AN:
A song from American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs album by American Idol.
Let's Stay Together:
One of many Tekla's gifts to Ero on the day of Christmas Party was a patch worked quilt she sewed by hand. That had a special effect of allowing Ero to travel to and from homes of guardians whenever he choices. This would make his visits to the Warren easier without actually leaving North's workshop.
"You're sure about this?" Jack asked staring at the quilt.
"Sooner or later I've got to do this." Ero knew Jack didn't want him to leave.
He then leaned over toward Jack and pecks his cheek knowing that Jack would show up unannounced in Warren. Not like he was going to stop him since Warren always got a little boring and needed a little fun. He just hoped Bunnymund wouldn't get so huffy about Jack's presences any near his Warren.
"You know we have communication mirrors and skull phones Hasake gifted us to talk long distances, right?" Ero brought up Hasake's gifts.
On Jack's bed both look to look upon to shrunk skulls with roped and clips attached sat staring at them. Beside them were two strand-sized mirrors encased in silver scrolling in Romaine style lay still wrapped in issue paper.
"Still think what you got from Pitch was weird." Jack didn't want to touch the item.
"No bottle mermaid flesh Sandy gave us wins the weird prize." Ero lifts the sealed Jar. "It grants immorality to mortal that eats the flesh."
"I thought..." Jack started to worry.
Ero explained to Jack that what they were given wasn't some hint Ero's immorality was going to be taken from him. Just something they could feed to whatever child of mortal nature if they ever decide to adopt one. That was not going to happen since both were still in the throes blooming relationship. Into the storage pile the bottle mermaid flesh with dragon scales and other items. While they still had to sort through lots of other gifts that caught most of their attention.
"Doesn't North and Tekla know we'll to young for this?" Ero meant bottled peppermint flavored Vodka.
"No and what's so bad about not drinking some?" Jack asked interested in tasting the contains.
"Have you forgotten what Hasake told us about even sampling a drip of this?" Ero thought Jack had a screw loose.
"Yeah, doesn't mean I've got to listen all the...time..." Jack laughed him off.
Those words and the pauses took in between of them left Ero very irked about how he was spoken to by Jack. Left him to hand over the capped bottle while carrying rest of their received gifts within a crate off bed they been on. Saying he was be sort through the rest of them in company of Hasake and Lorre without get intoxicated. Had Jack snatching up his staff forgetting about the bottled peppermint flavored Vodka behind. Chasing after Ero's retreating form yelling out he was just making a joke offering to fly him since crate was heavy, and hard to carry alone. That would have Ero telling Jack he didn't need his help since he cold uses a crystal beast. If wasn't for both of them being stopped in their tracks right outside Jack's room by Hasake.
"Hungry?" He offered roasted pumpkinseeds covered in nutmeg and cinnamon. "Tekla cooked them up and served them to me before putting them on her latest bath of cookies."
Jack was the on that ended up staring from Hasake's hand to Ero using his best puppy dog expression to soften him. Around Ero would run mumbling that the crate was to heavy for him to relocate. Behind him Jack scrambled to help him hurriedly handing his staff over to Hasake not caring. Taking back end of the crate Ero sticking out from his arms taking on the weight of this container. Both teens would end up place the crate back in it's original spot taking familiar seats. Before being individually handed roasted pumpkinseeds from Hasake's hands in careful matter.
"Finally going through your gifts." Hasake noticed what was inside the crate.
"Yeah and you made the weird pile." Jack was still creeped out by the lamps and lantern.
"Ero!" Hasake. "You haven't introduced Jack to your mother's candles or silver chain?"
"Why would want to know about a teleporting light source and ever expending piece of jewelry?" Ero countered Hasake with his own question.
"Now I really have to check these things out!" Jack was getting excited.
"NO!" Both Hasake and Ero yelled facing Jack.
Hasake knew from first hand experiences of what Edwyna's teleporting candle could do to embarrassing moment. A few times were of her using these candles to enter his home-unannounced needing aid from him. Interrupting him and Lorre in throes of physical passion that were quickly ruined do to Edwyna's presence. Ero's familiarity with the candles was more traumatizing then actual learning moments since he taken to dangerous places. Had him being taken to Pitch's or Monkey King's lair once. He was able to get away by skin of teeth with out being converted or altered by them.
