*Appears in a magical poof of dust* ...why hello everyone...*winks*
*Enormous sigh of relief* I FINISHED! 7700 SOMETHING WORDS GUYS! AND IT'S DONE! This took for freaking ever to finish guys, plus assignments and stuff like that, BUT I GOT IT OUT! I'm so proud of myself! Though I have to admit, I'm not ENTIRELY happy with this chapter...but they say you're your own worst critic, so hopefully it's not a bad as I think. Mind telling me if it is or not in the reviews?

(Psst! By the way my birthday's in another two days! :D Think we could get 11 more reviews by then guys?)

Well, hope you enjoy this chapter, I think I might go and die in that corner from exhaustion...*collapses*

Disclaimer: I'm too tired to think of something else to say here so I'm just gonna say I don't own Rise of the Guardians. Happy?

Chapter 14 – Memories

(Jack's POV)

I flew through the cold, frigid winds of Antarctica, the wind howling in my ears and snowflakes stinging my open eyes. I gripped the tooth box tightly in my hand, tempted to just drop the thing and be done with it, but at the same time not being able to loosen my grip on the memories contained in it.

I let out a cry of anger and annoyance as tears stung my eyes. Landing on an icy cliff, I ran up to the edge, my arm pulled back. As I reached the end, I swung my arm forward…but my grip didn't loosen on the container. I tried again, but if anything my grip tightened.

I let out a groan, dropping my arm back down to my side and raking a free hand through my silver locks, tugging them down to the side of my head as thoughts flew about freely in my mind. All of them; just big jumbled quotes and thoughts, rushing around in my head at a speed too high to even exist, and it was so frustrating.

I pulled my hand out of my hair, looking down at the tooth container. I gazed down at the golden box, examining the patterned top. Tipping it up, I looked at the boy on the front, with a sense of confusion and longing. Sighing, I dropped it down, looking over the cliff to the wintry landscape in front of me.

"I thought this might happen."

That voice. I gritted my teeth, shoving the memory box into my hoodie pocket as I tightened my grip on my staff. I was twitching with anger as the voice spoke up again.

"They never really believed in you, did they? I was just trying to show you that. But I understand…"

Letting out a cry of anger, I flung myself around, shooting a bolt of ice towards the voice, grumbling under my breath when he blocked the attack. Shouting at him, I ran down the cliff, a look of rage plastered on my face as I flung myself to the other side of him.

"You don't understand anything!" I cried, flinging another attack his way.

"No?!" Pitch said, blocking the attack with more nightmare sand. "I don't know what it's like to be cast out…?"

He flung clumps of nightmare sand my way, and I dodged the attacks, flinging my own ice bolts towards him. I cried out, leaping into the air and hurling what felt like half my energy his way, to which he threw up a shield of nightmare sand, blocking him from the massive blow. I jumped down from the air, squinting through the fog for any sign of the Nightmare King.

"To not be believed in?" I swung around to the sound of the voice, squinting at the darker shadow in the fog. "To long for a family?"

At those last words, I lowered my staff with wide eyes, watching his form clear as the fog dissipated. He stood there, solemnly, his arms at both of his sides, desperation and sadness clear on his face, even as he lowered his eye contact.

"All those years in the shadows, I thought no one else knows what this feels like," He looked up, holding out his arm, a small smile crossing his face. "And now I see that I was wrong."

With wide, yet cautious eyes, I dropped my defensive stance completely, looking at Pitch with a sense of empathy. He stepped forward, circling me, always looking at me even when I dropped my gaze to the icy slopes of Antarctica.

"We don't have to be alone, Jack. I believe in you, and I know children will to!"

"In me…?" I breathed in disbelief.

"Yes!" He laughed lightly, turning me around. "Look at what we can do!"

I gazed up at an ice sculpture, sharply pointed, reaching up to the sky. Billions of nightmare sand grains glinted in the pale sun, trapped inside the ice, and turning it a sickly shade of a light black. I narrowed my eyes, frowning at the wrongness of it all.

"What goes together better than cold and dark? We can make them believe! We'll give them a world where everything…everything is –"

"Pitch Black?" I finished, raising my eyebrow at him in a knowing look.

He faltered, his mouth agape slightly, realizing his mistake a little too late. "…and Jack Frost too." He grinned, trying to cover up his faltered look from before. "They'll believe in both of us."

"No, they'll fear both of us, and that's not what I want." I said, glaring at him for a few seconds before turning around. "Now, for the last time, leave me alone."

"You want to be left alone? Done." I heard him growl behind me. "But first…"

My head whipped around at the sounds of high-pitched squeaking. My eyes widened as I registered the small, multi-coloured fairy in Pitch's grasp.

"Baby Tooth!" I cried, running to her, skidding to a stop when Pitch's grip tightened.

"The staff Jack!" He cried, tightening his grip even more, choking out a pained squeak from the mini fairy. 'Hand it over, and I'll let her go."

I looked over to Baby Tooth, who had turned her head to me and was letting out squeaks of refusal, shaking her head. I gazed down at my staff, watching the swirls of frost decorate the aged wood. Gritting my teeth, I nodded grimly, flipping the rod and handing it over to Pitch. As soon as it lost connection with me, the spirals of frost melted and dripped off the aged wood, leaving a dull, wooden stick.

"Alright. Now let her go," I growled, holding my hand out for the mini fairy.

