Hey, guys! A lot of people wanted me to add on to this, so here's chapter 2! I've decided to make this a three-shot, and I already have ideas for the last chapter. Just as a forewarning, I took a lot of liberties with this chapter. I did some investigating into Bunny's background, from RotG Wiki to rereading the books to reading other fics. I couldn't find much about it, so bear with me, alright?

Also, can you guys do me a favor? I have a question for you in the A/N at the bottom. Please take a look at it, okay?

Disclaimer: I do not own The Rise of the Guardians. The characters and story are the property of Dreamworks Animation and William Joyce.

History

Since their little tête-à-tête, Bunny had made it a point to spend more time with the neglected frost sprite. Jack was shocked, but pleasantly surprised, when he found Bunnymund searching for him in the open, southern tundra a few days later.

"So, Cottontail. Ya missed me that much?"

Bunny jumped a foot in the air and spun around to face Jack, an irritated scowl on his face, "Oi, wha' are ya tryin' ta do? Scare the livin' daylights outta me?"

"Aw, did I scare the poor wittle bunny wabbit?"

Bunnymund crossed his arms, "Oh, har-hardy har har, very fu-funny, Frostbite."

"I thought so," Jack chuckled. Bunny muttered something too low for Jack to catch, making him laugh all the more, "So, what are ya doing in my neck of the woods, anyway?"

Aster rubbed his paws up and down his arms, trying to keep warm, "I though' y-ya migh' wa-wanna help me with the goo-googies today," Bunny's teeth chattered as he spoke. He hopped back and forth from one foot to the other; he was starting to lose feeling in his feet.

Jack could see how badly the cold was affecting Bunny, "Why don't we take this conversation back to the Warren before you freeze your ears off."

"Bloody bri-brilliant idea," the sarcasm was nearly tangible, but Jack ignored the jab in favor of getting Bunnymund to a warmer location.

With a few stomps of the foot, the two Guardians were in the grassy plains of the Warren, right outside the entrance to Bunny's burrow. They settled down a few feet away; Bunny was splayed out on the hilltop, basking in the warmth of the ever blissful sun, while Jack leaned back against the trunk of a tree a few feet away, relaxing in the shade, his shepherd's crook laying across his lap.

"So, Kangaroo, what did you want my help with today?" Jack asked a few minutes later, after Bunnymund's teeth had stopped chattering.

The Pooka's head was pillowed by his arms, his eyes closed, "I wanted ta see if ya wanted ta help me start gettin' the fields ready to plant the googies fer next Easter."

"It's only August. Isn't it a little early to plant anything for next spring?"

Bunny peeked one eye open and looked at Jack, a smirk on his lips, "My googies ain' just any ol' plants, Frostbite. They need more time an' attention than any ol' plant fer them ta grow properly. 'Sides, the Warren is eternal spring, remember? S'not like yer gonna come in here an' create a blizzard an' ruin all my googies, righ'?" Both of his eyes were narrowed as he craned his neck around to stare at Jack.

The winter sprite held up his hands defensively, "'Course not, Cottontail. After what happened this past Easter, I'm gonna do everything I can to help make next year perfect for you," the sincerity in Jack's voice nearly made Bunny's chest burst with gratitude and pride. The kid was finally starting to understand.

Bunny stood up and stretched, popping out the kinks and knots in his neck and back. He scratched behind his ear and beckoned Jack to follow him with a yawn, "C'mon, Snowflake, we got a bit of walkin' ta do. Let's get goin'." The boy fell into step next to him as they began their trek to the "Googie-Garden" as Bunnymund jokingly called it.

It took them a good hour and a half to reach the field. The winter sprite got bored quickly, and began pestering Bunny along the way; poking him in the side, flicking his ear, hip-checking him, little things to annoy him. Bunny, for the most part, took it in stride, ignoring it as much as he could. But when Jack thought it would be funny to yank on his tail, Bunny was pushed over the edge.

"Frostbite!"

With a laugh, Jack was in the air and just out of Bunny's grasp. He flew off in the general direction in which they had been going, Bunny hot of his heels.

"Get back here, ya lil' larrikin! When I get my paws on ya, yer in so much trouble, buster!"

"Gotta catch me first, Cottontail!"

The last half hour was spent like this, throwing playful insults at each other as Bunny tried to tackle Jack out of the sky. When they'd reached the garden, Jack was so blown away by the sheer size of it, he was distracted enough for Bunny to lunge at him. The Pooka wrapped his furry arms around Jack's waist and knocked him to the ground, the two of them sliding a few feet in the dirt.

"Ah ha! Gotcha, ya rascal!" But Jack was too preoccupied to offer a witty retort.

