Hi guys! I'll make this quick so we can get rockin! Thank you ParrotCrazy, MoonlitMeeting, and Luna Frost so much for reviewing! Also to everyone who put me on their follow list; I really appreciate it! I also changed a line or two in the last chapter, but it wasn't majorly significant so there's no need to go check unless you want to :p

Oh Look! A wild plot appears! Yay!

Of Soft Breezes and Wintry Nights

Chapter Seven: Things That Go Bump in the Night

"You can't save him little girl."

The terrible voice continued to echo around her as Claire stood in a grey fog, surrounded by darkness. Ahead she could vaguely make out Jack, reaching out to her for help. Claire tried to run to him, but it was as if she was running through water. She could not get closer to him no matter how hard she tried.

All of a sudden, a dark shadow appeared in front of her and blocked her view of Jack's form. It chuckled at her.

"After all, dear girl, he's from a world where nightmares are real-!" As if on cue, as the shadow finished speaking it seemed to fly through Claire, enshrouding her in cold and darkness.

!

Claire gasped as she abruptly sat up in bed, breathing hard. What a nightmare, she thought as she held her forehead with her hand, trying to regain her senses. She tentatively peeked over the edge of her bed. Seeing that all was normal in her bedroom and there was nothing to be afraid of, she pulled off her covers to enjoy her snow day.

After all, she thought with a smirk, I have nothing to be afraid of now that Jack's with me—as if on cue, she heard a knock on her window. Not even bothering to look in a mirror, she walked over to the window and threw open the curtain to reveal a certain wintry guardian smiling in greeting.

She smiled, "Let me—wait," she thought as she took one step toward the door, "Why would you need the door when you can fly?" she said to herself as she reached out to open the window. She popped out the screen and placed it next to her window sill.

"It's so cold there's no bugs that will get in," she justified as Jack flew inside.

"Just me," Jack said with a grin.

"You're hardly a bug," Claire replied, belatedly realizing she had been awake for .5 seconds before letting him into her room. "Hold on, let me at least brush my hair—" Claire was cut off as Jack abruptly pulled herself to him and kissed her.

"Doesn't matter to me," he said with a wink, "although you might want to think about your sleeping schedule. It's already noon," he pointed out as he rested his hands lightly on her waist.

Claire smacked him gently on the shoulder. "Let me enjoy my snow day how I wish," she said as she pulled away from him. "But I really do at least want to brush my teeth," she continued, distractedly looking for her hairbrush. "I've only been awake for a few minutes, and first with the nightmare and now you're already-"

He cut her off, good mood forgotten. "Nightmare?" he asked, concerned. "You had a nightmare?" he asked again, stopping her search for the hairbrush by gripping her shoulders. "What happened?" he asked seriously.

"Jack," she said, laughing his name incredulously, "it's nothing to be concerned about. It was just a nightmare," she tried to brush his hands off, but he would not be moved.

"What happened," he repeated solemnly. Claire sighed.

"I really can't remember all of it," she thought as she looked down at the floor, trying to remember. "I remember being surrounded by grey fog, and that I couldn't get to you…" she trailed off.

"Was there anyone else?" Jack pressed.

"I don't…think so," Claire said slowly. Jack's tense shoulders sagged with relief. "I do remember there was a sinister voice, though," she said as an afterthought. Jack's tension returned.

"Claire," Jack started, reaching a hand out to tilt Claire's chin so she would meet his eyes, "you may make fun of me, but a nightmare is nothing to scoff at. It could mean something very serious," he said, trying to impose upon her the gravity of the situation.

Claire chuckled. "Don't worry Frost," she said, "I'm a big girl, and I've had nightmares before. Don't worry about it, and let's enjoy my snow day," she said with a wink. "Now let me at least change out of my pajamas," she said before pushing him into the living room.

No matter what she said, Jack feared he wouldn't be able to get it out of his mind.

-((Claire gets decent))-

Jack lay back on Claire's bed, lost in thought as the girl brushed her hastily-eaten breakfast out of her teeth. A nightmare… he mused, very concerned. Could Pitch have regained his strength? Could he be out for revenge? The more and more Jack thought about it, the more worried he became.

