Long Live The Winter

Jack Frost opened his eyes wide in wonder as he stared at the workshop production floor. Yeti's were everywhere he looked. Each seemed to have a specific task which they set about with determination, no room for distraction.

Except Jack Frost wasn't a distraction, he was THE distraction.

He slipped through the throng of yeti's and elves till he got to one work station which had caught his eye. One of the yeti's was trying a guitar, playing a melody and swaying slightly, eyes closed as he enveloped himself in his task and the music. Jack saw the small table next to him had several of the same guitars, after watching the yeti for a minute he picked up one of the instruments and gave an instrumental strum. The reaction was immediate, with a smile Jack began stringing eagerly, his hands flying over the chords. The yeti next to him stopped his playing and eyed the guitar and then the boy and raised his eyebrows in appreciation.

"You made this?" asked Jack, giving a little jump as he headed into the chorus of the song he had in his head.

The yeti nodded.

"It rocks!" yelled Jack and then slid to his knees and leant back "and I roll! Yeti, drop me a beat!"

The yeti gave a chuckle and began a low, thumping growl in tune to Jack's manic guitar solo. "Ra … Rara … Ra .. Rara!"

Jack was thoroughly enjoying himself, white hair whipping back and forth and eyes clenched shut as he lost himself into the beat.

"What iz this?" came a deep voice from behind him.

Jack swung around but carried on playing as he gave North a friendly grin. "North! Loving the workshop!"

North smiled as he saw Jack begin hopping on one foot before doing a small backflip with guitar in hand and landed on one of the wooden stools next to each station. He gave a final swipe on the guitar and fist pumped as the yeti next to him roared his final beat.

"Thankyou, thankyou." Said Jack giving a slight bow and sweeping gesture with his free hand towards the small collection of elves and yeti's who had stopped to watch. The elves gave a ring of appreciation bobbing their bell-hats back and forth. "I'd like to thank yeti over here who shows he can beat as hard as he works!" said Jack indicating the yeti next to him, the elves gave another nod of appreciation and North clapped a couple of times and gave a loud laugh.

"Ha ha! Jack my boy, I'm glad you enjoy your visits here, you don't come often enough!" he gestured for the Winter spirit to follow him, "come, lets leave the yeti's to their work though I can tell you they seem to enjoy your visits as much as I do!"

Jack gave a small smile, he enjoyed coming to the Pole but he still felt like an outsider, a gate-crasher, despite North always being the one to invite him. He knew he had an open invitation to drop by whenever he felt like it, but never did unless North specifically invited him or happened to be with Sandy when he was called.

He followed North upstairs and politely refused the offered fruitcake thrust in his direction. North gave a slight frown, they had discussed Jack's unusual lack of appetite before but not enough to make it an issue and North felt if he pushed it too soon, an issue is exactly what it would become and Jack hadn't been around them enough to accept the lecture without resentment.

Jack was fiddling with his staff, gently knocking it up and down against the wooden floor, his eyes swinging around, trying to take each new thing in.

"Jack? Jack!" called North again to get the hyper spirit's attention.

"Yup?" asked Jack, focusing on North for a second before his eyes were drawn to the window and the pure white snow outside.

"How about you venture off outside for a couple of hours till the others arrive?" suggested North.

"The others?" asked Jack.

"Yes. Tooth, Bunny and Sandy. After all the holiday rush its time for relaxation for a few days. We'll be having a dinner and we can talk and 'catch up' as the younger ones say."

"Ok, ok. Nice." Said Jack. He looked forward to seeing everyone but there was still a twinge of nervousness that made him uncomfortable. His head perked up at the chance of having time to spar with Bunnymund again. The Pooka was quick and skilled and each sparring session they had now and then taught Jack more empty-hand manoeuvres with the point being that he would rely less on his staff. Something the Pooka and North had been adamant about him learning.

His gaze went to the window again and he smiled at North. "I'll see you in a couple of hours then." He said already unlatching the window and balancing on the sill.

The cold hair ruffled North's long beard and he yelled, "Jack, wait!"

The boy looked at him, impatient to be delayed any longer from the fun he was going to have outside. "Yes?"

"Have fun but don't go east of the Pole. There has been some weather damage to that side and it's dangerous."

"I can handle it." said Jack, twirling his staff.

"Please Jack. It's dangerous for you."

Jack gave a small nod before leaping off the sill and being caught by the wind and carried away with a whoop of joy.

North gave a small smile and turned back to making preparations for the dinner and the intended guests. He enjoyed the dinners as much as everyone else and his home was the most logical place to have the gettogethers. While the Warren was nice and sunny, it didn't exactly have tables and chairs never mind cooking equipment. Sandy literally slept and stayed on a cloud and the Tooth Palace was far too full of activity for a relaxing meal. Jack lived on the ice pond, where he was drawn to. It didn't seem right to relax at a place that the child had died, besides, Bunnymund would turn into a popsicle before dessert was served.

North began whistling a Christmas carol as he went to oversee the yetis and elves. He tried to ignore the slight sense of foreboding that emanated from his belly.