SORRY IT TOOK A WEEK! I didn't mean for it to pan out that way but I had trouble in knowing how to write. I knew I had to get from one point to another but I couldn't figure out how I wanted to get there. It's done now though.

In any case, so many views! You guys! I want to lick you all!

Trying to write the sad parts in this with the Tangled soundtrack playing is really hard and is giving me RotG/Tangled crossover thoughts. Although I like me a homosexual Jack I can't deny Jack/Rapunzel is an adorably good match. Then again, Jack/Flynn? Hmm… Well, either way it would probably only work if Jack could sing and Chris Pine certainly can (YouTube it) sooooo let that one marinate in your noggin for a little while. I'll be imagining Jack dancing in hotpants to It's Raining Men. I gotta gay him up again. Crossing him with Flynn Ryder in my head helps.

Hi ho, jackrabbit!

Play For Me, Jack

Chapter 19

Jack didn't really think as he was taken home after Bunny had told him the terrible news of his leaving. He didn't really know how to take it. He had no idea what was going to happen now and didn't know whether to cry or scream or behave rationally or whether to behave any way at all. How are you supposed to act when the person you love tells you they have to leave you?

Well, Bunny wasn't leaving out of choice – at least, that's what he thought had been said. It was simply a case of his contracted time in Pittsburgh coming to it's end and he couldn't extend his visa. A very simple matter indeed. Sure, it might seem complicated now, but really it was all down to a couple of very plain, simple points, wasn't it? Why then was he so upset if it was all to clear to see? Things as simple as this were never things to get worked up over. They were easily explained for a reason and were simple to resolve. It shouldn't matter how painful it was, he should have been able to deal with it and find a solution.

Simple.

"What a stupid fucking word!" Jack thought as he clung to Bunny's jacket whilst the pair of them climbed the stairs to his apartment. He was distraught and the only reason he wasn't letting it all out was because he was still so dazed from being so abruptly blindsided in the park. He just didn't have the capacity at that time to produce the thoughts necessary for an outburst and the way he felt seemed to suggest that he wasn't going to gain it any time soon.

As they approached the top he couldn't help but let the memories of all the times they'd been right there on those stairs after coming back from doing something fun together during the last year. From things as big as heading off to Disney World on a whim to as little as heading down to the basement to do laundry, so many of those trips had ended with the pair of them climbing those stairs. It was a great equalizer to everything they had done in the time they had been together which now, with the threat of termination looming, seemed so short. He didn't feel as if they were done yet so why was life making it turn out that way?

When they got to his couch, Bunny sat him down, pulled him close and together they sat in silence just trying to let the reality of the situation sink in. As with many times in his life when things were overwhelming, time became fluid for Jack and when Bunny finally moved to get up to go to the bathroom he didn't know if minutes or hours had passed. When he was left alone, he found he felt extremely small and didn't understand the reason why after having spent nearly three years in this same apartment where he now felt so lost.

Scratch that. It would be stupid to wonder why and he had no time to pretend as if he didn't understand the exact reason he was sad. It kept replaying itself over and over in his head in big, booming tones that seemed as if they were hammering at his brain. Once again, as the words 'Bunny is leaving' slammed into him he felt himself tipping over from where he sat and landed on his side to stare blankly out into space. Try as he might, he just couldn't move after he curled up feebly on his couch and didn't even notice Bunny turn on the light after he came back from the bathroom.

"Jack?...Honey?" he said gently as he approached the coach and stopped behind it to look down at his crushed boyfriend. He felt so miserable for having to drop this bombshell on him and he hated himself for not having already thought of a solution. He desperately wanted to stay, he needed to but there was simply no way. He'd done his research, he'd made calls and sent emails and exhausted every avenue to try and find a way to at least stay in the country but it was no use. If he was not employed with this orchestra then he had to go back to Australia and there was no way around that. He would have to go back to Melbourne and leave Jack, his brilliant, beautiful Jack, behind.

