Halloween went way better than expected. Jack was back to his normal self in time for Northern Winter to start and Jack could more or less pretend like Jamie's death hadn't affected him. However, he did spend a considerable amount of time at his grave whenever he was in Burgess. Meanwhile, I'd moved back home to see that the twins were now spending more time in Santoff Claussen than at the Treehouse. I was trying to plan outings with them to expose them to more of the world, and more of the immortals on it. The problem was, most of the immortals that I knew most probably weren't going to get along with the twins... simply because everyone I knew had a go with the flow attitude for the most part and they were still stuck up about a lot of things.

They weren't constantly criticizing how our world worked anymore, but they did still comment - often - that 'in the Alliance' they did things like this, or 'where we're from' things were like that, and to the rabble of Legends that would start a fight fairly quickly. I didn't want to be the one responsible for that. So, for the time being, I left them to their studies and decided to only introduce them to the rest of the Guardians and possibly Mother Nature. Maybe Gaia too. Yeah, the other spirits of the Seasons wouldn't be a bad idea but like hell was I gonna let them meet Pele anytime soon - if ever. North did invite the two of them to Christmas at the Pole, as was I. Ombric didn't get the invite but he told me that he'd long since stopped traveling all the way there. North usually spent some time with him in Santoff Claussen before coming home on Christmas morning anyway, so he saw no need to make the trip.

Both of us tried to school the offworlders on what Christmas was about but it flew a little above their heads. To their credit, Aldebaran made a connection to a holiday on one of the worlds they'd been to before so they had some concept of the meaning of Christmas, but I figured that if all else failed then North could give them the lowdown. I was taking them this year so I couldn't fly in, much to my chagrin. One of my favorite parts about Christmas at the Pole was swooping into the glacial crevasse on my way in. Plus, this was my first year back since my hiatus, I didn't want to miss out on what was now a tradition to me.

I mentioned this to Jack just after Thanksgiving and he was a genius by coming up with the idea of getting the winds to give Ain and Aldebaran a lift next to me. I brought up the matter a few days later to which Ain replied with glee and her brother with skepticism. "The winds? They're going to take up to the North Pole?" Aldebaran raised an eyebrow at me.

"Yep. They shuttle Jack around all the time and you guys weigh about the same so it won't be too hard on them." I shrugged. "Besides, I'll be leading the way so it's not like you guys will be on your own."

Aldebaran still looked unamused. "I have seen Jack Frost fly. It does not look very stable."

"You'll be fine." After another moment where he stood tense with a distant expression on his face, something occurred to me. "Are you scared of flying?"

Ain piped up. "More like afraid of falling..." She walked past me on her way out of the library. "And of not being in control." That last part was whispered.

"I am not afraid. I've never been afraid in my entire life. It just makes me uncomfortable knowing that there are no controls where the winds are concerned." He huffed at us and buried his nose in a book.

I looked at him and chuckled. "It's not bad really. Actually, I'd say it's safer than the sleigh."

He side eyed me over the top of his book. "Why can't we just take a portal?"

"Because that's all you guys have been doing is taking portals. You haven't really seen anything of Earth yet and flying is the best way to do it. Of course, it'll be mostly snow and pine trees the way we're going but still." His begrudging look softened a little. "Besides, there's no substitute for seeing the North Pole from afar as a first impression.". I cocked a half smile and resignation crossed his face

"Very well." He reclined in the chair. "But I must insist that Ain and I have a few lessons first."

"I'm sure the winds would love that." On cue, a breeze drifted in through the window and wrapped around me momentarily, leaving me giggling.

Aldebaran eyed me. "How is it they always seem to respond right when you speak as if they are in the room?"

The breeze shifted from me to Aldebaran, swirling around his head and shuffling the pages of his book. "Because we are always listening." The words paused for a moment and Aldebaran looked like he might blush. "Especially for friends." With that, the winds retreated once more and left us alone. Well, you know what I mean.

Aldebaran looked at me, tense. "Doesn't that ever feel intrusive?"

