked. "I'll be back in a few hours."
"When did you get so cocky?" Jack asked.
"Whenever a plan works." she said with an almost identical smirk to Jack's usual, standing right by the door. "See you later!"
Final note, I didn't include everything that happened with the Jessup sibling files in this because it interrupted the flow and was too clunky. What ended up happening was that the information on Jonathon was stored for future reference, just in case later down the generations actual Descendants start popping up. Also, while Descendant families are watched throughout the generations to get Descendants in as soon as possible, they will miss some people, it just happens. Family members disappear off the map for various reasons, so if someone does show signs of being a Descendant they will still watch them to check.
Also, Sarah's information was sent off to the Descendants of Ombric, as her abilities (languages, human and animal) match more closely to them. The Descendants of Ombric then proceeded to do nothing with this information. Why is kind of spoilery, so read 'My Little Winter Sprite' Book 2!
That's all I've got, Happy New Year and I'll see you next time!