Hey everyone!
Thank you all for sticking with me as long as you have, it's amazing how much people have supported me.
This is my second last chapter, I have a final one for you soon.
Btw that temperature thing, tbh im not a nurse by any means
Enjoy, cya soon.
….
The snow from the storm had cleared up considerably by easter, which was a blessing for bunny who needed to make up for the lack of eggs last year.
The laughter of children could be heard from the Bennett back yard, surrounded by a fence and darkness as the early born fireflies of april flew around the smooth grass. A late fire crackled in the darkness of Easter evening, the licks of orange and yellow dancing like fire sprites in the wood and ash. Around the fire sat a group of laughing children, 7 to be exact, along with a frosty teen, who was a child at heart.
"Come on nate...don't be a pussy, burn the book!"
Nate shivered and shook his head, "no way!"
Tommy rolled his eyes, " but you kept complaining about how bored you were reading it. "
"I know, I know… but I have to finish it, I want to boost my mark in english."
" but its already like a 95%, that's like 143% more than me. "
Nate sighed annoyed, "clearly your math also can't be that high either."
Tommy smirked and elbowed nate, "your just jealous because I get more girls than you."
Jack who had been drinking water while roasting his marshmallow at the time nearly had a fit as he choked on his water, doing a spit take at tommy's announcement. Jamie who had been sitting next to him burst into laughter.
"Screw you jack." Tommy smirked.
suddenly tina rolled her eyes and bit her lip, "first off, you already ruined what chances you had by using the word 'pussy', second i'm pretty sure the only person who would date you, tommy is someone who has been harmed with a severe head injury."
" oh whoop dee doo here comes tina the social justice warrior. " tommy teased making tina glare at himbaby tooth who was fluttering beside the fire balancing a marshmallow on her stick, smirked and rolled her eyes.
Jamie laughed and pulled out his marshmallow, blowing it out he placed the blackened mess to jack, who swallowed it quickly.
"Relax you guys, tommy, don't make tina beat you up again." Jamie smiled digging for eggs in his baskett. This easter was absolutely huge, there were more eggs than ever in every little crevice of the town of Burgess. Bunny had hit the town hard with about a million chocolate eggs skillfully painted with a colorful glory. Many of these eggs had been hidden in Jamie's back yard, another generous gift from an absolutely ecstatic rabbit. The entire group of children had been hunting for them all afternoon, this easter being free of pitch nightmares they had to make up for the loss of last year. Jack was with them of course right by Jamie's side and hunting for every little egg he could, as they played the game of who could find the most eggs. Jack mainly gave his to jamie for obvious reasons. The teen had noticed to his amusement that most the eggs that he had collected were all covered in tiny painted hearts, and butterfly wings. Jack figured tooth and bunny's relationship was doing pretty well.
"Hey jamie do you know when your going to go back to school?" Asked rocky gently giving his friend an anxious look.
Jamie frowned and shook his head, "mom says she's keeping me home for the next month, until the school settles stuff with sammy and rose."
Rocky sighed, "I just miss you, we all do at school."
Jamie gave a sad smile and hugged his friend's shoulder, "its ok maybe I can make mom let me go by 2 weeks or something."
" you ok after everything jamie? " nate asked quietly.
Jamie sighed, "I need some time, i'm not ready for school yet to be honest."
Jack smiled and pulled his friend into a hug, "hey you're doing pretty good as it is bud, don't worry about taking a break."
Cupcake was busy attempting to braide sophie's hair, while sophie patiently helped her do the rhythm of knots, before climbing up to her brother and sitting in his lap.
"Jamie, when will bunny get here?"
Jamie smiled and handed her a smore, "not sure soph, maybe after 9."
" yeah where is the kangaroo, " tommy noted his marshmallow on fire, "shouldn't he be done by now?"
Jack gazed up at the evening sky cold starting to settle in, "he should be here soon," Jack assured, " he's probably just making out with tooth. "
"Jack!"
Turning around jack and jamie discovered the rabbit ears of bunny peeking out of a hole before a powerful leap revealed the 6 ft jack rabbit, a blushing tooth in his arms. "And for the record jack I don't kiss and tell."
" I know you wouldn't" tooth smiled kissing the rabbit's cheek and making him blush.
"Bunny!" Shouted sophie rushing up to the rabbit and flinging herself into his arms, as tooth flew up rushing towards the group of kids.
"Jamie! " she cheered happily pulling the boy into a tight hug and cuddling him to her chest, "how are you sweetie?"
