Valentines and other holidays

By End of Grace

New fanart: A lovely picture by Donakiko on Deviant art. Please be nice and review. #/d5sc091

Christmas engagements (North/Bunny)

Christmas was North busiest time of the year, millions of toys to be made, tested, and then wrapped. The sleigh had to be checked and serviced and the reindeers all had to have they checkups before the main flight.. Both naughty and nice lists have been checked twice. The only difference this year was his Christmas party. Christmas day, well technically the afternoon, all the spirits and holiday leaders come to the North Pole for a huge party and gift exchanged. Most arrived around midday and did not leave until boxing day. This year all the invites except Bunnymund's asked the guests to arrive around three, no explanation was given but most of them knew why or at least guessed. Bunnymund was a very private person and was not really one for open displays of affection. Besides North actually wanted this to be a private affair, in case Bunnymund said no, thought he doubted it. Bunnymund, since Jack Skellington wedding been dropping hints, of what he would have at a wedding, what he would like and such. The Easter bunny had dried out Sally's flowers and they were now sitting on top of his mantelpiece at the warren. When North visited the warren he had seen Bunny holding them and sighing as he put them back. It was seeing Bunny holding that bouquet that gave North his idea for Bunny's Christmas present.

At first North was not sure if he was ready for such a commitment. After all he had been married once and that had ended badly. Yet the incident last summer with that hare, caused North to think otherwise. Bunnymund was handsome, strong and loyal. He excepted everything about North and despite their busy schedules and a few disagreements they have been happy. The intimacy was incredible and the quite moments were worth all the stars in the sky. So it was decided, he was going to ask. Now the present. He didn't have the materials for what he needed, he needed the measurement and a nice box to put it in. The measurement was the easiest part, he waited until Bunnymund was asleep and placed a measuring tape around his fingers. He wanted this gift to be special and unique, he spent every free moment he had on drawings and sketches before he done one he was happy with. North had many materials at his disposal but what was needed for this gift was something a lot harder to get. The yetis informed him, the best way to get what was needed he would have to go to the dwarfs, great miners and collectors of jewels and gold. Hitching up the sleigh North made his way south to the mountains were dwarfs now lived. After some heated negotiations, North walked away with a bag of gold, a diamond, a ruby and an emerald. Once back, he heated up forge and started to melt and shape the gold in to a band that would fit his Pooka's finger. The next part was a lot more difficult, cutting the stones. North had looked though his books and knew enough to know that the slightest error could cause the stone to crack and make it unusable and worthless. The ruby and emerald were cut in to smaller stones, for the band were he engraved Easter eggs and Christmas trees. He had chosen a sunflower emerald cut for the diamond and placed it at the fount of the ring. Once the stones were set and the engraving finished, North polished the ring till it shined brightly and placed it in a velvet red ring box which he then wrapped with white ribbon.

A loud knock on the workshop door broke North of his concentration.

"What? What is it I'm busy"

"Hey North are you in there?"

It was Bunnymund. North panicked for a moment and quickly slammed the present in the door when the Bunny entered the room. North tried to look composed but the sweat on his brow he was sure was about to give him away. Bunny placed his paws on his hips and looked around the messy workshop.

"It's gone six o'clock Mate, remember your promise?" After having no time for Bunny two years ago at Christmas, North has promised to always finish by six, so he could spend the evening with him.

"AH! It's gone six already? Time must have gotten away from me tonight. I've been very busy with Christmas, it's only a few days away you know"

"Really?" smiled Bunnymund as he crossed his arms "Well according to the yetis, your well on schedule in fact this is the first time in years that's everything is on time. Want to try again?"

"Fruit cake?" asked North as he offered the fruit cake to the Easter Bunny. Bunnymund shook his head and tsked under his breath.

"Alright you don't have to tell me if it's that important"

North throw the cake over his shoulder as he stood up and hugged Bunnymund tightly around the waist.

"Just a few more day love, then I'm all your for a few weeks before your busy season starts. Then we have the rest of the year together"

Bunny smiled as he rest his head on North shoulder "I really like the sound of that."

