Disclaimer: I own nothing except Sídhe. Everything else belongs to DreamWorks.
Note: So I finally had the horrible inspiration to write this piece… my Muse decided to keep me up just to finish it, so I'm sorry if the end is a bit off. Follow and review?

Soundtrack: Ordinary Day by Vanessa Carlton, Wide awake by Katy Perry (for all of a minute and 52 seconds) and lastly Twilight by Vanessa Carlton

Then: Jack

The crack rings deafeningly in the soft, snow covered expanses around the frozen pond. Anna is standing on its source. A patch of thin ice I hadn't seen until her skates went over them was splitting open. My little sister wasn't moving, save for the harsh trembling that shook her small shoulders.

I quickly sit down and remove my skates. Fear lanced my heart while adrenaline caused it to beat painfully. I kneel, reaching for her, but barely dared to inch too close.

"It's okay," I said, attempting to keep my voice calm, "It's okay… Don't look down, Anna. Just look at me."

Her brown eyes flashed down at the ice beneath her feet. The cracks were starting to web out.

"Jack, I'm scared!" she cried.

Panic rose within me, but I knew I couldn't let her see it. I had to stay calm for both our sakes.

"I know, I know," I said reassuringly, then tried to stand.

The ice splintered and spread to where my feet were. I plastered a smile onto my face and prayed that we'd be okay. I knew I had to get Anna out of this.

"You're gonna be alright," I grinned. I was trying to convince both of us as I continued, "You're not gonna fall in."

Thoughts raced through my mind, and then my eyes lit up as it hit me, "We're gonna have a little fun instead."

"No, we're not," she wailed in protest.

Her doubt stabbed through me. Yet, I was determined to save her. I knew there wasn't much time.

"Would I trick you?" I asked playfully.

"Yes, you always play tricks!"

I couldn't help the tentative laugh that bubbled up from me; she was right. Burgess knew me because I was their mischief maker. Some had even compared me to Loki, the Norse god of fire and trickery.

"Oh alright," I snickered, "Well, not… not this time. I promise. I promise, you're gonna be… you're gonna be fine."

I started inching toward her; the ice held, but I wasn't sure for how long. I managed several steps toward her without it spreading further.

"You have to believe in me," I said with the upmost sincerity.

Anna's brown eyes locked on mine and I could sense the trust that she placed in me. It made me think of the other day, when we had been playing with the other kids. Anna had almost fallen when one of the boys tripped her playing hopscotch. I'd caught her right before she had hit the ground. That was it.

"You wanna play a game?" the words felt uncertain as they left my mouth. Hope sparked inside me and my voice lightened in response, "We're going to play hopscotch, like we do every day. It's as easy as one-"

I stepped to the right toward our father's crook; it was just big enough to fit around Anna's small waist. The ice cracked again as I set my foot down. I felt the grimace on my face before I could stop it. Looking up at Anna, it fell away and was replaced by a smirk. I flailed attempting to regain my balance and look ridiculous. Her sweet laugh burst into the cool air in response. It chased away the doubt and hesitation in my mind.

"Two-" I stepped again. The ice was thicker here.

"Three!" I laughed and knelt to pick up the crook.

Once it was securely in my hands, I stayed crouched down, but edged toward her. Conviction steeled my heart as I reached forward with the crook.

"Alright," I said, continuing to stretch toward her, "Now it's your turn."

A smile spread across her lips until she looked down to step forward.

"One," I breathed.

Anna gasped as the ice popped under the skate. I knew it wasn't going to hold for much longer.

"Two," I said cautiously, praying that it would egg her on.

She gasped again, but terror filled this one. I reached for her, knowing that she wasn't going to get much closer. There was still several feet between us.

"Three!" I lunged at her, hooking the crook around her middle and flinging her across the ice.

The momentum, however, threw me right where she had been standing, but I didn't notice. A triumphant smile finds its way to my face. Anna was safe. Her bright laugh made it all worth the effort. Then, the ice shatters. I lose my balance as it gives way completely, sending me plummeting into the lake.

"Jack!"

The last sound I hear before the frigid waters fill my vision. A shadow appears above me before the water is disturbed once again; white-golden hair catches the moon's light as the person dives toward me. Sídhe slowly swims closer and reaches out, her hand less than a foot from me. Then, agony rips across her face. It was like one of her asthma attacks, but worse. I watched, horrified and numb, as she falls unconscious. I gasp in shock, only to inhale the sub-zero liquid.

Now: Jack

I jolt awake, ignorant to the pain that shot through my skull. A malady of emotions played my heart strings like a harp. Remorse, fear and an overwhelming sadness rocked me to my core. Tears fell to the white sheets below without my notice. My white hair was matted to my forehead. I was covered in cold sweat.

'Why,' I wailed internally. Tremors wracked my body, 'Why didn't I remember her?'

All those times the wind had kept me safe, the way Sídhe looked at me... like it hurt her somehow. It all made sense now. She'd been there from the beginning. I remembered her shy smile the first day we'd played together. Then, the first time I'd seen her have an asthma attack; it had scared us all half to death. It'd taken her a week to recover and I had felt so horrid about chasing her. No matter what happened, she always had my back. She always forgave me.

It took several minutes for me to calm down enough to realize that I wasn't in Burgess, but in North's workshop. I'd been in the infirmary once before years ago. Still, I hadn't been entirely certain until a yeti walked passed me wearing a nurse's hat and apron. I didn't think I'd ever get over the sight, but there were more important things. Like questions… questions that needed answers.

I grabbed my staff and ran to find her. Yelling caught my attention; North was squalling about something. Then, I heard Sídhe's voice cut viciously through his.

"Use those big eyes of yours to see something other than hate."

