Technically... I just made an arch... o.O but whatever! I'm glad with all the support you guys have given me and I'm pretty happy to see I got 2 more reviews than usual! xD ENJOY!

EDITED. =3=


"The child could be anywhere-"

"-it'll take hours ta find the ankle-bitah!"

"We start search now-!"

"Woah, woah…" Jack intervened at the rambling of his fellow guardians. It had been 30 minutes since he had arrived and since then, the guardians had been asking him if he had seen any kid roaming around the shop once he asked about the stuff toy (which he casually pretended that he didn't own) before going back to their little discussion about possible dangers of having a child roam around.

Finally, Jack got their attention only to end up feeling a bit uncomfortable, but spoke up, "What makes you think there's a kid roaming around the shop?" He puts on his usual smirk while sprinkling a bit of humor in his tone. Jamie always complimented him on his acting.

"Jack, zis toy doez not belong 'ere… you should know zat!" North said as he wiggled the toy in front of the winter spirit. Jack was tempted to grab it and fly off.

Though he still didn't understand why he wouldn't just admit to them that he owned the darn thing to save all the trouble they're obviously about to face. Was it because of pride? Is he really embarrassed to prove to them he owned Frosty? Or is it because he didn't want them to give him those pitiful stares he'd obviously be facing once they realize he had a stuff toy as one of his conversationalist for the past 300 years?

"Yeah… but the yetis didn't find any child right?" Jack said as he reached out to the toy, about to grab it but North immediately pulled it back to inspect it some more.

"Yetis are trustworthy… yes. But! You can never underestimate a child's sneakiness!"

"Come on…" Jack scoffed, "As much as I don't want to admit it, I can't even get passed them."

"That's wha' I said." Bunny said as he rolled his eyes, "This is absurd, mate. Maybe yah just forgot about that toy or sumthin'. I assure yah there's no intruder around here or I woulda' smelled one."

"Your nose not always right." North said defiantly, "We can never be too sure."

"Seven at Florida and Connecticut! Five on Boardwalk- maybe we should just look around just to make sure?" Tooth suggested as she turned back and forth from her mini selves then at the other guardians.

"Why not just give the toy to me for awhile and I could… inspect it!"Jack attempted to grab Frosty only to have it out of his reach once more as Bunny took it from North's hands.

"No way, mate." The pooka spoke, "If it's inspectin' toys… it's North duty."

Jack was about to protest when Tooth interrupted him, "What do you think Sandy?"

Sandy looked like he was in deep thought as his face was all scrunched up. Everyone looked at him in a puzzled manner, wondering what the little man was thinking. Then the guardian of dream suddenly pointed at the stuff toy, then at his head as if remembering.

"Iz familiar to you?" North asked with a raised eyebrow.

Sandy nodded in response.

Jack silently gulped as he remembered the time he had found the toy, Sandy was closed by. He couldn't have seen him. Or probably he did! The winter spirit was taken aback as Sandy turned to him, his expression still unsure.

"Well, iz no use standing around!" North loudly said, "We start a search-party! No?"

"Yah sayin' we comb this huge place for one small ankle-bitah?" Bunny exclaimed while looking at him in disbelief.

"I agree with Kangaroo here…" Jack floated around, trying to look calm as he pretend to lie down the wind. He didn't care if he had to agree with the pooka. All he wanted was Frosty back and to just calm his panicking heart, "…it's just gonna be a waste of time."

"You guys practically collected teeth from all over the world in one night. Finding a child in a huge workshop is nothing compared to that!" Tooth pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

"Yah right. It's more than that! Unlike the teeth we've been collectin', they were more easier to find than a small ankle-bitah whom we have no idea where he or she could be right now!" Bunny turned to Sandy who shrugged and made two images with his sand. A needle. And a haystack.

"Exactly!"

North rolled his eyes, "We muz be cautious!"

"Too cautious… I have eggs to paint-!"

"Oh wait! I know!" Tooth suddenly perked up and turned to North, "Why not look into the toy's memories?"

Jack froze, "Wait… is that even possible?"

"Eez no big deal exactly. I 'ave something special too you know…" Jack turned to North who grinned and winked, "…iz part of my mysterious side."

"You've gotta be kidding me…" Jack muttered as he rubbed his hand over his face. Luckily, no one seemed to have noticed this as they approached North with interest and curiosity.

"Iz one of my specialty…" North spoke as he huffed looking proud, "I can see a toy's memory… though, I no use it much since I make toyz… not keep uzed ones… if you know what I mean."

"I thought dealing with memories was Tooth's specialty!" Jack could feel the panic rise up. He was going to be exposed anytime soon! He could feel it!

