Chapter 11 - Seen

"Jack Frost get down from there!"

"I don't feel like it," Jack called down to Jamie from the roof.

It was six months since Pitch had been locked underground and Jack was having a fun time using the wind to make Jamie's chore of raking up leaves difficult.

Jack had been surprised when during his first trip to Burgess after healing up and officially becoming a Guardian that several of the children not only knew his name but could see him. Burgess had always been home in his mind, but since the children started to believe in him his heart labeled it as such too.

"Well, if you don't cut it out I promise the next snow day I'll stay inside the whole time and watch movies."

"You wouldn't."

"Would too." Jamie stared at him from the front yard, Jack stared back, and before long it was a staring contest that Jack ended up winning. Physically he didn't have to blink, while Jamie did. Jack always won, but if Jamie knew why he might declare Jack's talent to overlook all things biological due to being dead unfair and the nine year old would declare him a cheater.

Grinning in triumph, Jack floated down to help Jamie with his chore. It was rather comical watching, as the rake and Jamie were identical in size, but eventually he gave in and silently commanded the wind to blow the leaves into a pile. A small whirlwind of red and gold developed, sweeping through the yard and gathering up leaves to drop in a foot high pile when it died. As Jack watched, another whirlwind formed across the street as the wind took up the chore at Pippa's house.

"On three?" Jamie asked.

Jack nodded and let his friend count down.

"One, two, three!"

They jumped into the leaves, almost on top of each other and laughing.

A snort drew Jack's attention and he looked up to see Igmar and Montigo at the edge of the yard. Montigo was nosing his new staff where it leaned against the fence. Jack stood up and brushed the leaves out of his hair.

"I haven't seen you since last October. How you guys doing?"

"Igmar! Montigo!" Jamie ran to give both parts of the Headless Horsman a hug. Igmar dismounted and set about helping Jamie recollect the scattered knees, leaving Montigo and Jack alone on the sidewalk.

"I hear you're an official Guardian now." Montigo said.

"Yeah, never expected that. And don't quite know why the Moon won't make you one either. From what I've heard, you were awesome last April." Jack felt a little bad about not coming to see his friends sooner than now. Baby Tooth had told him, through Tooth, of what happened and he was proud of his friends. But Jack had spent most of the summer sleeping, healing and escaping the sun.

"Well, we did what we could. And as we both know, I have a much smaller range than you."

"Still."

They stood in silence for a minute, watching Igmar and Jamie doing their best to shape the leaves into a pyramid.

"I'm glad to see you on your feet. We were worried."

"Thanks. But as it turns out, I'm stronger than I thought I was." To prove his point Jack lifted his new staff and brought it down on his knee. Montigo made a sound of protest, but it died as Jack healed the wood. He held it out for the horse to nose over. Same shape, but made of bleached oak, there wasn't even a hitch in the grains to show where the break had been.

"Apparently, I never needed it before, just think I did. Just like how Igmar doesn't really need a head but you guys just pretend he does."

"It keeps the kids happy."

"Yeah, I guess it does." Jack laughed. "Oh hey, look at this!"

Jack pulled up his sweatshirt to reveal two scars. One on his shoulder where Pitch's scythe had hit him and another on below his ribs where a nightmare decided to snack on him, both from the fight at the North Pole. "Got myself battle scars. Didn't think spirits could get those, but apparently we can. It was worth it though, to have all these kids believe in me. I gain more believers all the time."

"Is being believed in by children all over the world as wonderful as they say?"

"Better," Jack answered with a grin. He gestured to where Igmar and Jamie prepared to jump into the leaf pile again. "It's like that, times a thousand. Warmth in you chest and a huge burst of confidence."

"So now that you're a big shot Guardian, should I not expect to see you in two weeks for Halloween?"

"Are you kidding? We have so much fun on Halloween! Being a Guardian isn't all that different than before, just actually interacting with kids and a huge power burst. It's not like we have monthly meetings or anything. I can still do what ever I want."

"Even make it snow on Easter?"

"Of course! But I probably won't, not for awhile anyway. Bunny's got a tough couple of decades ahead of him. All the others do I think."

"Horsey!"

Jack and Montigo turned to watch Sophie come down the porch stairs, tripping on her scarf as she hopped down them. Months ago she traded her fairy wings for an ever present headband containing pink bunny ears.

"Ride! Ride!" She begged, tugging on Igmar's empty stirrups.

"Can we?" Jamie asked, walking over with Igmar.

Jack shared a look with his fellow spirits and then shrugged. For Sophie to be asking, he figured this wasn't the Headless Horseman's first visit since fighting Pitch.

As an answer, Igmar swung Sophie onto Montigo's back and then placed Jamie behind her. He got into the saddle behind them, the children between his arms. "Where to?" Montigo asked.

Jack answered for him. "Why don't we go visit the sky?" With a sweep of his hand, he created an ice ramp. "Let's go fly between the tree tops."

"All right!" Jamie whooped as Montigo took off at a canter, Jack flying beside them and continuing the road of ice.

Jack Frost couldn't ask for more – the friendship of other spirits and children to have fun with.

A/N: Thanks so much for reading this fic you guys! This is also the second time I've changed Jack's staff, and I don't quite know why.