Chapter Ten - Self-Reliance, Snowball Fights, and Fear's Knowing Feeling

Notes:

Happy (late) Christmas everybody! I hope you enjoy this chapter. Chapters updates *will not* be taking this long from now on. Since I already said it on Tumblr, I figured I should tell the readers here that it'll be ten more chapters, for a total of twenty, with an epilogue. The possibility of an alternate ending is still hanging in the air as well.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the encouragement! And this chapter was amazingly and thankfully edited by johnyopimp at Tumblr and I definitely couldn't have done this without them uwu

See you at the bottom~

Pitch stooped low on his knees, wanting for the life of him to just collapse onto the cold hardwood and never open his eyes again, but he knew he couldn't. He had so much more now. Jack, Sandy, that flighty little maid. Not only that, but he had to live for Seraphina. He could never forget that.

Gathering himself, Pitch stood and waltzed over to the table, taking a seat. Mumbling he rubbed at his eyes with a sniffle. He didn't particularly want to eat, but he figured he should.

After forcefully stuffing himself, Pitch righted the living room he'd trashed and carefully went back into his room to bury the locket away. The only thing left was to wait for Jack to come home.

The apartment felt lonely without Jack, and even lonelier without Sandy. Pitch had gotten quite accustomed to having the little Corgi run around the place on his little paws.

Somehow Pitch managed to blow through another couple Harry Potters before he looked at the time. It was almost midnight, and Jack still wasn't back with Sandy.

His heart ached, though he wasn't sure why, as his mind started to worry. The only conclusion he could really come to was that something had happened to them. Obviously something must have. There wasn't a reason for the two of them to be gone that long.

Pitch unlocked his phone, quickly texting his friend to see what was going on.

He heard a buzz.

Jack's phone was in the couch cushion.

Stumbling Pitch raced to the coat rack with only thoughts of Jack lying in the street and Sandy lost in his mind. He shoved into his boots, had his coat half on, and whipped open the door with a bang to the wall.

But it didn't seem that he needed to go anywhere. Dumbfounded he stared at the kid in front of him that held a dog in his arms.

Sandy looked back and forth between Jack and Pitch before turning to leap onto his owner. Pitch started to fall but caught himself on the door frame with one arm and the dog in the other. Sandy squirmed all around, trying to climb onto Pitch's shoulders.

Despite all the fear that had been clouding his mind, Pitch started to laugh, with Jack quickly following suit.

The Corgi seemed to take offense at that and jumped down, bounding to the spare room to sulk.

It wasn't for a good long minute until the two regained their composure.

Before Pitch knew what was happening, Jack leaned up and kissed him.

"H-hey! Wait a second." Pitch gasped backwards.

"What?" Jack almost whined.

"Where were you? Why'd you leave?"

"It doesn't matter. We can talk about it later, I promise." Jack replied, forcefully grabbing Pitch's still half on jacket and pulling the older down to his level. "Right now I just want to show you."

Pitch let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Show me what?"

"How I feel."

Jack grabbed Pitch closer to him into a bruising open-mouthed kiss. Mainly open-mouthed due to the fact Pitch was just gaping at what was happening.

Didn't he already show me? Or wait… Oh dear God what does he mean.

Pitch leaned back again and Jack thankfully got the hint.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you think?" Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a foil wrapper with a grin.

Pitch's face heated up as he looked around wildly, noticing they were still practically in the hallway.

"Get in here now."

Pitch snatched Jack's arm and yanked him inside, slamming the door right after.

"Oooh, forceful." Jack snickered. "Sorry but you're totally the girl in this relationship."

Pitch felt his ears burning even hotter now. "What relationship? What! I am not."

Pitch didn't stoop to such childish levels.

Jack just scoffed and reached to quickly take Pitch out of his jacket.

"What are you doing now?" Pitch groaned.

"I'm preparing you." Jack whispered seductively.

