A/N: Hey guys! I posted this to AO3 yonks ago, but I'm cross posting everything here slowly but surely. I'll probably upload a new chapter every day because the whole thing is done and I don't like sitting on fics. Still feeling my way around 's format, but I hope all looks good! This fic's got unrepentant flangst, musings on the nature of storytelling, eggs, and far too much flower language, but here's hoping you like it!

It all started because of the most benign conversation.

"Now Jack," Toothiana said, eyeing him over her cup of chai, "Promise me you'll brush as soon as you get home. Tea can stain your teeth, you know."

Jack nodded and ran a hand along the delicately ornate table he and Tooth were sitting at. "Yeah yeah." He paused, fingering the colorful tiles that covered the top of the table, then glanced around at the room. Bright, gleaming tiles scattered beautiful patterns on the spires around them, and rich gold accented and heightened each design. Tooth's palace really was insanely beautiful, but the amount of detail that went into its design gave him an itchy feeling under his skin. Maybe it was a latent desire to mess things up a little. "You know, I've actually been thinking about that, Tooth," he said, turning his attention back to his equally colorful friend.

She cocked her head to the side and looked at him quizzically. "You've been thinking about brushing your teeth? Not that I'm complaining, but what brought this on?"

"No, not that!" he started, then seeing the crestfallen look on her face, quickly added, "Not that I don't brush regularly. Don't worry about that, Tooth."

"So what did you mean?" she asked, eyebrows raised.

Her tone told him that she was temporarily mollified, but Jack was glad to change the subject. "Home. I mean, you guys all have these giant fortresses you live in. Like a base of operations, you know? I don't have anything like that," he said.

She leaned forward in her seat, prompting Jack to sit back in his own. "You know, I've been wondering about that, Jack. Where do you live? None of us have ever seen your home."

Jack waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, you know. Here and there. I'm needed all over the world, so I don't sit still too long most of the time," he said lightly.

Tooth's expression, which had been mischievous and maybe just a bit wheedling, abruptly clouded. "Jack, you do have a home, don't you?"

"Well, nothing like this," he answered, gesturing towards the nearest grand tower. "Sometimes I'll sleep in trees or on roofs or something, but I don't really need to sleep that much, so I haven't really needed to have a house-"

"Jack," Tooth cut in, looking concerned.

"But," he pressed on, pointedly ignoring her tone, "Now that I'm a Guardian, I've been thinking about putting a place together. Now that I've got a few believers-" He paused a moment, allowing himself a moment to grin to himself over this development. He'd said the words to himself a few times, but they never seemed quite real. Believers. Kids who believed inhim. Who would have ever thought that Jack Frost would become a Guardian with actual believers? Tooth was opening her mouth to say something again, though, so he quickly pressed on, "Now that I have a few believers and my powers are starting to get stronger, maybe I can build a place for myself."

Tooth opened her mouth, then closed it as if she were still trying to decide exactly what she wanted to say. "Jack," she finally settled on, "You know that you can stay with us whenever you want to, you know. Any of us. All of us have more room than we know what to do with."

Jack shook his head vehemently, throwing his hair into even more disarray than usual. "No, that's not what I meant! I just-" He paused, trailing his finger around the rim of his tea cup, leaving a thin, sparkling layer of frost where he touched. "It might be nice to have a place of my own," he finally finished, well aware of how pathetic that might sound to an outsider.

It really wasn't a big deal, though. He'd always lived life on the wind, going wherever he pleased and causing general mayhem wherever that happened to be. Living the way he did let him visit with children far more often, and what would he do with all that space, anyway? It's not as if he'd ever had to entertain or anything. Now, though... Now things were changing. Now he had children that occasionally tried to contact him, and he was making friends that he wouldn't mind having in his personal space. And it wouldn't be bad to have a place where he could practice new tricks to play on a certain giant rabbit. Of course, having an actual base of operations would give Bunny a place to attack.

