Shadows make for a quick method of international travel and it took minimal focus to travel in that way. Pitch was grateful for that much. He certainly had a lot on his mind now that he had Silvia, and the most persistent thought was why? Why did he feel so compelled to save her? He'd never gone after any of the others there had to have been thousands like her over the centuries. Had he just sensed that he wasn't the source of her fear? Why did he care so much for her already. He was the boogeyman. He didn't care… Or did he? He looked down at Silvia. So small… To small. She looked up at him and smiled. He couldn't help but smile back. He was actually happy to have a human child at his side. In the past… He dared not think what he'd have done to her centuries... or even just a handful of months ago. What had changed since his defeat in Burgess? Was there something larger at play? He shoved those thoughts aside as he and Silvia arrived at their destination, emerging from the shadows into the living room of a very dimly lit home.

Candles flickered all around the sparsely decorated room. Silvia looked around the room squinting to see. Antique paintings tinged gray by candle smoke hung on the walls, and skulls lined the shelves. "Dad? Is this lady friend of yours a witch?"

"I prefer the term Wiccan." Said a pale woman in a long black dress as she walked into the room carrying yet another candle in its holder. She curtsied to Pitch. "Greetings my Lord. What brings you to my humble home this dark eve?"

Silvia raised an eyebrow looking at her dad. Pitch sighed "Good evening Thalia." He motioned to Silvia. "I need assistance in gathering supplies for my young daughter Silvia."

Thalia's face fell. "You have a daughter?"

He nodded. "I do."

"Is this a recent occurrence or...?" Thalia asked.

"She came into my care earlier this evening." Pitch explained. "I happened to come across her…" He tailed off unwilling to explain what he'd seen in that room.

"Dad saved me from the monster." Silvia finished.

"I thought that the boogeyman sent monsters after little girls." Thalia glanced at Pitch. "Or did this monster wear a human face?"

Pitch nodded. "He did."

"Does he live?" She demanded.

Silvia gave a bark of bitter laughter. "The monster lit a match when he really shouldn't have."

Thalia looked to Pitch for an explanation. "What does that mean exactly."

"Silvia disconnected the gas pipe from the stove and once we were outside she had me shut off power to the house. A few moments went by and then the monster lit a match." Pitch explained.

"The monster went from creep to flaming corpse confetti in like two seconds." Silvia added with a far to cheerful smile.

Pitch and Thalia both stared at Silvia. The girl just shrugged. "The guy was my living nightmare. Is it wrong for me to be happy he's gone?"

Thalia giggled. "Are you sure she's not your child biologically my Lord? She certainly shares your sense of humor."

Pitch shook his head. "As much as she seems like she should be a product of my… efforts with a woman she is no such occurrence. Now… Can we please return to my reason for visiting you Thalia?"

The woman nodded. "Of course my Lord. What is it you desire?"

"I need help in acquiring all the supplies necessary to raise a human child." He explained.

Thalia looked at Silvia who was by this pointing yawning and scrubbing at her eyes with her free hand. "If the two of you are willing to stay the night I can take her out clothes shopping in the morning after she's rested. From the sounds of her story she's had quite the long night."

Pitch nodded. "Very well."

Thalia motioned for them to follow her. "The guest room is this way." She looked at Silvia's tattered dress. "I'll see if I have a nightgown from one of my little nieces that she could fit."

"Still looking after your brother's children? I thought they'd been banned from seeing you after their last visit." Pitch commented.

"After the nightmares you gave them and the shouting match I had with my brother I thought they were as well, wouldn't you know it though the next time my brother couldn't find a babysitter he called me." Thalia explained as she lead them down a dim hallway. "I wish he'd quit being so picky and just remarry already. I'm tired of having to adjust my life to accomodate for his tenderhearted little daughters. Sooner or later those little brats are going to have to learn that the world isn't all sunshine and sweet dreams."

Silvia stumbled as she attempted to walk whilst barely able to hold her eyes open. She was almost immediately swept up into Pitch's arms as he replied. "That maybe but they need not learn such lessons to quickly lest they be turned to monsters by the darkness that surrounds them."

Thalia glanced at him. "If I didn't know better I'd swear you were going soft. That girl is going to change you my Lord."

Pitch glared at her dangerously. "I warn you Thalia do not forget whom you speak to. Now I kindly ask that you keep any further opinions about my daughter to yourself."

Thalia stopped in front of a door pushing it open to reveal the guest bedroom. "I'll be back with something for her to wear to sleep."

Pitch looked down at Silvia. She was sound asleep in his arms. "No need to wake her. Just see if you have something she can wear tomorrow."

Thalia curtsied to him again. "As you wish my Lord." She said before walking further down the hall to her own room.

Pitch walked into the guest room. It was rather cozy he thought. The floors were a dark polished wood and the walls were a dark purple. The shudders on the window were closed further darkening the room. Against the back wall was a large bed with black bed curtains and black sheets and blankets. He sat down on the bed with Silvia in his lap. The girl had a firm hold on his robes despite the gentle snoring that escaped her. He smiled and leaned down pressing a gentle kiss to her head before sliding further up onto the bed and getting comfortable. He closed his own eyes just as a single stream of golden dream sand snaked its way into the room.

The Sandman smiled as he watched Silvia's dream take shape. She was dreaming of her time in the water with Pitch. He let out a silent giggle at Pitch's choice of swimwear. He lingered for a moment longer to make sure that the dream didn't turn into a nightmare. Once he was sure everything was alright he returned to his nightly routine, confident that Silvia was at least for the moment in a good situation.