author Note: Just to clear a few things up. My reasoning for Pitch not knowing or understanding what NATO and nuclear warfare is due to him focusing his energy on giving kids nightmares not adults and it not being something kids worry about no days as much as they did back in the 40s, 50s and 60s, maybe even 70s. I know as a kid it was something my parents whispered to each other or appeared on cartoons but was never something that seemed scary until the last few years when the news reported about other countries wanted to create their own. Quite frankly I always thought it was foolish. What if one country fired one then someone else would fire back and so forth and so on until, there's no much left. So in some twisted part of my mind I started wondering why and of course there's the usual still but how about fear? And considering Pitch defeated Hope, Wonder, Dreams and Memories in the children it wouldn't take long to affect the adults who have to care for these children and have them at each others throats. Pitch might not understand this as well as he did in the Dark Ages because he was hiding in the shadows and lair trying not to be seen by the Guardians or MiM. Jack on the other hand would because he never had to worry about being seen or noticed and really didn't care about the Guardians and MiM never spoke to him. Just something twisted in my head that I thought could happen if the Guardians were defeated.

As for Pitch treating Jack like a son, I think after seeing his locket and the image of his daughter a part of his past self might have started to emerge. Plus it bugs the hell out of Bunnymund. What fun.

Now on with the sh...story :)

Jack tried to bury himself deeper in the snow when Pitch touched his shoulder, trying to gently shake the youth awake. It was obvious in the tenseness of his body he had gotten little sleep and was trying his damnest to get what little he could. Normally Pitch would have left him alone to wake up when he felt ready but he couldn't now. They had important work to do and as much as it pained Pitch to think it, he needed the child's help.

"Jack," he tried for the third time or fourth time, this time pushing Jack onto his back and grabbing both shoulder. "JACKSON!"

That had the desired effect. Jack started, his eyes shooting open and he nearly jumped out of bed. "I'm up! I'm up!" he cried before realizing it was Pitch calling him. The older man gave an amused smile before letting him go. Jack frowned and rubbed the butt of one hand over his eyes. "Don't scare me like that. I thought..." He wasn't sure what he thought but being called Jackson felt familiar. The thought fluttered away as all strange occurences did, shocking but holding no real meaning to him.

Pitch sat at the edge of the bed, his eyes watchful but also filled with something akin to sadness. Jack pushed the sheet off him and crawled over to the man he was quickly seeing as a father figure, as strange as it sounded. "What's wrong?"

Bunnymund's head poked out of his nest of blankets and peered at the two with curiosity. It was too early in the morning to be awake yet.

Pitch looked away from Jack for a moment, fiddling with the golden sand bag once more. Jack eyed it curiously as he settled next to him. "Do you know what this is, Jack?"

Jack gave a small nod before looking up. "Dreamsand."

"There's very little left, enough for maybe a week of two and then there will be no more. Not anywhere in the world," Pitch said, removing the delicate string from around his neck. "After I defeated the Sandman I stole every bag I could find from each of the Guardians he had gifted with it. I had intended to destroy it all until you came to be with me."

"Why did you keep it?"

Pitch was silent for a long while pondering that question. It wasn't easy to answer for he truly wasn't sure himself so he settled on what he told himself every time he used it. "Because sometimes hope is stronger than fear and I could not have you of all people afraid of me."

Confusion clouded Jack's eyes as he stared up at him.

"I've been alone a long time, Jack. Longer than you've existed. I've had few visitors, most of which were terrified of me. Those who weren't wanted to destroy me. You can't kill fear, Jack. Sadly, fear can kill though."

Jack was still utterly confused and now so was Bunnymund. The Pooka climbed out of his nest and hopped to Jack, scampering up onto the boy's lap to shoot Pitch a questioning look. Pitch ignored him.

Much to Jack's surprise Pitch placed the string tied to the dreamsand around his neck and knelt before him. "I correct a terrible wrong. I need to stop was we both know is about to happen but I can't do it alone. Will you help me?"

Jack's eyes lit up. "You're going to stop them from going to war?"

"I'm going to try."

The boy was actually bouncing, more hyper than Pitch had been him in weeks. "What can I do?"

Pitch had to grab his shoulders to calm Jack down enough so he could properly explain. The child sure swung from one mood to another without much effort. He took a deep breath to compose himself. This was the part he couldn't do, that Jack had to do. Only someone with a mind of a child could conjure sweet dreams in others.

"Find as many children as you can and give them the dreamsand, just a pinch each. You need to make it stretch out as far as possible. Bring them sweet dreams, Jack. Dreams of ponies and dolphins, all the things children love and adore. All the things you love and adore. Snowballs and fun times, correct?"

Jack nodded, a smile stretching his pale lips. "Snowballs and fun times."

"Make them believe again."

The youth hesitated, his face suddenly confused. "You're serious, aren't you? This is some joke you pulling on me, is it?

Pitch pulled away, a little taken back by the sudden question. "Of course. Unless you like the idea of Burgess becoming a nuclear wasteland."

The child gasped, clinging to the dreamsand. "No!"

"Then get to it." Pitch snatched Bunny out of Jack's lap. "I have other matters to deal with...and Bunny will be helping me."

"Bunny? Seriously?" Jack stood and petting the small creature in Pitch's hands. "What can he possibly do?"

