The small child lay in bed, her skin the fresh fallen snow outside. The only splash of color to her was the small bundle curled up by her shoulder. The rabbit sniffed at her sadly, green eyes wide and fearful as he watched her.

George sat on the edge of the bed, gently moving her bangs that clung to her forehead. His eyes were puffy and red and refused to shed anymore tears.

Lucy had barely made the week. Only about four days. Time for her was running out. He leaned up and kissed her forehead, the heat now scorching. "Just rest now Lucy, daddy will be back soon."

The child nodded weakly, eyes never reopening. George's bottom lip quivered as he gently scooped up Bunnymund, holding the rabbit close as he left his daughter's room. He carried Lucy's pet to the door, grabbing his coat and slipping it on, making sure to cover him.

Bunnymund watched in curiosity, squeaking and trying to burrow deeper into the coat when icy wind suddenly hit his tail. Where was the master going? Didn't he realize the mistress was sick and needed help?

Bail hurried through the blistering wind, shivering violently. He had to hold Bunnymund tighter because the rabbit was squirming too much. "Just sit tight boy. Everything.." A lump formed in his throat, drying out his tongue and making fresh tears burn his eyes. "Everything will be fine.."

The old lanterns flickered with candle light, casting shadows that danced across the old wood shack. The window shutters hung on rusty old nails and the paint was chipped and peeling. The roof sagged and dipped after many rainy seasons beating against it. But even with the sad condition of the house, it's only resident was known for his chipper attitude.

He pushed open the heavy oak door and stepped inside, feeling more and more guilty with each moment.

"George! For a minute I thought the storm had got you." Came the young man's excited response at hearing him come in. George sighed, slipping off his coat and turning to the man. His thick red hair was still ruffled from earlier in the day and his blue eyes smiled into George's chocolate ones. Then they fell upon the rabbit in his arms. And his smile disappeared.

"Georgie..you can't be serious.."

Bail's head dropped and he sighed. "I know, call me a horrible father, I don't care. Louis, she's only got a short amount of time left, and when she goes.." He had to swallow several times, his tongue suddenly feeling like sandpaper. "When she goes I don't want anything that would make it hard...keeping Bunnymund around would hurt too much." He handed the confused rabbit over.

Lou carefully looked him over, weighing him thoroughly. "Well, he's a good sized rabbit for his age. You said in your letter he was three right?" His hand ran gently through Bunnymund's fur, pursing his lips. "I suppose..his pelt will make a bit more than his meat. George are you really sure-"

"I already said yes Louis!" The younger man reeled back in shock at Bail's harsh words, blinking before slowly relaxing. "Alright. I can get it done tonight and send you the money in the morning."

Neither of them noticed the small, hunched over figure coming to the front of the shop or when the door was pushed open. With a blanket pulled tightly around her body, the sickly child looked to the two men. "Daddy?" She croaked.

Both froze, looking back and gaping in horror at the girl. "Lucy," George gasped, knees nearly buckling from under him as he grabbed the counter for support. "Lucy, darling what are you doing? You should be at home! In bed!"

Lucy shivered lightly, her pale face almost transparent. She looked over tiredly to Louis and tilted her head. "Mr. Butcher, why are you holding my Bunny?"

Louis stuttered over his words, utterly star struck by her sudden appearance. "Lucy, look I can expl-HEY! HEY!" He struggled to keep a hold of Bunnymund, the rabbit wiggling out of his arms. He hopped off the counter top and bounded over to Lucy.

Oh he was so happy the Mistress was feeling better! Now she could take him back home and away from the man who smelled like blood and death. He jumped up on her legs happily, ears straight up. Lucy smiled weakly and giggled, that giggle turning into violent coughing that sent her to her knees.

Bunnymund stopped, ears drooping in fear. The mistress wasn't better? He sniffed at her, gently nudging under her arm and trying to help her up. George ran to her side, gently scooping her up in his arms, her head falling on his chest. "Don't worry Lucy, I'll get you home." Fresh tears welled up in his eyes. How could he have done something so foolish? Taking away his daughter's precious Bunny to the butcher!