"Bunny, this place is gigantic! Do you plan on filling up the whole field with eggs?" Indeed the garden was huge, at least a few miles in every direction, rows upon rows of aisles that had already been plowed out, ready for sewing the seeds, "There has to be at least a hundred rows here!" This was going to be a lot harder than he had thought. The taste-testing had been fun- and delicious- but the manual labor…not so much. The two Guardians stood, and brushed the dust from their bodies.

"'Course. How d'ya think I get all of the googies that I need to spread Easter all over the world? One lil' patch of dirt ain' gonna be enough," his eyes skimmed over the field proudly before looking back at Jack, "Sixty-four hundred acres of freshly plowed earth. Ain' she a beaut? Ready ta get started, mate?"

Jack's shoulders slumped, "As I'll ever be, I guess." Bunny could see the resigned, and slightly put off, look in his eyes.

"Aw, buck up, kid! It'll be a big help ta me if ya do this for me. We can turn it into a game, yeah? A competition ta see who can get their rows done the fastest. Wha' d'ya say, mate?"

A grin started spreading across the winter spirit's face at the word "game". He let out a whoop and jumped into the air, flipping over twice before landing, "Oh, you're on, Kangaroo." They both grabbed baskets filled with seeds that had been placed off to the side; well, Bunny grabbed one, hefting it onto his shoulders like a backpack with ease. Jack struggled to lift his off the ground a few times- the baskets themselves were almost as tall as Bunny, and probably just as heavy.

Perhaps this little competition wasn't such a good idea after all.

"Hey, Jackie, need a lil' help back there?" Bunny mocked jokingly as he stopped a few feet away.

"Nah, I'm…good…I got this, Kangaroo," he huffed under the weight of the basket. It took him another five minutes to get a good grip on the straps and lift them up onto his own shoulders. He stumbled back a bit, nearly toppling over, but quickly regained his balance and trudged forward, barely keeping pace with the Pooka.

Three hours and two more satchels of seeds each later, and they still weren't even a quarter of the way done.

"Jeez, Bunny, How do you do this every year?" Jack wheezed as he stood, shifting his body back until he felt a satisfying crack.

"Kid, I've been doin' this for a long time. After a while it becomes secon' nature ta ya," Bunny responded, not looking up from his work.

"Yeah, but how can you do this by yourself? It's a lot of work for one person to handle on their own."

As Jack crouched down to plant another seed, he missed the pained look that crossed Bunnymund's face. The Pooka stopped mid crouch and let out a steadying breath. He felt a lump catch in his throat as he glanced over his shoulder towards the winter spirit. The boy just continued on with his task, not noticing that Bunny had stopped. Anger bubbled up in his chest for a moment. How could he just ask that question without a second thought? Didn't he know…didn't he understand how painful those memories were?

The anger quickly subsided and was replaced with shame and regret. No, the child didn't know. How could he know? Aster had never told him about his past, his life before being chosen as a Guardian. Not even the others knew all of the details surrounding his history (sans perhaps Sandy, old as he is).

But now that the memories had resurfaced, what was he supposed to do? It had taken him decades, centuries actually, to suppress them. He could feel tremors involuntarily racking his body. He knew Jack would notice it soon enough. The boy was by no means stupid, there was no way to hide an emotional breakdown from him. Especially one that had built up over so many years.

When Jack's question was met with silence, he peered up at Bunny. The Guardian of Hope was hunched over and shaking. The basket of seed had slipped off of his back, spilling onto the ground.

"Bunny?" No response. The sprite dropped his own satchel and floated over to his companion. He squatted down next to him, trying to read his expression. Bunny turned away from him, "Bunny? What's wrong?" When he still didn't get an answer, he started to panic, "Did I do something wrong? If I did, I'm sorry. I- I didn't know. I-"

Bunny shook his head, "Nah, mate. Ya didn' do anythin' wrong. No worries," the words came out thick and slightly slurred. He turned back to face the winter spirit and smiled. But Jack knew. The lines of Bunny's face were turned down slightly and his eyes didn't have that springtime spark that they always had. He could also tell that the smile was fake. His lips were pursed in a way that any other person would miss.

But not Jack. He could tell. He himself had shown enough false smiles and phony grins that it was obvious to him that Bunny was not okay.

"You're lying."

"Wha'?"

Jack sighed, "I'm not an idiot, you know. I can tell that you're not okay." He stood and walked around to face the giant rabbit, then kneeled down in front of him, "I want you to know…I need you to know that you can talk to me. I know we've had our differences, but I do care about you. You're my friend. You were there for me when we had that talk the other day, and I want to be there for you, too. You can trust me."

Bunny's fake smile dropped. The kid knew. He knew. There was no point in keeping up the charade. One word broke his fragile cover.

Trust.

Could Bunny trust him? The boy who had been a thorn in his side for so many years? The kid who played pranks on him at least a few times a week? The Guardian who had save his life not even six months ago? The child who, just days ago, had opened up to him in a way that he knew he hadn't opened up to anyone before? Jack trusted him.

