When Bunny awoke it was late afternoon much to his surprise. He had not realized he had even gone to sleep but here it was a quarter to five. He looked down to Jack who was still curled against him. He knew he had to go already spending far more time here than he had intended. He hate the idea of having to leave Jack like this but he had know choice. He had work to do. Bunny held Jack a few moments longer before trying to loosen Jack's grip on his fur. Which only grew tighter the more he tried. He stopped trying to free himself for until Jack's grip once again loosened, and he settled once more. This time he eased his way from Jack grasp in away that would seem as he was shifting his weight. Eventually he was able to wiggle himself free. He sat on the edge of the bed and reached for his braces strapping them in place before standing. As he turned to face the bed he saw the door begin to open and froze.
A moment later he saw North poke his head. At first he saw Jack before looking up and saw Bunny as he was in the middle of adjusting his arm braces. The old Cossack was surpise to see Bunny still in the room as he took a moment longer to take in the scene. At with point anger flashed in his eye as he realized Jack wasn't wearing a shirt. He looked at Bunny as if he were about to skin him alive. His mind jump to conclusion of why Bunny was still in Jack's room and redressing.
Bunny was confused the anger he saw in his friends face. He looked down at Jack then to himself several time before it dawned on him what North must be thinking. Bunny visibly paled at the realization as North silently and angerly pointed to the hallway. Bunny not knowing what else to do complied quickly grabbing his boomeranges as he exited.
When he was in the hallway North closed the door gently before turning to face Bunny arms crossed in such a way that only the naughty tatoo was showing. A murderous look in his eyes directed at none other than Bunny. Bunny gulped loudly neverous about how he was going to explain.
"North before ya say anythin' nothin' happen," Bunny said his paw held up defencively infront. He still held his boomeranges in one paw still not having the chance to put them back on. His ear pressed against his head for fear of his life.
"Then how do you explain dat," North asked furiously pointing to the door of Jack's room. His breath coming in furious puffs.
"A miss understanding," Bunny said with a nervous laugh. Though from the look of things he could see North was not amused. Bunny sighed "alright the truth is we were walkin' ta Jack's room. When we got ta the lift 'e was leanin' in ta me so I decided ta carry 'im. But he fell asleep while I was carrin' 'im. So I took 'im into 'is room and put 'im ta bed. Yes I took 'is hoodie off but only cause he doesn't like ta sleep with it on when 'e sleeps 'ere at the pole, but that all I took off," Bunny added quickly when North expression darkened.
"Den how did you end up in same bed," North demanded his voice low so not to wake Jack.
"Cause when I went ta leave Jack stopped me and asked me ta stay with 'im fer awhile, and yes 'e meant in the same bed. I just couldn't tell 'im no North. I took of my boomeranges and braces so I couldn't accidentally hurt him. I swear ta ya nothin' happened. If ya don't believe me then wait till 'e wakes up if somethin' did happen 'e 'ave a mate mark on 'is shoulder. I can save ya the trouble though cause nothin' happen," Bunny said repeating his innocence "I had only intended ta stay fer an hour or two but I fell asleep," he added as the murderous look faded from his eyes.
"Very well," North said his stance relaxing a bit.
"Do ya really think I would do that ta 'im especially fer 'is first time. He could barely keep 'is eyes open let alone go a couple rounds. Besides I would never rut and run," Bunny said clearly offended by North's rush to judgement "'e means far ta much ta me fer me ta do that ta 'im," he said crossing his arms.
"Sorry Bunny but you see vhat I did and tell me you vould not draw same conclusion," North asked with a shy smile and nervous laugh. Bunny sighed knowing he had a point the way he had found them had been pretty incriminating.
"Whatever I gotta get back ta the Warren," Bunny said strapping his boomeranges on he'd had enough of explaining himself to North "see ya saturday," he said before tapping a tunnel and dropping in.
