Snow continued to fall; as Jack saw the children leave the forest. At this point, what he was supposed to do…was to probably go and follow them back home, but for some unknown reason, Jack sank down to his knees; letting the children disappear from sight.

"She…she kept looking back," Jack uttered softly to himself.

"Does she believe in me?"

But, as the thought started to cloud his mind; Jack immediately shook his head; not wanting to develop false hope. He then gripped his staff tightly, feeling the tension of frost forming along the surface. Due to Jack's powers sometimes reacting on emotions, he was careful to not let his powers channel through the staff.

"Don't do this to yourself Jack," he whispered to himself.

He then lowered his head, eyeing at the snow before him. It may not be understandable to what Jack was feeling, but, if it was to be a guess. Jack was starting to feel sad, and….maybe even jealous. Jack wants to be believed in, but whether if he knows it or not, he wants to be believed in by a child. Just like North, Bunny, Sandy, and Tooth. Sure, he has his sister, but…it's just not the same. She is no longer a child; she is all grown up, even to the point where Jack fears that she doesn't need her big brother as often as she used to.

"I just…got to stay strong, and hope for the best."

Keeping the statement in mind, as Jack was about to get back on his feet; a faint twig snapping captured his attention.

"Huh, who's there?" Jack asked, turning to the source of the noise.

Without even thinking, he even held up his staff, already taking aim, though as the creature unfolded from the shadows, Jack then sighed with relief.

"Awww, hey little fella," he said with a simple smile.

The creature turned out to be the little cute white bunny Sarah was after earlier.

"Are you lost little guy?" Jack asked; lowering his staff and welcoming the animal in open arms.

The bunny looked at Jack, and like all animals do, it just continued to stare at him. If Jack were to come any closer, the bunny would without a doubt runaway, so Jack kept his distance.

"Come on, I'm not going to hurt you," Jack continued; trying to make the animal come to him.

And, even if it was a slow process, the white bunny finally moved towards Jack; though cautiously, if not careful, even a sound can send the bunny running off. As the bunny was now in Jack's hands, Jack simply smiled and embraced the furry little critter.

Jack let out a chuckle, "You're so soft and cute.

No wonder Sarah was after you."

Then, as Jack was petting the bunny, he couldn't help but think about a certain someone. That someone…didn't really have a label to Jack; was that someone a friend, an enemy? Jack didn't really know himself.

"You know, you remind me of the Easter Bunny.

Though…you're less annoying than he is," he said, adding in a small laugh.

Jack then gave a sigh and with one hand, reached for his staff.

"Well, I better get back.

Emma's probably wondering where I am."

Jack then stood up and looked up at the sky.

"I don't think Emma wouldn't mind having you as a pet.

After all, you need a home, and Sarah needs a friend."

And just like that, with a breeze coming in, Jack gained flight and with the element of wind on his side, took off at full speed towards his sister's house once more.

"There, now he has arms," Peter said, fixing one of the branches for the snowman.

But this didn't cheer up Sarah one bit.

"I just know mom's going to get mad at us," she said looking down at the ground.

Though this didn't bother Peter, in fact, in moments like these, he would always act the opposite of what his sister feels.

"Relax Sarah, I'll just tell mom we weren't there long, surely that will help us not get into too much trouble," he said still looking at the snowman.

Though Sarah sharply picked up her head, and eyed at her brother, "You still said trouble."

"Well, you know what I mean," Peter said, scratching the back of his head in trying to find the right words.

Sarah heard Peter, but as another minute went by, she couldn't help but stare back at the ground….thinking. The image of the vague figure she saw earlier in the forest, flashed vividly in her head. It made Sarah bite the lower part of her lip, while shifting some snow with her foot. She wondered…was that mysterious figure a person, a ghost…who…was that?

Noticing his sister being quiet, Peter continued to talk.

"Are you still thinking about Jack Frost?" he asked.

"Well…kind of…" Sarah said, stumbling on her words.

"Kind of…what do you mean kind of?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"Well…before you came to get me.

I, I had this feeling that someone was looking out for me.

Like, if that person wanted me to know that I wasn't alone, you know, to make me feel better.

And then out of nowhere, when I looked ahead I saw…"

But Sarah completely froze up, not able to speak another word. She couldn't really describe in what she saw in the first place, since it happened so fast. Though Peter was determined to know, what did his sister see?

"Saw what?" he asked curiously.

Then Sarah gave a sigh, "I don't know…that's the thing.

The figure looked like a person, maybe even a ghost.

But the weirdest thing about it… is that the person looked like our mom's brother," Sarah finished.

