AN:
A song from Black & Blue by Backstreet Boys.
How Did I Fall In Love With You:
A colonial America house that was three stories tall with large green house attached to its side. Victorian details found through the out side of the building had to be added on during the 18th century. Original windows that came with the structure had been replaced with modern ones. Large flower gardens surrounded both back and front porches were filled with all kinds of magnoliophyta. It had a huge cellar/basement area under all that the owner of the house used for her business.
Sight welcomed Jack and the Norths when they circled the air above the grounds trying to find a place to settle. Knowing one false move could get sleigh or caribou impaled on spikes of 11-foot iron gate/fence. Being cautious when they landed in the front yard of the place was skill maneuvering. Had Tekla relieved that Either Jack or Ero were paying much attention to how North is steering.
"Comfortable being used as pillow?" Tekla noticed Ero was sleeping on his shoulder.
"No much." Jack looked to slumbering Ero.
No the ride from the Workshop to this part of the world Ero and Jack were placed in the back seats of the sleigh. First off of the trip Ero stay awake to watch the scenic view pass them while Jack stood outside the sleigh. Some times Jack would ride along side the sleigh on his staff using the wind from different vantage points. Messing with Ero to point it turned into a game of sorts had Jack ruining Ero's view of the sky. Before Ero could launch something that would end up chasing Jack or even vex the winter spirit through magical means. Tekla ordered both boys to settled down and spend the rest of the ride seated behind her and North
For second part of ride Jack and Ero spent it in the back of seat sitting next to each other quiet like Tekla wanted. The steady sound of caribou's hooves besides cracking of their reins by North acted as a lullaby for Ero. Who ended up leaning to far to the side where restless Jack sat with his back to the seat wiggling in his seat. To only settle down when Ero's head ended up laying on his hoodie clad shoulder in rough landing. Instead of walking him up Jack left him there for rest of ride that led to house out horror story.
"We landing soon?" Jack asked as he looked over the side of sleigh.
Before Tekla could answer him about a huge smirk spreads across North's face as his already tight hold on caribou's reins. Become tighten when he bellowed about a clear landing that had caribou rushing forward. Jolting the sleigh forward that had Jack feeling like he was on a roller coaster while waking Ero. Who would watch the sleigh land in front yard of his home so suddenly.
"This isn't my day." Ero yawned.
"Your telling me..." Jack elbowed Ero's side.
He went to say why Ero never brought that fact he lived in a actually haunted looking house that dated to his era. Ero choice that moment to exit the sleigh while removing fawn shaped crystal figurine out from his pocket. Making his straight toward the steps of the front porch he would climb heisting when he approached front door. He couldn't bring him self to knock on or open with his own keys to locks of this building he once called home.
"Slow poke." Jack's voiced startled Ero.
Before curved part of Jack's staff reached over Ero's shoulder and knocked twice on large, White Ash wood, front door. Ignoring the antique door knocker and doorbell button off to the side of the doorframe that clearly is seen. Would be used by Jack make it known they were here to see the owner of the house.
Their answer came when the very door Jack had knocked on would end up opening own its making creaking noise. Coming to a complete stop when it was wide enough for everyone to walk through. Into a front hall with darkly painted walls filled with furniture from Victorian or colonial America. While a single painting hang on left wall above a table showing an image of mother and her child. Clothing the parent-child pair wore was from colonial America era had Jack turning to Ero.
"It's was made a little while after I was born," Ero recalled the memory. "Evne then she still never smiled."
Blank expression that woman wore while her ever-smiling child sat in her arms with staring out people peering. Left shivers to run down Jack's spine and remember the tale Ero had told him about what happen to his mother.
"Heather Wales was drowned to death by very townspeople she helped saved." North recalled Ero's mother story; "She was last surviving memory of her own family."
"Poor girl." Tekla cooed.
Slamming of door all four of them walked through only made Tekla jump while Jack wanted to know how that happen. North just scooped Tekla up into his arms while Ero pointed to Jack it was do to enchantment on the house.
"My mother turned the house into living being in which only she can command and do what she pleases with." Ero looked to ceiling.
"Not once have I regret giving MY house a soul." Answered a feminine voice filled with venom undertones.
Followed by a hard stomping of heels on polished wood floors coming from beside them that revealed a 30-something year old. Her ash white hair had think lengths of wave matched her sickly gray skin and piercing green eyes. Womanly body was encased in a strapless mini-cocktail dress that showed off her young full body of impeccable beauty. Long legs that were covered in silk ribbons that held wedged heeled Marry Janes on to the woman's feet. While the rest of her was left uncovered to be gawked at by her guests.
"May I know why Killjoys and their kiddies are visiting me?" She asked when she looked over Jack and Ero's head and stared openly at North and Tekla.