Jamie grinned pulling away as the colorful fairy checked him over, "im doing great tooth, just been kinda quiet thankfully."
" Can't be that quiet with frosty around, " bunny remarked giving sophie another squeeze before setting her down.
Jack smirked and playfully glared at bunny, "you got that right cottontail."
Much like a flash of lightning the other children flung forward surrounding the visitors excitedly.
"Woahhhh, are those real boomerangs?" Rocky asked pointing at the rabbit's chest.
Bunny blinked and peered downward, his trusty ancient weapons mounted like metals on his sturdy chest. "Yeeh these are real boomerangs."
" Those look so cool! " Tommy agreed trying to reach for them.
"Epppp Noope!" Tina slapped his hand quickly earning a moan of annoyance from tommy, " the last thing you need is a boomerang tommy. " tina growled.
"Come on tinaaaaa, it be cool."
Bunny despite his tiredness chuckled but found himself glancing towards the back where cupcake the silent, strong shadow of the group stood, eyeing the boomerangs curiously. Bunny tilted his head, the last time he had directly spoken to this taller stronger built girl had to be the battle with pitch, she seemed quieter than the rest, but not in a shy way, her muscles were quite clear under her dress sleeves.
"Hey, cupcake." Bunny said, eyeing the tough girls dark chocolate eyes, " you want to give e'r a shot? "
Cupcake stoned face expression broke into pure joy as she nodded rushing up to bunny taking the long wooden stick from his hand. Cupcake was about to throw it when she happened to catch little sophie, staring at her in confusion. Bunny watched as Cupcake gently pulled sophie up on her shoulders and let the 4 year old throw the boomerang first (which was a small light throw) before throwing the elegant weapon herself and having it come back full speed in an odd figure 8 motion, catching it right before it hit rocky's head.
" Jesus! "Rocky shrieked nearly falling to the ground to dodge the weapon when Jamie and Jack caught the boy from behind.
Bunny grinned, taking a liking to the quiet girl immediately, "bloody hell lass, that was impressive."
Cupcake smiled and put sophie down, "ive always wanted to do that."
"Can I give it a try bunny?!" Tommy pleaded getting on his knees and worshipping the large pooka, close to clinging to the rabbit's leg and kissing it.
Tooth chuckled patting tommys head, " I think we can do that, wouldn't you say bunny? "
The rabbit glanced over and smiled as the vibrant fairy hovered, "Well ok...maybe a little."
"Youuurrreee gonnnnaaa regreeett thattttt." Jack sang in his sing song voice making bunny glare at him with a smile. Both trade contagious grins before everyone was trying out bunny''s boomerangs. Jack even gave it a shot and found he was quite good with the elegant wepon, his speed aiding in the distance the sticks could glide. Jamie was quite good at them too, but was often having a hard time grabbing them as they flew back, as they came close to hitting his head once or twice. So jack helped the boy by letting him on his shoulders , as one threw the boomerangs and the other caught them. Tina was actually having a much harder time with the sticks, much to her embarrassment as nate repeatedly showed her how to use them, but quite regularly failed. Seeing the look of disappointment on tina's face, tooth's kind face fluttered closer as she helped tina adjust herself to throw the sticks again. (Tooth herself was trying to learn how to use her boyfriend's weapons, it was actually quite romantic playing a sort of frisbee in his burrow before playing a sexy game of hide n seek) eventually tooth managed to help tina throw the boomerang about 10ft which was quite small but Tina was thrilled. Everyone continued playing until the other guardians came along a 20 min long period later, as a portle abruptly opened up and north and sandy stepped out, both with large grins on their faces. The children let out shouts of approval as they rushed up to welcome the guardians, north burst out into laughter pulled the kids into a big hug, while Nate and Tina watched Sandy admiringly as he created beautiful sand dolphins to greet them. When north caught sight of Jack and Jamie he bulldozed into them and hugged them tightly with a firm but gentle grip. Jamie giggled and Jack laughed feeling their feet leave the ground, while the teen was thankful for North's awareness to Jamie's slight jumpyness to abrupt touch.
"Ok I can barely breath again north," jack fakingly chocked.
"I've hug you harder than dis Jack, no lies."
Jamie smirked as he was put down while Jack was given an extra hard hat g that nearly cracked his ribs.
"Okay! Okay! message received north! Message received…" Jack gasped.
Putting down the winter spirit, north once again collected Jamie into his arms and smiled softly handing him a small gift.
