Hum hum hum hum…this chapter. I don't know.

Rated: M for sexual content and language.

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or make any money. This is just for fun.

Preparing Four Something

They made love on the kitchen chair.

Petals skittered across the ancient glass of the kitchen window in the dying light of the warren as the sturdy, antique wooden chair creaked and groaned under the two beings' combined weight and movement. Their rhythm was slow and steady as they held each other tight and reacquainted themselves with the feel of each other and the powerful impact of their commitment. Neither of them spoke, they just swallowed each other's sighs and groans as they committed every detail of themselves to memory again. They came together in a combined wrack of shudders and caught breaths, and when they were both coming back down Jack nuzzled Aster's face and smiled against his cheek; face still wet from his shock and happiness.

"I still have a promise to fulfill from the solstice," he whispered with a faint grin, and joined in his Bunny's soft, rumbling laugh. The pooka gently helped him off of his lap, and clutched at Jack's hand as they both ambled out of the kitchen and toward their quarters, neither needing to speak again to find comfort in each other's company.

They stopped and made love in the hallway.

Aster would willingly take the blame for not making it to the nest. As his mate urged him through the passage, he had pulled slightly ahead and given Aster another clear glimpse of his new markings, and he had tugged the boy back to him and pressed him against the smooth surface of the walls of the tunnel as he sank to his knees and took Jack in his mouth. Nails scraped deliciously against his scalp and at the base of his ears as he worked his tongue over his mate's length. He could feel the hammering heartbeat under his palm and the flexing of muscles in the hip he grasped, and he moaned at the strength of both. His people would have approved of their brother.

When Jack came, Bunnymund swallowed it down and picked up the slim, shaking form, carrying him the rest of the short distance to their room before laying him carefully down in the neatly folded blankets and sliding in after him. Crawling up and over him, he covered the boy's body with his own until they pressed together and he nuzzled the pale chin with his nose and purred at the soft giggle. The vibrations of his body elicited a deep moan from his mate, and the pooka couldn't help but grind against him, hot and needy.

He gasped when cool, thin fingers pressed between them and wrapped around his erection, sliding against his slick length. "Jack," he panted, pressing his face into the boy's shoulder and feeling the bones and tendons working and moving together to pleasure him. He thrust into the grasp for more contact.

"I like that," his mate murmured below him, "Say it again."

"Jack," Aster repeated, breathing the name into the boy's skin like a prayer. A quick twist from the nimble fingers made him groan and shiver, and he almost let his weight drop, but stopped himself. Somehow, the memory of their first time together underneath a grove of trees came back to him, and how the young Guardian had been so inexperienced and nervous, and he had helped him, guided his hands and whispered to him, and it was so different from this. So different but each so perfect, and it always would be.

"Bunny…again…" Jack begged quietly, running his tongue along the soft, pink skin inside of his long ear, making it twitch.

"Oh Jack, my Jack, my love. Ah love you Jackie…ah always will…Jack," Bunnymund pledged in a moaning, broken voice. He wanted to please his mate and he wanted him to be as happy as he was and the slight hitch in the ragged breathing below him made his heart soar, so he continued to whisper his mate's name as he ground into his cool grip and felt the rising tension at the base of his spine. He whimpered when his release finally came, spilling hotly between them, and everything felt exactly right.

He was barely able to control his arms enough to collapse beside his lover, and wariness overcame him. The last few days had been intense. His mate was home from months away, he was getting married, and Easter had just concluded. His lids drooped stubbornly, even as he fought his battle with consciousness. In his blurring vision Jack smiled.

"Go to sleep, Aster. I'll be here when you wake up," he promised, so Bunnymund did.

Jack watched his Bunny sleep that night, curled tightly against him as his breathing rose and fell evenly against his bare chest. He gently ran his fingers through the soft, thick hair between the pooka's ears and rubbed his thumb and index finger against the sensitive skin, enjoying the soft, fine hair that covered them. He wondered what kind of wedding Aster would want; a big one or a small one? His bet was small, but he had been surprised before by the rabbit's decisions.

He personally didn't care; as long as Aster was there he had what he needed. A small knot of worry formed in his chest when he considered the possibility that his Bunny might want him to make all of the preparations. He didn't know much about what would be appropriate. Would it be okay if they just popped by North's and gathered their friends for a quick, quiet wedding, or would that be too lackluster and dull?

