To answer the question so many asked about last chapter: yes, Sophie still believed. She was just still pretending not too. She didn't tell Jamie because she didn't want to upset him even more ("Oh, you forgot your best friend? I didn't.")


"Are you sure about this, Jack?"

"Come on! You've asked how many times already? Yes, I'm sure."

He jumped on the sleigh behind North, eager to be off. He had been feeling stronger since he became a Guardian and children had started to believe in him. He could do this. He was sure he could. For the first time, every children in the world would have a white Christmas this year. And it would be all thank to Jack Frost. He did not have many believer yet, but maybe that would change. And maybe he could show the Guardians that he could be useful at other things than blasting stuff with ice.

"Then tighten your seat belt. We're off!"

Jack grinned when they took off, crouching on the back of the sleigh and letting the wind play with his hair. The ride was not nearly as bumpy as trying to ride the wind and he certainly did not have the same level of freedom, but the sleigh had it's own charm. It was a shame Bunny hated it. He wondered what he would think of flying with him. He could easily imagine the Pooka screaming in his ears. He would have to try it, one day.

They started east, where the night fell first. He wished it would not be so long before they made it to Burgess. He wanted to give it a nice blanket of snow, so he could get the kids to play outside in the morning. He just hoped he would not be to spent to manage it. He did not want to admit it, but turning the whole world into a snowball was a little ambitious and he wasn't entirely certain it was wise to try that already. Maybe in a few years, like North had suggested. He would be stronger then. When he actually had more believer than the kids in the small town he lived in.

He had plenty of time to call his storms while North jumped from chimney to chimney to deliver presents. Sending snow over Russia was hardly a challenge, but he tried not to overdo it. He needed to be reasonable, if he wanted to make to all the way west. They continued south from there. The farther they went, the harder it was to bring the snow, but he could manage it. He was a Guardian now. If he wanted to make it snow over Australia in summer, he was going to do it. As they flew over, he spotted a hole opening in the ground, two rabbit ears poking out before the Pooka jumped out and shook a fist at him. Jack grinned and waved.

As they continued west, Jack realized he was tiring too quickly. The snow he made over southern regions was barely more than a dusting that may not even survive till morning. He might not be able to pull this off after all. But he refused to admit defeat. He kept pouring his energy into making more snow, even if he had to move to a more stable position, actually sitting down in the back seat and trying to hide the fact that he was trembling in exhaustion.

"Jack, maybe is enough snow for tonight. You can give the others white Christmas next year."

"It's fine, North. I can do this."

Jack felt bad and not just because his every muscle hurt from the effort. He felt bad because he could not even do this one thing the Spirit of Winter should be able to do for the kids. He felt bad because, even if it was Christmas and North was doing his favorite thing in the world, he did not hear the Guardian of Wonder's booming laughter and did not see his beaming smile. What he saw instead was concerned glances and what he heard was North's many attempts to get him to call it a night.

Jack wasn't too sure where they were, now. Somewhere in Africa. Maybe. All he knew for sure was that it was warm. And not white. And his attempts to change that were failing. North was off to deliver presents, so he supposed it couldn't hurt to close his eyes a moment until the world came back into focus. Then, he'd give this place the biggest snowstorm it ever had.

"Jack! Jack, are you all right?"

Jack slowly blinked awake to see North's face hovering above him. He was lying on the seat where he had apparently fallen asleep. It was still much too warm.

"I'm fine. I need to give them snow."

"No. No snow. We go back to Pole."

Jack sat back up, his eyes wide, when he saw North pull out a snow globe. He grabbed the big man's arm to keep him from shaking the globe. He couldn't let him do that. It was bad enough that he had failed to do something for the kids, but he couldn't let North waste any more time tonight. It was his big night. Jack didn't want to ruin it. What if some kids couldn't get their gifts?

"No. Not the Pole. I'll just... take a nap here. I'll be fine. I'll get a lot better when we're not this far south."

"Jack. This is Spain. We go much farther south." North put a big hand on Jack's forehead. It didn't feel nearly as warm as it should. "You need to go somewhere cold."

"I'll be fine! I'll just... sleep through it."

Before North could argue more, Jack pulled up his hood, laid back on the seat and pretended to be asleep already. It wasn't long before he really was.


"I'm sorry, you know?" Jack said as North put him down on his bed. "For being such a bother."

The cold air of the Pole was doing wonders. He no longer felt like he was melting. North tucked him in, fluffed his pillow and generally fussed around him.

"You are not bother, Jack. You wanted to do something nice for the children. That is good. I'm proud of you."

"I'll miss the Christmas breakfast."

"There will be plenty more Christmas breakfast to come. We'll save you some pie. Now, sleep."

With a little smile that was half apology and half thank, he closed his eyes again. Maybe he could wake up before breakfast was over and Bunny ate all the carrot cake.


I wasn't sure I'd manage to write a chapter today, not because I didn't have time but because I've just been too stressed. And still sick. I don't know when next chapter will be.