If there was one thing in the world Jack envied most about those that couldn't see him, it was that they were never alone. Everyone seemed to have someone. A neighbor, brother, sister, mother, father. The list was endless and the potential to meet new people was awe-inspiring. All that power they had in their hands, and they couldn't even recognize it! All it took was a few words here, a gentle smile there. Mix in some fond memories and a true bond formed.

After 120 years of observation, Jack was more than ready to find himself a friend of his own. He had practiced his introductions on snowmen and women plenty of times. He forged ice sculptures so detailed they could have been breathing, and reenacted how he imagined it would be.

"Hi there! My name is Jack. Jack Frost. Wow, those are some awesome ice skates you guys got there. You know, I like to skate, too. Would you like to join me? I could show you some cool tricks!"

And then he would laugh and throw his arms around their shoulders, the same way he'd seen others do hundreds of times. But they never moved, never nodded back to him. Instead they were stiff and unyielding. He was getting better with his sculptures; maybe it would just take some time. Maybe if he could pour enough of his blood and tears into them, just maybe they would smile back.

He never imagined that his first real, genuine interaction wouldn't be with one of his creations.

He had been people watching again, this time a party. He shouldn't have really been there, in all honesty. Winter was on its way out, and Jack should have followed suit. It wasn't cold enough for him to be there, and sun stung his cheeks ad the back of his neck. But he had overheard the children talking about it for over two months now, and he just needed to see it. He needed to know what it was like for someone's existence to actually be commemorated. And every year, too! It was so strange, but it made Jack's chest tighten uncomfortably.

"Come on, Chris! Make a wish. And make sure not to tell anyone!" Jack's eyes locked onto the woman whose arms were around Chris' shoulders. Her dress was wrinkled from running after a handful of boys all morning, but her eyes crinkled and glowed with every smile. Jack was very familiar with what a mother was, by now. He was very familiar with the longing that came with seeing one, too. He clutched onto the front of his sweater, watching Chris close his eyes and lean toward his flaming cake. Jack was never hungry much, but he thought that was one of the most delicious cakes he had ever seen.

"Oh! Wait, Chris, let me move your hair out of your face for the picture. I swear you need a haircut. Don't you complain, now. Hold still," The boy's mother scolded, leaning over the cake to fuss with his hair. A breath caught in Jack's throat as he saw her sleeve linger over the flames. He looked around, his eyes darting from person to person. But no one seemed to notice.

"Oh, no," he whispered. And then all Hell broke loose. The mother screamed as her shirt caught on fire, scrambling backwards. But it just spread more quickly.

Jack rushed up to them, his heart hammering in his chest. "What do I do? What can I do?" he cried. The kids were all screaming now, and Jack could see the father coming out from the house. But he would never make it in time.

Their screams filled his head, leaving no room for reason. He tried to grab onto her thrashing form in desperation, but to no avail. He had to help. He could help! In one final move, he shoved his staff out in front of him and threw a freezing chill.

She wasn't yelling anymore. He could still hear kids sniffling and one weeping in the corner. The father was here, now. He leaned over her still body, shaking her by the shoulders. Jack stepped back, his heart in his throat.

"Mama? Mama! Mama wake up," Chris wailed.

"Heather? Heather, open your eyes. You have to look at me, honey. Chris, what on earth happened? Where did this ice come from? What did this to her?"
Jack took another step back, shaking his head. "No… No, I helped! She was on fire! I helped!" He said, breathless.

Before he could see what had happened to Heather, something rammed into his side and he was flying head first into the trees.

Head spinning, Jack was vaguely aware of a burning that was blossoming at his side. It only stung at first, but it bit harder and harder at his skin until he cried out. What had hit him? The strong ache in his head wasn't a stranger to him, and he almost welcomed it at this point. But what had done him the favor?

"Hey, you. Why did you have to go and ruin the show? What are you even doing here? You're a friggin winter sprite."

Clutching his side, Jack blearily opened his eyes. A figure stood before him clad in hues of yellow and orange so bright, it made his head swim even more. A scowling face stared down at him.

"W-what?"

"You're not very bright, are you? You can't be, if you don't know that winter is over, buddy." It was a young boy, wiry and small. His shirt and pants flickered in the sunlight, almost as if they were moving.

"You… You can see me?" Jack furrowed his eyebrows. Was this another hallucination? Had he somehow thrown himself into the tree and just couldn't remember? What had happened, anyway?