Pitch swayed with the thought, shaking his head as he looked down at me in disgust. "No."

I widened my eyes in disbelief, dropping my arm to my side.

"You said you wanted to be alone, so be alone!"

I didn't even notice Baby Tooth as she sunk her needle-like beak into Pitch's hand. He cried out, shaking the fairy and tossing her off to the side with a grunt, her squeaks and cries echoing around as she was hurled away. I turned to go after her before a deafening crack filled my ears. My arms snaked around my waist as pain erupted from my abdomen. I let out groan of pain, my eyes blurring up, but I was just able to make out Pitch, two pieces of the wooden staff in each hand, a triumphant look on his face.

He hurled a clump of nightmare sand at me, knocking me off my feet and slamming my back into an ice wall. My eyes rolled up to the back of my head as I fell, letting out gasps of pain and surprise as I knocked into the ice walls, slamming down onto the cold floor. I gasped for breath, cringing as pain overwhelmed me in another wave. I was vaguely aware of Pitch chuckling from above me, and I weakly opened my eyes, watching him toss down the wooden remains of the snapped staff. I groaned and leaned against the icy crevasse walls, fading into the darkness as my conscious was pulled away from me.

I woke from a splitting headache. Groaning, I put a hand to my head, my feet scrambling on the slippery ice floor. My eyes widened as memories from earlier that day – or night, I couldn't tell – came rushing back.

"Baby Tooth," I murmured, turning my head to the side, and, spotting the mini fairy half-buried in snow, I struggled over to her, cupping my pale hands around her tiny body. "You alright?"

She let out a few exhausted squeaks. I sighed in relief, covering my hands fully around her, before pulling back in alarm when her high-pitched chirps grew more frightened and panicked. I pulled away my hand in worry, scared of hurting the mini fairy, frowning when she shivered in my palm and let out a sneeze.

"Sorry," I sighed. "All I can do is keep you cold."

Baby Tooth squeaked again, looking up at me with worry. I pulled her up to my face, cradling her as I leaned on the icy walls of the crevasse. "Pitch was right," I mumbled, tears stinging my eyes as I thought of everything. The children, The Guardians, Sandy, Atheia; everyone I let down. "I make a mess of everything…"

Baby Tooth perked up slightly, her crown feathers ruffling as she padded along my palms, walking up my arms and towards my hoodie pocket.

"Hey," I murmured, watching the mini fairy toddle into my hoodie pocket. I sighed again, suddenly feeling an extreme weight of loneliness on my shoulders. I wrapped my arm protectively around my stomach, leaning my side more into the wall, and closing my eyes.

'Jack? Jack!' I let out a cry of alarm, pushing myself off the wall I was leaning on and scrambling away from the voice. I looked down fearfully, noticing my hoodie pocket glowed gold. I reached in, pulling out the cylindrical tooth box out, along with Baby Tooth, who was sitting on top of it. I gazed down at the glowing box, as the voice of the little girl kept calling out. My eyes flickered to Baby Tooth, who gave a half-smile, laying her hand on the glimmering lid. Staring down at the memory box, I hesitantly reached my hand out, grazing my fingers along the glowing lid. After a few seconds, the diamonds twirled, reflecting a silver light as they parted from the box. The last thing I saw was Baby Tooth's encouraging grin, before the flickering diamonds disappeared, and I was plunged into the images of my long lost memories.

-Memories-
(3rd POV)

A young boy, around the age of five, scrambled through the forest, ducking under tree branches and pulling himself over thick logs. He wore a small, leather clock, along with cloth pants and a skin-coloured tunic, and, strangely enough, he was barefoot. Panting, he ducked behind a thick truck, peering around the side of the tree, ignoring his chocolate-brown locks as the wind whipped them in his eyes.

"Jack? Jack, where are you?" A man, pushing aside twigs and branches, taunted as he came into the clearing. He wore a thick sleeveless, leather vest, buttoned up the front. A black undershirt was visible, and he wore leather pants and buckled boots. His thick, brown locks were windswept, and his bright, blue eyes held mischief as he searched for the grinning boy.

"I'm over here Papa!" The young boy cried in delight, poking his head out from behind the tree, grinning at his father. The man chuckled, before walking over to the small boy, lifting him up into his arms.

"Well done Jack!" The man laughed, ruffling the boy's hair. "Let's get home; your mother would be worried."

-Memories-

The scene changed to shown a village, wooden houses lining the streets as friendly people walked along the dirt paths. Young Jack and his father walked, hand in hand, up to one of the cottages near the end of the dirt path. Scraping his boots, the man pushed open the door, stepping in to the warm house.

"We're home!" The man cried, pulling his son inside with him.

"Oh thank goodness you're back!" A woman's voice called from the other side of the wall. "Jack wasn't too much trouble was he?"

"Nah, Sarah, in fact, he's getting better at hiding; one day, I swear I'm gonna lose him in the forest." The man chuckled, ruffling the boy's hair again as he gave a loving grin down to the boy.

"Well, we wouldn't want that, would we?" Sarah chuckled, walking out from behind the wall, a wooden spoon grasped him her hand.

The woman seemed to be in her late twenties. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, with strands of golden-brown hair falling around her face, framing the oval shape of it. Her hazel eyes glowed with warmth as she looked at her husband. She wore a stained apron over a blue house dress. Glancing down at Jack, she frowned slightly.

