Chapter 5: Cupid´s arrows

It was Valentine´s day! The day, where all the humans are most vulnerable to Cupid´s arrow and Aphrodite's seduction magic; and the guardians are no exception. North was the most excited from the five of them. As every year, he was organizing a big party where he would invite all the spirits to gather and share some hours together. This year, the rest of the guardians had volunteered to help him get everything together for the night.

Sandy was outside with some yetis helping them move the snow from the main entrance so the spirits could walk into the fabric easily. North and Mrs. Clause were at the kitchen preparing the dishes while Jack, Bunny and Tooth were at the main room preparing the decorations and tables. They were with some yetis and elves in the biggest salon of the fabric. The yetis were in charge of moving everything too heavy or too big including the chairs and tables. Jack and the elves were making the decorations that were going to be put on the walls in a few minutes by the little fairies, who were hanging some lines of hearts on the roof.

Tooth was in charge of giving directions, having about thousands of little fairies working around the globe 24/7 the two guardians realized it was the best choice; and it was. Tooth knew exactly what she wanted and when she wanted. She gave orders to the Yetis and little fairies without a hint of hesitation. She was hard but never rude. Jack smiled at her as he kept working on the decorations in one of the corners with some elves, she was amazing. Bunny was lucky to have such a wonderful girl falling for him. And also she was lucky Bunny felt the same way.

The two guardians were now putting the tables together. While Bunny put the dishes, Tooth put the forks and spoons next to them. Jack stopped working on the decorations and observed the couple. Bunny was talking about something while he jumped from table to table. Tooth was smiling at him and once in a while she would laugh making the Pooka smile. Jack looked away.

He thought he would be able to go through that but he couldn´t. He thought he could move away from his feelings for the enormous bunny but…he loved the guy so much it burned him to see him so happy with someone else.

Suddenly he felt something touching his right leg. He turned around and saw a little elf standing next to him with his little hand over his knee. "Hey little buddy." he said as he faked a soft smile. "Do you need help with the scissors?"

The elf shook his head and then climbed his knee so he could stand up in his lap. Jake stared at him and noticed that the elf looked between sad and worried. With one quick move the little helper put his hand over Jack´s cheek and cleaned a tear away from it. Jack hadn´t noticed he was crying.

"Thanks buddy." he mumbled as he rubbed his eye trying to avoid dropping more tears. "I am okay."

The elf gave him a questionably look and shook his head not believing the guy. Dick faked his best laugh.

"I am serious, now, let´s continue this."

The salon was almost ready for the party. The tables were set, the decorations were on and the yetis were making the last arrangement to their instruments. Jack was gone to help North put the food in the big dishes while the elves ran all over the factory like chickens without head. Bunny and Tooth finally had time to sit down and catch a breath before the rest of the spirits arrived.

"So, Jack and you are going strong." said Bunny as he crossed his arms up his chest and stared at the ceiling with empty eyes. The fairy blushed.

"I don´t know. I think so." she stuttered as she arranged the feathers of her shoulders and neck. "I mean, we have spent more time together and he seems to trust me a little bit more than before."

The Pooka sighed as he thought about it. Jack and Tooth; they would automatically become the couple of the century and they deserved it. Tooth was beautiful and Jack was handsome.

"He talks about you all the time." he said trying not to sound too upset. Not that he hated Jack mumbling about Tooth and all her good things but, he spend almost every second talking about how friendly she was, how nice she was, how beautiful she was.

Like if Bunny needed a constant reminder that he had lost his chance with the winter spirit.

"Oh Jack." said the fairy almost in a squeak. "He is just so adorable some times."

Bunny faked his best smile.

Suddenly both guardians felt the floor moving slightly and then the noise of something that sounded like a storm approaching the fabric. Bunny took his boomerangs out and pointed them towards the door as Tooth prepared herself to jump and attack any kind of threat. They waited and the noise outside just become louder. They were near. They heard voices saying something between whispers and then the door opened. Bunny took a deep breath and before he had time to throw the first boomerang he recognized sandman standing on the door waving at him. Behind him around 30 spirits were looking at the couple with shocked and worried looks.

