Jack arrived early in the morning, probably earlier then she wanted, but he had been too restless the night before. Not a moon full of dream sand could have helped him sleep. It took a lot of self-control to knock on the door instead of coming through the window like he did with Jamie. He could only imagine what he could walk into...actually, maybe he shouldn't.
Despite how early it was the door opened immediately upon his knock. However, it wasn't Katherine standing there but the old woman, Martha he recalled. "Oh! Jack Frost!" She put a hand to her fragile breast in wonder, "She told me you would be coming!" She stepped aside letting him in. "Tsk, tsk!" She clicked when he walked in.
And he turned around a little self consciously. "What?"
The old woman tugged at his hoodie with spotted hands, "Is this all the clothing you own?"
His face flushed, "Yes, um...Is Katherine upstairs?"
She shook her head, not at the question but at him, "Honestly, I expected better. Yes, she is upstairs. But she is taking her time, you know how girls are I'm sure."
He nodded tucking a hand into his pocket.
Martha 'tsk' again, then lead him into the living room. It was darker than the hallway, with curtains drawn tight. It was simple, a recliner in the corner, an old tv set up. Black and white pictures covered one wall above a small end table. The end table had a rose on it along with the Jewish flag and group photo of kids. He found himself drawn to this table and its thick layer of dust almost magnetically.
"Oh yes," The woman said following him to it, "That was a long time ago, not that I need to tell you."
He picked up the picture and peered at the details. A small child was being held by a woman whose face was blurred out.
"I was only nine, lots of kids started that journey, few made it to the end. I lost my cousin, Ruth." She sighed. "A little thing, only six. She was such a sweetheart."
Jack frowned at the picture. She was only six? He knew World War Two was brutal, but it still floored him when he heard about the casualties. He couldn't even remember how many children had died, let alone anyone else.
"Miss. Katherine...she was amazing." She reached into the drawer. "Whenever we stopped, and we didn't stop often, she told us stories while we slept to keep our mind off of the dangers, and sometimes, she would pull me onto her lap and sing." Martha pulled out a charcoal drawing, it featured all the children sitting in a circle with her and singing. There was no denying that the picture was very similar to Katherine's style.
He stared at it for a long time, "You've known her, that long?"
"She was always there, just when we needed her the most." She smiled, "When we were hungry, she had food, when we were thirsty she had water. She had ointments I still haven't been able to find to this day. Things with strange, otherworldly names."
Jack couldn't find words for what he was being told. He felt he heard something like a secret, and he had the strong temptation to leave her to her memories.
She sighed now, holding the old picture. "She told me I would never see her again, but I still believed, after all these years. And I saw her again just in time. I just wish I could have thanked her properly."
Martha gently ran a hand over the paper.
"I can't imagine what she has seen and been through.She was shot you know, my cousin I mean. It was one of our more dangerous nights, and Katherine tried so hard to move us out of the line of fire. Ruth had fallen, and I remember Katherine scooping her up in arms like she was no more than a doll." A tear rolled down Martha's wrinkled cheek, which she wiped with a bony hand. She looked up at Jack who stared down at her with a sympathetic look. "We sat down in safety at some point, and I remember Katherine crying, holding her and whispering something like a prayer over and over. I had never seen her cry before, and I wondered for the first time how many children must have died like that. How many gave their final breath I'm her arms? I can't imagine..." She pressed the picture to her chest sadly.
Jack found his eyes welling with tears.
The old woman now looked up at Jack sternly, her eyes narrowed. "You better not hurt her, because I promise you," She grabbed his sleeve, "If you do you will never forget what I do to you."
Her age should have lessened the intimidation, but instead, he felt his stomach twist. She may have been old, but something told him there was nothing that would stop this woman filling out her threat. Before he could respond Katherine came downstairs.
"You can come upstairs now, oh!" She stared at the picture, "Are you telling Jack some of your stories?" She smirked.
The woman nodded, smiling, then elbowed Jack lightly, "You two don't have too much fun now."
