The Bennett clan all turned when the back door opened. There was a happy smile on every face when they saw the ancestor who walked in with the father and son duo.

"Jack!" The word came from every voice, making a crowd of greetings come out as one shout.

"You're just in time for dinner. Grab a plate of food and join us!" Miss. Bennett said.

The Guardian of fun relaxed. Casually he said: "Thanks, I don't want to interrupt, don't mind me."

"Cough, bad idea, cough." Jamie tried to warn Jack but the damage had been done.

Aunt Greta, a large (not fat) women with a healthy completion and a strong build, not to mention a strong attitude when it came to eating healthy and well, walked purposely over to Jack and looked him over. She shook her head after a moment and murmured: "I don't think so! Your tired, drained would be a more accurate word, and you look like you haven't had a substantial meal in a while. Don't try to deny it." She then took Jack's hand and led him to the food table.

Jack had to lift into the air or be dragged like pull behind wagon. "I'm fine, really! Spirits don't—"

"I don't want to hear it. Food is energy, you may have to travel and all that for you jobs but at least while you're in my presence you will eat a proper meal and get your strength back!"

Jack looked back at Jamie, who just gave him a shrug as if to say I tried to warn you. Though the look in his eye seemed to say he agreed with his aunt.

Aunt Greta took a plate and then put a single helping of each vegetable on it. Carrots, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, red beans, baked beans, and a baked potato. The plate wasn't heaped full by any means, instead she had made sure that Jack would get a little of every veggie and still have room for another plate latter. "Sit here dear." She told him and placed the plate beside Max.

Jack did as he was told and then with her watching took a spoon full of peas and ate them. The taste of the sweet greens woke his stomach up. A low growl of hunger came from it and only quieted down when he chewed and swallowed. He continued to eat, slowly so he didn't make himself sick, and Aunt Greta smiled.

Jamie walked over, "She's a bit pushy when it comes to making sure everyone is healthy and well fed, she's a nutritionist. She'll make sure you get enough without stuffing you till you get sick."

"You could have given me a heads up, was she hear last year?"

"Yah and in fact she was the one who insisted you have all the left overs you could carry when you left. She told us when she arrived today that she was going to make it her mission to get you to eat more than sweets this year."

"Hay, I had some of the real," hear he made quotations with his hands "food last year. I shared with you guys."

"Yes, Jamie and the others told me." Aunt Greta said as she brought over some slices of turkey with stuffing, sweet potatoes, and scalloped corn. Placing them in front of Jack, having seen that his vegetables were gone, she continued: "I however believe that one needs to eat more than just a few shared tidbits."

"Don't fight her Jack, besides, I can tell your liking the food. Just eat." Jamie told his many times great Uncle.

Jack couldn't deny that he was enjoying having a full meal so he returned to eating.

The fall season was in full swing around the little pond just outside of Burgress. Otherwise known as Jack's pond by several of the residents, thanks to a certain group of kids who spread the name around, it was a favorite spot to come and enjoy a picnic or even go for a swim. In the fall it served as the best spot for flying kites and the winter always promised great skating. Today however it was vacant, of people any way. Several animals were enjoying the pond. Whether late migraters, those gathering for the winter, or the few fattening themselves up for hibernation, all interacted and called peaceful greetings as they went about their business. There seemed to be an unspoken rule in the nature world that this pond was a place of truce. Predator and pray alike came here and knew it was safe to do so, no killing or even hunting was allowed.

That was why it was with ease of mind that the animals went about their tasks. At least until they all started and stood still as statues when the sense of something coming their way came over the pond. Beside the rock outcropping that stood on one side of the pond a large tunnel opening appeared. Not two seconds later a human sized rabbit hoped out.

"Alright Frost, let's go! I can't believe you decided to…." Bunny stopped his rant when he realized Jack wasn't there to hear it. The animals looked at him then after a while went back to what they had been doing. Bunny scanned the trees, easy to do with most of the leaves gone by now, then the rocks looking up, down, behind, on top, and even checking under with his tunnels. "Hay! You're not playing a trick on me are you? Cause if you are you'll regret, I promise you that!" His words were lost to the animals that paid him little to no mind.

Completely at a loss, Bunny sat cross-legged on the ground. He had been sure this was where he would find Jack. Since he wasn't here… come to think of it where else did the winter spirit hang out? Bunny rubbed the brig of his nose, a habit similar to how North tugged at his beard. The North Pole was probably out, so the South Pole? Then there were also other cold places like the Himalayas, Russia, and Greenland. Bunny shivered just thinking of these places. Didn't Sandy say he liked dolphins? So maybe somewhere over the oceans? Just how am I supposed to look there?

"RRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWW!" His roar/ scream sent every animal scattering. With an angry stamp he opened his tunnels again and set out. The flower that always popped up after it closed looked a little less sweet and a bit more pointed them usual.

Jack was full, not stuffed to the point of being sick; he had learned the difference after a few banquets at North's, but very happy and satisfied.

"Who's ready for some stories?" Aunt Greta asked a satisfied smile on her own face.

In answer there was a stampede of kids who rushed to the Livingroom followed by just as eager, if not more calm, adults. Jack was right between the two groups, all of his worries and fears gone!