Vacations Solve All

Chapter 7: Laughs, and A Happily Ever After

Warm, Jack woke up warm, for the first time in ages. He happily curled into Bunny's grey furred body sighing in content.

"Happy there are we Frostbite?" Peeking a blue eye open he looked into Bunny's spring green eyes and smiled.

"Yes I am, oh you have blue in your eyes now." Jack noticed the slight outer ring of blue that spiked in creating a snowflake pattern out of the green, however it was so thin you could only tell from this close up.

"An' you have green in yours mate." Aster liked the way the green ran straight between the blue and white snowflake design in Jack's iris'. Jack blushed at how hard Aster was looking at him, he felt loved and cherished, like all those paintings in the museums he snuck into over the years. "We best be rollin out, got to get some brekkie, while they're still servin' it." Aster rolled out of bed and stretched out his limber muscles, he never has had such a restful sleep. Even with Sandy's help and that is saying something. He watched out of his peripheral as Jack's slender, slightly underfed body rolled out of the other side. Then as Jack moved to dress, something hit him hard. Jack was dead, frozen in eternal teenagerdom. Forever never growing, to gain any fat, hell he was sure Jack's body would be back into virginal state. He essentially mated to a corpse, that would never age or fatten, just remain the same, and yet. Looking at Jack happily hum around as he gathered up articles of clothes and depositing them in a dirty laundry basket before gathering new ones, he couldn't regret. No Aster would never regret this, Jack was perfect for him. Fierce, protective, loving, caring, responsible, kind, loyal, honest, it was nothing but perfection in lovely white skin that he desired to paint with all types of edible paints only to clean him perfectly white again to start again. Aster smiled as Jack ducked into the bathroom and he heard the shower. Knowing he'd be along as soon as he could Aster headed out and down to the breakfast hall. All the while he was getting some interesting looks, they put him on edge and he didn't like them one bit.

"Bunny my friend, it was very interesting night yes?" North said as he passed his, Tooth's and Sandy's table. Tooth giggled and batted at North's arm.

"North don't tease Bunny, he had no idea what happened." That made Aster pause.

"No idea about what happening?" He asked and Tooth busted into a fit of giggles and North was equally unhelpful as he was bursting with laughter as well. He looked to Sandy but he shook his head. Apparently the man couldn't tell him in a public setting, which made Aster even more curious. "Seriously what happened?" Hallow patted him on the should and was smothering his own laughter.

"Dude, you made Jack orgasm so hard he froze the water down to the sand, and everyone on the ship. I mean we're spirits so no harm done, but damn dude you got skills." After forcing that out Hallow busted into laughter. Flushing a bit he looked back at the others who were giving him those looks or laughing themselves.

"That's what everyone is on about, that Jack froze some sea water?" Aster was a little under whelmed at everyone, freezing a bit of sea water for a winter sprite was hard yes, but not impossible. Fool stepped up next to Hallow and made him sit as the pale grey skin started to turn white.

"He didn't just freeze some water, he froze from here to California, all sea floor deep." Fool said with a small crook to his smile. Aster's eyes widened at that, okay that was damn impressive. Who knew Frostbite was that much of a powerhouse?

"And you're saying this is when I made him orgasm? How would you know that?" Aster flattened his ears against his head, he didn't like that everyone assumed when Jack came, that was private.

"Because that's the only time he would release a lot of energy like that." The doors opened up revealing Jack and suddenly everyone sobered up. Jack wasn't wearing his usual blue and white outfits, this one was a corset style top that was pale pink and laced with pastel green, the same colored lace lined the edges and held it up on thick straps off the sprite's pale shoulders. A pastel pink skirt bounced and flared out and was decorated with a large yellow ribbon on the side. A green headband was in white hair, on the sides was a grey bunnies figure holding trailing yellow ribbons down the curve of his head, following the curve of his neck and trailed off at his collar bones. On his feet were the shoes Aster painstakingly crafted. Walking over to Aster he smiled up at him.

"Do you like it?" Aster couldn't seem to get enough of the sight.

"Ya look good in spring mate." Was all he could get out, and if he was a Pooka of less integrity, he'd drop to his knees in awe.

"Well I saw on the pamphlet Tooth let me see, that couples dress in each other's style today for the karaoke contest tonight. I packed this just in case my fondest wish would come true." Jack blushed at that last part and Aster was floored once more at the level of hope and love Jack carried for him. "Oh Hallow, Fool, I love your outfits!" Fool was dressed much like Jack with the corset top, only it was black and orange, and the skirt wasn't scalloped edged like Jack's but came to points, thigh high black boots completed the look with a skeleton headband. Hallow was dressed in white jeans and a white polo, with different paint splatters all over it, white boots on his feet. And a few rainbow clips keeping his bangs out of his eyes.

"Thanks, but yours is best." Hallow grinned and Fool slapped his forehead.

"I forgot my hat, that's what I was forgetting, why didn't you remind me Hallow?"

"Because you were more interested in jumping my bones than listening to what I had to say." Brilliant teeth shone as he grinned and Tooth sighed before clearing her throat and looking elsewhere.