He frowned at the thought, and from the way Tooth's face fell, she'd obviously taken it exactly the wrong way. "It wouldn't be any trouble at all," she told him earnestly, and seeing his unconvinced look, she added, "And if you stay with each of us for a few days, you might get some design ideas for your own home."

Jack started inching his chair back from the table, starting to feel a little caged in by her unwavering gaze. "Really, Tooth, it's not a big deal. It was just a thought," he reassured. Then, before she could say much else, he pushed himself out of his chair. "It's been fun, Tooth, but London's been way too sunny this year." He flew up out of his chair and towards the open sky. "See ya later!"

He heard Tooth call his name as he flew away, but for once, Jack was quite sure that he didn't want to be noticed.

After a few inconsequential days, Jack was sure that Tooth had forgotten all about their conversation. After all, ever since she'd first started inviting him to tea a few years ago, they'd gotten into some really strange conversations. This was hardly the most memorable tea they'd had. He was sure right up until the day yetis showed up in Sochi and dragged him into a portal.

"Hey! What gives?" he grumped as he tumbled out into North's enormous foyer. "I don't know if you've noticed, but the Winter Games are in three weeks and I'm not about to let everything melt like last time."

"Jack!" North crowed in greeting, completely ignoring Jack's ire. "It is good to see you! Tooth tells me you are wanting to make a house!"

Jack got to his feet, starting to feel wariness creeping up his spine. "Tooth told you about that?"

"Yes," North said, suddenly grave. "Tooth comes to me, all a-flutter, and she says Jack has nowhere to live!"

Jack groaned. "It's really not like that-"

"Bah!" North exclaimed, trucking right along as if Jack had not spoken. "It is no problem, I tell her. I am great at building things!" He gestured expansively at the frenetic workshop around them. "Just look!"

"Yeah, I see," Jack said with a grimace. "Look, did Tooth just tell you, or-"

"Of course not! Tooth is worried, she visits with all of us," North said with a derisive sniff, as if Jack had impugned Tooth's dignity just by suggesting such a thing.

Jack sighed. "That's exactly what I was afraid of..."

North had shown him around every nook and cranny of his workshop, and had given him his own room. Jack had not missed the way North had casually added that it could be his room whenever he wanted to use it, even after he had his own home. This mantra was repeated a couple weeks later when Tooth had spirited him away to her palace, and again when Sandy took Jack to his dream castle in the sky.

Of all the places he'd visited, Sandy's home was by far his favorite, but also the one furthest out of his skill set. The entire castle was made of glittering dream sand, and it shifted and changed just as the dreams of children do. That was a realm Jack knew he would never get tired of, but he knew that his frost would never behave the way Sandy's sand did. He had bigger problems than icy physics, however, and the longer he stayed with his friends, the more one in particular started to gnaw at him.

One clear evening, when he and Sandy were sitting together on a shapeless, sandy cloud, he said, "So Bunny's the only one who hasn't dragged me to his house yet." He worked hard to keep his voice light, careful.

Sandy shrugged, images of dancing Easter eggs appearing above his head. Easter is soon, Jack interpreted.

"Yeah," Jack agreed, looking down and away. He pretended for a moment to be very interested in the sleepy town they were floating above. "Easter's in just a few months. He's probably too busy." Then he forced a laugh. "Not that I can see him wanting to have a slumber party with me, anyway."

Sandy rolled his eyes shook his head. He made a face at Jack that he couldn't quite interpret, but it seemed somewhat exasperated.

He looked silly enough that Jack's chuckle this time was real. "Can you imagine him letting me in his warren this time of year? Wayyy too many things to break or frost over," he said, the grin on his face wry but true.

Sandy puffed out a sigh, but made no move to further correct Jack. Instead he leaned back on the cloud so he could look up at the stars, a somewhat wistful expression on his face. After a few tugs on his sleeve, Jack leaned back to join him, and they lapsed into pensive silence.