I shook my head without pausing to think. "No. If anything it's comforting to know that there's always someone there to talk to."

He cocked his head. "What about your friends?"

"I meant about big things. When I want to vent to someone but I don't want anyone to know what really got to me. The winds are great listeners - as they've just displayed." He 'hmm'ed at me and went back to his book.

Over the next month, I managed to arrange three test runs with the twins and the winds. The first one ended in disaster when Aldebaran flipped his lid and the winds dropped him. It was only ten feet but still. The second time almost didn't happen but Ain managed to coerce her brother into the lesson and, even though he was stiff as a board, it went ok. The third time Aldebaran finally calmed down enough to understand how to hold his weight while the winds had him held aloft. By the time Christmas came around, they were ready.

On Christmas Eve I used a portal to take them to Rockefeller Plaza. I had us sit on top of something where they wouldn't be speed and where I wouldn't be walked through, but we still had a perfect view of the world-famous tree. I wanted them to see part of how big Christmas was to my planet... And to give them a glimpse of just how many people there were on Earth. Ain's eyes were glowing as they ate up the tree, all one hundred feet of it. Aldebaran's were glued to the people.

We stayed long enough to catch North jumping from one building to another on the sleigh. At about two in the morning, I let them use the portal to go back and get some sleep and I headed to legends to wish everyone Merry Christmas and Happy Yule to those that predated the holiday. It was three first time I'd seen most of them since everything has happened and when I walked in Shady almost knocked me out with the way she attached - I mean hugged me.

It was amazing to be back even for a little while, I'd missed this place more than I'd realized. I couldn't wait to bring the twins there but I knew it was in everyone's best interests if I did. I told everyone about what was going on with them - how they were in the middle of their crash course on all things Earth and how I was their keeper for the time being. Gaia and Shady both offered to visit my place in the coming months, the former to meet the newbies and the latter to give me more training. Mors offered to help with the teaching if they needed it. I couldn't decide if it was a good idea or not for those particular two to meet Death.

Regardless, after a few hours I headed back and got ready for the big flight. I was giving us an extra three hours to get there in case they had problems part way there and so that, if we got there early, they could get over their awe before dinner started. As I packed up our gifts in my bag I yelled over my shoulder, knowing they hear me through their respective windows. "You guys are gonna need sweaters for the ride there!"

"Do you have anything that would fit Aldie?" Ain was the only one of them that was comfortable with yelling from one tree to another. Aldebaran would rather walk over and respond.

"Yep! Meet me on top of Big Guy in about five minutes!" I searched through my closet, looking for the biggest sweater I had. It didn't have a hood, but it was plenty big enough. I'd actually been making a lot of sweaters recently. Having learned to make clothes for costumes from Sam, if decided that I was gonna make some normal clothes too - for me. Then I decided that everyone was getting a sweater for Christmas a la Mrs. Weasley - minus the letters. If made wing holes for Tooth, a giant one for North, etc. Aldebaran was getting a prototype, hence no hood. Then I grabbed one of my longer ones for Ain and tossed them both on my bed.

I'd already changed before we went to Rockefeller Center, but someone has spilled a drink on me when I'd stopped at legends, so I had to change. I ransacked my closet some more and pulled out a sweater dress I'd made, the first try at the one I'd planned on wearing. This one didn't have sleeves because they'd turned out horrible and I ended up taking them off. I tossed a packet over it and prayed that North had a big fire going this year. Then I snatched up the pile on my bed and hauled ass up the stairs.

I heard the twins' footsteps behind me which calmed my frantic pace a little. We emerged onto the roof and I handed them each their sweaters which they pulled on without complaint. "It'll be cold on the way there, but North always has a bonfire going in his fireplace, so when we get there you shouldn't need those anymore."

Aldebaran inspected his. "Is this one of the ones you've been making?"

