Child's Play 16
Jack woke up to a rumbling in his tummy and two pairs of warm arms around him. He felt warm and slightly uncomfortable but he knew better than to wander off again. Besides, he didn't need to go to the forest now to see the Moon, it hung right above his skylight, peering in like a watchful parent. Jack gave it a little wave before snuggling against North once more but an urgent voice made him pause and look up once more.
"No," he whispered, his little voice cross at the man that spoke in his mind. "I don't wanna. Daddy be sad."
It's time, Jack. No more games, the silly man said gently.
Jack shook his head and clung to North even tighter. "Noooo..." he moaned but he knew the voice was right and rather he wanted to listen or not what happened next would not be his choose. "Please? Just little longer...for Daddy?"
No, Jack. It's time, the voice insisted.
Jack giggled as Moonbeams streamed through the skylight to dance around him, their gentle glow reflexing off the tiny ice particles on his skin. But still he hesitated, fighting the magic that was slowly spreading through him. He turned to North's peacefully sleeping face and gently traced his fingers over the man's brow and eyes, across his rosy cheeks and down to his lips. "Daddy?" he said softly before lowering his lips to North's forehead. "Love you."
"Hmm?" North asked as he blinked bleary eyes open to gaze at his son. He blinked a second time when he saw the Moonbeams and how Jack was suddenly glowing under the light of the Moon. "Jack? What's happening?"
The child looked down at his lap, looking utterly ashamed. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Sorry?" Realization hit North and he glared up at the Moon, silently demanding answers even if the words he wished to speak were trapped in his throat. He pushed that anger away when Jack gave a sniffle. He pulled the small child into his arms as he sat up. "No, Jack. No sorrys. You've done nothing wrong. This isn't your fault."
"But..."
"Shh...мой маленький мальчик, it's alright," North insisted, carding his fingers through baby fine hair. "Everything will be alright. I doesn't matter how old you are, you'll always be my little boy."
Little arms wrapped around his neck. "Love you, Daddy."
Tears stung North's eyes and he held Jack closer. "I love you, too, Jack."
Those arms felt suddenly longer and the slight weight a little heavier. North made himself pull away, made himself watch as the small child was taken away and replaced with the teenage Jack who looked just as sheepish and out of sorts as his younger self had been. It took only a matter of seconds for the spell to be cast and change to take place but for North it was like a blink of an eye. One moment the toddler sat before him the next there was Jack Frost, whole and complete. The clothing he had been wearing was gone and he was just as naked as his younger self bathing in the stream with Pitch. Not that Jack seemed to notice that part.
His blue gaze was on his lap again and his hands were folded, as if he suddenly didn't know what to do with them. "Are you mad?" he asked, not meeting North's gaze.
A part of North was but not toward the boy before him. His anger was for Manny and all the unanswered questions he had that he was sure Jack couldn't answer, not completely at least. "No," he told jack before grabbing the teen and embracing him tightly. "How can I ever be mad at you?"
Jack gave a squeak of surprise before laughing softly. "I'm so sorry. I wanted it to last longer."
"Hush," North said firmly as he held the boy. "There will be time for explanations later."
The youth gave another sniffle before hugging North fiercely, still mumbling apologies and even apologizing for apologizing. He was the awkward teen again for sure and while North had sorely missed this Jack his heart ached for the toddler he had grown to love more than anything else in the world. He absently wondered if all parents felt this way when their children grew up, of course none of them had ever experienced it quite as he just had.
"Jack?" Tooth asked softly as she awoke to the bed bouncing with the movements of the two males. "Are you hungry, Sweet Tooth? Oh! Jack!"
The teen gave her a shy smile before realizing he was completely naked in front of her. "Shit! Where's my clothes? Ow!"
North couldn't help but bop him on the nose. "No swearing," he said sternly before climbing out of bed. He smiled brightly at the youth as the boy scrambled for clothing but deep inside he felt something twist in agony. His little Jack was gone now, all grown up and he had missed almost an entire day of his young life. He wanted to yell and demand Manny turn Jack back into the helpless child but he knew he couldn't. he should have known Jack couldn't remain small for much longer. It was August now and Jack's Autumn duties would begin soon. There were leafs to paint and frost to bring. Little Jack could never accomplish such a task on his own. Despite that reasoning he still wanted that little boy back.
He took Tooth's arm and ushered her out of bed. "We'll leave you to get yourself straightened out," he said, keeping that smile in place even as his heart fell to pieces.
"What happened?" Tooth asked even as she was half carried, half dragged out of the room. "How did Jack change back? Did you find a spell? North? North, talk to me!"
Jack watched them with worry until his door was shut behind them. His shoulders fell and he gazed up at the silvery orb through his skylight. "There had to be a better way," he muttered to MiM but the Moon had fallen silent again, it's bright glow flickering as if in thought. Sighing Jack went to his closet and pulled out some clothes. He was sure his family had a lot of questions but he wasn't sure just how much he could answer. Already his memories were becoming foggy of his three weeks as a toddler. It was like gazing back on a dream, not quite sure how much was real and how much his mind had made up. One thing he knew for certain was that North was upset. No matter how well the man tried to hide it he knew when his adoptive father was upset. Leaning his forehead against the closet door he sighed. "Another week couldn't have hurt," he grumbled but knew that he probably would have. North would not have given his younger self up so easily. "There better be a good reason behind all this," he finally snapped at MiM. "Cause if you did all this just to screw with them I swear I'll go up there and kick your sorry ass! 'Cause this is my family and if you did this to hurt any of them that's not cool!" He frowned at the Moonbeam dancing before him and brushed it away as he yanked on a pair of pants then shrugged on a hoodie.
He glanced down a the chest of costumes North had placed in his room with a whimsical smile. North had done so much for him. There was no way he was letting MiM get away with playing with his emotions, or Tooth's, or Sandy', or Pitch's and certainly not Bunny's.