A/N : I'm so glad you all like Death! Thank you for the reviews, they make my day! ^_^
"Oh my dear boy, I wish I had dared to contact you earlier."
"What?" Jack uttered curiously. "Why me?"
They had reached the end of the field and the edge of a wood. Death sat down on a fallen tree trunk and patted the empty space next to her. The white-haired spirit joined her side and waited for her to respond.
"Long ago, in the ancient times, before I became what I am now, I was a normal woman. A mother. For years I had tried to become pregnant, but it seemed as if I was not meant to have any children of my own. Then, when I had almost given up hope, I was blessed with a baby, the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. He had chocolate brown hair and sky blue eyes. He was open-minded, considerate, gentle and silly in a good way. But diseases do not care about how pure someone's soul is…"
She gazed into the void for a while, trying to keep her composure before she continued.
"You remind me of him…a lot. Back then when I saw you in that icy lake, I was shocked because you had such a strong resemblance to my son. To be honest, I was grateful to the Man in the Moon for bringing you back, even if my reasons for that were of superficial nature. But my interest had been awakened, so I needed to find out if there were more common features than just the looks. Before you worry, no, I did not follow you around. I have a full time occupation after all." she reassured him quickly, still fearing she might terrify the poor boy.
"However, in the last 300 years I had several opportunities to see what kind of person you truly are."
Jack gulped audibly, instantly remembering all the mess, the chaos and the pranks he had committed over the centuries.
"I have never met a purer soul than yours."
The Guardian of Fun stared at her with honest surprise shining through his eyes, not having expected that in the least.
"Of course you and my son are different people. But you share the same spirit. The love, honesty and compassion many people lack nowadays. I am beyond fortunate to finally have the pleasure of talking to you about this."
Jack was at a loss for words. Someone he hadn't even known existed turned out to be the only one, except the Man in the Moon, who had always believed in him. Had been convinced he was a good guy even though he had doubted that himself so many times. Had been longing to talk to him ever since he became the Spirit of Winter and only not done it because negative experiences with others held her back. How different would his life have been if they had met sooner? He wouldn't have been lonely for a perceived eternity. Maybe, no, for sure life would have been easier with a friend around. It had all been just a conversation away.
However, he couldn't be mad at Death. She had been worried about scaring him off once and for all. That he would react like everyone else. He knew what it felt like to be blamed for a destiny you didn't get to choose in the first place. When everything you did was criticized and seen from the most negative point of view.
And yet, he wished she would have dared to approach him sooner.
"Why now?" Jack asked quietly and less enthusiastic than he had been during the rest of the talk.
Death perceived the subtle sadness in his voice and pondered for a moment whether she should lay an apologetic hand on his shoulder or not. With a shallow sigh she decided against it and sent her raven away, which had still been accompanying the odd pair. Jack started after the black bird until it disappeared in the darkness of the night.
"My ravens and I are telepathically connected to each other. If one of them sees or hears something they can send that information to me right away. After you had joined the guardians I realized you were truly open-minded concerning the work of other spirits. I saw you helping Nicholas with the gifts and Aster with the eggs, even though you and him had not gotten along fine with each other in the past. For the last few years my urge to talk to you had increased and when my ravens alerted me of you being by that poor dying child's side, I decided to finally take the chance. It has been taking me long enough." the ancient woman finished her explanation with a hazy smirk.
"Indeed." Jack replied with the same expression on his face.
Both stayed silent for a moment before the younger spirit winked at her all of a sudden.
"Better late than never."
His returned lightheartedness caused Death to smile and nod slightly.
"Yes, that is true."
"But please don't take another 300 years to say hi when you see me around. Promise?" the frost teen laughed and briefly wondered when he had left the awkwardness behind and dared to speak to her so casually.
"Promise." the black-clad woman chuckled and it seemed like the guardian's own cheerfulness spread to her.
"I will hopefully see you soon then, Jack Frost." she smiled gently.
Most likely the winter spirit was the only person who was honestly happy to be told so by the Spirit of Death.
"Hope so, too. See you…uhm…." only then did he realize that he had no clue how to address her.
Hello, dear awkwardness, nice you're back.
"I'm sorry, but…what's your name?"
Death smiled.
"Oh, I am sorry for not introducing myself. My name is Morticia."
"Cool name." Jack remarked before he stood up and bowed to her, all the while with that typical grin plastered on his face.
"Well, then see you, Morticia!"
The Spirit of Death looked after the boy as he quickly vanished in the dark blue night sky. It was high time to resume her own duties again. With a relieved sigh she lifted herself up from the tree trunk she had been sitting on and dissolved into a black cloudy fog to wander wherever she was needed, no matter if people cherished her work or not. After all, someone had to get the job done.
A/N : I know Morticia probably makes everyone think about the "Addam's Family" but I goggled for names with the meaning of death and this one just seemed perfect.
