When Past and Present Collide 9

Jack was in utter shock as North – yes, it was his North, white beard and hair and belly and all – led him away from the body on the gurney. He wasn't sure if this was some trick by the others to make him finally let go of North. Perhaps he was still dreaming. Maybe Sandy or Pitch was playing with his dreams. It wouldn't the first time either of them alter his dreams to help him. Hell, the two had even teamed up on occasion. But this felt too real; the warmth of North's large hand on his shoulder, the scratchiness of his beard when it brushed against his face as he hugged his adoptive father, the way his eyes danced with wonder. Everything about him was North – his North.

It was hard for him not to bounce in joy. He wanted to yell out for joy that North was back. Okay, sure the others were right and that the only reason North didn't remember him and appeared so youthful was because most of him was still tied to his mortal body and that Jack had to let him go – not that he'd ever tell anyone that – but it had been so hard. Perhaps if he had listened…

Jack shook his head and smiled up at his adoptive father. He wasn't going to dwell on that. North was back. He stood there, right next to Jack and gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze. Leaning into him, Jack smiled more. It was odd. He'd always loved North as a father but never really understood until he nearly lost him just how much he needed him, how much North meant to him.

"So what do we tell the others?" Jack finally asked. "No to be mean but I really don't want to hear Bunny say 'I told you so' again. He gets all high and mighty."

North chuckled and squeezed his shoulder once more. "True. Bunny can never just smile and shake things off. No…this must be dealt more…delicately, something that will throw the old rabbit off his game." There was a glint of mischief in the older spirit's sapphire eyes and North gave Jack a wink. As they neared the sitting room North gently pulled Jack behind him. Jack's left brow rose but he didn't question the man, instinct telling him the man had something big planned. With a grand gesture North shoved the double doors wide open, step in and yelled. "I'm throwing a celebration in two hours! I expect all of you there and dressed appropriately." Then when all the other Guardians could do was gape at him, he turned on his heel, grinned at Jack and strolled toward the Globe Room.

Jack just blinked in surprise then trailed after him. "Okay, what as that about?"

North chuckled. "Wait for it. Three…two…"

The door flew open once more and Bunny, Tooth and Sandy rushed out, Pitch following at a much slower pace with the hint of a knowing smile on his lips.

"North!" Tooth cried in glee.

Bunny stuttered in surprise. "When… How… Wait it worked? Out of everyone Nicholas managed to talk sense into Jack?"

Jack made a face at him and stuck out his tongue. "No, Pitch did. Nick only gave me an extra push."

The Pooka glanced back and forth between Jack and North. "So it's you, right North? I mean you completed the change, right?"

North's brows furrowed. "Change? What change? What are you talking about, Bunny? You speak in such riddles some days."

Bunny's eyes grew wide with concern and he glanced to Tooth who seemed equally worried. "Huh…well you see…"

Sandy smirked and made a few images above his head, telling Bunny that North was pulling his leg and Jack couldn't hold back his giggle. Bunny's confusion was priceless. Tooth reared back, her movement bird like as she looked about.

"Wait so everything went okay? Your body is just a shell now, right?" she asked but again North acted as if he had no clue what she and Bunny were going on about. It made her extremely agitated. "Nicholas St. North if I go in the infirmary right now and…and find your shell and you're not telling us I swear I'll go back to being the warrior queen and kick your sorry ass."

"Why not give him a quarter and knock out one of his teeth?" Pitch teased. "If you hit the infirmary now you can have the whole collection."

She shot him a glare. "Don't you start or it'll be your teeth I knock out…again."

"I want more than a quarter this time." The shade's smirk grew, as if challenging her to try.

She gave a huff and flew in front of North. "Nicholas, no more games. You don't just throw open the doors and declared we're having a party without explanation, especially when you leave the room in you twenties and come back in your fifties. I'm not saying I'm not happy you're back to yourself but we deserve and explanation. Jack? What happened?"

The boy shrugged. "I did what you wanted me to, I let him go and poof, Nicholas is back to being North."

Her eyes darted from Jack back to North. "So your memories and everything is back then?"

"Uh huh," North confirmed. "Now, about the celebration."

Bunny burst into laughter. "You and your celebrations. You know what, Jackie and I are going to have our own celebration and meet up with the rest of you later."

"Wait…what?" Jack asked but before he could more than look toward his mate he was suddenly thrown over Bunny's shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Hey! Put me down! Bunny!"

