Down the Rabbit Hole (2013)

It was a strange feeling for Jack, to suddenly belong to a group of people, who didn't look straight through him. He felt like it was too good to be true – like it could disappear completely, if he wasn't careful. He had gone so long without any form of physical company, that he wasn't quite sure how to deal with it.

Though, thankfully, for the most part, the others made it easy for him.

North treated him like a son, and declared that he would always welcome Jack into his home, whenever he needed it – a promise that Jack frequently made use of, frequenting the pole whenever he felt like relaxing or getting up to some mischief with people who could see him.

Tooth was similar, mothering him without end and constantly inviting him to the palace for lunch. She enjoyed talking to him and asking him about his past. He never revealed much, but she enjoyed their time together all the same, whether she could tell if he was withholding information from her or not.

Honestly, it was hard to feel awkward with people who were so open to caring about him.

Sandy, for his part, wasn't around too often, but made a point of visiting whenever he could in order to catch up with his old friends, and to keep Jack company.

Jack noticed that Sandy tended to visit most often when his dreams were less than pleasant, and he was having restless nights. During those times, Sandy would suddenly appear, silently comforting Jack with his presence alone. It never mattered where Jack was, Sandy would appear out of nowhere, as though he always knew where Jack was – which he probably did...

Jack was always grateful whenever he saw the bright smile of the little golden man, and his dreams eased just at the thought of Sandy keeping watch over them.

Then, there was Bunny.

The old rabbit had made himself scarce soon after Pitch's defeat. North had assured Jack that it was normal – Bunny wasn't a very social creature, and preferred to keep to himself.

"He'll show up when he needs to!" North had reassured him joyfully. "Always hides in his hole when there's nothing to do."

Jack quickly forgot about it, and stopped worrying over the matter. To be honest, he was almost grateful for Bunny's absence. Not that he didn't want Bunny around, but Jack wasn't yet sure how okay he was with so much attention. The added attention of Bunny, and their constant bickering, might have been too much...

Between North, Tooth and occasionally Sandy keeping an eye on him constantly, and showering him with what they deemed as "much needed affection", Jack could feel his sanity slipping. He was so used to being on his own all the time, that it was always jarring when he was reminded that at least one of them always knew where he was, at all times.

Almost unsettling, if he was completely honest. But he wasn't about to complain. This was exactly what he had been asking for, for so long. He'd be damned if he was caught complaining about how smothering it all was, even for only just a second.

He loved the Guardians, and everything they did for him. But in all honesty, he felt a bit suffocated.

It was like getting that puppy you always wanted, and when your parents finally relented and gave you one, you loved it unconditionally, but it slobbers so much that you can't help but feel the need to push it away every now and then.

However, Jack knew that he'd have to get used to the overwhelming affection, if he was ever going to make this work. As it was, North believed that he spent too much time away, and alone, which was ridiculous, considering how long he had managed doing just that, before he became a Guardian. There was no need for North worry so much about a few days of solitude. Tooth wanted nothing more than to keep him under her wing at all times, and constantly asked if he wanted to collect teeth with her – which he did not, but there was no telling her that. And sometimes – just sometimes – Jack felt it might be better if Sandy DIDN'T know that he was suffering in his sleep every now and then. He didn't want to admit it, but the pitying yet loving smile that Sandy always gave him, whenever he showed up to chase away Jack's nightmares, was sometimes too much.

Jack didn't like feeling like a victim. He wasn't weak. A few nightmares weren't pitiful – everyone gets them. Maybe not as often, but then, no one had ever lived for so long, completely alone.

And to Jack, his isolation was a badge of pride – he'd survived it, and had come out all the stronger for it. He had learned that he didn't need to rely on others to make it through the tough spots. He can get things done on his own, if need be.

Working with the Guardians simply taught him that some problems were better solved with a team. Having someone you trust, to have your back, can make you stronger.

But working alone and working with a team – neither were pitiful.

And these nightmares would fade in time. Slowly but surly, he'd forget all that he had suffered. They were past torments that no longer mattered in the grand scheme of things, and he could forget them.

Jack just hoped that Sandy would let his pity fade in time as well...

It was a strange feeling indeed, to want for their attention and love so badly, and yet, at the same time, to feel like it was all too much and was drowning him.

And Jack knew very well that he didn't like drowning...

So when those rare days came, when he could get away from them for an extended period of time, and return to being the "him" that he knew best, he almost always felt a great relief, that shook him to his core.