"Here you is Jamie…." North smiled with a whispered handing the child a bright blue gift with white ribbon," you deserve dis."
Jamie blinked and took the smooth package, Jack by his shoulder watching curiosity. As the wrapping fell Jamie's eyes met with a small brown box, almost shaking with curiosity Jamie lifted the lid and was greeted by a blue hoodie. Eyes wide the teen peered up at north from the background, the jolly man smirked at the 17 year old's expression and gave a nod to Jamie's direction. As the little boy lifted the hoodie upwards he let out a tiny squeak of joy realising what the gift was. The navy blue hoodie was decorated with frost colored patterns, crisscrossing delicately with the most exquisite of detail, practically cloning the original clinging on to the teen. Beaming jamie flipped round and gave the Russian man a great big hug, "thank you so much North!"
The russian muscular man laughed and patted the boy's back, " I was going give it at Christmas, but I thought you deserve hoodie now. "
Jack beamed as jamie flung it over his priceless gift and found himself beaming down at a little brunette in a cloned piece of clothing. Laughing the teen grabbed jamie and cuddled his friend in his arms, after putting him down jamie twirled around, each little painted frost pattern almost identical to Jack's. Baby tooth who had been some what hiding behind some plants when she saw Tommy with a boomerang let out a chirp of pure delight and fluttered onto Jamie's shoulder.
"This is honestly so coool." Jamie grinned.
Jack nodded, "and this paint should stay on even in the wash."
Jamie turned around and playfully glared at Jack, "shut up, that paint I used on the Halloween costume was cheap."
" holy shit your twins now… "
Everyone looked up to see tommy staring at jamie in shock, his mouth carved into a smirk. Rocky was behind him grinning, as Jack stood behind his friend.
"You look great Jamie."
"You honestly look just like jack," Nate noted.
Tina wandered over with cupcake who was on bunny's shoulders and grinned mischievously.
"Um..north, didn't Tommy just use a swear word? Shouldn't he not get gifts for that?"
Rocky grinned at the look of pure panic on Tommy's face, than Tommy retaliated.
"Hey I'm not that bad, give me a break!"
North let out a laugh that could rattle mountain tops and eyed Tommy Knowingly. "Tommy, I have quite a profile on you alv'ready."
Tommy feel to his knees and north laughed once again,"vis alright Tommy, I like you too much not to give you gift." Bending down to the child's height north tapped the side of his nose,"vut try to give your brother a break once in a while, it's not always nice to find milk in your lemonade mysteriously at your family's barbeque."
"Say what?!" Rocky yelled catching the snickering look on Tommy's face, before rushing after the twin. Everyone watched for a moment, until Sandy finally caught everyone's attention and the group turned their heads. Sandy was beaming as he pointed towards the fire, golden marshmallows appearing over his head excitedly.
It was than everyone was almost drunk off sugar and Jamie's mom and Jane called out asking if they needed anything slightly worriedly..
"Nah, it's alright mom, thanks!"
From there the group began to start some games and dance around the fire stupidly. Baby tooth's silloutte singing as she doing around the flames.
…..
After playing a little hide and seek outside, everyone came inside giggling and laughing retelling the group soon tumbled inside as the night sky wore on, the cool wind giving a final loving goodbye by ruffling the groups hairs, a cool caring shiver through each lock of strands. Jack had fun teasing bunny about the fact he hid in a tree when he jumped at Abby's bark. Which bunny returned with the sky remark that Jack had screamed when him and cupcake had jumped out at the teen from the bushes. After that the both of them got in a playful fight, bunny noogieing the teen afterward much to the teens playful anger. North and the twins were busy being minor annoyances as they playfully attacked friends. When they all finally got upstairs the next question was what they were going to do next. Which Nate soon suggested the Monopoly game that had been thrown under Jamie's bed. Jack and Jamie both looked at each other and burst out laughing agreeing immediately. Everyone got into groups, with jack and Jamie imimidetietly becoming business partners. Cupcake and Sophie went with bunny while north adopted the twins as his business group associates. Tooth and Tina became the competitive female teen, while Sandy and Nate were by the end. From the get go the game was a disaster as Jack and Jamie began to playfully screw around with the rules, making them and bunny's team get in playful heated debates on what was going on and asking why jack kept robbing Rocky for cash. North thought this was hilarious and soon formed a gang with Rocky and Tommy stealing everyone's cards and filming it to document their achievements. Tooth and Tina tried to get people to play by the rules much like bunny, Tina and cupcake but got in a joking argument themselves as Tommy sneakily stole bunny's cash and bunny thought tooth and Tina had taken it. Bunny jokingly accused tooth and they had a courtcase about it while jack and Jamie made up ridiculous rules of how the court should take care of the manner, baby tooth also helped by flying away with the written document the boys had made up, all 3 of them playing monkey in the middle with bunny. Tommy, north and Rocky were called as witnesses, which ended with Tommy stealing all the money from his business associate trying to hide under the bed. Mean while Sandy and Nate ruled the game and won surprising everyone. Nate had never looked more proud in all his life and nobody had seen Sandy smirk so much.
