This is a sequel to Not So White Christmas and Christmas Carols. Which you should read first. Speaking of:

WARNING: Should you decide to read these stories out of order, I decline any responsibility for you getting confused/being traumatized/thinking that Jack is pregnant with Pitch's baby (not sure if that count as confusing or traumatizing).


Tooth sighed. The traditional Christmas breakfast was not as lively as usual. They should be used to being just the four of them, really, but after last year, when they got to spend Christmas with their newest member for the first time, Jack's absence weighted on them. Not just the fact that he wasn't there, either, but the reason. Even Bunny, who came here ready to pick a fight over a bit of snow, was now nibbling on his carrot cake without much enthusiasm. North said Jack just needed some sleep, but his health wasn't the only thing worrying them.

"Does he think he needs to prove himself to us?"

"I don't know, Tooth," North answered. "Jack isn't very used to people. It's been less than two years and he still spend most of his time alone. Or with the children."

"That's it, when he wakes up, I'm giving him a hug."

"Don't," Bunny said. "You'll just remind him that he needs a hug."

"That doesn't make any sense. You don't need to wait until someone needs a hug to give them one."

To prove her point, Tooth flew across the table and hugged the Pooka, ignoring his protests and his attempts to throw her off. North laughed and wrapped his big arms around them both, squeezing them a bit more tightly than comfortable.

"All right, all right! Stop it, you two!" Bunny shouted.

"You guys look like you're having fun."

Tooth's eyes widened. She twisted around until she could see Jack, leaning casually against the table with a crooked grin on his face. He looked like everything was fine, but she wasn't quite ready to believe that.

"Jack, you're just in time for hug time!" North said, squeezing Tooth and Bunny a bit tighter to demonstrate. Sandy jumped on the table and half floated, half bounced to where Jack was standing, throwing his short arms around him, not willing to be left out this time. Jack stood still and blinked, before chuckling and hugging Sandy back.

"Hug time?" Jack asked, bemused.

"That's right. Hug time. It's a new tradition." Tooth answered, freeing herself from North and throwing her arms around Jack. North, still firmly holding on to Bunny, joined in the new hug, crushing everyone together. Bunny just roared in frustration. Tooth was sure he didn't mind nearly as much as he kept pretending. She could feel Jack tense, not too comfortable being squished in the middle of a groups of people. Time to give him some breathing space.

"We saved you some pie!"

They soon had Jack sitting at the table with a slice of apple pie, with everyone trying to act casual. North started to tell them about the new improvements he wanted to make on the sleigh and even Bunny pretended to be interested. At least until Jack snatched the last piece of carrot cake.

"Hey! I was gonna eat that!"

"Oh, really? Sorry. How was I supposed to know you like carrot cake?"

Jack grinned and shoved the cake in his mouth. Bunny looked like he might try to get him to spit it out.

"Boys, can we try to not fight? Please? For Christmas?" Tooth pleaded with them.

"Why should I care that it's Christmas?"

"Because Christmas is love and family!" North answered.

Bunny turned to him, his ears flattening, ready to get into an argument. Oh, here we go again. Tooth rolled her eyes, Sandy drank eggnog without paying attention and Jack just looked relieved that things were back to normal instead of them just acting like things were normal to avoid upsetting him. Tooth had to admit that she preferred to see the boys arguing than the silence that had been hanging over the table earlier. Now it was just a normal Christmas between the Guardians. Which reminded her, there was something she had meant to ask Jack since last Christmas.

"Jack, will you sing Christmas carols with me?"

"W-what? Sing? With you?"

"Why not? You were doing it last year."

"I-I didn't think anyone was listening," Jack answered, his cheeks reddening. He looked down at his previously forgotten slice of pie like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"But it was so beautiful! Please?"

"I-Isn't it a bit warm in here?" he asked, changing the subject.

"No," Bunny answered. "You're just blushing a lot. Come on, stop glaring at me and just sing with her already."

"Yes," North agreed. "I heard I missed that last year."

Sandy formed a musical note in sand over his head. Jack sighed, grabbed a cup of eggnog, drained it and stood.

"All right. But then it's Bunny's turn."

"W-wha? I don't sing, Frostbite."

"And I don't care."

"I'm not singing any Christmas songs."

"Then I don't see why I would."

"Bunny, please?" Tooth begged him. She didn't know why they all made such a big deal out of singing. Birds did it all the time and you didn't see them getting all flustered and shy.

"Don't you worry. I'll sing with you," North said, clapping Bunny's shoulder. The Pooka groaned and buried his face in his hands. Taking this to mean yes, Tooth grabbed Jack by the hand and dragged him to the side. He looked more amused than embarrassed, now. Tooth clapped her hands in excitement.

"So, what should we sing? Oh, how about that new song, 'Winter Wonderland'? That sounds like it would suit you."

"It's about eighty years old."

"New enough."

"All right," he agreed with a laugh.

Bunny crossed his arms and glared, but his ears perked up as he waited for them to sing. Sandy and North both watched expectantly. Tooth decided to get this started before Jack remembered he was shy about singing in front of anyone. She cleared her throat and sang the first line of the song, grabbing Jack's hand again in case he felt like running off. He joined her soon enough, keeping his eyes focused on the globe rather than any of them. His singing was as lovely as she remembered. Off to the side, she spotted some of her fairies watching him with googly eyes. One of them even swooned. But she couldn't really blame them. He not only had wonderful teeth, but also a wonderful voice? What more could they ask for? She closed her eyes to enjoy the moment.

It was over all too soon and, from the way Jack ran back to sit at the table, she knew she wouldn't convince him to sing again. At least not this year. Maybe they could make this a tradition. Like hug time.

"Wonderful, you two, wonderful," North shouted, clapping his hands.

Sandy made a thumbs up above his head and Bunny mumbled something incomprehensible. An elf ran over holding a trumpet over his head, looked around, then threw it on the ground when he realized the singing was over.

"Right. Your turn, now."

The elf picked his trumpet back up. Bunny groaned again as North dragged him out of his chair. Jack grinned.


Sorry to cut it there. Also, sorry it took so long to get to that request. That wasn't what I had originally planned to do with it, but I never managed to write it. And now, I need to go back to trying to make a dress-up game.