A/N: ... never say never, am I right? one more chapter to go.

disclaimer: if I owned rotg, I would own Jack Frost. unfortunately, I own neither.

"I think I broke something," A panicked and muffled voice came from Tooth's right. "I can't feel my fingers!"

Whack. "Ow, that's because it'smy hand, idiot!"

Tooth struggled out of the small snow bank, and instantly felt the cold and bitter taste of snow in her mouth. She coughed, and attempted to wipe the snow from her nose and lashes. Unfortunately, she couldn't move too much, as something - or someone - was sitting uncomfortably on her legs.

Frowning, she tried to wiggle forward, but was met with an exclamation of surprise. "Wait, are those - those are Tooth's legs?" Came Aster's horrified voice, and she craned her neck to see his tangled body awkwardly positioned above her calf. His face turned a dark shade of red, and he quickly took his hand off of her leg.

"Clearly." Jack's head was just barely visible behind Aster, and his shock of brown hair was full of white. "Although I'm flattered, buns."

If possible, Aster turned a deeper red. Tooth flushed.

"Not my fault you wear skinny jeans, Frostbite." Aster mumbled, and with some luck, he managed to untangle himself from Tooth's limbs. He stood with little grace, just as the rest of the gang emerged from around the car.

As soon as the pressure was removed, Tooth flipped herself over, getting an upside down view of a concerned looking Jack hovering over her.

"Hey, you okay?" He stretched out a hand.

She pushed herself up onto her elbows with some difficulty. "Other than swallowing a mouthful of dirty snow, good I think."

"Wasn't yellow, was it?" She froze, and for a split second she was horrified that she couldn't remember. However, when she looked back at him, his mischievous grin gave him away.

"Thankfully, no." Tooth reached out and gingerly took his hand.

"Good. Awful stuff." Jack allowed her to steady herself, "However, not as bad as brown-"

Before she could even begin to stop that particular train of thought, Nic's booming laughter startled the two of them. He was red in the face, and using Sandy as support as he made his way towards them. It took a few moments before Tooth understood what he saying between his boisterous laughter.

"Bunny your face, and —" Nic's eyes were bright as he mimicked Aster's cry. "Bloody-Eye!" Another roar of laughter peeled across the pavement. He clapped Aster's shoulder rather aggressively, and latter stumbled forward.

"I did not sound like that." Aster rose his voice rose defensively, indignant. "That was Jack."

The brunette's laughter came from Tooth's elbow, where he was shaking out his beanie. He didn't seem at all perturbed by the snowy landing, unlike Aster who looked like he was due in the Arctic as some sort of small ice giant. Tooth was pretty sure she looked like the abominable snowman. She was also pretty sure she was starting to lose feeling in her toes.

"I'm not sure even I could produce something so high."

Aster scowled at the three of them. "Oh, rack off you bloody show pony."

Jack's responding smile was enough to make Aster lob a false punch at him, which Jack easily swatted away.

"All I'm saying is that next time we're not going with Dingle-pringle or Dingle-hopper - whatever his name is - I'll brave the snow and walk it." Aster straightened, challenging the group to say otherwise.

"Fine with me." Tooth, who had been fairly quiet during the exchange, agreed. "That was terrifying."

As if he had heard, the car revved its engine, and Tooth was fairly sure she could hear an obnoxious version of Jingle Bell Rock echoing from within.

Baby Tooth, who had safely excited the car without a scratch, scrambled past the lot of them, towards the bus. Dingle had parked a safe distance away, and the RV shone black in the warm lamp lighting. Behind the tinted windows, the soft glow of Christmas lights was just barely distinguishable.

"Can we go in? Can we?" Baby Tooth's excited chatter carried with the wind, and she turned around to face them expectantly.

"Yeah, sure kiddo." Jack grinned. He pulled the beanie back over his hair, and tufts of brown stuck up at the front in all different directions. Baby Tooth took this as her chance, and she ran the rest of the distance, wretched open the door and flew inside.

His mouth quirked, "Well, Jamie sure is going to be surprised."

Tooth gasped.

Immediately the all the boys attention was on her, and the four of them whirled around in eerie unison. Tooth hardly noticed as she was too busy concerned with the chunk of snow sliding down down her spine. Another clump fell from the hood of Jack's sweater and slipped down the nape of her neck, and she jumped reflexively. It felt like someone had just dropped ten popsicles down her back.