He didn't let on that it cut him just as deep as the tangled mess of white-haired boy in the couch. He couldn't figure out how. More to the point, all of the emotion, turmoil and strife that had been building up since he'd first found out just seemed to clog his mind when he tried to show it and if no kind of thought was flowing then there was no way he could begin to express his pain to Jack. It was a complete mess and he desperately wished he knew of a way to make it easier. How could it possibly be easy though if he was torn from the one he loved?

The night brought no clarity with it. Jack didn't eat a thing despite Bunny cooking for him and he barely spoke right up until he was led to bed. Finding a warm space in Bunny's arms, he tried to forget the world around him and pretend as if everything was okay but it was no use. Every time he managed to cross into that place where he was simply existing with Bunny in one place with nothing else to care about in the world, it was quickly snatched away when the crushing, black reminder that before long they would be ripped apart reared its ugly head and threw him back into a chasm where nothing but emptiness and despair were waiting for him.

As the cycle continued, the pain became stronger and when Jack finally couldn't bear to remain in Bunny's embrace he gently pushed himself away and pulled a pillow into his arms just so he could feel some kind of closeness. It didn't matter that the feeling was false, it simply helped to be holding something. That didn't stop the tears though which did eventually begin to seep from his eyes. Not wanting to wake Bunny, Jack delicately squeaked into the pillow as he muffled the agony that pleaded to escape through his mouth and after only a little while he fortunately managed to mute himself entirely. The shuddering that emanated uncontrollably from within proved untameable but time proved that it didn't disturb his lover. That was probably a good thing. He didn't want to make Bunny feel worse, even though he was mad at him in a way for unleashing this terror. He knew it wasn't his fault but he just wanted someone to blame for the terrible feeling he had within and in his mind it was better he let it subside without him knowing so he could preserve his rational thought and conversation to talk about it in the morning.

He wasn't stupid and he knew it wasn't healthy. He just didn't care any more though. He figured he could deal with this any way he wanted and to hell with anyone who said otherwise.

The next morning, Bunny found him in his crumpled, separated state and felt just as much remorse for telling him as he had the previous day. Deciding to let him sleep, he quickly got ready for the Monday morning commute, wrote Jack a note and slipped out as quietly as he could.

When he awoke, Jack still felt pretty tired from his restless night and took a long time to pull his thoughts together. With a sigh, he finally decided to look at the clock and see how little time he had left himself to get ready and saw Bunny's note resting against his clock. Lazily reaching for it, he brought it to his face and did his best to focus. It read:

'Don't worry about coming in if you don't want to. I'll sort it out. We'll talk later. I love you. I'm sorry'

Closing his eyes, he felt his face begin to screw up as tears threatened to flow once again and trying his best not to mope, he dropped the paper in his hand and pushed himself up. At least he had the day to figure out how he was going to come to terms with the mess he was faced with. Despite his poor track record, he was convinced he should be able to deal with such a seemingly unsolvable dilemma and knew he had to think of a solution if he was going to keep his Bunny.

Why was it his responsibility though? Shouldn't it have been Bunny to find a way to stay with him? If he did love him then why hadn't he found a way?

Maybe that was unfair though. After all, he said he knew about this for weeks now. Maybe he had been trying and hadn't given up just yet. It was right he told him, wasn't it? After all, it's better he know now rather than later. Surely.

Then again, why didn't he just break up with him? If he knew he was going to be leaving then why was he stringing it out? Just to get some last minute sex before he shoved off? What a dick!

Now that really was unfair. He couldn't say Bunny hadn't treated him well. If he was fooling him then he really was a master because Jack didn't know anyone who could forge a lie that convincing. Bunny clearly loved him back and so this really must have been hard for him too. Maybe he was just being strong for the both of them as always and wasn't going to show how badly he hurt. That sounded closer to the truth, right? It had to be. They loved each other dearly and no matter who you are, love that strong has to sting when it's broken.

What if he'd planned it all along though?

No. That was ridiculous.

Maybe that's how it started.

No. Of course not.

But what if…?

How about…?

But then…?

Maybe…?

