Chapter 4

Jack opened the door softly to Emma's room, carrying their dinner on a tray. Considering his idea of dinner was destroyed he'd settled for heating up a pizza. He knew how much Emma loved grape soda so he'd managed to bring a couple cans of that up as well. This was something they always did as kids was eat dinner in their rooms and talk, it felt like they broke a million rules yet always opened up this way.

He felt much better after taking a shower and changing out of his muddy clothes, and since he was on a roll he might as well talk with Emma.

She was sitting up in bed staring out the window sadly, the soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminating her. She'd changed into her green nightgown and looked ready for bed, but she was hardly sleepy.

"Hey." He said gently as he walked in, "Pizza anyone?" he tried as he smiled.

She continued to stare out the window as he put the tray down in front of her.

"We're a broken family…aren't we?" she asked him.

He sat across from her so she would look at him, "Nah." He shook his head, "I mean I don't think we are…"

She gave him a look with an eyebrow raised.

"Okay maybe just a little." He shrugged, but then sighed to himself, "Or a lot…"

She looked down at the tray of food and said nothing.

"Look…" he tried, "I know I shouldn't have yelled at you and-"

"You're my brother, you're supposed to." She shrugged as she touched the pizza and picked at it.

"Well, yeah but-"

"Besides…I like you better as my brother than a parent." She said looking up at him finally with sadness in her eyes.

He nodded sadly, "I miss them too." He admitted.

"I know you miss New York more." She said as tears formed in her eyes.

"That's not true." He told her firmly.

"You probably do hate me." She mumbled as the tears came out, "And you probably want a rabbit more than me!"

He leaned in and grabbed her, not caring about the tray of food getting all over the bed as he pulled her in for a hug, "You know I would never replace you for anything." He said as he buried his face in her hair that was a dead ringer for his, "I'm your big brother and I'll never regret taking care of my little sister, even if I suck at it sometimes."

"You don't suck at it." She sobbed, "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too." He nodded.

She sniffed and finally curled herself in his lap, something he was getting used to again after so long, "I hit Taffeta today…" she admitted.

"Yeah?" he asked, trying not to smile a little. He knew he shouldn't condone it, but he'd taught her how to fight growing up to defend herself. So if she could sock someone in the face he was secretly proud.

"I also punched her in the face…and bit her…and pulled her hair."

Jack raised his eyebrows and cleared his throat. Knowing Taffeta, she deserved it, however, the fighting had to stop, "Oh boy, kiddo." He sighed.

"People treat me different…I think they hate me." She said sadly.

"They just…don't understand how cool you really are because they can't see with their own eyes what I see." He said, a line his dad and mom had used for him growing up, "And I see the craziest, most fun, awesome kid on the planet!" he chuckled as he poked her belly, causing her to finally smile.

"Okay, here's what's gonna happen." He said, finally looking her in the eyes, "If you promise to stop fighting, I promise not to yell at you…except on special occasions." He grinned mischievously.

Emma nodded, "Tuesdays and bank holidays would be fine."

"Aha!" he laughed as he tickled her to the point they were both laughing like maniacs. She finally looked at the pizza and sodas scattered on the bed and picked up a slice, taking a bite. He opened a soda can and drank from it, relaxing more on the bed with her.

"Jack?" she asked suddenly.

"Yep?" he replied, taking a sip of soda.

"When did you find out you were gay?"

He was so shocked he spat the entire contents out of his mouth and then stared at her, his eyes narrowing, "You've been reading my diary again you little sneak."

She shrugged innocently, "Did you tell Mom and Dad?"

He frowned and looked away, shaking his head sadly.

"How come?"

He stared at the bed covers sadly. Of all the regrets he had, he truly wished he'd opened up more to his parents about his sexuality. He'd kept it secret all these years, but lately Emma was such a little pain that of course she'd find his diary and read it. He'd have to find a new hiding spot for it.

"It's hard to explain."

"Would you tell me?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean…if I hadn't found out, would you have told me?"

He nodded, "Yeah, I would have told you."

"When?"

"When I was ready and not when you read my diary." He grumbled at her.

She smiled at him, "I know you're scared of what people would think…but I love you."

He smiled back at her and ruffled her hair, "I know you do. And believe it or not I love you too. Just quit reading my diary, okay?"

She grinned and shrugged again, "Okay."

He almost took another drink but was glad he didn't when she made her next remark, "I think you and Hiccup would be a very cute couple."

He rolled his eyes heavenward and threw his head back, sighing, "I swear Emma, if you say one word..."

"I won't." she giggled, "But...I think he likes you too."

Jack looked at her hopefully, but tried playing it cool, "Yeah? What makes you say that?"

"The way he looks at you and stares at your butt." she shrugged.

"He stares at my butt?" Jack laughed.

She nodded, "And he asks about you every time he sees me."

"Hiccup is a good friend." Jack nodded.

"I think you two should go on a date. Then I could have two brothers...and we'd all be a family."

"That is wishful thinking, kiddo." he chuckled, although the idea really did warm his insides a little. He would be lying if he said he hadn't thought of Hiccup all the time, even while he was in New York. The minute he got back, Hiccup was the first one to help him through his parents deaths and get him a job at the restaurant where he worked to support Emma. Not to mention, Hiccup was very hot. And not just because he played with fire, but because he was just absolutely stunning to look at.

He had to stop thinking about how dreamy the guy he crushed on was because he realized sadly that he had too much on his plate at the moment. He had no time for a relationship, let alone one with another male. That would be a horrible thing to have to explain to a social worker trying to take his sister away.

He shook his head sadly, but continued smiling as he stared out the window, "I'll tell you all about me being gay when you're older, okay? But you can't tell anyone, got it?"

