A/N: I know this is a bit short, but honestly this is the second chapter I wrote and I think it's good despite the shortness (also, it's almost all dialogue, that helped the shortness).

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Chapter 5: Groundhog Day

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"So, explain to me why you're here again?"

"Look, rabbit, I get that you're buddies with Jack Frost and he likes snowing up your holiday now and then, but you have got to call the kid off!"

"I'm sorry," Bunny said dryly. "But…not really sure what you mean there."

"He's making me wrong year after year!"

"Then see your shadow every year for all I care," Bunny said.

"I know you put him up to this!" the Groundhog snapped. "You've been mad for years, ever since I forecast that frozen Easter way back in the 30s!"

"I don't give a damn about your little forecasts and the people who hold stock in them—hell, half your modern tradition is based in how silly it is!" Bunny said. "Get lost, Groundy, I've got eggs to paint."

"Rabbit with eggs. Nice gimmick," Groundhog said.

"If you're not gone in the next minute-"

"Just call Frost off!"

"I never set him on you!" Bunny snapped. "In case you didn't notice, Jack Frost does what he wants, when he wants. You ever try talking to him yourself to handle things? Want me to paint you a bloody map to find him?"

It turned out he did.

.o.o.o.

"So this is your hangout."

"Uh…you're the…groundhog?" Jack guessed at the large brown rodent standing at the base of the tree he was lounging in.

"Damn right I am, you upstart," the Groundhog snarled. "You need to stop messing with my predictions!"

"Predictions? Oh! The shadow thing!" Jack said. "Sorry, I forget a lot, not something I think about."

"But you can think about a holiday not even in your season, huh?" the Groundhog asked. "Don't know why you decided to be that overgrown rabbit's errand boy-"

"Okay, one, I don't work for Bunny. He's never told me to do anything to you unless you randomly attack me or something in which case I was advised to freeze you solid and book it," Jack said. "Two, you are not the person to talk about overgrown small mammals. And three…fine. Cloudy groundhog day. No shadow, early spring. Promise. Everyone's happy."

"Keep to your word, Frost," the Groundhog said. "No snowy Easter, no snow in March, even!"

"Got it. Clouds on your day equals spring bright and early," Jack said. "Totally got it. Oh, hey, how do you do all those groundhog day celebrations at once?"

"Multiplication. A useful power, unlike painting skills," the groundhog said.

"Well, that's why he has boomerangs," Jack said, his idea already taking shape. He just needed to break into a library and get at a computer to see the range he'd need…

.o.o.o.

"You look happy," Bunny noted, prepping a group of eggs.

"Yep. Had a chat with the Groundhog a month back."

"So what'd he say?"

"Stop making him wrong and some bad stuff about you. Dude is so jealous," Jack chuckled. "Oh, and he's going to want to murder me after today, so some protection would be nice."

"Why would he want to murder you?" Bunny groaned, putting his brush down.

"Cloudy means early spring's coming. Spring coming means it's still winter. What do clouds in winter mean again?" Jack asked, smirking.

"You didn't."

"Did."

"Don't get any more awesome, Frosty, I'll have to hug you again," Bunny laughed.

"Hey, it's quality work! Okay, so, the west wind wasn't totally into it at first, but the north wind got it to go anyway and mass-snowstorm all over groundhog territory today only!" Jack laughed.

"Yep, I'm hugging you," Bunny said, grabbing Jack with one arm and ruffling his hair.

"See? I rule," Jack said.

"WHERE IS HE, RABBIT?"

"Remember the protection thing? That'd be good now," Jack said, grabbing his staff.

"Hello, Groundhog. Look a mite chilly, mate, want some hot chocolate?" Bunny offered, nudging Jack behind him and fingering a boomerang.

"We had a deal, Frost," the Groundhog said.

"Yep. It was cloudy and now I'm done for the year until November," Jack said. "Spring's coming. Yay."

"Look, he made sure you were right and everything," Bunny said. "Now get lost! And don't try ordering other spirits about next time, you idiot!"

The Groundhog vanished down one of the tunnels.

"So…he can just…break in here?" Jack asked.

"He's a digger too. The sentinels don't always get him," Bunny said.

"Okay, since I'm off the clock, I'm on egg-guarding duty until Easter," Jack said. "Because boy did he look mad."

"Thanks, Frost."

"Any time, Kangaroo."

.o.o.o.

R&R!