"Oh, God!" Jack eventually groaned as he sat down in his bathtub with the shower running onto him as he struggled with the flurry of tortured thoughts in his head. There was just so much to think about and so much to consider. How was he possibly going to come to any kind of clarity when he couldn't help but get worked up about losing the man he had fallen so desperately in love with? He really needed Bunny in his life and he couldn't bear the thought of losing him. It just seemed like an impossibility that in a few months…no, weeks, he would be gone and he had no idea if they would be able to work it out. Could they manage a long distance relationship? Was it stupid to even consider that? The US and Australia are a long way from one another and there was probably no chance of them being able to see each other more than…say, two or three times a year - if that. How could that possibly be enough? He couldn't survive not seeing Bunny for that long and he was pretty sure the feeling was mutual. How then were they going to make this work?

As the water continued to run down his pale skin and into the drain, it slowly began to dawn on Jack that they really were going to have to break up. It seemed like the obvious end to their little fairytale if Bunny was indeed leaving; he just hadn't made the connection. More to the point, he hadn't wanted to admit it but now, as his jaw began to quiver with the realization, he began to see that the end for them was now very clearly in sight.

There was no holding back anymore. Straight away Jack burst into tears as he sat in the shower and continued to just sit and cry until the water ran cold. His life with Bunny was nearly over and there was nothing he could do. They were in their final chapter and no amount of wishing or pleading or arguing with fate was going to change it. All they had was about eight weeks and then they may never see each other again. Eight measly weeks. That was no time at all.

Later that day…

By roughly eleven, Jack's phone finally began to buzz. Looking at the screen as he lay folded up on the couch, he found it strange that it had taken Tooth this long to call. Still, maybe she had only just heard and he was glad he now had someone to talk to. Pressing the green button, he dragged the phone to his ear and grumbled.

"Hello?"

"Jack?! Oh, Jack! I'm so sorry!"

"So I guess he told you?"

"Yes. I just can't believe it?"

"I know. I can't either"

"Did he tell you this morning?"

"No. Yesterday. Sorry I didn't call, I was pretty beat up"

"Did he stay with you?"

"Yeah. It felt weird though"

"Why?"

"I don't know. I guess because he's…because he has to…well, I don't wanna say it…"

"Oh, baby. I'm so, so sorry"

"It's okay. We've just gotta work it out"

"You think you can?"

"I don't know-…I just-" Jack paused as he felt himself getting upset again and he really didn't want to cry down the phone. With a sniff to let her know he was on the edge, he simply told her he'd call later after he'd spoken to Bunny and would let her know what they decided – if indeed they could come to a decision.

A couple of hours later, the doorbell rang and Jack lazily pushed himself up off of the couch as he went to answer it wondering who could be buzzing in the middle of the day on a Monday. Feeling strangely exposed as he wandered limply towards the callbox, he gently pressed the button and asked who was there.

"Jacky, it's me"

He closed his eyes as heard Bunny's voice on the other end and debated with himself whether or not to open the door. He didn't know why he shouldn't, he just didn't think he wanted to for some reason and after a long moment of indecision Bunny spoke again.

"Come on, Jack, open up. I took the afternoon off so we could talk about this. I don't wanna leave you alone to deal with it by yourself"

With a crackly gulp, Jack took a slow breath before replying. "I just don't know if I can deal with this right now"

"Then let's at least not deal with it together"

Jack was silent again and the winced as he heard Bunny's quiet but definitive words, "I love you"

Feeling any reply catch in his throat, he simply unlocked the door for him and then went to open the door to his apartment before wandering back to the couch and sitting down. It only took a second for Bunny to get up the stairs and come in. Seeing Jack hunched over in his blue plaid pyjama pants with a white t-shirt and waiting anxiously was not a sight that filled him with any kind of reassurance. Stepping up behind him, he placed his arms around his chest and pulled him close before nuzzling into his hair and kissing his head. He kept his face pressed against him and remained silent for a moment as he listened for Jack's gentle breathing and then closed his eyes as he felt the boy's hand land on his arm.

"Jack, sweetheart, I really have tried. I'm still trying. Everything I try just leads into a brick wall though"

Jack wanted to reassuringly say they would work it out but he just couldn't manage it. Instead he tightened his grip on Bunny just a little and simply said, "I love you too"

The pair stayed there for a little while before Bunny pulled away and turned around to walk towards Jack's kitchen.