He didn't want to respond to this, as Katherine's offended flush seemed to speak volumes. Instead, he headed upstairs watching as the woman put away the old drawings.
***
Katherine handed Jack a cold cup of tea, holding her hot one in her chilled hands to give them some warmth. She had changed into some warm sweats and a yellow star covered sweater while she was gone. It was altogether different from the well put together girl he was used to. Not that he minded. She looked more relaxed.
Jack sat in her window calmly, his legs crossed. He hadn't cared about the mess he was in, but Katherine had insisted to at least wash his jumper. It had taken some persuading, but he had given it to her and now sat feeling bizarrely naked without the jacket.
Morning light streamed through a crack in the curtain that she carefully tucked in before turning to Jack. The girl, now Guardian sat across from him, Kailash's head resting on her lap. The discomfort between them had become greater since the discovery. He noticed the way her eyes rested on him as if trying to decipher some cold. He coughed into his fist then shifted and whispered. "Are you going to tell me your story?"
She huffed and shook her head, "I thought you were going to start."
"Me?" He pointed to himself, "Who said you had a lot to talk about."
"I said us, and besides, you're the one who lied about your name!"
"You lied about yours!"
"But that's part of my job, not yours!"
"How is that part of your job?"
She held up a hand stopping the argument in its place. "Okay, it is clear we are not going to agree on this."
He scoffed.
"So, what if we...take turns asking questions."
He nodded then took a deep breath. At the same time, they both asked a question. What it was Jack couldn't hear, and by the time he had realized she had spoken he had already forgotten what he had asked. They glared at each other for a moment. "Maybe I should go first."
"You? What happened to ladies first?"
"Age before beauty!" He joked putting a hand on his chest. She threw a pillow at him, making him almost spill his tea on his chest. Chuckling he pushed the pillow down. "How about we rock, paper, scissors for the first question."
She scowled, "We're not five Jackson."
He rolled his eyes, "Fine, let's flip a coin then."
Katherine reached into her pocket pulling out an old penny, it had to be from the 1800's. But before he could contemplate why she had it, she said, "Heads or tails?"
"Tails." he blurted automatically.
She flipped the coin, the bright copper swirling in the air before landing placidly on the back of the guardian's hand. Jack leaned over to look at it and let out a whoop. "Yes!" He shouted, nearly spilling his tea all over her window seat. Katherine rolled her eyes and put the coin in her pocket. When the spirit had calmed, he sat down again and smiled at her.
"So...ask your questions, Jack."
He stopped and sat down, staring at her. She sipped her tea slowly waiting for his first question.
After a moment's thought, he said, "Why are you here?"
Katherine put her tea in her lap. "I am the Guardian of imagination or Mother Goose to the children." She turned to the bird in the cage then back to him. "My job is to travel the world, going where ever Tsar Lunar send me and to help any child in need. I am a teacher, counselor, nanny, babysitter—"
"World War II hero." He added.
She glared at him, "You're already breaking our deal Jack if you want me to stop—"
"No!" He waved his hand wildly then swallowed and said, "No, please continue."
She nodded, "I don't stay in one place too long. Sometimes I write lists and send them to Nicholas, so he knows of children who need a little extra care that year. But mostly I teach kids how to bring their imagination to life. I rarely stay in one place too long but..." She looked out her window, "There are exceptions if Tsar doesn't know why he's sending me someplace himself."
A silence hung between the two after that. Jack shifted uncomfortably for a second then said, "How..."
"Oh no, my flake." She smirked at him, "It's my turn to ask the question."
He swallowed back a rude remark and nodded.
"Why did you follow me?" She said pointedly, "Or rather, after that first day we met. Which was a great first impression mind you...Why did you still..." She couldn't find the right words, her voice trailing off to a whisper.
Jack blushed a little, "I don't know. I mean...I do but... Not really. The day I ran into you I didn't know who you were or how I felt about an adult seeing me." He shrugged unable to meet her gaze. "Some part of me wanted to know more. Then I started to hang out with you, learn about you and suddenly I just...wanted to be a part of it."
