Sophie heard Jack’s call at her window and tried not to get too excited. He was probably checking to see if the family had anything planned for Jamie. Despite that thought, she pulled the towel off of her head and quickly tossed it under the bed, making a mental note to move the towel later. “Come in, Jack,” she said, pulling at her hair in an attempt to tame it and jumped out of her bed, messing up the coves entirely. She felt somewhat ridiculous. Jack never paid attention to her hair before, and she never paid attention to how her hair looked before seeing Jack.

Pushing the window up Jack crawled in letting the cold air from the outside in. The ice along the window melting shortly after he removed his hand. It was a little different being in Sophie's room. Normally he was in Jamie's or out side the house. occasionally when he had to wait for her to finish a painting or something he would sit on her bed and try to distract her. Not that he didn't have fun then too. Sophie was so fun to watch as she worked.

" How'd the snow war end?" She was in diffrent cloths now. Not that he knew what she had been wearing or anything. But he old ones would have been soaked with melted snow and she looked pretty dry. As in very dry. Not that he was thinking that she was pretty again. Besides Jack thought she looked better with snow in her hair and her cheeks all red.

Sophie grinned. “Inconclusive. Dad mostly protected mom until she reached the porch. Dad will be finding snow in his hair until June. Well, he would if snow didn’t melt. Jamie and I totally creamed him, but mom joined in and helped dad and then we all just sort of started throwing at each other. It was really awesome.” Sophie paused for a moment, staring straight at Jack, as if trying to figure something out. She shook the thought off though, and smiled at him. “I’m sure Jamie will always remember this birthday. And it’s all because of you, Jack. You know, I don’t thank you enough for how great you’ve been to us. Me specifically. I was sure when Jamie went off to college…I was sure you would have stopped coming around here.” Sophie fell backward on her bed, and stared up at the ceiling. “So thank you.”

Leaning against the window pane staff resting at his side Jack crossed his arms and smiled at the blond.Sounded like the amount of snow he was able to bring this year was a hit. Though he would have like to give Jamie more snow the weather was really working against him this year.He was glade he got to visit his lake on his trip. ugh just the thought of going back to the workshop for some stuffy summit meeting made him miss the days when the guardians only noticed him when he caused trouble. Blue eyes watched as the blond teen fell backwards onto her bed. Of course being a guardian mean being believed in. It meant she believed in him. And Jamie of course. " Now why would Jamie going to college stop me from coming around?"

Floating up into he air he twisted so he his back was against the ceiling and crossed his arms behind his head." You're Sophie. I wouldn't just up and abandon my first believer." The feeling of holding three year old Sophie in his arms as he carried her back from the Warren didn't leave him for years after. it was the first time a child, human, hadn't passed through him.

Sophie giggled, and covered her face with her hands. “Oh, I still remember. ‘Bunny! Hop, hop, hop!’ I might have been the most embarrassing child ever.” As if to emphasis her point she grabbed one of the stuffed animals—the one that looked like a bunny rabbit—sitting on her bed and tossed it up in the air, just three feet away from the ceiling—and therefore, Jack—catching it, and tossing it again, like a one-person game of catch, . “I just…I was just worried, you know? I mean, you and Jamie are so close.”

Pshh he never got why she favored that talking kangaroo so much. And the Guardian of hope treated her like she was his kid. Acting like he wasn't good enough to hang around her, just jealous that he knew how to have fun. She was pretty adorable as a little kid. She'd follow Jamie and him anywhere.When she grew older the following became more of just being included.

Jamie and him were really close. The kid was his best friend, and he had been in real need of one after all his years alone. According to Jamie and Jack really wasn't disagreeing. But he and Sophie they were...she was...Using his legs he pushed off the ceiling knocking the stuffed rabbit out of the way. He stopped when his face was hovering just over hers. " We're close though too...right?" he sounded so unsure even to his own ears.

Sophie turned red. And there it was. That feeling. The one that whispered “this is definitely different than how you feel about Jamie.”

