Author's Note: Shouuuuut-out to LBIGreyhound13 (who is one of many who have inspired me as a fanfiction writer. Go check out her stories! =)): I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far! =D I was afraid the beginning was too bland, but I stand corrected. X) To answer your first question: yes, this Father Time is Ombric from the books, not an OC. And as for where Jack was in the previous chapter...this chapter will cover that. =)

And I have officially run out of things to say. ='D I hope you all enjoy this chapter. X)

- Chapter Three -

Flurries and Worries

As March rolled into April, Burgess' snowfalls rolled away with it. Jamie was sad to see the snow beginning to melt, but a certain winter spirit did have guidelines to follow, and the snow couldn't remain forever. Besides, the end of winter meant the beginning of spring. And with Spring came Easter, and the Guardian of Hope—also known as the Easter Bunny.

Unfortunately, those thoughts weren't enough to keep Jamie in high spirits as he watched the icicles hanging over the window drip into the exposed grass. The boy propped his cheek with his hand and sighed, wondering if he had enough patience to wait until next winter.

It was his favorite season, and that admiration was magnified thanks to Jack. He'd drop by Burgess regularly to spend time with the children, host snowball fights, or trek with them through the woods around his lake. He'd take them ice skating (which was mostly bum-skating on Jamie's part, but it was close enough!), surprise them with snow days, and make things more enjoyable during the cold winter months. Whenever Jack was around, the fun never seemed to end. And when he was gone, Jamie couldn't help but wish he could be with them all the time.

The ice crystals continued to melt in the sunlight, and Jamie frowned. I guess we won't be seeing Jack much now—

Suddenly, a bolt of blue flashed across the window. Snowflakes twirled in the wind. Jamie nearly fell over in surprise. Heart beating with excitement, he ran to the front door. He threw it open, a surprised but joyful smile on his face upon seeing who was at the door.

"Jack!" Jamie exclaimed.

He still looked the same as he had three years ago—white hair, electric blue eyes, and a smile that could melt anyone. outfit. But recently, Jack had recently begun to wear a blue cloak. When Jamie asked why, Jack only replied that it looked "cool and mysterious." But there was a wistful tone in his voice that Jamie didn't know where it had come from. There must've been more reasoning behind the fabric, but he didn't want to pry into anything personal.

The winter spirit smiled. "Heya, kiddo. How have you been?"

"I'm great; I was just thinking about you, actually," the eleven-year-old replied. Jamie pulled Jack into the house and shut the door behind them. Bouncing on his heels, the boy asked, "How are you? How are the Guardians? Anything exciting?"

Jack sighed dramatically. "Alas, I have nothing new to report," he answered. "Just the same old, same old."

"Wow, you guys have had a quiet three years," remarked Jamie.

Jack pressed a finger to his lips. "Shhhh! Don't jinx it!"

Jamie laughed, and from the stairs emerged young Sophie Bennett. She had been playing with her dolls when she heard the two talking upstairs. The little girl was just as big of a fan of Jack as Jamie was.

"Jackieee!" Sophie cried happily. She ran over, and Jack set his staff aside just in time to catch Sophie as she barreled into him. Jack laughed and he ran his fingers through Sophie's messy hair affectionately.

"Heya, Soph!" Sophie looked up at the winter spirit—which was a funny sight with how tall he was—and grinned. Jack tapped her nose. "Have you been keeping Jamie out of trouble?"

Sophie's blonde head bobbed up and down. "Uh-huh!"

Jamie stared at the two, confused. "Wait…aren't I the older sibling?"

"Oh, you are," said Jack, hoisting Sophie into his arms. She wrapped her arms around Jack's neck and clung tightly. "But Sophie here does all the real watching, doesn't she?"

Tucked under Jack's chin, Sophie giggled. Jamie frowned.

"Boy, do I feel appreciated," he muttered.

Jack ruffled Jamie's hair. His hand glowed with the chill of a winter's morning. "Aw, don't be jealous," he cooed. "I'm sure Sophie appreciates you just as much."

Jack set Sophie down, and she walked over to Jamie, took his hand, and smiled. "'Preciate you."

