"Belief is good, since we defeated Pitch many more children believe" North said, concluding his report of how the workshop was doing and looking around at the other four guardians where they sat spread around the room. The meeting was being held in a one of the many rooms in the North Pole, not far from North's office, like the rest of the of the rooms it had dark wooden beams and furniture, a large fireplace was at the centre of the back wall and the upholstery of the furniture was deep plush red.

"Since Jack has joined us we seem to be gaining new believers faster than we used to" Tooth spoke up gently after taking a sip from the teacup that rested in her dainty hands and smiled brightly towards where the young winter child sat on the couch opposite from her and Sandy. "Jack?" she questioned, when he didn't acknowledge her and continued to sit curled against the arm of the couch with his chin resting in his palm and a far away look in his eyes as he blankly gazed off to the side.

Bunny also noticed this and promptly elbowed Jack in his side "Oi Frosty, you listening?" he asked, his bright green eyes watching Jack as he jolted beside him and turned to look at the others.

"Are you ok, Jack? You've been very quiet" Tooth asked, and beside her Sandy began presenting sand images asking the same, showing the guardians together and then Jack off in his own little world.

Jack's blue eyes flickered between all four of them for moment and then to the ground "Yeah I'm fine, it's just the end of my season, you know? I guess I'm just tired"

"You will be hibernating, yes?" North inquired

"Yup as soon as Spring takes over the year, I'll be heading off to find somewhere to sleep for a while" he said a little sadly, although they didn't read too much into it and presumed he was simply tired, and as if to prove this he curled up in his seat again, hugging his staff close.

Sandy gave a caring smile towards Jack and then his face lit up and he turned to look at Bunny, images flashing over his head quickly, depicting the Pooka, flowers and other Spring spirits.

"Sandy ees right! Bunny should go to Spring party!" North said excitedly, the man had always loved parties, even if he wasn't invited.

"Ya mean the Spring Equinox?" Bunny asked raising an eyebrow, and unnoticed by everyone else Jack's eyes bulged wide open at this and his head whipped to stare at his friend, his expression almost fearful. Bunny continued "Nah mate, not my cup of tea really"

"So you're really not going?" Jack asked in a small voice, his pale long fingers clutching at the wood of his staff.

"Nah, it seems more like an excuse to take the piss outta Winter more than a celebration of new beginnings really, and anyways I've got eggs that need attendin'" and on this thought he began pulling paints and a brush out of his pack before settling in to painting an egg.

"Take pee out of Winter? I am not understanding" North spoke up with confusion clearly written across his face.

Jack shifted some more in his seat, holding his staff against his staff and not looking at anything apart from the frost that travelled across its wood. "um... it's about Spring dominating Winter, and since most Spring spirits hate anything to do with Winter they just really take it out on the Spirit of Winter"

"That sounds rather unnecessary" Tooth uttered quietly, looking between Jack and Bunny.

"Like I said, not my cup of tea, and Frosty you'd best be staying away from those Spirits and headin' someplace cold with the rest of the Snow Sprites" Bunny stated, turning to give a small concerned look towards the young Sprite

Jack swallowed nervously and croaked out a small "Yeah.." in reply.

North who had been watching silently with interest spoke up "So Bunny, how ees Easter preparations going? Still think you can beat Christmas?" he grinned cheerily as the Pooka paused in his painting with a huff and turned to glare at him.

After the meeting had ended, which had taken slightly longer than usual as Bunny and North had proceeded into another long debate about which holiday was better. The Guardians had been in the process of goodbyes and leaving, Tooth and Sandy already hugging Jack and flying off to continue their nightly work, the youngest Guardian paused for a moment instead of flying straight off after them like he normally did. He stood waiting, watching as Bunny finished trying to get the last word in this argument, shifting his feet awkwardly.

When Bunny placed a paw on his shoulder as he passed by, about to summon a tunnel back to the Warren Jack spoke up "um Bunny... can I talk to you about something? ... In private please?" he requested in a very small voice, his eyes immediately darting away from his friend's face as if he himself was shocked that he had voiced what he wanted.

Bunny paused to look at him for a moment "... Sure Frostbite, we can go to my Warren.."

"No, not the Warren, here? Please?" Jack pleaded, his eyes taking on a frightened look, he took a breath and continued "In my guest room? I don't want to leave anywhere cold at the moment."

"Alright" Bunny murmured gently and followed as Jack slowly lead them to the room North had given him not long after he had taken his oath. Upon reaching the room Bunny peered around as Jack shut the door behind him, it was a very simple room, with the only furniture being a bed, a closet and a desk with a chair. Jack had obviously done his own special brand of decorating on the place as the wooden beams and some part of the walls had delicate frost spread up them, along with scattering of ice and frost here and there generally around the small room.

