I'm going to shoot for monthly updates with this story:P

"Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes," - Carl Jung

Dream of Hearts

When Feliciano Vargas was found to be the Jack of Hearts, well, it was quite the story. He had been hiding in a wooden box from his older brother, Lovino, who was hellbent on making sure that he does his chores. He thought himself clever—surely no one would find him in a box labelled "tomatoes" in the middle of a small thicket. Imagine his surprise when someone did open his box. And not just any someone, the Authoritative King of Hearts himself.

"My lord Jack."

"Ve?" Felician paused his stroll through the halls of the Ruby Castle.

The servant bowed and placed a palm over his heart then waved it towards the Jack in the Hearts' salute of sharing one's heart. "Your presence is being requested in the—"

"Oi, bastardo!"

Feliciano smiled at the servant and dismissed him as his brother stomped towards him. "What is it, Lovi?"

"Don't 'What is it, Lovi?' me! Where the hell do you think you're fucking going?" Lovino ground out. His red suit and brown trousers made the reddening of his face more noticeable.

"Me? I'm about to go painting in the garden! There are so many pretty colors out there with all the flowers brother Antonio planted and the dresses all the bellas are wear—"

"Like hell you are! Didn't that potato bastard tell you about that meeting?"

"Ve~?" Feliciano tilted his head and tried to remember if there was a meeting that day. That is, until Lovino, flushedand fuming, whacked him in the head.

"C'mon. Every time you don't show your stupid face, they make me come get your sorry ass," Lovino growled and dragged his younger brother with him.

Feliciano grinned happily and Lovino grumbled. He let his older brother pull him as his amber eyes wandered around the hall. He has been living in the Hearts castle ever since the King brought him and his brother there. Even now, its architecture and design awed him. Thick marble pillars of pure white with red and gold trimmings reached to high domed ceilings. Large windows intervaled scarlet tapestries of the Hearts' history on the great walls. Wide floors tiled with a red-and-white checkered pattern. Occasional redwood tables topped with purple vases holding flowers of every shade of red, orange, and violet lined the hall. One could never tire of such impeccable design.

Outside, the sun lit the castle grounds through a cloudless sky and a small breeze flirted with the leaves of the shrubbery—Feliciano envied the citizens outside enjoying the final warm days before winter. He racked his brain, trying to remember if there really was a meeting today because only a terribly strict grump would plan the monthly meeting of the Suits that day. And in all honestly, the King would certainly fit that description.

"...and that's why you—Veneziano!"

Feliciano sighed at the loss of the outside view when they turned a to a corridor with significantly less and smaller windows. He glanced at his brother when his middle name was used. "Sì, Romano?"

"I have a fucking bad feeling, okay?" Lovino some how mumbled seriously, not looking his younger brother in the eye. "Something is going to happen. Something big and awful. And fucking soon. Just—watch yourself, okay?"

The brothers had stopped in front of a pair of large oaken doors which Feliciano would have gawked at again if his brother hadn't given him a speech. It may not be much of a monologue, but for Lovino, it was quite the mouthful. All throughout, his face progressively turned red and became more concerned, like the many times when Feliciano's clumsiness as a kid would leave many scratches on his knees.

"S-sure, fratello," Feliciano spluttered, not sure how to reply to the anomaly in his brother's mannerisms. "But what are you so worried abou—"

Just then, the large oaken doors burst open. Before Feliciano could turn to see who had interrupted him, he and Lovino were engulfed into a strong hug. "Feli! Lovi!" a voice said cheerfully.

"Get. Off. Me!" Lovino growled at the intruder of his personal space as Feliciano happily returned the hug he was receiving. "Antonio!"

Antonio let out a deep laugh and released them. He smiled down at them with cheerful peridot eyes. Curly brown hair swayed slightly as he glanced back and forth between the brothers before him. "Where have you two been? You're the last ones to get here—eh? Lovi, you're have looks like a tomato!"

Red-faced and definitely looking like a tomato, Lovino started swearing profusely at practically everything around him, breathing or otherwise.

"Ve~what time was the meeting supposed to start, big brother Tonio?" Feliciano asked.

Antonio turned slightly and motioned for them to follow him inside. "In about a couple—"

"Ten Carriedo, have Jack and Ace Vargas arrived yet?" asked a deep and resonant voice, which Feliciano identified as the King's, asked from the conference chamber.

"—seconds," Antonio finished in a whisper then whirled around and addressed the room with his constant and effervescent charm. "Yes, the Jack and Ace have just arrived."

