Maria was sitting on a hill.
"Come now, darling, it's just a party. She's bound to go to some; she's a teenager and a relatively young immortal."
The shadow on the Moon shifted and Maria stood up, brushing grass off of her skirts. "Ah well. I'll be there; I'll keep an eye on her. If he turns up, or tries to pull anything, I'll make sure everything is alright."
The shadows created an agreeable light, and a few moonbeams shone upon her face. "Oh, your little darlings do seem to adore me." Green flames leapt playfully among the moonbeams, creating a dazzling array of reflected light. Maria smiled and blew a kiss into the skies. "My farewells to you, dearest."
At least now she had an excuse to poke her nose into her daughter's business.
…
Valentina shivered a little. It was the day before the party. Hearing footsteps, she turned, a huge smile breaking out on her face.
"Hey, North!" She greeted the large Russian but didn't expect to be thrown over his shoulder.
"Jack told me. Will you treat it as I treat the sleigh? Go around the world in the castle?"
Val blinked, and blushed. "I guess… Jack wasn't supposed to tell you."
North laughed. "Ah, that is okay! He tells me anyway!"
She raised her eyebrows. "You've sort of missed the point there, North." She hugged him awkwardly. "Let's see the castle then."
North carried her down to the deep ice cavern. Icicles sharp as a shark's tooth filled the place, but Val felt strangely at home. This, she knew, was the empathic echoes of the love North had lavished upon her castle while he was at work here.
"Oh, North…" Tears of gratitude filled her eyes. He put her down and led her to the edge.
It took her breath away. A true fairy tale castle, with turrets and a drawbridge, half iron plating and half stone walls. A fountain caught her eye, and she frowned, looking closer. It was in the form of a crow with a girl standing beside it. She gaped at the work that had clearly gone into it.
Beautiful curtains shielded the rooms from her eyes, and she looked up at North.
"You can explore it another time! If you don't want to see it right now."
She flung her arms around the large Russian as far as they would reach. "It's perfect! North, thank you so much!"
He hugged her. "I just want my Valentina to be happy. If a castle makes you happy, then I will build a castle!"
She began to snuffle, and he smiled. "Ah, but no tears. Let us go! I will let you ride the sleigh. You cannot drive your castle until you learn the rudimentary gear controls." He grabbed the smaller hand in his and dragged her back through the cavern.
Turning through two huge wooden doors, they reached the sleigh. It was…
Gorgeous. It was easy to see how it could potentially fly by itself, but Val pulled her hand free and rushed towards the huge deer, gripping a handful of Comet's surprisingly soft coat. "Ahh…"
She leaned her forehead against that of the caribou. He snorted, stamping his hooves. The fur on his forehead was coarse, and she smiled shyly.
"Caribou know you are to be trusted. They are good judges of character."
He caught sight of a dark shadow and frowned. "Although Pitch keeps that one here. I do not know why I agreed to this…"
Val shrieked happily, letting go of the caribou. "Mr Horsey!" She rushed over to the fearling and hugged the dark creature, patting the sandy neck and cooing at it.
The horse nuzzled against her neck and she giggled happily, wings sprouting and wrapping around 'Mr Horsey' lovingly.
North was speechless.
…
"Something is not right…" Pitch muttered, getting up swiftly. He looked down in fear at his hands and Jack frowned. "What's up, Pitch?"
They had been sitting in a hostile silence up until that moment. He had no idea as to what could make the Nightmare King wear such an expression of fear.
"Well, Jack, I had been keeping a fearling here, but it isn't obeying my commands to go and fetch pastries. It should listen to my every word."
He turned a panicked face to the young boy.
"It may attack me! I know where it is! We must go check."
He seized Jack's hand – "Hey, Pitch, calm down! Are you even sane?" – And ran with the winter spirit through a shadow, appearing outside the doors to the sleigh room. Jack raised an eyebrow.
"You keep your pony here?"
"It is not a pony, you stupid brat! It is a fearling! A creature of ultimate darkness and chaos!"
He slammed open the doors and their jaws dropped. Jack vaguely registered that North was in much the same condition, but the sight of Val hugging and cooing at the fearling, who appeared to be cuddling her back was absolutely…
Jack recovered enough to whisper something to Pitch.
"Creature of ultimate darkness, huh…"
Pitch went a tar black with blushing. "Shut up, Frost."
He turned on his heel and Jack winked at Val before following.
"And I believe you mentioned chaos? Could it be your plan is to cuddle Grim into submission?"
"I said shut up!"
"Poor Grim, so intimidated. Perhaps we can finish him off with a muffin basket?"
He dodged Pitch's swing and grabbed his arm so they both vanished to reappear in the lounge.
"Maybe we could have a nice chat over some knitting to discuss his feelings with him!" Jack continued brightly. Nightlight blinked, looking up from a game of poker he was playing with Bran, who frowned. "Have we missed something?"
Pitch growled, starting to storm off.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Pitch." Jack managed to sound heartfelt. Pitch turned around to see Jack with wide open arms.
"Hug therapy?"
He just managed to dodge a vase that was thrown in his direction.