North led them out of the workshop, his arm still round Bunny's waist. These were one of the moments that North loved, quietly walking with Bunny around the pole or the warren, the rabbit's head leaning on his shoulder.

"You know North, My people never had anything like Christmas, well nothing like gift giving or anything. We use to throw a party to celebrate the winter solace by dancing and wearing masks"

"Much like Mummer's Day then. Did you people have many traditions?"

Bunny laughed "My old man use to say that you couldn't do even cook a meal because of some tradition or other. My people were really big on it and woe to anyone that didn't follow them. There were traditions for everything, birth, death, marriage, birthdays, engagements . In fact I knew a couple that tried to get married without having the engagement ceremony, the elder was furious! It's not so much practiced in later years but it was still considered the right thing to do."

"Really? it's no wonder you rabbits are so nervous with all your traditions"

"Hey, don't laugh! The elder had a huge wooden staff and really good aim" joked Bunnymund.

They spent the rest of the evening like that simply chatting about this, that and the other. Although North put on an air of calm, inside he was panicking. He had been so busy making the ring perfect that he hadn't even thought that Bunnymund had different ideas of being purpose too. What if a ring wasn't acceptable? He only had a few days before his big night to get everything he needed to pull this off.

He waited until Bunnymund had returned to the warren before telling Phil that he would be in the library and not to bother him unless it was important. Phil spoke angrily in yetiish pointing at the globe and then at North.

"Yes I know the children need me but I have made serious blunder on my plans for Bunnymund and I need time to fix it" North explained, hoping that Phil would understand. Both the yetis and the elves were happy for North, being with Bunnymund had truly made him happy and they were grateful. Phil sighed and nodded his head, as he went to inform the others that he was running the shop floor again and to come to him if there were any problems. North spent the best part of the morning looking over the few books he had on pooka, for some idea on how to propose to his Bunny. Thankfully Bunny had left the book written by "J.R.R Trolking explaining all their traditions for him. Upon reading he could see why they could not marry without the engagement ceremony. The engagement ceremony was only performed by the two involved, North was to offer his "gift" as a signed of his wish to marry, he would then hold on to said "gift" till the wedding day. He then needed a red thread made by the fur of the rat, that he and Bunnymund were to rub a drop of their blood on. He was then to wrap his and Bunny's left hand/paw together with it, it was to represent the red string of destiny. It was to be used again on their wedding day, and if it was not the same string, the wedding would not go though, North guessed that was the reason for the blood as pooka have very good noses. They would drink from a sliver cup and promise to be faithful during the period of the celibacy before the wedding, it was also where the "bride" would say the day they were to be married. Others would then try and temped the lovers apart. If they prove faithful the wedding would then continue in fount of family and friends and the promise to be together would be made over a golden cup with the string and Bunnymund would then wear his ring. North rubbed his forehead, he had not expected this. Fire rats had been existent for hundreds of years and were only found in Japan. Maybe a normal red thread would do? No! If he was going to do this, he would not do it by half! He knew of one person who could help him, but she always asked for a price. Yet she was fair and is most likely the only person he could think of to ask. He could not take the sleigh as the reindeer need to rest before the big flight, so he grabbed two snow globes , placing one in his pocket and the other he smashed to the ground and walked though its vortex.

He stood outside a large house surround by a picket fence that seemed very out of place in a large city. This was the home of Yūko Ichihara , the dimensional witch, the one that would grant any wish for a price. At the moment she was sitting on a large chair in a butterfly kimono, her long black hair pinned back with butterfly clips. There was a chair and a table beside her, the table set up for tea, with a plate of cookies. She smiled as North slowly approached, noticing his uneasiness.

"Greetings North, I've been waiting for you"

"Lady Yuko" North bowed deeply knowing this was custom "I apologize for coming uninvited..."

"The fact that you are here is because you are meant to be here North. It means you have a wish..."

North sat down on the empty seat as Yuko poured them tea, nodding his head in thanks he took a sip.

