I'm listening to Muse Map of the Problematique right now, which is amazing. If you haven't heard it, you should check it out.

Chapter Ten-

Tooth had already worked out that they probably shouldn't have been watching Jack and Adrianne converse in their sleep. But it was so funny, and she wasn't the only guilty party she reasoned as she glanced round at the other guardians, as they all clutched at their mouths, lest they allow a giggle to escape. Any sound would surely wake them up. The scenarios were becoming more hilarious as they went along.

"Hello and welcome to Pitch's salon. Can I interest you in any of my handmade shampoo?" Jack began, dead serious. A small snort was heard from Tooth and she mouthed sorry to the others. Luckily, the two children didn't notice.

"Sure. I was wondering if you could help me find a new hairstyle that would compliment my whole new wardrobe from Pitch's boutique over the road."

"Right. Well if you sit down here... The best look is no eyebrows."

"No eyebrows?"

"Yes. It really brings out the blackness of you soul."

"Oh." Came Adrianne's reply. Tooth almost collapsed as an image of Pitch the hairdresser, asking if you had a nice holiday, came unbidden to her mind. Bunny and North looked as if they were going to die of a similar predicament.

"Do you sell any flying elephants?" Sandy was slowly dying next to Tooth of a laughing fit, while North was going red in the face after clapping his hand over his mouth.

"Hey Ree." Jack put on a deepened voice.

"I told you never to call me that!" Adrianne answered in an equally deep voice. "It's snoop dog now." And with that she began humming the wizard of Oz theme tune.

"Were off the see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz! We here he is a whiz of a wiz, if ever a whiz there was! If ever a whiz of a wiz there was, the wizard of Oz, is one because, because because because because BECAUSE!"

Jack interrupted excitedly.

"Oooh, I know this, because of the wonderful things he does!"

"No bro, that is like, so lame."

"Lame."
"Lamer than lame."

"Lamer than lamer than lame."
"Lamest thing ever."

"Like ever." And with twin grins, they burst into song.

"We are never ever ever getting back together, wee-e are never ever ever getting back together." In the end, Tooth decided, it had sounded like they were on drugs.

"We were never together Frostbite." Even though Adrianne had said it, their heads both perked up at the sound.

"Yes Bunny?" They chorused in cherubim voices, utterly innocent in fact a little too innocent in Tooth's opinion. Behind her Bunny looked mildly peeved, but too amused to take it seriously.

"Shall we freeze his feet to the floor?" Jack asked in a low voice. Tooth doubled over as Bunny inched towards the door slightly.

"Hmm. Oh look the boat has arrived."

"Yes! Now we can return to the fishies!" Jack giggled, delightedly. His voice then took on a manly tone.

"Barbie? Will you marry me?" Sandy silently banged his head against the door frame. Tooth peered at the golden dream. Sure enough, there was a ken doll proposing to a Barbie. Adrianne was having the same dream. Then suddenly the mood turned sour, and the dream sand darkened in color.

"Jack! I'm scared!" Adrianne had accidentally let loose the same words his sister and Jaime had. How did she?...

"Don't worry! You're gonna be fine. We're gonna have a little fun instead." Tooth's breath caught in her throat for a moment.

"Would you like a blueberry Jack?"

Both the teens were in the infirmary, recovering from their various ordeals. For the first few days they had just slept on the medication that the busy Phil had provided, but now... the medicine appeared to be having some strange effects on them, namely causing them to have the most bizarre dreams ever, and them speak them aloud. But possibly the most bizarre thing, was the link between them. They weren't just having the same dream at the same time, they were sharing it.

The medication was due to wear off any minute now, so Tooth beckoned to the other guardians, and they followed her through the door.

...

She looked so young and cute when she was sleeping, Jack decided. Her face wasn't twisted up in a negative emotion, and her body wasn't tensed in fear or anger. She was curled on her side, facing Jack, with a content smile on her face. He recognized the position, her legs brought up slightly, and her arms wrapped around herself, protecting herself. He grinned inwardly even in her sleep Adrianne was cautious.

But it hadn't been enough in the end.

Pitch had had her, and Jack had felt his world crumbling down, down down. Suddenly, it hadn't mattered that they had saved Jaime, or that he felt his staff back in his hand once more. Because she had been taken, and he hadn't known if he was going to get her back.

