Disclaimer: DreamWorks owns RotG, not me.

Bunny scrambled away from the crazy kid who might have dumped snow down his back, running back towards the Inn. He slowed as he approached, opening the door and walking up the stairs that led to his and his companion's joint rooms. He walked in room #15, the one he shared with North, expecting the man to be asleep.

"Bunny! Have been waiting for you to return, things to discuss."

Bunny almost fell over in shock; not only was North awake, but both Sandy and Tooth were in the room as well, the door that connected their room to North and Bunny's open.

Getting over his shock (North was not a morning person, usually), Bunny replied, "Yeah mate, that kid we're keeping an eye on is dangerous!"

Sandy raised an eyebrow, looking unconvinced.

"He is!" Bunny insisted. "The bloody larrikin almost stuffed snow down my back!"

Tooth and North looked amused, and Sandy was silently laughing. Bunny just huffed, mumbling something about people not understanding true danger these days.

"Anyway," Tooth said, as Sandy stopped laughing (but not before shooting a teasing look at Bunny), "We think something weird happened last night. I don't know if you noticed while you were patrolling, but the moonlight was a little off this morning."

"Ah," Bunny said, nodding. "Yeah, it seemed sort of directed towards the woods. Might be worth checking out."

"Also," North put in, "We are wanting to give boy dish soon, so picking up extra ingredients at market would be good idea."

Sandy nodded, and he and Tooth went back to their room, all of them ready with a plan to face the day.

Jack had been tasked with asking the foreigners over for dinner, much to Emma's disappointment (she had wanted to ask them over).

This was a task that would have been easier had Jack been on duty at the counter, and not in the kitchen washing dishes. Someone had rented a room at the Inn earlier that day, and must have hosted a party or something because there was an abundance of plates, glasses, and silverware to scrub clean. The counter had been slow, Mr. Herke had said, so Jack could just help Seth on the dishes. So Jack, alongside Mary (who usually worked as a housekeeper and sometimes helped Molly with the laundry) and Seth (whose actual job was the dishes, so no changes really for him), washed and scrubbed utensils, slowly going through the pile.

It took the three of them nearly half an hour to scrub, rinse and dry all the dishes (goodness, what had those people been doing, to have so many dishes that it took three people experienced in dish washing a half hour to get through them all?), at which point Jack and Mary went back to their respective posts.

Jack returned to the front counter after his lunch break, just in time to see the group of four enter the Inn, Nick and Aster carrying a few bags, while Tiana talked at them and Sandy smiled sleepily. Jack briefly wondered suspiciously what was in those bags, but he shook the thought off.

They had disappeared upstairs before Jack could call out to them, which was probably for the best. Now that Jack knew they were here, he could mentally prepare himself to ask them over, an idea he was still a little (okay, a lot) doubtful of.

Jack took the order of a young couple who had just missed the lunch rush, and almost robotically took their food to their table when it was done. He returned to the counter, and, laughing at something Seth had said, he didn't notice the person right behind him until he turned back around and saw bright violet eyes not even an inch from his face.

Holy-!

"Hi!" Tiana chirped, not moving away from her very close position to his face.

Jack backed up, keeping his brown eyes trained on her, laughter fading.

"Hi?" he said, cautiously.

"Hi!" she repeated, grinning. It was only then that Jack noticed her three companions behind her, Sandy looking serene, Nick smiling exuberantly, and Aster looking at him warily, probably remembering that morning's snow incident.

Jack smirked, remembering the incident himself. "Did you need something?" he asked; they were surely up at the counter for a reason.

Sandy shook his head, as Tiana said, "No, actually, we just wanted to say hi!"

"Oh…kay." Jack said. He had only talked to each of them, what, twice? And they were just randomly saying hi? He shook his head, reminding himself that this was good; he needed to talk to them anyway. "Well, hi, I guess." He heard Aster snort, but didn't glance at him. "So, my family was kind of wondering if you wanted to join us for dinner, my sister has been going on about you four, and," he hesitated a moment, "M-mom would like to meet you."

Jack had kept his eyes on Sandy the whole time, as he was probably the least threatening out of the four, and he was already nodding, grinning and giving two thumbs-up.

"Is great idea, would like to meet your mother!" North exclaimed, smiling widely. "In fact, we can bring a dish, in thanks!"

Jack's eyes widened with alarm. "You really don't have to," he said hastily. "We're sort of thanking you by inviting you, since you took Emma and I out yesterday. There's no need to bring anything."

