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A/n: Even longer chapter^.^ By the way, (l/n) is your last name=)

Chapter Seven

North's P.O.V.

'Finally, it is done!' I carefully laid the little glass automobile on my worktable and admired it with pride as it glistened in the lamplight. It was the latest sculpture I had made and I hoped Phil the yeti would not crush it behind the door like he did with the aeroplane last time. I watched as it drove itself around the table, avoiding obstacles cleverly. It was making a left turn at the table corner when two loud knocks on the door which shook the whole room caused it to fall off. I hurriedly jumped to catch it, nearly knocking my coffee over as I grabbed it gently. Holding it carefully, I inspected it to see if there was anything broken. Fortunately, it had not been hurt. I held it in one hand while using the other to open the door. As I had guessed, Phil.

'Phil, when I told you to knock, I didn't mean bang!' I frowned at the yeti in front of me who gave me a very apologetic look. 'What is it you want?' I barked, still furious. Phil looked up and pointed to the Guardian meeting room. 'Man in Moon?' I asked, my anger being replaced by curiosity. Phil nodded and quickly went out of the room. I laid my automobile carefully in a cushioned box and went to see what Manny wanted.

Moonlight flooded the floor of the large hall as I stepped in. I stood in front of the Guardian Stone and looked up at the bright full moon, lighting up the dark night sky. There were a few moments of silence, then the Man in the Moon spoke inside my head.

'North' Manny called me in his warm, firm voice. 'Yes Manny. I am here. What is it you want to tell me?' I answered him. 'There is a problem. A dark force is rising.' My eyes widened. 'It must be Pitch. I shall summon the Guardians.' I was about to make my way to the signal button when Manny stopped me. 'No. You must inform them one by one. And take note: Do not call Jack Frost.' I was surprised. 'Not call Jack? But why? Isn't he a Guardian too?' I scratched my bald head and waited for an answer. 'This whole problem involves him, and another very important person.' Manny's voice was getting fainter.

'Who, Manny?' I hurriedly asked, hoping he would give me clearer information. 'You will know later, North. But now, summon them all excluding Jack Frost.' Silence followed Manny's last words. I stood there puzzling over his instructions. What was Jack up to? I gave orders to the yetis to separately call Bunnymund, Toothiana and Sandy over. In a few minutes, a hole opened up in the ground and a large furry bunny jumped out of it. 'What's the problem, mate?' The pooka dusted himself off and strode over to me. 'I don't know, Bunny. Manny said a dark force is rising, but he wouldn't say anything more after that.' Just then, Tooth and Sandy flew in from the open window. 'Sorry if we're late, but I had a couple problems at the tooth palace and Sandy had to send a few more dreams to the sleeping children.' Tooth panted as she shook the sleeping Sandy awake. 'Hey, where's frostbite?' Bunnymund asked, looking around as if Jack might suddenly jump out and freeze him. I told them all that Manny had said earlier. 'Oh dear, I wonder what Jack has to do with all this.' Tooth said worriedly. Sandy kept making sand signs above his head which no one understood since they were changing too fast. In the end he just gave up and looked at the others.

'Now, now,' I said, calming everyone down. 'We must wait until Man in Moon gives us further details.' Just then Manny's voice spoke again, and everyone quietened down to listen. 'Guardians, thank you for coming. We have a very grave danger on our hands. But first, let me ask a question. Do you all remember Jeremy?' I was shocked by this question which brought back memories as I turned to look at the others. They nodded at me, indicating that they still remembered. I looked at the moon, clearing my throat. 'You, you mean Jeremy (l/n)? Yes, we remember him. A fine one, he was. Pity he had to go so soon.' I held back tears as I recalled the man who had believed in us since he was a child. I used to bring him to Santoff Claussen even in his old age. Best friends, we were. His death ten years ago just before Jack officially became a Guardian had left us all devastated. But what did he have to do with this?

'It's a good thing you all remember, because this has a lot to do with him.' Manny said, reading my mind. 'Pitch is getting stronger, and he seems to have an accomplice this time.' I looked around at the Guardians' faces. They were looking intently at the moon, Tooth nervously biting her fingernails. 'Do you know the cause of Jeremy's death?' We all solemnly nodded. Jeremy's neighbour had found him lying lifeless in his home one Sunday night. They couldn't determine what had killed him, since his body had no sign of blood, so the case was closed as 'natural death'. But after his house was emptied, Sandy and I had secretly ventured inside to see what I could find. In one corner of his living room, where he had been found dead, I caught sight of a wisp of black sand moving around. It was Pitch who had killed him. After catching the black sand and changing it to golden dream sand, Sandy explained that Pitch must have cornered Jeremy and infused his mind with nightmares which slowly drained his life away. Manny had explained that he was killed because Pitch was very irritated by his constant believing in us, even after all the nightmares he gave him. If Jeremy hadn't died, there would be another light on the globe beside Jamie's.

