Okay, this is a one shot for hellgirl-fan1

I hope you enjoy it!

Sometimes, those who feel weak, others need to let him/her see it is okay.

Fever and Regret

Hana can feel her face heating up. She wasn't for sure of why this was happening.

Her throat was dry as well, also a painful feeling in her stomach as she starts to cough slightly. She leaned against the wall, feeling dizzy as her surrounding started to spin around her.

She heard voices.

"Sheila...Sheila, are ya okay?" A familiar Australian accent said. Hana saw a blur of grey and white fur and someone with red and white on them. "Hana, are you alright?" A Russian accent asked.

Hana looks up; her eyes unfocused as North and Bunny came to aid the young Imagination spirit. She felt a furry paw on her forehead. "She's runnin' a fever. Let's get her to tha infirmary." He said.

He tried to gather Hana up in his arms so she wouldn't have to walk-

She jumped back as one of her eyes started to turn a crimson red, an anger look on her face. Bunny held both paws up. "Easy, Sheila...we're just tryin' ta help you." He said as he tried to take a step closer to her.

But that was a big mistake.

Hana summoned a sword as she points it at Bunny and North, her eyes turning into dragon eyes as they were dangerously slit.

"I'm warning you...back off...!" She growled. Bunny and North held their hands up. "Hana, we just want to help you." North tried to reassure her.

Hana didn't want to believe it.

She can still remember the horrible events that happened to her in her past life.

Hana was coughing as she tried to get ready for school, but the injuries on her were so unbearable. She hissed as she place her black long sleeve shirt, being it over the injuries.

"BRAT! Get out before you miss the bus!" Her mother yelled. Hana sighed as got upstairs, her eyes unfocused and her head hurting like crazy as she felt the heat around her.

She got to the bus as she sat in an empty seat at the back of the bus as she leaned her head against the cool glass. It was comfort for her.

As the bus came to a stop, she felt her stomach turning on her as she clench to it; coughing really hard. She then felt her stomach turned once more and throw up th e contents out of her stomach; even though she had anything to eat.

She can hear someone screaming for a name, then feeling her upper half being held up as she tried to focus her surroundings. She saw one of them was the bus driver, then the principal of the school.

"Get her to the school nurse."

"This is very bad."

"Everyone get back! She needs to breathe!"

She can feel herself being carried to the school nurse as he checks over her.

"...very high fever...need to take her home..."

All was dark around her as she closed her eyes.

"She's very sick, Miss Tsushiyota...she's running a fever and she's coughing very hard non stop. So...I think it's best if she stay home for at least a week."

"Don't worry, sir...I'll make sure that she gets the best medicine for her to be all better."

Hana opens her eyes to see herself on a couch with a rag on her forehead. She saw the principal and the school nurse with Hana's mother. The principal laid next to her as she coughed slightly.

"You won't be going to school for awhile, because your fever is really high..." The principal said as he stroked her cheek.

"...don't...go..." She hoarsed.

He thought that she wanted to go, so he smiled softly. "You'll come back to school until feel better, okay?" He said as he stroked her hair gently. He then left as he took the school nurse with him; leaving Hana with her mom.

Lucy glared at her as she took Hana down to the basement and threw Hana to the ground.

"You ungrateful little brat! Do you have any idea what you have done!?" She asked as she got a sickle out. Hana was gasping weakily as tears fell down from her eyes.

"P-Please...d...don't..." She hoarse, her voice very weak because she was sick.

Lucy just glared at her before sighing and just threw the sickle at her; making it cut her shoulder and back deeply as she wince at the pain. "You will stay down here until I figure out what to do with you."

She then slam the door of the basement, leaving Hana alone.

She was still coughing as she curled up; once more emptying the contents in her stomach; even though she hasn't eaten anything still. She was gasping as her eyes were still unfocused and very dazed.

She knew that no one will help her at all.

No one.

Hana was still glaring at the Pooka warrior and the Russian Guardian as she still held the sword in her hands. "Sheila...we're just tryin' ta help ya." He said.

