A/N Plz Review! And this is a new Holding Back! A lot has changed! Special thanks to End of Grace! As I said before she is Amazing! So plz review, Favorite, or follow! I hope you enjoy this story because this time I had a lot of fun writing it! I have tried my best!

"Do you want to be my mate?" Bunny asks nervously handing North some roses he had grew from his garden. His whiskers were twitching and through his glasses you can see that the rabbit was wincing.

The Russian cossack looked at the flowers then shook his head, "Neit. I do not."

Bunny was breaking in the inside, though he had not shown it, he had simply nodded and turned away from the man. He had thought that he and Nicholas would be great mates, he had even went out his way to impress the man. His heart had fallen down to his stomach. He had walked away, now at home, but his heart break still stung him.

Present Time

"Do you want to be my mate?" Bunny asks Jack with confidence and unsure-ness. He had given the boy chocolates and even one of his eggies.

Jack blushed and scratched his harm, "I'm sorry Bunny, I think we'd be better as friends and we just got to know each other...I'm sorry but I don't like you that way."

The rabbit glared a bit but as soon as it came it had left. He nodded, and without a second glance at Jack he thumped his foot and jumped through his rabbit hole. When he made it home he had began to plant more of his eggies so they'll bloom just in time for Easter. He had felt a tiny bit hurt by the rejection but at least the young boy had apologized and told why he didn't wish to be mates unlike his last rejector.

"I'll find a mate one day." He told himself in hopes but deep down he knew the chances of someone wanting a rabbit for a mate would be less likely. He didn't wish to admit it but he knew he'd die alone.

All these years he had occupied himself. He busied himself with tedious deeds to get rid of the feeling of loneliness yet there were always times when he wouldn't have any work and start to think about his life. After 300 years, he had finally gained the courage to ask someone to be a potential mate, and again after 300 years he had been rejected. It hadn't been harsh like the first but it did bring back harsh memories.

Bunny was planting his lilac seeds when he thought about his choice. Jack was a very, very young spirit, and their age difference were too large. He was also fun, sometimes annoying, cocky, but there were some good things to the kid.

His heart gave a painful thump, he suddenly regretted ever asking the boy. He knew that he would get rejected. Yet he had ignored his own thoughts and went ahead to ask. His lips began to quiver, thinking of being rejected for the second time made him believe that he was not fit for mate hood.

What could be wrong with him? He'd provide for a mate, he'd do anything to please them. Bunny had hunched over the river and looked at his reflection. Maybe he had looked weird? Or he was unattractive to humans and other creatures? His confidence began to shoot down, he had always believed that he were good looking. Maybe he was wrong?

He looked at his teeth, they were big very bulky. Then he looked over to his fur, maybe he could do a better job of combing it, and maybe he could do something about the tired look underneath his eyes. Had that always been there? He rubbed them warily, had he let himself go? Bunny shook his head, he was in perfect health! He skimmed over his body and found himself very attractive. He gave a small sad smile as he went back to his seeds.

Maybe he could find happiness in loneliness.

:::Currently at the North Pole::::

"Ah! Jack what brings you?" Asks North as he hands the young spirit a mug of cold coco, the youngest favourites. "Summer in Burgess is very hot!"

Jack gladly took the drink but held a look of guilt on his perfect little face.

North could easily tell that something was wrong with the boy as he sat down on one of his grand couches and tapped the spot beside him for Jack to sit down.

"What is matter?" North asks when the boy sat. "Are you sick?"

"No." Jack shook his head and with a deep breath he explained, "Bunny had came to me and asks for us to be mates but I said no, and told him that I couldn't see us in that way"

North blinked before rubbing his beard, "Ah, so he has tried again? I am beginning to feel a bit guilty myself."

"What do you mean?" Jack asks taking a sip of his cold coco and staring at his mentor with pure curiosity.

North gave a small smile, "He has asked me the same many years ago, he had given me flowers and all but like you I had rejected him"

Jacks eyes almost popped out of his head. Bunny had asked North? That's...that's...wow. Jack must have looked funny, because North gave a chuckle. Quickly, Jack fixed himself, "What? How did you do it? When did this happen? How'd he take it?"

North sighed as he recalled his past, "I was very young Jack, a mortal at the time and it was a few years after the guardian's had been assembled that he had come to me. He was very nervous. I could tell by the way his paw shook when he handed me flowers. At that time, I believe that Bunny was taller than me and a bit more powerful...Anyway, I told him no and that I did not want to be mates and he nodded and left."

"Thats it?" Jack asks then thinks about what had happened a few hours ago. Bunny had simply nodded and left. "Had he tried again?"