"Oh…I see," Peter said in a low voice; sinking into his own thoughts.

"Well, maybe it was nothing Sarah, after all, you were scared, and anything could happen when you're scared. So, don't worry too much about it okay?" Peter said.

"Mmm…yeah okay," Sarah responded; though the tone in her voice gave off a sense that she wasn't convinced.

She knew what she saw, and when she saw it, Sarah wasn't truly afraid anymore.

"Well, we should be heading inside now. It's starting to get colder out here," Peter said, looking at the sky.

With that last remark, the children headed into the house, and…after a bit of scolding from the mother, the children went to their rooms; playing with their toys.

As quick as a flash, Jack swept down to the house, now on the porch. His first instinct was to probably knock on the front door, but then since the kids don't know about him, he figured it would be weird for their mother to answer the door; finding to them there was no one there. And the last thing Jack wanted was for the kids to think that their mother was crazy.

So Jack hovered and moved to the side of the house, hoping a window might be open. To his luck, there was. So as quietly as he possibly could, Jack slipped inside and closed the window behind him.

"Emma, I'm back," he called out.

Hearing his call, Emma walked out of the kitchen and went into the living room.

"Oh good, you're back," she said happily.

"Are the kids' home?" Jack asked.

"Yes, thank you Jack, for keeping an eye on them," Emma said.

Emma then noticed the cute white bunny that Jack was caring in one arm.

"And who's this?" she asked smiling towards the animal.

"Oh, I found him….well…Sarah did actually…

I thought it would have been nice for her to have a friend. So I brought him," Jack said smiling.

"Oh, why, that's very thoughtful Jack," Emma responded back.

And, as this conversation was going on in the living room, Sarah eventually came out of her room; though as she was coming down the stairs, she started to hear her mother. It almost sounded like if she was talking to someone, and as curious as Sarah was, she tippy toed down the stairs, and peeked in the living room.

Hearing a voice, Sarah was expecting to see another person, but as she gazed at the sight, there was no one there. Instead, she saw her mother alone talking, while holding the white bunny in her arms. Sarah's eyes widen as she was fixed on the bunny.

"How did….?

Who did….?" she asked herself.

But before Sarah could even make a conclusion, the sound of her brother broke her concentration.

"Sarah, look out," he cried.

As Sarah turned, it was merely too late, a hard ball came flying down the stairs, hitting her; making her fall.

"Oh no, honey are you okay?" Emma cried; running to help her daughter.

As she did this, she then said something to Peter.

"Peter, how many times do I have to tell you, no playing ball in the house!

Come down and apologize to your sister!"

Seeing this sight made Jack shrugged his shoulders.

"Yikes, I remember those days," he muttered to himself.

"I'm so sorry Sarah, I didn't see you there," Peter came running down the stairs, "Forgive me."

"I forgive you," Sarah said getting up.

"Are you alright Sarah?" Emma repeated.

"Yeah, I think so…" she said, putting her hand over her cheek.

Then, in a blink of an eye, Sarah noticed something on the floor. As she picked up the thing from the floor, she was astonished. It turned out to be a tooth, a baby tooth to be more precise. Without much thought, a sparkle flashed in one of Sarah's eyes, like all children, she knew what a loose tooth meant.

"Mom look, a tooth!" she said, holding it up to her.

"Yes, I see, and you know what that means right?" Emma said smiling.

"Yeah, the Tooth-fairy will come," Sarah exclaimed excitedly.

"Yes, and to add to that, you now have a little furry friend," Emma said giving the bunny to Sarah.

"Now run along," she continued.

Then as Sarah went up the stairs with her tooth and her new pet, Peter was right behind her until Emma spoke again.

"Except for you Peter, I like to have little word with you."

Jack then gave a weak laugh, and scratched the back of his head.

"I remember saying Sarah was a lot like Emma, and…I guess now I know who Peter reminds me of…" Jack said in his mind.

As day turned to night, everybody in the house was getting ready for bed. Emma had already said good-bye to Jack, since he had to go and do a few things. But since it was still the season of winter, he promised her that he would be visiting a few more times before actually leaving.

While Peter was in his room tucked in. Emma was in Sarah's bedroom tucking her in.

"Now remember Sarah. You must stay asleep in order for her to come, okay?"

"Okay," Sarah said, already lying in bed.

"Okay, good-night sweetie," Emma then gave her child a kiss good-night and started to walk out the door.

But then the sound of her child speaking made her stop and turn.

"Mom, I know it's my bed time but, can I ask you a question before I go to sleep," Sarah asked.

