Part 2 of the Now Or Never arc.


"Are you sure you don't want me to go check at the Pole first? To look at the Globe? Just to be sure?"

"Let's get going. Last thing I want is for North to think I can't handle this."

"That's why I'm offering to go."

"Kids stop believing all the time, Snowflake."

Bunny didn't give Jack time to answer. He tapped his foot on the ground, opened a rabbit hole and jumped into it. Jack had no choice but to follow if he didn't want to fly all the way back to Burgess. It was late October and Bunny had declared it was more than time he let spring come to this part of the world, which had been experiencing an uncommonly long winter as Jack stayed around, unwilling to leave until Bunny was ready to come with him. He was getting ready for Halloween here in the Warrens. The kids would be getting chocolate, this year. In the end, the Pooka had gotten tired of the snow. And so they were going to Burgess.

They arrived next to Jack's lake and he wasted no time in running to the water, letting it freeze under his feet. It felt like it was welcoming him home. Despite everything, he laughed as he let the crook of his staff slide against the ice, creating patterns of frost. When he turned to face Bunny, the Pooka was sitting next to the frozen water, shaking his head. Jack gave him a sheepish smile.

"Sorry. We should go find Sophie, right?"

"Just give us some snow. We'll see if she come."

"You're asking me for snow? You? Who are you and what did you do to Bunny?"

"Just do it, will you?"

"I'm doing it already."

"Oh. Good."

Bunny sat on the edge of the lake to wait. It didn't take long before he started to shiver, but he could hardly complain about the cold. He was the one who asked for snow, after all. Jack considered getting him hot cocoa. He knew some kids who could make some for him. But he wasn't sure if he wanted to leave. What if Sophie did come and he wasn't there? He didn't know how Bunny would react. But would she come if she still believe? She told them she would let go, after all. But she might come here even if she no longer believe. Out of habit.

Jack decided against leaving and he sat on a large rock near the water, just far enough from Bunny to avoid making him even colder. They waited in silence for maybe an hour, before Bunny stood again. He rubbed his hand against his arms.

"Alright. This is cold. Let's go find her."

Bunny bounded in the direction of Sophie's home, Jack flying a little behind him. When they got there, Bunny hesitated a little before entering the courtyard. Neither of them were very eager to confirm that the girl no longer believed. But they still had to make sure, so they looked through every windows, trying to find her. She was not in her room, nor anywhere else they could see. They only saw Ms Bennett, cooking dinner.

"There's footprints in the snow," Jack noted. "She must have left."

"Left where? Not to the lake, we would have seen her."

They followed the footprints away from the house. They were partially covered in freshly fallen snow, but still easy to see, especially for the winter spirit. And soon, he knew exactly where they were going.

"She went to Jamie's house."

"Maybe he invited her to dinner?" Bunny said, sniffing the air. "I think I smell carrots. Steamed."

"Yeah, I'm sure she was drawn there by the carrots," Jack mocked.

They heard the laughter before they saw Jamie and Sophie. It was the unmistaken sound of a snowball fight. He felt the corner of his mouth curl up. It turned into a full-blown smile when they came in sight of the siblings. Sophie had just dragged Jamie outside and was pelting him with snow. He tried to run after her, his unlaced boots almost falling off his feet, throwing some snowballs of his own.

"At least they're having fun."

Before Bunny could reply, a misdirected snowball hit him in the face. Jack stifled a laugh. Neither Jamie nor Sophie turned to see where it had landed. Bunny shook the snow off, narrowing his eyes at Jack like he was somehow responsible.

"Hey, this one wasn't me!"

"So you always say."

It was getting obvious that they weren't seen, but Jack called Sophie's name anyway. She did not turn. She just gathered a new handful of snow and started to press it between her hands to form a new snowball, ducking to avoid the one thrown at her head. Jack turned to look at Bunny. The Pooka was staring at the snow slowly covering his feet, his long ears hanging down in disappointment. They both knew this was for the best, but a small part of them still wished it wouldn't happen. But at least they could see she was happy.

"I'm going back to the Warrens. It's cold out here."

"Hey. I'll come back with you. Just to give Australia one last snowstorm this year, you know?"

Bunny grumbled, but he did not keep him from following.


Sophie laughed when Jamie shook the snow out of his coat while he climbed up the stair to go back inside. It had been too long since they had this much fun together. And it had been fun, even if she was pretty sad. She looked at the place where the two Guardian had been standing earlier and smiled a little.

"I'm sorry, you know? I just couldn't do it. I know I'm being childish. And I know it would hurt you if you knew. Because you think it's bad for me. But what you don't know can't hurt you."


There should be just one more part to this. I think. In other news, I finished the first part of my "Jack just wanted to help" comic, in which Jack tries to fit a mattress in Pitch's bed. The link is on my profile (or just look up "sisaat" on either tumblr or deviantart). And that's it for this week-end. Feel free to go complain to whoever decided week-ends were two days long. I don't have time to write a full arc.