"No." North shakes his head, "I had made myself clear that I had no intention of a relationship with him."

Jack looked down, now he didn't feel so bad that he wasn't the first to do so... But he had also felt worse because he was the rabbits second rejection. That had to hurt the pookas pride.

"Yet I do feel bad." North admitted. "I shouldn't have done him so harshly."

"How long did it take you guys to start back on talking terms? After a rejection like that I think he'd be too upset to talk to you."

North shook his head, "We were still on talking terms but talk had only been about business as it is now, after that we had not spoken of it nor do any of there other guardian's know about it. So out of respect, I say you do not speak of his rejection to anyone."

Jack nodded. "Has he asked anyone else?"

"I do not think so." North thinks back, "If he has, I have no memory of it."

"North...would you...if he asks you again would you...what would you do?" Jack asks uncomfortably. "What would your answer be the next time?"

"Are you wishing for him to ask you again?"

"No!" Jack waved his hands up. "No! I just want to know what you'd do."

North tapped his chin in deep thought about his answer. "I honestly do not know Jack, Bunny has been very nice this year, he has also let go of some grudges...I would hate to break his heart once more."

Jack nodded, he understood North's feelings. And he really couldn't blame the man, it was not his fault that he wasn't into the pooka. He slowly rose from his seat.

"Thanks North, I feel better. I knew coming to you would help me." Jack smiled.

"No problem, just come talk to me when you have any other problem." North smiles patting him on the back. "Now go run off with your friends."

Jack smiled and flew off feeling happier than before.

North on the other hand was not feeling so good. He ran a hand through his thick gray hair, he had not expected Jack to come over with that type of news. Of course, he knew that Bunny would look for a mate after being rejected but asking Jack? Did Bunny believe he would not find out? North felt a tug of his heart as he thought about the poor rabbit. He could only imagine how terrible he had to be feeling after another rejection.

" бедняга," He mumbled, standing up from his seat and walked into his office. "Maybe I should call him over and cheer him up? Or throw party to get it off his mind?"

North was too deep in thought to hear his colleague. Phil grumbled before poking his employer.

"Hmm?" North turned around. "Oh Phil! What is matter?"

The yeti mumbled in yetish saying that the elves had caused chaos in the upper layer of the Pole. North groaned as he thought of all the possibilities his little elves could have done this time to make such a big mess.

Phil again grumbled in yetish asking North what he had been thinking about before he had came in.

"Oh just a way to get everyone hyped for summer." North says casually, it wasn't a lie but it wasn't fully the truth. "Very hard to come up with plan."

Phil nodded before taking off to the upper sector leaving the man to think.

::::At the Warren::::

Bunny had finished his seeds. He was bored. He had taken a bath, groomed himself, seen new clothes which he was not going to wear and had baked enough cupcakes to feed every child in Burgess which he had done.

Summer was a boring season. Anyone could admit that, even the children could tell you that. Summer was meant for relaxing but relaxing too much can be so boring, sure sometimes there had been excitement but it was not as good as people say it was. Kids often got bored from being away from friends, and the same for adults. Yeah, most can go out and have fun but really there wasn't much to do. The sun was always out, it was hot, bugs were out and about stinging and biting people, then allergies were so terrible some couldn't not leave the house. It was just overrated.

"Maybe I should do some cleaning?" He mumbled to himself. He was trying to ignore his emotions and forget about everything that had happened early. "Or go help some summer spirits plant their gardens?"

Being a spring spirit, Bunny enjoyed summer. It was his sister season, however he wouldn't admit that summer was better than spring. Spring was the best season in his opinion. It was not as hot, flowers were sprouted everywhere, bugs were less in sight and it was more fun especially spring break. Kids could still see their friends and have fun to their hearts content. But Bunny would help any summer spirit that needed it since they were so close.

"I'll find something to do." Bunny says as he crawled into his small nest. He sniffed the air, something was up in the air. In only a small second Bunny had been able to catch onto the smell. His face frowned, teeth bared, and his heart again fell.

Summer was fun for some for one reason...It was a time for mating season.

Though it was far away Bunny had great sense of smell and could smell spirits mating with another. He curled up farther in his nest, hugging himself tightly. His own senses wavering as his eyes stung from tears gathering. He could feel each tear fall down his cheek, he finally began to cry after all those years of loneliness and with each tear he had gotten louder. Smelling the others mating did not make him feel any less better.

Sorrowfully, he dragged himself out of bed, wiped his face, and began to clean his Warren. Every five seconds or so, he would sniff and wipe away tears.