"We're right here, Luddy~" Feliciano sang as he skipped into the room while Antonio coaxed Romano to find his seat. Feliciano glanced around and found all the other Suit members present. The ranks Ace through Ten were seated in a wide U-shaped table facing the door. The King and the Queen waited for the Jack to join them in a smaller but taller table behind the one the others sat in.

"Are we late?" Feliciano asked as he plopped down beside his king.

"Nein. We are just about to begin," Ludwig replied then nodded to the man sitting on his right.

The Queen of Hearts, a man by the name of Kiku Honda, nodded in return and rose to his feet. Feliciano watched as his soft-spoken friend raised his arm. As he did, the Numbered Suit and the Ace stood and saluted the Jack, Queen and King. A wave of the king's hand had them sitting down and the guards opening the door to a village woman.

"Good morning, Your Majesties, my Lords and Ladies," she said with a flourish.

Feliciano instantly slouched on his seat. The woman was probably a member of some organization that may be—most likely not—important in the inner-workings of the kingdom.

"With me today are the reports of the central markets, the statements of all three of the foreign ambassadors, the demographic reports of the Royal Research Branch in the East, as well as the progress report of the Crimson Engineering Company on the joined Transcontinental Rail System with the Kingdom of Spades."

Oh.

Smiling at the pointed look Ludwig was giving, he lazily waved for the woman to give her report. As the Jack, it was his duty to look through the activities of major influences of the countries outside the Suits. Feliciano let his amber eyes float over to the secretary beside the queen and found him scribbling furiously as a superfluity of information streamed from their guest's mouth.

"Although, the Eastern markets are in the best shape they have been in the past century…"

Making a mental reminder to request for a copy of those notes, Feliciano rotated his gaze about the room. The other Suits showed picture perfect posture. Though were not as open as the Jack of their boredom, he knew them more than well enough to know that they were only half-listening. As the thirteen most influential beings in all of Hearts, they gave the woman the obligatory respect and attention. But they were also immortals whose very bodies were in sync with the nation in some way. The woman was merely confirming with hard fact what the Suit already knew.

"...trade has become quite the hassle with the rise of a group calling themselves the 'Clockwork Hammer' that have yet to make their intentions clear…"

The Jack's amber gaze floated over to the King sitting beside him. Ludwig Beilschmidt had the regal and commanding air about him, fitting for his position. No doubt his previous occupation as the Lord General of the Hearts army helped. Any unrest among the people, especially a clear suggestion from the rise of a rebellion group, was a sign for concern and would certainly alarm Ludwig. However, the King's face remained stoic indicating that the so-called rebellion was a long way from becoming a threat.

"...ambassadors have reported turmoil in each of the other countries which is affecting our ability to trade with them efficiently…"

He took note of the Ace's raised eyebrow and quick jot of a note on the paper before him. Foreign affairs were in normally the Jack's and the Ace's jurisdiction, but it was Feliciano that the Suits tended to send to other countries to represent them instead of his foul-mouthed older brother. Nonetheless, both the Vargas brothers, like rest of Suits, took their job seriously when it had a direct effect on the people. Feliciano checked off the names of each of the embassadors from his memory to have a personal word with them later.

"...however, if we specialize certain trade with a specific areas of the other kingdoms…"

The woman then dived into a flurry of statistics and numbers that hardly made any sense to the Jack. Instead, he found entertainment in eying the red and pink and purple motifs of everyone's outfits. It was traditional to wear such patterns—being the national colors and all.

The Jack snapped up as the Suits sitting in the U-table rose to their feet. How long was I staring at the colors? He was about to do the same had Ludwig not placed a gentle hand on his arm, reminding him that as Jack and the third highest power in all of Hearts, he needn't stand as the woman made her leave.

The woman curtsied to the three Royals then promptly made her way out of the conference room. Once the ornate doors closed behind her, the standing Suits unceremoniously fell back to their seats. Several human lifetimes spend together threw a good amount of formalities out of the window. Even their stern King let out a sigh as he slouched ever-so-slightly on his throne.

Feliciano resisted a giggle. He has come to know the King over the centuries that he had lived in the Ruby Castle. He remembered the flustered face Ludwig sported when Feliciano, after several attempts to spend time with him, demanded they be friends. The King had grudgingly agreed but has come to be one of the Jack's best friends and vice versa. Feliciano had heard of tales of Ludwig's commanding prowess and skill within the battlefield, and was genuinely surprised that his somewhat awkward friend had a somewhat bloodthirsty side to him. Nonetheless, Ludwig was a stern and respectable King that has led the country through centuries of peace and order.

