Seraphina came back a day later with ice cream. And she was pleased to find Joey and Larrin sitting next to each other contently, both still human and alive. Pitch and Jack were arguing about something, but she hardly paid any attention. She smiled and sat next to Larrin, giving the girl a slight hug before presenting her with the ice cream.

"I didn't know which flavor either of you liked, but I figured vanilla is a classic so..." She explained. To her delight, Larrin hardly skipped a beat as she tore the treat away from Seraphina and eagerly opened it. Not having utensils didn't faze either of them, as they set to work with their fingers and mouths. Seraphina let herself laugh at the sight. Pitch glanced at them and growled slightly, stalking away from Jack, mid argument.

"Ice cream? She's pregnant, not fat." Seraphina could honestly say she was surprised by her father. She'd never heard Pitch sound sarcastic. It was weird. Larrin glanced at him before shamelessly going back to her ice cream. Jack plopped down next to her and stuck a finger in the container, licking the bit of sweet cream that came away on his finger. Joey laughed as frost covered the ice cream from where Jack's finger stuck it. "They're getting the sheets completely disgusting." Pitch pointed out.

"Then this would be a perfect opportunity to move them to a new room with more light, and air." She gave Pitch a sneaky smile and put an arm around Larrin. She looked at Seraphina for a moment but didn't shrug out of the contact. "What do you think Larrin? A nice room with a view and some room to breathe." Even Pitch could see her eyes light up at the idea. And just like that, he didn't have a choice.

"Minx." He hissed at Seraphina, but stalked off to prepare such a room. Seraphina grinned victoriously to herself.

"You do know how to meddle. Mom." Jack remarked, gathering a little more ice cream on a slim pale finger. Seraphina looked at the boy with a tiny smile and then at Joey.

"How are you feeling?" She asked happily. Joey shrugged a bit uncomfortably. The truth was, this woman was a lot less intimidating when he was a Nightmare. Now he was only human and she was still Mother Nature, powerful as hell and easily pissed off.

"My skin is kinda tingly." He admitted. Larrin discreetly moved closer to her brother. She was glad he was back to normal, ecstatic in fact, but she couldn't stop feeling like she had failed him and that she had to try to keep him safe now that he was back to normal.

"That'll go away." Seraphina promised. "Jack, I don't suppose you know when the Guardians will be making a grand entrance?" She whispered, hoping Pitch wasn't listening.

"It's a big forest, it could take them years to find the entrance. The only reason I'm here is cuz I snuck through the back door." He glanced at Joey, who was being distracted by ice cream. She nodded slowly. "Why?"

"I'm making progress on Pitch. I don't want it all to go away with some big arrival of his enemies. If I could convince him to open a portal for you back to Santoff Claussen, do you think you could talk the Guardians out of attacking right away?" His face was one of pure horror. She glanced at Larrin, just barely seeing the tilt of the girl's head towards them. She was listening. Seraphina frowned and nodded towards the door. "We'll be right back." She told Joey and Larrin, who both nodded, Larrin a little reluctantly, before they both returned to ice cream.

"Are you insane, how could you ask that of me?" Jack demanded the moment the door closed behind them. Seraphina gave him a look that screamed, 'Don't take that tone with me', and shook her head slowly.

"Jack, you only know one side of Pitch Black. And based on that one side, you choose to see him as this 100% evil villain who can never be saved. For a long time that's how I saw him too. But...seeing him now with Larrin...I haven't seen him like that since my mom died! He honestly cares about her. He got attached to her during their time together."

"You mean the time spent torturing her and erasing her very name from her mind. The time spent wringing every bit of fear he can get out of her." Jack reminded her bitterly. She sighed heavily.

"Yes I mean that time. And I know what he's done is unforgivable. It's cruel and inhuman. And I'm sure Kozmotis Pitchiner, the man Pitch Black used to be, feels terrible about it. Because I can see him returning a little bit. Every time he sees Larrin kind of smile. Or when he sees her eyes light up just a bit. I can see the darkness in his own eyes lighten. It's a slow process. She still hates him, and he's fighting the light that's trying to return in him. But I think if we give it time, we can help Larrin, and Kozmotis." Jack shook his head slightly. He couldn't believe she was even suggesting this. Pitch was Pitch. Whoever he was, was gone. There wasn't a Kozmotis anymore! But, she seemed so sure that there was.

"I'm sorry, but I just can't be on your side with this one. I will never forgive Pitch for what he did to Larrin, and Joey too. He made the kid a fearling for fuck's sake! After he mentally and emotionally abused Larrin to her lowest point for two years! And then impregnated her!" He hisses. Seraphina looked surprised with Jack. But, she supposed, maybe she was the only one who would be able to see past the wrongs of Pitch's past. Because he was her dad. No matter what, he was still her dad.

"Okay. I'll have to ask them myself then."

"They won't say yes." Jack immediately stated.

"So be it. But I still will ask, and if they're smart, they'll agree with me. Because I truly believe that them storming in here now is the last thing that will help." With an infuriating sense of purpose, well infuriating for Jack, she turned and vanished, leaving a small flower behind. One that was instantly consumed with darkness. Jack stared at the weed for a second in disgust before disappearing back into Larrin's room.

OOOOO

North and Bunny were just getting back from checking a couple of acres of rainforest when Seraphina appeared. They drew their weapons quickly, but just as quickly lowered them. Seraphina looked at them quizzically. Boy they were high strung. She wondered if Pitch was making off camera appearances to taunt them when he wasn't around her and Larrin. Knowing her once father, she wouldn't put it past them.