"Yeah, one of the first ones so it's not the prettiest of the bunch, but it works.". I shrugged. Ain tugged the sleeves on hers down closer to her wrists, but they still stopped about three inches shy. I grimaced. "Sorry. You're a lot taller than I am so I don't think anything I have would reach all the way down your arms."

"It's fine. I was just trying to stretch it, but it's okay if it won't." She shot me a smile and waved it off. "Did you make the dress you are wearing as well?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I wanted to wear the one I had on earlier but it had an accident and I'm stuck with this one." I pulled my jacked off of my shoulder to show that there weren't any sleeves. "I messed this one up and didn't have enough fabric to add sleeves, but I just grabbed a coat for the trip." I shrugged a little. "You guys good to go?" I pulled my jacket back on and zipped it up while they nodded. "Shall we, then?" I turned around and started calling my wings. "Winds?! Your passengers await!"

I looked over my shoulder to see the winds swirling around the twins, gently lifting them up. The two of them wobbled a little, Ain throwing out her arms and Aldebaran going stiff for a moment. After a few minutes, they'd gotten their bearings enough to take off. We'd flown at the tree line on their third lesson, so they were okay with the height by now, but I could see the concern on their faces when we rose to well above the cruising altitude of a plane. I turned over and soared next to them on my back, staring at the stars for a little while. I was trying to calm them down a bit by being at ease myself.

The winds weren't going at their normal speed - at my request. I wanted them to be able to see the world they were flying over - and to not hyperventilate over the sheer speed with no safety. Not to say that the winds wouldn't keep them safe. In actuality, the winds were probably safer than most modes of travel that existed on this planet, it just didn't always seem that way. It just took a little belief in their abilities to calm one's own mind enough to enjoy things. That was one of the hardest things in life, really. Believing in something or someone's ability to keep you save when you allow them to hold your life in their hands. It takes an immense amount of trust and willingness to surrender. Which was extremely difficult for Aldebaran to find, apparently. "You know, for someone from the great 'Alliance' I'd have thought that believing in something would be a no-brainer."

He stiffened up again for a second upon hearing my comment. Less as a reaction and more because he was trying to concentrate on staying upright. "What do you mean?" He wobbled a little as he responded.

I gestured between myself and Ain - who was spinning idly as the winds tossed her a little. "The winds won't let anything happen to you. They're a little chaotic yeah, but if you let go and let them take you then you'll be able to enjoy it a lot more." He opened his mouth to respond but I cut him off. "And don't tell me that you are 'concerned about the lack of controls' or whatever. Believe that they can shuttle you around without much thought."

"Will that make the ride smoother?" He threw his arms out wider as he jerked a little.

"It'll calm your mind down. Take a lesson from your sister." I nodded towards her. "She gets it."

Ain giggled on cue as the winds tumbled her a little bit. "This is fun! Come on Aldie, try it!" She somersaulted mid-air and chuckled some more. "I can see why Jack likes this."

I grinned at her and turned back over, glancing down at the landscape. It was finally looking like sunset from where we were, even though it had probably happened hours ago down on the ground. "Guys look." I pointed with my chin and the two of them turned to stare in awe.

We all sort of hung there for a few minutes, the winds having slowed down so we could all watch it. After a moment, Aldebaran's eyes got a faraway look to them. "Story? Is it possible for us to fly higher?"

I cocked an eyebrow. "We can't leave the stratosphere or you guys won't be able to breathe, but a thousand feet or so more, yeah, sure." I shrugged a little and the three of us, accompanied by the winds, rose in altitude.

When we got as high as we could go before the winds stopped being able to hold up the twins, we paused. Aldebaran was slowly letting his gaze rove everything. I can't say I didn't do the same. The last time I'd been this high was my first day as an immortal. I'd flown way higher than I probably should have for my free fall, but it was by far worth it, even now. I looked over at Aldebaran to see that his eyes were wide with awe and looking a little misty. "Are you okay?"

He nodded haltingly. "I didn't realize that you could go this high in the atmosphere with the winds."

"They're the only thing on the planet that can - except for immortals." I watched him, sharing a glance with Ain as I did. She looked like she knew what was going on, but I was a little clueless.