"Tell me you haven't touched a drop of the aging potion she sent you?" Hasake asked about something North hid from Ero.
Ero remembered North putting a seal bottle of something away after last delivery his mother sent to him. Not that he cared at the time about item since other items in the delivery caught his attention. While now Ero was reaching for one of Snow Globes kept inner pocket of his jacket to check something out. He would pull out yelling a location before tossing the object forward with all his might. When swirling energies opened in front of them showing a scene of an empty office belonging to North. Would be entered by Ero heading straight for a desk in search for what Hasake brought up. Exploring each draw carefully since he was wanted to be throe in finding that bottle.
He would find in a locked draw he used a magical charm to open removing the bottle not noticing the tag. Traveling back to his room through the same portal he used to enter the room uninvited, or unannounced. Where his hands over Hasake this sealed glass container requesting Hasake get rid of it. Since Ero had come to like the life he was now allowed to have and didn't want to give what he had up. Not really caring if North noticed the item potion was missing from his Office or what Ero had done.
"Why am I so turned on?" Jack asked wiggling his eyebrows while staring at Ero.
"Cool down." Hasake warned. "North isn't going to be happy about this form of rebellion."
Ero only waved Hasake's warning off when he joined Jack back on his bed by slamming down in angry matter. Not really up for arguing over a thief North would find out about and even confronted Ero on. All he wanted to do was enjoy opening rest of these gifts with out any form of conflict taking place.
"Until I'm sent back home for raiding his office with him actually catching me." Ero finally spoke. "Can Jack and me get back to what we were doing?"
"That would be..." Hasake slightly stepped back.
"Not what's going through your head." Ero stared at grinning Jack.
"Could be." Jack winked at Ero.
Hasake ended up telling Jack to cool down again while he forcedly closed the portal that Ero had traveled through. Asking the boys if they got a bottle of peppermint flavored Vodka with red and green bow. To only have what he asked about be taken out of the crate by Ero offering him the bottle. He would will take with him with a smirk on his face mumbling about a drunk Pitch, and how he can't handle his liquor.
"Do we want to know?" Jack asked hearing Hasake's incoherent babble.
"No, since I already know Pitch is terrible drinker." Ero wasn't falling for Jack's tricks.
"That's why I'm thankful for you giving me this little charms." Hasake had horrible plans for his brother. "Happy Early New years to me."
He ended up allowing one of his shadows to swallow the bottle asking if there was anything else he could take off the boys' hands. To the crate his shadowy tentacles were allowed to poke around for what he probe around for. What he got were a few things that Ero and Jack were willing to part with if he traded with them. This had him grinning at the request of exchanging gifts that he predictably didn't like or want to take home. Above their heads a black hole made of the shadow would open in the starry night sky that made up Jack's ceiling. Pouring down on them were a few items that landed in their laps, on the soft surfaced of the mattress, or in back of them.
"Wow we're not the only ones who doesn't like what was given to them." Jack was impressed stash rainfall.
"Meaning we get ornate looking Snow Globes and stone figurine of an Egg Sentinels." Ero looked over some of the items.
"Find use for them." Hasake could use them where.
Got him a will do from Jack who placed a tooth shaped bottle filled with glittering gel sealed within. Before Ero's eyes with a huge grin before he ended up wiggling his eyebrows like he has done before. Hot Jack called a horn dog by Ero hating how easily aroused Jack got do to winter season happening. Ero ended up grabbing a Dragon Horn instead of sheathed blade like he wanted. Didn't stop him from placing the neared end of the horn to his lips and blowing as loud as he could.
Making this blaring noise that had Jack diving to pillows leaning against his headboard for cover. Hasake was effected by the noise since he could control the diesel of sounds he ear drums took in. Leaving Jack to suffer the ear splitting noise that Ero used to get Jack to stop hinting toward sex. End before Ero would end up taking the second wind to blow into horn he was keeping.
