Jack was seated in the garden of the Tooth Palace surrounded by mounds of open gifts. Tooth having the brillant idea of throwing a surprise baby shower for him. A large number of the gift were sent by spirits who could not attend. The turn out had been small not that Jack was complaining. He had not expected to be the guest of honor when he had accepted Tooth's invitation for tea. Though it had made since why Bunny had wanted to tag along.
"Thank you everyone for the wonderful gifts," Jack said happily as he set down the last box "I'm sure they'll be put to use soon," Jack added as he placed a hand on his rather large stomach.
"Hold up Snowflake," Bunny called as he came you from behind "there's still one left," Bunny said handing him a small wrapped box. Jack gave him a pleased smirk as he took and opened the box. Inside he found what looked to be a silver locket about the size of a half dollar. The both sides were engraved with a delicate snowflake design and studded with dimonds and sapphires. When he opened it a soft calming melody began to play.
"Its beautiful," Jack said as he reached up to give Bunny a kiss.
"Ya like it then," Bunny asked with a smile.
"I love it," Jack said as he continued to listen to its melody.
"Here let me give ya a 'and with it," Bunny offered taking a hold of the chain. He carfully opened the clasp and fasined it behind it his neck. When he finished Jack continued to admire it for another moment before he looked back up to Bunny. A huge smile plastered across his face.
"Jack," Tooth called.
"Humm," Jack said as he turned his attention from his mate.
"Are you ready to cut the cake," the fairy asked earning and excited smile from the winter spirit.
"All ways," Jack said as he tried to get up from his seat. After several failed attempts, a few chuckles from Bunny, and a couple death glares Bunny ended up having to help him up from his chair.
The party continued for a few more hours. Jack staying more with the girl spirits as they talked about the plans he had for the kits. Bunny stood close by as he talked to the guy spirits who congratulated him on becoming a father.
When the party finally started to wine itself down and the guest started to leave. Bunny was able to return to Jack's side.
"So were ya surprised," Bunny asked wrapping his arms around his mate as best he could.
"What do you think," Jack answered with pleased expression "what I can't figure out is how you guys managed to pull this off without me finding out," Jack questioned.
"That was easy Snowflake. Tooth took care of all the plannin' and all I had ta do was get ya ta come when she invitied ya ta tea. She suggested it when ya went ta that meetin' last month," Bunny said with a smirk "figured it would be the last chance ya'd get ta see other spirits before the kits came."
"Your proably right about that one. The next time I'd planned on seeing anyone besides you and the others was at the kits Christining," Jack agreed "so how are we suppose to get all of these gifts back to the Warren," Jack asked waving to the pile of presents sitting by the chair he had occupied a few hours ago.
"North said he'd lened a few yeties ta help," Bunny answered nuzzling Jack's temple.
"Bunny could you give it a rest, not going to happen tonight," Jack said shrugging off Bunny's affectionet nuzzling. He knew what Bunny was trying to do. Everytime he started to nuzzle him like that lately he was wanting to get intament when they finally got a chance to be alone.
"Can't help m'self, ya smell so good and its been month's," Bunny said continue his affections.
"Yeah well its going to be a while longer. I am way to big nor am I even remotely in the mood," Jack responded as he again attempted to shrug off Bunny's nuzzling. He knew that if he allowed his mate to continue then eventually his resolve would cave "why don't you go help the others with the clean-up," Jack suggested.
Bunny stopped "'M sure they can handle it."
"Bunny," Jack said in a warning tone "its the least you can do after Tooth hosted the party," Jack said as he all but ordered Bunny to help the others with the clean up.
"Alright, if I'd make ya happy," Bunny said as he released his hold on Jack and turned to go help with the clean-up.
Unbeknown to the guardians was the fact that the shadow were watching. They had been that way since the started of the party. They watched and wait for their chance to strike. They knew that this was their last chance to get the winter spirit. The force field that protected him from them the passed several month was weakened to allow for the spirits who attened the party were able to come and go. After today the winter spirit would be far out of their reach until well after he'd given birth when it would be to late.
