He wasn't sure how he let himself get talked into it, but there he was, glaring at the moon through the oversized picture window while five young Guardians sat on the couch, looking up at him. North had been experimenting when his workshop exploded in a colorful smoke, leaving behind five young, confused, shockingly human Guardians with no memory of who they were past their names. That was how Phil found them an hour later.

North was twelve, running around the room, shouting about all of the amazing things he was discovering, his jet black hair bobbing around in excitement. Sandy was sitting on the work table, small for a nine year old, silent, and watching North's actions with interest. His skin was naturally tanned but glowed like the moonlight he usually worked under, his hair shimmering golden in the light. Tooth was chasing after North, talking a mile a minute. He hair was long, sun streaked brown and flying with her movements. Bunny was seven, tall and solid for his age, his rust colored hair sticking out at all angles, and he sat on the couch, ignoring his peers for favor of inspecting a boomerang. Jack, it seemed, was the only one to keep his snow white locks and at four was terribly undersized. He had taken to hiding under the desk in the corner, away from the noise and trampling feet.

Upon seeing the chaos, Phil let loose a bellow of frustration; the last thing he needed was to have five rambunctious little Guardians underfoot with no end in sight for when they might change back.

"Shut up!" yelled Bunny, glaring at the yeti. "You're scaring the little guy."

Phil blinked in surprise. He hadn't even noticed the youngest Guardian and certainly hadn't expected Bunny to say anything to him. Jack, for his part, seemed to curl in on himself more. Bunny sighed, shaking his head at Phil, and slid off the couch. He approached Jack slowly on his hands and knees but Jack forced himself back into the corner even more.

"I'm E. Aster Bunnymund," said Bunny softly. "But you can call me Bunny. What's your name?"

Jack blinked up at him with his owlishly large eyes but remained silent. He did, however, quit trying to become one with the wall.

"Don't be like that, mate," said Bunny with a gentle smile. "What's your name?"

"That's Jack," said North, glancing momentarily over his shoulder. "He's naughty."

Jack's eyes watered but he bit his bottom lip to keep them from overflowing.

"And you're a right arse," replied Bunny.

"Oh, that's a naughty word!" said Tooth. "You shouldn't say naughty words."

"Jack, why don't you come on out here? It's much more fun than under that desk."

Ten minutes of patient coaxing and bribing later and Jack had finally ventured out to join the other four Guardians who had settled on the couch, flinching every time Phil moved or North spoke. He still hadn't said a word. Another yeti burst into the room, the wooden door hitting the wall with a bang. That was the undoing of Jack, who launched into tears-silent tears-, sobs wracking his small frame. Bunny rolled his eyes but pulled Jack onto his lap. The undersized child looked up at Bunny in alarm before recognizing him as the one from the desk who had called the big boy that said Jack was naughty a bad word. The yeti's began grumbling together, their growls and yips causing Jack to bury his face into Bunny's chest, as if that would protect him.

"I'm hungry," announced North. "I want something to eat. Do you have any cookies?"

"Those are so bad for your teeth," said Tooth, making a face. "What about some sugar free cookies?"

"Phil, where's the fat man?" asked Pitch, strolling through the open door. "I was on my way to terrorize Jack a bit when the Man in the Moon told me to try here. Why that sod is helping me out, I haven't the foggiest, but I'm not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. It seems all of your Guardians are missing though, because I just waltzed in here and no one tried to stop me. So tell me, my overly intelligent animal, what have you done with my favorite play things?"

The moon appeared, it's light illuminating Pitch's pale grey features.

"No way!" snapped Pitch, sparing the young Guardians a glance before glaring up at the moon. "Not going to happen. I know what i said but this?"

The moon glowed brighter in response.

"Fine," sighed Pitch, which sounded only moderately less like a growl than before. "But you had better hold up your end of the deal, old friend. After this, we're even."

Pitch rubbed a hand over his face wearily before turning fully to look at the Guardians on the couch.

"Hello," said Pitch in an unhappy mumble. "I'm Pitch and, according to the Man in the Moon, I'm your glorified babysitter."

"I'm twelve, I don't need a babysitter," said North defiantly.

"You still need an adult in your life, brat," snapped Pitch. "And if this is the only way Manny will promise me believers, then I'll take it but that doesn't mean I have to take lip from a preteen like you."

Jack whimpered softly in reaction to Pitch's tone. Bunny patted his head gently.

"Stop scaring Jack," said Bunny.

"You're a little spitfire, aren't you?" said Pitch with interest as Bunny glared fearlessly up at him. "Oh I like you."

"Excuse me," said Tooth sweetly. "We're rather hungry."

"So?"

"So feed us," said North with as much attitude as he could muster.

Pitch raised an eyebrow but motioned for them to follow him to the kitchen. Tooth chattered at Pitch's elbow, oblivious to the fact that the Nightmare King was not listening. Sandy, on the other side of Pitch, skipped along contently, unconcerned with the turn of events. North was exclaiming about all of the amazing inventions whizzing about the main workshop, pointing as the yeti's stared back at their young master. Bunny walked last, eyeing the area with interest, Jack clinging to his hand. Bunny wasn't sure why he felt se protective of the young boy, but he did. It was probably the fact that Jack was so small, closer to a two year old than a four year old. Jack merely held on to Bunny's hand and toddled along as fast as he could to keep up.

The kitchen table was much too tall for Jack and slightly too tall for Bunny, who had to jump to get on the seat. When he turned to backJack, he found the boy had scaled the chair with ease, blinking up at Bunny with those eyes that made him feel like he was drowning.

"You're a quick little bugger," said Bunny with a smile. "What are you hungry for? Do you like carrots?"

Jack made a face, scrunching his button nose in distaste, looking adorable.

"This is surreal,: said Pitch as he rummaged around in the stainless steal industrial sized ice box. "Guardians who don't want to kill me, yeti's not trying to strangle me, and a Jack Frost who doesn't talk."

One of the many elves teetered across the table with a tray of cookies. Jack scrambled up without hesitation, fascinated with the belled creature just barely smaller than him. Jack followed, oblivious of his other surroundings, until he found himself on the edge of the table, falling off. He hit the ground with a nasty smack, followed by a second of utter silence, before Jack let out a piercing shriek.

"Bunny!" screamed Jack, eyes closed as tears forced their way out.

Pitch stood, shocked, more surprised at how his heart, the one he hadn't been convinced he still had, clenched in fear when Jack had fallen, then in guilt when the boy cried out.

Bunny was at the boy's side in an instant, the others gathering around as well, concerned for the sobbing child. Bunny carefully gathered Jack into his arms, letting the little boy cling to him as he screamed, rocking slowly to try and sooth him. North glared at Pitch as if it was somehow his fault and Pitch threw his hand in the air in frustration, not at all sure that any amount of believers were worth this trouble.

This was not starting out well at all.

*Hello! This is going to be some one shots about the adventures of young Guardians! It gets it's own story because it doesn't quite fit in my other one shot story. I hope you enjoy!

Always- Ari