I am soooo sorry that it took me so long to update! But I am officially moved into my first college dorm, so woohoo! I hope ya'll had a great summer and I hope your school years are awesome! Ok not gonna do shout outs but don't let that stop ya from reviewing!
I own northing but my characters.
Chapter 7: Guardians of Home
"Now give me a little turn, see aren't you glad you finally got out of those baggy clothes?" Nat rolled her eyes when her back was to Eris but she had to admit, the goddess did have nice taste. Her usual spring attire was on the floor and now she wore a light green dress that reached her ankles. Two thick straps covered most of her shoulders and along the trim a darker green floral pattern was stitched into the fabric. It was a nice looking dress yet still comfortable even with Nat's size, the dress pleasantly flowing outwards a bit at her stomach.
"Yes Eris it's lovely, thank you."
She smiled brightly, "Yes well I figured you would like something a little nicer, think of it as….an Easter present." She laughed while Nat tried to hide a grimace, "I am surprised that bunny of yours pulled it off though, what with the weather still so cool, and you being my prisoner and all."
Nat swept her hair over one shoulder with a smirk, "That's my Aster, strong no matter what. It's why I know he'll save me."
Eris laughed at that, unaffected by the remark, "Sweetie if he was going to save you he'd do it already. Besides he doesn't even know where you are. So you may as well accept it," she came very close to Nat's face, "When those brats are born, they. Are going. To die. And so will you."
Nat couldn't stop her smirk from faltering and the goddess smiled at the fear that flashed across her face. "Now let's go swimming!"
~~~The Workshop~~One Week After Easter~~~
The five Guardians were gathered at Santoff Claussen. Bunnymund had spread hope across the world fantastically, giving fresh power to not only himself but his fellow Guardians. And after a few days rest he was finally ready for what was to come. What that was however, he had no clue.
"So tell me mate," he spoke, "Do ya have a plan?"
North stared at the group very seriously, "I believe I do, but first," he moved towards the control panel, "we must wait for everyone arrive." And with that he reactivated the northern lights, earning looks of confusion from his friends.
"Uh, North?" Jack asked, "All of the Guardians are here already, minus Nat of course."
He gave a knowing smile to the winter teen and within minutes the globe room filled with Legends. Through the window Sam flew in carrying Patty and April, from a sudden tunnel Phil the groundhog appeared, in the blink of an eye Nathaniel shimmered into the room, and from a black smoke came Angelus and Cupid. Nathaniel nudged North and said quietly, "I'm in."
The Guardian of Wonder nodded in thanks and raised his hand for attention, "Now, I know many of you are probably wondering why I have asked you to come today. I will do my best to explain. Usually, when it comes to serious business it is left to the Guardians. But today, I am asking you to be Guardians as well, not only of the children, but of the world. And most importantly, for Natalie. We have all come to love her over the years and she has been taken from us. If Eris succeeds in spreading her chaos, our world and all that we know will be gone. So I say we go right to her doorstep and show that goddess what happens when someone threatens one of us! In my belly I know that if we do this, together, we can stop her. This will be a full scale attack and it will be dangerous, now I will not force any of you to risk your lives, but I am asking. Will you join us, will you be a Guardian for our home?"
Silence filled the room. Jack, Sandy, Tooth, and Bunny stared at North in shock while the others looked at each other. Nathaniel was the first to speak, "I will fight. Not just for the world, but for Nat. She would do the same for us."
Next was Patty, "Aye. An' if tha' fuckin bitch thinks she can touch those babes, our family, then she has got another thin' comin."
"You said it would be dangerous. In my vocabulary, that means fun. No way am I going to sit this one out" Sam smirked and wrapped an arm around his girlfriend.
"We'll teach her to mess with the Legends!" April fist pumped.
Phil shrugged with a smile, "If the only other option is letting our home get destroyed I guess I'll fight too."
Cupid shared a look with Angelus and nodded, "We'll do whatever we can to save Nat."
Determination filled the room along with a trace of hope. Bunny's throat tightened at their loyalty. Clearing his throat he spoke up, "Thank you. Not only for the world's sake, but fer mine. The fact that yer willin ta risk your lives for my family is….I jus' can't put it inta words." Everyone smiled at the pooka warmly.
"Very well then," North said, "You have three days. Prepare for battle, prepare for death, just be ready. We are about to have the hardest fight of our lives."
~~~~Two Days Later~~~
It was the early hours of dawn when Nat awoke with a start from a sharp pain in her back. It passed as quickly as it came and she decided to get up for a glass of water. Moving carefully in the dark she made her way to the bathroom, but when she reached the sink another pain seized her and she found herself gripping the counter to stand. At that moment the oddest sensation went down her legs and Nat's heart dropped to her stomach. Her water had broken, and her fear seized her with its meaning.
