^Two parts: this is Jack's memories but there will be a second part special dedicated to Jack's mother's memory with the song A Mother's Prayer.
"You'll Be In My Heart"
((The Guardians found themselves in a dark bedroom lit only by the lightning strikes from the raging storm outside. It was a simple bedroom probably dating to sometime during the 1700s with a simple pine wood dresser next to a simple pine wood desk before which sat a simple pine wood chair while a simple pine wood bed frame held up a simple straw mattress covered in plain simple bedding. Truly the simplicity of the room nearly drove the bright and colorful guardians mad in the few short minutes they stood there taking in their surroundings. Nearly if not for the fact that a young boy obviously lived there and the signs of said occupation broke up the monotony. An off white tunic hung on the back of chair casually tossed in the passage of a boy dressing for bed; a pair of dark brown deerskin pants hung from a partially opened dresser drawer while a wood comb found its home on top of said dresser. Leather boots lined with fur marked the boy's passage from door to dresser. A few charcoal etchings drew attention from the plain walls as did the familiar looking Shepard's Staff with its crescent shaped crook that leaned against the wall next to the bed.
Looking around, the Guardians easily spotted the lump beneath the quilts covering the bed, fast asleep in appearance though Sandy couldn't see any of his dream sand around the boy. The golden spirit thought the lack of sand odd but shrugged it off as either his younger self had already done this part of the world or had yet to make it. The oddity though was swiftly forgotten when in the wake of a particularly loud clap of thunder the boy's door was thrust open to bang against the wall. At the sudden sound the lump jerked upright only to get tackled back down by the small brown blur that had raced across the room. The sounds of frightened sobbing echoed in the dark room while the previously asleep boy struggled to light a candle around the little form clutching his sleeping shirt. A flare of orange light illuminated the young children and the Guardians could not contain the small gasp that left them.
A picture on the side of a memory box is one thing, but to actually see Jack Frost as a child before he became…well, Jack Frost. It was a novel experience; one that the guardians were not soon to forget.))
Memory World
Jack cradled his five year old sister's sobbing body to his chest. The storm raging outside shook the walls with each peal of thunder and with each flash of lightening created mysterious, terrifying shadow creatures. Each crash and sudden flash caused the small body to tremble uncontrollably against him, her fear almost tangible in the darkened room. Jack rocked her gently, caressing soft brown locks and pointedly ignoring the wet spot steadily growing on his sleeping tunic. He absolutely hated it when Pippa was frightened because it meant he wasn't able to keep his last promise to his mother. Looking at his little sister he remembered the last moments spent with their mother. It was the night of Pippa's birth and Jack couldn't have been a prouder older brother. However, the birth had been difficult for his beautiful mother. Too difficult it turned out for her to live through the remainder of the night.
Jack remembered how pale his mother had been that night, her auburn hair plastered to her skin by dried sweat. Normally full pink lips were white and chapped while disturbing purple bags hung under her cocoa brown eyes that just the day before had been so bright and full of life. Now, even at the tender age of eight, Jack could see the pain and sickness lurking in every corner of her face, in ever wrinkle that seemed to have suddenly cropped up on his mother's beautiful face.
Even though she had so little strength left, his mother still managed to make her son promise that Jack would protect Pippa. Jack had promised mother that he would protect and guide his baby sister as the best big brother the world had ever seen. To an eight year old on the verge of losing one of his pillars, this promise was made with all serious intentions possible. Jack had always been a bit more mature than other children his age despite the mischievous aspect of his personality; always protective of those smaller or younger than him and this was no different.
With thoughts filled with memories of Adela Frost, Jack continued to rock her last gift to her family in soothing comfort from fear. When another crash of thunder sent the little five year old trembling anew against his chest, a song their mother used to sing to him during his times of fear. Jack remembered how it had calmed his fears and while he didn't have his mother's musical talent he figured he would at least give it a shot.
Taking a deep breath and cradling the soft brown haired head deeper into the crook of his neck, Jack began singing in the high tenor tones of a pre-adolescent boy.
Come stop your crying,
It will be alright
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small,
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry
Little Pippa was beginning to calm, her shivers coming less frequently and her sobs descending to rasping hiccups. Young Jack felt a jolt of elation that he was able to pull off something his mother had done for him once upon a time.
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
Why can't they understand the way we feel?
They just don't trust what they can't explain
I know we're different but deep inside us
We're not that different at all
And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Don't listen to them
'Cause what do they know (what do they know)?
We need each other
To have, to hold.
They'll see in time
I know
When destiny calls you
You must be strong (you gotta be strong)
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
I'll be there from this day on,
Now and forever more
Oh, you'll be in my heart (you'll be here in my heart)
No matter what they say (I'll be with you)
You'll be here in my heart (I'll be there), always
Always
I'll be with you
I'll be there for you always
Always and always
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
I'll be there always.
The wild storm had passed and the lullaby had done its purpose in putting at rest Pippa's fears, lullying her to sleep. Jack brushed a brown curl from the peaceful child while a gentle smile curled at his lips. Thank you Mum, Pips is sleeping now. I hope you are proud of her, she's strong like you were and I pray that you can see her from heaven. Jack's thoughts scattered in the wake of a wide yawn, the late night catching up to his young body. I'm tired now Mum so I'll say goodnight. Love you always. With those last thoughts, Jack scooted down under the quilt before bringing Pippa closer to him.
In minutes the two children were deep within Sandman's realm where everything was right and good.
((All was silent among the guardians as they watched the slumbering children bathed in Manny's silver gaze. It was a breathtakingly innocent scene but the Big Four were still saddened by how true the last few verses became for these two siblings. A question remained in this memory's wake as to where Jack's parents where and why the little girl hadn't gone to them in her fright. Hopefully the future would reveal the answer to every question they might have.))
AAAAANND Done! Like it said up top there will be a second part coming up hopefully sometime this weekend but with school starting Monday there won't be any guarantees.
To all my reviewers...I FREAKING LOVE YOU GUYS! your reviews have inspired me and kept me going strong. LOL I squeal with joy and pride every time I get a new review or see the viewer count. I mean this story is by far the most popular at over four thousand views (que the happy yet oddly wacky table top dance!...yeah its as weird as its sounds though I am admittedly a better dancer than my father...yeeeeaa) anywhoo
I was asked how the Guardians view Jack's memories; do they hear his thoughts or is it purely from an outsiders POV. My response is that it is very complicated and yet pretty simple. The guardians start out in a third person outsider POV in order to get their bearings but once the actual memory starts they kind of share a mindset with Jack. They can't read his exact thoughts but they can pretty much put words to Jack's emotions. This is because they feel and hear and taste and see everything the way Jack does so I figure with a connection like that it would be fairly simple to guess what Jack is thinking. Also keep in mind that Jack has been a Guardian for a little while now (specific amount will be given at later chapter) so they should know him a little bit yeah? I hope this answers your question :)
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Happy belated New Year and may the first week of school go smoothly!
Ja'ne!