AN: Hey everyone! Here's chapter eighteen. I'm getting really sad; we've only got like 5-6 more chapters left. But I guess that is what the sequel is for. :) Thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter. And a really big thank you to Solmea, for giving this story its 100th review! You are all amazing people and this story wouldn't have survived without you. – Kate xoxo
Chapter Eighteen
Jill walked back home with Pitch giggling. It appeared that the fearlings really liked her, if the way they had tried to stop her from leaving was any indication. They had been adamant that she stay, a Nightmare or two even pulling on her dress as she tried to walk out the door. In the end, she'd had to promise to return the next day so that she could hurry home. Her father would be cross indeed if she was late for dinner.
The thirteen year old and her unseen friend reached her home with fifteen minutes to spare, still snickering about the Nightmares. But their joy quickly dissipated as they saw Jill's father waiting at the door to their house, a stern expression on his face.
Jill waked forward, nervously. Surely he wasn't going to scold her? She had been above reproach since their last little discussion about marriage and "growing up." She always returned home at a decent hour and had not breathed a word about Pitch to anyone, let alone within the vicinity of her father. To really get the overbearing man off of her case, she had even "apologized" to Davy for getting him in trouble all those years ago due to her "fantasy" of a Nightmare King. Pitch had been beside her, trying not to laugh as Jill really hammed it up for the dark haired boy.
So there was no reason that Jill could think of for her father to be looking so sternly at her. Unless he had somehow figured out that she hadn't let go of her Boogeyman "fancy" as much as she had let on.
"Jill, go and clean yourself up, girl," her father ordered when she and Pitch reached the door. "We've been invited to dine with some fairly important people tonight, so put on your new dress, the lovely red one. And for heaven's sake, do something with your hair, you hear?"
"Yes, Papa," she replied, politely. "But why do I need to wear my new dress? Who are these important people?"
Her father's expression shifted in a way that Jill couldn't properly describe. She slipped her hand into Pitch's subtly and he squeezed it gently, giving her the silent support she needed in that moment.
"Jill, my girl, we are going to dine with people who will soon become family to us. To you especially. Hurry up and get ready, for I have found you a husband and tonight you shall meet the young lad."
Jill's world stopped turning and she felt as though the only thing holding her steady was the comforting pressure of Pitch's slightly tightened grip.
JSVJSVJSVJSVJSV
A few hours later saw Jill in her room back home, still wearing the red gown. Her chestnut hair was piled high atop her head in a somewhat fashionable style. She looked incredibly lovely and grown up. Until you saw her face.
Tears were streaming down her cheeks without an end in sight. Pitch and Sandy watched from the door as Jill placed her head in her hands. They hesitated but eventually moved to sit beside their favourite girl.
"Jill, sweetie," Pitch crooned, taking her right hand, as Sandy took her left. "What happened?"
"He-he's horrible!" Jill cried. "I don't know what my father was th-thinking?"
Sandy and Pitch exchanged a look before their hands tightened on Jill's.
"Did he hurt you?" Pitch's voice was dark and Sandy looked a little less adorable.
"N-no," Jill assured, wiping away the tears. "But he might as well have. He's an absolute boor. He is already going on about how I am his wife and that any other man should stay away. And then he went on about how he is taking me to Charlottesville because he is not going to spend his life here and as his wife I have to do as he pleases! I can already tell this is going to be a horrible marriage. And there's nothing I can do to get out of it!"
Her tears renewed and Pitch and Sandy's faces fell. All they could do is hug the still young girl and hope things would turn out in the end.