My mind deep in thought, I was startled when Manny's voice sounded again. 'As you know, Pitch killed Jeremy because of his stubborn belief in you all. And he succeeded. But that's not enough for him. Now, he has a new plan, which starts finishing off Jeremy's only grandchild.' Bunnymund's eyes widened. 'It…it surely can't be…(f/n)?' I also hoped it wasn't her. We all thought (f/n) was a very sweet little girl, even though we only saw her once when Jeremy brought her with him here. After her grandfather died, she started having nightmares like the other children in the world, which was the time Pitch was at his strongest. That and the sudden absence of Jeremy must have shaken her faith in us, causing her light on the globe to fade. After defeating Pitch, the lights slowly came back on, and we thought she would be okay. We never told Jack any of this since it didn't seem necessary for him to know.

'It is her.' Manny sighed. 'Jeremy always protected her fiercely, and now that Pitch is planning to rise again, his first objective is to get rid of her as his thirst for vengeance is not yet satisfied.' 'But why does he want to hurt (f/n)?' Tooth squeaked, a tear rolling down her face. 'As I said, he wants revenge. He believes that way Jeremy will not be able to rest in peace. But there is another reason.' Sandy formed a question mark on top of his head. Manny paused for a while, and then answered, 'Because it has something to do with Jack Frost.' All our eyebrows raised high above our heads. Even Bunny looked worried. 'Yes, Jack is Pitch's second target. He wants to get back at him for defeating him ten years ago.'

'But what has this got to do with (f/n)?' I asked feeling perplexed. 'It is because she has met Jack.' Man in Moon said firmly. We all looked at each other again. It was impossible! She must be at least seventeen and not believing in us any more. 'Guardians, she still believes.' Manny read our minds again. 'And that has let her eyes see the winter spirit.' Tooth started getting excited. 'Oh my! That must mean she can see us too, and we'll be able to reunite with her again!' 'And I thought she didn't think we were real anymore.' Bunny said with a smile on his face, Sandy nodding eagerly at his words. 'I know you are glad with this news, but you must wait until Jack himself lets you see her, whether it is him bringing the girl here, or you visiting her.'

'Why do we have to wait for him to confirm it? What's happening between them?' Bunny crossed his arms and put on a sulky face. Manny chuckled. 'Oh, you will see when you do.' Manny's voice was fading again. 'In the meantime, make sure to not let Jack know about what has been said here, and keep your guards up for any danger. Thank you, Guardians.' Silence enveloped the room once more.

After a few minutes, Bunny spoke up. 'So, what d'ya think that walking fridge is up to?' I thought about what Manny said, absent-mindedly twirling my beard around my fingers. 'Jack won't hurt her, that's for sure.' I reassured Bunny. 'He is a good lad. But I wonder what is really going on.' Soon, everyone headed back to work. I reminded them to keep a look-out for Pitch, then went back to test my automobile again, checking around for Phil first, of course.

Jack's P.O.V.

I was dozing off again when I heard a deep voice call my name. I jerked myself awake and looked around, searching for someone nearby. I moved to see into (f/n)'s window. She was still asleep, her hair tousled from tossing and turning. I was staring at her when the voice called me again. It seemed to come from the moon. Could it be him? Was he finally talking to me again?

'Uh, is it you, Man in the Moon…sir?' I tilted my head up to look at the bright moon, thinking of all the things I wanted to ask him. 'Yes, Jack Frost. It is I. And you have something to tell me?' I hesitated for a while. 'I…yeah, there is something, no, a lot of things on my mind.' I waited to see what he would say. 'You may proceed.' Manny invited. 'Um, okay, yeah anyways,' I wasn't sure how to say it, not quite used to talking to someone whose attention I had been trying to get all this time, then suddenly having him come talk to me. Taking a deep breath, I started.

'There's this girl I saw a few days ago. She was walking through this storm I had created and out of curiosity, I followed her back to her home, which is this mansion here.' I gestured to the house behind me. 'The wind had snatched her scarf away, and I was hiding behind a bush looking at her trying to get it back. Something about her captivated me so much that I got up and caught her scarf, wanting to return it back to her even though I knew she couldn't see me. I thought her eyes fixed on me for a second, but then the cold must have been too much for her so she went inside. I still have the scarf.' I reached inside my hoodie pocket and felt the soft material, making sure it was there and hadn't dropped out.

'Later that night, I was walking on the telephone lines that linked to her house, trying to catch a glimpse of her when I saw her at the window looking at me. We just stared at each other for quite a while. There were a million thoughts going through my head at that time, I was so excited that she could see me and scared at the same time. I could see her properly then and that was when I thought she was the most beautiful person I'd ever seen. So I followed her around the next day and finally worked up enough to get her attention at the park. She was very pretty, like her name, which is (f/n) by the way. Everything about her was exhilarating, even when she was angry at me for wetting her camera. I remember acting really strange around her, I don't understand why. Then I had to carry her home when she zoned out on me two times, I think it's because the fact that I was a winter spirit was too much for her to handle. Then we got to know each other, and I became more and more mesmerized by her.' I stopped, not wanting to talk about Cameron and what happened earlier in the day.