"You little…" Pitch couldn't even think of anything to say as Jack successfully dropped the coat to the floor and reached for Pitch's belt. "S-stop!"

"Hell no." Jack continued, or tried to, but Pitch grabbed at his arm again and wrenched it away.

"We're doing this my way." Pitch glared at Jack with a devilish smile.

"You don't even know what sex is you virg-," Pitch silenced the annoyance with a deep kiss and scooped him up just like the other day in the university.

"But guess what Jack?" Pitch began as he slowly walked through the apartment. "We're not going to have sex." They neared the door. "We're going to…" Pitch opened it with his shoulder and closed it with his hip. "Make love."

"Oh wow did you just ruin the mood." Jack huffed and crossed his arms like a kid who didn't get what he wanted. "Fuck that, we can just sleep."

"Too late" Jack tried to suppress a smile but failed miserably as they approached the bed. He dropped him a bit too hard onto the comforter, and Jack glared up at him.

"Perfect start. I don't have to teach you anything."

"Good, then I won't have to let you take control again." Pitch grinned.

"Screw you." Jack growled.

Pitch started to undress himself, standing near the edge of the bed. He pulled off his shirt slowly, and finally, mercifully, moved towards undoing his pants.

"Great so I don't even get to do that?" Jack sounded even more upset and threw his arms above him in defeat.

"But you've done it oh so many times, haven't you?" Pitch paused, fingers hinting over his buckle. "What could possibly make you want to do it again?"

The teen huffed and rolled onto his side. "Shut up." Pitch could just picture the childish and angry pout he'd be sporting on the other side of those lean shoulders.

"Jack?" Pitch stepped closer to the bed, ignoring further attempts his own hands made at his belt.

"Mmf-nh nmmph."

Jack's head was pressed into the blankets now.

The older sighed, sitting down near his friend. "What's wrong?" He trifled a hand up through his hair, spreading it back farther.

"Mmf…nh…nmmph." Jack mumbled into the comforter again.

"Jack I can't hear you." Pitch gave up any pretense of hospitality.

In response, Frosty rolled over. Good boy.

"I said that you suck." Jack continued to pout, just as Pitch had pictured it before.

"Rude."

"You're one to talk."

"Child."

"You're old."

They look at each other for a moment, silently addressing the situation. Pitch was half naked, Jack had condoms in his pocket, and Sandy had hidden away somewhere in the house, most likely mortified. Fully realizing their predicament, they started to laugh.

Somewhere in the midst of the rolling and shaking, Pitch remembered his scars. He moved onto his stomach as he heard Jack sit up, burying his face and hiding the three lines that were cut into his skin so long ago. They burned at the memory, and only the cool touch of Jack's fingertips on his back brought him from the edge yet again.

"Pitch?" He sounded worried.

It was odd, that sound. Not that Pitch thought Jack didn't care about him, no, it wasn't that. From how his friend had been acting in the short time he'd known him, Jack had proven to Pitch that he did in fact care a great deal.

Maybe he'd just never heard a voice like that before ever aimed at him. Besides Sera, he didn't have anyone, and he'd never had anyone. But now it seemed he did, and if you counted the dog and most likely that maid, he had three. He smiled to himself into the blanket, laughing with his mouth closed before he flipped back over and laid his hands under his head.

"You don't mind?" Pitch asked, still smiling and pulling a hand out to gesture towards his abdomen before popping it back where it was.

Jack's eyebrows were knitted and his mouth puckered into a pout as he tried to bite his lip awkwardly. Pitch could tell he was curious about them, the way he was looking, and was thankful he didn't ask. "No, why would I?"

Pitch grinned harder. "No reason."

Jack dropped his look and glanced up to Pitch's eyes, bringing back the same old smile he usually sported. He leaned closer to Pitch before flopping down beside him, a hand on Pitch's stomach and his head laid onto his pale-grey chest.

Pitch was surprised when he didn't flinch at the feeling. Even when washing himself in the shower he did. It was a nice touch that he wished Jack knew the real meaning behind.