For just a few days, he could pretend that he wasn't a Guardian, who now had plenty of friends to keep track of him. Friends who worried about whether he was okay or hurt.

He could pretend that it was just him again. Him and Wind against the world, and all those who lived in it.

It's hard to let go of solitude, when you've lived in it for so long - even if you did absolutely hate it before. What it did to your psyche wasn't healthy...

But, like a bad habit, it just stuck, and Jack could only see good in keeping a hold of it.

North, Tooth and Sandy were just a bit too much, and he needed rest.

If someone gave him another sudden hug, he was going to scream. Another pitying smile, and he'd run for Antarctica and never look back.

Thankfully though, today was one of those rare days of isolation. North was busy, with Christmas right around the corner, Tooth was visiting some old friends in another country for the week, and Sandy was somewhere unspecified, as always.

As long as his sleep wasn't fretful, Jack was in for a good long week of just him and himself.

He entertained the idea of visiting Jaime and the other kids, but quickly dashed the idea. He could visit them whenever he'd like. There was no need to visit them now, on his rare day. As much as he loved those kids, he really just needed to be without affection for a few days.

So, with that in mind, he flew over Europe, in the hopes of finding a nice "vacation" spot to settle in for the time being. Someplace without too many people, where he could enjoy the ambiance of wherever he chose.

Perhaps a waterfall in a forest? No, no... He spent too much time in forests. He needed to get out more. Someplace populated, but not too crowded would be just fine for today.

He passed over Denmark, and was suddenly reminded of a beautiful place that loved winter as much as he did.

The seaside city of Copenhagen was a wonderful place, that he regretfully didn't visit as often as he should. The people here would appreciate his presence, even if they couldn't see him, and the joyful play of kids and adults alike, all enjoying the cold outdoors, would put him at ease as he meandered about.

He decided to play tourist for the day, and began exploring.

He played with some kids first, rousing them into snowball fights and creating big enough snow mounds for them to sled down. When he was satisfied with the intensity of their play, he left them. He played with some ice skaters next, letting Wind give them an extra push to give them speed, and coating the surface of the water with extra layers of frost – just to be safe.

When he was happy enough with the amount of fun he had spread, he took time to himself.

He visited a couple of libraries and marveled at the size of some of them. He wasn't much of a reader though, so he didn't stay long in any of them. A couple museums were next on his to do list. The National Museum of Denmark and the Danish Jewish Museum were interesting, but didn't hold his attention for long. Tojhusmuseet was a bit more entertaining, but still didn't quench his tourist thirst, and the few art museums that he found outright bored him.

He visited the Tycho Brahe Planetarium, and enjoyed some of the shows they had playing. He took notice of the large mural on the side of a nearby building, next to the planetarium, and took a moment to appreciate its size and intricacy - so many faces - before flying off again.

He flew over Amalienborg and smiled at the other visitors who crowded around the equestrian statue in the center of the large, square plaza. He would have to tour through the palace one of these days, but he decided that today wasn't that day.

Passing by the Copenhagen Cathedral, he took a quick peek inside and marveled at the bright, white interior. The simple, but beautiful, candle chandeliers shined wonderfully above the aisles and statues of men. He could feel the spirit of good will here, and took a moment longer to take it all in. He paid his respects to the statue at the altar, and then quietly made his way out.

Decidedly done with touring the city, Jack made his way towards the ocean, in the hopes of finding a beach to rest upon. Instead, he came across an interesting statuette that rested on some boulders in the bay. There were a few people around it, taking pictures, but it was decidedly too cold for the tourists to be out and flocking around here, near the chill of the ocean.

Landing, Jack got a good look, and discovered that this was The Little Mermaid. Not an actual mermaid, but a memorial of sorts, to the classic story. Jack vaguely remembered that this was Hans Christian Andersen's home before he died.

Jack took a moment to play on the statuette. With no one to see and lecture him over climbing on a beloved icon, he felt free to do as he pleased. It was a freedom he dearly missed since becoming a Guardian.

"Jack, don't do that", and "Jack, that's not for you", and "Jack, get down from there" and on, and on it went. He really was getting tired of hearing these things. He was 318 years old for Heaven's sake! He should be allowed to do whatever he damn well pleased.

Taking a deep breath, and suddenly not interested in playing with the statue anymore – he was posing for the pictures, as if he were a part of them – he got down and began to walk along the pier. The sun was getting lower in the sky, though it was not yet setting, leaving the sky a darkening blue, and the water rippling shades of yellow and pink. As he looked out over the cold ocean, he caught a glimpse of a few figures swimming below the surface.

