The next few Guardian meetings were almost overly cautious. Each of them was being careful not to offend, and in the case of the four original Guardians, to not let on just yet exactly what Jack had signed on for.
Of course, he'd had a year to catch on, but he'd been so focused on remembering the little he could and on getting them so annoyed they'd show their true motives and get rid of him, he might not have noticed if they'd begun making out in front of him.
Maybe.
But there was still a good deal of relief in the meetings, a general clearing of the air.
One of the first things North did at the meeting right after Jack had managed to have his little talk with each of them was to stand up and tell the others that he had told Jack a summary of Nightlight and Katherine and all of their pasts, and he apologized for any lines he had crossed...but Jack had needed to know.
It had just been a summary – that Katherine, Guardian of Imagination (or Storytelling, depending on who was asked), had helped them during Pitch's bid for dominance long ago, that Nightlight, Guardian of Bravery, had been the first, had protected MiM until Nightlight had come to earth, how the two of them and Kailash, Katherine's Himalayan Snow Goose, a goose big enough for Katherine to ride, were on a journey of healing, with no known date to return.
Jack, foregoing the window seat he'd been using during the meetings, off to the side and not really part of the group, huddled in the chair he'd chosen that was in the circle of them all, watching them with cautious eyes. As apologies rolled in, apologizing for assuming he'd found out their stories, for not thinking to tell him the things that weren't common knowledge for others but needed to be known about each other, things they'd known for so long that they'd forgotten he wouldn't know, instead of accusations, though, he slowly came out of his ball.
It took several more meetings before the other Guardians had another after meeting Jack huddle.
Jack had flitted off out the window, smiling, but this time it was a real smile. The Guardians hadn't realized just how fake the smiles he'd been giving them were until they'd seen the real ones, but now, unless they lost their way again, they wouldn't be fooled by the fakes anymore.
Bunny slumped down in his chair with a huff. "Glad you said something, Sandy," he said. "Those coupla months ago...we really almost screwed this up."
Sandy beamed, buffing his nails on his pajamas proudly.
"Was hard to believe Jack was hurting so much," North added, before slapping his belly. "Well, is not first time one of us hid pain, yes? And will likely not be last. Is problem we all have."
"I just wish he didn't feel like he has to be so careful around us," Tooth said, flitting back and forth a little before settling again. "He still is. I mean, he's more open now than a month ago, but he still can't let us in. He wasn't when we met, now it's so still and awkward."
"We just have to keep going," Bunny said, standing and touching Tooth's shoulder gently. She turned and started running her fingers through the fur of his ruff, an action that had always soothed them both but had been left behind with the rest of their communication. "It's better'n Jackie thinkin' we're about to dump 'im. If I've learned anythin' 'bout that gumby, he'll loosen up around us soon enough."
"That's probably true," Tooth agreed, calming a little with the familiar, repetitive motions. "The girls love him, I know that much. He said he had a present for them, but he wants to check with me before he gives it to them. I think he's still worried about offending us."
