Name: Jane And The Boys

Summary: Jane has a big decision before her: Who to choose. She is forced to make a quick decision on who to be courted by. Who will she choose?

Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own Jane and the Dragon, its characters, its places, nothing!


Jane stood in the sparring field staring dumbly at the boys around her. Gunther, Jester and Smithy had all just announced their love for her.

"Jane, we don't want to pressure you." Smithy said kindly.

"Yes we do!" Gunther blurted.

"We want you to choose." Jester said flashing a glare to the other two boys.

"Right now?" Jane asked incredulously earning nods from the three boys. "I can't." She responded with a frown at them.

"Why?" The three chorused the demanding question.

"Each of you have benefits and I love you all but I can't be forced to choose with such short notice." She said frustrated that they weren't understanding. She sighed at their intent stares and brushed past them to make her way to her tower. She shut the door behind herself and flopped down on the bed.

"You okay?" Asked Dragon's worried voice from the window.

"The boys are just being stupid." Jane responded sitting up to look at him. His head was upside down as he stared intently at her.

"Short Life boys are not the brightest." Dragon said with a grin. Jane huffed and moved to the window.

"Let's go patrol." Jane said climbing out the window and onto Dragon's neck.

"What are the things you like about them?" Dragon asked as they shot skyward.

"Genius Dragon!" Jane exclaimed clapping gleefully.

"I try." Dragon responded sounding confused. "Why exactly am I a genius?"

"I shall just make a Pros and Cons list." Jane said happily. "Okay, let's start." Jane began.

"Start with floppy hat." Dragon said.

"Jester is funny and he helps me practice sparring. He makes fun of Gunther when I get sad and he goes on adventures with me sometimes." Jane said picturing the blond boy with his blue jester had and puzzled clothes. "Both he and Smithy are always there for me when I need them." Jane said thoughtfully.

"Leather Legs next." Dragon said cheerfully.

"Dragon!" Jane chide lightheartedly. "I must now go though the cons of Jester."

"Fine." Dragon huffed playfully as he spun a circle in the sky.

"Okay, Jester, cons…" Jane mulled as she drummed her fingers on Dragon's hard green scales. "His tricks can bring trouble. He has a hard time being serious and that can be annoying when a situation calls for it." Jane said hesitantly. She had a generally hard time finding faults in her friends.

"Now Leather Legs?" Dragon asked.

"Yes now Smithy." Jane said with a chuckle. "He's sweet and he helps me with my chores when he gets the chance." Jane said thoughtfully. "He's very helpful when I need some advice and when I need someone to listen." Jane said smiling. "Cons…" She pondered for a moment. "He's always so busy." Jane said. "He has so much to do that I fear he would never have time for me." Jane said.

"Next Gunther." Dragon said clearly excited to hear Jane list his shortcomings.

"Gunther isn't one of the ones I'm considering." Jane said tartly. Dragon tried to suppress a laugh but failed. "Oh hush green lips." Jane said laughing with him.

"So it's between floppy hat and leather legs." Dragon said thoughtfully.

"Why can't you ever just call someone by their name?" Jane demanded with a small laugh.

"I call Gunther by his name." Dragon defended. Jane chuckled and consented. They finished off their patrol and Dragon landed in the now vacant sparring field.

"Just ask them to both court you." Dragon said simply. Jane nodded, it seemed like a good idea.

"We shall see how that works." Jane said smiling and scratching Dragon's head just the way he loved.

"Jane!" Called Smithy as he rushed over to her.

"Yes Smithy?" Jane asked turning to him as Dragon took off.

"Have you made up your mind?" Smithy asked hesitantly. Suddenly Jane was struck with the thought of how much courage it must have taken the three boys to express their love together and demand an answer. They knew it was a one in three chance they would be the one she would choose and it was a two in three chance they would get their heart trampled. She had a newfound respect for them.

"Not yet but Dragon came up with an idea that may help if you agree to play along." Jane said hopefully. Smithy looked critical but nodded anyway. "How about we go find Jester and I'll tell you the plan." Jane said smiling sweetly. Smithy trailed after her as she made her way to the kitchen for lunch. The rest of the crew was already eating when they arrived and Pepper rushed to get them bowls.

"So you've chosen him?" Gunther asked harshly.

"No Gunther. I have not chosen yet." Jane responded tartly as she sat down between Smithy and Jester.

"Chosen what?" Pepper asked as she handed the two late arrivals bowls.

"Is this a big decision Jane?" Rake asked.

"I suppose it is a big decision Rake." Jane responded.

"Jane you didn't answer my question." Pepper persisted.

"I'm deciding who I wish to be courted by." Jane responded as she suddenly became very interested in her soup.

"Oh! Who are the choices?" Pepper asked gleefully.

"Gunther, Jester and Smithy." Jane responded tiring of the conversation. "I'm not hungry anymore." Jane said as she excused herself and walked away. She felt five pairs of eyes watching her, boring into her back but she kept walking. She got to the sparring field and pulled out the ragged old dummy and a wooden sword.

"Would you like a sparring partner?" Asked Gunther's voice from behind her. Jane turned around and beheld him standing alone with a wooden sword of his own.

"Gunther it's not going to be you." Jane said quickly. He nodded simply.

"I expected as much. I've never been the most gentlemanly to you." Gunther said slowly.

"Would you like to spar? It's good to release anger." Jane said trying to ease tension.

"No I think I'll go do something…" Gunther trailed off as he walked away. Jane sighed, she felt horrible for hurting him but she decided that it would be worse if she had lead him on. She sighed and returned to attacking her dummy.

"Jane!" Called Jester and Smithy as they approached.

"Ah boys!" Jane said with her usual easy smile.

"You wanted to talk to us before lunch." Smithy said.

"Yes, Dragon came up with an idea that I want to try." Jane said. "If you two would be willing to participate." She finished off with a hopeful smile. She was met by matching frowns and critical eyes.

"What exactly does this plan consist of?" Jester asked clearly wary of physical challenge.

"You will both court me." She said happily.

"I don't see how that would work." Smithy declared.

"It will only last a week or two until I'm able to make a decision on whom I would prefer." Jane responded.

"Ah Jane, you're such a tease." Jester said trying to lighten the situation.

"Would you like to spend dinner with me?" Smithy asked with a grin as Jester shot him a glare.

"So we're starting now?" Jester asked with a frown.

"I'd love to." Jane said with a giggle to Smithy who responded with a massive grin.