…
Bunny plucked some flowers from the bush not too far away from the nest. These purple roses were Martha's favorite. He wanted to do something special for her and the flowers were the start of it.
He hopped away only to hear Martha waking up. Quickly, he put the flowers away, making a note to get them later.
"Mornin' Martha." Bunny cooed and kissed her forehead.
"Morning." She smiled and stretched before sitting up. "What's on the agenda today?"
Bunny leaned against a tree nearby, "Perhaps we could check on the garden and then head ova' to North's place to see if Jack might need any help."
"Oh yeah… Alright. Let me wash up and then we can head out." With that Martha rose from the nest and kissed Bunny's cheek before heading to the pond nearby.
Bunny smiled at her and watched as she disappeared to wash up. He picked up the flowers and wrapped a ribbon around them to they would stay together. Then he put them in a glass of water to keep them nice and fresh for later.
…
After getting washed and ready, Martha dried off and met up with Bunny by their favorite tree on the hill.
"Ready?" She asked him and he answered with a nod. And so the two went to the garden to check the flowers.
"I hope they are okay today. It's pretty odd they got infected and we don't know how." Martha pointed out.
"Mother Nature said she didn't know but if it was to happen again, that we need to get her." Bunny shrugged. The flowers have dried up and wilted before but not on a bigger scale like what had happened.
"Hmm…" Martha hummed as they continued to walk.
Once at the garden, Martha went to the roses to check them and make sure they were fine. She loved roses. Especially the purple ones. The color and smell was such a pleasing thing to her.
Bunny checked the egg flowers. They were slowly growing in numbers, which was good. The new flowers would replace the ones they lost.
"Everything seems to be going pretty well." Martha shrugged and hopped over to Bunny. She intertwined her fingers in his and smiled.
Aster smiled and kissed her paw, "Same here. Shall we head over to North's now?"
"Sure… But just know, I'm gonna beat you there." Martha snickered.
"No way, mate." He chuckled but had a similar glint in his eye.
"We'll see." Martha giggled and quickly made her escape to the Pole.
"Hey! I thought we were suppose to start at the same time!" Bunny followed soon after.
…
"Ah!" North greeted Martha on her way in, "Welcome! Welcome! What brings you here?"
"Is Bunny here?" Martha asked out of breath.
"Nyet… Did you two race?" North stroked his beard.
Martha nodded and smiled wide, "I beat him!"
"I'M HERE!" Bunny called only to find Martha next to North.
"I beat you!" She laughed and hopped around Bunny.
To which he rolled his eyes and looked up at North, "Do ya need any help, mate?" He winked.
North nodded, "Oh! Of course… Work.. Only you can do… Yes, follow me." The large man put a hand on the easter bunny and brought him away.
"What about me?" Martha asked. Just as she did, Izzy came flying in, "Hey Martha! Wanna come with me and Jack to do some pranking?"
Looking back to North and Bunny who had gotten smaller from walking far away, she shrugged, "Sure."
Izzy smiled, "NICE! Meet me at Jack's lake!" Then she was off.
Martha nodded and made a tunnel to Jack's.
…
"I hope that wasn't too suspicious…" Bunny mumbled.
The larger man waved his hands, "No way… Everything went exactly as planned." He put his hands on the desk and leaned forward, "Now… What is it you wanted to do for Martha?"
…
Isabelle and Jack were waiting at the lake for a short amount of time before something went wrong. Martha hadn't arrived yet.
"What do you think happened?" Izzy asked.
Jack shrugged and looked at her, "I'm not sure, but standing here, staring at her isn't gonna help, now is it?"
"Then try to wake her up." Izzy crossed her arms, "Should I get a stick?"
"No! She's not an animal…" Jack protested.
Izzy held her hands up in defense, "I was just messing…"
Jack looked back at the girl, "I already have a stick anyways…" He muttered.
He gently poked her with it making a frost pattern appear on her arm.
"Who is she?" Martha joined them.
"We don't know yet." Izzy shrugged.
Jack set a hand on the girls arm and shook a bit, "Hey… You okay? Can you hear me?"
