When Jack entered his two-story home, Tooth meet him in the living room with a look of concern on her face. "Are you alright, sweetie?"

He stopped on his way to his room, surprised. "Uh, yeah." He shared a brief, confused look with Baby and Wind, who shrugged. "Are you okay?"

Tooth nodded, smiling. "Yes. You just looked...tired." She smiled sheepishly and added, "I thought maybe something happened at school."

"I'm fine," he assured her, and he told himself it wasn't a lie. He wasn't bullied or anything, and he had talked to his teachers about getting his grades up. Other than finding out that the voices might not go away, nothing too important had happened.

Tooth suddenly hugged Jack, startling him. "I heard you were at the office today," she told him quietly. She gently pushed him away to look at him sternly. "Please tell me you weren't in trouble."

Who told her? Jack wondered, trying to remember if he'd seen anyone she knew at the office. He doubted it.

Sandy? Wind and Baby said in unison, and Baby went on, He was probably worried about you.

Jack reminded her with a shrug, "I promised to get my grades up, remember?"

Liar, liar, Baby sang loudly, pants on fire!

Jack tried not to roll his eyes at her.

Tooth started to say something else when her phone rang. She looked apologetic as she answered it. "Dr. Toothiana speaking."

Jack shrugged and headed for his room, already knowing it was about work. Busy again, he thought with a sigh. We hardly see each other anymore.

And you don't have any friends, Wind mused. Jack didn't reply, so the voice added curiously, Do you think Jamie told your mom about the visit to the office?

"Why would he?" Jack asked, puzzled, sitting on the edge of his bed and tossing his backpack on the floor.

Wind leaned against a wall while Baby sat on the backpack. He seems like someone who cares a lot about his friends, Baby said softly. So maybe he was worried about you?

You think Jamie wants to be friends with Frostbite? Onyx scowled at him. Who in their right mind would wanna be friends with him?

Jack started to reply, but then he stopped. Analyze what they say, right? It was worth a shot.

Onyx probably wasn't the best choice. Most of her words were insults, and if they weren't insults, then they were threats. So maybe her words didn't have any special meaning? But Jack didn't want to just accept her - not when she was just going to bully him for the rest of his life.

Wind was probably the best one to start with. He was also the one who knew when Jack was over thinking things and tried to help him out. You know, Mr. Lunar once said that voices like Onyx speak your own subconscious fears and insecurities.

Jack thought about that carefully, mixing Wind's words with Onyx's. "So you're saying I'm insecure...because I subconsciously think I don't deserve friends? And Onyx is saying it?" That's a depressing thought.

Wind nodded. Basically.He grinned proudly at the teen. See what Mr. Lunar says to that!

Jack couldn't help grinning triumphantly.

Onyx rolled her eyes. You're acting so proud of yourself over something like this? You're so pathetic, Jaclyn.

Jack glared at her for ruining the moment. "Shut up, Onyx."

But the nightmare had found something new and interesting to poke at. But it's true, isn't it? She smirked and said in a condescending tone, You're just seeking any little scrap of approval and attention you can get because you're a pathetic, unwanted little boy who -

ENOUGH!

Everyone flinched at Wind's sudden, angry outburst while he stood in front of Jack protectively and snarled at Onyx, Get out of here! Now!

Onyx stared at the older boy with wide, fearful golden eyes before disappearing.

After a long, tense moment, Wind slowly relaxed and looked at Jack, who looked on the verge of tears. Are you alright?

The teen didn't answer for a while. But when he did, he was smiling and shrugging the incident off too easily. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

Baby hesitated before standing up and hugging him suddenly. It's okay, Jack! She was being a really big jerk anyway.

Wind gently pulled the younger girl off of Jack, who looked unsure of what to do. "I'm fine, Mom," the teen finally said, waving a hand carelessly. Then he grinned again, his good mood returning with Onyx's absence. "We should call you Baby Tooth, 'cause you're just like my mom."

Baby made a "Pfft!" noise and tried to stifle her laughter. Wind smiled at them, saying calmly, And she's always worried about what your mom says and thinks.

Baby stuck her tongue out at the boys, who were laughing. That's because your dad lets you get away with so much stuff that your mom has to make up for it when she catches you.

It was true. "Yeah, you're right." Jack smiled at them, then picked up his backpack. "Wanna help me out with some homework?"

It's your homework! Baby said sternly, and Wind shrugged nonchalantly.

I guess that leaves me, he sighed. What should we start with?

"Thanks, Wind," Jack said gratefully, then glared playfully at Baby. "You're a good friend, unlike some people!"

I know, Onyx is a pain in the butt, Baby said, grinning at him. Hurry up, so we can have some free time.

Jack was halfway through his English homework when his mother called him down for dinner. He was surprised to see "Phil the Yeti", one of his dad's employees there, talking to Tooth with his back to Jack. The teen grinned wickedly before crouching down slightly and silently sneaking up on the light brown-haired man, who was saying something about being late.

Jack waited for a moment before suddenly grabbing the taller man by his shoulders, shaking him and shouting, "Earthquake!"

Phil jumped nearly a foot in the air, then turned angrily on the younger teen, who smiled innocently at him. Scowling, Phil grumbled something in his native tongue to Tooth, who laughed lightly.

