This idea came to me out of nowhere when listening to paint it black's cover by Ciara so if you need something to write to I recommend that. I hope you enjoy chapter 1! This story will have a total of 6 chapters so this is ⅙.
Jack watched happily as Jamie and his younger sister Sophie ran through the snow. Although technically it was the end of February and it wasn't supposed to be this cold or snowy, Jack couldn't resist Jamie and Sophie's pleas for one more snow day before spring began and he was forced to leave Burgess until the fall.
Of course it was always harder to make a seemingly random snow day then one that came from his blizzards. Eventually though Jack found a weekend that was cold enough, and sprinkled enough snow to get school canceled but also that he could also reverse with ease. Now everyone was slightly damp and chilled due to the massive snow battle that even got Cupcake laughing. Jack had commenced it earlier that evening filling it with fortresses of ice, ice skating and too many snowballs. The sun was beginning to set, casting tall beautiful dark silhouettes of the tree's, that bordered Jack's lake onto the snow. One by one Jack saw kids check their phone, hear a text or check the time signaling their snow day was over.
"Thank's Jack." Jamie said breathlessly as he grabbed Sophie's hand and brushed snow off his hat. "I really didn't want to turn in my homework…I sorta forgot about it so it's super sloppy." Jack smirked slightly at this, rolling his eyes.
"Whatever you say." the winter spirit chided softly as he swung his shepherd crook's staff over his shoulder. Silently he followed the two bennet kids as they ran inside to their mother and warm house.
For a moment Jack felt an ache in his chest as the door closed muffling the golden glow of the house. Although he rarely showed it, the three hundred years he had spent alone took his toll on him and he often wished he could have somewhere, something normal to come back to. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate and have a friendship with the other guardians but there were days when he wished he could just go back to having a, for lack of a better word, mortal family.
Shaking his head he turned from the door. He knew it was no use, spirits didn't have human families. They would only face more heartbreak as their family aged or got sick, events that couldn't happen or well, happened very rarely to a spirit. Turning back to his lake Jack pushed the thought deep down until it was nothing more than a daydream. The sun had vanished now, turning the sky a dark purple and blackish blue.
It was then he noticed small footprints in the snow. Furrowing his brow he looked around. It was too cold for anyone to be outside, much too cold for a child to be barefoot at least. Jack felt an air current, provided by his old friend the wind, lift him off the snow as he hovered over the footprints following them. After a few minutes of searching and doubling back on the little marks he found the culprit. It was a small girl, around four with messy white hair to her shoulders and dark blue eyes that stared at him.
"What the hell…" Jack muttered to himself.
"Hi." The girl then said. Jack jolted back, surprised at the greeting. Way to curse in front of the kid. He mentally scolded himself before blinking and looking down at the girl.
"Hi…" He stammered. "What are you doing?"
"Playing." The girl shrugged simply as she scooped up a pile of melting snow and dropped it with a small plop.
"Yes…" Jack began slowly. "But it's night time, and you're alone and barefoot."
"So are you." the girl said as though it was obvious as she pointed at Jack's bare feet. Jack bit back a laugh at the girl's sass.
"What's your name?" He asked landing next to her and kneeling down.
"Winter. What's yours?"
"Jack." Winter nodded and turned to leave. Reaching out Jack hooked the crook of his staff over her shoulder and faced her towards him.
"Where are your parents?" Winter however ignored him instead slapping snow off low dangling branches. Standing up Jack felt at a loss of what to do.
"How about you go back to town.." he finally suggested, causing the girl to turn to him hand inches away from a branch.
"Mkay." she muttered before taking off to the town. This was good, Jack reasoned, he could maybe get her to go to her house or something.
"Okay where do you live?" He asked as she looked around.
"Not here." She finally said. Slowly Jack nodded. That wasn't helpful.
"I'll just stay with you." Winter then announced grabbing Jack's hand.
"I'm sorry.." The winter spirit stammered. Take her with him? I mean he supposed he could but that sounded like a terrible idea.
"Okay." He finally whispered.
0o0o0
Half an hour later they were inside Santoff Claussen. North had taken Jack here shortly after he became a guardian and told him about how it was a magical village available to anyone who needed it.
