"A Strange Bond"

Note: Things are still a bit tense between Tooth Fairy and Santa, but their friendship is finally on the mend. A plan is made, Jack and Cupid have another debate, and Alpha realizes a couple things. Background music is 'Daybreak' by Kevin Macleod. (Yeah, I know I listen to his music a lot for these, but he's got a lot of songs, so it's not hard to find a mood!)

"Chapter 7: Ready...Or Not"

February

Tooth Fairy left Alpha in the Elfirmary so that she could have her sandwich and orange juice and receive some important advice, and he nearly bumped into Santa and Bernard. His eyes hardened a bit at the sight of Santa, whom he was still rather miffed at. "Were you listening at the door?"

"No, we just got here," Bernard said indignantly; it was true, and he didn't like being accused of things he didn't do. "What's going on? Is she sick? Santa said you called a Council meeting here, too, what's that about?"

After a look back to make sure they were far enough away from the Elfirmary as to not be heard, Tooth Fairy turned to them and lowered his voice. "They're almost out of food down there. She hasn't eaten in three days...she thinks. She's not sick, she's just hungry. And she thinks someone's been sabotaging them by destroying equipment and raiding their food supply."

Santa's eyes widened, and he looked over at the closed Elfirmary door. "Well, why didn't she say anything? We're pretty good at fixing things, and the Council's helped each other out of jams before."

Tooth Fairy pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. He felt guilty because he hadn't prodded Alpha more aggressively for information before this, and seeing her cry like that had torn him apart inside. "Because she didn't know she could. From what she told me, The Founders were pretty abusive to everyone, and I believe her. Her people were on their own, and had to pretty much rely on themselves and each other. They're basically refugees with nowhere else to go, so they band together to make it work. They were too busy trying to survive and keep their moods up to fight back, and now there's a new threat and they don't know what it is."

"Silver Bells..." Bernard folded his arms, shaking his head ruefully. "Those poor people..."

"Yeah..." Tooth Fairy nodded. "She knows the Council isn't anything like them, but...we didn't exactly make things clear when she was sworn in, so how was she supposed to know? She thought she had to do it all on her own, and I...just didn't see it. I should've seen it."

Santa closed his eyes and rubbed his face with a deep sigh. This woman and her friends had brought his son home to him, and he had no idea things were this bad in The Hollow. He wished she'd known she could come to them for help!

Bernard gave Tooth Fairy an inscrutable look. It was normal to be concerned for a friend. Good, even. Bernard liked Alpha very much, and he had to admit that she could 'turn on the funny' when she wanted to, but he sure wasn't taking this development as hard as the Tooth Fairy seemed to be. Yes, he was worried enough to take a break from work to check on how she was doing, but this was different. This looked like something more. Then the Elf shook his head. It was none of his business. "We both know how stubborn she is. Even if she'd known-"

"She would have asked," Tooth Fairy interrupted him. "Those people mean the world to her. If she knew, she would've put her pride on the shelf in a heartbeat."

Santa nodded, and put a hand on the Tooth Fairy's shoulder. Tooth Fairy stiffened a little, both from the unexpected contact and from his own resentment, but he didn't prevent it. "Well, she knows now, and that means we can do something about it."

Tooth Fairy narrowed his eyes a little. "Still think The Founders don't deserve to be executed?"

Santa removed his hand, a pained look on his face. "C'mon, Molinator. You know me. It wasn't an easy choice to make. They took Buddy, and they attacked us. They nearly killed you. Part of me...a big part...wanted to vote in favor of, not against, and I know I'm not the only one. But we're not killers, and you know it. Even if the vote went your way...it would've made us just like them."

Tooth Fairy tried to hold onto his anger, tried to think of something cutting to say, but in the end he just sighed and nodded, studying the ground. As much as he hated it, Santa was right.

"Is that what you want?" Santa asked.

