What now?

Jack's PoV:

"How do you recon she does it?" "Hm?" I turned my towards Bunny."Does what?" He rolled his eyes at me and pointed towards Valentina who were in the middle of...creating clothes from colored ice?! Okay that was a rare sight indeed! Wait, was she naked!? "You noticed too, huh?" I really didn't like the look in his eyes. Tooth and North were busy talking about something about Pitch and what to do about him. I didn't really pay them any attention and Sandy was sleeping again. Must be hard being him.

I decided to stop Bunny from looking at Valentina while she was...weaving? I got this feeling of not wanting any other guy, pooka or not, to look at her like that. Like...I was the only one allowed to do that! I seriously needed to get a grip! I'm not even gonna go there! Well, back to Bunny.

I levitated up so my body would block his view of her. Now way I could do that while standing on the floor.

"Hey! Would you mind?! I can't see anything!" "How about we give the lady some privacy, hm?" He grunted. He didn't look happy. I looked over my shoulder to see if she was finished and the sight that met me was more than breath-taking! Her clothes not only fit her to near perfection but it also sparkled like new snow on a sunny day. Like thousands of small diamonds. "Close your mouth it's not polite to stare, ya know." I snapped out of it. "Oh, and you didn't stare as well?" "Huh? Me? Nah, I was looking at how she pulled a string from the ice flowers and made a dress from it! But then you went and blocked my view and I didn't catch the rest." Yeah right. I mentally rolled my eyes. It was clear from how he had looked at her that he hadn't been focused on just that. He had probably seen the same thing I had. Her long, honey golden, silky hair going all the way to the floor and then some. Her white, smooth skin when she pulled away her hair to put on the dress...wait, when did I notice that? I debated whether to bolt for the nearest window or door. Things were getting quite strange, even for me. What was going on? Well, never mind that. I'll just ignore that feeling and sit on my staff for now.

Seconds later I nearly fell down from that high pitched sound someone in the room made. It pulled me out of my own little world. Well, next I only managed to notice a blue-ish light zooming past me before I really was knocked off my staff. I fell on to North's bed (Valentina had slept in it. It was the quickest thing as we were all busy at the time.) and saw Baby Tooth hugging and chirping around Valentina. She was really hyped about seeing her. It seemed to me they knew each other pretty well. Well, the question I asked myself how they knew each other were partly answered when Valentina told her story to Baby Tooth. What we never got to know was how they met. As Valentina told her story to Baby Tooth I somehow got the feeling she wasn't being totally honest. It was as if she was telling a lie to protect someone, but who? I got on to my staff again to think for a moment when I again saw a blu'ish light zoom past me. This time it was Panda Tooth? who came in. I could never really remember the names of all the fairies, so I was a little unsure whether it was her or not and it didn't help when Valentina called her Pookie. They did a high five and it went the same way is with Baby Tooth. Well, almost, but still. But if you thought that was bad then a whole hoard of fairies came rushing in, when the saw Valentina. She must've been on very good terms with them since they greeted her like a dear old friend they hadn't seen for ages.

You probably figured it, but I fell off my staff again. I decided to stay off it in case any more fairies would come in. Didn't seem like it, but why take any chances. ;)

I knew Bunny could be a little rough around the edges and obnoxious and tense, but to actually accuse her of being loyal to Pitch and stuff was way over the top. I stepped in and defended her. No, fair that she would have to take that as well. Though under different circumstances I think she would've been able to take him on just fine. The tears forming in the corners of her eyes were proof of her being under a lot of...pressure...lets keep it at that for now. If what she told us were true, which I'm inclined to believe is, then she have quite some time ahead of her to adjust to us being able to see her.

I later overheard her little conversation with Tooth and again I got that feeling she was protecting someone. I now noticed she was biting the inside of her lower lip, so she was lying! Though I don't like it when people lie I still wondered why. She was telling lie to protect someone very dear to her. I put together that Baby Tooth was one of them. But it seemed to me there were more than just one and another one who stood very close to hear heart. Who could that be? Hm...I needed some time alone to think a bit...to put this into context.

