Fun bits for you. Hopefully you don't mind them gradually getting closer; the plotty bits are going to wreck that, so they come later.

Also, thanks to A5trisk for suggesting the song; I love it. ^_^

Also, forget if I mentioned it on this fic: status updates on my updates' statuses is on my profile. I do my best to keep it current.

Jack's nightmares get worse, and Aster has to work to keep distance between them. Jack is late for dinner, and Aster can't handle it.

(-)

I'm under your spell
Nothing I can do
You just took my soul with you
You worked your charms so well
Finally, I knew
Everything I dreamed was true
You made me believe

Under Your Spell- Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Not even North's present could keep the nightmares away forever. The next night, Aster woke to screaming. He leapt into his room and promptly went sliding into his nest after slipping and falling on the solid coating of ice on the floor. It matched the coat of ice on everything. It matched the little ice cocoon encasing Jack. He was clutching his rabbit close, and it was clear his unconscious terror was keeping the Warren from melting the ice.

But Aster was more powerful than passive enchantments. When he laid his paws on the cocoon to start waking Jack, however, ice climbed over his paws and up his arms. More painful than pleasant, Aster didn't let it stop him. He channeled his magic into the cocoon, reaching for Jack. Every bit of hope, comfort, welcome, life, and every other remotely positive bit of spring was being pushed past the ice directly under Aster's paws.

And the Snowflake blinked open eyes rimmed with tears frozen as soon as they were shed. His eyes met Aster's through the ice and widened. He sat up, and the ice crumpled under his will like it had been a thin window pane instead of bullet-proof glass. Aster's paws were freed as Jack broke his cocoon, and the first thing Jack did with his freedom was drop his stuffed rabbit and cling to Aster.

"Bunny! I was so afraid." The boy wasn't icing Aster over for once. And, no, that wasn't disappointment creeping over the rabbit.

There was, however, a definite satisfaction that the toy was immediately discarded in favor of Aster. "Don't be afraid, Snowflake. I gotcha."

"But you…" Jack didn't finish his thought, which made Aster curious.

"What about me, Snowflake?"

Jack shook his head. Aster grabbed his head and made the boy look at him. Jack shivered as he met Aster's eyes. "Tell me, Jack. This is why you're with me, remember? So I can help you."

Jack tightened his grip around Aster. "I just…you left me. I couldn't get you to stay…"

This whole thing was because of a dream that Aster left Jack alone? He apparently meant more to the Snowflake than he realized. Aster released his grip on Jack's head and held the boy closer, feeling warmth flood through him at the idea that Jack cared that much about him.

"Bunny, you're so warm." Jack practically purred the words as he rubbed his face against Aster's neck.

Okay, this situation was getting too hot to handle. "Well, we can't all be little ice cubes, eh, Frostbite? And you realize I'm not gonna leave ya, right?"

Jack drew his head back to meet Aster's eyes, then shook his head. Aster growled a little, interested when Jack's eyes widened. Aster knew what he had to do, and he knew what a horrible idea it was. He pulled the Snowflake down to the bottom of the nest and turned the boy away from him. Aster spooned Jack, loving the way the boy melted into his embrace, sighing softly.

"Not leavin' ya, Snowflake. I care about ya. Don't want you goin' anywhere either." Aster's voice was soft, and he fought the desire to press his nose into the boy's hair. He was barely reigning himself in as it was. Wouldn't do to let Frostbite know how much Aster cared about him.

Jack shuddered against the rabbit, pulling at Aster's self-control. "Don't leave me, Bunny. Please."

"Said I wouldn't, Frostbite. You callin' me a liar?"

Jack shook his head vigorously. "Just don't leave."

Aster drew Jack against him tighter. "Snowflake, I'm right here. Yer safe. Git yer rabbit on the other side of you and go to sleep."

The smaller spirit reached for his stuffed animal and hugged it, making small contented noises as he snuggled back into Aster. Aster was far too warm as he tried to calm himself from all the physical contact and signs of affection from Jack. As wonderful as it was to know that he meant so much to Jack, it was also getting him dangerously close to physical arousal. And he couldn't get up and leave the boy, not after he'd just assured him he wouldn't. So, he had to calm himself somehow.

Groping for un-arousing things, his mind set upon a naked North trying to do a seductive dance, and it was instantly effective as he tried to stifle laughter. No, now he was not in the mood for anything sexual and could just enjoy the cool closeness of his little Snowflake.

'His.' Cripes, Aster was only getting himself deeper and deeper. He'd even point-blank told Frostbite that he cared about him. Aster didn't say things like that, not ever. But Jack had Aster under his spell, and he had no idea how special he was, how no one else could draw things like this from Aster.

