AN: Hey guys! Once again, apologies for the wait. School hates me right now. And I am hating it right back lol. I also tried to make this chapter longer, not sure how exactly it worked out, but I tried. *shrug* Not to mention, I nearly lost my notes for this fic. That would have been a nightmare even too cruel for Pitch lol. But I found them and all is well. By the way, I just realized that we are now over half way through with this story! There are only about 10 chapters left. Which is kinda sad for me, but then again, there are still quite a few little one-offs I have coming into play soon, including a Valentine's Day special, not to mention the prequel and the sequel. So Jillian, Pitch, and Jack, plus the rest of the Guardians, still have quite a ways to go yet. :)
On another note: Holy Crap! Nearly 80 reviews on this story. Jeez, I am kinda overwhelmed. It is amazing and I am so glad that you guys like this so much. Who knew when I first came up with this idea leaving the theatre that it would end up being so long and so well-liked. Well, well- liked by my standards, anyway. Seriously you guys, each and every one of you is so great to me. Thank you all so much! –Kate xoxo
Chapter Fifteen
The white haired spirit stood there, fists clenched, eyes locked on the scene before him. How could Jill stand to be in that fiend's embrace? Did she know the whole truth of what Pitch had done? Jack doubted it. If she had… the girl Jack knew would never stay with a monster like Pitch if she truly knew what went down between the Boogeyman and the Guardians.
But that was the problem, the one Jack refused to acknowledge. Jillian wasn't the little girl Jack once knew. Little Jill had grown up, and grown up rather quickly. The day Jackson Overland died spelled the beginning of the end of the baby sister he remembered.
Pitch's arms tightened slightly about Jillian as he and Jack locked eyes. The anger within those ice blue depths made Pitch's own amber ones narrow. Jillian's brother or not, if Jack did anything that implied that he might hurt Jillian, physically or otherwise, Pitch would have to intervene. Pitch had failed to protect Jillian once and he had vowed that he would never let it happen again.
All was silent for a moment as the three stared at each other. The almost- hatred in Jack's eyes as he stared at Pitch took Jillian aback. Sadness filled her heart; they would never truly get along would they? Jack and Pitch would always oppose each other, even if Pitch made an effort toward friendship. Why couldn't Jack see what Jillian saw? For just about three hundred years, Jack had suffered the same fate Pitch had, never being seen, never being heard, never being believed in. So why couldn't he sympathize with Pitch, understand where all of his bitterness came from? Surely, somewhere inside, Jack acknowledged it; he had to.
But Jillian couldn't force him to see it. Jack had to see the truth about Pitch for himself. Maybe then, he could begin to see the good in Pitch, no matter how well hidden it is.
The silence was growing unbearable though, so Jillian opened her mouth.
"Jack-."
"Get away from my sister, Pitch," Jack near growled, tilting his staff ever so slightly. His eyes danced around the couple, seemingly looking for a clear shot at the Nightmare King.
"Not unless she wishes me to, Jack," Pitch replied, tensing into a half- battle stance. His large hands moved up slightly, wrapping about her waist instead of her hips. It would be easier for him to move her if worst came to worst.
"Jill, move," Jack said, not taking his eyes from Pitch's face. The tension in the air was palpable; Jillian wanted to choke on the thickness of it.
"No." Her voice trembled only slightly due to her anxiety about the situation. If a battle ensued…. Jillian didn't want to know what the outcome would be.
"Jill, move." Jack voice rose a bit this time and Pitch's hands tightened infinitesimally about her waist.
"No, Jack." Her voice was stronger now and she straightened more in Pitch's arms. "I won't let you hurt him."
"Why? Because you 'love' him?" Jack's voice was mocking and Jillian frowned in anger. As much as she understood Jack's anger, he was acting like a jerk.
"Yes. Because I love him. And that won't change Jack, so you are just going to have to deal with it."
"Jill, are you blind?!" Jack's voice really rose this time and she heard Pitch suck in a breath behind her.