"I'm tiiiired." Jack whined, nuzzling in closer until he conformed to Pitch's shape and slung a leg over Pitch's own.

"I can't begin to comprehend how you think I'm an old man when you're this tired." Pitch chuckled.

Jack turned his head upwards to look Pitch in the eye. "Touche."

"No better comeback for me, eh?"

Jack's eyelids drooped. "Too tired…"

"This coming from the boy who wanted to 'do it' ten minutes ago."

"A prude like you would never be able to keep up with me." He yawned.

"So you're saying you're still up for it then?" Pitch smirked.

"Just shut up and hold me." Jack closed his eyes with a frown.

"If I must."

Pitch pulled out his arms and laid them over Jack's. An elbow around his side and their hands joining together over Pitch's abdomen.

The older sighed. Not a bored sigh or a tired sigh by any means. It was a sigh of actual contentment.

He was happy as he drifted off to sleep.

A few weeks passed, and Jack rarely left Pitch's apartment except for the two of them to go to class or if he had to run an errand.

They'd stay up late at night, whispering secrets like high school girls after the prom. They'd try to one-up each other at cooking, and somehow Jack always seemed to beat Pitch in taste, but definitely not in presentation. Hugs were always in abundance, as were the awkward kisses Jack always pulled the older one into. It took longer than expected for them to watch all the Potter movies due to Jack's random pounces, occasionally Pitch's, and Sandy's annoying ones.

At school they'd try to sit together in every class, especially Anthropology. Bunny never looked twice at them, or once, for that matter. It was delightful.

Sandy seemed happy to have more attention than before, and by God did they give it to him. Jack found his puppy dog eyes irresistible, and Pitch found out more and more that he just couldn't say no to the little devil.

Even when Toothiana came by the three of them would have plenty to talk about. Pitch started to come out of his shell to her, and she started to look at both Pitch and Jack as a couple, which they readily denied. Half the time she wasn't even cleaning, just lounging with them watching TV, or begging Pitch to sketch or a hummingbird, or giggling with Jack behind Pitch's back. Pitch would whirl around to find them the picture of perfect innocence. It was pretty obvious they were the exact opposite of that.

A few times the three of them would even go get coffee together. When Pitch and Jack bickered she'd let her lips turn into a sad smile, but the three of them never talked about that. As far as Pitch knew, they were friends, and he desperately needed the both of them.

Eventually Jack disclosed to Pitch he had a sister. He told stories of times when the two of them would play, or when he would read to her, and even the time she had pneumonia and Jack had to stay home from school to take care of her.

Pitch had questioned that, wondering why his parents couldn't, but Jack had dodged the question. Pitch was just as dodgey about anything to do with his family, and he realized he'd just have to wait for himself to be ready and able to say what happened in his past; he'd wait for Jack to do the same.

It was a domestic couple of weeks. Completely normal. Sarcastic comments, sleepy cuddling, and impolite bickering withstanding. It was nice for Pitch. He needed something grounding in his life, and it seemed Jack was there to give it to him.

Through the time they weren't "dating," per-se. They never really acknowledged it, because they didn't need to acknowledge it. They hung out as friends and lovers and that was that.

At least, until Pitch decided to bring back some of his English morals and ask Jack out on an official date out of the apartment. You know, activities that weren't Harry Potter or cartoon related. Sure they'd been out with Tooth a few times, which was fun, but it was a friend thing. This definitely wouldn't be.

But, it was harder for him to ask than he expected.

Awkwardly he shuffled down the hallway after finishing feeding Sandy. Jack was in the kitchen, ready to start cooking yet again, when Pitch cleared his throat. Jack turned to look at him, confused but smirking.

"Jack." Pitch gritted out.

"Pitch." He replied in mock fashion.

"I've been meaning to, that is, I've been wanting to tell you, I mean ask you," he exhaled heavily and shut his eyes. Not a good start. "Would you like to accompany me somewhere?"

