Rhyme: Myself

As i walked by myself,

And talked to myself,

Myself said unto me:

"Look at thyself,

Take care of thyself,

For nobody cares for thee"

I answered myself,

And said to myself

In the selfsame repartee:

"Look to thyself,

Or not look to thyself,

The selfsame thing will be"

Jack sat at the table listening to the bickering of a Large Russian, and over sized kangaroo (Easter bunny), the napping sandman, and busy Toothfairy.

" soooooo, what's going on exactly?"

everyone stared at jack for a second. Mainly because he usually just watched with amusement when the others bickered amongst each other.

"ah, this is Jacks first meeting." a thick Russian accent was booming

"why are we here?" Jack repeated the question, earning an irritated glace from Bunnymund

Sandy made a couple images above his head, of a a calendar with a checmark on it.

Tooth smiled at sandy's attempts, knowing that Jack is new to the group and hasn't fully grasped sandy's language symbolism language quite yet.

"we have a meeting once year, to keep track of how things are going with the children, and holidays, and to make sure the children's nightmares are not becoming too frequent."

Bunny cut in "Yes, every year right after Easter ends, so I have a year to tend to my googies, and Santa over here has 8 months before Christmas ."

"Has Jamie has more nightmares lately? Or seen any fearlings around?" the Russian asked looking at jack. You could almost see the wonder beaming from his eyes, yearning for an answer.

"No, Jamie and the others seem perfectly fine. And the last time I saw any feerlings was last Easter. I'd lover to stay with idle chit chat." as he finished his sentence with big exaggerated yawn. Someone could almost think it was fake. "but I'm exhausted" with that he stood up and left. Leaving a table of 4 very confused guardians.

-knock knock knock- 3 large knocks could be heard outside the room that jack was sitting in, one would only assume it to be that of a specific Russian.

"is something the matter Jack, you leftso suddenly" North asked with worry as he opened the door looking at jack.

"I'm okay" Even though it was very unconvincing when north saw where he was sitting and the frost figurines on the window.

3 figures, it seems like 2 children and a mother.

"your memories?" North asked as he sat next to jack, and looking towards the window.

"yea, mama, and my sister Elektra "

"Jack what was your full name?"

"Jackson Overland, Why do you ask"

"I remember you, I recall you being on the naughty list starting at age 8, Elektra however never left the nice List. You know she live a long happy life."

"It was odd to see the popular name Elektra fade out over the years" Jack said with a slight laugh

It was just then that north had noticed jack wasn't wearing his normal blue hooding. Jack noticed the odd look he was getting towards his short sleeved white t-shirt.

"this old thing? Mama gave it to me back in the colonial days. It used to be a long sleeve shirt. But I kind of modernized it a bit"

"how often do you change clothes jack" you could almost smell the concern leaking from the North.

"Change? neh, I just wash my clothes each night" north gave him a look a look mixed with concern, and curiosity.

"hehe, well turns out stores sell soap, and I can make snow which melts into water so its pretty easy to wash actually. Its a bit more tricky during winter tho."

"Jack, you should have at least 5 pants, and shirts to change into, should have a bed, and roof over your head to come home to each night. Come fallow me"

Jack just stared for a second, un sure as to how to react. But when he saw North starting to walk away from him he quickly ran to catch up. "North I like the forest, and my Lake, I like seeing the stars at night and feeling the wind ruffle my hair at night, I'm okay...Woah"

North Led him to a bedroom. The walls painted intricately like a winter forest, snowflakes falling down onto the trees, the floor looked exactly like a frozen lake, you could still smell the scent of Pine coming from the wooden bedframe, His bedsheets looked exactly the small town of burgess in winter back in colonial times there was a window about 4 feet by 4 feet above his bed where his head would be so he could watch the stars the rest of the ceiling was painted black with glow in the dark stars littering it,and 1 giant moon. Across the room was a another window, only this window wasand small and left open for the wind. Next to the window was a walk in closet, and at the right of his bed about 5 feet away was a bathroom. The bath tub had jets in it, and a nice counter top about 4 feet long with a sink, to the right left of the counter top and the tub was a small room without a door it was a shower with sliding glass doors.

Jack stood there awestruck, and speechless.

