A/N :

Natalie : This will be three chapters in total. Don't get your hopes up too high, I don't want anyone to be dissappointed later. ^^"

Wolfrunner99-2 : Haha, yeah, Bunny doesn't seem to have as much patience with him as the rest of the guardians.

LBIGreyhound13 : Bunny's guilt trip has barely started. Dun dun duuun!

Q-A the Authoress : Nope, no escaping this time.

Xion5 : Writing angst is like a drug, just...can't...stop. XD

Breyannia : Read and find out. ;)

Stygian Sparrow : I know, poor guy. Too bad that locking him in a room to keep him from getting hurt again won't meet his approval. :P

SaiyanPrincess : Hope you will like the rest of the arc as well.

Huskygirl1998 : Actually this is one of my absolutely favourite fan-theories. I've read several really good stories about that and to be honest I can't think of anything that hasn't been done already. But I'll keep it in mind, maybe I'll get an idea.

Firenze Fox : No matter how much he hates it, but we all love Bunny for his fluffiness. How can you not like a giant rabbit? *runs away from flying boomerangs*

Anie6142 : That surely was a lot to read, hehe. And I'm sorry, but this arc is already written and will only have 3 chapters in total. But there can always be sequels later.

Anniewaterbabyc : I never thought my writing was any good, just doing it for the fun. But it makes me so happy that people enjoy it!

Also thanks to Hamato Miwa, sauara, Arkell26, Night-Fury1, AyameKitsune and Talking Lollipop for their comments!


At first glance the scene appeared to be cozy. All of the guardians were assembled in the living quarters of the workshop, Bunny and North rested in big red velvet armchairs while the remaining three were sitting on a matching big couch. Mugs of eggnog were held in their hands, except for Jack who was staring into a mug of chocolate cinammon milk, his favourite drink besides ice tea. Fire from the open chimney bathed the room in a pleasant warm light, the quiet crackling sounds of the flames relaxing to the ear. But the athmosphere was tense, no one spoke a word. They didn't know how to break the silence or if it was even appropriate to say something. And yet, they all wondered what was going on in their youngest comrade's head.

"Who saved me?"

Four pairs of eyes were immediately directed at the winter spirit when he spoke for the first time after he had fallen into the sea. He still didn't look up but continued to gaze at the sweet liquid in his mug.

"Sandy pulled you out of water and Bunny applied first aid." North explained in a nutshell.

A slightly embarrassed but grateful smile formed on the teen's features as he finally faced the mentioned two guardians.

"Thank you...I'm sorry I keep causing trouble." he muttered uneasily.

"It was accident, Jack, nothing to be sorry for." the Russian stated in a determined tone.

The jingle of a bell caught the white-haired boy's attention and he glanced with mild curiosity at the elf who was approaching him and offering him a plate of peanut cookies. He smiled weakly and shook his head.

"No thanks. I'm not hungry."

Looks of serious worry, which spoke much louder than words, were exchanged between the other guardians. Jack Frost rejecting cookies, if that wasn't an obvious alarm signal that something was indeed very wrong with him then they didn't know what was.

"You can't swim, can you?" North asked out of the blue.

It was a blunt and also a little dumb question but he had to say something to avert the uncomfortable silence which threatened to engulf the room again.

"Apparently not...to be honest I had no clue if I could. I never felt the need to jump into the water and haven't been in it since-"

The breath got caught in his throat when he realized he had almost spilled the truth to them. He didn't know if he was ready for telling them about his death yet and if this was the right moment for it. He still felt traumatized, more than he wanted to admit. Even though he would have prefered to just shrug it off and move on, it was more difficult than he had expected.

"Since when?" Bunnymund, who had been quiet for a disturbing long time, inquired with furrowed brow.

But the frost teen's only reaction was another staring competition with the floor before he set the mug back on the table in front of him and grabbed his staff instead, holding it close to his chest for comfort. A tiny hand touched his shoulder, causing him to glimpse at the hummingbird fairy who gave him an understanding soft smile.

"Jack, I think it's time for you to tell them. You can trust us, you know that."

"Wait a second, ya wanna say ya know what this is all about?" Bunny's voice raised noticeable.

The Guardian of Memories glanced at the pooka and nodded gently.

"Yes, I do."

He was used to the immortal teen witholding information from them but the fact that he had revealed something undeniably serious to Tooth and not the rest of them left a rather negative connotation in his soul. After all this time he had thought, or rather hoped, that he trusted them.

"You don't have to say it, but it might help to get it off your chest." North suggested and dearly hoped he would agree.

Whatever was bugging him must have been a grave matter and they could only help him when they knew what exactly it was. Another small hand, this time from the Guardian of Dreams, was placed on Jack's arm to comfort and encourage him. There he was, sitting between the Sandman and the Tooth Fairy and being the center of everyone's attention. He sighed as he realized Tooth was right, the time had come to let them know what had happened 300 years ago. Knowing them they would keep asking until he spilled the beans anyway.

"Well, I...didn't become a spirit like you guys..." he reluctantly started, his voice a mere whisper.

"In my past life I had a sister. She was several years younger than me. I always tried to protect her...Then, one day in winter, we went ice-skating. But the ice wasn't thick enough and it started cracking under her. I managed to save her but while doing so I..." he stopped for a moment, struggling to find the proper words but eventually decided to be straight forward.

" I broke through the ice instead and...well, drowned."

The three male guardians stared at him with wide eyes. This couldn't be, if it was true then it could only mean that-

"I was dead. Probably for a few hours before Man in Moon resurrected me. That's why I couldn't remember anything, everything I know now are memories that were stowed away in my toothbox."

