Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Winter Child!" =D Man, it's been a while (like, two months...oof QwQ). My family had some stuff going on and I wasn't feeling the greatest, but I am back and better! =)

To sum up the good things in my lengthy hiatus: I started reading a new manga called "Oshi No Ko" after hearing the theme song released by YOASOBI (they're my favorite J-Pop singing duo =D). They also released a new album last week Wednesday called Hajimete No, which roughly translates to "For the First Time." =)

I started learning Japanese on Duolingo in December along with several other languages, and I've been making considerable progress. ^u^ I finished a book series called "The Lunar Chronicles," which was pretty good, but I wasn't super satisfied with the ending. =') I made a LOT of progress in "The Winter Child," and since it's almost done, I'll be posting a new chapter every day until its end. =D I've been spending the past few days working on my ELA final project. I'm writing a short story that takes place in 2045 Japan after an apocalypse of monsters, and the two last humans are trying to escape. I'll be done with it this evening, and I'll start editing it tomorrow. ^u^ I might post it on FictionPress whenever I get the time to make an account there, haha.

The new Legend of Zelda game was released Friday, and I played it a lot over the weekend. Yesterday was Mother's Day and my family had a dinner of donuts, cake, and a meal called nshima, which is just cooked corn meal with some beans and other veggies. =3 I drew my mom a picture of a picture (haha- XD) of me and her when we were at the mall one time when I was in third grade. She really liked it, and she's planning on getting a frame for it sometime. X) And I also started another manga, "The Promised Neverland" and oh my thor, it's crazy amazing. QwQ I'm currently trying to save up for a Crunchyroll and HDIVE account so I can watch it as well as some other animes I have sitting on my list. =D

And that's just about everything! XD Everything that I can remember, anyways. QwQ I'm sorry for keeping you guys waiting so long, but I'M BACK, and I'm going to be posting chapters every single to make up for all the missed time *blows confetti canon* It's been a while since we've seen Jackie and our Guardians, so I hope you guys enjoy this particularly cheery chapter...It's not Christmas, I know, but I think this chap makes a good "finally back from two-month hiatus" post. XD

I hope you guys enjoy "The Best Gift Ever!" =D


~ LIII ~

The Best Gift Ever

The merry season had arrived

And Christmas was nigh'

Jack wanted to gift the Guardians

A present so special

To show, but not tell

How thankful he was for them

...

Christmases in Santoff Claussen were ones to remember. Everyone was in their jolliest of moods (not that they weren't jolly before), and decorated their homes with classic Christmas embellishments. Tinsel hung from the roofs, and hollies dotted the windows. Snow blanketed the village, reflecting the colorful ornaments that swayed in the Wind's breeze. Jack pressed his fingers against his window, smiling as he admired the snowflakes twirling in the air.

The snow sprite was especially excited for this Christmas because he had finally saved enough money to purchase gifts for the Guardians. Jack was going to find presents for each and every one of them—the best presents. They had done so much for him when he was little, and Jack wanted to return the favor. He could put his gratitude in words, so he settled on finding the perfect presents to please them.

He still remembered his first Christmas with them, although vaguely. North would create several toys for the children, and his house was by far the most decorated out of the entire village. Jack distinctly remembered North handing him ornaments to place on the tree, and placing the star on top. All the Guardians had come to North's to open presents together on Christmas morning, and Jack shredded the paper as if he were a kitten. After that, the Guardians shared a meal together. He was so little then; the memories were only a blur. But Jack had seen the pictures, so he knew that these events had occurred.

Jack had only been to the markets with North a few times. He wasn't too fond of shopping as he would rather be playing. But this time, Jack wanted to make the effort to find the Guardians something great. He knew that he wouldn't be able to do so on his own, so he was going to join Katherine and the rest of his friends as they hunted for gifts for their families.

Jack pulled away from the window and pulled his cloak out of the closet. He picked up his staff and exited his bedroom, grinning as he sped down the stairs. North was in the study, and before the boy left, he called, "Be back in time for lunch, moy mal'chik!"

"I will!" Jack called back, and then he was out the door. The air was crisp and nipping with cold. The Wind instantly greeted him with a cheerful whistle. Jack smiled and threw a few snowflakes in her breeze. The Wind whirled around him, making his cloak flap in her gale.