She was in labor.
Silent tears trekked down her cheeks as she rubbed her stomach to ease the passing ache and she prayed that the others would come soon.
Oh man what's gonna happen next?! Find out….immediately! Lol did ya'll think I'd leave ya hanging?
~~~The Next Day~~~
Everyone waited with baited breath in hiding as they watched April walk up to the front door of the villa, North's instruction clear in their minds.
"We will attack Eris, but priority is getting Nat to safety first."
Which was why the Legend of pranks, still hyped from her recent holiday, had masked her usual appearance with that of a normal human wearing white scrubs and was knocking on the door. After a few moments it was opened by a servant.
"Hola. I am the midwife that was called to be on standby. You know," she cradled her arms, "Por los ninos. I was told to be taken straight to the mother's room."
The servant looked confused and in her thick accent replied, "I was not told of you coming. I must check with the seniorita Eris."
But before she could move away April stopped her, "I completely understand but I must warn you. She told me that she was going to be busy when I arrived and that she wanted no disturbances. And between you and me, she does not seem like someone you want to get angry."
Her words made the servant's eyes flash with uncertainty, but after a slight hesitation she nodded, "Si then, follow me." April flashed a last look to the bushes before heading inside. She was taken to Nat's room and was left alone after thanking the servant. From out of her pocket Baby Tooth emerged, fluttering around the room anxiously.
"Hurry Baby, the sooner we find her the-"
"Hello?" Nat stepped out from the bathroom, "Who are you?"
"Nat it's me! April!" For a brief second she revealed her usual purple hair before returning it to her disguise. Baby Tooth hugged Nat's cheek as she spoke. "We're here to bust you out!"
Nat almost cried in relief and was about to hug April when she doubled over, releasing a whimper.
April went to her side, "Hey are you ok? What's wrong?"
She clutched the Legend's arm, "April we don't have much time. My water broke last night, the babies are coming. Unh! The-the moment they're born Eris is going to kill them. And these contractions are getting harder to hide."
April's eyes widened, "Well shit! Baby Tooth! Go out to the others, they need to charge now. Before Eris-"
"Before Eris what?" The goddess herself smirked from the doorway. "My my what have we here? A rescue attempt? Hmm, a rather poor rescue attempt if you ask me. They sent a lowly spirit to save you! Did you really think I wouldn't find out, I'm a goddess fool!"
April stood tall, changing back into her natural look, "I am not a lowly spirit, and that's Miss Fool to you bitch!"
Eris glared at her, "Bitch? Oh you are going to pay for that…"
~~~Outside~~~
"What could be taking so long?" Cupid asked nervously. No one knew what to say and they sat in tense silence until Baby Tooth appeared in the distance. Flying instantly to her queen she began chirping frantically. Tooth's mouth dropped.
"What is she saying Tooth?" North asked rapidly.
"Nat's in labor! And Eris caught them!"
A ball of fear settled in Bunnymund's stomach and his eyes met North's. After a curt nod from the Russian he spoke, "Then let's get in there and show 'er who's boss! Come on!" They cheered as they leapt from the bushes and charged into the house. Upon entering a wall was smashed through and April landed roughly, bloody and bruised.
"Is-is that the best you can do?" She spat out some blood before noticing the others. Tooth and Sandy helped her to her feet and as Tooth opened her mouth she cut her off. "I'm fine."
Just then Eris came through the hole in the wall, "Not after I'm through with you." Her enraged glare scanned the group, "I see you brought back up. No matter, you're still going to lose."
"Then quit stalling and bring it!" Jack shouted as he blasted a stream of ice directly at her. And just like that, the fight began. Eris quickly recovered from the attack and sent purple smoke in all directions. Everyone was careful to avoid it on North's orders keeping their distance to avoid being infected with chaos. Angelus swirled his scythe and let his own black smoke keep Eris's at bay, with the help of the wind thanks to Jack. Patty had a satchel of Bunny's egg bombs, her natural luck helping them explode just where she wanted them to. From the air Cupid shot arrow after arrow, his deadly good aim hitting Eris in multiple parts of her body. As a counter she would vanish into the smoke and reappear somewhere else in the room, wounds healed. North and Tooth charged in for a close attack and Nathaniel slowed Eris's movements to almost a standstill, allowing the two to deliver a series of quick blows before jumping back out of the goddess's reach. During which Bunny and Phil would appear from behind and attack some more before being launched out of harm's way by Sandy's sand.
