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

Chapter 22

Jack jolted awake in the morning and looked around. He touched the back of his head gently before looking at the chair. There sat his nutcracker, like before. He felt the throw blanket on him and knew he didn't put it on himself. He never liked using it to sleep with. He got up out of bed and went to the chair, kneeling down. Somehow, the nutcracker looked tired, and he seemed less happy. When a knock sounded on his door he stood up and looked to see who was there.

"Jack, are you awake?"

"Yeah Rose." He looked back at Mark for a moment before going out.

"Jack, did all that really happen last night?" She whispered as they walked. "Did your nutcracker really come to life? Did we really get into a fight?"

"Yeah, it really happened. Crazy huh?" Jack had a bit of a strained smile.

"Yeah. Now i see why you were in a funk yesterday. Oh, that reminds me, what happened last night when Prince Mark went to wake you up? You never came back down."

"I remember feeling something on the back of my head, then i woke up in bed a minute ago." Jack rubbed the back of his head a bit. "What happened after that?"

"Well, Prince Mark and Captain Tyler  went to check on you and came down without you. Then we all split up to look for William and Tim but we didn't find them. I think we searched for a few days."

"A few days?" Rose shushed him and jack repeated his question more quietly.

"Time works differently there remember? It was a few days before we all had to go back to our spots." Jack looked at her curiously.

"How does all that work?"

"Well, i don't know. They just... know." She told him. When they reached the stairs, Allison was standing at the bottom with Godfather. "Hi!" She went down excitedly and hugged the man, getting a hug back. Jack was silent as he watched, rubbing the back of his head still.

"Sean, godfather needs help in his shop and everyone else is busy today." She sighed a bit as she looked at Jack.

"Wow, you are in a mood. I'll go." She rolled her eyes and moved to the kitchen. Jack just shrugged a bit as he continued to Godfather.

"Oh, don't forget your prince." Jack looked confused but went up to get him. Confusion surfaced when he noticed that the Nutcracker was no longer there. The door closed behind him so he quickly turned.

"Jack."

"Jesus mark, don't scare me like that! What are you doing?"

"I was worried and i didn't want to wait until tonight. What happened?" Jack got a bit of a look, making the prince worry more.

"I don't know..." Mark deflated slightly.

"I'm worried about your safety."

"So you came alive to check on me?"

"Yes." They looked at each other for a few moments.

"Godfather wants me to take you with me while i go over to help-"

"Sean, who are you talking to in there?" Jack panicked hearing his sister.

"Myself! Don't worry about it!" Mark looked for somewhere to hide, but failed as the door opened. He stayed behind the door and watched in panic.

"Yeah right, i heard someone in here." She looked around the room.

"No one is in here. It's just me." She gave him a look and shook her head.

"You really are in a mood today. What happened?"

"You kept me up all night. I cold hear you walking in front of my room!" Jack looked confused for a few moments.

"I didn't go down to your room."

"Yes you did, because Rose was dead asleep and you were the only other one in the house who is nutty enough to spend the night pacing to keep me up." She turned around and paused for a moment, making both Jack and Mark panic in silence. She just shook her head and left, closing the door behind her.

"Good lord, that was close..." Jack said when he was sure Allison was gone.

"Yeah... Where is her room?"

"At the end of the hall, by the stairs. How many times did people come up?" Mark kind of had a guilty look.

"A lot."

"How many times did you come up?"

"Not a lot." Mark looked away from him. "Aren't we taking a while?" Jack sighed and turned around.

"Yeah, we are... But Mark, why didn't you-" When he turned around Mark wasn't standing there the same way. He went back to a nutcracker, and seemed better than before. He just sighed and picked him up. "Lets go..." He went downstairs with the wooden nutcracker in his arms, looking down a bit.

"Let's go jack!" Rose was excited about him going and grabbed his arm. "Godfather is going to let me bring fabrics back tonight!"

"Your coming back again?" She nodded with a grin. Jack couldn't help but smile at her good mood. "Alright, if you want." They started walking out of the house.

"So rose told me about your little adventure last night." Jack face palmed.

"Why am I not surprised?"

"I couldn't help it, he should know!" Jack just shook his head and sighed.

"Oh child, I would hate to tell you a secret plan."

"Hey!" Rose pouted a bit, letting go to cross her arms.

"I'm joking, calm down." She was still pouting so both men shook their heads. They walked through the snow covered town without any more talking. Jack held Mark close to his chest, tracing his fingers absent-mindedly over his hair. The grooves in it gave him a weird sense of comfort as he let out a sigh. Godfather, when they arrived to the shop, opened the door and let the two enter first before following them and closing the door.

"Now, rose tells me that both you and your prince needs a disguise." Jack sat down in a chair, setting Mark on the table.

"Yes. Mark can't get into any part of the kingdom and chances are, neither can i now."

"I see. Now, let me think..."

"Why did you need my help?" Jack asked with confusion on his face.

"Ah, yes. Well i didn't need your help. I just wanted to see if i could get you out of the house."