Part of the Kids Needs To Grow Up arc. Sets after It Was Time.


Jack walked upon the surface of the pond at the Tooth Palace, the water freezing underneath his feet. He lightly walked up to the beautiful fresco of Tooth and the children so he could better admire it. It was here that the fairy had explained to him how they kept the teeth containing the precious memories of childhood, so they could remind the children of happier times when they needed it.

Jack wished that could work for him. He wished that seeing some mostly forgotten memory of his childhood might lift the sadness that had fallen over him since the beginning of the summer and only increased after the moment he had both dreaded and looked forward to finally came. But he knew that it wouldn't. He could barely recognize the brown-haired boy as himself and the memories felt like they belonged to someone else. Only his very last memory truly felt like his own and right now it brought very little joy to his heart. His sister had never been able to see him, after he was reborn. He remembered her, from early in his new life, looking right through him.

Baby Tooth sat on his shoulder, staring at him in worry. Tooth had not been there when he arrived, so she decided to keep him company. He did not mind. He was not really here to see Tooth. He was not sure why he was even here. He just let the wind carry him wherever it would after the pain in his heart became too much for him to stand.

"Do they even remember us, after they stop believing?"

"Of course they do, Jack"

Tooth's voice startled him. He had been so lost in thoughts that he had not noticed her. He wondered if she knew what he was referring to. Or rather, who. From the compassionate expression on her face, he suspected that she did. She flew down to where he stood and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"He may not remember the time you spent together as anything more than childish fantasies, but he will remember you. Even if he doesn't believe you're real, he'll remember."

She rested her cheek on his head and he leaned back into her embrace, needing the support.

"And maybe, one day, he'll walks outside in the snow and a snowflake will fall on his nose. And he'll smile as he remembers how, long ago, he thought this meant the Spirit of Winter was inviting him to have fun and forget his troubles."

Jack smiled a little as he pictured this. The idea that, even as merely a memory, he could still bring joy to those who had once believed in him brought him some peace. It made the pain more bearable.