A/N I'm not warning for any particular pairing for two reasons. The first is the simple fact that I don't want to spoil the surprise. The second reason is because the ending will make a mention of who he likes but he won't actually end up with anyone in this story. It's more of a pre-pairing story. The two choices are Tooth and Aster. If you have a problem with Jack being paired with either, even if it's just barely a mention, then you shouldn't read this. Otherwise, I hope you like it, let me know. :)

The Bet

Jack Frost was a looker, there was no doubt. Plenty of immortals were attractive, of course, but something about the young sprite's snow-white hair, crystalline blue eyes and fair skin had caught the attention of many, in the world beyond human sight, shortly after his first appearance . In fact, it wasn't just those of their world either. Some of Jack's friends teased him because a few of his, growing in numbers, believers seemed to have little crushes on the winter spirit too.

Jacks' fellow Guardians, it seemed, weren't immune to his bewitching looks either. Tooth seemed quite infatuated with Jack even before he became a Guardian, whether that was more due to his teeth than the rest of him, however, was debatable. There was no doubt though that the fairy saw Jack in a light that had her fawning like a school-girl. She would easily blush in Jacks' presence, stutter her words or become unusually clumsy. Jack and her had become friends quickly and she seemed content with that for the time being but there was a certainty she would love for things to change into something more.

The other Guardian was less obvious by far. Having a clear disdain for the frost sprite for so long no one would have noticed anything about the Easter spirit to suggest he looked at Jack Frost at all, other than an occasional glare. No one would have thought the Pooka ever took time to admire Jacks' beauty. But that was before. Before Jack had become a guardian, before they earned each others respect and before their acquaintanceship had turned into friendship.

Aster was less obvious than the tooth fairy but his friends noticed. They noticed the lingering looks when he thought no one was watching. They paid attention to the way he inquired about Jacks' welfare when he hadn't seen the boy in a while. They also noticed the way he had changed since Jack became a Guardian. Aster seemed younger somehow. He was able to have fun again. He could be found racing Jack when neither of them were busy or seen spending time with the children during Easter, sometimes even when Easter was over. The spirit even seemed to have more time for his fellow Guardians too, time he didn't seem to have before. He just seemed more content and relaxed than he had been in ages. Their friends knew it was thanks to Jack. They knew the two had developed a strong friendship but had their suspicions the spirit of spring longed for something more. Of course, if asked about it, Aster was bound to deny it vehemently.

Jack showed little interest in most of those that should interest in him. His believers' crushes, he found sweet but knew they were nothing more. He had made friends with some of the other immortals beside the Guardians but he just saw them as friends and any of them who had been pushy in their advances had quickly realized, this beauty had bite. Jack was more interested in having fun and spending time with the Guardians, whom had become like a family to him over the years, than he was in becoming a suitor or finding one.

There were two among them all that Jack did seem to show a bit of interest in, Tooth and Aster. What he saw the two as, time would tell. North, of course was a father figure to Jack, Baby Tooth, a sister, Sandy, a fun uncle and he had become close to one of the yeti, Phil, who was almost like a brother to the winter sprite. Tooth and Aster were friends but their other roles were undefined.

North and Sandy had talked about these things before and now they talked again.

"Tooth," North began. "She is better suited for him" he stated firmly, arms across his chest.

Sandy frowned. A question mark appeared above his head.

"I like Bunny," North replied, his arms dropped to his sides."I do but Tooth, she's younger, cheerier," he rubbed the back of his neck when he noticed Sandy was still frowning. "She's less, well, less Pooka." he gestured with his hands.

Sandy fought a chuckle at Norths' hand gestures and simply raised an eyebrow. "What is North getting at anyway? Both Bunny and Tooth had human and animal qualities. What was the tooth fairy anyway, small part human but more than anything she was a giant bird." he thought.

North sighed in defeat. "Okay, so it's giant bird or giant rabbit." He shrugged. "Jack will still choose Tooth."

Sandy shook his head in disagreement. A bunny hopped above his head.

It was Norths' turn to shake his head. "No, no, he' too old, too grumpy"

Sandy gave North a pointed look. They both knew Aster had changed a lot the last few years.

North slapped a hand down lightly on his desk. "I know," he read his friends' face. "Still will be Tooth."

Sandy shrugged and smiled. A dark little nightmare appeared above his head.

"That's not funny." North narrowed his eyes. "If Jack has romantic feelings for Pitch, I'll eat reindeer." Sandy pulled a face. North laughed, patting his stomach with a hand. "That won't happen." Sandy nodded his agreement. "Tell you what," North smiled at Sandy. "We make bet."

Sandy thought for a moment, yeah, betting on your friends' love life probably wasn't right but when you're immortal you need to find new ways to pass the time. He then sent North a puzzled look as a question mark appeared above his head next to a wrapped gift.

Norths' smile grew. "Who will Jack choose?" He pointed at Sandy, "You say Bunny" He pointed to himself, "I say Tooth." He then gestured out the window. "You win, you get sleigh for a week, I win, you watch elves the week before Christmas."

Sandy smiled and nodded. He held out a hand for North to take. They shook hands, it might be a long wait to see if Jack would choose one of the two guardians as a partner but it was a deal.