Getting Reacquainted with the Family

By Uniasus

Chapter 1 – First Christmas

Jack had never been one for holidays.

He supposed, if he really thought about it, it went back to those three hundred years before he meet the Guardians. Well, before he liked the Guardians. Because watching all the children prepare and get excited for a holiday, all for the chance of maybe catching a glimpse of a spirit who was in the area for only a second while Jack was there all the time hurt. Because almost every other spirit he interacted with was connected with a holiday of some sort, even if they weren't its avatar. Because watching families together, around the dinner table or the Christmas tree or holding hands in Church or trick-or-treating or at Easter brunch or anywhere else just made him wonder even more if he ever had a family.

Well, he knew now. He did have a family, once upon a time. And he supposed the Guardians were one now. But you didn't get used to the long lost uncles and aunts all at once. It took time, time to get to know them and time to overcome the feeling of you could have contacted me so much sooner but you didn't.

So when North asked Jack to help with Christmas he had to think it over.

Because he had spent three hundred years waiting for a Santa than never came, despite knowing he gave gifts to other spirits on a rotation. Because he never truly got a Christmas in all his spirit memory. No gifts from friends, no chestnuts roasting, no one to sing songs with. Because maybe if he said 'no', North would understand what it was like. Just a little.

But that was a mean thought, Jack thought to himself as he sat on the edge of Jamie's window sill waiting for the boy to come back from school. And he didn't do mean. He did fun. And well, riding in the sleigh would be fun. Maybe he'd pass on this year and but promise to help out next?

"Jack!"

Jack turned around to smile at Jamie, he'd been so deep into his thoughts that he hadn't heard the boy clomp up the stairs. Jamie seemed to notice something was up, and so after a greeting hug pointed a firm finger at the foot of the bed. Sighing, Jack obeyed. He climbed on to the mattress, but quickly shifted to perch on the footboard while Jamie settled against the headboard.

"So?" The eight year old. He was very perspective for his age. Jack wondered if it was a big brother thing.

"North wants me to ride in the sleigh at the end of the month. You know, bringing the snow and all that."

"Awesome! I love a white Christmas!"

"Well, I'd have given you one anyway."

They smiled at each other, but Jack found he couldn't keep it.

"What's wrong?" Jamie asked.

With a sigh, Jack jumped off the bed and began pacing the width of it, fiddling with his staff as he did so.

"Christmas wasn't very happy for me these past three hundred years. And I can't help but feel that part of that, most of that, was North's fault."

"Oh."

"But, I mean, after awhile I accepted it. I crashed lots of Christmas parties, not that anyone could see me. Made up a new game every year to play. Those were fun, and it was always wonderful watching kids play with their new toys. I got pretty good at guessing what each of the gifts were, and there was this one with icicles I still play sometimes. Oh! There was -"

Jack cut off as Jamie grabbed a hold of his wrist. The primary student had crawled down the bed to reach his friend.

"You're sad you never got a proper Christmas."

Jack slumped and pulled up his hood. "Yeah."

"Do you know why Santa never gave you a gift?"

"Apparently I hold the record for being on the Naughty List the longest." It was an achievement he felt a glum sort of pride in. And hey, at least he had been on Santa's radar.

"What about this year?"

"I think I'm on the Nice List, why else would North ask me to help?"

"To apologize?"

"Really?" The thought hadn't crossed Jack's mind. He figured North was just excited over the prospect of bringing children a more wondrous Christmas, even if the big guy had also said it would help with Jack's own belief base. Now that he was a Guardian, there were risks to not having believers and he was ever hovering on that border of losing his powers. Was it possible that, now that North knew Jack, he was regretting not including the younger spirit in the holiday just like Jack was reevaluating his opinion of North?

"Yeah! I'm sure Santa feels bad about all those years alone."

"Maybe."

"Still don't know what you're gonna tell him, do you?"

"No, but thanks for listening Jamie. You're good at that."

"Caleb and Claude tell me that all the time."

Jack ruffled Jamie's hair with a smile, dusting it with snowflakes.