Could he return the favor?

Could he trust Jack Frost?

Yes, yes he could.

"C'mere, kid," Bunnymund's voice was gruff and quiet, but Jack heard him and followed him to a patch of clover a few yards away from the garden. A small, bubbling brook wound past them as they sat; Bunny was slightly curled in on himself, back hunched and knees bent. Jack stretched out on the ground and leaned back on his hands, head cocked to the side in curiosity.

"Where ta begin?" Bunny muttered to himself, cupping his chin in his paw.

"At the beginning would be good," the winter sprite joked, and he was relieved to see some of the tension drain from the Pooka's shoulders. He sat up straighter and looked at Jack.

"Thanks, Frosty," Bunnymund chuckled, "Well, ta start out, I wan' always the only one 'ere. This place used ta be filled with Pookas like me."

"Pookas? Is that a special breed of bunnies?"

Bunnymund smirked, "Ya really think tha' I'm some lil' forest animal from the planet Earth, kid?"

"Um…no?" Jack stuttered, his mind trying to wrap itself around this new information. Bunny wasn't from Earth? That thought hadn't even crossed the boy's mind. Sure, he knew that Bunny was one of a kind, but he's always figured it to be an immortal thing, or something like that…not some space rabbit from beyond the stars…or wherever he was from.

Where was he from?

How old was he?

And what the hell was a Pooka?

He voiced the last question, though a bit more delicately, and Bunny rubbed his temples before responding.

"A Pooka is…well…it's kinda hard ta explain. We used ta travel the universe and take care of the planets. Make sure everything was safe an' runnin' smoothly, ya know?"

Jack's eyes were wide with awe, "That sounds so cool. So you were, like, protectors of the universe, huh?"

Bunny smiled fondly at him, "Yeah, ya could say tha'."

"So, what happened?"

Bunny's smile immediately dropped into a scowl and his eyes darkened with hatred, "Pitch."

Jack cast his eyes away, "Oh, I'm sorry, Bunny. If you don't want to talk about it, I completely understand-"

"Nah, it's alrigh', mate. I think it's high time I let it out. Been keeping' it in fer too many millennia."

'Millennia?' Jack quickly covered up his shock as Bunny continued talking.

"It was a long, long time ago, Jack, but this place used ta be overrun with Pooka. Everywhere ya turned, there was someone standin' righ' there," he laughed lightly, "Ya know, I had twelve brothers an' sisters, myself. I was actually the runt of the litter."

Jack's mouth fell open, "You were the runt? How big was your family? Ten feet tall?"

Aster chuckled louder, "Nah, I mean, I was the youngest. I always got picked on by my siblings, but I knew they never meant any of it. We were really close," he sighed, "I was only about fifteen-hundred years old when it happened. We never even saw it comin'."

Jack shifted closer, leaning into Bunny's side to provide what little comfort he could. Bunnymund wrapped an arm around his shoulders, searching for any form of stability, and let out another sigh, "Thanks, Snowflake. I didn' see the whole thing, my parents hid me an' my sisters away deep in the burrow ta keep us safe. I fought like a devil ta stay out an' fight with my dad an' brothers, but my old man said that he was entrustin' me ta protect my sisters an' mother. Did a good job of tha', didn' I?

"Pitch's Nightmare Men found us right fast, too. I tried ta figh' 'em off, but I was knocked out cold in a minute. When I came to, I was alone. When I came outta the burrow, I was horrified. The whole Warren was covered in blood an' bodies. The whole place was burnt and lifeless. I was the only survivor," Bunny's body shook with years and years of pent up sorrow and anger. His paws were balled up into fists as he held the tears back.

"I was numb for a while after I realized tha' I was the last one left. Took me weeks ta bury all of the bodies, an' months ta get the Warren even a little green again. Then, I just stayed here, alone, for many, many years," the sadness in his voice was palpable. His words were beginning to slur again, and it was more than obvious that he was fighting back tears.

Bunny hadn't ever had the opportunity to grieve properly, Jack realized. He'd immediately gone into autopilot after seeing his family wiped out, going straight to giving them a proper burial and getting everything back on track. He needed to let out his frustrations…just as Jack had those few days prior. Jack filed these thoughts away for later. He needed to listen to the rest of the story.

Aster's accent seemed to thicken the longer he spoke, "It wasn' for a few more millennia tha' North sought me out. He said tha' he was tol' by Manny ta find me an' tha' I was supposed ta protect the world. Didn' believe him at first, 'course. Riled me up a lot, too, tryin' ta get me ta join him," he laughed sourly, "Gave me a few too many headaches, the drongo. It wasn' until he tol' me tha' they were after Pitch tha' I agreed ta work with them.

