Jack stood on the shore of his lake. It was one of the few times he had been able to be left alone since Christmas. For the last three months he was always with one of the Guardians. Most of that time had been with Aster, and what time that wasn't dominated by his mate was spread out among the other three. He couldn't blame them for wanting to spend time with him. Hell he was more than happy to for the first month and a half. After spending almost a year at being looked through Jack loved the constant attention, but it became apparent rather quickly that they could not keep doing it. They were all at the January Guardian meeting and the constant attention was starting to wear thin on Jack's patience. So he decided that a moonlight stroll in the snow alone would do him some good. Jack waited for their attention to be off of him before slipping out. He figured that they could handle an hour without him.
Jack had been gone all of ten minutes before all hell had broken loose. The other Guardians had gone into a panic when they had realize Jack's absence. So much for his moonlit walk. When all of the North Pole was minutes away from a full blown lock down Jack had returned to North's study to find the four Guardian's a nervous reck. The moment they saw him their panic subsided. That mess had ended in an argument. Jack while he could understand why was not in the least bit happy that couldn't leave without all hell breaking loose in his absence. The argument ended with Jack storming off afterwards he was not heard from for two days.
When Jack finally returned he found that the Guardians had not left the Pole in the two days he had been gone. At first he had been annoyed that they had all waited for him to come back, but after a long decision they had come to the realization of why Jack had been mad at them. While they had not always been in Jack's presence, Jack had always been in one of theirs. It was agreed upon then that as long as they had an idea of when Jack would leave and come back they would stop monopolizing his time.
So here Jack sat on the shore of his lake with only Manny. In the time he was alone from the others he would come here. Sometime he and Manny would talk other times Jack was left to his thoughts. Now as he sat fiddling with his snowflake necklace he looked up to Manny.
"Is it finally ready," Jack asked feeling the magic within it.
Yes Jack it is, it is your to give to whom ever you have chosen though I feel as if I already know who that person will be. Manny's voice was calm and gentle. It held all the wisdom he gathered over the years.
"Thank you Manny," Jack said as he let the necklace fall around his neck once more.
You are most welcome Jack. Now I think it is time you return home to Aster before he decides to come looking for you. Jack smile and nodded before he stood up. He let out a small breath before rising into the air. Tomorrow was going to be along day. It was the spring equinox as well as his and Aster's anniversary. It was their first since Jack had returned and though they had wanted to spend it alone North had insisted that they have a party. It became clear after the first hour of arguing that North would not let it go. Eventually they agree to hold the party in the evening so that the two of them would have the morning and afternoon to themselves.
The sun was just starting to rise in the Warren. Its light just starting to filter in through the bedroom window. Bunny laid in bed with his arms wrapped around Jack. Bunny had woken before daybreak as he had done the year before. Thought for some reason thinking that the last three months had been a dream. That Jack was still gone and this would be another anniversary he would have to spin without his mate. It wasn't until he felt the chill of Jack's body pressed against him that he realized it hadn't been a dream. Now Bunny just laid their with Jack wrapped firmly watching as he slept. He thought about how peaceful Jack looked as he slept.
It was another hour before Jack finally woke completely. Bunny was still holding on to him as Jack began to blink the sleep from his eyes.
"G' mornin' love," Bunny said lovingly as he nuzzled Jack's temple.
"Mornin'," Jack replied with a yawn "happy anniversary." Bunny couldn't help but smile at his mate's words. They were two little words that he had though he would never get the chance to hear from him again.
"Happy anniversary," Bunny repeated as Jack turned in his arms so that they were now facing one another. Their eyes meet and they could see only love and joy in each other's eyes. They remained that way until Jack broke the gaze to curl into Bunny's furry chest. The two of them remained that way for what felt like hours.
"Ya know we gotta get up eventually," Bunny said breaking the comfortable silence between them.
"Do we have to," Jack whined through Bunny's fur. Bunny couldn't help but chuckle at the his snowflake.
"Yah snowflake we gotta get up sometime, beside if we don't I can't give ya present til' we get back." At the word present Jack's head shot up. To some existent Bunny had expected to see a bright happy excited look, but what he recived was a look slight confussion and surprise.
"Present, why do I need a present when I've got all I need right here," and with that said Jack proceeded to curl back into Bunny's fur. Bunny could feel his breath catch in his throat. In all the time he and Jack had been mates the only thing Jack had ever wanted from him was him. He remembered when they had been reunited after so long of being apart. Jack wouldn't leave his side. He was always touching him every so often as if he might go through him, but did it anyways just to make sure he was solid. At first, though Bunny didn't mind it, he wasn't quite sure why. Jack had never been the one who constantly needed that kind of interaction, but then it had hit him. Jack had never left him he had been with Bunny form the start. His Jack had spent eleven months without begin seen or touched. As Bunny thought back on those months mostly in the beginning when he had been at his worst that he would feel random chills on his paw or shoulder. He thought he had been imagining it but now that he though about it, had those chills been Jack trying to tell him he was there? Bunny pushed those thoughts aside because all they would do would cause him to become anger with himself, for his own selfishness being to caught up in his own grief to know that Jack was there. The more he thought about it the more it was apparent that he had things easier. He though Jack was gone while Jack had known other wise and was forced to watch Bunny grieve.