"I bet you haven't eaten today, have you?" Jack's silence was enough to give him his answer and walking over to the fridge, he sneered at the sparse shelves he found inside. "In the whole time we've been together how have you managed to spend any time on your own and not starve?"

Hoping for banter, he was disappointed when Jack didn't respond and simply settled for pulling out some eggs he really hoped were still fresh. Quickly whipping them into something simple but enjoyable, he brought what he'd made over to Jack on a plate and held it out in front of him before saying "Eat"

Jack took the plate from him and delicately began to pick at the food he'd been prepared and he had to admit it made him feel better – albeit only slightly. Maybe it was the fact that Bunny was taking care if him, as always, or maybe his body was just grateful for food. No wonder he stayed so thin if every time he got a little stressed he stopped eating. It had been a topic of conversation he'd had many times with Bunny in the previous months but he'd always countered with the fact that his calorific intake was monumental when he was feeling good. That was just one of the fun little debates they regularly had and even thinking about that pained him since he knew such instances were to be axed from his life very soon.

When he finished, Bunny took the plate from him and then pulled him close again as they sat back on the coach.

"We don't have to talk about it today, if you don't want"

Jack sighed. "I guess we should do it now rather than later"

"Still, I can see you're pretty upset. You really were last night"

"You heard that?"

"Yeah. Wish I could have helped you"

"Hey. Don't worry about it. I was just feeling sorry for myself"

"No. You're feeling sorry for us and so am I"

"Well, I guess it's appropriate, huh?"

"Yeah"

The two were silent for a moment before Bunny carried on.

"So, I guess I should tell you all the things I've tried so you don't have to ask"

"Okay"

"Well, I went to a meeting a couple of weeks ago when they started talking about getting a new guest conductor for next year. I said I'd be happy to stay on but apparently they wanted to get a new guy which, as you now know, is a new girl. Anyway, I tried to talk to them about staying but it was no use. Afterwards I went to North to see if there was anything to be done and he did really try but he just couldn't find a place for me"

"I bet he did. He's really great" Jack said understandingly.

"Yeah, he is. Anyway, I then started looking around at other orchestras but they're either set for conductors or there are no guest slots available or they just haven't gotten back to me"

"You mean you're still waiting on some?"

"I was for one but I don't think I'm gonna get it"

"Why not?"

"Well, it was a permanent position in Los Angeles but I think they already gave it to some Japanese guy. At least that's what I hear"

"Damn…"

"I know. Still, LA is pretty far from here anyway. Would it even matter?"

"You'd still be in the country"

"Yeah…well, anyway, that's not going to happen…"

"What are you gonna do when you go back to Australia?"

"I've already got a place in Melbourne if I want it"

"Have you already told them you will?"

"Not yet. It's always open to me"

"Your old orchestra?"

"Yeah. But this time I'd be chief conductor"

"Chief conductor? Really?" Jack said astonished.

"Yeah"

"But…but that's amazing" Jack said a little breathily. This was really a great opportunity for Bunny and it was made all the more amazing by the fact that he was only twenty-nine. He didn't think he'd ever heard of such a young conductor being put in charge and to think of what doors this could open up for him was staggering.

"Well, I don't know. Part of me thinks it would be a good idea to go but then a huge part is telling me it's away from you"

Jack felt a lump appear in his throat. "You really think you can pass on something like that?"

"Easily for you. And kind of because it would be a step backwards…in a way"

"But just think. In a year or two you could be getting calls from some of the biggest orchestras in the world."

"I guess"

"And taking it is probably the only way you might get calls like that before you're thirty-five or forty"

"Yeah"

Again, silence hung in the air around them as they wordlessly agreed that such a huge opportunity would be stupid to pass on. How though could Jack let reason tear him apart from Bunny? It really didn't sound like a fair compromise to him and why the hell couldn't he be selfish in a case like this?

"Could you really not do it?" he asked tentatively as he turned to face his lover.