If he created a wedding fine enough for his mate, the damn planning would take another century easy. He couldn't imagine anything too extravagant for the gorgeous creature nuzzling into his chest, but he didn't want to wait that long. It would drive him completely insane. Already, he itched for action. As the night wore on and his lover slept peacefully in his arms, he decided to make a mental list of the most important issues they needed to work out when Aster woke up. It had worked last time.

First, big or small. He suspected that would quickly be answered.

Second, when? What time of year? It had to be after Easter, but that easily gave them four to six months to choose from, not to mention the day. If they didn't have a specific goal it wouldn't work and they could potentially just keep putting it off. And could they plan, prepare, and follow through this year, or would they have to wait until next year? That possibility made Jack's skin itch with impatience.

Third, traditions. Did Bunnymund have any wedding traditions? Did the pooka race have weddings? And what about him? Jack was human before he became a frost spirit. But which human traditions did he want to incorporate? There were many different wedding traditions in human culture, and he didn't know any that included anything about immortals being bound together or even specifically two males being bonded.

He decided as he ran his fingers through the fur of Aster's cheek that he would cross that bridge when he came to it, and decided to clear his mind of all of his racing thoughts for a while, and simply focused on his mate's sleeping face. He tucked his arm under his head to elevate it as his hand continued to roam down the pooka's chin and rub through the fur on his neck. Whiskers twitched when he gently raked his nails across the base of the Bunnymund's skull and he smiled happily.

He would never admit it to the proud Guardian, but his big, bad bunny truly was adorable. His pink nose twitched perfectly and his thick brows expressed so much emotion, even as he slept. His ears flopped and folded and perked, and it was so much fun to watch. When he moved it was graceful; and sometimes when he let his guard fall completely he would let more of his animal nature show, scratching his neck with a large back foot or hopping along his plants and eggs on all fours, staying closer to the earth to enhance his senses. He couldn't even begin to describe the rabbit's eyes with any justice.

He kissed the top of his Bunny's skull and let his fingers move down the pooka's spine for a while.

Light was just beginning to filter brightly through the trees and into the high window of their quarters when Jack watched Aster finally yawn and blink his eyes open blearily. "Morning," he greeted with a bright grin, "Sleep well?" His grin widened when the pooka closed his eyes again and nudged his face deeply into his skin.

"Five more minutes, love," Bunnymund groaned, and Jack couldn't help but laugh and nod against his mate in acquiescence. His smile continued when he felt the rabbit's tense muscles relax again as his head fell and rested more comfortably against the bedding below them. Aster usually didn't sleep so long every night, but he was recovering from Easter and Jack was just glad he didn't need several days like he usually did. It was a trade-off, Aster sleeping a fairly regular schedule.

Sure enough, five minutes ticked by and the pooka finally stirred again. First he clutched Jack tightly to him in a morning hug, and he stretched his legs back behind him, working the muscles out of their sleepy stupor. Then he curled his spine backward, stretching it to its full capacity, dragging Jack along for the ride in a fit of laughter, before finally opening his eyes, letting emerald orbs fall contentedly across pale flesh and dark markings, alighting finally into icy, pale eyes. "So love," he rumbled, "we gonna plan this wedding before or after breakfast?"

X-X-X-X-X

A small wedding was agreed upon almost immediately. Aster insisted on labeling it 'intimate', not small, as Jack fed him bits of cucumber and apple and berries. True to his word, the sprite was not letting him leave the bed. At the mention of breakfast he had practically dashed up and ran out of the room, returning moments later with a plate of food he had prepared before Bunnymund had finished with Easter.

Now Jack laughed at him from above as he stroked his ears and popped another piece of apple into his mouth. The boy's heart was strong and wonderful against his cheek and he chewed the proffered food happily. "Ah'm just sayin' mate," he mumbled once he swallowed his bite, "small just don't do it justice…"

"No no, you're right, Bunny," Jack agreed in amusement, "it'll be intimate." Silence lapsed as the pooka stewed on his mate's mocking and the sprite enjoyed the warm feeling in his chest expand for the being in his arms that willingly put up with his jokes and jibes. He wondered if there was anyone in particular that his Bunny wanted to invite, and he thought about the new friends he had made in the last couple of years since he had become Bunnymund's mate. "Aster," he finally murmured, holding out a strawberry for the bunny to take, "is it okay if I invite Jack-O-Lantern and the April Fool?"

