It had been five months since the night Bunny had found Jack in the hallway staring at the nursery. After which Bunny had been so relieved the Jack had finally opened himself back up at least to him. He was still a little closed off from the other, but in time that to faded. His smile was one of the last things that finally returned, but when it did Bunny's heart started to sore. Moon how he loved that smile. Although a great majority of it was due to the start of fall. A time when he help the earth settle for the long winter sleep that laid a head of her. Unlike spring where he would start to withdraw his presence in the world, now was the time he started to once again make his presence known. Together with the help of the fall spirits he helped ready the land, and when she was ready Jack would take over and put her to sleep. Come spring he would help wake her.

Bunny couldn't help the smile the crossed his lips. He remember when Jack had first explained his role in the world to him. He had always though of winter as the death of the life that had grown during the spring and summer and even the fall. The care Jack had taken to explain his work fully was what had attracted Bunny to him. When Bunny didn't quite understand Jack had dragged him along with him the following fall. This gave Bunny the chance to watched as Jack and the spirit of fall lulled the land to sleep. As Bunny watched he saw a slight sadden look appear in the winter spirits eyes. When he had asked why Jack had patiently explained that though he enjoyed his season the beginning always saddened him because it meant putting and end to the life that had been created in the previous months. When Bunny asked that if it saddened him so much then why did he do it. His only responce had that it was neccesary. It had been one of the few time Bunny had seen Jack display his emotions, but then Jack had done something he hadn't expected. He took his paw and pushed it into the earth. At first Bunny had struggled to pull his hand back but Jack had refused to let him go.

'Shhhh,' Jack hissed softly 'do you feel that' he asked when Bunny finally stilled. Bunny stared at him for a moment slightly confused before allowing himself to relax enough to where he could concentrate on the earth surrounding his paw. At first he felt nothing, but after several moments he started to feel feeling of peace thatone only felt just before they entered a restful sleep.

'What is that,' Bunny asked.

'That is Fall's lullaby. When Fall comes she begins to sing her to sleep. It helps but without the cold winter brings Mother Earth cannot sleep in peace. If it is too warm she wakes before she is ready and then the balance is tipped in the wrong direction. When winter comes early or stays late it is because she needs the rest.' Jack's words brought new understanding to the pooka about the importance of winter. In that moment Bunny had looked up to fine his deep emerald eye locked with Jack's bright sapphire ones. There were no words that would explain how Bunnyfelt in that moment. The one thing the he could explain his feelings were that was the moment he fell for the winter spirit.

When fall ended and winter began Bunny saw the playful side of Jack that was only ever present when he was in the snow. Sure he had a playful side that was seen all year round, but when he was in the snow there was a magic he never saw any where else. That had been the winter Bunny fell head over heels for the winter spirit. When spring finally came he watched as Jack helped the wake the earth. Tamming the cold that had kept her sleeping. As he watched he saw a happiness that he'd only ever seen once that wasn't caused by spring. The only other time Bunny had seen that look was when Jack had been told he was pregnant.

Now that it was winter Jack was back to his happy self. Though he still thought about what had happened he didn't let it stop him from having funny and doing his job.

Bunny wanted to spend time with Jack as he went about his duties, but with the almost to the end of January he had to start his own perpetrations. With Easter being the little more than two months away he did not have as much spare time as he would like, but it seemed to work out. Winter meant Jack was busy as well and had just as much free time as he. So Jack would spend a couple weeks away and then return to the Warren for a day sometimes two when Bunny wouldn't work as much and they would spend a little time together. This had been how they had balanced their jobs with each other for the last one-hundred and fifty years.

It was almost the end of February that Bunny felt something wasn't right. The Warren was a buzz with life that only every happened when spring was about to start. Bunny frowned Jack had said nothing about an early spring. He usually liked to take it up to the solstice. Something wasn't right and Bunny was determined to figure it out. The gathered the bottles of dye he had out and put them away before opening a tunnel.

Bunny emerged from his tunnel to find himself standing before Jack's lake. At this time of year it was where he was most likely to find his mate. Though it had been a long time seance his first believers had passed on the children of Burgess alway believed in him. It was a belief that had been passed through the generation. Bunny wasn't disappointed when he spotted Jack dozing in one of the trees. He walked over until he stood at the base.