She automatically started to wiggle and shimmy, in hopes of dispelling the cold. As it was later described to her, she had looked as if she was trying to conjure some sort of flailing rain dance ("No, no, Nic. I think 'snow' dance is more fitting."). So in other words: absolutely mortifying.

After a moment of silence and slight victory, she realized the whole gang, who had formed a sort of semi-circle, was all staring at her. She froze, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Jack trying - and failing - to keep a straight face. In fact they all were.

"What?" She squeaked.

No one spoke. Aster opened his mouth, and then closed it. Nic refused to meet her gaze. And Jack, well Jack's eyes glittered with mirth as he bit down on his lip.

But with four close guys, the silence could only last for so long. Nic broke first, his first mistake was catching Jack's eyes. In five seconds the both of them lost it, and it took even less time for Sandy and Aster to join. At least Sandy sent her an apologetic look.

"What!" Tooth tried again, but her voice cracked as she tried not to laugh herself. "What! It's not funny, it's freezing!" They just laughed even harder. "It really is!"

A mixture of adrenaline and who knows what else - perhaps the boys were really rubbing off on her - Tooth decided to take some action, and scoped down to grab a fistful of snow. With more speed than what she thought she possessed, she launched the bundle at Nic, a good portion falling down his collar and under his coat.

"Aha, gotcha! See!" Tooth exclaimed smugly, watching Nic's expression freeze as the snow travelled down his back. The laughter abruptly stopped.

Her victorious smile dropped. Horrified, she stumbled back from Nic. "Oh, oh my god, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean- I just- I'm so sorry, Nic. Here-"

She jumped when she felt some cold grab onto her. Jack's hand; she distractedly thought about buying him some heat packs later.

"Run."

She spun towards him. "What?"

Tooth looked over her shoulder at Nic, who still seemed paralyzed with shock. Aster looked like he was torn between being positively gleeful and gobsmacked.

"Run," Jack repeated in her ear, and when she turned to look up at him, she couldn't explain his expression.

It dawned on her too late.

"Oh no -"

Jack pulled her down, just as the first snowball went flying.

Nic roared, just as Aster threw a snowball into his face.

Jack tugged hard on Tooth's arm, and they both dove behind the car, an assortment of snowballs zooming overhead.

"I didn't mean - I -" Tooth started, appalled at her action. Unlike Tooth, Jack seemed delighted by the change in events. She eyed him just as a snowball hit above their heads. "You're smiling." She groaned, eying him wearily. "That can only mean the worst."

"You started a snowball fight." Jack laughed as if he was half surprised, half impressed. His bright brown eyes flickered down to hers, "Usually I would be offended," CRACK! Another round of snowballs hit the car roof. He pulled her lower to the ground. "You should know I'm usually the one who starts the fights. But that," He gave her a congratulated nod, "That was brilliant." He cracked up again, and when he shook his head his beanie slipped a bit to one side.

He must floss every day.

She snapped herself out of it. You just lugged a handful of snow down one of the world's most coveted band members. Not to mention someone with a really good swinging arm. And enormous. His tattoos will probably be the last thing you see.

She buried her face in her hands. "I all but shoved an avalanche of snow down Nic's shirt." Tooth whispered as an image of Baby Tooth came to mind. "My sister is going to kill me."

Jack's responding laughter was so loud it attracted the unwarranted attention of an already snow-covered Aster.

Quick as a flash, Jack took aim before Aster could fire one snowball at them. Snow exploded and the Aussie cried out as he stumbled away from them.

"How did you-" Tooth started, but Jack was already, once again, pulling her out of danger. Tooth caught sight of Sandy, sneaky, quiet, Sandy, who had seemingly come out of nowhere and pelted Aster with another round.

"Dammit, Sandy! You're supposed to be with me!" Sandy's laughter mingled with Aster's shouts.

Jack's cheeky grin caught her eye. "Like I said, I'm the King of snowball fights."

"You never said that."

"I didn't?" He frowned, as if he was disappointed in himself; he reached down to scope up an armful of snow. Faster than she thought was possible, Jack transformed the white bundle into five round balls of ammunition. "Tooth?"

