AN:
This time around I chose the song from album Aqua by Aquarius.
Around the World PT.2:
9:40 PM 3:24 PM Late Evening, Deep within forests of Romania
Jack was hesitating whenever he went near the country of Romania after learning about history that spooked him. Didn't stop him from asking Ero why they were even going anywhere near the border. What he got was asked it ever truly meant or was ever told about the Spirit of Halloween or Hollow's Eve. This left Winter Spirit silent for the rest of the ride with Ero guiding the way.
Where they landed in center of woods thick with fog that Jack couldn't get the wind to blow away. Landing with out crushing into the ground was going to be difficult with no line of clear sight. Would leave Jack circling in the air trying to think of a way on an establish point to settled down on. Wasn't for shaped light that appeared in the haze that started to dissipate within seconds.
"Welcomed friends." Pale skinned young man dressed in darkest of colors of clothes of silk/cotton blend. His leather boot went up to his calves while he wore these fingerless gloves that matched his footwear. His long hair was bond by a ribbon similar to ones Tekla wore in her own hair. He went a carved out pumpkin that was missing its top with a strange candle lit in it casting a soft glow.
Ero was the first to land since he rode Hita from Sandman's island about to ask if they could rest. It slight flurry of snow hadn't started to fall over their heads that had Ero looking to the source. What he found was Jack hovering in place few feet above on guard and ready to attack unnamed person. A fear of this person in front of Ero may be related to Pitch because of his appearance. Would be put to rest by the person introducing him was the spouse of Halloween Spirit. Who went prefers to be called Lorre and his husband was out doing personal business with family.
"Will you come down?" Lorre addressed Jack in a calm matter.
His answer was silent treatment from Jack deciding to stop his snow flurry long avoiding eye contact with Lorre. While Ero was left to hand over one of the three remaining jars in exchanged for Onion shaped bottle filled with Pumpkin flavored alcohol from Lorre. That Ero with greatest of care placed in one of Hita's saddlebags. To only end up mounting Hita knowing they needed to move on. Before the dragon-horse too flight Lorre wanted Ero to pass on a message to Tekla and North.
"I make sure they to pass the transmission on." Was the last words exchanged before Hita took flight.
When Hita got high enough to fully spread its giant wings to glide through the air at increasing speed. Jack would end up chasing him not once looking back at Lorre on the ground watching them. Leaving the silvery moonlight MiM casted upon Lorre as form of comfort knowing Jack's sielince hurt him. Telling him unlike the other guardians Jack would need time to come to accept him and the Halloween Spirit.
12:40 AM When Night Turns To Early Morning, Small Strip of Land that was once Jamestown
Landing in opened area wasn't a bright idea for where the boys were heading next since all ages of humans visited the place. Making them both visible to eyes of many children that believed in what both of the individually represented. Behind the stables they would settle with glamour spell being casted on Hita to change her appearance. Into a normal looking horse that Ero would place in one of the empty stalls vowing to come back. Just when Ero looked around inside and then the outside areas of stable building for Jack some where. He found out he was ditched by so Jack could explore a placed that reminded to strongly of his home.
Jack couldn't believe about the reenactment village he and Ero landed in since had the memories of his human life. Rushing back at all sights of Colonial America were all around him and had Jack acting like a kid in amusement park for first time. Left Ero to look for spirit of Thanksgiving spirit near the residential section of the village. In oldest house about half story in height and was covered in vines. A person dressed in period clothing stood outside the front door sweeping. Who would look up when the foot steps belonging to one of two young guardians approaching him.
"Good 'Morrow young one." This person would greet Ero speaking old English matter.
"Just dropping something off." Ero held up one of the Jars, "Wouldn't kill you to speak in modern terms?"
"Mood killer." This person called Ero by.
To only have his pilgrim outfit he wore pointed out look rather out of sorts because of up to date materials use to craft it. He hands over a one of the two jars they had left before turning away. When he was out of earshot of the shot Ero called him a weirdo before casting assist or guidance spell. In order for him to find Jack and move on to the next place they needed to make their last delivery.