"Seraphina, what are you doing here?" Bunny asked, exhaustion showing in his voice. Ever since Jack disappeared, the four of them had started doing sectioned searches of the Amazon. They had paired off too, Bunny and North scouring the actual forest floor, and Tooth and Sandy scanning the air for nightmares or anything that could lead them to a more specific region. They tried not to take too many breaks, but just because they were immortal didn't mean they didn't need rest. Frankly, they were already pushing themselves, all of them were.

"I'm here to ask a personal favor." They both tensed up again, but North gestured for her to sit. Bunny gave him a look, like he couldn't believe North would be having sit down chats at a time like that, but followed the two of them. "I've been observing the situation for some time. And I've been to Pitch's lair to help Larrin and Joey." She started.

"Where is it? His lair?" Bunny demanded immediately. North gestured for him to lay off for a few minutes. Obviously Seraphina wasn't just here to give them information. Seraphina only gave when she was sure she could get something in return.

"As I was saying, I've been keeping an eye on them. And I've noticed that Larrin is starting to change Pitch. She's making him...human. More like Kozmotis Pitchiner. Slowly, very slowly, but I can tell." She continued, receiving a glare from Bunny.

"I do not understand." North admitted. She couldn't seriously be saying what he thought she was saying. Not in a million years!

"I want you guys to lay off the search efforts. You're making yourself miserable and getting no where. And on top of it all, it might be beneficial to leave Larrin with Pitch for a while longer." The looks she got from the two Guardians were almost identical to the one she got from Jack. Okay, he was right. They wouldn't be listening to her. But even Jack knew they wouldn't be preforming heroics until they found the lair. And she could do something about that.

"Why the hell would you even come to us and ask that? I thought you were on our side Seraphina!" Bunny shouted, standing.

"And I thought you cared about what happened to everyone, not just your little group of pals. Kozmotis Pitchiner is not to blame for what Pitch Black has done, and I want Kozmotis Pitchiner back!" She shouted right back. "I think Larrin might be the key for that, and I think I am justified in asking you guys to let her work her special kind of magic on the man who used to be my father!" Bunny had to admit he was a bit afraid. An angry Seraphina was not good for anyone. But especially not for the one she was mad at.

"We're not going to stop trying to save Larrin. Or Joey. Or Jack. I'm sorry that doesn't sit right with you and you're crazy plan, but we're not. So unless you've got some useful information, get out." But even if he was afraid of her, he was still pissed at her. And his anger rivaled even hers. North could taste the tension in the room as they glared at each other.

"Fine. You want help? His lair isn't in the Amazon. It's just a hint that MiM gave you. Something to keep you busy because he agrees with me. With time, Kozmotis Pitchiner will be back, mark my words." She turned and stalked away, leaving with a boom of thunder and reappearing on some cliff. So she'd lied to the Guardians. She had to. They were so narrow minded. Jack was right, they'd never stop their rescue efforts just for Kozmotis. They were so distracted by who Pitch was now that they wouldn't consider who Kozmotis was in the past, or who he could be in the future. She didn't understand why she was the only one thinking about him. With a huff she looked up at MiM, finding him looking back down at her. "What? What was I supposed to do? I need him to be better!" She yelled.

You lied to them.

"Would you do anything less for someone you loved?" She demanded, feeling anger rise again. "Is there anything you would not do for your family*?"

They are my family. Pitch Black has hurt my family many times. And now he's hurt a mortal girl. Seraphina, I should kill him for his crimes. It is for you that I do not. And you repay me by leading my family astray and leaving a mortal girl in the hands of a murderous psychopath.

"He's not like that anymore! Not completely! Please MiM you know there's good in him still, caused by Larrin. Surely you of all people can tell that I'm not just making it up!" Her mood swung so fast she wasn't sure how it happened. But suddenly her anger dissipated and was replaced by...dare she say it...fear? She didn't want MiM to be angry with her. She could take anyone else, but the man who made her Mother Nature was someone she never wanted to piss off. No one should want to piss him off though. Well, except Pitch Black.

If I wanted to, I could rid him of the shadows myself. But they cling to him fiercely and it would take nearly all I could give. You have one week to see if your theory is true. And then I will deliver the girl, the boy, and Jack Frost back to the Guardians. And if you try to interfere, I will be forced to rid you of your immortality.

Her mouth dropped open. She only had one week? She tried to speak to him again, but he was gone. Or he was ignoring her. Either were very good possibilities. She rubbed her forehead slightly and sighed. One week to convince MiM that Kozmotis Pitchiner could be brought back. She was sure she could do it. But, at the back of her mind, her surety wasn't as strong. A doubt still crept there, telling her that nothing would ever bring him back short of the Man in the Moon pouring all his energy into the task.

She pushed back against the doubt and held herself high. She would do it. For her father, but also for Larrin. The girl would never get over her two years of torture at the hand of the Nightmare King. But perhaps, if she was successful with bringing back Kozmotis Pitchiner, he could help Larrin. Yes, Kozmotis and Jack Frost, and Larrin's baby. They could heal her. Or they could try. So, Larrin could help Pitch. And then Kozmotis could help Larrin. It was a foolproof plan. Well, an almost foolproof plan. Close enough.

OOOOO

*Totally had to do it. For those of you who get the reference, I love you more than the other. If you don't get the reference...go sit in the corner and think about what you've done. Just kidding, I'll let you off easy this time. It's a Star Trek Into Darkness reference though, just so ya know.