"It really ain't any trouble mate. North likes to cook anyways." Jack found the fact that Aster was smiling- smiling! –to be the most dubious part of this offer.

With no real, or at least polite way to refuse, Jack relented. "Well… alright, if you really want to." He resolved to just not eat any of whatever they would bring. Just in case they did something to it.

"Well, we'll see you then!" Tiana beamed. "What time do we need to come, and now that I think of it, where are we even going?"

An idea hit Jack, and he made a conscious effort to smile normally, and not give a sly smirk. "Don't worry," he said, hoping his tone wasn't betraying what he was planning. "I'll come get you. Room 14 and 15, right?"

Sandy nodded, eyes practically glowing with secrets and a touch of mischief, herding the others back upstairs. Jack knew that look; it was one he tried to conceal when he bothered to look in the mirror. It was a look that spelled trouble.

"Hurry North, it's almost five o'clock, that's dinnertime, right?"

"Yeah mate, we want this to be done in time."

"Am almost finished! Just hush and let me make food!"

Sandy was the only calm one in Room 15 as North was finishing up the food they planned to bring to dinner. He was just wrapping the plate up when there was a knock on the door. Sandy opened it to reveal Jack, with a strange grin on his face.

"Are you guys ready?" he asked, scanning the room. There were two beds, neither of which was made, a few backpacks on the table between the beds, and various objects scattered about the room. There was also a small gas stove in the corner of the room, for guests who liked to make their own food. It had clearly been used, as evidenced by the plate Nick was holding and the bag of partially used ingredients beside it. So that's what was in the bags.

Sandy, still at the door, nodded cheerfully.

Jack beamed, praying he didn't look as devious as he felt. He had often been told that his plans to trick people showed on his face, and he was working on remedying that. Pranks weren't nearly as good if the other person expected it.

"Come on!" he said, waving the out the door and down the stairs. "Emma wanted to come get you, but, um, mom wanted her to stay back and help set up." He explained.

"Very nice of sister, yes?" Nick asked, as he and the rest of his group followed Jack to the edge of the woods.

"Hold up mate, why're we goin' into the woods?" Aster asked, alarmed.

Jack paused and turned, bemused. "Because we live in the woods?" Grinning at Aster's face, Jack led them through the woods, turning in odd places and ducking under tree branches, taking care to let a few of them hit the irritable man. Jack had purposefully taken a different way to get to his house, hoping the strangers wouldn't notice the path and would assume that the Overland's lived out of the way. If things went according to plan, the group wouldn't remember the way to Jack's house. Of course, they could ask someone how to get there, but Jack had his fingers crossed that they wouldn't do that.

Besides, even if the plan failed, he was still hitting Aster's face with branches.

They finally arrived at the back of the Overland house, Emma skipping rope outside. As soon as she caught sight of them she came running over, beaming.

"You're finally here!" She practically screamed at them, latching onto Sandy immediately.

Sandy silently laughed and allowed himself to be pulled to the house, Tiana following. Jack could still hear Emma talking excitedly even as the door was shutting. He turned to tell the others to come in but stopped short at Aster's glare.

"There wasn't a better way to get here?" Aster seethed. "Maybe one that, I dunno mate, had less branches?"

Rather than respond, Jack grinned cheekily, the feeling of mischief successfully pulled off filling him. He darted inside the house, letting Nick go in front of him but allowing the door to shut right behind Aster, so it hit him. His smile widened, hearing Nick's laughter at his friend's 'misfortune'.

Jack pointed Nick in the direction of the kitchen to set down his suspicious plate, before walking into the living room. They had all ('all' being Jack and Mrs. Overland) helped pull the heavy oak table into the living room so that there was enough room for extra chairs to be placed around it. This was the usual arrangement when extra people joined them for a meal, though it was usually the Bennett family.

While Jack had gone to pick up the group, Emma and Mrs. Overland had been setting the table and cooking food. Mrs. Overland had pulled a rarely-used lace tablecloth of a dull off-white color out of a cabinet, and draped it over the round table. The Overland's used the same wooden utensils for all occasions, so those were set up, albeit more neatly than they usually were.

Emma, Sandy, Tiana, and Aster were already seated, Emma sitting in between Sandy and Tiana, with Aster beside Sandy. Jack grinned and took a seat next to Tiana, across from Aster, who looked like he was ready to strangle Jack.

Nick came out of the kitchen, and the look on his face told Jack that Mrs. Overland had shooed him out of the kitchen, something she was prone to doing. He sat next to Jack, who noticed with alarm that meant the three Overlands would be separated from each other.

