AN: Slowly getting back on track guys. :) Anyway, I'm glad that you guys are enjoying this story so far; you have no idea how happy all of your support and feedback make me. So we've reached the moment of truth: How will Jack find out about Pitch and Jillian and how will he take the news? Let's find out shall we? Reviews make me happy and inspire me to write more! Especially now that we are descending into the nitty-gritty of this story. :) -Katheryn xx
Chapter Eleven
Jillian shivered as she and Jack approached North's workshop. It was freezing, which was understandable considering how far north they were. But Jillian had never liked cold weather; she only been up here for maybe a minute and she was already wishing for warmth. But Jack seemed to thrive in it, which made sense. He was the Spirit of Winter, after all.
Wind set the two down gently on the balcony of North's study. Jack pushed open the glass doors and entered the room, Jillian trailing behind him. North's study was cozy and she could only imagine how amazing the rest of the workshop was; she wished she was here under better circumstances. Once the Guardians saw her, things wouldn't be very cheerful.
Jillian stopped in the doorway, watching as Jack was welcomed by the Guardians. North clapped him on the back with a laugh and Toothiana hugged the frost-haired boy tightly, trying to get a look at his pearly whites all the while. Bunnymund and Jack shared some sort of "bro-greeting" and Sandy waved.
The golden being's eyes fell on Jillian and his eyes widened. Jillian held a finger up to her lips; no one knew that she and the Sandman had been friends for almost as long as Pitch had been in Jillian's life. It was better that way; Sandy was a Guardian and Jillian was the Boogeyman's lover. It was something they all knew the others wouldn't understand.
"Hey guys," Jack said suddenly. "You'll never guess who I found today."
Jillian tensed as Jack walked over to where she was still standing in the doorway. He held out his hand saying "Come on, Jill. Come meet my friends."
All eyes fell on her as the Cupid walked into the room, head held high, no fear or anxiety showing on her face. Pitch would have been proud, had he been there with her.
Bunnymund's paw moved to his trusty boomerang as he growled "What the devil is she doing here, mate?"
"Oh Jack," Tooth sighed, shaking her head. "You shouldn't have brought her here. Don't you know who she is?"
"Yeah, I do," Jack exclaimed, hand tightening around Jillian's, ready to defend her. "She's my baby sister."
"WHAT?!" North, Tooth, and Bunny shouted, different levels of disbelief on their faces.
Another smaller hand gripped Jillian's and she looked down to see Sandy, holding her hand and smiling reassuringly. She smiled back and squeezed slightly, thanking him for the support. Then she turned to face the other three Guardians.
"Jill is my sister," Jack reiterated, frustration on his face. "She's the one I died saving, the reason Manny chose me."
"Well, she's certainly repaid the debt nicely," Bunnymund scoffed. "Really appreciated what your brother did for ya, didn't you, Jillian St. Valentine? Or is it Jillian Black now?"
"Jillian Black?" Jack asked. "What are you talking about?"
Jillian's lips tightened and her eyes teared up slightly. This was the last way she wanted Jack to find out.
"We're talking about her…ehm… significant other, Jack," Tooth said, a bit uncomfortably.
"Significant other?"
It was time. She had to say something before this went any further.
"Jack," she started slowly. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you. Jack, I-."
"Your sister is in love with the bloody Boogeyman, mate." Bunnymund cut her off, throwing his paws in the air. "She's Pitch's girl."
Jillian looked at Jack, her inner anxiety finally showing on her face. Damn that rabbit; why couldn't he just leave well enough alone and let her tell Jack. She knew she should have said something before they got here.
Jack stood there as if frozen, no pun intended. Bunny's words echoed in his mind, over and over again. Pitch's girl. Pitch's girl. Pitch's girl. No. There was no way. It was impossible.
"Come on, Kangaroo, that's just crazy. There has to be some kind of mistake. Jill wouldn't get involved with a psycho like Pitch. My sister is smarter than that."
"Ask her yourself, mate." Bunny said in a sober tone.
