It felt like everything else disappeared. Baby Tooth…The pond…The echoing laughter of children…All that existed was Emma and her coal-black eyes. Jack shuddered a little, disturbed at just how...dark they were, considering how big and sparkling and beautiful he remembered them being.

He stared back, his heart racing and his fingers twitching. She looking right in his direction. Jack swallowed again, clearing his throat before uttering her name a second time.

"Emma...Can...Can you hear me?" Jack's hand lifted as he asked, reaching for her. His heart dropped when his hand went right through her face. Emma's eyes averted back to the pond. She suddenly jumped and hugged herself, her eyelids sliding shut as she trembled. Jack looked down and saw the frost creeping out from under his feet, making its way towards Emma.

He frowned and shuffled back a bit. Her shivering eased. Emma's eyebrows knitted together as she glanced around. The wind hadn't blown or anything, so she wasn't sure where the cold had come from. Jack couldn't help but breath a small laugh through his nose. Memories of his time with her flashed across his mind. Him giving her piggyback rides all over the town. Brushing her soft hair, and also messing it up to make her mad. Tickling her when she was feeling down. Chasing off other kids who would pick on her. Scaring and annoying and teasing her with his various pranks and tricks. And the way she'd tug his hand and drag him wherever she wanted to go.

Jack felt his eyes begin to well up again, but shook his head. Something else in his recollection dug its way to the front of his mind, something he'd rather not think about. He was pulling his sister away from the rapidly cracking ice. The ice was giving way, and he was falling through, feeling as if a thousand knives were being thrown at his body from all sides, all at once. Emma was crying out for him. Water was pouring into his lungs and...

Jack gritted his teeth, moving a hand to clutch his aching forehead. His grip on his staff tightened, his knuckles turning impossibly whiter. Baby Tooth looked at him worriedly, chirping and squeaking. When the pain subsided, Jack breathed heavily and looked back up at Emma. She hadn't moved, her gaze still fixed on the pond. Something told Jack she was definitely thinking about it, too, the ordeal replaying over and over in her delicate mind. He saw a tear slide down her cheek, and he immediately made a move to wipe it away.

But, of course, that didn't work out.

Jack sat down, not knowing what to do. He didn't think his heart could take anymore. Not being able to be seen by his own family, his family that was hurting and sad and mourning. Unable to reach out, to let them know he was alright, that he was here. It was like three hundred years ago all over again, but more depressing. Because...he remembered everything.

The little fairy on his shoulder jumped up and flew in front of his face. She looked at him questionably, as if confused about why he was just sitting there with a long face.

Jack sighed.

"What can I do, Baby Tooth?" he asked, a little exasperated. "They...They can't see me, okay?" Jack sadly looked at Emma. "She can't see me. Can't hear me. What am I suppose to do?"

His words hung in the air. Baby Tooth looked unfazed by his irritated tone. Jack watched as she fluttered over to his staff, landing gracefully on the curve of the crook. Jack raised his eyebrows. Baby Tooth smiled softly, bending down and placing a tiny hand on the wood.

For a minute, Jack just stared. His heart slowed, suddenly beating, not with anxiety and frustration, but with renewed hope. The next thing he knew, a wide grin was stretching across his face, a laugh escaping his pale lips.

Of course...How could he be so stupid?

"Yeah...," he breathed, rising to his feet. He held his staff with both hands, gripping it with confidence. Baby Tooth's face lit up, clearly elated at his brightened mood. Jack smiled. "Thanks, Baby Tooth. Really."

He looked down at Emma, then out at the pond. His eyes narrowed. No more moping.

"We're...gonna have a little fun instead."

With that, Jack turned his head upward. A thought occurred to him. Would the wind listen to him? He was pretty sure the old Man in the Moon hadn't pulled him out of the pond just yet. But it was worth a shot.

