It was beginning to be evening at the pole, but only just barely. Jack, deciding that he'd had enough rest, had taken his rekindled energy and staff outside to explore further what kind of new things he could do. Tooth had gone with him to keep him company while North, Bunny, and Sandy had relocated to the toy makers private workroom. Each had found something to keep them occupied.

North was sketching up some new plans for a walking doll. Bunny was lounging on a large red sofa, absent-mindedly throwing his boomerang into the air, then catching it on its way down. Sandy sat next to him, kicking at an elf that kept trying to swipe some of the brightly colored candies he had grabbed to snack on. It was quiet in the room, but Bunny had a question. Although he didn't want to be the one to break the silence, the next time his boomerang dropped into his hand he refrained from throwing it again, asking aloud his concern.

"Do ya think he'll try 'n leave? Now that he's better?" then, more tentative, "Now that he... doesn't know us?"

The scratching of North's pencil continued through his answer. "I do not know. I hope that ees not case." He stopped for a moment to take a swig of the milk sitting beside him, then resumed both his work and his talking. "I am still hopeful that we can return memories to him. We should not give up on him because first idea did not work out. In event that he does not remember, however, we can always just grow new bond with him. He ees still same Jack, and we are still same us. Amnesia does not change that."

"A new bond, eh?" murmured Bunny in a distracted manner. Sandy glanced over at him, threw the elf he had been holding by the hat into a pile of socks and underwear in the corner, then patted Bunny's forearm for attention. Huh, thought Bunny as he watched the elf struggle to right himself, eyes pin-wheeling drunkenly. I guess non-believin' kids really do get knickers for Christmas. He dragged his eyes back to Sandy.

His friend had made a life-size, golden version of Jack. It stood in front of them, waved, then started walking away only to be suddenly bound by other ropes of dream sand and rendered immobile. Sandy nodded, then looked up at Bunny for approval. His smile was as genuine as ever, yet in his eyes Bunny could see that the display had been more than just a joke. He was trying to cheer up his downtrodden friend.

Bunny chuckled, spirits lifted in spite of himself. "No, ya gumby. If he wants ta leave, we can't just keep 'im tied up here. It was a nice idea, though." He smiled back at his tender-hearted friend.

A sound from behind Sandy drew their attention. A second elf had snuck up behind the couch, scaled the back, and begun to raid the unattended dish on the arm of the sofa. It froze when it realized that it had been noticed, cheeks so stuffed with sugar covered gum drops that one fell back into the silver bowl. It gave a squeak, then took a suicide jump off the back cushion of the couch. It scrambled away, hat bell jingling frantically, leaving a trail of dropped candies in its wake. Sandy huffed, placing the candy bowl in his lap with a thump.

Bunny laughed, knowing that the elves could be very annoying at times. He laughed even harder as he remembered the time Jack had tried to sneak some shortbread cookies from the kitchen. It had only taken the elves a minute or so to sniff them out, then maul each other as they fought to get inside said pockets first. The incident had ended with Jacks pants around his knees, a pile of elves around his feet, and a fiery halo of blush around his face. Every guardian had been in the room at the time. When Bunny thought about it, it was probably more merciful to let Jack forget that particular memory. He was sobered as the thought brought a second question to his mind. This time, though, it pushed its way past his lips without Bunny's consent.

"Do ya think it might be better for 'im if he doesn't remember?" The effect on the room was almost instantaneous. Sandy froze, a yellow gumdrop halfway to his open mouth, staring at Bunny in shock. The continuous scratch of the pencil had stopped. Silence resounded until North turned around to look Bunny in the eyes.

"What?" he asked the rabbit incredulously. Bunny took a moment to give an internal sigh of relief. At first, he had thought that the big man had been angry, but now he saw that he was just incredibly surprised. He decided it was safe to continue.

"Think about it, mate." he reasoned. "Sure there's a lotta things he'd wanna remember, but what is it he always said when we asked him what he did for three hundred years, 'fore we really knew him?" Bunny gave a terrible impression of Jacks voice, "Oh, ya know. Had a snowball fight. Sent some storms." North's joined him as they finished the recitation in sync. "Hung out, the usual."

"Yes, that may be so," admitted North, "But while it is true that he does not have a lot to say about his years alone-"

Bunny cut him off and leaned forward in his seat. "Or he just doesn't have a lot to say to us. You know how he is. Maybe he was just trying to stop us from worrying about how horrible we were to him while he spent three centuries goin' solo. All I'm sayin' is that maybe theres not a lot there in that memory of his besides loneliness."

