Confused at this, and worried, North questioned Mysterie about it as she sat in the room the two of them shared in his workshop.
"I know you're worried for him, honestly, I kind of am too. He has been working hard because of the places that didn't get much or no snow with the recent events. He feels guilty about it and I think he's trying to make up for it."
"Is not good reason to work as he has, it's been five years now. No one will remember lack."
"He remembers and it does matter to him, but I think there might be another reason too."
"What reason?" North asked
"Jamie. The boy isn't a child anymore."
"He still believes, surprisingly, why would he be reason for Jack working hard?" She just shook her head.
"I think I know, but it's just a theory for the moment. An intervention might be a good idea at this point." North nodded and called the other Guardians, which was why a few hours later the five of them were standing in Jack's room; Bunny and North were blocking the door while Tooth and Sandy were blocking the window.
"DAMN IT!" Jack cried in frustration, Mysterie stood nearby, arms crossed as she watched the whole thing, not yet having said anything on the matter.
"Mate, you need to rest. You'll burn out if ya keep goin' like this. I know ya feel guilty for bein' away so long, but they look fine now."
"I can't sit around anymore. I have a schedule to keep." Mysterie frowned a little at that, why was he taking this so serious all of the sudden? They were just asking him to relax for one day and he was fighting it like they had asked him to sit still for a dentist appointment.
"Guys, let me go. I got a job to do." He turned to Sandy who shook his head, lightly scolding as his symbols appeared slow enough for Jack to understand that he was being scolded on not getting enough sleep and how it was precious to immortals since it was rare that any of them had the chance with their jobs. Mysterie agreed only partly with the Guardians, she could see that Jack was pushing himself harder than he really needed to and pressed the idea of spending time with Jamie through their bond. Jack sighed only to have it followed by a groan much like one from a great wolf lodge commercial
"I can't hang with Jamie. I got Moscow to visit and an early winter for France on my schedule... I have to go by it!" He yanked a little at a strand of his hair, trying to think of a way to get out of this and get back to his job.
"Geez Frostbite, get it together. You're just putting snow on continents. Let it be for a day or two." Jack narrowed his eyes at Bunny and bonked said Pooka on the head with his staff to show how irritated he was with the Pooka without doing any real harm.
"Oi!" Bunny said, scowling as he rubbed the slightly sore spot on his head. None of them seemed to understand the schedule Jack had set for himself and that only irritated him more. Sandy sighed as Jack began ranting again about how busy he was before he tapped Jack on the shoulder, getting the winter spirit to turn about and pause mid-rant.
"What Sandy?" In answer, the Guardian of Dreams tossed his sand into Jack's face and he collapsed as the others yelled in unison - save Mysterie.
"SANDY!" Sandy hid behind Mysterie who seemed to be the only one who wasn't unhappy with him at the moment and didn't seem to mind that he'd just caused Jack to drop off.
"Mate, we wanted him awake to relax for once so he can leave later... not bloody put him to sleep!" Bunny groaned. Mysterie just sighed a little and gave the little Guardian a reassuring smile before turning back to the others.
"Look, apparently he needs sleep too. We should let him sleep it off, in the mean time... I think I have a teenager to visit." She picked Jack up and tucked him into bed before deciding to risk leaving the pole. She hadn't left the pole in a good long while because the other spirits were still very angry with her and would attack her on sight; she happened to know, thanks to North, that Jamie had temporarily left Burgess to go shopping. Allowing her a rare opportunity to speak to the teen. Jamie sighed as he saw a hoodie that reminded him of Jack due to the fact that it was just the right shade of blue. He pays for the cds he'd picked out and plugged in his iPod, putting in earbuds as he walked toward the food court. He didn't sigh wistfully, but he sure wanted to; he could barely remember the last time he'd seen the winter spirit. Not wanting to startle the teen, particularly since he was in view of the public and knowing that the teen would react badly to her, Mysterie sent out a stream of golden sand over to him; aware that no one but the teenager and maybe a few young believers would see it as it floated in front of the boy:
Care to talk with an old "friend" a while?
Jamie smiled when he saw the sand and followed it as it led him from the mall to a nearby small alleyway; Mysterie stood in the shadows, biting her lip nervously as she saw the boy approach, she knew all too well that she was not who the teen would be expecting nor would he be thrilled to see her considering what had happened five years ago. Jamie froze when he caught sight of her, he hadn't expected her.
"You wanted to talk?" His demeanor changed instantly from cheerful to angry, protective teenager. She shifted a little, obviously uncomfortable, but she nodded anyway.
"When was the last time Jack was with you?" Jamie's eyes went wide a little at the question, wondering instantly why she was asking.
"Um... that was five years ago... That was the last time he really visited me, ever, since then all he's done is give snow... not even stopping to greet me really." The teen hung his head, obviously depressed that he hadn't been able to hang out with Jack.
"I promised him I would never stop believing and I won't." She nodded a little, but at the same time shocked at the length of time.
"I thought as much... Jamie, I think Jack is avoiding you. I think he's afraid of you growing up and forgetting him.. Which is why I came to you. I think I can help... but I can't do it alone... I have the power to grant wishes, which is why you haven't seen me since the night you made yours five years ago... I thought that... perhaps, I could help the two of you if you made a wish." She hesitated a moment, wondering if maybe she could do anything that would come close to trying to make up for what Shadow had done... What she had almost helped Jakul do...
"I have no doubt you hate me for what happened that night... the only thing I can offer is an explanation if you care to hear it, but I leave that decision to you." Jamie blinked, staring at the spirit before him suddenly in a new light; realizing that she hadn't forgotten what had happened and hadn't moved on as if it had been nothing as he'd expected her to. In a way... she was like Jack.
"All I want is for Jack to be happy, but I want him to be happy doing what he loves and being with who he loves." He moved over to her and wrapped his arms around her in a gesture of comfort.
"I am not mad. I was just jealous and I wish Jack to be happy and visit me whenever he feels comfortable." Mysterie could only blink in shock as much at his words as the hug. Never in a million years would she had ever thought the boy would shrug off that incident. It made her feel all the more guilty that Jamie was still so pure, even after that night... that he could forgive her for it, that he would try to offer her comfort.
"Hmmm... That could be a little difficult to pull off... but I think I can manage to nudge him." She replied, becoming thoughtful as the shock began to wear off.
"Wait... you were jealous then? Why?" Jamie sighed, his arms dropping back to his sides.
"Well, he kept going to see you and never seemed to stay long anymore like he used to. I got tired of it and after he was forced to... you know... and I couldn't take it anymore. I just got more and more angry because he never came... Anyway, thanks for your help Mysterie." He waved at her before she could say anything more and headed home with his new cds. Mysterie considered what the boy had said as she watching him leave. A slight smile playing on her lips at the unvoiced wish. After all, what sort of "guardian" of Wishes would she be if she could not hear the most deepest wishes of the heart? It was time that she got to work to seeing that this particular boy got his wises. She set off, fulfilling a few minor wishes in the area while she was at it and without too much thought.