Interest piqued, he flew over to them, carefully staying away from the waters surface.

As he hovered there, looking for any sign of the beings he had seen, a face suddenly greeted him. She had large eyes, and bright, wet green hair. She looked up at him in awe, and he returned it.

"Hello." he greeted, and for a moment, she said nothing. But then she smiled, giggled in a bubbly way, and then splashed him with some water, before diving back down below. The water instantly froze to his body, and he chose to ignore it.

More importantly, Jack couldn't help but take notice of the webbed fingers, the gills on her neck, and the large, finned tail as she left.

Just barely, he could make out her figure below the surface – green as spring grass – and a few others, all playing together below the surface.

They must be the inspiration for the story - or their ancestors were...

Jack wondered how long mermaids actually lived. Were they immortal, as he was? And if not, did they have long or short lifespans? Did they understand the significance of the statue that sat just above their home, or was it just another silly human thing, that meant nothing and looked nothing like them? Did Hans Christian Andersen actually see a mermaid, or did he make it all up based on the already existing "myth" of their presence.

Jack would have liked to ask, but he dared not enter the water to get their attention, and before he could come up with an alternative, they had swum away, out of sight.

With a sigh, he flew away, back towards land.

He came across a beautiful fountain, which had yet another statuette. This one was of a woman who stood behind four bulls, who were pulling her on some sort of mini-chariot. The sun was beginning to set, and with the darkening sky, lights began to come on throughout the city. The fountain was no different, and before his eyes, the fountain began to glow luminously.

It was a beautiful sight, and he sat down nearby to watch.

Slowly, the lingering people who were still out and about began to disperse and disappear into their homes or hotels. Before too long, Jack was all on his own, in the silence of the oncoming night.

He decided that now would be a good time to find somewhere to sleep. He knew that he could go back to the pole, and rest there, but he didn't want to disturb this peace that he felt. If he happened to run into North before he could sleep and leave without being noticed, he knew that he'd lose this feeling of content.

He loved North, but the man's intense, busy nature would undoubtedly settle into Jack if he was around the older man for even a moment. He didn't need that stress right now. It was vacation time.

So he set out to find a tree or an abandoned bed to sleep in.

As he flew around, Wind messing with him every now and then, Jack happened to notice something out of the corner of his eye.

It was a Botanical Garden – that much was obvious. Vegetation covered every corner of the property, with ponds filled with lovely lily pad-like plants, and what might as well be a palace of glass, but it was clearly just a large greenhouse.

These things weren't what caught Jack off guard though. No, what he had noticed had been something that was completely out of place, and in normal society, wouldn't belong.

Jack immediately changed course and went to land.

For once, there was no hesitation as he walked up to Bunny.

The older spirit's back was to Jack, and he was obviously not expecting anyone to take notice of him, as he was very dedicated to whatever it was he was doing, and he paid no heed to the sounds about him.

He probably thought Jack was just a regular human, who was out and about at odd hours of the night.

Which made it very easy for him to sneak up on the overgrown rabbit.

He leaned over just enough to see Bunny hard at work, painting the likeness of a beautiful yellow flower that grew before him, in a sketch pad.

Jack stayed there for just a moment, simply watching the fascinating artwork that was taking shape before him. Bunny was very fluent, having obviously mastered the art of painting a very long time ago, and smoothly painted with ease, as though he could do it in his sleep.

He was clearly in the zone though, and Jack knew that he'd likely be there for hours before Bunny noticed Jack's presence on his own. So, with that in mind, he had no problem with calling attention to himself.

"That looks good." he complimented quietly, not wanting to anger the temperamental spirit. Even so, Bunny jumped very noticeably, and Jack cringed a bit when he noticed a stray paint mark, freshly made. Bunny saw it as well, and grunted, partially annoyed, before turning half-way to face Jack.

"How did you find me here?" he asked with a glare. Jack hid the hurt he felt, at the notion of Bunny not wanting him around. The hurt faded quickly though, as he knew better. Bunny just liked being alone. It had nothing to do with Jack, and everything to do with not wanting company. Jack reminded himself that, that was the very reason he, himself, was in Copenhagen, in the first place.

To be alone.

Even so, Jack shrugged nonchalantly, and began to hover about in a comfortable manner.

