AN: All I can say is that it definitely helps that I write these chapters in advance. This fic is actually moving a lot more smoothly than my "Once Upon A Time" fanfic. Also, I apologize if Pitch seems OOC in this fic; I'm trying to keep him as in character as possible. Also, I'm just going to put this out there so it is clear. At this point in their friendship, Pitch does not have any sort of romantic feelings for Jill. Their relationship only progresses into love after Jill grows up and they only get together after Jillian becomes the Spirit of First Love. I don't condone pedophilia and it will not be in this story in any way shape or form. If it comes across that way, I apologize. It is a bit difficult to write for an eight year old and an adult Legendary.

Anyway, once again we are in Jillian's past; this chapter takes place a few weeks after eight year old Jill meets Pitch. I apologize for the shortness of this chapter. But I'm getting a feel for how I want this fic to progress, so this should get easier (and possibly longer) as it continues. Read and Review, please! :) –Katheryn xoxo

Chapter Four

6 weeks after Jack's death

"Jill, it's supper time. Come on now, girl." Her papa called outside.

Jill was sitting on the ground, a small book in her hands. It was a reading trainer book Pitch had given to her. He had been appalled to hear that a girl her age had no idea how to read.

"Everyone should know how to read," Pitch said, producing the training book. "You never know when it might come in handy."

Her parents had bought the idea that a sympathetic villager had given it to her. It wasn't as if the eight year old could simply tell her parents that the Boogeyman had given it to her.

After that first meeting, Pitch had continued to visit young Jill; it really wasn't that surprising, seeing as Jill's nightmares hadn't quite faded away yet. At first he had tried to be as terrifying as possible; after all, he did have a reputation to uphold. But after about a week of trying and failing to completely frighten the young girl, Pitch and Jill had started talking. The little girl was incredibly lonely, as was the Nightmare King and it was nice to spend the midnight hours together. Pitch told some of the greatest stories and he was always there when she woke up gasping from her latest nightmare.

Jill had definitely been grateful for his company the last month. Her mother had only just broken out of her mourning stupor about a week ago and her father was finally coming home at a somewhat reasonable hour. But people were still avoiding her in the village; her old friends wouldn't come by anymore, even though the acceptable period of mourning had just about passed. This upset little Jill slightly, but it wasn't as if she was completely alone anymore. She had the Boogeyman to spend time with now and he seemed to enjoy her company as much as she enjoyed his.

"How are you getting along in that book?" Jill's father asked after they'd said grace. "Surely your friend will want it back soon."

"Oh Papa," Jill said, after swallowing a bit of stew. "He doesn't mind. He says to take my time because if I try to rush it, I won't learn anything."

"Hmm, well this friend of yours sounds very wise," her mother said, ending the conversation with a small smile.

JSVJSVJSV

A washing up after dinner and three more pages later, Jill settled in to her bed, curling up beneath the blankets, her trusty rag doll in hand. Her papa kissed her forehead goodnight before blowing out the lamp and closing the door part way.

"Papa?"

He peeked his head back in, a questioning look on his face.

"Yes, Jill?"

"Could you close the door all the way? I'm not scared of the dark anymore."

Her father's face grew more bewildered, but he complied with his daughter's wishes and closed the door gently behind him.

"Not afraid of the dark? Keep saying things like that and I won't be able to visit you anymore, little Jill."

Pitch's grey face materialized out of the darkness and crossed the room to her bed with a smile on his face. Jill giggled and sat up fully.

"Of course you'd still be able to visit, Pitch," she said with a smile. "I'm still afraid of other things."

"Oh really," he teased. "Now what would a big, brave girl like yourself be afraid of, dear child?"

Jill went quiet suddenly and looked down at her blanket, fingers fiddling with it.

"The ice on the pond."

Things fell silent for a moment. Then Jill felt herself pulled into a hug. Her eyes teared up ever so slightly, thinking again about that dreadful moment when Jack fell under the ice, never to resurface. The moment when her best friend and brother was taken from her forever.

"I'm sorry, little Jill," Pitch's soothing voice came from over her head. "There are some things no child should have to go through."

"You know a lot about children, Pitch," Jill commented. "I know you work with children a lot, but it almost seems like… I don't know. Like you had one once yourself."

Pitch stilled for a moment, and then relaxed once again. Jill extricated herself from the hug and pulled out the training book.

"I've never had a child," Pitch said sadly. "Sometimes I feel like I might have, but I can never quite catch the memory before it slips away."

And then it was Jill's turn to be the comfort, to grant the hug to the saddened Nightmare King. He kissed her lightly atop her head, as a father might do a daughter.

"Now then," he said, shaking off the emotion and taking the book from her. "Why don't you light that candle and we'll see how you're improving."