NOTE! = Will be posting a smut chapter under M rating of the encounter in the bedroom. Look for First Snow: First Night.
Ch 4
Jack twirled his fingers in Aster's fur, freezing individual strands as Aster merely rubbed his side, the two curled up in bed, basking in the afterglow.
"So, you're going to come get me next time you have a heat issue?" said Jack, smiling smugly at Aster.
"I get it, you're right, I was wrong." He huffed, glaring at the smirking silverette. "Can we just get back to cuddling QUIETLY?"
"Maaaaaybe." Said Jack, looking up at Aster. "Or maybe we could have a nice, long shower, together, then go check on Joy and continue this in the Warren?"
"You're having a bad influence on me." Snickered Aster.
"How so?" asked Jack.
"Because that sounds like the best plan I've heard in ages." Suddenly the door slammed in with a deafening crash, North thundering in.
"Where Joy?!" both parents froze.
"What do you mean where's Joy?!" demanded Aster, making sure Jack was completely covered as he rose to confront North. "I left her with Tooth, Sandy and Mother Nature!"
"They left her with Yeti guards." Said North. "All say nobody in, nobody out, and she not in her crib."
ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG
Tooth had never seen Jack freak out like he was now, hyperventilating with Mrs. Clause hugging him tightly, Aster out searching the fortress for the baby Pooka. Jack had barely stopped crying, and was now scared beyond anything Pitch could inspire. Mother Nature looked out the window, eyes filled with guilt. Finally Aster and north returned, face pale and ears down.
"She's nowhere in Santoff Claussen." Said Aster. "We checked everywhere out too. She's not anywhere." Aster sat with Jack, gathering his distraught mate in his arms and holding him tightly to his chest.
"We have to assume the worst then." Said North. "Someone took her, or-" Aster shot him a look, Jack paling even more than his natural white, fresh tears leaking from his eyes.
"She's immortal." Said Mother Nature. "She won't die unless someone truly TRIES, and tries hard. She'll be fine." Sandy sighed, Not liking to see Jack so sad. Suddenly Jack stiffened.
"North...lift your boot." Puzzled, North complied, revealing a very damp carpet.
"Water?" wondered Mrs. Clause. "Jack didn't freeze anything. How could there be-Oh sweet Man in the Moon..."
"He took my baby." Whispered Jack, cold wind beginning to circulate in the room, tears turning to ice on his skin. Mother nature bristled, dark flowers blooming all over her.
"Winter has gone too far." She hissed. "Just like the Titanic!" Aster's ears were flat against his skull, whiskers twitching with worry.
"He's too cold." He said. "Joy can't take extreme cold."
"We'll get her back." Said Tooth. "Old Man Winter can't take all of us at once."
"No." Said Jack. "He can freeze you to death. I'll get her."
"Not on your life." Said Aster flatly. "You stay put, we'll go rescue her, even if we have to break all the ice in the arctic."
"Aster, I'm going." Said Jack. "Our powers are similar. I stand the best chance of getting close."
"And I'm telling you no way am I letting you go." Said Aster, eyes narrowing.
"Jack is right Bunny." Said North. "He best suited against Winter. Might be only chance. He knows where Winter lives too."
"We can find him without putting Jack in danger." Said Aster stubbornly.
"But maybe not in time for Joy." Said Tooth. "I know you don't want Jack hurt, but-"
"Joy comes first." Said Aster. "Fine, but you are not taking any unnecessary risks."
"Deal." Said Jack, grabbing his staff. "When do we leave?"
"Immediately." Said Mrs. Clause, pulling on her bright red parka, cracking her knuckles. "I've wanted to rip that self-righteous jerk a new one for YEARS."
"You can have what's left." Growled Aster, hopping to his feet and cracking his knuckles. "Snowflake and I get first bite."
ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG
"Cut your infernal yapping!" Joy continued to scream, wondering why her Mother and Father weren't coming. Old Man Winter felt like his head was going to blow, the little kit carrying on like he was ripping off her little limbs. He knew Jack would figure it out, and he knew he would come for her. There was still time to bind the kit to winter, but the Easter Bunny...He would not allow the first immortal child born since Baby New Year to be exposed to the foul season of spring.
"I said SHUT UP!" His voice rattled the icicles in the ceiling, Joy whimpering in fear. She sniffled, still waiting for her Mother and Father to pick her up, take her to bed with them and snuggle.
"Mama..." she sniffed, the rattling dying down. "Daddy..."
Old Man Winter groaned as fresh screams burst forth, Joy screaming loudly while his ice minions stood guard.