I darted to the massive doors, but stayed behind them and listened. What had happened since I'd passed out in the cavern? My heart sank into my stomach when Tooth flittered out of the way. Behind Sídhe stood Pitch who looked remarkably nervous… but he different. Hadn't his hair been black?

"During the Golden Age, he was known as Kozmotis Pitchiner. This is Lune's will."

The white haired wind spirit was glaring daggers at all of the Guardians. North's shoulders fell, but he didn't say a word. I wanted to go to them, to say something… anything to make everything alright. The tension that clung in the air hurt more than the throbbing sensation my bottled powers had created.

Sandy floated up to Kozmotis. It was only then that I noticed golden sand butterflies. There were dozens of them flying around the Guardians. One was even perched on Kozmotis' head. It wasn't startled when the brunette man lifted his gaze to North.

"Another thing, North," Kozmotis spoke up, "I did not harm Jack. I had tried to figure out why he had been yelling at a snowdrift with blood pouring out his nose when he saw fit to attack me."

Had I been yelling at the snow? I couldn't recall. I just remember Pitch, the fearlings and my ice that was all too happy to attack him. I reached up and touched something cool and wet on my face. Looking down at my hand, I saw the blood. I tried to wipe it away, but it wouldn't stop.

When I looked back up, Sídhe had focused on Bunny. Dread filled my heart. No... she can't tell them about that. I sort of fell through the doors trying to reach her before she said what I knew she would. Bunnymund's hunched look stopped me. His trembling shoulders told a story that even the wind spirit couldn't; he'd found me last year.

"Then who did?" snarled North.

"Holding back his powers… it's brutal to him, just as stopping the wind would be to me, North," Sídhe's words broke a delicate façade I'd kept for years, "Jack… he wouldn't have told you, but it nearly killed him last year."

The shocked silence rang mercilessly around them. My heart ached as each Guardian reacted to the news.

Tooth fell from the air, landing hard on the stone patio with a broken sob.

North staggered and fell to a knee as though the news had been a physical blow.

Sandy looked horrified. The sand cloud around him lost all form. He had no pictures for this.

Bunnymund was the last one left standing. He'd seen me much worse, but it did nothing to prepare him for the explanation.

Sídhe looked passed them for an instant, and then froze as her eyes fell on me. I was certain she could read the emotions I couldn't decipher that played on my face.

"How could you…?" the words fell from my mouth in a broken whisper; my voice cracked.

Zephyr swirled around me, offering to take me somewhere else. I ran several feet before the wind pulled me into the sky. I knew she would follow me, but that was what I wanted. We couldn't talk with the others overbearing on us. The Guardians may have been our new family, but they treated Sídhe and I like the children we protected.

The wind carried us to our cavern, but our feet didn't touch the ground just yet. Sídhe flew faster than I did to get in front of me. Her soft arms wrapped around my neck. Something warm fell against my shirt; she was crying.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice thick, "I-I just couldn't see this happen ever again…"

Shock was quickly melted away and hugged her waist, pulling her closer. Sídhe hiccupped when I started rubbing her back. I hadn't realized how much she had agonized over this.

"You're going to get blood in your hair," I said quietly, unsure of what else to say.

"I don't care," she mumbled, then looked up. Her bright green eyes were red rimmed, "Promise me this… don't hold them back anymore. I still have nightmares about last year."

Horror must have been clear on my face because a new wave of tears flowed downs hers. I didn't know what to say. Seeing her cry like this… it made me wish I could do something other than float in the wind. Sídhe buried her face in my shoulder again.

"What if- what if we don't find you next time? What if you get hurt and we can't help you?" she sniffled.

The wind was starting to calm down. It slowly sat us down on the frozen surface of the inlet's lake. I pulled Sídhe into my lap and watched her fall asleep. Words echoed unbidden from my memory. The first time I'd seen her since we'd fallen through the ice, she'd asked me something.

Then: World view

The fearlings had attacked him, but the wind spirit had taken the brunt of their force. He hadn't understood why until Pitch had cursed at what he had seen as just the wind. Then he saw the crimson splatter across the snow and a slight indent where a body might have been. A small breeze swirled around him, and then he saw her. The pale girl looked so familiar. Jack strained his memory and yet, he had no idea where he'd seen her before. The wind rose to a gale force and chased the dark beings away; it was calm only around Jack and the girl. He knelt next to her after the Nightmare King had fled.

"Why… why did you do that?" he asked her. He tried to look at her wounds, but the colors made him dizzy.

It took her several minutes to respond and when she did, the sound was excruciatingly pained.

"B-because you're worth s-saving," she panted heavily, and then pleaded, "Don't ever leave me, please?"

Jack watched as a lone tear fell from her eye, mixing with the blood droplets before falling onto the snow. He had no idea why… the image tore at his heart.

"I won't… I won't," he whispered back.

Jack gathered the girl in his arms and flew to the closest Guardian. North's workshop was only a few miles away. The girl had passed out as the wind lifted them into the sky.

The yetis didn't even try to stop him when the winter spirit landed in the workshop, pleading for help. They rushed him and the girl to the infirmary. One of them tried to take the girl from him. He let her go hesitantly before insisting on staying with her, despite the yetis numerous opposing grunts. They didn't have to wait long before Jack collapsed from exhaustion.

Now: Jack

I brushed Sídhe's hair out of her face and wiped away the lingering tears. How many times has she cried for me? I pondered quietly as I tried not to wake her. She and Zephyr had been going nonstop earlier just so I wouldn't be lonely. They must have been exhausted. Still, I knew the wind was going to fly out with North soon. I just hoped that he would be able to pull through knowing now what I had kept hidden.