Part II

Pitch let the shadows guide him to Jack's fear. It wasn't difficult. Pitch found Jack almost instantly. Pitch knew fear. It had been his whole life, until Jack came around of course.

Pitch emerged from the shadows of the public restroom. What he saw pained him greatly. What he saw pained him greatly.

Jack was curled up on the dirty floor shivering violently. His lips and face were even bluer than normal and his clothes clung to his body due to an intense cold sweat.

Pitch saw Jack's eyes drift close as he swooped down to pick him up. One of his shadows obediently carried his staff as Pitch retreated back into the darkness.

Upon reappearing in his domain Pitch quickly set to work. Shadows darted from every corner, putting the kettle on, getting cups, cleaning up the shattered mug. It was a flurry of activity. All this occurred as Pitch solemnly walked towards their bedroom. There was that word again... Pitch carefully lowered Jack into the center the luxurious bed. Jack, who had grown relaxed in Pitch's arms, whimpered upon leaving the warmth of his embrace. He quickly tensed and withdrew in on himself, his teeth chattering. Pitch's brow creased, the worry evident on his face.

Pitch summoned a heavy blanket from the darkness and lightly draped it onto Jack's frame. Running his hands through Jack's hair, Pitch gave him a light kiss on the forehead.

"I'm here."

Pitch slowly pulled away and went into the kitchen to check on the progress of the chicken soup. His shadows were obediently making the soup, vegetables and broth flying through the air and landing neatly in a simmering pot. All seemed well, so Pitch returned to the bedroom. Upon walking in he fount it very different from how he left it.

Jack who had been shivering seemed to have warmed up a bit. Although this may have been attributed to the fact that ten of Pitch's nightmares were huddles around Jack on the bed. However, instead of horses they had turned themselves into cats. Cats, who were all purring loudly around Jack, attempting to warm him up further.

Pitch smiled to himself. It seemed as though he was not the only one who had an affinity for the sprite. His nightmares had grown fond of him as well. As ten pairs of feline eyes turned to Pitch, Jack sighed contentedly. Pitch chuckled and slowly walked over to the bed. He laid down next to Jack and took the smaller form in his arms.

"Mmm" Jack sighed as he snuggled in closer to Pitch's lanky body.

Pitch responded by placing feather light kisses to the back of Jack's head and neck, causing the younger man to hum in contentment.

"How are you feeling?" Pitch asks softly while brushing hair back from Jack's previously sweaty forehead, and placing another kiss to Jack's hair, inhaling his scent and sighing softly.

"Better. I don't know what happened. Everything was fine...and then...and I was just so dizzy. And cold. So so cold."

Jack visibly shudders and Pitch makes sure to hold him tighter, infusing the boy with his warmth.

"Thank you for getting me. I'm sorry about that" Jack burrowed his head deeper into the pillow, embarrassment evident on his face.

Pitch was slightly annoyed. It wasn't a burden on him to retrieve Jack. He was glad to do it and worried about Jack. He was happy that Jack trusted him enough to reach out to him. Pitch didn't think twice about helping him. What would it say about their relationship if he had? Pitch made all this known to Jack, who simply groaned and buried his head deeper. At this Pitch lightly grabbed Jack's face and made him turn and look at him.

"Jack. I care about you deeply. You brought a light to my otherwise dark world. I was happy to help you. That's what you do isn't it? When you care about someone?" Jack nodded. "Right. Now allow me to take care of you."

Jack, who was stunned at the sincerity of Pitch's statement lowered his eyes. Jack knew Pitch's feelings for him. He needed to stop deflecting. He had been independent and alone for centuries; it was a hard habit to break. It was different having someone take care of you, even more different was having someone who genuinely wanted to take care of you. Jack smiled.

Pitch, seeing Jack's smile slowly made him look back into his eyes. Pitch lowered his head and placed a chaste kiss on Jack's lips. Jack was pleasantly surprised and leaned into Pitch. There was such warmth from that kiss that Jack actually felt marginally better.

"Do you want anything? Soup?"

Jack snapped out of his reverie and answered yes.

Pitch did not move but a tray containing a steaming bowl of soup wafted in, courtesy of one of Pitch's shadows. Simultaneously, another tray was crafted out of black sand on Jack's lap. The soup was gently placed down, and Jack's pillow was propped up, fluffed, and he blankets drawn in tighter around him. All without him or Pitch lifting a finger.

Jack muttered a thank you as the shadows drifted out the door.

