A/N: Oh gosh I just couldn't help myself! Here's another chapter! I know its early and believe me don't get used to nightly chapters I'm far too busy for that, but at any rate, here it is!

Shout outs to (because you're all awesome and this story has gotten so many reviews):

Bug349: aww u made me blush! Here's another chapter as a reward!

Black Lotus13: lol she gets better! Mamas gonna keep her baybay safe!

Jesusfreak200: I love your name! I can't wait to hear what you think of this next chapter, I'm a bit addicted to fanfics as well! Oh wait, I guess another chapter so soon could just be feeding the addition...hmmm.

Sheeijan: MiM's what we would call a hands off parent. Mother Nature is a little more into getting her hands dirty lol!

Dragongirl2001: thanks!

Growlinghowlers: normally I do too but I just couldn't resist with her. She's book canon so I don't know if she counts as an OC tho…. Morrígan from my story Immortal definitely is tho. I wonder what you would think of her?

Guest: Hope this chapter is just as awesome! Jack's a bit of a spitfire. That mouth of his is going to get him into trouble!

Guest: I haven't decided my time frame yet…..

DISCLAIMER I OWN NOTHINGGGG! Except the story line.

Chapter 3: Drinks or Business?

Mother Nature could not bring herself to visit the frost child for three full cycles of the seasons. She claimed the elements were far too unruly to be left for any amount of time to their own devices. The wind had become quite a problem, blowing too harshly and with far too much ice and sleet since the disappearance of its frost child friend. The wind's emotional reaction was of little surprise, but the duration of the episodes revealed a memory of the boy with the big blue eyes that far superseded all of the other wind's riders. Wind was a fickle creature, and memory was not its strong point. But for some strange reason, the frost child had not been wiped out with a few turns around the world.

Eventually it settled for wailing mournfully in any place where winter had been allowed to settle and with that problem effectively reigned in, Seraphina traveled once again to the lake. It was winter again and the air was chilled and beautiful. The trees had all grown taller, their voices as they bade her a greeting a little deeper and more distinguished with age. But the hole in the ground covered by a gnarled little cot hadn't changed in the least.

She disappeared into it without a second's hesitation and landed with all the grace endued to nature itself in the bowels of hell. The interior of the cavern had changed about as much as the exterior. Dark and dank it was the breeding ground for any number of undesirables; Pitch being one of them.

Her solitude didn't last for long.

Pitch appeared from the shadow at her side. "Ah, welcome back, Darling. You really should pop in more often; your presence brightens up the place. Care to join me in the foyer for some drinks or would you like to just jump right into discussing the reason for your visit?"

Mother Nature rolled her eyes. "Do I really look like I'm in the mood for a drink, father?"

"Right to business then, my dear." He smiled and took her by the crook of the arm. "What is the purpose of your visit?"

She huffed. "I don't have time for your frivolities, I'm quite busy. Just show me the frost child."

"Who? Oh! Yes, my Jökul."

"I couldn't care less what you've named him, let me see him!"

Pitch pulled away from her side and adopted an injured façade. "You don't have to be cross with me. He's in the study."

Mother Nature nodded and started off at a brisk walk toward the left wing of the cavern. She had been in it often enough as the supervisor the Man in the Moon appointed over Pitch. She threw open the double doors without warning and scanned the room with her sapphire eyes. A tuft of white hair drew her gaze toward the center of the room quite close to the fire. The boy was sitting on the rug, yanking absently on the chain around his ankle that was tethered to the side table. A book sat upturned next to the lamp.

Mother Nature whirled around to meet her father's smirk. There was fire in her eyes.

"What on earth is this winter sprite doing so close to an open flame?" She screeched.

"Well I assure you he is quite comfortable I haven't thrown him in the fireplace. I was reading when you so rudely interrupted my evening and I brought him in to keep me company." As he spoke, Pitch walked into the room and sat in his armchair, motioning his daughter to the seat across from him. The frost child watched her entrance with wide eyes as frost began to spread from his fingers and toes. Pitch's hand on his head pulled him back to reality.