Jack laughed. "Come on, Wind. We have to meet up with the others," he said. The boy waved his staff and hollered dramatically. "To Big Root!"

The Wind complied and lifted her snow sprite into the air and bolted him to the Heart of the Village. Jack laughed as he twirled and spun over the buildings. Whenever he flew he felt so free. Freer than a bird or an animal in the wild. He wished he could stay up there forever; he felt so much in his element. But he knew North would be concerned if he spent too much time up in the air. Though he was close to mastering flying, North still worried about him falling.

But I'd never fall, the snow sprite thought. Wind would catch me before I'd hit the ground. He trusted his airy companion, and the Wind trusted Jack. The two had an unshakable belief in each other, and that bond could never be broken.

The Wind lowered Jack a few feet away from Big Root. Everyone was already there waiting for him. Katherine smiled in Jack's direction. The boy smiled back.

"Hi, Jack!" she greeted cheerfully. The seventeen-year-old was dressed in a red long coat and pants. Brown mittens hugged her hands and a furry hat sat upon her head. Katherine's brown curls were pulled back in a ponytail; a style that she had recently been doing. Katherine's hair was incredibly curly, and frequently fell in her face whenever she was busy working or writing. So, she'd tie it back in a ponytail so it wouldn't get in the way. Jack said that she could just cut it, but the girl refused.

"It's already tangled enough," she had said. She brushed her hand over a few of her curls. "Besides, I like it long."

Jack still didn't understand why she wouldn't cut it, but she seemed fine with her new style. The snow sprite smiled and said, "Hi, Katherine. Did you all really get here before me?"

"Actually, we just got here," said Sascha, standing beside her brother, Petter. She elbowed him, and the boy squawked. "Someone took forever to get out of bed this morning."

Petter rubbed his sore arm. "I forgot we were going shopping, okay? Besides, I already made Ma and Pa something at home! And yet you still dragged me here!"

"Where I go, you go," said Sascha with a smirk. "As the oldest, I make those decisions."

"You are seriously abusing your power," Petter muttered.

"The joys of being an only child," Jack smirked. "You're your own boss."

Petter's eyes brightened. "I'll trade you!"

"Whoa, I didn't mean that to be an invitation," Jack said.

"Aw, come on!"

Katherine giggled. "Come on, you guys. We should head to the market before it gets too crowded."

"Well, assuming that it's four days 'till Christmas, I'm sure they're are already full," Tall William stated.

"Then we should hurry before the shelves are wiped out!" Fog said, already running down the path. "Come on!"

The village children followed the young boy through the crowded paths and arrived at the shops. Santoff Claussen had a wide selection of things to choose from, though you couldn't find everything there. Still, the children weren't looking for anything too flashy for their parents…They knew that they would be pleased with whatever they gave them, as long as it came from the heart.

Jack, however, was compelled to find something to satisfy each of the Guardians right to their very core. He wanted to give them something so extravagant, that they would see just how much he cared for them.

I have to find the perfect gifts, he thought to himself. Over and over again like a mantra. The children took turns choosing stores to enter. They each spent a good amount of time browsing and picking out items. Everyone else found their presents quickly. Jack still hadn't found anything.

There were multiple options, but they weren't perfect enough for Jack. He watched as Sascha dragged Petter to the cashier so she could borrow a few coins. He sighed in defeat. Katherine, who was standing nearby, turned around.

"What's wrong, bestest friend?" she asked.

Jack shrugged. "I just can't seem to find the right gifts. I mean, everything here's nice and all, but they just don't feel…right."

"Well, it is the thought that counts," said Katherine. "Besides, you're on a budget. The Guardians aren't going to expect something super splendiferous from you."

Jack smiled lightly. "Then what should I do? I still want to give them great gifts."

Katherine thought for a moment. "How about you make them something instead? You could buy the materials and use them to make something for each of them."

Jack's eyes widened. "Moon above, Katherine, you're a genius."

Katherine flipped her hair dramatically. "That's what bestest friends are for."

Jack laughed, and Katherine helped him find the right items he'd need to create his gifts for the Guardians. He decided that he'd carve something for North, make a painting for Aster, sew craft something for Tooth, and knit something for Sandy.

Jack didn't have a lot of practice in these areas, but he was determined. Katherine helped him buy the materials he'd need for each of these tasks. Jack returned home, lugging all of his bags through the door and closing the door shut behind him.