Jack's thoughts were interrupted by Mrs. Overland running back and forth from the kitchen to the table, carrying dishes and setting them down. At last she brought out a pitcher of water and sat down.

She smiled, and only Jack noticed how nervous she was. "Hello everyone, I've heard quite a bit about you," She glanced at the two brown-haired children, "I'm Abigail Overland, and I'd like to thank you for taking my children out for lunch yesterday. So let us say a prayer, and then we may get acquainted with one another and eat."

Her words were met with polite clapping and a nod of a head from the potentially dangerous group, a cheer from Emma, and a small, glowing smile from Jack.

The Overland's bowed their heads, the foreigners hastily copying them, and Mrs. Overland uttered a small prayer. Jack and Emma almost soundlessly murmured some words, and they kept their heads bowed for a moment. Nick, Sandy, Aster, and Tiana exchanged glances across the table. Nick shrugged and muttered something too, in his native tongue. Aster and (obviously) Sandy stayed silent, but Tiana added a few words to… whatever this was.

Raising her head, Mrs. Overland smiled at their confused expressions. "We've eaten with people from out of town before," she explained, "and we discovered the hard way that it's best to let everyone pray on their own quietly, if they wish to do so." She glanced at Jack, who looked sheepish.

Nick smiled brightly. "I am sensing there is story there, no?"

Mrs. Overland gave a small smile. "One to be shared at another time." She said, much to Jack's relief. "For now, why don't you introduce yourselves?"

"Ah! Is very good idea. I am Nick, that is Tiana, that is Sandy, and that is Aster, who is very irritated with your Jack!" Nick responded enthusiastically as Mrs. Overland uncovered the various dishes on the table.

Nick proudly took the cloth off the plate that he had brought, revealing what looked like rolls.

"What are those?" Emma asked curiously.

"Is traditional recipe, from where I am from! Called pirozhki, there is cabbage and egg and some special spices rolled up inside bread." Nick exaggerated a wink, making Emma laugh.

Each person filled their plates with what they thought they would like. Aside from Jack, the only person who didn't take any pirozhki was Mrs. Overland, who was clearly (at least, it was clear to Jack) also mistrustful of the food, and what could have been done to it.

There was little conversation in the beginning, as everyone was too busy chewing food, but as the eating slowed down, there was more time for people to speak.

Jack heard Aster having a conversation with Nick about… well, he wasn't exactly sure, but it sounded like an argument between chocolate and peppermint. Sandy seemed to be telling a story of some sort, with Tiana translating his hand signs and Emma interjecting every now and then.

"So," Aster broke off his argument with Nick (Jack decided Nick had probably won, he look very superior indeed), and turned to Mrs. Overland. "Emma said you sew?"

To Jack, it seemed like Aster had gotten fed up with his argument with Nick and had been grasping at straws for a conversation that wasn't with Jack or Nick. However, he could tell Aster was actually paying attention as Mrs. Overland outlined what she did to help bring income to support her family. Nick had somehow inserted himself into the conversation, saying (rather smugly) that sewing was a better form of art than painting. For whatever reason, that set Aster off again, and nearly everyone had gotten pulled into the argument. Including Jack.

"Painting is the most acknowledged form of art!" Aster said furiously. "Painting and drawing are the first things that come to mind when most people think of art!"

Jack had no idea why this was such a personal topic for the tall man, but he couldn't resist poking fun at him. "Sewing is more practical, and there are many amazing tapestries and blankets."

"Ha! Jack is on my side!" Nick crowed, apparently glad that the brown-haired teen had 'joined him'. What he had joined him in, Jack wasn't entirely sure.

"But," Tiana interjected, "Blankets and tapestries can be worn over time, eventually falling apart."

"What do you have to say about that, Nick?" Aster said triumphantly.

Nick opened his mouth, but Jack beat him to it. "Paintings can fade too, Bunny!" he sneered, smirking at the look of shock on the tanned man's face.

Sandy waved his arms signing frantically, but the only ones who noticed him were Emma and Mrs. Overland, who didn't understand the signs. Jack might have noticed, but he was occupied with smirking at Aster, who was fuming. Nick was laughing boisterously, and Tiana looked as though she had only just realized what sort of argument she had joined.

"Let's agree that both are considered art, and leave it at that." Mrs. Overland finally intervened.

Shooting one last teasing grin in Aster's direction (and pretending to ignore but secretly delighting in the irritated grumble he got in return), Jack leaned back in his chair. It was mostly silent at the table, until Sandy signed something and Nick responded.