The pooka bit the end off of the berry and chewed it. "You invite ani'one ya want, love," he said after he swallowed, and nipped the rest of the strawberry into his mouth, savoring the green cap.

"Nah," Jack assured his Bunny, "Just Lantern, Fool, and the rest of our family," he decided. "I thought North could preside over it…what do you think?"

"Ya don' want the old codger ta give ya away?" Bunny joked, running his paw along his mate's knee and smiling.

"Why would he give me away?" Jack asked, confused, "I'm already yours." The feel of the pooka's touch along his leg was very distracting, but he didn't miss the nearly inaudible sigh that released contentedly from his Bunny's lungs.

"Ah think North would be the perfect one ta marry us, love," Aster finally agreed, running his claws up the smooth thigh and enjoying the feel of muscles tensing at the tickling sensation he was creating in Jack. He repeated the motion and the leg twitched, pulling itself against him in an effort to protect itself. "Ticklish this mornin' Jackie?" he asked with a wolfish grin.

"No."

So of course a tickling match ensued, morphing into another session of heated love making when the writhing and laughing turned into grinding and panting.

The date wasn't nearly so clear-cut. It took two days for the couple to agree upon a general time-frame. Jack wanted to have it later in the summer or early in the fall so that they could have it that year, but Aster refused. He didn't want to have the ceremony just in time for his mate to leave him again for the winter. He stubbornly put his foot down on the matter, even through Jack's whining and begging. The fake tears nearly broke him, but he held steady, insisting it would be worth it if they had the whole off season to be together afterward.

Jack was in full pout mode. He knew Bunnymund was right, but he stifled at the endless time that separated them from the event. He would have to wait another winter. It just didn't seem fair. "If it's going to be 'intimate'," he complained, "why don't we just hold it in like a week? Then we can have the rest of this season."

Aster frowned at him. "Is it not worth the effort, love?" he asked, eyes cast seriously into the sprite's stormy blue ones.

Jack opened his mouth to retort, but closed it again, defeated. Aster had won this round, and he grumbled to the pooka that of course it was worth all the time and effort they needed. He still wasn't happy with it though, and took pleasure in tormenting his mate the next time their bodies came together. He was a sore loser.

The next day they decided that if they were going to be making plans that involved the other Guardians then they better let them know.

They told North first, in private, and Jack laughed at Aster's nervous fidgeting and dropped ears as he asked for the Saint's blessing and if he would do them the honor of binding them. The Guardian of wonder laughed in joy and slapped both of them heartily on the backs, giving his immediate consent to marry them and insisting they meet with him a few times before the wedding. "It is most important," the Russian confided, "that such alliances begin on same page. We will counsel before the event. There will be no secrets or unresolved conflict."

That particular unforeseen requirement made Jack nervous. While he knew that he wanted Aster to be his husband more than he had ever expected, he never forgot the original intent of his proposal, and his palms felt clammy and his cheeks felt warm to imagine having to discuss this, not just with Aster, but with North there as well. What if Aster wasn't ready to talk about it? What if he had nothing to say on the matter? Would Jack be willing to give up their wedding for an unknown number of potentially years until his mate was ready? Same page, no unresolved conflict. Jack was pretty sure children was a huge issue to have resolved before they could get married.

His anxiety did not go unnoticed. Bunnymund's brows furrowed as they left Santoff Claussen after they agreed to return the next day to make official plans with all of the Guardians in attendance. "Ya'lright, love?" the pooka asked, catching his hand before they could depart the cold climate. As much as he hated the frozen area, he knew Jack would be comfortable there, and he let his shivering go unimpeded as he let his mate catch his breath and gather his thoughts.

"What if we don't agree on stuff, Aster?" the sprite whispered, barely audible over the blowing snow, "Will we have to call it off?" His troubled, icy eyes flicked up into Aster's, and the pooka hated the thin, anxious line of his pale lips, so he pulled him close to him and ran a shivering paw comfortingly through his hair.

"No love," the pooka reassured through chattering teeth, "North knows we aren't gonna agree on ever'thin'. Don't worry about that. Ah'm marryin' you no matter what, alright? Nick knows that."