Tekla never got excited anything that were only high fashion or Russian related to her picky tendencies. When Peach Flavored Schnapps splashing around in a frosted glass, jars and sealed with an egg shaped cork made her giddy. Told by Jack it was a gift of gratitude from Bunnymund for the Peppermint Flavored liqueur she had boys' delivery. As the corked Onion shaped bottle filled with Pumpkin flavored Cinder had her frivolous. Said to also be gift of gratitude Lorre followed by his massage. Placed her in a good mood to the point it spilled over to North festive tone.
Wouldn't be tasted or reach anyone lips after Tekla had to be encouraged by North to inform Jack and Ero about important news. By some miracle a life of week old fetus was now growing in Tekla. A sense of dread had Tekla once more shedding tears of anxiety from her amber colored eyes. North not wanting any of her antics drew his precious into his lap wiping her droplet away. Whispering that what took her life wouldn't happen a second time if he had anything to do with it.
"Should we know something?" Jack ended up butting in.
Ero was the one that informed Jack that Tekla lost her human life at age of 39 to improper miscarriage of her first born. She had had reached her 3rd month in her pregnancy cycle and had been ready to become a mother. Due to fear of becoming a single mother during time period she became pregnant, and stress caused by that. Her life of wanting to be a material figure to child of her own was cut short.
"MiM gave her a second life and the lefts in North's care until..." Ero was unable to finish when weariness had him yawning.
Off North's lap Tekla went with out the clicking of her heels alerting Jack or tired Ero she was coming their way. Showing off her newer choice in form of footwear called flats as she finished Ero's sentence for Jack. By saying she shared a parent-child relationship with North that changed to something more. Into one of husband and wife after a century or two of finding out they shared a few interests.
"Never I regretted falling..." Tekla got close to Ero to check his forehead by pressing the back of her hand to his forehead. Gave her a sense of relief when he didn't have a fever noticing he showed signs of fatigue.
Before she could ask if he was able to see his mother since last sixth bottle during his and Jack's delivery was meant for her. Ero teetered in his seat allowing his eyes to close and he fell from his seat into Tekla's arms. She welcomed by moving loose pieces of his Lockes from out of eyes before addressing nearest Yeti. When she didn't get her answer right away the volume of her voice had Jack jumping a few inches in his seat. On queue a Yeti who was scared to suffer under Tekla's wrath appeared and was had Ero handed to them. To only be given instructions to take Ero to his room and lay him his bed for him to reciprocate his spent energy. Off the Yeti not once second-guessing what she had to say about where the boy should be laid.
"She woman or what?" North ended asking Jack with a good shove to his shoulder crossing his arms.
"Yeah she's a handful." Jack found him self-thinking how unique Tekla was.
Tekla ended up propping her self on table instead of returning to seat near anyway near North with something in her hand. She places the piece of paper on table activating the magical symbol that had been placed upon it. Meaning it ended up scorching the surface of the table with black lines that made up two individual images. One was innocent deer fawn born during the first snow fall of winter season while other was sign for black sand.
"Impatient woman she is." North knew where this note came from.
"Jack your visit?" Tekla addressed him about Ero's mother, "Describe!"
Friendly demeanor Russian beauty once carried voice she only used when orders Yeti's around when baking. Keeping the tale of meeting a 300-year-old witch with looks of 20-something year old model with vexed touch. Who didn't even once allow Jack or her own son in her three-story house with built in glass structure. Since the greeting between the 3 of them lasted for more them tem minutes with a few things being exchanged. Had Jack bringing attention to two-jar set made of empty one and full one.
"She serous?" North looked toward burn marks on the table and empty jar.
"Very." Tekla gently removed her self off the table.
Before Jack could ask her what there were asking about a woman that Ero still couldn't bring him self to talk about. His mouth was stuffed with cherry flavored Candy Cane from Tekla offering him other savory treats. Each one was same shape candy cane given to him that came in different tastes. Created by Tekla's urge in wanting to create something that wasn't like the traditional peppermint. She kept in elaborate wooden box North crafted for her out as a gift to store the candy canes. That could be found hidden in one of the many cabinets found through the area. Was now removed and being offered to Jack as a bribe or form of a distraction to keep him quiet.
"Take." Tekla presented a box of them before of Jack, "Give elves terrible sugar rush."
"Headache." North remembered the last time elves got hold of Tekla's candy canes.
