The first Guardian to show up was Sandy. He waved at Sky then stayed up in the air with Jack Frost. Next was the Tooth Fairy who joined the two but didn't acknowledge the humans far below. When North and Bunnymund showed up in the sleigh, the Guardians all joined together on the ground. Seeing the Guardians all together was intimidating.

"They're all here" Sky told Brandon. "They're just talking. Over there" she pointed towards them.

"Oh." the blonde let go of her hand and stood up. "I guess this is goodbye?"

Skyla stood with him, "No, not yet. It can't be. Just give them a few minutes, alright? Maybe- Maybe I can stay. Just a while longer."

"I hope so, Angel. But I don't think it will happen. I'm sorry."

"It's not goodbye forever, okay?" she smiled, "We'll keep in touch! And I'll visit you! As often as I can. It's not really goodbye..."

"I know it isn't." he wrapped his arms around her, "I would never say a final goodbye to you. Jack's going to take you somewhere safe and make you happy, right? That's what matters right now. I never thought I would be giving you away to a spirit... Or at all... And now this is the second time. I'm sorry, Angel. I'm sorry I couldn't be better. I'm sorry I failed you..."

Holding onto him, she let out a small laugh, "You didn't fail me. Neither of us failed. It's a weird way for things to turn out, I know. But we're still here for each other. Well, you're here. I'll come back if you need me. Or if you get lonely. I mean, Jack will come too, he doesn't trust me to be around you alone. Well, honestly, I'm not sure-"

"Before you start, I should tell you that I'm really nervous because as far as I can see it's only you and me. If those Guardians come over here I'll have no idea. If Jack sees me hugging you I won't have a chance to run away or anything-"

"Oh. Right, sorry." she pulled back just enough to look over at the group. "Well, Bunny's a bit pissed. Jack's ignoring us. The others are actually being serious..."

"Are they hurt at all? If there was a battle-"

"They look perfectly fine. Their usual selves. I don't know what happened, but it must not have been very physical. They do look tired though... Exhausted, really. I wonder if.. I mean, I don't think they really need sleep? But do you think they can? If they're really worn out?" she focused back on the blonde, "Or maybe just to pass the time?"

"You haven't asked Jack? Or noticed him nodding off?" Brandon sighed, "And now I have to bring up the fact that he's probably been watching you sleep. Don't you find that creepy? At all?"

"I used to" Skyla started thoughtfully, "but now I guess I like it. I mean, it's nice knowing that he's watching over me; protecting me. That I'm not alone."

"Is that what it is?" he asked, "You were never alone. You just- You have a problem reaching out to people. You don't like having to be rescued. That's what he's doing, you know. He's... your hero. Which is something that I wanted to be but as long as someone will take the job-"

"Do you really think I'm weak Brandon?" she asked him, stepping away. "I don't know if it's just another attempt at pushing me away but the insults are actually starting to hurt."

"I don't mean to insult you. Well, maybe a little. You're not... weak. But you're not that strong, either. Not right now. And, I would like to see you when you have that strength back. Make sure you come back to me when that happens" he smiled at her and closed the distance she'd put between them, kissing her forehead gently. "I love you, Skyla."

Before she could reply, Jack walked up and pulled her away. He held her arm but glared at Brandon, "What the hell!"

Sky flinched at how angry he sounded "Jack, he can't-"

"Tell him to leave! Now! Before he really pisses me off." the spirit warned.

Looking over at Brandon she told him sadly, "I'm sorry. He's gone all jealous boyfriend again. We'll talk soon, okay?"

"...I shouldn't have-" he hesitated and looked down, "Take care of her, Jack Frost. Don't you dare hurt her again." With that he turned quickly and walked away. Skyla shortly considered calling after him.

Jack's grip loosened and she turned to him and snapped, "You're kind of a jerk, you know that?"

Taking a step back he stared at her, confused, "What? I didn't do anything wrong. He was the one-"

"Don't blame this on him. Your tantrums are all you- And what do you mean you didn't do anything wrong?! I thought you trusted me, Jack? Some people think it's a sweet thing when someone gets jealous- that it means they care. But you know what? I'm sick of it! I just want you and me to be happy together! I want to have a life with you that I can always smile about!"

"What's it like now?" he asked quietly. His eyes didn't leave her but he hesitated as if he didn't know whether he should back up more or not. He was trying to hide his emotions from her, and she wasn't going to force it.

