"And what are you up to this morning?" Pitch said causing Silver to jump high enough that the hem of her dress took a long moment to calm back down.
"I'm beginning to think I should tie a bell around your neck so I can hear you coming," Silver told him, busing her hands with the paper she was cutting.
"That doesn't answer my question, my dear," He came up behind her to peer over her shoulder. Silver's hair danced in his way, but the mass, which had always had a mind of its own, was soothed by his hand. The thick curls wove themselves around his fingers as he watched her cutting what appeared to be snowflakes out of paper.
"I was hoping to finish this before you got back," Silver pouted. "But here I am, making decorations,"
"Decorations?" Pitch asked. He took a moment to fight his fingers free of Silver's ever loving hair strands.
"Yes, it's Christmas in a few days, and I know the passage of time doesn't mean much to you, but I used to really like Christmas, so I wanted to try it again." Silver said. "Unless you're super against it, then I guess that's ok too." Her hair straightened out a bit as she spoke, a sure sign that not having a Christmas of some sort would break her heart. Pitch sighed dramatically.
"You're right in that I do not mark the passage of time. However, if it will make you happy, my little nightmare, then we can have Christmas." Silver turned around with a smile that lit up the whole cave with its warmth.
"Really?" Her hair was wound so tightly in her joy that it looked like it was trying to recede into her head.
"But nothing too crazy," Pitch said. Silver laughed and threw her arms around his neck. Pitch, being used to her attacks of affection, caught her easily.
"Can we invite Jack? Maybe the others too?" Silver asked. "Not North or course, he'll be busy," Pitch was regretting his agreement already.
"I doubt anyone will come, but you're welcome to try." Pitch said. Silver squeezed him again and he couldn't help but smile against her embrace. She was so easy to please sometimes, and it brought him such pleasure to please her. Who would have guessed that the King of Nightmares would be brought to such a place whereas another's joy was important to him?
"Don't worry, I'll protect you," Silver teased, wrinkling her nose at him. Pitch growled low in his throat.
"Of the two of us, which had to be rescued?" He demanded.
"That's hardly fair, I was tricked,"
"You didn't answer my question," Pitch pressed. Silver pouted again.
"It was me, but that was over a year ago now, are you never going to let me say thank you enough?" Silver asked. Pitch thought about it for a moment before picking Silver up to set her on the table, ignoring that he certainly messed up her paper snowflakes in the process.
"I rather like you being in my debt," Pitch grinned. "You're so much more affectionate when you're trying to make me forgive you,"
"You're a jerk, Pitch," Silver said. "You're lucky I like you,"
"That we do agree on," Pitch bent to kiss her cheek softly. "I am lucky to have you in my life, even more so that you love me,"
"And then you're sweet to me," Silver said, a blush hot across her cheeks.
"Would you like me to deliver invites to your friends?" Pitch asked, trailing his fingers along the blush still lingering in her face.
"You would do that?" Silver asked skeptically. Pitch could tell she was afraid he'd get in trouble or get attacked wandering into Guardian territories.
"I would do anything for you," Pitch said causing that blush to race across her face once more. He chuckled, pleased with himself.
"I can't say it wouldn't be helpful, for like, two days from now? I'll work on these until you get back," Silver asked. Pitch caught her chin in his strong fingers and made her look at him. She waited patiently for him to say something. Instead he just kissed her hard for a long moment.
"I'll be back later," Pitch grinned.
"I'll miss you," Silver said. He stepped back, gave her a theatrical bow and dissolved into the shadows. Silver happily hopped off the counter she'd been working on, fixed the mess she'd made of her snowflakes, and continued with the decorations she was making.
"Do you think anyone will come?" Silver asked looking at the cave which she had spent the last two days covering with as many paper snowflakes and stars as she could make. It looked absurd, even to her, and that was impressive because she usually didn't mind absurd.
"I can always go kidnap Jack if you want me to," Pitch offered.
"That's not nice," Silver chided him.
"Doesn't mean I wouldn't do it," Pitch shrugged. "What are you even going to do at this party?" He went to the globe, which Silver had managed to wrap in Christmas lights that blocked out most of the children lights. He wondered why this was so important to her.