"James!" She whined. "He's filthy! Jack, did you even wear your shoes?" The woman crossed her arms and looked down at her son.

Young Jack prodded his toe into the wooden floor, twirling it as he clasped his hands behind his back and looked down at the ground. "Sorry Mama."

The woman gave a sigh, a small smile playing at her lips as she bent down to the little boy, laying a hand on his shoulder. "You have to wear those shoes Jack; otherwise your feet will get hurt."

The young boy shook his head, gazing up into his mother's eyes. "My feet don't get sore Mama, and besides, shoes feel weird."

Sarah chuckled as her son scrunched his nose up at his statement. "Well, you're gonna have to wear them someday."

Jack crossed his arms stubbornly, shaking his head. "Nuh uh! I'm never gonna wear shoes!"

Sarah looked up to her husband, who only shrugged and gave his wife a crooked grin. She sighed, standing up and placing a hand on her hip. "Well, okay then. But can you at least have a bath?"

The young boy seemed to consider this for a bit. "Okay!" He eventually said, turning away from his mother and padding into another room, his parent's giggles and laughs fading behind him.

-Memories-

The scene faded to Jack and his mother walking alongside each other as they headed down the dirt path of the street. It was obvious a couple of years went by. Jack seemed to be around eight or nine, his strong arms clutching a straw basket in his arms, containing a couple of vegetables and fruits. Beside him, his mother padded along next to him, visibly pregnant. She laid one hand on her stomach as she walked beside her son, softly smiling.

Jack stopped abruptly, causing Sarah's head to turn his way in confusion. The boy bent down towards a flowering bush of roses, and, plucking the reddest one with a soft tug, turned around and presented it to his mother. Sarah gave a warm, loving smile, taking the rose from Jack.

"Thank you Jack, that was sweet," She smiled down to her son, which gave her an enormous grin in return. "What's the occasion?"

Jack seemed to ponder on the though, his eyebrows knitting together. After a while, the young boy shrugged, grinning back up to his mother.

"Maybe because you're as pretty as a rose?" Jack offered, tilting his head to the side as his mother laughed, ruffling her son's hair.

After a few minutes of the two walking in silence, Jack turned to his mother. "Mama?"

"Yes dear?"

"What's my baby sister gonna be like?"

Sarah turned to her son in puzzlement. "How do you know it's a girl?"

Jack tilted his head in thought, his mouth pulled into a smirk as he stared adoringly at his mother. "I just know."

Sarah just laughed, leaving the question unanswered as she and her son arrived at the front door of the cottage.

-Memories-

The scene cleared to show Jack, a couple months older from the previous memory, panting heavily as he ran down the dirt path, a wooden bucket overflowing with water grasped to his chest. The water sloshed up the sides, tipping out and soaking the open vest the boy was wearing, but he didn't seem to care.

Arriving at his destination, Jack shouldered the wooden door of the cottage open, spilling even more of the water. Practically dragging himself, Jack placed the bucket down on the wooden floorboards of the house, racing into another room in the cottage. Spotting James, the young boy gave an exhausted grin and jogged up to the man.

"Father, I got the water, just like you asked!"

James stopped his worried pacing, looking down at his son with pride mixed with worry in his blue orbs. "Thanks Jack."

The man walked out of the room, and, seizing the pail, walked up to a wooden door on the other end of the house. Cringing when he heard a pain-filled cry from the other side, he knocked on the door.

"Jocelyn! Jocelyn, we got the water for her!"

The man, and Jack, who had come to stand beside him, heard rustling on the other side of the door, before it was opened a crack, revealing an older woman, maybe in her forties, peer out the other side. Her stringy, blonde hair was mattered to the side of her head with sweat, but she gave a warm smile to the two people on the other side. Reaching through the crack, she grabbed the handle of the bucket, bringing it into the room with her.

"Thanks James. In this hot weather, she needs as much water as possible."

"Can I see her?" The man asked desperately, worry etched on his face.

The older woman frowned slightly. "Not yet, she's still unstable at the moment." Seeing the concerned look grow on the man's face, she grinned a reassuring smile at the man. "Don't worry James, she'll be just fine."

Closing the door, James and younger Jack walked away from the door. Slumping down into a wooden chair, James buried his face in his hands, sighing deeply. Jack, worried for his father, padded over to the man, looking up at him.

"Dad?" The man looked down at his son, not bothering to hide his anxiety.

"Yeah?"

"Mama's gonna be okay, right?"

James stayed quiet for a while, only staring down at young Jack as his son's eyes filled with tears. After a while, Jack's father sighed, breaking into a smile as he ruffled his son's hair.

"Yeah Jack, she's gonna be just fine."

After a while of tense waiting, Jocelyn came from around the corner, a wide grin on her face. James looked up from his hands, and, spotting Jocelyn, got to his feet, a relieved look on his face. He gripped the chair for support, a hand over his heart.

"It's a healthy baby girl," Jocelyn grinned, wiping her hands on the apron strung around her neck.

Jack grinned happily up at his father as he gave a worn out smile in return. Looking up at Jocelyn, he asked "May we see her?"

The blonde woman gestured to the room where Sarah was, and Jack and his father rushed to the door. Opening it cautiously, James poked his head through a small crack, followed by Jack. They both stared at Sarah as she laid in a bed, coated with a layer of sweat as she gave an exhausted smile at a little bundle curled in her arms.

