* I referenced "Mario Kart" in this chapter. I don't own "Mario Kart" or anything related to "Mario".

Requested by: JasmineD799 and dude

Sleepover and Video Games

Tiny hands ripped the book from Jamie's lap.

"Bunny! Bunny!" Sophie squealed over her brother's protests. "Bunny's here!" The little girl pointed at the six-foot rabbit that leaned against the doorframe.

"Bunnymund," Jamie exclaimed as Sophie jumped into the Pooka's arms. "What are you doing here?"

"I just came to see how you ankle biters were doing," Bunnymund said. He handed the book back to Jamie who marveled at the size of his paws. "And I was hoping I could take your sister to the Warren for a bit."

"Sure," Jamie's face lit up. "Can I come?"

"Only if you want to worry an overprotective winter spirit," Bunny rolled his eyes. "Be my guest."

"Jack's coming?" His excitement almost flew through the roof.

"He heard your mum was going to be working a night shift," Bunny twitched as Sophie reached to tug at his ears, but remained patient. "So, he's coming to stay the night. Speak of the devil…" The autumn breeze rattled against the window moments before it opened.

"Hey-a, kiddies," Jack gave a crooked grin as he stepped away from the outside world. Jamie greeted the Guardian with the familiar embrace. "Long time no see, pal." Jack chuckled, holding him tightly.

"You shouldn't visit outside your own season, mate."

"Nag, nag, nag," Jack muttered as he stood. "Look who's talking, Easter Kangaroo. Fall can handle a bit of chilly weather."

Jack picked up his staff before Jamie could get a hold of it. The child snapped his fingers. Why didn't Jack ever let him just hold it? It's not like he could use it anyway.

Jack chuckled. "Don't you have a Warren to go to?"

"Don't you have to babysit right now?"

Jamie groaned at the choice of words.

"How 'bout it, ankle biter?" Bunnymund turned to the girl. "Want to go paint some early Easter eggs?" Sophie hopped joyously. It was all the motivation needed for the two to finally jump down a rabbit hole.

Jamie made his way to a stack of old VHS tapes and DVDs to try and find a suitable one.

"You don't have to babysit me, you know," The child glanced back to see Jack waltzing about the room as if he owned the place. "Mom's left me home plenty of times. She just started doing that this year."

Jack nodded. "All the same, I'm just being cautious. We still don't know where Pitch is. I don't want him going after you two."

"Sophie's no threat."

"Though that wouldn't matter to a guy like Pitch, Sophie probably wouldn't be his first target." Jack said, prodding his staff in Jamie's direction. "I'm just worried he'll hold a grudge against you. And frankly," he poked the child's belly, causing them both to chuckle. "You're not the most threatening thing out there, either.

"So," Jack clapped. "As my first sleepover, what do we do first?"

Jamie held up two jewel cases. "Movie or video games?"

"I'm still thinking of ways to get my revenge on you after the reindeer incident," Jack glared daggers at the boy. "You're not helping yourself, at all."

Jamie rolled on the couch, bursting with laughter. It had been going on for ten minutes straight. The fact that Jack couldn't go five feet without speeding over a bridge and into the ocean was oddly amusing. However, he dove into hysterics upon seeing the winter spirit's agitation, especially when he almost froze the TV.

"Jus-just hold the controller like a steering wheel," Jamie calmed himself. "You keep pointing it at a weird angle."

After moments of frustrated coordination, Jack blinked with a mutter of realization. The car in the game was actually responding perfectly to him. Jack gave a short victorious laugh. Jamie's grin bordered on devilish; the winter spirit was over two laps behind his eleven opponents.

"Hey, Jamie," Jack grumbled after his racecar suddenly exploded. The child snorted back his laughter the best he could. "Let's watch a movie."

"Okay," Jamie started flipped through the shelf's movie selection.

"And no horror films."

Jamie rolled his eyes. "Yes, mom."

Something brushed against his shoulder. Jamie muttered and swat a hand at the air. His arm was pushed again. "Wha-"

"I thought you had to stay up all night for a sleepover."

Jamie yawned widely as Jack ruffled the child's hair. "Not if you have school in the morning." He paused to look at the pictures moving across the TV screen. It was coming to the end of the movie. "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?" Jack asked curiously, munching on the last of the popcorn, his newfound addiction.

"Why do you mess with my hair?"

"Well, clearly a comb isn't doing anything for you, so it's not like I'm making it worse."

"No, I don't mind it, but why do you always do it?"

Jack hummed under his breath. He rested his staff on the coffee table before leaning back against the couch, lost in thought.

"I think…" His jaw flexed. "I think I used to do the same for my little sister." Jack paused as Jamie stared intently. "That's just a theory, of course. My human memory is a bit clearer now, but there are still barriers."

"Couldn't you just go to the Tooth Palace and look at your baby teeth again?"

"Tooth fairy magic tends to only be good for a single memory. Otherwise, you could look at the past whenever you wanted."

"So, it's like they have to recharge?"

Jack scratched his temple. "In a way, but it might be decades before I can look at the memories again."

Jack looked forward just in time to see the movie credits roll. For a moment he stared distantly, thinking about the lake behind the house, about when he and his beloved sister went ice-skating. Also thinking back to the incident in Antarctica, he recalled the grateful euphoric 'click' of those memories returning.

"Jamie." There was a pause. "Jamie?" Jack's heart skipped a fearful beat, and looked to his side.

Jack sighed and smiled fondly as Jamie slept upright against a cushion. He surprised himself further when he lacked the hesitation to bring the child into his arms. The boy didn't utter a sound as he buried his face in the blue sweatshirt.

The Guardian blinked while clearing his throat. For a fraction of a second, he felt scared, needlessly frightened that Jamie had forgotten.

Had stopped believing. Jamie muttered in his sleep, causing Jack to involuntarily run a hand through the boy's hair.

This was why. After years of loneliness and solitude, now that Jack could reach out and touch someone without the fear of being walked through like a ghost, it was the most incredible feeling he'd had in centuries.

"Hey, Jamie," Jack whispered softly in his friend's ear. "Question..."

Jamie's chocolate eyes fluttered before looking up at the Guardian.

Jack opened his mouth. "Are you supposed to have mind-bending epiphanies during a sleepover?"

* Just letting you guys know, I started posting a chapter story companion to "Brothers". The story is called "Reapers Realm".

Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter. Again, I'm still taking one-word requests.