AN: Hey guys! Here's the sixth chapter of "The Other Half." This is a few months after the events of chapter four. It's Jill's ninth birthday! Pitch acts really fluffy with Jill, but in my personal head canon, I don't think Pitch hates children. I think he is just bitter that he is forever cast as the bad guy. No one takes the time to actually talk to him without condemning him. No one, except Jill that is. I figure these next two chapters should be rather fluffy, because once Jillian reunites with Jack, angst will be abundant. Even in the "past" chapters, Jill and Pitch's friendship is about to hit some rocky waters. So prepare your feels because soon we are getting into the nitty-gritty of things. Read and Review, please! – Katheryn xx
Chapter Six
Jill was close to bursting with excitement. Today was her ninth birthday. Her mother and father were working hard to make sure today was perfect for the little girl. Even though there would be a noticeable hole in the happiness; a Jack shaped hole. Her mother still wasn't completely better; she would sometimes just sit in silence at night, fingers stroking Jack's baby blanket. Jill herself still missed her brother, but she was gradually moving on. Pitch was a big help in that effort.
Speaking of the King of Nightmares, after the festivities were over, he was meeting Jill again tonight to bestow upon her a birthday gift of his own. Although Jill's nightmares had faded about three months ago, she and Pitch had still continued their friendship. They spent nearly every night together, talking about their days and providing comfort to each other if necessary.
"Happy Birthday, sweetie," Jill's mother said, kissing her cheek. Her father echoed the sentiment before they all sat down to eat. Her mother had cooked Jill's favourite meal and one of their neighbors had baked the girl a cake, a chocolate cake, which made it a real treat. Jill's father stood up to light the candle while her mother cleared away the remains of the meal to make more space. It was at that moment when Jill felt a familiar weight upon her shoulder.
"Happy Birthday, little Jill," Pitch's velvet voice came from behind her. Jill took in her parents' positions at the opposite end of the room before turning and hugging her friend tightly.
"You came early!" she exclaimed in a whisper.
"Of course, it is a rather important day after all," the Nightmare King chuckled. "You don't turn nine every day, do you?"
"Nope," Jill giggled before turning back to her parents, who were returning with the newly cleaned dishes and the cake.
"Hmm, chocolate cake," Pitch commented beside her. "Someone must think rather highly of you to bestow that sort of gift."
Jill giggled again and subtly poked his arm. Pitch let out a rather affronted sound in response, causing Jill to giggle even more.
"What are you giggling about over there, Jilly Bean?" her father asked with a smile on his face.
"Oh, nothing, Papa," she said sweetly. "Just thinking about something funny."
"Well, I think it might be time to start thinking about your wish, sweetheart," Jill's mother said with a smile. "Go on and blow out the candle, dear."
Jill thought long and hard. What exactly did she want to wish for? She wanted Jack back, yes, but that was impossible. Pitch placed a hand on her shoulder lightly and she got it.
She inhaled as much air as she could and blew it all out in a whoosh. The flame on the candle went out and her parents applauded. Pitch smiled next to her, clapping lightly as well.
JSVJSVJSVJSV
That night Jill bounced excitedly on her bed, waiting for Pitch to reappear. Apparently some other child was due for a quick nightmare and he'd had to rush off.
"Don't worry though, little Jill," he had said before vanishing. "I'll be back soon enough."
So Jill got ready for bed as usual, going through the motions with a certain vigor. Pitch had been teasing her about her birthday for weeks, always hinting at what he had gotten for her but always denying her the major details.
Her father kissed her forehead and said goodnight, closing the door behind him in what had become the new routine.
Jill kicked off the covers and pulled out her matches to light her candle. Her doll was tossed to the wayside as she watched the darkest corner of the room like a hawk.
Suddenly she was lifted up by the waist and twirled around the room. She giggled in delight before hugging Pitch around the neck.
"You're back!"
"Of course I am, silly," Pitch responded. "I promised to spend your birthday with you and it is still your birthday."
The Nightmare King sat upon the little girl's bed and set her down gently next to him. Then he quickly hid both hands behind him.
"Now seeing as it is still your birthday," he said with a perfect poker face. "I believe that there is some strange custom where the birthday girl receives gifts from family and friends. I'm not mistaken, am I? Perhaps it was only Christmas where special little girls get gifts."
Jill giggled again and bounced up onto her knees.
"No, gifts are for birthdays too, Pitch!"
