"Skyla!" Jack ran over to her, putting one arm around her waist while the other held his staff defensively in front of them. He pulled her back as quick as he could without making them lose their balance. Skyla just stared at the Nightmare Horse, her face blank. "Skyla, don't worry. I won't let it hurt you"
"I know, Jack. I know"
"Jack, calm down." Tooth told him, "It hasn't done anything, and we don't think it plans to."
"You don't know that!"
"It hasn't moved since it got here, mate. Whatever it's doing here, it isn't here to fight." Bunny assured.
"It's probably waiting for reinforcements." The spirit made sure Skyla was safely behind the Guardians, next to the fireplace. "I have to get her out of here. Just in case. You have to agree with me that she shouldn't be here!"
"Cause I'm human, right?"
Jack stared at her, "Because Pitch Black is dangerous. Because he'll do more than give you nightmares-"
"He doesn't scare me. Nightmares don't scare me. I'm not saying I want to stay here but I'm tired of being pushed around and sent away! I need you to trust that I can handle this."
North put a hand on Jack's shoulder, "They're just bad dreams, right? She is safe with us."
"I'm not putting her through any more of this. I'm taking her to Burgess! If the rest of you want to let that thing stay here then that's up to you."
Everyone watched him for a few moments with varying emotions. North's hand fell away and reached into a pocket. "I understand, Jack. Take her. Go home. We will call you if we need your help."
"Thanks."
"I guess this is goodbye?" Skyla spoke up, looking at each of the Guardians.
"Yeah, I guess so" Bunnymund answered, hopping forward and wrapping his arms around her, "But not forever. And not for long. You'll need someone to deliver your luggage. Again. And I'll visit ya often after that!"
Jack mumbled something but Skyla ignored him and hugged the rabbit back. "I'll still miss you." He let go and she addressed the others, "All of you." Tooth nodded and Sandy tipped his hat at her.
"What about the bets we took?" North asked. Everyone turned to him. "The kissing game? Challenge. Thing. Did your plan work?"
"What?!" Jack argued, "This is not the time to talk about that! And, no, whatever plan she had it didn't-" he stopped, then stared at Sandy, "You didn't. You did! How is that fair?"
"Well, did it work? Did you lose?" North questioned impatiently
"Actually I- I think I interrupted him before he could-" Tooth hesitated. "Sorry, guys, I guess I ruined your game." Sandy and North made irritated noises while Bunnymund attempted to give Jack a high-five.
The Winter Spirit ignored him, "Can we go now? Skyla?"
"Y-yeah. Sure."
North whispered something to the snow globe and threw it on the floor in front of the control panel. "Goodbye, Skyla. I am glad I met you."
She nodded at him and Jack took her hand, "Next stop; Burgess." With one last glance at the Nightmare, Skyla let him lead the way through the magic portal. "So , what do you think?" he asked as they walked out into a snowy forest. "It's not much but it's home. Yours."
"Ours." she corrected. "It's pretty much what I expected. A bit less snow though. I pictured snow higher than the trees and maybe an ice castle and ice knights- Okay, that's not true. Lauren told me about the forest and the lake- Hey, where am I supposed to live?"
Jack's face blanched, "Oh. U-umm."
"You didn't really think this through, did you?"
"I just wanted to get you out of there." He thought for a moment, "I know an apartment block that always has vacancy. It's not very large but it's functional."
"I don't have any money with me, Jack."
"We're smart and cute; there's no way we'll be left out in the cold. There, two we's in one sentence. Happy now?" He grinned at her.
She smiled back at him, "It's a start. No one can see you though, and I'm not sure I'm cute enough-"
"You are."
Skyla blushed, "If you say so. Can we go on a tour now?"
"Yeah, let's go." He turned his back to her and let her climb on, "I'm not sure this way of flying together is better."
"It's easier on me; I can hold on properly this way. And you can, too. To your staff, I mean. No matter what flying together will be difficult. If only I could fly..."
"I'll make your heart soar" Jack mocked as he took off. "Besides, there are enough flying Guardians, we need more ground based ones."
"I don't think I have the option to become a Guardian. Flying would be great! And I would still have legs so it's not like I'll be abandoning the ground-types. I guess it's just not possible though... Okay, enough of that. Tell me about your forest. And about Burgess. Tell me everything!"
An hour later, Skyla was caught up on recent Burgess landscape. They landed beside the frozen lake and Jack put his staff down to take both of her hands. "We don't have to get married here. I just thought it would be a continuity thing. This is where I became Jack Frost, and this is where I became the Guardian of Fun. I would like it to be where I became your husband, too. If you don't want to, I understand. It's not exactly every girls dream to be married on a frozen lake."
"No, it isn't." She shook her head, "But if this place is really that special to you, then-"
"You have time to think about it!"
"I know." she looked to her left, out at the ice. "Is it safe? To walk out there?"
