Chapter Thirty-Three- "Snowballs and fun times"
"What'd you wish for?" Jack asked.
"That's not how it works!" Jamie insisted.
While the "kids" argued they gathered the presents and Tooth and Sandy started dinner. Granted Sandy didn't have much of an appetite most days but he was actually a fairly good cook. As the food got started they blew out the candles and followed a Bennett family tradition; dessert before dinner on special occasions. The cake was obliterated and it took Tooth and Sandy long enough to finish dinner that they were all hungry again by the time it was served.
When the gifts broke out there was a happiness that hadn't been in that house in what felt like ages. It was a crazy blur and James' promise to take him to the mall later (it was a Friday evening and tomorrow would be perfect for mall-going) was more than enough to get the teen excited for the weekend. Homework and stress flying out the window in a flash. The extended family gathered around in the living room for all the fun.
"So, I didn't make it to the store, but I do have something for you." His mom sat lightly beside him with a mischievous grin. Jamie gave her a suspicious look that was extremely telling about their usual interactions. "Oh don't look at me like that." She teased with a chuckle.
"Why did you give that look?" North asked, obviously wondering why that sentence would prompt such caution.
"If Jack had told you he had a surprise for you in that voice, with that expression, what would you be doing?" Jamie asked the man.
"Running." Both Bunny and North chimed in unison.
"No offense, mate." Bunny added hastily.
"None taken." Jack nodded, as deadpan as he could possibly be.
"Oh I'm sure he's not that bad." Jessica commented, never having seen him at his ornery best.
"He is." Tooth chimed in, nodding quite seriously. Sandy chuckled silently with a mischievous smirk on his face.
"Well your mom can't be as bad as Jack." James chimed in.
"She's worse!" He insisted.
"Looks like there's someone I need to spend more time around then. Can't let my mischief-making talent slip into sub-par territory can we?" Jack hopped easily over to her other side, nudging her shoulder companionably.
"I will train you in the arts of stealth and mischief at my earliest convenience." She offered quite seriously.
"Alright, I'm holding you to that." He nodded.
"Alright, so what were you saying?" Jamie re-focused.
"Oh, right! Well, it's more that Mani has something for you." She offered. "Although while I was with him I did manage to pick up a little something. You'll need it." She pulled out a small package and handed it to him. It turned out to be a white stone, roughly in the shape of…
"Woah, no way." Jack commented quietly when he saw it. "He's…that's awesome!"
"What?! What is it?" Jamie asked excitedly.
"Jack? Want to explain?" She asked.
"You should, it's your gift." He gestured toward the small charm on the leather chain necklace resting in Jamie's hand.
"Alright, that's the very first snowflake created by a winter spirit, ever. It's a powerful totem for transferring and controlling winter magic." She explained, gradually dissolving into a grin and snickering the wider her son's eyes got.
"Woah, really? That's amazing thanks! But…why do I need to control winter magic?" He asked, looking to her in question.
"Well…Mani has already decided that with Old Man Winter having gone the way of the frozen heart, Jack needs some help. He thinks that you'd do a really good job." She explained, loving the way Jack's eyes lit up and Jamie's jaw dropped.
"Are you being serious right now?" Jack asked, borderline whooping.
"Absolutely." She nodded. "Jamie, he wants me to make you a winter spirit, to share the winter spirit tittle with Jack."
"Awesome!" Jamie and Jack high fived, leaving everyone rolling.
"Are you certain they are not just brothers?" North asked, studying the two closely with his arms crossed.
"Pretty sure." She chuckled. "I was there, I don't think I had more than one." North, Bunny and Tooth couldn't help chuckling, Sandy made a face that told Jessica that was a thought he didn't particularly enjoy and the boys were just snickering and trying not to think too hard on the heart of the joke. Jack wasn't going to comment on it and scar Jamie for his now immortal life-to-be anyway. That put a thought in his head.
"So, how do you make him an immortal and all that?" Jack asked excitedly, balancing on a nearby chair to let out some of his energy.
"I'm not sure exactly. The magic didn't come with an owner's manual." She half-griped. Jack's eyes meeting hers told her he knew the feeling. I know it's not Mani's fault, but I suddenly feel like giving these four a decent talking-too. They had to know he was a kid, right? How could they not? She found herself wondering.
"Maybe all he needs to do is put the totem on." Tooth suggested wisely. It was as good of a guess as they had, so Jamie slipped the charm on and immediately a light flashed.
"Oh yeah, we're related." Jack chuckled when they could see again. Jamie's hair was the same white as Jack's, and he had blue eyes like him now too. He caught a look at himself in the reflective surface of the dormant flat-screen TV in the corner and whooped. It had worked! In his celebration he ended up getting picked up by the wind and deposited right on top of a certain Pooka.
"Well that's striking." James muttered through a smile/chuckle combo. In more ways than one.
They decided to spend the afternoon at North's where Jamie and Jessica would both be comfortable (more for Jamie's sake though) and there was room for the new winter baby to learn. Plus, freezing things at the pole was less likely to be reported to the proper authorities.
Jack taught him a little about flying and Jessica and James spent the entire time covering their eyes. He's a tough one, and he's immortal now. He needs to learn, has to. Jack won't let him get hurt for anything. We can pretty much all catch him. He's alright, he'll be fine, he's safe.
"OH! Oh goodness Jack, be careful!" Tooth finally squeaked as Jamie slipped from a rafter, catching himself just before impact. Jessie and James (and they would be teased about that for eternity, no worries there) looked up in unison shock. North, Bunny and Sandy shook their heads, snickering. They knew he was safe.
"What? What happened?" James asked.
"Oh, Jamie's a clutz that's all." Jack deflected.
"He'll be fine." The new momma nature smiled. She was much more confident in Jack than her instincts wanted her to be, but she still wouldn't watch.
"Mom! Look at this!" Jamie called.
"Oh lord, what are you-" She couldn't finish her playful jab, it was incredible. He was floating beside jack, stable and they were both holding at least a dozen snowballs above their heads with magic.
Without thinking Jessica hit the deck, letting Sandy and Tooth get nailed in their faces. North started laughing a laugh that could easily have rattled windows and Bunny poked his head out of a rabbit hole.
"Cheater." Jessica mumbled.
"Nope, I just plan ahead." He chuckled, tossing her a snowball.
"Well, if I'm going to be winter's momma, I better learn their tricks. Wonder what I can do." She mused, eyeing the rabbit.
"What're you gonna-" A snowball flew from what looked like nowhere and smacked him in the face. Just like her little boy, she was a natural at nature magic. Watching from his world Mani full-out belly-laughed. He knew she'd make a great mother nature!
"Mom?" Jamie called warily having lost track of her in the few seconds of snow-slinging they had been in. She stayed hidden. A snowball mysteriously whacked him in the face.
"Where'd that come from?" Jack asked, genuinely confused for about half the sentence. When he caught sight of her he winked and made another snowball whiz from the other side of the room and smack him in the back of the head.
"Hey! Jack!" Said spirit held up his hands with the most innocent look they had ever seen, which was suspicious in and of itself.
"What? That wasn't me." He lied rather pitifully. He couldn't lie to save his life. He could see his mom's magic gathering and churning around her. She was up to something and he was determined that it work out. This was gonna be good.
"Was too!"
"Was not!" Jessica yelled as she flung the couple dozen snowballs she had crafted at her son all at once from every corner of the room.
Sorry I was out for a while, expect more updates soon! Let me know whatcha think as usual. :)