Sorry I didn't read the reviews after the chapter 4 update. I quickly updated to chapter 5 before seeing your reviews so I could clean out some old files from my computer. Also because I was just too excited and I felt bad since Pitch went through some serious drama with Sadie. Poor thing...

Anyway! Let's continue.

Oh, and don't get your hopes up. ;) The romance will blossom all in good time. Keep in mind that Pitch hasn't truly felt affection like this in a very long time, so get ready for the awkward adorableness of both of them (because Alice is as clumsy and awkward as a baby horse.).

Lullaby that Pitch sings is by Loreena McKennitt, The Mystic's Dream

She came home late that night, worn out and aching. It must have been bustling downtown, judging by how her feet shuffled against the flooring of the house and she tiredly threw her coat on the back of the couch without even bothering to hang it up on the wooden pegs near the kitchen.

She yawned, brushing back some of her hair from her mouth before trudging over to Sadie's room. She must've been planning to gently kiss her goodnight before going to bed herself, but she stopped at the doorway when she saw me sitting on Sadie's bed.

Sadie was fast asleep, cuddling with her lovingly worn teddy bear as I brushed back some hair from the child's face, a song that once was forgotten echoing from my mouth. I didn't know I was singing until Sadie fell asleep.

And so it's there my homage's due

Clutched by the still of the night

And now I feel you move

Every breath is full

So it's there my homage's due

Clutched by the still of the night

Even the distance feels so near

All for the love of you.

Knowing Sadie, I turned on her nightlight, and once the pink light cast its shadow around her room, I got up from her bed and was met with the sight of her beloved sister staring at me, expressionless.

"Can I talk to you privately in my room?" Alice asked, holding back another yawn as she whispered out into the dimness.

"Of course." I slightly bowed before following her back down the hall, past the living room and into her own room.

The walls were cream colored, very different than Sadie's childish theme. Her bed was made with clean sheets and a pure white comforter, looking as soft as a cloud. I've never really had the opportunity to sleep in actual beds like these. I was used to working in the night, following the darkness and the moon. I barely had time to catch up on my own energy. When I did sleep, it was on lounges that were scattered in my lair. On worse days...it would end up with me collapsing to the ground in an unconscious state until my energy was restored...commonly that occurred in forests, but that hasn't happened in a while.

"Hey, Boogie Nights," Alice snapped her fingers in front of my face, "You alive in there?"

I shook my head out of my stupor, blinking widely. "I do apologize. I rarely drift off like that."

Alice nodded understandingly, a small smile on her face. "I've been there loads of times," she looked at her bed I was staring at, "It...it used to be my parents. When they were around I shared Sadie's room. I sold the other twin bed so she could have more play space in her room and to afford more stuff for the house."

"Well, you've done an excellent job in being her guardian." I stated honestly, and she grinned at that.

She stretched her arms, and even I could hear a small pop in her shoulder before she rotated her shoulders to get the other kinks out. "Just doing my duty! Which once in a while pays off, if you know what I mean." she winked.

I smiled, nodding at her comment, "I do. She's a funny one, and it isn't very often I find kids so amusing like her."

"So...there was a reason I wanted to talk to you," she said, sitting down at the edge of her bed and flipping off her shoes to reveal white socks, "Why were you in Sadie's room the first time you two met?"

I sat down next to her once she gave me the slight nod for me to do so. I was slightly unsure on how to really start with that. Sadie was just going to be another stop by for a quick nightmare before going to another kid's house, but things went in a different direction.

"All in all, I was...going to give her a nightmare."

Damn. I sounded guilty as Hell.

To my surprise, Alice only nodded slowly, not looking away from me as if she actually seemed okay with that. "Alright. That makes sense."

"You're...you're not mad?" I was sincerely surprised. I would have suspected her to be furious that I would do that to her baby sister, but she only smiled in her usual friendly manner.

"Not at all. Fear is just a natural part of life. What keeps people from breaking the law? What keeps people safe from harming themselves or others? It's all about learning, right?" she said, shrugging as if it really was no big thing to worry about.

I stared at her, open mouthed at her way of viewing something like that. "Yes...yes, exactly that."

