Between wandering North's workshop for about twenty minutes, getting told that North was in adifferent room every time he asked one of the yetis where he was, and tripping over nearly fifteen of the useless elves, Aster was NOT a happy Pooka. Now he was in North's study where Aster was told he would be, but then again he had also been told he was in the infirmary, the construction room, the globe room, and the lounge. Patience at its end, Aster shouted "NORTH! WHERE THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU?!". Aster scanned the room one last time then impatiently turned toward the door, when suddenly Aster felt a hand roughly grab the back of his neck and forcefully pull him back.

"Bunny! What a pleasant surprise! How have you been?" North said loudly before pulling Aster into a tight hug that lifted him off of the ground. A hug that was actually getting considerably tighter and Aster was having a hard time breathing. Aster was shocked by the fact that he hadn't noticed North in the room, but soon his thoughts turned form trying to figure out where he had been, to if North was really about to crush him. North dropped his voice to a whisper "Can I ask that you watch your language in front of the elves? They are very impressionable you know." After saying that, North dropped Aster and took a step back. "Now then, I take it something is the matter?". Aster coughed a few times trying to breathe again, silently cursing the giant of a man for nearly killing him. Death by hug was not how Aster wanted to go out.

After finally regaining the ability to breathe, Aster began to speak, "There is something seriously wrong with Jack.". North looked at Aster, then started grinning, then broke out into a full out laugh "Well of course there is something wrong with Jack, nobody's perfect. What did he do? Mix up your paint brushes again?" Aster tried to speak up "No you big idio-" But North kept going, cutting him off. "Or did he mess with some of your eggs? You know, he is only kidding when he does these things, you need to lighten up Bunny. Why just last week-". Aster had had enough. He raised his voice to near shouting level and said, "I did not come here to trade laughs with you! I came here because something is seriously wrong with Jack, and I'm worried.".

At this North's smile faded, "I didn't realize you were being serious. I am sorry. What has happened to Jack?" he said, his face now riddled with concern. "Earlier today," Aster began, his ears somberly lowered "I was walking home when I heard Jack talking. At first I thought he was just brooding because I took his staff from him, so I kept walking. But then I could have swore I heard a voice. Not Jack's, someone else's, but it was too quiet to make out who it was. I turned back to go see who it was, but when I found Jack he was alone.". North listened with undivided attention, his eyes never leaving Aster's face "Not only that, but he was an absolute wreck. He was sitting on his knees and he was crying so hard, he wouldn't even stand up. So I picked him up and took back to my home. He fell asleep while I was carrying him, and I set him down on my bed before I came here.". Aster finished his story and stared at north. "So? What do you think is wrong with him?".

North thought for a moment, then promptly answered, "I have no idea.". Aster's mouth hung open in shock. North was supposed to have an answer for everything He was the guardian of wonder for goodness sake, problems weren't supposed to get the better of him! "Do you mean to tell me I wasted half an hour coming to you?!" Aster shouted angrily "Damn it! Forget it! I'll figure out what's wrong with Jack myself!" He turned to leave again, but North grabbed him again, this time much more gently. "Bunny wait. I know you're worried about Jack, but you need to have patience. Trust me, I will figure out what is wrong with Jack, but you can't expect me to know what is wrong with him immediately. Tell me, did something seem different about Jack to you?"

"You mean besides the fact that he just had a breakdown?!" Aster snapped, but North shot him a look and he dropped the anger from his voice. He thought for a moment, then said "Well, now that you mention it, he did smell kind of different." At that North's expression changed to one of amusement. "You've been smelling Jack?". Aster scowled "Not like that! I can smell everyone just by being in the same room as them. For instance, you smell like gingerbread, tooth smells like mint, Jack smells like snow, and Sandy smells like-" North cut in, "Ok, ok. What do you mean Jack smelled different?"

"Well he didn't just smell like snow, he smelled like snow mixed with ash. The only person I know that smells like ash is… Is Pitch" Aster said. North ran a hand over his beard then said, "Ok, I think I have an idea of what's going on here. If I am right, then somebody needs to stay with Jack all of the time. You said he fell asleep in your arms, right?" Aster nodded and North smiled "Then it shall be you who does that. This problem is more than just depression, and he needs to be with someone he is comfortable around. The fact that he was able to fall asleep in your arms proves that he is pretty comfortable with you." Aster looked surprised "Jack doesn't like me. I'm pretty sure he hates me.." he said sadly.

North just smiled. "You really think Jack hates you? You couldn't be more wrong if you tried. Why do you think I sent him to your warren? Because he can't get out of it? You and I both know Jack can find a way to leave if he wanted. I sent him because I thought…" North trailed off. "You thought what?"Aster asked, but North just shook his head "Tell you what, I'll tell you why after we fix Jack, ok?"

Aster stared silently at North for about a minute, trying to figure out what North was going to say. When he couldn't think of anything, he gave up. "Fine, but you better fix Jack soon or I swear…" With that, Aster turned to leave, and this time North let him go. As he left he failed to notice the grin painted on North's face.

HEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYY! Three months later, I finally did it! I tried to add more detail to it in the beginning because I felt the other chapters didn't have enough, but then I sort of gave up halfway through. Oh well, I'm happy I finally did this, turns out I just have to MAKE myself start writing, then I get really into it. Hey do you guys think the accents are ok? I know I don't really put accents in, but I automatically read it with the accent so I don't like writing out the accent… oh well, here it is, and I honestly enjoyed writing it. Just a little concerned that it got a little rushed at the end. I'm not gonna say when the next chapter is coming out, cuz honestly I made like three updates saying "soon" for this chapter lol, so I'll try to get it up soon, but no promises! Or updates, cuz apparently I can't make those… which seems kinda stupid to me, but whatever… see you next time! (next we will look at jack!)