Beepbeep beepbeepbeep, beep beep.

I groaned as my phone alert went off. I was having a really good dream as well, about a snowball fight.

I didn't even look at the caller ID as I picked it up.

"Hello?" I said a little blearily.

"Jackie, have you just woken up?"

"Yes Nigel, I have."

"Well, sorry to disturb you, but we're having a meeting in a few hours."

"Alright."

"I'm letting you know now because it's going to be really important, one of the Heads of HOG will be on a Skype call, we need to explain the Pitch situation."

"Do I have to tell that story again?"

"Hopefully you won't have to. See you at one, okay?"

"Okay, see you then."

I wandered into the hall at ten to one, fully awake and ready to handle anything. I was really happy to see that Sally was strong enough to come, whatever the Sandman did last night really worked.

Strangely, Billy was quite subdued.

"What's up Billy?" I asked, walking over.

The normally bouncy Australian shrugged. "I'm just a little tense. I'm not good with authority; I tend to get snappy with them. So Nigel pretty much told me to keep quiet during this meeting, so I'm feeling a little down. Not to mention what happened the other day..."

"Well, after this, go get a coffee; it won't be the same without you zipping about."

Billy's face broke into a grin, "Me, on caffeine? You might want to break a camera out for that one mate."

"Will do." I said, smiling. Seeing Billy in good shape, considering what had happened, seemed to put me in a good mood.

At the front Nigel was fiddling with Skype and looked over his shoulder at us.

"Alright, everyone pull up a chair and gather round. Jason's on call now."

I picked up a chair and plopped it by the table with the computer on it. On screen was a man that couldn't look more like the real Santa Claus if he tried. The only real difference was the look of seriousness, rather than the typical jolliness, on his face. Once everyone had gathered he cleared his throat through the crackly speakers.

"Afternoon everyone. It's been a while since I've seen some of you. And a new face, you must be the Jackie I've heard so much about."

I nodded, "That's me."

"That might explain some of your trouble Nigel. All eight of the HOG Branches with Jack Frost Descendants have reported increased activity among the Descendants of Pitch."

I would have questioned further about other Jack Frost descendants, then I remembered the purpose of this meeting.

"I'd love to discuss Jack Frost Descendants, but now's not the time." said Nigel, "I'm formally asking for a global HOG meet up."

"I see, well then. I appreciate your concern Nigel, but relatively few Branches have had issues-"

"You said so yourself that those Branches all have a Descendant of Jack Frost. I doubt this is a coincidence!"

"And you're willing to let the rest of us suffer the consequences. We'll the get the Descendants of Jack Frost together if necessary, but I'm not going to let everyone else get involved for the sake of a few."

"No! Sir, the Descendants of Pitch have always been a cause for alarm. Less than 48 hours ago they orchestrated an attack and kidnapping of everyone in this room, which nearly resulted in the death of one of our members and another has been mentally scarred. I doubt this is the last thing they plan on doing. And last we saw, Pitch himself was with them!"

"The Bogeyman himself?" Jason seemed alarmed, "I see, that is definitely worrying. I shall consider your appeal and get in touch with the other Heads. Good day."

With that the call was cut.

Nigel sat back in his chair and sighed. "Well, the best we can hope for is that the other Heads agree with us."

He rubbed his eyes wearily. "I'm sorry this has been such a short meeting, I thought it would take longer. I'll call you when he gets back in touch."

That was probably the least obvious dismissal I'd heard, but the others got to their feet and began to leave. Billy was bouncing up and down.

"Oh yeah! I hope you're ready with that camera kiddo, because I feel like coffee!"

"Knowing you I may also need warranty and excellent insurance on that camera."

Billy only laughed harder. "You know, the dry humour thing really works with you. You look so serious all the time! It's good to hear you lightening up though."

We walked out of the door and into the streets of town.

"So, you're serious about that coffee?"

"Why not? It'll be interesting to watch, wanna get one too?"

I shuddered, "I'll get a chilled fruit juice if I'm coming with you."

"Chilled fruit juice?! One, it's freezing, two, that's boring. At least get a soda!"

"One, I have ice powers, I don't do hot things, two, ice powers are unstable, I dread to think what they're like after coffee, or soda."

"Alright, still boring though."

He looked over at where Tina and Sally were walking. "Hey, wanna join us, we're heading for coffee!"

"Billy on coffee?" said Tina, "That I need to see."

"I could probably do with a coffee myself." Said Sally, she did look a bit pale.

We walked together to the nearest coffee shop and as soon as the door closed I took off my coat, the heat too much for me. We were an odd group to be sure; the bouncing Australian, the refined lady, the solemn teen and the quiet smiling woman.