Jack snickered, obviously trying not to laugh louder than he already was.

"Just forget it, it's fine." Pitch sighed, heading back down the hall to mope in his room.

"Pitch wait, alright?" Jack jogged over to him and grabbed his sleeve. "We both know I'm 'childish' and laugh at everything." He paused. "Where did you have in mind, anyway?"

"I don't know, somewhere," Pitch muttered, embarrassed.

"Did you like, plan some whole big thing?" Jack's jaw dropped slightly.

"Maybe," he muttered again.

"What did you do?"

"Just a restaurant," he trailed.

"Holy shit you made reservations at a restaurant for me?"

Pitch nodded solemnly.

"Dude that's fucking awesome. Let's go."

Pitch lifted his head and saw Jack's grin. "What?"

"I said let's go!" He was bouncing with excitement.

"Really?"

"Yeah! Let's do this!"

He ran past Pitch into the bedroom where he'd stored some of the clothes he'd brought from one of the errands he'd run. Pitch hurried after him to change too, and after some much faked squealing from Jack at what a pervert he was, Pitch went to the bathroom to strip grumbling with Jack's laughter following him.

An hour later they were seated at a table in an unnecessarily posh restaurant. Jack had favored a darker blue zip-up hoodie compared to the one he usually wore, with a simple dark shirt, jeans, and sneakers. While both of them were under-dressed and rather out of place, Pitch was less so, with his button-up purple dress shirt and skinny but soft slacks.

Jack whistled under his breath. "When you take someone out, you take someone out." He admired the high ceilings and low hanging chandeliers illuminating the spaced and individual tables. It was like they were in there own room more than anything else.

Pitch chuckled. "I rarely do this, so I figured you deserved it."

Jack met his eyes and laughed. "And here I thought your idea of a date was gonna be playing on brooms and chasing flying golden balls."

"At least I don't carry Sandy around the apartment on my shoulder shouting 'adventure time.'" Pitch sneered, reaching for his wine if only to spite Jack for his lack of it.

"We both know you're going to win because of your so called British wit, so just stop yourself now." Jack scoffed.

"It would be my pleasure to accept your forfeit." Pitch smirked.

"Like hell that's what I was doing."

Their bickering only ceased when plates were brought before them, and barely after. Pitch spoke between eating, and Jack spoke while eating unsurprisingly. Only when their hands laced across the table did they really start to enjoy the evening. The stares and hushed whispers tossed their way were ignored as the moment flowed by itself, broken by their slow departure when they were finished.

Walking out of the restaurant, they ignored the car in favor of a heavy kiss inside an alleyway. Snow had come early this year in what was the beginning of November, and Jack made a point to take advantage of that. Dragging Pitch out of the alley he tripped him into a snow bank.

Coughing and sputtering, Pitch rolled over. "You are so going to get it now."

Jack turned to run. "Try and catch me, bitch!"

Before Pitch was up, Jack was halfway down the street and entering the gate to a park.

Pitch sprinted after, his long legs bringing him closer to Jack faster than he'd thought, but the younger still had the advantage, obviously used to the snow more than Pitch was. He ducked out of the way just as Pitch narrowly snagged his hood. Fumbling Pitch caught himself before taking another spill, and looked towards the direction Jack was running now. He scooped up some snow in his bare hands, molded it into a ball, winded back, and threw it with full force at Jack who was some yards away.

From the distance Pitch could see the scowl on his friend's face as he turned to look at him, wiping the snow from his back.

"We're even." Pitch yelled to him.

"Nope!" Jack yelled back, picking up snow with a glare, and sprinting back to Pitch. He threw it dead center at Pitch's face before Pitch had enough time to react. Pitch wiped his face on his jacket and growled.

"You're gonna regret that."

"Like I'm scared of you." Jack taunted back, skipping around.