"Here's something else I noticed about that," Alice was definitely more awake now than before, albeit excited, "Since fear kind of protects and is a natural part of life, wouldn't you say you're helping people overcome their fear?"

I raised a brow at her. Wow. This girl is a little nutty, and that was saying something. Nutty or not, I liked her. Nothing could change that. Well, besides if she supported Jack Frost. Then I would make like a tree and leave.

"By giving people nightmares, you're teaching kids to overcome them. So basically you're the Guardian of Courage." she smiled brightly, taking off her beanie and tossing it onto the top of the wooden dresser across from us.

I was truly speechless. Never before has someone said something so bold, so abstract and thoughtful that it left me unable to form words. So many floated around in my head that I wanted to say but could not properly form them like I wished to. But finally something clicked in my brain, probably the kindest thing I would ever say and to this day even I find odd that a being like myself would say it.

I smiled and said softly, "In all my life, no one has ever worded it so beautifully like that. No one would think of fear like that…"

She blushed as she smiled and looked away. I could tell she was feeling bashful at the compliment. "Well, we're all different in mind to some degree."

"Granted, you have a point," I nodded, looking away from her so I wouldn't be caught by her gaze again, "But maybe your mind has more gumption than others…"

She looked up at that word I used, opening her cute little mouth to probably retort at that, but I grinned and cut her off, "And I like gumption."

She blushed a furious red, causing me to snicker. She grinned and gently pushed at my shoulder.

"Get out of here, Pitch. I'll see you in the morning."

I got up and bowed lowly to her, "As you wish, princess."

"Shut up." she murmured, hiding her blush through her hair and hands.

I left them that night to sustain my hunger for fear, without bothering to use them at all. A newfound respect for the both of them was slowly growing in the black pits of my stomach. Maybe this was finally the sense of belonging, a feeling of where I felt wanted. Sadie liked having me around, as did Alice. Sadie had her own reasons, but why her sister? Sure, she says it's for her sister's happiness, but something deep inside was telling me that wasn't just it. I just can't place it, I can't piece it all together.

It's been so long since I've last communicated with a mortal, I think I nearly forgot everything there was to it. I can't remember everything about my mortal life, just dashes of flashing memories. The nightmares won't let me see anymore. Just enough to make me reach out in hope and then make them disappear to remind me who I am now and who I belong to. What I belong to.

Not anymore. I belong to myself. Now that my mind noticed I was alone from the girls, it went on train tracks far beyond what I used to think. If I'm with them now, then doesn't it mean I belong to them?

I never understood the meaning of belongingness. I never really had a place where I was at ease in, where I felt welcomed and safe. That is, until now. Sadie gave me the feeling that I wasn't a monster like everyone says I am, and Alice...

Oh, dear little Alice...making me feel complete.

I angrily kicked a rotting stump in my way as I wandered in a forest somewhere in the Alps, hating these newfound feelings I've never placed before. It's been so long I can't even name the feelings this girl was giving me! I was definitely irritated by it, mostly because I felt trapped. I was unable to give these emotions a name and it wasn't fair, because of all beings a random human had to make me feel them. It could have been just any spirit, any at all, but no. It had to be her.

It's not like I'm complaining about it. She's kind, she doesn't ignore me, she's considerate...and sometimes I find her more addicting to be around than the darkness itself. And that's saying something, my friend.

"Pitch?" a voice whispered out, sounding weak and frail.

I looked up and saw an old spirit acquaintance of mine. Probably the only one I had that shared the same immortal life as mine. Her name was Misery, and looked almost like a twelve year old girl that has never seen sunlight or eaten enough. Her skin was almost blue and was so frail I would always think if a breeze were to pick up she would just crumble to dust. Her limp, dirty hair hung around her narrow face, her wide and fearful black eyes watching me carefully.

"Hello, Misery. Fancy seeing you here." I said, not looking away from her gaze.

Though giving off an innocent, almost pitying look, this spirit was ruthless. She reveled in people's misery, which titled her name. Why Manny allowed her existence I could never know, but I never liked seeing her do her duty around the world, making people utterly miserable and depressed. It was the one time the girl seemed satisfied and at peace. But for the rest of her days she's weak-looking, scared of every movement and quiet. She liked being around me because as she said one morning many centuries ago, 'your misery is far more satisfying than ten mortals combined.'