But that made Hana even more furious

"I am telling you to STAY BACK!" She said, feeling the anger rising inside of her.

Jack and Tooth came in to see Hana glaring at the other two with a sword in her hand.

"What's going on?" Tooth asked.

Bunny glanced at Tooth. "Hana's runnin' a fever, but she won't let any o' us come near 'er." He said; still keeping an eye on Hana. Jack took a step forward. "Hana? It's Jack...we're not going to hurt you." He said; putting his staff down while holding his hand up in a surrender way.

Hana watches him carefully as the staff was on the ground.

The Guardians held their hands up defensively; telling Hana that they won't hurt her or anything.

North tried to take a step forward-

He suddenly felt himself being pinned to the ground and he saw dangerous slit blue-green eyes, one eye turning a crimson red. North saw that she turned to a dragon as she pinned him to the ground; the swords out of reach.

"I need no one's help..." She hissed in dragon breath.

The Guardians stare at her shock.

"HANA! STOP!"

"I made it this far through my suffering...and I can still keep going..." She hissed.

North stared at her as he saw her eyes glowing as if they were flames.

"I don't need any of you to take care of me. I can take care of myself." She said again.

She spread her wings as she inhale. North closed his eyes tightly as he thought she was going to do the unthinkable.

After a bit, she roared very loudly at him, then took off with a growl and bust through the window; her black wings flapping as she penetrated through the snow storm that was happening outside the Pole.

North was gasping as he place his hand where his heart was.

He had never seen Hana this angry before; none of them have. "What was that about?" Jack asked. None of them knew. Why did Hana lash them out like that? This wasn't the Hana they knew.

"We must find her. Before she hurts herself." North said. Jack took his staff and took off into the sky. He flied through the storm; since he was a winter spirit, so the cold doesn't bother him.

He then saw a dragon flying. He managed to get closer to him.

"Hana! You need to come back! We're only trying to help!" He said. He saw Hana glance at him and only snort as she dove down; Jack following her from behind. He then saw how she transformed into slightly, her feet having fins on them and frills on her back.

He saw that they were near the ocean as she dove down into the icy cold water; making Jack stop from diving down after her. He really didn't know how to swim just yet.

"Hana..."

~At the Artic~

Hana was still in her water dragon form as she curled up in the cold snow in an ice cave.

She doesn't need anyone's help because no one helped her when she got sick in her past life. She wants it all to go away, the nightmares, the pain...all of it, she just wants it to stop.

Everything to stop.

She then heard someone walk in as she transformed back. She back up until her back was against the icy wall. She was still gasping as she felt her legs about to give out on her, but she wouldn't let her guard down.

She suddenly felt arms wrapped around her, making her panic and tried to struggle herself out of the grip. It was unfamiliar to her as she tried to free herself.

"Hana! Calm yourself!"

It was now familiar.

It was Pitch.

How did he know she was here. She continued to struggle; not knowing of what will happen if she doesn't get free soon. "It's alright! Nothing's going to happen to you!"

He felt her struggling calming down slightly until she was still in his arms. "Easy..." He whispered as Hana was gasping slightly; then started to shiver slightly. Not from the cold.

But from the fear.

Pitch knew what she was afraid of and picked her up in his arms. At first she struggled, but then relaxed because she had no fighting strength in her left. Pitch sighed as he made a shadow portal and stepped right in; now inside his lair.

Her face was flustered as she was shivering; never feeling this sick before in her life. Pitch gently place her down gently on a bed he had; just in case he did have visitors, now that the Guardians and himself are now allies.

"Easy does it..." He said as he stroked her head, earning a slight whimper from the cold touch. She fluttered her eyes open to see Pitch staring at her. "...P-Pitch...?"

She sat up slightly, but wince from the pain she was in. He gently place his hand on her shoulder. "You still have a fever, take it slow." He said gently as he got some water and place the cold rag on her forehead.