"Don't get your fur in a clump cottontail. I was just enjoying the tourist attractions around here, and happened to see you. I thought it was only polite to at least say hi." He landed next to Bunny and crouched down to be more level with the rabbit, and smirked. "Or would you have rather I sprinkled snow on your nose first?"

Bunny huffed in mild disapproval of the idea, before he turned back to his painting without a word. He began fixing the mistake, before continuing his work.

Jack suddenly wondered if that was his cue to leave, and tittered on the decision to stay put or to leave.

However, his silent awkwardness was interrupted by Bunny actually initiating a conversation. And a civil one at that!

"You ever been to Copenhagen before?" Jack was startled, and took a moment to realize that he was supposed to answer.

"Oh, um... Yeah. Yeah, I've come around here a couple of times. Never really looked around before though. I usually just played with the kids and then left."

"What made you play tourist today?"

"Uh..." Jack shuffled a bit, nervously. He didn't want to admit that he was basically avoiding the others. But he couldn't just say nothing, or else that would be suspicious...

"I just... happened to have a few days off, is all." He kept himself from saying any more than that. He heard Bunny huff again, apparently appeased with that answer. He focused a bit more on his painting, but just before Jack started feeling awkward again, he continued.

"Where'd you go?" Jack sighed in relief at this. He could answer that question.

"A few museums, the planetarium, a fountain... oh! I saw some mermaids near that Little Mermaid statue!" Jack was excited to talk about them with someone so soon after spotting them. He had thought that he was going to have to wait until the end of the week, in order to talk to Tooth about them, but now Bunny was here, and seemed interested. What luck!

Bunny halted in his painting for a moment and turned to Jack momentarily, a small smile on his face.

"They're real beauties, aren't they? Don't normally like talking to spirits though... You're lucky to have seen 'em."

"Really? I don't know much about them. I've never even seen one before." Bunny went back to painting as Jack thought quietly.

"Why do they not like spirits? The one I met seemed interested."

"They're just a quiet species, and prefer to keep to themselves. They can't speak very easily – they're vocals aren't meant to be used above water – so they don't visit the surface very often. The males are ugly, and don't like being seen by surface-dwellers. Even so, they're playful by nature. She was probably startled by your presence, but took it in stride. I assume she didn't stick around for long?"

Jack sighed in a jokingly wistful manner. She hadn't stuck around for long, and had left almost as soon as she'd appeared.

"Don't look so downtrodden. You're lucky just to have seen one. I haven't seen any in over five-hundred years, and they like me."

"Really? Why do they like you?" Bunny acted offended at this.

"What's not to like? I'm a likable fella, I'll have you know." Jack couldn't help but laugh at that.

"Sure Bunny, sure." he continued to giggle as Bunny rolled his eyes and continued painting. He was almost finished now, and it looked almost perfectly identical to the real thing before him.

"I've helped many of them in the past. Whether they wash ashore, or humans are endangering their homes... I've been on this earth longer than anybody, so I've been around to help, when they needed it. It's become a mutual trust. They know that I mean no harm, and I leave them well enough alone when they don't need me."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense." Jack said, easing out of his giggling. He thought about asking more questions, like about mermaid lifespans and whatnot, but decided that he could save those questions for later.

"Sooooo... What brings you to Copenhagen?" he asked suddenly. Bunny stopped for a brief moment in painting to contemplate the question, before continuing.

"Easter prep." he said simply, and Jack immediately quieted. With all that had happened, whenever he got involved with Easter, he felt extremely uncomfortable with the topic. He had messed up Easter one too many times, and he could tell that Bunny didn't want to talk about it either.

'Stupid.' thought Jack to himself. 'With Easter right around the corner, what did you think he was doing here...' He quickly tried to save the conversation.

"So, painting? Why are you painting flowers?" he internally yelled at himself as he said it, because he just knew that, somehow, that would lead back to the forbidden topic. He should have just stayed quiet or left...

"I finished up early and decided to take a short time off, to rest. Painting is my rest time." Bunny responded shortly. He was obviously closing off already. Each time he had to even vaguely mention why he was in Copenhagen, was leading their conversation closer and closer to death.

"Oh, cool..." Jack quietly tried to think of a way to stop the awkwardness from growing. "What kind of flower is it?" That's it! Talking about the plant directly couldn't possibly lead back to Easter!

"It's a Common Yellow Azalea. This one is young, so there's only a few blossoms." he raised one of his paws and pointed towards a grouping of larger Azaleas, with many, many blossoms growing vibrantly. They might as well be bushes. As far as Jack knew about plants, they probably were.