I slowly slit towards the window and had opened it when she called out to me. By all the snowflakes in the world she really knew how to make my heart fly up into my throat. I thought I was gonna die again from a heart attack! I exhaled and listened to her. She thought I was leaving because I felt ignored?! o.O

Not a chance! But I reassured her that wasn't the case and ruffled up her hair. I couldn't help myself! My hand sorta moved on it's own. Well, can anyone blame me? Her hair was soooooo soft and I had come to like the feel of it. I let my hand rest on her head a bit longer than I should have, but again I just couldn't help myself. And that was when I noticed she had noticed! Why hadn't she said anything?! I would have removed my hand right away if she had. Arw, darn it! My face got a bit red! (I saw it by looking at my reflection in the window.)

And then she smiled. It was a warm smile. I bet if other guys could have seen it they would have melted. Not that I thought many had seen it.

I then made notion to jump out the window when she grabbed my sleeve. That did surprise me. She thanked me again for standing up for her and somehow that flustered look on her face almost gave me another heart attack. Seriously?! One near heart attack was one thing, but two?! o.O

Well, I gave her my brightest smile. Didn't want her to know what I was thinking. I mentioned that Bunny wasn't as bad she thought and that he'd probably warm up to her in no time flat. Why did I even say that?! I didn't want him to warm up to her! Not with that creepy way he looked at her earlier.

The quick hug she then gave me was almost too much to take. Now I really had to go to Alaska. And so I did.

I spent a couple days there. I made a couple of snowstorms and played snowball fight with some kids here and there. After that I stopped by Jamie and Sophie to see how they were doing.

It was nice to see them again. They and the others were doing great. Later that same day we had a snowball fight. It felt ages ago that I'd had such fun. When we had a rest Cupcake came up to me.

"Uhm, do you know who the lady, with black hair, that jumped on to Santa's sleigh was?" Darn it! I had just forgotten about Valentina. Oh well, might as well tell her. "Yeah I know her, but now she doesn't have black hair, more like a golden, honey-colored blond. And her right eye is like looking into a rainbow. And you know what?" Cupcake shook her head. "She can make snow into all these sparkling colors! And weave clothes from the colors. Oh oh and her left eye has an amazing green color! I'd love to take her to you." The girls face got brighter and brighter as I told her about Valentina. When I told her I'd love introduce her to Valentina Cupcake's face was just shining. She reminded me why I loved kids so much. "You would?!" "Sure, why not?" "Wuhu, that would be so awesome Jack! When will you bring her? Tomorrow? A-and can she make me a pony? You think?" "Wow wow there, snowflake. I don't know when I can bring her. I need to talk with her first, but I'm sure she'll agree to come. I can't come tomorrow, have to bring a blizzard to the north pole, but while I'm there I'll ask her. The day before we come I'll leave some ice flowers on your window. Is that okay? I promise it wont be that long till we come. A day or two the most." She squealed and gave me a big hug. I just love kids. Did I mention that? "And make sure she brings me a pony! Oh, and what's her name?" "Okay, what kind of pony?" "Ehm, one that can move?" "I'll see what I can do, but don't be disappointed if the pony can't move okay? I have no idea how good her powers are. She's not a guardian like me. Her name is Valentina."

Cupcake gave me another big hug and went to play with the others. Not long after that I got hit by a snowball. And so the fight continued.

Valentina's PoV: (A few days earlier)

I woke up feeling like someone had tied me up behind a truck and driven through the most stony place they could find. What an old bed. *A-a-a-a-Achooooo*

Not to mention the dust. I sneezed again.

I had this feeling I would go to sleep feeling even worse than now. Ah, I had slept in my clothes...didn't bother taking 'em off yesterday. I wonder if I could get them off. *Uhmf...arrrrrr...auch...oh*

Nope not a chance. Okay, I had made sticky clothes. Would I then have to shower with them on as well? No sooner had I thought the thought before I was naked again and I mean butt naked! *Aaaaaaiiii*

Ups...

