Emma and Rose: Ch3

"Nice costume Frostbite." Snorted Aster, looking up and down his mate, dressed in the most conservative Nun costume possibly known to man or spirit, grinning ear to ear with his stomach stretching out the front of the robes. "If not over done…" Jack rolled his eyes and grinned.

"C'mon!" he giggled. "A pregnant Nun is a classic! Besides, I WAS going to go as a French maid, but SOMEONE is a little too possessive. Those love bites are NOT something I want to explain to North, thank you very much! Remember when he caught us in the act last month?" Aster chuckled, reminiscing the night after discovering Jack was having twins. Though the experience was far from funny and both had been THIS CLOSE to an amazing orgasm, in hind sight the look on North's face was priceless.

"Not my fault those bloody dills don't seem to get yer MY mate, and yer carrying MY kits. And, that means back the Hell off." He huffed, hugging him from behind. Jack rolled his eyes, smiling at Aster's possessive nature. "Besides, how about ya wear that little number after the party tonight?" Jack giggled, flushing blue at the innuendo.

"Oh, THAT is ironic on SO many levels." Snickered Mother Nature, wearing an Ivy costume from one of the Batman episodes. "A Nun? Really Jack?"

"It's a classic." He said rubbing his head against Aster's cheek affectionately. "Hey, everyone knows not to spike the punch, right?" Mother Nature nodded, and was quickly floored as Joy flying tackled her, Hunter jumping over the fallen spirit as the two raced to show off their Halloween costumes.

"Mama! Mama!" said Joy, tugging on Jack's robe. "Look! I'm a witch!" Sure enough the white Pooka had a little black and purple witch hat, a small broom and a ragged little black and purple top.

"Don't go turning anyone to a frog." Warned Aster, chuckling. "Well, except maybe April Fool and Hallow…and the ruddy Groundhog."

"Aster…" said Jack, sending him a warning glare. Hunter tugged on his Mother's costume, feeling ignored.

"I'm Peter Cottontail." He said proudly, showing off his blue and red vest and little bowtie. Jack somehow refrained from laughing, though his face threatened to crack any second.

"That's so cute." He snickered, glancing at Aster with eyes full of mirth. Aster sent him a warning glare before looking at his son, who watched the whole exchange with confused eyes.

"What's wrong with Daddy?" he asked, tugging on his Mother's costume again.

"Oh, Daddy just can't take a joke." Snickered Jack, ignoring Aster's annoyed groan while he crouched down to his children's level. "Now, what are you waiting for? Go play and pig out on candy!" Both kits squealed with glee as they raced up and down the hall, urging their parents forward to the party currently in full swing in the globe room, almost every spirit present. Hallow, being the celebrated spirit, was mingling with gusto, pulling pranks with April Fool left and right, dressed in his usual black and green turtle neck and skeletal skinny jeans, black hair tinted with purple, acid green and orange, a hockey mask over his face. Aster felt a growl coming on as Hallow and Fool noticed Jack, twin grins (HOW he could tell Hallow's expression under the mask remained a mystery to him) painted on their faces.

"Well if it isn't Jack Frost!" chuckled Fool, wriggling his eyebrows at his currently pregnant partner in crime. "Pregnant Nun. Classic. How's being the house wife? Does the fur ball really shed? And speaking of, what the Heck is your costume fuzzy?" Aster ground his teeth, the Fool quickly grating on his nerves.

"Isn't it obvious?" snickered, Jack, pointing at the hat, pleather vest, various bead chains and fake dagger. "He's Crocodile Dundee!" Fool and Hallow laughed, almost collapsing. Only Jack's arm in his stopped him from beating the tar out of the two idiots in front of them.

"What happened to the maid costume?" asked Hallow. "Was definitely looking forward to that." Jack shot Aster a dry look.

"Change of plans." He said, blushing light blue.

"Hey!" said Fool, an evil glint in his eye. "Up for a prank?"

"No." said Aster. "He's seven months pregnant ya drongo. Don't ya dare drag him into something dangerous!"

"Well, baiting the reindeer is out." Sighed Hallow.

"Who were ya hanging around with for three hundred years?" sighed Aster, Jack getting a reminiscent look.

"Us." Said Hallow and Fool in unison, grinning ear to ear.

"Not helping yer argument." He huffed, holding Jack protectively.

"Oh come on Kangaroo." Laughed Jack. "Like they'd do anything to hurt the kits on purpose."

"Somehow, that's not helping." Snorted Aster. Jack rolled his eyes.

"Aster…" The Pooka snorted, knowing exactly where this was going.

"Fine." He sighed, deciding to spare his dignity. "If yer that Hell bent on disrupting the peace-"

"Joy!" The little white Pooka turned and hopped to Jack, who promptly scooped her up.