"It's more of a request then a wish. I need a thread made of the fur of the fire rat and I was wondering if you had such as thing in your care. They say you have quite a collection"

"It's true, my back rooms are following with items that may seem like junk to some but are valuable pieces to others" She slide her hand up one of her long sleeves and produced a small purple box with gold trim. She opened the box to show North a long thick deep red cord inside.

"This was given to me by a half dog demon in exchange for an antidote for his friends. It's been here waiting for you, for many years. But before we discuss a price I must ask something."

"Yes?"

"Is your rabbit lover worth it? suppose I was to ask for something truly precious to you in exchange for this, would he be worth it? "

"Yes Yuko, he would be. I love him dearly"

"And if he were to stray? Be tempted by another during your time a part, what then?"

"I believe I can forgive, but it will not be needed for I know he would never hurt me like that"

"And what of you? Say someone came to you and offered you release? Someone who would offer themselves to you because they have feeling for you, what then?"

North was shocked by the question but answered "I would turn them down as best I could. I love Bunnymund Yuko, and it's his happiness I am doing this as well as my own. Now tell me your price"

Yuko smiled as she placed the box in North's hands. "An invitation to the wedding is my price"

"He has to say yes first" smiled North clutching the box tightly. "But agreed, a special invitation for you. Thank you Yuko"

With quick and polite goodbyes North raced back to the pole to get the final preparations done. It was soon Christmas eve and the sleigh already half way around the globe. Yet the yetis were by no means finished for the night, they were putting up tinsel and balloons, large tables and chairs out, and in the kitchen cooking a buffet to be ready for tomorrow evening. Yet Phil was given a special job, he was to fill North's workshop with candles and place everything North needed on the table. North had tried to do it himself but with getting worked up for the evening ahead and his nervous about asking Bunny to marry him, he had dropped the sliver cup several times that it had to have the dents knocked out and re-polished. In the end they had to throw him out early as he was getting on everyone's wit. Phil looked down at the tray, one sliver cup, box of red thread, letter opener, and present. He wasn't sure what the letter opener was for but North had insisted. He would lit the candle tomorrow before the Easter bunny was due to arrive and he sent a small pray to anyone listening that things would got the way his old friend wanted it too. North arrived back tried but to awake to sleep, his nerves were giving him tummy ache. All the gifts had been delivered without a hitch and he had gotten the sleigh back in one piece. He needed to sleep, but he wanted to double check the book that he had everything he needed. He sat down in his study and tried to read the book till the words went blurry and his eyes could not stay open any longer.

He was shook roughly by Phil who was yelling at him. He was still in the study with the book in his lap. "What? What is it? I'm tired, I need more sleep" Phil pointed to a clock that read it was ten o'clock."Its ten so what? Bunny is not going to be here for another two hours...TWO HOURS! I'm not ready! Why didn't you wake me up sooner?"

Phil rattled on about how he couldn't find North anywhere and had already got his bath waiting for him in his room. Phil quickly assured him things would be ready for the party as well as Bunny so he could concentrate on himself. North belly was in knots as he quickly got in the bath and washed himself down. Phil had already gotten his smart shirt and trousers out, so he didn't have to worry about that. Looking in the mirror he combed and trimmed his beard and moustache and pulled several nose hairs. He brushed his teeth three times and cleaned out his ears. He checked his nails and combed his hair and was ready to get dress, if only his hands would stop shaking. Reciting the words in his head repeatedly as he walked to his workshop, North kept wondering what Bunny was going to say. At the worst he'd say no and tell North he'd never wanted to see him again outside of work, which is what North feared he would do. Now all he had to do was wait.

Bunny brushed his fur and checked himself in the mirror, making sure now of his fur was sticking up. He looked over at his basket and checked that all the presents were in there before leaving. He had to admit he was worried about North. For some reason this Christmas had taken a lot more out of the winter spirit as usual and there were the burns and cuts on his hands as well. What kind of toy would cause so much trouble to make? Deciding he couldn't wait any longer, he thumped his foot on the ground and opened a tunnel to the pole. Usually when he arrives at the pole at Christmas, people would be arriving and the music would be playing, but when he got there it was empty and quite. He placed his basket down and pulled out his boomerangs, something was up. He walked further in to the pole and found the yetis setting up for the party and putting out the food. Was he early? Was that why North wasn't about? He saw Phil and ran up to him, looking for answers.