The girl shifted a bit and groaned before opening her eyes. Her auburn brown hair slid away from her face to show her bright hazel eyes. She wore freckles on her cheeks and red lip stick. "Jack?"
The frost sprite blinked in surprise as his eyebrows knitted together, "Yes? Who are you?"
She sat up and rubbed her head, "We haven't met properly." She smiled and put her hand out, "I'm the new Cupid."
"Oh."
…
"Alright, I'll have he yetis get this done as soon as possible… Is there anything else? Perhaps some tips and advice?"
"Nah, mate. Thanks anyways… Now I've gotta set up the warren for tonight. Its gonna be a big night." He winked and rubbed his paws together, "See ya later, mate." He tapped his foot and opened a tunnel, and hopped in.
North chuckled and then headed to give the new list to the Yetis.
…
"What do you mean 'new'?" Izzy wondered.
"Well, every few hundred years, the old cupid picks a new one and trains them to take the title of Cupid." The girl explained.
"Really?" Martha hummed in thought.
Jack looked nervous but whipped it from his face to move away and talk to Martha and Izzy.
"Just thought this might be fair warning," He turned to Cupid, "Give us one moment please." Then he turned to Martha. "Bunny and the Cupids have always gotten together."
Martha frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Every time a new Cupid is chosen, they end up wanting to get with Bunny." Jack shrugged, "No idea why, because I'm clearly the better looking of the two of us."
Izzy snorted, "Whatever you want to believe."
"Well, Bunny's taken. And he would never leave me for someone he has yet to meet…" Martha put her hands on her hips. At least she hoped he wouldn't…
Jack turned to Cupid, "Do you have somewhere to be?"
Cupid stood, "No… Not right now."
"Why were you lying in the snow?" Izzy asked.
"You're guess is as good as mine." She shrugged.
"Maybe we should take her to Nor-"
"NO!" Martha yelped. When all eyes were on her, she paused, "I mean… No… way, I should've thought of that first." She chuckled nervously as her ears drooped.
"Oookay…" Cupid gave a curious expression.
There was an awkward silence that hung over them like fog would over the ground.
"North's workshop it is!" Izzy flew off, "Last one there's a frozen turd!" He stuck her tongue out, crossed her eyes, and pulled her nose up to look like a pig before darting away.
Jack looked to Cupid, "Can you fly?"
Cupid smirked and darted up into the sky.
"I'll take that as a yes." He smiled then turned to Martha, "You coming?"
"Yeah… I'll be there in a bit… I… I just need to clear my head.." Martha sighed.
Jack shrugged, "Alright, well, you know where we are." Then he flew to meet Cupid and Isabelle.
As they disappeared into the sky, Martha hugged herself and sighed. She looked down at the ground. This shouldn't be a problem really because she knew Bunny wouldn't just up and leave her. Would he?
Oh he would, because he does care about you… Why do you think he decided to spend the day with North instead of you? He wanted to be as far away from you as possible. You're so clingy to him that he needs to breath. He hates being around you. He hates having to wake up and see you're ugly face.
Martha gasped and put a hand to her mouth. Did Bunny really think that? Deciding to push past these thoughts that strangely appeared in her head, she made a tunnel and hopped away.
…
Upon arriving at the pole, Martha found that everyone had already gotten use to the new Cupid.
North was serving up Hot Chocolate and cookies as Cupid got comfortable in her seat. Jack and Izzy stayed close asking questions and explaining the events the lead up to meeting at North's.
Martha still felt a ping of jealousy, but attempted to set that aside for now. At least Bunny was here. She didn't see him or smell him and had assumed he had gone.
He knew you were coming and bounced. He'd rather not see something so hideous and ruin his day.
Martha frowned and shook her head.
"Martha? You okay?" North asked and went next to her.
"Oh… Yeah.. I'm fine." She feigned a smile.
"Hmm…" North nodded, "Well… Have you seen Bunny at all since you left?"
"No… Where did he go?"
"You should come over and talk with the new Cupid." The jolly man suggested.
"I don't know.. What if something bad happens?" Martha rubbed the back of her neck.
"What could possibly go wrong with you talking to her?" North laughed.