Now Eris had gotten in a few blows herself, Tooth took a nasty hit to the head and had been unconscious for a couple minutes and almost everyone was sporting their own multitude of bruises and scrapes. Her smoke had caught Patty by the ankle and she rag dolled the Legend around the room until she was caught by April. Sam roared in rage and shifted into an enormous dragon, barreling straight towards Eris. She leapt and stood on his back, plunging a weapon she made from the smoke into an unscaled section by his shoulder. It didn't get too deep before he reared like a wild stallion and smashed her to the ceiling, making the entire villa shake from the force. She still held on and surrounded his face in the smoke but Sam quickly shifted back, letting her fall to the ground, and stumbled away shaking his head back and forth. Sandy stepped in and knocked him out lightly with sand so the affects could subside.
From the halls Nat slouched on the wall as the entire building trembled. She slowly made her way to the sounds of battle, stopping every few minutes when another contraction hit. She gritted her teeth to keep from shouting but damn it it hurt! With deep breaths she finally made it to the others, her face in complete shock as she watched her friends fight Eris. Reappearing from the smoke she looked completely unharmed, but she was panting from effort, her expression furious. At that moment a really strong contraction came and Nat cried out, falling to her knees in pain.
That one cry made Bunny whip around and on the ground he saw Nat, her face wearing a grimace of pain, and for a moment their eyes locked. Then hers grew wide with fear and she screamed, "Aster behind you!" He turned and saw Eris launching towards him but at the last moment her body collided with Cupid's, who had tackled her into the floor. Taking another arrow from his quiver he shoved it upwards into her ribs, earning a shriek of pain from Eris.
But the wound didn't keep her from grabbing him by the throat. After discarding the arrow she snarled, "Do you pathetic insects think you can beat me? I am a goddess! The goddess of chaos! I will destroy you all!" She then flung him with astounding force and he slammed into the wall with a sickening crack, landing unconscious onto the rubble. She laughed insanely as the villa once again shook around them, "You," she panted, "you are nothing to me." When the shaking stopped a few more bits of the ceiling fell and it gave Bunny an idea.
"Sandy!" he called, flicking his gaze to the weak roof. It didn't take long for the small man to understand. Using his whips he held Eris to the floor, who struggled wildly. She began to turn into smoke again but Jack froze her lower half to the floor.
"Uh uh," he smirked, "Not tricks this time."
Bunny moved quickly over to Sam who had woke up and hurriedly explained his plan. Meanwhile Eris's struggles continued and the ice began to crack, but from the floor thorny vines wrapped around her. Looking over to the corner she saw Nat glaring at her with a hand raised, "I told you."
Sam had shifted back into a dragon and rammed his head into the ceiling. Everyone but Bunny moved away, and as more of the ceiling came down he spoke, "Never threaten my family again." He then retreated to the others just as the entire roof collapsed. They watched it smash on top of her. For a few moments they held their breaths, waiting. And then from the debris purple smoke started to rise from the cracks.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" Tooth angrily stated, much to the other's surprise considering she never swore. As Eris emerged they took to their fighting stances but she lifted a hand.
"There won't be any need for that." Everyone noticed instead of being healed she still was covered in bruises and she held her side where the arrow had been. "I barely have the strength to lift a finger right now." She laughed at everyone's surprised faces, "Don't look so shocked, I know when to quit. But man was that fun. Almost better than screwing Pitch."
North cleared his throat, "What now?"
"Now?" she smiled, "Now I go back home, recharge. Which'll probably take some time, you guys took a lot out of me. So congrats everyone, you actually stopped a goddess. It really was fun. Maybe we can do it again in a millennia or three." With a snap of her fingers a portal appeared, "Until then spirits, ta!" And with that she stepped into the portal, leaving everyone in complete silence.
"We did it," Phil said, "We actually did it." After a minute cheers echoed around the room. Patty and Sam kissed tenderly, as did Tooth and Jack, but then-
"Wait! Where's Cupid?" Angelus's frantic question was answered with silence, until a gasp from April made him look in the direction she did. There, still unconscious on a pile of rubble, was Cupid Eros. A boulder pinned part of his wing and his once white shirt had blood stains. "No!" The Legend of death shouted before rushing over. North moved the boulder and Angelus carefully brushed the hair from his boyfriend's face. Blood trickled from the side the side of his mouth and his eyes were closed. "Baby come on wake up." He gently nudged his shoulder but got no response. Tears filled his eyes as Angelus cradled him. Damnit Cupid wake up! I am not letting you go like this! Please come back to me I love you more than anything you can't go." His pleas trickled into soft whispers as he kissed his forehead, "Please."
Everyone waited silently, Tooth and Patty were crying, while Angelus quietly wept. Finally, pink eyes slowly fluttered open and the softest of smiles was on his lips. "Don't worry you," he whispered, "I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."
"Cupid!" Cheers of relief sounded throughout the group until another cry stopped them.
"Ah! Guys this, unh, is such a happy moment but, ngh! I am still in labor!"