"And hey, you do know that if you don't want to spend Christmas with North, you can come spend it with me right?"

"I do now. Thanks Jamie." Jack wrapped the boy up in a hug, hesitant to let him go but he didn't want to chill his friend. "Now come one. Let's go ice skating."

#####

In the end, Jack told North sure, he'd love to join him on Christmas Eve. Because, well, it's Christmas and Santa and a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer and Jack really can't brush aside his desire to not just have a Christmas, but participate in it. Thoughts about North are second fiddle to that.

Still, he felt pretty good when North beamed at his reply, clamped a large hand on his shoulder, and declared that they would have a good time.

Fun was his center. It wasn't like Jack wouldn't enjoy the happiness he brought others.

#####

When Christmas Eve morning came around Jack was perched on his staff, sucking on a peppermint while he watched the yeti make final adjustments to the sleigh and North was programing the last of the Nice List's children's houses in the mini Globe at the sleigh's front.

Jack couldn't help but smile at all the activity around him, from the elves tying bells on Vixen's antlers to North running on nervous, excited energy.

The wind surrounded him, back from another tour of the workshop. It whispered images to Jack's mind, of yeti placing the final bows on gifts and gently filling a red canvas sack. It reminded him of how his sister Olivia had acted around Christmas time, weaving holly wreaths and making maple syrup candies in the snow with joy and anticipation. Jack supposed that maybe this was the wind's first ever Christmas ever. It had always watched, like Jack had these past three hundred years, but this time through Jack it had the chance to be involved. With an affectionate ruffle of his hair, the wind gently took off to check out how things were going elsewhere.

"Ready to go Jack?"

North stood in front of him in full Christmas garb. His normal brown belly belt had been replaced with a green one and Jack could see small red stitching outlining holly leaves. His coat it the same, but the hat was now white and decorated with what Jack thought was pine needles. He looked like Santa Claus, but then he had always looked like that to Jack.

"It's it a bit early?"

"Tonight it long trip for reindeer. They need a proper warm up first."

"Alright then." Jack lept to the floor, swinging his staff up to rest over his shoulders at the same time, and made his way to the sleigh. The wind came and lifted him up to set him on a seat and then in it's excitement did the same the North. The big man floundered a bit when his feet left the floor, but his face was grinning by the time the wind set him down.

North sent him a questioning look, but Jack just shrugged. It wasn't like he had asked the wind to do that. "It's happy to help out this year," was all he said and North gave a nod.

As North took the reins, the yeti stepped back, some forcibly removing elves from the runway by their hats. "YA!" the Russian shouted with a rein crack and the sleigh lurched forward. Jack gave a whoop as they entered the first loop and North answered it with a belly laugh.

#####

They started in Uelen and the northeast tip of Russia. North parked the sleigh on the roof of a school and stepped out with the sack on his back. The wind had seen the yeti pack millions of presents in it, but it was roughly the same size as the sack of teeth North had collected around Easter last year. "I will go use chimneys and leave gifts, you will leave snow, yes?"

"Of course. Anything you say Santa." With a mock salute, Jack jumped off the back of the sleigh and the wind caught him.

Jack reveled in making snow as it was a new power for him. Cold and ice he'd always been able to do, but snow? Actual snow? That had only come after he had been inducted as a Guardian and gained believers. He wasn't entirely sure the other Guardians knew that. Bunny was still sore about the Blizzard of '68, but honestly that hadn't been Jack's fault. Bunny had just found him playing in it, blamed him, and not minding the attention Jack took the credit. It had been nice to think someone thought he had that amount of power, though really it was simply Mother Nature and Old Man Winter ganging up on Belenus. Still, now he had snow and he wasn't adverse to bringing it this night.

He finished before North did, and so set about making ice murals in the windows. He started with Christmas scenes, reindeer and snowmen and Santas, and then moved on to winter scenes, snow covered trees and ice skating and sleds, and when he ran out of those ideas alternated between large snowflakes and portraits of the Guardians. The wind put an image of North heading back to the sleigh in his mind and together they went to meet him. North's sack was the same size; magic of course Jack assumed.

