So I definitely quote Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift and TheCivil Wars in this chapter. Just letting you know, cuz I don't want to seem like I'm plagiarizing or anything. So yeah, it's in here. And it's not mine. Also, since we're here, this chapter is a little short, but I would rather post something a bit shorter than usual now, than try and make it long and wait like a week or two before I put it up. So, short, but hopefully good. Anyhow, read on and enjoy. Please.

OOOO

Seraphina was nervous. Her trial week was almost over, and Pitch wasn't Kozmotis yet. He wasn't exactly Pitch anymore, but he wasn't her father either. The good thing was others were starting to notice it. Jack kept close tabs on him, and he started seeing what Seraphina had seen immediately. Joey too seemed surprised by the tenderness he exhibited around Larrin. And, out of all of them, Larrin herself was the most observant. She could see the effect she had on him, and it alarmed her. But, as alarmed as she was, she decided to experiment with it. She would smile at him and watch as he had to find something to lean against. She would say something, just a small words or phrase, and watch him stumble over himself to do what she asked. And she would touch her stomach when she knew he was watching and see him just melt, a smile growing on his own face.

Seraphina knew Larrin was discovering her power over Pitch/Kozmotis and it amused her. It amused them all, except Pitch. But, it didn't amuse her enough to take away the nervousness. He was changing exponentially, everyday. But not quick enough. Not enough that MiM would consider it progress. He would probably still refuse to see it, his own hatred for the Nightmare King clouding his judgment. She was honestly worried her plan would fail. Until one day there was a breakthrough.

Larrin was looking out her makeshift window. She could see everything that happened above ground through this window, but it was only a reflection. Not the real thing. It felt real enough due to a steady ventilation of humid forest air that would flow in and out of the room, but not completely real. The forest air and the forest view was a mere taste when she wished she could take a huge bite. So she considered to herself the best way to go about playing the Nightmare King then set her plan in motion.

The first thing that alerted Pitch was the singing. He froze in his orders to his nightmares and turned towards the sound. By the time he reached Larrin's room, the other three were also there, standing dumbly in the doorway looking at Larrin's back. She was sitting at the window, hand on her stomach, and singing! The girl who'd hardly said four words in the same sentence for the past week and a half was singing! Pitch listened to the words, not recognizing the slow tune, but captivated by it all the same.

Just close your eyes. The sun is going down.

You'll be alright. No one can hurt you now.

Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound.

Larrin looked over her shoulder, hearing the sound of shuffling feet. A deep blush covered her usually pale cheeks and she looked down at her raising belly. It was growing quickly. One week and she looked three months! By this time next month she could very well be delivering! But that didn't concern her so much as what would happen after that. What would happen to her, and what would happen to her baby?

"That was beautiful." Seraphina was kneeling in front of her with a small smile. She returned it, only a little smaller. She hardly ever really smiled. She smiled when she got ice cream, and when Pitch gave her this new, larger and airier room. Also when Pitch brought her books to read and flowers that weren't all black. He had Seraphina handle those, because his very skin turned things dark. But he made sure she knew it was from him. And once, she caught him looking at her while she was doodling. There was some sort of emotion in his eyes she hadn't seen before. Something so deep and rich that she was surprised it even fit in his eyes. She didn't quite know what to call it, but she knew she liked it when he looked at her like that. She still hated him, and was scared as all crap when he was around. But that look just put her to ease, immediately. She realize Seraphina was still looking at her expectantly and cleared her throat.

"I heard it when I was at the North Pole. One of the yetis was listening to a radio." She whispered, her voice scratchy from disuse. But the catch and waver were gone while she was singing. Her voice had been clear and smooth like water. It had made Pitch literally drop everything and come listen. Speaking of Pitch, he was inching closer, settling finally on the bed not far from her. She didn't flinch away from him anymore. She knew he wasn't going to hurt her anymore. No more nightmares, or sharp slaps, or cruel words. He had said that he only treated her that way to gain power, and now he wouldn't dare harm her. And, at this point anyway, he was true to his words.

"I've never heard you sing." He said dumbly, his mind somewhere stuck in Larrin Land. Joey noticed and skipped up to his sister.

"She used to do it all the time, when we were younger. She'd sing me to sleep so I would stop crying about our dad." He told them all proudly. Larrin smiles at him, actually smiled. Joey was one of the other things that would make her smile. After years of being apart from him, she cherished every second she had with him. And she was so glad that whenever she woke up, her brother was still human. Not a fearling or a nightmare. Just Joey. There were only a few things that Jack could do that would earn him that real smile. And only three things Seraphina could do. But when Joey was around, it lit her face. And when she saw Pitch changing, it just came naturally. Jack could honestly say he was jealous, but he'd never admit it out loud.