Honestly, he wasn't even sure that he wanted Bunny to come collect him just as the others had. His relationship with the giant rabbit had improved since the time with Pitch, just as his relationships with the others had. All of them had been so unsure with him at first, like they were puzzle pieces but weren't yet sure what picture they were supposed to fit together to make. Over time, however, the rough edges had started to smooth into something comfortable. Well. He was comfortable with most of the Guardians now. Bunny, though... There was still tension there between them. Maybe it was because they had had the most fraught relationship before they were thrown together by the will of the moon, but there was an undercurrent of something Jack still couldn't quite put his finger on between them. Their paths crossed often enough, and Jack had become extremely fond of sneaking into the warren to cause trouble. Bunny, for his part, seemed to be playing up his irate retorts, playing at anger instead of truly feeling it. That, at least, had become familiar between the two of them. It was the quiet moments, though, that had Jack tied up in knots. When they'd sit together in the grass, exhausted and panting after chasing each other over hill and vale. In that half-second before Bunny schooled his features into safe irritation. When Jack's heart skipped a beat when Bunny called his name...

Okay, maybe Jack had an inkling of what to call the undercurrent, at least on his part. But the whole thing was just wildly impossible. Not only was Bunny, well, a bunny, but their personalities were completely different. He was sure that there was no way on earth a diligent, serious pooka would want a sprite like him. No, there wasn't much of a chance of Bunny even wanting Jack to be his friend, much less anything more.

Jack sighed deeply and rolled over so he wouldn't have to look at Sandy or the stars any longer. After all, Bunny hadn't even invited him to the warren.

Jack let himself sink back into a snowbank with a relieved sigh. Sochi had gone off without a hitch-well, weather-wise, at least. Not another disaster like Vancouver had been. Now he could have a well-deserved break in Burgess, maybe visit with a few of the kids, before he was on his way again. Burgess, to Jack's amusement, had become something of a hub for belief in Jack Frost, and he could feel that belief down in his bones whenever he visited. His power was growing to the point that he could feel it somewhere deep inside whenever his antics brought the kids genuine joy, and that feeling was never stronger than in Burgess. That was definitely why he visited so often. Definitely not to visit with Jamie and his friends, who were far too old to believe in Jack Frost and Santa Claus, but still inexplicably hung onto their belief. Well. Maybe a little bit to visit with Jamie. Call it a reward for working so hard to get the word out about Jack's existence.

A crunching behind him distracted Jack from his reverie, and he opened his eyes, blinking in the sunlight, to see a shadow stretching out over him. "Whoa!" he shouted, sitting bolt upright in the snow. He couldn't help but be a bit wary around shadows, still, but this time there wasn't much to worry about. He squinted at the figure standing above him for a moment, not sure if he was seeing properly. "Bunny?"

"Away with the pixies, are you, Frostbite?" Bunny asked, whiskers twitching as if at a private joke.

"I-what?" Jack's surprise was swallowed up by confusion. He glanced around. "I don't see any pixies." And a good thing, too. They were obnoxious little things, and they'd be out in full force in a few months.

"Never mind, lad. Here," Bunny said, reaching one paw down to help Jack to his feet.

Jack looked at him with some suspicion. Bunny very rarely did nice things for him without a catch. "What brings you all the way to Burgess, Bunny? It's a bit cold for you up here, isn't it?" he asked.

Bunny crossed his arms and gave Jack a look that was somewhere between annoyed and playful. Jack was not mollified. "What, can't a rabbit visit a mate without the third degree?" Bunny asked.

"No," Jack responded flatly. He surreptitiously took a look at Bunny's bandolier. He didn't see any of his egg bombs, but after being dyed completely pink once, a guy didn't take chances.

Bunny's ears drooped just a touch. "Fair enough. Tooth came by a bit ago, and-"

Jack cut him off with a groan. "Not you, too, Bunny!

Bunny bristled at that. "Oi! She's just trying to help you, you little blighter!" he snapped.

"I don't need help!" Jack retorted. "I've been doing just fine on my own!"

"Yeah, but you're not on your own anymore, are you?" Bunny growled, and Jack's mouth snapped shut. "Get your head out of your arse and stop being such a tool, you wanker. You've got people who worry about you now."