….
The entire cast of friends grouped together and made a pillow fort that was made up partly by North's jacket which made a lovely canopy. It took the group forever to put the massive thing together, as Jack would often hit tina with a pillow and the war would break out among them. Jack and Jamie were the two js working together and ducking in battle, while tina and tooth dive bombed members (especially bunny) with lighter pillows. Bunny and cupcake showed no mercy as they fought recklessly against north and the twins who were just as aggressive. Sandy and nate watched from the side occasionally throwing a pillow at tommy and (with nate's request) shielding tina with dream sand from pillows. Eventually however everyone finally got settled and jamie and jack hooked up the vcr and tv.
"So what are we gonna watch?" Tina asked as rocky, Jack and jamie looked through his tapes.
" how about shrek? " rocky smirked holding a vhs.
Baby tooth let out a little squeak of agreement as she settled her sleeping spot made out of mittens next to Sophie, who was helping to adjust her pillows.
"Oh god no! Not after all those stupid memes!"
" now i just want to watch it even more now, " smirked tommy.
Jamie and Sophie and Jack looked at each other and giggled seeing the fumes on Tina's face.
North blinked from the background and patted Tommy on the shoulder softly making the boy look up at the big eyes of the curious man. "Tommy?"
The boy nodded.
"v'hat exactly is a meme?"
Tommy blinked before grabbing norths cheeks and rubbing them softly, eye to eye with the giant, "I have much to teach you my brother." With that the child whipped out his phone and began to bring up prime examples.
Tooth fluttered over and peered down, "we could watch lady and the tramp."
" but thats kind of musy, " rocky noted, "what about horror?
Little sophie let out a yipe and hid behind bunny, "maybe something else mate." The rabbit smiled.
" why not a planet earth documentary? " nate added, busy doing meditation on the bed with sandy,( while also scratching Abby who was spralled over the bed in pure delight from the tummy rubs.) who gave a golden sand version of a thumbs up to nate's suggestion.
Everyone debated while jack and jamie rolled eyes at each other digging through the movies they had. As each friend surfed through they came across a few goodies but unlimitedly found themselves drawn to the first film. Smirking both boys looked at each other and exchanged a wordless Expression of agreement.
"We vote shrek 2!" Both boys laughed quickly gaining more quick hands and a cry of anger from Tina.
Jamie slid in the bus tapes and the old TV flicked on and soon the movie was rolling much to the delight of tommy, Rocky and Sophie and baby tooth.
"This is so Stupid, were just watching a dumb kid flick." Tina scoffed.
"Hey shut up the second is actually really good."
As soon as the show started and everyone was comfortable among the covers things went quiet besides the giggling of Rocky and Tommy who were busy showing images to north. As the show continued everyone began to laugh and genuinely enjoy the movie, which was made even funnier when north would laugh and yell tv'he v'ig green guy from those mimes is on!"
Even Tina was beginning to enjoy the cartoon.
Later as the credits finished jack found himself sorrounded by sleeping figures, each entangled in one another. Blinking his soft grey eyes jack glanced down finding the wide eyes of Jamie looking up at him. Smirking he adjusted the boy on his legs. "I'm surprised you're still awake."
Jamie smirked and yawned,"just barely but yep."
Jack smiled and glanced over at the other guardians who lay on the floor, children asleep by their sides. North was snoring heavily as Rocky was sucking his thumb in a fetal position on his stomach, (much to the best friends amusement) while rock way sleeping by North's side breathing softly.
Glancing over they found tooth next to bunny who had her arms rapped around Tina softly. Bunny was resting a paw on tooth while Sophie and cupcake were asleep by his side.
Sandy was asleep next to tooth in a pile of pillows as Nate was next to him, a tornado of dream sand of dolphins and robots and the faint silhouette of Tina above Nate. baby tooth was asleep in Sophie's hair completely neglecting her bed from earlier.
