A/N: Hi guys! So, I decided to write more. :) So much for studying… I hope you guys like this chapter. I don't really know how I feel about it, but I was writing it while listening to Olly Murs so you have to give me some credit. ;) So yeah, let me know how you guys feel about this story. I'll probably keep writing regardless of the feedback. Thanks you guys. Enjoy! :)

[Vanessa's POV]

Dinner was tense. Vanessa didn't know anything about her mother. All she knew was that she had suddenly left her father and Vanessa was sent to be raised by the Man in the Moon. Vanessa knew the story well, as her father had told it to her many times.

Her father had been seriously depressed after her mother left. Years of angst followed, and then came the anger. Manny, the Man in the Moon sent Vanessa back to live with her father. The thing was Manny wiped Vanessa's memory so she couldn't remember anything before Manny told her she was going on an adventure. Vanessa's father had become much more stable once she returned, but he still missed her mother.

"Father," Vanessa began, "I'm really sorry. I shouldn't pester you so much".

Her father looked up gruffly, his face seeming to melt, "It's fine, dear. It's just hard to talk about". He attempted a smile but it still held a lot of sadness.

"I know," Vanessa said, her voice slightly forceful, "But I really want to know about her. You told me that when I turned 15, you would tell me about her. I'm 16 now".

Her father looked flustered, as though he didn't know how to respond to this. "Well," he began slowly, "There's a lot about her. I don't really know what to tell you."

"Why don't you tell me three things every night?" Vanessa suggested, trying to make it less painful.

"Alright," Her father agreed, "Three things…" He mused. He stared off thoughtfully for a few moments. "Alright," He said again, "Number one; she was very audacious. She always had some retort on the tip of her tongue. She always knew the right thing to say," He sighed heavily, "Number two; she was friendly. Wherever she went, she met someone new and clicked with them. She didn't have one enemy. And number three; she knew pain. Behind all her happiness, you could always see some sadness behind her eyes. I would often find her in her own world, reliving pleasant and unpleasant memories. It made her more real, more down to Earth."

Her father stared off into space for a few moments. He stood abruptly and strode up the stairs. Vanessa sat there, absorbing everything her father had told her. She couldn't believe it. He'd finally told her something. She stood, twirling around with giddiness. Her mother felt more real now. She ran to her room to grab her sketch book and practically skipped to the glen. She lay down in the snow, her dark black hair fanning out around her. The snow didn't bother her, she didn't feel temperature. She stared up at Manny.

"Hi Manny," She called out, "Long time, no talk. How's it going? I'm doing well. My dad just told me a little bit about my mom. I feel like she's more real, like she's standing just out of reach. Like I can almost touch her. Thank you, for sending me here". Vanessa finished. She sighed and studied the sky. The stars and moon seemed so close, it was almost like she could reach out and grab them. They sparkled teasingly above her head. It must be nice to be free, she mused. She wasn't complaining, she loved her father, but she really wanted to talk to someone else, anyone else. She felt very alone.

Vanessa headed back into her house, dragging her feet slightly in the snow as she walked up the worn path. She turned the doorknob slowly, inhaling the last of the fresh air she would have for a while. Her father was obviously avoiding her because he was not waiting for her like he usually did. Vanessa trudged slowly up the stairs to her room. She walked across the room, stepping over the many unfinished drawings and sketches. She stopped in front of her big, floor to ceiling windows, and threw the curtains open. She had only been meaning to watch the moon set and the sun rise, but she had obviously surprised someone. The person was sitting just outside her window, looking as if he or she was trying to sneak around. She froze, scared to move a muscle or even breath. Her heart was racing and her palms started to become very clammy. The person outside her window was mirroring her actions.

When Vanessa got her nerve back, she crept slowly towards the window and opened it with shaking arms. "Can I help you?" she whispered.

[Jack's POV]

(A few minutes earlier)

Jack, still shaking his head over the stupid task the other guardians had given him, flew towards the house they had said Pitch was in. There was no way Pitch was still alive, Jack thought angrily, He had seen Pitch be destroyed by his own nightmares. And even if he had, why hadn't he made an appearance again?

Jack flew towards an old, Victorian looking house. It was gloomy looking on the outside with an iron gate surrounding it. He landed lightly on one of the curtained windowsills. He was trying to figure out how he could peek into all the windows without being seen when the curtains suddenly flew open. Jack froze. He didn't know what to do. At first, he thought she couldn't see him, but she too had frozen. She had softly curled black hair and green eyes. She was very pale, except for the splash of freckles across her small nose and a small flush in her cheeks. Her big eyes were widened in alarm and she looked as though she was torn between running away and shaking his hand. Bravery had apparently won over her conscience because she strode forward and opened the window.

"Can I help you?" she asked softly.

[Vanessa's POV]

Vanessa almost laughed at her lame question. The person was obviously trying to sneak around and she asked if they needed any help. The person stood and crawled through the open window, landing lightly on their feet as they entered the room. Vanessa got a good look at the person for the first time.

The boy had untidy white hair with light blue eyes. He was long and lanky, holding a stick/staff in his hand. He had a blue sweatshirt with icicles decorating the rim of it. Vanessa could tell that he was handsome, and she had not seen many other boys. She smiled when she realized that he, too, did not wear any shoes.

"This is very important," The boy said urgently, stooping slightly to her level to talk to her, "Is there a man named Pitch Black here?"

Vanessa looked at him questioningly, "That depends on why". She said, suspiciously.

"It's very important," The boy said again.

"You've said that," Vanessa pointed out. The boy smirked faintly.

"Yeah, I know. It's just…I really need to know."

"Well, yes, he's here. Do you want me to get him for you?" She asked questioningly, wondering what on Earth could be so important.

The boy's expression went from seriousness to pure horror. "We have to get out right now," The boy whispered looking around sharply. He grabbed Vanessa's wrist and started pulling her towards the open window.

"Wait, where are we going?" Vanessa said, trying to wriggle away from him.

"I'm rescuing you. We're going back to tell the others about Pitch. And then we're going to take him down. Then, I promise you, you'll be safe". The boy looked right into her eyes.

"Why would I want to leave?" She asked, now very confused.

"Aren't you…aren't you being tortured?" The boy asked, looking taken aback. When Vanessa shook her head, he looked very troubled.

"He would never torture me. He's my father". Vanessa explained.

The boy looked stricken. "What?" He loudly whispered. He dropped her wrist, looking at her with a deep horror. He stumbled as he slowly backed towards the window, his staff held out towards her as if she would suddenly attack him. "I…" He started, then shook his head and shot off into the lightening sky.

Vanessa moved to the window, watching him go. "Good-bye". She whispered.

[Jack's POV]

Jack was zooming through the sky, racing as fast as he could towards the North Pole. He would occasionally look behind himself, trying to see if he was being chased by nightmares. None had come by the time he reached North's workshop. He zoomed past the Yeti security (to which Phil exclaimed "Ogawagba!"). Jack flew through the busy workshop, past all the busy Yetis making toys. Jack burst into the globe room and skidded to a stop. He took a moment to regain his breath, looking around at each of the guardians. When he finally regained his breath he said,

"Pitch is alive. He has a daughter."

A/N: Sorry for the suspenseful ending, I ran out of time. :) I hope you guys enjoyed it! Leave reviews and comments and suggestions! I really want to make this story better. Thanks guys!

-xoxo bellebeliever