She sighed deeply from the cold touch of the wet rag. "Wh-Where am I?" She asked. Pitch sat on the edge of the bed. "You're in my lair, I found you in a cave at the Artic." He said.

Hana then remembers what happened.

She lashed out at the Guardians.

Her close friends that stood by her.

The love of her life.

...and her father figure.

"I...I lashed out at them...the Guardians." She said as she looks down guilty. He stares at her as she felt herself shaking. "I-I yelled at them. I know...that they were trying to help and everything...but...I'm still haunted by...those memories." She said.

"P...Pitch...I-I don't know what to do anymore...I just don't know." She then broke down as she buried her face into her hands; crying softly. Pitch didn't know what to do or what to say. He was never in these type of situations before.

But...he had to try.

"Listen, Hana..." He said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I know that you were haunted by those memories. They affect not only you, but me as well because I could feel the pain you were in." He sighed, trying to think of a good way to explain this.

"...would you like me to take the nightmare memories out of you? So...you can have a decent sleep at night?"

Hana's eyes were wide with shock. She pulled her face away from her hands to glance at the Nightmare King. "Wh...why would you..." She asked, but Pitch only sighed.

"Because...I may not use to this whole...'family' and I know that you and Jack aren't use to it as well, but... that doesn't mean that I will look after you and I will protect you. As not only the Nightmare King but..."

He paused, not really getting use to it.

He had to say it. He was the Nightmare King and he can say it.

"...but as a brother as well."

There, he said it.

Hana glance at him with surprised from what he just said. Pitch Black, the Nightmare King, actually cared about her and that really caught her off guard. He sighed as he looks away-

He suddenly felt arms wrapped around his chest; seeing Hana hugging him. He didn't know what to do. He was never the one with physical contact with another before other than his nightmares.

He sighed as just stroked the top of her head, waiting for this to end. He was the Nightmare King and he knows that he will never EVER go soft on anyone. He kept stroking her hair until she managed to pull away.

"Can you really take the bad memories out of my head?" She asked. He nodded as he gestured her to lay down. He place a hand on her forehead as she closed her eyes.

"This might sting a little." He warned her; earning a nod from Hana as she relaxed. He sighed as he closed his eyes. His hand started to glow as kept his hand placed on her forehead. She tensed slightly; feeling the pain right now as she clenched her hands tightly.

"It's alright. You're doing very well." He said as he kept trying to get rid of the bad memories of her past life.

Just then, he heard one of his nightmares snorting; telling him that he had another guest. He turned his head to see none other than Bunnymund. Bunny saw Hana laying down with Pitch's hand on her forehead.

Pitch sighed as he focused back on Hana as Bunny walked up to them. "...I have found her at the Artic, she put up a fight, but I managed to calm her down." He said as he heard Hana whimper slightly.

"What're you doing to her?" Bunny asked. Pitch just simply glance at him; then focusing on his work.

"...She asked me to take the bad memories of her past life out of her. It was haunting her dreams and it affected her and me. I could feel the pain from her past life. So, she gave me her permission to take those memories out of her head." He said.

Bunny glances at Pitch, then back at Hana.

Hana was now relaxing as Pitch's glowing hand started to faint slightly.

"...is that why she lashed out at tha Guardians 'n me?" He asked. Pitch nodded, pulling his hand away; his work now done.

"The past had affected her very deeply and that's why she had done from what she did. She thought that it will happen all over again and that's why she said what she had said and done." Pitch said as he gently stroked her forehead; now asleep. Her face was still flustered slightly, but not by a lot now.

Bunny nodded as he gently picked up Hana in his arms; feeling her resting her head against his furry shoulder.

"...Pitch?"

Pitch looks up to glance at the Pooka Warrior. Bunny nods at him.

"...thanks fer lookin' out fo' er when we couldn't."

Pitch nodded back as he tossed him something. Bunny managed to catch it and it was a necklace of some sort.

It was a form of a miniature nightmare as it shines somewhat in the light.

"...tell her that if she needs to talk to anyone, she can talk to me. Make sure you give that to her when she wakes up and tell the Guardians of what I have told you."

