Jackson wasn't entirely sure of what to do next. He asked Jack to walk with him back to the village. The boy only hesitantly complied. Jackson wanted to know more, but he was worried someone would send a search party for him, thinking maybe perhaps he had fallen in the pond again. They did take him for a fool, so it wasn't entirely implausible they would assume such.

He wasn't so foolish to leave Jack Frost alone once more. Assuming he was real (which Jackson was fairly certain at this point that he was), he didn't want the boy to get hurt by him again. It was clear how very alone he felt. How he craved companionship, though he dare not ask for it. Jackson was curious about him. And Jack was curious about Jackson. Maybe getting to understand this spirit would bring no harm.

"So," Jackson adjusted the pack slung over his shoulder, "Who is he? The other guy that talked to you and left you. I mean."

Jack sighed and looked upwards. "The moon."

Jackson furrowed his brow. "The moon?"

"Yeah," Jack nodded. "He… he pulled me from the darkness and told me my name. And that was it." Jack shrugged. "He hasn't said a word since, no matter how much I ask."

The moon… the moon was sentient? Jackson was reeling. He had heard fairy tales of a man on the moon and would strain to see a face every once in a while. His sister saw it. She said she could see him smile clearly. But Jackson had trouble seeing what she saw. Maybe there was more to it.

"The moon… is there a man there, do you know? Like… like the stories you tell children at night. About the Man in the Moon." Jackson asked Jack.

Jack furrowed his brows. "I don't know," he admitted. "I just know… it was the moon that spoke to me. Maybe there's a man there. I think… I think he created me. But… I can't be certain." Jack thoughtfully drummed his fingers against the wood of his staff. "What are these stories? About the Man on the Moon?"

"Just nursery rhymes." Jackson shrugged. "You've heard one of them right? You know… um… Mother Goose and such." Jack's expression told Jackson he had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. Jackson took a deep breath and recited the poem.

"The man in the moon came down too soon,
and asked his way to Norwich,
They sent him south and he burnt his mouth
By eating cold pease-porridge."

Jack tried to make sense of the story. Jackson couldn't help but smile when he noticed how baffled he was. "It's not supposed to make sense," Jackson spared him. "Don't worry about it."

"There are a lot of stories the taller ones tell the smaller ones that I don't understand," Jack scratched his head. "One about Jack and Jill fetching water from a well and a cow jumping over the moon or a man that fell from a wall that they could not repair. Did you fall and break your crown at some point?"

Jackson laughed. "No, no. My parents thought they were being clever when they named me Jackson and her Jillian. We're just called Jack and Jill because we prefer it that way. And because it's like the rhyme." Jackson pulled a branch as he passed by, letting it swing out behind him with athwak! Something Jack had said seemed strange… "Taller ones and smaller ones? Do you mean adults and children?"

Jack shrugged. "There are people that are taller and some that are smaller."

"Yes, then adults and children." Jackson confirmed. "Adults are usually taller than children."

"And the ones that are in the middle?" Jack asked. "What are they called?"

"Young adults. Teenagers." Jackson frowned. Was this guy born a few days ago or what? He was so clueless about everything.

"I like the children better," Jack commented. "They like to play. They're fun, even if they can't see me. Except when they're in the one building with the tall—adult in front of a black wall that shows them how to count and read."

"The school." Jackson informed him.

"Yeah," Jack nodded. "They don't play, but they still want to learn. They have a great interest in it. And you," Jack met Jackson's gaze. "The small one called Jill teaches you sometimes, right? You want to learn."

Jackson stopped. "How do you know?"

"I…um…" Jack rubbed his nose bashfully, "I've watched you two… mostly her. But after we met, you, too."

"You watched us?"

"I'm curious." Jack confessed. "And I like her a lot. Even if she doesn't see me. She was always so… sad or worried. I wanted to cheer her up. So, I did my best. And then she would smile and I'd get the best feeling in the world. She was inside a lot, tending to someone… you, right? You were always… sleeping. And there was a woman that told her to go play. But she didn't want to leave your side. The other children wanted to play with her but… she seemed like she didn't want to. I had to get her to play with them. So, I'd send some snowflakes her way or throw a snowball at her and she'd light up and play!"

"Why Jill, though?" Jackson asked.