"Place looks lovely Jack."

"Thanks." He said. Despite his misgivings about holiday spirits, any praise from North or the rarer form from Bunny makes his chest warm. North and Bunny are Guardians, family even if the tie is weak, and now he can remember his belief in their holiday forms from when he was alive. Having Santa Claus tell you you're a good boy means a lot more than when his mom used to say it or North on another day of the year.

North gave him a look that Jack couldn't figure out. Maybe proud, maybe regretful, or maybe just searching because Jack was pretty sure that just as he was coming to terms with his new family members North was doing the same without all the baggage.

"Especially loved the picture of Vixen. He is my most vain reindeer."

Jack laughed. "Well, what do you expect with a name like that?"

#####

They go down the coast of Russia and Jack noticed that the closer to the equator they go the less his frost and snow stayed. Sapporo only got a small dusting for the morning, and he was pretty sure the thin frost on windows in Taiwan will be gone come sun rise. Jack spent the extra time with the reindeer as North continues delivering toys. Despite the untamed show they put on every time they see the opening of the sleigh tunnel before them they are really quite tame. Donner loves being scratched behind the ear and Comet loves it under the chin. Vixen has a habit of nibbling on his hair like a goat, and trying to snap up the carrots Jack offers his brother and hitch partner Blitzen that North brings back from some of the houses. Cupid doesn't do much but stand at the front, ears pricked forward and ever waiting to take off again. Dixen, well, just flicks his little tail and sleeps. Doesn't even open his eyes to eat the snack North brings back.

Even though Jack likes the reindeer, he's happy when they're on the South Island of New Zealand and he can make snow that stays again.

#####

Their first bypass through the warm belt, that area between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn Jack found he despised, it was quick because well, below them was only tiny little villages on islands and North simply dropped gifts from the sky that magically appeared under the trees in the homes. Jack got to hold the reins, which was immensity thrilling.

Malaysia was a different story. It was hot and humid, and they had to spend hours here because there were a ton of children. Jack was melting.

"I'm sorry Santa, I can't here." He was lying on the top most bench of the sleigh, greedily indulging in the small amount of a breeze the wind was whipping up for him. "I'll be up and going again once we're further north."

North gave him a pitying look and then reached into his sack to pull out a small box wrapped in paper with a motif of Santas dancing with penguins. "Was going to give this to you later, but maybe now is better?"

He placed the box on Jack's stomach and Jack can only stare dumbfounded at it as North went off to do his job.

A present. Jack had honestly not expected one. Secretly, after talking to Jamie, he had considered North's offer to join him tonight to be a present in part because he had never expected to be given something solid. A present. On his belly.

"Gifts are to be opened."

Jack looked up. North had returned and was about to send the reindeer on to the next location. He wanted to say something about just how much the box means to him, but old habits die hard. Jack did not share feelings, exposing them to Jamie is a rare thing that sometimes happen because the kid forces it out of him, but when interacting with others Jack has always made a habit of keeping up a certain image. A fun guy, who didn't mind his isolation, who always had a smile on his face and a way with humor. Especially self-deprecating and sarcastic.

"Too hot, my fingers aren't working properly. I'll open it in a little bit."

North chuckles and then when they're further north in Hong Kong, where the sun is still direct and Jack still doesn't feel like moving and he knows he can't make any snow but he does feel a little less lethargic, North refused to grab his sack and leave until Jack started to open the gift.

Jack took his time. It was his first present in three hundred years and he wanted to savor the moment. There could be anything under the paper and in the box it covers and Jack found that all the possibilities made him dizzy but also that he wasn't hoping for anything in particular. What would he do with a train set? Or a video game? Spirits don't have a need for material things very much.

But North is also Santa and Santa never gave a bad gift. He wasn't going to start with Jack.

