My eyes opened to the darkness. For a minute I wasn't sure what was going on. My heart was racing and my hands were sweaty. My eyes slowly adjusted to the dimly lit room. I was lying on a couch in my brothers sitting room. The moon shone brightly down through the cracks in the curtains, illuminating the room ever so lightly.

It took me a moment to realise why I had woke with such a fright. I was having a dream. No, a nightmare. It was the same one; I was running down a never ending black hall with a cold laugh echoing around me. There was never an escape. My legs ached as though I really had been running. I took a shaky breath; my heart was slowly returning to normal pace.

I got up off of the couch I had been sleeping on. I checked the wall clock to find it was only two in the morning. I sighed. I wasn't going to be able to get back to sleep now. The dreams I've been having were becoming more frequent– almost every night, now.

I headed to the kitchen, my legs screaming in pain. I levitated slightly and flew the rest of the way. Bribry was wandering the kitchen, his eyes glowing like golden discs. I scratched him behind his ears before making myself some tea. The kettle boiled, more loudly than ever. I frowned. I heard creaking from upstairs– I had woken someone. I was hoping it wasn't Pippa because she must be exhausted all the time.

Luckily it wasn't her, and was Jamie. He gave me a puzzled look. "What are you doing up?" He yawned and sat down at the kitchen table. I smiled. His hair was ruffled and stuck up in different directions.

"I couldn't sleep," I said to him. I sighed, pouring him a cup of tea too before sitting down across from him. "I need to talk to you," I added on.

Jamie suddenly looked worried. He narrowed his eyes a little. "You're not pregnant, are you?"

"Wha-? No!" I exclaimed. "I'm not sure I can even- agh. Never mind!" My cheeks burned a little. "No. I've been having really bad dreams. Always the same ones and... I'm scared. I don't know what they mean and I haven't told anyone. When Mund said that he thinks Evil has a leader I grew more scared... I'm terrified!"

Jamie placed his hand on my arm. "Don't be scared," he said softly. "It might not mean anything. You haven't told Jack?" I shook my head. Jamie smiled. "Tell him. I know Jack will take care of you."

"I... I can't tell him," I explained. "Jack has duties and..." I thought back to when I didn't tell him something before and how that caused a lot of drama; Evil had come to us and promised to kill me- which he succeeded in doing. "It could be nothing," I finally said. "I'm probably over thinking this."

Bribry jumped up onto my lap and I began to rub him behind his ear. I inhaled deeply and let out a shaky breath. Maybe I was just being paranoid. These dreams might not even mean anything.

"What if they do mean something, though? I don't know what to do," I cried. I explained to him my dreams and he frowned. "I wake up and I feel as though I really had been trapped and running for my life."

"You should tell someone," Jamie replied again. "Tell Mund... He might know what to do."

We didn't say anything for a little while. All that could be heard was the ticking of the clock. I was cold and goosebumps ran up my arms. What could the dreams mean? Was I seeing a part of my future, maybe? I didn't like that thought. I could feel my heart picking up pace again. I just knew I was in danger. Something big was about to happen and I hadn't the faintest idea what it could be.

"Mind if I go back to bed?" Jamie yawned again.

"No, I don't mind. I'll try keep it down," I replied. He gave me a final smile before walking back upstairs.

I remembered that I promised to meet Alvern at the meadow today. With that in mind, I went back to the sitting room and laid back down on the couch with Bribry by my side.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

I stifled a yawn as I waited in the meadow. I wished Jack was here. Jamie was right. I should tell him. I'd wait until he returned, though. Who knows how long that would be? That could be weeks... Months. I tried to shove that thought out of my head. I spent half a month bringing autumn to the world. I hope Jack wasn't going to be gone that long.

"You actually came," Alvern said, bringing me back to reality. I smiled at him as he walked over to me.

"I keep my promises," I told him.

"You look like you've just got up," he pointed out. I gave him a look and he grinned in response. "Anyway, I'm glad you came. I haven't exactly made many friends since I became a a spirit... Over one hundred years." He chuckled a little and I smiled.

"My boyfriend Jack was alone for over three hundred years," I said. His eyes grew wide and then he raised an eyebrow.

"Jack Frost?" he asked me.

"The one and only."

"That's cool," he replied. "I didn't realise Frosty had a girlfriend. Not much news reaches my side of the season." He laughed. "So, out of curiosity: how did you become a spirit?"

