Child's Play 19
Sorry for making everyone wait so long. Things have been hectic the last few days and I've been on the road or at work a lot. Good news though, my charger finally came in so I'm back on my netbook, YAY! So hopefully I can start updating faster. BTW for those wondering about Manny's words to North…just wait and see but we're about to have some very confused and potentially happy Guardians. And for those wanting smut…I'll have a special fic done up for this later. I want to try and keep this one K-K+ so everyone enjoys it.
The utter confusion on North's face made the other three Guardians perk up in worry. It wasn't often MiM pulled one of them aside to speak in private so when it happened everyone became concerned. Especially when the message was so confusing as by North's features this must have been, that their leader seemed dumbfounded. He slumped in one of the large armchairs, looking exhausted, confused and fed up.
Tooth gave a small cry of worry and flew to his side. "North? What is it? What did MiM say?" she asked, hovering over him before settling on the arm of the chair. Her mini selves fluttered at her shoulder each as anxious and worried over the usually jolly man.
North shook his head. "He grows more and more mysterious by the day. I feel as I did when I first took the oath and he spoke in riddles."
"What do you mean?" she asked, her small hand on his large arm.
"What sort of riddle?" Pitch asked. He too had often used riddles as a way to confuse the Guardians when they were enemies. It often made them restless and second guess themselves until they could figure out the answers. Only Sandy and Jack seemed to enjoy such things and they both showed great delight when they figured them out. In fact the three still had fun creating riddles for each other and sometimes made it into a game. Jack delighted in scavenger hunts based around riddles. Surely that wasn't what Lunaroff had in mind. Was it?"
"He said Jack being turned to toddler was practice," North finally answered, gazing at Pitch as if he might hold the answer.
The Guardian of Courage looked thoughtful. "Not much of a riddle."
"Practice for what?" Tooth asked, equally confused.
North gave a shrug. "I suspect Jack and Bunny has made up and are working on having another kit in the near future."
The fairy gave a gentle smile. "That must be it. It'll be nice to have little ones running about again."
"Dah."
Sandy's eyes lit up and he raised a hand to offer his suggestion when Pitch grabbed his wrist and shook his head. "Let them be," he said gently.
Sandy looked ready to argue, maybe even kick Pitch's ass for stopping him but as he glanced back at his friends, both confused and anxious about the prospect of Jack and Bunny having more children, especially considering Jack had only returned to his normal form a few hours earlier. No, they needed time alone to digest this new information but Sandy was almost certain that MiM's words meant something more.
"Come on, Sandy. Let's give them time to themselves," Pitch continued, steering the golden dreamweaver toward the nearest shadow. "Besides, we both have work to do and I'm sure we can find better ways of spending a free time than worrying over these two and Lunaroff's cryptic messages."
Again Sandy hesitated but after a moment he gave a nod and followed his lover. A small smile tugged at his lips when he glanced back at North and Tooth. The small fairy held the Russian's hand as they spoke in hushed tones, completely forgetting Sandy and Pitch were even there. They'll be fine. In time they'll figure things out for themselves.
North pulled Tooth onto his lap and rested his forehead against hers. "Is it wrong of me to be missing Jack as a toddler?" he asked her softly.
"No," she answered, her fingers combing through his long hair. "I miss his little form, too, as I'm sure the others do. Do you remember when Katherine grew up and the Absolute Youngest William?"
He smiled. "That was a very long time ago, Tooth. I was pretty much growing up right along with them."
She laughed softly. "I forgot just how young you were back then. Well it was hard for me, especially with William. He was such a sweet little boy, the first child I was actually able to watch grow close up. It hurt when he became an adult and went off to create his own life and have his own family."
North nodded, pulling her a little closer. "Yes, but Jack didn't grow up like a natural child. One moment he was a toddler the next a teen. I didn't have a chance to adjust to the change."
"I'm sure all parents feel the same." The look he gave her made her smile.
Sighing, North gave a nod. "Perhaps. Nonetheless I feel as if Manny robbed me. Don't get me wrong, Tooth, I love Jack no matter what his physical age. He has duties and responsibilities to the children but…I don't know. I must be awfully selfish."
Tooth placed a chastised kiss on his forehead. "You are the least selfish man I know, Nicholas. You are sweet and loving and give your whole heart to the children of the world. So what if after 500 years you want a little something for yourself? You desire to be happy as well, we all do. It's a shame neither of us could settle down and have families of our own but we have Jack. He's our child no matter how big or small he is and he and Bunny have given kits. They're our grandchildren and they're the most precious beings in the world."
North smiled and nuzzled her neck. "You're correct, my dear. You always are. I don't know what I would do if it weren't for you and Jack. It would just be me, Bunny and Sandy and I don't think we'd function nearly as well as we do. Nor would we have Pitch on our side."
She laughed and her feathers ruffled. "About time you noticed."
He laughed as well as he took her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "You sound as if I never pay any attention to you."
She gave a playful shrug. "Perhaps I don't like always being treated like one of the boys."
"Ah, is that what I've been doing?"
Humming appreciatively she gave him her most seductive smile. "Maybe."
"Perhaps it's time to rectify that little oversight." North tilted her chin up just a little more and lowered his head until their lips met. MiM's words were forgotten as they focused on comforting one another.
Okay, really short chapter. I'm still a little tired. More tomorrow night and smutty goodness to follow.