Two Years Later….

Bunny hummed to himself as he painted another egg and then set it loose to let it run into his tunnels. He watched it go as he felt a cold gentle breeze came through one of his tunnels. Bunny's nose gave a twitch of a scent he knew by heart at this point.

He gave a smirk as a pale skinned boy wearing a brown hood over his head entered. "Thought you should know, you got a new group of gnomes living in your tunnels."

"Again?" Bunny replied irritated as he set down his paintbrush. "That might explain who's been smashin' my googies."

"Why can't you just call them walking eggs?" the boy replied as he pointed his wooden staff at him. "Anyway, don't worry. I threatened to freeze their butts off if they caused trouble."

Bunny chuckled. "Otherwise they face the wrath of Jack Frost?"

"You know it," Jack replied as he took a seat behind Bunny. "Speaking of which, I'm exhausted." He stared at his hands. "Who knew making it snow could be so tiring?"

"It is when ya not use ta havin' so much power," Bunny replied as he picked up another egg to paint. "How'd the flyin' go?"

"Better," Jack said as he leaned into Bunny's back and the chill from Jack's skin felt good on Bunny's sore muscles. "I'm not colliding into trees anymore."

Bunny chuckled. "Ah, an improvement then." It had been exactly four months since not only had Manny chosen Jack to be a Guardian like him and the others but he had come to live with Bunny in the Warren.

Bunny would always recall the night clear as crystal. Bunny had been deep in the woods of Canada when a moonbeam had come to him and beckoned for Bunny to come and follow. New Guardian been selected! Come! Come! It had whispered gently.

Bunny had been confused as he opened a tunnel and followed its directions. It had seemed rather sudden for Manny to choose a new Guardian without any mention to them and he didn't understand why it insisted that Bunny specifically be the one to greet the newcomer. Sandy was the oldest Guardian, it would be more fitting for him to greet the youngest. Granted, perhaps Manny had figured the last Guardian added should be the one to collect the next.

However, as Bunny appeared near a familiar forest and saw a brand new winter spirit standing in the middle of a frozen pond, Bunny understood. Jack had jumped when Bunny called out but the fear that had been written on his face instantly changed to relief as he charged forward and hugged Bunny like he had been expecting him.

It was then Jack explained what had occurred and they put two and two together. Jack had taken Mary skating but the ice had been too thin. They should have both drowned but Jack's quick thinking had saved Mary before he fell through the ice himself.

Bunny found this the hardest to swallow. Jack, the first human ever to have beaten the Pooka challenge and outwit the efforts of Pitch, ended up dying from simply drowning. Fate truly had a sick sense of humour.

Without a second thought, Bunny had taken Jack under his wing, gone to the Warren and spread word to the other Guardians. North hadn't seemed astounded at all to learn Jack had become a Guardian.

"Manny must have had eye on you since you beat challenge!" North had proclaimed. "You will make great Guardian."

Since then, the others had been assisting Jack in mastering his new powers over winter. North had offered a room for Jack at the workshop, but Jack had asked if he could stay with Bunny. Bunny had been shocked but the other three nodded approvingly, not surprised that Jack would ask such a request.

Bunny had found himself saying yes without a second thought and Jack had been in the Warren ever since. He had come to understand why Jack had asked to stay with Bunny. The fact was that Jack had drowned and left both his family and mortal life behind. Jack needed a quiet place to grieve and with someone who he knew had to go through it himself.

It took a while for Bunny to get used to a sudden cold breeze through the Warren but it was worth having the silent comfort of having another person with him. The Guardians were his family now but it felt nice to have another body in the Warren.

Jack had gone silent as he laid his staff on the ground. "I also dropped off the egg to Mary."

Bunny paused in his painting and turned his head back. He knew exactly what egg Jack meant. Jack didn't have believers yet and thus Mary couldn't see him, that had been difficult for Jack. The girl had been depressed since his death and he checked on her constantly.

"Did she get the message then?" Bunny asked quietly.

It had been Bunny's idea to pass a message on to her that Jack was alright. They spent days picking and painting eggs until they found the design Jack felt was just right. An image of Jack standing next to a rabbit, which Bunny hope Mary would translate to mean Jack was with Bunny.

Jack lifted his head and gave a half smile. "I think so. She didn't say anything to my parents though," he said as he hugged his knees.

That made sense, from what Jack told Bunny he and Mary had never told their parents about Mary being taken by a Pooka. Jack had figured his parents were more likely to believe their children had gotten lost in the woods than imagining Jack having to race through the tunnels, fight off the boogeyman and risk becoming a Pooka himself to get them both back home.

So, neither could imagine Mary would tell them about Jack living with that same Pooka now.

Jack raised his head and looked relieved. "She smiled, though, first time in months. I-I think she'll be okay."

Bunny lowered his brush and egg to ruffle Jack's hair. "I'm sure she will and ya know once ya get some believers she might be able to see ya."

Jack nodded, leaning into Bunny. "But it won't be the same."

"No," Bunny replied, gently. "But, that's part of change and all ya can do is take it one day at the time." He gave a smile. "Believe me, I know."

Jack nodded as he climbed to his feet. "Speaking of days," he turned and grinned. "What do you want to do for our anniversary?"

Aster blinked. "Anniversary? Ya only been here for a few months, what do ya mean anniversary?"

"Not being a Guardian," Jack said with a cocky grin. "It's been exactly two years since I beat your challenge."

Bunny stared and laughed. The day that not only did Jack beat a challenge no human should have been able to, but the day Bunny had gotten back his hope. How did he forget that? "And ya should get a reward should ya?"

"Of course!" Jack said mockingly. "I did beat you when you thought I couldn't."

"With help!" Bunny said as he jabbed a finger. "Ya wouldn't have gotten far without North, Tooth, and Sandy."

Jack's eyes softened. "And you."

Bunny went quiet and gave a smile back. "Yeah...well, ya would have made a terrible Pooka, mate."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "How can you have the nerve to say that when I got these," he lowered his hood and jabbed at his long fluffy ears. "As a result of having Pooka blood?"

Bunny laughed. Yeah, that had also been ironic. It seemed Manny's use of moon magic to revive Jack had caused the Pooka bloodin him to react. It didn't cause him to change into a full Pooka, but it had resulted in Jack growing a pair fluffy long rabbit ears and a small fluffy tail.

Bunny had teased him for quite awhile, and how could he not? The kid looked adorable. "Those are improvements if ya ask me," Bunny said. "But can't do much about ya personality, I'm afraid."

Jack smirked. "Oh, you're going to pay for that!" He then pinned Bunny to the ground and started to tickle his sides.

"Oh! Ya don't want ta wrestle me, Mate!" Bunny laughed as they started to tumble like a pair of bear cubs. They both laughed as they rolled in the grass, filled with joy that neither of them ever had to worry about being alone.

The End

Author's Note: So, that's the end folks! Thanks to all who read and enjoyed this story, I had fun writing it and I hope the ending was worth the wait. Also, feel free to send me any questions if anyone is confused about the ending here.