"Wow, they're beautiful!" he praised them, as they were quite attractive. Their golden color was vibrant, even under the moonlight. "I can see why you'd paint them."

Bunny huffed a bit in response, though Jack couldn't interpret the emotion behind it. It sounded neutral, but he wasn't sure.

"I'm not painting it 'cause it's pretty." he finally spoke up. "I'm painting it, because it means something to me."

Jack spoke before he could think about the words, and instantly regretted it.

"What does it mean to you?" As soon as he asked, he bit his lip. It wasn't his place to ask something like that. He and Bunny were far from being all "buddy, buddy", so there was no way Bunny would take a question like that lightly.

"It reminds me of a time long since passed. That's all you need to know." Jack was startled at how honest and not-angry Bunny had been with that response. He had expected a curt, "None of your business" or a "bugger off" or something. A simple, but honest reply was the last thing he expected to get.

Maybe they were, somehow, closer than they had been before...

Jack thought on that idea for a moment. Bunny was just finishing up the painting when Jack came to a decision.

"I'm sorry, you know." Jack whispered under his breath. Bunny turned to him, with a stern but confused expression, but otherwise remained quiet. Jack took that as his cue to continue.

"I've messed up a couple of times in the past, and I just want you to know that I've never meant any of it. Those times when I ruined your holiday," he watched sullenly as Bunny grimaced at this, but still remained silent. "It was never meant to spite you, or anything. That first time was honest-to-God an accident. I didn't know that my powers would get so out of control without my knowing..."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Bunny snapped quickly. His eyes bore daggers into Jack, daring him to say the wrong thing. Jack gulped and answered as best he could, without mentioning exactly WHY his powers had gone out of control.

"Something bad happened shortly after I met you – please don't ask me what – and my emotions spiked. I was so focused on trying to stop the bad thing, that I didn't realize a blizzard had started up around me. My emotions and powers are linked to each other, and at the time, I hadn't seen a need to learn how to keep my emotions in check in order to keep my powers from going all over the place..."

Jack took a breath here, and let his confession sit with Bunny for a moment. He was relieved to see a bit of the malice fade from Bunny's expression, as he mulled over what Jack had said.

"And then, last time, with Pitch..." At this, Bunny's malice returned, though it was obvious that he was more willing to hear Jack out, than he probably would have been before the first confession. His ears stood at attention, interested in what Jack had to say.

"The truth is, I got selfish..." Jack saw the, "No shit" look that Bunny gave him, but let it slide. He deserved that look.

"I spent so long alone, with no memories of anything, that the moment I heard something that I recognized, I couldn't keep myself from racing after it."

"What do you mean?" Bunny asked sternly. He made it clear, with just one look, that he wasn't going to let Jack get away with withholding any information this time. He wanted every last detail. Jack sighed.

"I didn't know it at the time, but it was my little sister's voice that I heard." Jack heard Bunny's breath hitch for a moment, and marveled at the fact that this little detail actually meant something to the older spirit. "It was after I dropped off Sophie, and I swear I was going to go straight back, but when I heard her voice, calling to me... I couldn't help myself. It was like my heart had been grasped tightly, and I couldn't just ignore it. The one thing I had been yearning for, for three hundred years..."

Jack felt himself start to shake at the thought. He suddenly remembered why he hated isolation so much.

"I couldn't just go back to the Warren. I had to know who she was – where the voice was coming from. In hindsight, I was stupid. I rushed in without thinking, and that was my mistake. And it cost us – you – way too much. I shouldn't have done it. I know that now, but-"

"Jack." Bunny's voice brought Jack out of the repetitious thought process that he was falling into. "What happened when you found where the voice was coming from?"

Jack cringed at the memory. Pitch had played with him – with his emotions and fears. Those hauntingly dark hallways still plagued his dreams at night.

"I found my teeth, in Pitch's hideout. Baby Tooth kept trying to pull me away – she had a better head on her shoulder than I did... We found all the teeth and the other fairies. I planned on letting them out, but then I heard her voice again, and my heart just... I had to find her."

The shaking was clearly visible now. Jack was grateful that Bunny wasn't mentioning it, even though he was certain that the older spirit had noticed.

"Then Pitch showed up, with my teeth in his hands. He started playing mind games with me, using my own fears against me. Somewhere along the way, I got separated from Baby Tooth, but it was too late by the time I realized that she was gone. Pitch messed with my head, and kept me away from you all, long enough to destroy all of the eggs. By the time he let me go, it was too late to get back to you all in time, and he had managed to snatch Baby Tooth."