"The windows, and shower doors are like those on cars, you can see out but others can not see in. Blinds are on the smaller so you feel more comfortable. You like it, Yes? The Russian asked as he watched the winter haired child circle the room a couple times accidentally making it snow lightly in his new bedroom, and ending up jumping up and landing with a belly flop onto his new bed.

"its amazing, but I can't" Jack now sitting with his legs swinging off the bed like a child.

"Jack you have been alone for 300 years, No? Us guardians are now family now, you must accept the offer. Think of it as Santa Saying sorry for no Christmas gifts for 310 years" (remember him being 8 years old was the last time he got a gift)

"North it is spring right now" Jack hasd a mischievous grin while looking at the other male in disbelief and delight.

North boomed a hearty laugh "Yes Yes, Very Late Christmas Gift, Sleep here tonight, its already midnight." With that North dimmed the lights making the stars start glowing. "Have Sweet dreams Jackson Overland" North said with a mischievous grin and left Jacks new bedroom.

"guess I really don't have a choice huh wind?"the wind ruffled his hair a bit, as to say. No not really,but that's okay.

He walked over the beautiful sliding glass doors to the bathroom, and to his delight was a jet tub, and a wonderful countertop. "no shower?". He looked to his left and found another room, switched on the light. "WOW". And turned the light back off.

He took a bath for the first time 300 years almost 301 now. When he got out he grabbed his towel and dried off.

To his surprise he found a dresser on the wall at the end of his bed.

"when didthat get here?" then a couple bells and laughter could be heard outside his door. "should've guessed it were the elves"

he found spare clothing, pants similar to what he wore now, but some were also different.

He grabbed some pj pants and didn't bother with the the top for tonight.

He fell asleep almost instantly for the first time in years.

Jacks Dream:

It was the year 1920.

Jack was a baby compared to the other spirits. He created mischief wherever he went.

But today was a bit different, he wantes some peace and quiet.

Walking through the outskirts of Burgess near his lake.

"How long will I go un noticed, unseen by everyone? How long do I have to be alone? Yea I can talk to sandy every once in a while, but at least kids can see him. People just phase right through me. No one can see me, hear me, or even know that I am here. I would give anything just to have 1 person, 1 child, anyone really to hear me, to see me, to know I am here. I wish to play, bring a smile to their face, and laugh with them."

"I am not sure what I am doing wrong, or why I am different, why can't people know I'm here, why don't I age. Am I stuck being 14 forever? Not that I'm complaining really its fun being a kid." he seemed to have asked MIM-Man in The Moon

"But if this is who am? If I am stuck the least I can do is bring happiness to others. Guess the selfsame thing will be huh?"

"Have you slept well?" the Russian asked as he walked into jacks new broom. He figured jack has been up for a while seeing as he heard him rummaging through his bedroom.

"JACK! What happened?" there were clothing everywhere.

"heh , I just really can't decide what to wear, I have been wearing the same thing for 301 years? So its honestly a hard decision." he said as he scratched the back of his neck nervously. He noticed how girly he sounded after he said it.

"oh, yea. But I wasn't talking about that" North walked over to jack grabbinghing his arm.

Pulling his arm back, and turning his arm palm side up. "I...Well When your alone for so long you have to cope somehow. I guess this was the only answer I could come up with. I know now that its kind of addicting, but I'm really trying to stop. Im just not sure what to do, or how to go about it. Guess I thought that I could handle it on my own. As you can see I probably need some help of some sort. Do know what I could do north? "

what do I say to this kid? I have heard of this, and seen some cases, but never dealt with it myself. Do I ask the other guardians for help? Maybe Katharine would know what do, but I don't want to get her in this mess. He's only a child, 301 year old child. "Jack, you'll be okay and your really not alone. I have seen other children do the same thing. Guardians are your family now If we knew we would have helped sooner. Is it okay if I ask for help,or should this be our little secret. 300 years is a long time to be alone Jack. I now see just how difficult it must have been, but you will be okay."

"White okay? Or does make me look too pale?" jack asked picking up a shirt. He really wasn't trying to avoid the conversation. Its just he has a very short attention span, and suddenly found himself distracted back to what shirt to wear. "Sorry north, I don't mean to ignore you. Yea you can ask the others for help, I really want to stop."

"yes, too Pale, I think red, brown, dark blue, black, purple. Darker colors look best. If you go light you look sickly" North's voice was just filled with laughter at the white snow Pale ADD child infront of him.