She lifted her head as the two boys entered the room, grinning at them both. Holding out her arms with the bundle in them, she peeled away the blanket from the face of a sleeping little girl. James's heart seemed to melt at the girl's peaceful-looking face, and tentatively, he reached out, cradling the bundle as it snuggled into the man's arms. Jack looked up confusingly at his parents.

"May I hold her father?" The boy asked, his hazel eyes pleading.

The man gave a smile to his son, passing the small girl into the open arms of Jack. Curling them around the bundle protectively, Jack gazed lovingly down at the girl.

"I told you she'd be a girl mama," the boy murmured, causing Sarah to chuckle lightly.

The baby's nose scrunched up, and she opened her small eyes to reveal deep hazel orbs. The girl gave a small gurgle at Jack, reaching up a tiny hand to wrap around the boy's finger. Jack smile grew as he stroked the soft skin of his little sister's hand with his thumb.

"What should we name her?" Sarah's voice cut through the touching scene.

Everyone was quiet for a while, before James spoke up. "What about Atheia? I've always liked that name."

Jack's nose scrunched up and his eyebrows creased together. He titled his head to the side, examining the giggling baby in his arms. "Atheia doesn't really fit her," He murmured. Turning to his father, he said "What about Rose?"

This time, the man tilted his head to the side, whereas Sarah gave a soft smile. "Why Rose?"

"Because…she's just as beautiful as one."

James grinned, stroking the head of the baby girl lovingly. "Well, how about Atheia Rose Overland? How does that sound?"

Jack's grin grew wider. His gaze went back down to the little girl, who gave a toothless grin in return. She gurgled lovingly, her eyes flickering from her brother, mother and father, a look of adoration swimming in her hazel eyes.

"It's perfect."

-Memories-

Atheia charged after her brother as he bolted ahead on the dirt path leading to the fields. Almost tripping over her pleated, yellow dress, she scrambled after Jack as he disappeared further into the crowded village.

"Jack! Jack! Wait up!"

The boy slowed down, catching a small glance over his shoulder to the brunette girl pounding after him. He smoothed out his windswept hair as he smirked down at the girl who appeared to be around five. Eventually catching up, she tugged on the brown, tattered pants he was wearing, heavily breathing. Jack grinned down at the girl, ruffling her hair as she gave an annoyed glare up at him.

"You're not supposed to run that fast Jack!" She pouted, tugging on the tanned straps around Jack's ankles. "Mama said so!"

"Aww, c'mon Rosie; lighten up. You know I would never leave you," Jack said, bending down eye-level to the little girl.

She frowned at him slightly, crossing her arms over her chest. Chuckling, Jack opened his arms, gesturing for a hug. Atheia stood rigid for a moment, before sighing with defeat and wrapping her arms around the boy's neck. The boy returned the hug lovingly, before standing up and brushing himself off.

"Come on; Dad's waiting for us," At Jack's words, Atheia gave an enormous grin and followed him further down the dirt path. After a while of silence, the little girl looked up at Jack, a confused look plastered on her face.

"Jack? Why don't you wear shoes?" Jack glanced down at his mud-encrusted feet, before grinning back down at his sister.

"I don't know Atheia; I've just never liked the thought of shoes." Jack proved his point as he scrunched up his nose at the word.

"Jack!" The little girl whined, lightly pushing his leg. "Don't call me that."

"Don't call you what?" Jack asked, smirking back down to his sister's exasperated expression.

"Atheia! Don't call me Atheia! You know I don't like my first name!"

Jack chuckled, slightly nudging his sister back. "Okay, Rose."

"That's better."

After a while of walking, joking and teasing, Jack and Rose came to a clearing. He stared in wonder of the wave of white sheep that enveloped the meadows. A few men stood off to the side, sitting on tree stumps, joking and laughing as the looked out to the sheep meadows. Atheia, spotting James, tugged on Jack's pant leg.

"Jack, I see Dad, lets go!"

Rose tugged on her brother's pant leg again, and, not getting a response, turned to look up at him. His eyes flickered with excitement as he saw men of to the side, chasing sheep around, guiding them with long, crooked staffs. She huffed, tugging on the straps around his pant leg more to the direction of their father.

"Jack? Jack!"

"Yeah?" Jack hummed, turning to his sister with a faraway look in his eyes.

"I. found. Dad," she deadpanned, pointing off to the distance where their father stood. She pulled again, managing to guide Jack towards their father.

"Hey kids!" James cried, getting off his spot from the tree stump as he walked over to the two children, his arms wide. Rose gleefully ran into her father, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly. She whispered something into his ear, giggling and pointing to Jack, who returned to gazing at the meadows.

James laughed, and, placing Rose on the floor, he walked over to his son and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You know, we wouldn't mind a pair of extra hands down here, if you want to help out."

Jack turned to his father, grinning with joy and nodding his head enthusiastically. James laughed, ruffling up the already windswept locks of Jack's hair. "Knowing you Jack, you'll be a full-fledged shepherd in no time."

Father and son, standing next to each other in a sense of pride, was the last thing was seen, before the memory faded into black.

-Memories-

The scene cleared, showing Jack, his hands wrapped around his father's as tears mingled with cold perspiration present on the man's skin. His father gave him a weak, pained smile, softly stroking his chocolate-brown locks. Rose sobbed into her mother's shoulder and silent tears made damp tracks down the Sarah's cheeks. James turned his head painfully, giving the woman a warm smile.