The Pooka chuckled and gave the others a salute before tabbing the ground. "Good to have you back, mate. We'll be back soon, no promising Jack be able to walk though." The rabbit hole opened and Bunny and Jack disappeared down it, Jack's yell all that could be heard before the hole closed.

"Oh boy," Tooth gasped. "You might want to push back the party by a few hours. Bunny's really missed him."

North laughed. "I can see that. Bunny and I need to have a talk when he returns."

The female Guardian darted in front of North and gave her sweetest smile. "Well you know you can always hold off the celebration by one day," she said suggestively.

North took her in his arms. "This is something I need to do, Toothy. Once it's done I promise you and I will spend some quality time together.

She pouted and fluttered her wings.

Pitch rolled his eyes. "What time is this party, North?"

"Six…make that eight," the newest spirit said as the fairy kept trying to distract him.

Pitch gave a snort before grabbing Sandy who was smiling fondly at the couple. "Come on, Sanderson. I might be sick if I watch any more lovey-dovey nonsense."

Sandy giggled silently before vanishing into the shadows with Pitch.

. . .

The celebration Nicholas described came to be. Everyone returned in time for it. There as a huge feast for all. The elves and yetis participated in the festivities but the yetis left soon after dinner to attend to North's mortal body. Rather than tell tales of his grand adventures – everyone knew all those stories and most had lived through them – they joked around and danced – well North was dancing with Tooth while Bunny supported a rather sore and thoroughly amused Jack. Sandy bopped around in the air, jokingly snapping pictures while Pitch watched from the shadows and did his best to avoid the mini fairies and elves that kept trying to drag him onto the dance floor. There was much drinking, which Pitch was ever thankful for – there was nothing weirder than watching North dip Tooth or worse Bunny doing the same to Jack who clearly couldn't stand on his own. It was hard to believe that only a short time ago they all feared they had lost North.

Soon midnight arrived and the yetis paraded North's mortal body – now wrapped in clean white sheets – outside to a wooden stage where they carefully laid out the body. The Guardians followed them out and when all was ready Phil handed North a lit torch. The Guardian of Wonder hesitated for a moment before finally reaching out and taking it and slowly walking up to the funeral pyre. He took a deep breath, glanced back to his family and smiled softly at Jack. Then he shoved the torch into the stack of wood. It caught easily and it seconds the whole pyre went up in flames. He stepped back and looked down when he felt Jack's hand slid into his right, then Tooth's into the left. Sandy's small hand landed on his left shoulder and Bunny's went onto his right while Pitch stood next Bunny. The elves hung around their legs, some even hugging North as if to remind him they were there for him, too. The yetis gathered around them in a supportive group. Every last one of them was gathered to pay their respects.

They watched in silence as the body burned each refusing to leave until there as nothing but ash left. They huddled together, keeping one another warm in the freezing night air, the warm of the heat the only other heat being offered. And when there was nothing left but ash the North Wind came and spread them in all four directions ensuring that every part of the world received a piece of North's Wonder until there was nothing left. A soft fluffy snow fell soon afterward and covered any trace of the pyre and making the ground look fresh and inviting.

North pulled Jack closer to him, tucking the youth against his side. Tooth huddled closer as well and soon so did the others – including Pitch who Sandy dragged into the family huddle. Yes, they were an odd family but they were a family nonetheless only now North was finally like the rest of them. They were spirits charged with protecting the children and now North no longer had to fear the day when he could no longer do his job. He no longer had to fear dying or growing old. He was immortal and he would forever dedicate this new life, just as he had his old one, to guarding the children of the world for they were all he had, all he was, and all that he would ever be. He gave Jack a squeeze and brushed his lips over the boy's head. No, the oath didn't just apply to the children but his family as well. He was not about to leave them again, not in this life nor the next or whatever came after.

Fin

This fic is dedicated to my father and great grandfather, two of the most important men in my life that I lost at a young age. My great grandfather passed away May 11, 1989 of old age and my father disappeared March 7, 1994, he and my mother separated shortly after we learned he had cancer. He did not want us to watch him suffer so took off after the rest of the family moved into the next town. His birthday was May 13th but we never found out for sure when he passed on only that he managed to live his life to the fullest before it was taken. I never got a chance to say good bye to either of them but I like to think I would have fought tooth and nail to save them but fear I may not have known when to let go either. So as well as dedicate this to them I also wish to dedicate it to everyone who has ever lost someone they love, a parent, sibling, child, lover or friend. These are the most important people in our lives and the hardest to let go.