Pitch got a few hits in, and Jack returned the favor. Once it became apparent they were thoroughly soaked, they jogged back to the car, pushing and shoving each other the whole way. Shivering, Pitch shut the door to the car and slid his seat-belt on with Jack doing the same on the opposite side. They were definitely ruining the upholstery, but Pitch didn't care as much as he thought he would've.

Jack laid his head on Pitch's shoulder, somehow out like a light. Pitch smiled the entire drive back to the apartment, until he had to haul Jack out of the car and into the apartment.

He might've knocked his head on the doorframe as a joke.

"You're doing what?" Pitch practically gasped, his eyes blown wide.

"It's just for a couple days." Jack insisted.

"No, I'm not letting you." Pitch spit out. "You're not."

"Pitch, I have to."

"I know we've been avoiding the issue but I think I've figured out enough to not let you stay there again."

Jack winced, and Pitch immediately felt guilty. He'd never been sure how to approach the situation, and this definitely wasn't the right time for it. Jack had to tell him on his own terms.

"I'm sorry, but I'm going." Jack whispered looking away.

"You can't." Pitch stood from the chair at the kitchen table and walked around the counter to where Jack was leaning. He hugged him close. "You're not going to get hurt again."

"He's not even-," Jack bit his tongue.

As much as Pitch wanted to wait for Jack to be ready, he just couldn't anymore. Not if Jack was going back to where the bruises he'd seen weeks prior obviously came from. "Who?"

"Nevermind," Jack buried his face in Pitch's shirt.

Pitch backed off. "Jack I can't let you go back there if you're going to get beat again."

Jack flinched backwards and didn't reply. Pitch inwardly groaned.

"Look, I'm sorry for being so straight forward about it, but you can't, alright?"

Jack again refused to acknowledge Pitch was even talking.

The older ignored Jack's flinch as he went in for another hug, whispering, "I'm not going to lose you," into the soft white hair.

Slowly Jack relaxed and returned the hug, squeezing his friend's shirt in a tight grip. Pitch felt tears start to seep through it and held Jack closer to him.

After an eternity, Jack was the one to pull back this time.

"I think we should talk."

Pitch nodded and led his friend over to the couch by the hand.

Several times during the conversation Jack had started to cry but stopped himself, but when he finally reached the end of it he let it all go, clinging to Pitch like the father he never really had.

Jack had told him of how it first started, on his birthday, which incidentally was not even a month away. He told him about John, never calling him his father, always using his name. About the times John had waited until he was asleep to ever do anything sexual to him. That was back when he cared if Catherine or Megan knew. He hadn't beaten him as hard as the first time since then, but as the months escalated, his rage and hormones overtook him enough to let the whole family know, and after that, he didn't try to hide it anymore. It got worse, both aspects of the abuse. Until Jack's mother died his hair the first time, Jack had still thought of John as his father, but afterwards it was clear he wasn't part of the family. Just a shield for her and Megan. He'd accepted the role even if he fought it at every point. It was better to have it happen to him rather than them. Soon bitterness found its way into the teenager, and he resented his mother more than he first had. She was a shell of a person, and he wished his part could've been handed off onto her.

He'd tried to runaway once when he was fifteen, but a call from Megan that 'daddy had come home drunk' forced him back. He took back up his mantle and slowly slipped into the thought that he deserved what was coming to him. It was his fault for whatever punishment he got. It wasn't until Jack had broken down in front of Jamie had he started to realize his old feelings again. When Pitch first saw his bruises, everything clicked into place.

Pitch was shocked to hear it. His expression changed from horrified to disgusted to furious in moments. He'd guess it would have been the father, some sort of alcoholic abuse going on, and Jack was afraid of losing his sister. If he'd known it had been to the extent it had, he would've called the cops regardless of promises he'd made after what had happened with Bunnymund.

He continued to listen as Jack started his tale up again.