Reaching his arms to the sky, Feliciano stretched until his back popped. He let out a satisfied hum when it did. Out of habit, he rubbed the area between his shoulders. A habit he picked up after he was Signed. He clearly remembered when the Insignia of the Jack of Hearts appeared in between his shoulder blades, which was around the same time the Insignia of the Ace of Hearts appeared on his brother's side. Days before he met the King, the two brothers were in their home cooking pasta when the searing heat of being chosen by the great Hand hit them. When they regained consciousness, the pasta was way overdone—much to their dismay—and their respective black Insignias were stained into their skin.

As far as they've learned, Suits are born with longevity—they aged slowly until they were Signed. Once they received their Insignia, they stopped aging altogether. Their bodies were more durable than those of their human subjects and any injury healed incredibly quick. Each also had skills that put them right between human and god, like magic or clairvoyance in battle. However, there are also a great many things about themselves that they do not know. For example, they do not know how they die. Will they fade into nothing? Will they disappear in a blink of an eye? What happens when the Hand has deemed their rule over?

Feliciano shook himself of these thoughts. Their generation of Suits have yet to witness an actual death of a Suit and in these times of peace, that is highly unlikely.

The other Suits had fallen into idle chat. The King was currently leaned towards the Queen in order to validate some of the data that the woman presented to them. Ten Carriedo was currently poking fun at the Ace who was quickly turning a deep red color. The murmur of voices faded to nothing as the Queen, a short man with terrifyingly shrewd black eyes, called the room's attention.

"I have been informed that there are no more civilian reports to listen to for this meeting," the Queen announced, Feliciano smiled at the barely audible sighs of relief from his comrades. "Now, the Suits will present any reports they deem significant for this monthly meeting. Is there anyone who would like to begin?"

Feliciano's eyes dropped slightly followed by his head. He snapped it back, eyes flying wide open. Ve? But I'm not tired yet! I slept well last night and I even took a siesta a couple minutes before Lovi found me.

"I would, Your Majesty," Nine Heracles Karpusi answered the Queen as he rose to his feet. He bowed to the three royals then stood in the middle of the room when Ludwig motioned him to do so. "This past week, a minor earthquake struck my province. No major damage was done nor were there any reports casualties, but part of our central minining system collapsed. This uncovered a new tunnel leading to an unexplored cave system deeper underground…"

Try as he might, the Jack could not find the energy to keep his eyes open. In the end, he simply leaned his head on the King's shoulder. Ludwig tensed for a moment but did nothing to discourage Feliciano's actions. Then, Feliciano began to dream.

Drooping eyelids snapped open to reveal terribly confused amber eyes. With the slight floating sensation on his body, Feliciano knew he was in a dream. But this dream felt...different. It felt heavier—as if closer to reality than an illusion his mind had conjured.

Where his dreams were usually filled with colors like his paintings or the happiness like when his grandfather was still able to smile at him, this dream had him surrounded by a dark murkiness that settled like a black fog in this featureless world. With nothing else to focus on, Feliciano looked down upon himself. He was wearing the same outfit as he had in the meeting—a long white silk tunic, purplish trousers and boots, and a red overcoat with puffy shoulders. Even his favorite maroon beret was still perched on his head, proudly sporting the Hearts' crest on its side.

The Jack let out a sigh—standing there was not going to get him anywhere, so he took a step forward. As soon as his foot touched the ground, the blackness disappeared and an achingly familiar scene opened up before him. He stood on the threshold of a quaint stone bridge leading to a cozy-looking village. A small stream sang from underneath as rays of the sun glided between the trees lining the sides of the water. Feliciano could feel the chill of the oncoming fall of this memory that happened nearly a thousand years ago.

"Draw a circle, it's the Earth~"

His stomach dropped as he turned at the voice of a girl skipping towards the bridge.

"Draw a circle, it's the Earth~"

The Jack chuckled to himself. How could he forget that he looked like that? His younger self bounced towards the bridge, eyes closed in innocent bliss, bronze hair flopping about soft and flushed cheeks. A basket held in his mittened hand swung back and forth as he skipped. a cloak hugged his shoulders and barely covered the frilly, green maid's outfit he sported. His voice was much too high to be identified as male at the time. Hence, his master giving him a maid's outfit that he gladly accepted. Of course, he had no idea that his master was utterly clueless about his gender back then, but he didn't honestly care. That, and the skirts was quite comfortable—much more than trousers anyways.