I can't risk her safety without talking to the Guardians, Jack thought, sitting up as Claire entered the room. "Claire," he began, "about this nightmare; I think that-"

"Oh shut up about the nightmare already," she said, silencing him with a kiss as she crawled onto her bed. "It's my snow day, and I want to enjoy it," she continued as she peppered little kisses against his lips.

"But-" Jack tried to continue, put Claire pushed against his chest, flattening him to the bed as she lay next to him.

"Shut up Frost, and show me why they're always singing about you nipping noses," she said with a wink before shutting him up with a kiss again. Thoughts of the nightmare finally flew from Jack's mind as Claire's hands wandered up his chest to grip his shoulders. His hands automatically found her hips as he deepened the kiss, rolling over so he leaned over her on the bed.

"Jack…" she whispered against his lips as Jack decided to kick things up a notch. He stealthily moved one hand from her hips to rest under her sweater on her stomach. Claire squealed into his kiss from his cold hand, and Jack used the opportunity to touch his tongue briefly to hers. Claire moaned in satisfaction as the two battled for dominance in the kiss. They pulled apart for air, panting.

"I think we're getting better at this," Claire whispered as she caught her breath.

Jack smiled as he kissed her nose. "I do hold the record for being on the naughty list," he said before covering her lips with his own.

-((Trying to keep this T folks))-

Soon after the two took a break for Claire to warm up and Jack to cool down (one couldn't be around for 300 years and not know that little about your body). While waiting for Claire to return from making hot chocolate in the kitchen, Jack's earlier thoughts of the nightmare returned. Seeing his expression, Claire frowned as she sat next to Jack on her bed.

"Why are you so concerned about a nightmare?" Claire asked, sipping her drink.

"Have you ever heard of the Boogeyman?" Jack asked. Claire snorted, nearly spilling her hot chocolate.

"Of course I have. But him I don't believe in," she said with finality. When Jack's expression didn't change, her resolve wavered. "Should I?" she said hesitantly.

"Yes," Jack said softly, trying not to worry her. "His name is Pitch Black. We've defeated him before, but that doesn't mean he poses no danger." He looked over at her and noticed her frown. "I'll go talk to North to see if there is anything to worry about," he said, standing.

Claire nodded. "Hurry back?" she asked.

Jack grinned as he opened her window. "Of course."

-((To the North Pole))-

Jack flew into the control area of the North Pole, landing in front of the globe. He was surprised to see North there consulting with Bunny.

"What are you doing here?" Jack asked Bunny.

"There's nothing wrong with me visiting because I have never been on the naughty list," Bunny said pointedly, "What are you doing here?" Bunny asked with a smirk.

Jack rolled his eyes. "I'm worried that Pitch might be making a comeback," Jack said, which got both of the guardians' attention.

"What?" North boomed, incredulous, "What makes you say this?"

"I…" Jack hesitated, "better start from the beginning," he said. He explained to North what he already told Bunny about Claire, only hinting at the newfound closeness of their relationship. Bunny narrowed his eyes as Jack became very vague about his relationship with Claire.

"Anyway," he continued before Bunny could ask questions, "today she told me that she had a nightmare last night, and that she heard a voice that may have been Pitch," he said, finally voicing his true concern. "Could he harm her as revenge on me?"

"This is nonsense," North said forcefully, "Pitch was defeated; there is no way that he could be so powerful already!" He put his hands on both of Jack's shoulders. "I bet it is coincidence," he said with a wink, "Do not worry!"

As Jack turned to go, he could not shake this sense of foreboding. North became distracted by a question from the yetis, and Jack locked eyes with Bunny.

"Did this ever happen with Anne?" he questioned.

Bunny shook his head. "At that time, Pitch hadn't been seen since the dark ages," he replied grimly. "Keep an eye on her mate," Bunny said, putting a hand on Jack's shoulder.

Jack's gaze hardened. "I will," he said with determination before taking off into the cold weather.