"I don't know, I was thinking about asking Jack to make us an ice-rink so we can skate, but I don't know if that would work out well,"
"That sounds like you're going to flood my cave," Pitch said.
"I could probably clean it up," Silver said. "That's if he even shows up," She went into the room she'd converted into a kitchen and checked on the snacks she had managed to conjure up. She was getting better at granting her own wishes, but Pitch knew it was really that, as a legendary figure, she was able to do a certain amount of magic.
"I don't doubt you could," Pitch said. "Well, I'm going to go out for a bit, have fun with your party."
"Wait, why?" Silver said, surprised.
"Your friends will hardly like to see me," Pitch said. He wasn't bitter about the fact, it was simply the truth, but from the look Silver was giving him, he was breaking her heart.
"This might be a good way to make amends though," Silver said. She grabbed his hand and while he wanted to pull it away, he let her have it for now. "Plus, I won't have any fun if you're not here,"
"Somehow I doubt that, you could have fun with anyone," Pitch said. Silver pulled on his hand.
"Don't be like that," She glowered at him. He gave her a dark grin.
"Be like what, my dear?" He took his hand away from her, but stepped closer.
"You always run off when I try to include you into other people's lives," Silver told him. This made him pause.
"I am perfectly fine being alone in the dark," Pitch told her, stepping closer. She backed into the wall when she took a step back from him. "You're the only one who seems to think otherwise,"
"Fine then," Silver said. "I'll have fun without you, and I won't even miss you," Pitch smirked at that. She was afraid he'd believe her, even with her hair kinked in anger.
"Liar," He was about to close the distance between them when a cold breeze shot through the cave and someone cleared their throat uncomfortably. Pitch stepped back from Silver and folded his hands behind him.
"Jack! You came!" Silver said, hair standing around her head now in a happy halo of silvery curls.
"Of course, I wouldn't miss a chance to have fun, even with Gloomy-McGee over there," Jack motioned to where Pitch stood sulking in the shadows.
"Here I forgot how annoying your voice is," Pitch said.
"Both of you, be nice. It's Christmas." Silver scolded. "I'm actually glad you got here first because not only are you the only one that's probably going to come, I wanted to see if you wanted to make me an ice-rink so we can skate!"
"I heard Bunny say he would come if Tooth came," Jack told her. "And yes, that sounds like a great idea!"
"Oh that would be great if they would come, I haven't seen them in ages, and the last time it was only in passing. Did you hear I almost knocked Tooth out of the sky over Denmark the other day?" Silver asked.
"What happened?" Jack asked. Pitch watched as they went over to one of the broader parts of the main cavern and began mapping out an ice-rink while Silver chatted happily about almost colliding with the Tooth Fairy.
Pitch watched the pair for a while, painfully aware of the jealousy that was gnawing at his insides. Silver was his love and he wasn't one that normally shared. Now he was not only letting Jack Frost of all people have her, he was inviting literally all but one of his enemies into his home. But then Pitch heard the sharp tinkle of Silver's laughter echoing in the cave and he knew he would be happy to suffer through one party, because Silver would be happy for days after this.
A happy Silver is the only thing Pitch really needed in his life.
A thin trail of golden sand distracted Pitch from his jealous musing and there stood Sanderson, the Sandman himself.
"Hello," Pitch managed. Of the guardians, Sandy was the one he wanted to avoid the most, as Sandy was the only one of them that was all but guaranteed to be able to defeat Pitch singlehandedly. "Here for the party?"
Sandy produced the black envelope that Pitch had left for him to find the other day, not trace of a smile on his face. Pitch nodded towards where Silver and Jack were still building their ice-rink.
"Silver's over there, she'll be happy to see you." Sandy nodded and floated off in that direction. Pitch watched, painfully aware of how uncomfortable this entire affair was going to be. Happy Silver, he reminded himself, Happy Silver. That's enough for now.
Not long after the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny both popped out of tunnel and into the laughter from Silver and Jack. Pitch stayed in the shadows, content to be an unseen host. Silver hugged the fairy and the bunny in turn, all smiles and happy curls. Pitch felt his heart squeeze as he watched. Silver was so full of life, so full of happiness and joy and everything else he was not. Why did she stay in the dark with him? He wished he knew.