Jack had done his best to keep the explanation quick and easy, mainly because he wasn't eager to go into every tiny detail. It tended to make him overly emotional and starting to cry wouldn't do his dignity any good. This whole scenario made him feel uncomfortable enough already. Hoping they wouldn't expect him to dwell on it he remained in silence and waited for them to make the next move or show any kind of reaction other than gazing at him with those shocked expressions.

Now they were finally able to completely understand what had happened to the teen only hours ago. Not only had he almost drowned, he had lived through his death for a second time. Had to experience again how it was to suffocate and not being able to do anything against it. No wonder he seemed traumatized.

Bunny wanted to say something, something comforting, but all phrases which appeared in his mind were deemed inappropriate. He opened his mouth only to stop himself before he could even utter a single word. Never did he have such severe guilt feelings. Why had he taken that blasted staff away from the kid, this all could have been prevented if he hadn't allowed his temper to get the better of him.

And how could he have ever thought that Jack Frost was selfish and didn't care about children? Granted, those accusations lay in the past but those new informations made him realize even more how wrong he had been. He didn't want to imagine how much the young spirit had suffered during those 300 years of lonesomeness but he was convinced that if destiny repeated itself and he had to sacrifice his own well-being for someone he loved, he would shoulder it all again without a shadow of doubt. Furry fists balled in anger at himself. If only he had known this all centuries ago, he could have helped and tutored him or simply offered a friendly ear now and then. But he couldn't change the past and even in the present he did fail. As if the frost child hadn't gone through enough already.

It was obvious why Jack avoided eye contact with any of them. The pooka hadn't missed it, that particular emotion revealing itself even though he did his best to hide it. Fear. He had been out of the water for hours but he was still scared. Without a doubt the double memory of drowning in cold darkness had left a scar on his fragile soul.

Sandy was aware of Man in Moon having powers beyond their imagination, so the fact that he was actually able to resurrect someone wasn't that much of a surprise. But that Jack had been that certain someone definitely was. All those years when he had seen him chasing his swirls of dreamsand he had assumed the teenager was happy, that he knew his meaning of life. Manny had told them all what they were supposed to do when he turned them into spirits.

For a moment the ancient guardian felt a decent amount of anger towards the entity. Why had he left Jack in the dark for so many years? Yes, he was happy now that he had finally found believers and they, the guardians, were pretty much his family but what about the preceding 300 years? He had saved his little sister and had to endure centuries of being on his own, without the least inkling of why he was chosen for this lonely fate. If Man in Moon's intention was to reward him for his selfless sacrifice then he surely messed up big time.

And yet, pushing those thoughts aside which were a result of himself growing quite attached to his youngest comrade, he had to take into consideration that MiM never did anything without a good reason. Even though those reasons sometimes were only accessible to himself, and everyone else had to trust whatever decision he deemed right.

North had to resist the urge to march towards the white-haired boy and engulf him in a bear hug, but knowing Jack and taking his current mood into consideration he would probably be rather startled instead of pacified. And yet, the Cossack had to show some compassion, he couldn't just sit there and leave the matter be. The mug of eggnog was put aside before he slowly stood up from his armchair. Cerulean orbs unsurely glanced in his direction when he gradually came closer and kneeled down in front of the younger guardian so he was at eye level with him. Carefully he put his his large hands on lean shoulders and stayed like that until the winter spirit finally met his gaze.

No words needed to be spoken, no further questions to be asked. There wasn't anything that could have been said to heal past traumas. The past was irreversible and everyone knew it.

Which didn't change the Russian's wish of doing exactly that. Simply going back in time and being there for the boy when no one else had been. Taking him under his wing and giving him a home and the company he so desperately longed for. It wasn't the first time he had such thoughts, but Jack telling them why this all had happened in the first place, namely him dying to save his sister, put a fairly new complexion on it. Well, not really new, they all were aware of the young immortal's immense level of loyalty and devotion, but it touched North's heart to have proof now that he would indeed give his life for someone else. At the same time it made his stomach convulse to imagine what this sacrifice had led to. He had a faint idea of how much fear and pain the teen had gone through and how hard it was for him to deal with the aftermath. But they would be there for him now. They would listen. They would help.

His patience eventually panned out when the winter spirit accepted the silent invitation and cold slender arms were wrapped around the older guardian's neck. With an understanding smile Father Christmas returned the embrace and gently stroke the boy's back while he pressed his face into the large beard.

"Is alright, Jack. Is alright."

Tooth and Sandy, who were still sitting on either side of the teen, leaned closer and laid their arms around him as well. Nothing had to be said. What could have been said anyway? That they were sorry? That they were shocked? That they felt pity for what had happened to their youngest comrade? That no one deserved to remember their own death and then have fate repeating it all over? Jack could read all those thoughts and emotions in their faces, he had known them long enough to realize what was going on in their heads when hearing stories like this. Relief embraced him just like the arms of his friends when they refrained from showering him in pity and gave him what he really needed. The love of a family.

Only moments ago he had been ashamed of being so weak, of giving in to fear, of being so damn scared and of causing his friends so much worry again. But now all he felt was comfort, safety and understanding. They wouldn't let him deal with his fears on his own. Not anymore. They would protect him and he would protect them. And if it was inevitable, he would die for them, just like he died for his sister. No one would harm his family as long as he was around.

Mentally he chuckled to himself. He had never expected this to go so smoothly. The main reason he had refused to tell them about his death was because he feared it would lead to unnecessesary drama. But now the drama of him almost drowning had led to revealing the truth and he had to admit it took a load off his mind. If he would feel the same later, he had no idea. Would the events of the past day haunt him for longer than he dared to imagine? Maybe, maybe not. All that mattered right now was the affection he was graced with and the warmth he never thought he would be able to feel.


A/N : Still waiting for Bunny's reaction, aren't you? Last chapter of this arc coming soon. ^^