Bunnymund hopped into Lucy's lap, bundling up under her blanket as George ran out the door with Louis in tow. At the moment, he could care less about the cold, all his attention was focused on Lucy and making sure she was okay.

Snowflakes burned like needles as he ran through the blizzard, tightening his grip on Lucy.

George burst through the door of his home, Louis stumbling in behind, and rushed Lucy to her room. He quickly tucked her back into bed as Louis telegraphed for the doctor. He clutched his daughter's hand tightly, tears rolling down his cheeks. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Lucy. I don't know what I was thinking when I took Bunnymund." He sobbed quietly, shame being all he felt.

Lucy looked over to her father, reaching up and wiping away the tears. "Don't..cry daddy. It's okay.." She said weakly, mustering up a smile. Her other arm was curled around Bunnymund, eyelids heavy and trying to close.

George leaned up and kissed her forehead. "Just sleep Lucy, just go to sleep." He stood up when Lucy's breathing deepened, grabbing a spare blanket and pillow and handing them to Louis. "Here, you can stay the night. It's too bad out there for you to walk home alone."

Louis nodded, taking the blanket offered. "The doc said no one can come around till morning. George, I'm so sorry."

He shook his head. "No. It was my fault. I was an idiot to bring Bunnymund to you, I just..I didn't think Lucy would actually go looking for him. Especially now." Bail ran a hand through his hair, wiping at his eyes afterwards. "Goodnight Lou."

"Night Georgie.." He said softly, watching him go. It was sad really. Lucy was such a sweet child, even his own little sister was her friend. He shook his head and laid down on the couch, silently praying for either Lucy's suffering to end, or for a miracle.

Midnight had crept in without a sound and looked over the small town. The moon was now high and glowing against the inky blackness that was the night sky. Bunnymund breathed out through his little pink nose, unable to sleep. How was he when his best friend was ill? He hopped down to the floor, stretching out how back legs and yawning. His ears twitched and he stood at alert. He glanced around, eyes landing on the cracked window.

He titled his head as he looked up to the moon. Had it just spoken? He kept staring at the bright marble, waiting for it to say something again. A creak made him whip around, finding the mouse that burrowed within the walls scurrying around the floor. It squeaked at him softly before disappearing back through it's hole. His ears fell once more.

He scrambled back when a shadow suddenly fell over him, turning back to the window. He watched as a short figure floated in the window pane, hair sticking out in all directions. Bunnymund shrank back into the shadows as the figure somehow opened the window more, never even touching it. The mysterious man touched the ground and moved closer to Lucy's bed.

He frowned sadly at the condition of the child, golden-brown eyes searching her face. His summoned up a small ball of gold , holding it above her head. A small thump against the floor had him turning his head.

His eyes fell upon the small rabbit, smiling gently and kneeling down. He snapped his fingers without sound, calling the hare over. Bunnymund hopped over, sniffing curiously at the man's hand before nuzzling his hand against it. As the strange gold man scratched under his chin, he noticed his hand felt like the sand banks of the pond Lucy had taken him to over in the Spring.

The sound of her shifting in bed brought his thoughts back and he looked at her. His big emerald eyes gazed up at the man sorrowfully. Can you help her?

The small man looked over to Lucy, standing up. He placed a hand gently over her forehead, eyes widening when he felt the scorching heat. His face scrunched up in thought, tapping his foot lightly before his eyes brightened.

He scooped Bunny up and flew out the window. Bunnymund squeaked, trying to bury himself into the man's sand like robes as they rose higher. How was this happening? People could not fly! The air ruffled his fur as they soared, taking a chance and peeking. His little rabbit eyes widened, seeing the houses beneath them along with the wide expanse of forest. They drifted with the clouds, and he finally saw that the strange man was heading towards the middle of the dense grouping of trees.

