I changed the cover image, since I was getting bored with the other one. And Jack's eyes are awesome, so I had to draw them. Should anyone want to see it, I have a larger version on tumblr (with both eyes).
This is a sequel to Lost and Found.
Jamie left for a walk in the early afternoon. He would need to return home to help prepare the Christmas supper later, but for now he had some time. Jade was playing with her gifts and her mother was reading. Sophie would be joining them. She might be there already when he returned. Jamie had not yet spoken to his sister about what happened on Halloween night. About who he saw that night. He did not know whether he should. Would Sophie remember? Would she think he was crazy?
He had only seen Jack a handful of time since. He felt like the Guardian was a little hesitant. Like he was afraid to get too close. Jamie felt guilty whenever he thought of it. He wondered if he had ruined their friendship by forgetting it. He had stopped believing in his closest friend, after all. He could hardly blame Jack for being wary of trusting him again. Even if the young Guardian had wanted him to stop believing.
He knew Jack usually spent his Christmas morning at the North Pole with the other Guardians, but he was usually back at this point. So Jamie braved the snow to go wish his old friend a merry Christmas. Jack had certainly outdone himself this year. If he believed the news, and he had no reason not to, there was not a single place that had not received a white blanket during the night. Everyone called it a miracle. They were not wrong. He just happened to know the one responsible for that miracle.
He did not immediately see Jack when he reached the lake. He wondered at first if he had perhaps stayed longer with the others, but the light snow still falling was too familiar. Jack was here somewhere, he just needed to look closer.
He ended up finding the young Guardian entirely by accident, while slowly making his way around the small lake. As he scanned the area for a familiar figure, he stumbled over something hidden in the snow. He tripped and fell with a yell. To his surprise, the mound under his legs moved.
"Ow! Wha—Jamie!"
"Jack?"
The winter spirit shook the snow from his hair and yawned. He stretched, obviously just waking up. Jamie wasn't overly surprised to see him sleep in the middle of the day or just lying in the snow. He had seen him take nap whenever or wherever he felt like before. He just shook his head with a little smile as they both sat up.
"Merry Christmas."
Jack smiled tiredly at him, rubbing his eyes. He yawned again.
"Merry Christmas, Jamie. Aren't you supposed to be with your family?"
"They can survive without me for a little while. Here, I brought you come cookies. Jade made them. I promised her to give them to you. My wife is sure I was going out to eat them when Jade isn't looking."
Jack's chuckle sounded a little guilty, but he accepted the cookies. He took one out of the clear plastic bag, observing it with a fond little smile. The snowflake shape was awkward at best, the blue icing unevenly spread and sprinkles covered most of it. Jack's smile turned into a grin.
"Tell Jade I say thanks."
"I will."
He looked at Jack a long moment. The winter spirit had yet to try to stand. His eyes kept drooping close and he often brought his hands up to rub them.
"That was quite something you did. All that snow."
Jack's laugh was cut off by a yawn.
"I wanted to give a white Christmas to everyone. I went with North on the sleigh to call snow everywhere in one night. You should have seen Bunny's face when I summoned a blizzard over Australia. In summer."
"You look exhausted."
Jack shrugged.
"I'm fine."
"Maybe you shouldn't try something like that again."
"I'm fine, Jamie."
"Do you want to come back home with me? It's not like anyone will be using the bed, if you want to sleep—"
"Jamie." Jack's voice had an edge to it this time. "You're treating me like a child."
Jamie bit his lip and looked down. Jack was right. Even if he knew the Guardian was much older than him, right now he just saw a boy sitting in the snow, struggling to stay awake. It was like part of him was aware that Jack was a powerful Guardian, was used to sleeping in the snow and could have stayed at the North Pole if he wanted a bed, while the other part screamed at him to take care of the boy.
"I'm sorry," Jamie said. Jack sighed.
"Things really have changed a lot, haven't they?"
Jamie stayed silent, fidgeting with his coat. Jack nibbled on a cookie. Jamie cleared his throat.
"I should let you rest. Sophie will be there soon," Jamie said, standing up at last.
"Right. Say hi to her for me, will you?"
Jack's grin told him he wasn't being serious. Jamie wondered how Sophie would react if he told her that Jack Frost said "hi". Maybe she would laugh. Maybe she would be confused. Maybe she would remember.
"I will."
Jack's grin turned into a wistful smile. Jamie held his gaze for a moment longer before looking down at his feet.
"I'll, er, see you another day?" He had not intended for this to be a question, but somehow, it turned into one.
"I'm not going anywhere for a while. You can visit whenever you want."
The invitation was a relief. He had not exactly handled things well today, but there would be a time to repair his mistake when the Guardian was more awake. Their renewed friendship felt very fragile at time. He would fix that. But not today. His family would be waiting for him.
"Sleep well."
"Have fun."
He turned back once before leaving the lake behind him, but the winter child had disappeared back in the snow.
I want to do some more with Jack and adult Jamie. That's all I have for now, though.
It's the last day of winter and we have a snowstorm over here. I wonder if it'll be melted before Easter.
