Chapter 5
Jack held Emma's hand as he walked her to the surprise destination. He was smiling widely the whole time as she bugged him with questions.
"Where are we going, Jack?" she kept asking, "What's the surprise? Please tell me!" she pleaded.
It wasn't until he stopped in front of the pet shop that she registered what was happening. He plugged his ears, readying himself for the coming squeals of delight. She was happily shouting and screaming so much random people on the streets looked his way and all he could do was feel like the best brother in the world.
"Are you gonna just stand there freaking out or are we gonna pick out our new family member?" he asked her, ushering her inside.
She wrapped her arms around him tightly and he had to try not to trip over her as he opened the door, releasing the sound of a small bell.
A blonde girl working at the counter smiled at him and he smiled back. He'd nearly forgotten Astrid worked at the pet shop. She hadn't changed much really, her blonde hair was always in a braid and the freckles from surfing with Hiccup all the time were clearly evident.
"Hi Astrid." He grinned.
"Hi Jack! Haven't seen you around in a while." She nodded, then looked the Emma and beamed, "Gosh, Emma got big!"
"Tell me about it." Jack muttered, rolling his eyes as his sister kept bouncing around, dragging his arm with her.
Astrid laughed and leaned on the counter to look down at Emma, "So what brings you in today?"
"Jack's getting me a new pet!" she said happily.
Astrid grinned at Jack quickly before turning back to Emma, "What kind of pet did you have in mind?"
"Something small." Jack cut in, "Maybe something cute, friendly…sturdy…" Jack frowned seriously as he leaned in, "You know, something that won't die in two days."
"Like a lobster!" Emma piped up.
Jack rolled his eyes as Astrid laughed, "Well, we have a lot of great new rodents that just came in like some hamsters and rabbits. We also have some ferrets and guinea pigs too."
"We'll start there." Jack smiled, and then leaned down to smile at Emma, "Why don't you go find your new friend."
She nodded as Astrid pointed the way down one aisle where the rodents were kept in glass containers.
Emma walked slowly, her heart racing excitedly. This was the greatest gift her brother had ever given her. She could finally have a friend that would never run away from her, who'd depend on her, and love her. She found the rodent section and smiled as she peeked in to look for her new pet.
…..
"So Jack…we miss you during our surfing times." Astrid said as she leaned her hips against the counter.
Jack nodded, "Yeah, it's been…not so…great to be honest. I haven't had time." He explained sadly.
She nodded encouragingly, "I understand. You're doing a great job with her though. Anybody would be an idiot not to see that."
"I just wish the social workers thought that way." He admitted.
"Don't worry; the gang is all rooting for you. You don't need to ask twice for help from us."
"I appreciate that Astrid." He smiled.
"You know…" she grinned devilishly, "Hiccup talks nonstop about you."
"So I've been told." He chuckled.
"So when are you gonna put him out of his misery and actually go out with him?"
He sighed, "It's complicated right now. Emma comes first."
She shrugged and agreed with that, "Well, just don't make him pine for too long."
Jack crossed his arms, "He keeps setting himself on fire at work and I'll be the one pining." He joked.
"I'm so telling him you said that!" she laughed.
"Oh please don't!" Jack wailed.
…..
Emma had looked in the guinea pig cage but they all ran away, so she tried hamsters only to have them all run away. She finally walked to the bunny cage and peeked in. She noticed a few golden bunnies snuggling together in the corner comfortably and she was about to tap the glass when a different looking bunny hopped right in front of her face; a gray and white one with strange black markings on its face and back. She gasped as it looked at her, its nose wiggling and tail bobbing up and down. It seemed to stand up and assess her a little and she smiled at it, waving, "Hi there." She said softly.
She gasped when the bunny actually lifted its tiny paw and waved back.
She jumped up and down excitedly and stared into its beady little eyes that gave her the most heartwarming look, "Do you wanna be my friend?" she asked it.
She wasn't expecting it to actually nod and she knew then and there that her prayers had indeed been answered the night before.
She turned around and was about to call her brother when the bunny actually jumped onto the ledge and down to her feet. She gasped and bent down, reaching out to stroke its fur slowly.
The bunny stayed still and she felt how soft it was, making sure to scratch it's white little cheek, causing it to roll its eyes up happily and thump his foot.
She giggled, "Do you wanna come home with me?" she asked it.
The bunny stood up and nodded and she smiled happily, "Come on!"
It hopped right into her arms and she couldn't resist hugging the beautiful little bunny close to her chest, feeling a sense of belonging and acceptance from the creature.
…
Astrid was still talking to Jack at the front about school and surfing when he could hear Emma coming back. He quickly leaned in to ask Astrid a question before Emma came over.
