*Hey guys here is the next chapter, sorry it is a shorter one, I wanted to get it up ASAP since I have a busy few days ahead! (Booo schoolwork!) anyways, I hope that you enjoy this chapter, I hope it does not disappoint. I have started the next one, and that will get things really moving, this Fanfic is so long, but honestly, I don't ever wanna stop! (Muwahaha :3) Mainly because all of your support and comments seriously make my day, everyday! I know I thank you every chapter, but that is seriously not enough times! You are all so incredibly wonderful, I don't know what I did to deserve such awesome and sweet supporters! Hope you guys like this next chapter! Get the next one up ASAP! Love you guys!**

Chapter 21

Jack's tear-stained eyes were now wide. "Aster!" he screamed, squeezing his hand even tighter.

Aster chuckled at Jack, and Jack could see that he was still not completely with it, but he was happy that he had opened his eyes.

"How ya doin, Frostbite?"

Jack scowled, "Don't 'Hey' and 'How ya doin?' me! I get a call from Tooth that you were hit by a car, you weren't waking up! I am still scared shitless you jerk!" Though he would not admit, at least not with how they last saw each other, that when he heard Frostbite come from Aster's lips his heart soared.

Aster laughed and Jack felt his heart fly higher. He had missed Aster's laugh, he missed how it rang out and made it seem like everything was alright with the world, that anything scary was something he didn't even need to worry about.

Jack felt a squeeze on his own hand, when he looked down he realized he'd been holding Aster's hand, ever since he arrived, but it was just an instinct. Jack went to slide his hand from Aster's but the grip got tighter.

Jack looked back to Aster's face, and his eyes met with Aster's determined ones. "Don't leave me." Aster whispered, "Please."

Jack was taken aback, he wasn't sure why, but he felt as though Aster was asking a bit more than he was saying. Jack nodded, the only response he could think, and he relaxed his hand around Aster's as they looked into each other's eyes. There was an awkward silence, and Jack didn't know what to say, or how he should say it.

Aster spoke for him, "So...how goes the papers?"

Jack smiled, "Fine, I got three done yesterday, so I technically have a few free days if I want them."

"S'Good to hear, mate," Aster replied.

There was another silence, until Jack asked what he was actually truly curious about, "How goes the Easter preparations?"

Aster looked away, "Eh, it's hectic, nothing I haven't handled before, ya know," he shrugged. That wasn't really the answer Jack was hoping for but he simply smiled.

"That's good!" he said faking enthusiasm, "You will get it done! I know it!" Though he was also taking in the fact that Aster was now lying in bed not able to move. Also, he knew that Aster would not like the news that would be coming to him later, but Tooth had told him not to say anything, that she would handle it.

Jack then stood, Aster looked back up at him and looked sad that he was leaving.

"You said you wouldn't leave," Aster stated.

"I'm just going to tell everyone you woke up, they've been worried sick, Tooth looks more nervous than when she thought I had a cavity," Jack chuckled. "Of course I didn't" he smirked, before releasing Aster's grip on his hand.

"Ya know, mate, if ya don't tell them, then they might not come in, and then...uh," Aster cut himself short, and his face suddenly turned bright red. Jack cocked his head and eyebrows, as Aster looked away, completely flustered.

"N-N-Never mind...just...just go get them I guess," Aster stuttered.

Jack shrugged and then headed to the door, but before he opened it, Aster's voice stopped him, "Oi! Frostbite," Jack turned back around to see Aster's still red face staring at him. "I, uh, thanks...ya know, for comin to make sure I was aight, it was right good of ya...I,uh,...uh, miss-missed you, yesterday." Jack froze and his eyes got wide, and Aster quickly started waving his arms, "NOT! NOT!, uh, no, I mean! That is...ugh...Rack off! Just-just go get them!"

Jack smiled, nodded, and then walked out of the door. When he walked to the waiting area, Tooth immediately jumped him, and when he said Aster had woken she wasted no time in pushing by him and running to Aster's room.

North picked Jack up into a tight hug, which Jack felt nearly broke him in half. When his feet were back on the ground North clapped Jack on the back, "You are good guy, Jack," Jack had no clue where the compliment came from but he just smiled. North then disappeared behind the door.

Sandy was left with Jack, and while he looked passed the double doors he then looked at Jack, concern on his face. "He's fine, Sandy." Sandy shook his head, then pointed at Jack.

"Me? Why are you worried about me?"

Sandy sighed, giving him a look that said 'really, you're gonna play the innocent game.'