Both friends traded grins before going over to a spare mattress and shutting off the TV. As Jack settled in he gently pulled Jamie (who was still wearing his blue frosted hoodie) closer to him with his arm, earning a slight flinch from the child. Jack quickly pulled away, bit just as quickly Jamie put his hand back around him.
"Sorry….I'm just still jumpy."
Jack stared at him for a moment before nodding and giving a smile gripping the child tighter.
"It's ok, he's not coming back.."
"I know... just more learning to live with all this you know?"
Jack bit his lip and nodded in understanding. Jamie smiled and gave jack another hug before nesting down in the covers.
"How are you feeling jack?" The child asked curiously kind eyes wide but dazed with "You must be tired after well...the Storm." He added somewhat awkwardly.
Jack sighed and gave a nod,"yeah I'm exhausted, I don't know how I've been able to stay up this long."
Jamie blinked from his pocket of blankets,"Jack..when you cast that storm, that kinda killed Keith.."
Jack smirked,"kinda?"
Jamie giggled," fair point…," the boy spoke softly, a hesitate tone to the dark subject, "did you do it mainly to protect me?"
There was a flash of hesidence on Jack's face to respond, but the answer was obvious and Jamie's eyes quickly caught on. Jack bit his lip and felt a little Gilt, Keith may of been a rat but the thought Jamie might take the murder of a adult as his own fault was sitting steadily in his skull. Jamie blinked and had a undesided look on his face, eyes seeming lost to his thoughts inside his own head. Jack waited worriedly wondering if he even should of opened his mouth. Finally Jamie spoke his eyes filled with curiosity,"when they tried to rape me in the van...did a part of you see your sister getting hurt?"
Jack blinked in shock, the sharpness of the smart question shooting forth at his mind, without meaning to his lips moved and spoke the answer.
"Yes. A bit."
Jamie nodded in understanding and grabbed Jack's hand looking at the teen straight in the eyes,'"you know she isn't here like I am now, right?"
Jack's eyes shot wide open, if anyone else had said that question he would of snapped, but Jamie's honest icconent eyes stared at him Knowingly as Jack was taken back.
"Yeah..I know..it's just I sometimes want to make up for the time I lost with her."
"That's okay, but that kinda puts guilt on yourself thou..like you feel like you owe her?"
Jack's mouth was slightly open as he stared at Jamie's eyes full of honestly and almost empathy, not attempting to force his view on things differently, but more suggest an unhealthy way of thinking. The teen was taken back by the logic of the young mind and was attempting to register himself, without knowing he spoke.
"But I left her.."
Jamie blinked and stared at him,"you fell through the ice, that's not your fault. It's awful, but not your fault."
Jack looked at the child, his eyes locked onto his deeply as past memories began to rise from hundreds of years back, conflicting thoughts battling in his mind.
"Maybe, its ok to kinda learn to live on."
As Jack was silent, he started to realise with widening eyes how right the little boy was, as each argument he brought up in his skull came to no argument. But as the seconds clicked by jamie seemed to realise what he had said, and his eyes began to flood with worry and slight horror.
"Oh god.. No I didn't mean it like that. Jesus i'm so sorry that was really insensitive."
Jacks eyes quickly flashed to Jamie as he tugged him into a hug, "calm down kiddo, relax, it's ok." Jack blinked for a moment not quite sure what to say, " You honestly brought up a pretty good point. "
There was a silence among them and Jamie gazed at the teen in shock while jack lay there, attempting to figure out what he should say next. Sighing the teen closed his eyes, feeling the memories of his sister sting his mind.
"I still love her, just..I think you're right" jack opened his eyes,"I didn't realize how much I was trying to change what happened."
The smart child blinked at him softly his eyes soft with kindness,"I think your sister wouldn't want you to feel like that."
Jack stared at Jamie for a long time his eyes fixated with realisations, than slowly he grinned and tackled Jamie into a hug that made the boy giggle as Jack hugged him tightly. "Thanks Jamie," jack smirked,"I….I never thought that way before."
Jamie smiled and cuddled Jack in his own small arms, a faint tear sliding down his face. "I love you Jack, and I'm sure she still does too."
Jack felt steaming drips on his cheeks as he and Jamie clung together in the blankets sorrounded by their new family of friends and guardians. Smiling with joy jack gave the boy who had changed his life another tight hug.
"I love you too Jamie, thank you so much."
Eventually both of the best friends fell asleep, and when Jack woke up, he realized something, he didn't have a nightmare about his sister.
…...