"I was murdered," I admitted. "Evil... He killed me and the Man in the Moon made me the spirit of autumn. What about you?"

Much to my shock, he pulled up a bit of his shirt to reveal scars running up his side. I gasped. My throat tightened and I looked away.

"I was dying," he told me, lowering his shirt, noticing how uncomfortable I was with seeing his scars. "There was fire in my home... I went back in to save my twin sisters." He looked to the ground. I could hear the pain in his voice and I wondered: did they survive? He seemed to have read my mind. "One of them died. The other survived. I was left with these scars and the Man in the Moon saved me. I'm grateful to him but I sometimes wish he saved her and not... Me. Sorry, I don't think I'm getting off to a good start with you, am I?"

Even though I felt sad for him, I managed a smile. "You are getting off to an excellent start, Alvern," I replied softly. "I think it was very brave of you to try and save them both. I can't say a lot of people are like that in a time of crisis."

"I'm also grateful that you are giving me a chance so we may become friends," he continued on. "The summer spirit, Amber, finds me... What was the words she used? A blithering idiot." He chuckled and gave a side grin. "I don't think I am, but who am I to know?"

"You don't seem like an idiot," I said. "But I've often made wrong judgements of people." Alvern laughed again.

"You're funny, Sophie," Alvern said. "I can see why Jack would like you." I blushed a little and he quickly added on, "I mean... He is the guardian of fun, right? He wouldn't date someone who's boring, obviously." His cheeks went a little pink. "I was with Amber for a while but... As I said before, she thinks I'm a blithering idiot. Well, she said that when we broke up... Sorry. I'm actually rambling on."

"It's fine," I promised. "I like listening." That was true. I did like listening to the little stories he's told me so far. It gave me comfort; he didn't seem evil. His stories made him seem more kind and he seemed like a person easy to get on with, mostly. He told me he's not close with Amber and hasn't seen her in years, hence why he's so lonely and wants a friend.

"Don't you talk to the dryads?" I wondered.

He frowned a little, staring at the trees. "Nymphs are a little funny and I don't mean that as a compliment," he told me. "They are tricksters and mostly aren't kind."

I felt a sudden urge to defend the nymphs, despite a lot of them always trying to take Jack away from me. "Well, they helped us fight Evil! Where were you and Amber then? At least they came to our aid without us even asking them."

Alvern looked mildly shocked at my outburst and I began to feel guilty. I had no right to snap at him like that. "I'm sorry–"

"I didn't know about Evil," Alvern cut me off. "I honestly would have helped if I was told. I'm surprised Bunnymund didn't tell me anything, to be honest. But really, I would have helped."

The air was beginning to get colder. Frost had begun to blanket the trees and the grass these last few days. It reminded me of Jack. He's only been gone about two days now; I had spent the last few days at Jamie's, helping him and Pippa design the nursery. Today I was allowed a break to spend time with Alvern and it was slowly turning out not as planned. I felt bad for snapping at him and I shouldn't have. I could see honesty in his eyes and knew he was telling the truth: he would have helped if he had known.

"I'm sorry," I finally said after a second of silence in which I found interest in the ground. "I know you would have helped and I shouldn't have given out to you. I wonder what's Amber's excuse?"

"Probably just laziness," Alvern suggested. I laughed. "She hardly gives a good summer to a lot of European countries."

"That could be it," I agreed. "Alvern, you're not bad. You're kind of funny."

"Ditto," he replied and I laughed again. I think I've just made a new friend: Alvern, the spirit of spring.

Hey guys! Thanks for all th reviews and follows! As always: they mean so much to me and I'm happy people actually take time out to review and follow/favourite this. :)

So, guest review replies here:

elizabeth: Ya, the list was awesome. Um, yeah. She is. I think I mentioned that in chapter two? :) I can't remember what chapter, but I did mention It! xD Yeah, it would be hilarious because Jamie would be all panicky by the time she hits thirteen and be overprotective of her. Thanks! :)

justplainoldme: yeah! BenBen would be an awesome nickname for him! xD Jck is going to have a GREAT time twitch that! :3 Yes, because I don't want to rush it because in this one I want things to go slow, but not boringly slow, you know? I just feel like in Beautiful, Tragtv things were rushed and I'd rather not do that in this one. :)Thank you so much! I appreciate the review!:)