Authors Note! Hey guys sorry for the long wait but between school, school, and school, plus my sister giving birth last week, I have been very B-U-S-Y! Hopefully you guys might forgive me? Oh, and I hate to be one of those authors, but please review! It helps me know what my readers want me to write and what they think f the characters. It's a process. It works. Mostly. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this long overdue update!

Jack did a sort of army roll for a few dizzying seconds before coming to a stop against a wall. He muttered to himself and rubbed his head as he stood, using his staff to help him. How did Pitch travel like that? It was so weird!

"Ah, Jack Frost. Come to stop me all by your lonesome?" He instantly got defensive, crouching into a fighting pose. But Pitch, who was seated on a grand throne with Joey right next to him, looked little intimidated by Jack's little show of bravery. In fact he was so disinterested in Jack's arrival that he turned to talk to Joey all the while Jack was recovering. Jack didn't understand why Pitch was acting so calm at his appearance. Wasn't he at least gonna try to disarm him? "Well I could try, but I prefer to only call my Nightmares for serious threats." Pitch smirked, and it grew when Jack looked alarmed at his apparent mind reading abilities.

"I'm not a threat?" Jack snapped instead of acknowledging Pitch's creepy new ability. Pitch's laugh reverberated all around the three men.

"Of course not Jack. Not when I have all the power. I have my Nightmares, I have Joey, I have Larrin. And you have a stick." Joey snorted a laugh at the sarcastic voice Pitch used to insult the Guardian of Fun. Jack's eyes narrowed even more if it were possible.

"We both know what my "stick" is capable of Pitch. Now what have you done with Larrin?" He demanded, threateningly jabbing his staff towards Pitch. A cold breeze hit the Nightmare king like a hurricane, but passed soon enough. He did a mock applause and stood, Joey immediately standing as well.

"This way Frost." Pitch gestured towards a newly made tunnel. Jack was suspicious, but his concern for Larrin was way to strong to listen to his rational mind. Instead he followed the two dark creatures, never letting his guard down. Pitch stopped in front of a grand black door and motioned for Jack to open the door. Jack cautiously turned the handle, fully expecting a hoard of Nightmares to stampede out at him. But he was surprised to find that inside was a simple room. Nothing remarkable, only a four post bed. But there on the bed, in a tight ball, whimpering and sobbing, was Larrin! Jack instantly abandoned his staff, letting it clatter to the ground, as he ran towards Larrin. She shot up at the sudden noise and was nearly blinded by brilliant white hair as she was suddenly hugged very tight.

"Larrin are you okay?" Jack demanded, finally letting go of her to look at her. She looked the same as usual, except very sad. But other than that, which could be corrected easily, she appeared fine. But, she couldn't seem to reply. "Larrin?"

"J-Jack?" Finally escaped her throat. He nodded, instantly worried Pitch may have done something to her mind. "H-How are you h-here?" The words were slow and labored, but Jack could hear each like a blow to the head.

"I snuck in the back door. Larrin what's wrong?" He demanded, smoothing her hair back from her face. Upon closer inspection she was pale, and feverish. She looked weak and miserable.

"I...I don't feel so good." She moaned. Jack looked beyond worried but then extremely angry and he stood to glare at Pitch. He finally realized he was defenseless as he spied Joey leaning against his staff casually. Pitch arched an eyebrow, daring Jack to do something stupid. In his head Jack cussed at the Boogeyman, and Pitch in turn smirked.

"Would you like to take a little walk Jack and I will explain the situation." Pitch invited, so courteously that Jack was having a hard time restraining himself from smacking the smug Nightmare King. Jack glanced at Larrin, who looked plain exhausted. He didn't want to leave her. But Pitch evidently wasn't going to be sharing any secrets around her. So he sighed and nodded stiffly, following the two out after a promise to Larrin that he would be back.

"What did you do to her?" Jack immediately demanded of Pitch when the door closed.

"No patience at all." Pitch and Joey shared a smirk and it sickened Jack slightly. He simply crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, waiting for an answer. "It just so happens that Larrin is expecting."

"Expecting what." The look Pitch gave Jack said, 'You're kidding right'. But Jack didn't want to acknowledge the thought that popped into his head. Larrin couldn't be pregnant. She was seventeen and just a kid and Sandy would have told them if he'd seen Pitch abusing her in that way in her memories. But despite all his mental objections, Jack felt a sinking feeling in his gut that Pitch wasn't lying. Still, how?

"Are you really so naïve Jack?! My sister is pregnant! She's gonna have a baby!" Joey seemed more annoyed that Jack was being stubborn than the fact that his sister was, in all probability, forcibly impregnated by Pitch Black.

"I did not force myself on her Frost, Larrin is still pure." Pitch growled, once again reading Jack's thoughts. It made Jack grumpy to think his thoughts weren't his own private thoughts anymore. He'd have to be careful. Pitch arched an eyebrow at Jack's steely gaze, gesturing to the door.