Clothes on...clothes on...clothes on...I repeated in my head hoping my clothes was on again. I slowly opened my eyes and looked down. *Phew*

They were back on. Memo to me: don't do that unless necessary. In that minute North opened the door. "What was that 'aaiiii' sound?" "Oh that was just me trying to figure out how my clothes worked." "Ah. Okay, but come with me. We need to make some drawings of how you want your room to look." I followed him out of the room and no sooner had I set foot outside my room before my stomach gave a loud growl. North turned and smiled. "Maybe we get breakfast first, no?" "Perhaps a good idea. Now that you mention it, it smells divine around here. Pancakes with butter and maple syrup, freshly baked buns and real hot chocolate." He shot me a slightly surprised look. "I'm impressed you could smell all that. We not even remotely close to the kitchen." Really?! But it smells like the kitchen is just around the corner. I must've said that out loud or my face showed how baffled I was, because North gave out a bellowing laugh that made the floorboards shake.

"You're a funny one. Just follow me." We walked to an elevator. So rustic compared to the ones in other places in the world. But I liked it.

As we went down we pasted the workshop and an enormous globe with so many lights I couldn't count them. They sure have a lot of believers now. Or was that just me?

"Ah, that is the..." "...globe where you guys moniter the children. Each light represents a child that believes." I finished his sentence. Now his eyebrows almost became one as he made a frown. "Arw, come on! Have you forgotten what I told you guys yesterday? I tried just about everything I could to make you guys see me for 400 years, give and take, and that included coming here. I came so many times...I wanted to help in any way I could, but I could only change colors on things and move an item here and there, but no one could see me. As the years past I figured out what the lights were." I felt like crying again now that I remembered that and the other stuff. I dug my fingers deep into the wooden rail and felt the slight breeze the elevator made. A lone tear ran down my cheek and as I wiped it away North put a hand on my shoulder. He didn't say anything...just stood there with a hand on my shoulder. Well, enough sob story!

We got down to the kitchen and I was hit right smack in the face with all sorts of delightful smells! I could smell coriander, cinnamon, milk, flour, meat-all sorts of meat, salad, sugar, almonds and I could go on!

It was like nothing I've ever smelled before! If only I could cook! I can make even water burn just thinking about trying to cook. You can't leave me alone, cooking, in a kitchen without it being in flames after a minute or less. Not that I've burned every kitchen down I've cooked in, but I did manage once to burn Pitch's kitchen to the ground. It took some time putting those flames out. After that I was forbidden to even look in there. All the same for me. I didn't want to. I can make dough and salads, but I can't cook, bake, fry or heat stuff in any way...not without burning it.

But this! This was different...if I could I would spend every waking minute here. It had this comfortable atmosphere. Not to mention the cooking smelled heavenly!

In the middle of room was a large table with 5 plates on it. Who besides me and North would be eating here? That was when I saw a plumb woman by the stove. When she heard us come in she turned around, revealing two freshly red cheeks, a smile that could make anyone feel welcome and loved and eyes that had small lines by them, she smiled often. In that moment I wished she could have been my mother. I bet she would have taught me how to do at least some decent cooking so the food wouldn't burn every time.

North walked over to her and gave her a morning kiss. Ah, made sense she was his wife. He then pointed over to me and said something to her. That was when she noticed me standing in the doorway. She immediately walked over to me and gave me the warmest hug I had ever been given in my life!

Uh, the tears were coming again. I knew I would like her.

"Valentina, this is my wife, Magda, but we call her Yuletide." "Pleased to finally meet you. North told me all about yesterday. Is it really true you lived with Pitch all these years and only Tooth's fairies and animals could see you?" "Yes, ma'am. It's all true. I wish I hadn't been so, but I have no memory from before the 16 hundreds or so. That and you guys couldn't see me. Well, Pitch could, but he was one gloomy jerk to live with." Yuletide giggled in a way that reminded me of silver bells. "Oh my, you don't have to be so formal with, sweety. Just call me Yuletide, like everyone else. Now let's get some food in you. I bet you're hungry and we need to get some fat on you...you're so skinny!" She put her arm lovingly around my shoulders and led me to the table where both Sandy and Bunny were sitting, ready to eat. Yuletide directed me to the chair quack between them. I didn't mind sitting next to Sandy, but Bunny made my skin crawl a bit. Must the aftermath from yesterday.