Jack shrugged. "I don't know."

"You don't know a lot of things, do you?" Jackson snickered and started walking once more. He wasn't concerned about Jack watching his younger sister for some reason. He felt like he could trust the boy. He wouldn't hurt her. Not that he really could, since he could not touch her. But the boy really did seem harmless. He was just curious. "It's like you were born yesterday."

Jack frowned. "Twenty moons."

Jackson rose an eyebrow. "Twenty moons?"

Jack nodded. "I have seen the moon twenty times and the sun twenty times. Tonight will be twenty one moons."

Twenty… What? Jack was less than a month old? But… He looked about the same age as Jackson. Then again, the boy was quite an anomaly. White hair, freezes things, invisible and intangible to everyone. He claimed the moon might have made him. Twenty nights ago.

"So… you are a newborn, huh?" Jackson ruffled the hair on the back of his head. "No wonder you don't know anything."

And Jackson thought he was clueless. Yes, he was certainly uneducated. But Jack was… Jack knew less than a child. He was a child, more-so than even Jackson was.

Jackson stopped right at the edge of the village. He could not walk in while speaking with an invisible stranger and it seemed Jack was hesitant to enter. Jackson eyes the white haired boy out of the corner of is eye. He was real. He had to be. There was no way he was just a figment of Jackson's imagination. Right? Then again, the one thing Jackson prided himself in was his imagination and creativity. He was quick to make a story to tell the children and it was so easy to make new games to play.

As strange as it was, Jack Frost had to be real. Jackson knew it. And he wanted to learn more. He did not want to return home. He wanted to sit and talk with Jack and find out more about him. Could he do anything else besides freeze berries and the ground? How did he do it? Magic? Were there others like him?

"I'll come back tomorrow," Jackson promised Jack. The boy opened his mouth, but quickly closed it. His expression read doubt and hurt. He was afraid Jackson would leave him alone again. Jackson held out a pinky. "I swear."

Jack considered the digit before taking it with his own. Jackson's finger squeezed the cold one tightly and the brunette gave him a warm smile. They could learn a lot from each other. He hoped they could be friends. Maybe Jackson could help him. Maybe something Jackson could do would help him be seen by others. Once they had determined why Jack was invisible.

"Bye, Jack." Jackson smiled at the other and they parted ways. At home, Jackson was scolded for taking so long. His mother was going to send his father out to search had he not come back by sunset. Jackson grumbled and emptied the contents of his bag on the table.

When Jill made an attempt to eat one of the berries (he had to agree with her that they did look delicious), he stopped her and explained they were dangerous and not for eating. He hoped his mother did not plan to make food with them. She laughed and called him silly. No, no, they were for decoration. His mother was going to weave them together and his father would sell them in wreaths when he went into town next week.

That night, he spent pondering about Jack Frost. His sister lay in the bed beside him, curled up and dreaming. What had he been so afraid of the first time they met? Jack was harmless. Yes, strange. But completely harmless. He made no attempts to harm anyone, even when he showed anger towards Jackson for leaving him alone.

Jackson looked outside of his window from his place on his bed. The moon was not visible from where he was. The moon. Perhaps… it was strange, but perhaps the moon was actually a deity. If the moon created Jack Frost and spoke to him, what else had the moon created? Perhaps their world? Their way of life? Just what role did the moon have in this world? Should he make offerings?

No. Jackson was never one to participate in religious rituals. He believed in the morals of the Church, but could not find himself believing everything like God or Jesus Christ. So why should he start worshiping some pagan idea that the moon was a god? No, Jackson was better off simply pretending to believe in his family's faith.

Jack Frost. Jackson could not shake the boy from his mind. Not for a second. Why did he look so familiar? Why was he drawn to him? Perhaps he was just attracted to the mystery that came with the other. The… whatever it was that was Jack Frost. Something Jackson had never seen nor experienced.

The next morning, Jackson was quick to finish his morning chores. He wanted some time between the chores and entertaining the children after school to visit Jack. He kissed Jill on the crown and quickly darted off towards the pond, not letting her know what he was up to.

As he walked the familiar path, he took the time to try and come up with new questions to ask Jack Frost. The dirt was frozen solid and the air today was quite frigid. His hands hurt with the cold. He blew into them to try and warm them up, but it did little to help. Damn! It was freezing.

