AN:
A song from Unbreakable album by Backstreet Boys.
Inconsolable:
Ero had to put a special necklace on Jack's neck to keep his natural ability to ice anything over contained if he wanted to swim. Around in the hot spring they found in the Warren after walking around unable to sleep.
"Afraid I get you in trouble or something?" Jack asked about the piece of jewelry.
"Avoiding trouble." Ero pulled away.
"Meaning with out this I may freeze over a hot spring with my icy touch." Jack understood.
"You actually have a brain?" Ero acted surprised.
This got a laugh out of Jack after down set his folded hoodie and staff beside Ero before diving into hot water. Back splash never got on Ero do to him deciding to sit away from the splash zone, or edge of the spring. Putting him in the clear of not being covered in water liked soaked grass on spring's edge. Allowing him to sit under shade of a tree yawning every now and then showing he was tired. Trying to watch Jack swim around in laps while he slowly started to doze off into slumber. Would end up happening when he couldn't keep his eyes open long enough reclining. Before he caught him self about to use the grass under neither him as a cushioned area.
"JACK! I am heading in." Ero waved to him struggling to stand up.
Not that he could get to his feet fast enough to start walking where he wanted to go due to him slowly falling asleep. Ended with him falling back onto his rear with Jack rushing to his side quickly exiting the spring. Quite surprise the necklace he wore dried him off giving him a chance to pull his hoodie. Making his way toward Ero after taking hold of his staff tryingto listen to what he was mumbling. When the words flight and to room were spoken more clearly to then others. Jack was up into the air sitting sideward on his staff floating just a few inches off the ground. Before Ero trying to impress him not caring if he was half sleep or about to fall asleep on his feet.
Ero ended up calling Jack show off before stepping toward him taking a comfortable position on the staff in front of Jack. To only have sleeve clad arm hooked around his waist to keep hi place when the staff rose further into the air. Ero leaned in to the embrace Jack had on him from behind during the ride through out. Not noticing when they entered the Bunnymund's borrow with a sudden whoosh that had air combing through their hair. Brought a smile to Ero's face that Jack wish he could capture when he moved through narrow tunnels.
"We're here!" Jack lands outside one of the smaller borrows.
He let off Ero first watching him stumble pass the curtain that had been put up a barrier knowing he would follow. He laid his staff near the borrow's entrance knowing laying piece of enchanted wood near Ero's bed. Wasn't a pleasant experience after waking to crushing noise of Ero tripping in the dark trying to get to the restroom.
To only be stopped at the edge of Ero's bed debating wither or not to join him since mattress was small. Since the owner was now lying side wards on the soft material rather motionless facing Jack. Who leaned over the edge of the bed ever so to say goodnight to Ero or steal a kiss from him. To only have hands shot up and making a grabbing motion for collar of Jack's hoodie. When a grip was taken and secured on Jack then a hard tug took place bringing winter spirit. A top of still semi-awake Ero placing Jack right near him mumbling he couldn't sleep with out him.
"Thought you were trying to keep warm." Jack ended up joking when Ero snuggled up to him.
"..Talk later..." Ero mumbled yawning.
Jack ended up adjusting the sheet and familiar quilt to join Ero underneath deciding to take off his hoodie he went. Draping his hoodie on the corner of the bed as best be could with limited reaching he was given by Ero. Not wanting to take the necklace Ero had put on him when settled onto the pillow giving into sleep taking over him. Ero ended up crawling on top of him so he could sleep on top Jack's chest using his magical gift. To have bed covers pulled over them for warmth since borrow at night got a little chilly despite Jack's icy touch. That kept him cool while the necklace become in tone to help regulate winter spirit's body temperature.
Stayed that way the whole night the two stayed in that position the whole time sleeping comfortable side by side. That wouldn't be disturb by Yeti waking them up for breakfast when peek early morning hours. Casually dressed Tekla wasn't found marching into either one of their rooms with knitting basket in hand. Elves wouldn't be found sneaking in on them to sneak a peek at them or join them in a shared bed. Not even North's booming voice telling the boy's they were wasting the day sleeping in had the two waking.
This was a welcoming change for both teens
Jack was able to wake up first in relaxed state that had him looking to an empty spot where Ero should have been. Had him reaching for the hoodie he discarded the night before kicking blanket off in search of Ero. Getting to his feet in a rushed matter making sure to not tangle Ero's gift in the zipper of his hoodie he pulled closed. Going toward the doorway he would pass through not caring if he got tangled up in the curtain. He would start to freeze the fabric over if familiar hands reached over his head and help him out of the web of woven threads.
"There goes bringing you breakfast in bed." Ero sounded rather disappointed.
He had to pull Jack from the curtains so eh could start mending them using same magic he used to create them. Turning his attention toward reason had almost lost them asking what he was doing up at this hour of the morning. Not that he was going to get the answer he wanted since Jack had pocketed his hands and started to stare at Ero. From experience of getting on Jack's bad side Ero had some explaining before fight broke out.
"I woke early to help Bunnymund." Ero thought be best to be honest about where he been. "I was given a chance to wake you the way I wanted."
"...Ruined that one...didn't I..." Jakc noticed a smell in the air.