"Jack, why have you not tried and pirozhki yet?"

Jack winced, and glanced at a frowning Mrs. Overland. It was clear from her face she didn't know what to do, so he just shrugged and tried to smile.

"You should try some!" Nick said, but it sounded like an order, an impression that was reinforced when one of the little rolls was placed on his plate.

Tiana started up a conversation about… teeth? with Emma that seemed suspiciously timed to Jack, who was aware of at least two pairs of eyes on him, one of which was Mrs. Overland's.

Jack considered the little roll, before picking it up and taking a bite. Almost immediately, he could tell that the only person not watching him was Emma, though he could hear her carrying on her conversation with Tiana.

The roll was somehow still warm, and Jack could taste a multitude of spices when he hit the center, exploding in his mouth. It was…

"It's good." Jack said when he finished chewing, and hastily finished the roll.

"You sound surprised." Nick mused. "Why is that?"

I expected you to try and poison me or something, Jack thought. Instead, he simply said, "I'm not usually a fan of cabbage."

"Ah." Nick nodded, and Jack could see the other three exchanging glances out of the corner of his eyes.

They had done something to it, he realized. They must have, to be so concerned with his reaction. Either Jack had passed a test of some sort, or the worst was yet to come. Jack would have to be on guard for the next few days, even more so. Just in case whatever they had done had yet to kick in.

"Well," Tiana said, standing up. "It was so lovely to meet you, Ms. Abigail! Is it alright if I call you that, or do you prefer something else? Oh dear, I should have asked!"

Sandy stopped Tiana's worrying by placing a hand on her arm. The rest of the group stood up, Nick reaching for some of the plates.

"Abigail is fine." Mrs. Overland smiled warmly at Tiana, then turned to Nick. "You don't have to do that, just take your own plate. My lazy children are perfectly capable of clearing the table and doing the dishes." She looked pointedly at Jack and Emma, who had let out sounds of protests at being called 'lazy'. Both rose from the table and obediently started clearing the table off, taking dishes into the kitchen. "It was a pleasure to meet the people of my daughter's latest fascination. How much longer will you be in town?"

"We aren't really sure yet." said Aster, his eyes flickering towards the kitchen.

Nodding, Mrs. Overland called for Jack to take their guests back to the Inn. When Emma protested ("I wanna take them back! Jack brought them here!"), Mrs. Overland told her that it was dark, and wasn't she supposed to get ready for bed?

Jack grabbed a lantern, quickly lighting it on the way out. Snow crunched underfoot as he led them back through the trees, a slightly different way than they had come. The shadows danced portentously around the light, and the way back to the Inn involved considerably less branches in the face for Aster.

When they arrived, Jack bid them goodnight, disappearing into the trees, the light glittering between branches until it was out of sight.

"What did you think?" Tooth asked quietly.

"I think," Bunny said, voice equally soft as they trooped upstairs, "That that house was where the moonlight was directed last night."

"So, we are sure to be getting results?" North often seemed to not know the definition of 'quiet', but he was making a good effort now. As they entered room 15, Sandy nodded. Just before he and Tooth vanished into their room, there was a soft golden light coming from a floating picture of a cracked flask over his head. Giving one last smile, the door to room 14 shut.

A/N: *casually raises rating in preparation of next chapter* Mostly because I'm paranoid (how much violence/gore/whatever is enough to qualify?), but better safe than sorry! All you need to know is that it gets real next chapter ;). Also, pirozhki is a dish I found on the internet, and it serves the purpose I wanted so it is the food I used. This chapter is probably the longest one so far, and probably the longest one I will ever write. How the heck do some people do like 8k+ words a chapter? Sidetracked whoops. Reviews!

MagicWarriorDragon: There's a very high chance that will happen. Thank you so much!

HikariCruz: Thanks!

IReviewThings: Thanks for the feedback, I had a lot of fun writing the nightmare! I'm just gonna keep withholding information, if that's okay (even if it isn't okay, I'm keeping my secrets... most of them, anyway)

WolfAndBookLover: Oh, I'm not sure if you'll ever know for sure what's in the flask, but it's clearly important.

The purple hippocampus: Thanks! I honestly wasn't sure at first, but I had fun writing that so I put some more Jack-antagonizing-Bunny in this chapter.

Guardianship: Well, that's my aim, and it's only going to get worse ;) Here's that update!

Thanks for all the favorites, follows, and reviews this time around! Constructive criticism is appreciated, it's hard for me to catch all the mistakes and inconsistencies.

Until next time!