Jack curled in on himself, suddenly feeling like crying.

"I messed up. I let my emotions rule over my actions again, and it ruined everything. Again..." Jack could feel the sting of tears threatening to escape, but he willed them away, before wiping his jacket sleeve across his now stuffed up nose. He then looked up at Bunny, with as much dignity as he could muster.

"I'm so sorry." It was as heartfelt and genuine as he could make it. He hoped to the Moon and back that Bunny would see that.

Bunny, for his part, remained quiet. He closed his eyes in concentration and began to think deeply. Jack assumed that he was reassessing everything from his own point of view – probably trying to find any faults that he could in Jack's story.

As the night seeped deeper and deeper into darkness, Jack simply sat and waited for Bunny's response.

He didn't know why he felt such a strong need for Bunny's approval and acceptance. For the most part, didn't he already have that, now that he was a Guardian?

But no, this was different. He had Bunny's trust as far as fighting went. Their work relationship was respectable. But on a personal level, there was still this rift. A rift of past grievances wouldn't just fade away if you ignored them long enough. If Jack didn't talk about this now, he knew that he probably never would.

And the rift would only grow with each new misunderstanding, if he didn't correct it, right now. To the point where it might completely ruin their relationship, all together.

So Bunny's acceptance was indeed, dearly needed. Therefore, Jack waited silently and patiently, for Bunny to come to a conclusion that Jack hoped would be a positive one.

Crickets began to sing around them, and the moon, full and bright, smiled down at them. Jack wondered if Manny was watching their interaction, and quickly decided that he probably was.

Jack amused himself at the thought of Manny making bets with whoever lived on the moon with him, over what Bunny's response would be. And then he wondered which side of the bet Manny would be on. Jack hoped that he'd be on his side, as it was, technically, Manny's fault that Jack had been so emotionally driven towards learning about his past, at all costs. So Manny better be betting on things going well for Jack right now. It was the least he could do, at this point.

As Jack silently mused over his own thoughts, Bunny finally made a sound.

He grunted, and then he readjusted his sitting position so that he was sitting more comfortably. He then looked up at Jack, who was back to giving Bunny his full attention.

The rabbit just stared at him for a moment, and Jack began to fidget under the gaze. He was about to say something when Bunny beat him to the punch.

"Is that really how it happened?" he asked mildly. Jack stared at him blankly for a moment, mouth agape.

"Wha- Yes!" he declared, a bit annoyed that Bunny had implied that Jack would lie about this. "Yes, that is how it happened. At least for me. You don't believe me?" He felt a bit hurt, that Bunny would imply that Jack had lied. But then, Jack supposed he hadn't done much to support any form of trust to be born between them. As far as Bunny knew, he could be lying.

It didn't change the fact that Jack wasn't lying, and he felt insulted at the very notion. He was mischievous, sure, but he wasn't a liar.

Bunny didn't really react to Jack's silent outrage, except to sigh deeply. He then leaned back and rested his palms behind himself, to keep himself supported. He looked up at the moon, and seemed to be thinking about something important. His face was stern, but looked as if he was trying to figure something out. Without looking at Jack, he spoke.

"Your sister's voice, huh?" Jack's heart tightened at the reminder of her, but that was quickly replaced by the feeling of confusion.

"What about her?" he asked, uncertain of where this was going.

"You cared about her? When you were alive?" Bunny was looking at him again, with a very neutral expression.

"Y-yes." Jack cursed the stutter that had made its way past his lips and sat up more firmly to contradict it. "Yes, I loved her very dearly."

"What was she like?" Jack faltered at the question. Why was Bunny asking?

"Um... I don't..." Jack stole himself to think about it for a moment. He hadn't thought very deeply about his sister since the day he first remembered her. Just the basics – he loved her, she was his baby sister, and he had died for her. Happily so. He didn't regret the turn of events that lead him to his own early demise. She lived, and that was all that had mattered.

But now he had to think about it.

"She was the sweetest little girl in the village." Jack's gaze became distant as he turned to remembering as much as he could. "She was born in the spring, only a few weeks after Easter. She had the largest brown eyes, with a cute beauty mark on her right cheek." A smile dared to grace his lips as he kept talking.

