A Light Within Darkness 28

North pulled up a chair and sat across from the Nightmare King. The other man was again looking forlornly out the window as if maybe Jack would suddenly appear. It was so strange to see the once powerful King of Nightmares reduced to this. But North knew better than to let his guard down. Pitch was like a wild animal. Sure he may appear harmless but that meant nothing. The man could snap without warning.

"Are you certain Bunny has made such a move on young Jack?" he asked, his voice kind and without any hint of doubt or suspicion. "He could be very affectionate when he wants and often forgets about personal space…especial with Easter so close. And with mating season approaching soon after…" Oops, that was the wrong thing to say.

"That's my point!" Pitch snapped, waving his arms wildly. "This is Aster's revenge against me! He's taken my boy as his mate just to spite me. He'll use his magic to either make Jack carry or change his own gender so he can."

"He's not like that," North assured still keeping his voice soft and trying his best to be neutral.

Pitch's eyes narrowed in rage before he turned in his seat, folded his hands across his lap and leaned forward. He gave a sigh as he stared at his shoes. "You don't know Pookas, Nicholas. Yes, you may have seen Aster during his rut but he's an elemental like Jack. They balance each other. It's why they never got along until Jack proved himself on the field. But Jack sacrificing himself to save us…those are qualities Pookas look for in a mate."

North nodded. Bunny had said as much himself when they discussed potential mates centuries ago. "I can understand you're worry but Bunny is the last of his kind. He would not enter into a relationship lightly. Would he not court Jack? Doesn't that require him asking your permission to court Jack?"

Pitch gave a short nod, his shoulders relaxing silently as Kozmotis whispered that North was correct. It was tradition and E. Aster Bunnymund would never break tradition. But there were no other Pookas left. Bunny was alone – the last of his kind and that meant when mating season came all traditions went out the window with his need to procreate. Again the general whispered he was wrong and even North appeared sure there had to be a better explanation.

"Perhaps we should find the two and talk with them. I'm sure it's just some misunderstanding," North tried to appease him with a kind smile. "And if you are correct then we'll deal with it appropriately, dah?"

For a brief moment the shade glared at him before seemingly caving in on himself. "I lost my daughter, Nicholas, I don't want to lose my son. Not to Aster and certainly not to the Guardians. Lunar abandoned him and I raised him as my own. He has no right to take him from me now."

North wasn't sure what to say to that. He had gathered over the last year that it was MiM who had given Jack life after he died but why Manny would leave the child to wander the world alone or to become a companion to Pitch was still up for debate. Now North was more certain than ever that Pitch needed Jack just as much as Jack needed him. They were father and son but Pitch – despite his host having once been a father – was over protective of Jack and was not ready to let the child be free. He was also certain that it wouldn't matter if Jack was interested in Bunny or another being, Pitch would be just as riled up with them as he was the Pooka.

"Let's not make conclusion until we know all the facts," North insisted as he stood. He placed a comforting hand between Pitch's shoulder blades and led him to the Globe Room. "I'm sure things are not nearly as bad as you think."

Neither man noticed the tiny pixie hovering in the next window. She gave a surprised squeak, her tiny hands covering her mouth before flying south as fast as her wings could carry her. Her mistress needed to know Jack Frost had run away.

. . .

It was far warmer than Jack really liked but he said nothing as he lay on the Warren's lush grass as he stared up at the luminous floating lights above him. They were very pretty, like nothing he had ever seen before. They were mesmerizing and it was too easy for him to lull himself to sleep. He fought against the temptation. It was getting late and he really should be heading home. Pitch was probably worried sick. He shifted slightly, smiling when Bunny gave a tiny grunt from where he lay, his belly cushioning Jack's head as he painted a few eggs.

"Oi Frostbite," he grumbled as he shifted a bit to get comfortable again. "Stop moving about. You're worse than a wiggly worm."

Jack gave a giggle that was cut short by a yawn. Why he was so tired was beyond him, all he and Bunny had done since he arrived was talk, paint eggs, and lay around. To Jack that didn't seem to take a lot of energy but of course considering earlier in the day they had both been hard at work with the eggs and then goofing around having a snowball fight with some kids in Scotland before he flew home and had Pitch go all psycho on him and then flying all the way to Easter Island and fighting hard not to break down in Bunny's arms. Yeah, he had every reason in the world to be tired right now. Still he felt as if he was being rude by falling asleep laying on Bunny's belly. He really needed to get home and work things out with his father. Pitch was just being over protective. If they could just sit down and talk all this out he was sure he could make Pitch see that this was all a misunderstanding and that he and Bunny were just friends, right? At least he was sure they were just friends.