It was a long night of not much sleep. When the sun rose, Aster itched to get up and make breakfast, but he'd promised Jack he wouldn't leave him. That meant he couldn't get up until Jack did.

Jack didn't wake till almost noon. Aster figured he was making up for all the sleep lost to nightmares. When he stirred, it was with an adorable yawn and sleepy moan as he tried to snuggle back into Aster.

"Wake up, Snowflake. You've gotten enough sleep."

The boy's eyes opened wide and glanced at him. Aster felt the lithe form stiffen against him. "I…I'm sorry!"

Aster sighed and rolled his eyes. "Don't be sorry, Frostbite. I stayed with ya, just like I promised. And you obviously slept well for once."

Jack relaxed slightly, but purple frost covered his cheeks. "Thank you. I haven't slept this well in ages. Maybe not ever."

Crap. The question became if Aster could find a way to not do this every night, because he knew behaving himself every night for who knew how long was a dubious proposition. Even now he wanted to rub himself against the sweet little spirit, let his cock slide free of its sheath and feel it pressed against cool skin. And wasn't that an un-helpful thought.

"I'm gonna make us brunch, I guess. Almost noon." Aster quickly moved away from Jack, not missing the whimpering groan as the boy rolled to reach for where he had been. "Get yourself awake, Jackie-boy. Half-day of work is still work."

As he walked to the kitchen, Aster calmed himself again. He did not look forward to the conversation he knew was coming.

(-)

The conversation didn't come until after dinner, while they spent time in the den. Rather than draw Jack in the same pose, Aster had started to make up poses, which added to the challenge. And he made sure to put every bit of beauty he saw in Snowflake onto the page.

Aster was carefully getting the details on Jack's face right when Jack said, "Will you sleep with me tonight?"

Sighing, Aster put his pencil and sketchpad to the side, trying to think of the best way to say "no". Eventually he said, "I'm a crutch, Snowflake. You need to take care of the nightmares so you can sleep alone without worrying about them. And we can't deal with them if we don't know what they are. Maybe on very bad nights I can sleep with you, but that's also what Sandy's gift is for. You should try it if you're so interested in having dreams."

Jack just nodded, not meeting Aster's eyes, and set his book aside. "I'll go to bed then." His voice was flat, carefully emotionless.

Aster's heart lurched, knowing he'd just hurt the boy. Jack made to stand up, but Aster stopped him, crossing to him in one leap and pinning him in the chair. Jack's eyes got wide and his pupils grew large as he looked up at Aster.

"Snowflake, I am not trying to leave you. I meant what I said. I care about you. It's because I care about you that I say this. You need to rid yourself of these nightmares. They shouldn't be a normal part of your life."

Jack still looked startled, and Aster heard his heart beating wildly. Aster stepped back and heard it slow a little. "So…it isn't that you don't want to…?"

Aster swallowed. "For an ice cube, you're surprisingly cozy." It was the safest thing he could think to say. And when Jack beamed at his reply, Aster sank ever deeper in the trap he'd fallen into.

Because Aster knew that the longer Jack stayed, the more certain he could be that Jack would find out how Aster felt about him. So Aster should have been frantically doing every conceivable thing to fix Jack's nightmares quickly and get him out of the Burrow. Instead, he was taking it slow. The last thing he wanted was for Jack to leave, no matter the risk. Hell, he'd give a lot just to wake up with the Snowflake in his arms every morning, even if that's all it ever was.

It was then that Aster realized he'd already resigned himself to Jack finding out at some point. He was just keeping it to himself as long as he could, so he could keep Jack to himself as long as he could. Sure, Jack would leave him, and it would crush him. But he couldn't bring himself to put distance between them.

If anyone told him a year ago that he'd have Jack Frost living with him while he hopelessly pined over the boy, Aster would have knocked them senseless while he laughed till he couldn't breathe. It definitely wasn't funny now.

"I guess I'll go to bed then, huh?" Jack said. He glanced at the sketch pad Aster had set aside. "Can I see…?"

Aster reached for the pad and offered it to Jack. He watched as Jack's eyes lit up, taking in the drawings hungrily. "Amazing," he said quietly. Eventually, he passed it back to Aster. "I never look better than when you draw me."

That made Aster smirk. "Guess I better keep at it then, since you don't understand how to use a mirror properly. Help the disabled and all."

He did not expect a snowball to the face. It wasn't enchanted, but he grinned anyway as he saw Jack smirking back at him. It was the closest thing to normal Aster had seen on the boy in a long time. Aster tossed the sketch pad on the sofa and grabbed the boy. The playful wrestling match that ensued was fun, but far too exciting. Especially when Aster had the boy pinned beneath him.