"Sarah…could I have two minutes…just with Jack?" The man croaked out, earning a small nod from his wife as she, and Rose, walked out of the room.

Jack looked up to his father, his eyes red and puffy from crying. Outside, a blizzard raged, causing Jack to shiver as coldness seeped into the room. "Yeah Dad?"

"I want you…to take care of everyone…while I'm gone." The man said, between breaths of painful air. "You're gonna have to be…the main man now. And…I want you to have this."

Reaching a frail and white hand out to his side, James clutched his fingers around a wooden shepherd's staff, slowly and shakily handing it to Jack. The teenager looked at it in awe, cradling the wood in his hands. Jack gazed back up to his father, tears filling up in his eyes again, but he was able to manage a small smile of gratitude.

"I've taught you…everything you need to know…" James took a gigantic gasp of breath, sending Jack into a panic as he jerked upright, scrambling off the stool and standing next to his father's side.

"Dad? Dad!" Jack cried, grasping his father's hand again as James's heart started slowing. Sarah and Rose came back into the room, fearful looks in their eyes as they crowded around the man in panic.

James only smiled softly. He gazed into his son's eyes, a look of peace present in his own. "Make me proud…son."

With those last words, James drew his last breath, his hand falling limp in Jack's palms. The young teenager could only cry on his father's shoulder, feeling his heart break in two as the family stood in silence, grieving the loss of a father and husband.

-Memories-

When the scene cleared, it showed Jack, a loose, black shirt tucked into his tattered pants. He wore his father's open vest, fingering the leather in memory as he walked down the dirt path. A bouquet of white roses was grasped in his hands as he made his way down the dirt path. People dogged out of the way or whispered to the people beside him as he walked, barefoot, in the melting snow. Eventually, taking a turn to the left, he came across the cemetery. Gritting his teeth with self-loathing, he made his way to the back of the burial grounds. Kneeling in the snow, not caring if his pants got soaked, he wiped away dead leaves and slush from a tombstone. Tears pricked his eyes as he read the engraved message on the stone for the millionth time: 'James F. Overland, Loving Father and Husband.' Laying the bouquet against the tombstone, Jack leaned against his legs, staring at the sky.

"I wish I could've, just done more for you dad. I'm sorry."

Jack stayed silent for a long time after those words, just staring blankly at the tombstone. He grasped the wooden, shepherd's staff in his hands, twirling the smooth wood, before eventually getting up, brushing himself off and trudging home.

When he arrived, he flopped onto the front porch, the staff cradled in his lap as he stared out to the village. He watched little kids as they pushed each other into the melted slush, laughed and crying out in joy as they threw half-melted snowballs at each other. His ears picking up sound coming from behind him, Jack curled the staff closer to his chest, hanging his head low.

Small footsteps caused the floorboards beneath them to creak as they padded up behind Jack. "Jack?"

The teenager didn't respond, causing the person behind him to huff, walking around to face him. "Jack, are you okay?" Jack looked up at Rose, his dreary eyes swimming with self-hatred causing her to grimace. She tugged on his shirt lightly as she stared into his eyes. "Jack, dad wouldn't want you to be upset, you know daddy doesn't like it when you're upset; daddy would want you to be happy."

Jack, again, didn't respond. The girl sighed in defeat, straightening up and walking away from the boy. Jack slightly untucked himself from his curled up position when she left, proceeding to twirl the wooden staff between his fingertips. Suddenly, a cold sensation radiated from his forehead, and Jack's head shot up, causing water and slush to fall from his hair. He wiped the substance away, turning to look at Rose, her body still in a snowball-throwing stance as she gave a hopeful grin up at her brother. Jack gave a confused glance at his sister, before angrily getting up and marching over to her. Rose's hopeful smile turned into a look of fear as her brother came closer and closer to where she was standing. Trembling, Rose watched as Jack planted himself in front of her, his nostrils flaring with anger.

Though, against all odds, Jack broke out into a grin. "I always have the first shot Rose, you know that."

Rose tilted her head in major confusion, before breaking out into a grin as Jack bent down and scooped up a handful of slush.

"I'll give you to the count of three…"

Rose gleefully laughed as she ran away from her brother, not even mentioning that he cheated as he ran after her, grinning with joy.

-Memories-

The memories flickered by faster, as if they were converted into a T.V, and someone was changing the channels. Jack aged over the years, but a mischievous glint sparkled in each memory. In each one, Jack was either causing mischief, laughing and playing around with his sister, or playing in the snow. Even though winter only came once a year, most of his memories were revolved around the snow, and each one was fonder than the last.

In one short memory, Jack and Rose were sledding down a steep hill, crying out with joy as the sled slid over the snowy slopes, gaining speed. In another, when Jack appeared around fifteen or sixteen, he and a couple of the village children were in an all-out snowball fight, pelting balls of the solid liquid at each other, laughing hysterically at each other.

Other memories flickered by too. During spring, Jack ran around the forest with his mother and Rose, playing tag and mocking her when she pouted that he was running too fast. He swung from the trees upside down, pulling faces at his sister when she urged him to come down. This only made the teenager laugh harder as he swung up to sit atop of the tree branch, lightly whacking his sister with the crook of his staff. When another memory flashed by, Jack was messing around with antlers, hiking his kneels up and pretending to be a stag, causing all of the village children to clutch their stomachs in laugher.