Now as the party was drawing to a close their window was closeing as soon as the last gest left the field would return to full strenght. However all they needed was for enough distance to be put in between the winter spirit and the other.
When it seemed as that opening would never come the smiled as they saw the pooka leave the winter spirit's side to help with the clean up. Now was their chance. Waiting another moment to allow a little more distance to form between the group of Guardians and the winter spirit they attacked
It all happened so fast that the Guardians and lengering spirit didn't know how to react. One minute they were cleaning while Jack watch from his seat. The next a mass of shadows were decending upon them. Half went to keep the guardians and spirits busy while the other half went to Jack.
Bunny's first reaction was to go to Jack, but the shadow stopped him forming a wall in between them. He tried to fight his way through, but the sheer number made that impossible. Bunny could see from where he fought that Sandy was having far better luck than he.
"Sandy get ta Jack," Bunny howled knowing that he would be un able to reach his mate in time at the rate he was going.
The golden guardian nodded and summoning as much sand as he could blasted at the wall of shadows. It was just before the attack landed that a pain filled scream reached their ears. The golden sand collided with the wall and in an instant destroyed enough of the shadows allowing the Guardians to push their way passed.
What they found once they were through was Jack on his knees. One hand clenched to his stomach the other supporting weight. The sleeve of his white shirt was stained red and torn. A tall dark figure standing over him. The figure looked up at them with an annoyed yet surprised look. It was obvious that he had not excepted them to break through his deffence as quickly as they had.
But Bunny saw none of this what he saw was Jack being hurt and the cause of that pain standing over him. He leaped passed the shadow that remaind in his way and Jack. Intent on taking out the figure, but just as he would have connected with it the figure melted back into the shadows as did the remaining shadows. Bunny took moment to survey the surrounding area before turning to Jack. He was still hunched over.
"Jackie are ya 'kay," Bunny asked slightly paniced when he caught sight of the look on his face. Jack's expression was a mix of pain, confussion, and panic.
"Jack," Bunny tried again "where ya hurtin'."
"Bunny, the kits their...ahhhh!" Jack cried cluching his stomach tighter clasping into Bunny's arms.
Bunny stood out in the hall pacing. It had been nearly five hours since that had gotten Jack back to the pole. He had gone into labor at the Tooth Palace from what they could only had been the stress of the situation.
Once they had gotten Jack to the pole North had sent Bunny and Tooth to wait outside while he and Sandy did what they could to help him. It had became all to apparent when they returned that Jack would not be able to deliver naturally give them only one other option. Otherwise North would have allowed Bunny to stay and help coach Jack through the birth.
Tooth watched helplessly as Bunny paced in front of doors to the infirmary knowing that they was nothing she could say to calm him. He was worried about Jack and she couldn't blame him she was to. He had look so scared when they brought him in and in so much pain.
The Pole had fallen into an unnatural silence as it waited for word on Jack's condition. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of Bunny's pacing.
The doors to the infirmary opened and North stepped out. He looked worn and tired as if he had just returned from battle.
"How..." Bunny started to ask but couldn't finish too fearful of the answer. North rubbed his face with his hand as he let out a deep sigh.
"Ve vere able to deliver kits. They are all fine, but Jack...ee's not doing vell. Ve descovered once we had delivered kits that ee had been poison. Et vas most likely cause for Jack's premature labor. Ve vere able to determine vhat vas used to poison him and have given him antidote but ee es extremely weak. At dis point his chances of surviving are very small. Et vould take mircale to save him." North's voice was filled with sorrow as he spoke.
As Bunny listened to North's words he felt his world shattering. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Not again, this couldn't be happening again. He couldn't loss Jack again. How would he raise the kits without him.
Author's Note:
Tell me you didn't see something like this coming. I warned you that the birth would be angsty. I could see it happening any other way though. I tried but it just wouldn't come. Anyways please review and tell me what you think. The next chapter is already forming in my head and I'll write it just as soon as I can work out a few more ideas. Until next time...