"I feel like we're in the Star again." He was a little breathless as he spoke, but he took a shuddering breath and ran a hand over his face before looking at me. "Thank you for forcing us to fly to the Pole. I never thought I'd get to see a world in this way again." He looked away towards the curving horizon. "Thank you."

I smiled a little and shared another glance with Ain. She was glowing. She mouthed her thanks as well before leaning forward to see around Aldebaran. I let them watch the sunset for a little while before I had the winds point us towards the Pole again. We ended up getting there about an hour early. I almost gave the two of them twin heart attacks when I suddenly dove down the crevasse, but that was the whole reason I'd flown in the first place - no way was I gonna be forsaking it.

However, being out of practice and a little too excited took it's toll because I timed my catch wrong. I called my wings too far down and when I flipped upright my foot smacked into the ground and pain shot up my leg. I swore so loud I'm sure it reverberated all the way to the top. I flew back up and into the workshop along with the twins who were looking at me wide-eyed. When we landed on the level where the table was already set, the twins were staring slack-jawed at the globe. I landed on my right leg and gingerly set my weight down on my left foot, only to have pain fire through my ankle again. I winced and sucked air in through my teeth before limping to my chair.

Damnit. This is not what I'd wanted to happen today. I took my jacket off and used it to hold my place, almost instantly instigating shivers down my arms. After about ten minutes, the twins finally took their eyes off the globe and turned to the spectacle that was North's tree, banquet table, and fireplace. "Hey, can you guys put the presents under the tree?". I pulled out said presents and held them out for either of the twins to grab.

"Why are we putting them under the tree?" Ain grabbed the first three from me while Aldebaran grabbed the last two, one of which was North's.

"It's tradition. North puts his presents for the kids under their trees and in the morning they're the first thing the kids see." I shrugged. "So we do the same."

While the presents were getting situated, I heard the dome open again and I glanced up, seeing Tooth gliding down amongst a swarm of her fairies. "Story!" The fairies beat her to me, clustering around my head and chittering away.

"Yes, I've been flossing. No, I have not gotten through all my Halloween candy yet, I've been trying to save it this year." My responses to the questions the fairies had pelted me with left Tooth chuckling as she came to give me a hug.

"How have you been?" Her smile was bright and open... Until she realized what is most likely been doing since I saw her last. "How's Jack?"

"Remarkable. I thought he'd still be moping a little but it barely looks like anything happened now." I mean we all knew otherwise but still. "I know he's still beat up about it, but he's Jack. Moping isn't his thing." I shifted my weight a little and was instantly reminded of my injured ankle. I hissed again and cringed. "I, on the other hand, am an idiot." I dropped into the chair, gingerly lifting my leg up to try and see the damage. I slid my leggings up and grimaced when I saw my ankle that looked more like a radish at this point.

"What happened?!" Tooth drooped to inspect my injury, gently holding my leg so I wouldn't move my foot.

I winced as she slid my boot off. "I'm out of practice is what happened." She glanced up at me with a chastising look for a millisecond. "I dove down the crack out front and I took too long to get my wings back." She lightly moved my foot and I hissed. "My dumb ass whacked her foot on the bottom of the gorge and probably won't be able to walk right for the next few days."

Tooth dropped my foot and gave a frustrated sigh. "You're worse than Jack sometimes, you know that?"

"Yep." I carefully slid my shoe back on. "But the key word is 'sometimes'." I grinned at her. "I'll be fine in a few days."

She pursed her lips at me as the dome opened again. Sandy glided in, his Dream Sand fashioned into a plane this time. He pulled to a stop after circling Ain and Aldebaran a handful of times, just for fun. The Dream Sand fizzled away and he bobbed in front of them, grinning from ear to ear and waving. Ain enveloped him in a hug, her smile almost as wide. Sandy flashed a few symbols, which - to their credit - they mostly got right. After a moment he turned around and waved at Tooth and me, smiling. I waved back with my foot propped up on the chair next to me. Sandy noticed and a concerned look crossed his face. 'Are you alright, Story?'