"What Mama?" she asked between bites of her candy apple.

"How about we show you how the professionals pull a prank?" Joy's eyes lit up and Aster's heart sank.

"We're gonna prank Daddy?"

"Nope." Said Jack. Aster let out a sigh of relief too soon. "We're gonna get EVERYBODY." Joy cheered and Aster groaned, his mate, kit and the two morons disappearing into the crowd.

"PLEASE let this go well for once." He prayed, glancing at the moon. The moon seemed to glare at him, as if saying 'I'm an all knowing entity, not a miracle worker!'.

ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROT-ROTG

"GYAHHH!" Jack, Joy, Hallow and Fool watched with glee as one by one, the spirits fell victim to their trap. A tiny pressure pad, hidden in the wood grain, set off a spring loaded cream pie, firing the confection into or onto the victim while the co-conspirators watched, giggling madly. The elves repeatedly tripped the mechanism, firing pies into the unsuspecting crowd.

"It's been FOREVER since I pulled a good prank." Sighed Jack, Joy running off as a new platter of goodies was brought out.

"Getting tired of the stay at home Mom routine?" asked Fool nonchalantly. "Who'd have thought the rabbit was so old fashioned. Does he make you cook and clean too?"

"No." said Jack, shaking his head. "And I'm not a house wife. Technically, we're not even married, but being mated is kind of the same thing."

"I know I'm strait, but it's time for the fabulous, bitchy gay friend routine." Said Fool, clearing his throat and tying his bandanna around his neck like a rainbow ascot. "Oh no. No, no, no! What are you DOING? Don't let your man control you without putting a ring on it first!"

"Did you miss the part of being mated is pretty much the same thing as marriage?" asked Jack. "And nice impression."

"Did you say marriage?" All three jumped as Tooth buzzed around them, looking downright giddy. "Jack, you and Bunny are getting married?!"

"NO!" said Jack. "No, nobody is getting married!"

"But a wedding would be FUN!" said Tooth. "Ask Bunny! Ooh, or better yet, I'll get him to ask you! Act surprised, okay?"

"Wha-TOOTH!" But the fairy was gone, off to find Aster. Fool and Hallow chuckled, Jack at a loss for words. Their chuckles, however, ended when Jack gripped the table, rubbing his temples.

"You okay?" asked Fool, looking at Jack's almost flesh toned face.

"Maybe wearing so much wasn't such a good idea." He mumbled, falling forward into Hallow. Fool and Hallow stared at the winter spirit a moment, unsure of what to do.

"Okay Snowflake, enough's enough!" huffed Aster, the gray Pooka catching sight of Fool. "Take it down! It's gonna take hours to-" Aster 's mouth went dry, seeing Fool and Hallow hold cold drinks against Jack's flushed face.

"Oh, uh Hey fuzzy-" began Hallow, only to have Aster grab Jack, worriedly examining his face.

"Too hot…" mumbled Jack pushing against Aster feebly. Aster narrowed his eyes at the two Spirits.

"You two are NOT of the hook." He huffed, picking up Jack and storming away to a cooler location, and no doubt about to force Jack to change. Fool and Hallow shivered, not liking the murderous gaze in Aster's eyes.

"So…" began Fool, chuckling nervously. "Jello shooters?"

"Jello shooters." Agreed Hallow. If Aster was going to kill them, they may as well be too drunk to care.

ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROT-ROTG

Aster made quick work of the Nun's habit, tossing the black fabric away and gently setting Jack in a tub of cool water and ice cubes. Soon his face took on a healthier shade of blue, the usual frost returning to his skin and hair.

"Aster…" Jack looked at him with half lidded eyes, feeling his body cool to normal temperatures.

"Yeah Snowflake?" murmured Aster, smiling happily at his mate.

"Guess we're just gonna skip the maid costume and go strait to the bathroom quickie." Aster squeaked (a very MANLY squeak) as Jack pulled his pleather vest, dragging him half in the water and down for a feverish kiss.

"Did you-" Jack grinned, nodding. Aster chuckled.

"Yer a conniving little-"

"Shut up, lock the door, and get in the tub." Commanded Jack. Aster locked the door and tossed the ridiculous costume aside, Jack draining the cold water and adding warm to make the temperature bearable for both.

"What about the kits?"

"North insisted on the party, he can deal with little kids on a sugar high." Said Jack. "Shut up and kiss me." Aster carefully leaned forward, meeting Jack's lips as Jack's hands gripped his fur.

"Yer an evil mastermind, ya know that?"

"Would you love me any other way?" Chuckled Jack as the sound of North yelling and kits giggling passed the door, the party loud and in full swing below.