"Oi Frostbite," he called up. Whether it was from the suddenous of Bunny's voice or just the fact someone had just called to him in general Jack shot awake. The suddenous of his movements causing him to loose his balance and fall from the blanch he had been sleeping on. Bunny reacted moving to catch his mate before he hit the ground. His ears flat against his skull as listened to Jack crash through the branches. Jack landed with a thud in the pooka's arms. Lucky enough Jack hadn't fallen too far being only halfway up in the tree. Still Bunny knew he wouldn't be happy.

"What's the big idea," Jack demanded as he was let down by the pooka.

"Sorry mate just needed ta talk ta ya," Bunny said apologetically. Jack glared at him for a moment.

"What's so important that couldn't wait for me to get home," Jack snapped. It was clear to Bunny that he was mad about having been woken up.

"I wanted ta ask ya what's with this early spring," Bunny asked getting straight to the point. At this Jack's eyes widen slightly softening his gaze. He looked away let out a sigh.

"You know about that huh," Jack asked the irritation gone from his voice.

"It kinda hard not ta when ya live in the birth place of spring," Bunny said with a small laugh trying to lighten the mood. Jack however didn't laugh instead he just let out a sigh before turning his eyes back up to Bunny. For the first time Bunny was able to see just how tired he looked "Jackie whats wrong," Bunny asked a little concerned.

"Nothings wrong it just..." Jack trailed off.

"It just what," Bunny asked a little more concerned.

"Its just this year winter has taken more out of me than I expected. The amount of energy that it would take to keep it going longer is more than I can give." Jack's words sent alarm through Bunny.

"What do you mean more than you can give," Bunny asked in confusion. In all the years he had been with Jack he had never heard him say winter had been too much for him.

"Aster calm down," Jack said pulling him into a hug "this is nothing new. Some year need more energy than I can give. When that happens I allow spring to come earlier so that I can help guide it and allow it to take root before my energy to do so fails me and I must hibernate," Jack kept his voice calm. He knew what was happening and how it would end, but some how he had never told Bunny about something like this.

"This has happened before," Bunny asked trying to calm himself. In some ways he was still learning about how Jack's body and powers worked with each other. He knew about hibernation yet he didn't know. Their were always questions but it had been one subject Jack only discussed when needed. At first it irritated him to no end because they were suppose to share things like this with one and other, but then Jack had explained why he was't so willing to talk about it. He explained that it was when all elemental spirits were at their weakest. It had been the closest guarded secret of the elemental world. The bottom line was that it wasn't just his secret that he was telling it was theirs as well, but he did promise to tell him more if the need ever arised.

"Yes," Jack confirmed doing his best to sooth his mate's worries.

"How often does something like this happen," Bunny asked allowing himself to somewhat relax in the embrass of his mate's hug as he rested his head a top of his.

"Its hard to predict some times every few decades other a few centuries. The last time this happened was a decade before a became a guardian. It doesn't do any harm it just shortens the years in between hibernating. I was already close to hibernating anyways it will just come a year early," Jack said softly. He want to try comfort his mate as much as possible considering they had planned an intimate summer together.

"Aster," Jack said after a while of just standing in each other's embrace.

"Yeah Snowflake," Bunny asked.

"Lookon the bright side at least this way it doesn't over lap with your season," Jack said with a laugh. Bunny couldn't help but laugh either.

"G' point Snowflake," Bunny said with another laugh as he remembered the year Jack feel into hibernation before the start of his rut. That had been the longest two weeks of his life.

Author's Note:

So this idea of Jack hibernating has been floating around in my head for a while. I know I touched on it back in Vows but I wanted to touch on how Bunny and Jack handled it now that they are married. Also I wanted away to not only lead into the next one but to also touch on how Bunny fell for Jack. Not sure if I want to do another flash back arch on how Jack falls for Bunny or touch on it like I did here. Guess we'll just have to see what happens. Please leave review and tell me what you think. Until next time...

P.S. please ignore any wrong words or grammical errors I am writing with my iPad and it just loves auto correct. I will correct all that I see before posting but I am only human and do make mistakes.