"As I said, for you I could" Bunny replied warmly but with a distinct look of regret behind his eyes. Seeing it, Jack felt like a complete jerk for even suggesting Bunny shouldn't take them up on their offer and even though it hurt him to know that he would leave, he found he even felt excited for him that he could be going to something so amazing. Could he really ask Bunny not to take this step that could practically ensure his future was golden?

The selfish feeling in his gut wasn't going to let him resolve this now. It was just too strong and merciless to weaken its grip on him at that time. As he tried to think of a reply though, Jack found he couldn't slip back into trying to discourage him from leaving. It was the last thing he wanted in the world but upon hearing of the door now open to Bunny he couldn't not leave the possibility open to him despite knowing what the consequence was. With a heavy sigh, he laid his head against him again.

"Maybe for now we should just enjoy the time we have together. After all, it could be nearly over"

"Don't say that, Jack" Bunny half moaned. "It can't be over yet"

"But we have to face facts. At least until we know there's nothing that can be done, let's make the most of what we've got. Even though I hate to think you might have to go I hate even more that we might wreck our last few weeks together by moping"

Bunny sighed but smiled, "I don't know if I can be happy knowing I have to leave you behind"

"You don't have to be. But let's wait until we know that's what's going to happen"

"Okay" he said solemnly before moving his hands up to Jack's shoulders and looking him deep in the eyes. Holding his gaze for a long moment, he simply said in a low, soothing voice, "I really love you, Jacky"

"I really love you too, Bun Bun" Jack replied timorously before closing his eyes and receiving Bunny's lips against his. Being able to escape his trouble inside that kiss, even just for a moment, was a breath of fresh air and the most comforting thing he could imagine. The way the gentle caress of his lips calmed him and made him feel so at home was more than he had ever thought he might deserve and as they lingered against one another, he never wanted it to end.

The week went by slowly once Jack returned to work the next day and despite his initial attempts at pretending nothing had happened he quickly found there was no way of ignoring the issue at hand. Trying to think of things to do with Bunny proved strangely difficult and the time that they did manage to spend together was spent pretty quietly with an air of tension surrounding them. It was quite appropriate really, but no amount of appropriateness could make up for how scary the situation really was. Every morning when he woke up Jack was reminded by the smallest of things that Bunny might soon be gone from his life. Be it seeing the drawer he had cleared out for him in his dresser or the pictures he'd stuck to the mirror by the front door from their various jaunts, there was no escaping the looming threat of being single again and by the time the weekend came around he felt completely emotionally drained.

On Saturday afternoon, Jack found himself trailing behind Tooth at the mall as they went from store to store and he was so tired from the week and his usual trip to Burgess that morning that he just wanted to go home and go to bed. Tooth's idea of taking him out to try and distract him was fast proving useless and she felt so annoyed with herself that she couldn't figure out how to perk him up. He had been down all week long and she had really felt for him. He'd never really been through something this hard for as long as she'd known him and she hated to see him so cut up. More to the point, she knew exactly how he was feeling on the inside and seeing his quiet introversion in lieu of his usual cocky and fun-loving extroversion seemed to persistently hammer into her the distress he was obviously feeling.

Unfortunately for her, it wasn't just Jack that she felt for anymore. Having also become so close to Bunny she was hit from the other side as well and since his unhappiness was so different to Jack's she found it impossible to maintain her usual chirpiness. Bunny's expression during the week had been the very embodiment of depression and every time she saw his pained, worried eyes the sight cut into her heart like a dagger and made her want to hug him and never let go. He had seemed just so unhappy the whole week and whenever she asked him how he was doing he always managed – through no fault of his own – to make her want to cry. Being so eloquent he was able to express his feelings so perfectly and so simply to her that their impact was all the more concentrated. She could barely handle his well-put answers and she so desperately wished he could give him the answer he so desperately sought for. So, with Jack being so quiet and Bunny being so despondent she figured out pretty soon that there was no hope for her in keeping chipper.

Even now as she tried to be cheery during this supposedly casual excursion with the aim of distracting Jack from his mope she found it hard to smile. Try as she might, he just didn't seem interested and after a while she found she was glad Bunny hadn't been able to come. Just imagining the pair of them wandering along behind her and depressing each other even further was too much. She figured she'd most likely melt into a rainbow-coloured puddle of emotional agony and she found it so alien to be feeling so down by association. All she wanted to do was to cheer him up and she'd never had a problem doing it before. It pained her to see that this time she just couldn't do it though and as she lead Jack over to a bench and sat down, she leaned forward and placed her head in her hands as she tried to come to terms with the reality of the situation.