"That's a big tree.." Winter observed pointing to Big root, Santoff Claussen crowning jewel. The tree had the ability to change shapes internally without changing the outside. Something Jack marveled at.
"Yep." He nodded. He hoped the man he was looking for was here. Ombric was the leader of Santoff Claussen and lived in Big root. He was the most powerful wizard known to the guardians and also father time, if anyone could help Jack it would be Ombric. "In fact, we're going to the tree." Winter bounced happily on her feet and dragged Jack after her as she broke into a run. Stumbling after the energetic toddler Jack tapped the edge of his staff against Big Root. The ground and the massive roots trembled for a moment before a door formed on the bark and opened with a flourish. Jumping inside Winter ran up a set of stairs leaving Jack standing face to face with the rest of the guardians.
"Who iz that child.." North muttered as he set down a cup of tea.
"Uhh….Winter." Jack sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I found her.."
"Ya found her?" Bunny repeated, confused.
"Yep…" Jack drew out in a breath. "Found her on my lake."
"And ya took her."
"Technically she wanted to come, I couldn't stop her so..what are you guys doing here?" Jack asked as he sat on the edge of the couch next to Tooth. An image of the five of them appeared above Sandy's head.
"Shit a meeting…oh sorry." Jack coughed as he sipped a glass of water. "I completely forgot." An image of Winter then replaced the image of the meeting.
"I don't know who she is. I think she's like four.." Jack sighed, flopping back against the couch. "Wouldn't tell me her parents, couldn't find her house. I'm hoping to try again tomorrow."
"No Jack you will not." Jack looked up at the grand wizard's voice as he came down the stairs holding Winter in his arms.
"Hi Ombric." Jack gave the wizard a small wave of his hand.
"You won't bring the child back, she is very important to you." Ombric elaborated.
Jack sat up confused.
"She's adorable!" Tooth shrieked flying up to Ombric in a flurry of color. Winter's eyes widened and she swatted down tooth's hands.
"No." The little girl mumbled as Ombric placed her on the ground. Running over to Jack she grabbed onto his legs and shimmed into his lap. Jack felt himself fluster as the other guardians stared at him.
He heard Bunny snicker and Tooth let out a soft 'aww.'
"Can I go to bed far…" Winter then mumbled as she pressed her face against Jack's hoodie.
"Sure." Jack said after a moment clearing his throat.
"Come, she can have a bed upstairs." Ombric offered as Jack scooped Winter up in his arms. Hurrying up the stairs Jack couldn't help but smile as he felt Winter's breathing even out.
Heading into a spare bedroom Jack placed Winter on the bed. He found she was much less clingy than Sophie and easily dropped onto the bed. Pulling a blanket around her Jack let out a breath he hadn't known he had been holding. Inching back to the door he turned and was just about to close it when…
"You're like my daddy…" Winter mumbled half asleep. Jack turned unsure of what to say.
"Thank you? And where is your daddy?"
"Daddy's gone, I just have momma but momma doesn't want me." Jack felt a twinge in his heart. Often he wondered if the same thing had happened to his own father, when he had looked at his own memories last spring there was no father in his limited mind.
"That sounds like it sucks." He whispered. Winter rolled onto her side and blinked sleepily at Jack.
"Momma was sad when Daddy died, she said it had something to do with Pitch." Jack felt a tremor of shock run down his spine at the mention of his old foe's name. The nightmare king.
"What.." he whispered, panting slightly. "When did this happen?"
"Last spring." Winter said with a yawn. "But you're nice, you're not leaving like daddy."
"Your dad didn't.." Jack started. Biting his tongue he stopped the rest of his sentence. "I'll try not to." Winter closed her eyes at this and resumed her sleep.
Confused, Jack ran a hand through his hair before closing the door. Pitch had done something to this girl's father, somehow. Head running from the day Jack went to his own spare room in the tree. Opening the door he leaned his staff against the doorframe before laying on his bed.
Closing his eyes he promised himself to have Winter tell Ombric about her father tomorrow morning. What a day, from snowball fights to being called father this was going to be an interesting few days.
Far = Father in Norwegian.
Also hope you enjoyed chapter 1, feel free to favorite/follow/review. Thanks for reading. :D
MixitupQueen.