Jack slowly slipped a finger under each crease of paper to release the tape on the ends and then shimmied the large silver bow and ribbon off the box. Jack spent a moment stroking the fabric, it felt like velvet, trying to figure out what to do with it. But then he remembered what the children did and with a smile Jack stuck the bow in his hair and tied the ribbon around his staff. That done, he ran his finger under one last seam and slowly pulled the paper off the box. He sent the box aside to carefully fold the paper, taking care to not rip it, and only then did he pull the box into his lap.

It wasn't fancy, just a simple wooden thing and it's maybe half the size of a loaf of sliced bread. Jack took a deep breath and the lifted off the lid.

Inside sat something deep blue and sliver, thin and smooth. Jack pulled it out with wonder, surprised to find it bigger than he expected it to be based on the size of the box. Arms extended in front of him to see it all, Jack decided it was a blanket. But it wasn't like others he had seen. It wasn't made of a warm fabric and while smooth it wasn't soft. It was a very strange blanket and Jack found himself confused by it. He never used them, more concerned with staying cold than keeping warm.

Still, it was a gift. Jack wrapped it around his shoulders and instead of the sudden rise of heat that he expected he feels colder, chilled, and all he can do is stare at the blanket in wonder.

He was still staring at it, running his hands over the fabric when North returned.

"Good, yes?"

Jack nodded. "I'm...how does it work?"

"Like a thermos. It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold."

It was like a door opened for him. "This is awesome! I'd never actually left the North Hemisphere before we went tooth collecting that one time, the tropics were too warm for me to travel through by myself but now I probably could and oh boy there's so many new places to explore!" Jack was vibrating with happiness next to North as the large Guardian snapped the reins and the reindeer took to the sky.

For just a moment, North drove one handed and used the other to ruffle Jack's hair. "Merry Christmas, Jack Frost."

"You too, Santa."

#####

They were in Africa when Jack showed North his talent for guessing gifts. It was hot, stifling outside of his new blanket, but he was still feeling up to lounging on Dixen's back while the team slowly walked across the sky to allow North to drop presents below to the small rural towns.

"This one?" The older Guardian asked, pulling out a package that was lumpy and tossing it to Jack. He poked and podded it, shook it, but never once peaked under that wrapping paper.

"It's a rug," he said, tossing it back to Santa. "One of those with a city plan on it so he can drive his cars through streets and past buildings."

North didn't say Jack was right, he had stopped confirming every right guess after twenty. And that was maybe a couple hundred ago. Now, the big guy just accepted each right answer with a confused look on his face. Instead of tossing gifts to Jack in a guessing game where North would have the advantage, North was trying to see if Jack was using some type of magic to guess correctly or had other means of knowing. He had a frown on his face the entire time.

Eventually as they crossed out of the tropic belt and into southern Africa, he out right asked.

"How do you know what is each present is?"

Jack shrugged, relocating from Dixen's back to sit astride Donner's. "Years of practice. I use to shake them all, make a guess, and then watch the kids open them Christmas morning. Stopped being as fun though being right all the time. I mean, winning all the time isn't very enjoyable."

There was a heavy silence from behind him, but Jack ignored it, hanging on to Donner's neck at the sleigh sped up.

#####

When they hit the Burgess, Jack goes all out. He had promised Jamie a white Christmas, and what his friend is getting is a whole foot and a half of fresh snow. Jack also made sure to spend extra time on the frost mural on his friend's bedroom window. It's him and North and all six reindeer. After sharing his insecurities about this night, Jack figured he should give Jamie a sign that it was not as bad as it had seemed.

He was having a good time. Santa gave him a present. It didn't really make up for the Christmases he didn't have, nothing will make up those long periods of lonely holidays, but Jack knew he wouldn't have another one like them and he can't help but smile at the thought.

North took his time delivering presents, even though hitting the Americas means they are just past half way done and they didn't know if they had the time to spare, and Jack used those extra minutes to make sure the frost on the windows made the best images ever. He even had time to recreate the sleigh, complete with reindeer, using the roofs of cars.

#####

When they were on their way back to the North Pole, they were both fighting sleep. Jack had taken the reins, driving reindeer really wasn't that different from driving a horse and dray, leaving North to sit on a bench and nod off only to wake up every time one of the reindeer's' bells gave a louder than normal tinkle.