Emma then walked back, standing near the side of the bed.

"Sure honey, what is it that you want to ask?" Emma said with a smile.

"Why does the Tooth-fairy collect the teeth?

I mean, what does she do with them?" Sarah asked.

This automatically brought Emma into a halt. She didn't know what to say really. To be straight-forward about it, no child had ever asked that question before, so Emma didn't know what to say. But then, after what it seemed like forever, a thought finally emerged in Emma's mind. She couldn't quite describe the sudden feeling she had, but if Emma had to say something, the feeling almost felt like if someone helped her remember; to remember the memory that was once important to her when she was young.

Still waiting for an answer, Sarah saw that her mother sat on the side of the bed and smiled at her.

"Well…" Emma said slowly, "I remember my brother use to tell me stories when I was small and…in those stories, he would say that there were guardians that would look after children; protecting them from Nightmares."

"Really?" Sarah asked softly.

"Yes, and those figures were Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Sand-man, and the Tooth-fairy. My brother told me that what they did to bring joy...was a way of them protecting children, protecting you and Peter.

So, what I'm trying to say Sarah is that, the reason the Tooth-fairy collects the teeth, is to protect you from the Nightmares. She leaves you something under the pillow so you can know she's there…looking after you like the rest of the guardians," Emma finished.

"Oh, so then, what does she do with the teeth?" Sarah repeated her second question.

Emma then let out a slight chuckle, "I'm not going to lie, the truth is Sarah…I really don't know, but, everything has its purpose, so I'll leave that question up to your imagination."

"Okay… good-night mom," Sarah said tiredly.

Emma then gave her daughter another good-night kiss, "Sweet dreams."

After Sarah went to sleep, Emma then made her way out the door. Though before going to her own bedroom, Emma rested her back against Sarah's door…thinking. She wondered, despite her being grown up, the question of what the Tooth-fairy would do with the teeth filled her mind. Mostly adults who don't believe, just say they do the work and throw the teeth away, while others say to their children, that the Tooth-fairy uses them to create a castle of her own made out of them.

But for Emma, that wasn't the case, if Jack's stories were true; about the Tooth-fairy protecting the children…then, Emma thought the teeth must be important in some way; having a certain connection to the child's protection. But what was it…what value does the teeth really hold?

Emma then titled her head, and chuckled in silence. All this wondering about her daughter's question started to amuse her. After all, why should Emma care about all this now? Even though it's part of growing up, Emma stopped believing in the guardians long before Jack came back into her life. So, it made her wonder even more, why does it seem like she still believes in them, if she says she doesn't anymore. Is it because of her brother?

Emma then gave another chuckle, "I guess I need more growing up to do."

With that said, Emma then started to walk to her room; finally going to bed; though as she walked, another thought came to mind.

"I have to say, this reminds me of the time when I lost a tooth…"

Pretty soon Emma was in her bed, already drifting to sleep.

"But I want to stay awake and see her!" little Emma cried to her mother.

"I'm sorry Emma, but the Tooth-fairy won't come if you're awake.

You have to be asleep," the mother said.

"But –"

"No buts," the mother said; cutting her daughter off.

"But I'm not tired," Emma said under her breath, making a sour face.

And, as the commotion was going on, Jack who was passing by, couldn't help but hear.

Knowing to well that it was his sister's bedtime, Jack went into her room and walked up to his mother.

"Hey, I got this," he whispered.

"Fine, after all, she always listens to her big brother," the mother said to him.

She then turned to her daughter, "Good-night Emma," then to her son, "good-night Jack."

And with that said, the mother left the room, leaving Jack and Emma. Silence filled the air quickly, though Jack sat on the edge of Emma's bed and smiled at her.

"Hey kiddo, what seems to be the problem?" he asked.

"Mom wants me to go to bed," Emma said.

Then Jack gave a half-smile, "Well, I don't want to be the bad guy, but you do have to Emma."

"But Jack, I'm not tired, and I want to stay awake in order to see the Tooth-fairy," Emma said.

Jack then chuckled, "I would like to do that too if I lost a tooth, but you heard what mom said, the Tooth-fairy won't come if you're awake."

"Why not?" Emma questioned.

"Umm…well…" Jack said; his brown eyes trailing off to the floor.

"It just doesn't work that way," he said looking up at her.

"You have to be asleep," he finished.

But on the look in Emma's face, Jack could tell he wasn't going to get anywhere. She was determined to stay up. Jack then rubbed the side of his neck thinking; he knew if Emma didn't go to bed, he would be in trouble. Jack just had to think of something in order for Emma to go to sleep. Then, as quick as Jack is, he came up with an idea.