"I don't mind sharing an ability." Tooth cheerfully spoke, "It's fun talking to someone who at least has something in common with you! And besides, it was Manny's gift for North. Can't argue with that, now can we?"

"Now enough chitty-chatty…" North waved his hand to them as he held the toy with his other, "Time to use zat ability once more, no?"

Wide blue eyes stared as North gently dusted some dirt off the worn out cloth of Frosty and ever-so slowly, touched his forehead against its own.

Jack waited and watched for anything to happen. But nothing did. And a few seconds later, North separated with the toy and made a puzzled look. Bunny took a step forward and asked impatiently, "Well, mate?"

"Iz just a toy zat was once thrown out." North simply stated before frowning a bit, "…but I see no connection on how it entered ze shop!"

"Wait, what? What are yah talkin about?" Bunny asked looking more confused, "What did ya see?"

North shrugged as he turned to the other four guardians, "It was once owned by a little girl… and she… she was from ze old times… judging by her clothes.. and house!"

"How old exactly?" Tooth asked.

"I'm not sure… but she was not from modern time!" North settled the toy on top of the desk beside him, "And at ze end of the memory, she threw away the teddy… once she reached a certain age…"

There was a moment of silence.

Sandy looked at the toy once more, before turning to Jack. The boy had gone silent for some reason. A question mark appeared on his head as he noticed the snow spirit looking… disheartened.

Jack was currently finding it hard to believe that Frosty… Frosty had no memories of him! He was glad he wasn't sold out or anything… actually, on second thought… he wasn't sure if he should actually be glad that Frosty held no memories of him at all!

"Let's just discuss this another time." Tooth then suggested as she noticed how busy she was getting as more fairies flew around her chirping different questions to their queen, "And maybe, the other topic we were about to discuss (looks at Jack) can be discussed next time too!"

"Seeing that we're finally leavin'… I'm outta 'ere, mate." With two taps on the ground, a tunnel appeared and immediately, Bunny was gone.

Sandy looked outside and realized he too had to start work soon and immediately waved at the others as he conjured up a plane for his transportation to ride towards the other side of the world. The little sand man looked back at Jack once more then at North as he noticed how the old man was looking at the stuff toy a little too intently before leaving a bit reluctantly.

And finally, Tooth was last to leave as she fussed over Jack's teeth one more time, "Contact me for any updates!" Neither Jack nor North knew if the tooth fairy was talking to them, or Jack's teeth. Tooth then left with a wave, "Don't forget to floss!"

Jack mustered a smile and waved back. As soon as he was sure she was out of sight, he turned back, only to have Frosty shoved in front of his face.

"What the-"

"I believe thiz iz yourz?"

Jack's eyes did not leave the mismatched ones of his toy as he numbly took it. He couldn't bring himself to look up at North, "I don't… understand."

"I lied." The guardian of wonder softly said.

"Why didn't you-?"

"Tell ze otherz? I believe you 'ave your reason for not admitting in first place, yes?" Suddenly, Jack finds himself buried in a warm hug. His blue eyes widened as he stiffened a bit under the hold, "And after seeing ze memories… I believe I know why…"

Jack's grip on Frosty lessened and finally, he returned the hug of the huge man with eyes tightly shut and lips pursed. He let the negative feelings he had been holding back rush out of him. But he did not cry.

"I'm sorry… I'm very sorry Jack… We could've been there for you-"

Jack shook his head and let go of the other. He was smiling softly, but there was still a bit of mischief in those blue eyes as he held Frosty in his arms, "It doesn't matter. What's done was done. There's no point clinging to the past." He shrugged, "Besides, I don't regret meeting Frosty- I mean the bear."

North chuckled before shaking his head, "Still no excuse for not fulfilling our duties properly…"

Jack looked amused but confused, "What are you talking about?"

North gave him a sad smile as he put a gentle hand on the other's shoulder, "It iz a guardian's duty to protect all children in the world. To give them the best of memories, hope, dreams and wonder…" Carefully he bent down to meet him in the eye, "..but we left one in the dark… for far too long."

"North…"

"Is there anything… anything that we can do to make it up to you?"

Jack looked at North with a bit of exasperation and understanding. He knew they all felt bad for leaving him for 3 centuries, and he's cool with that. They had given him a family. A home. And new memories that immediately buried the old and dark ones.

But seeing that North really wanted to do something for him. Probably anything for him. He smirked, "Well, if you insist… I'd like you…" He hesitated for a moment but nevertheless continued, his blue eyes flashed with determination as he held up his stuff toy,

"…to teach me how to sew."


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