HI guys we're nearing the end of the original so now begs the question...what have I changed?

COLD AND DARK

Pitch regarded the frosted boy beside him as he escorted him to his room. In his opinion it was a pretty decent room. Black stone walls, no windows, a single naked bulb hanging from a wire in the middle of the ceiling and a lone bed running horizontal along the back wall. Jack glanced at the Boogeyman with an eyebrow raised. Pitch gestured into the room, so Jack just shrugged and went and sat on the edge of his bed, slightly bouncing up and down on it.

"Thanks Pitch."

Pitch cringed. Did he really just say thank you. No one in their right mind ever genuinely said thank you to him, only sarcastically. Pitch shrugged his shoulders and leant against the wall.

"Well I suppose I will find us something to eat. So um come out in twenty minutes or something."

"Sure thing."

Pitch left then. Had it really been the best idea to invite Jack to stay with him? To bring him into his sheltered life? For one thing he would have to supply more food, by the looks of the bare cupboards. Exactly twenty minutes later Pitch sat at the small, jet black table looking across at Jack Frost who was stuffing his face full of pizza. The silence was awkward and thick. A small cough had Pitch snapping his head up in attention.

"So, um," Jack stuttered, rubbing the back of his neck, "How about we play a game."

"Not interested," Pitch said bluntly.

"Oh come on. I'm going to ask you a question and you have to answer honestly and visa versa. Oh wait lets just play truth or dare."

"What are we? A bunch of girls at a sleepover?" Pitch sneered.

"Listen here Mr. grouchy, lighten up. Give it a go. I'm trying to help."

Pitch groaned.

"Great!" Jack beamed, taking the disapproving noise as an answer, "so Pitch Black truth or dare?"

"Dare."

Jack deflated at that a bit, but smiled anyway, "Okay I dare you to make a black sand tutu and dance!"

"You can't be serious?"

"I am always serious. You can do it or pick truth."

Pitch stood. A swirl of black shining sand enveloped his waist and took shape into a tutu. Jack, at the sight of the Boogeyman, roared with laughter. Instantly the sand dispersed. Pitch folded his arms. As much as he didn't want Jack to pry into his emotions and life there was no way he could stand humiliation on this scale. Jack having regained his composure tilted his head to the side in question as Pitch sat back down.

"Truth?" Jack asked.

"Yes. I think that would be better."

"Okay because you backed out of the dare you have to answer no matter what. No going back," Jack paused before asking, "Pitch Black why do you want to be alone?"

Pitch knew he was going to be asked that, but knowing it doesn't make it any easier to answer. He had to give the simplest and most vague response he could.

"Well you of all people would understand this. Isn't it better to not feel anything than something? That way when someone hurts you, betrays you, it won't hurt because you don't care. Being alone means the only person I have to care or worry about is myself."

Jack sat there in silence. After a long moment he nodded. He did understand the need to be alone, to make the pain and longing disappear. However what Jack knew that Pitch didn't, was that caring worked two ways….usually. Having others there to help you through things was much better than having to do it all by your self. Jack stared at Pitch, choosing his words carefully.

"You once told me that you wanted a family, to be noticed. It hurts to care but that's the point. To know that you would do anything for the other person and they would do the same for you. You would die for each other. Trust me. If I had to choose between being alone and going back to having a family right now….."

Jack faulted then, a crease appearing on his forehead as he thought about the answer. Would he really go back?

"If it could go back to the way it was before…well before all this, then I would. Wanting to not feel anything means that you're empty and I know Pitch Black that you're not empty. Attacking the children was your messed up way of asking for attention, for someone to care. I'm here to give you that opportunity so do you want a friend or not is my final question to you." Jack said crossing his arms.

Pitch stared at Jack. Jack stared at Pitch. Pitch nodded his head slowly. That was the reason he had recruited Jack in the first place. He had found someone like him. He had been so alone that it had driven him into the depths of anger and hate, only spurred on by the Fearlings. Maybe the real, ancient and lost Pitch could beat back those beasts and his own mind for that matter. He honestly didn't like to feel that way, alone. Not anymore.

Jack stuffed another slice of pizza in his mouth and stood up going to sit down on the floor near the small dieing embers of the fire in the fireplace.

"You know you cheated." Pitch said coming to join the youngster on the cold stone floor. "You asked me two questions and I didn't even get to ask you one."

Jack huffed, "You sound like Bunny, well then ask me a question."

"Why are you doing this Jack Frost and how are you going to change me? I'm too far gone."