They were both breathing hard and staring into each other's eyes. This had become so, so dangerous. Especially as the moment stretched on and neither of them spoke or made any attempt to move. Until Aster's nose picked up a scent of arousal that wasn't his. It seemed like it was too much excitement for the eternal teenager.

The smell was thrilling, but Aster didn't let himself get carried away. Snowflake was a teenager, albeit a three-hundred-year old one. The boy was so unused to contact that he shivered at hugs. It made sense that some man-handling might turn him on. Although Aster did take it as a sign that his physique wasn't completely repellent to Jack.

Jack was getting restless beneath him, likely wanting to get away before any physical evidence presented itself. Aster let him up, and Jack scrambled to his feet to grab his staff from the wall. "I should go to bed."

"Sleep well, Snowflake."

"You too, Bunny."

Aster was left with that aroma lingering in his nose as he tried to go to sleep. He had some uncomfortably pleasant dreams that night, and when he woke in the morning he counted himself lucky they hadn't been the messy kind…yet.

(-)

"I was going to leave and take care of some business today," Jack said at breakfast. "Is that okay?"

Aster ignored the tug in his chest. "Of course, Snowflake. I'm just glad you've been helping me as much as you have. I wouldn't want to keep you from your own duties."

"Thanks. I should be back before dinner." Jack got up and took his empty plate, fork, and glass to the sink. He almost turned to the door but seemed to second guess himself. He glanced at Aster, then he threw his arms around the rabbit, hugging him tight.

Aster hadn't been expecting it, and it took him a moment to return the hug. Jack pulled away with a shy smile. "Thanks, Bunny. I'll see you tonight." And Aster watched the boy walk out the door.

He had no idea how boring and tedious work was now when he wasn't sharing it with Jack. How quiet the Warren seemed. And he had no idea how much worry would grip him when he was eating dinner alone, an empty place setting across from him.

Where was Frostbite? As an hour passed, then another, Aster was pacing around his kitchen, fighting down panic. All kinds of horrible scenarios kept playing through his head, all the bad things that might keep the Snowflake late.

Aster heard Jack enter the Warren and head toward the Burrow and breathing became easier. Jack walked in the door with a smile on his face that faltered as he met Aster's gaze.

"Where have you been?!"

Jack closed the door behind him and pressed against it. "Canada."

"What took you so long?!"

"One of the biggest snowball fights I've ever started."

Aster growled, and he noticed Jack shake a little. The boy was clearly at a loss. "Bunny, I'm sorry I missed dinner. I'm sure it's still delicious…" Jack trailed off under Aster's glare.

"You think this is about dinner? Do you have any idea how worried I was? The kind of things I was thinking might have happened?"

Jack's eyes widened in understanding, and there was a sad glint to them as he moved towards Aster. "I'm sorry, Bunny. I didn't think it was that late. No one's ever cared where I was or what I was doing before. It didn't seem like a problem. I wasn't trying to make you worry."

Aster lost his thunder at the sincere apology and realization that, no, Jack wasn't used to people giving a shit about him. "You just…you scared me, Snowflake."

Jack rushed up to Aster to hug him, and Aster held the boy tight. He took a while to let Jack go, but the Snowflake didn't complain. When they parted it occurred to Aster to ask something. "Why don't I make you shiver when you stop hugging me? I saw how you responded to hugging the other three, even Jamie."

A small brush of purple frost tinted Jack's cheeks. "I'm used to you. I don't feel uncertain or nervous. I'm not scared to have you touch me; I like it."

Oh, how Aster wished Frostbite would have phrased that differently. "I'm glad, Frostbite. Well, I only made sandwiches for dinner, so they haven't gone bad or anything."

Jack's eyes lit up. "Oooh! Did you put those special pickles on them?"

Aster rolled his eyes. "They aren't special; they're just my pickles."

"But they have them?"

Unable to contain a smile at the boy's eagerness, Aster nodded. Jack went to help himself, and Aster felt the weight inside him lift now that he had Jack safely home.

Home. Did Jack consider this home? Would he still feel that way when he found out about Aster? Aster had been assuming the boy would leave, but just one day without him had proved that Aster couldn't do without the little Snowflake anymore. But he also couldn't keep Jack against his will if Jack was disgusted with him or uncomfortable around him.

But Snowflake didn't have anywhere else to call home. Even if that's the only reason he stayed after he found out the truth, Aster would be satisfied. Pathetic? Yes. But Aster blamed it all on Jack. Boy came into his home and heart and made a mess until Aster needed the boy there to be complete.

What would you do if all I needed

was you?
What would you say or would you then

walk away?

Walk Away- Haroula Rose (iZombie)

(-)

Like? Feel free to let me know. Poor Aster needs Jack now. What happens if Jack gets rid of his nightmares? Aster has plenty to worry about, and only more to come.

Next chapter, however, is a lot of fun.