A/N: Yay! My first fanfic on the 'Guardians'! Don't really know how it will turn out, but I would like to say, that this story is a challenge that I created for myself (this idea just got into my head and was driving me crazy until I wrote it down). I'm fully aware that the source material is directed at the pre-teen set, so I'm saying it now - this is not a story for children. In future chapters it will have an adult content, (saying it just to be on the safe side). Or, I'm just exaggerating! But I do know how nasty my mind can be…

All the same, I hope you guys like and enjoy it. Don't forget to review!

Disclaimer- I do not own any character appearing in 'Rise of the Guardians' or any other folklore character. (P.S. Noel is mine.) And I make no profit on this story

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"All this has happened before, and it will all happen again. But this time it happened in London. It happened on a quiet street in Bloomsbury. That corner house over there is home to the Darling family. And Peter Pan chose this particular house because there were people here who believed in him"

- Peter Pan

"Noel, tell us a story!"

How often does she hear that request? Dozen times a day, for sure.

"Are you sure you do not want to watch TV?" she asked, suppressing a smile, while wiping her hands on a dishtowel.

"No, you make them sound so interesting!"

She raised her green eyes to watch six young children looking back at her with puppy eyes. She was almost done with dishes, and hoped to be able to rest a bit before going back into the living room and continue her task of babysitting.

"I'm not in the mood" said Noel, doing her best to smile.

"Oh, please-please-please with a cherry on top!"

Kids started whining all together, and began to pull her by hand, leading her into the living room.

The girl allowed them to make her seat with them on the floor.

"I love my job, I love my job ..." - Noel was mentally repeating her mantra, not allowing her fatigue to spoil the kid's mood. Today was Friday, after a hard day at school, the bus ride, and showing the wonders of punctuality, she came to the home of the Elliott family to look after their two cute, little kids. Imagine her surprise when she saw six cute, little kids instead of two! The smile stayed intact, only her eyes were the size of a saucer. Mrs. Elliott explained that today she and her husband, along with their friends had decided to spend the evening together. But the last minute changes were made after their friend's nanny got ill, and the Granny of another kid couldn't make it on time to look after him. And then, in order not to spoil the evening, they thought that Noel would not mind to take care of everyone.

"Of course, for every extra-child ... you will get extra pay for each hour you stay with them" whispered Mrs. Elliot when she noticed the doubt flickering in the eyes of Noel.

The possible amount of money appeared in her tired mind like fireworks through starless sky. And she realized that she simply could not miss the chance to earn a two-week salary for one night. It was a good deal. And for Noel it was mingling the useful with the pleasant. After all, her ability to get along with children was, perhaps, the only thing which earned her money.

After leaving instructions and emergency phone numbers, the adults were gone, and Noel was facing another problem: how to entertain 4 boys and 2 girls. Without giving much thought to it, Noel quickly made her way into the dining-room, where she built a fort out of the blankets, pillows and chairs. Children were delighted and were enthusing over the new game. She painted Indian marks on the boys' cheeks and tummies with her lipstick. And while the boys played in the Indians, she stayed with girls and braided their hair. The evening was unusually quiet. They did not break anything in the house or get any injures.

"Alright-alright, I'll tell you a story."

The happy smiles were all the answer she needed.

"What do you want to hear about?"

The children looked at each other.

"I do not know ... " began Billy.

"Oh! Oh! The story should be about a brave hero!" offered Lizzie.

"With lots of fighting! " other boys supported.

"And some magic!" shouted little Timmy.

"And love. " said Martha quietly, forcing the boys to crinkle their noses.

Noel looked at them skeptically.

Are you serious ...?

She looked around the room asking the same silent question, "About what?". She looked out of the window. It was mid-October and during the nights first frost was coming.

"When will it snow?" asked Marta.

Six pairs of eyes were on her, waiting for an answer. How would an adult reply? "Well, it is now the middle of autumn, it will happen sooner or later..." or "When winter comes! And not a single day earlier or later." But Noel had a feature for which she was adored by children. She was able to amaze them.

"As soon as Jack Frost comes."

Somewhere, at the other end of the world, the Guardian of fun, Jack Frost stood dead in his tracks. He tightly gripped his staff and listened. He must have imagined it ... But someone has called him by his name… or? But who could have called his name? What he could be asked of?

After all, he did not have a special day, like North or Bunnymund. He could not bring joy to children in every dream, like Sandy or in the morning - like Toothania. The only thing he could do is to bring cold weather when it was the right time and arrange snow-days for the children to enjoy.

Of course, now he was a 'full-time' Guardian, and the number of his believers, increased with every passing day. It was an indescribable feeling. As if there was a dying fire inside you with just a couple of warm coals to survive until the next day. And then an unknown force lighted it up, and did such a good job that now you think that the flames can reach the sky. The feeling when the thing you've been dreaming of for so long is finally coming true, and fills your whole being with warmness. The feeling when you're not alone anymore.

When others believe in you – wings will grow behind your back.

Jack allowed himself a moment of being absorbed in this pleasant sensation. Not to mention the rapid growth of his power. Even now, just by standing on one of the rooftops, he did not see how the remaining leaves on the trees were turning white with hoarfrost and the dirty water in the puddles turned into ice. The result of his sole presence.

The North Wind blew. His friend. The North Wind has never let him down, and was the only thing that Jack could rely on in the past three centuries.