After a few instances were Billy was being flirted at, we finally got a table and sat down with our drinks. All three of the others had gotten coffee, although we drew the line with Billy on getting shots of espresso, and I sat with my chilled fruit juice. In February.

"You know Jackie?" asked Tina.

"Hmmm?"

"I've been wondering, how much does the ice thing affect you? You're sitting there with a ton of ice in your drink and you're not even flinching at how cold it is."

I had taken a sip of my juice, then put it back on the table to answer.

"Well, I can go around in near freezing in a t-shirt. In fact I'm comfortable around 5 degrees Celsius, although I've learnt to tolerate higher temperatures. I don't do hot things very well. Summer is a nightmare for me and open fires, well, even a metre away I feel like I'm burning. It's also why I'm not a fan of human contact, you're all too warm for me. It's not painful, just, uncomfortable."

As for something like this." I raised my glass. "It's close to neutral or lukewarm for me, without ice this is my equivalent of a hot chocolate. I've also never had brain freeze or been ill in my life."

"Never been ill?" asked Tina, surprised.

I nodded, "Yep, I think it's because germs that carry disease work best at normal body temperature, which is not my body temperature. Therefore, I don't get ill."

"Wow, I'd never have thought that a power could affect you quite so much." She looked over at her back, probably where her wings were.

"I know a few people who are like that." Added Billy, surprisingly calm, for now.

"I've met some Descendants who can control plants and in some cases, earth; you do not want to be around them in winter. They are incredibly crabby and tired; they seem to have a connection to plant life in such a way that when the plants are dying, they feel half dead as well. And don't ya get me started on how they react to gardens, it's like a red rag to a bull."

Tina tapped her chin. "I'm surprised, like I said, I never really thought about how powers could affect a person. Me for example, the only issue I ever had was learning to fly and dealing with having to eat more than the normal person, but those are really the only issues anyone I know ever had."

A small smile crept across Sally's face. "I knew one Descendant who had a lot of allergies, he couldn't use his powers because he just started sneezing all the time."

I had to chuckle slightly. "Are those the only problem that you guys have?"

"Other than a few control issues, yes."

"Hey, aren't you curious about the other Frost Descendants?" butted in Billy, now looking worryingly hyper.

"Well, yeah." I admitted, I hadn't really given it much thought, but now Billy mentioned it...

"You know, if we have an all HOG meeting, you'll get to meet them."

"We all meet up? Seriously? What about passports and VISA's?"

"We don't always have to worry about that stuff. If we really have to then we have other ways of getting around. The Descendants of North always have something up their sleeve. Most of them are inventors after all."

"I've never seen Nigel-."

"You haven't been to his place! There's half finished projects all over the place and little gadgets dotted everywhere!"

"He'll never patent them though." Said Tina, "He has too much pride in his work to think that it requires a patent, and he's always said that inventions should be for everyone, not just for someone to make money off. Not all Descendants of North think the same way of course, but it quite a common mind set."

"Wow." I took a sip of my juice. "So, Tina, are your lot all dentists?" I tried to tease.

Tina sighed in mock annoyance. "You'd be surprised how often we get that, but yes, a few of us become dentists, but some of us got too worked up and googly eyed over a lost tooth that they can't hold down a dentistry job."

"What about you?"

"I may or may not have completely freaked out my classmates in elementary school with my over enthusiasm over baby teeth."

"That must have been quite a sight."

"Some of them recovered, to others I was called the Tooth Fairy forever more."

"That's pretty ironic."

"I suppose it- Billy, are you alright?"

Billy was practically vibrating from the coffee and had a huge grin on his face.

"What do you mean I feel perfectly fine! Hey! Wanna have a snowball fight? There's park nearby come on let's go!"

He jumped out of his seat and tried to drag us with him.

"Billy, none of us have finished our drinks yet, be patient." Said Tina.

"You guys are boring." He sulked, slumping back in his seat.

"And you're acting like a five year old." Retorted Tina. Sally and I shared 'ouch' looks.

Billy impatiently waited for us to finish and once the last drop was downed he was up again, practically begging us for a snowball fight.

Tina and Sally grabbed their coats and I followed unenthusiastically, I was nervous of the idea of a proper snowball fight in the open, and we'd all have to rein in our abilities. My mind went back to my dream last night and I had a light bulb moment.

"Wait, I know a better place!"

"You do!" cried Billy excitedly.

"Yeah, I'm off school because of my injuries, and schools in session now, so they'll be no one else there, we could go all out!"

"All out huh? That sounds AWESOME!"

Billy was almost leaping into the air at this point.

"Come on let's go, show us the way!"

I waved them along with my hand and in the sudden quiet I heard Tina say.

"Note, never give Billy coffee again."