Feliciano stepped aside as his singing past neared him. He was pleasantly shocked to find that the boy only came up to his chest since he wasn't that big of a man. His eyes wandering to the boy's basket. It was a plain woven basket—dark brown with the cover broken off. There's something with that basket—

"Feli?"

Both the younger and older Feliciano turned at the voice of a woman coming from the opposite direction of the bridge. She was wearing similar green maid's outfit as Feliciano's younger self, but upon closer inspection, one would be able to make out the fine embroidery on the apron and the expensive quality of the dress' fabric. Those with an experienced eye could tell that this woman was more important than her clothes let on. She was the future Queen of Clubs after all.

"Ms. Héderváry!" Feliciano's younger self cried and bounded over towards her.

Elizabeta, Master Roderich Edelstein's fiancée at the time, let out a soft chuckle as the boy embraced her. "Where are you off to this late in the day?"

"To the market!"

"I just came from the market and bought everything we need for the week, my dear. There's no need for you to go."

The Jacks of Hearts chuckled to himself. Even though she was the Lady of the House, Elizabeta kept insisting on taking on some of the chores around the manor. Something about working her whole life and not wanting luxury to change her…

"Ve? But I want to go! The florist had a new shipment come in today. He said some of the flowers came all the way from Diamonds! I want to see what they look like and if they're different than our flowers here."

"Alright, alright," Elizabeta laughed, then handed the boy a small coin pouch. "Buy yourself some more paints, aren't you running out?"

The boys smiled so brightly that both adults couldn't help but smile themselves. "How did you know?"

Elizabeta ruffled his hair fondly. "You can only make a limited amount of masterpieces with a limited number of paints. And with your paintings covering nearly all our walls, you must be getting close to that limit."

That was why Feliciano loved his childhood. Sure, Master Roderich would get frustrated him when he didn't do his chores or when he'd eat more than he was supposed to, but it was Lady Héderváry that always cared for him and noticed things about him as much as any mother would.

"Grazie! Thank you so much, Elizabeta!" The boy exclaimed, knowing full well that the Lady preferred it when he called her by her name, and embraced her once more.

Elizabeta returned the gestured then motioned the boy towards the bridge after he promised to be home before dark. The younger Feliciano continued to wave at Elizabeta until she disappeared around the corner in the direction of the Edelstein Manor.

Puffing warm air to his covered hands, the boy continued his skipping to the bridge with a wider smile and flushed cheeks from both the cold and the prospect of new art supplies that waited for him.

Not knowing what else to do, the Jack followed his younger self. He remembered journeying to the market over this bridge hundreds of times. It was such a common occurrence in his childhood that he wondered what significance—Kiku had told him that certain dreams were extremely important in one's life, especially for the Suits—this particular memory could possibly hold. He was currently two-thousand and five hundred twenty-six, but in this memory he couldn't have been more than a couple centuries old. Was there something important that happens here? Why can't I remember which specific memory this is? I don't even remember ever receiving more coins to get paints, even from Elizabeta!

A gust of piercing cold wind snapped him out of his thoughts as his younger self cried, "Oh no!"

Midway through the bridge, two pairs of amber eyes watched sullenly as the basket flew right of the boy's hands and into the stream.

Ve! I remember this! I lost so many baskets on the way to the market, Mr. Edelstein practically tied the future baskets to my hand. But which memory is this?

As Feliciano contemplated the importance of this particular memory, his younger self gathered his skirts, ran back to end of the bridge, then down the slope of the creek. The Jack caught up with him and joined him in watching helplessly as the basket floated ever-so-slowly just out of their reach. Both Feliciano's let out a relieved sigh when the basket was caught on a stone in the middle of the stream.

The younger stalked the side of the stream until he found the exact spot where he was closest to the basket that was still on dry land. "Grazie a Mano, it stopped. But, how do I get it back?" The younger mumbled to himself as there was still significant amount of water between him and his prize.

Wait, I don't remember this. Usually when it fell in the stream, I was never able to get it back. Did this really happen? Both Feliciano's were racking their brains—one for this memory, the other for a retrieval solution for the basket.

The Jack left his unanswerable thoughts and listened to his younger self's grumbling. "Maybe a broom…?" The younger wondered out loud. But both the younger and older shook their heads. He would need an impossibly long broom.