"Errrr, riiight, I'm gonna go get it." Fool laughed awkwardly and ran off. Jack giggled and noticed some of the looks he was getting.

"Why is everyone looking like that at me?" Jack was puzzled, they looked at him in awe.

"That's a conversation for another time." Aster mumbled glad that his fur masked his blushing, for he'd never hear the end of it.

"Speaking of a conversation, I need to tell you something." Jack took Aster by his paw and lead him outside to the bow of the ship.

"What's wrong Jack?" Aster asked as they reached the front.

"It's the Blizzard of '68, I wanted to tell you the truth on what happened then." Aster's eyes widened and he drew back a little as Jack's hands gripped the railing.

"What do you mean what really happened at the Blizzard of '68?"

"I didn't do that blizzard on purpose Aster, it was a huge mistake and it hurts everyday because you never really knew why it happened. Back then I just had wanted to see the kids find the eggs you so cleverly hid and painted. But Summer Spirits ambushed me and attacked me." Aster started growling. "They tried to rape me, but in my desperation I created the blizzard and fended them off. Then you came along after they left and I had realized what I had done. You were so furious and angry, and I was already so scared and upset. It just snowballed from there and it was a few years before I could get the courage to come and watch the egg hunts again." Jack sniffled and clutched the railing. "All I had wanted was for the children to be happy and safe, and I ended up ruining it all just because I couldn't protect myself properly." Tears slid down Jack's face and crystallized into snowflakes, dropping onto the ground. Aster quickly took Jack into his furred limbs, as Jack started to sob in earnest.

"No, Jack, no no no, don't you ever think like that! It was their fault, you were only protecting yourself, and I just made it worse. I never even thought of asking you what had happened. I'm so sorry Jack, for all that time making you think like this." Jack looked up at Bunny.

"Are you sure you can forgive me that easily?"

"As sure as I'm standing Snowdrop, now perk up, and smile, you look so much better smiling." Jack giggled and smiled before adopting his trademark smirk and kissing Aster right on the nose, which of course made him flinch back and twitch his nose.

"That's for calling me Snowdrop." Jack broke away and sashayed, for there was no other word for that type of hip movement that brought so much sass and cockiness to the table, back into the building, running straight into the Groundhog. Jack's anger flared up, which caused deep blue tattoos to light up on Jack's arms and forehead, they matched Aster's to a tee. Stepping aside for now, Groundhog let Jack pass, with a thoughtful look to his furred features. The marks faded quickly and Jack went on his way. He met up with Tooth and North on the pool deck. Tooth was in a well fit and bright red coat and a perfect replica of North's black hat perched on her raven tresses. North himself was dressed in a well tailored green suit that had peacock feathers printed on it. Jack waved at them and quickly joined them, then he noticed a black sash on Sandy, who was sitting signing something to Cupid, who was dressed in green suspender shorts and a black tee shirt, clovers were pinned all over her hair and she went barefoot.

"Hey guys, why is Sandy wearing a black sash, wouldn't that mean that he was with Pitch?" Tooth giggled and North sighed and rolled his eyes.

"They very much turbulent lovers, like two fighting horses, however when brought together properly, can move mountains." North explained.

"They do get very cute when Pitch is placated enough, however those times are very rare and few in between. Honestly, I don't know how they've managed to even stay in a relationship." Tooth chipped in as mini fairies giggled around her. Jack considered this before laughing and shrugging.

"Well, my mate is an intergalactic time traveling Pooka, I suppose I can't judge now can I? As long as they are happy, but is Pitch even here?"

"He doesn't come out till night, the light hurts him." Tooth reminded him.

"Oh right, I forgot." Jack smiled as Hallow and April Fool joined them, a stylish black witch's hat perched on rainbow tresses now.

"I can't get over how cute you are." April squealed and hugged Jack close. Jack blushed and hugged April back while laughing.

"Aster liked it too, I wonder if he's going to be wearing anything to symbolize me." Jack said smiling.

Tooth gave a giggle and smiled.

"Look over there." Jack turned around and saw Aster in his human form wearing a blue hoodie and brown pants.

"Oi! Frostbite, how can you stand to wear this thing. It's so itchy." Aster frowned and scratched at his covered arms before just rolling his eyes and ripping off the sleeves.

"Feel better?" Jack smirked as Aster nodded. Jack giggled and rolled his eyes. "Look good in blues though, just saying." Jack smiled before frowning. "Oh I forgot something in our room, let me run and get it." April frowned as a chill went up his spine.

"I'll come with you Jack!" April ran after Jack and smiled as Jack started to talk to him.

"Ever get the feeling you missed something." Tooth asked, tilting her head, watching the two.

"All the time." The others chimed. As night started to rise, Aster's twitch in his leg turned into a full blown thumping. Jack and April Fool still hadn't come back. Hallow wasn't much better as he snarled at passengers who dared to say anything to him.

"Where are they?" Aster grumbled as Pitch glided up to their group, a golden sash wrapped around his waist and his arms crossed.

"Where is who, you demented rabbit? And please cease that infernal thumping." Aster glared and steadied his leg.

"Jack and Fool went off to go get something and they haven't come back yet. Karaoke is starting soon and Jack was looking forward to it."