The leaves slowly grew higher around them, branches reaching out and trying to grab them. The man remained levitated but he left the hare down into the snow before looking around. He seemed to be searching for something, turning in all directions and looking up into the trees before settling on one way. He pointed there and nodded down to Bunnymund, smiling. This way.

They began in that direction, Bunnymund hopping after him. He still wasn't sure where the man was leading him, but something was telling him he knew how to make the mistress better again.

As they traveled deeper, Bunnymund's nose picked up on a strange scent that drifted from the way they were going. It was mint like with something else mixed with it. It mingled with the smell of pine trees and made him want to curl up and fall sleep, that along with whatever gold dust was coming off the man.

The smell was getting stronger the closer they got to... Where ever it was they were going. The trees branched fingers slowly began to part and they came into a clearing, the moon's light shining down on a flower growing up. The minty smell was stronger than ever, and the man seemed even more excited now. He floated over and gently plucked the flower out of the ground before going back to Bunnymund. Pictures began to appear above his head, the first one being what had to be a bedridden Lucy. Bunnymund tilted his head, watching as the flower appeared and then a happy, dancing Lucy. Now he understood. This flower was the cure to whatever was making her sick!

His little puff of a tail shook as hopped around in excitement. Whoever this man was, he was so glad he had come. He settled into the man's arms when he picked him up, not flinching away when he took the the skies. He looked down again, taking in the sight of all the little houses. For some reason, no one seemed to have seen them. Oh well.

He grew confused when the man did not land in front of the Master's house and instead in front of a large, square cottage. He handed Bunnymund the flower before giving a few knocks on the door. He smiled at Bunnymund, giving him a light pat on the head before flying away briskly just as the door opened.

"Bunnymund?" The woman said, raising an eyebrow. Doctor Madison gently picked the Hare up, taking the flower out of his mouth and smiling gently. "Aww. Did you pick this for me?" She pulled him inside, closing the door behind her and setting him down.

"I'll have to tell George in the morning that you somehow got out, little trouble maker." She said to him. She looked back to the flower, it's petals a glowing silver that seemed to shift whichever way she turned it. She deeply inhaled, sighing lightly at the mint scent that came from it. "This is quite the flower, Bunny."

She set him down on the table next to a wrinkled sheet of paper. He couldn't read any of the chicken scratch scrawled across it, but he did recognize the sketching of his Lucy. He gently pawed at the picture, catching the nurse's attention. "You miss Lucy, boy?" She asked.

Bunnymund continued to paw at the sketching, looking up and straight at the flower. Doctor Madison looked at him, to the flower, and then to the picture. Her eyes widened and she gasped softly, something finally clicking in her brain. "Could it be?.."

Jack struggled inside the burlap sack, trying to either claw his way through or to land a solid hit on one of the yetis that had technically kidnapped him. He yelped when he was suddenly thrown onto solid ground, continuing to struggle until he found the draw string and pulled open the top.

"Ah ha! There he is!" He heard the joyous laughter of the Russian as he poked his head through, cerulean crystal eyes widening. "Woah.." North pulled him out of the sack a little more roughly than he probably meant to. "I hope the Yetis treated you well, no?"

"Oh yeah I love being shoved into a sack and thrown through a magic portal." Jack said sarcastically.

"Great! That was my idea." He had to repress the act of rolling his eyes at North as he looked around. For years and years he had tried to break into the North Pole without success, and now that he was here he wanted to see everything.

"Would you stop touching things!" North frowned up at him as he made a toy plane sway on it's strings. Jack grinned down and shrugged, floating lower to the Russian. "Come on! I've been dying to break in here!"

North looked at the winter spirit with wide eyes.

"Don't worry, I never get past the yetis. Hey Phil.." Jack waved to a rather large snow yeti who in turn smack his fist against his hand before pointing. The white haired teen rolled his eyes more. "Yeah yeah.." Jack followed after North, past the Globe Room, but he stopped when he heard the voices of the Other Guardians.

"There's now way that's her. It can't be! There ain't now way!"

"Bunny, who else can it be? She's holding a rabbit in her arms! Sandy, tell him."

