Thank you all for your reviews. You rock XD

We'll have some action again next chapter. And some serious fluff ;)

This one is dedicated to Hanna, who pretty much demanded it :)

Oh, and nobody panic. Gretchen's dad is really dead. We'll find out more really soon.


Gretchen and the Guardians were sitting around the big table where Guardian meetings were held. The big Five were strategizing. They understood very well that, while Sandy and Jack's combined powers could bring Gaia back, it wasn't going to be easy for any of them to get close to her, let alone the winter spirit.

On a different day, the Groundhog would have had an opinion -or two- about their plan. But today she just wasn't in the mood of pretending that she knew how to fight Gaia or Pitch. She was a spring spirit, a wood fairy- albeit a very lousy one- and a personal assistant. Her only battles had ever been with the idiot sitting next to her, and they were never to death, just bruised egos.

Everything was so normal last night. She came back from her rounds, making sure flowers were ready to blossom for spring. She heard about handsome's new trick, but that was nothing out of the ordinary. She decided to save the kid's gorgeous bum and offer to kick it on Gaia's behalf. Better her than Mother Nature, that was for sure. Gretchen knew very well how volatile her friend could be, how much power she had and how easily the situation could get out of hands. But just as she was coming home... her world turned to mush.

Not only did she start the day with a near death experience, she was also having these stupid, confusing feelings for the idiot sitting to her left. She freaking didn't have the time or the energy to be thinking about stuff like that right now. Why on Earth did he have to sit next to her? And why so freaking close?! The freaking table was freaking gigantic! There was room for twenty people and there was only six of them. Did he know he was making every single hair on the left side of her body stand on end?

But even that wasn't the worst thing that had happened to her. Pitch had taken Gaia. Her only family. The only person for whom she wasn't a freak, an outsider. Her home, the only place where she really belonged.


A young Gretchen was sitting under a maple tree, crying desperate in front of her mother's grave. Months had passed since the fairy had left the Earth, and without her love, her daughter felt like an outsider. She was so different to the rest of the colony. She couldn't do magic. She couldn't fly. All she wanted was to look like everyone else, to be like everyone else, to fit in.

"Why are you crying child?"

The voice was utterly sweet, but it startled the young girl, who stood up and turned around, ready to attack. She recognized the woman standing in front of her, but her expression didn't soften.

"I'm not a child. I'm 159 and you know very well why I'm crying!" replied Gretchen.

The teen was only provoking Gaia because she could not contain her anger at the world. And maybe, just maybe she wanted the pain to stop forever. She had no reason to be angry at Moter Nature, really. Her mother had died of old age, Forrest Fairies were not immortal, only long-lived. But to add to her misery, at the rate she was growing, Gretchen would probably live forever. 'Great' she always thought sarcastically.

"I know, indeed. I'm really sorry." said Gaia softly.

Gretchen was surprised at the woman's kindness.

"You are?" she asked, incredulous.

"Yes, Gretchen. I'm everywhere, remember? I know what you're going through. I also know that you are very special, not a freak like you think. You are unique, Gretchen, almost a miracle. And you have more magic in you than you know. It's only that it doesn't work in the same way as the fairies'."

"Do you know who my father was? Maybe I'm more like him, maybe I could find his people and live with them..."

"Gretchen... they're gone. Your father died trying to save his people but they never stood a chance. I'm sorry." Mother Nature interjected. "I do, however have another alternative for you. I'd like it very much if you came to live with me, at my Palace, as my apprentice. I can help you learn how to use your magic. I may or may not have a job for you, for when you're older..."

"You'll take me away from this Hell?!" the teen asked. She could barely believe what Gaia was offering her.

"Yes, I guess. Hell is quite a big word..." the woman replied, smiling kindly.


"C'mon, just try. For me?" said Gaia with her best puppy eyes. She was normally so serious, but she could always be silly around Gretchen.

"I really can't. I've been trying for like a century. Even when I do make these things grow, they just explode all over the place!" replied the young girl.

