The girl had been awestruck when they'd arrived in his lair. She looked around the place with wide eyes. "This place is huge!" She looked up at the cages. "Is that where you put the bad kids?"

Pitch chuckled. "No despite what the stories say I don't take children, bad or good they stay with those that care about them."

And the hem of her dress was in her hands again. "Oh… Is that why you took me? Because the monster didn't care?" she asked her voice tinged with sadness.

Pitch nodded. "Everyone deserves a caring family little one."

She looked away. "What does it mean to have someone who cares?"

He pulled her closer. "It means having someone who's there to protect you, to help you," He cleared some of the girls hair from her face. "Someone who's willing to fight away your fear rather than cause it."

"But you're the boogeyman. Isn't it your job to cause fear?" She asked.

"Not in this situation little one." He said as he began to walk towards one of the many waterfalls in his lair. "Now why don't we get you cleaned and dressed? After that we'll see what we can do about this wild hair of yours."

The little girl nodded. "I'd like that…"

Pitch glanced at her. "Is everything alright little one?"

"Do you have a real name?" the girl asked.

He nodded. "My name is Pitch Black. What about you little one? What is your name?"

The girl looked down at the hem of her dress. "Mom used to call me something. But I don't 'member what… The monster called me girl… or bitch." She looked at Pitch. "Is bitch my name?"

Pitch was horrified. "No absolutely not…" He looked at the girl. "I suppose we'll just have to figure out a new name for you." He smiled. "A new name to go with your new family."

The girl relaxed against him. "Does that mean you're my dad now?"

He thought for a moment. "I do believe it does." He said as he stopped at the edge of a pool created by the waterfall he'd been headed towards. He sat the girl down in the water or at least he tried to. She clung to the front of his robe desperately. "I can't swim."

He looked down at the water. Sure enough the area he been attempting to sit her in would have been over her head. He turned sitting her on the bank. He held out his hand as the shadows gathered there slowly transforming into a washcloth. He dipped the cloth into the water and began to gently scrub away the dirt and grime that coated her skin. She watched him with a cautious and confused face. Soon everything he could reach without removing her clothing was washed. He thought for a moment. She was scared of the water but her hair and body were in desperate need of a wash. He thought a moment longer before the shadows that formed his clothing began to change. Once they had reformed they resembled a victorian era men's swimsuit. "Let me teach you how to swim."

The girl looked from him to the water. "But the waters to deep."

He smiled. "I'll help you keep your head above water."

She looked at him. "Promise?"

He nodded holding up his right hand. "I swear on my word as the boogeyman you'll be safe."

The girl giggled at Pitch's theatrics. "Alright but you get in first."

He chuckled before stepping into the water. Almost immediately the water was up to his waist. He reached up to her. "Come on now I've got you little one."

The girl jumped into his arms and he slowly lowered her into the water. She clung to him uncertainly with her eyes squeezed shut. After a moment she opened them. He smiled. "There we go. Not bad after all is it?"

She looked at him and shook her head. "It's pretty nice actually."

He smiled and gently pulled away from her. "alright first things first just lean back and let yourself float. If you start to sink I'll pull you back up."

She nodded and leaned back slowly. after a few panicked attempts to find her balance in the water she was floating while Pitch hovered nearby. "now what?"

Pitch smiled "For now just relax." He said as he began to thread his fingers through her hair slowly detangling it and rinsing the dirt away. "let yourself get used to being in the water."

She let out a content sigh. "It's nice having someone who actually cares. The only time I'd get a bath before is when the social worker would visit. The monster was never this gentle."

Pitch stiffened for a second. "Oh?" he asked as he resumed his work.

"He'd scrub my skin until it hurt and he'd basically rip my hair out with a brush." She explained.

He frowned. "Well you don't have to worry about that anymore."

Soon her hair was untangled and clean. Pitch ran his fingers though it as he looked at it noting it's silverish blonde color. He thought for a moment. Sliver... Silver... He smiled. "Little one how do you like the sound of the name Silvia?"

She looked up at him. "I like it..." she paused. "Would my last name be Black since you're my dad now?"

He nodded. "It would be. Well you have a first name and a last name. What should your middle name be?"

Silvia thought for a moment. "Louise." she suggested.

Pitch raised an eyebrow. "A little old fashioned don't you think?"

She smiled. "So is Silvia. Besides my grandmother was named Louise."

He chuckled. "Silvia Louise Black... It does have a nice ring to it doesn't it?"

She nodded. "It really does." She looked up at him again. "I love you dad."