Chapter Three

A chill had crept into the air after the strangely warm day of the contract signing. To everyone's surprise it had stayed cold for the rest of the week. Arendelle lied in a strange part of the world where temperatures could fluctuate at the drop of a hat. Warmth was typically only around a few months of the year. This wasn't a problem for the natives however, like their Queen the cold didn't bother them anyway.

Near the center of the city lay a section of bars often frequented by the after work crowd. It was a block away from the "younger" part of town that boasted clubs that stayed open late and had shot specials every day of the week. The older guardians had come to a specific pub every Friday for as long as the old bar keep could remember. They had been kind enough to extend this invitation to their newest members.

That's was why despite the chill and stress of her best friend being engaged to a monster Tooth found herself hurrying from her car to the door of "The Moon". Some normalcy was needed in her life after the whirlwind week. It would also serve as a kind of "eye of the storm" before the announcement made its way to the people.

Dodging a stray dart Tooth made her way to a circular booth in the back corner. She was greeted enthusiastically by Bunny and Sandy who were seated on dark oak chairs. Nick waved from the pool table before taking and sinking a trick shot.

"Ho ho ho." Laughed Mr. Claus, "Beat that Sandy." Tooth and Bunny watched in amusement as Sandy stood up and without preamble made in three striped balls and the 8 ball before sitting down humbly.

"Oy." Nick shook his head counting out bills to buy everyone a round of drinks since he was the loser.

"Is he ever going to learn that you can't be beat?" asked Bunny. "Mate I learned after one game with and he's been doing this for how many years?"

Sandy just shrugged with a smile on his lips. He wandered over to the old jukebox probably the only one left in the realm and browsed through the music.

Tooth scooted into the booth side of the table and removed her coat. The interior of the bar felt like a tropical paradise compared to the arctic wind outside.

"Where's Jack?" She asked. "He hasn't been around all week."

Bunny hesitated before answering. Its not like he could tell her that Jack was locked in his room sulking, nursing a beer and a broken heart hour after hour.

"Probably in the woods or his room. He's upset." It was a sufficiently vague answer.

Tooth nodded her head. "Make sense, I mean we're all upset but the Black's didn't personally murder our families."

An ancient law stated that if Elsa's line ever ran out a Frost heir would inherit Arendelle. When Jack had been a child his parents had gone with Elsa and Anna's parents to a coronation. The boat had sunk with one couple on board but his parent's had miraculously survived. The elder Frosts had been captured by pirates and sold to Pitch's father. Their death's had been broadcast for all to see.

Bunny began to speak. "Let's hope his vendetta against Dantera doesn't harm Arendelle." Before he could continue a petite pair of hands wrapped around his eyes.

"Who in the hell is-" He turned as the hands fell allowing him to see. Behind his was a young woman with auburn hair one piece streaked white and a joyful smile.

"Hello Easter." She said wrapping her arms around his neck.

Immediately he relaxed, the tenseness from the week leaving his body.

"Anna!" he exclaimed. Known as a tough guy Anna was the only person that could make him feel as youthful and happy as Peter Cottontail.

Easter had known his girlfriend was due to arrive home today but he hadn't expected to see her so soon. He knew Elsa had wanted her to come straight to the castle so that she could explain her engagement in person. Anna had left the outer boundaries at noon; it was a five-hour drive to the castle. He checked his watch, barely six. He knew Anna generally went with the flow but he had expected some resistance to her sister's plan.

"How was it?" he asked hesitantly. Maybe she was just pretending to be okay until they were alone.

"Eh it got a little bumpy. Ended up being fine though." Anna made a mental note to talk to someone about repairing the outer roads. Nearly an hour had been added to their journey because of a detour to keep them off the cracked and pot holed streets. Seeing the time when they had arrived in Arendelle she had chosen to go straight to The Moon where she knew her boyfriend would be.

Claus and Sandman had joined the table again. Nick apologized for not having a drink for Anna but she insisted it was fine. Tooth took a sip of her chardonnay and eyed the other women. Tooth herself was known for her cheerful demeanor but even she had been perturbed by the idea of Elsa and Pitch marrying. How was Anna so calm?

"So you aren't upset?" she asked swallowing the wine.

"I mean it's annoying but there's nothing I can do about." Anna was starting to become really confused. Polite interest in her journey was one thing but they really wanted in depth details.

"I'm impressed Anna. I mean if my sister was marrying a murdering scum bag I would not be handling it well." Said Tooth raising her glass.

"Cheers to that." Added Bunny as he, Nick and Sandy also raised their glasses. Kudos to his girl for keeping a calm head. He had been worried that her first night back would be spent consoling her to no avail. He hated when he couldn't help her. It made him feel weaker than stuffed animal.

Anna's smile slowly vanished. She looked at all the guardians and saw that they were being serious. Horror slowly washed across her face, Tooth's own face began to mirror hers.

"You have been to the castle right?" the slightly older girl whispered

"Traffic was bad so I came straight here. I had to get out of that damn car. But go back to Elsa, she's doing what?" Her voice had started out calm but the sentence ended in a high-pitched shriek.

Fuck. Thought Easter.

· * * * *

Mr. Claus drove a massive SUV and volunteered to take the five people back to the castle. Sandy climbed into the passenger seat wordlessly; he couldn't believe his younger teammates had divulged such a big secret. Elsa was going to kill them. From the back seat Anna was still asking a million questions about what Tooth and Easter had meant.

"Where's Jack? He'll give me answers." She demanded.

"I'm sorry babe we can't tell you anything." Easter couldn't believe the magnitude of this mistake.

Anna was not going to be silenced easily. "Why? Easter, you've said more than enough already."

"That's exactly why! You were supposed to go straight to the castle. Elsa was going to explain."

His girlfriend rolled his eyes and turned to face forward crossing her arms. Bunny knew he would be paying for this for a long time from both girls. Tooth bit her nails nervously not even caring if they messed up her smile. She pulled her phone from her pocket and sent a quick text to Jack.

"On the way to the castle. Meeting room asap." She didn't care if he was wallowing or not this was a situation they all needed to be there for.

Ten minutes later the SUV was parked in a secure basement lot and Anna was leading the way to her sisters office. Jack was waiting outside Elsa's door hands in the pockets of his jeans.

He greeted his ex's sister with as much energy as he could manage. "Hey Anna."

Her tiny hands balled into fist. "Don't Hey Anna me. I know you're in on this too."

Jack cocked an eyebrow. "In on what? Wait what are you doing with them? Didn't Elsa want you to come to the castle first?"

"Why does everyone keep assuming Elsa is the boss of me? She's my sister not my mom." Replied the brunette angrily.

Claus broke in and explained in his accented English. "Anna did not go straight to the castle. Tooth and Bunny thought she did and…"

Jack nodded figuring the rest out. For the first time in days he wanted to laugh even if it was at the expense of his friends. Somebody was about to get it. Anna shoved past him and opened the door without knocking.

"Elsa you have some explaining to do."