"Look Emma, if it was up to me, I would let you stay up and meet her, but because of mom, you have to go to sleep," Jack said.

"But I want to meet the Tooth-fairy," Emma said.

"Why…why do you want to meet her?" Jack asked.

"Because…" Emma then looked down, playing with her hands, "I want to meet her, so I can say thank you.

After all, she's protecting me like you are, I still remember the story you told me Jack," Emma said looking up.

"Oh yeah, I remember that story," Jack said; merely collecting the hazy pieces of the memory; after all, Jack tells so many stories, at some point it's kind of hard to keep track which ones he has already told.

"Okay, how about this then, you go to sleep like mom wants you to, and I'll stay up and wait for her and when she comes, I'll thank her for you. That way you're happy and mom is too," Jack said smiling.

It took a few seconds, but Emma finally agreed to Jack's idea.

"Is it a deal?" he asked.

"Deal," she responded back.

"Okay then, sleep tight then," Jack said getting up; tucking Emma in.

"You'll stay here right?

I don't want you to miss her," Emma said.

Jack then gave another chuckle, "Yes, I'll be here, now go to sleep."

"Okay," Emma said resting her head.

"You know Jack, when I dream, sometimes I see myself as a fairy," she continued; though sleep was already taking hold of Emma.

Within hearing this, Jack did nothing but smile, patting her on the head as Emma finally closed her eyes.

"Sweet dreams…" he uttered softly.

Even if it's been a few minutes, Jack stayed in Emma's room. He wasn't really going to stay there long, it was only to the point where Jack felt that Emma was in a deep sleep. So Jack got a chair and rested there for the time being, but as time went by, Jack certainly lost track of it and dosed off on the chair; after all, he had a busy day working out in the field, it was only natural to feel tired.

As it got darker, a figure suddenly appeared from the sky. Was it the Tooth-fairy?

Pretty soon, the figure surprisingly went through the closed window like magic, and now was in Emma's room. There was a soft sound of wings fluttering, though they weren't loud enough for Emma or Jack to hear in order to wake up.

"Oh, she finally lost another one," the figure whispered; hovering on the side of Emma's bed.

The voice sounded so soft and feminine, it mostly gave a motherly type quality to the figure. As the figure got closer to Emma to collect the tooth from under her pillow, it revealed that she really was the Tooth-fairy. Even though she may be human, the Tooth-fairy had an appearance of a colorful hummingbird. As she took out the tooth, she looked at it with her violet eyes, giving a small smile.

"Another one to add to your memory box…" she whispered.

The Tooth-fairy then extended out her other hand, and with one wave, a small coin appeared in her palm.

"You may not hear me my dear, but I just wanted to let you know that I heard you," she said; referring to what Emma wanted to say to her, "And you're welcome.

This is for you for being such a good girl."

The Tooth-fairy then gently put the coin underneath Emma's pillow; it was it, the deed was done. But, before she departed, Jack who was sleeping on the chair, caught the Tooth-fairy's eye. Within seeing the boy, a warm smile appeared on her face as she flew quietly to him.

"And you…

I'm still waiting for your last baby-tooth to fall out; surprising you still have it at this age," she said tilting her head.

After a second of her examining Jack, she then gave a slight sigh.

"I guess your memory box will be slightly different from the other children. Due to not losing the baby-tooth, your memory box will not only have your memories as a child, but also as a teenager as well."

After another second, Jack then moved his head up slightly. At this rate, the Tooth-fairy knew he could wake up at any minute.

"Well, I guess I better be going, I have other children to visit.

But, before I go," she then rested one of her hands on Jack's shoulder, "I just wanted to thank you. For…telling your sister about us, even though it's just a story."

Then all of a sudden, Jack finally opened his eyes to find…nothing; just his sister sleeping.

"Weird…I had the strangest dream that someone was talking to me," Jack said tiredly; scratching the back of his head.

Jack then finally got up from the chair and slowly walked to the window. From looking out, all seemed peaceful and bright. But for some reason, Jack couldn't shake the feeling of the dream that he just had. He wondered, was it real? Was the Tooth-fairy really talking to him? But being the teenager that he is, he quickly believed that it was only a dream.

Though, being a kid at heart, Jack couldn't help, but succumb to what he was feeling. He looked up at the night-sky with a bright smile on his face.

"You're welcome…" he uttered softly; knowing the Tooth-fairy will hear him.

"And…Emma says thank you…"