I can love a block of wood (septiplier nutcracker AU)

Chapter 13

Jack went through the day as normally as he could. However, Rose noticed something was wrong with him. Jack knew she noticed something was off about him and silently prayed she wouldn't ask him about it. Thankfully, she didn't. Instead she asked to stay the night once she saw the sun was starting to set.

"Godfather had told me i could if you said yes." She told his parents. Jack was silently cursing her, then his parents when they said yes, in his head. He didn't know what was going to happen that night and he was worried that she would come in if mark came back to life. How was he going to get this child to keep quiet about that? Rose smiled at him softly and he forced himself to smile back.

"Jack, why don't you and rose go to the garden out back? Amanda thinks that some white roses and forget-me-not's would look lovely on the table tonight." His mother told them.

"Yes Mum." He said to her, getting a bit of a frown from her and rose but before she could say anything, Jack took Rose to the garden.

"Jack, are you ok?" She asked as soon as they were outside. "Did something happen last night? Did i do something wrong? Do you want me to leave?" Rose asked, getting more upset with each question. Jack set his hands on her shoulder to calm her down. He may be mad at her for wanting to sleep over but he didn't want her thinking he had been so off because at her.

"You didn't do anything wrong." He told her gently. "I just had a hard night and was hoping to not have a neighbor tonight, but it's ok. You don't have to go." Rose relaxed and smiled at him a bit.

"Are you sure you don't want me to leave?"

"Yeah. I'm sure. I can't kick you out with it being so close to night." He smiled back at her before he straightened up. "Now lets go tip toe through the tulips and pick some flowers!" Rose laughed and they both did just that. They literally went tip toeing through the tulips so they could get to the forget me not's and back through to get to the white roses. They came in just in time for dinner so Rose put them in a vase and set it down before sitting next to Jack for dinner. The rest of the night went by with no incidents although Jack was still a bit off. at 9 everyone went up to their rooms for the night and by ten almost everyone was asleep. Jack was the only one awake that he knew of. He put Mark's sword back in his sheath and sat on his bed, watching and waiting. He was anxious, wanting so badly to know if Mark was ok. The two dolls were behind him so he didn't see them come alive but he felt the bed sink behind him.

"The longer you watch him, the longer it will be until he comes alive."

"Will he really come alive?"

"Yes." Jack looked behind him at Ethan and Tyler. They both also looked a bit worried. "I hope."

"The fall didn't kill him." Ethan told them. "He was still alive when i checked on him." Jack looked confused but neither bothered to explain. Since no one was paying attention to mark, he was finally able to come alive, but his grunt of pain got their attention again.

"Mark!" Ethan said quietly before getting up quickly and going over to the prince. "Are you ok? Are you in pain?" the nutcracker looked at jack for a moment before looking at Ethan and lying.

"No. I'm fine." But his cover was blown when he went to stand and yelped quietly in pain. Suddenly guilt was all over Jack's face. He had messed up fixing mark and now he was in pain from his poor repair job. Mark saw this look and his eyes held a silent apology.

"Don't get up. We can work from here."

"No. We need to get down there and make sure everyone is ok. Lord knows what Felix did to everyone while i was out." Ethan sighed as Tyler got up and helped Mark stand, both knowing that he was right. Jack was still confused and worried so he stood up. He was in the outfit from last night, not bothering to change into a nightgown since he knew he was going to have a hard time falling asleep tonight. "Jack, i think you should-"

"Oh no, don't you dare. You told me once i went in, i couldn't back out. I am going."

"it's dangerous."

"Mark," The prince looked away hearing him say that, obviously not liking it. "I don't care. I am going with you."

"Me too." They looked to the doorway and Jack cursed softly seeing Rose, dressed and with a little napsack. She was dressed for an adventure but she didn't look excited. She looked actually ready to help. "I'm going too." Jack sighed softly.

"Rose-"

"I can do it. I listen well and i can keep up. I also know some medical things so i can help when someone gets hurt... Please let me help." Jack didn't know how to answer that so Mark got to answer before him.

"I don't think it is a good idea for you to be alone... But maybe we can get someone to stay by your side once we get downstairs." Rose smiled and curtsied a bit.

"Thank you, your highness."

"Your welcome." And with that the group headed downstairs. Jack was now angry at himself for letting rose's sweet nature win and let her join them.