Skyla's resolve crumbled as the quiet moments passed by. Jack's blank expression worried her and his tense stance made her regret starting another fight. Looking down at her feet she fidgeted with a strand of hair, absently wondering where her ribbon was. "Right now... Right now, I'm just glad you're safe. I'm sorry I brought it up, you just-"

"I know. I pissed you off." he states calmly, "But please don't stop there. If there's a problem, we need to talk about it. We have time now. We can have a discussion and we can change things for the better. I want to try that. I want to try being a normal couple- even though I know I'm far from normal. I want to make you happy and give you everything you want; everything you deserve. I love you, Skyla. So tell me what we can start with. What we can fix first." He smiled the last words but otherwise didn't move.

"I love you too, Jack" Skyla sighed, "And what I want to fix first is this distance between us." she let a tear slip from her eye and smiled at him. She took a small step towards him before he rushed forward and captured her lips with his own. He holds her arms and squeezes lightly. After a few moments he pulls back but leans his forehead against hers. Keeping her eyes closed, Skyla comments, "That's a great start."

"Your emotions are all over the place. Should I be worried?"

"I'm just- there's a lot happening in my mind right now- Are we safe? Is the... Uh, creature? Is it gone? Are you free from it? Or, is that not-"

"Everything is... almost settled. It sucks that in the end I couldn't fight it but I'm relieved that there was an end. A good end. For us, anyway" he chuckled. Sky's eyes opened and stared at him, unsure of how to take that. Jack noticed of course and moved his hands to cup her face, "It's over. That's what matters, understand?"

She nodded, not entirely sure she did. But he was right. As long as that issue was solved, they could move on to the next one. "Almost, huh? What's left, I wonder?"

"The matter of my heart. I want to give it to you, Sky. Let you hold onto it. Protect it. Do whatever you want with it because that's what it's like already. My heart in your hands. Whether you treat it well or not- it's yours. Do you accept that?" Skyla laughed and he jumped back suddenly, shocked. "What's so funny?! This is serious!"

"I know! That's what's so funny! Jack, I don't know what you mean, but I definitely accept. It's... not like I'll have it like the creature did. I won't have control over you or have the ability to actually hurt you. Right?"

"You can if you want to. It's not a simple thing, Sky. If you want to hurt me you have to really mean it. I know you wouldn't do that. I do trust you, Sky. I trust you with everything. With my heart, my life. I dragged you into this world of mine, and you've had to go through so much in such a short time. You've stayed. And you still want to fight for me- with me! I don't know what good I could have done to deserve you, but it must have involved saving the entire Universe because-"

"I had a similar conversation with Brandon" Jack tensed up and she continued quickly, "I told him I hoped there wasn't a reason that we found each other. That it wasn't the Fates that made me fall for you, and you for me. I just want it to be that our love is simple, and true, and not at all part of someone else's plans for us."

"That's a great way to put it. I thought you weren't good with words?" he chuckled, "That first part could have been better though. Never start a speech like that."

"Sorry" She stepped forward and kissed him softly. Turning her head, she noticed the other Guardians staring at them. "Umm, how long have they been-"

"The entire time" Jack reported, not looking away from Skyla. "I don't think they can hear us very well. Which is good. Because if they knew what I plan to do they would try to stop us- and I really don't want them to."

"What are you going to do?" she frowned. He took her into his arms, holding her close. His voice was right next to her ear and his hands gripped her back desperately. Her own hands mirrored his as she noticed how serious and determined he was. She still had no idea what he was up to.

"I already told you, Sky. I'm giving you my heart." As he said the words, a rush of frost and electricity courses through the two, not visible to on the outside but incredibly obvious to the two experiencing it. Skyla winced from the pain but tried not to show it. She was sure keeping the Guardians oblivious was important. If it was possible, she held him tighter hoping the closeness or just the pressure of his body against hers would somehow dull the aching. Breathing harshly through her nose, she waited for it to stop.

Finally, the electricity, the frost started clearing. Slowly, the world came back. Jack let out a few shaky breaths next to her ear and slumped, resting his head against her shoulder. His grip loosened and his arms fell to push hers away from him. He made a small noise in pain and she immediately let go, stepping away from him. When his head bobbed down for a moment, she wondered if he was really in a lot of pain. Then it snapped back up again and his grinning face replaced whatever else had been there.

"Well, how do you feel?" He asked, his grin widening.

"Umm..." she thought about it. Nothing really felt different. Her heartbeat was the same, the pain that had come with whatever happened had already left her. The cold feeling left her, even though the steadily blowing wind tried to change that. The electricity, however, stayed with her. It was strange but familiar. It was comforting, in an odd way. It felt supportive, protective, and strong. "Good." she finally replied. "You?"

"Other than the bruises I'm going to have? Excellent."

"Sorry... I guess I was-"

"Can we get out of here now?" An impatient Bunnymund questioned loudly, "You two have had your wonderful reunion and there are still some things we need to do. Jack, if she's really coming with us="

"I am" SKy responded, looking sternly but happily at the oversized rabbit, "Get used to having me around."