"Everyone my mother Good Witch, Edwyna." Ero introduced her.
"Formally Heather Wales before closed-minded human stripped me of my life." She bitterly spoke flicking at her hair.
"MOM!" Ero was getting irritated.
This was where she changed her mood by allowing her son to hand over the fawn figurine before pulling him into her arms. Where she ended up hugging him as tightly as she could ask if he been enjoying his stay with North. Her answer came from Tekla who pried Ero from her arms unable to take sight.
"Still the caretaker, but never the mother." Edwyna teased Tekla.
"Get life." Tekla wasn't in her usual mood to start verbally bickering with Edwyna.
She ended up holding over a bottle that was meant for Edwyna saying party was going to start soon, and she was to say up. This had Edwyna blinking a few times when Tekla hands retracted from her own. Up Edwyna lifted the filled and sealed jar to her line of sight with smile appearing on her face. Had her backing up away from them turning back around for room she came from. Saying something to Ero about showing the guests to sitting room so she could fetch something.
To the left Ero had North and Tekla while Jack took up the rear turning into formally decorated room. Fancy sofas and one person chairs fabric matched the opened curtains while a coffee table was made of glass. Sat in middle of the room with stain glass top that looked just one stain glass back. That Ero's room within North's Workshop had with minor scene difference in main panel.
"Never knew your mom could wear fishnets." Jack looked over the scene.
"Coming from someone with great view." Ero answered.
Toward Jack Ero would walk with determination in his eyes that Tekla only saw when he strongly believed in something. Since Ero up invading Jack's personal space to the point he ended up reaching toward Jack. These arms would circle around a body icy to the touch when he drew it close to his warm in jerking motion. Not caring that Jack's staff got in his way when he started to lean forward just enough to draw his lips against Jack's own.
"I tell you so!" Tekal bounced up and down beside North.
"One of times I agree to this." North crossed his arms.
Jack was taken back by the kiss with seconds Ero came at him after he allowed him to embrace him so closely. After just a few seconds passed he ended up putting his own effort by leaning back into Ero's lips. By shouldering his staff so he could tuck his own arms onto Ero's waist so he could bring him closer. Some how only increased the friction of the kiss between them that had. Tongue added to exchange of saliva by Jack becoming the more dominate over lip on lip action.
To only end with in minutes of starting by Ero needing to breathe while a smirk appeared on Jack's face. Stayed there when Jack took hold of one of Ero's hands when both un-embraced each other. Pulling him toward a sofa big enough for the both of them to start talking out possible relationship. Making sure to set his staff against an arm rest he was nearest to and quickly stanch up. Leaving Tekla and North to watch self-moving tea cart roll it's way into the room carrying tea set and four cups.
"Still hostess." Tekla bluntly stated looking the cart over.
North pleasantly declines the tea knowing that Edwyna made naturally blended tea that lacked any form of flavoring, and cups were to small to hold. To only take an interest in Tekla reaching for cup she lifted toward her lips. Taking a small sip in which she whooshed around her mouth not swallowing once. Before spitting the contains of her mouth back out and placing the cup back where she found it.
"Lust potion with cherry taste." Tekla listed what was in the tea, "Still up to old tricks."
"Let's sit and wait." North thought it be better.
Away from the cart they would go to pick a seat that was next to chatting Ero and Jack could be found holding hands. Soon ended when Edwyna entered through the same doorway her cart had taken. Carrying corked wine bottled she ended up placing on the coffee table asking if anyone liked her tea. To only have Tekla point out her potion she tried to pass off to them all.
"Needed someone to test it out since my son isn't here anymore." Edwyna stared at Ero and Jack hands.
"Not like I miss being used as your test dummy." Ero didn't once loosen his grip.
"Meaning your must be enjoying your stay with North?" Edwyna looked Jack over.
"Very!" Ero pulled Jack away from her line of sight.
To spite Edwyna he ended up repeating the kiss both of them had before with him giving Jack tongue this time around. Not breaking their hands holding even once when Ero used his other hand.
"They good together... Yes?" Tekla asked Edwyna in mocking tone, "been like this since first met."
North was that announced they all were leaving now by coughing loud enough Jack and Ero broke apart with one of them out breath. Tekla ended up picking up the corked wine bottle thanking Edwyna for having them. Making her way toward front door making sure ones playing kissy face heard her and followed. Since one took hold of his staff while other told his mother he'll visit her again. Out the door they went with Tekla leaving North alone with Edwyna on purpose.
"Seems he progressing in ways I kept him from." Edwyna had watched Ero.
"Meaning?" North expected something from her.
Edwyna ended up pulling off one of her earrings and tossing it to North saying he won this round. Making it clear if Pitch in any way got near her child and influenced like he had Jack their agreement was over. Revealing one of many clauses in contractual agreement about Ero's development become known.