"Phil, why isn't everything ready? and where is North?" Phil told him that North was in his workshop waiting for him and that the party wasn't for another couple of hours. Frowning, Bunny made his way to North's workshop, wondering why the older spirit had not informed him of the change of time for the party. He knocked on the door and waited for North to invite him in when he entered and gasped. Candles were lit everywhere, light reflecting off of North's beautiful ice sculptures. North stood in the middle of the room, dressed smartly and looking anxious.

"You like?"

"It's beautiful Mate but what's the occasion?" walking over to North, who swallowed thickly as he took a small wrapped box off the table, and bent to one knee. Bunny's eyes widened as his heart started thumping loudly in his chest as North held out the gift.

"I give you this gift as a token of my love and my desire to be with you always, do you accept?"

He knew the words and knew what they were for, but his heart was beating to loud and hard for his mind to ear. He nodded and took the box and slowly unwrapped it, eyes kept flicking to North trying to make sure he was there and he was not dreaming. He did not hold back the tears as he opened the box to stare down at the most beautiful ring he had ever seen. North stood up, rubbing his hands, looking worried.

"Do you like it?" he asked and Bunny flung himself at him wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug.

"I love it, it's beyond words Mate!" Bunny stepped back and looked at North's face and saw the tears falling from his eyes too, his smile wide and bright. He was shocked when North took the box away from him and turned around holding a red cord and a letter opener.

"I read up on your peoples traditions, and if we're to do this right, we need to place a drop of our blood here on this thread."

"That's made of fire rat? North how did you get that? Wait! You don't have to do this, you're not a pooka"

"But you are. And I know how much your peoples ways are important too you. I want to do this for you"

Bunny's heart was over full and it was gushing from his eyes in tears. He cupped North's face and kissed him as hard as he could, pouring out all his feeling and words that he couldn't express. Once they broke apart he took the letter opening and cut his finger deeply enough for it to bleed and rubbed it on the cord. North took the opener and did the same. He wrapped the cord around Bunny's left paw and then asked Bunny to do it to his left. As Bunny wrapped the cord around his left hand while he poured a bottle of mead in to the sliver cup and held it up, his hand slightly shaking. Bunny watched as panic crossed North's face.

"I've forgotten the words...wait I know them...I do..Ack!"

"With this thread..." Bunny muttered helpfully smiling at how flustered North was . North nodded his thanks and held the cup steadier.

"With this thread, I bind our destinies together. With this cup I promise you that I will be faithful for our time apart and stand with you on the day of your choosing, to be your partner in life, to be your Mate" said North as he drank from the cup and handed it to Bunny.

Bunnymund pushed down the lump in his throat to speak. " I accept your thread and your cup, and promise to be faithful until the chosen day and I will stand with you as your life partner and Mate"

Bunny drank and put the cup down and took North's other hand in his paw, holding it close to his heart. North leant and kissed Bunny's fore head and cheek, tasting Bunny's salty tears.

"Have you thought of a day Bunnymund? what every day you chose"

Bunnymund thought for a moment and nodded, he had thought about it since November, it was the only time he could think that everyone would be able to come and not have to worry about any holidays or work.

"New years eve. I want to get married on New year's eve!"

North frowned "Is that a bit too soon? We will not have a lot of time to prepare"

"North, after New year everyone will be busy getting ready for the year ahead and I'll be really busy with my eggs. Plus I don't think I could handle being celibate during my heat cycle"

North laughed as he picked Bunny up and spun him around "Then New year's eve it is!"

To Be continued...

Next chapter: To the moon and back again (North/Bunny) (North/?)

Did you know there was a rabbit that lived on the moon? and he's had his eyes on North for a long time, too bad he didn't know about Bunnymund.

You want the next chapter, you have to review.