"Yeah, I'm good, I just hurt my ankle. I'll be fine, don't worry."

Ain's eyebrows creased. "When did you get hurt? You looked fine when we left your home earlier."

I really didn't want to admit that I was hurt when I pulled my obviously reckless and dumb stunt outside, even more so because I'd never miss-timed that bad before. "I messed up earlier when I dropped down that gorge outside." I shrugged at them, hoping they'd drop it so I could try and live it down. "It's no big deal."

Aldebaran snorted. "I thought something was amiss when you plummeted out of the sky for no reason. What happened?"

"Oh, no. That part was on purpose." I shifted my position a little to try and ease the slight cramping happening in my thigh. "I do that every time I come to the Pole. The part that was an accident is where I wasn't paying attention and caught myself too far down." I shrugged once more, goosebumps covering my arms again as a breeze wafted through the Globe Hall. "It could be a lot worse. All of me could be a bruise, instead of just my ankle."

"Well, if you do it as often as you claim, then you were bound to get injured eventually." Aldebaran strode towards the table looking for somewhere to sit. "May we sit wherever we want?"

"Yeah, except for a few chairs that are usually called for." I pointed towards the one closest to the fire. "Bunny always gets that one, and North's seat is at the head of the table. Jack usually tries to sit closest to the window, but more often than not ends up next to me." I shrugged. "Other than those, take your pick."

He dropped into the chair next to me, the one that I wasn't using as a footstool. "Is here alright?"

I shrugged. "Fine by me." He'd ended up between me and North.

Tooth almost immediately pulled out the chair next to where my footstool was. "I will take this seat this year."

"Trying to be the Kangaroo buffer this year?" Tooth, Sandy, and I had decided that anyone who chose to sit between Jack and Bunny would be called that, as they usually had to play defense between the two of them all night long.

She shrugged a little. "We have guests this year, I thought I should try to keep those two from picking any fights." She grinned sweetly at me as both of us knew damn well that she could hold her own against either of them.

Sandy glided over with Ain walking next to him. 'Do you two want me to give you a little tour until dinner starts?'

"There's not a lot of time before everyone gets here, Sandy." The Pole was huge and a full tour would take hours easy.

He waved it off. 'I'm just going to show them the factory floor and the Globe. If North wats to show them anything else later then he probably will.' He shrugged lightly and grinned, little puffs of Dream Sand lifting from his shoulders with the movement.

Tooth leaned onto her arm. "Let them go, if anything the Yettis can let them know when dinner is starting."

"Whatever, just don't get lost, you two." Aldebaran stood up and fell in stride with his sister and our height challenged friend. I watched them retreat, the twins focusing very hard on Sandy's symbols to try and understand what he was saying. I shook my head after them. "I wonder how long it'll take them to understand Sandy's symbol language?"

"Well, it took all of us almost a hundred years before we really knew what he was trying to tell us. Even now we misunderstand him sometimes." She looked over at me. "Jack get's mixed up a lot, though." She chuckled, her fairies swooning a little at the mention of Jack. "You're one of the only people I know that can understand him perfectly. You and Mother Nature."

"Don't forget Manny. I only know because of my powers. It's almost like I have subtitles whenever I see a physical language. Spoken ones are a different story, but I can read body language like a book." I paused for a second, cocking my head to the side. "Most of the time. Every once in a while, I'm clueless."

She giggled. "So does that mean you've noticed the spark between Sandy and Ain too?"

"Oh, most definitely." I strained myself to look over the railing, barely seeing the twin's heads down on the ground floor. "When they first landed he was holding her hand and I think they had a thing going back in the Golden Age." I looked over at her to see her smiling wistfully. "Every time they've been together since their eyes are superglued on each other."

