AN: Sorry this is a bit late, guys. I ended getting rather ill on Sunday, probably the flu that is going around, so I didn't get this chapter done until pretty much just now. Here's a fluffier chapter for you guys, though. Not really much in the romance way since this is once again with child Jill, but it is definitely a lot more light-hearted than the last few. Also, Jack does make an appearance in this chapter, but as it is before the events of Rise of the Guardians, he doesn't remember Jill. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, though; I figured we might need a bit of a break from the drama.

And once again I would like to thank everyone for their reviews. Seriously guys you have no idea how much each and every review makes my day. I never expected so many people to genuinely like this little fic, so this is kinda big for me. :) ~ Katheryn xoxo

Chapter Fourteen

It was a strange phenomenon, the villagers noticed idly, but for the past three years, the children of Burgess had been granted quite a few snow days. Not too much, but quite a few more than they had in past years. Not that the children ever minded.

Eleven year old Jill ran outside, laughing with childish glee at the snow gently falling down upon Burgess. It was chilly out, but not so bitter cold that the children needed to stay indoors. And Jill refused to stay cooped up in the house. Her father was taking care of some business in the next town over and to Jill that meant one thing: she could spend the whole day with her best friend.

She waved enthusiastically to her friend, Tara, as she ran to the woods. Tara waved back, or tried to whilst still holding onto her baby nephew, who seemed to be colicky today. Davey glared slightly at the little brunette as she ran by, but she just made a face back and continued onward. Davey still thought she was a witch after the events of All Hallow's Eve, but seemed fearful enough of her to not say anything. Not to mention, his mother found out what Davey had been saying and made him put the thought out of his mind, or at least not spread rumours of Jill's "witchcraft."

Jill's boots crunched through the fresh snow and the frozen branches crackled as she moved them up and out of her way. Pitch's clearing wasn't too far away, so Jill enjoyed the journey to his home, smiling as a couple of snowflakes landed on her nose.

When Jill reached Pitch's "lair," her face was a light pink from the wind and her hair was as messy as ever, but her brown eyes shone brilliantly with happiness, light, and life. Pitch smiled as he crept up behind her, resting comfortably in her shadow, waiting for the perfect opportunity to-

"Boo."

Jill shrieked and jumped, spinning around to face Pitch. But he wasn't there anymore; he had followed her shadow behind her and repeated the trick.

"Boo."

Jill laughed before spinning around and tackling the Nightmare King to the snow covered ground. He chuckled as he caught her, smiling indulgently at the young girl.

Only to feel his face freeze as white stuff invaded his vision.

Pitch coughed out some snow that had ended up in his mouth, and wiped the snow from his eyes. There was little Jill, mischievous smile upon her face, armed and ready with a snowball in each hand. Pitch barely managed to get back into an upright position before he was being pelted with the frosty ammunition, Jill's giggles echoing through the clearing as she ran around replenishing her stocks.

Pitch wiped the snow from his face with a laugh, before also running about the clearing, throwing a few snowballs her way, making sure not to hit her too hard or hit her in the face.

Jill ran over to the edge of the forest, crouching by a snow bank to make a larger weapon. She held it aloft and turned to look for Pitch. The Boogeyman was nowhere to be seen.

"Pitch?" Jill questioned, eyes moving from side to side. He was up to something, she was sure of it. Her eyes locked on each shadow as she searched.

She felt a fleeting touch against her hair and she whipped around, nearly letting the snowball go before realizing she had been tricked. A large pair of hands locked around her, lifting her into the air as Pitch pivoted the two of them around and let himself fall back into the snow, dragging the giggling girl down with him.

Jill rolled off of Pitch still laughing, still on the snow bank. She spread out her arms and legs and began moving them, open and closed, open and closed. She pulled herself out of the snow and smiled.

"Look, Pitch. It's a snow angel."

He smiled sadly back at her and replied, "It's a very beautiful snow angel."

"Why don't you make one, Pitch?"

The Nightmare King pulled himself out of the snow bank and placed a hand on Jill's shoulder.

"Because I'm no angel."

JSVJSVJSVJSV

The newest Spirit of Childhood flew by on his friend, Wind, smiling as he saw the joy on the faces of the children of Burgess. Maybe now they would start to believe in him.

The sound of laughter reached his ears and he landed gently on a limb, hidden from the duo that played below. There was a little girl, with rather long and lanky brown hair. She looked almost familiar to him, but he couldn't remember where he'd seen her before. She must be one of the village children; Jack had been guarding Burgess since he'd been "created" by the Man in the Moon. That was probably it.

The other half of this pair was an older man, wearing a long black cloak. His skin looked almost ashen and his black hair seemed to defy gravity itself. Jack tensed as he saw him, however; this was no ordinary man. Jack could tell, just by looking, that this man was a Spirit like him. Except this little girl could see the man. No one could see Jack.

Jack turned away from the friends as they collapsed into a snow bank. He wasn't sure how the dark man had gotten the little girl to believe in him, and at this point Jack didn't care. Besides, the man seemed to be the only "seen" Spirit who actually interacted with a child, while he or she was still awake.

But as Jack flew off toward his lake, he couldn't shake that feeling of familiarity. Like he knew them. Or he would soon.

Ending Author Note: So next chapter we are right back to the main drama. This whole thing between Pitch, Jillian, and Jack won't be solved too soon. (I think, I have to check my plot outline lol). So I was wondering, were there any chapters you guys would like to see from Pitch's point of view? I'd post them separately on my page, but I think it might be interesting to try my hand at writing purely from Pitch's view, kind of like the last two Jill chapters. Let me know! -K