Then he heard ...

"You do not know Jack Frost?"

…the words, brought by the wind.

Those words took his breath away.

"It's ..."

Another gust of the wind.

"Tell! Tell us about him!"

"It's about me! Wind, did you hear? Somebody is talking about me!"

Jack started jumping out of joy and almost fell off the roof. And together with him the North Wind rejoiced in celebration by scattering white snow like powdered sugar across the street.

"Then listen carefully and don't forget to tell your friends ..."

Jack paused, trying to sort out his thoughts. But the only thing he could think of was his name. His name said by, what seemed to him, the most beautiful voice in the world. His mind vaguely registered that it was a girl's voice.

- Wind! Take me to the place, where people talk about me!

The North Wind was waiting for these words all the time.

"It happened once ... Once upon a time, in the old days, in the far-distant land ... When the first snowflake touched the ground."

Although Jack had just landed on the roof, he could hear the beginning of the story, thanks to the efforts of the North Wind that entered the house as a small draft and whispered spoken words directly into Jack's ear.

"Winter was coming in a small village, where lived good and honest people. This was the land of the severe beauty. Although life in this snowy land was not easy, the people were happy and content."

Jack, as well as the children listened with bated breath.

"Of course, you all know who brings winter in the city. He has many names ... But the essence remains the same. Jack Frost, and it was him, was just doing his favorite thing. He was flying through the narrow streets and leaving behind the fun and joy."

The Guardian smiled. He definitely liked this story. The more so because it was true.

"He was going to nip the cheeks of children, when he heard the conversation:

"My daughter, why are you going to the gate?" asked the farmer.

"I want to take a walk in the woods. Now that the snow fell, it is very beautiful. Just like a Christmas wonderland."

"Eliza, Christmas is only a month away" said her mother, seriously. "You must have another reason."

"Maybe I just want to see the work of Jack Frost, before someone will spoil it."

"Your head is full of stories, Eliza" said her mother smiling. "Hurry and find yourself a good and serious husband."

"I will" answered the girl calmly. "As soon as my knight in golden armor will come."

"Knight?" her father was surprised "Aren't you in love with anybody yet?"

The girl looked down and said with a sad smile:

"Only Jack Frost."

"Hey!" interrupted Billy.

Noel started in her place on the floor.

"What is it?"

"There's someone outside the window!" confirmed Martha and pointed her finger.

"What?!"

Noel turned around, but saw nothing.

"There's no one there."

"No, there is!" children kept on insisting.

"You probably saw the shadow of a passing car." Noel tried to sound reasonable as she got up from her seat and came up to the window.

"Oops! They saw me! " though Jack a bit late, while jumping from the sill. He had missed it all in fact! He had listened with such a delight to the story that he missed the moment when the kids who knew nothing of his existence just a few minutes ago started believing. He missed the effect the girl had over the kids, enchanting them with her soothing voice. He missed the surprised looks on their face once they could make out his stooping figure through the window glass.

"Hey, look!"

He heard a child's voice screaming. "Soo beautiful! What beautiful patterns on the window!"

Once again, Jack did not pay attention, how all the windows in the house got covered with swirling designs.

"Then I know who it was!" said Noel, trying to lighten the situation, "It was Jack Frost, himself!"

Children needed no further explanations. Their joyful, emotional cries were deafening.

"How do you know that?" asked Lizzie.

"I read a lot when I was little."

"But it's so boring!" said Dean and furrowed his eyebrows.

"If you're interested, then whatever you do, you will not be bored."

"Noel, you never told what Jack did when he heard that conversation!"

"I think it's enough for today..." said the girl in a tired voice, carefully looking at the window.

"No, tell us, tell us!"

"I'll tell you next time ... I promise."

She sent the children into the kitchen to eat some cookies, and fell into an armchair. She was shaking all over. Noel was terrified. Her heart continued to beat in a furious pace.

"And supposing there was someone?" she thought and looked at the ill-fated window. "But what scares me more is the question: Supposing there IS still someone out there?"

She sighed and collected her wits. Slowly she was coming up to the window. Noel felt herself as a heroine of horror films. To be more precise, she was acting the role of a "first victim". The only thing missing was fog and music at the background. Realizing how stupid were her actions, Noel opened the window. A cold wind blew in her face and tousled her long chestnut hair. She sighed, feeling sobering coldness in her head, throat and chest. It made her felt better. Fear was slowly retreating. Everything was in order. Street lamps illuminated the street; people were passing by; a car drove down the street. Everything was as it should be.

"Hey, can you see me?" asked Jack.

He flew closer to her, ignoring the unpleasant feeling inside. The feeling that he had almost forgotten. Feeling that you are not there...

"How the one who makes others believe in me cannot see me?"

He waved his hand in front of her eyes. But she did not see him. Her gaze followed the passing car. Jack did not have time to pull off his hand, when she turned her head. His fingers even so lightly brushed her nose.

"Ouch!"

They both jumped away from the window.

Noel was rubbing her nose. Jack was open-mouthed with astonishment and stared at his hand. She had a feeling as if her nose was hit by a snow ball.

"Hey, Noel!" came the voice from the kitchen.

She quickly closed the window, and hurried to the children.

"Why are you rubbing your nose? " asked Billy, laughing.

"You won't believe me!" she began in a plotter tone, "But my nose was just nipped by Jack Frost!