"Phew! This stuff is heavier than they look!" he remarked. North stepped out of the study and his eyes landed on the bags of items.

"What do you have there, moy mal'chik?" North inquired, subconsciously stepping forward.

"Ah-bup-bup!" Jack exclaimed, putting himself between the bags and North. "You can't look yet! They're supposed to be a surprise!"

"Oh, right," said North. "Would you like help to carry them upstairs? I promise I will not look."

"Thanks, but I think I can handle this," Jack said, pulling his things toward the stairs. He huffed. "I think I'll take these up one at a time."

North chuckled. "Good idea. When you are done, come back downstairs so we can have lunch."

Jack moved all his purchased goods to his room and met North downstairs for lunch. Once he finished, the boy dashed upstairs and locked himself in his room. Jack seated himself at his desk and went straight to work, starting with North's ice sculpture, since he knew that would take him the longest. He conjured a block of ice (with a touch of permafrost), and implied all the sculpting methods North had taught him to make it. The result was a reindeer, though it looked a bit misshapen. Still, Jack was proud of the result.

Next, Jack crafted a colorful mosaic for Tooth based on the ones in her home. He made patterns with pink, gold, teal, and purple…all the colors that reminded him of Toothiana. He drew light feather patterns, swirling curves, and lifting waves. The snow sprite put a lot of concentration into this piece, and he sealed it with a clear coat of frost.

Pulling out the canvas he had purchased, Jack began to paint something for Aster. He settled on a bright spring field with lots of flowers and sunlight. He even painted a few eggs, knowing how fond the Pooka was of them. The painting took him a little over two hours, and he set it next to Tooth's mosaic near the open window to dry along with it.

Lastly, Jack crafted a knit scarf for Sandy, which turned out to be more difficult than North's sculpture. Jack had never knitted before, and everyone he had watched do so made it look easy. He tangled the string and tied knots in the scarf, growing more and more frustrated by the moment.

Jack grumbled, and he set down his work. Perhaps he had been a little too ambitious with making the Guardians' gifts. The snow sprite looked down at the golden scarf and frowned. As much as he wanted to set the project aside, he didn't. He needed to complete this for Sandy, who had done more than enough for him in his youth.

Jack made a quick trip to Big Root's library to find books about knitting and attacked the yarn once he returned home. In a few hours' time, he had made a lonely golden scarf…at the cost of his wrists, which ached from the constant knitting stick maneuvers he had done.

Jack set the scarf down on his bed and went to check his painting and mosaic, which he had asked the Wind to help dry. He was pleased to find that the paint on both was set, and he moved on to wrapping the gifts that he had made. For North's ice sculpture, Jack placed it in a box first before wrapping it. Though it was enchanted with permafrost, it was still fragile. He placed his wrapped presents under the tree and wiped an arm against his brow. Finally, they were finished.

"You certainly look like you were busy," remarked North. Jack turned around and North gestured to him. "You are covered in paint and…is that yarn?"

"Perhaps," Jack answered enigmatically.

North smiled. "You finished all of your gifts?"

"Yep!" Jack chirped. "It took a while, but I did it."

"Good for you," said North. "Well, it is getting late, and you have one more day of school tomorrow before the break. You should start getting ready for bed so you aren't tired in the morning."

"I don't think falling asleep will be so difficult tonight," said Jack, stifling a yawn. He bathed, slipped into his pajamas, and promptly hopped into bed.

Jack couldn't wait for Christmas day to come.

"How in the world did you afford that?!"

"I have my ways."

"Sascha, no fifteen-year-old just buys an expensive necklace without some kind of logical explanation!"

"I'm with Tall William. There's no way you bought that using your own money."

The children were currently gathered in the classroom, desks pushed together for the lunch period. Since it was too cold to sit outside, Ombric allowed them to change their seating positions to sit next to their friends. Jack nibbled on his sandwich as he watched Tall William, Fog, and Petter interrogate Sascha on how she purchased a jewel necklace for her mother.

"I was with you in the store the whole time! Heck, even if you used my money, it wouldn't be enough to purchase something like that!" Petter exclaimed.

Sascha rolled her eyes. "What's the big deal? I just bought Ma a pretty necklace. You guys are acting like a committed a crime."

"Because you won't tell us how you got it!" Fog said.

"It's not even that interesting of a story."