God, she was like a living zombie.

"Yeah…" she sniffed, her knees knocking together, "I never liked this part of the world. This is where I died."

I rolled my eyes, not amused the slightest. Misery was known to be dramatic in order to gain people's pity and sympathy so she could make them an easier target. I'm no fool. I was fooled once and I was lucky I escaped that. She said that in almost every location she found herself in. Whether it'd be by the beach, in snowy mountains, thick woods, bustling cities or abandoned prairies. Sometimes I didn't like Misery. But I was stuck with her once she found me.

"I was following some campers…" she inserted a quick, sad sigh before giving me begging eyes, "but then I smelled your misery. Something happen?"

"Since when did you care about where one's misery originate?" I asked coldly, taking a step back from this creepy little girl. Maybe she was the reason I didn't feel comfortable around other children.

"It makes my job less boring...and sad," she said, her lower lip trembling as she straightened her tattered, navy blue dress, "Can you tell me? I could help you get rid of it."

I thought about it for a minute. Misery did have it rougher than even I, mostly because almost no one believed in a spirit going around making people feel miserable. She had to do what she had to do, but it was no excuse to her behavior at times. Then again, here I am giving myself a hard time about a girl that I think I'm starting to find attractive...a girl I could never allow myself to have. She was forbidden…

She wouldn't want a monster like me anyways.

"Just get it over with," I sat down on a mossy rock and turned my shoulder away from her, avoiding her dead eyes, "I don't have much time."

"You have a place to be?" she asked, struggling to jump up onto the rock due to her short height. She fidgeted at first in her seat before resting a hand on me, an icy cold feeling stung my shoulder roughly. I bit my lip to keep back a yelp of pain, hissing instead.

"I'm needed elsewhere." was all I could muster up. The feeling of uselessness, loneliness and worthlessness was building up inside me. It made my throat close up and make me unable to say any more words to this menace.

"Odd, since no one wants you." I could just hear her smirk as she took in the misery I had. She sighed happily, and I looked behind to see a rejuvenated Misery.

Her blue hair was curled like a china doll's, her skin a pale white instead of an ivory blue. Her dress was no longer tattered, but ruffled and lacey like she always had it when she was feeling powerful once more. She looked like a skeleton trying to improve her appearance. It made me sick to my stomach that she enjoyed someone else's pain for her own gain….

Who am I to talk.

"A woman, huh? Not just any woman but a human." she giggled, wiping away a tear from her cheek, either from humor or sadness. Probably both.

"Shut up. She's nothing to me. Just a passing thought…" I snapped, leaning away from her and standing up once more. I rolled my shoulder to get out the coldness it had before.

"You know…" I could almost see the curls in her hair slowly shrivel out once more, "I'm not the spirit of lies and deceit, but I think you aren't telling the truth. Aren't I your only friend?"

I growled at her. That snarky little snot! Feeding off other spirits like some spoiled little brat. Her image immediately dissipated into the raggedy form it was before, and she looked terrified. Good. I am the King of Fear, aren't I?

"Who would want to be friends with a freak? If you think I would be friends with someone who uses me for their personal gain, think again. Go crawl under a rock, you filthy waif."

Misery's eyes were instantly filled with salty tears, pouring down her cheeks like streams. Her lower lip shook as she got up from the rock, burying her face in her hands.

"Y-you're so cruel!" she sobbed, "No wonder no one will ever love you!"

With that, she ran off into the darkness of the brambles, her dress tattering even more as she ran away. Her words stung harshly...I couldn't help but cringe as she said that biting remark. She had a very good point…

Who would ever love a monster like me? I'm worth nothing. I was meant to be alone in the darkness, tortured for the wrongs I've done in my life. And I make everything worse…

I found myself disappearing and reappearing in new locations that still had night over in the skies, from France to Italy, Germany to Switzerland, Austria to England. The cooling travel didn't ease my broken soul...it just made me feel more empty inside...more worthless.

I didn't deserve Sadie's caring demeanor and her sister's openness. They were a crutch to me...and yes, I wanted them so much, I wanted to be a part of them and protect them but...I can't allow myself that because I feel I don't deserve that happiness.

So I didn't go back. I stayed away for as long as I could…

And I ended up getting lost.