"Good morning Sandy! Did the dream spreading go well?" He started telling me some funny stories and we started eating. As I had smelled earlier it was pancakes and buns, both fresh out of the oven. It felt like I hadn't eating in centuries! Pitch's cooking was...sad to say the least next to this.

"...so he dreamed that his grandmother kissed him?! Oh my, poor fella! If I dreamed anything good? Um...not that I can think of no. I usually never remember my dreams. I made it a habit of not to as I used to get nightmares instead. Speaking of which I see Pitch found my little 'present'." I saw a small nightmare popping it's ugly head out from a window. Bunny turned to me. "What present did ya leave him?" "Oh, just a little something I call a whipper-snapper. Nasty little creatons, but quite handy for nasty pranks. I've only used one other before...they are so hard to control. Oh, don't give me that look! I don't intend on using it on you or any of the other guardians, unless you give me a reason to...not that I think you would. So you're safe, don't worry about it." They were all giving me some sort of I'm-creeped-out-look. Bunny most of all. "Look, would help if I said I would never use them on either you guys no matter what?" The atmosphere got lighter after I said that."What is a whipper-snapper any way?" "You know what squids look like right? Okay, they look like someone put a squids arms on an alligators head and made it snap and whip whoever you wanted it to. Just make sure you're not present when it gets activated. It generally has energy to snap and whip you for a good week and then it just crumbles to dust...unless you POUR WATER FROM A CHURCH ALTER ON IT." "Why'd ya yell that last part? We can hear just fine, ya know." I chuckled. "That wasn't for you guys. It was for the nightmare in that window over there. Pitch most likely sent it to find out how to stop the whipper-snapper." North popped a brow. "Will that work?" "It will, under normal circumstances, but not in this case. I put in about 2-3 fail-safes. And another thing about this particular one is that it will last for around a fort night. Or two weeks." "Isn't that a bit mean?" I looked at Bunny from the corner of my eye. "Not if you're me. How do you think I felt when he swung that scythe over my back repeatedly? Or when he wiped me or had the nightmares step on me? Sure he can be mean, but that was way over the top and no I'm not making it up as I go. Go ask Pitch if you want to be sure. I just can't guaranty that he would be of much help given his current situation." I calmly sipped from the hot chocolate and ate some pancakes. The others sat quietly watching me before they got back to eating and chatting. Sandy told me some more stories and Bunny ate his salad while glaring at me. Not really sure what to make of it, but could anyone blame him? He hadn't been through the things I had to and frankly I wouldn't want him or anyone else to.

After breakfast me and North went to his office to make a drawing of how I wanted my room. He sat me in front of a huge wooden desk, with hand carved ornaments. He then placed some paper and a pencil in front of me. I started to draw.

Good thing I'm good at drawing or else this would look like something...I probably wouldn't be able to tell what was.

I stood in front of my room looking at the drawing when North came up to me with Sandy and Bunny. "Wait you asked them to help out with fixing my room? And here I thought they always came for breakfast here." "Sandy does most of the time, but Bunny I asked to come help." "More like you twisted my arm around when ya did, ya freaking brumby!" "Ach, Bunny, don't be so modest! You have so much time so why should you not help out our new friend here?" Oh no, I had a feeling this one would come. "I have time?! Now you listen up here, mate..." And so the discussion started. I shook my head while returning to the drawing. While doing so I walked over to the door and I had barely opened it when I got showered in sawdust and what not that flew out from the door. Not to mention the noise that came as well. The drawing flew up in my face and covered my view. What in tarnations were going on here?! If those blasted nightmares where wrecking it I will personally see to it they give Pitch all the whipper-snappers I can up with to last him a lifetime or more.

When I finally got the drawing down from my face all the commotion from my room had silenced and what I saw was nothing short of just what I had thought about when I was drawing! Not only had things been carved, made and painted as I had wanted it, it had been placed where I had wanted different items to be!

I stood awestruck with my mouth open and I dropped the drawing on the floor. North and Bunny had stopped their arguing, when I don't know, but they came up to me to see what the noise was all about. "Well, it looks like my help wont be needed today. See ya, sheila!" He tabbed on the ground and gone he was. Wait, my name isn't sheila! I think he must be getting hearing impaired. Well, that happens when you get older. On a later occasion I'd have to talk to him about it. Annoying rabbit.

