"But you're just a kid, mate!"

"I'm nearly 300 years old, Aster! I'm not a kid, and I know what I want!" Jack cried, pacing restlessly, "And what I want is you…"He trailed off, voice cracking painfully as he continued.

"So stop trying to shut me out, don't even try denying it, Bunny. I know you don't feel the same way, I've always known that. I mean, you're a Pooka!" He chuckled, his eyes held no amusement in them at all as he wrapped his arms around himself. "I've accepted that Ok? So don't treat me like a child. I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, maybe I just wanted to know that feeling so badly that I convinced myself that I was in love.." Jack choked out the word like it was poison, covering his mouth as a sob threatened to escape. He wasn't even sure if he wanted the Pooka's answer anymore since Tooth's idea of telling him the whole truth went so well.

Turning his teary eyes towards the source of his problem, who still hadn't moved since the confession, he opened his mouth but all that came out was a choked sob. Why wasn't he saying anything? Silence fell over the empty Warren, a thick cloud of pain and misunderstanding separated the two bodies.

"Please say something." Jack sobbed, his shoulders tensed as he fought to stay up as his defenses fell. "Bunny, please."

And that's what hurt the most, the lack of an answer. Not Bunnymund leaving, not being alone in the Warren that was usually so full of life, and certainly not the broken heart he now carried.

The wind carried Jack back to the pond where it all began. The ice on the lake had nearly turned to slush. You would never be able to tell though, not with the thin layer of snow on top. No families dared to skate on the ice now, as the April sun wore the ice dangerously thin.

Pressing lightly on the surface, it creaked and groaned under the winter spirits light steps. His bare feet kicked delicate patterns of frost as he made his way to the centre.

Did his family miss him? He wondered, laying on the snowy pond. Or were they glad he was gone. The only people he imagined would miss him would be the village's children and his sister, the shining star of his family.

What ever happened to her? Did she escape that village that held her back and travel the world like she hoped to? Jack always wanted the best for her, yet he could never bring himself to say it.

Letting himself sink back into that familiar feeling of being alone, he spread his weight out evenly on the ice, spreading his arms wide as he wished for the Sandman to come and take away all of his worries.

Not more than a few minutes after he closed his eyes, he felt a steady vibration underneath the lake which could only mean one thing.

Bunnymund was coming.