After spending a moment to take in the room and watching Jack stand in front of him fiddling with his staff he spoke "So?" he prompted, folding his arms across his chest.

"... So ... ahh... well" Jack began and cut off multiple times, his fingers clenching and unclenching against the old wood in his hands. Frost began to appear and spread out on the wooden floorboards beneath his feet.

"Calm down or you're gonna freeze yourself up" Bunny said, watching the frost spread in a widening circle around the boy and trailing more up along the fabric covering his legs and down his arms, at this Jack's eyes shot up to meet his then turned away as more frost spread across his cheeks.

"Right... um" Jack swallowed, trying to get a hold on his powers, and then turned and walked the short distance to his bed and sat down on the light blue sheets, his frost only continued to follow him, forming a path on the floor and spreading across his bed.

Bunny followed forward and came to a halt in front of Jack. "We're friends, right?" he took a deep breath and asked for the first time meeting Bunny's green eyes with his blue and looking pleadingly to the older spirit.

Bunny was taken aback "Of course we are ya drongo, you're a right stubborn git sometimes and ya freeze my tail far too often but we're still mates" he said, watching as this only seemed to help calm Jack by a mere fraction, continuing in a gentler tone he crouched down, as if talking to a child "Mate if this is about Spring Spirits givin' ya grief then just tell me, I'll knock some sense inta them"

"I think you should go to the Spring Equinox" Jack squeaked out, his eyes darting away from the other's again and straight down to the floor between them.

The paw that had just been about to place itself on his shoulder fell short "What?" Bunny asked, tilting his head slightly to the side as he gave a disbelieving look.

"... Well... it's just... just that I-I'm going to be there too so you know it'll be better if ... you was there" Jack stuttered, the frost on his cheeks thickening and spreading slightly.

"What are you gonna be doin there?" Bunny asked, not understanding where this was going, did the Spirit of Winter have some Sprites go with them for help? He didn't remember any the times he had gone in the past, although the last time he had attended the Spring Equinox was sometime around five hundred years ago.

Jack shuddered, ice growing steadily along the bed, it cracked on the sheets as he shifted nervously "well... I guess I never told anyone but... ... I .. I'm the Spirit of Winter" he grimaced seeing Bunny's shocked expression "So... I'm sort of the guest of honor... I kinda have to be there..."

Bunny swallowed back down the bile that was suddenly filling his throat and shifted back from the boy a little. Jack was the Spirit of Winter? But how was that possible? But that meant he was going to be at the hands of Spring? But that couldn't happen! Jack was just a boy, a child! Even in immortal terms he was young, never mind the fact that he was frozen as a child when Manny had chosen him! He couldn't go! Bunny wouldn't let it happen. He thought back to the few times he had been to the Equinox, when he had said that it was about taking the piss out of Winter that wasn't even the half of it, it was basically a free-for-all torturing of Winter!

Oh sure, the ritual had its requirement, it was to take the years magic from the last Season to give power to the next, the way to do that was for the oncoming Season to physically dominate the previous and then drain it of it's power, then the previous Season would have to hibernate until it could gain the magic back ready for its time of year. It seemed to work perfectly well through Summer, Autumn and Winter however Spring's hatred of Winter had turned into something far more personal and cruel. Instead of the single two Spirits that embodied their seasons quietly performing the ritual together Spring would involve many others, if not nearly all of the other Spring Sprites and creatures to come along and enjoy torturing the Winter Spirit.

Bunny remembered the things he had witnessed, the Winter Spirit being pinned down to a stone table by magically summoned thorned vines that cut into his skin as he had struggled and tried to buck his body off the stone, ice shooting down the table to spread on the ground and trying to freeze anyone who would come near him. The Spring creatures surrounding the table to touch and hurt Winter, taking it in turns to rape him after the Spirit of Spring had already forced the act on him while the embodiment of the season had stayed close throughout the whole thing, always keeping contact with Winter to burn him with his warmer magic.

Bunny had stood off to the side, watching the whole thing in horror, again wondering why it was he had been dragged along to this thing, but he never went near the stone table, merely kept his distance as he listened to Winter's screams and cries. He could of left at anytime, the other spirits surely wouldn't notice his absence since they were so engrossed in what they were doing but he could never make himself leave, he wanted to see for himself that Winter was alright afterwards, if only to mildly lessen the horror.