As if she'd heard him, Silver's head turned his way and she tipped her head as if trying to figure out what exactly she'd heard. He gave her a nod and she went back to her friends.
After a while Silver came and found Pitch, who was still sulking in the shadows, not quite hiding, but surely not part of the party.
"Pitch, want to try ice skating? It's really fun, and I'll help make sure you won't fall," Silver asked, taking his hands. He enjoyed her warm hands on his for a moment before shrugging.
"Never been the fun type," Pitch said. "How long is this party going to last?"
"Oh, I don't know," Silver tugged on his hands. "But it'll go faster if you come enjoy yourself with us. They've been asking about you,"
"Morbid curiosity, surely," Pitch mused. Silver's hair grew sharp for a moment, but as she sighed heavily it curled back to normal.
"If you want any snacks or anything, they're in the kitchen." Silver said letting go of Pitch's hands. He grabbed her wrists before she moved away.
"The only thing in this cave I want any part of is you," He said in a low voice. Silver's pale-moon cheeks flared in a blush again and Pitch chuckled to himself. She was so easy to tease, so easy to please.
"I'm the only thing in this cave that isn't going to leave," She assured him. "If you change your mind on skating, let me know,"
"Of course, my dear," Pitch leaned down to kiss the fading blush on her cheek. "Go have fun,"
"Please don't sulk here forever," She said. He nodded even though he fully intended to sulk until they were alone again.
A while later the noise in the cave was beginning to fade as the skating was done for the time being and all the treats Silver had conjured were tasted and consumed.
"This was surprisingly enjoyable," Bunny said. Tooth nodded in agreement.
"Very much so!" She agreed. "Though I'm afraid I've been away from my fairies too long."
"Oh, before you go, I have presents!" Silver said surging to her feet. "I almost forgot!" The Guardians exchanged glances, surely surprised by the idea of presents. Silver came back with a single box, wrapped beautifully in silver paper with darker silver ribbon.
"Are we gonna have to share?" Jack asked. Silver shook her head.
"No, actually the box is more for me, so anyway, I can grant wishes, and everyone has wishes, so I want to grant a wish for each of you. The only rule is it has to fit in this box." Silver said.
"Then I want a new boomerang, with the fancy little markings and leather," Bunnymund said. Silver closed her eyes and held the box out before her. From under the lid a faint white glow flashed and then faded. Silver opened her eyes and motioned with the box.
"Open it," Silver smiled. Bunny looked at her skeptically but did as she said. He pulled out a pair of boomerangs that were exactly as he had imagined.
"There's two?" He asked, surprised.
"I heard you wishing for a pair," Silver grinned. Sandy popped up next to her, clearly excited. "You want to go next?" He nodded and closed his eyes as he wished.
"I wonder what he wished for," Jack asked. Sandy opened the box when the white light faded and out came a black top hat, much like the gold one he sometimes conjured.
"It should be exactly as you specified," Silver told him. Sandy's face opened in a wide grin as he set the hat on his head. "And it looked wonderfully dapper on you," He gave her a bow, with a tip of his new hat, as a thank you. He wandered off happily and disappeared. "Miss Toothfairy?" Silver offered the box to her next. Tooth fluttered once and thought for a long moment.
"Oh, I don't know," She stammered. "I don't really need anything,"
"But there is something you wish you had," Silver smiled then like she had a secret, closed her eyes and the box glowed for a long moment. "Merry Christmas, Toothiana," Silver held the box out to the fairy who opened the box and peered inside. Instantly tears filled her eyes.
"What is it?" Jack asked, coming closer.
"It's a little flying elephant plush," She covered her mouth with a hand. "They used to guard my palaces, before I became queen of the fairies," She explained. "Oh Silver, how did you know?"
"I don't know anything," Silver shrugged. "But I heard your wish, and there's one more thing in there too I think." Tooth reached in and pulled out a small frame, when she realized what it was she threw her arms around Silver and hugged her tightly. Silver laughed.
"Thank you," Tooth said as they embraced. "I never thought I'd see my parents again,"
"We all need a reminder of who we were, right?" Silver told her, ending the embrace.