Katherine stared at the blushing spirit, his ears turning red in a way she had become all too familiar with.
"My turn!" he said smiling, "Why can anyone see you, not just kids, and just if they believe?"
Instantly her face darkened, and he realized he had asked the exact wrong question. She stood up putting her tea on the coffee table. "I believe that's enough questions for the day."
Jack sat for a moment in silence then stood up, "I'm sorry Katherine, I didn't mean..."
She didn't respond, her arms wrapped around herself she struggled not to turn to him.
"Please, I just..." He placed a cold hand on her shoulder, "You don't have to answer that one, I promised. I'll ask something different!"
She took a deep breath, her fingers digging so deeply into her she could almost feel them trying to pierce her skin. Memories of Nightlight and the many centuries ago flashed through her mind. "Don't go! You don't have the power to stop him!"
"If I don't stop him, who will?"
She dropped her head into her hands, her shoulders shaking. "It's all my fault if I had stopped him—" Her voice broke.
He grabbed her arms, gripping them tightly, "Don't do this to yourself, Kat! Whatever it was, it can't be that bad."
"And how can you possibly know?"
He bit his lip, "Because I know you."
She glanced up at him, eyes wide. That familiar red came to Jack's ears, but he didn't put his hands to them, as though to hide them and she smiled. Somehow the way he said that made her want to trust him. Then she clamped her fist. "It's so hard to explain..."
"We have the entire night!"
"That's not what I mean." She sucked in a breath, "It happened so long ago, and I have never talked about it with anyone."
"Then don't." Jack whispered, he didn't look away, didn't even blink as he said, "Come on, you can ask the next question."
She reached out and squeezed his hand. "Thank you, Jack, for understanding."
He smiled, as they both sat down. "Go ahead," he waved his arm to Katherine, nearly knocking over his drink, "Ask me your questions!"
"Fair is fair Jack, you can ask another." She moved his drink so it wouldn't tip over at another sporadic movement.
He smiled, crossing his legs, "You say you are one of the first, so...how old are you?"
Her eyes narrowed, and she grabbed her tea.
"Oh! Let me rephrase that!" He held up a hand in self-defense.
"No," Katherine said, Sipping her tea, with almost glaring attention. "It's fine, I became immortal when I was fifteen. As for when that was? That was three hundred and three years ago." She stared at her tea, "So a long time."
She looked up, "This would sound strange, but I already know a great deal about you."
"You...do?"
She nodded, "Your favorite color is blue, you guard fun, you had a little sister named Mary, and you're afraid of water."
He blinked sitting back. "How could you..."
"Tsar, mostly. We talk often. Along with guarding imagination, I have been entrusted with writing down the records of the Guardians." She sipped her tea. "I've known them for as long as I can remember. And I guess I always will." Her eyes drooped, and her voice softened.
Jack stared for a long moment. "If you have known them for so long, why haven't I ever seen you."
Katherine chuckled, "You probably have, you just don't remember. But I left, not long after becoming immortal. And I haven't seen them since."
"You must miss them." He said pointedly.
"I do." She murmured, her voice hardly a whisper before looking up. "But it's better this way." She turned to Kailash who has fallen asleep, baby Tooth resting on her giant head. Katherine smirked slightly, getting up and patting her large neck.
"Looks Like they get along okay," Jack stated.
Katherine nodded, "Which is good, I suppose, I am actually going to head the library today. It will be good if the two can keep each other company while I'm gone."
"Why?"
"Because then Kailash won't cause as much trouble." Katherine gave him a crooked grin and he laughed.
He looked at the massive goose, "But what will you be doing there?"
"Research." She didn't elaborate just stood up, standing up from her window seat. "You can come along if you like."
Jack tapped his finger thoughtful on the window sill staring out at the snowy landscape. "I actually have to go," he turned to her, "I promised to go see someone. But I shouldn't be gone long!"
"Sounds good." She grabbed her jacket. "Baby Tooth should be good here am I right?"
"Yeah."
Katherine smiled, although it looked slightly forced. "I am sure I will see you again."