I hadn't seen Jack around, but yesterday he had said something about going to Alaska with some snow so it would make sense that he wouldn't be in this morning. With the thing that happened with my room and the clothes incident yesterday I now needed to test my powers and see what I could do. I also had to test and see if I could still fly.

That trail of thought brought me to my cat Mime. I had to get her out of there. Heaven knows what Pitch would do to her now that I was gone. I knew I only had a few days to figure things out. I gave my self a deadline for the rescue.

After some talking back and forth for a few minutes...and some making sure this was legit I secluded myself in my room till dinner.

The next 3-4 days were spent like this till one day I couldn't find a ball I had made/imagined.

The window was open, I needed some fresh air. I had been searching on my desk, under it, behind it, next to it and I was currently looking under my bed for it. "Hm, maybe I need a different view."

"Well, I like the view just fine." I bumped my head on the bed as I got out. I swore that had been Jack's voice just now.

I turned around while rubbing my head and there he was sitting in the window sill tossing my ball up and down. "Well, it wasn't for your enjoyment. Now give me that ball." "Love what you did to the place. So how long did that take?" Give me the ball, moron. "Only a few minutes, give or take. Now give me the ball before I color your hoodie neon pink." He took the ball out of my reach just as I was about to grab it. "Now now that is no way to greet someone, is it?" My head was hurting and I needed to make that ball disappear. (Part of a practice exercise.)

The more I reached for the ball the further away he took it. *sigh*

Now he was floating outside the window...it must be really funny to see me stretch for the ball, hanging outside the window, close to falling.

I gave up when I had pulled myself inside again after nearly falling.

"I give up. What kind of greeting do you want?" He was so enjoying it right now. He grinned, still tossing the ball up and down. He looked like he was thinking, but I had a sneaky suspicion he had made up his mind a long time ago. "I'd like a kiss." He wanted a WHAT! O.o

No way! He can keep the ball then. I turned and walked away from the window and started imagining new ball. In the midst of things I felt the chill, that surrounded him, coming into the room and stopping close behind me.

"You're not mad at me, are you?" His voice was so still and quiet it was almost a whisper. I sure hope he knew I hadn't found that one bit funny. And what was up with the all the flirting today? If that was the only reason he came he could leave and never come back for all I care.

"No, I'm not mad at you." He put his arms around me from behind. I didn't move. I was too tired to even respond. "You don't sound like you're not mad at me. What's wrong?" I tried to move away from his embrace, but he wouldn't let go. "Nothing that concerns you. Now let me go. And no I'm not mad at you, just tired." I said as calmly as I could. His embrace was starting to get to me. It's only been a few days since I had become visible to the guardians and something as simple as a touch could send me over the edge crying. I really wanted to get out of it to cry on my own. Never liked crying in front of strangers, even though the guardians weren't really strangers, but still.

"I'm not letting go till you tell me what's wrong!" Okay, he was playing that card, huh? Well, mister I'm not in the mood for playing. I put my hand on his arm and neon pink started out from my hand and spread all over his hoodie.

That made him jolt back and looked at it like it grossed him out. "Why did you do that?" "I warned you, didn't I? Now could you tell why you're here?" He frowned at me and bolted out the window. I felt a sting as I saw something else in his eyes before he left.

It was probably for the best I didn't get to close to him as it is. In a day or two I would be going back to get Mime from Pitch. I had no idea how that would go, but I just had to get her out of there.

As tears fell from my eyes on to my hands, I clutched a letter in my hand that had just arrived some time before Jack came.

"I'm sorry Jack, but it's best you don't know. For your own sake." I whispered out loud, crying to my hearts content.

Little did I know a certain snowflake was "sitting" under the window.

Okay, it took a long while to write this chapter, but I hope you like it. Could you guys do me that favor of telling me what it is you like about this story? I have absolutely no idea what it is I'm doing right. Well, you don't have to if you don't want to.

Enjoy and remember to RxR! :D