"Crikey!" Bunny rushed to Nat's side. He kissed her head and hugged her, "I've been so worried love, are you alrigh'?"
She smiled briefly before squeezing her eyes shut gasping, "What-do you- think?!"
He smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, dumb question. Come on we'll get ya to the Pole an-"
"N-no. These babies are coming. Now." Everyone all started talking at once until Nathaniel shushed them.
"No one panic. Nat, if you'll allow me I can safely deliver your babies here. I'd just need a few minutes to prepare." After Nat gave a quick nod he went to work. "Right then. Patty, I'll need towels. Sam, some warm water and scissors."
April spoke, "Follow me, I'm sure all that stuff's in Nat's room." The three left as quickly as they could.
North added, "Sandy and I will tend to injuries." He smiled at Nat, "Everything will be fine malyutka." Sandy then floated over and patted her shoulder before following the Russian over to Cupid.
Nat looked to Bunny with a fearful face as the next wave of pain hit. "Aster…"
Taking her hand he gave it a gentle squeeze, "S'alright Natty," he murmured, "I'm right here. Jus' hold on a little longer." Closing her eyes she breathed through the contraction, holding to the thought tighter than she held his paw. I can do this, Aster's here.
The next few minutes ticked by painfully slow, Bunny giving a string of encouragements to Nat while she swore at him with every increasingly painful contraction.
"Agh! I-hate you, so fucking-much right now!"
To which he'd laugh and nuzzle her head, "I love ya too Natty, yer so beautif-"
"Oh shut up!"
Tooth had taken her other side, moving her damp hair off her forehead and calming her down. Before going to help North Jack swooped in and kissed her cheek saying, "You got this sis." Finally everything was ready and the only ones left in the room were Nat, Tooth, Bunny, and Nathaniel.
"Alright Nat," he said, "It's time."
But she shook her head, "No, I've changed my mind. This needs to happen at the Pole, or the Warren. It's still a few weeks early, we haven't even thought of names and-"
Her rising panic was silenced by Bunnymund who pressed his forehead against hers, "Shh, love hush. Yer one of the strongest people I know."
Tears filled her eyes as she whispered, "I don't think I can do this Aster."
He smiled warmly, "Well of course ya can. And I'll be here the whole time, you won' be alone fer a second." He kissed the tear from her face. "Now what do ya say we meet our kits?"
Nat placed a soft kiss to his lips before nodding. Suddenly the next contraction crashed over her. "Now Nat," Nathaniel said, "Push." She did as she was told, trying not to cry out from the pain.
"Tha's it love, yer doin' wonderful."
She threw her head back panting, "Again Nat," she was instructed. And she did. A few more pushes through the pain and suddenly there was something crying in Nathaniel's arms. After cutting the cord he announced, "It's a girl."
"She's beautiful," Bunny said. Before Nat could answer she cried out as yet another contraction hit. Quickly handing the kit off to Tooth Nathaniel helped bring the second into the world. Just a few minutes of pushing and it was here, screaming loudly.
"A boy." Nathaniel said warmly. He and Tooth cleaned them both a little more before giving both bundles to Nat in fresh towels. "Congratulations you two. Nat you were perfect."
She held her children, "Thank you Nathaniel." Bunny also thanked him and then he and Tooth left to give the new parents a moment of privacy.
"I'm so proud of ya love," Bunny kissed her head again.
She smiled tiredly at him and kissed his lips before they both looked down to get a good look at her children, starting with their daughter.
She was a baby pooka, with silvery fur. A tuft of black fur was on her chest as well as her ear tips. Her eyes slowly opened and they revealed a brilliant shade of green, just like her father's.
"Aster," Nat said softly, "Do you want to hold our son?"
Instantly his ears went flat, "Uh I don' know Natty, he seems so…fragile."
She laughed, "Oh come on. You just cradle your arms," after hesitantly doing so she carefully placed him in his arms, "and mind his head."
Bunny smiled at her, "He's so small."
"He'll get big like his daddy soon enough."
Looking back down he moved the towel a bit to get a better look. His throat got tight and he gasped softly.
Noticing it Nat asked, "Aster? What is it?"
Turning to his mate she could see his eyes were all misty. In a choked whisper he said, "He, he looks just like my Da." And it was true. Their son was the spitting image of Bunny, with fur just a touch darker, and with Nat's blue eyes he looked exactly like the fallen Neron Eamon Bunnymund. He crouched down to Nat so she could see and she brushed the single tear that slipped from his eye. They then shared the softest of kisses.
"I love you Natty."
"I love you too Aster. Now let's take our family home."
I am soooooooooooo sorry this took forever. Next chapter is the last one, just a little kind of epilogue thing. So I hope this wasn't anticlimactic and that you enjoyed the fluffy familyness. Review now please!
