Child's Play 2
It took quite some time for the other Guardians to arrive and North had all but forgotten he had given out the call as he sat back in a rarely used rocking chair in the corner of the sitting room. He didn't remember when it had been put there or if he had built it or one of the yetis. Jack had woken up a few hours earlier, very hungry and thirsty and after a hearty dinner and glass of warm milk the child had played for with a bunch of toys before yawning once more and asking for a story. North, still utterly bewildered by Jack's physical change, had readily agreed and lifted the child onto his lap. At first he wasn't sure what type of story to tell Jack, he was far too little now to hear of his many adventures so he thought of his friend Katherine, also known as Mother Goose, and the many wondrous children stories she had created.
"Would you like to hear about the cow that flew over the moon?" he asked the little boy with a fond smile.
"Cow?" Jack asked in his sweet little voice as he nibbled a cookie. He gave a giggle. "Cow go moo!"
North chuckled. "Yes it does, little one." He tucked the oversize hoodie around Jack's tiny form and began the nursery rhyme. It had been many, many years since he told a child such a rhyme. Centuries actually. He wasn't very good at it; he didn't have Katherine's soft musical voice that was meant for such tales. No, he as used to telling stories of action and adventure; the type of stories that the normal Jack enjoyed. But Little Jack was content and listened with great interest. His eyes were bright with interest and he chewed on his cookie – little crumbs getting on the child's shirt as well as North's beard.
"More chocolate milk, little one?" North asked when he finished. He held out the small cup one of the yetis had found to Jack.
The child nodded and dropped his cookie to take the milk. He drank it all before realizing he had lost his cookie to an elf. His bright blue eyes filled with tears and the elf who had caught the cookie before it hit the ground and was just lifting it to his mouth, gave North a panicked look. Jack stuck out his bottom lip, looking as if he might break down. The elf timidly held out the cookie to Jack with a tiny smile. For a moment Jack looked from the cookie to the elf then back before taking it and giving the elf a wide, toothy – and cookie crumb – smile. The elf brightened up and ran off to gather the other elves. Before North knew it he had nearly two dozen elves sitting around his feet asking for another story.
North glanced down at Jack with a bemused smile. "You're going to be as dangerous as ever, aren't you? You have already charmed them haven't you?"
Jack giggled. "Mine."
"They're yours, huh?"
"Yep!"
"Ah, I see," North mused, shifting slightly in the rocking chair, careful not to pinch any toes or knees under it. "Well then, I suppose I better tell you another story before they rebel against me, no?"
Giggling, Jack nodded. "Wease?"
North gave a chuckle and started another story, this one a little more his style. It was hard to make one of his grand adventures toddler friendly but North did his best and Jack listened, completely raptured by the story. Jack snuggled closer, his little head pressed into North's shoulder. He gave a mighty big yawn for such a tiny boy and closed his beautiful crystal blue eyes. He was just dosing off when Tooth came in.
"North? What's wrong? I saw the lights but was in South Africa. I'm sorry we took so long…oh!" She flew back in shock, her hands going to her mouth.
"Shh…" North hushed her, looking down at Jack who was blinking his large eyes open and looking about tiredly. "Go to sleep, Snowflake."
"Oh my gosh!" Tooth gasped as her mini fairies darted forward to get a better look at the little boy in North's large arms. She slowly moved forward, her small feet touching the polished wood floor as she stood before North. She tentatively reached out to touch the small boy as he gazed tiredly at her. "Hi, little one. Who are you?" she asked softly.
North opened his mouth to answer but a soft, tired voice answered before him. "Jack," the child said with a sleepy smile. He glanced up at North. "Mommy so silly. Just like you."
Tooth inhaled sharply, her wings fluttering impossibly fast as she darted back, her small hands pressed to her mouth. "Jack? Mommy?" Her violet eyes darted to North's blue ones. "That's Jack? How..? Why..? Oh North, what happened?"
"I don't know, Toothy, but this is Jack," North assured, adjusting the oversize hoodie again as Jack closed his eyes. "I found him playing with the elves in the storage room."
Dingle waved to Tooth from where he was seated on the ground with his brethren. She gazed at him for a moment before returning the gesture. When she looked up her six mini-fairies, led by Baby Tooth, were checking out Jack. Their small hands combed through his snowy white hair and touching his cheek and tiny hands.
"Girls!" she cried out and quickly covered her mouth as the six fairies shushed her.
North smirked. "Yes, Tooth, please keep your voice down. He's had a rather long day and is very tired."
"Oh," she said softly as she slowly moved closer. "He's so adorable. Did he brush his teeth?"
It was North's turn to inhale sharply as his lips formed a little "O", as if he had completely forgotten something.
Tooth's eyes darkened. "Nicholas…"
"Honest slip of the mind, Toothy," North assured as raised one hand in a peaceful gesture. "It's been a rather crazy day."
She frowned at him before sighing. "Girls," she said sternly. The little fairies snapped to attention. Two flew off while the rest continued to coddle Jack.
An elf tugged at North's pant leg and held up a platter of cookies. North shook his head and shooed all the elves away. They gave a small cheer as they ran off with all the cookies.
"This won't do. This won't do at all," Tooth was saying as she gently opened Jack's mouth and peered at the cookie crumb and chocolate covered teeth. "He's too little to do this for himself, North. You have to do it for him. Oh! What beautiful baby teeth! All pretty and white."
"Tooth," North objected as the two fairies returned with Jack's tooth brush and got to work cleaning the child's teeth. Thankfully Jack was sound asleep now and beyond caring who poked at his mouth. "Let the boy sleep. I swear if you wake him…"
She shot him a glare that made him fall silent. Never mess with the Tooth Fairy when she as caring for a child's teeth.
"Alright, North, what is so important that I had to leave a rather pleasant nightmare to…" Pitch snapped as he stormed into the library with Sandy tailing after him with an amused grin. The golden man froze in surprise upon seeing Little Jack. Pitch's gold and silver eyes widened in surprise. "Is that? What the hell happened to Jack?" He jumped back when what appeared to be a swarm of fairies raced at him all shushing him at the same time. He raised his hands defensively and lowered his voice. "Please tell me this is just a spell gone wrong that you can fix."
North shook his head. "I don't know how this happened," he said honestly, thankful that the fairies were now focused on Pitch rather than Jack. He stroked Jack's cheek and smiled as Sandy floated up to the boy, a fond smile on his lips. "He is cute, isn't he, Sandy?"
The Sandman smiled brightly at North before lightly dusting Jack with dreamsand. Jack smiled in his sleep and Sandy was practically bouncing for joy. He always loved to watch a child enjoy the wonderful dreams he had conjured. His whole face lit up when Jack giggled in his sleep.
"Aren't we short one Guardian?" Pitch asked, moving a little closer and eyeing Jack's small form with curiosity. "I'm sure Bunny would be interested in what happened to Jack."
North looked up at him. Pitch was right. Bunny should have been there by now. He wondered what was keeping his old friend. It made little sense. What could be taking the Pooka so long?