Gale of Memories

Chapter 4: Sleepy Christmas

Chapter 4: Sleepy Christmas

"I suppose... We should probably get back to the memories." Jack sighed, not exactly looking forward to what was coming up. He didn't know when it'd be shown, but he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to see how they'd react to his death.

They walked through the front door, re-entering the memories. They came into Jackson's living room, which was decorated warmly for Christmas. "Ha! It is Christmas!" North shouted in glee. Bunny rolled his eyes.

"Whatever, mate. Easter's still better."

Jackson and Pippa bounced in their seats as their mother placed some freshly baked cookies and a glass of milk on the table for Santa. Jackson's eyes lit up for a moment before he dashed off to the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" North asked, curious.

"You'll see." Jack rolled his eyes.

Jackson came back with a handful of carrots. "Jack? What're those for?" Pippa asked.

"For the reindeer, Pippa!" Jackson said, the guardians could hear the unsaid 'duh' at the end of his sentence.

"How thoughtful! They always did like coming to this house." North smiled, remembering how they'd pull harder to get to the houses they knew held carrots or other treats for them. Some kids still do similar things.

"Ma? Can we please stay up to see him?" Jackson asked, giving his mother the most powerful puppy-dog eyed stare the Guardians had ever seen. Pippa joined him.

"Oh, Jack! You and your sister were so cute~!" Tooth spazzed, and even Baby Tooth swooned a bit, making Jack flush.

"I'm not a little kid anymore, you know!" He pouted, which only made Tooth smile more.

"Jackson! You're too young!" Jackson's mother reprimanded.

"Pleeeease! I turned ten like three days ago! I'm old enough!" Jackson begged.

"Wait, when is your birthday?" Bunny asked, looking at their Jack. Sandy formed a question mark above his head, too.

"Well, I was born on December 21... Winter Solstice. If you mean when my birthday as Jack Frost is, well... that'd be December 26." He smiled at the others, who grinned back.

"Looks like we celebrate twice!" North proclaimed. Jack was quick to shake his head.

"No need to make a big deal out of it! Really! Even just once is plenty!" Jack didn't quite know what to think. He'd stopped celebrating his birthday not too long after he died. Aside from not remembering his human birthday, he never really found a reason to celebrate being alive. Especially considering the times when he'd really wished he wasn't. Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—he'd found that he was much more durable as an immortal. Nothing he'd tried or found could kill him permanently. Maybe that's why he wasn't afraid when facing Pitch? He knew he couldn't die. But even if he could, he wouldn't have changed a thing. Not like anyone would've cared if I'd died anyways. The Guardians would get over me.

In the memory—which the guardians had missed due to the conversation—it appeared that Jackson's mother had agreed to let the two of them try to stay up to see North. Pippa tried, she really did, but she was asleep within two hours. After a while, they could see Jackson's eyes starting to droop, and a golden glow emanate from outside.

Most kids didn't stay awake long enough to see Sandy's work, so they were impressed when they realized that Jackson was still awake. In fact, he got up and carefully walked over to the window just in time to see a golden strand phase through the glass and form a scene of Christmas morning over his sister's head.