The boy growled and wrenched away, yanking on the chain with fervor. "Let me go!" He yelled as frost began to curl around the links of iron. He kicked out violently at the chair, splintering the wooden leg and jostling his master. Pitch grabbed him by the chin, putting a stop to his tantrum.

"I don't release little boys who can't behave themselves, Jökul, you know that. If you didn't keep trying to leave your home I wouldn't have to resort to the chains."

"This is not my home," The boy spat through clenched teeth. His jaw was starting to ache from Pitch's grasp. The sound of a throat clearing pulled them both back from the brink of violence. Pitch smiled condescendingly and released the boy's jaw, patting him on the head.

"Jökul, if you could find it within yourself to act civilized then I wouldn't have to chain you like a dumb animal. Now, if you would like the chance to visit with my Seraphina cordially then I might suggest growing up a bit. Could you do that, Jökul? Hmm? I think it's a fair trade off."

"Yes," the boy murmured.

"What was that, Jökul? I couldn't quite catch that."

"I said yes!"

Pitch drew his hand back to put the pup back in his place when he remembered the threat Mother Nature gave at her last visit and decided a reprimand would be a much safer venue for correction. After a few hushed words and veiled threats for punishment to come Pitch unlocked the shackle.

Seraphina gasped when the boy stood. His clothes nearly fell off him. All the fight seemed to have left him the moment the shackle was unlocked and he stared at his feet, which were currently laying a lovely frost on the rug.

"Child," Mother Nature called. She motioned him forward and with the help of a little shove from Pitch he stumbled forward to stand before her. "I won't hurt you," she said and tried with all that was within her to depress the part of her that was so in tune with her father's pride and harshness. She needed this boy to see her mother's love not her nature's fury.

She touched him gently on the arm, her own sufficient frost abilities sending a chill across his body. He shuddered and leaned into her touch, allowing her to guide him to set on her lap. He leaned into her shoulder, burying his face in her cloak. All his fight was gone, a child remained. A very sleepy child if the circles under his eyes were any indication of his need for rest. But again that could be the malnourishment as well. Mother Nature slipped her hand under his tunic and felt along his side. She could count every rib; feel every part of his hipbones. She frowned and frosted him again when he started to get squirmy; he settled down with a contented sigh.

"He is malnourished," She spat, fire eyes landing on her father who was watching her with interest.

"So he is." Pitch shrugged. "What of it, he had to be punished for trying to escape or he would try it again."

"Oh, so because he was trying to escape pain you decide to not feed him? How long has it been?"

Pitch shrugged again. "He tried it a few times before I resorted to this. Beating him didn't keep him from trying it again; he's far too stubborn for that. Obviously you can't reason with the little fool, and he's of no use to me—well not that much use anyway—if he's always unconscious. So this is punishment six, or rather it was punishment six as I can imagine you and your righteous indignation will put a stop to it immediately. He's been about six months without food and I give him some water every other day. Apparently escaping takes too much effort when he's like this because he hasn't tried again."

"You're right about one thing, I am putting a stop to it."

"I am right about a good deal of things, daughter."

"Oh, shut up I'm in no mood to indulge you today. You will feed him immediately and continue to do so at least twice daily."

"I'll feed and water him whenever I please but you have my word that it will be done. Sufficient enough for you?"

Mother Nature thought for a moment, fingers running through the boy's hair, before she nodded curtly. That would be the best she could honestly get from him anyway. "Just so long as he is not so thin by my next visit I'll accept that." At Pitch's nod she set the boy on his feet and rose. "Good. I will leave after he is put to bed."

"Gladly," Pitch replied and stood himself. "Jökul, come."

The boy's eyes grew wide and he clutched at Mother Nature's skirts. Frost spiraled up from his grasp.