"Oh, I really do need to be going, and now I'm a mess," Tooth rubbed at her eyes. "Thank you so much for this lovely day," She clutched the tiny stuffed elephant to her chest with the frame no one else had gotten to peer into. Some presents were only for the receiver after all. "Goodbye now," They all hurried to say goodbye as she flew off without waiting.
"Should I feel bad that I made her cry?" Silver asked.
"Nah, I think that was happy tears," Bunny said. "I should be going too, this place gives me the creeps," Silver nodded.
"Enjoy your boomerangs," Silver smiled at him and he nodded before disappearing into one of his tunnels.
"Should I leave now too then?" Jack asked.
"Not before you get your present," Silver held the box out to him. "Now make a wish,"
"I want the biggest, fastest..." Jack stopped when the box glowed. "Hey, I wasn't done yet,"
"You're all talk, Jack, I heard what you really wished for," She held the box out to him again.
"If its socks, I'm giving them back," He chuckled, opening the box. "A necklace?"
"You don't have a place to put things really, not like Tooth and Bunny, so you wished for something you could carry with you." Silver explained. "And of course, it's a locket, inside is a picture of someone you love," Jack carefully opened the locket and smiled.
"Of course," He shook his head. "Do you know who this is?" He motioned with the locket to her. She shook her head.
"I don't need to know," Silver said. "As long as you wished for it,"
"You're something else, you know that?" Jack said. He put the long chain around his neck and dropped the locket down the front of his sweatshirt.
"People keep saying that," She grinned again. "Merry Christmas Ice-pop,"
"Merry Christmas, Twinkle-toes." He wasn't surprised when she hugged him. "I'm gonna get going now too, I have a feeling someone isn't happy I'm still here," Jack made a general motion with his head into the shadows.
"He's probably grumpy," Silver said. "Oh, before you go, can you refreeze the ice one more time? I want to skate a little more before bed,"
"Sure thing," Jack did as he was asked and then flew off.
Long arms came around Silver as soon as the winter sprite was clear of the cave.
"And where have you been?" Silver asked.
"I've been around," Pitch told her. His chin was resting on her shoulder.
"Come ice skate with me," She said moving away from him. He grabbed her hand and stopped her.
"I don't ice skate," Pitch said.
"I do," Silver told him. It wasn't hard to tell that Silver was annoyed with him, her hair was half kinked in anger, and half angled in annoyance.
"Don't be cross with me," Pitch commanded.
"Why did you hide the entire time? Everyone was friendly and they asked about you, you would have been fine." Silver snapped.
"I know that's what you think, but they were all much happier to only have you as their host." Pitch told her. She pulled her hand away from him and headed for the ice. She slid out into the middle of it and spun around, her skirt fanning out around her like a blooming flower. Pitch knew the frown on her face was his doing and he hated himself for it.
"You could have tried." Silver said. She spun around again and Pitch waited for her skirts to still before he spoke.
"I'm sorry I disappointed you, but there is no way the Guardians and I will ever be friends," Pitch told her. "No matter how much you wish it to be true."
"Don't mock me," Silver said, her hair was less angry now, instead falling in waves around her face.
"Silver," Pitch sighed.
"Why do you think I don't belong here?" She asked suddenly. Pitch's face fell open in surprise, but he steeled himself before she looked up at him. He hadn't been thinking about that just then, but he wasn't terribly surprised she had heard him before.
"What do you mean?" Faux innocence.
"I heard you wishing to know why I was here, why I stayed here," Silver said. "Do you not want me here anymore?"
"I never said that," Pitch said carefully.
"You don't have to," Silver said. Her hair hung lower again. "I'll leave if you want me too, I'll go find somewhere else to live."
"If that's what you wish," Pitch said, but his heart was in a vice of terror. If Silver left him he'd truly feel like the monster everyone always told him he was. Suddenly Silver was right next to him, all angrily kinked hair and fiery eyes.
"Of course that's not what I want!" She shouted at him. "Why are you acting like this? Why do you wish I wasn't here?"
"Because before you were here nothing could hurt me," Pitch said before he could stop himself. "But now the thought of you leaving tears me into pieces," Silver's hair floated around her in surprise as she stared up at him with her moon glow eyes.
