Hey everyone! After a very, very long break, I'm finally back with the sequel to Melting Jack! (If you haven't read the original, please go back and check it out before reading this—it isn't necessary, but it will help a lot of things in this story to make a lot more sense.) I don't have an excuse for keeping you guys waiting so long except (a) school, (b)another writing project taking up most of my spare time and attention, and (c) I don't like to post stories until I've actually finished writing them so that you're not left hanging. That aside, let me set the stage for this story: It's set right after Jack leaves in the second to last chapter of Melting Jack, and explains what happened in the interim between it and the last chapter, plus what happens afterwards. I hope you'll enjoy reading this story as much as I loved writing it :D Please don't judge the fact that I'm shipping Mrs. Bennett with North until you've actually read the story—it's meant to be completely sweet and innocent, so please just try to enjoy the fluffy adorableness (and whatever you do, don't flame!)

Sorry for the ridiculously long intro- I'll let you guys get to reading now (you've waited long enough!) So without further ado—The Courtship of Mrs. Jennifer Bennett!

0o0

Mrs. Bennett sat alone in the living room. Outside it was snowing softly, even though it was the middle of May. Upstairs the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and Sand Man were putting her kids to bed. She shook her head as she thought of how crazy, even insane, that sounded. A week ago she never would have believed that such a thing was possible. But a lot had changed in a week.

Only three days ago she had been preparing for the celebration of her youngest son, Jamie's, birthday and steeling herself for the three year anniversary of her husband and oldest son's deaths. Then, in the middle of Jamie's party, a young boy named Jack who had looked uncannily like her deceased son had dropped into her life and changed things forever. It turned out that Jack was actually one of the family's ancestors who had supposedly died in a frozen lake three centuries previous. But no, he had lived on as the spirit of ice and snow, Jack Frost, and as the family's unwitting guardian angel. Invisible to most as the frosty specter, he had become human again briefly due to overheating. He stayed only temporarily with the Bennett family while recovering, but in that time he had become an invaluable part of the family—so much so that Mrs. Bennett had come to look upon him as one of her own children. Only hours earlier had Jack regained his powers by falling into a frozen lake while saving Jamie. He had since headed for the southern hemisphere for the summer to prevent a repeat of his "meltdown" with promises to return when it was time for the weather to turn cool again. This was not, however, before introducing Mrs. Bennett to his other adoptive family, the Guardians of Childhood—a group made up of five mythical heroes who had sworn to protect the children of the Earth. That was why four of the most famous childhood figures of all time were currently tucking the two remaining Bennett children, Jamie and Sophie, into bed. Mrs. Bennett almost laughed at the thought of it. She had spent the past three years worrying about the safety of her children while she was away at the two jobs she had to work to support the family. Now, though, they had more protection than she ever dreamed she could offer them.

A noise from the front hall startled her thoughts back to the present. She shifted her eyes to gauge whether she or the children were in any immediate danger, and then relaxed as she caught sight of the red coated "intruder".

"Oh, it's you," she said with a relieved smile.

"Ah, good evening," the older gentleman greeted her with a tip of his black fur cap. "I apologize for the intrusion. I was just preparing to leave."

"It's not a problem," Mrs. Bennett reassured him. "After everything you've done this evening, I should be thanking you… I'm sorry, what was your name again? Or should I just call you Santa Claus?"

"North is fine. And as for this evening, it was no problem at all," the man hurried to reassure her. "Jamie and Sophie are such joys—radosti!"

Mrs. Bennett laughed at his enthusiasm, then got up from the couch. "Can I offer you anything before you go? Some coffee, perhaps?"

"I do not wish to put you to extra trouble," North started to protest, but Mrs. Bennett waved away his concerns.

"The coffee's already in the pot," she told him. She shivered slightly and pulled her sweater tighter around her thin shoulders before admitting, "Besides which, I could use the company. I don't exactly relish the idea of being alone after a night like tonight."

"Ah!" North's deep blue eyes lit up with understanding. "But of course. This is a service I will most gladly render to you."

Mrs. Bennett had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing as they entered the kitchen. His overly formal tone amused her, but was somehow slightly endearing at the same time. "How do you like your coffee?" she asked, pulling two mugs out of the cupboard.

"Cream and sugar, please," North replied, taking the seat that she indicated at the table. "With a candy cane, if you happen to have one."

"Ah, you've discovered my weakness," Mrs. Bennett laughed, pulling a tin out from behind the toaster. "I love anything peppermint." She put her hands on her hips and turned towards him. "Are you sure that you haven't been in my kitchen before?"

North blushed slightly. "Well…there was one Christmas Eve. But I swear I did not go in without permission. Jacob invited me in—Oh, I am so sorry. I should not be bringing him up."

"It's alright," Mrs. Bennett told him with a strained smile. "It's actually nice to hear someone talk about him. It helps—helps keep him close."