-((oh boy))-

As the days went on, Claire found herself getting less and less sleep. Loathe as she was to admit it to Jack, she kept having more nightmares. She dodged his questions about why she looked so tired, and has she been sleeping alright? Claire finally couldn't take it anymore after three solid nights of nightmares.

"They're getting worse," Claire blurted out as the two walked around the block after school that night with an arm around each other.

"What is? The nightmares?" Jack asked, tightening his arm around her shoulders.

"Yes," she admitted, "ever since that first one they keep getting worse. You keep disappearing, and the fog keeps turning into these creatures-" she broke off, distressed. "I keep hearing his voice inside my head," she whispered painfully as the two approached her apartment.

"This is too much," Jack said forcefully as the two stopped at her door. "I'll go to North, and he'll summon the rest of the guardians so we can—"

Claire cut him off. "Could you wait until tomorrow morning? I was kind of hoping you would stay with me tonight…" she trailed off.

"I could," Jack allowed, "but won't you be too cold?" Jack asked as Claire opened the door and they climbed up the stairs.

"I don't care; I'll figure it out," she said distractedly, "I just really don't want to be alone," she said softly.

Jack's heart lurched and he abruptly pulled her into his arms. "I'll protect you," he said fiercely, and Claire finally broke down in tears.

-((aw))-

A while later, Claire lay underneath three blankets and flannel pajamas that Jack lumpily held in his embrace. He lay awake, watching Claire's fretful sleeping, debating whether or not he should wake her. He watched the shadows in the bedroom warily before kissing Claire's forehead.

Please be safe, he thought, holding her closer.

-((Meanwhile))-

"Enough!" Claire screamed in her dream, surrounded by shadowy creatures and pummeled by images of Jack, Hunter and his family dying—"Who are you?" she shouted into the darkness of her nightmare. "I know you're there; what do you want?!"

This time, a pale figure wearing a long black jacket stepped out of the shadows, grinning from ear to ear. She froze in place, and he ran his finger down the side of her cheek.

"You'll see…" he whispered in her ear. She shuddered.

"Humans are so easy to kill."

And then she was falling, falling—

Claire jolted awake, a scream on her lips. In an instant, Jack tightened his arms around her, pulling her gaze to his. "What is it; what happened?" he pressed, pulling her closer.

Claire took steady breaths. "I saw him."

Jack's azure gaze hardened to frosty steel. "I'll tell the guardians." He looked down at her, shaking in his arms, and his gaze melted. "Do you want to go with me? I can protect you—"

"No, that's okay," Claire said, unwrapping herself from her blankets to get ready for the day. "I'll be alright. Dreams can only go so far right?" she said, pulling away from him.

"Dreams can," Jack allowed.

-((oh man))-

"I'm telling you, she saw him!" Jack was trying to explain to the assembled guardians in the North Pole later that day. "He's back!"

"Are you sure?" the Tooth Fairy said, concerned. "She didn't see him in person—"

"She has had a nightmare every day this week," Jack emphasized. "She hasn't had any others since before I met her!" he all but shouted.

"This could be serious," North agreed. "We have to talk to the girl. Can you bring her here?"

"Definitely." Jack said, already moving to leave. Bunny held him back.

"I'll go with you mate. I've got a bad feeling about this."

-((Meanwhile))-

"And how's my darling little sister?"

Claire smiled into the phone as she walked to her car after school, talking to her brother. "I'm not gonna lie; things have been a little stressful lately," she trailed off, seeing someone waiting by her car in the parking lot. She couldn't make out the figure; she was still too far away.

"Stressful? Well that's normal; you're almost finished so these classes are hard—"

"Hunter?" Claire asked, cutting him off. As she neared the car, she recognized the pale figure that stood there, waiting for her. Her heart dropped through her stomach. "I just ran into someone I have to talk to; I'll call you back," without waiting for a reply, she hung up the phone.

"What do you want?" she asked from her place over ten feet away from her car and the shadowy figure from her nightmares.

In an instant, the shadow appeared before her. "You, my dear," he said before she was engulfed in darkness.

-((To Be Continued))-

Finally, some action! Review and let me know if you like it!

~freaky-hanyou