"You ok," Jack asked breaking Bunny from his thoughts. Bunny blink realizing he had lost himself in the thought he had worked so hard to forget.
"Ummm...yah just thinkin' thad all. Now lets say we get up so I can give you your present," Bunny asked moving to sit up with Jack still cradled in his arms.
"Sure why not," Jack said after a moment. He had an idea of what his mate had just been thinking about and the insistence of giving Jack his present was just to distract him, but he would let it slide. The last year was something that they all had been trying to forget.
They got out of bed and ready themselves for the day. Jack slipping back into his cloths while Bunny strapped his wrist gantlets and boomerangs on. When they were finally dressed the pair made their way to the kitchen. Much to Jack's surprise the room was filled with vase after vase of snow white lilies and blue roses. On the table sat a small blue velvet box. Jack smiled as he turned to where Bunny was standing trying to hide his pleasure at seeing Jack's reaction.
"So this is what you were doing last night when you wouldn't come to bed," Jack said his voice filled with amusement, happiness, surprise, joy, and above all love. It was the sort of tone that Bunny love to hear, but would only hear if he had succeeded in surprising his Jack with something romantic. Which was hard to do than one would think.
"So I take it ya like it," Bunny asked knowing the answer.
"I love it," Jack replied drawing close for a hug and kiss.
"You gonna open it or look at it," Bunny asked after a few moments nodding to the box. Jack smiled as he moved to open the box. When he saw what was inside his eyes grew big. The small blue box held a ring. It was beautifully crafted out of white gold with blue sapphire and green emeralds meeting one another in perfect harmony with each other. The inside of the band held engravings of snowflakes and Easter eggs. As Jack looked at the engravings his eyes came across Bunny's elegant writing. The words read:
My soul, my heart, my everything
As Jack read the inscription his eyes became a little teary. He looked at Bunny whose only response was to give him a loving smile. Before Jack could say anything Bunny took the ring form Jack and proceeded to kneel.
"Jack," he started taking a long breath "you are my world, you are the only one I know would can brighten my day by just being around. You filled my heart with love and hope when I had none. I know what its like not to have you in my life and I never want to feel that way again. I want you to be in my life for the rest of eternity. Jack will you marry me again," Bunny asked he started to see tears of joy hand happiness start to fall down his mates check.
"Yes, my answer is yes, it will always be yes," Jack said hugging and showering Bunny with kisses. As they held their embrace Bunny slipped the ring onto Jack's finger. It took the winter spirit a moment to realize that the ring had been crafted to fit with his original wedding ring. Seeing the two together he realized how though it was beautiful had look as if it was missing something and now it was finally complete.
"Sorry it took me so long to give it ta ya, I was gonna wait til our 200th but now seem ta be the better time." They held each other in that brace for a long time neither wanting to let go until finally Jack broke away.
"I guess now is as good of time as any to give you yours," Jack said before flying off not waiting to hear Bunny's usual speech about giving him presents.
Jack retuned a moment later carrying a green velvet box similar to the one Bunny had just given him. This one was slightly larger. As Jack handed Bunny the box he received a curious look. Jack wasn't the one to give him jewelry. He had tried one year and although Bunny had appreciated the thought he never wore it. Taking the box from him Bunny proceeded to open it and froze. Before him he saw the snowflake he had wore all through last year. Bunny looked from it to Jack not sure if he should be happy or sad or both.
"Before you say anything Aster let me explain. This past year I saw how you reacted to losing me. I saw you hurt in away I never want to happen again. I've infused a part of myself to this snowflake so that no matter what happens I'll never be far from you. As long as you have this no one not even death can take me away from you, and just to give you peace of mind so long as the center stone never glows brighter that it does now it means that I am safe. This snowflake is a direct link to me it knows when I'm hurt or sad but more importantly it knows when I am happy and safe. Whatever I feel you will feel as well." As Jack spoke he took the necklace from box and place around Bunny neck. Bunny was trying to process what Jack was telling him. He knew why Jack was giving it to him, but he didn't like the thought that he would ever need to use it. Still the last part brought comfort to him. Now he didn't have to worry about Jack because he would always know whether he was okay or not.
"Aster?" Jack said quietly not sure how Bunny was reacting to the gift. Bunny loved up from where he had been staring at the gift.
"Thank you," was all Bunny said and as he said those words he felt a since of relief that he had not felt in moon knows when. When Jack smiled Bunny pulled Jack his mate into a deep passionate kiss. They only broke apart to breath and when they did Bunny looked over to the clock on the wall and smile.
"Ya know we still got several more hours for we gotta be up at North's," Bunny said seductively as he eye the rest of his mate. Jack gave a mischievous smile.
"I'm way a head of you kangaroo," Jack said as he began to pull Bunny back towards the bedroom.
Author's Note: Ok so my muse just wasn't ready to let this storyline go. Any who I have decided to continue this story for as long as I can. I'll up load new chapters as the ideas come to me hopefully not all of them will be as sad because as much as I like this story line it is just so darn depressing. Anyways you know the drill leave me a review and tell me what you think. I could give you a hint as to the next chapter but where would the fun be in that. Until then...