Jack was slightly debating to pull the sweet treat out his mouth and bother them about someone possibly worst as Pitch. Take advantage of sweet treats that don't seem work will in digestive system of elves of North's Workshop. Both ideas ended up combining knowing Jack could go straight to Ero. Out of the box a Cherry, Cinnamon and Cinder Apple, Blue and Raspberry candy canes were taken. Placed in one of the pockets of his hoodie before he choice to leave the room.
Making him lucky he wasn't there when Tekla refused to be embraced by North when a rising angry she hadn't known she been suppressing. Started showing when she put away box of candy canes speaking in her native tongue. Insults and words flowing from her lips weren't something a lady like Tekla was known for saying when angry. Had she slammed that cabinet door such force the hinges broke it fell off with thud upon hitting tiled flooring. Before she turned on tip of her nimble toes like an experienced Russian ballerina. About to say she would collect the black sand her self and delivery it to Ero's mother if she weren't silenced.
"You doing no such thing!" North's thundering voice had that raged induced Tekla remembering she wasn't only one left in that room, "Your mother to be!"
One of his large hands snaked its way around her small waistline to lay on her flat abdomen and drew her against him. Where she was told their long time wish of having one of their own was finally coming true for them. If she went running off to prove a point to bitter woman like Ero's mother may end that dream. Point he made by tightening his strong grip on her ever few minutes ignoring the tears that started to fall.
"...What is wrong with thinking their our..." She started to choke on her words when sorrow of losing Ero or Jack filled her. She had come to call her two sons she never thought neither she nor North would be having.
"Hush my Sweet Candy Cane." North used his callused fingers to brush against smooth skin to dry her tears.
Having her cry like this was never easy on North either since this moment reminded him of day she came to his Workshop. Glow she carried from being created into guardian status spirit and her natural beauty added to her allure. Gave her look of innocence whenever she cried during their early years as parent figure and child.
"I blame hormones." Tekla couldn't stop crying.
North couldn't help but smiles knowing those hormones were working toward the development of his future child. He was looking forward to spoiling with what he could craft with his own two hands. To only start thinking what he could put together for the 2 teenager boys until then.
Jack escape to his room quite tired out from all the flying around he and Ero did to distribute those six bottles. Out the three spirits he already knew it was other three he met and didn't feel comfortable in presence of 2 of them. Leaving him to have something colorful to tell Jamie and Sophie after he got his eights hours. When he closed the door of his bedroom for privacy while placing his staff near frame of the door. He started to pull off his blue hoodie heading toward his walk-in closet that had attached if something hadn't caught his attention.
A noise of something snoring came from his bed followed by rustling of satin sheets and wool comforter. Would reveal half-a sleep Ero sitting up to find the Yeti hadn't placed him in correct bedroom. Before he could scan the room to discover whose room he has been placed in by mistake a semi-topless Jack staring back at him. Awkward silence between the two of them would take place would get more weird for Ero. Due to his sight being taken from him by an existing curse his mother had placed on his eyes for purposes like this. Making it look like to Jack it was Pitch's work since thick layers of black covered Ero's pupils completely.
"There isn't anything to worry about." Ero knew Jack would go running off to inform North about this.
"Like hell!" Jack was already reaching for his staff; "you can see your hand in front of your face."
To Ero's side Jack would go discarding his hoodie upon the back of the chair that came with desk near the bed. Sitting on other side of the bed that wasn't occupied by a now blond Ero needing to explain his predicament. That his mother before allowing him to come live with North casts enchantment of blindness over him. Her way of keeping him pure by blocking out any form of nudity or violence Ero could witness.
"Isn't their some way to break it." Jack swings one his hands before Ero's face.
"Salt made from tears of mermaid who can only be found on the shores of Sleepy Sands." Ero wasn't happy about the answer.
Ero then had Jack stop waving his hand in front of his face through a stifled yawn as he laid back into the pillows. Mumbling he was going to be all right and Jack shouldn't worry since he ended up drifting back into sleep. Leaving Jack to go on with routine of undressing do he could properly bath. The whole time he couldn't get Ero's condition out and way to cure it out his mind. Ended when he joined Ero in his own bed drying his wet locks pulling on a pair loose sleep pants. Smirk that appeared across Jack's face would tell any one he was already liking the friendship that what forming.