We laughed at that and sat chatting idly until more people got there. Jack was the first one, walking over amidst a bunch of Yettis who were starting to set out some of the food. He went to sit down and noticed my foot. He started chastising me about it just like Tooth had, but then I reminded him of the times that he'd hit a few branches around the Treehouse when he wasn't paying attention and he shut up. In any case, I gave him his seat when one of the Yettis noticed my injury and brought me a real footstool.

"Thanks, Phil." Jack cracked a cocky grin at the retreating abominable snowman who made the 'I'm watching you' gesture at Jack.

"How do you know that's even his name? Or that it's him, for that matter." I watched the retreating Yeti who looked very similar to his brethren.

Jack leaned his chair back on two legs, his staff hooked onto the opposite side of the table for extra balance. "Eh, Phil and I go way back. Before I was a Guardian he was the Yeti who always threw me out if I got a toe inside the building." He snickered at a memory. "Good times." He waved a hand halfheartedly towards the furry mountain. "I'd know him anywhere." One of the fairies landed on his shoulder and chirped in his ear before rubbing her face against his cheek. "Him and Baby Tooth." He smiled down at her and I caught the jealous look the other fairies shot her.

"Does Phil still have a grudge against you?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "A little but it's fun to egg him on." He smirked at me as Bunny made his way in, coated in snow as per the usual. "Tunnels still not working right?"

"He, he." Bunny sneered at Jack, crouching in front of the fire. "I don't even think North's tried te alter the wards for me." He dropped his voice and held his hands out. "It's like its some sick little joke."

Jack looked at him upside down over the back of his chair. "If it makes you feel any better, Story finally broke herself diving down that hole out front."

Bunny's ears pricked up from his back as he spun around a little. "Ye did whut?" He rubbed at his arms and walked closer to the table. "Are you okay?"

"I just hurt my ankle. I'll be fine in a day or two." He squinted at me. "Really. I've been bashed in the back of the head by Excalibur and lived to tell the tale, a broken foot isn't the end of the world." I rolled my eyes and pushed myself up a little more in my chair. "You guys are acting like I lost my leg instead of breaking it, geez."

I was saved from more beratement about my own clumsiness when Sandy brought the twins back from their tour of the workshop. The three of them were laughing about something as the came into view. Sandy noticed the new arrivals first and glided over to say hi to Jack and Bunny, commenting on my footstool while he did. After a few moments, we realized that the twins were still standing where Sandy left them. He waved them over but they were too shocked to notice.

The two of them were staring at Bunny, jaws hanging. "Bunny... mund." A spark of recognition lit Ain's eyes. "I'd forgotten that Story said you were alive!"

"A Pooka survived?" Aldebaran was looking from me to Bunny, trying to find an answer.

Bunny's eyebrows lifted. "Sandy, why didun't you tell me it was the Taurus Twins that landed 'ere?"

Sandy shrugged with his arms out. 'I wasn't aware that you knew each other.'

Bunny hopped over to them. "I spent a few decades workin' with their dad - Tsar Taurus. The last time I saw the two of you, yer little bruther wasn't even born yet."

I could see that the two of them were equally as stunned by the fact that a Pooka still existed at all as they were by the information that they knew said Pooka. Mentally and physically I tried to tell them not to bring it up - Bunny was bound to react badly if he started talking about how he was the last of his entire race. Ain's eyes were misty. "You and Sanderson, both..."

"And the lost Lunar. All on the same planet." Aldebaran and Ain glanced between one another for a moment before they both hugged Bunny. He was stiff for about half a second before he hugged them back, tail twitching. I glanced at Sandy out of the corner of my eye and caught him grinning. It was a little weird seeing Bunny being all soft, but it was nice to see him wind down a little. I forgot that deep down he was really kind-hearted. Hell, I usually saw him bickering with Jack and North.

Jack leaned closer to me, voice low. "I'm so gonna use that tail thing against him later." He grinned mischievously towards them and I could see the spark in his eye that promised this would be blackmail for a long time.

