The Ties of Family (RotG Fanfic)

Chapter 10

Jack whizzed around the city, freezing pipes and drinking fountains and leaving swirly frost patterns on windows and walls, even on the streets, causing several people to skid as they walked. Jack had the sense not to freeze the streets, if cars instead of people skidded, the end result was not going to be good.

He flew up to a tall building and listened as the wind howled. Despite it being summer in Burgess, he would still be able to return by travelling on the light summer breeze. "Wind! Take me home!" he called out to the crying winter wind. The next thing he knew, he was being whipped into the air, floating easily as the wind carried him back to Burgess.

Jack Frost was hardly ever tired with his job of bringing joy and fun to kids. He was never tired of spreading frost, snow and executing mischievous deeds in places where not many still believed in him and travelling with the wind. Unlike the other Guardians, he didn't always had a routine. His job involved fun and that was one thing the other Guardians may lack once in a while. North was always busy making toys and preparing for Christmas. And once Christmas was over, he would begin preparing for the next. The same went for Bunnymund. Jack couldn't help but snicker at times when he thought about the Easter Bunny in his Warren, with only egg minions as company. And they don't even talk. Tooth and Sandy worked every night, collecting teeth and bringing dreams. As Jack flew, he could see trails of Dreamsand spreading, reaching out to the children fast asleep in their beds. If he looked carefully, he would see the baby teeth out and about.

He landed in Burgess, where a new day was just about to dawn. It had been some time since he had last visited Jamie. As Jack settled himself atop the monument in the park, looking out over the surrounding part of Burgess which was just waking up, his thoughts wandered. He couldn't help but think about how much Jamie had grown. Six years have flown by so fast. Jack felt a little nostalgic, thinking about it. He had never gotten this close to a kid before, and neither have any of the other Guardians, unless you count Bunnymund and Sophie. Another thing which disturbed Jack was that he and Jamie were distantly-related. And the boy did look a considerable lot like his sister, which was rather distracting.

Once the sun was high up in the sky and the whole of Burgess was up and about, Jack flew over to Jamie's house. He peeked in at his window but was rather surprised to see Sophie there instead. The window was wide open, so Jack merely flew in and landed on the carpeted floor.

Sophie did not look up. She seemed to be fiddling about with some of Jamie's belongings and was giggling to herself. Jack couldn't help but think she was up to something mischievous. Did she really want to end up in North's 'Naughty' list at the end of the year?

"Sophie, what are you doing?" Jack asked, smiling slightly, to himself. Sophie did not look up. She stood, however, and head out of the room. Jack watched her go, wondering what had happened.

Had she stopped believing? Only one way to find out.

Jack hurried out of the room after the child, but bumped into Jamie instead. The 16- year old was startled and even more astonished when he saw who he had bumped into.

"Jack!" Jamie gaped. "You came!"

Jack grinned. "Of course I came. Do you think the summer heat can keep me away? Heat doesn't affect me."

Jamie returned the grin. They returned to Jamie's bedroom where Jack said, "I have a feeling Sophie can't see me anymore."

Jamie looked up and Jack instantly recognized the disappointed look on his boyish face. "Yeah. She doesn't believe any longer. I think my parents brainwashed her. She doesn't believe in any of you."

Jack was surprised. "Even Bunny?" he asked.

Jamie nodded. "Even Bunny." He picked up his jacket and was about to hang it up when he noticed a large hole in the side. He held it up to his face and could see Jack through it. "SOPHIE!" The 17- year old ran out onto the landing and thundered down the stairs. He was halfway down when he remembered the winter spirit. Turning, he came face to face with Jack, who had followed him. There was a look of worry on the Guardian's face.

"I guess this will have to wait," Jamie said, folding up his jacket. They headed back to the bedroom, in case one of Jamie's parents happened to be along and notice him talking to himself again. "My friends... most of them have stopped believing."

"That's bad," Jack said, almost to himself. "What if I lose all my believers? Will I have to be invisible and ignored once more?"

"No!" Jamie hurriedly responded. "I don't think so. You don't only have believers in Burgess, do you?"

Jack shrugged. "There are some who believe in Father Winter or Old Man Winter. I guess it does count. But how could your friends not believe? Did they forget what happened six years ago?"

Jamie shook his head. "They thought they must've dreamt or imagined the whole thing."

"How can they pass off something like that as a dream?"

"I don't know. But Cupcake still believes, but she's ashamed to say so."

"Ashamed?"

"I mean, she's seventeen, and not many teenagers believe in the Guardians anymore. I'm sorry, Jack."

Jack walked over to the window. "I'm sorry, Jamie, but I think there's somewhere I have to go." He looked over his shoulder at the boy, who looked rather disappointed but nodded all the same before taking off into the sky and made a beeline for the North Pole.