AN: I'm so sorry, but I'm going to be working overtime for the next week or so, so I thought I'd update before then since I might not get a chance to until after the 4th. Finally, a character from ROTG! Lol. I know this is a crossover, but sometimes it doesn't feel like it. And I'm so sorry that this chapter is crazy short, but I'll try to add more as soon as I can! The good news is that Jamie and maybe Jack will finally make an appearance in the next chapter. Don't hate me! :'(
The little golden form of the Sandman stood glaring at the silver tinged dreams that filled the tiny town. Not a single dream had been spared. Every single sweet dream had been tainted with the sadness. There was no sign of the black fear that Pitch had used to ruin his dreams. Instead longing and loss had sharpened the dreams.
He drifted over the little town, glaring at the tainted dreams. There was only one spirit that had mastered the bittersweet sorrow of needful longing. The Sandman's large golden eyes began searching carefully for any sign of the Wind. Maria was the master of voices that called people back home to the ones that loved them, one of the few spirits that could affect adults as well as children. She was well aware of the dangerous sorrow her voices could cause. She would never let loose like this. She couldn't let loose like this.
He frowned as the first few restless sleepers woke with tears in theirs eyes. Surely the little wind spirit wasn't attacking the small town. He spent the remainder of the night repairing the tainted dreams that plagued Grandview. He stayed until the sun was peeking over the horizon and the Man in the Moon was beckoning him on to the next town. At first he resisted, knowing that the small town was still in trouble. If Maria was still in a fit tomorrow night the Guardians would be forced to act.
Jim seemed slightly morose as Melinda watched him get ready for the day ahead, not that she could say anything. After the disturbing dream of the Overland boy's tragic death she had barely drifted off to sleep only to enjoy painfully sweet dreams about her childhood, and she had a sneaky suspicion that she wasn't the only one. Though she had pretended not to notice, she knew Jim had woken up crying.
He frowned to himself as he watched the coffee slowly drip into the pot, the rich dark aroma filling their little kitchen. "Whatchya thinkin' about?" She asked playfully, trying to draw him out of his melancholy.
For a moment he was quiet, just watching the pot. Then he sighed. "I was thinking about Dan." He shrugged. "Just wondering where he'd be now, what he'd be doing. That sort of thing."
With a sad smile Melinda moved to hug him from behind. "You know he's in a better place."
"I know." Her husband agreed. "I just miss him."
"I know how you feel." She smiled sadly as he turned to share the embrace. "I dreamed about my Grandmother after I went back to sleep."
"I'm sorry." He sighed.
"Don't be." She chided gently. "It was a good dream."
Before he could respond the coffee pot burbled its completion and he released his hold on her. Grabbing the silver travel mug he liked to take to work, he filled it quickly. "Do you want to do something for lunch?" he asked as he threw his bag over his shoulder.
"Sure!" She agreed brightly. "Just pick me up when you get a break."
"Will do!" he smiled. With a quick kiss he was gone.
Delia was waiting for her as she pulled up to the shop, a small smile on her lips as she watched the people milling about the square. "Hey!" Melinda called as she got out of the car.
"Hey, yourself." The older woman greeted as Melinda approached. "I have coffee." She said, holding up two paper cups from the Village Java.
"Yay." Melinda laughed, unlocking the doors to the shop. "Coffee is always welcome."
"Did you find anything out about the locket?" Delia asked as she followed her friend inside.
"Well," the younger woman hedged as she set her things down on the counter. "I think I may have found the original owner. And I'm pretty sure I know who the boys in the paintings are."
"Do tell?" The taller woman asked teasingly, handing the Melinda a coffee and taking a sip of her own.
Melinda accepted the drink, tasting it before answering. "Oh, yum. I think it belonged to a Puritan woman. Her name was Ellen." She said softly. "From what I can find I think it was a gift from her husband after their son died."
"That's kind of sad." Delia frowned. "So is the son the boy in the picture?"
"The older one." Melinda nodded. "I think." She clarified. "Ellen passed the locket down to her daughter, so I think the other two boys are the daughter's twins."
"That would make sense." Delia agreed.
"I'm not a hundred percent sure yet." Melinda cautioned her. "I'm planning on heading up to Burgess to do some more digging this weekend."
"Burgess?"
"It's where the family lived." She explained. "Do you wanna come? You could bring Ned?"
"Are you sure?" Delia asked, trying to hide her eagerness.
"Yeah." The younger woman smiled. "It'll be fun!"
"Okay, if you're sure. Ned and I could probably use a little break." She said with an expression Melinda wasn't used to seeing on the optimistic woman.
"Uh-oh. What's wrong?" She asked kindly.
"Nothing's wrong." Delia said quickly. "It's just… Ned and I both dreamed about Charlie last night. It just left us feeling a bit…"
"Wistful?" Melinda supplied. At the other's nod she smiled in understanding. "Yeah, us too." She confessed. Then she backtracked at Delia's startled look. "Oh, not about Charlie! Jim was dreaming about his brother, Dan, and I spent the night thinking about my Grandmother."
"Weird." Delia mused. "You're the third person besides Ned to tell me that they were thinking about lost loved ones today. It's odd."
"Yeah." The young woman frowned. "That is odd."
"Well," her friend shrugged with her more usual cheerful smile. "I guess we'll see you this weekend! Where should we meet you?"