She had given herself up where he should have, and this beautiful, spirited, willful girl would have been in the Nightmare Kings evil clutches, and could have been turned to darkness. He could have lost her.

Losing her was no longer an option.

He already knew she was family. But was she something more?

He smiled as her pale lips blew a strand of gossamer hair out of her face. Her hair was quite long, it tumbled down her back in loose, messy waves. It seemed to glisten and shine, even in the half light. Her mouth was opened slightly and curled into a secret smile. In her sleep she looked so fragile, so thin and breakable.

She wasn't. He'd seen what she could do with a staff in her hands. She was a natural fighter, her powers were instinctual to her. She fought with valour, courage and rage. She was deadly. Like a white tiger, so beautiful and enchanting and lethal. She wasn't a bad person, not at all, but she would go to any lengths to protect those she cared about. To protect him, as he'd already discovered.

Every now again she would roll over and mutter something in an exotic language, which flowed like water against his ears. Eventually he realised that she was repeating the same phrase over and over again, crooning it lovingly into the pillow. Her voice was a whisper, but held great power as she let the words tumble from her lips. It was fascinating to watch.

Adrianne stirred, and blinked open her blue eyes. She panicked and shot up, before catching sight of Jack, safe and well in his bed. She exhaled, and sunk into her pillows.

"You're here."

"Yep. Do you honestly think I would be going anywhere with Tooth on watch?" She laughed.

"No." She admitted. "I just wanted to check. Can't hurt to be cautious."

"No, it can't." Jack agreed, and the two sat in silence for a while, snow falling gently around them.

"Well if it isn't our snow spirits!" North boomed, chuckling as he strolled into the room. Bunny followed, a pronounced grin on his face, and Tooth afterwards, giggling under her hand. Jack shot Adrianne a confused look who returned it with a shrug. She didn't know what was going on either.

"What's so funny?" Jack asked, sending Tooth into a fit of giggles.

"Nothing mate... how long have you been awake?" Bunny had become their self designated carer, and Jack had to admit that he could get used to the attention he had been getting when he woke up. Sometimes though he just wanted to be alone.

"Dunno- an hour maybe? Adrianne woke just now."

"No pain? Either of you?" Adrianne shook her head, while Jack squirmed.

"Fine, fine..."
Bunny didn't buy it for one moment.

"Lie down. I'm redressing this." If possible, Jack paled. the ointment was really painful, and he hated undressing his wound, because it hurt. But most of all, he hated it because of the expressions of self loathing that crossed everyone's faces when they saw the damage that Pitch had done.

"In the bathroom." Bunny raised an eyebrow. "Please?" Jack begged. The pooka sighed in defeat.

"Fine."

The wind helped him to his feet. He glanced over the room at Adrianne who was wincing as North gently unravelled the bandaging around her wrists and washed them. The scars that would almost certainly be on her wrists were luckily the only permanent damage, all of the other scrapes and bruises were fading away. She caught his gaze and silently told him not to worry. Jack let Bunny lead him away.

In the starch whiteness of the neighbouring room, Jack was laid down and Bunnymund removed the gauze from his chest. It was a large wound, an ugly red in color, and was only a few centimeters away from where his heart was. It had been festering for a while, but it was past that stage, now beginning to scar around the edges. Bunny probed it gently prompting a gasp from Jack, who was looking pointedly at the spotless ceiling. He didn't want to watch. Bunny reached for the pot of dull brown glass that Jack had recently come to despise and began to apply it skillfully. Jack allowed him to do so without a word. He had bitten his cheek to shreds last time, so he settled for gritting his teeth and trying not to breath in too much of the clinical air.

"Done. This is healing up nicely. You'll be able to come off the ointment soon." Jack let out a cheer of delight that halfway through turned into a yawn. How could he still be tired?

"Bed. Now."

"No wait... Bunny." He stopped, and turned to face Jack. Jack took a deep breath.

"I wanted to say thanks. For looking after me." He looked at the floor, embarrassed. The he was almost knocked off his feet when Bunny swept him into a huge furry hug.

"No thank you frostbite. Thank you for letting us be your family."

Awww... I am so sorry for not updating recently I seem to be having a slight case of writer's block. I thought I'd give you a happy chapter today.