"Jamie is supposed to be in bed by nine, but it's lights out at ten at most. Sophie goes to bed at seven. She's also allergic to apples, but only if they're raw, if

they're cooked, it's fine. Oh, and Abby needs to be fed once before you go to bed, and when you get up in the morning. But I guess Jamie can do that job..."

Mrs. Bennett mused, half to herself as she struggled to pull on a pair of classy black pumps. She put her hand on the door knob. Oh, yes, how much do I owe

you, Nicole?" I shook my head. "It's a pleasure to help out Emily, I don't need to be paid." I did, actually, because I need new clothes, but I didn't want to take

her money. Mrs. Bennett smiled. "Thank you for doing this, Nicole, it means a lot to me." She opened the door and stepped outside. "I'll call when I get there,

okay?" She looked around me and called up the stairs, "Goodbye Jamie! Bye Sophie!" "Bye mommy!" The little blonde girl called down, rushing to the landing at

the top of the stairs. "Bye mom!" Jamie shouted. I waved goodbye to Mrs. Bennett. "Have a nice trip Emily!" The door closed and I laughed a little bit. I walked

to the bottom of the stairs and called up, "Jamie, you couldn't even say goodbye to your hardworking mother? She almost died giving birth to you!" I heard him

snicker. "Don't try it, I'm used to guilt-trip!" I grinned and tramped up the stairs. I leaned against Jamie's doorsill, watching him quietly. He was at his desk,

which was cluttered with art supplies. In his hand was a water color brush, and he seemed to be concentrating very hard. I noticed his focus and turned to

leave. "You seem busy. I'll leave you be, but I wanted to ask you if you were hungry." He didn't look up while I spoke. "Nah, not yet. Maybe in a few minutes?"

He replied. I nodded. "Sure. It'll take about that long to heat up dinner anyways." I left the room and went downstairs. I entered the kitchen and opened the

fridge. I took out the covered pot and placed it on the stove. I didn't know what it was, but it smelled great. I didn't get a lot of good food at my home. I mostly

ate sandwiches and other snack-ish foods. Cheap foods. All that crap. I went to the table and looked at the instructions on how to heat the food... the stew. I

had never had stew. I was looking forward to it. I followed the directions and turned the heat up to high, setting the timer for five minutes and left it to heat

up. I went back upstairs, this time going to Sophie's room. I went to open the door, but she seemed busy. "Do you want some more tea Mr. Frost?" I laughed

silently. 'Mr. Frost? That's quite a strange name for a little girls toy...' I peeked around the corner of the door to see the small six year old girl sitting at a plastic

table surrounded by her stuffies. She was serving a small plush toy that looked like it was made from scratch... a little, ice blue rabbit. I had a sneaking

suspicion that a little boy who's name started with a 'J' had made it for Sophie. I walked back to Jamie's room and looked in. 'I feel like a stalker.' I thought to

myself. Jamie was leaning back in his chair, grinning at the watercolor paper in front of him. I approached him silently, and looked over his shoulder. My breath

caught in my throat. It was an amazing painting of a small blue rabbit (nearly identical to the one in Sophie's room) running around in the air in a dark bedroom.

I matched the room to the one I was standing in now. The creature was trailing streams of blue lights and... snowflakes? I breathed out in awe. "That's

beautiful Jamie..." He jumped. "Crap! Where did you come from!?" I chuckled. "I wasn't that quiet!" I heard the timer downstairs go off. "Dinner's ready." I left

the room with Jamie trailing after me. I yelled in the direction of Sophie's room, "Soph, dinner's ready! Tell your guests that they have to leave!" "Okay!" She

came running out a moment later. 'I feel like a duck...' I pondered as I shuffled downstairs, two children in tow. 'With little ducklings following me around.' I

went into the kitchen as the two kids sat down at the table. I turned off the stove and cursed under my breath as I looked for the bowls and silverware. I

finally found them and took out three, filling them with the thick substance and placing the spoons in them. I placed them on the table with three glasses of

water and sat down. I felt something brush against my leg and I screeched. I looked under just in time to see Abby, the large, slim greyhound, slinking out from

under the table. Jamie and Sophie were laughing at me. I glared playfully at them, sticking out my tongue, and began to eat. It was delicious. Better than

anything I'd ever had before. "If this is going to be dinner every time I come over, you shouldn't be surprised if your mom 'surprisingly' goes missing." I joked. I

smiled. 'This is a nice place... I hope we stay for a while.'

/Timeskip/after dinner/

I glanced at the clock. It was six fifty-two. "Sophie! Time to get ready for bed!" I called into the living room where the two younger kids were finishing their

desserts. Ice cream. It was really good, it tasted like... well, to me, who'd never had it before, it tasted like heaven. Creamy and delicious and- getting off track.