Jack grinned at him. He wasn't as good as his parents at understanding Phil or the other employees' language, but he was learning. "Oh, hey, it's just you."

Phil glared at him. "Jack!" he began disapprovingly, but the teen had darted around him to speak to his mother.

"Hey, Mom, is Dad coming home soon?" he asked, reaching for a bowl of whatever his mom had made. "Is that soup?"

She swatted his hand away. "Yes, it is, and if you were listening to Phil, you would have heard that your father was still at the toy store. There was a robbery last night - "

"Seriously? Who would rob a toy store?" Jack asked, ignoring Baby's concerned chatter. It faded away as he spoke. "I mean, I know it's probably bigger and better than any place Santa's got at the North Pole, but still..."

Tooth shook her head. "That's what your dad is trying to figure out, so he won't be home until everything is fixed up." She handed a large plastic bowl of soup with a closed lid to Phil. "Can you take this to him for me?"

Phil nodded and took the bowl before leaving.

Jack sat down at the table as Tooth served, and Baby sat across from him, looking almost annoyed. Say something! She never sees you, and your dad isn't here. Baby gave him a look when he ignored her. Jack, she's your mom. At least ask about her day.

To get the voice to be quiet, he asked his mom, "How's your day been?"

Tooth seemed shocked to hear the question, but she said calmly, "It's been okay." She began telling him what had happened at the dentist's office that day, and Jack listened with a slight smile. When she finished, she looked at him. "What about you?"

He thought about telling his mom about the voices and what Mr. Lunar had said about them. For a moment, he thought maybe she could even help him somehow. But then he decided against it. "It was kind of boring. But in one class we got to watch a movie..."

After dinner, Jack helped Tooth clean up as the voices began talking quietly. Then he finished his homework and tried to go to sleep. On a good day, the voices were annoying. On a bad day, they could unintentionally drive him crazy. At night, it was much worse. With sleep sneaking up on the teen, the voices seemed more real than before.

I just tripped on something, Onyx grumbled. Jaclyn, you should really clean up this dump.

I'll put that on my to-do list. Jack covered his head with a pillow. It seemed like the commentary would never end. You know, it never ceases to amaze me that someone like you can trip over something, Onyx.

The pillow did nothing to muffle the voices. He heard Onyx's next words as clearly as if she were saying them to his face.

Watch it, Frostbite, the voice said in a low, dangerous tone. I can be your worst nightmare, remember?

Jack, it's almost one in the morning! Baby reminded him. You're supposed to be asleep by now.

I would be, Baby, but a certain "nightmare" is keeping me up.

Onyx growled at the mocking tone. You want a nightmare?

Wind chose that moment to speak up calmly. I think that's enough for tonight. Baby, Onyx, please go away.

Jack doubted that would work, but when he uncovered his head and looked around, they were gone. Wind was beside the teen's bed, leaning against the wall. His bright blue eyes blinked at the exhausted teen, then he smiled reassuringly.

Better? the voice asked lightly. Jack nodded numbly. Close your eyes and breathe in. The teen obeyed. Now breathe out, slowly. Got it? Keep doing that.

When Jack didn't automatically fall asleep, the two started talking.

Why do you call Phil a yeti? Or do you call all of your father's employees yetis? Wind asked him several minutes later.

When Dad first took me to the toy store, it was in the middle of winter, and all the employees were wearing these big, furry jackets because the heater was broken. Jack laughed quietly. I started calling them yetis because of the way they dressed. It kind of stuck to them. Even Bunny calls them that, and he rarely goes there.

Wind grinned, shaking his head. You were always a troublemaker, weren't you?

Of course! Jack was lost in thought, trying to remember when he had first heard Wind. Instead, he remembered something else. When I was younger, you used to sing to me until I fell asleep, the teen pointed out. But I can't remember what possessed you to do that.

Wind chuckled. What possessed me? He thought about that. You were always scared and alone. So I sang until you calmed down. Once you calmed down, you would pass out.

Jack was quiet for a moment. From what?

Stress, probably. Wind paused. I know you don't like hearing this... Jack tensed up, already knowing what he was going to say. But I think you should try to make more friends. It will get Onyx off your back, and you won't feel so lonely.

Jack frowned. I'm fine. Besides, he added sadly, you know no one wants a friend like me.

That's not true.

Seeing Jack's disbelieving look, Wind sighed heavily. Jack, if no one wanted a friend like you, why did Jamie talk to you at the front office?

He didn't have an answer for that.

Wind smiled slightly. If someone reaches out for you, don't be afraid to take their hand. You won't regret it.

Jack sighed and turned away. Easy for you to say. You're not even real, are you?

The voice's reply was simple but vague. I'm as real as you need me to be. Does it matter if I'm real to anyone else?

Jack rubbed his eyes and yawned. No, I guess not. Goodnight, Wind.

Night, Jack.

~RotG~

Thanks to everyone who's following this story! :)

To Guest - She's always being bullied by Onyx... :( I have an idea of what each one is there for; I just have to write it. :)

To FanFicCriTicTheThird - Thanks! :)

To Wilona River - Thanks! :)