Martha shrugged. It wouldn't hurt to get to know her first.
Famous last words.
Martha's ears twitched as the voice in her head came back. "I guess your right." Then she followed North over to the girl.
That's when Martha got a better look at what she wore.
A sleeveless crop top that was white at the shoulders then faded to pink towards the bottom. A pair of shorts sufficed for her. With a few holes here and there on them and no shoes.
What was with everyone and no shoes? Well, she couldn't say that, she didn't have on any shoes. Of course, no one has made a pair of plus size bunny booties.
"Hey.. Martha was it?" Cupid smiled.
Martha returned it, "Yes… You didn't get hurt did you?"
Cupid shook her head, "Not that I know of… Ya know… You look pretty cool, by the way. Purple is a rad color." She held up her hand in the shape of a 'y'.
The bunny looked down at herself, "Thanks… And I've always loved Valentine's. Just don't shoot me with an arrow. I've already found my true love."
"Really? Are you sure?" Cupid smirked and poked her arm.
Martha blinked, "Yes. I am very sure."
"Who is it?" Cupid prodded.
"E. Aster Bunnymund."
"Ohhh…. He sounds pretty neat. Is he here?" She looked around.
"No."
"Oh.. Then, if he does arrive, I can't wait to meet him."
Martha's smile vanished and she suddenly felt very possessive, "You're not."
"What?"
Jack and North pulled Martha away, "What she means is not today. Bunny is rather busy right now."
Cupid nodded in understanding, "That's fine." Then proceeded to talk to Izzy.
"Martha what are you doing?" Jack asked her.
"Jack did you tell her?" North frowned.
"I thought it would only be fair to her." Jack retorted.
North pinched the bridge of his nose then looked up at Martha, "Do not worry. There is no way Bunny of all creatures would leave you. You two have a special bond and-"
Blah blah blah… specialness… blah blah…. love.. bleh.. You two have none of that. Cupid is going to meet Bunny and he'll drop you like a rotten egg.
"Do you understand?" North questioned.
Martha blinked. She wasn't listening to him at all, "Uh… yeah.. I gotta go."
"Great timing."
Martha turned quickly to the voice. Oh no…
"Bunny! You're just in time to meet the new Cupid." North smiled.
Bunny blinked, "There's already a new one? Where are they?" He looked around.
Martha didn't like how eager he looked about meeting the new girl.
North pulled Martha aside and Jack moved away as well to reveal her talking with Izzy.
The easter bunny tried not to look awed at the sight of her, but she was rather beautiful. However, he had someone else who stumped Cupid anytime.
Cupid looked up just in time to see him staring at her, which made her blush. The two met in the middle and smiled.
"Hello. I'm Cupid. You must Aster," She held out her hand, "Nice to meet you."
Bunny shook it, "Call me Bunny, mate." He smiled back.
There was a moment of silence and Martha didn't like how they were staring at one another.
"Anyway, welcome to immortality." He nodded and let go of her hand. Bunny turned to Martha, "We've gotta go.. I've got a surprise for ya."
Martha's heart lifted back a bit at the sound of that. "O-okay. Great timing indeed." She smiled a bit.
Waving goodbye to the others, the two left to the Warren.
…
"Close your eyes.. And keep them closed." Bunny told Martha. She complied with a smile.
"What did you do?" She sniffed the air.
"No cheating!" Bunny yelped as he lead her to a specific spot.
"Alright… Stay right there…" Bunny got in his position, "Now…. Open."
When she did, she was met with a picnic like area under their favorite tree. Her favorite flowers were there next to some veggies and fruits.
"Whoa…." She smiled, "Is this why you kept me away?"
"Well, I just need to distract you while this all went down." Bunny smiled proud of his work.
Martha gave him a long passionate kiss.
Bunny broke away, "We don't wanna skip to desert too soon, do we?" He chuckled.
"Sorry…" She blushed and looked away.
"What's wrong? Is a picnic not what you wanted? I can change it real quick.."
"No! Its fine." Martha gave a sympathetic smile and took his paw in hers, "Let's just enjoy this time together."
Bunny nodded and lead her to their special spot on the hill.
…