"Well, hmmm. I'm doing this because I want everyone else to know that it's their fault. No, no that's wrong. It's not like revenge; I just want them to understand. To see it from our point of view you know. I'm doing this to help everyone else like me. As for how I'm going to change you I haven't quite figured that out yet. I was hoping that we could start by maybe socialising first or at least getting to know each other a bit better. I want you to see that people will care for you, that you aren't alone. How's that for an answer?"

Pitch smiled. It felt strange. They sat there for hours talking. Jack told elaborate stories about all the trouble he had gotten into, always making sure that each tale had a moral. He would help Pitch and he could see that he was already making a difference. He was relaxed and eager to talk and listen. Jack listened in awe at the stories spilling out of the older man's mouth. Ones of all the other run ins he has had with the Guardian's before Jack's existence. They weren't pleasant because of the motives behind the plans or how they ended. It didn't matter though. Jack was having fun.

Pitch stood in the doorway trying to resist temptation. Jack slept in his plain bed. He wanted so badly to send the teen a juicy nightmare. He had been the reason and cause of his latest downfall. Sighing Pitch turned away, shaking his head. Not tonight. He himself was too tired. As he lay down to fall asleep he knew that was only an excuse. He cringed. He was….changing and he wasn't quite sure yet if he liked it or not.

Days turned into weeks and weeks dribbled into another two months. To say they were different was an understatement. Pitch was far more relaxed and willing to try new things. Jack had even taught him how to ice skate. In return Pitch taught Jack to ride a horse. The boy had fallen off a couple of times, one time splitting his knee wide open. Jack had found a sort of solace in his mind. He had convinced himself that Pitch wasn't going to kick him out any time soon and by the looks of it, it wasn't a lie. Then came the day. Jack walked in to the living room. Pitch sat in a chair reading. For the first time in ages his hood was up. Sometimes the Boogeyman had lost his temper with Jack. He had ended up scared, trembling and with bruises littered over his skin. What had surprised Pitch was that Jack hadn't run away. He had stayed and sometimes gone as far to apologise, but for the rest of the day would keep his hood up. When Pitch glanced up from his book to see the renowned blue hood covering the winter child's face he knew that he had either done something wrong or he was about to.

"Um Pitch?" Jack muttered.

"What is it?"

"I know this is kind of weird and you won't like it."

"Then don't ask it," Pitch said.

"Would you be willing to visit the Guardians?"

Pitch blinked at the boy. Once, twice and a third time but still it took him a good couple of minutes to fully understand what had been asked of him.

"Why?" Pitch asked cautiously.

"Well you see, I want them to see that you've changed, that we've both changed. To make them understand that by giving just a little attention to someone can make a difference. To prove them all wrong," Jack stopped suddenly and dropped his eyes to the floor before continuing, "and maybe they will accept us both as….friends."

Pitch inwardly groaned. He had been patient with the boy, but this was asking too much. He stared into those ice blue eyes that were pleading with him.

"Come on, you've got to admit that having a friend is a good thing?" Jack said smugly, leaning on his staff.

The man smiled. It was true. These past two months had been the best in a long time. If he could tolerate and even like Jack Frost then getting along with the other Guardians shouldn't be that hard, right? His need for attention was stronger than his desire for isolation now and it was all because of a troublesome winter spirit.

Pitch set aside his book and stood and started to stride towards a shadow. He glanced back and motioned for Jack to follow him. The boy beamed and sprinted after the older man. Together they stood in a shadow, Jack's cold fingers laced into Pitch's before they vanished into the darkness.

Jack's head spun as they emerged in the globe room of the North Pole. Pitch grew tense beside him. Jack smiled casually up at him, swung his staff over his shoulder and walked towards the dinning table where he knew the other Guardians would be sitting for their weekly report. He could hear their murmured voices that gradually grew louder. He stood in the door way waiting patiently for his presences to be noticed. As he gazed around at his used to be friends he felt pain claw at his chest. It was that same fear and pain that had eaten him from the inside out when he had been kicked out and taken refuge in Antarctica. Bunny was the first to lay eyes on him. His ears sprung up in surprise and his eyes bulged in their sockets. He stood up which turned everyone's heads around to find Jack.

"Jack…" Bunny said breathlessly.

He walked around to the other side of the table and was quickly followed by the other three.

"You came back," Tooth choked, tears welling up in her eyes.

Jack held up a hand, "I'm not here for any other reason but to show you the truth,"

Jack turned his back on them briefly and motioned to someone outside the room. Hesitantly a very awkward and wary Pitch Black entered the room. Everything went deathly still.

"Hello," Pitch said.

Chaos erupted.

Thanks for all the support guys! See you all soon ;D