"Hungry or your heading back to the workshop?" Ero asked what Jack had palled.
Growling of Jack's stomach told Ero food he been cooking would be a better answer.
"Come on." Ero turned on his heel to guide Jack to kitchen / dining area.
Jack ended up following Ero down the hallways that connected many dugs out borrows-like rooms used for storage, and other purposes. That would be gazed into if Jack had the time if his stomach wasn't growling for food. He would get to chew down on when presented with a table filled with cooked meals and set for place for two. Just the table and chairs given to him along with any other surrounding furniture reminded Jack of forest. That surrounded his lake where the house Ero had built for the both of them awaited to be used.
"Bunnymund wouldn't be joining us since he already ate." Ero explained they were alone. "Leaving me to fend for myself."
"Let's eat." Jack wasn't letting food go to waste.
He sighed turning away from Jack toward the kitchenette that he was allowed to use to make this meal. An old iron stove that was near perfect condition had been used to cook a meal now sitting on large stump. That was the table with matching chairs that reminded Jack of his home in a way. He was allowed to sit at and start eating with out Ero since he was cleaning up his cooking area. By placing used cooked ware and utensils in a basin filled with water someone could pump. Out of near by pump standing right next to the column that held water filled basin Ero filled. He ended up leaving alone to soak for a short amount of time so he could join Jack at the set up table.
Informing Jack wouldn't be able to return to North's Workshop or goof off like they were usual known for doing. Seeing that he would be working beside Bunnymund most of the day learning what actually happen here. Sometimes he would have to mix paint while learning what he should paint on the eggs. Other then gardening and tending to plants in his free time he still had allot to learn. Not giving much personal time like he had back in the workshop when he was with North.
"I can find something to do." Jack munched on.
"Just don't drive Tekla crazy that badly." Ero pulled his fork from his lips.
"Think Aleksandrina is already doing that..." Jack stopped chewing.
Ero also stopped when both come to think about the small dear that they both had come to call a little sister. Old aches in their chests triggered individual feelings of loneliness and opened emotional scars for one of them. Would be lay to rest when Ero quickly got up from his seat dropping his half eaten filled dish and fork. To make his way toward backside of Jack reaching out with his own arms to wrap around winter spirit. Drawing Jack against Ero's chest in comforting matter that had Ero informing Jack about recent discovery.
"I found your grave." Ero's words had Jack turning in his arms.
"WHAT?" Jack asked almost shouting.
Ero went on to say with help form Tekla and North he found a worn grave near an aged tree within forest of Burgess. After clearing the moss form the stone marked the words Jackson Overland Frost beside birth and ceased date. Were read clearly carved into the surface while everything else was faded making reading rather hard.
"Seems your sister and villagers removed your body from bottom of the lake after you drowned." Ero tried to recall the story. "Gave you a proper burial."
Ero ended up tapping Jack's necklace trigging a series memory he embedded in the piece of jewelry. That would take Jack where he needed to go when he ever wanted to go to the gravesite.
"Considered this my early New Years gift." Ero backed away from Jack.
He would have returned to his side of the table not caring that this awkward silence between them.
Tekla couldn't be any happier when Ero appeared to her in the Workshop's kitchens with crate of vegetables. She made one of the Yetis in her presence put away Bunnymund's gift to her while she spoke with Ero. Who she pulled aside to massive table she kept in middle of kitchen area where she serviced him.
"So sad you look." She tried to encourage him to eat.
"I told Jack about the grave." Ero whispered.
He knew sooner or later Jack was going to find the grave if they ever settled down within the house Ero had constructed. Pointing out the single grave now seemed a good idea at the time when Jack wore such sad expression.
"Time you must give him." Tekla knew Ero's gift to Jack needed time to soak in.
"That's concerning part." Ero knew Jack wasn't one for surprises.
Tekla ended up taking a form she would sue to stab a piece of freshly cut carrot cake on hand painted plate. She would place before Ero before wrapping her arms around him knowing he needed someone right now.
"Here you stay if your want." Tekla offered.
"No, I'm going to be ..." Ero could help but tear up.
One of the Yetis ended up stopping what he was doing long enough to hand over a cloth napkin to them for Ero to use. Touched by the scene presented to him by Tekla holding Ero as if he was her own child. To only be thanked by Tekla instead of being yelled at into back to work and wasting her time.
"Stay for dinner..." Tekla asked Ero figuring he needed her and North right now.
When she didn't get an answer from Ero like she wanted she released him to find he cried him self to sleep. This had her carefully handing over to one of the Yetis instructing he be brought to his room within the Workshop. Leaving her needing to seek company of her husband out for a private chat about their boys. Not caring if North was working on get another part of his ice coaster that Jack and Ero liked messing with. Using the wet stains on her top from when Ero cried him self to sleep into her arms resting his head on her chest.
"Stop Staring!" She knew North was staring at her mammary glands.
"How can I not?" He asked not taking his eyes off them.
Tekla ended up threatening to take away one of his favorite late night activities if he didn't take her seriously. Had him listening to him pulling her into his lap asking what was wrong with Jack and Ero this time. Making known his own worried heart about both the body that had always been there.