He could still smell them...more and more of them...He couldn't take it anymore. His heart jumped, skipped, and cried for him to find love. He just couldn't do it. He was afraid of another heartbreak, he was afraid that he'd be ridiculed again. He gave out a loud cry and choked a sob. Without a thought he thumped his foot, wanting to go wherever he could to get away from the scents. He felt cold wind ghost over his face, and snow drop onto his skin.

Bunny opened his eyes. He shivered looking right in front him, he saw the North Pole. He was only a few feet from the front door. He sniffed walking up to the door. He couldn't smell the scents anymore. However it was just so cold, he began to feel frost on his fur build up almost freezing him to death. He gave a knock on the huge doors to the winter wonderland.

The door swung open. Standing on the other side was Phil, North's assistant, looking at Bunny with pure shock.

"Can...can I come in?" Bunny stumbled a bit as he made his steps in side the Pole.

Phil motioned for the rabbit to sit on one of the many seats of the living room like place of the Pole while he would go fetch North and maybe a hot chocolate for the freezing pooka.

Bunny looked around. He had been in the Pole many of times and he still was amazed at the crafted work North had put into it. He sniffed again, and rubbed his eyes. He was tired too. He hadn't slept at all today and his stomach was empty. He was too busy trying to occupy himself he forgot to eat.

"Aster?" North asks astonished by his friends appearance. The rabbit looked a mess! His eyes were pink, he had bags underneath them, and it looked as if he had been run over by a truck.

Bunny turned his to North, then looked down at the floor embarrassed. He had no plans on how to explain himself. "I...I wish to stay here but only for a little while...Maybe until summer is over?"

"What?" North was still taking in his friend's appearance and this news was a lot. "What is wrong? Is something wrong at Warren?"

The rabbit paused, looking all over except for North's eyes. "I..It's personal mate."

"Well, I will tell yetis to show you to your rooms and-" North was caught off by a rumbling sound. He turned to look at Bunny who was looking more shy and embarrassed.

"S-sorry mate, I...I haven't eaten all day." Bunny wrapped his arms around his stomach. His eyes still not on North.

North had never seen Bunny so unorganized. He gulped before nodding. "Da, I would cook if you like." He offered.

Aster nodded, "I-I'd like that very much."

"Phil!" North called out. In a flash the yeti was beside North listening to some orders. "Please show Bunny to one of the guest rooms. I will be in kitchen if you need me."

After Bunny had been shown his room he laid down on the oversized bed, snuggling deep inside the covers. He looked around mesmerized by the decor. Was everything in the Pole so grand and rich? He could only imagine how luxurious North's room had to be.

An hour had passed when he had heard a knock on his door. It slowly opened and North came in with a tray of food. Bunny quickly sat up at the smell of delicious eats. North had placed the tray right in front of him. Bunny eyes it, mouth watered. It felt like he hadn't eaten in days. There was soup, bread, two large baked potatoes, a side of fruit, three small brownies, and finally a large glass of milk to gulp. He stared at it.

"Is this all for me?" He asks hovering over it like a starving dog.

North chuckled. "Da, it is."

"Thank you." Aster says not sure in what to eat first. He was still deciding on whether the potatoes or the soup.

North smiled as he watched his friend then a look of concern spread across his face. Had all this happened because he had been rejected again? Had Aster starved himself? And telling from his eyes, he must have been crying as well. Though North knew that it was right by not bringing up the subject. It would only upset the pooka more. But what had brought him here to the Pole? Was he afraid?

"This is-mmmh~- really good mate." Aster said as he stuffed his face with bread and potatoes. He had already gulped the soup down.

North clicked back into reality blushing a bit, "Thank you, Aster."

As soon as he finished, Bunny wiped his face, and looked at North uneasily, "Mate, if I'm gonna be staying here I wanna help out and stuff...anything that needs to be done around the Pole I'll do it."

"You don't have to do a thing." North waves it off. "There isn't much anyway, you can just stay and relax."

"Please Nick, I wanna do something." Bunny pleaded. He didn't wish to stay in the Pole without doing a thing to help. He'll feel lazy and seem unappreciative. "I'd do whatever."

North sighed a little, "We will see in morning Aster."

Bunny nodded, he watched as North turned to leave the room. The man was almost halfway out the door until he heard Bunny mutter, "Goodnight."

Nick paused for a second. "Good...Goodnight to you too, Bunny."

Aster felt his heart warm, an old love beginning to rekindle in the depths of his heart. He shook his, and pushed the feeling away. He didn't want his love for Nicholas to reappear, it had never left actually, it was just waiting for a time to show back up. He placed the tray on the nightstand beside him and slowly dragged the bed covers above him. Once he was snuggled deep, he allowed himself to smile.

"Night Nick." He said to himself as he fell asleep.