Jack nodded, but wondered if his Bunny would so willingly give that pledge after their counseling. He hated that he would just have to wait and find out.

X-X-X-X-X

Toothiana and her fairies were a shrieking storm of color at the announcement, and she insisted on helping them pick colors and flowers and themes and food and clothes and all of the things that neither male had even considered before. Both boys were shushed every time they tried to remind her that the ceremony would be intimate, not some grand performance put on for the masses.

"Just because it's not going to be huge," she insisted to Aster for the tenth time in one hour, "doesn't mean it won't be fabulous!" Jack grinned at the inner girly girl coming out of the fierce warrior queen and tried to hide his amusement at the vexation she was causing his mate. He was honestly relieved that there was a soul in their party who had an inkling of what needed to happen and how to carry out their preparations. He wondered if all girls were born with the innate sense of what a good wedding would take and how to plan it. Tooth admitted herself that she hadn't been out in the field for four hundred years when they first worked together. How did she know these things?

It seemed Aster held a similar, though much more distrustful dispute at the fairy queen's authority on the matter. He rolled his eyes when she talked about eye color and how to evenly represent their personalities in a complimentary way. He bristled when she took his mate and spun him, examining his body and verbally considering the best cut his suit should take. He growled when she caused Jack to blush navy at her joking suggestion that he wear a dress. He huffed and stalked away to join North in a quiet corner when her verbal jabs began to be directed at his silly jealousy.

Sandy joined them early the next morning, and clapped happily at their news. He indicated that he would be willing to spread the word through dreams and would happily be the messenger to all beings invited. An already weary Aster nearly came unwound at the suggestion that everyone across that planet would be invited, and Jack finally stepped in and calmly explained to the Sandman about their plans and that they would be honored for him to give the announcement after the ceremony.

Then he thanked his family and politely excused him and his Bunny, letting them know that they would be back in a week for North's first planned session. He gave Tooth permission to make all of the arrangements and asked Sandy to invite his two friends only. With a happy grin he waved to North and finally indicated to the Easter Bunny that they could go home.

Jack took his time helping Bunnymund forget his anxiety that night. And the next morning. And again in the afternoon.

X-X-X-X-X

"So you decide to get married. Why?" North asked without preamble at their first meeting.

Jack flushed and fidgeted at the blunt question, and he eyed Bunnymund's calm form sitting comfortingly against him on the couch. The pooka's strong arm was around him, steadying him, and he decided to tuck his legs under him in an attempt to hide his own nerves. The less he could move his limbs the less he would have obvious tells to how uncomfortable he was right now. He was almost irritated with his mate's casual behavior.

"Jack asked. Seems like a good idea and feels right, right mate?" Aster grinned, turning his gaze to the sprite at his side. His easy smile dropped into a quizzical frown at the boy's wide eyes. "…Mate?" he asked again and his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Jack hated that look, and he immediately swallowed all of his apprehension and smiled at his Bunny. "I wanted to let you know that I'm serious," he said truthfully, and relaxed into the relief his quick thinking brought to the pooka. "And…I want to be bound to you in every way that I can…" He blushed at the approving hum that came from their Russian overseer and ducked his eyes immediately to gaze into his lap where he held the pooka's paw firmly between his hands.

"Good, good," North confirmed, clapping his hands together, making Jack jump. "So intentions are sound, as I knew they would be. Now we discuss important things to think of before tying knot."

Aster smirked at his old friend's businesslike attitude to the meeting. He and Jack had been mated for a couple of years. They were already fairly comfortable with each other at this point and knew mostly what to expect. What surprises or quirks would be magically discovered in an hour's interview with the Saint of Christmas? "Lay it on us, North," he welcomed confidently.

The Russian nodded eagerly and cleared his throat, rubbing his large hands together and pushing up his sleeves. He leaned forward in his armchair, presenting an intimate environment to the conversation. "In old days it was important to know religious affiliations and know we all share same beliefs. This now, obviously, does not need to be discussed. We are all Guardians. We all believe same. Children are most important to the world," he began, pausing to let the couple nod in agreement.

"Which is easy segue to next most important topic. Family." At this, North paused again and looked knowingly at Jack, who was stunned into motionless at the immediate introduction to what he had hoped he would have more time to plan about. "Do you both want family? Have you discussed children? That is, after all, original human purpose for marriage; to create a strong, safe environment for children to grow."