Jack woke in the early hours the next morning. When he notice Bunny was gone he was sad and disappointed. He rolled over so he could see the clock and saw it was nearly four in the morning. He realized then that Bunny had more than likely left hours earlier seeing as Easter was less than a month away.
Jack laid in bed for another hour or so thinking of the events of the meeting. He needed to tell Bunny what had happened, but to tell him would confess the reality he wish wasn't true. Because to admit that reality would hurt too much.
It was half passed five when Jack decided to finally get out of bed. He looked around the room for his hoodie having realized long ago that Bunny had removed it. Jack smile at the thought knowing that Bunny had been the one to take it off because he knew North would had left it on, and he had only ever told Bunny about his preference to sleep without it when at the pole. He spotted it in a near by chair folded neatly.
He got up but instead of walking and retrieving the sweater he walked to the adjoining bathroom. He switch on the light blinded momentarily by it until his eyes adjusted. He looked at his reflection in the mirror. His haze drawn to the blue marking across his chest. Again he smiled remembering how Bunny had reacted to seeing all of them for the first time. Bunny had found them attractive which had made Jack blush then, but now was the only thing keeping him from completely despising them. For now they were reminding him of the one thing that threatened his and ultimatly Bunny's happiness. Again the events of the meeting flashed in his mind only this time when tears pricked his eyes and threaten to fall he let them. Jack wrapped his arms around himself as he backed up into the wall slidding down until he hit the floor.
He wanted Bunny, no he needed Bunny now more than ever. He need for him to promise everything would be alright. To tell him that there was hope and that he had nothing to worry about. That they would be together no matter what. Saddly however Bunny wasn't there. He wasn't there to make Jack's worries and fears go away. This fact only made Jack cry harder.
At some point Jack found the strength to return to his bed where he cried himself to sleep. Allowing the darkness and promise of peace of mind claim him for a short while longer. Knowing that when he woke again he would need to go to Bunny and tell him.
Bunny was working feverishly trying to make up for the time he had lost staying with Jack the day before. He had to have the dye rivers finished by the end of th day so that the colors would have the proper time to set. So when it came time to dye the massive amounts of eggs the colors would be just right.
He was so engulfed in his work that he failed to notice when a tunnel had been open to his Warren. He did notice how ever when the one responsible stepped into the Warren. He froze as mind raced trying to figure out who had entered. At first he had been about to go on the deffensive knowing of none would would come to the Warren so closes to Easter.
It was only when he felt the Warren reaction that his defensiveness drop and was replace by joy. There was only one person the Warren acted this way towards. Bunny quickly dropped what he was doing and ran off to greet his boyfriend.
It was in no time flat that Bunny reached him and had enveloped him in a hug. Jack returned the hug happily having gotten used to such hugs every time he visited the Warren.
"Hey Aster," Jack said when at last the hug was broken.
"Its good ta see ya Jackie," Bunny admited "what brings ya ta the Warren, I'd thought ya would be at the pole restin' up. Ya were pretty out of it yesterday," he said remembering how tired he had been.
"I was but I just really needed to talk to you before Saturday," Jack said rubbing the back of his neck trying to avoid eye contact.
"Jack is everythin' alright," Bunny asked noticing his strange behavior.
Jack didn't answer as he continue to avoid Bunny's concern gaze.
"Jack," Bunny called worriedly as he turned Jack's eyes to face him. There he saw a pained looked that told Bunny everything was far from alright "what is it Snowflake whats wrong," Bunny asked now deeply concerned.
Jack took hold of the paw that rested against his cheek turning into and kissing it. His eyes closed as a tear slipped down his cheek "Aster you know that I love you right. No matter what happens nothing will ever change that," Jack asked turning his eye to look at Bunny.
"Of course I do, Jack whats goin' on," Bunny asked almost fearful of what he was about to hear. Jack looked Bunny in the eyes as he searched for the right way to continue. He felt his heart break from what he had to tell him.
"The council is threatening to seperate us," Jack stated at last. Fighting to hold back the sobs.