All of his memories seemed joyful and happy after the death of James, until the last joyful memory dissolved into black, and the next one cleared to show Rose, a terrified look on her face, reflected from the anxious, brown orbs of Jackson Overland.

-Memories-

Jack cautiously lowered his staff onto the ice, only looking away from Rose for a second, before flicking his eyes back to connect with her wide, fearful orbs. He reached out a reassuring arm towards her.

"It's okay! It's okay. Don't look down, just look at me," he said, locking his eyes with hers to insure he didn't look at the cracks that spiraled around her ice skates.

"Jack…I'm scared…" Rose whimpered, her voice wavering as she glanced down to her feet when another 'crack' filled the already-tense air.

"I know, I know," Jack replied, risking a step towards her, immediately pulling his foot off the ice as another 'crack' sounded in the air. He winced; grinding his teeth together as he quickly studied the ice. He looked back up to his sister, reapplying his reassuring smile. "B-but you're gonna be alright; you're not gonna fall in…uh…" The teenager looked around, raking his mind, and, with a plan in mind, grinned at Rose excitedly. "We're gonna have a little fun instead!"

"No, we're not!" The little girl cried, on the brink of tears as the cracks around the ice increased.

"Would I trick you?" Jack asked, a teasing smile on his face.

"Yes! You always play tricks!"

"Well, alright…" The teenager chuckled admittedly. "But not this time, I promise, I promise, you're gonna be…" Jack, once again, reached out a reassuring hand, gazing into her petrified orbs, with his own hope-filled ones. "You're gonna be fine…you have to believe in me."

Rose let out a terrified breath she was holding in, a fight visible in her eyes as she determined whether to believe her brother or not.

"You wanna play a game?" Jack asked, a grin on his face. "We're gonna play hopscotch, like we play every day. It's as easy as one…" Jack took a step on the ice, wincing as another crack in the ice slithered around his foot. Ignoring it, he balanced all his weight on the foot, grinning and waving his hands around, earning a small giggle from the nine year old. "Two…three!" The teenager cried as he took the last two steps, bending down to the crooked staff that had lain abandoned on the iced surface.

"Alright…now it's your turn," he said, holding out the hooked part of the staff towards Rose. "One…" Rose gasped as jagged lines appeared around where she stepped. "Two…" Jack urged, causing Rose to look up at him in terror as she took another step, larger cracks spiraling around her foot. "Three!" Jack cried, hooking the crooked end of the staff around his sister's waist, and, using all his strength, flinging her to the other side of the pond, where she slid freely along the thicker ice.

Jack stood up, leaning against his staff as he gave a relieved look over to Rose. From her sprawled position on the ice, the little girl looked up, grinning back at the teenager. Just as Jack took a step forward in confidence, the ice let out the last deafening 'crack', and Jack had only a second to lock his terrified eyes with her, before the ice gave way. Jack was only able to hear his sister cry out his name, before he plunged into the icy waters below.

(Jack's POV)

I let out a gasp, clutching the memory box in a death grip. I looked around for a slight second, remembering where I was, before locking my icy, blue eyes with the mismatched ones of Baby Tooth. She gave him a blank and slightly bored look, as if she expected this type of reaction.

"Did you-did you see that?" I cried, looking at her in disbelief. She shook her head firmly with a slight squeak. Ignoring her, I scrambled over to her and picked her up in my palms, causing several more squeaks from her. "It was-it-it was me! I had a family! I had a sister! I saved her!"

I chuckled tensely, still shocked from the memories. Eyes widening as I realized something, I looked up to the moon as I shone brightly overhead.

"That's why you chose me…I'm a-I'm a guardian…"

The moon didn't reply, but I swear it shone a little brighter. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as my thoughts suddenly jumped to Atheia. Atheia…lost memories…Pitch…the cracked egg…!

Hastily, I clawed at my hoodie pocket, pulling out the egg. My eyes widened and I took a sharp intake of breath as I examined the design, this time, with a whole new perspective. I sat there in silence, ignoring Baby Tooth as she poked at my palm. My mouth was slightly agape as I rubbed my thumb over the blue, jagged lines tenderly, tears pricking my eyes.

"Well, how about Atheia Rose Overland? How does that sound?"

"It's perfect."

A chirp from Baby Tooth alerted me from my thoughts. I shoved the egg in my pocket forcefully, placing Baby Tooth on my shoulder as I stood up on the ice.

"We have to get out of here," I murmured, looking up and down the sides of the sleek walls of the crevasse.

Spotting my cracked staff to the side, I slid over to it, grasping a piece of the smooth wood in each hand. Shoving them together forcefully, I focused my energy into the wood. I heard a nervous squeak from Baby Tooth and my eyebrows knitted together in worry. I groaned as I heard the wood scrape against each other as my arms weakened and broke the connection. Determined, I stood up, juggling the pieces of wood in my hands before crushing the ends together. I clenched my eyes together, pushing all the distracting thoughts from my head and focusing my power into the pieces of wood. My head started to hurt and my arms started to ache, but I still kept at it, ramming the pieces of wood closer together. I groaned from the strain, feeling beads of sweat glisten on my forehead. Abruptly, I felt a surge of power blossom in my chest and Baby Tooth's squeaks of encouragement in my ear. I peeled my eyes open, hope bundling within me as a small spark of blue light turned into swirls of frost, spawning from the broken ends. I forced the pieces closer together, straining to keep my focus. After a few agonizing seconds, the swirls faded, leaving a good-as-new, slick staff grasped in between my hands. Grinning with joy and chuckling in disbelief, I hesitantly tapped the crooked end of the staff to one of the walls of the ice crevasse. My eyes lit up in relieved delight as the swirls of fern frost sprouted across the slick ice. Whooping with joy, I leapt out of the cavern, flipping and turning in the chilled wind. With a boost of speed and purpose, I darted off into the direction of Pitch's hideout.