"Ah, see," he chuckled. "I knew a clever girl like you would be able to help me out. Now did you get gifts from all of your family and friends?"
"No," Jill said very seriously, her face twisting into a sort of pout. "I think one friend may have forgotten."
Pitch made an affronted sound and his hand moved to rest above his heart.
"My word, what sort of lousy friend is this, forgetting to get such a darling girl a birthday present?" He smirked and met her gaze.
Jill fought to keep a straight face. He always looked so funny when he smirked like that.
"He's not a lousy friend, not really," Jill said looking up at Pitch. "He's actually really nice once you take the time to talk to him. He's my best friend."
Pitch lost the smirk as a look of wonder came into his gold eyes. His hand reached out to stroke the girl's hair as a genuine smile crossed his face.
"I think that you are his best friend too, little Jill. His only friend, actually."
Jill jumped up to hug her best friend tightly. In her mind, Pitch deserved more friends. He was so nice, at least to her. She was glad she'd met such a great friend.
"Now," Pitch said, withdrawing from the girl's hug, his hands still behind his back. "I believe that this friend of yours did actually have a present for you. Oh, I'm sure it is around here somewhere." He mimed turning around and searching frantically for something before popping back up. "Aha, here's the little devil. Knew I had it with me."
Jill laughed as Pitch turned back around with a small box in his hands.
"You'll have to forgive me if it isn't to your taste," Pitch said apologetically. "I've never been too great with understanding what little girls like. But for some reason, I knew you would love this."
Jill took the box and opened it. Inside was a locket, made of some sort of dark material. It was beautifully crafted, ornate and elegant without being gaudy. The chain felt as if it had been made of the most delicate of metals.
"Pitch, it is beautiful," Jill exclaimed, taking the locket out of the box and turning around. "Could you put it on me? It is so pretty. You made this?"
Pitch took the locket from her and opened the clasp. Then he refastened it around her neck before responding.
"Yes, I made it. It took some time, but I finally managed to crystallize the nightmare sand to just the right amount of durability. Only you will ever be able to open it."
"How did you manage to make it do that?" Jill said, turning back around her eyes wide with happiness and awe at what her friend did for her.
"Do you remember the nightmare you had last week? About being trapped in the forest and Jack trying to pull you under the water?" Jill nodded; that nightmare had been particularly vicious. Pitch had had to stay with her almost all night before she went back to sleep. "I kept some of the nightmare sand after you had woken up. That sand was the key ingredient to making this locket. The personal touch of your fear acts as a safeguard; whatever you put in that locket is for your eyes only. The locket won't open for anyone else."
Jill hugged Pitch again, her smile so wide it almost seemed like her face would split in two. Pitch chuckled and whispered "Happy Birthday, Jill."
"How did you think of the locket?" Jill asked, sitting back down. "It is so perfect and beautiful; it must have taken you a long time to think of it."
"Actually, it just came to me. It was as if I had seen something like it before, but I can't quite recall where. The second it appeared in my mind, though, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Making it for you seemed to help though. I'm glad you like it, dearest Jill."
"It's the best present ever!"
JSVJSVJSV
A few hours later saw Jill fighting sleep with everything she had. It had been the best birthday ever, even if Jack hadn't been there to share it with her. Jill had just gotten done telling Pitch about the chocolate cake and how her father had picked her up and danced around the room with her while her mother clapped and smiled in the background.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot!" Jill said suddenly, jolting up slightly before falling back against her pillow. Pitch was sitting on the edge of her bed, watching her knowingly. She was about to fall asleep at any moment. "Do you want to know what I wished for?"
Pitch's smile faded for a moment before leaning forward to kiss her forehead. "Oh Jill, don't you know that you're not supposed to tell what you wished for? Then they won't come true."
"R-really," Jill yawned. Her eyes felt so heavy and she blinked an awful lot. "O-okay then. I won't tell; I really want this one to come true."
"Well, I hope it does, Jill," Pitch replied, tucking the little girl in as she drifted off. "A princess like you deserves to have all of her wishes come true."
"Mm, 'night Pitch."
"Goodnight, Jill."
As Jill snuggled into her pillow, she thought of her wish once more. If she could have one wish come true, she wanted it to be this one.
"I wish that Pitch and I will stay together forever."
Closing author note: Jill's wish is not meant in a romantic sense. At this point, she means she wants to remain friends with Pitch forever. Jill's wish comes true though, in a more powerful way than she can imagine. :)