Jack's ire died as quickly as it flared up. He wasn't sure how Bunny even managed to rile him up as easily as he did. He put it down to being exhausted and to Bunny being obnoxious, not wanting to think too deeply on the matter.

Still, Bunny might have a point this time. Jack shifted uncomfortably. He hadn't meant to worry anyone. "It's not a big deal, Bunny," he finally muttered.

"You say that," Bunny said, voice full of derision, "But you look about ready to keel over right here in the snow. Wouldn't you prefer a bed?"

Jack hesitated at that. He'd gone a long, long time without a bed, but he'd gotten a bit spoiled over the past month or two. Still, though. "I don't need anyone to look after me," he said, well aware that he sounded petulant.

"Didn't say you did, mate. But I hear you've been admiring the architecture at everyone else's place. You might make a guy think there's something wrong with the warren," Bunny said, turning a keen eye on Jack. There was something knowing and a bit miffed in that gaze, and Jack, to his immense displeasure, felt his cheeks going a pale shade of lavender under the scrutiny.

"No!" he blurted out before he could think better of it. Bunny blinked at him, and Jack quickly amended, "There's nothing wrong with your warren. It's nice. Very... green. I just thought you'd be busy with Easter." Nice save, Jack, he thought to himself.

"Nah," Bunny said, his eyes finally warming at the mention of his holiday. "I've got a couple months yet before that comes around. Easter's late this year. Besides," he said, looking Jack up and down, "Always got time for a mate."

And now Jack was sure he was blushing, and from the raised eyebrow he was getting from Bunny, that fact had not escaped him either. "Well..."

Bunny grinned triumphantly. He knew when the tide had turned in a battle. He threw a furry arm around Jack's shoulders and said, "C'mon, Jacko, you look buggered. Why not crash at my place for a bit? Not long. Let's say a week?" he said, voice low and coaxing.

Jack, meanwhile, was trying very valiantly not to squeak. He cleared his throat once, twice, tried to ignore the warm weight around his shoulders and the clean scent of spring. "Fine," he finally forced out.

Bunny patted his shoulder conspiratorially. "Good onya, mate. We'll get you to rights before you know it."

"Yeah, yeah," Jack replied, trying his best not to look like a lamb being led to the slaughter.

Jack peered around with interest. He'd been down in the warren before, obviously, but he'd never been in Bunny's... well, "den" was as good a word as any. The entrance to the tunnels had been built into the side of a particularly picturesque hillside, forcing Jack to bite back a quip about Hobbits and holes. Careful, Jack. Pace yourself. Hold onto that one for a rainy day.

He'd expected the inside to be mildly dizzying and claustrophobic, but that was the last thing he felt as he stepped into Bunny's home. He appeared to be in some kind of living room with a large, squashy chair and a couch which didn't seem to have seen much use. Soft light emitted from lamps spread around the room, but they didn't seem to run on anything like electricity. The ground was soft beneath Jack's bare feet, a carpet of fuzzy moss with just the right amount of give. The ceiling was a bit low for someone Bunny's size, admittedly, but it was just right for Jack. He could float unencumbered and what could have been claustrophobic just felt cozy to him. Besides, there were holes in either side of the room, which presumably led to other rooms, and they really opened the place up.

"'ts not much," Bunny said next to him, standing a little too still to be casual. "But it's home."

Jack started. He'd almost forgotten that Bunny was still there. "No, no, I like it!" he said, then winced at how earnest his voice had sounded there for a minute. He changed gears. "Exactly what I would have pictured for a giant rabbit."

"Oi," Bunny admonished, but his tone was fond. He raised his arm so he could gesture with his thumb towards the hole on the left. "Kitchen's thataway, and if you'll follow me, I'll take you to your room." He set off towards the right, purposefully ignoring the way Jack trailed his fingers along the back of the chair, frosting the fabric slightly as he followed along.

His room. Just for this week, or would it be a permanent fixture, like at the others' homes? The question itched at the tip of Jack's tongue, but he held back. He couldn't quite put his finger on why he hesitated to ask, but he was pretty sure it was because he wasn't expecting to like the answer. Besides, no use in wearing out his welcome any faster than he inevitably would.