"Yeah?"

"Duck!"

ZPLAT!

A streamline of Russian swears could be heard. Good thing Baby Tooth wasn't here.

"Am I on the naughty list yet, Nic?" Jack hollered over her head. He looked absolutely ecstatic.

"Naughty list? You hold record!" Nic bellowed, and Tooth wheeled around to see him barreling right towards them. There was a manic glint in his eyes, but he was grinning. From the corner of her eye she saw the other two following Nic's example. They'd be cornered if they didn't do anything.

"You take this way too seriously," Tooth muttered as Jack launched another line of snowballs. He seemed delighted by the challenge, but when the first snowball exploded on her shoulder, she knew it was time to go.

Now it was Tooth's turn to grab onto Jack. She caught hold of his arm and booked it, Jack nearly tripping over her in surprise. "Whoa!"

Tooth couldn't help but be a little bit smug at his exclamation. She may be a crazy-tooth-obsessed student, who, lets face it, was living under the equivalent of a rock all semester. But she was no damsel, and was a fighter in her own right.

"Quick, in there!" She pointed to the car, and together they circled it, skidding snow as they went.

Tooth took the lead, and Jack, caught up in the moment, couldn't help but admire how good his blue sweater looked on her.

"In!" Tooth grabbed hold of the door and suddenly the booming voice of Frank Sinatra ricocheted into the cold air.

Jack stared at her. "In there? Are you crazy? After everything that just -"

"Yes in, I've got a plan!" He continued to stare at her. "Okay, it's a work in progress!"

He hesitated, and Tooth got the feeling he wasn't used to being given orders during his much-loved snowball fights. Jack pursed his lips, and for a second she thought he was going to argue, perhaps even plug his ears from the campy Christmas music that continued to blast from the interior.

Instead he shrugged and shot her his trademark, toothy grin. She felt a shot of adrenaline. Inside the car, the song changed to a more sultry christmas tune.

"Whatever you say, Tooth." And he threw himself into the seat.

You'd think she would have had the smarts to look inside the car before jumping in herself, but positively giddy, she had failed to do so.

She landed on his lap.

"SANTA BABY, SO HURRY DOWN THE CHIMNEY TONIGHT!"

"Sorry."

"It's fine."

"I didn't -"

"Tooth," He reached over her and brushed off the remainder of the snowball that had hit her earlier. She shivered; his hand hovered for a moment too long.

"Aren't you cold?" She asked him, momentarily distracted. He raised an eyebrow.

"After running around outside for a good ten minutes, you're asking me now if I'm cold?"

"You're in a t-shirt!"

He waved his hand impatiently. "My surname is scarily, ironically truthful, as you know from before. Also, I've done my share of polar bear swims, I can deal with it."

"Polar bear -?" She had to speak up, as the music nearly drowned her out.

"Oh you know," He shrugged casually. "Jumping into a frozen lake for good fun. Canadians do it all the time."

"You're crazy, you and the Canadians."

"Tooth, you're shivering -" His hand fluttered across her clenched fist, his brows drawn together. Although his intention was probably to warm her, his touch was icy cold. She involuntarily sucked in a breath, although she didn't pull away. His face was so close, she could almost count the teeth in his mouth, in fact she was sure -

"-IF YOU'D CHECK OFF MY CHRISTMAS LIST, BOO DOO BEE DOO"

Both cringed as the speakers next to them blasted the next verse, three times louder than before. Jack tossed an accusatory glare at the drivers seat.

Tooth swallowed, her cheeks pink. "Uh, distraction! We need a distraction!" She looked around the car frantically, and her eyes landed on the driver. Tooth clambered over Jack, well aware of his close proximity and questioning gaze. She forced her mind to clear, reminding herself that if she got them stuck, she'd probably never hear the end of it.

"Dingle!" She cried over the music, although she was fairly sure the elfish driver was in no mood to say anything to her. He eyed her wearily in the mirror; she guessed he heard what she had previously said. She flushed.

A rack of snowballs hit the car, and she could hear Nic's voice from outside.

"In there!" Another swear. "Bunny, you will wish you had not done that, fiend!"

"Tooth? Plan?" Jack tore his gaze from the window, and another snowball hit the glass.