"What," Bunny asked completely taken back by Jack's confession "but why? I though...," Bunny found he could speak unable to form a complete thought out of shock. It was at this point Jack lost the little contol he had and broke into sobs. Bunny reacted to this by pulling Jack into a tight embrace as he whispered soothing words in his ear. He couldn't stand the sight of his Jack so upset.
They stayed like that for a long time until Jack finally calmed down enough that he could speak. When that finally happen Bunny lifted Jack into his arms carring him deeper into the Warren. He wanted the conversation they were about to have as private as possible. He took Jack into his burrow and set him on the sofa of the living area. Taking the place next to him so that they were facing one another.
"Now tell me what happen," Bunny said calmly if only for Jack sake. Jack said nothing at first unsure how to begin.
"I didn't exactly tell you the truth about the summons last Saturday. Even though it didn't say what the closed meeting was about didn't mean that I didn't know what it was about. I knew because I had been the one to request it. I had done so in order to find out the reason behind the frequent snowstorms over that passed few months. Nature agreed because the number of storms cause by other winter baring spirits was larger than natrually occuring ones. Such events can threaten the balanced of the seasons. Anyways when the topic was address one thing lead to another eventually it was discovered that a couple of the other winter spirit had purposefully provoked the fights and agruments that had lead to blizzards and storms. They had done so in hope of but enough strain on our relationship so that we would break up. Some had gone along with the plan willingly others had no idea of what had been going on or of their part in the plot. Nature was furious when she found this out. It was this point she stopped the meeting and restricted all winter spirits to the ground until me and her could work out a course of action," Jack paused for a second to take a few calming breaths before continuing on "I tried to keep her from the making the decision she did, but she said there was no other choice. No other course of action other than to bring it before the other season heads and let them vote on the matter. Her reasoning being that if my own spirits were willing to risk the balance of the seasons than what was to stop any of the others from doing the same. Also she informed me that until such time that vote can be casted she suspended winter ending it for the year. It will be a cold spring, but until this matter could be closed and a decision made she wouldn't risk the seasonal balance. There for ending winter earlier than plan and allowing for a cold spring would preserve the balance. She allowed me and the other winter spirits who were not apart or willingly apart to go about our early spring work. Though she gave me permission to spend what time I could with you how I wished before the vote," when Jack finished his explination he turned his gaze a way from Bunny. Tears once more trailing down his cheek.
When Jack offered no more of an explination did Bunny speak "and what will the vote do," he asked wanting to have all the facts before they tried to figure out where to go from there. Bunny also reached his paw to wipe the tears from Jack's cheek.
"At midnight of the spring equinox Nature will call all four of the season heads myself included to vote on whether or not to let us stay together. For us to stay together three of the four must be infavor. If it is a tie vote then Nature will cast the tie breaking vote. If the vote is against us then by the law of the seasons I'll not long be able to be with you in this way. We can still be friends but all intamite tie must be cut," Jack answered choking a little on the last word.
"And if you don't," Bunny asked. Jack looked at him then with a look that told Bunny he would not like the answer.
"If I don't. It would mean to break the law of the seasons and the oath I took as the head of winter. Offences punished by death." At Jack's words Bunny froze. If the vote didn't come in their favor no matter what Jack did he would lose him. Bunny didn't know how to react, for at that moment he was faced with the very real possiblity of lossing the only person he had ever loved since his first mate. So Bunny did the only thing that he could do. The only thing that made any sense in that moment. He pulled Jack into his arms and help on to him for dear life. All the while letting silent tears of his own to fall.
Author's Note:
Ok so I had to end it there because I was about to start crying. The first part of this chapter I just couldn't resist and doesn't have play an important role in this arch. But when I first started this series I had alway known that the beginning of their relationship was rocky because of who Jack was as far as his role in the seasonal community. I also always though that at some point someone would try to split them apart for one reason or another. Anyways please review and tell me what you think. Until next time...