"He was a very fine boy," North told her. "He had a good, strong heart. I still miss our Christmas Eve visits."

Mrs. Bennett nodded, not trusting herself to speak. It was nice to hear someone else remember her deceased son so fondly. Still, she knew that even though Jack had helped start her healing process, she wasn't fully ready to have an extended conversation about him yet.

"What can you tell me about Jack?" she asked, deciding to move to a safer topic as she prepared the coffee.

"What would you like to know?" North replied, looking slightly surprised by the question.

"Anything," Mrs. Bennett shrugged her shoulders. "You've known him longer than I have, so I thought maybe you could help me learn a little bit about my adoptive son."

"Ah." North's eyes twinkled as she put a mug in front of him. "Well, I can tell you that he is a very good boy. I will be honest, I have not known him for very long. For a century or two the Guardians did not even realize that he existed." He blew on the coffee to cool it as Mrs. Bennett sat down across from him. "When we finally did discover him, he did not exactly want our help. He had become so used to living on his own that he feared we would try to take away his freedom. I cannot say that he was wrong. We had become too—how you say?—stuck in our ways. We did not understand that in his carefree way he was guarding something very precious in the children—fun. But I could see even then just how lonely he was. Almost no one believed in him, and mythical beings must be believed in if they are to be seen. He was almost completely isolated, and with no memory of his past and no direction for his future, he was not in a good place."

"Wait." Mrs. Bennett raised a hand to stop him. "What do mean he had no memory of his past? When we talked earlier he didn't have any problem discussing his life story."

"Yes, he remembers it now," North agreed. "But for the better part of three centuries, he had no idea who he had been before the accident. He only regained those memories a short time ago with the help of Tooth."

"I see." Mrs. Bennett took a sip of her coffee. "Let me guess, this was during the battle with Pitch?" North looked slightly startled that she knew the name of the Guardian's fiercest enemy, so she explained, "Jamie told me the story about how you fought off the Boogeyman. I wasn't sure how much to believe—he has a bit of an overactive imagination."

"Well, what he told you will probably suffice," North told her, knowing that she might be better off not knowing all of the details. "And yes, it was. After finding out he had saved his younger sister, Jack was finally able to embrace his role as a Guardian."

Mrs. Bennett nodded, then got a slightly concerned look on her face. "I hope I didn't cause any trouble by taking him in. I didn't even know who he was at the time. If that kept him from taking care of whatever duties he has as a Guardian—"

"No, no, it was not a problem," North reassured her, taking her hand. "If anything, it was good experience for him. He has had too much pressure put on him lately. He needed a chance to rest. And honestly, he has never looked so happy the entire time I've known him as he did when he was here with all of you."

"I'm glad," Mrs. Bennett sighed. "Even though I've only known him for a short time, I truly do see him as one of my own children."

North nodded, looking pleased. "I can see that you have a very big heart. Even though you have experienced much pain, you still give love freely to those who need it. That is a wonderful quality."

Mrs. Bennett blushed at the unexpected compliment. "T-thank you," she stammered, looking down into her mug to avoid meeting his eyes. Then the tiny yawn that she'd been trying to hold in escaped her.

"Shostakovich! Goodness, what time is it?" North glanced over at the kitchen clock. "Forgive me, I did not mean to keep you this late. I often forget that most people actually need to sleep."

"It's fine," Mrs. Bennett told him, trying to hold back another yawn. "I was the one keeping you. I wish we had more time chat, but I can barely keep my eyes open and I know that you probably have places you need to be."

"Yes," North agreed. "But maybe we can continue this conversation later?"

"That would be wonderful." Mrs. Bennett gave him a tired smile.

"How is tomorrow for you?" North asked. "I promised to meet a friend in the morning, but perhaps we could meet in the afternoon?"

"How's four at the little coffee shop downtown?" Mrs. Bennett suggested. "They just opened a new one in the bookstore next to city hall."

"Excellent!" North looked pleased by the prospect and got up from the table with a customary bow. "A good evening to you, Mrs. Bennett."

"You don't have to be so formal with me," Mrs. Bennett responded with a half-smile. "You can just call me Jennifer."

North looked a little uncertain, but decided to comply with her wishes. "Good night, then…Jennifer."

"Good night to you too, North."

North gave her another tiny bow, then hurriedly exited through the back door. Mrs. Bennett stayed awake just long enough to hear the sound of Russian shouting and the pattering of reindeer hooves—reindeer hooves!—out in the street. Then, shaking her head, she fell asleep at the table.

0o0

So we have the initial meeting! I hope you guys are enjoying this so far—if not, trust me, it will get better. I'll be trying to update with about a chapter a week, with a total of about 14 chapters, so hopefully you guys will be able to hang in for the long haul and enjoy this fun little story. Please do leave feedback (virtual Christmas cookies to everyone who does!) I do read and greatly appreciate every one, and I almost always reply to comments. See y'all next week!