"I'm tryin'" He replied, "But you're not makin it easy." they stared at each other for a while then burst out laughing. Bunnymund hopped forward and hugged her, "I'm not saying I missed ya, but I'm happy to see you again. Even happier that you're safe. Jack says you were in there with the- erm- creature?"

"Yes. I didn't see it, though. Brandon said it was hovering right over me" she shivered from the memory of when the blonde had told the story while they were walking through the alleys, "I didn't see it at all, thanks to him. And it didn't do anything to me, as far as I'm aware of. Which, considering what I know about it- probably means I'm fine."

Jack cut in, making Bunnymund hop back. He took Sky's hand and kissed it before holding it at his side, "I told them all that. If you don't want to talk about it; you don't have to. You can just leave it all behind."

"...Not really. And what do you mean I can? What about you? What about both of us moving on?"

"I can't. Not yet, anyway. Sky, I know it was hard on you, but imagine what it was like for me. It won't be easy for me to move on from that. I was... for lack of a better word, violated. That probably is the right word for it" he sighed, "I don't like that. But I promise to try my best."

"I'm here for you, Jack" she told him immediately, "You're not alone. It's not just me, either. You have them" she gestured at the other Guardians, "It's okay, I understand. Take your time."

"What do you understand about that?" his tone was condescending. Something Skyla wasn't entirely unused to. "What do you understand about being violated and toyed with- What do you understand about your life being controlled? About your entire self being at the mercy of something you had no idea existed! Sky, thank you. For trying. But you don't have to say you understand when you clearly don't."

Deciding not to push it any further, she leaned in and kissed his cheek, "Would it be better if I said nothing at all? Ever again?"

"We would probably fight a lot less" he smirked. Before Sky could react, his lips were on hers. They held there sweetly until large hands pulled them away.

"Time for that later!" North announced. The Guardians behind him looked awkward at the exception of Bunnymund who again looked annoyed. "Now we go to the Pole!"

Jack started to make a fuss and Skyla just took his hand again. He barely settled down, "I was enjoying that," he mumbled, "Not like we don't have time for it."

"They're right, Jack. I don't want to stay here anyway." She smiled at him, and started leading him towards the others, "And you're right, We have time; later." Out of the corner of her eye she saw him look sideways at her with that adorable thinking face of his. She squeezed his hand and boarded the sleigh.

When Jack let go of her hand, she finally looked at him. He was already at the back of the sleigh, staring out into the night. He had a smile on his face but his eyes held his exhaustion. Skyla decided to let him be and sat down beside Tooth. They smiled politely at each other but hesitated saying anything as the others climbed into the sleigh.

"So it's... It's over now, right? Jack's really safe?" Skyla asked just before take off.

"Yes. Or at least, from this one particular danger. The fairy tales and myths are cute, but it's a lot different from reality, Skyla. There are dangers. To all of us. You included, now that you've decided to be a part of our world." The fairy looked thought ful for a moment before adding, "Why do you think we have to protect the children?"

The question hung in the air while the reindeer took off. Skyla was surprised at the words, though she had known it was true. Nothing was ever as simple as it seemed in stories and there was always more reasons to things. Of course there would be more of a reason to have to protect them than simply the Bogeyman.

"Sky" Jack asked, sitting beside her. She startled out of her thoughts and realized they'd already flown through the portal and were over looking North's Workshop. "Are you okay?"

She forcefully calmed herself before responding, "Yeah. A lot's happened and since now I have time to reflect on it... It's kind of all crashing down on me. I hope I didn't worry you?"

"Sky, I'm always worried about you. I've told you that. Remember what I said? If there's a problem, you have to tell me. So we can solve it. Together."

"I know. Really, though. I'm okay" she smiled to reinforce her point. Jack, still looking quite unconvinced, put an arm around her shoulder but otherwise said nothing more on the subject.

A while later, Skyla was back in the room she had nearly gotten used to. It hadn't been a day since she'd been in it, but it felt like longer. The fireplace was already lit and she was thankful; there was an odd chill lingering around her and it wasn't Jack that time. It wasn't temperature related at all as far as she could tell.

Letting the heat of the fire wrap around her, she settled against the large pillow she'd dragged off the bed. Jack had gone off with the Guardians, some sort of final meeting about what had happened. She knew he would want to get out of there as soon as possible but also knew that no matter how much he fussed, they wouldn't be done any time soon.

Pressing play on her mp3, she relaxed at the familiar music flowing through the ear buds. It blocked out all other noise and in her own little world, Skyla let herself forget everything else.


NOTES:
I may have just lost all the data on my USB
It had everything on it
I have nothing save the document this fic is on
Luckily it was open at the time of the incident and I had the good fortune to be able to save it elsewhere
I think I need a hug