Jack sighed, "I am good, I am not quite sure what I am going to do, but...well...I don't think I can give up."

Sandy nodded then signed 'Jack, I like you and Aster together, you both seem so happy, even when you bicker it seems meaningful. I hope that one day you both stop being idiots long enough to realize that.' With that Sandy didn't wait for Jack's response and walked behind the double doors.

Jack was stunned, he knew that Sandy had some sass, but it was never really directed at Jack in such a serious tone before. Jack smiled though, first Victor and now Sandy, he was sensing a pattern.

Then Jack was hit with an idea and he raced out of the hospital.

"OH ASTER!" Tooth looked like she wanted to give him a hug, but with the bandages around him, and the pain, she knew that it would not be the best idea. Luckily this also got him out of one of North's hugs. Though North did clamp him on the back a bit too hard, and Tooth made sure to scold him for it.

"So, what's my damage, mates?" Aster asked, looking at his friends uneasily.

Tooth looked at him, sympathy in her eyes, "You have three broken ribs, a fractured leg, and a concussion...They...they don't want you to leave the hospital for at least three more days."

Aster's eyes widened. "CRIKEY! ARE THEY BLOODY MAD? I'VE ALREADY BEEN HERE TOO LONG I NEED TO GET BACK AND WORK ON EASTER PREPARATIONS!" He tried to get out of bed, but then a pain shot across his chest, and caused his head to spin. Tooth gasped and helped him get situated back into bed.

"Aster, I know this is bad, ok, but we will help in anyway possible! Easter will go on!" Tooth tried to calm him down, but this didn't help.

His friends had no idea what actually went into his Easter preparations. He still had to set up tent, paint about a million more eggs, call the idiots with the bunny cause they always managed to mess it up, pick a new story for Easter and be sure to make and paint a new story if nothing else seemed interesting, had to put together the playlist of songs for the kids, fill some more goody-bags, fill the plastic eggs with candy, and some other things Aster had put on his list.

Aster felt sick. This was way too much to handle now, he always got it done, and honestly this was always the way it was, but he needed every second to count, and he was stuck in this hospital for at least three days, where he could get nothing done.

"Thanks, mates, but you probably wouldn't know what to do, and how to do it," Aster sighed. "What do I do? Jack's the only one who knows about any of this stuff, cause I gave him the rundown when he came to help...now...well, he is off the list, surprised the bugger even came to see me." Aster mumbled those last few words so his friends wouldn't hear.

"I always say, is never too late!" North smiled placing his hands on his hips in triumph, a plan obviously cooking behind his wondrous blue eyes. "Jack will help us!"

"Mate! Jack has enough to worry about with school and his job, he doesn't need this added to his agenda!" Aster stated. "No, no asking, Frostbite!"

Tooth squealed in joy, and everyone looked at her funny, "What...it's just, you called him 'Frostbite'! Did you guys make up?! How?! When?! Did you confess?! Did you apologize?! Are you dating?! Are you going to get married?! Adopt babies?! Boys or girls?! What are their names?! How-"

"TOOTH!" North bellowed, "Is too many questions at one time, Bunny is not well enough." Then he looked at Bunny. "Though, I do wonder, what is you and Jack's status? He is good one, no?"

Aster nodded, "I, uh, I don't know where we are. Definitely not a couple though, I didn't apologize...I was just distracted by the fact that he was here...holding my hand."

Sandy came over to Aster, placed a hand on his arm, and gave him a wink and smile.

Aster's eyes widened, "He...he's been here for an hour and a half? Not leaving...my side?"

Sandy nodded, Tooth giggled, and North winked.

Aster looked down at his hands, and smiled softly. He could still feel the pressure of Jack's hand in his. Then his smile was replaced with a frown.

"How do I even apologize?" Aster asked his friends.

"That. my friend, is something we cannot answer for you. This is something you must do on your own." North responded. "But, if you have any hesitations about Jack not returning feelings, put at bay."

Sandy nodded in agreement with North.

Tooth placed a hand lightly on North's arm and smiled up at him with a certain glint in her eye, Bunny didn't make a scene of it, but he did make a mental note. "Yeah, North is right," then she looked back at Bunny. "That boy has a crush the size of Australia, so...make this right."

Aster sighed. His friends were and were not helpful in their own ways, but he was thankful that they were there. They had been there for him always.

Soon, all four of them were talking about Jack, teasing Bunny about him, and then just talking about their lives in general. They went down memory lane, and before they knew it two hours had gone by. They would have probably kept talking, but the door opened.