She had to hand it to herself. She hadn’t looked away from Jack’s face. His face…his voice…it sounded so uncertain. She needed to say something. Do something. She reached up and grabbed his hand, putting on her most sincere smile. “Of course we’re close, Jack.”

Jack couldn't feel warmth or at least he couldn't be warm. He could feel the warmth in Sophie's hand just fine. It spread to a tingling warm feeling in his stomach. it was a lot like when he got his first Christmas present from the guardians. Only not. All he knew was it made him happy. Twisting in the air he let his back fall onto her bed. Laying next to Sophie.She didn't look like she was okay though. In fact she was really red. Was she still cold. Sitting up he made sure to put some distance between her and himself. Grabbing the discarded stuff animal he shoved it in her face laughing. " Are we closer then you and the Easter Kangaroo?"

Sophie laughed, grabbing the rabbit from Jack and proceeding to cuddle it. “You know he doesn’t like when you call him that,” she said, kissing the rabbit on the head. “And it’s not that I’m closer to one of you over the other. But you don’t come in cute plushie form,” she giggled, before reaching up and tickling the guardian for only a moment.

"Pshh I don't need a cute plushie form." though he should probably stanch that doll. just to tease Bunny with at the summit meeting. He didn't want the guy to lose believers but man would it be funny to see him small again." But I'm still a way better Guardian then old carrot breath right?" The grin he gave the blond may have been joking. He still had a lot of insecurities that he carried around.

Sophie looked at Jack like he was a puzzle that needed solving, but only for a split second before smiling at him. “Well, don’t tell Bunny, but I’d definitely like a plushie of you too,” she said, then lowered her voice. “And I believe that you bring something to the guardians that none of the rest of them can. I don’t just mean fun. It’s your center, sure. But there’s something else there too that makes you so qualified.”

An image of Sophie cuddling with a stuffed mini version of himself flashed across his mind at her words. He wasn't sure if he was able to blush but his face felt slightly warmer then the rest of his body. It faded quickly though. Bunny's head would explode if he saw it. Maybe he could talk North into making dolls of all of them for her for Christmas."haha"

He moved closer to her with out realizing it. Her words soothing over feelings he didn't know he still carried around with him.He was crouched on her bed almost looming over here as he listened. Pale hands wrapped around his staff as he leaned his head against it. Something more then his center. North had mentioned it the day he had flat out turned them down for the guardian potion. He had always assumed it was Fun. Blue eyes just stared down at green ones wait for her to go on. He should probably tell her that he couldn't spend the whole time here. But he would be back. Even after Jamie went back to school. She would still be here.

Sophie tried not to blush more, but it was hard with the angle that Jack was at over her. She continued talking, stuttering over her words. “You…you have this…p-purpose. This bravery a-and cunning. Like everything you do, you—oh, I can’t even describe it, Jack. It’s amazing though,” she finished, as comforting as she could sound. “You know words aren’t my forte.”

The tingle in his stomach stayed even if his face felt as cold as the rest of his body.But her stuttering was cute...hilarious. She was right words were Jamie's things.Listening to that boy tell a story there were times Jack felt like he was going to college with the kid. Sophie on the other hand turned into this jumbled mumbling mess when she tried to express her self with words. But her paintings, Jack didn't know what most humans considered good art but... he compared her works to the murals at Tooth's. " Well then you'll just have to paint me a picture."

Leaning back so he wasn't so much as looming over her but still looking down Jack figure he might as well tell her first. "So uh..I'm not going to be able to stay the whole time Jamie's here this time. Guardian stuff and all." stuff he would much rather skip but the threat of being shoved in a shack and thrown through a portal again hung over his head.North enjoyed that a little too much.

Sophie tried not to look crushed. Of course he had to go. There were millions of kids around the world he had to protect. He couldn’t just stay and hang out at the Bennett house all the time. She knew this. This was the first time she’d seen him in months. And he was here for Jamie’s birthday, like he always was.