"Will be seeing you at party?" North asked with a grin.
"If I say yes will you and your...wife...be leaving..." Edwyna just wanted him gone.
Out the door he went looking forward to seeing her at his workshop when the actual party started. Requesting she bring some of her special fireworks or animated treats his wife has a hard time replicating. Edwyna's answer was her door slamming in his face after he stepped out. Would have left him angry if Jack about to say something got him shushed by Tekla and Ero. Around North went to face a trio that could be found surrounding his caribou waiting for him.
"Up to listing all eight names..." Jack ended up daring Ero.
"Winner cleans out stables." Tekla came up with an answer, "Yetis snitched."
"How?" Jack just had to know.
"For us to know and you to find out." North wanted to hear if Ero could name all 8 of his caribou, "He starting?"
Ero ended up sighing after mouthing to Jack he was going to regret what he wanted of him before starting. He made sure to pass each caribou down the middle avoiding getting his hand caught in his or her harnesses. Instead of bucking him with their front or back legs or sticking the hours in his face. They accepted his touch by kneeling down toward him reach out hand when he called them by name.
"Yeah I know Blitzen." Ero ended up being nuzzled by large caribou. While Donder released a large puff of air in back of Ero's head, "Yeah I sort of smell like Jack."
Tekla ended up informing Jack that Ero grew up around North's caribou due his long childhood life span. Resulted in young Ero visiting North's Workshop with his mother before he started walking. That meant the child was able to visit with caribou in their stable while his mother met with North.
"Any way I could get someone to help me?" Jack knew what he would be doing when they returned.
"Well...I need to collect caribou horns for potion materials." Ero had to step away from the caribou.
Tekla didn't want the boys to spend must of the night cleaning out massive stables for most of the night. No way was she going ask the elves to help the boy out knowing they would make a bigger mess. Whatever Yeti was willing to stand before her for a few minutes and take her orders. Ended up showing the boys (mostly Jack) on how to clean out, set up, and other skills to maintain a stall.
"Remind me to never make a dare around Tekla again." Jack passed Ero.
"I rather like the idea of having you alone." Ero reached out toward Jack
Ended with him pulling Jack toward his body saying next time make the dare harder to answer or at least try harder. Had Ero being drawn to Jack's lips when he hooked his own arms around his neck. About to draw their lips together for another kiss that would always leave them hot and heavy. If wasn't for groaning of Phil finding the two of the in the next to last stall sorting out the hey.
"Later?" Jack whispered to Ero.
"My room." Ero pecked Jack's cheek.
Chill that Ero got when he placed his lips on that pale blue cheek just added to his suppressed pleasure. Up he picked pitchfork after adjusting his work glove to get back to flattening the stray. Jack was left to walk out of the stall with empty bucket making sure to greet Phil on the way. What he got was an eye roll from the Yeti knowing he had to watch out for one of Jack's pranks. Still trying to process why it had taken so long for Ero and Jack to get together as a couple.
"You can bring him in now." Ero called out to Phil.
In to the cleaned out stall Phil escorted a caribou tired out from day's daily routines of being exercised. Before settling into refreshed pin the caribou made sure to nuzzle Ero when he was leaving with Phil. This had Ero thanking the caribou for allowing him to tidy up his stall with help from Jack. Before he stepped out and asked Phil if there was any other stalls that needed to be done by him and Jack.
What he got was a shrug from Phil since other Yetis assigned to this task had already done most of the stalls. Leaving Ero to go bother Jack about finishing up filling all the empty feeding bins. Located attached to one of the four walls of the stalls that had to be cleaned up. Using a large bucket to carry feed to and fourth had Ero looking for area where food was stored.
"I'm not in the mood to play hide and seek here." Ero ended up looking up.
"Wrong way." Jack tried to not laugh at way Ero was acting.
He stood there watching the Ero move around the limited about of space calling out his name like he was lost. Hands in pockets of his hoodie leaning outside the doorway that led to small storage closet. He had just been in so he could put away the bucket he been using to carry fed around.
"Any way to ask Phil to put bell on you?" Ero ended up making eye contact with Jack.
"Didn't know you had fetish." Jack wiggled his eyes brows up and down.
"What you didn't know about me can fill a book." Ero stared.
"Sam here." Jack began got walk.
He made a clear beeline for Ero so he could lean over when he got close enough to bring their lips together. Ero would welcome by pressing back into kiss ignoring Phil's grunts when found them. Throwing his arms around to make clear point that the both of them were in his way. Not breaking their kiss both boys ended up stepping toward area Jack had been occupying. Giving Phil a more clear view of them both when he ended up walking by them waving his head side to side.