Jack hadn't known that, and from the pooka's raised brows, Aster hadn't either.

Jack instinctually looked up at his mate for support and encouragement, and felt an overwhelming need to voice his desire honestly to his partner. "Yes," he whispered intensely, "I want children with you, Aster." His nerves were threatening to rip him apart at the wide-eyed surprise his mate was giving him. The moment that it took for his Bunny to look at him felt like an eternity. He had just laid bare his secret, most desperate desire in front of the two most important beings in his existence. His mate held his deepest hopes in that pause.

"You do?" the pooka finally asked dumbly. Jack nodded vigorously in reply, not trusting his voice any more. Why was Aster so shocked? Had he really not thought about it at all? Was it not important to him? He tried and failed to not chew his lip as his eyes flicked between the intense green orbs gazing at him. North was all but forgotten. "How…how many were ya thinkin', love?" Bunnymund finally asked nervously.

The question gave Jack pause. He hadn't thought about it. "How many can you have?" he asked finally, not sure about what his mate was expecting. The fact that his Bunny hadn't completely shot down the idea was encouraging. The paw he was gripping like a vice slid from his palms and Aster rubbed his neck and flicked his gaze uncomfortably toward their friend and chaperone.

"Well, mate…ah don't know. Ah guess it depends…"

"My young friend," North suddenly cut in, forcing his way into the conversation, "I think what Bunny is saying is that there is big difference between one offspring and one hundred."

Jack gaped at Bunnymund even as the pooka glared darkly at the Russian. "You can have a hundred babies?" Jack asked in wonder. Visions of tiny pookas presented themselves to his mind's eye and his head swam with them. He would have never considered that many, but…

"No," Aster denied firmly, glare shining once more in their ally's direction before he focused on his mate's face, "ah can't. The daft old bastard doesn't know what he's on about." He ignored the indignant sputtering of his insulted comrade and tried to soften his features when he saw how disappointed the boy looked at his quick denial. He took a deep breath and pulled the sprite closer to him. He hadn't realized how enlightening these silly meetings would be. "But," he finally yielded, "ah think a few would be doable…"

Jack's heart stopped and the noise he made was something between a cough and a laugh as his eyes brimmed over with happy tears. He pressed his smile into the pooka's shoulder as he hugged him and trembled with delighted, exultant joy. Everything was perfect in that moment and he'd never loved his mate more than the moment he felt a rumbled laugh vibrate through his body from the rabbit's amusement.

"So yer just usin' me for ma body, love?" Aster joked into the crown of the sprite's head and huffed when a soft punch landed in his ribs. "Just muckin' with ya, Jackie…" he amended with a grin, pulling his mate's face away to cup it in his paws and look at him. They stared at each other for a moment before North cleared his throat for them to continue.

"Next order of business…" the Russian announced. And Jack smiled and leaned comfortably into his lover's side as they continued talking about marriage for the next hour, mood lightened considerably.

They were accosted by Tooth before they had a chance to leave the North Pole. She needed Jack's measurements to give to a yeti. She had finally arrived at a decision to what Jack should wear. She passed his staff off to Aster as she bickered fondly with the sprite while her fairies took a tape and measured his shoulders and the length of his arms fingertip to fingertip. They measured the length of his legs from his hips and Tooth took the tape to measure his waist, neck, and chest herself. She smiled conspiratorially at Jack when his ever present fiancé growled in irritation at her closeness. "It's a shame," she quipped humorously to her youngest friend, "I could have taken so much better measurements if you could have just been naked…"

"Rack off, Toothiana," Bunnymund growled dangerously from the sidelines.

The low voice of the pooka brought a stark realization to Jack. "Hey, what about Aster?" he asked as the tooth fairy moved away. Why was he the only one getting measured for new clothes? Why did he have to dress up if his partner didn't have to?

"We girls thought it would be nice if Bunnymund wore his robes," Tooth explained briskly, grinning at cutting off any explanation or remark the pooka could have made. "He's quite dashing in them and it's been a long time since he's worn them."