"Pitch," Her voice was softer now. She reached out for his arm but he pulled away from her on principle, never mind that he really wanted to wrap his arms around her and hide that look of heartbreak she was giving him by burring it in his chest.
"You're all light, and joy, and love, like those Guardians," Pitch said, turning away from her.
"So what if I am like those others?" Silver asked.
"You don't belong in the dark with someone like me," He pressed. He felt the fear uncurl in her chest, she was afraid he was really going to make her leave, that he was going to send her off, that he was never going to say he loved her again. "I love you, Silver, but you're not suited for the dark,"
"But I love it here, in the dark, with you," She said. "There's nowhere else I want to be. I thought you knew that." Pitch turned to her then. Her hair was long and flat now and it killed him to see her so heartbroken. It was his doing and he hated himself for that too.
"I'm not asking you to leave," Pitch said. Her hair responded before her face did, shortening back into waves, though they were still unsure.
"I'm tired, Pitch, can we go to bed?" Silver asked. He watched her for a long moment and nodded.
"Yes, let's go to bed," He reached out for her and she stepped past his hand to wrap her arms around his dark middle.
"I love it here in the dark. I wouldn't shine without the shadows and I've always preferred night to day. Everything is so much more beautiful when the stars are out," She squeezed him tightly. Pitch sighed heavily, he was such an idiot to be mean to her. His arms wrapped around her and her hair reflected her relief. "And you Pitch. I love you more than anything. And as grumpy as you can be, and as cold, you have some serious love in you too, fierce and passionate and loyal to a fault I like to think, and I admire that and love you for it too. Please don't wish for me to leave you, I don't want to grant that wish."
"Silver," Pitch rubbed his hands over her back until she looked up at him. "I'm sorry I made you worry, but know this, I'm never going to ask you to leave." He noticed then that her cheeks were wet. "When did you start crying?"
"I'm not crying," Silver said trying to hide her face in his robes again. He pulled her back so he could wipe the tears from her pale cheeks with his dark thumbs. She was right of course, he thought. He always knew she was pretty in the dark, how she smiled so brightly at the shadows and how she always acted like he was such a wonderful thing. She did belong in the dark, he was just an idiot for not seeing it before he broke her heart.
"Let's go to bed, my love," He said. Silver nodded. Pitch looked at her face for a long time until a blush began to creep into her cheeks.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked.
"Cuz I was just thinking," Pitch said. "You love everything, the night, the shadows, that annoying frozen Jack, the over sized bunny, the fairy, being a shooting star...everything and everyone. How could I have been foolish enough to think you couldn't love a nightmare too?" Silver raised her eyebrow at him in confusion.
"I've always loved nightmares, they're such great adventures." Silver said. Pitch chuckled to himself.
"Of course," Pitch smiled then and closed the distance between them, taking her mouth with his. Silver greedily threw her arms around his neck to hold him to her for as long as she could. Pitch was happy that she still felt that way for him. When he pulled back to look at her face again, Silver was smiling.
"I'm sorry for making you put up with that party," Silver said. Pitch shook his head.
"I'd do anything for you, my love, nothing to be sorry for." He said. "I'm sorry for making you worry so much, and for upsetting you."
"Promise you won't do this again?" Silver narrowed her eyes at him.
"I promise, my little nightmare, I'll do whatever I can to keep you here and happy," Pitch agreed. Her hair became happy curls which tried to reach for him. He ran his fingers over the silvery mass as it fought to twine itself in his finger.
"Even ice skating?"
"No," Pitch gave her a serious look. "Let's go to bed," Silver's sudden laughter warmed the ball of ice his chest. He took her hand and started for the bedroom.
"Merry Christmas, Pitch," Silver said. Pitch stopped and kissed her again, briefly this time, before picking her up into his arms. She giggled because she knew what that meant was going to happen when they got to bed.
"Merry Christmas, Silver."
[Author's Note: Hey, sorry I'm a bit late for Christmas, but I rewatched Rise of the Guardians while I was home for Christmas and had some feels, so I decided to do do a quick one shot! Hope you all have a happy New Year!]