I was taking deep breaths as me and tooth walked began walking down the hallway , I was nervous not about seeing Ella but about I was going to say to Jack . He just saved my life I was worried I would screw up my thank you , even if I wasn't saying thank you I would still be nervous , I'm always nervous around Jack but I don't know why I either start blushing around him or act like idiot then tooth looked at me and stopped walking , I stopped next to her and then she spoke softly to me .

"There all in here , are you ready " she asked , placing her hand on my shoulder . she was always doing that maybe it was a automatic thing,she seems like someone of a kind nature.

"Yeah , yeah I'm ready" I answered . she smiled at me and then turned to to doors. She placed her hands on the handles and pushed the doors open with a mighty shove.

"Excuse me , but someone would like to come and say hello now she's awake" I heard her say as she walked in. I took one last deep breath and started taking small steps into the room . I am finally inside and the confronted with a little teary face , Ella.

"RILEY, RILEY " she leaped into my arms and began crying muttering stuff like"I was scared" and "your OK"

"Of course I'm OK , its alright I'm not going anywhere" I tried to calm her when I looked up and saw Jack he was smiling at me. I let go of Ella and began walking forward towards him. Eventually we where only a few steps apart

"Hey Jack, um you and er, I know it was ..." I was lost for words I began to blush again , this was so embarrassing. Then I felt Jack take hold of my hand and pull me into a hug

"Your welcome" he whispered . I was shocked for a moment but then put my arms around him and closed my arms "thank you jack". We parted and smiled at each other

"Here let me introduce you the others"he insisted I just nodded

"Well obviously you have met tooth"tooth did a little wave at me

"This is bunnymund but you and Ella know him as the Easter bunny" jack pointed to a 6ft rabbit with a boomerang and lack of clothing. Then I saw Ella run up to him and hug his leg.

" mate"he said to me he sounded Australian looked a little bit like a kangaroo

"This is sandman and North aka Santa" Jack pointed out . I nodded sandman or sandy as tooth called him earlier, then I looked at north and then I had the same feeling as earlier, like with pitch, I felt like I knew him but I didn't remember him.

North coughed "well your welcome to say as long as you like Riley" I shook my head at him

"Maybe another time but I have to this little one home" I answered . Ella then glared at me .

"Do we gotta " she moaned

"Yes mum will wondering where we are come on " I answered . she said by to bunny and then took my hand . I smiled down at her and she smiled back at me. The I heard someone clear there throat , it was Jack.

"I'll take there, don't want you to get hurt again " he said with a slight blue tint to his cheeks I just nodded at him . North shook a snow globe and tossed it into the air , then it exploded into a magic portal that me Ella and Jack walked through.

The other end of the portal was about 5 minutes from are house so we started walking toward the house . well me and Jack walked Ella kinda skipped there. Me and Jack where silent for a few minutes till asked me ...

"How you feeling "

"Every part of me hurts but I think I will be OK " I smiled to him and he smiled back. I then noticed behind him was a shop window and I caught my reflection in it. I walk towards it and staired at the cut across my face. It started on the left side of my noise and cut all the way down to the middle of my right cheek. I raised my hand to my face and ran my finger across it, I stung a little but nothing to painful .I then noticed Jack looking at me .

"Do you think it will scar" I asked He nodded

"Probably it was pretty deep,but don't worry you don't look any less beautiful princess" he answered . I just blushed we reached the house and I turned to Jack .

"You can come in for a bit if you want , its not like mums gonna see you " I offered , jack smiled so I took that as a yes. we walked up to the house and I unlocked the door and called out

"Mum were home" as I always do when I get home from anywhere and normally mum says , hello hunny how was it but this time there was no reply at all.

"Mum" still no reply "MUM" I shouted . I walked into the kitchen the the living room but nothing

"Ella look upstairs " I told her, she ran up the stairs and I walked over to Jack.

"Maybe she has gone out" he suggested . I shook my head at him

"No she never goes out not since Dad died , only for work and she doesn't work today"I told him , he looked a little shocked "what " I asked him I wonder what he was shocked at.

"Your dads dead"he asked

"Yeah,long story, don't worry" I told him then looked down at my feet, I had stepped in something. I bent down to see what it was , Ella was now standing on the stairs shaking her head mean mums not up stairs. I looked at the stuff I had stepped in and my eyes filled with horror it was sand ...black sand , the same black sand pitch used . I looked up at jack

"Pitch has her"