"He must have happy memories." argued his companion. "We were not with him, so we do not know what special things happened during that time."

"Thats exactly what I'm sayin'. We weren't there." The agitated pookah sheathed his boomerang, stood, and began to pace. Sandy followed him with his eyes, North with his chin rested on his palm. He thought he could see where Bunny was going with this one.

Sandy knocked on his candy dish, the ting ting ting bringing the others' attention to him. Above his head, a heartbreaking scene unfolded. Jack, flying. Around, in front of, above, a group of children. When he continued to be walked away from, he stopped in front of them. It was evident he was speaking to them, but was brought up short when the first golden child burst right through the sand of Jack's torso. He moved out of the way of the other kids, clutching his stomach. He pulled the hood over his head, stood there for a moment, then flew forlornly in an opposite direction.

"Have either of ya ever been walked through?" The inquiry came from Bunny, who was shivering at the memory of his own time being passed through. Both of them nodded, grim expressions adorning their faces. "Imagine livin' like that for three centuries. Three hundred years. Not only that, but the ones who can see ya, know your there, leave ya to your own devices!" He took a breath and leaned against a shelf, poking at a glittering snowman figurine as he spoke. "All I'm sayin' is that maybe this is our chance to start over. Be there for 'im from the beginning."

"So you want to leave him ignorant and confused for sole purpose of taking away your own guilt?"

"No! Yes. I... Don't ya think that too? Even a little bit?"

"I can see appeal. However-" Suddenly, something large and heavy crashed into the window. A yelp in what could only be Jack's voice escaped the figure as it slid down the window to the ground. The three in the room stared at the point of impact, hearts racing from shock. After a moment, they were able to gather their wits.

North was closest to the window, so was the first one there. He undid the latch, then flung it open. Bunny and Sandy were already peeking over his shoulder, Sandy standing on the rungs of a sand ladder he'd leaned against the wall. Twilight filtered into the room. They were on the second floor, so they could see the top of Tooth's head as she knelt over the fallen sprite.

"Are you alright?" North's deep voice called down.

"Fine," called back Jack's slightly higher one.

"He is not fine!" They heard Tooth squeal. "He hit that window head first!" She appeared to be trying to shove her hands in Jack's mouth. "More importantly, face first! More importantly, mouth first! Now open UP!" The trio upstairs exchanged looks, then decided without speaking to head down to help the unfortunate boy.

oOo

When they got to where the two were, Tooth had succeeded in wrenching open Jack's mouth. She was currently in the process of making sure each perfect tooth was present and undamaged. Bunny, North and Sandy came to a stop about three yards away.

Bunny sighed. "Your a strange one, ya know that? One a the strangest." Tooth, satisfied with her inspection, wiped her fingers on her fluorescent legs.

"I don't want to hear that from someone who spends all of his time with walking eggs." She folded her arms. "Everything's all right now, in case you wanted to know. His teeth are fine."

"That's definitely what we were worried about." Muttered Bunny. "His teeth."

North stroked his beard. "Would have been convenient if he had lost tooth, da? Like you say, Tooth. They hold memories." He raised his finger, a sudden idea lighting his eyes from within. "I know! I'll knock one or two out for him. Memory problem solved." Toothiana looked like she didn't know whether to hit the man, or faint.

"If you touch his teeth, North...I'll...I'll" she trailed off, seeming to be thinking hard. A smile slowly turned her lips upward, an excited light growing in her eyes. "I'll... Oh, North!" She flew in a tight circle around him, gripping his shoulders and kissing his cheek when she appeared on the other side of him. "His teeth!" Not able to contain herself, she flit to Jack and almost knocked him back down with her hug.

"I have teeth." Jack said, working to regain his balance.

"Yes, and they're gorgeous! But I mean you're baby teeth. Jack, teeth hold memories. That's why the teeth are so important. Your baby teeth hold your memories from when you were human! You told us about it once. They're what helped you during the battle with pitch."

"So you're thinking that if I see those..."

"It might trigger total recall!"

"Even if it doesn't, half of what ya lost, ya could get back." That was Bunny, the infectious excitement pushing all thought of leaving his friend in the dark to the back if his mind.

"Yes!" North shouted, crossing over to Jack and Tooth. He picked Jack up in his left arm, Tooth in his right. "To sleigh! Right now! Let's go get your memories!"

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