A/N: :D Hi!

La de da… You guys rock! Anyways…

To fluddershy: I like your idea, but I can't figure out where to put it in this story… Sorry… I might do something in my other story to make it up to you, okay? Sorry…

This is the longest chapter I've posted for this story yet! Also, it's the most fluffiest piece of fluffed fluffy fluff on this fluffy planet of fluff. Complete and total fluff ahoy!

December 8th

Cards

The Guardians were immortals.

It was a basic fact.

Being immortal meant many things, including the fact that you tended to collect a lot of gifts and items that took up a lot of space.

So, it was tradition for them to make cards for each other, instead of giving them gifts every time. Sometimes they did give each other presents, but not very often. Cards were smaller, easier to store, and it was a rule that they had to be homemade, so that it did have that "gifting" feel to it.

North usually made the cards right after Christmas and added in things to the message during the year. His cards tended to be elaborately decorated with ribbons, pictures, and glitter.

Tooth would nearly forget about them every year until the last minute. Her fairies would then go into a rush trying to piece together some kind of folded paper with a cheerful message on it. Tooth's cards tended to be a simple piece of paper with a bunch of quotes and things stuck randomly inside.

Sandy simply made them out of dreamsand, forming them by hand, and making sure that they wouldn't dissipate. His were beautifully crafted and had lots of pictures decorating the cover. Inside he would scrawl his usual message – Keep Dreaming – and sign it.

Bunny's were delicately painted by hand, made special for each person. Even though he complained about it, he enjoyed making the cards, as it let him just paint whatever he wanted. Bright colors would decorate the paper, and inside he would paint a special one for each Guardian.

Now it was Jack's first Christmas, and he wasn't sure what to do.

Sandy was actually the one who had mentioned it to him, and just in passing. The winter spirit was lucky that he had found out about it, otherwise he'd be greatly embarrassed.

And so he sat in a tree, trying to figure out what he could do. He mind spun, searching for something original and exciting and Fun and cool. Squeezing his eyes shut, he was reminded of his frost animals. Smiling, he remembered when he had used it in Jamie's room. That trick had been one of his favorites for a long, long, time.

Frowning just a bit, he realized that he'd never before been able to do it without being there to touch it and bring it to life.

Idea fully rooted in his brain, he set off for the Workshop – he had a yeti to ask for help.

It took longer than Jack thought it would to figure out how to do it. It was only a week before Christmas, and the cards were still being completed. It might have to do with the fact that this winter was extremely busy.

Phil had been an immense help with getting the materials, and just to have someone to bounce ideas off of. Finally getting a short break from the unstoppable winter storms, he headed back to the North Pole to finish them up.

Ducking inside an open window, he walked into the unused room where he and Phil had been working. Rummaging inside the drawer where they had been keeping them, he pulled out the almost unremarkable cards.

Jack grinned. He knew that he'd figure everything out today, so help him . . .

The day came quickly and soon Jack was at the Pole, happily waving North off to his deliveries. Shuffling back inside, Sandy had to leave to make sure that the children were asleep.

Now down to three, they retreated to the sitting room, where Tooth got distracted by her work, Bunny snacked on the treats the yetis brought, and Jack eagerly awaiting the gift giving time.

The winter spirit had to leave off and on to go take care of a blizzard or snow storm somewhere, but otherwise they simply hung out in the room, only occasionally leaving to get more snacks. Jack and Bunny fought, but Tooth stopped the fights from escalating.

Soon, the constant strain of winter caught up with Jack, and he woke with a blanket on top of his sore body, staff leaning against the wall. Shifting just a bit, not quite sure what to do in this situation, Jack noticed Bunny on the other side of the couch he was sitting on. His ears drooped, and soft snores escaped him. Noticing the absence of a blanket, the teen quickly stood, draping his around the Pooka, since he didn't need it. Tooth had apparently buzzed off to somewhere important, leaving the two sleeping males in the sitting room. Still aching from the constant work of winter, staff in hand, Jack lay back down, this time on the floor. He wasn't used to sleeping on couches. He drifted back off again, wondering when North would get back.

Bunny awoke from his doze, shaking off the remnants of sleep. Stretching, he noted when the blanket fell to the floor. That was odd. He could have sworn that it was the blanket he'd used to cover Frostbite. . . That was when he finally noticed the blue clad teen sleeping on the floor near the tree and its cards, curled around his staff. Shaking his head, the Pooka moved to the spirit's side, Ducking down, he lifted the nearly weightless teen off of the floor, and back onto the couch where he must have rolled off. Shrugging, he picked the blanket up off of the floor, covering the sleeping Jack with it. He settled himself back down, intent on painting some eggs, but once again found himself nodding off.

This time Jack really did roll off of the couch. Used to the sensation of falling, he caught himself before smacking into the ground. Wide-eyed, he untangled himself from the blanket. He'd just given this to Bunny, hadn't he? Plus the fact that he'd gone back to sleep on the floor. Frowning, he stood, once again putting the blanket around the snoring Pooka. Confused, he figured that some of the elves had come and messed around. This time he sat himself back down on the floor, leaning his head back to rest on the cushion. He didn't fall asleep, but sat, mesmerized by the twinkling lights of the tree. A shuffling and snorting sound was heard to his right, and he quickly pretended he was sleeping, not wanting to fight with Bunny at the moment.

The shuffling continued, and a quiet, confused, whisper was heard.