Bunny nodded as he tapped a hole, forming a tunnel. He jumped down the hole as he jumped down.

Soon, he came out of the hole to be at the Pole where everyone was waiting for her. North saw that Hana fast asleep. "Will she be alright?" He asked. Bunny nodded as she glance at the girl sleeping in his arms.

"Yeh...she was just havin' a bad memory affect is all an' that's why she did what she did earlier." Bunny said as he adjusted the grip around the female Guardian. Hana shifted, starting to flutter her eyes open.

"...B-Bunny?" She asked in a hoarse voice. Bunny glances down to stare at very dazed blue-green eyes. He smiled sadly at her. "...yes, love?"

She felt tears running down her cheek as she wrapped her arms around his neck; her face buried into his furry shoulders. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lash out at you guys earlier-"

"Shh...Shh," He whispered as he gently place her on the ground so that her feet were touching the ground so he could hug her close; letting her have a shoulder to cry on.

"I know...I know...Pitch told me what happened an' I understand..." He whispered, rubbing her back soothingly as she tighten the embrace slightly. He then stared at North, who had a confused look on her face.

"...she was affected by her past; from what her mom did ta 'er. That's why she lashed out at us; she thought that it was goin' ta happen again. Pitch took the bad memories away 'cause it was hauntin' er and he was affected as well from 'er nightmares."

Tooth puts her hand over her mouth; her eyes wide with shock and horror. Sandy and Jack stared at Hana sadly as North sighed sadly; glancing at the young Imagination spirit.

Hana pulls away to stare at the Wonder Guardian. She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck; which he returned the embrace immediately. "...I'm sorry, North." She whispered.

North smiled sadly as he tighten the embrace. "...It is alright, Hana. All is forgiven." He said, feeling Hana tighten the hug slightly as well. North smiled sadly.

"Come. Let us help you, Hana." He said as Hana pulled away from him. North puts a supporting arm around Hana's shoulder as he guided her to the infirmary. She gently laid down on the bed.

Jack had an icy cold wet rag in his hands and placed it on Hana's forehead. She sighed in bliss from the icy cold touch. "...that feels good." She mumbled, earning a chuckle from the winter spirit.

North chuckled as well as he stroked her hair gently. "Get some sleep, Hana. We will come back soon for you to have something to eat." He said. Hana nodded sadly.

"Like I said...I'm sorry for lashing out like that-"

"Hana." North interrupted her when he stroked her cheek softly as a single tear ran down her cheek. "It is not your fault. You were scared and we understand that. Just rest for now. We will talk about it later."

Tooth came by and place a small kiss on her forehead; making Hana stare at her shocked. "...get some sleep, okay?" She asked. Hana felt her heart have a feeling in there as she nodded.

Everyone left, except for Bunny. "Hey. Pitch wanted me ta give you this." He said as he place the necklace around her neck. She glances at it; the necklace shining in the sunlight.

"He said...if ya need someone ta talk to, you can talk to him." He said, then placing a kiss on her cheek. "Get some sleep, love. I'll be back soon." She said. Hana glanced at him with a small sad look on her face.

"You promise?" She asked.

He smiled softly at her. "You know that I never break me promises to you, Hana." He said. He then felt Hana squeezing his paw slightly with her hand. "...please...just promise." She whispered.

He sighed. "...I promise."

He then walked out of the room, leaving Hana alone as she places her hand back on the pillow as she closed her eyes; letting herself fall into a deep sleep.

~Few Hours Later~

It was night time as Hana wakes up from one memory of her past life that she missed dearly. How her father tells her bedtime stories when she was sick; always playing with her, telling her jokes, staying by her side.

She wanted that again.

She glance at the time; seeing that it was near midnight.

She got up as she leaned against the wall as she walks through the workshop. As she got to a waiting room, she sees North reading a book near the fireplace on a sofa; having his reading glasses to read.