"Hey, Wind!" he hollered. It was still, and Jack's face dropped a little. Then, there was faint howl, and a calm gust flew into the area. Emma looked up, startled by the sudden breeze. Jack laughed out loud, raising a hand in the air and feeling the wind rush through his fingers. Baby Tooth squealed and hid under his hood.

The gust blew through Jack's hair, hitting his face. It was extremely faint, but he could hear a voice, vague and distant, laced with the current.

Who are you?

Jack grinned. "I'm...I'm Jack Frost. I'm uh..." How was he suppose to say this? "I'm...from the future. If that makes any sense..."

The wind blew a little harder, and Jack could tell it was confused.

The future? How can that be?

"Well, do you know who North is? Nicholas St. North?"

Wisps of air circled around Jack, curious and questioning.

Yes. I know him.

"I...I used one of his time globes. I'm from three hundred years from now."

The wind didn't say anything. Jack felt a little nervous. Maybe it didn't believe him?

"I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. I promise...Ah!"

A stronger gust struck Jack head on, nearly knocking him off his feet. The wind was wrapping itself around him, intrigued.

Why do call upon me?

Jack shook his head, recovering from the blow. He grinned upward.

"We're friends, Wind. In the future, anyway. Really good friends."

Are we? The wind picked up again for a second.

"Yeah, that's right," Jack replied with a nod. "So...do you believe me?"

It blew around, apparently contemplating.

You call upon me so casually. And...Your garment is strange.

Jack glanced down and chuckled at how it was referring to his blue hoodie.

"It's what all the kids wear in the future," he stated.

It it? How odd.

The wind began to calm, reverting to a soft breeze.

Jack Frost. What is it you need from me?

Jack grinned. "Could you give me a lift?" He gestured towards the pond with his staff. "I'm gonna work a little magic on the pond. But I need your help."

His hair was flung all around as the wind picked up. The gust gradually intensified, and Jack could feel the soles of his bare feet lift ever so slightly. He glanced at Emma, who had curled up tighter to shield herself from the wind. Jack gripped his staff. The wind whispered to him.

Very well...my friend.

"Wooohooo!" Jack yelled as the wind swept him into the air. Relaxing, he twisted his body, feeling the course of the moving gusts, allowing himself to be as light as snowflake. Not that he was heavy...being a spirit and all.

You ride my currents with such ease.

Jack smirked. "Of course. Like I said, we're friends. I'm use to it!"

He shot higher into the air until the entire village was in view. Floating, he gazed down, swinging his staff. A shock vibrated along the length of the wood, and Jack could feel the cold and ice ready to burst from within it. Jack dove back down, swiping at the trees around the pond with his staff, covering their branches with ice. He flew over the surface of the partially frozen pond, creating a fresh coating of ice. Jack cheerfully spun around and around, sweeping the crook of his staff over the surface, frosty swirls and flowers blooming across the ice. He swung his staff with more force, a wave of cold striking rocks and bushes, covering them with more ice.

Emma was shocked out of her fetal position, falling back on the palms of her hands. Her mouth fell open at the phenomenon occurring right before her eyes. She watched the frost patterns spread across the surface of the pond. Snow began to fall from the sky despite the lack of of clouds. The wind was powerful, whipping around snowflakes. The trees were suddenly covered with white.

Jack looked down at her with amusement. He smiled softly.

"Wind, take me down to her," he mildly commanded.

As you wish.

He felt the currents arch downward, and Jack dove. He landed gracefully in front of Emma, who was entirely captivated, but also confused, by the snow. She steadily got to her feet, looking around in an almost fearful manner.

Jack frowned.

Even if...Even if his parents couldn't see him, Jack needed Emma to. Besides, he remembered what North once told him. That only children could see Guardians. Meaning his mom and dad were, sadly, out of the question from the beginning. But Emma was still a kid so... She would see him. She needed to see him.

But how?

Jack racked his brain for ideas, anxiously scratching his chin. And then...