Jack peered in, raising an eyebrow at the other Guardians as they argued over whatever. He opened the door more and stepped in. "Hey, what'd I miss?" The three turned to look and Toothiana gasped, smiling in glee and flying over to him. "Oh! Lemme see! Lemme see!" She forcefully opened his mouth to look at his teeth, eyes sparkling as she squealed. "They really so sparkle like freshly fallen snow!"

"Tooth, leave him alone." North sighed, walking in with a large book under his arm. The multicolored fairy giggled nervously and let him go. "Sorry, they're beautiful."

The pale skinned boy rubbed his jaw, easing the slight ache. "It's alright..anyway, what are you all getting on about?" He asked while folding his arms.

Toothiana flew back up to the crystal and indicated to it. "Jack, right after the Man in the Moon picked you, she showed up an-"

"Don't say it like that, Tooth! Even if it is her-which it's not-don't make it sound like she's something awful." Bunnymund grumbled, glancing between the fairy and the girl's image still hovering over. The fairy floated back down.

"But Bunny, deep down I know you want to believe it's her. You want to hope!"

The Australian rabbit shook his head, hopping back and almost glaring at her. "It can't be her though, Tooth! It can't be my Lucy. Luce..Luce died a long-long time ago.." Jack was becoming even more confused. "Who's Lucy?"

"Lucy Bail. That's a name I haven't heard in a very long time." They all turned back to North as he strolled in, a large dusty book under his arm. His normally bright eyes were now sad as he looked up to the projection. "I can see the resemblance. I'd recognize that smile anywhere."

"It ain't her! It ain't my Lucy!" Bunnymund's ears twitched in agitation, standing to his full height and huffing in anger. "Lucy is gone." He saw the toymaker nod, fixing the book in his grip. "True. She is gone. Disappeared."

An amused smile almost crossed his face from his fellow guardian's confused looks. "Disappeared?" Again, North nodded. "Yes. I remember the day well."

A wave of dust flew up in his face as he open the book on the podium, coughing and hacking as he waved the particles from his face. He cleared his throat and waved Bunnymund over. "After you were chosen Bunny, Lucy went into a sort of state of depression. On her fifteenth birthday, if my memory is correct, she went out into the forest to where she and her father had put you. The old oak tree remember? Yes of coarse, anyway, as the night wore on it got colder. Lucy never saw the drunken idiot on the horse before it was too late."

"So she is dead.." Bunnymund said softly, ears drooping. The thought of his Lucy being run over made his heart heavy. He nearly jumped when North slammed the book closed and looked at him in a way. "That is thing though! Lucy did not die that night! Man in Moon saved Lucy, and kept her in a sort of stasis. No on had seen her since." A bright grin stretched across his rosy face. "Except now! After 246 years, Manny is giving her back to you! All you have to do is accept."

The rabbit looked at him and then back at who they thought was Lucy, hopping closer. Now he saw it. He saw the same features he remembered Lucy with, same curly hair. Her eyes were just as big too.

Maybe..

Maybe this was his Lucy.

All you have to do is accept. He glanced to his feet in thought, brows furrowing. He clenched his fists before nodding up to the Moon. "Yes. Alright yes, I accept!"

The next moments happened in a blur.

The crystal began to glow, the light soon becoming so brilliant they had to look away for a moment. When it dimmed, the image was now gone, but instead a beam of white light protruded from the crystal tip. It slowly angled down onto the tiles, and something began to appear within the light. First it was a blurry outline of glowing white, slowly darkening with different hues if colors.

It was as if she was being printed on the tiled ground, greens and blues and browns slowly coming together until she was there. All was silent as the light died away and the crystal retracted into the ground. They stared at the child that now lay on the ground.

Bunnymund hopped to her side, reaching out to grab her but pulling back. Like he was scared. As if when he touched her she would shatter into millions of pieces. She was older, taller and dressed differently.

But it was still her.

She was still alive.

She was still...

"Lucy..."