"No..." Tooth Fairy rubbed the inner corners of his eyes, something he sometimes did when he was trying to suppress tears, and he sighed. "Anyway, is everyone else here?"

"Yeah. There wasn't much time to set up for a meeting, so they're all waiting in the Workshop." Santa pointed over his shoulder. "You think she's ready to join us?"

A voice from behind them caused them all to jump. "Why don't you ask her yourself?"

They all jumped and turned, and saw Alpha leaning against one of the building's columns with her arms folded and a slight smirk on her face.

Bernard smiled, albeit guiltily. "Your color's a lot better. You okay?"

Alpha pushed off of the column and walking over to join them. "Much better. Thanks."

Tooth Fairy was greatly relieved to see that Bernard was right about her color being better, and his heart lifted when he saw that she seemed to be in better spirits. He wanted to hug her, but with an audience watching them so closely he didn't quite dare, and he put a hand on her shoulder instead. "Great. C'mon, we have a meeting to go to."

Alpha was very surprised when Mother Nature came forward and gave her a gentle, motherly embrace.

"You poor child..."

A little bashful and painfully conscious of the many eyes on her, Alpha mildly protested. "I'm four hundred and ninety-eight..."

Tooth Fairy chuckled and rested his hand on her back. "Well, I'm five hundred even, and trust me, we're infants compared to her and Father Time."

Mother Nature stepped back from the hug and feigned indignance. "Are you calling me 'old', young man?"

"No, ma'am!" he made the Boy Scout Salute, and this got a chuckle out of everyone. The ice was officially broken.

The Easter Bunny, who happened to be standing nearby, made accidental eye contact with the Werewolf and took an involuntary step back when she didn't immediately look away.

"What?" Alpha blinked once.

"Could you not look at me like I'm a Scooby Snack?" the large bunny nervously twitched his nose.

Alpha rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Don't flatter yourself. Oh, before I forget, there's just one thing..."

"What?" Easter Bunny stiffened nervously.

Alpha grinned and poked his nose with her index finger. "Boop!"

"Wh-" Easter Bunny gaped at her.

"Told ye I'd boop your nose at some point!" Alpha smiled, and the other Council members burst out laughing, even Cupid, and she folded her arms. "I told you before, I won't hurt you. So relax."

Even the Easter Bunny had to chuckle now, and he gave her an apologetic nod before they got down to business.

Mother Nature didn't even have her gavel this time, it was such short notice. "The Tooth Fairy has called this emergency meeting of the Council of Legendary Figures, and I think we all know why. I'm afraid that Father Time and I were remiss in our duties as informers when Alpha was inducted into the Council, and for this I apologize."

Alpha shifted uncomfortably, standing close to the Tooth Fairy. "Oh, no, it's...I should have known..." She glanced at Tooth Fairy when he put his arm around her.

"Shoulda, woulda, coulda..." he told her. "You didn't. Now you do."

Jack Frost discreetly nudged Cupid, who feigned ignorance. Sandman was oblivious as usual as he tried to stay awake. Santa raised a speculative eyebrow. Father Time and Mother Nature exchanged a look. The Easter Bunny twitched an ear, but he didn't say anything. Everyone but the Sandman noticed how chummy Tooth Fairy and Alpha had become in such a short period of time, but no one seemed to really mind it.

Mother Nature continued, "Father Time and I have discussed it, and we will supplement your food supply until you are in a more stable situation. In the meantime, we will try to figure out what is going on."

Alpha felt the sting of tears trying to gather in her eyes, and she blinked a few times to suppress them. "I...I don't know what to say."

Cupid's deadpan voice drew all eyes in his direction. "How about 'thank you'?"

Alpha gave a watery laugh and rubbed her face. "Thank you."

Mother Nature's smile was warm and loving. "I, at least, will go there with you to have a look around. Anyone else who wishes to go, raise your hand."