She could feel his hands twitching with the urge to push her behind him and she placed her own hands on top of them. The twitching slowed, but his hands remained fast about her waist. This only served to incense Jack more as he continued.
"He's using you, Jill! He's manipulated your emotions somehow and forced you to feel as if you love him. No matter what you believe about this whole 'Other Half' bond nonsense, he can't love you. All he cares about is creating fear and tormenting children with his nightmares. Let him go, Jill. Let him go and let's go home!"
Jack jumped toward the pair, intending to separate his sister from the Nightmare King. Pitch pushed Jillian behind him and used what was left of his Nightmare sand to bring forward his scythe. It clashed with the Winter spirit's staff, and Jack grit his teeth, pushing harder against it. Even with his limited power, Pitch still managed to push Jack away. Jack regained his footing and lunged at Pitch again, only to dig his heels into the stone of the balcony, skidding to a stop.
Jillian stood there, Jack's frozen staff inches from her chest, her arms thrown out at her sides. Pitch stood behind her, anxiety clear in his eyes as he took in the small distance separating the staff from her body. His hand was still outstretched, intending to pull her back to safety again. But he could read the between the lines of her posture; if Jack continued this fight, she would retaliate. He let his hand fall back to his side, but took a step forward, positioning himself closer to her.
Jillian felt his presence behind her and took a breath, letting his support strengthen her resolve. She met Jack's gaze dead on before speaking.
"He isn't using me, Jack. I'd know if he was," her voice was deadly calm and despite himself, Jack felt as chill run up his spine. This voice didn't belong to the sister he knew. He didn't like it all. "I've been by his side for 315 years. And through all of that time, never once has Pitch hurt me in anyway, nor has he ever tried to manipulate me into doing or feeling something I didn't want to. He always let me make my own decisions and if they fell through, he was there for me through the aftermath. He was there, Jack. Maybe it wasn't your fault that you weren't, but it doesn't change the fact that Pitch was. He was there during my childhood and he continued to be there for me after I died and became Jillian St. Valentine. And that is why I love him, Jack. And if that is manipulation, then so be it. But it doesn't change how I feel for him."
"But Jill, he doesn't love you. He can't," Jack said, seemingly pleading with her to see the proverbial light.
"How do you know?" Jillian asked, fiercly. Her voice did not rise however. "You've seen one side of him and you think that that is enough for you to pass judgment on him? On us? Everyone can love, Jack. Deep down inside, everyone has that capability. And I fully believe that Pitch's feelings for me are sincere. We've been a couple for 287 years and never once have I ever doubted his feelings, not after the first time he confessed them to me. Not only because I am a Cupid, but also because I know him and I trust him. I've seen the look in his eyes when we're together and I've felt the tenderness within his touch and his kiss. You can't fake things like that, Jack. And it is easy to tell when someone tries."
Jack shook his head after hearing her words. Somewhere inside, everything she said made sense, but the enmity he held toward Pitch was still too strong. He couldn't accept his sister's relationship with Pitch, he just couldn't.
"Jack," Pitch spoke up. "I know that we are not on the best of terms, and I know that you probably do not wish to listen to a word I say. But hear this: I deeply care for your sister. It is not a trick and I would never try to take away her free will or choice. I will defend it and her with my every breath, even from you. I do not wish to do this, however; it hurts her to be at odds with you and I do not enjoy seeing her in any sort of pain."
Jillian turned back and smiled at her lover. Pitch didn't show his true feelings or any sort of vulnerability to just anyone; it meant a lot to her that he would do so now.
Jack shook his head again. This was too much.
"I can't deal with this right now. I-I'll see you around Jill, if you can ever pull yourself away from your 'Other Half.'"
And with that, Jillian watched her brother walk away from her, her heart sinking with the feeling that this whole thing between her, Pitch, and Jack wasn't even close to being over yet.
AN: Sorry again that this so late guys. And I also apologize if Pitch or Jack is out of character or if Jillian sounded off. I've got to rewatch RotG this weekend, get back into the swing of things. Hopefully I'll get the next update up sooner than I did for this one. -K