"Thanks Baby Tooth, I owe you one!"

Jumping down though the hole under the bed and dashing into the dark and dimly lit cavern, I leapt up into the air towards the mini fairies' cages, ripping the doors of a couple open.

"Come on! Let's go!" I cried, annoyed that they weren't rushing out in swarms like I expected. That's when I noticed they were jumping up and down on the cage bars, flapping there wings, but not being able to get more that a couple centimeters into the air. "None of you can fly?" I asked dejectedly, my fears confirmed as they nodded sadly.

Baby Tooth chirped and tugged at my ear lobe, and I turned around to face a dark, rusted globe, covered with around a hundred, rapidly-fading lights. Jumping down from the cages, I swung down to the globe, anxiously gazing at the lights they grew smaller and smaller. "The lights…they're all going out…"

I watched helplessly as the hundred turned to a mere five, and even they started going out. Five turned to four…then to three…then to two…and then one. I waited feebly for the last one to flicker and dull down to nothing. It only surprised me when it stayed strong. I raised an eyebrow in hope, leaping up onto the globe and gazing down onto the town I was most familiar with, and another familiar kid that lived there…

"Jamie!" I cried, a grin growing on my face. Baby Tooth squeaked with joy on my shoulder, before suddenly jerking upright. "What's wro –" My question was interrupted as Baby Tooth clamped her small hands over my mouth, tilting her head in the air, as if she was straining to hear something.

Suddenly, I heard it too; a barely-audible creaking. My eyes widened as my head jerked to the side, as I squinted at a cage, barely visible in the shadows. Hearing the creak and groan of metal again, I leapt into the air, carrying myself over towards the cage. I hovered on the outside, and, squinting through, I barely made out an outline in the shadows. A glinting object catching my eye, I gazed down to a memory box. My eyes widened as I read the name written under the image of a hazel-eyed, brown haired girl: Atheia Rose; the last name had been scratched over and was unreadable. Grinning with joy, I yanked open the door, stepping into the cage.

"Atheia! Atheia it's me, Jack!"

A bunch of thoughts rushed in my mind; I really didn't know what to expect. Maybe a cry of joy? A hug? A slap? A kick? An accusation?

But in all of my immortal lifetime I didn't expect her to chuckle.

And it wasn't the light and cheerful laugh I was used to either. It was dark and eerie, the kind that sends shivers down your spine, winter spirit or not.

"Atheia…?" I took a cautious step forward, pointing the crooked end of my staff out to the outline hidden in the shadows. The figure chuckled again, and I took another step forward.

"Jeez Jack…I expected a better welcome," The voice that called out from the shadows made my breath catch in my throat. The voice was smooth; velvety. It spoke with a tinge of accusation and sarcasm. And what was worst of all, I could tell immediately it was Atheia.

My face hardened into a scowl and I sharpen my position to a defense stance, the crooked end scraping the shadows as I pointed it at the chuckling figure. "Show yourself!"

A grayish tinged finger reached out of the shadows, pushing the end of the staff away to the side. "Pulling threats now are we Jack?"

My eyes widened and I took a couple steps back from shock as the figure stepped out of the shadows.

Dark, purple eyes glowed from the reflective light and midnight-black hair swept over her shoulders. Her skin was covered in black spots, and her hands had turned grey from the wrists down. She was in a tattered and torn dress; if I could even call it that. From the side of her left thigh, the dress had been ripped down to the ankle of her right foot. Around the side of her stomach, a couple of tears in the black fabric had been made as well. It was held up with one strap, the other handing by the front of the dress. Her black lips turned upwards into a wicked smirk; Jack seriously hoped it was lipstick.

"Hello Jack," Atheia said, straightening and grasping her hands together in front of her, an eyebrow arched as she grinned at me.

I couldn't say anything at first, but eventually, I swallowed back my fear and looked up at her, blue eyes locking with dark purple ones. "What has Pitch done to you?"

"Pitch hasn't done anything to me Jack," Atheia's smirk turned to a glare that seemed to pierce me from the inside. "This is your doing."

I opened my mouth object, but was cut off as she continued. "If you didn't come here so selfishly then none of this would have happened," She growled, taking a menacing step forward. "This. Is. Your. Fault."

It felt like I had been slapped. I took a step back, slightly gaping at her. It's not like any of it wasn't true; in every way it was my fault. But I never expected the words to come from her mouth.

Suddenly, an idea hit me instantly, and I almost found myself grinning. "Wait!" I cried, spinning abruptly and latching onto the memory box in the corner of the cage. Turning back to Atheia, I held them out to her. "Open your memories! It'll help you, trust me."

If she wasn't angry before, she was now. Her eyes narrowed at the slight of the tooth box and her hands curled into fists. She gave a growl of anger and lashed out, knocking the tooth box from my grasp.

