Jack found it difficult to keep the hard lump stable in his throat. His eyes stung, but luckily were not wet just yet. He held tightly on to his staff, for once in his life his feet were tingling from the cold snow beneath him. His lips pressed gently together, he watched the tiny cabin.

"Is this it?" He asked North, who had his hands behind his back.

"Yes," Was all he could say, "Jack...Would you feel more comfortable if I waited by the portal?"

Jack's stomach felt like he hadn't eaten in days, which was strange, considering he wasn't hungry. His heart was pounding through his own sweater.

"No..It's..." His eyebrows knit together, "Actually, yes. That would be wonderful, North."

North opened his mouth like he was going to say something, then quickly shut it. He put a reassuring hand on Jack's shoulder, "Just remember, boy. The portal hasn't been this far back in time in...ages. No pun intended. I..." He stopped, swallowing on his words, "I do not know how long you will have."

Jack gave North a nod, and with that the old man walked over towards the bright light.

Jack was not sure what to do, knock on the door? Before he could think. A little boy popped his head into the window, he squinted, like he almost saw something. Before leaving the window, and moving towards the door. He was only three or four, maybe a little older than Sophie. He rubbed his giant brown eyes and looked around. That's when he saw Jack. He smiled and waved.

Jack wasn't sure what to do, he felt like speaking out, but no words came. His eyes fluttered to the left as he saw a women follow the boy.

"Jackson, what are you doing? Get away from the door you will catch a cold," His mother picked the boy up into her arms, tightening the sweater around her shoulders.

"Mama, who is that boy?" He pointed to Jack.

Jack breathed heavily as the women turned her face to him, she looked exactly like Jack's mother, except for the eyes, they were brown like her son's.

"What are you talking about, Jack? There is no one there," His mother squinted her eyes to see through the snow.

Jack clenched his staff, she couldn't see him.

Little Jack frowned, "Yes, right there! Hi!" he cried out.

Jack's eyes began watering, he could feel the salty tears slide down his cheeks, he swallowed hard, turning away from the family.

He heard the mother tell the boy to go inside, she looked around worriedly. Jack wanted out of there, he was walking quickly towards North.

"Stop right there, or I will shoot." He heard the women's voice call out.

Jack froze, his eyes widening, "You can see me..."

"Of course I can see you, I want to know why you are roaming outside my home."

Jack sniffed away his tears, a smile appearing on his face, "I wouldn't say I was roaming."

"My husband will be home any second. If you really want to know how well this shotgun work."

Jack put his hands up when he heard the gun click, he swallowed, "Who is the boy?"

The women flinched, "Excuse me?"

"Is he your son?"

The women lowered the shotgun, "Who are you?"

Jack turned around slowly, the women's mouth dropped when she saw him. She dropped the shotgun, which was a terrible idea considering it was loaded. Her hands went to her mouth, "It can't be..."

"It's all me..." Jack felt fresh tears on his eyes, "Well, new hair and eyes, they came with the job."

She fell backwards onto the house, Jack looked at her. She looked so much like their mother. She had grown into a beautiful women, except her hair was neatly in a bun. Her eyes were filled with fright, "How...? I-"

"Mary," He said, realizing he was actually a tad bit shorter than her, "I would love to chat, but I am running out of time."

She paused, her eyebrows lowered into a frown.

"I know it was stupid to come..." Jack began, "But I wanted to tell you something...Something important."

She wrapped her arms around her stomach, "I'm listening."

Jack's face went pale. Well, paler. He took a deep breath, "I guess...Wow this is harder than I thought it would be. I just wanted you to know the truth, you know?"

Mary wasn't understanding his word choice. She gave him a harsh look.

"There is nothing to be said, J-" Her words slipped on his name, "You died fifteen years ago. I was only a little girl...I didn't...I didn't understand what happened. I didn't know who I was anymore," She whispered.

Jack let out a fake laugh, "I know the feeling."

Her face filled with anger, "I prayed for you every night. I wished and prayed and- You never came. Now, now I don't need you anymore. I have a family."

Jack's eyebrows knit together, this attitude was new.

