A loud thump woke me from my sleep.

Well, woke was a rather gentle word; it was more like startled. It took me a moment to realize I had fallen asleep in the living room of my small apartment. The soft glow of the morning sun seeped through the light blue sheer curtains, merging with the light of my small tv that was playing one of those early morning paid advertisements. Falling asleep on the couch was not an entirely strange event; being both a full time college student and a part time employee at a bakery meant many mornings waking up after falling asleep after a long night studying. What was strange was the soft blue fleece blanket usually draped on the back of the couch was now pooled around my hips and legs, and my textbooks I had been studying were now stacked neatly on the coffee table. A smile spread across my lips when I saw the delicately painted pink egg sitting on top of my books. A reminder and a gift from my own favorite Guardian.

Today was Easter Sunday.

My smile became a grin as I jumped off the couch and picked the egg up. It was painted with a brilliant pink gradient with golden glittery swirls. It was beautiful, just like every first egg I found on Easter since I was a toddler.

"You're suppose to hide the eggs, Bunny," I whispered softly to myself, admiring his handiwork. Every year I was convinced that they couldn't get more beautiful. Every year I was proven wrong.

The thought made me glance to the clock on the wall, my heart jumping when I realized it was seven in the morning. The Burgess Annual Easter Egg Hunt was at ten, but volunteers were suppose to be at the park by eight to set things up. I pressed a gentle kiss to the egg before setting it up on my knickknack shelf, then hurried to my room to change. After throwing on a plush pink sweater and a pair of jeans, I grabbed a hairbrush and paused in front of the mirror on my vanity. There were faint dark circles under my green eyes: the mark of a college student with a full time job. I didn't bother to put on makeup to hide the marks, but quickly combed my messy blonde hair, not that it helped much. I tried in vain to get it to look marginally better than a windblown mess before giving up after a few minutes and rushing out the door, heading for the park.

Maybe I could catch Bunnymund while hiding a few eggs myself.

::...::

When ten o'clock rolled around, the sun was shaded behind thin grey clouds, making me glad I picked out a sweater beneath my jacket. I was stationed back amongst the trees of the park, keeping an eye on the dozens of children searching for eggs. While planting the simple plastic eggs with various things from the sponsors of the egg hunt, I had seen quite a few painted eggs that were from the true Easter Bunny. They were all pretty, but none as beautiful as the one resting in my apartment. It warmed and tickled my heart to think he had put a little extra work for me, even after all these years. While I saw Bunnymund only a few days out of the year, we still managed to be close friends; closer than any of the other Guardians, save Jack.

"Not a bad turn out, eh ankle biter?"

The thickly accented voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I grinned at Bunnymund, who had suddenly and silently appeared next to me. He returned my smile with one of his slight half-smiles that caused my heart to quicken slightly. Even after knowing him and the others all my life, I felt a rush whenever I saw any of them. The thrill of childhood magic and wonder still fresh after all these years. But I had to admit, when I caught sight of the six foot lean bipedal rabbit there was a whole other reason my heart jumped a beat.

I didn't say a word but turned and pounced on him with a delighted laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck as I buried my face in the soft fur of his chest. His deep chuckle resonated through our bodies as he wrapped his arms around my waist, both supporting me and pulling me even closer. This was one of my most favorite feelings in the word; to have his strong arms around me, pulling me tight against a body both firm and soft. Being able to breathe in what I could only define as the scent of Spring. A scent that was masculine but soft, some how conveying the new hope and promises his holiday promised.

I could never grow tired of any of it, and only regretted that I could only bask in it a few times a year.

"I missed you too," he whispered, squeezing me gently one last time before letting go. There was a small smirk on his face as he looked at me with a fake critical eye. He made a show of judging how high the top of my curls came to his chest- not even to his shoulders. "You're not still growin', are ya?"

I rolled my eyes, a smile still stuck on face as I swatted him playfully. "No, Bunny. I'm twenty one years old now, an official adult. No more growing for me." Saying it had a bittersweet feeling to it. I was an adult, expected to be sensible and independent, yet being around any of the Guardians of Childhood, I was both treated and felt a bit like a kid. Especially when Bunnymund ruffled my already messy hair, just as he had done for years.

"Maybe, but you'll always be an ankle biter to me." It was virtually the same words, the same reunion every year. In one way it was nice being treated the same despite after having all the responsibilities of an adult thrusted upon me, but on the other hand I wished that Bunny, along with the other Guardians, would see me more than just Jamie's baby sister. In a way, I still felt that teenage problem of being caught in between two worlds. In more ways than one.