"Ask her yourself Jack. And you can be the one to tell her as well." Pitch's sly grin sent a shudder up Jack's spine and he glowered at the Boogeyman. "No? Then let me explain. Immortals do not get pregnant the same way as others. It follows they also get others pregnant in...strange ways. Sometimes all it takes is a simply touch. Of course it's very hard to explain to some immature forever child, but the best way I can describe it is as a transfer of energy from once soul to another. It's a very intense experience."

"That I'm sure Larrin didn't have a choice in." Jack immediately snapped. Pitch glared at the spirit of winter, but tried to maintain himself. "How could you do this to her? After everything you put her through, now this? You're absolutely cruel Pitch." Jack hissed. Pitch was almost tempted to send some snarky sarcastic reply like, "Thank you I try". But for some reason he wanted Jack to understand why he was doing this. Why he wanted Larrin to bare his child.

"Jack I once offered you a choice of joining with me. And I did so because I've been alone for thousands of years. And despite the fear I exhorted from Larrin, I always had the intention of offering her the same I offered you. Because I find myself feeling for her. And I do not want to be alone. But, I can't risk her saying no like you did. And thus I did what I knew had to be done to be sure Larrin would stay with me." Jack looked completely aghast, his mouth slightly open in a mix of revulsion and, strangely enough, pity.

"I understand you don't want to be alone, but going about it this way is basically guaranteeing that she will hate you forever." Jack snapped. Pitch looked away briefly before looking down at Joey. The boy looked back, no particular emotion in his eyes.

"I invite you to be a guest here Frost. To take care of Larrin. I would prefer her to be carefree for her pregnancy. But cross me, and I will be forced to be less hospitable." He nodded to Joey, who phased through the shadows to hide Jack's weapon. Jack felt the separation like a rope being pulled tight around his heart. But it wasn't was painful as when Pitch broke his staff. "And now, since you're helpless, I think you should accept my offer."

OOOOO

Larrin was shaking slightly when she felt the cold hand press against her forehead. She shot up instantly, almost afraid to see who was there. But she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Jack and not Pitch. He gave her a small, sad smile and sat next on the edge of her bed.

"How are you feeling?" Jack whispered, tucking some brown hair behind Larrin's ear. She seemed like she wanted to say something, but couldn't speak. Instead she just put her arms around his waist and hugged him. Jack couldn't do anything other than hug back. He was unsure what to say or do or even think. All he did know was that he wanted to keep her safe and not let go. Unfortunately he had kinda failed on that first one. And now he needed to tell the girl he liked that she was pregnant with the Boogeyman's spawn.

Speaking of Pitch, the man leaned against the wall a few feet away, arching an eyebrow at the close contact the two had. That should be him that Larrin was clinging to. Why did she so much prefer Frost to him? Had he not apologized? He'd never apologized to anyone, not once in his life. But, he supposed Larrin didn't know that. She didn't know anything about who Pitch used to be. The family he once had. And he supposed it didn't matter either way, but he'd still prefer it if she would at least not cling to Frost so close. After another minute of the excruciating (for Pitch) show of affection, he left the room, meeting Joey in the hall.

"What am I to do Sir?" Joey asked obediently.

"Keep an eye on them. I have work to do." And it was true. With all this drama involving Larrin coming back and the prodigy she carried, he had been neglecting his duties as King of Nightmares. And they were beginning to be impatient. So, as a treat, Pitch unleashed all of his beasts on the world for a marvelous night of feasting on fears. Let them do the work and gather power for him. He would need all the power he could get once the Guardians came for Larrin, Joey, and Jack. And once he put the Guardians in their places, he'd need his energy for the coming child.

He made a mental note to rein the Nightmares back in around sunrise, then turned to his study. More specifically to the locket hidden in a special compartment in his study. He carefully opened the locket to stare at the face of his previous child. His daughter. He wondered how Seraphina would react to all this. He hadn't seen her in a very long time.

"Hello father." He nearly jumped, but managed to act suave. He looked over his shoulder at the dark haired beauty standing in his study.

"Seraphina. What a surprise. Seems like you show up every time I open the locket." With that he harshly closed the only piece of jewelry he owned. His daughter smirked a devastating smirk, similar to her fathers. "And this time I was actually hoping you wouldn't."

"Why because your little paramour? I have no interest in what you do in your free time, father. Although, I admit I would like to meet her." He shuddered at the very thought. Larrin was in a precarious situation at the moment, who knew what Seraphina's presence would do to her shaky if not completely wrecked nerves. And while it was his fault, Pitch was still worried. Seraphina sensed this and simply walked around the study, not pushing the issue. "It's been a long time since I've seen you." She murmured, peeking at him.

"I know." He replied simply. Neither one really knew what to say to each other. They simply stared for what felt like forever. Finally Seraphina spoke.

"Tell Larrin I'll help her if she asks for me." And like that, his daughter was gone. And while he was confused as to why she thought he would actually deliver the message, Pitch nodded to the empty room where Seraphina Pitchiner had stood.