"What tha'?"

More movement, and then a muttered statement.

"Stupi' elves."

The Pooka's steps rumbled the floor, and warm breath washed over Jack's face as Bunny picked him up. Jack almost forget to play limp when this happened. The warmth from the Pooka's fur stung only for a millisecond, and then Jack could feel it on his skin.

Warmth.

Not heat.

Not hurting hot.

Warmth like something only in his blurry memories of his past life.

It felt good.

It felt really good.

He didn't know why he did it, but chilled hands clutched at the warm fur, searching for the good feeling. Jack felt the Pooka stiffen at the grip on his fur. Mind still blurry from sleep, Jack didn't dare let go, in case the warmth went away.

Bunny gently tried to break the grip Jack had on him, but couldn't do it. Chuckling a bit, he realized that he probably wouldn't be getting away anytime soon, considering that Jack had a clutch on his fur like that he used on his staff. Figuring that he could get back at the show pony later, plus the fact that Jack looked positively adorable when he was sleeping, he sat back down, tucking the blanket around the sleeping figure attached to his side.

North pulled into the barn, adrenalin draining out of him as the long trip took its toll on him. He worked the kinks out of his back and neck as he walked back to the buildings, leaving the sleigh in the hands of very capable yetis. As he marched back into his home, he felt a bit of tension leave him as he realized that the Workshop wasn't in smoking ruins. Jack and Bunny had gotten along all right! Heading back to the sitting room, he nearly ran into Tooth and Sandy, who had both just gotten back there. The three had a hurried discussion, and quickly made their way to the room, hoping that the two rivals hadn't killed each other in their absence.

What they found was the opposite of those thoughts.

The lights turned low, fireplace nearing ashes, they found Jack and Bunny both curled under a blanket on the couch, Jack's fingers entwined in the Pooka's fur. Gasping at the sight, and then running for a camera, Tooth smiled as she went. Sandy and North both were still standing, shocked at the sight. A few clicks of the camera later, Tooth had full evidence of the scene.

As she flew off to return the camera, North, being, well, North, shook off his surprise and started to laugh. His booming shook the windows, and was enough to wake the two. Jack shot straight up in shock, quite startled. As he realized where he was, his eyes widened even further, and he shot across the floor, away from Bunny. A light pink blush tinted the teen's ears and cheeks, showing full blown embarrassment. Bunny meanwhile had jettisoned up into a standing position, paws on his boomerangs, before he realized who was there. Looking around at the group, which Tooth had joined again, he remembered just what had happened. A quick scan of the room revealed a blushing Jack, hiding in the corner. Bunny's own ears flushed, though no one could tell.

"Ah, my friends! You are awake! Come, let us open cards!" North had a way of avoiding every topic.

The two shaken immortals quickly claimed seats as far away from each other as possible. North, Tooth, and Sandy yammered on in order to dissipate the awkwardness in the room. Laughing joyously, North took up his position by the tree in order to hand out the cards. Each person received four, and they opened them in the order of their entrance into Guardianship, putting Jack dead last. This worried him a bit, but he shook it off in order to enjoy the cards. Sandy's was just as expected, though Tooth's was a bit more organized than years before. Jack admired each one, almost putting the incident out of him mind. They made it to Bunny's, and Jack ran his fingers over the detailed paintings on his. This year, North had stuffed confetti into the envelopes, and each person had to dump the stuff out in order to get to their card.

Finally, Jack's were up next, and he nervously rubbed his hands up against his staff, worrying his lip. Sandy was the first to get his envelope open, and happily drew out the card which bore the message Merry Christmas on the front with a present of varying colors below it. Once again, Sandy got his open first. The surprise on his face was amusing as he watched blue manta rays explode out of the paper in his hand. Similar things occurred to the others, and Jack smiled as they reacted. Tooth had a tiny Baby Tooth in hers, and she giggled when the blue figure danced around her head. North had received an elf, and was currently laughing at the creature's antics, acting just like it's namesake. Bunny's card exploded with a giant rabbit that hopped around his head. Too soon the creatures disappeared, at the same time, into snowflakes. They watched as glowing blue words transcribed themselves onto the paper, just like ink, in large, loopy, handwriting.

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!
-Charles Dickens

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
-Calvin Coolidge

Now, the essence, the very spirit of Christmas is that we first make believe a thing is so, and lo, it presently turns out to be so.
-Stephen Leacock

Christmas is a time for families. A time for friends. A time to exchange gifts. But more importantly it's time for us to remember the spirit of giving. A time for us to remember. The Hopes, Dreams, Wonder, Fun and Memories. Have a very merry Christmas.

-Jackson Benjamin Overland Frost

Shifting from one foot to another, Jack anxiously watched their faces as they read the letter. In his mind he was questioning why he had even put his full name in the cards, but it was too late to back out now. Sandy was the first to finish and looked up to catch Jack's gaze. Smiling gleefully, the dreamgiver stood and wrapped his arms around the teen's legs. The winter spirit stiffened. Tooth too finished and joined in the hug. North made his way over, dragging Bunny along the way. Slowly, Jack relaxed into the hug. When it finally broke apart, it was because of the questions Jack was asked. He tried to answer each and every single one about what he had done, if it was really his full name, and where the heck had he learned how to do that. Yetis brought in food and drink, and they all jabbered on about nothing at all.

That night went in Jack's book as the best Christmas of his immortal life.