"So you're animals are all safe, right?"
"Absolutely!" she smiled proudly, "All of our animals are completely adoptable."
"I found him!" Emma said happily as she came forward carrying a rather large gray rabbit in her arms.
"EXCEPT THAT ONE!" Astrid suddenly screamed, causing the rabbit to hop out of Emma's arms nervously and look around. Jack quickly grabbed Emma and clutched her to him, looking nervously at Astrid who'd vaulted over the counter and grabbed the rabbit before it could escape.
"Astrid what's wrong?" he asked her.
"This bunny isn't on the register!" she freaked, "I would have recognized every rabbit. Emma where did you find him?" she asked.
"He was in the rabbit cage!" she defended, "He came right up to me and let me hold him." She told Jack, "I love him!"
"Uh…" Jack asked nervously as the rabbit actually managed to break free of Astrid and hop around so fast he landed gracefully at Emma's feet right before Jack, "Okay…that's…odd." He said.
"How about a different rabbit." Astrid suggested, "I mean…we'd have to make sure this guy's safe after all."
"No!" Emma cried, looking imploringly at Jack, "Please! No rabbit would be better than him! He likes me and I like him!" The rabbit curled itself next to Emma's feet and Jack forced himself to stare down into the cutest, biggest eyes he'd ever seen. He didn't know how but this rabbit seemed to be pleading with him to take it home. He was a goner the minute he saw the bunny and his sister giving him the look that always doomed him.
He sighed, "Fine. Astrid, he seems safe. And we'll go to the vet if we have to." He said, "We'll take him."
"You sure?" she asked nervously, "I'd hate to give you a faulty rabbit or something."
"I think we'll be fine." Jack smiled then nodded to Emma as he let her go so she could bend down and pick up her furry little friend. The way it nuzzled her cheek and buried itself into her arms was so precious Jack knew Emma would be devastated to not take it home.
"Okay…" Astrid sighed, "Tell you what; I'll throw in a free cage and bedding. All you have to do is buy the food and bunny today. Is that okay?" she asked.
Jack smiled, knowing she'd given him the best deal because of his situation, "Thanks Astrid."
"Just promise you'll actually show up to the old surf club again." She ordered him with a smile.
"Deal." He laughed.
Astrid helped them find a nice sized cage with some bedding and then Emma picked out the food and treats for the rabbit while Jack got his wallet out.
"That'll be thirty dollars." Astrid said.
Jack just handed her a twenty and a ten when Emma suddenly tugged his arm, "I wanna buy him!"
He looked down at her and leaned closer when she whispered fervently, "Can I borrow thirty dollars?"
Without breaking eye contact with Astrid, Jack took the thirty dollars back, gave it to Emma, who gave it right back to Jack, who once again handed Astrid the money.
"He's all yours." She smiled happily to Emma, "What you gonna call him?"
"Hmmm…." She thought aloud, "I'm not sure. I think I'll just call him Bunny for now."
Astrid chuckled, "Oh come on now that's a boring name-"
Jack slapped the counter quickly and shook his head at Astrid, his eyes wide.
"In…Iceland…but here it's good!" she smiled, "Bunny it is!"
Emma carried her furry little friend out, leaving Jack to lug everything else back home with them. He'd help get her bunny situated before going to work. He was determined to make a better impression on that social worker starting now.
…..
Jack had set up the cage and got the food and water ready so he could leave Emma to play with her new friend. Normally he was comfortable letting her explore the town, go to the beach, and play at home while he worked. She wasn't completely dependent on him, being nine. He changed into his work uniform which really just consisted of blue trunks and sandals. Working at an outside luau restaurant for tourists it was pretty easy to just wear one article of clothing. Adjusting in New York was a whole different story.
"Okay." He said, handing Emma some money and bending down, "I have to get to work; you know the rules, right?"
She nodded as she took the money, "Stay out of the roads, don't talk to strangers, and call you if I'm in trouble."
He smiled and brought her in to kiss her cheek playfully, blowing a raspberry into it. She giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck. He squeezed her one last time before walking to the door, "I'll meet you at the park for lunch and then you can hang out at the restaurant for dinner, okay?"
She nodded, "Bye Jack."
"Be good!" he warned as he walked out to walk to work.
She turned to see her bunny sitting in his cage, looking rather disgruntled.
"I'm sorry boy…did you want out?" she asked.
He thumped his foot impatiently and she opened the cage. The bunny hopped out and sighed, looking at her. She was about to suggest they play a game when it actually opened its mouth.
"About bloody time! Alrighty sheila, here's what's happening." He said in a strange accent.
Emma froze on the spot and before Bunny could even react, she screamed at the top of her lungs.