Because I couldn't let Easter go by and not contribute with something to the fandom :) And because the plot bunnies (no pun intended) held me hosage until I wrote this down.

SUMMARY: The guardians and Jamie and his friends are spending Easter at the Warren. Everyone is having a good time but why does it feel like something is off to Tooth? Will Bunny abandon his workahholic habits? Read to find out!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Hope you enjoy!

TO HAVE THEM AROUND

"E. Aster Bunnymund, what a terrible liar you are." Tooth muttered as she watched the guardian of hope play with the younger Bennett kid, Jamie and his friends not far behind.

Sandy looked at her with a puzzled expression and a golden question mark above his head.

She shook her head at the same time her lips quirked up a bit. "It's nothing Sandy. Don't worry about it" She brought her knees closer to her chest, her chin resting on them.

Tooth continued to watch as Jack joined the game and challenged the pooka to another of their races (which had become a common source of banter just as the one that occured with North in the matter of which holiday was better). So far the results had ended in tie most of the times. If one took the lead, the other would match him the next time.

But despite the competitive spirit that fueled both guardians, it was painstakingly obvious (at least to her) that Bunny had a hard time to keep up to Jack this time. And that gave her enough proof to support her theory.

The Easter Bunny was lying through his teeth.

He never had a problem with proving his speed. In fact, it was something he boasted with pride. His breathing was rather irregular this time. The way his muscles gave the slightest of twitches denoted fatigue and it did not provide him with the necessary grip to push himself forward.

"Jeez, kangaroo, you're getting slow." Jack said when they reached the finish line, winning by a landslide.

"Belt up, show pony. I went easy on ya. Besides, didn't want Sophie to fall." The pooka declared adjusting the giggling toddler on his back.

"Excuses, excuses, Peter Cottontail."

Before the wit battle escalated, North stepped forward asking who wanted to go pet the reindeers. The children sped off with the Cossack towards the giant animals with a general cry of excitement.

They passed next to her, wrapped up in conversation about the size of the reindeers and some even asked North if they could get a pet like that for next Christmas. Because, to be honest, who wouldn't want a badass reindeer that could fly as a pet?

"Ya brought them here?!" Bunnymund exclaimed while putting Sophie down, who caught up to the rest quite fast for a girl of her size and diligently grabbed her brother's hand.

The pooka was not completely wrong. Although the reindeers were trained and North trusted them, they were still animals. They could still get upset by strangers around them or by loud noises.

Toothiana gave Sandy a quick glance and the dream weaver gave a nod before getting up and following the group. She knew the situation would be under control of the dream weaver went along.

However, Bunnymund was not finished. He strode towards the Cossack, passing under the willow tree she was under. "North I swear if any of those things eat my flowers..."

But he was cut off mid-sentence when a tiny hand grabbed his wrist and tugged down, his head landing on the lap of the Tooth Fairy.

After a few moments of staring at her like a deer in the headlights, he finally found his voice. "Tooth, what the-"

"Shhh...stay put."

"But I gotta-"

"They're going to be fine. North and Jack will take care of the kids."

Bunny snorted. "And who's gonna take care of those two numbskulls?"

"That's why I sent Sandy. Now stay put and close your eyes."

He stayed down but when he didn't close his eyes, she put a hand over them.

The sudden darkness felt unusual but strangely not unwanted.

As the atmosphere fell down to a more calm pace, his senses sharpened.

His ears picked up the water running in the stream beside them and also the distant sound of laughter from the kids.

A soft hint of meadow flowers came to his nose, paired with a hint of mint and lavender that came from Tooth.

Her hands felt soft against his fur, one of them now stroking his head and making him close his eyes. His eyelids felt heavy and his eyes were more tired than he had been aware of.

As he took in all this stimuli, his body slowly relaxed. Only now feeling the strain and the burn in his muscles and paws, he willed his mind to disconnect from his body, allowing them to rest and recover. The pounding in his head was still there despite earlier that week he told himself that it would go on its own.
His breathing slowed to mimic a sleeping cadence.

"Better?" Tooth's voice was but a whisper.

"Thanks."

"You silly rabbit." She shook her head but couldn't stop a smile from spreading on her face. "You have been working non-stop all these weeks, hardly sleeping or eating. And you invited everyone to the Warren to celebrate Easter. You're going to burn out if you keep on like this."

As per usual, the fairy was right.

Preparing for the visit of his friends, creating at least three new batches of eggs for the surprise egg hunt he had planned for them, and making sure everything in the Warren was in order for when they came, had been a new source of stress, but he wanted something special for this Easter after last year's fiasco. He wanted to do something for them.

He sighed.

"Was I really that obvious?"

"No. But again, I do know you better than most." The hand covering his eyes lifted but he kept his eyes closed. Now it rested on his left shoulder.

The corners of his mouth perked up. Tooth always did know how to read him like a book.

"Didn't mean to worry nobody."

She chuckled. "Aster, it's our job to worry about you. All of us do. We're your friends."

That comment (resounded) in his very core.

'We're your friends'

"Your worries are ours. And even if we can't carry your burdens, we share them. We're here for you."

'We're here for you'

"If Jack joining us has taught me something is that if we don't stick together, then we're nothing."

His need to open his eyes was too much. He needed to see her.

His eyelids fluttered open, his whole view filled by her gentle face and kind eyes.

"You're loved E. Aster Bunnymund. And you're not alone."

He closed his eyes. A warm feeling spreading through his heart.

'You're not alone.'

And for the first time, that truth was the only one that mattered.

A few silent moments passed, only filled by the sound of nature around them before he even found any words to utter.

"You were right. I was tired."

Tooth cocked her head a little. She couldn't help her motherly tone when she asked, "Then why did you invite us here when you should be resting?"

He pondered for a bit.

"Because it's nice to have you around."

And as the gentle strokes on his head and the sound of children's laughter lulled him to a deep sleep, that was the last coherent thought his mind remembered.

'It's nice to have them around'.

Dont forget to R&R!