“Oh, of course, Jack. Your duties as a guardian come first. That’s why you’re such a good guardian.” She smiled and shook her head before reaching up and grabbing his staff. “And I’ll paint you a picture on one condition.” She lowered her voice to barely above a whisper. “Can you make it snow in my room?”

"Of course." Gently he removed her hand. Her very human hand that wouldn't be able to handle the ice. Lifting his trusted staff over his head he swung it slowly once.A mere flick of his wrist and a gently snow fall started from the white ceiling. They were large flakes that looked soft but melted as soon as they touched something in the room.

"How is it m'lady?" He watched her face a a large snowflake melted on her nose. She really did look like with all the snow around her. Though he never really saw he much during the other seasons. he was there for her birthday of course. Bunny always brought her- and Jamie if he could make it- tot he Warren." I'll be back you know. This summit thing shouldn't take too long."

“Oh, wow,” Sophie breathed. Normally, when it snowed, she was far too busy playing in it to appreciate the beauty of it. But each snowflake was stunning and different and so soft. She was distracted by it that she nearly missed his words. “So what is the summit about? I mean, unless it’s classified. I’m just curious.”

" Naw I'm sure the others wouldn't care if you knew." It was how she would respond that he wasn't sure about. She had been so young when everything with Pitch had gone down. Jamie and him had told her stories but he doubted she remembered much of the actual events.Jamie on the other hand. He should probably tell the kid that the guy who had threatened him was going to be on trial. "We are debating Pitch's fate. It's going to be a big thing. Apparently they have them every so often. All the big wigs in the spirit world come.." Not that he had ever even heard of them before." This is my first one."

Sophie's eyes grew wide, her memory scraping for a picture of Pitch. She wasn't sure if her memory had warped him or if the stories Jack and Jamie (Jamie and Jack. Jamie and Jack.) told her had distorted him. She had painted a picture once, of what she thought she remembered him looking like. It was abstract, like most of her paintings. But there was a sharpness to it that scared Sophie so much that she didn't attempt to draw him again. The painting currently resided at the bottom of a box in her closet, between pictures of the guardians, as if even their pictures could protect her. Still, she would pull the picture out at least once a month. "Know thy enemy" she supposed.

But Pitch on trial? Some part of her felt confused. It had been fourteen years. Why hadn't this happened before? Well, they were immortal. Time didn't pass the same way for them. Made sense, in it's own way.

Sophie put on a smile. "Well, isn't that good though? They're bringing you in on major guardian decisions. That's great! A new way to protect the children."

Trust Sophie to turn the disappointment he felt at never having been included into something to look forward too. Not only was it a big step for him as a Guardian but it would be the first time he was standing with the Big Four...did he make it the Big Five. In front of of other spirits. His say was going to matter.Suddenly he didn't want to go for a whole other reason. " I'd rather stay here and play with you and Jamie."

They were going to want his opinion on what to do with Pitch. Part of him, the part that still lived in the moment when he threatened to put out Jamie's light, threatened to kill him, wanted him to rot. There was another part, a part that held onto the feelings of being alone that could understand why he would snap. Why he would hate the guardians so much." What do you think should happen to him?" It was a lot to ask. But if he knew of the two Bennett siblings felt maybe it would help him make up his mind on what needed to be done. he was the Guardian of Fun not the Guardian of Serious Decisions.

Sophie froze, but not because she was sitting beside someone who probably could actually turn her into an icicle (Sophicicle?). What should happen to Pitch? Her mouth was open and spilling out words before she could even stop to think this time around.

“W-well, there’s a large part of me that…well, you said he was going to kill my brother. I’d want him locked away where he wouldn’t hurt Jamie. Because, well…” she trailed off, looking forlorn, but resumed, “he’s my brother and I don’t want anything to happen to him. But that was fourteen years ago. You can’t truly blame someone for a crime they didn’t commit. It would be like putting someone in jail for thinking about robbing a bank. Granted, in Pitch’s case it’s more like he stood outside of the bank and shouted that he was going to rob it, while completely being able to do so. But he was stopped before he could hurt Jamie…

“But then there are the separate matters of what he did to the children, and the Guardians…and you.” With that, Sophie slid off of her bed and began pacing across her room, a serious look on her face.