"Y'alright?" Jack asked after a little while.

"Yeah, I'll be fine"

"Sorry I'm not being much fun"

"It's okay. I guess I should have figured you wouldn't really wanna come out after giving lessons all morning"

"Naw, it's fine. I'm just kinda somewhere else"

"I bet I can guess where"

"Hm…well, I've been there all week. I guess it should be no surprise"

"Still no luck in figuring things out, huh?"

"No, not yet. Bunny's waiting for a call right now but I don't know who it's from"

"Maybe another orchestra?"

"Probably. He's been trying so hard. I hate to see him so worried"

"Well, can you blame him? He's been run ragged looking for anywhere he could go that lets him stay here"

Jack chortled quietly. "Just listening to it makes it sound impossible"

"Something will come up, Jack" Tooth said as reassuringly as possible.

"Will it? I think we might be out of luck this time"

"Don't say that. Don't give up hope"

Jack sighed. "It's hard though. Whenever I'm alone I just can't help but think that it's what life is gonna be like soon and I just can't think of anything else. It's just so scary"

"You wanna talk about it?"

"There's nothing to tell. I can't believe things have come to this and at the same time I feel so stupid for not seeing that it was always going to happen. I just wish I'd taken a second to think"

"Would you have done anything differently though?"

"No. But at least then I could have had more time to figure it out. Whenever I try to think of anything I just can't stop thinking about how little time we have left and then that's all I can think about"

"That sucks"

"Tell me about it. Short of hiding him under my bed I just don't know how he can stay"

Tooth didn't know how to respond. She didn't want to upset him further but at the same time she wanted to try and reassure him somehow. In the end she simply shuffled closer and put her arm around him as he fell against her shoulder. The pair remained silent as the other people in the mall simply walked on by and the blankness of the situation seemed to embody the lack of answers they'd come up with since they had found out what was on the cards.

A little while later, Jack found himself going back into his apartment alone after refusing Tooth's offer to keep him company and once again flopped down on his couch. He felt pretty crappy for saying no to her but he didn't think it was fair to depress her even more than he already had. Hopefully she'd perk up now that he wasn't with her although to think that he was the cause of her unhappiness did not make him feel all that good. Going with the theme of the week though, he didn't care and spun over to bury his face in the cushions as he tried to pick through his predicament one more time.

After a few minutes, his nose became uncomfortable as it was scrunched up against the upholstery and he decided to push himself up again. Traipsing over to the kitchen, he pulled open the fridge in search of something to eat as he remembered the constant reminders to do so from Bunny he'd been receiving all week. Not finding much inspiration as per usual, he dragged out some strawberries before wandering back to the couch and proceeding to pig out on them. At least they were healthy and reminded him of the summer when none of this had even been on the horizon. He'd had such a great time with Bunny as they wiled away the days together and it made him smile just a little to remember how great it was to be in the sun and in love. He'd never really been one for the heat before but being with Bunny seemed to make him enjoy it. He'd even managed to gain something equivalent to tan which he'd never had before and as he lay on his couch stuffing his face with strawberries he couldn't help but widen his smile just a little as he marvelled at how Bunny had changed him. It wasn't that much, he had to admit, but he had certainly become more like him in the time they'd spent together and he figured he was better for it. Bunny was a brilliant, beautiful man and he felt so lucky he'd been able to share as much time as he had with him.

Sitting back up when he finished the carton, he mulled that thought over in his head as he tried to decide how he felt about it. Of course, he was still upset that Bunny was most likely leaving but he wasn't at all upset about the impact he'd had on his life. Bunny had most assuredly changed him for the better and he had so many wonderful memories of them together. Sure, it was terrible that he wouldn't be there anymore but it was great to know that he'd been his for nearly a year. After all, some people never find the one person in the world that is perfect for them and Jack seriously began to wonder if it was all really that bad. Well, yes, it was, but was it really all that regrettable? Just getting to spend a little time with him was probably a blessing and, in the end, shouldn't he just be grateful?