"Maybe that'll work...," he said, snapping his fingers. He looked over at Baby Tooth. The fairy waited to hear what he had in mind, but Jack just grinned. He wasn't sure if what he was planning would really make her see him, but it was worth a shot. He was willing to try anything.

Raising his staff, Jack closed his eyes, focusing on pouring cold energy into the wood. Then he brought it down, the bottom of the staff smacking against the surface of the frozen pond. Frost exploded across the ice.

Emma gasped and jumped back. She was getting more and more freaked out.

"W-what's...going on?" she asked, her voice shaking. She hugged herself, shivering from the cold. Where in the world was all this snow coming from? The last snow had come weeks ago, before the beginning the spring.

She gazed down at the intricate frost patterns swirling across the surface of the pond. An ounce of fear crept into her. Was...was it a ghost maybe? She'd heard stories like that before. Spirits so powerful they could conjure up storms and winds.

Emma hugged herself tighter, feeling colder and colder, as if the chill air was intentionally moving closer to her. Now that she thought about it, the sudden change of weather didn't at all feel like a natural occurrence. It was happening way too fast, almost skillfully and with intent.

The thought frightened her, but maybe...it really was a...

Jack was standing right in front of her now, looking down at his brunette sister with tender eyes. She couldn't see him. He frowned, seeing that all he did was scare her.

He watched her brown eyes flicker around nervously as she trembled from his cold presence. A wave of hopelessness suddenly washed over him, and he felt like he was drowning again. Only this was worse. Deep down he knew nothing would work. Nothing he did would make her see him.

It was those agonizing 300 years all over again. Of Jack trying everything, and nobody seeing him. Being unable to reach out to anyone.

He stared at his sister, taking in her small frame. Her soft eyes. Her long brown hair. Her laughter echoed in his mind. Her smile flashed across his eyes.

Baby Tooth chirped, and Jack understood that she was asking if he was okay. He glanced at the small fairy on his shoulder. All he could offer was a mirthless smile.

"Maybe...This is enough," he said. "Seeing her again. That's all I really wanted anyway." Jack looked back at Emma. "To see her."

A small, genuine smile tugged at his lips as he looked at her. Yeah... He understood what the other Guardians meant. This was enough.

Jack raised his staff and twirled it around, causing more snow to whirl in the air around Emma. Her head snapped upward, her eyes fixed on the rotating snowflakes.

And then...

"H-h-hello?"

Jack froze.

Emma cupped her hands over her mouth, breathing into her palms and rubbing them together to warm herself. Then she swallowed and said it again.

"H-hello? Is...Is someone there?" Her voice was shaking, small and scared.

"Yes!" Jack immediately blurted out, his eyes going wide. His heart started racing a mile a minute. Baby Tooth actually jumped at his outburst. "Yes, yes! I-I'm here, Emma!"

But she didn't respond to him, and only continued to stare up at the snow. Jack clutched his staff, and subconsciously sent more frost growing across the pond.

Emma's gaze quickly averted down, hearing the frost and seeing it crawl along the frozen water.

"Is this...Are you...?" Emma clutched her hands to her chest. She hesitated, thinking over her words. "Are...you a spirit of cold?"

Jack blinked. A spirit of cold?

Suddenly something sparked in his head, another memory.

He could see him and Emma sitting with friends around a fire, telling stories of ghosts and spirits in hushed tones. Emma clung to Jack's shirt, snuggling into him. She looked up at him, her eyes anxious.

"J-jack, are there really spirits and ghosts like that?" she asked. "That can even control the weather?"

Jack chuckled, pressing his lips against her forehead. Then he grinned slyly.

"There just might be," he said in a haunting voice, and Emma scrunched up her face. Jack laughed, then hugged her close. "But don't worry. I'll protect you from any bad spirit."

The memory faded like a screen of mist, his and Emma's voices trailing off out of the depths of his mind.

He stared at his sister, his thought process racing. She thought a spirit was here.