And then when it came to the end and Spring was ready to release the magic that was held inside Winter he plunged a blade into the other Spirit's chest, the sickening sound of the attack making Bunny wince in sympathy while all the other Sprites just cheered and Bunny felt the rush of magic deep in his chest as the power was passed over, as his existence was fuelled by children's belief he didn't need this power like the other Spring creatures did, however he still received it, he looked forward to it, it always meant that it was nearly his holiday. Afterwards the Spirit of Spring and all the other creatures would move off, leaving the pained Winter Spirit to heave himself up from the table and Bunny stayed and watched as Winter struggled to his feet, his icy eyes dull and the wound in his chest freezing over. Bunny moved towards him to try to help, but Winter merely glared at him and hissed, ice quickly forming over his body to act as clothes and with once last hateful look Winter slowly flew away.

"I was hoping... maybe that if you was there, it wouldn't be so bad.." Jack was speaking again, pulling Bunny from his thoughts and he looked over his small form, quietly sitting on his bed surrounded by the ice his powers made in reaction to his distress, it had stopped for the moment spreading up to the pillows where a teddy bear sat, a gift from North, just another sign that Jack was so young.

"No" Bunny whispered before he realised he was talking, Jack's eyes shot to his watering slightly as fear spread across his face.

"But! Bunny! ... please I nee-" he was cut off from his panic as Bunny placed a paw on his shoulder to quietened him.

"No, you're not going" he spoke his voice stern "This has gotta be some mistake, ya ain't goin, maybe if we talk to the other Winter beings we can sort this out"

Jack's eyes stared into his, large blue pools of emotion "... but I've tried that before, they don't listen, I've even tried not going but the Snow Queen dragged me there..."

Bunny green eyes widened in horror "Before? What do ya mean before?! Jack they've done this before?!" his voice raised as did his own distress, making Jack flinch then nod.

"Jack... mate, how long have you been the Spirit of Winter?" the Pooka asked, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers with the paw that wasn't on Jack's shoulder.

"Three hundred years... since I became Jack Frost" the boy uttered and Bunny's soul felt like it had just been crushed.

For the boy's entire life as a spirit he had been hurt yearly, every time in the last three hundred years when Bunny felt that rush of magic in his chest it was because they were torturing Jack!

"Please Bunny... I need you there, maybe if they know we're friends they won't go so hard on me... or maybe you could even talk to Spring? Maybe you could convince him to just have the ritual be me and him? Like how it is with Autumn..." Jack gripped his staff closer to himself, his eyes searching as he looked at his friend.

Ok now he was sure he was going to be sick, Jack was talking about the terms of his own molesting "Frostbite... you can't go, I'll talk to some people and we will sort something out"

Jack looked at him for a moment and then sighed "But it has to happen, or Spring won't happen, Bunny the balance needs to be kept"

Bunny held back a pained sound from rising from his throat, Jack was right, the ritual did have to happen, but that didn't mean it had to involve Jack surely, why couldn't the Snow Queen, Old Man Winter or one of the others do it? Why did it always have to be Jack?

"Ok, look, I'll go have a chat with Spring. You just stay here until I come back" he said, standing up to his full height and looking in blue eyes he added "It'll be ok, I'm gonna sort this out" and to his surprise Jack shot up from where he had been sitting and threw his arms around Bunny's neck, fiercely hugging him.

"Thank you" he whispered against the furry shoulder, Bunny wrapped an arm around the thin body and patted him on the shoulder awkwardly and then put him down.

"I'll be back soon" was all the goodbye given as he tapped his foot against the floor and then promptly jumped down into the newly formed hole.

It took some time to find the Spirit he was looking for, but it wasn't too hard, being connected to the same season made it easier to sense where he was going and after a while of running through tunnels all around the world he finally tracked down Spring to a forest in Italy.

Bunny jumped out of the tunnel and saw the person he wanted to talk to standing a few feet away admiring a young tree.

"Spring!" he called and the figure turned around, Bunny glanced him once over and decided he didn't look like he had changed at all since the last time he had seen him. Bright green eyes, almost glowing rose to meet his and a smile broke out on his handsome face. Spring had tanned skin and golden blonde hair. His was the form of a man in his late twenties, his muscled body only covered by fresh leaves that worked like a pair of shorts. Bunny didn't know what Spring's real name was, just like Spring didn't know Bunny's, names were important and if someone knew your name and a little dark magic they could curse you, so it was best not to tell it to anyone. Obviously Jack had never learned that, happily giving out his name to anyone who asked.

"Easter Bunny" Spring greeted cheerily walking the short distance to the Pooka "What brings you here?"

Bunny crossed his arms across his chest as he spoke "I'm here about the Equinox"

Spring's grin grew wider "Oh? Will you be attending this year?" he asked in an open and friendly way, it just made Bunny want to punch him more.