"Have you tried looking for the Groundhog?" Pitch sighed as if it was obvious. Aster stiffened as well as Hallow before they shot out of their chairs, Pitch and the others right behind.

"Jack, wake up Jack." Jack's eyelids fluttered open to see April sitting in some kind of contraption with a pained frown on his face and blood pooling around his feet from where it dripped down from the seat of the chair.

"Is that a Judas chair?" Jack groaned as he took toll of the room he was in. It was pitch black, and all he could see was April in front of him and himself. His arms and torso were being suspended in midair, while his legs and feet were manacled to the ground, keeping him in a bent over position.

"Unfortunately it is." April scrunched his nose. "Where are we?" He looked around as well, but tried not to move his lower body. "And where are our clothes?"

"You two are in my room." The two spirits looked to see the Groundhog step into the little light they had. "I finally caught you my pretty, and I'm gonna show you that I am better than that rabbit." He traced a furred paw across Jack's jaw before going behind the sprite.

"Let Jack go Groundhog, he doesn't deserve this!" Yelled April frantically, he was about to watch Jack get raped. He saw Jack's blue iris's dilate with fear and he started to panic.

"Yes he does, and I deserve him." The rodent said as he thrusted into Jack. Seconds ticked by and Jack scrunched his eyes shut.

"Will you hurry it up and do it already!" The door busted down revealing a pissed off Pooka and Hollow with his scythe.

"I'm already in…"The Groundhog grunted. Jack's eyes shot open and locked with April's. They were silent for a second before they burst into gut wrenching laughter.

"No, no, no it hurts to laugh, but oh my Man in the Moon!" April's eyes leaked tears as he couldn't control the laughter, the blood on the floor increasing as he was forced lower on the chair by his laughter. Jack was the first to recover and shot a grin over his shoulders. He iced over the manacles at his feet, twisted his hands to grab the cords keeping his arms suspended and hauled himself up and over so he was grinning at the Groundhog upside down.

"How did you do that, those should have kept your powers in check!" The Groundhog sputtered as he fell backwards. Markings glowed all over on Jack's body and his grinned deepened.

"That's because I've got one hell of a mate, as for you, it's time to put you on ice." He hissed the last word with a grin and took a deep breath before blowing it out causing a massive and concentrated snow and ice storm to incase the Groundhog. When it cleared, the Groundhog was incased in a large ice block. Flipping back down he froze and shattered the torso and wrist manacles before heading over to April and freezing the chair so April could break free.

"Thanks Jack!" April hugged the frost sprite and smiled as Hallow came up next to him. "Hallow!" Hallow smiled and wrapped a black cloak around the pale spirit before kissing him deeply.

"Thank the Man in the Moon you're alright." He said as he broke away. April smiled and hugged him.

"Yes I'm fine, but could you show yourself to me, I want to see you." Hallow hesitated as he saw the others but he decided he could trust them. Skin and hair melted away and eyes disappeared leaving him in a black cloak. He raised his skeleton hand to April's cheek.

"Just for a bit, we do have to go join the others." April grinned and kissed Hallow, his lips meeting bone. Jack and Aster looked at the couple for a moment before shrugging and kissing each other. They weren't in any position to judge who could love who and that's how they liked it. Aster took off the blue hoodie and gave it to Jack. He smiled and pulled it over his head before leading Aster out of the room and back to their own. Hallow reshaped his human features and led April to their room, they had some healing to do for April. Pitch looked at the room and sneered. Snapping his fingers he left a few of his nastier nightmares for the ground rat. Stepping out of the room he met the grinning face of Sandy.

"Yes, yes, I did a good. Now shut up." The grin widened and Pitch stalked off mumbling under his breath.

In their room Aster stripped the hoodie off and snuggled Jack.

"I was so scared when you didn't come back." Jack petted the Pooka's ears.

"I'm fine, turns out I was so stretched out from you, I didn't even feel him." Jack smirked and Aster looked up with wide green eyes.

"Is that what you two had been laughing at?" Jack nodded and broke away to go to his dresser. Opening up the drawer he pulled out a blue strapless dress and slipped it on. The hem in the front brushed his knees while it caressed his bare heels in the back. Jack looked down at his bare feet.

"What's wrong?" Jack frowned while looking at his feet.

"Not only did he take my clothes, he took those shoes from me." Aster got up and brought Jack to his chest.

"Shoes can be replaced, you can't." Jack frosted blue.

"Wanna skip karaoke and cuddle on the bed then?" Aster grinned and tossed Jack into his nest.

"That's a deal mate."

The rest of the vacation preceded smoothly. Jack and Aster returned to Jack's lake where they found a birthday party waiting. After exchanging gift with the kids, Aster handed over an egg shaped key.

"What's this Aster?" Jack asked as he turned the key over in his hands.

"Well, I decided to do some renovating of my den, that there is the key for it. I'm guessing this is me asking you to move in with me Snowdrop." Aster scratched the back of his head. Jack smiled widely, showing off perfect white teeth.

"Yes, I will." Jack kissed him firmly causing the girls to coo and the boys to make gagging noises. All was perfect for Jack Frost.