Jack glanced down at himself, his pale hands, his staff. Well...she wasn't wrong.

He looked at her, then back at his staff. He gripped it tightly. Maybe...

Jack swung his staff, causing a a strip of ground to be frozen solid. Emma jumped, shuffling away from the ice. Her eyes nervously scanned around her, then she composed herself, eyeing the sky.

"I-if it's a spirit, do that again!" she said, a little more boldly.

Something lit up in Jack's chest.

He eagerly waved his staff again, this time creating an elaborate pattern of ice on the ground. Emma watched with amazement as a giant snowflake was suddenly set into the earth beneath her feet, made entirely out of frost that had appeared out of thing air!

"It is...!" she gasp-whispered to herself. She found herself smiling, laughing, down at the ice picture beneath her. It was remarkable! The spirit had responded to her and-

Emma looked in front of her. And screamed bloody murder, stumbling back and falling down on her rear.

Jack almost jumped out of skin, and he instinctively whirled around, surveying behind him for whatever made his sister scream. He held his staff, ready to attack and protect her, but then...

"W-w-who are y-you?"

Jack stilled. Everything slowed down again. Everything else became nonexistent.

Then slowly, very slowly, he turned his head back to Emma. She was looking up in his direction, her gaze flickering with fear and confusion. But it was locked on him, where he was standing over her.

Jack turned around completely, lowering his staff. He blinked once. Twice. Three times. His mouth fell open. He swallowed.

"C-can...you see me?" he asked, his eyes never leaving her.

Emma didn't answer at first. She re-positioned herself, tucking her legs up underneath her. She gazed up cautiously at the boy that had mysteriously manifested out of nowhere, right in front of her!

He had snow white hair and the bluest eyes she'd ever seen. He was barefoot, his skin so...so pale. He was wearing brown trousers, but what was his top, blue garment? She'd never seen something like it. And why was he holding a giant stick with a crook?

"Um..Um..." Emma tried to find words as she was oddly captivated by the strange boy. "A-are you...the spirit?" He had to be, with his white hair and white complexion. "Did you make all this snow?"

Jack's eyes widened, and happiness swelled in his chest. She could see him! She could hear him!

Joy bubbled in the pit of Jack's stomach, threatening to explode out of him. But he had to restrain himself from doing a back flip in the air like he had when Jamie first saw him. He didn't want to freak Emma out more than he already was. So he took a deep breath instead, sporting a small smile.

"Yeah-uh...Yes, I did," he said, kneeling down to her level. He frowned at the way she scooted further away from him. He raised a hand towards her. "Hey, don't be scared. I'm not gonna hurt you, Emma..."

"H-how do you know my name?" she questioned, keeping her distance. On the inside, though, it was odd. This boy, this spirit, felt so...so familiar. Something about it him tugged at Emma's heart.

Jack's gladness was short-lived. He could feel it already draining out of him as Emma continued to look at him like he was a total stranger. Well, he did look pretty different now, but still!

"Emma...Don't you recognize me?" Jack gestured to himself, patting his chest with his hand. "I-it's...It's me, Emma."

Emma raised a brow, and then found herself analyzing him. And the more she did, the harder the invisible strings in her heart pulled. She took in every detail, the shape of his face, and his face itself. She leaned forward, looking closer at his eyes and the messiness of his hair. And for some reason, she pictured him as a brunette, with brown hair instead of white, and with brown eyes instead of blue.

She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.

Jack watched anxiously as her eyes began to water. He didn't move a muscle as she tentatively reached a hand out towards him and brushed her fingers against his skin was cold, but Emma imagined it being as warm as a summer breeze.

"J...Jack?"

Umm...This was initially going to be the last chapter, but I decided I've kept you waiting long enough XD I apologize for not updating for 6,000 years. I've been working on other stuff that's why. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. NEXT chapter will the last. Please do leave a review. Thanks and God bless! ^^