“Nightmares…I-I mean, every kid has them, even without the boogeyman handing them out. But they’re healthy in their own way, right? They help you figure out your fears and how to get over them. Although, the nightmares he gave were probably worse, huh? I don’t know.

“And he caused everyone to stop believing in the Guardians. He made Sandy ]disappear. That’s a level of frightening that I’m not sure I’m comfortable with. Bunny shrunk. Tooth’s palace was destroyed and all of her fairies were held captive. And North…” Sophie shook her head, like the action would get rid of the memory of the Guardians, her heroes—all children’s heroes—in such a state. She was certain Jack was bored of listening to her, but she couldn’t stop now.

“And what he did to you. Abandoning you out in the middle of nowhere. Breaking your staff. Making the Guardians turn against you. It’s all too sad.” She crossed the room and threw herself on her bed, onto of all of her pillows and stuffed animals, face down. She was silent and still for a few seconds, before turning her head to the side to look at Jack.

“But he did it because he was lonely. Lonely, and probably more than a little crazy from no one ever seeing him or talking to him after so long of being the most feared being. He probably thought—thinks—that there’s no inbetween. Either he’s the alpha and omega or he’s alone. He just…I don’t know. I feel bad for him in some ways. Imagine being on top of the world just to have it all torn away from you…I don’t know. Therapy? Too be watched after? I mean, I don’t want him dead or anything. I just don’t want him hurting everyone again…”

He didn't talk too often about his own years alone much. Not to Sophie at least, a little bit to Jamie but not much. Reaching over he pulled her closer to him. Pressing her face into his chest he sat his chin on top of her blond hair. He wasn't sure why he had the urge to hug her. Listening to her talk about all the horrible things Pitch had done but still wanting mercy for him. "He won't.No matter what we decided I promise that he isn't going to hurt anyone again."


His whole body felt as if he had hundreds of baby teeth flying around, mainly gathered in his stomach. He had hugged sophie plenty of time in the years she believe in him. The first of course when he brought he back from the Warren, then that next winter when he came back to visit. Once even when she had fallen twisted her ankle out in the woods. He had stayed with her while Jamie ran to get their dad. Never once had it left him feeling like this. Like he should move away from her but not wanting to let go.

Sophie was stiff for the first three seconds of the hug, not believing it was actually happening, but loosened up and returned it near immediately afterward, wrapping her arms around him too. Jack was hugging her. That was not something that happened too often. She nuzzled into his shoulder. The strangest and most relaxing feeling of safety filled her.

“Of course you’re not going to let him hurt anyone. You’re Jack Frost. You’re a Guardian of Childhood. You’re too noble to let any children get hurt.”

(WHOOPS USED THE WORD NUZZLE EVEN THOUGH I SWORE TO MYSELF I WOULDN'T.)

Tightening his arms around her Jack stared at the door to her bedroom.The little fairies in his stomach just wouldn't calm down and they just got worse when she returned the hug. " Not just kids." Pulling slightly out of her grip he looked down at her. There were very few times that jack was serious about anything. His normal facial expressions were either that of him laughing or him plotting some kind of prank. Now though he made sure to look Sophie in her large bright green eyes. " You and Jamie too. I won't let anything thing happen to either of you." If Pitch, or any spirit, made a move against the Bennett's they would answer to him.

Sophie flushed. As much as she adored Jack’s smirk smile and his laughter, the occasional serious way he would look at her or talk to her, it was different. It was special. Everyone saw Jack smile. Not everyone saw Jack get serious. It was one of those rarities, like when it rained while the sun was still shining. But then there was reality. Jack was making this serious face because the fact that her or her brother could get hurt by Pitch if things did go right was a definite possibility. Sophie felt the sudden need to make a joke to lighten up the mood.

"I'm sure Bunny would fight you for that. He'd want to be the hero."