"Now the Bennettes are starting to get suspicious. Megan has been staying with them for a while now, since I started staying here. And there aren't many more excuses I can use on them. John won't be home for a week, and that means Megan and I can be safe there. I've talked to Katherine a few times, and she seems to be coming back to how she used to be. We'll be okay there." The unspoken part Pitch could hear all too clearly was that as much as Jack despised everyone in his family but Megan he still wanted to have one. "I'll call every night. You could even meet them, if you wanted. I'm sure Megan is tired of how much I talk about you when I go out to see her."

"Wait, why hasn't she been here with us? From what you just said about Jamie, that kid isn't right in the head." Pitch was worried. Jack hadn't gone into detail on what had gone on with Jamie, but it was definitely something bad.

"Because Mrs. Bennette is a nice lady. I've known her for as long as I've known Jamie. Hell, my mom practically grew up with her." Jack shut his mouth, and Pitch couldn't help but smile a little. He didn't say Katherine. From Pitch's view and what he knew from reading countless medical journals as a child in his father's study, it seemed Katherine had gone into shock, or a depression really. A long one that involved detachment from actual reality. She probably didn't realize half of the things going on around her, and now that she fully recognized it, there was no way she wouldn't want to have her son back. What Jack had told him about her burning her hands and the fit she threw afterwards was evidence enough.

Pitch brought himself back to the conversation. "Still, I don't think it's safe for you to go home. What do you think's going to happen?" He knew, but didn't want to tell Jack for him.

"It's… I don't know yet. It doesn't matter right now." He hesitated. "John'll be gone, and I'm leaving days before he's meant to be back anyway. It'll be okay, I promise."

As much as Pitch wanted to keep denying him, he knew he couldn't. Jack wasn't his child, and technically wasn't his boyfriend either. He was a friend in need. A friend who needed confirmation of his own actions for once in his life, and as the guilt and fear knotted itself together in Pitch's stomach he knew that the confirmation had to come from him.

"Okay okay. I believe you." Pitch leaned over to kiss Jack's forehead. "But one more thing before you go."

"What's that?" Jack looked up at him with still red eyes and tear streaked cheeks.

"Will you be mine?"

Jack punched his arm. "Oh my god you are such a dork."

Pitch laughed and Jack took the chance to tackle him to the couch.

Sloppy make-outs ensued, after which Jack said his short goodbye to Sandy, and the two college kids left for Jack's father's house without Jack needing any of his things.

Megan was older than Pitch pictured. From the way Jack described her, he'd assumed she'd be eight at the oldest, but of course that wouldn't make sense given she was there to remember when the beatings first happened. Pitch supposed he didn't think too hard on her age as he bent down to her still short level.

Jack had told him in the car Katherine had already picked her up, and when the both of them had knocked on the door she came barreling out for a hug from her big brother. Jack had just laughed and thrown her high in the air. It made Pitch's heart ache seeing the two of them together, not only because of his past but because of what they'd been through already.

Now she had big eyes, a little scared, but she held her ground. She was twelve, after all, and recently turned from what Jack had told him.

"Hello Megan." Pitch reached out to shake her hand. She shook her head in defiance, refusing to take it in return. Pitch could feel Jack trying not to snicker behind him.

"You're grey." She said more than a little confused.

It was Pitch's turn to try not to snicker. "Yeah, just a bit."

"Why?" She sounded pleasantly curious.

"Megan don't ask that." Jack rolled his eyes at her.

"But why?" She whined at her brother.

"Because-," Jack started.

"Would you like to know a secret, Megan?" Pitch interrupted.

"Yeah sure, I guess."

"I'm a vampire, and that's the truth." Pitch smiled.

"Dude I'm not six years old. I'm twelve! I don't believe in that junk anymore." She scoffed in annoyance.

"Well then how would you explain it?"

"It's a medical condition, obviously." She huffed back.

"Wow you two are made for each other." Jack laughed behind him.

Pitch stood straight, deciding treating her like Seraphina wasn't going to work. He'd have to treat her like a tinier version of Jack.

"You guessed it." Pitch replied.

"That's it?"

"What's it?"

