A/N: Well, what a response!

Chapter 33 – Healing

3rd POV

Jack had refused to let Aster go, not when they took Jamie back home, not even when the medical Yeti had swarmed them as they stepped through the portal into the workshop. Only when Joy -who never even did a double take at the extra arms and height- practically, ripped the Pooka from him and began to lecture him did he let him go.

Now he sat eyes unblinking by the Pooka's side with so many questions and a bubbling rage within. A rage that would be later dealt with but for now he let the blizzard rip around the workshop so the only people who could enter and leave were those who had a snow globe. Even the mighty moon's beams could not penetrate through his snow.

"Jack, my boy?" North called softly from the door, it had been two days and they had yet to get answers. They had yet to talk about the possibilities on what might happen with Aster.

Turning his head, he looked blankly at North, "Hmm?"

He couldn't talk yet, he was still deep in thought but he was slightly aware of what was said. He knew that he had explanations to give, mainly about his current form. Even now, two days later, he still had six arms but at least he was normal size… normal Pooka size anyway.

"Jack, we need to talk. Come with us, he will be okay for a few minutes." Tooth whispered as she flew to his side, warily laying her hand on one of his arms.

All Jack could do was blink and with the help of Tooth stand before leaving. Even when the doors closed behind them he couldn't tear his eyes away from them. The hypnotic fog that had settled over Jack's eyes began to fade as he stared at the worried faces before him.

"I'm sorry; the chocolate fogs the brain as well as alters the body… I'm still trying to shake the magic it fuels off." Jack hummed apologetically, this would be the tenth time he had to eat chocolate and he didn't know what would be altered. He knew it was taking longer than normal to turn back into his shorter two armed self.

"Jack, how can… how is this… when did…" Tooth started causing Jack to chuckle.

"One question Tooth, one at a time." He chuckled causing her to blush faintly.

"What iz that?" North asked gesturing to all of him.

He hummed softly; Jack knew he couldn't tell them the truth just yet. The only ones who knew so far were the people who made him this way and then Sandy. "Chocolate, I told you North; it gives me the oddest reaction. I don't know why."

"Okay, but how about Aster's markings? The snowflakes I understand but Aster's?" Tooth asked pointing to the very detailed mark on his chest with the flower in the middle. "Why is it so faint too?"

A sigh escaped Jack's lips before looking down at his chest. His eyes watered a little as he realised the markings were that of his mate, this also made him angrier. Because of Manny and the others, his mate was alone and had turned angry at the world… angrier at himself because he knew what his supposed death would have done to Aster. He felt when Aster grew weak; he felt his core crack and warp.

"I don't know… Maybe it was when I grabbed him, his magic seeped into me? I'm not too sure to be honest." He told them, the lie easily being told. He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw Tooth and North nod and hum their acceptance but he knew he would have to explain things more to Sandy.

"Okay… You explained armz and markingz… now we need to tell you something. Yeti tells me Aster sick, he lost a lot of blood." North told sombrely causing Jack's breath to hitch and face to pinch. "He needz blood but we have none… We don't know what to do."

"Take mine, give him some of mine." Jack blurted out breathless as he clutched the chair tightly. "It'll work, just, just trust me."

North gave Jack a curious look but told the Yeti to do it, he would have to trust the boy and his belly screamed at him that Jack was right, that the blood would work. Phil gave the young spirit a curious look as he watched Vlox pierce one of the boy's arms. He didn't even flinch as the needle prick the skin or when they began to draw blood, no Jack's eyes were once again locked onto the door that hid Aster.

Jack gave another sigh before closing his eyes and tapping into his magic, the old magic of his people that he could now reach. He could sense his own heart song, singing a tune he long forgotten it made him sad as he realised why it felt so lonely. He could not hear his home worlds tune with his, the sound of the wind in the leaves and the crisp sent of frost in the air.

He could hear a weak flutter of sound, the beats of the spring tribe's drums with the sound of a wood fife along with the sound of the music flowers. He could hear it calling to his own heart song and he knew it was Aster's; he pushed his way through his own reaching out for his in the dark it seemed to be trapped in. He would not lose his mate; he will not lose the one thing he fought so hard for long ago. Aster was his and his alone, for one they will be when aster was ready, for now though Jack would give his strength to the Pooka Warrior, he would breathe for him and keep him fighting the darkness of death's bitter cold hands.

Jack jerked from his mind as he felt his body shift, his arms flailing before he landed on the wooden floor with a thump. "What! Ouch!" he grunted before looking up at a shocked North.

"Why'd you move me?" He asked causing the Jolly man to stammer.

"Ve-e thought you passed out! Tired from blood…" He trailed off as Jack began to laugh.

"I was meditating; I had to tap into my magic core. Oh! My centre! It's joy!" Jack laughed as he remembered what he discovered when he looked into Pippa's memories and then gaining his own. He always spread joy and hope to the kits when he was younger, even when he was human.

North let out a booming laugh as he yanked Jack into his arms for a hug. Jack spluttered as he gasped for breath when the arms began to squeeze the death out of him, how North could do that when he had four extra arms he didn't know but it must have been a talent to hug a person to death.

"Bunny will be okay. Blood is being accepted by body, but we will keep him asleep." One of the Yeti nurses stated as she stepped into the room. Jack and North both sighed with relief before they both explained to the others what was said and promptly burst out into laughter.

Jack let himself relax a bit before standing, as much as he wanted to be with his mate he could still help him heal from where he needed to go. "North is it okay if I borrow a snow globe or two?"

The Cossack frowned before shrugging and began to pat his coat down; he let out a small ah'hah as he pulled out a small velvet bag that had three remaining snow globes from the fight. "Here, but why need snow globe?"

Jack scratched the back of his head as he looked away, "I need to go to Antarctica, I had left something there the last time and I can't lose it." He lied, when in reality he was going to an island in Bermuda a place for some unknown reason that he knew was where Seraphina lived.

"Okay Jack, but be back quick okay…" Tooth stated worried, her eyes wide and slightly glassy.

Sandy frowned before flying to Jack's side and latching onto one of his arms. He was going weather his friend liked it or not. Jack sighed but nodded resigned, he knew Sandy didn't believe a word he said. "Come on, we'll go outside to do it. I miss the snow." He muttered softly before jumping into the air and out the window.

Sandy followed suit after waving to the others who decided to go an stay with Bunny before placing his hand on Jack's arm. So where are we going then?

Jack turned and looked at the Sandman, his lips pressed in a tight line. "Seraphina." With that he threw the globe and stepped through, dragging a bewildered Sandy with him.

A/N: *groans* this wasn't how I wanted the chapter to end BUT Jack needs to deal with the others, he needs to know the truth or he will just stay angry…

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