Jamie's envy was gone faster than a blink He couldn't stay upset with his sister for too long.

Jamie squeezed her hand and turned back to Jack. "So, what brings you to Burgess?" he asked. "Winter's almost over."

"That may be the case for Burgess," said Jack, picking up his staff and settling it on his shoulder. "But there are other places I have to handle." The winter spirit shrugged. "I got done with work early, so I thought I'd stop by. It's been a while since I've seen you two."

That sounded reasonable enough. But there was a look on the winter spirit's face that told him there was more to this visit than Jack was saying.

"Aer you sure that's the only reason?" questioned Jamie.

Jack appeared to be caught in a corner. "Um…"

Before he could answer, Sophie interrupted. "Jackie! Can we have a snowball fight?"

The strange look on Jack's face disappeared as if it had never been there. Jamie grew suspicious.

Jack covered himself with a smile and said, "I don't see why not!"

Jamie blinked. "But it's the middle of March!"

"And I'm a living ice box," Jack quipped, already halfway to the door. He turned around and smirked. "Come on, Jamie, nothing makes sense in this world."

Jamie smiled slowly. "We'll go get our coats."

…

The three were outside in a blink of an eye. Jack stood in the center of the backyard while Jamie and Sophie watched. They were bundled up in their coats, despite it being quite warm. But with what Jack was about to do, they were going to need it.

Jack twirled his staff in the air and looked at the two. "Are you guys ready?" he asked.

"Yeah!" the Bennett siblings cried. Jack smiled, and he slammed his staff against the ground. The winter Wind swirled around the yard, snowflakes tumbling down the sky and creating piles of snow in minutes.

Jack bent down and quickly rolled a snowball. His eyes sparked with mischief. "Let's go!"

Jamie and Sophie ran out onto the field, scooping up snowballs as fast as they could. Jack had already nailed them both with at least three, but the competition was the last thing on their minds. The backyard was bursting with snow and laughter. Snowballs flew like bullets back and forth across the yard. The uncanny winter chill settled upon everyone as the Wind weaved in and out. Jamie and Sophie's boots crunched in the snow while Jack glided over them, making him as quick as a viper when it came to dodging and navigating the field.

Abby, the family dog, came bounding outside upon hearing the squeals of commotion. Jamie and Sophie used her to their advantage, but the battle was still in Jack's favor. Regardless, they were having fun.

After half an hour of more snowball throwing, the skirmish came to an end when Sophie began to grow tired. After taking her and Abby inside, Jamie came back out to see Jack, who was reclining in the remaining snow on the ground.

Jamie flopped down next to the winter spirit and smiled. "That. Was. Amazing," he breathed.

Jack glanced at Jamie and smirked. "I told you. Don't ever doubt Jack."

"I would never!" Jamie exclaimed. "Well, unless that something is actually doubtable."

Jack snorted. "Doutable? Either I'm behind with the times, or that word doesn't exist. The former, I suppose?"

Jamie rolled onto his side and laughed. "You're funny, Jack."

A tug pulled at Jack's heart at the sound of those three words. After going through his memories, the more he saw his little sister in Jamie. It was almost impossible how much they were alike. The feeling was both blissful and terrifying. If he ever lost Jamie, it'd be as if he had lost Mary all over again. And Jack didn't know if he could bear that pain.

Jamie noticed the pensive look on Jack's face and his concerns returned. The Guardian of Fun had seemed off when he had arrived. A subtle change, but it was there.

Wanting to pull him out of his somber mood, Jamie asked, "So back to the Guardians…How are you doing?"

Jack looked at Jamie and put on a smile. "I'm fine, Jamie. But thanks for the concern."

Jamie frowned. "Are you sure?"

Jack blinked. Suddenly, he felt like was under a magnifying glass. Jamie knew something was wrong. There was no point in hiding anything now.

Jack fingered his staff and sighed. "Well…I guess I'm still getting used to things," he said. "It's been three years since I've become a Guardian, but I still have a lot to live up to. I…feel like I could be doing more. Even though everyone says I'm doing enough."

Becoming a Guardian was not a simple process. Though he officially had the title, Jack had to prove himself to it. Of course, fighting alongside the Guardians in their fight to stop Pitch's reign three years ago was more than enough. But the rest of the magical world still viewed him as nothing more than a worthless spirit who brought cold and destruction wherever he went.