"Well go ahead. Eat." Pitch encouraged. Jack looked down at his meal, realizing how hungry he actually was. He quickly ate the chicken noodle soup. It was delicious and he could feel its warmth permeating his body. He scratched one of the many cats behind the ears, causing it resume purring loudly.

"Thank you. It's delicious."

Pitch looked on in a kind of wonder. These were his nightmares, the very beings Pitch used to disrupt childrens' sleep (a task that still needs to be done. Long ago it was agreed that fear was necessary for a balance, and Pitch was allowed to resume his duties, granted that he didn't get carried away) and Jack was treating them like he did everything else: Non-judgmental and characteristically kind. As the cat purred with the praise, Pitch's heart swelled and he put his arm around Jack.

Jack looked up with questioning wide eyes. Pitch merely chuckled and placed a kiss on Jack's cheek. Jack shrugged and went back to his soup. When he was finished he sighed contentedly and the bowl and tray slowly faded into nothing. Jack felt much better. His chill had been reduced to nothing more than a shiver, easily manageable.

"What do you think happened to me?" Jack asked.

Pitch paused and then responded, "Even the Guardians can catch ailments. They don't last long, and it doesn't happen often, but it still occurs every once in a while. However, they do not seem contagious, just single incidents."

Jack nods and stretches, yawning loudly. His hands are placed on Pitch's chest and they deliberately begin moving upwards until Jack is framing Pitch's face with his hands. Pitch is looking at Jack with wide eyes.

Jack smiles mischievously. "Not contagious eh?" before pulling Pitch into a heated kiss. Jack's icy tongue leisurely traces Pitch's lips, causing the older spirit to are requesting entrance and Pitch willingly acquiesces, his tongue darting out to meet Jack's.

When Pitch's serpentine-like tongue meets his Jack makes a small noise. A fire has ignited and yet, he still wants more. Pitch's tongue sinuously strokes Jack's, coiling and pulling.

Jack remembers that Pitch was self-conscious and worried about what Jack would think of his tongue. It took Jack weeks, and exposure of his own self-conscious fear, for Pitch to show him. Jack had to show Pitch a large scar on his back from his childhood. Jack remembers how Pitch looked at the scar, mesmerized. Jack remembers, with pleasure, how Pitch lowered his head until he was inches from it. Then Jack saw the black serpentine tongue flick out and taste him. Jack remembers vividly the collective gasps both he and Pitch made. Jack also distinctly remembers the feeling of Pitch's tongue tracing all the way up his scar...

Jack is jolted out of his memory by Pitch placing a hand behind his neck. Jack immediately becomes aware of what Pitch's tongue is doing to his own. Pitch is caressing it, coiling around it and pulling. Jack groans and launches himself at Pitch intending to shove his tongue into Pitch's mouth with renewed vigor.

Unfortunately what happens instead, is Jack is hit with a dizzy spell and misinterprets his force towards Pitch. Jack ends up flying over him and crashing noisily to the floor, landing flat on his back. Jack blearily opens his eyes to find Pitch looking over the bed at him. Pitch is laughing and his eyes are crinkled in mirth. A true smile, a true laugh. Jack grins.

"Someone isn't quite back to their usual prowess," Pitch teases.

"Pfft." is the only reply Jack has. Even now he can feel the tendrils sliding beneath him, smooth as smoke, and gently lifting him until he becomes level with Pitch on the bed. Pitch simultaneously wraps his arms around Jack bringing him onto the bed, as well as kiss him deeply. This kiss is different. It is languid and relaxed, like Pitch knows he has all the time in the world. It lacks the desperation of the previous kiss. Pitch and Jack's tongues are in a complicated dance, not fighting for dominance. Flush against Pitch's body, Jack feels at peace, he knows where he belongs.

Pitch realizes this kiss is different. It's conveying other things than the previous one. Not lust, but love, desire, commitment. All the things Pitch had unknowingly been yearning for for centuries. Flush with Jack, the winter sprites legs tangled in his, there was one word for how Pitch felt. Pitch felt home. He was home with Jack and he finally belonged.

Both realizations deepened the kiss. Pitch broke the kiss and buried his face in Jack's downy hair, squeezing him tight.

"Have I ever told you how much I loved you?" Pitch whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

"Yes. But tell me again."

"I love you," Pitch replied, "More than anything else."

"I know," said Jack, "I love you too Pitch. My life was so cold before you."

Pitch inhaled and held the boy tighter, kissing everywhere he could reach. Jack smiled and sighed, pulling himself closer to Pitch's chest, making the perfect spot for himself.

"Sleep. Get well. I will be here."

And with that, Jack grinned into Pitch's chest, safe and at home, and fell asleep.