"We beat him ta a bloody pulp when we did finally get a hold of him," Bunny smirked wickedly, "I gave him a few good wallops on the noggin with my boomerangs, too. Tha's why it took him so long ta recover an' come at us again," his smile softened as he looked down at Jack, "Then you came alon' an' really gave him his arse on a platter. I didn' get ta say it before, but I'm proud of ya, Snowflake. Ya did a good job."

The winter sprite couldn't stop the giant smile that overtook his face, or the light blue tint to his cheeks at the praise.

"Thanks, Bunny," Jack's face turned serious as he looked back up at his fellow Guardian, "Bunny, I have a question for you. And I want you to answer me honestly. How did you cope when you lost your family?"

Bunnymund cocked his head to the side in confusion, "Cope?"

"Grieve. I know it had to be hard for you, what did you do to get through it?"

Bunny shook his head, unwilling to face the truth in Jack's words. He averted his gaze as the traitorous tears began falling one by one, "I don' know wha' yer getting' at, mate," he sidestepped the question.

Jack moved to kneel in front of Bunny again and forced the Pooka to look at him. His eyes were serious and his voice was stern as he wiped the tears away with his thumbs, "Bunny, you know exactly what I'm talking about. You never properly grieved for them, did you? You had responsibilities to take care of, I understand that. But it isn't healthy to bottle all of this up inside, especially for as long as you have."

Bunny let out a slightly bitter laugh, "And when did you become a therapist, Frostbite?"

Jack's eyes darkened, "You think I don't know what it's like to lose someone? Even if I was alone for three-hundred years, I've seen enough pain and suffering from others to last a lifetime ten times over. And I just got my memories back and…and…" he quickly caught himself. This wasn't about him. This was about Bunny. He could have his own grieving slash pity party later back in the Antarctic tundra.

"Wha' abou' yer memories, Jack?" Aster asked as his tears began to dry.

"Nothing. It's not important right now," he quickly changed the topic back to him, "What is important is that you need to grieve for the loss of your family. I may not be a doctor, but even I know that you've spent too long hiding from it, and you have to get it out. How you've lasted so long without doing it is beyond me."

"I dunno if I can anymore. Like ya said, it's been so long…maybe too long…"

Jack gave him an encouraging smile, "I don't think it's ever too late to let your emotions out. If it will help, why don't you give me a tour of the Warren? Maybe remembering some fond memories will bring you some comfort?"

Bunnymund shrugged in what was supposed to be an offhanded way, but the tremors still shook his body, "I guess we could give it a try."

So they both stood and Jack followed his elder around the grassy fields of his eternally spring sanctuary.

"Over there's where my sister Goldenrod taught me how ta use my boomerangs. She was the closest ta my age, and we were the best of mates…Zephyr, my oldest brother, practiced tai-chi with me over in tha' field. The dill never did let me win a match…My other brother, Dragonwart, was the worst bully. He'd always drop me down a hole fer no reason other than ta annoy me. Got him back righ' good a couple of times, though…Ma wasn' too happy abou' tha'…"

It went on for hours as Jack followed Bunny with rapt attention, hanging on every word. To see Bunny so open was a rare and absolutely wonderful sight to behold.

"Wait, your sister was the one who taught you how to fight with boomerangs?"

Bunny grinned, "Don' look so surprised, mate. My sister could kick yer scrawny arse to kingdom come and back."

"Oh, really?" Jack teased back, glad to see Bunny in high spirits again, "Feeling better?"

Bunny's smile softened as he glanced down at the sprite, "Yeah, thanks, Snowflake. I appreciate what yer doin' fer me."

"It's like you told me the other day, I have you to lean on, now. And, now, you have me to lean on, too."

Bunny pulled Jack into a headlock and ruffled his hair affectionately, "Yer a good kid, Jack."

"I know," the winter spirit grinned back, trying, and failing miserably to pull away, "Can I have some more of that peppermint chocolate?"

Bunny laughed loudly, "Sure thing, ya dill…after we finish plantin' those seeds."

"Aw man!"

Okay, so what do you think? Did I do it justice? Do you want me to write the third chapter, or just keep it as a two-shot?

To clarify, sixty-four hundred acres is about ten square miles…poor Jack.

Goldenrod- Encouragement

Zephyr- Expectation

Dragonwart- Horror

And as for my question…I know I have to finish my InuYasha chapter fic first, but I have a ton of other chapter fic ideas for when it's done, for a ton of other fandoms. Here's the list:

Digimon

DN Angel

DN Angel/YuGiOh

Mamotte Lollipop

Ouran High School Host Club/Fall in Love Like a Comic

Rise of the Guardians

Rise of the Guardians/Hop

Teen Titans

Teen Titans/X-Men Evolution

Twilight

Any particular order you think I should write them in? You can leave me a note in a review, or answer it on a poll I posted on my profile page, okay? I'm REALLY stuck on where to go, please help?!

Until next time!

*SB*