AN: Hey guys, sorry it took so long. This chapter just wasn't coming to me like the others did. Not to mention I got blindsided by the end of my school's trimester and all of the lovely work that came along with it. But here is the long awaited chapter seventeen, even if I'm not totally satisfied with it. But I hope that you enjoy it nonetheless.

Thank you guys so much for your reviews. Quite honestly, those were my biggest motivators in getting this chapter done. This may be weird, but I love each and every one of you and the wonderful things you say. Thank you all. (By the way, this isn't the last chapter, but I did end it without a cliffhanger!) –Kate xoxo

Chapter Seventeen

"Are you sure that you will be alright, love?" Pitch asked as Jillian got ready to leave. "I can come with if you would like."

"Thank you, darling," Jillian said with a small smile. "I'll be fine, though. I've shirked my duties enough lately. I'll be home tonight; don't worry."

Bestowing a kiss upon Pitch's cheek, Jillian walked out of his underground home and set off for Burgess.

It had been about three days since her confrontation with Jack. Jillian had been rather despondent during this time and she had chosen to stay home in an effort to compose herself. The cherubs had done a great job of keeping up with the assignments and Pitch had brought her back to their home and done his best to keep her mind off of Jack's rejection of her. He retold stories of the Dark Ages but it only broke Jillian's heart more, knowing that it was partially her brother's fault that Pitch was once again left out in the cold, no pun intended. Eventually they just relaxed together and enjoyed the break as much as possible.

The night before, however, Jillian finally realized that she could just keep hiding and neglecting her work. As helpful as the cherubs were, it wasn't their responsibility to do her job. So she reluctantly pulled herself out of the sanctuary Pitch provided and prepped herself to face the world again.

There was a cool breeze in the air as she started toward Cupcake's house. She shivered; it was strange for such an icy breeze to be in the air this far into spring. Unless…

Of course. Jack was probably still upset about the whole "Pitch" debacle. If Jillian had needed to take a few days to recover from their fight, surely Jack had also needed to blow off some steam. Not that Bunnymund would allow him to cover Burgess with a blizzard, hence the somewhat tame change in temperature. Still, Jillian felt awful; she and Jack should be making up for the 300 year separation, not hiding from each other due to a disagreement.

Jillian sighed. How could she make this right between them? She hated this ever-growing distance between them, but… she couldn't give up Pitch. Not after 300 years and everything they had gone through together. Pitch needed her and she needed him too. If only there was some way to make Jack see that.

JSVJSVJSVJSV

A few hours later, Jillian had managed to push the Jack situation out of her mind. Her job was more important than that drama at the moment. Especially when it involved two young girls in love with the same equally young boy.

Fortunately, it seemed nothing had gone amiss while she had been on "vacation." The girls' feelings toward Jamie Bennett had increased, but it was only slightly and neither girl had noticed the other's affections toward Jamie, which Jillian thanked her lucky stars for. If the mutual crush was noticed, it could lead the girls down some pretty nasty paths.

Thus Jillian made plans to drop in on the young Bennett sometime soon. She would need to analyze Jamie and his thoughts and feelings about Cupcake and Pippa before she could decide what to do about their little crushes.

Once again, Jillian found herself wandering around Burgess rather absent-mindedly. As much as she tried to think about other things, her mind kept returning to the subject of Jack and Pitch. There had to be some way that they could all get along, that they could all be a family.

Unfortuately, with her head up in the clouds, Jillian didn't see the mass of gray fur in front of her until-.

"Oof."

She fell backward, stumbling slightly before her upper arm was grabbed, keeping her from hitting the ground. Jillian regained her footing before seeing the paw on her arm, following the thin forearm up to a slightly more muscular upper arm and finally resting her eyes on E. Aster Bunnymund's slightly concerned face.

"You okay, there, Jillian?"

"Yeah, I am. Thank you," she replied, a bit confusedly. Didn't Bunnymund gdespise her for her relationship with Pitch?

Her eyes fell on a splash of white and blue beside Bunnymund, widening as they fell upon Jack Frost. Jack met her gaze, his own heavy with unsaid words, before turning his head to the side slightly. Jillian's heart ached at the implication; he didn't even want to look at her, did he?

Bunnymund patted her arm slightly in sympathy; as much as he hated Pitch, after hearing the truth of their relationship, he couldn't quite manage to hate Jillian anymore. After all, a Spirit can't choose their Other Half. Though Bunny had the sneaking suspicion that even if she did have a choice, she would always choose to share her "life" with the Boogeyman.

"So, Bunnymund," Jillian said, finally moving her eyes away from Jack's stiff figure. "What brings you to Burgess so soon after Easter?"

"Your dodgy brother's rotten temper, that's what," Bunny grumbled. "Honestly, if I didn't check up on the blighter he'd probably have frozen poor Burgess solid."

"Oh, I'm sorry about that." Jillian replied a bit uncomfortably. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"You can leave that monster, for a start." Jack finally piped up, still not looking at Jillian.

Jillian frowned before stalking over to Jack. She grabbed his arm and forced him to look at her.

"That isn't going to happen, Jack," she stated firmly. "Not now, not ever. Pitch and I are a package deal, have been for centuries. And this little temper tantrum you are pulling isn't going to change that. Seriously Jack, I understand that you are upset, but you need to try and control it enough so that the people of Burgess don't have to suffer. They don't need to be involved in this. This is between you and me and Pitch."

"No," Jack said, his eyes fierce. "This is between you and me. I don't want anything to do with that fiend."

Jillian reared back slightly at his words. Perhaps he didn't quite realize it, but he had just confirmed one of Jillian's worst fears.

"Jack," Bunnymund warned. "Perhaps you should think about what you are saying. You don't really mean that."

"Yeah, I do, Bunny." Jack stressed. "Pitch is crazy and dangerous, a combination that never works out well. After everything he did, I want nothing to do with him. Absolutely nothing."

"Then you want nothing to do with me, then Jack." Jillian enlightened. "I'm directly tied to Pitch. So thank you for your time Jack, but I'm not going to watch you walk away from me. This time, I'm walking away from you. If you want to talk this out, though, I think you can guess where you will find me."

Once again, Jillian turned away from Jack and left him standing next to Bunnymund in Burgess. She was telling the truth; if he wanted to speak with her, he would have to come and find her in the one place he didn't want to be. Pitch's home. He would eventually come; but in order to do so, he would need to be willing to face Pitch. They would all need to talk it out, one day. Hopefully sooner rather than later.