His mother had complained about the harsh winter. How it would snow suddenly. They had three blizzards in a fortnight. Food had been made scarce and four people had died of illness. Three of the elderly and one of the adults. Death was much too common, but it never ceased to tug at Jackson's heart strings or make his eyes sting. Why had he survived his ordeals, but not the mother of six? He had nothing to offer and her family had lost everything. It made him feel guilty.

And it wasn't just her death. Every death in the village brought somberness and heartbreak. No matter how often it was. It was because they were so small and so tight-knit. Jackson could compare themselves to the Native American tribes.

At the pond clearing, Jackson scanned his surroundings to look for the boy. Not a sight of him. Then again, he could so easily blend into these surroundings. The whites and browns camouflaged him so easily into the woods and snow.

"Jack?" Jackson called, stepping into the clearing.

"Just a second."

The voice did not come from his left or right. It did not come from behind or before him. No. It came from up. Jackson slowly followed the voice with his eyes and his mouth dropped. He really should not have been as surprised as he was. He should have expected something like this. But he wasn't. And he was left to stand in shock at the sight before him.

Jack Frost was hovering in the air. Wind gusted around him, tousling his short white spikes. He seemed to be struggling for control. Power. Something. He muttered, a bit frustrated and was tossed up. Crying out, he ordered to be put down.

Well, he was put down. Or rather, dropped straight onto the ice. He was far from graceful in his landing and Jackson heard a considerable crack in the spot Jack had landed. Jackson prayed it was a bone and not the ice. He did not want to have to dive into the icy waters to try and save this boy.

Jack easily stood up, brushed himself off, and strode over to Jackson as if nothing happened.

"I was practicing. Sorry." Jack explained, slinging his staff over his shoulder.

"Practicing what?" Jackson asked. "And what cracked?! Are you okay?!"

Jack looked back at the pond. "Oh, the ice broke. And—"

"And you didn't fall through?!"

Jack furrowed his brows. "Why would I fall through? It freezes right back up."

Jackson could not say a word. He was in complete and utter shock. He did not know where to begin. Everything he had prepared to ask was suddenly gone with the winds that carried Jack.

"And I was practicing flying," Jack looked up in the air he was previously. "I didn't think you'd actually come back. They're sad we can't play."

"They?"

"The winds." Jack scratched the back of his neck. "They call it playing. They carry me. Most of the time. I can fly a little on my own. Not very high. I need the winds to take me up further, but once I'm there, I can stay up myself." Jack leapt into the air as if to show what he meant. He hovered and circled Jackson, landing beside him.

"You can fly." Jackson said stupidly.

"Yeah."

"You can fly." Jackson repeated.

"You can't?" Jack's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"No one can fly, Jack."

"So, you've never flown?"

"No!"

He really was a spirit of some kind. One that controlled the winds or… rather, it seemed they worked together. The wind was rather playful. It danced around Jack and Jackson and Jackson almost strained to hear words, as if it could talk. Jack closed his eyes, a serene smile playing on his lips. He nodded. "You're right. Everyone should be able to fly."

"I didn't say anything." Jackson frowned.

"You didn't hear them?" Jack looked around as a gust circled his head. "Oh. They can't hear you. That's a shame…" He grinned. "But I can! And I promise we'll have more fun later, okay?" Jack's smile faded a bit as he listened intently. "You'll do that? Really?" He nodded. "Okay."

It was so strange, watching Jack talk to himself. Jackson wondered if that was how he appeared when he spoke to the boy. He would not like it if anyone had walked in on him during a discussion with Jack. It wasn't at all what Jackson planned on happening, but if someone who could not see Jack questioned Jackson why he was talking to no one, Jackson would have not a clue on where to start.

"Here." Jack held out a hand for Jackson. "They said they'll carry you, as long as you're with me."

"What?" Jackson blinked, unable to understand what Jack was proposing.

"Fly with me." Jack grinned, shaking his hand for Jackson to take. "The winds agreed they're carry you, but only if I have you. Take my hand."

Flying. Jackson was going to fly. All he had to do was take Jack Frost by the hand. That was all he had to do. Jackson wasn't so sure this was a good idea. He was sure he would plumet to his long overdue death. But… it sounded like fun. The winds thought of it as playing. And Jack was grinning so brightly. The temptation was far too much for Jackson to resist.