"I didn't come here to intrude," Jack snapped back.

"I know," She said, "I'm sorry."

Jack fiddled with his staff, "Anyway...I won't bother explaining what happened to me that night on the lake."

Her eyes meet his.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Just know that...I'm not dead, I guess."

This was stupid, Jack wondered if North could take this moment back.

She looked completely confused, "My god...when with I wake from this dream," She pinched herself.

"Remember when I used to tell you stories about, Santa...And the Easter bunny...and the Tooth fairy?"

She nodded, "We don't believe in such silly stories," She said, referring to her son.

"They are real. As real as I am," Jack told her.

Her face was still full of shock, "I am not quite sure you are real, either."

He smiled, "I am one of them..."

"Okay..." She was speaking a tad bit loud, "Okay."

"Was that your son?" He asked again.

She turned her head towards the house, but her sight never let go of Jack, "Yes..."

"Jack...What a great name, I always did admire it," Jack remarked.

"Yeah," She laughed, "Well...That's his middle name. We call him that for short. He is actually a William. William Christopher Jackson Bennet."

Jack frowned, "Poor kid."

"What?"

"Nothing..."

She reached out to him, but he backed away.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Don't bother," Jack frowned, "You will run right through me."

"Are you just a ghost from my past?"

Jack slammed the staff into the snow, "The other way around. I am real. You are the memory."

She shook her head, "This doesn't make sense..."

"Not a lot does."

"You need to leave."

Jack felt a cold stab at his heart, "What?"

She turned away from him, "I just...You frighten me. You are dead. I am dreaming."

"No..." He said hurt, "I am real."

Tears formed in her eyes, "No." She covered her face with her hands, "No you can't be. Why must you punish me like this. I see you wherever I go. Every time I close my eyes, you are not real. YOU ARE NOT REAL!"

Jack was about to say something when a man appeared from the woods.

"Honey?" He called out, brushing his own gun onto the ground, he ran to her, grabbing her shoulders, "What's wrong? Why do you have the gun out?"

He looked around, not seeing Jack.

Mary was shaking, she glanced with fear at Jack. The man looked straight at Jack, but he couldn't see him, "What are you looking at?"

"N-Nothing," She whispered, "I thought I heard something, I got scared."

The man wrapped his hands around her, he kissed her neck, "I'm sorry I was late. I'm so sorry..."

Mary had tears running down her cheeks, The man looked down at her, "Are you okay?"

"Yes," she squeaked, "I don't know what's the matter with me."

He smiled, "Come on, let's get you inside."

Mary sobbed quietly as she gave Jack one last glance, before she disappeared into the house.

Jack stood there, he was in shock. Not believing what just happened. He didn't get a chance to explain himself. Not even a chance to say goodbye. Eventually the world flashed, and Jack found himself back at the pole. North reached out for him, but Jack swung away.

North was worried, "Jack, are you alright?"

His face hardened, for once in his life, he let the tears run, "No...No, I don't think I will ever be alright. I never was. Never will be."

"Son-"

"Don't call me that," Jack sobbed, "Don't," He held a finger out to North. He looked to the ground, before disappearing quickly in the wind.

I have no idea why I wrote this story. It was just always an idea in my head that Jack would somehow be reunited with his sister. But then I thought what would happen if Mary grew up (JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW. THIS STORY WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THE HEAD CANON OF "EMMA" WAS EVEN THOUGHT OF, EVERYONE HAD A NAME FOR JACK'S SISTER. AND THOUGH I LIKE EMMA, I CANNOT JUST CHANGE THE NAME I CHOSE) Anyway, this story might seem kind of sad, but life is life. And Jack knows that. Sorry if it wasn't edited to perfection, I am only human.

If you would like me to update this story, maybe even a sequel to this. One where Jack goes back and forces Mary to believe in him, and she finally does, and Jack gets to meet her son? Leave me a review, they matter so much whether this story will be updated or not.

ALSO, please feel free to give me ideas for the next chapter, MY BRAIN IS EMPTY.

Thank you everyone!
-Lou