A/N: OMGASOFAPWEFHAF this is totally unrelated but I JUST BUILT MY VERY FIRST COMPUTER! Lol sorry I just had to share that...siiigh it was just such a great, satisfying feeling...A week of research, then 14 straight hours of backbreaking frustration, then the RUSH when I turned it on and it actually WORKED, gaaaahhhhhh XD XD XD Seriously, I almost cried haha

Okay back to stuff that you'll actually care about lol. Another fanart, more of a doodle really, up on my deviantart account. Since I figure you guys know the url by now I won't type it here, but it's entitled 'Kiss.'

Chapter notes: This is the first of a drabble trilogy entitled 'Age,' which will be sprinkled throughout the next few chapters. If it's not obvious, they touch on the inevitable issue of Jack being immortal while Jamie ages.

Enjoy, and remember that I love ANY kind of feedback! :) (except flames obviously)

Age I: Too Young

"What do you think she'll be like when she's all grown up? You know, with her own family and stuff?"

Jack would never admit it aloud, but Bunny's words had actually made him think. In a rare instance of a serious discussion between the two, the topic of Sophie Bennett had come up - and the Easter Guardian's wistful question had prompted just a few of his own.

Or maybe just two, precisely. What would Jamie be like when he grew up? And how could he forget that Jamie would grow up?

He didn't say them aloud, of course. As close as he was to all the Guardians now, he still wasn't quite comfortable openly discussing his current dilemma with Jamie, and how he felt towards the boy. So he'd mumbled the excuse that Canada was long due for a snow storm and quickly left in order to cover up his suddenly unsettled emotions.

Of course, it wasn't Canada that he'd headed towards, but straight towards Boston and a certain brown haired teen. Lighting on his usual branch, the young Guardian could see the boy was hard at work, furiously scribbling away on a sheet of paper and completely oblivious to his presence. Normally, the sight would have amused Jack and prompted him to tease his friend, but in his current mood, the winter spirit only clutched at his staff and stared through the window as if it could give him all the answers.

How could he forget? Of course, it wasn't as if he actually believed Jamie wouldn't grow up, but it had just never occurred to him seeing Jamie as an adult, then an old man. It was just that spending time with him now was all that he really thought about. It was pretty stupid of him, really, considering the fact that he'd watched the boy grow up for over 10 years.

Maybe it was because he was so used to his Guardian companions. Even before they'd become his friends, they had always been there. It wasn't like he ever wondered if North had finally died from old age every time he'd attempted to break into the man's abode, or if Sandman would ever grow taller. Jack realized that once he'd started interacting with Jamie, he had subconsciously applied the same mindset to him.

But he couldn't ignore anymore that Jamie was different, for more reasons than just being mortal. The winter spirit might have been naive about certain adult topics (which certainly amused Jamie to no end), but he'd had enough time to recognize how he felt about that damn kiss. Jamie had become far more than a friend to him. To what extent, he still didn't know, but that didn't matter.

It didn't matter, because how could he possibly dare to find out? If it didn't work, he could lose his friend. But if it did work, what would that mean for Jamie? Even if the brunette was willing to make the necessary sacrifices, how could Jack, as his friend, let him do so?

He'd never have a family. He would essentially, always be alone. Normal dates and outings would be out of the question. He would never be able to share the love and joy of being with his significant other. How could he, when no one else would be able to see him? Everyone would think Jamie was crazy.

Even if the brunette didn't care what others thought, how would he eventually begin to feel, to be stuck with an eternal teenager as he grew older and older? True, Jack was centuries older in actual age, but his center was Joy and Fun. It was his job, his nature, to act like a little kid.

Jack stared moodily down at his bare feet. It was ironic really, that for over three centuries, he'd struggled so hard to get someone to see him just for a few seconds. Now, he was worrying about the fact that someone could see him for the rest of his short mortal life.

But at least it was in his power to ensure Jamie could have something of a normal, easier life. They could still be friends of course, but only that. That was why he decided it was simply for the best to pretend like the kiss had never happened.

Watching Jamie suddenly bang his head against his desk, Jack decided that was his cue to interrupt. The winter spirit leaned forward to tap the window, grinning widely to hide the suddenly heavy feeling in his heart.