Jack turned to his mate, stunned. "You have clothes?" he asked incredulously, "after all of the flack you give me for wearing clothes?" His mouth snapped shut and he blushed, mortified at his unintentional admission in front of a lady. He fumed when both beings laughed at him for his embarrassment, especially when it caused his cheeks to darken further.

"Never seen me in 'um, have ya mate?" Aster retorted with a grin, ire at his friend forgotten in their collective mirth.

"Still…" Jack grumbled, snatching his staff back from the pooka and jabbing him with a frost dart for good measure. He was ready to take off for home when Tooth halted their progress again with an important question.

"Have you all decided on a day?" she asked expectantly, "I need to know how quickly I need to work. I do have a job to do in between wedding planning, you know." She smirked to see the expression on each male's face; one of self-satisfaction, the other of exasperated irritation.

"Last day of April," Aster announced smugly, ignoring the dramatic huff of disapproval from his mate.

"Oh," Tooth replied, surprised. She hadn't expected to have a year. She smiled, feeling a little bad for Jack, his impatience was nearly tangible, but she was happy overall with the wise decision. That would give everyone enough time to prepare, guests to be informed, and future husbands to acclimate. "That's great guys," she approved, "That'll give me plenty of time to prepare…and you all plenty of time to write your vows." Her grin widened. She'd had a feeling her gentle reminder would be necessary for this pair, and the looks she received at the mention of vows proved her correct.

After a little awkward shuffling and inaudible mumbling they finally departed from Tooth, going back home to the warren.

Jack wasted no time in exacting his revenge on the pooka for hiding his secret wardrobe from him as soon as they both arrived. He jumped onto Bunnymund's back, wrapping his legs around his waist and using his staff as a choke-hold around his mate's neck, laughing at the angry sputtering that ensued from his attack. "So," he asked with a laugh as the rabbit scrabbled to dislodge him, "robes huh? Why haven't I ever seen these robes? Will I get to take them off of you on our wedding night?"

His suggestive question tranquilized the pooka's struggling, and the rabbit sat down heavily on his knees, leaning forward onto his arms to catch his breath and growl. Jack was draped over him now, and he nuzzled his face into his mate's soft, furry neck and dropped his staff the remaining foot to the ground, opting to touch his Bunny with his own hands. He slipped one arm under the pooka's and rubbed his fingers through the fur on his stomach and the inside of his powerful hind leg. He kept his other arm securely around the rabbit's neck, ready for any sudden outburst.

His panting breaths rustled the fur against his mouth and nose and he grinned when he felt a tiny shiver course through his lover.

Without warning, he released his hold and slid off of Aster's back, finding his footing and stepping away to give the pooka some space. "Guess I'll have to wait a year to find out…" he breathed mournfully, stepping forward again to dip down and snatch his weapon from the ground, confidently turning his back on his play-foe and sauntering toward the burrow. He laughed and wasn't at all surprised when he was tackled to the ground after just a few steps.

Aster pressed his weight into the slight frame of his mate and lapped roughly at his thin neck and the nape of his marked shoulder. "Guess ya will, love," he growled lowly into his ear, "but I don't hafta wait, do I?"

Jack reflected later, as Bunnymund was gripping his hair and thrusting into him mercilessly, that his plans for revenge never seemed to work out in his favor. He supposed that waiting a year would be bearable if their days of planning ended like this every night.

Author's Note: Why can't I write anything within the length I originally plan? I wanted a montage, if you will, of events leading up to the wedding, as well as the actual event in this chapter…and I got this. I had to just end it because I saw no actual stopping point in sight with this one. Anyone who has ever planned a wedding knows that the prep is ENDLESS.

This whole chapter was a completely unplanned surprise. To the authors who can plan and script an entire story before actually writing it, how do you do it? I post a chapter most days not having a CLUE what's going to happen next (though not true for the next chapter). I'm usually in the same boat as you people reading this. This monster really does have a life of its own.

But. I did want to outline the Guardians' roles in this. It truly is a family affair we're having here, and I couldn't help a little marriage counseling. My husband and I did it and in the end I just had to force Jack and Aster to endure it. Lol

Plus, hey, now children are introduced for Bunnymund's consideration.

Next chapter, the wedding. I promise. Gah. (And I have to say, I am having so much freakin' fun writing it!)

Note Note: Miko Vampire - I have ideas that I'm working on. Won't say anymore about that. ;)