He didn't convince himself of that. He was still extremely pissed that he wouldn't get to keep Bunny but at least now he figured he was starting to see it from a different angle. If he had never known Bunny then he never would have been made to feel so special and he was so glad that he had. If he had never become involved with him then he would have gone his whole life without having an experience quite like the one he'd had and to think that such a thing very nearly could have happened he found he was thankful for having had him at least for a while. To have to give him back to…well, fate, would be more than he could bear but at least he'd be able to say he belonged to him for a time. Surely that was a gift he could treasure.

Feeling unsure of his newfound feelings, he ambled to the bathroom and began to run a bath. Slowly pulling off his clothes, he stood naked for a second as he looked into the mirror and tried to trace any remaining tan he may have had left over from the summer and it seemed he could still faintly make out a line around his navel. Feeling slightly pleased with himself, he turned to the bathtub to pour some bubbles and then stepped into the hot water as they foamed up. When it was full, he turned the faucet off and sank gleefully into to relaxing world of bubbles he'd created and marvelled as his cares began to float away. Next to Bunny's arms, baths were always the best thing for him to escape the troubles of the world and as he felt his tension dissolve so too did his mind drift away from his recent gloom. Tilting his head back, he let the hot water flow into his messy hair and pretty soon he was in a different land entirely. Here, everything was silent and full of fluffy bubble clouds he could float through in ecstasy and nothing could harm him here at all. Here he was safe and worry-free and he wanted to remain forever in this blissful absent-mindedness. If he could manage that, Bunny wouldn't be leaving, he wouldn't have to go to work, there were no bills or chores or commitments to worry about and there was nothing that could ever harm him. Here there was perfect serenity and was where his perfect life existed.

A muffled bang from above the water wrenched him out of his dreamland and rising through the bubbles and out of total harmony, he wiped the bubbles away from his ears and listened intently for what it could have been.

"Jacky?! Jacky, where are you?!" he heard Bunny call as his footsteps thumped around his living room. Before he could answer he heard the man barge into his bedroom and then push through the bathroom door looking halfway between panicked and excited.

"What? What's happening?" Jack asked a little startled.

"Brace yourself, babe!" Bunny said as he began to smile. The look on his face suddenly filled Jack with gleeful anticipation and trying not to let his imagination run away with him, he dared to dream for a moment what the news could be. "Okay, so, you know that call I was waiting for?" Bunny said in the same spirit of enthusiasm that surrounded him.

"Yes?" Jack replied cautiously.

"It was with my the orchestra in Melbourne"

"Oh…"

"They were asking about the job"

Jack gulped feeling a little disappointed, "W-…What did you tell them?"

"I said I'm still not sure"

"Then…uh...why are you so…?"

"Excited?" he said with a smile, "Well, because I've managed to wangle a little perk into it for myself if I take it"

Jack bit back a frown. Did that mean he had decided to go for it? That surely meant they were over then and he hadn't even been told. He wasn't mad with Bunny but he was becoming annoyed.

"So you're taking it then?"

"Maybe. But only on one condition?"

"And what's that?"

"Well, it's that perk. I only say yes to signing back on with them if it works out"

"Well, what is it?"

Bunny chuckled to himself excitedly and bounced on his heels a little, "Oh, it's a good one! I guarantee it!"

"Well, what?!"

"You get to come with me!"

Too obvious? Well, it'll seem less so when I flesh it out a bit in the next chapter which may well be the last. Who can tell? It'll depend on how I want to round off the story and I have two ideas at the moment and no, they're not Jack and Bunny staying together or Jack and Bunny not staying together. Whether they will or not is already decided – at least for me it is. You'll see what I mean next time.

Thank you all again for your reviews and follows! Y'all are so amazing! I wish I could draw better since I would so love to illustrate this story. Maybe I will if I can find the time. If any of you want to doodle something then please feel free. I have no problem with that whatsoever!

Thanks for reading. See you in the next chapter! The last one! Maybe! AAH!