Bunny and the twins sat down, everybody almost acting like a family. A different family than usual. It usually felt like cousins were coming together, but now it was something else. Bunny and Sandy had a different air about them then they usually did. Bunny was excited and Sandy was glowing more than usual. When North finally got there and took his seat, he was met with smiling faces all around. I'd been so worried that this day would turn out for the worst, but it seemed I was worried for nothing.

Dinner went swimmingly, no bickering whatsoever. It was a Christmas miracle, I tell you. When we moved to the fireplace for presents, the twins got a quick explanation of the tradition and why we even did gifts. North's eyes were shining when he told them about the Guardian's 'centers' and how he poured everything he had into spreading wonder to the world for this one night a year. Of course, that sparked a small... discussion between him and Bunny about which holiday was more important, but for once, Bunny's heart wasn't into it. He let North have it this once... I think he was just worried about making the night turn sour when so many bad things had happened in the past few years. A night this nice was rare and not to be marred by old squabbles.

When we passed out our presents the twins took mine around for me, what with my foot making me into an invalid for the night. I directed them who got what and after everything was said and done even they had some presents. This year mine were pretty big, actually. Everyone tore into their gifts, paper flying every which way. North had gotten me a papermaker so I could stop scrounging loose pages from random places, while Tooth and Sandy had gotten together to get me bookbinding supplies. Sandy had given me special Dream Sand as usual as well. Bunny was overjoyed by his sweater and immediately pulled it on, his ears getting caught for a moment that had most of us laughing, he then thanked me profusely and made me open his gift which was a set of paints. Jack was watching everyone else opening their new winter clothes with a weird look on his face. He stared at his gift from me and I think he guessed what I'd gotten him before he opened it.

While everyone was busy opening their gifts from North, some having to explain to the twins what their gifts were, Jack carefully unwrapped the present in his lap. I watched him out of the corner of my eye. I'd put a lot of time and effort into his gift and I really hoped he liked it. Like really hoped he did. He stared at the gift without taking it out of the box, an unreadable look on his face. He lifted his arm up and sort of plucked at the hoodie that he'd had as long as I'd known him. It was threadbare and worn almost completely through in some places. The cuffs were half shredded by now and the pocket had been mended more times than I could count - especially since I'd done half of the fixes. It was time for him to get a new one.

He looked up and caught me watching him. He flashed me a small smile before I turned back to my presents. A few seconds later I noticed everyone looking above me and I glanced over my shoulder to see Jack swapping the hoodies out then and there. I'd really forgotten how skinny he was, but he almost looked like he never ate - which was a bold faced lie if anyone ever claimed that out loud. He pulled on the new one which was as close to the same shade of blue as I could find, but it was more stylized to match the way clothes were made now. Also, I'd tried to add a pattern that would look cool when the edges were frosted over - which to my delight looked beautiful together. The design was similar to what he'd carved into the floor at the Sanctuary, and I was damn proud of myself for having managed it at all.

"Story, did you make that?" Tooth's smile was wide as she fluttered over to check out Jack's new threads. "There's so much detail!"

I shrugged a little. "I've gotten a lot of practice lately with sweaters from making all your presents this year. Jack's old one looks like a hobo should be wearing it." I stuck my tongue out at my bestie who grinned in response.

"This is perfect. Thank's, Story." He folded up his old one and stuffed it into the box his new one had recently occupied. "Much better than the IOU's you used to get me." He smirked at me while I rolled my eyes. He was definitely back to normal, alright.

"Ha, ha, very funny. I'm glad you like it." On the inside, I was doing backflips. Jack's new hoodie had been a nightmare to make. The hood was a demon to get right and all the seams and tailoring to it almost drove me insane. Seeing how much he liked it - even if no one else really noticed it under his usual sarcasm - made it all worth it.

"I love mine, too Story." Tooth went back to her seat and held it up again, looking closer. "I have no idea how you managed to get the slits here for my wings right without measuring me, but it's incredible." She grinned at me and everyone else gave thanks for their gifts. See, now this is how I'd wanted game night to go. Even the twins were having the time of their lives.