Tekla had just put down Aleksandrina for her nap for the day after taking her from the watchful eyes and arms of Nanny Yeti. He lush nursery filled with hand crafted furniture crafted by North found through out. Mural of a forest on all four walls matched the ones that were on Ero's and Jack's own bed room walls. Had toed the same magical effect when the lights were turned off leaving Aleksandrina to be entertained when alone. Not that her large crib in shape of a large circle opened on one of it's left side, and was located in center of the nursery. Was far more fun to lay in and watch world go by. Since a large veil was hung above the crib to give a halo effect she liked.
"One last gift." North's booming voice had Tekla turning toward him.
"Quiet!" She warns him.
"Sorry my Sweet Candy Cane..." North lifts something into the air.
Tekla had to cover her lips when he showed a hand made mobile in the form of a spiral with him on his sleigh. Were strung up in front of the sleigh dancing and prancing with beside miniature images of everyone. Jack on his staff flying after Winged Ero hugging his Furball. Tekla was sitting beside North in the sleigh-wearing outfit similar to wear when delivering gifts.
"You spoil her too much." Tekla whispered allowed North to place mobile on crib's edge.
"Nothing wrong with loving her too much." North winds the mobile.
"Spoiled brat she becomes." Tekla didn't want her daughter to turn out to be who was use to be.
"Do not worry." North ended up taking Tekla into his Tattooed arms.
Tune of White Christmas started to play in soothing beat that made Aleksandrina goes from playful to sleep. Yawning with her little arms still reached out toward her parents staring down at her. Before she closed her big eyes and turned over to her side to cuddle her Rudolph stuffed animal.
"Lucky are we?" Tekla asked North.
"Certainly!" North smiled boasting gladly about their daughter.
Shared a kiss in passionate of moments thankful for what they had tried so hard to have inn form of child. Granted some how in the form of the small baby girl that both were coming to love. Not that they adored the teenage boys that had Tekla pulling away from a kiss that North started. Reminding him they weren't doing anything of sexual nature since he had some resting up to do. Pointing out that he earned some much-needed rest after what he has been through just hours ago. Not that North to convince his wife that was nothing rolls with quick roll in the sheets. To only be turned down by her pulling away from him listening she had a dinner to make, and other chores that ended to be done.
"Vegetables boys allergic too?" She was in the mood to make pot pies.
North suggesting he skip his private relaxation time not wanting to miss out on one of Tekla's miniature pies. Her crust was flaky or hard enough to be called rich in flavor when cracked opened. Creamy filling she makes from scratched where cooked Vegetables and chopped meat are poured in. Sometimes she puts in a berry or fruit filling for a sweeter oe sugary taste. Made up a delicious smell Yetis or Elves have to breathe in when they went into or came out of her oven.
Not that Tekla liked how North tried to use his old tricks from his young past to trick or manipulate her. Into consenting him to stay by her side while she baked wanting first pie that came from the oven, or samples her raw filling. Where he would lick whatever wooden spoon she used to mix or pour clean just to be in cloud nine. Stay by her side when she decided to put him to work by cut/chop up vegetables or fruits, or hand beat dough for crust.
Just not this time around
"Bed...You...Go!" She repeatedly poked his chest with one of her fingers not trying to break a polished nail.
She pointed out the work that North had put into toward making THIS Christmas since Pitch's defeat special one. He used to work even harder in getting the sleigh and reindeer ready, toys created and packed, and delivery schedule done. Also, he becomes a father figure to both Ero and Jack while becoming an actual father to child of his own. There was the over flowing positive mood he been in with threat of old enemy being extinguished. Making whatever endurance and stamina he built up through experience had been wiped clean. Making his immortal body start to show signs of fatigue North tried to hide.
"But Sweet Candy Cane..." He spoke in a low quantity of voice that had a seductive undertone taking one of her hands in his larger ones. Slowly pulling her body toward his owns not caring they were still in the nursery of their daughter.
That wouldn't work on her due to a Yeti rampaging into the room throwing their arms about and grunting about Ero. Tekla took as an excuse to leave North picking to listen to Yeti then try is persuaded by North.