"That was a long time ago." Larrin reminded Joey.

"It feels like it, for sure. I wonder what our parents are doing right now. Not the mean ones, the kind ones." He clarified when Larrin tilted her head. She looked at Pitch, who was still in awe from the one little chorus he'd heard.

"Could you show us? Could you show us our parents?" She asked quietly. He jumped a bit, looking at her like he was just now realizing she was there. But he nodded and opened a sort of portal so they could see through. There were their parents, both looking haggard and tired and hungry. Like they hadn't eaten or slept since Joey and Larrin had disappeared...again. It made Larrin's eyes tear up and grab for Joey's hand. "Let him go home. Let him go comfort them. Please." She begged, her other hand reaching out to grab Pitch's. A sort of electric current seemed to race from Larrin's hand, under Pitch's skin, and through his whole body. And in that moment, he was completely defenseless against her pleading eyes.

Immediately he created a portal large enough for Joey, who looked at Larrin with alarm. He didn't want to leave her! He wanted to make sure she was okay. He needed to protect her! But her look was resolute.

"You have to go back. You have to tell them I'm okay." She told him gravely.

"But you're not!" He protested.

"That doesn't matter. You see how they look. They need comfort, even if it's false comfort. And it has to be from you. Please, do this for them, and for me. I can't stand seeing them so broken, and you can fix them. Please." He too was helpless beneath her eyes and eventually, and tearfully, he nodded. The two of them hugged for what felt like forever before he promised he would help them again and stepped through. Larrin watched from the small portal, completely engrossed by the scene, as her parents looked up and discovered their son standing in the living room. Her mom started sobbing uncontrollably and her dad brought Joey into a hug that surely swept all the air out of the boy. But he wasn't complaining, instead weeping with their mom and hugging their dad. She watched it all happen with an ache in her chest. She wished she could be there too. But she knew she couldn't push it. She had gotten what she wanted. She had gotten Joey back home. She had to be content with that.

With a shaky sort of sob she turned away from the portal and moved to her bed, moving around Pitch. She laid down on her side, facing away from the three of them. And she started to hum. Very slowly, very quietly. She hummed until she fell asleep.

OOOOO

Man in the Moon was surprised with the sudden reappearance of Joey in his home. But, it was just Joey, no Larrin. And, he was comforting his parents. Telling them both he and Larrin were okay, when in reality neither of them really were. Pitch zeroed in on Jack Frost's mind, looking through to find his memories about what had happened to lead up to the return of Joey to his parents. He was startled at what he found. Larrin acting so calm and collected, Pitch acting so benign and humbled. And Jack himself was alarmingly quiet, not putting a single word into the conversation. Could it be? Could Seraphina have been right? Could Pitch be changing because of this mortal girl? It sure seemed like it.

He considered this for a long moment before deciding to offer Seraphina one more week. Sure enough, the Mother of the Earth came before him shortly after, her words already on her tongue. But he cut her off before she began and simply said,

One more week.

The girl was stunned, but smiled happily and practically did a happy dance. He was honestly glad for her. She was getting what she wanted more than anything. She was getting her father back. Piece by piece, and sometimes chunk by chunk if it had to do with Larrin.

He then went to the Guardians, ready to offer a long explanation. The four of them were wearing themselves to the bone trying to find the missing Guardian and two mortal children. But, he supposed, they should take a break before they themselves broke. He quickly filled their heads with the scene he just discovered, from Jack's point of view, leaving all four of them speechless. None of them wanted to believe Pitch could be good. That he might be changing, especially after the grief he'd given them that Easter, and how he'd treated Larrin. But, they supposed, the evidence was right before them. Something was different.

They all relaxed a bit after that. They weren't done looking, not by a long shot, but they could rest a little easier now. Now that they knew Jack was alive and well, and that none of them were being tortured. Now that they had seen for themselves that Pitch was changing, and that maybe it would all be okay. Maybe. A very, very tiny maybe. But a maybe none the less.

Tooth was the first one to retire to bed. The previously limitless fairy who was usually bursting with energy was now run down and exhausted. She fell, almost in a boneless state, into bed and was immediately asleep, with a nudge from Sandy. North was second to surrender, and went down just as quickly. Bunny needed nudging from Sandy (translation: Sandy put him out with a softball of dream sand aimed at his head) before he relented. And then the little golden man made sure the children were all soundly sleeping before falling asleep himself. None of them had slept so deeply in the last hundred years. But all of them were glad of it. They needed it more than they admitted to themselves. And it felt good to finally let themselves take a break, after nearly two weeks of tirelessly searching. Now they could sleep. If only for a little while.

OOOOO

Again, short and sweet, but I hope it was enough for now. Hopefully the next chapter will be longer and be here quickly. Hopefully. Good morning/day/night!