"Just don't leave my side." he led her onto the ice, carefully taking her step by cautious step. When they were in the middle, they both looked up "The Moon always looks a lot brighter from this spot. That's what called me back to the surface. The light, brighter than anything I'd ever seen."
"Wow." was all Skyla could say. She turned to look at the spirit as he kept staring at the Moon. The moonlight made his hair shine and his eyes sparkle. Still in that t-shirt, even his skin nearly glowed under the light. He was beautiful. "Wow."
Jack's head turned and his eyes met hers "I love you."
"Love you" she replied, leaning forward to rest her head on his shoulder. "I'm jealous, you know. You're so much prettier than I am."
"I don't think that's possible. Hey... is our game still going?"
She stepped back, "Wha- Oh. I-I don't know. What do you think?"
"I think it is. Or, it will be. Soon."
"Hmm? What do you mean-" He pulled her against him, his hand tangling itself in her hair, and pressed his lips against hers. Skyla let her eyes close as she held onto him and enjoyed the passionate contact. Her head tilted back slightly, fixing his mouth more comfortably against hers.
Something like a sigh and a moan escape him as he pulls away. "That was a stupid game anyway."
"I agree" she told him, and kissed him lightly. "Thank you for ending it."
They stood there for a long while just holding each other. As Skyla started to hum softly, Jack swayed them back and forth, "Can I ask something?" She hummed her response. "All those things that you said in the dream. Was all that true?"
"Yes. And it was really me. The outfit, the scenery, that was Sandy. But the words and... It was me."
"Then I'm really sorry. The.. barrier, was not something I meant to put up. I love you, Skyla. I don't want anything between us."
"Mmm. Same. Love you. But I'm not forgetting that you owe me now. You know, since you lost."
"Did I? I think you did. Maybe we should play again to find out"
"No way" she whined, "I won fair and square-"
"Did you? I'm pretty sure knocking me out and changing my dream is not considered fair."
"Technically, we never set any rules." she reminded him, and kissed his cheek, "Don't worry, I won't ask too much of you. Just one little thing..." She stepped away from him and threw her arms out, gesturing to the frozen lake they stood on, "Teach me how to ice skate!"
Jack laughed, loudly. He stepped forward and put his arms around her again, "I was already planning to. Should we go find you a place to live now? Actually, don't answer. I need to get you inside, you're turning red. And I don't think it's just a blush."
"Yeah, we should go. I just need a place for tonight then Bunnymund will find us tomorrow, right? Then I can get an apartment. Then a job. Then-"
"Slow down, Sky. Shelter for the night. There, we have a goal. Now let's get it done."
Finally, after walking around to different hotels, Skyla found one that would hold off on making her pay. It wasn't anything fancy, but it was well kept and warm inside. She let Jack in through the window and immediately walked into the bathroom for a shower. She couldn't keep her thoughts away as the hot water flowed over her. She wondered, mostly, what that Nightmare had been doing at The Pole. How it even got there. And why it was alone. She lightly touched on the issue of her new life. A new home, a new job. As long as Jack Frost was with her, she was sure she could handle it. She wasn't alone this time.
Skyla frowned as she realized she had to put the same clothes back on. They were pajamas though and she planned on going to sleep anyway. She hadn't had much rest before Toothiana and Jack woke her up. Putting on the clothes, she trudged out of the room, to the left, and collapsed on the bed.
"Not going to say goodnight?" Jack asked, jokingly. She mumbled something in response. "Well, I think you should at least get under the covers. On your back, so you don't suffocate yourself-"
Skyla got off the bed and pushed the plain brown covers away. She slipped onto the bed and covered herself with the blankets, letting herself relax. "Goodnight, Jack" she whispered.
The spirit jumped on the edge of the bed, "Hey, that's my side!" She opened her eyes to see him staring at her, his face serious. "Move."
"I don't even know how to react to that." she blinked. He didn't falter or speak so she sighed and rolled onto the other side, "The things I do for you."
His face lit up and he fell onto the bed, pushing the covers up and over himself. "And what about the things I do for you, Sky? I could be out enjoying Burgess right now but I choose to be with you on your first night in a strange place. I think I deserve some credit"
"Yes, yes. Thank you, Jack Frost, for climbing into bed with me simply for the sake of my feelings."
"I sense a bit of sarcasm there. I'm not as perverted as you, this really is innocent. As it's always been. You're the one thinking too much about it." He draped an arm around her, "Just sleep."
"Alright. But, umm-" Jack groaned and she turned towards him, "Just this one thing. Are you sure the others are alright? What if Pitch shows up?" she shivered at the thought of the Boogeyman attacking them, "They'll need you-"
"They can handle it, Skyla. He's not as strong as he was before, so it wouldn't take all of us to take him down." He pulled her closer and kissed her forehead, "It's time for you to sleep, my love. Tomorrow we'll do something fun to get your mind off of it, alright?"
"Mm. I know we will. It's you, after all. Guardian of Fun." she giggled, snuggling closer, "Love you"
"Goodnight" he whispered, and kissed her again.
