Note: Wow, sorry guys, it has been far too long ever since I updated this story. Life happened, covid-19 happened and uncertainty about the future happened. But, I'm back at it so onward we go (it is a lot easier to write after taking a break from it!).

Chapter 29

Silence is a lie that screams at the light."
― Shannon L. Alder

The Mother Goose laid in bed still like a life-size doll yet on closer inspection, her chest moved the blanket slightly up and down. Her long auburn curls shaped her square tanned face. The freckled face faced up toward the ceiling was pale and smooth without any blemish. Her thick eyebrows were set on a frown.

When Pitch saw her, a flash of vivid image flashed through his mind; a young stubborn girl, freckles with long auburn curls tied in a low ponytail scowled at him, unafraid.

Pitch blinked, and the image was gone once more, gone deep into the unconsciousness of his dark mind. He was at the cusp of the arched doorway as North sat by her side, stroking her hair like a father stroking his daughter's hair as she fell asleep. The only thing that was missing was a bedtime storybook beside the bed on top of a table. Tooth fluttered nervously, Jack amused himself with Teeth who flew around joyously for the reunion. Bunnymund silently munched on a carrot while he leaned against the wall opposite of the bed, deep in thought.

Pitch raised his foot to take a step inside the room, but staring at the North by the Mother Goose side made him hesitate. He was an outsider, looking into an impossible scene where warm mid-afternoon sunlight creating a shine against each individual like there was holo on top of their head, a woman sleeping soundly surrounded and loved by the protective guardian angels.

His heart squeezed and it took the breath out of his lung. He suddenly knew.

He didn't belong here.

He should have felt some feeling of accomplishment or happiness when Jack told him they have found the Mother Goose. It was a miraculous coincidence, Jack told Pitch excitedly. Mother Goose was one of the adult captives they found in the nest of the Spider.

Yet, all Pitch felt was an impending doom like he was tightening the noose around his own neck. He didn't understand why he felt in such a way, but he knew, deep in his gut, he should not meet the Mother Goose, let alone stay in the same room with her. A piece of a puzzle was missing to see the whole picture he needed to see.

Not noticing Pitch's conflicting emotions, Jack pondered for a bit by himself, wondering if it was a miracle they have found the Mother Goose on a very ship they hijacked to save the kids and the adults. Yet, he quickly dismissed the thought thinking it was too complicated and told Pitch to follow him to meet the sleeping Mother Goose.

Hence, Pitch stood frozen by the door, wondering what would happen if the Mother Goose woke up and listened to his request. He looked down at the ticking clock over his chest. He was running out of time and with each time he lost unconsciousness, the dreams were becoming more vivid.

His thought was interrupted when behind him, Mick pushed him forward into the room to enter. Right behind Mick, Pick swooped in and perched on the bedside leg. Bunny looked up in surprise. "You guys are still here?"

"Of course we are!" Mick fumed. "We still haven't received our payments!"

Tooth smiled in amusement and Jack frowned in annoyance. "I thought it was a free service," Jack said, stretching the word service for a good measure.

"Free service? Free service! Are you crazy!" Mick shouted. "Look at all the goods you guys have here! And here we thought we would do you all a favour for giving away a free ride on my ship because you guys seemed penniless. Well, no more free charity. We demand payment." Pick nodded in agreement and his eyes shown greedily at a golden shield hanging above the fireplace.

A shadow flickered against the fireplace, slowly, it stretched taller, denser and heavier. Feeling a presence staring at the back of his neck, Mick turned around and realized the person he has pushed aside to enter the room was Pitch himself. Pick gulped.

"Ah! Mister Pitch! What we meant to say is uh well, we just think that, uh" Mick stuttered, his famous mouth for endlessly bargaining dried up like a desert.

"Your loud bickering will wake her up." Pitch quietly hissed. Then, the shadow both swooped them up and threw them out of the room. The door shut with a resounding click behind their back. Finally, letting out the breath he was holding, he turned around only to see North's eyes brighten up. Like a magical moment from the sleeping beauty, the Mother Goose slowly opened her grey eyes and met North's eyes.

The woman blinked once and then frowned. "North?" She whispered.

"Aye, it's me. Welcome back to the land of the living, Katherine." North smiled.

"Ugh, I feel like I have the worst hangover." The Mother Goose groaned loudly. Then her grey eyes widened as the memories caught up to her. She sat up so quickly that she smacked her forehead against North's chin. The Mother Goose let out a cry and rubbed her forehead to ease the aching pain. "Oh, I'm going to feel that tomorrow."

She turned to her side to watch North chuckle and enveloped in a warm hug. "How long has it been? I can't remember the last time I saw you! I missed you so much." Katherine excitedly exclaimed.

"Not since you went off saying you wanted to collect stories around the world. I missed you too." North chuckled. But, a downcast fell on his face. "Do you remember what happened to you? We found you in the Sea of Stars, captured by beings called Fearlings."

Katherine looked down to her lap and scowled. "Of course I remember. They kidnapped me when I was in Peru, talking with a child late at night. The last thing I remember is the frightened face of a child with shadows like creature swallowing the campfire." Her hands trembled. North grasped her trembling hand gently.

"You are always safe here. Always." North reassured her.

"I know that!" She grinned. "I'm not a child anymore." She said sheepishly. Finally, she looked away from North and noticed that she had an audience. Bunny gave her a two fingers salute, Jack smiled and Tooth fluttered closer to give her a hug as well. Her eyes lingered longer at Jack with an expression he couldn't read. Then, her wide eyes finally fell toward Pitch.

"So, you got a new recruit while I was gone. But, what is he doing here?" Katherine said coldly and stabbed her finger at Pitch standing in the corner, looking awkwardly to the side. "I'm not even surprised. I figured he was involved somehow in the kidnapping. Anyone care to explain?"

Pitch opened his mouth as he began to frown, but a knock on the door turned all of their head. Sheepishly, Sandy stood by the small gap of the door with holding multiple trays filled with cups of tea using his magic sand.

North beamed. "How about we talk it over with a cup of tea?"