"Quick, lock the doors!" Tooth cried, and Jack pivoted in his seat to swat at the child safety locks. They locked with a satisfying click.

"Dingle!" Tooth turned back to the driver, but the elf remained stubbornly stoic. She heard voices outside, and she could faintly see three figures approach through the fogged glass. "Dingle, I know you can hear me!"

He turned up the music.

"They've cornered us! We're gonna have to make a break for it!" Jack's voice rose, clipping off part of Michael Buble's song.

"Dingle," Tooth tried again, not willing to give up just yet. It had been her idea to dive into the death-trap car. What had given her the crazy idea to trust the elfish devil in the first place?

"Tooth!"

She flung herself forward so that she was halfway into the cab; Dingle's expression was so clearly offended, she nearly laughed. Bravely she steadied herself and leaned in close to the driver, her words lost on Jack as he stared at them in surprise. However, whatever she had said must have worked, and Dingle's expression turned into a sly smirk.

Tooth fell back into the back seat, her face unreadable. "Get ready to move."

"What -"

"CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE, JACK FROST NIPPING AT YOUR NOSE -"

With a mighty roar, the car's engine revved. The squeal of tires could be heard, and then a moment later, the shouts of Nic and Aster. Tooth could just make out Sandy's face as he got splattered with snow.

Jack's eyes widened.

"The tires – he's spinning them –"

"To the bus!" Tooth shrieked and launched herself out the door, just as the car took off.

Together they bolted from the car, and a stream of snow continued to flag their pursuers. Glancing back, Tooth's eyes widened.

Aster, Nic and Sandy were hardly distinguishable other than their height; all three were absolutely covered in white. She could hear Aster's famous cuss words mixed with Russian.

"What the hell did you promise Dingle to get him to make a move like that?" Jack asked, his expression incredulous as his gaze swept back to Tooth.

Tooth shrugged with a blush. "Apologized profusely. Then I promised him three packages of those special gingersnaps; I noticed the crumbs and empty package on the passenger seat."

For a moment Jack just looked at her with awe.

"Moon above, Tooth, you're –" He started, but unfortunately whatever sentiment he was about to say was cut off abruptly. A shadow emerged from behind them, and before they knew it, an avalanche of snow was dumped on top of them.

Tooth shrieked. Jack seemed to be in a state of shock.

It took Tooth a moment to realize that the contorted expression on Phil's face was a smile.

Next to her, Jack stood motionless, bewildered.

"Phil –"

It was then that Aster, Nic and Sandy seemed to have noticed what was going on, and were advancing with could only be described as murderous expressions. However, one look at Phil, and it changed to one of surprise. Too late, Phil was ready for them, and his bulking figure packed a punch. He lobbed the newcomers with even more snow, and it was suddenly clear it was going to be five against one.

"He got me. Phil actually got me." Jack's voice brought back Tooth's attention. "Me."

Tooth couldn't hide her unlady-like snort.

That snapped him out of it.

"What?"

She clamped a hand over her mouth, and shook her head, refusing to speak.

Understanding hit him, and he brushed her playfully with a smirk. "Hey, you're quite the sight too."

She laughed even harder.

The first of the snowballs rained down on them, and suddenly Nic was beside them, looking distinctively chilled. "Time to go," His eyes were wide as he watched Phil duke it out with Sandy and Aster.

"I'm on it," Jack doubled over and started making his ammunition, tossing a few to Nic and Tooth. However, whatever plan they were about to devise got thrown out the window as Aster and Sandy came running, slipping on the snow.

"Run for it! He's unstoppable!" Aster cried, just as a large snowball flew over his head.

"No one mention this to anyone, ever." Jack challenged, his tone serious.

They ran for it.

Five bodies crashed into the door, each one of them trying to make a grab at the handle. Finally they let Nic pry it open, and they successfully ducked inside. Welcomed heat blasted in her face, and Nic slammed the door shut just as a gust of wind blew through.

Tooth clutched her side, breathing hard. She felt winded, giddy, and pretty sure her fingers might fall off at any moment. Sandy next to her shook like a dog, splattering wet snow all over the foyer.

"... Did Frostbite actually get creamed by Phil?" Aster's surprise was tinged with satisfaction.