He took Jack's hand.

It was the most interesting sensation. Jackson's stomach bottomed out as they shot into the air. Jack's frozen hand gripped his own tightly. Winds whipped around them, pulling them up—up—up until Jackson could have sworn he could touch the clouds. Jackson was weightless. He was held up with nothing but air currents and a hand.

Jack laughed and looked towards Jackson beside him. Jackson wasn't quite sure how to feel, looking down at the forest and the frozen pond and his little village just a ways away. He was terrified he would fall. His heart beat in his ears drowned out the whistle of the winds. The hand holding his squeezed his assuringly. He was okay. He was alright.

Jack would not let him fall. He trusted him.

… Jackson trusted him. He had put his trust into this stranger he barely knew anything about. He trusted him without even considering what that meant. All he knew was that it was okay. He was safe. Jack would protect him.

Jackson felt a smile cross his face. He let out a loud whoop and heard it echo across the valley. Jack and Jackson's laughter filled the air as Jack let them drop. Jackson's heart leapt to his throat at the feeling. Oh! Ugh. Jackson wasn't sure if he liked the feeling of dropping.

Jack listened. He nodded and pulled Jackson will him into a loop and flew towards the village. No. Where were they going?

"Wait!" Jackson yelled. "No, stop!" Jack stopped and looked to him curiously. Jackson shook his head. "I can't be seen flying. Let's just… stay around the pond, okay?"

Jack looked around at the passing winds before nodding. They flipped over and shot back towards the pond. It would be weird to see Jackson flying over the village. They would question and Jackson did not want to go through the trouble of trying to explain this. No, he might be accused of witchcraft or something of the sort. It would be much better to lie low.

The flight was exhilarating. And the winds were tricksters. They pulled tricks, making Jackson think they were pulling him away from Jack or flipping his cloak over his head. They twisted the boys and dropped them and Jack clearly had very little control over them. He didn't seem to mind, though. He would laugh and blow snowflakes into the winds and Jackson could see exactly which winds went where.

After a while, Jackson felt himself shivering. It was cold up here. The winds were chilled and he felt like ice. He wanted to get by the fire. Jack set them on the ice and as they skated to a stop, his staff grazed the top and spread fern-like frost patterns. Jackson didn't let go of Jack's hand. He instead pulled the boy towards the village, urging him to follow him.

Jackson and Jack chuckled, breathless, as they ran to the village and stood by the center fire. Jackson wasn't quite thinking. He just knew he wanted to get warm, but did not want to yet leave Jack Frost. Today had been the most fun he ever had and that was saying something. Flying! Jackson never imagined in his life he'd ever fly.

He had to thank Jack somehow. What could he do, though? He watched Jack stepping closer to the fire. He released Jackson's hand and somehow, although Jack's hand felt like ice, it left him feeling cold. Jack held his hand hesitantly towards the flames, as if to test if they would burn.

Jackson was curious, but at the same time did not want to risk that they might actually… perhaps melt Jack. Jackson glanced around the clearing. The villagers were busy with their own business. They paid Jackson no mind, which was how it usually panned out. They were too involved in their work or they were inside, where it was warm.

Jackson took Jack's hand and pulled it away from the fire. "You'll hurt yourself."

It was like talking to a child. Jackson wasn't sure whether or not the fire would melt or burn Jack, but he did not want either to happen. Something told him the boy had not felt pain, other than the pain of loneliness. Jackson decided he would do what he could to protect him from that pain from now on. As the only one that could see him, it was his duty.

Just as Jack would protect Jackson from falling, Jackson would protect Jack from the cold ache of isolation.

A/N: I'm not quite sure how I'm doing with writing this! I haven't written slash in a while. I've been writing a LOT of Jack x Older!Sophie. It was an accidental OTP. Anyway, this is probably going to take a while to get to any romance. Build friendship than romance. Plus, there's going to be some confusion when they realize they look the same. I imagine the colony doesn't have many mirrors or chances to see a proper reflection. I feel like Jackson may not have seen his own reflection in quite some time. Since Jack is clearly not a vain person. In sure he cares less about how he looks and more about entertaining children.

There's still some holes that will be filled, I promise!