'Is that all?' Man in the Moon asked. I sighed. 'Well, to make a long story short, I think I hurt her feelings when I went away after she got mad at me for asking about her night with that guy friend of hers. I'm really worried about her. I think she's sick.' The heavy feeling came back into my chest again. I hung my head as I waited for a reply.

'Well Jack, what is it you want to know?' Manny asked in a kind voice, like a father talking to his son. 'I want to know why I feel this way for her.' I guessed that summed up everything I wanted to ask.

'Before I answer your question, Jack, there are some things you must know.' I just nodded my head, hoping he would go on. 'First, remember that you were a human before you became a spirit. Maybe you have forgotten how your human life was like, but when you changed into Jack Frost, you still carried human characteristics with you into this new life. And now I think you are experiencing them.' I thought back to the couple I saw earlier. Did that boy have the same feelings for the girl as how I felt for (f/n)? I looked at her sleeping form, my mind trying to process all this as fast as possible.

'Then what do I call what I'm feeling for her?' My eyes were still on (f/n), thinking about how to apologize to her. 'Love, Jack. You're in love.' Manny replied gently.

So this was how love felt like. 'Why do I love her?' I wanted to know. 'Apart from the fact that she is your first teenage believer, there doesn't have to be a reason to love someone. All you are feeling is normal, Jack. No one can stop it.' I looked back at the moon. 'Then, why do I feel irritated by her friend?' The thought of Cameron spending time with (f/n) and letting her drink and becoming sick made my insides start to burn. 'Because, Jack, that is another feeling you have called jealousy. I shall be very straightforward in answering this question. You feel afraid that (f/n) might fall for Cameron and not you. You are angry at him for hurting the one you love and see him as a threat who is in the way between you and (f/n). It is natural for someone to want the person they love to love them back so they can be together. Isn't it?' I bit my lip as I thought about it. I had heard and seen many of these things during the last 300 years of flying around the world. But I had never experienced them before, so I didn't understand now that I started to feel those feelings towards someone else.

'Why did I act so strange when I first saw her?' Manny chuckled. 'You did that because you were insecure and put up a front to hide it. Also you were trying to impress her, which I think made quite an impact.' I grinned, thinking about (f/n)'s reaction to me the day before. 'So, that explains all that I feel towards her?' I was hoping for more. 'Yes, and is there any more?' I pondered for a moment. 'How can I make her love me?'

'Jack, love is not something you can rush-' 'Then how do I know if she loves me or not?' I was desperate. I heard Manny utter a small laugh. 'Oh, you don't need to worry about that. Everything will work out fine.' 'Are you sure? I don't think I'm good enough for her, us being two completely different beings and all.' Maybe this was how Brad felt when he knew he was poor and wasn't fit for the girl of his dreams. 'How do you know, Jack? Have you ever asked her how she felt about you?' I ran a hand through my hair, feeling frustrated. 'No…I'm too shy to tell her how I feel about her too.' 'Listen to me, Jack. Take things slowly. It will end up alright.'

I closed my eyes and analysed everything. Maybe if I could get closer and spend more time with (f/n), I could make her want me. But I had my Guardian duties to take care of, too. Suddenly, I had a bizarre thought. 'You want something, Jack?' Man in the Moon asked. It was like he knew everything I was thinking. 'Well, yes, but its ridiculous, it can't happen.' 'What is it you want, child?' I debated on whether to go for it. 'I…would like to be human…again.' It sounded so crazy even I started laughing at myself. 'Stop it, Jack.' Manny sounded displeased. I stopped abruptly and waited for what would happen next. It was silent for such a long time I thought he had left. His response surprised me. 'Well, if it is your wish, it will be granted.' My mouth opened and I was lost for words. 'B-but, don't you…don't you think it's crazy? Who's going to bring snow to the kids? What if the Guardians need help and I'm not there? How am I going to go to school with her? What will-' 'I shall see to all that.' Manny interrupted. 'There is a reason behind the leniency I have towards you tonight, you will know why soon. Now, before I grant you your "humanity", there are a few things I want you to do.' I nodded vigorously, anything to be with (f/n). 'First, you must be back on good terms with her, and next, tell her more about the Guardians. Also, get to know Cameron.' I frowned at the last task. 'Why get to know-' 'Do you want to become human, Jack?' I sulked. 'Yes.' 'Then save the questions and get to it quick.' Manny instructed.

Looking at (f/n), I asked one last question. 'How am I going to make up with her again?' Manny gave a sigh, 'That is what you will have to figure out yourself, Jack Frost. Follow your heart, but use your head as well.' 'Then what if she doesn't accept it?' There was no response. I looked at the moon, shining white and eerie in the midnight sky. I whispered my thanks and gave it a salute. Then, I flew to (f/n)'s window and gently opened it.