"Yes, I can see you, idiot. You ruined my fun! I was ready to watch her burst into flames before you came in and friggin' froze her. What was the point of that, anyway? Just to be a spoil sport?"

"Oh," Jack said. And he could remember now. Chris's cries echoed in his ears. "Oh, oh, oh." He huddled into a ball, ignoring the stab of pain in his side.

A shadow fell over him as the boy crouched down in front of him. "Oh, man. Were you trying to save her?" He exclaimed, before bursting into laughter. "Oh, this is too good. Well you sure did a crap job of going at that, yup. A real crap job. This is rich, wait until I tell 'em this evening. They'll have a riot."

Jack couldn't seem to get enough air. The sun was beating down on him, now, and he could feel the frost on him melting. Why did everything burn so much? Why was this boy so hot? Why wouldn't Chris stop crying?

A hand reached out and gripped his arm. Jack looked up, eyes wide. Did someone just touch him? This boy was real? Solid, moving, breathing, real? And then the pain kicked in. A shock ran through his arm and he yelped. The boy pulled back with a smile.

"Oops. My bad. You're really beat up about this, aren't ya? Are you a new sprite or something? Were you just born? And please, stop crying. She's alive. For now."

"Alive?" Jack whispered, reeling.

"Yeah, yeah. You big baby. Why do you care so much, anyways. And why are you staring at me like that, it's really creepy."

"I-I don't understand. I thought…. I thought I was alone. I didn't know there was anyone else. You- you are real?"

The boy stared at him for a moment. "You're not joking, are you? Jeez, didn't the Winter spirit explain anything to you? Woah, are you telling me you haven't met anyone before me? What's your deal, kid? You got something you ain't tellin me? Is it b.o? Never heard of a winter sprite that smelled. Maybe the earth ones, though. But winter?"

Jack clenched his jaw. This was it! This was the moment he had been waiting for! "H-hi. My name is Jack. Will you…. Will you be my friend?" He reached out an arm, tentative but hopeful.

The boy cocked his head to the side. "You can call me Toby. And honestly numb skull, how can a winter and fire sprite be friends? That doesn't make much sense, considerin'."

Jack kept his hand outstretched. "P-please," he urged. "I don't want to be alone anymore."

Toby sighed, before grabbing onto Jack's hand tightly. Jack heard a hiss and he shuddered as he smelled something burning. But he held on, looking wildly into Toby's eyes.

The crooked grin on Toby's face eventually faded as Jack refused to let go. He pulled his arm away.

"Doesn't that hurt?" He asked curiously, squinting at boy before him. He was singed in several places, and there was a layer of sweat on his flushed, porcelain face. Smoke still rose from Jack's hand, which lay at his side.

Jack nodded. "Yes. But I don't mind, I'm used to it."

Toby shook his head in disbelief. "You know, we can't really see much of each other. You're not even supposed to be here. Spring would be furious if she knew a winter sprite was mucking up her season. Hell, I technically shouldn't be here until summer, but I got impatient."

Jack stared down at his hand, blackened and blistering. "Too good. Too good to be true. I knew it."

"Hey, weirdo. Look, sometimes I pass through here on dry winters to see if I can mess around with someone's campfire. Trust me, it's fun and good for the vegetation. Maybe if you laid off on all the snow, I could drop by every once in a while. We can wreak some havoc. I don't hurt anyone. Usually."

"Yes. Yes I would like that. So we're… friends? Actually friends?" Jack wondered, his mouth twitching into a smile.

Toby rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Now, get the hell out of here. You're practically melting all over me. I may have gone easy on you, but Spring won't. So leave. See you later, weirdo!" And in a bright flash he was gone.

Jack could feel the Wind nudging him now. It had waited patiently, like he had asked. But it could see Jack struggling to stand, and could watch no longer.

"Yes, Wind, I'm going." Jack picked up his staff, eyes never leaving the spot Toby had stood in. The grass had been scorched away, a small clearing left behind.

Jack stared down at his hand once more. The smell of acrid smoke and seared flesh made his eyes water. He could see white hot blisters forming by the second, and pieces of skin flaked away around his fingers. He clenched them, tightly.

With a smile, he let the Wind take him far away.

I decided to make these into one shots. Easier that way. Sorry for the delay, no excuses, I know. Reviews inspire me to type faster, just so you know. But much appreciation for all the favorites and reviews left behind. What would guys like to read about next?