"I have no time for your stupidity, boy. Come now, Seraphina says its time for you to sleep."

Jökul shook his head again and clenched his eyes shut at the sight of the sand swirling around his master's hand. It reached for him and he used the regal fabric to cover his face. Mother Nature's hair fell around him like a curtain. She put an arm around him.

"That's enough, Pitch," She whispered quietly. "He doesn't want your nightmares. I will put him to bed."

"But—"

Sapphire eyes burned into his and Pitch was left at a loss for words.

Mother nature nodded and led the boy from the study to his room. In their wake she could hear Pitch's grumblings about her usurp of power. If she allowed the boy to disobey him it would be sufficient evidence for their separation. Mother Nature understood this, so when the boy peeked out from his hiding, saw how close they were to the entrance, and tried to run, she held him tightly to her side with a stern word and a whispered apology. If she helped him escape, Pitch would kill him.

Only when they had reached the boy's room did Mother Nature speak her mind. "I know how badly you want to be free, my child," she said as she tucked the hay around him. "But freedom comes with a price and it would be your life. I will find a way to free you peacefully, that I swear to you. But until that time, you must not try to leave, for that can only bring pain."

He watched her without speaking but she could see his mind working behind that crystalline gaze. He was a clever boy to be sure.

"Can you understand that, child? Can you promise me you won't give him greater cause to hurt you?"

"I understand."

Mother Nature sighed. "But you won't promise, is that right?"

The white head bobbed.

"I can't always be there to save you, child."

"Please call me Jack."

"You cannot be so brash—" Mother Nature paused her speech. "Jack?"

"I don't want to be Jökul. I want to be Jack Frost."

"Did you think that name up, child?"

"No, the moon told me so."

"The moon?" Mother Nature blinked. Then she smiled. "Of course, Jack. Whenever we are alone I will use your moon name. He sent me here to you for that very purpose."

"What?" Jack sat up but lay back down on his bed when the woman shushed him.

"The moon sent me to care for you while you are here, Jack. I am your protector, your guardian. I will do all in my power to help you, but in turn you must listen to my advice. I have lived so very many years and you have lived so few. I am wise and wisdom will keep you safe." She smiled again. "So listen closely and do not provoke him, for I will always come back for you, my frost child."

Jack smiled lightly and Mother Nature mirrored it in her own way. Her smile lacked his innocence. She pulled a small pouch from her belt and took out a pinch of its contents. Jack reared back at the sight of the sand.

"It's alright, Jack," Mother Nature said with a smile. "This was a gift from the sandman, the spirit of dreams and sleep. No nightmares can come when you sleep with this. Can I share it with you?"

Jack weighed his options carefully. She wasn't going to force the sand on him like Pitch; a good sign in and of itself. And instinct was not screaming danger at the sight of it. So he nodded lightly and allowed her to dust his eyes with it. The effect was immediate, but it wasn't unpleasant. Pitch's dark sand stung his eyes horribly and jerked him painfully from consciousness into a nightly horror show. This sand felt warm and sleepy-sweet. His dreams were filled with rides on the back of the wind and laughing with children that could see and touch him back.

Mother Nature left him when the dreams dancing around his head didn't turn black with fear. Her boy was finally sleeping.

Hours later, Pitch paid his Jökul a visit. Sweet dreams still danced above his head and a smile played with the corners of his mouth. Pitch considered waking him, but when the dream turned from flying on the wind to riding a horse in the forest he paused. The horse and his boy were quite happy, prancing and rearing playfully. With a single touch of his finger, Pitch altered the dream and sent the rider flying. Jökul grimaced in his sleep. As for the horse, Pitch took it from dreamland and put it in his pocket. A dream creation like that had great potential.

Comments? Questions? Random crap that will make me laugh? Put it in the box below and I'll get cracking on chapter 4! *cracks knuckles over keyboard*

Till next time!