It wasn't just them Jack felt like he had to own up to. The Guardians, who had done everything to make him comfortable and at home, were the ones Jack felt like he needed to impress the most. He wasn't much; he was only a winter spirit. 300 years had gone by and the Guardians struggled not. What was so different now that they needed him? Or was he just playing a part in a play that the Moon chose him to? A part that—he felt like—anyone could've done? Perhaps even better.

The doubts and questions about himself had poked at him for centuries Jack had a long way to go until he was completely fine, but it was a lot harder than he thought to reach that point.

Jamie stared at him, brow furrowed with confusion. "Jack, do I have to remind you who saved me, my little sister, and my friends from eternal nightmares? Or who stood up and defeated the freaking Boogeyman? I could never do that—even with the Nerf guns in my basement!"

Jack snickered. "I think you'd need an arsenal of those to land a good blow on him."

Jamie smiled. "Anyway, that's not the point…" he softened, brown eyes glowing with sincerity. "You kept me believing when I thought there was no reason to. You're the kindest, amazingest, and the coolest Guardian I know. You deserve everything you have right now. Trust me Jack…you're more than enough."

Jack stared at Jamie, the sound of his words touching a wound that needed to be tended for centuries.

But as much as he wanted to take those words to heart—as much as he wanted to believe them to be true. There was a part of him that whispered otherwise.

If you're so wonderful, then why didn't they come to you before? How can you deserve all of this, when they didn't even give a thought to you for centuries?

Do you really think they care about you?

Jack tried to block thoughts out; it was a futile battle. He couldn't show that to Jamie, though, so he put on a smile and ruffled the boy's hair.

"...Thanks, Jamie," he said. "Have you ever considered becoming a therapist?"

Jamie shook his head, a smile pulling at his lips. "Oh, Jack…you know I'm always here if you need help."

For some reason, those words hit a little harder than Jack had expected. But before he could process anything, Sophie had appeared outside again, and she was staring at something in the sky.

"Pretty lights!" she remarked, pointing up above. Jack and Jamie looked up and, sure enough, the Northern Lights were dancing across the horizon.

Jamie tilted his head. "Aren't those—"

"Yup," Jack confirmed. He stood up and brushed the snow off his pants and cloak. "Looks like I'm going to be late for yet another Guardian meeting."

Jamie picked up Jack's staff and held it out. "Then you better get going!"

Jack grinned and took the conduit out of Jamie's hands and twirled it through his fingers. The Wind picked up and plucked him off the ground, snowflakes and frost particles curling from where he kicked off.

Sophie came up next to Jamie and waved as Jack was about to fly off. "Bye-bye, Jackie!"

Jack smiled and saluted the two. "See you 'round!"

Then the Wind whisked him away like a dandelion on the breeze.

If only the same could be done for the plaguing thoughts in his head.

Author's Note: Something I forgot to mention last chapter about the last chapter (I was in such a rush to get it out, I forgot to explain XD) is that rabbits have a pretty good memory when it comes to something that emotionally impacts them. This is why North joked that if he was a rabbit, he wouldn't remember Bunny, since he doesn't care about him that much (which is obviously a lie, haha).

And now to address this chapter: I don't know if it's obvious, but I really love writing banter. ='D There's just something about the silly back and forth that makes it so amusing to write. XD I try to keep a balance between silliness and seriousness (because I do like writing those kinds of conversations too). And with this chapter being a mix of both, I had a lot of fun with this chapter. =)

...And the introduction of Jack's internal conflict. That was fun to weave in. X)

...And writing Jamie and Sophie again after who the heck knows how long. I really haven't been doing these two much justice. QwQ

I hope you all found this fanfiction appealing after such a long week. =') I don't know if it's just me, but this week was quite tiring. ='D I find reading a good story or fanfic always cheers me up, so I hope this fic was able to do the same for those of you coming out from school, work, or wherever. X)

Anyway, thank you all so much for reading, and I'll be back Monday with a new chap. =)

Until the next chapter!

~BeyondTheMoon1203