"But you haven't tried my way... C'mon, just hold it in your hands" said Mother Nature, forcing the seed on the girl's palms and closing her fingers into fits. "Close your eyes. Can you feel the life inside the seed? Can you feel it's soul?"

"Yes" whispered Gretchen, a big smile on her face.

"Let your soul be one with it. Will it to grow." continued the woman, smiling back.

"I can't just will it to grow!" snarled the teen.

"Yes you can. If you become one with that seed, and you will it to grow, it will grow. Just like when you will to move your arms or your legs" said Gaia patiently. She didn't know why, but she could always be patient around Gretchen. She had never lost her temper with the girl.

"OK, OK, I'll try. You better duck, just in case." said the Groundhog before closing her eyes.

After a few seconds, a little sprout appeared.

"Gretchen... you may want to open your eyes..." said Gaia, smiling proudly.

"Oh my Goodness! I did it! I did it! I am a freaking fairy after all! In your face, Daisy!" Gretchen was jumping joyful.


A grown up Gretchen stormed into the throne room, where Gaia was looking out the window.

"He's a freaking idiot!" she yelled.

"I never said this job would be easy." said Gaia.

"Well, it was easy until stupid Peter Rabbit showed up!" said the Groundhog.

"But you like him" added Mother Nature matter of factly.

"Of course I don't!" said Gretchen, grateful that her fur covered her blushed cheeks.

"I'm everywhere, remember? You almost drooled when you saw him" laughed her friend.

"That was until he annoyed the life out me!" yelled Gretchen defensively.

"Whatever you say. Gretchen and Bunny sitting in a tree..." sang the eldest woman.

"Very funny" interjected Gretchen. "I could sing the same to you! How was your date?"

"Oh, don't get me started! No wonder humans depict the guy as a baby with a nappy."


"He hates me..." said Gretchen sunken.

Gaia hugged her best friend.

"He really is an idiot. Who could possibly hate you?!" she said.

"You've seen him, you know he does hate me. It's not my fault that spring is not supposed to come yet..." the Groundhog was holding back tears.

"He doesn't necessarily hate you. I can see his actions but not his thoughts or feelings. Hey, look at me. There are other fish in the sea, you know? There is that particular centaur who always comes asking for you..."

"Odissys? He came back?" interjected Gretchen, the light returning to her face.

"He wants you to meet him at seven. He said you know where..." Gaia's smile was a little malicious now.

Gretchen smiled. True, the centaur was not Bunny, but he made her laugh and he was very attractive with his bare chest and his tanned skin and his soft chocolate hair and those eyes, black as the night. Not to mention he was a great kisser.

"C'mon! Let's get you ready for your date. I want to hear all about it when you come back." Gaia squeaked like a teenager.

"You don't need to hear it, I know you'll be there." said Gretchen laughing.

"No way! It's more exciting if you tell me" said her friend, winking.


Present Gretchen felt a hand on her knee. Was he kidding her? Did he know that his hand was sending electric charges all over her body? All over!

"Are you OK?" he whispered in her ear. Goosebumps appeared on her nape the moment his warm breath touched her skin.

"Hum?" she asked confused. She had been lost in her own thoughts.

"Well, you're quiet. You being quiet has to be a sign of the end of the world, sheila" Bunny whispered again. The butterflies in her stomach were doing sumersaults.

"Bunny, it is the end of the world!" she whispered back.

There it was. His name again. The pooka couldn't help but smiling. He definitely was doing something right.

"Ouch! What was that for!" he complaint, after she slapped the hand that was still on her knee.

His cry alerted the other Guardians, who looked their way, curious.

Tooth was sitting on Jack's lap, his hands around her waist. It was a bit bold but no one seemed to care, not even the pooka. The world was ending anyway. They looked at Bunny and Gretchen and then at each other, smiling mischievously.

North looked at Bunny curious and confused, while Sandy smiled widely and clapped.