Well, here is the second entry for ROTG Hope Week 2021. It can be read as a sequel to the first entry but it can stand on its own.

As you can imagine, no proofreading on this one either, so don't be surprised by any typos or odd sentence.

I just love me a good peace of fluff, so here you go!

It was dark by the time E. Aster Bunnymund got home.

The warren was calm save for the sound of the crickets and a soft breeze that gently shook the trees here and there.

It had taken him longer to be done with his work, but it was satisfying to know that Easter Sunday had gone without any major hitch.

No matter how many times he had done it, the stress of trying to get everything ready to meet the deadline was always there. Time seemed to slip like sand through his paws and there was always something that would come up last minute.

However, the moment he saw the excited smile of a child when discovering one of the eggs made it all worth it. It felt like a piece of him was renewed and it made him feel proud.

Now as Easter Sunday was coming to a close and with the satisfaction from a good day's work, he made way to the house at the center of the warren.

The wooden cottage wasn't all that big, but it was enough for someone living on his own. And despite him living there for centuries now, the place didn't look worn out.

His feet took him down the path. He had done this a thousand times, and after a day like this, his mind usually got itself into autopilot.

He hadn't invited any visitors and no one was expecting him at home.

He usually returned exhausted from Easer Sunday, so he was not in the mood to actually entertain anyone. Today was no exception.

His legs were about to give out and his muscles were sore and complained after each step.

He had to admit that the sour memory of that failed Easter – when Jack first joined them – still followed him even after that was a few years ago. The idea of not securing a successful Easter and living the children of the world without hope and all the positive things that he brought along with him weighted heavy on him still.

He just had to work a little bit more, run a little bit faster, try a little bit harder.

He couldn't disappoint them again.

He dropped the satchel at the entry steps of the house, it wasn't like it was gonna go anywhere and his back felt a lot better for being relived of the added weight pulling him down.

Heavens, he was tired.

He didn't even notice that the lights in his house were turned on.

He was halfway inside the house when he noted his fully illuminated living room. Instinctively, his hand went for his boomerang – the familiar tight grip on the wood giving him a slight comfort.

The slight sound of someone shuffling in his kitchen go his attention, the hair at the back of his neck standing on end and his exhaustion being put in the backburner – yet not completely forgotten, since it would affect him, should a fight break out.

The sentinels wouldn't have let any strangers in, else the entire warren would have been in a state of alarm. Right? It couldn't be.

Unless…

A dull thud was heard from the kitchen – although, in the silence of the house, it felt louder –, followed by loud expletives in…Hindi?

He practically burst into the kitchen, only to find the Tooth Fairy holding her hand and gently blowing on it, a baking sheet left on the counter with clear signs of being placed in a rush and a few cookies that had escaped from it.

"Tooth?"

The fairy glanced up at him, a bright smile tugging at her lips.

"Welcome home", she greeted him and Aster swore he could fall to his knees at the sight.

He stood there for a moment, silently absorbing the understated and sheer magnitude of it.

Here she was, in his home, welcoming him with that disarming smile and those gentle eyes that irradiated so much warmth and love. Love…for him. He still can't get used to the idea, almost fearing it will all turn out to be a dream.

Before he could even blink he had crossed the kitchen, wrapping his arms around her to soundly kiss her.

She seemed a bit surprised but welcomed his advance.

When pulling apart for air, she was a little out of breath but with a huge smile on her face.

"What was that for?" She asked, resting her forehead against his.

"I'm just glad to be home", he clung to her and she squeezed back, savoring the moment.

"I hope you're not mad I let myself in."

"Of course not, sheila." He assured her. "I'm a little surprised but that's all, love"

He didn't mind visits, he just usually spent the rest of his Easter Sunday alone and recovering from the taxing work.

But having her here might actually be dangerous. He might like it too much.

"What brought you here?"

"I know you usually disappear for a few days after Easter, so I wanted to see you before you partake in your usual beauty sleep." She kissed his cheek before stepping away to go back to tending to the forgotten baking sheet and placing the cookies that had landed on the counter back in.

That's when he saw that the kitchen table was set up for two.

"You cooked?" he teased, earning himself a dish towel to the face that she tossed across the kitchen.

"Hahaha, very funny, mister" She rolled her eyes, pretending to be offended. "No, I asked the yetis if they could fix us something. You probably haven't had a decent meal in weeks."

He contemplated telling her that asides from the odd carrot here and there, he hadn't really eaten much while preparing for Easter. Like every year, he promised himself that he would balance his work and keeping a better care of himself. However, with each passing week the work demanded more of him and he forgot of things like eating or sleeping enough.

No wonder he always lost weight before Easter.

"Well, when you get decent working schedules, will talk, sheila", he said lightly in order to deflect from the sure scolding she would give him for not taking proper care of himself.