"Then what is it?" asked Tall William.

Sascha shook her head. "Look, I traded one of my inventions with the jeweler to purchase it. Yes, it was one of the most expensive necklaces in the store, but he needed a special magnifier, and I just so happened to have made one. So we bartered. Are you boys satisfied now?"

Petter frowned. "You could've just started with that instead of making yourself sound suspicious."

"When in this conversation did I sound suspicious?" asked Sascha.

"Oh, I don't know—the entire thing!"

"You're just jealous because you weren't able to afford something expensive."

"I am not!"

Jack swallowed. "Hey, why don't we talk about something other than Sascha striking a crazy deal with the jeweler, hm? I mean, it's almost Christmas. Don't you guys have any plans?"

"We might go to see family outside of the village," said Fog. He smiled. "We're going to do our gift-giving at my cousins' house."

"What did you get for them?" Katherine asked.

Fog shrugged. "Books, toys, hats…nothing too much."

"Books, toys, and hats? Do you know how much I'd pay you for those?" asked Petter.

"Petter and I are planning on helping our parents with Christmas dinner," said Sascha. She smirked at Petter. "I bought the cranberries for the sauce…through trade."

"That'll be enough, sister," Petter grumbled.

Katherine smiled in amusement. "What about you, Jack? Do you have any plans?"

Jack shrugged. "Other than giving the Guardians my presents and dinner…no, not really."

"Oooo, what did you get them?" asked Sascha.

"I didn't get them anything," said Jack. "I made them."

"So Jack went old-school," remarked Petter. "Interesting."

Jack scoffed. "Oldschool? I'm twelve, not sixty-three."

"I'm just joking," said Petter.

"What did you make?" asked Sascha.

"Uh…well…" Jack suddenly felt a little shy. "I made an ice sculpture for North, a scarf for Sandy, a painting for Bunny, and a mosaic for Tooth."

"Huh," said Sascha. "You could find those anywhere, but I guess since you made them, that makes them more special, huh?"

Sascha was known to be blunt, meaning that she'd say things that she didn't mean to sound offensive, but they did. Jack was aware of this, but her statement that anyone could find any of the things he had made anywhere…suddenly made him feel doubtful of the gifts he had made. He knew he worked hard on them, and he knew that the Guardians would be grateful for them, but…

They weren't perfect. North's sculpture was misshapen, and he had blended the paints on Aster and Tooth's mosaics a bit sloppily. Sandy's scarf wasn't as nice as the ones that he saw in the stores.

They're not good enough, Jack thought, his gaze dropping to his sandwich. Agh, what was I thinking…I need to find something better!

"Jack? Are you okay?" asked Katherine. She noticed the worried expression that had befallen Jack's face. The snow sprite turned to her and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Jack said. He took another bite of his sandwich and listened to the rest of the conversation, planning on making a trip to the market once again to find better presents.

After school, Jack quickly returned home and placed his backpack in his bedroom, and grabbed his pouch of coins. He told North that he was leaving, and the ex-Cossack let him go, telling him to return in good time. Jack shut the door behind him and ran to the markets, hoping that he'd find something decent to gift the Guardians.

He knew that his chances were slim since it was rush hour and everyone was doing their last-minute Christmas shopping. Jack squished through the crowds and slipped into the first store; the same jewelry shop that Sascha had mentioned earlier.

He supposed instead of a mosaic, he could buy Tooth a necklace. She had several bracelets already, and Jack did see a lovely amethyst necklace sitting at the front of the store. The snow sprite walked up to the front desk and began to search. The man who owned the store watched him curiously.

"Can I help you?" he asked. Jack looked up.

"Oh, er…yes. I'm looking for a necklace that was sitting up here yesterday," the boy said. "The one with an amythest."

"It was sold this morning," the man said.

Jack faltered. "Oh…" The necklace was beautiful, so he knew that it would've sold quickly. Still, he couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"With Christmas around the corner, everything flying off the shelves," the man said. "We have a few other necklaces if you'd like to browse."

"No, that's alright," said Jack. He smiled. "Thanks anyway."

The snow sprite left the store and sighed. Well, that hadn't gone according to plan. Perhaps there was still time to find something for North, Aster, and Sandy.

Jack went to the hardware store to see if he could purchase a new toolbox for North, but he didn't have the money to pay for it. A new easel for Aster was far out of his price range, and a telescope for Sandy was…you see that pattern.