Bunny led him down what in a normal house would be a hallway, but in the den was a winding tunnel. Jack could see a network of roots, vines, and creepers helping the tunnel to keep its shape, and he could just imagine Bunny encouraging them to wrap just so, using his unique powers to mold the world he would live in. He couldn't quite imagine his own hands creating a domicile with such skill, but there was still time.

"The linen closet's that way," Bunny was saying, pointing down one crooked tunnel, "And the dunny's over there."

"The what?"

"The loo, ya boofhead."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Yes, that was completely obvious to all non-kangaroos," he said, making sure to inject gentle teasing into his voice. He was pretty sure they were past the need for actual insults, but it was good to be clear. Now those fond insults, on the other hand, he could get behind. There were a few that Jack was pretty sure Bunny only used on him, like Frostbite and Snowbird, and the warmth with which Bunny said them was something he'd definitely had to get used to. He was at the point now where he wouldn't smile like a dope, but it was hard.

"Not my fault you don't know a bloody thing about other cultures, Frostbite." Yeah, right there. Fight that grin. "Well, this is yours, Jacko." Bunny stopped outside a small, rounded door set into the wall and tapped an absent little tune into the wood. "To tell you the truth, mate, the place is a bit of a maze, but you're welcome to wander around a bit if you like, get your bearings."

Jack raised a playful eyebrow. "You sure you trust me to wander in your warren all alone?" he asked.

Bunny glanced at him for a moment, gaze casual but assessing. "Yeah." The back of Jack's neck started to itch under the scrutiny, but just as quickly as he'd looked, Bunny turned his attention back to the door. "Just don't go mucking about playing pranks, you little yobbo. Don't want to come by and find you've frosted up the library."

"Library?" Jack asked, pricking up at the thought. That would definitely give him something to do in this hole in the ground. For all his friendly overtures, Jack still wasn't sure that Bunny was much good at entertaining a non-possibly marsupial mythical creature.

Bunny tilted his head towards the other end of the tunnel. "Yeah, down there a ways. Feel free to visit."

"Thanks, I will," Jack replied, finally giving a genuine smile. It faltered a little, though, when Bunny blinked at him, a strange look on his face.

"Yeah, well," Bunny said, clearing his throat and turning back to the door. "I'll let you get to it, then. Put out some fresh flowers to make the place seem a bit more homey, and the quilt on the bed's freshly laundered." He paused for a moment, seeming to be a bit at a loss. "I'll rustle up some tucker later on, and you can come get me if you need anything."

"Thanks," Jack repeated.

The two of them looked at each other for a moment, the silence lengthening-and then broke out laughing. It was like a spell of awkwardness had finally been lifted, and Jack was glad to see it go.

"Aw, enough of this then," Bunny finally said, wiping at an eye with his paw and turning to go. "I'll be around later, yeah?"

"Yeah," Jack replied, still smothering chuckles. He watched Bunny go, then turned back to his new room.

He opened the door and walked in, curiously examining the little bedroom. He realized abruptly that Bunny's definition of "fresh flowers" was a bit different than other hosts'. Instead of a tasteful vase full of fresh-cut flowers, Jack found a thick carpet of lush grass scattered with tiny white flowers covering the floor of his room. Wild thickets of ornate-looking flowers started in semi-organized flower beds and crept up the wall, creating the illusion that he was in some kind of floral sanctuary instead of a hole underground. He approached one of the flowers, a purple doozy with little yellow splotches, and marveled at the size of the blooms. He didn't know much about flowers, but he knew that they didn't usually grow so large or so beautiful. It had to be Bunny's magic; the plants in the room were bursting with vitality and Jack had an inkling that the seemingly random placement was actually coaxed into being with care.

He took a deep breath of the sweet, floral aroma and settled his pack on a small bed with a soft, cozy-looking quilt. Maybe he had been too quick to worry about Bunny's ability to welcome a more human guest into his home.