"Hey…" mumbled mothernature as she took some steps into the salon. She was wearing a long green dress and her long and brown hair was arranged with golden decorations. Behind her appeared her children; the spirits of fire, water, earth and wind. "Is everything all right guardian of hope? Guardian of memories?"

The two guardians blushed furiously and Bunny automatically hid his boomerangs behind his back.

"Everything is just fine." they said at the same time as they tried to pull their best smiles. Sandy sighed and shook his head in embarrassment.

"So we can go inside now?" said the spirit of youth that appeared flying over the other spirits and then landed next to the spirit of fire who smiled at him and then tangled her hand with his. Bunny stared at the spirit of youth with sad eyes. He was around the same age as Jack but instead of blue eyes and white hair the spirit of youth had green eyes and brown hair. But their smiles and the way he looked at the spirit of fire was the same look Jack had given to him some months ago.

"Sure." luckily Tooth handled the situation while Bunny was into his thoughts and lead the spirits into the salon.

The last ones to enter were Aphrodite and Cupid. The little kid was over his mother shoulders as he told her about his adventures on valentine´s day. The spirit of lust smiled at her kid and then she rubbed his cheek with her fingertips. Bunny greeted her, and lead her to the kitchen where North had asked him to take her with the little angel. He knew that North had a special present for both of them.

"So how are things going with Jack Bunnymund?" asked the kid as he checked the rest of his arrows and bow. Bunny blushed under his fur.

"What do you mean mate?" said Bunny as he tried to hide his discomfort.

"You know, I sent an arrow to Jack´s heart some months ago and I was expecting you two would already be together." burst out the kid. Bunny and Aphrodite stopped waling and both stared at the little angel with shocked eyes.

"Cupid, why did you…" she started but she was cut off by Bunny.

"Are you sure you made the right target?" he asked a little bit to desperate.

"What do you mean?" yelled the kid obviously offended by the question. "Of course I nailed the shot!"

Aphrodite looked up to the kid who was still sitting on her shoulders. "Don´t be rude cupid. He is older than you and you have to respect him." she ordered getting a groan from the kid.

Bunny smiled and then he took Cupid from Aphrodite´s shoulders and put in on his. "I didn´t want to offend you little bud." he said as he started hopping through the corridor followed by Aphrodite. "It´s just that I am confused."

"About what?" asked the spirit of lust.

"What you said about Jack." he whispered. "You say that you shot him to be in love with me…"

Cupid interrupted him. "And I also shot you so you could be in love with him."

Bunny sighed, that explained a hell of things. "But since some weeks ago he seems to be in love with someone else."

Cupid and Aphrodite shared some concerned looks. "That´s impossible." said the older one.

"My arrows are effective and their magic can´t be broken without me noticing." added the younger one.

They got to the kitchen door and Cupid jumped off Bunny´s shoulders.

"So you mean…" he started but Cupid interrupted him again.

"Jack is in love with you." Cupid looked at his mother like is he was asking her for permission to add something. The woman nodded. "But I think he is faking being in love with someone else."

"So he really doesn´t love Tooth?"

Aphrodite gasped and then gave her son a killer look. "See what you have done?!"

Cupid blushed and looked down. Bunny frowned confused.

"Mr. Easter Bunny." started the kid without looking up. "I think I know why Jack is faking his feelings for Toothania."

Bunny knelt before the kid and made him look up. The angel´s eyes were wet because of the tears that were threatening to fall.

"Hey, mate, don´t cry. I will not be mad at you. I promise." he whispered. Cupid looked up to his mother again and the woman nodded.

"I shot an arrow to Tooth by accident some months ago." he stuttered. "And I made her fall in love with Jack."

Bunny looked down. At first he thought what Tooth had with Jack was a crush and then he realized she really liked the guy. But, a Cupid´s arrow? That only meant one thing, he was more screwed than what he had thought in the beginning.

Please review and tell me what you think it could happen.