Chapter Four

In Which I Climb A Tree

After there were no more pumpkins left intact (Jack was right, it was a lot of fun to drop a frozen pumpkin from 100 ft) he left for Burgess with a promise to drop by soon. He was going to help me find my own place to stay; most of the spirits had someplace. He had his lake in Burgess, Bunny had the Warren, and even the Groundhog had a preferred stump. Jack would help me find a place to call home.

Until then, I was headed back up to the North Pole; Ashley had a date today and specifically did not want me following her around, and since she could see me and had no qualms about throwing things at me I was willing to give her a day alone. Besides, I wanted to ask about getting presents for Ashley this year.

Christmas preparations were in full swing at the Pole. North was up in his office according to the yetis. Apparently, the normal amount of letters to Santa had doubled in the past week. It was absolute insanity not only in his office but in the workshops where the yetis were trying to keep up with the increased demand.

"I bet he could use some help with those letters…" I muttered to myself, flying through the crowded halls to his door. I knocked and waited for a second to see if he would answer before letting myself in.

"Heya North, what's… oh wow." North looked up from the mountain of papers, scowling at the interruption.

"Hello Rona, I am busy right now. Please go, I need to finish this quickly." His tone was brisk, almost dismissive.

"Yeah, I figured you might want some help." He scoffed at me.

"Help?" He stood up, indignant. "You think I cannot handle this myself? I have been reading these letters for years, and every year I bring each child what they want, and you think I need help? Go, have cookies, do something else, I do not have time for play today."

I slumped out of the office, grumbling under my breath, "Sheesh, no need to be rude." Then again, he was trying to work, he was probably just stressed. After all, Bunny got way finicky around Easter.

I looked around the Pole; there was movement everywhere. Everyone was doing something, completely focused on their own projects. There wasn't really anything for me to do here. No one even noticed when I flew off.

I was standing in the top branches of a pine tree, staring out at the sunset. I hadn't spoken to anyone in hours, and it was starting to really get to me. I had never liked being alone, and now it especially bothered me. I wished I could go talk to Ashley, but she was probably still out at dinner, or at a movie. I was a bit jealous, as much as it hurt to admit. She would get to have a normal life, get to date guys and have healthy, normal relationships. She wouldn't have to be alone. It was times like this I missed Pitch the most. He wouldn't coddle me, or let me wallow in self-pity for long. After what had happened with Envy, he kept me anchored while I was in shock, held me and let me know I wasn't alone. I felt really alone right now…

My mind drifted back to that dream, idly wondering how Jack would comfort me. Would he just try to cheer me up by distracting me? No, there was more to him than that. Would he hold me? Would the cold feel as wonderful as it had in that dream? I shook my head, blushing. I shouldn't think about him like that. He's just a friend. Besides, do I really want to try that again after what happened with Pitch?..

I sighed and sat on the branch with my back to the trunk, curling up and hugging my knees to my chest. The sun had set now, it was starting to get dark and cold. I closed my eyes.

"I miss you, Pitch."

Suddenly the branch I was sitting on broke. My eyes flew open, but I hit the branch below me before I could stop my fall and the wind was knocked out of my lungs. The world around me was a dark blur. The next branch hit me in the head and I saw stars. Silvery-golden stars. Then I wasn't falling anymore.

My head hurt so badly I couldn't think. I could barely keep my eyes open. I rested my head against a warm shoulder and passed out.

Pitch set Rona down at the base of the tree. He had been watching her still when she had said his name. She seemed so sad, and it made his chest ache to see her like that. He hadn't even made the conscious decision to catch her when she had fallen. The instant she had hit her head he reached out for her, caught her. It was so familiar to him, holding her. Her hair smelled the exact way he had remembered. It felt the way it had when he had been under her spell.

He frowned. Was it possible she had cast another spell on him? No, she hadn't known he was there. She was unconscious.

Was it real? If it was… Would she still want him? He reached down and touched her cheek gently. She would wake up soon. He stepped back to leave, but was thrown to the ground sudden by Jack Frost. He rolled onto his back, trying to get to his feet, but Jack had his staff pointed at his throat.

"What the hell did you do?" He was furious, but his expression softened at the sound of Rona groaning, starting to come to. He looked towards her, and Pitch escaped into the shadows.

My head hurt, my side hurt… Actually, I don't think there was a single part of my body that DIDN'T hurt.

"Ugh…" I tried to sit up, but two hands on my shoulder held me down.

"Careful, you're bleeding." I opened my eyes to see Jack kneeling next to me. He looked really worried. I tried to smile at him reassuringly but he just frowned.

"What did he do?"

"Huh? What did who do?"

"Pitch. He was here, standing over you and you were unconscious." He was angry, but I was just confused. Pitch was here? Had he caught me? I looked up. The branch I had fallen from was very high up; experience told me it would have hurt a lot more if I'd fallen the entire distance.

"The branch broke…" I closed my eyes again. "I hit my head. My side hurts too." Something cold was pressed to my forehead and I smiled.

"Heh. You're my personal ice pack, huh?" I felt him laugh at me.

"Let's not make a habit of it, okay?" I nodded in agreement and reached up, grabbing his hoodie and tugging lightly. He moved closer and put his arms around me. It helped a lot. It kinda does feel like it did in that dream.

"Are you alright?" I nodded. "I just want to sleep it off."

"Okay." I fell back asleep with Jack holding me.

Yeah, yeah, they're cute together. Don't get used to it! Mwahahaha! Please favorite and follow if you're enjoying so far!