Jack deliberately shook his beanie out in Aster's face. "I think your fingers are blue, buns."

"What!" Aster looked down at his fingers, and although particularly pink, not blue. "You-"

"Jack?"

Tooth looked down to see a small, pale, brown haired boy, a cordless controller in his hand as he peered up at them. He had a gap in his mouth from a recently lost tooth – front incisor.

"Why are you guys all covered in snow?"

There was a moment of silence as they all turned towards the boy, as if just remembering why they had come in the first place. Then, "Tooth started a snowball fight."

Jamie's eyes swivelled to Tooth, and there was a certain protectiveness in his gaze. "Tooth?" He wrinkled his nose. "Like the tooth fairy?"

"My sister!" Baby Tooth emerged, holding a similar controller in her hands. "I told you, remember Jamie?"

Jamie blinked. "That's your sister?" He pointed at Tooth, and his eyes instinctively found Jack's. There was no mistake that the two of them held each other in a different regard from the group, and the weight of history between them.

"Jamie, this is the girl I told you about, remember? I was going to meet her after the show." Jack gingerly crouched down next to him, and again, Jamie's eyes flickered wearily up to Tooth. Suddenly she wished more than anything that this little kid would like her.

She gave Jamie a little wave.

"You're the girl who got mad at Jack backstage?"

Her smile faltered for a moment. "I-uh, I didn't get mad at him."

Jack laughed. "Don't hold it against her little guy,"

Tooth slipped a piece of damp hair behind her ear. "In my defense, he was very unhelpful at first." Jack turned round and made a face at her. "Nice to meet you, Jamie." And I'm so glad you really aren't an alpaca.

"Your sister is really cool."

Behind him, Baby Tooth beamed.

"But she's awful at Mario Kart."

"Hey!"

"I see you guys managed to get along just fine," Jack mused, "She didn't give you too much of a fright did she?"

Jamie shrugged. "It was really weird when she burst in." He pointed to the controller in Baby Tooth's hand. "She made me give her a controller."

Jack laughed, and ruffled Jamie's hair; it turned instantly wet. Jamie made a face. "Ughh – you're all wet, Jack!"

"Come to think about it, we all are." Aster dropped his boots on the floor, and a puddle lay at his feet. "I'm changing before I turn into Frostbite over here. God knows the world can only handle the one." Jack shot him a reproachful look as Aster skirted by, not without, however, patting Jamie on the shoulder.

"Ah, me too." Nic followed suit, but before doing so, he stopped at Tooth's shoulder and whisper, "You have good aim, Toothie." She blushed, and watched as Nic made his way after Aster, Sandy trailing after them. He stopped and took Baby Tooth aside, and produced a handful of packets; hot cocoa. He offered the one to Baby Tooth then gestured for her to follow him into the kitchenette. How had he managed to keep them all inside his coat this entire time?

Tooth brought her gaze back to the little boy in front of her.

Jamie frowned. "You're wearing Jack's sweater."

"Oh, yeah, Jack lent it to me," Tooth offered him a smile, not quite sure how to take his accusation.

Jamie turned to Jack expectantly. "She's all wet, you should give her another one." He stated with such child-like bluntness, both Tooth and Jack seemed caught off guard.

"My-"

"Well she won't come back if she almost freezes to death!" Jamie exclaimed, throwing Jack a look as if it were obvious. "Honestly, Jack, I'm ten! You're supposed to be the grown-up!"

Neither spoke as Jamie stared expectantly at them, tapping his foot.

Jack blinked.

"Seems I'm falling behind on my gentleman duties," Jack shook his head with a slight laugh, then straightened. "Like Aster said, the world can only handle one Frostbite. I think I have some extra clean clothes you can try - that is, if you don't mind. I'm sorry we don't, ah, have any girl-er clothes for you." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

Tooth couldn't help but bite down on her lip to keep herself from laughing. "You know, girls don't necessarily need 'girlie' clothes to survive. But that'd be great, thanks."

He looked back at her, his expression worried that he might have offended her. When he saw that she was smiling he relaxed, his familiar cheeky smile coming back in full force.

"Ah, c'mon, tooth fairy."

Jack turned and brushed Jamie's shoulder affectionately. "Thanks little man," He whispered under his breath.

Jamie grinned and gave him a thumbs up.