Bunny folded his paws across his little chest and glared at the kid.

"You'd be surprised," Pitch assured. "Now go. Two of my mares will company you. Do not let them near the dreamsand or the children while they sleep."

"Then what good are they?"

"You'll see. Go."

With a shrug, Jack grabbed his clothing and shrugged into a hoodie as Pitch departed. Jack would do as he said, he had no doubt. The number of believers though, that was another question. Pitch had no illusions on how difficult the task would be unfortunately, despite how strong he and Jack were, they were not strong enough to take on a bunch of warring nations with weapons far more powerful than anything they had seen. Perhaps he should have paid better attention to the world developing around him than causing nightmares to children. Too late to worry about such things now. Both he and jack had their tasks and Pitch could no longer afford to stall.

"Just wha' do ya think ye'er doing, mate?" Bunny growled, struggling in his grasp.

"Hush," was all Pitch said as he stepped into the shadows.

They reappeared in North's workshop and for the first time in all the time either of them had visited all was quiet. Pitch dropped Bunny on the landing and moved forward. There were no Yetis creating toys, no elves scurrying about. The place was virtually dead. Not a soul to be seen. It actually surprised Pitch. This was what he wanted but now that he saw it something in his stomach twisted. he was happy to have sent Jack to find new believers rather than bring him here. Ignoring Bunnymund's colorful cursing he proceeded deeper into the workshop.

North was where he expected to find him. Sitting in an overstuffed arm chair next to the elegant fireplace, his once bright blue eyes staring dully at the Globe of Belief. He look worn, far older than his years. There's was no hope within him. He was a shell of his former self. It was everything Pitch had ever wanted. He wanted to gloat, to cry out to the heavens he had won. He, Pitch Black, had destroyed Santa Claus. But he needed this man for much more important work than delivering silly gifts to spoiled children.

"Retirement doesn't suit you," he said instead, standing upon the huge globe where North could not mistake his presence.

North blinked, his gaze shifting upward until he met Pitch's amber gaze. His body tensed as he sat up straighter. "Vhat to you vant?" he asked, his voice hoarse. "If you've come to gloat, leave."

Pitch grinned at the large Russian. "Is that any way to treat guests? After all I'm here with a proposal. From Manny no less."

"Bah, be gone." North looked away from him, his gaze turning back to the fireplace.

Pitch stared at him in confusion. North had never simply dismissed him before, as if he didn't care that he was there or could even destroy his precious workshop. No, this was a man defeated and who no longer cared. No the great warrior he had fought against for countless centuries. Pitch gazed upward at the large window over the globe. Of course, MiM wasn't there to back him up.

"Mate, ya need ta listen to him," Bunny suddenly cried out, hoping up to North. The Russian glanced down at the grey bunny in confusion as it jumped onto his lap. "We've got trouble, mate. Big trouble. We need you and Tooth."

"We? WE?" North roared. "You're helping him?"

"Not like that, North," Bunny objected as he jumped back when the large man went to stand. "The children, everyone is in trouble and dingbat over there didn't take it into consideration when he went on his take over the world quest."

"Vhat? Vhat is problem the mighty Nightmare King can't solve?" North staggered as he took a step and quickly grabbed a wooden cane that leaned against the side of his chair.

Pitch moved to the floor but kept a respectable distance from North. An angry North was never a good North to be around, no matter how fun it was to torment him. "Have you ever heard of nuclear warfare?"

North's eyes narrowed on him. "Foolish weapons to destroy enemy countries. America and Russia argue many years over silliness."

"Throw in a few more countries and a ton of fear."

Blinking, North grabbed the edge of his chair. "Not possible. Adults..."

"Fear for the children," Pitch finished. "They will do anything to protect them, even destroy themselves."

North shook his head. "Not possible."

"Very possible, mate," Bunny cut in. "We need you."

"I was a fool," Pitch suddenly admitted causing the others to look at him. "This world is far more unstable than the Dark Ages. It may be more advanced but fear spreads far more easily."

North nodded, more to himself than the others. "Vhat can we do? There is just the three of us."

"Four," Bunny corrected. "Jack's already out there trying to bring back believers."

"Jack?"

"I gave him the last of Sandy's sand," Pitch explained, folding his arms across his chest with a frown. "Sadly, it's not enough. Dreams won't save them...not alone."

"Then vhat..?" North knelt down to pick up Bunny, groaning as he used the cane to stand once more. "Vhat can we do?"

Pitch's gaze swept over the workshop. "How many toys to you have completed?"

North raised a sceptical brow. "Not enough for all the children."

Pitch frown grew deeper, brow creasing but not in anger toward the Guardians but in his own stupidity. How he hated himself for what he had to do just to insure his and his son's safety. He staggered back in sudden shook. His son. When did he start thinking of Jack Frost as his son? Sure he used the endearment often enough to piss off Bunnymund, but when did he actually start to think it true? He jumped when North's large hand fell on his shoulder, a questioning look in his eyes.

"It would have to be enough," he said darkly, pulling away from his rival. "Where is that annoying Tooth Fairy?"

Despite his eer he could see a small sparkle of hope in Bunnymund's grass green eyes. He ignored it and looked anywhere but at the rabbit. This was going to be a long day.