"Soft brown hair, and the most innocent smile. She trusted everyone and everything, and was always lecturing me for my behavior." Jack laughed, remembering a day long since passed. "She loved birds, and dreamed of raising quail one day, but mother always told her no. Milk was her favorite thing to drink. It sometimes felt like she needed it more than she needed water. She loved huckleberries more than she loved life, and mother could never get her to eat parsnips."

Jack's voice began to quiet as he continued.

"As soon as she could talk, she would always tell me how much she loved watching everyone skate. I didn't know how, myself, but I promised her that I would teach her someday, just as soon as she could fit into a good pair of ice skates." Jack gave a weak, sad laugh. "I worked so hard on that. An hour every day was spent to figuring it out. Before long, I was the best in the village. That just made her want to learn all the quicker."

Jack's story faltered and he quieted. Bunny waited for a moment, but when it became clear that Jack wasn't continuing, he urged him on.

"Did you ever teach her?"

"Heh..." His laugh was nearly a sob.

"No... Her very first day on the ice... It was nearing spring, so the lake wasn't as solid as it could have been. I taught her how to stand up straight, and how to move forward. When she felt comfortable enough to give it a go on her own, she took a lap around the lake. But before she could get to me, the ice cracked below her." Jack heard Bunny give a soft gasp from surprise. He smiled softly at the concern.

"She's fine, Bunny. Or, she was... This was hundreds of years ago, so she's dead now either way." Jack sighed. He never liked remembering that fact. "I managed to get her away from the danger. But..." This was the point that Jack purposely ignored, always, when he remembered that moment. He saved his sister, and that was it for him. He didn't need to remember the way it felt to panic, as his clothes drug him down against his will, nor did he feel like remembering how the water felt as it entered his lungs – the icy pain of drowning in below freezing water.

No, he didn't like thinking about it at all. But his sister was safe, so it had been worth it.

"But?" Bunny pressed.

"But nothing. I saved her. The end."

"And you never taught her to skate after that?" Bunny clearly didn't believe that, that was all there was to the story. Jack immediately felt guilt. He had just told himself that he wasn't a liar, and now here he was...

"I... It's- It's complicated, okay? I don't want to talk about it." he tried to fend the curious look off with this excuse, but it was obvious that Bunny didn't want to let it go. For whatever reason, this was important to him.

But, surprisingly, what Bunny said next, was not something meant to push Jack into telling him what had happened.

"You loved her so much, that you'd do anything for her, yes? That's why you risked Easter to find her voice, even though you didn't recognize it?"

"I DID recognize it, I just didn't know WHY I recognized it. I knew the voice, but I didn't know where from." Jack quickly corrected, curious where Bunny was going with this. Bunny took what he said in, and then, to Jack's great disbelief, he smiled kindly at him.

"Then I forgive you."

"Wai- What? Why?!"

"Because you couldn't help it. Your family called your name – family you forgot that you even had, and hadn't seen in years. You had every right to forget the world and chase after that."

Jack couldn't believe what he was hearing. He hadn't expected this sort of understanding to blossom forth so quickly. Where had it come from? What happened to the temperamental kangaroo who didn't give a damn about his excuses? Where'd the real Bunnymund go?!

"You... you understand?" he asked, still unbelieving, and fully expecting Bunny to take it back, just as quickly as he had said it. Instead, Bunny laughed.

"Yes. I understand. Jack, you seem to forget that you're not the only one who has a past." It took him a moment, but then it hit Jack like a ton of bricks.

Bunny understood. Bunny used to have loved too – people he cared about. But where were they now? In the past. Long gone, leaving Bunny all alone.

Jack thought of how often Bunny stayed away from the world, in his Warren. What did he do in there all day, with no one to keep him company, save for the eggs and sentinels? He was completely alone for hours on end – actually, probably months on end. But why?

Did Bunny like being alone? Or could he not bring himself to join a world that didn't resemble what he remembered. What was Bunny's past? Where did he come from? A major question made itself known to Jack then.

Where were the other "Bunnymunds"?

Jack already knew that Bunny had not been human before becoming a Guardian. Like Tooth, he had been born the way he was. Which implied that he had a people – a species. Where were they? Why was it always just Bunny, all on his lonesome?

Why was Bunny alone?

"Stop that." Bunny's voice suddenly startled Jack out of his thoughts.

"What- Stop doing what?" he asked, confused.

"I can see the pity leaking it's way onto your face. Don't. Whatever conclusion you've come to in that frostbitten head of yours, don't use it to pity me. I don't want it."

