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

Chapter 26

The quiet wasn't an uncomfortable one. It was one of those that you didn't mind that it was there. Neither men felt the need to fill the silence with talk. Mark shifted so that he was sitting cross-legged on the bed and leaning against the headboard. He just watched Jack as he relaxed on the bed without seeming to have any problems. He envied him a bit. If he wanted to, Jack could just stop coming. He could choose to just stay in his bed at night and sleep like nothing was going wrong, mostly because in his world nothing is going wrong. The world falling apart is Mark's. Jack looked over at the man.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah. Just thinking."

"So that's what I smelt burning." They laughed a bit more. "I'm going to go down for a snack." He got up and left without looking to see if the prince nodded. He had expected him too. He realized when he came down that the rest of his family had gotten home from whatever they were out doing. He greeted them all before he headed to the kitchen. He grabbed some cookies while in there but before he left the kitchen his father came in.

"So your sister is insisting that you were not alone in your room. Now I will ask you. If I open the door to your room, will a man be in there?"

"No?" Jack wasn't sure the man believed him as he left to go check his room. He silently started to freak out as he quickly went after his father to look with him. They got to the bedroom and the door was already open with Allison searching.

"Allison." She stopped and looked at her father without the slightest bit of regret.

"I heard someone." Jack peeked from behind his father but didn't see the prince at first. Then he saw the little nutcracker against his pillow. The Irishman relaxed and stepped out from behind. "Where is he? I know he was here."

"No one was here. I think you are just really tired."

"I am going to agree with Jack on this one. There isn't anywhere for anyone to hide in here."

"Mum made sure of that." The men laughed a bit as Allison left a bit dejected and frustrated. She was going to find this man no matter what.

Later in the day, Rose had come back with two large bags full of fabrics and art supplies, which made jack facepalm. She told everyone who asked that she had a special project to do for Jack and he just went along with it since it was kind of true. He helped her carry up the bags with a slight head shake.

"You are way too excited about this." He told her but got a shrug in response.

"It's not every day I get to help a prince. I'm going to take full advantage of it." Said rose with a smile.

"I hope you make something appropriate."

"Mark won't be wearing a shirt if that is what you mean."

"What, why?"

"When have you ever seen a slave wear a shirt?"

"I see them all the time. Besides, Mark won't agree to that."

"How do you know? He might think that it is the best idea ever."

"Because he is a prince. He will want to wear the prince outfit."

"And how do you know this?" Jack was silent as he realized that Mark never actually told him that he wanted to dress like royalty. The most mark had spoken of the disguises was when they got back and the prince was teasing him about wearing a dress. "Exactly, so stop fighting with me. I have some sketches I can share with you both of you tonight."

"Oh Lord, you're coming back tonight?"

"Only for a bit. As much as I love that adventure, I don't think I can handle all that chaos every night for lord knows how long."

"But what about your friends?" She paused as she thought about the friends that she had made.

"I'm sure they will understand." Jack opened the door to the guest room and set down her bags. "Although I will be sad and miss them very much."

"Well, they could always visit you."

"Do you think they will?"

"I do think so. They are your friends, why wouldn't they?" That seemed to make Rose smile a lot, even clap her hands a bit. "I'll let you settle in a bit." The girl nodded, turning away as Jack left the room. He closed the door behind him and started back downstairs. Everyone was doing their own thing around the house now so that left Jack to do what he wished. Allison was still in her room, sleeping. Both his parents emphasized that she needed her sleep so absolutely no one was to disturb her. Jack was starting to worry about her but not because she is getting a lack of sleep. He knew that she would not stop until she proved that Jack had another man with him, but then she would know about Mark and all the others. He didn't know how she would react to all that. He didn't trust that she WOULDN'T tell her parents. He sat on the couch and was joined a few minutes later by Rose.

"I'm not going to know what to do all day."

"You could make more sketches."

"No, because I already know what I am doing."

"Ok." They both sat there for a moment. "Rummy?"

"Winner gets extra cake."

"Best 6 of 11."

"Deal." They both got up quickly and moved to play cards on the floor, then remembered the cards were in his room.

"I'll be back." He ran up to his room fairly quickly but made sure his steps were quiet. Mark hadn't moved from his spot, so Jack moved him. He moved him into a laying position in his bed and covered him with the throw blanket that Mark had originally covered him with. The short man picked up the cards and head back down to play rummy with the young woman who was all too excited about cake jack was not about to let her get.