Chapter Five: In Honor of Jack

Sixteen hours later the Guardians awoke to the scent of bacon, turkey, cranberry sauce, cake, pudding, green beans, and strawberries all wafting in from the dining area.

"Borodin!" Exclaimed North. "Ve are late! The elves vill eat everything!"

The Guardians entered the dining room decorated by the Yeti serving Christmas dinner. After a few minutes North asked the Great Pumpkin. "Vell? Have you decided?"

"Decided what?"

"To become Guardian."

"For real?" The pumpkin grunted, digging further into the cranberry sauce.

"Ov course."

"We are sincere, you know." Bunnymund added.

"The question is," said the pumpkin. "Am I?"

"What do you mean?" Jack asked.

"I, the Great Pumpkin, promised to reward children waiting in the most sincere pumpkin patch every Halloween, but I haven't even looked for the most sincere pumpkin patch in years. How can I be sincere if I don't keep my promises?"

"Well," Bunny said dramatically. "That is a good question."

"Bunny!" Tooth stared at him.

Sandman looked intently at them all.

"Maybe, talk less and do more?" Jack asked.

"I'm sure that's what Sandy is saying." Tooth said. "Maybe we do talk too much…You know, the other day I was talking to Mother Goose and she said…"

"Anyvay." North said. "Do you vant to be a Guardian?"

"I don't think I'm ready." The Great Pumpkin said.

"No one ever is, mate, especially Frostbite here." Bunny said.

"Hey-"

"Jack vas very ready if what Pitch said is true." North said. "Protecting children is our job!"

"Is it true? What Pitch said?" Tooth asked.

"Yes," said Jack. "Yes it is, but I didn't remember it until I watched my old memories. Have you seen them?" He turned to Tooth.

"No, Jack, watching other people's memories is illegal, we only guard them."

"I didn't know if you'd want to know." Jack said.

"You can tell us as much as you feel like." Tooth said.

"Yeah," said Bunny. "We were wrong not to tell you about the 'asteroid'. You just look so young and we wanted to keep you safe."

"You are like children ve protect." North said.

Sandman gave Jack a peaceful smile.

Jack took a deep breath. "Well, I… I saved my sister. Three hundred years ago. But, I fell into freezing water…I … I couldn't get out."

"I'm so sorry, Jack." Tooth said.

Jack nodded. "Later, Manny woke me up and pulled me out of the pond. I didn't remember being human or anything. He told me I was Jack Frost, and I found I could freeze things and fly. For a long time that was nearly all I did, it was fun."

Tooth uncovered her mouth. "Did you ever find out what happened to your family?"

"I'm sure I saw them, but I didn't know who they were at that time so I don't remember."

"But that's terrible!" Tooth said, her amethyst eyes glistening. "They must have missed you so much!"

Jack looked at the Guardians: North's big eyes looked worried, Bunnymund ears drooped and his paws were tense, and Sandman was the only one who looked calm. The Great Pumpkin's yellowish glow was flickering dully.

"I think." Jack said. "That if my family knows what I'm doing, that they're happy. I make kids smile every day. I can fly. I can make it snow."

"But why couldn't Manny have chosen you before you drowned?" The Great Pumpkin blurted.

"Now." Jack took a deep breath. "Now I know who I am. And stop acting crazy, everyone dies eventually."

"You are brave man." North said.

"So that's why you're such a daredevil; you're not afraid of much anymore?" Bunny said.

"Yeah." Jack said.

Sandman looked amusedly at Jack. Did Sandy know what it was like? What had really happened when Pitch dissolved Sandy? He was made of sand, so who knew what had occurred.

"So, dust-biter," Bunny said, interrupting his thoughts. "Do you want us to get you sympathy cards and flowers?"

"NO!" Jack said so suddenly that everyone laughed. "I'm alive now, it doesn't matter."

"Yes it does, Jack." Tooth said. "You lost almost everything. I think that counts."

"I'm fine, guys, I really am." Jack said.

"Ve have all lost our families too, Jack." North said, "Is one problem of being immortal."

"That's why we've got to stick together." Bunny said while the Sandman pulled the Great Pumpkin's chair closer.

"Um," Jack stuttered, "So, Great Pumpkin, are you going to join us?"

"I'll think about it." The Great Pumpkin said. He had a tough rind.