"Bunny?" he asked softly, angling his head so he could at least see the Pooka's chin.

"Uh huh?" Bunny answered as he focused on the egg in his hand. The tip of his tongue hung out the side of his mouth as he used a thin, fine tipped brush to paint details on the violet egg.

"We're friends, right?"

"Course, mate."

"Nothing else, right?"

Bunny glanced down from the egg. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing," Jack said quickly, embarrassed he had even brought up the subject. He moved to get up. "I should be heading home. Pitch is probably on the verge of having kittens."

The Easter spirit chuckled and ran a paw through Jack's hair. "I'd give you a life time worth of eggs to see that," he chuckled as he placed the egg he was working on down to join the others. "You're too tired, Jackie. What are you going to do, sleep on the wind?"

"Wouldn't be the first time."

Again Bunny chuckled but rather than letting the youth get up he gently pushed Jack back down. "Go to sleep, Snowflake. Pitch will simply have to get used to the fact that you're not always going to be home at bedtime."

"I'm not a child," Jack retorted as if he had to defend his reason for returning to the dark palace every night. "He just worries about me." Another yawn escaped him and he couldn't help but admit he was too tired to leave to Warren. Besides, the floating lights were so pretty and mesmerizing.

"Of course he does," Bunny agreed, his paw moving rhythmically through Jack's hair, easing the obvious tension the child held throughout his entire body. He smiled warmly at the child as he rolled onto his side and snuggled into his belly fur. Jack's face was peaceful as he dropped off into slumber, his small hands curling into the fur of his chest. "You're just a little kit, aren't you, Jackie?" He ran a finger down the boy's cheek. "Just a kit."

Leaning back against the ash tree he continued painting his specialty eggs. He wanted as many as possible this year to make up for last year's mishap. So far he was ahead of schedule thanks to Jack's help and the yetis and elves North had asked to help. He now had more than enough eggs to travel the world three maybe four times with eggs to spare. That was okay. He'd make sure every child had a full basket, including Jack. Especially Jack.

He had been surprised to learn that after Pitch and Jack left Santoff Claussen last year the boy have given away just about every Easter egg Pitch had given him to children all around the world to help bring back belief of the Easter Bunny to them. Pitch had been outraged but had done little more than frown and sigh in defeat. Of course Jack shared his remaining basket with his adopted father, teasing that they couldn't destroy Bunny or turn him into a little bunny again otherwise they'll be no more delicious chocolate which only gained another grumble and defeated sigh. Bunny nearly busted a gut laughing when Jack told him that. The kid sure had the old grump wrapped around his pinky. No one – with the exception of Seraphina, Kozmotis's daughter – had such a hold on the Nightmare King. What Jack had accomplished by finding Pitch's more protective and fatherly side, parts that were obviously Kozmotis Pitchiner shining through. And for that Bunny was thankful. Pitch was nowhere near being the monster he once was.

He set aside the egg he was working on and was about to grab another when he noticed something off with the floating lights. Most were brightly colored and simply floating about, just as luminous as the exotic orchids he had transplanted eons ago from his home would but there were three small white lights darting about. His eyes narrowed and he scented the air. Of course there was the scent of snow, it clung to every part of Jack but this was something different, something colder. He glanced at Jack just to make sure he was alright. The boy was sound asleep and while he was cold to the touch and sent a chill through Bunny it was different from the new magic he felt. It wasn't just snow or winter it was ice, deep and cold and able to freeze someone to their core.

His emerald eyes looked up from the sleeping frost child to the strange lights but they were gone. He blinked in surprise but decided to dismiss the mysterious lights. It wouldn't be the first time pixies had visited his home. There were many fairy mounds around Easter Island as well as on the main land. But the cold bothered him and if it weren't for Jack he would use his magic to return the Warren to its usual spring temperature. For now it was okay. There was no frost or anything to damage his plants so everything was good. He wrapped an arm around Jack's midsection and allowed himself to relax. Only a few more days to Easter and it was going to be the best one in history. Or so he hoped.