"You know, I'm pretty sure that the woodworker has a ladder that you could use. If that doesn't work, you can just buy a new one with the money that Elizabeta…" The Jack had suggested this out loud, but the younger made no sign of hearing him. Feliciano waved his hand in front of his younger self then placed a hand on his shoulder. To his shock, his hand phased through the boy.

Both of them shifted uncomfortably, their shoes were sinking into the mud. The wind that had tore the basket from the younger's grip had died down into a small breeze, but still had a frosty bite. It could have been easily ignored, but it will bare its teeth to anyone covered in water.

If this is a dream, then why can I feel the wind and mud? Gross, its all mushy…

As much as he wanted to wake up, there was a small voice in his head whispering for him to stay. That something important will happen. That he needed to remember this very moment more than the other two-millennia's' worth of memories he had.

"Mr. Edelstein will be livid if he finds out I lost another one!" He heard his younger's girlish voice practically cry out. He watched as the boy desperately searched about then grabbed a branch. The elder knew that the branch would hardly make a difference—it was far too short and even bent in its own weight—but the younger was getting more desperate by the second. Feliciano shuddered at the memory of an angry Roderich Edelstein.

The younger approached the edge of the water, then stepped in. The leather material of his boot kept the water from touching his skin but did nothing to stop the chill. Feliciano, still standing on the bank and out of the water, could swear with his entire life that he could feel the chill on his own two feet.

The Jack watched worriedly as the younger braved the cold water for his basket. Once the water almost reached the tops of his boots, the boy stopped. Feliciano could hear the chattering of the younger's teeth as he teetered under the weight of the branch. The bottoms of his skirts were soaking wet and his apron was covered in dirt. Hopefully, all that would be overlooked if he returns with the basket. Something urgent flashed through the Jack's mind.

"Aspetta!" Feliciano cried but was too late—he wouldn't have been heard anyways.

The younger had already taken another step forward, but the combined weight of his body and the branch was too much of a burden for his balance, especially when standing on top of slippery and submerged stones. He was still within the Jack's reach—Feliciano's stretched his arm but, like earlier, it merely phased through his younger's body. The younger let out a shriek before disappearing in the water. The older only had one foot in the water, but the cold sting of the water was covering his entire body.

...so cold...why…?

Feliciano clutched his head. A pounding pain reverberated in his skull as a fire exploded in his lungs. A memory was hammering in his mind but refused to show itself. It was as if a giant wall separated it from Feliciano. The younger had disappeared in the deceptively calm water, weighed down by his cloak and skirt.

...can't...breathe…

Are these my thoughts?

...can't…

Or his?

...breathe…

I can't help him.

...am I going to die…?

NO!

A loud splash jolted the older out of his despair. A painfully familiar black cloak fell on the bank behind him as a figure disappeared in the water with his past self. Feliciano let out a ragged breath when two heads broke through the surface—his past self's and a blond one.

Feliciano's heart cringed. I know who that is…

"Hey, are you alright?" The blond panted, as soon as they fell on the bank.

The boy in his arms groaned in response, shivering violently. The blond fumbled for his dry cloak and wrapped it around Feliciano's younger self. Then he gathered him in arms and, with a grunt and an impressive show of strength, lifted him, and carried him up the bank and to the bridge.

The Jack scrambled after them, unable to take his eyes off of this new character. But his mind was telling him that this blond boy wasn't new, at least not to the older Feliciano, yet he can't remember him.

"It's okay," the blond soothed to the younger as he laid him down on the soft ground. But the poor thing was trembling so much that he refused to be separated from this source of warmth. The blond chuckled softly and held the boy to his chest until his teeth was barely chattering. "I've seen you before, you know."

"Y-you have-ve?" Feliciano heard his adolescent girlish voice whimper. He separated from him just enough to meet his sky blue eyes with his own amber ones.

I know him…

The blond's cheeks turned red then looked away. The younger thought it was from the cold. The older knew that it was because he hadn't meant to say that out loud. "Y-yes. I've seen you around the Edelstein Manor. You work for Rod—I mean, Mr. Edelstein, yes?"

The younger nodded. The blond then pulled away then wrapped his cloak tighter around the boy. "I'll be right back."

"W-wait," the younger mourned as the lack of warmth clawed at him.

The blond rose to his feet and turned, looking directly at the Jack of Hearts. Feliciano froze, his heart stopping as those sky-blue eyes pinned him down. Then blonde strode forward. Feliciano staggered back, but the blond phased through him. An believably comforting warmth washed over him then disappeared instantly. The two-millennia old Jack collapsed to his knees, clutching his chest, and gasping for breath, as if he was drowning in ice cold water.