Jack stood in the doorway, panting, his face red from running. They all turned to look at him, a big box in his hand, and the other was a bulky black case.

"Jack?" Tooth questioned, "What happened? Where did you go?"

"I...had...to...get something," Jack wheezed. Then he walked over to the bed, and Aster suddenly felt his heart racing. He knew that box and that case, they were his after all.

"Here," Jack breathed, "I figured, if you're stuck here for a while, your mind would be going crazy if you weren't doing something productive for Easter." Jack opened the box, then took out a small egg carton, handing it to Aster, and placing the bulky case on the side of his bed.

Aster smiled, as he opened the carton to see a bunch of white hard-boiled eggs.

"Bunny, uh, we have, uh, stuff to do," said Tooth. Aster was shocked, he had forgotten that his friends were still in the room, but they quickly left with a wave.

"Ok, so I figured you will get a lot of these done, so I will bring more stuff for you over the next few days, so that you are contributing to the Easter stuff," Jack said his infamous smirk plastered on his face.

Aster smiled, both in response to Jack's smile, but also to the fact that this kid who knew him for less than a week knew him better than pretty much anyone. Aster wasn't going to take that for granted. "Oi, what do ya mean contribute, Frostbite? Who is going to be the leader of this? It is my holiday," Aster's smile was just as smug.

"Me." Jack said matter-of-factly.

Aster stopped smiling, "No, mate, that's not an option."

"Why? I know how you want everything done, and how it is supposed to be set-up, plus you have the list on your fridge of what you need to get done! I can do it!" Jack's smile also faded.

"You've got your stuff to do, Frostbite, school work comes first!"

"You didn't have a problem before when I came to help you," Jack crossed his arms over his chest in defiance.

Aster raised his finger to respond, but quickly shut his mouth. Honestly, he had no idea how to respond to that, it was true, he had selfishly just wanted Jack to come by and help, he didn't think about all the work Jack had to get done. Now, now he was going to stop being selfish though, and let Jack focus on what was really important. Aster was honestly super grateful for the offer, but how could he ask him to focus on his problems, when Jack had so many of his own.

Aster sighed, "Look, ya little snow fairy, I can't have you ignoring your school work, and what if Mr. Black sees ya at my place? He is evil enough to give ya more homework, ya know that as well as I." Aster froze, then his face contorted into a bit of anger.

"Hold on! How did you get into my house in the first place to get all these supplies?"

Jack smirked, "Someone left the door unlocked, not my fault, I would have just crawled through a window or something, but luck was on my side."

Aster wasn't too pleased with his response, and he could only assume that Tooth was the last one out of the house. She was sure smart and intimidating as hell, but she could be a bit flighty, especially with all of her focus probably being on Aster's well-being. He couldn't really be mad at her for that, could he? Though, thank goodness it was only Jack who went to his place.

"Well, did ya lock up, mate?"

Jack's smirk grew, "Yup, but not before grabbing this!" Jack pulled a key, on a bunny key chain.

Aster's eyes grew wide, "Why ya little-" Aster went to grab for it, but his ribs shot pain once again through his body.

"Ah, ah, ah," Jack said waving a scolding finger at Aster. "It's not like you could stop me, ya know that, right Kangaroo? You are trapped here. Plus, I am ahead on my assignments for Black, and believe it or not, I keep on top of my work, Cottontail."

Aster glared at him, though it was pretty ineffective since he sincerely was relieved that he would not be too behind schedule. Jack smiled, "I'll take that as a yes."

Aster sighed, "Aiight, mate, ya can go into my house, but just be careful with everythin, if there are any questions call me...or come visit and ask me."

Jack smiled and leaned in close to Aster's face, a smug smile on his face, "Who is gonna keep me away besides you, Roo?" Aster blushed.

"Oi, Frostbite, uh, about, uh, things..."

Jack quickly kissed Aster on the cheek before smiling and turning away, cutting off Aster's sentence and making him freeze.

"It's gonna take a lot more than yelling at me, for me to give up," Jack said, as he was walking out of the door, Aster was too stunned to even react or process anything. "See ya around, Bunny Foo Foo."

Jack waved, then shut the room door behind him, leaving an overly elated but stunned Bunny, to relish in his thoughts alone.

"Bastard." Aster whispered when he finally caught up with his thoughts, but he couldn't help but smile as he grabbed an egg from the carton, and began painting.