She nodded and then remembered something, "My camera's full again!" she smiled, pointing to her desk.

"Please tell me you took pictures of landscapes and not tourists again." He muttered. He'd actually received complaints from the police about Emma snapping embarrassing photos of people on vacation.

She ignored him and continued eating. They fell into a comfortable silence and she moved the tray onto her bedside table so she could curl into him. He was just getting comfortable when the lights flickered. He got worried, even though he'd paid the electricity bill last month. The lights went off and they both looked out the window.

She crawled off and he followed her. The moon shone extremely bright and seemed closer than usual. But what really drew their attention was the sudden shooting light coming towards the earth.

"A falling star!" Emma cried happily.

Jack wasn't as convinced as the 'shooting star' seemed to get dangerously close to hitting the ground, "I don't think that's a-"

"I call it!" she cried, shoving him suddenly, "Get out! Get out! I have to make a wish!"

The lights came back on but he hardly noticed and decided to pull a prank on her.

"Oh no!" he stopped suddenly as she shoved him out of her room. His hands went to his chest dramatically, "Gravity is increasing on me again!" he groaned playfully.

"NO IT'S NOT!" she roared, shoving him angrily.

"Is too Emma, the same thing happened yesterday." He said simply as he fell on top of her.

"AAH!" she screeched, "You rotten brother your BUTT is CRUSHING ME!" she yelled as she crawled out from under his 'dead' body. She righted herself and stared down at his limp body angrily and grabbed her door, "Why do you have to be so weird?!" she yelled as she slammed the door on his head.

"Ouch." He laughed as he rubbed the spot where it hit him.

He got up and quickly peeked in to spy on her as she went straight to the window and began to pray. He wanted nothing more than to keep pulling a prank on her but what she said made him pause and feel his heart sink.

"It's me again." Emma mumbled to herself as she prayed, "I know I haven't been a very good person lately, but I need someone to be my friend. Someone who won't run away. Maybe send me an angel or the Easter Bunny or something. I don't care, so long as they're nice and want to be my friend. Please?"

Jack closed her door and stood up sadly. He should have known that his parent's death would take a toll on them, and for Emma to not have any friends was even worse. No one understood her and he was no better sometimes. He rubbed his neck again, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. He wondered what on earth he could do. He couldn't get her a dog, not at a time like this. And Jack hated cats. He went through a list of animals that ranged from a mountain lion to a goldfish in his head until he felt the light bulb go off. He smiled to himself and vowed that starting tomorrow; he was getting his little sister a friend, even if all it had was fur.

….

"No offense, mate." Bunny grumbled as he rubbed his furry behind, "But that was the worst landing ever."

The sleigh was luckily still intact but everyone was pretty shaken including the reindeer.

"How was I supposed to know their planes were that low?" North complained, checking his sleigh.

Tooth came flying out with Sandy, both rather dizzy from the terrifying experience.

"I'm telling you, my tunnels are safer." Bunny said angrily.

"Stop your complaining and let's get going." North said as he stared around the tropical forest, "We need to be ready if our plan is going to work. I was just informed he's planning on taking her to the pet store tomorrow."

"How do you know all this?" Bunny asked, still not feeling like this was a good idea.

"When dealing with a special case the Man in Moon is on top of it all. Besides, Emma just prayed to him." North explained.

"I still don't know why Tooth can't just be a parakeet or something." Bunny mumbled as they walked towards the road.

"As beautiful and wonderful as she is, she wouldn't be as cuddly and cute." North chuckled.

"I really don't have a choice in this, do I?" Bunny said angrily.

"We're doing it for the child, Bunny." Tooth reminded him.

Bunny rolled his eyes. Every time he fought the plan, they gladly reminded him that they were doing this for a child in need and he had no choice but to comply. They knew as well as he did that he would do anything for a child. He was a Guardian after all.

They got to a small town and found a rundown pet store that had sleeping animals inside it. The goldfish tanks were lit up. There were tropical reptiles with heated lamps to keep them warm. And a few rodents; hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, and ferrets were snuggling together.

"All right. This is it." North smiled, rubbing his hands together excitedly, "You ready?"

Bunny crossed his arms angrily and glared at them all, "The minute this kid gets her wish, I'm getting even with the lot of ya." He muttered.

North merely grabbed Tooth and Sandy's hands as they gathered around him. The moon shone down on them and Bunny was forced to feel himself getting smaller and smaller and smaller until he looked up with the cutest little eyes and the fluffiest fur.

"Aww…" North and Tooth gushed as they looked down at him, smiling.

Bunny glared at them, wishing he could knock them into space.

"You are so adorable!" Tooth squealed, "And fluffy!" she cried excited, clapping her hands.

Bunny rolled his eyes.

"And don't worry," North told him as he scooped him up, "We'll be undercover to help you."

"How? I mean you lot stand out like a sore thumb." He chuckled. Let's face it, North was dressed in his red and black fur coats; not excitedly ideal for Hawaii. Tooth was a flying feathered fairy, and Sandy was a golden floating man. Not exactly the most camouflaged for the job.

"Leave it to us." North said, "Now let's go."

"Just be quick, will ya?" Bunny asked as North took him inside the shop to deposit him in the cage with a couple of other sleeping rabbits.

"Good luck!" North laughed as he and the others walked back outside. It was now in their court to find a suitable friend for Emma in the world, but they would be back. At least they better have.

He looked begrudgingly at the other sleeping rabbits who seemed to have no clue they had a visitor.

He sighed to himself, "Now I really wish I was a kangaroo." He muttered to the Man in the Moon out the window.