Tears pricked his eyes. He's important. He's someone important to me. Oh Hand, why can't I remember!?

A deafening splash had both Feliciano's whirling around and gaping at the stream just as the boy's head disappeared into the water. Both of them held their breaths until more splashes erupted in the surface as the blond swam towards the basket perched on a rock. He quickly grabbed the basket, hooked it to his elbow and paddled back in awkward motions.

"You were—trying to—get this, right?" The blond panted as he plopped down beside the younger.

Both Feliciano's were still gaping at the boy. The younger shook his head and took the basket with a shaking hand. "Y-yes. But-t you d-didn't h-ave t-to do th-that—ar-aren't you c-cold?"

"It's okay—it would have been—a waste of a basket anyways. And no,—I'm no cold."

"T-thank y-you."

The blond nodded. "It's getting—much colder now that sun—is going down—we should get you back home." He took a moment to catch his breath then shifted to his knees. Placing an arm under the younger's knees and another around his waist, he hoisted Feliciano's younger self. The Jack couldn't help but notice the unfamiliar shade of pink that flushed his younger self's cheeks.

"N-no w-wait I-I hav-ve t-to go to t-the m-market—"

"You can't be serious. You're soaking wet. This night feels closer to winter than autumn. You are going to get sick before you even make it halfway to the market," the blond replied rather bluntly.

Both Feliciano's stared at him. Then they smiled as the blond blushed, muttered sweet nothings and continued to fuss all over the younger until they reached the gates to Edelstein manor.

A servant, upon immediately recognizing Feliciano soaking wet, immediately opened the gate and herded the two teens towards the manor. The front door burst open to reveal a very worried and concerned Elizabeta.

"Feli!" The Lady of the House gasped, pulling them both in and then towards the hearth. A fire blazed happily in the fireplace, filling the Jack with a lethargic warmth. "What in Hand's name happened?"

"Well—" the blond started but his words were cut off when the other boy sneezed.

"Oh, nevermind. that can wait until you get warm." Elizabeta scooted them closer to the fire where the younger leaned forward to warm his cold-flushed cheeks. The poor thing was still shivering despite the blazing fire.

Elizabeta sent one of the servants to get the Master of the house and another one for blankets. She herself disappeared for a moment and returned with another dress to replace Feliciano's sodden one. After a promise of warm clothes to the blond, the two of them exited the room to give Feliciano some privacy to change.

The Jack watched himself change. The younger's shoulder blades were clear of any Insignia. His hand unconsciously rubbed his own back, not easily remembering a time where the Insignia of the Jack of Hearts was absent.

Once in dry clothes, the younger called for Elizabeta and the blond back into the room. The Lady of the House continued to fuss over him while the blond sat back—in dry clothes that looked several sizes too big—holding two steaming cups of tea.

"Thank you so much for saving me," Feliciano heard his girlish voice praise the blond. Though the boy was still shivering under a pile of blankets, his teeth were no longer chattering. "But, how did you find me?"

The blond blushed as he padded forward and offered the younger a cup of tea, then sat beside him. "I was making my way home when you made your way down to the stream. I suppose I became curious to what your intentions were so I—um, watched. When you went under water, I became worried. When you didn't come back up—well, I had to do something."

"Ve? Really? You saw all that?" the younger chuckled, while the older didn't remember having the decency to blush whenever he was caught doing something foolish. "Anyways, thank you so much! My name is Felicia—" the younger sneezed. Then again. And again.

"You should really be resting, Felicia," the blond suggested with a small smile. He shifted to his knees and fixed the blankets tighter around 'Felicia'. The Jack shivered in his mud-stained clothes, grateful that he wasn't leaving behind any dirt in his wake.

"That's not my n—" the younger sneezed again. "What's your name?"

The Jack felt himself pulling away from the scene. No longer could he feel the warmth of the fire. No longer could he smell the wooden walls of the manor. No longer could he hear his younger self and the blond.

Wait!

He saw the blond's mouth moving as he gave his younger self his name. He couldn't hear it. He couldn't remember it. He knew this boy. He knew this boy was important. He knew that this boy was important to him.

So why can't I remember?

So here's the next chappie. Again, this story is currently going through a rewrite and it'll be a while before I reach where it had originally let off.

Chapter 3 and 4 will be posted on my tumblr within the next 2 weeks.