"You're not going to try to get me to like you anymore? You're done with all that?"

"Yep. I figured you can like me or hate me but that's pretty much just your decision." Pitch shrugged.

She turned to look at her brother. "He's okay, kinda cute. You've got a good choice in men."

Jack's jaw dropped, and Pitch laughed out loud. "Megan! That is not, we're not, I mean you're too young to like boys!"

"Jack, I'm almost a teenager. Cut it out." She moved inside the house and disappeared down a hallway before Jack could grab the still laughing Pitch and pull him inside.

Jack hauled Pitch into the living room where his mother and Megan were now seated watching cartoons. They looked happy together as Jack waved to Katherine. "Hey mom."

Pitch could feel Jack tense at his side. He hadn't meant to say that just like the last time he had.

Katherine's smile grew broader and she stood to hug her son. Pitch shuffled to the side to make room.

"I'm so glad you're home." She whispered.

"Yeah, alright." Jack awkwardly hugged her back, not used to affection from a mother.

They broke apart, and she turned to Pitch. "Who's this?"

Her voice was melodic, not stiff like the grey student thought it would be. She looked like Megan, but with Jack's nose and ears, where Megan must've had her father's.

"Kozmotis Pitchiner, madam. You may call me Pitch." He grinned at her with his British charm.

She introduced herself, looking back and forth between Pitch and Jack with a knowing gaze. Subconsciously Pitch drifted closer to Jack, and when he did she smiled wider.

Katherine insisted he stay for dinner, and after politely refusing more than once, Jack convinced him to stay. Jack seemed a bit odd during the meal, probably because he wasn't used to his mother cooking, especially not for him. Megan seemed delighted to have her big brother and half-normal parent together again, and she pulled all three of you to the couch after supper to play the newest Mario game on the Wii she'd gotten for her birthday. A movie followed, and then a few episodes of her favorite show.

It was late by the time Pitch managed to reluctantly leave. While he was having fun pretending he had a real family, he'd forgotten Sandy was home alone since Tooth wasn't scheduled to come in that day. Megan tried to make him stay, but he told her he would see her soon, and that appeased her enough for Jack to lead Pitch back to the door.

"You're going to call me later, right?" Pitch asked him, shrugging back on his coat he'd taken off during dinner.

"Yeah yeah. You're so needy." Jack smirked, smacking Pitch's hands away to button the jacket for him.

Pitch grabbed Jack into a hug, reluctantly letting go after some time. He bent down for a kiss, lifting Jack's chin with his hand. Giggling caused him to pull back and Jack to whirl around. Katherine and Megan were in the doorway whispering to each other. When they realized they'd been caught they ran off into the living room again, and Jack laughed after them.

His eyes sparkled, and Pitch saw what Jack had always wanted finally coming to him.

"You'll be okay." Pitch finally confirmed, staring at his boyfriend.

Jack turned back with a grin. "I know."

After another kiss Pitch was on the walkway to his car, his hands stuffed in his pockets, and Jack waving after him from the doorway.

He turned on his car and pulled into the street, waving back at him.

Jack was going to be fine, he just knew it.

Notes:

I thought for a long time on actual sex in this chapter, but nah, not yet, hehe. Won't work well with the plot (that I am so excited for). Now that all the groundwork has been laid out, it can really begin!

Also what a happy chapter! Come on, that hasn't happened yet. I think my other fics are starting to rub off on this one *shudder*

Hope you all had a great Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, or other holiday!

EDIT:

Real quick, I don't know if it's been mentioned in the notes before or not, but Jamie is only sixteen. He skipped a grade but is physically more 'mature' than a kid his age. While Jack as we know is almost 18, starting college in the fall after high school. Pitch = 21, Tooth = 26, Bunnymund = late thirties, Katherine = early forties, North = same as Katherine but a little older, John = same as North, Sandy = a dog so it's irrelevant.

Also here on FF the chapter is uploading weird so I apologize for the separator bars not being on when it was first posted uwu