I finished washing the last dish and put them in the drain rack to dry. I dried my hands off on the kitchen towel and went into the living room. Sophie had run

up to the bathroom already and Jamie was sketching on the sofa. I sat down next to him. "Are you addicted to art, or..." I trailed off. He looked up. "You could

say that. I have nothing better to do right now..." I stared at him. "Don't you have friends to hang out with?" He shrugged and put his sketchbook down.

"Sure, but they're all away visiting family and Jack is-" He clamped his mouth shut, looking bashful. I raised an eyebrow. "Who's Jack?" I asked, suspicious of his

reaction. "No one. He's a friend, that's all." I looked away. "Okay." There was a short silence, but I filled it in. "You got a girlfriend Jamie?" I inquired, glancing

sideways at him. He yelped and fell off the couch. "What!? No!" He snorted, crawling back up onto his seat. "And anyways, all the girls around here are too...

too something." "You got a boyfriend?" "Jeez, just stop. I'm not in a relationship with anyone." I poked him. "How about this Jack you speak of?" He cringed.

"Now that's just wrong on sooo many levels." I cocked my head. "Why?" "He's seventeen." I coughed. "You're friends with a seventeen year old?" "I'm friends

with you, aren't I?" It was my turn to shrug. "Point taken." Sophie came running downstairs. She jumped up into my lap, reached up, and kissed my forehead.

"Night Niki!" I sat stunned. After a short moment, I kissed her cheek. "Night sweetie. You want me to tuck you in?" Sophie nodded and I picked her up. She

squealed happily. I had a tight feeling in my gut. I had to be alone for a few minutes. I went up to Sophie's room, tucked her in and said goodnight before

rushing to the bathroom. I locked the door and the lump in my throat was finally released as tears streamed down from my eyes and I let go of my suppressed

sob. I clapped a hand over my mouth. I wasn't sad, I was... confused. I'd never been treated this way... or, at least, I hadn't been treated so kindly since I was

three, since my mother died. She used to kiss my forehead before I slept. She used to tuck me in. She used to say, 'Goodnight, my little sugar-plum. Sweet

dreams.' I wiped my tears away and smiled. 'Enjoy it while it lasts, it might not be for very long. I stood and stared at my reflection in the mirror. "Shape up,

Nicole Kelly!" I turned on the cold water an splashed my face. I dried off my face before leaving the bathroom. I looked at the clock again. Exactly seven. I went

back downstairs and saw Jamie staring out the window. "What'cha looking at, Jamie?" He turned around. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." He murmured.

I raised an eyebrow, trying to look normal. "Oh really?" "Really." I rolled my eyes and walked over. "C'mon tell me what it-" I stopped. A beautiful pattern of

frost had spread over the window, and a letter 'L' had been drawn onto it... from the outside. I looked at Jamie. "Who was out there?" Jamie shook his head. "A

friend." I looked him in the eye. "A friend, outside, at seven o' clock at night, in the winter, when you said they'd all gone out?" Jamie bit his lip. "Yep." I huffed

and kept staring. "If... if you come outside maybe you'll see him." My eyebrows traveled further of my forehead. "Maybe I'll see him?" I pressed. Jamie was

already at the door. I waved my hands frantically. "Hold on Jamie, I can't leave your sister here alone-" "Relax, we're just going out to the yard." He muttered,

putting on a jacket. "For what?!" I questioned. "You'll see... maybe." My arms dropped to my sides and I leaned backwards comically, almost like a ragdoll.

"Fine... but only in the front yard!" Jamie nodded, yanking on his boots and opening the door. I growled and stepped outside in my bare feet. The door closed

behind me and the dark winter night engulfed my form. We walked down into the snow covered lawn. My feet trembled and turned numb. "Why are we out

here, exactly?" I breathed. Out of nowhere, a snowball flew at Jamie and knocked him over. I cried out in surprise. Jamie sat up, laughing and wiping snow off

his face. I saw a tall, thin form coming at us out of the dark. I held my breath and froze. I was scared. "Isn't she cold, Jamie?" I masculine voice asked my

cousin. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jamie hold a finger up to his lips. The man came into the light of the porch and my eyes went wide. It was not a man,

but a boy. But what surprised me most was the fact that he had spiky white hair and extremely pale skin. He looked like he was dying of hypothermia. His

strikingly blue eyes traveled towards me. I blinked and stepped in front of Jamie protectively. My fingers twitched and touched the edge of my belt. I'd had...

first hand experience, and I knew how to use a belt for... other purposes. "Who are you?" I snarled. The boy stopped dead and Jamie gasped. "You can see

me?" The teen age boy whispered. I chanced a look at Jamie. "Do you know him?" He was staring at me with wonder. "Obviously." He managed to get out. He

stood up and took my hand. I noticed that my other hand was still hovering over my belt buckle, ready to untie it and lash out. I put my hand behind my back.

"Who are you?" I asked again. The teen blinked and replied, "Jack." My eyes narrowed and I stepped back, a little less wary. "Jack who?" I pressed. Jamie let

go of my hand and murmured. "Nicole, meet Jack Frost." I looked between the two males, disbelief showing in my eyes. "What!?"