Jillian flinched as Jack turned toward her, his eyes begging her to deny it. But she couldn't; she didn't want to, either. She wasn't ashamed of her feelings for Pitch; he had been there for her for the past three centuries. He had never forsaken her, so she would not denounce him. Not even for Jack.
"Jack, I-I tried to tell you before," Jillian started. "When I told you that I had someone waiting for me…. Jack, that someone is Pitch. Jack, it is all true, everything Bunnymund just said. I love Pitch, he loves me. We are together; we have been for a long time actually. I am Pitch's girl and I'm not ashamed of that."
Jack moved away from Jillian as quickly as he could. His eyes were wide and slowly filling with anger. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he stared at her. Her face was filled with remorse, not for loving Pitch, but because Jack had found out about them in this way, because Jack was hurt by this.
"Jill," he let out through gritted teeth. "What do you mean, you love him? He's a monster, Jill; he doesn't deserve love."
Jillian gasped before anger appeared in her eyes. Jack was upset, she knew that, but that did not give him the right to judge who did and did not deserve love.
"Everyone deserves love, Jack," she proclaimed. "Even Pitch. Especially Pitch. You have no idea what he's been through, brother. What we've been through together. Jack, you have to understand-."
"I don't understand, Jill!" the Guardian of Fun shouted. "I don't understand how you can love a monster like him, how you can stay with him. I don't understand why you even chose Pitch. Why is he so special? Why can't you just find someone else, someone better?"
"Because he's my Other Half," Jillian finally admitted.
The Guardians gasped. Toothiana's hands came up to cover her mouth and Bunnymund looked like he'd just been told that he truly was a kangaroo. North's hand came up to clasp a ring hanging on a chain from his neck. Jillian's eyes focused on the motion; so he hadn't forgotten. Good, perhaps North would help her out; after all, he understood better than almost anyone else exactly what the Other Half bond meant.
"What does that even mean?" Jack asked, frustration still showing on his face.
"Jack, the Other Half bond is one of the strongest bonds that can exist between two legendary Spirits," Tooth explained. "It only happens once in a Spirit's life, or so I've heard. North would know more about it than I would." She added, looking over at North.
North hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"Is very special kind of bond, Jack. Very powerful. If what Jillian says is true, then there is truly nothing we can do. If it is true, Pitch and Jillian cannot be broken apart."
"Well, how do you know there is this magical bond between you and Pitch, Jill?" Jack asked in exasperation. "How do you know that he isn't just using you?"
Anger filled Jillian's face. She could understand why Jack was angry, but now he had gone too far. Pitch would never do that to Jillian; he hadn't even tried in 315 years, he wouldn't start now.
"How do I know?" Jillian said quietly. "How do I know? I'm a Cupid, Jack, a Spirit of Love. I'm pretty sure I can recognize an 'Other Half' bond. Especially when it involves someone I deeply care for."
"Care for? Jill, don't you know what he's done? To my friends, to Sandy. To the children. Jill if you can forgive him, then I don't know if I can be around you anymore. Please Jill; just let him go." Jack begged.
Jillian blinked back her tears and removed her hand from Sandy's. She began to leave before stopping in the doorway.
"I do know what he's done, Jack. I don't agree with it, but I also know everything Pitch has suffered through since the end of the Dark Ages. So yes, I do forgive him, because he needs someone on his side. And even if you hate me Jack, I won't leave him. No matter what happens, come what may, I'll be by his side through it all."
And with one last glance at her newly found and now lost again brother, Jillian left the North Pole, tears in her eyes but no second-thoughts about her final words.
Ending AN: I know Jack may seem like a petulant child, but he did just find out his baby sister is in a relationship with Pitch Black, whom he only sees as a villain. Not to mention, he was fairly young when he died. So I figured his emotions are still somewhat volatile, especially after some of his actions in the film. Also, I will go more in depth about North's ring and how he knows about the Other Half bond (did you notice my clever use of the title lol?). Some backstories are going to be changed slightly, but I'm trying to stay as true to canon as possible. Reviews are forever appreciated. :) -K