He tried to grab one of the cookies she was passing onto a plate, only to receive a quick slap on his paw from her.

"None of that, Bunny. First take a bath and then you eat."

Bath? Food? Aster would have been knocked out sleeping at this point.

"Aw, come on, sheila. Not even a little nibble?" He tried to give her his most pitiful look, but the fairy wasn't budging.

"Absolutely not." She turned him around and shooed him out of the kitchen. "You're practically caked in mud and dirt, and to be honest…you stink."

"You wound me, sheila.", he clutched his chest in mock hurt. "Fine, I'll go. Please, don't burn down the kitchen while I'm gone."

She swatted at him, before returning back to the kitchen. "And if you don't hurry, I just might."

He chuckled and made his way to the bathroom, resisting the tempting pull of just going to bed with all his might when he passed his bedroom.

When he opened the door, he found a bath already drawn, steam rising from the water.

He sighed in relief. This woman was a saint.

To his delight, the water was perfect; the hot water already starting to relax his muscles and bringing forth the exhaustion that had accumulated in the last weeks.

He tipped his head back, hoping that maybe with a few minutes of silence would keep the headache he knew was coming at bay.

However, he forced himself to stay awake when he felt sleep creeping in.

He continued with his bath, making sure he was once more presentable and not covered in dirt and grass.

Once out of the bath and mostly dry, the sensation of being tired hit him like a freight train.

He never did anything asides from sleeping when he returned home after Easter, usually just collapsing on his bed and try to catch up with months of not sleeping well. He disappeared for quite a few days, and by the time he woke, he would practically scarf down anything he could find in his kitchen.

Now having to do anything else but sleep felt like a bother and such an unnecessary task, and was about to go straight to his room when the fairy poked her head into the hallway.

"There you are!", she said while gently leading him to the kitchen table. "I know you're tired, but you gotta at least eat something."

A huge bowl of salad at the center of the table and two steaming bowls of carrot soup in front of them.

But despite how amazing the food looked, he deliberated if even summoning the strength to lift the spoon it was a worthy endeavor.

"Come on, Bunny.", she pleaded. "At least eat the soup and you can go to bed, ok?"

Heavens, it was impossible to say no when she was looking at him like that. And despite not wanting to admit it…it felt nice to have someone taking care of him

"Mmm, ok", he said groggily while starting to eat. To be honest, it smelled tempting enough to actually put his exhaustion on hold to at least eat a little of it.

Aster took a small spoonful. A moan escaped him when the warm liquid hit his tongue. After practically not receiving much input for so long, his taste buds practically came to live with the flavor.

He still thought his soup was better, but this one was still mouth-watering.

The moment the first spoonful of soup makes contact with his stomach does he realize how empty it was. It almost felt like it finally relaxed after being in a tight coil.

That one bite left him ravenous, but he paced himself knowing that his stomach would hurt like hell if he forced too much out of a sudden.

Toothiana started eating to, and luckily, took care of keeping the conversation flowing. She told him about her day, what their friends had been up to while he was confined in the warren.

He simply nodded at the right times and asked a few questions when necessary. Mainly because he was tired, but also because he was enjoying the sight of them having dinner together and how lovely her voice was as she detailed Sandy and Jack's latest shenanigans.

"Do you have room for dessert?"

The question broke him out of his odd trance and was surprise to look down and find his dinner completely gone.

"If I don't go to bed right now, you're gonna find me sleeping with my head inside this bowl" he quipped as he picked up the empty soup bowls and placed them on the counter. "Raincheck?"

The prospect of sharing meals together made her smile. "You got it."

He had tried to do the dishes, even when his eyelids were doing their very best to close and force them to sleep, but Tooth pried him out of the kitchen and was already leading him by the hand towards his bedroom.

"Come on, go to bed.", she coaxed him softly as she opened the door. "I'll take care of cleaning up."

Tooth placed a swift kiss on his cheek, but when she was pulling away he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer.

"Stay the night?" He asked almost timidly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just for sleeping, I mean. You can leave in the morning if you want."

She gave him the sweetest smile. "Of course"

"Night, Aster."

As he lay on his bed, Bunnymund came to the conclusion that of the many Easter Sundays he had had, this was turning out to be the most memorable.

After finishing with his work, he would usually sleep days on end. The earth could probably implode and he would be none the wiser, his exhaustion as his only companion when he slept.

But now, as he lay there in the dark, quietly, with only the sounds of their breathing, he had never felt more at peace.

Toothiana scooted as close as possible to his side, resting her head on his shoulder, as his arm instinctively curled around her.

"Toothy?"

"Hmm?"

"Thanks for today". He said in a low voice, feeling exhaustion rushing over his entire body and making connecting ideas a lot more difficult. "I like having you around."

He felt her smile against his fur. "Then I promise to be here when you wake up."

What do you think? Let me know, please! :D