Jack pulled on his hood as he stepped out of the last store and heaved a sigh. His breath puffed out in a small cloud. The snow sprite knew he had already made gifts but…were they really good enough for the Guardians?

It was getting late, so Jack returned home before North could get worried for him. He glanced at the presents he had made under the tree as he stepped inside.

At first, he had felt proud of his homemade gifts. But now, he felt disappointed.

Christmas arrived far more quickly than it should've. Jack was sitting in the living room with the Guardians, who had all come over to exchange presents. It was a tradition they had carried since Jack was a baby, and the snow sprite was happy to see all of them. They chatted for a whale about the past few days, and how hectic everyone was due to the Christmas season. Jack updated everyone on his flying skills, which had significantly improved when he had first started.

"I still remember how ya nearly flew out the window the first time ya flew," Aster jested.

"Well, Bunnymund, I have grown from the small, unskilled six-year-old I once was. Now, I'm a flying master!" Jack grinned.

"You still have a few things left to learn," said Tooth. "But you are close to graduation."

"I'm almost a flying master!" Jack corrected himself.

North laughed. "Why don't we start handing out presents, da? We'll each take turns, as usual."

Jack had nearly forgotten about his present dilemma, but there was no turning back now. Everyone took turns handing out their gifts. Jack received a blue cloak and scarf from North, a container for his toothpaste and toothbrush from Tooth, a book of legends from Sandy, and a sketchbook from Aster. Jack loved the presents he received from them, but they caused him to doubt his even more knowing that the Guardians had afforded them. His were so plain compared to theirs…

"It's your turn, Jack!" Tooth said cheerfully. "Let's see what you've got!"

"Uh…okay," said Jack. The snow sprite handed out his presents hesitantly. "Just warning you, they aren't the best…"

North scoffed. "Of course they are! You spent nearly seven hours in your room working on them, da?"

Jack sat back and watched anxiously as the Guardians tore away at the wrapping paper. Their reactions…weren't what he was expecting.

"Wow, moy mal'chik. This is beautiful," North said as he turned the reindeer sculpture in his hands. "I will place it in study alongside mine."

"I'm going ta have ta find a place ta hang this," said Aster. He looked up from the snow sprite's painting. "These are some nice brushstrokes ya have here."

"Oh, Jack, this is wonderful!" Tooth exclaimed as she held up the mosaic in the sunlight. "It looks just like the ones I have at home."

Sandy wrapped the scarf Jack had made around his neck and the images of a heart burst over his head. Jack stared at the Guardians, surprised.

"B-But…don't you feel disappointed?" the snow sprite asked.

"Why would we feel disappointed?" asked North.

"Because they aren't expensive nice presents like the ones everyone else got for their families," said Jack. He looked down. "I…I wanted to get you guys the best gifts ever, but I had to settle for handmade ones and not even they look that great…"

"Aw, Jack…what's important is that you put the heart and thought into making these," Tooth solaced. "I can tell you put a lot of effort into these. That's what makes them so special."

Jack felt his heart swell. Perhaps he had been worried over nothing. The Guardians knew how much he cared for them, the snow sprite didn't need a perfect present to show it.

"We need to take photo!" North said. "Everyone grab their presents. I will go get camera."

Everyone positioned themselves in front of the camera, holding the presents that they had received. As the camera flashed, Jack was thankful for the gifts that the Guardians had given him. And he was glad that they loved the gifts that he had given them.

But the best gift ever—the real best gift ever—was that of family.


Author's Note: Okay, I had way too much fun writing that beginning banter between the kiddos of Santoff Claussen, asdlfjaslfjsdkljfalsdjfasdfas. =') "The joys of being an only child. You're your own boss." "I'll trade you!" "Whoa, I didn't mean that to be an invitation."

Jackie, you're a savageeeeee- XD

Not the most original plotline, I know, but I did my best to make it enjoyable for ya'll. =D This is one of my favorite chapters I've written in this one-shot collection, so I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. ^u^ I'm really excited to be back and posting for you guys, and I hope you stick around for what I have waiting for ya in the future. =D

And now it's time to write the words that I've missed so much these past two months...XD

Until the next chapter!

~BeyondTheMoon1203

PS: Time jump next chapter! Jack's goin' on to fourteen. ^u^