"Look Spring, I want you to leave Winter alone" he spoke, his voice demanding and strong.

Spring's expression faltered "And why would I do that? You know the years power has to be passed on"

"Because I'm asking you to" Bunny growled, trying to keep a hold of his emotions, he had come here to talk, not start a fight, at least, not yet.

Spring's golden eyebrow rose cocky "I appreciate that you are of Spring yourself, and we both know you are far older than me, however that does not give you right to interfere with Seasonal business and besides, you've never had an issue with this before"

"But why does it have to be with him? Why can't the ritual be with another Winter being?"

"This isn't about Winter is it? It's about that boy?" Spring asked, and when Bunny's stern expression dropped for a moment the Spirit grinned like a cat "Aw you do care!" he chortled, and Bunny paused at the words, remembering when they had just met Jack. "I had heard that Winter had been accepted as a Guardian, but I wasn't sure. This is why you've come to talk to me? You've suddenly taken offence now that he's in your little trope?"

"He's a child Spring!" Bunny hissed, not liking how amused Spring now seemed by all of this or the way that he had began circling him, like he was about to pounce.

"He was a child, he isn't now. However I did take him when he was a child, you should of been there, his first Equinox as Winter, it was priceless!" Spring grinned even more, a nasty expression on his face. Bunny let out a curse and tried to punch the other spirit, who managed to dodge the blow just in time.

"You fuckin sick bastard!" he yelled and went to attack again, however vines appeared from the ground wrapping around his legs and arms, effectively pinning him where he stood.

Spring tutted at him and stepped closer leaning his face closer to Bunny "You my friend have a bit of a temper problem, you should try to fix that. Although I can't help but wonder are you now so protective of Winter because you want him for yourself?" he watched as the furious anger twisted Bunny's expression and he fought against his binds.

"He's my friend! I just want ya ta leave the poor kid alone!" Bunny howled, trying his hardest to break free.

"Uh huh, well I'm sure that's why you have taken such issue with all of this" Spring rolled his eyes before the grin returned "I think you should know however, if you do change your mind about being "Just friends" " he spoke and signalled air quotation marks with his fingers "with him, he takes cock so nicely, even if his body is a little chilly and he screams so prettily"

"Ya bastard! When I get free I'm fucking gonna break ya face!" Bunny screamed, Spring merely watched him struggle for a moment before his smirk dropped.

"Really now, that hurt my feelings" he frowned, but then the smirk was back "Maybe for that I should fuck him harder, I'll have the Sprites drag you there and you can watch while we hurt your precious little snowflake, how about instead of just taking the magic out of him we cut him open? I wonder if that little frozen heart of his still works? It would be interesting to find out"

Bunny paused his eyes wide open in fear, he knew that Spring wouldn't kill Jack but it didn't make the threat of hurting him more any less real.

"Oh? don't like that idea, huh?" Spring murmured, his face inches away from Bunny's "Well how about a compromise?" he asked

"Like what?" Bunny asked quietly, hating the mischievous look growing in the other's green eyes.

"Well the way I see it, you don't want me to fuck Winter, but a being of Spring magic has to for the season to change" he started and then gave Bunny a once over and a false look of inspiration appeared "Oh look at that! You're a being of Spring! Well this solves both our problems rather nicely doesn't it?"

Bunny swallowed around the lump forming in his throat "...You want me to...?"

"Fuck Winter" Spring finished "How about it? You perform the ritual with him, and I nor the others will touch him"

"...Why?" Bunny asked, feeling more and more trapped.

"Because it will amuse me, and I'm in a playful mood" Spring smiled brightly at him, seemingly friendly once again. "That's your choice, you can either watch as I and the other beings fuck your little friend, or you can do it while we watch, one choice will lead to a lot less suffering on his part, whether or not he can stand to look at you afterwards is a completely different issue"

Bunny stared away from him, feeling sick. This was his choice? To either stand back and watch as they tortured Jack? Or to rape him? Spring didn't look like he was going to give him anyway out of this, so it meant that he actually had to choose one of two evils. If he did it he wouldn't hurt Jack more than he had to, it would be quicker, he could try to help Jack actually enjoy it perhaps...

He looked back at the spirit, knowing that he had made his choice, it might of been selfish, but he couldn't watch as they tortured Jack, he couldn't stand the thought of hearing the boy's screams and not being able to help him, Jack would at least be safe in his arms, where they couldn't touch him and he just had to hope that Jack wouldn't completely hate him afterwards.

"I'll... I'll do it" he sighed, his ears flattening down in distress.

"Perfect" Spring smirked at him.

Author's note- I will return to writing 'I remember' just as soon as this is finished! Please review :3