"I don't want them!" She cried angrily lashing out again for me. I ducked quickly and snatched the tooth box, flying off to the side. Her face warped into a look of loathing as she twisted up to look at me. It was then I realized she didn't have her staff with her. I looked down at her with disbelief and hurt before I quickly darted out the cage door and shut it behind me, backing away as her arms reached out to me from inside of the cage. Her hands wrapped around the bars, and her voice scrapped against my ears like nails on a chalkboard. "Get back here Frost!"

Baby Tooth, who had waited outside, gazed at Atheia with a look of astonishment, sympathy and fear as she attempted to claw out towards me.

"I'll come back for you…" I mumbled, backing away from the cage as her high-pitched wails and cries for revenge throbbed at my ears and burned into my memory. "I'll get help…"

And with that, I turned and dashed out of the dark and gloomy lair, Baby Tooth right on my heels.

Well, I'm utterly exhausted but I hope it was worth it, did ya like this one?

HAHAHAHA! Yes! Now you know the truth of my OC! Everything makes sense now doesn't it? ;) A couple of you got it ;) Well done...I must say...well done.
Congrats to JustPlainOldMe and 9thZFighter for picking up on the hints. ;)

I don't know when I'm actually gonna get the next chapter out, but I'm thinking of putting it in Pitch's POV...but I'm not sure yet. Besides I have assignments and an annoying thing called 'School' that I have to go to...but best thing is I've only got 2 more weeks to get through before I'm on holidays! Sweet, sweet freedom here I come!

Birthdays...:/ We do something really weird at our school that if it's your birthday on a weekday you (or your friends) bring balloons...honestly I think it's the stupidest idea ever. Carrying around those things ALL FREAKING DAY? And then you get those random people that wish you a happy birthday ALL THE TIME and after a while you just get sick of it? Yup, my friends are planning to do that for me...oh joy...PLUS they're gonna make my class sing 'Happy Birthday'...and our class sucks at singing 'Happy Birthday'. Does your friends do this to you guys?

Anyway, ignore my rant just there, most of you don't read it anyway...yup, that's right! I KNOW YOUR SECRETS! Ahahahaha!
^Wow...anyway on with the responses!

Review Responses:

TenebrisSagittarius: How bout six days time? ;) Yes, I quite like to keep you hanging ;) To be honest, originally I wasn't planning to turn Atheia dark, but then I was laying in bed half asleep and it was just like "BAM! IN UR FACE!" Thanks for the happy birthday wish! I appreciate your reviews and comments! Have another cookie because you're so awesome! (::)

storygirl99210: *bottom lip quivers* B-b-but...you threw away my cookie...*cries* Thanks for the birthday wish! I'll give you a cookie if you promise not to throw it away...*hesitantly gives cookie* (::)

booklover1598: Hehe, thanks! That's sweet, and look! I updated! :D Dramatic? Really? Wow...here's another cookie! (::)

JustPlainOldMe: Hahaha, I was a little bit confused at first but once I started ready I could immediately tell it was you ;) *pulls out empty pockets* Damn...I haven't got anything, but it's probably for the best, I don't really want to face over-protective parents...heh heh. This chapter was amazing...? *cries* No it wasn't...you lie! I don't know what ineffable means either...and I really can't be bothered to google it XD Pffft, I'm not lazy...
Cliffhangers...;) Ya know ya love em! I love em to, ya know, when they're not pulled on me XD I don't know what it is, but I can't stand to NOT leave you on a cliffhanger...I dunno, it might be my style of writing. But, really, at the end of chapters anything can be a cliffhanger...it's matters how intense it is though ;) And yes...cute albinos for the win! :D I wanna just hug him! *clinges onto Jack* I LOVE YOU JACK! YOU'RE SO ADORABLE! Lol, he'd probably just be looking down at me going 'WTF...' XD
Oh! And thankyou for the birthday cake! I'm touched! A bunch of cookies for you! (::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)! We can be geniuses together! :D Though I find it hilarious how we both claim we're geniuses yet we fangirl over an animated hottie...my. life. is. awesome. I REGRET NOTHING! :D:D:D Thanks for reviewing again! YOU are awesome! :D

9thZFighter: Thanks for the birthday wish! And happy (late) birthday to you! I'm sorry I couldn't get the chapter out! :( I barely just finished it now! But here are some birthday cookies! (::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)! Hope you like them! Forgive me! :(

LITTLE RED FOXX: Hahaha! Thanks for reviewing, and don't worry, I'm planning to finish it ;) Welcome to this epic and random story of love and cookies! (::)(::)(::)(::) Enjoy!

Shewolf-skittles-twist14: Really? You love this story? *blushes* Thankyou! And thanks for the Happy Birthday wish! Here's a cookie! (::)

dream lighting: Sorry, my story, my rules; I'm making her evil ;) Hahahaha! I can't give anything away though, it spoils the whole point of the build up...so, here's an apologetic cookie. (::) Thanks for reviewing!

Well, that's it for me. Btw, I created an 'Atheia' on a website...pity is I can't remember what it was called...damn...
If you wanna see it, go onto flickr and type in my username (CrystalxRose) and it should be there. (Make sure you're searching for people when you put my username, or it won't work.) I would put the URL but NOOOOOOO, fanfiction doesn't like that crap. :( Sorry. I wish you luck if you want to find it...

Well, guys as usual, if you're new to this story, please review, favourite and follow if you like it so far!
I don't know when the next update is gonna happen unfortunately, but I DO own everything you don't recognize in the movie!

Bye!

CrystalxRose