Some how, Jack felt the magic of the night vanishing. Santa was melting away with the daylight and all that was left was North. He knew, logically, they were one and the same, but on Christmas Jack couldn't let go of the fact that he really was an immortal child. And with this new day, Jack felt a little closer to North. He would make a point to visit the Pole more often, and actually seek out the Russian on more visits instead of just hanging with the yeti.

It was only because North was not fully awake that Jack spoke his thanks as the sleigh tunnel came into view. He wanted to say it since North first placed the present on his stomach in Malaysia, but it was wrapped up in feelings Jack didn't want to expose to his friend. Now though, with the occasionally snore from behind him, Jack felt safe enough to do it. North might not hear it, but Jack would have said it and that meant everything.

"Thanks, North. For inviting me to help you. And...and for the gift." He clutched it closer around him. Even though they were in the Arctic Circle, Jack was still wearing it. He suspected he'd be wearing it for days. "I haven't gotten one since I was human." There was a little bit of bitterness, at North for he was Santa and Jack was a child and even if he had been on the Naughty List Jack would have liked a piece of coal if only for the proof that he was real, and a bit of sadness too. He was glad North was asleep.

"Things are different now, and you guys are the reason. Thanks for that too."

There was a particularly loud snort from behind him and Jack looked over his shoulder to see North had fallen onto his side. He smiled at the sight, and made sure to fly the reindeer through the tunnel instead of having them run on the ice to prevent any flips that might cause North to fall out.

When Jack parked the sleigh, the yeti quickly stepped up to unharness them and lead them deeper into the tunnel where the stables were. Jack gently shook North's shoulder.

"Come on, big guy. You're home."

North woke up with a loud yawn and practically fell out of the sleigh.

"What you say Jack?" He asked, stumbling towards the lift. "Come and sleep, I have room for you, and then we can have Christmas dinner as family."

"I-" Jack stopped, halfway between the sleigh and the lift. He wanted to stay, oh he did. Christmas dinner, as a family. Him and North, maybe the other Guardians too. But tonight was a gift of Christmas magic and Jack didn't know if we would be able to handle more. He was not used to having someone to talk to and listen to him, to the point were anytime he was with someone else the conversation puttered out because Jack didn't truly know how to have one. The only reason this night hadn't gotten awkward was because their actions provided a catalyst for conversation and there was a lot of time where they hadn't been in eachother's company as they did their respective jobs.

Staying for Christmas Day and Christmas Dinner was asking for that social awkwardness, and he didn't want such a thing to ruin the holiday. It could ruin the wonderful Christmas Eve he just had.

"Maybe next year North, I'm sure you're tired of me after tonight. Besides, Jamie already asked and I said yes." And at Jamie's while it would be a celebration he could participate in, being only seen by two people meant that he wouldn't have to be on and engaged all the time. Jamie had to interact with his relatives too and Jack could just stand in a corner and feel happy Jamie had wanted to include him while Sophie played with her new stuffed rabbit near his feet.

North opened his mouth to say something and the look in his eyes, the one that is a bit pitying and regretful and sorrowful made Jack wonder if he had only been faking being asleep as the approached the Pole.

Jack hoped North would say okay, he understood, he had prior engagements. Because if North insisted Jack felt like he would have to make his 'no' more solid and that was not something he was looking forward too.

But North just nodded and went up to bed. "I will see you New Year's then. Tell Jamie and Sophie 'Merry Christmas' from me."

"Sure." Jack said, agreeing to both statements. Because, well, New Year's Day is his birthday of a sort, his birthday as Jack Frost, and he's tired of being depressed every year when it comes around. Because he does want to spend time with North, and get to know his new family, albeit a bit at a time.

A/N: Thanks for stopping by! This is story wasn't originally going to be connected to anything else, but then parts of The Big Three in the Life of Jack Frost slipped into later chapters. Not required, or even recommended reading, but there are allusions to it.

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