Cupid and Jack raised their hands in unison. The Easter Bunny hesitated, then raised his paw. Sandman and Santa followed suit, along with Father Time and the Tooth Fairy.

And at this, Alpha frowned a little. Tooth Fairy had gone a bit pale, and his arm, which was still around her shoulders, twitched a little. Can he handle this now?

"Then it's settled," Father Time leaned on his staff and pointed at the front doors of the Workshop. "We meet outside in ten minutes. And I'm keeping track."

"We know," most of the Council chorused, and they dispersed to make whatever preparations they deemed necessary.

Tooth Fairy let go of Alpha, but stayed close to her. "We'll fix this," he told her again.

Alpha pressed her lips together in thought, then looped her hand through the crook of his arm and nodded towards the door.

Jack Frost waved Cupid over and asked in a hushed tone. "So, what do you think?"

Cupid shrugged. "Hard to tell. He seems to be into her, but I'm not so sure she's into him. Not that way. Then again, he coulda just been trying to comfort her. I didn't know things were this bad there..."

Jack shrugged and said brightly, "Well, either way, they seem pretty close."

Cupid nodded sagely. "They say 'suffering brings people together'. The friendship thing is rock-solid. It could still go anywhere...but I dunno if they're on their way to coupledom. I still say it's a stretch."

Jack sulkily folded his arms. "Why is everyone on the Council such a party pooper?"

"Just to annoy you, Jack."

The Tooth Fairy allowed himself to be led out and off to the side, a small frown creasing his brow. "What?"

Alpha took a deep breath and turned to him. "Roy...I want ye to tell me the truth. Are you going because you're ready, or because you think you're supposed to?"

"I..." Tooth Fairy blanched, and he couldn't force the words 'I'm ready' out of his mouth. This wasn't fair! He wanted to help her, wanted to be there for her as she was for him, but...

"Roy..." she put her hands on his shoulders.

Tooth Fairy remembered the mansion, that awful day, his pain, his tears, that dark city, and he hung his head. The thought of stepping into a Fairy Ring and going to that place made his heart pound, and not in a good way. He looked down at the ground.

Alpha nodded gently. Most of the Council had agreed to go with her, and now there was light at the end of the tunnel. If it wasn't for the Tooth Fairy...if it wasn't for Roy...this wouldn't have happened. "You're not ready."

Tooth Fairy huffed and clenched his fists. "I should be!"

"Why?" she kept her hands on his shoulders.

"Because..." But he had no answer.

Alpha shook her head. She could see how hard this was for him, and she knew why it was so hard. His sister had been murdered there. He had nearly died there himself when the Founders tried to take his wings. And yet, he was trying to force himself to face it, all for her. I could fall in love with this man...

Alpha pushed that thought away. "Roy, I want ye to listen to me, all right?"

He looked at her, waiting for her to speak.

"I don't want you going down there today," she said softly.

"But-"

"No," she shook her head. "Not until you're sure you're ready."

The Tooth Fairy appreciated this more than he wanted to admit, and he shook his head. "I just...feel like such a failure. You need help, and..."

Alpha caught his face between her hands, and he had no choice but to look at her. "You're not a failure. Don't say it, and don't think it. All this...You're the one who made it possible! Even if you're not there in person, you'll still be there in everything we do today. The Hollow will still be there whenever you decide you're ready. Thanks to you, it will be there."

Her hands were so warm...or maybe it was just the blood that had gathered underneath his skin. He was both relieved and disappointed when she lowered her hands and turned to face the group that had appeared in the doorway. They both turned a bit red at having been caught, but they didn't deny it or make excuses.

"Are we ready?" Mother Nature asked mildly.

"Well..." Alpha glanced at the tooth Fairy, who looked down. "Turns out he has something to take care of, but we can leave now, if you want."

Mother Nature nodded and gave a knowing smile as she descended the staircase with the others.

Jack Frost nudged Cupid. "Eh?"

Cupid conceded with a shrug. "Maybe."