Jack stared wide eyed, then quickly looked away, ashamed. He had been pitying Bunny. For being alone, and possibly the last of his kind – at least on earth. Jack couldn't help the pity that he had felt. But the reprimand snapped him back to reality.

Bunny was fine. He could take care of himself, just as easily as Jack could – probably had a better handle on it, actually. He didn't need Jack's pity.

Just as Jack didn't need Sandy's, or North's, or Tooth's.

It was then that Jack had a startling realization: Bunny didn't like being around the Guardians.

Like Jack, he cared about them. But unlike Jack, Bunny made it a point of avoiding them. When they didn't need him, he disappeared back into his Warren. That was where he felt like he belonged.

It's hard to let go of solitude...

With that epiphany, all sense of pity vanished instantly. Jack looked back to Bunny with confidence, and gave him his most charming smirk.

"I could never pity you, cottontail. That would imply that I care." Bunny laughed, then reached over and ruffled Jack's hair.

"Thank the Moon you don't, because that would mean that I have to start caring about you. And Manny only knows how much I don't want to do that." Jack laughed as he pushed Bunny's arm away and began fixing his messy hair. Bunny continued to chuckle as he gathered his things and began to sit up. Apparently, the conversation was over.

Jack stood up with him, clutching his staff close.

"So... I guess I'll see you later, then?" Bunny nodded as he tapped his foot on the ground, and a rabbit hole appeared before them. Before he jumped in, however, he looked over at Jack.

"Where you goin' next?" he asked simply. Jack leaned on his staff, mulling over his answer.

"Ah, you know... I'll probably find a tree somewhere to sleep in. Then it's back to doing touristy things tomorrow." He gave Bunny a confident smile, but the gesture was not returned. Bunny simply looked at him, concerned.

"You're not going to stay at the pole for the night? Or even the Tooth Palace – that's closer, isn't it?" Jack shook his head, trying to keep the embarrassment out of his expression.

"Nah, I'm trying to get some alone time, y'know?" he hoped Bunny would drop it. Again, the old rabbit just stared at him with a slightly stern yet concerned expression. Finally, it seemed like he relented, as he turned back to his hole. But then, with his back still to Jack...

"You could stay in the Warren for the night, if you'd like. I've got a cottage, and there's a spare bedroom. You could stay the night, eat some breakfast in the morning, and then I can open a tunnel for you to go anywhere you'd like." he glanced back for a moment and shrugged as he looked back at the tunnel. "If you want."

With that, he jumped down the hole. However, the tunnel remained open, giving Jack time to decide.

Jack looked around, uncertain for a moment. But the very thought of sleeping in another tree, versus getting a good night's rest in a comfortable bed, in the safety of the Warren, of all places...

Jack hesitated only for one moment longer, when he stared down the dark tunnel. But then he smiled.

"Down the rabbit hole you go, Alice." he mused to himself.

He jumped in.

As the tunnel closed behind him, a single Yellow Azalea blossomed.

Holy Hell, it's been literal years since I've written for this. I won't even ask for forgiveness. But please understand, I went through a bad time. It was to the point where even thinking about writing made me feel ill and depressed. However, I'd like to think that I never stopped learning HOW to write, even if I was avoiding the actual act of it. I'd also like to imagine that my writing style has matured a little bit. Now, I won't make any promises on a next chapter. I would LIKE to continue this (and my other stories) in order to make everyone happy, and actually finish a story for once, but I'll be realistic this time. The odds of me being active with this are low. It could be another two, three years before another chapter comes out. And for that, I apologize in advance... I will definitely TRY to get back into the groove of writing. It's finally come to a point where I feel inspired rather than dread when I look at a blank word document, so I have hope. Even so, if this DOES end up being a last chapter, of sorts, I hope that it will suffice to wrap a couple of things up, where Jack and Bunny are concerned. Even after all these years, I still love these two idiots to no end. XD

So, thank you for reading this. I hope you all like it!

Disclaimer: Jack and Bunny belong to DreamWorks and William Joyce still, and Copenhagen is a real city in Denmark. I've never been there, but I did my best to make the descriptions as accurate as possible. If any Danes or Copenhagen tourists notice something that's wrong, please tell me. If it's a big enough mistake, I'll fix it when I can. Thank you!

(As a side note, I really love using flower meanings in my stories. It was a happy coincidence that yellow Azaleas portray exactly what I would hope for, in this story, as I chose it before looking up what it meant. Look it up too, if you're interested!)