I pushed those thoughts aside and snuggled underneath his arm as we watched the children of Burgess riffle through the underbrush for eggs. A few would catch sight of the tall blue rabbit as we lounged on the tender grass, giant grins lighting their faces as he pulled a gift for them from the holster on his side. I doubted there was a single child in Burgess that didn't believe in at least the 'Big Five'; Jack Frost, North, Tooth, Sandy, and of course, Bunnymund.

This was how my Easters were spent since I entered high school. Once I was deemed 'too old' for the hunts, I started to volunteer as help. Bunnymund would show up once eggs were successfully hidden and would take a well deserved break to watch the kids enjoy his hard work. And since I was now one of the main coordinators, working on organizing the event the whole year, I knew exactly how he felt.

Tomorrow, we would start over from step one. However, today I was just going to relax and bask in my accomplishment.

"Heard ya' finally decided what you're gonna major in," Bunny finally spoke, breaking the comfortable silence. The clouds had grown thicker, and I had a feeling that Bunnymund wasn't the only Guardian in town. But while Jack would drop in from time to time to check up on me, he spent more time with my brother and his kids. He was my brother's best friend, absolutely adored Jamie and Pippa's twins; and my niece and nephew absolutely loved their Uncle Jack.

I snuggled closer towards Bunny's warmer body, telling myself that the cold was the only reason why I wanted to be closer, even though I was already nearly plastered to his side. "Yeah, early childhood education. I want to be an elementary school teacher, anywhere between kindergarten and fourth grade."

Bunnymund looked down towards me, a look of pride in his own green eyes. "You'd be a great teacher, Soph. You're pretty good with the little ankle biters."

I nudged his side slightly, "I learned from the best. Besides, between me and Jamie's books, maybe we can set the stories straight."

He huffed slightly, a mock scowl on his face. "Speaking of which, did he have to put that bit about me turning..."

"Cute and fluffy?" I finished with a sly smile. Jack had told us about Bunny's reaction to Jamie's newest book, taken from our first encounter with the Guardians. "But you were so adorable! I wish I could've seen it in real life."

"And have ya' lose all respect for me? I think not," even through his words were severe, there was a smile on his lips. "Tch, I was hoping after almost nineteen years your brother and his friends wouldn't remember that part."

I didn't even try to stop the giggles from bubbling up. "Ah, don't worry, I still respect you." There was a moment before I impulsively reached up, taking a chance as my fingers found that spot of fur along his jaw where it and his neck joined. My heart jumped as his eyes fluttered close in bliss once I started to scratch. He allowed the action for a moment before pulling my hand away with a poor attempt to look angry.

"I told you to not to do that," he growled half heartedly, keeping my hand in a tight grip.

I twined my fingers with his, "I know, but I can't help it. The big tough bunny melting with a just few scratchings. Besides, you know you love it."

He gave an awkward cough, and if was anyone else, I could have sworn he was blushing, but with white fur covering his cheeks I had to rely on his expression alone. He looked sufficiently embarrassed, almost as good as the blissful look earlier. "That's-that's totally besides the point."

I was about to make a comment when a chilly wind swept through the small clearing, taking any warmth with it. Bunny pulled me closer, both of us looking up when we heard a signature laugh paired with the glee-filled screams of two small children. Sure enough, Jack blew over head, holding my niece and nephew Cassidy and James in his arms.

"Bloody show pony," Bunnymund grumbled, protecting me from the northern wind. It wasn't surprising when fat large flakes of snow began to fall. "Can't even give me one bloody day out of the year."

I glanced at my watch, then towards the field to see kids growing excited by the snow. "The egg hunt is pretty much over anyways," I offered a smile when he looked down at me. "It's nearly one now." I could easily understand the surprise that flashed across his eyes. It hadn't felt like three hours, just sitting and watching the kids run about. Three hours snuggled to my best friend, thought to be an imaginary figment of childhood imagination by many of my peers.

He huffed quietly, his ears drooping slightly. I took that as a sign that I wasn't the only one not wanting this to end. It had too though, of course. He had more important things to do then lounge around, and I had a lot of cramming to do before class tomorrow. We both stood up, stretching to loosen muscles. A pleasant shiver ran through me as his hand settled on my waist softly, warm affection reflected in his eyes. "Ya want me to take ya home, ya little ankle biter?"

I smiled and nodded my head. "Yeah, that'd be nice." Having done this a few times before, I wrapped my arms around his neck while his arm wrapped fully around my waist before he thumped the ground.

"Hold on," he warned with a slightly devious smile before we jumped in.