Hana walks over to him and sat down. He glances at her as he puts a bookmark in place of the book, then closing it. "Have trouble sleeping?" He asked gently. She nodded silently as she rubbed her arm slightly.

"Is...it okay if I stay up with you for awhile?" She asked. North smiled sadly and nodded. "Of course. I do not mind company." He said as he opened his book once more.

Hana kept glancing at North slightly, unknowing what to do now. North saw that she was hesitating about something. "Is something wrong?" He asked. She was silent for awhile. North then knew what was wrong.

He places an arm around Hana's shoulder and pulled her close; letting her head rest against his chest. "What is troubling you, Hana?" He asked gently. Hana sighed sadly.

"I...I had a dream about my dad when I was little. When...I was sick, he would...tell me stories all the time, playing pretend that he was a dragon and I was the princess." She laughed slightly at the memory, remembering how she was on her father's back as he pretends that he was the dragon and he was pretending to fly as she held onto him; both laughing together.

"He...he would always take the day off from work when ever I got sick. But...when he died..." She trailed off from there, feeling some tears running down her cheeks. She felt North stroking her hair gently.

"...things were never the same. My...my mom would leave me in the basement; never doing anything when I got sick. I-I tried to tell everyone what was happening, but...no one would believe me and...when I...I got really sick, she wouldn't do anything. She wouldn't take me to the hospital or anything."

She was now sobbing as she buried her face into her chest; all curled up against North as he kept stroking her hair gently.

"...is that why you angry earlier? You were afraid that it might happen again?" He asked gently.

Hana nodded as she started to sob once more. North pulled her closer as she buried her face into the crook of his neck; her hands clenching to his shirt. North sighed sadly as he place his cheek against the top of her head, rubbing her shoulders soothingly so she will calm down.

"Hana, you must listen..." She earned a nod from Hana as he continued.

"You know that none of that will ever happen to you. Your mother won't harm you here. I know that you are victim of child abuse, but things are different. Hana, we care about you. We love you; I love you. You are like daughter to me and I will do everything in my power to make sure that you are safe from harm. I want to become your father. If you let me..."

His heart still break when he found out about Hana's past life. She grew up all alone when her father died; lost all of the wonders, dream, fun, hope and memories in her childhood.

Grew up with no mother's love.

All of the injuries she had not only physically, but mental and emotionally.

But the worst injury she had...

...was her heart.

Her heart had suffered the most.

He waited for Hana to respond, hoping that she understand what he had said. Then, he felt a small nod as she tighten her grip on him. "...I-I want you...t-to be my dad...p-please...I-I-I want you to."

North smiled sadly as he pulled Hana closer to him as he lets her have a shoulder to cry on; like how a father would. He rubbed her shoulder soothingly as he whispered comfort and reassurance to the girl that had become a daughter to him.

After awhile, the sobbing had tune down a little. "Can...can I stay with you a little longer?" She asked. North smiled and nodded. "Of course." He said as he glance at the flickering fireplace.

"Ummm...Dad?"

"Yes?"

Hana sighed. "Can...can you tell me a story?" She asked. North's smile grew slightly as he leaned back so that Hana can be comfortable. "Of course." He said. He told her about his adventures when he was young; how he travel into caves to find some treasure, running into Father Time when he first became a Guardian.

"...when I first met Father Time, I was nervous, but I know that I had to face him sooner or later."

All was silence.

"Hana? Are you awake?"

He looks down to see Hana fast asleep; all curled up against him as her head was resting against his chest as the gentle beat of his heart was acting like a lullaby for her. Her gentle breathing now normal; her fingers curled into the fabric of North's shirt.

North smiled as he gently got a blanket; covering both of them up as Hana place on of her hands onto his chest as she was asleep. He softly kissed her on the forehead as he leaned back against the couch.

"...sweet dreams...sweetheart."

He closed his eyes and he fell asleep as well.

AWWW!

That was a cute Father/Daughter moment!

And Pitch turning soft!? *laughs*

Well, I hope you enjoyed the one-shot, hellgirl-fan1

Until then,

BlackDragon157