I honestly have to say, I thought this would be the end. You know, like Pitch slowly coming to love the girls, learns to accept parts of him that weren't there before, even the Guardians helping him and he earns his right as a human. I know you guys don't like it when a story ends (who does?) so for a long time I was thinking of a really big brainstorm to continue it, to give it a giant kick. That's why it took so long to post this chapter.

Now that I know where the story will be going (at least in general), I'll try keeping to an upload-a-week minimum, but don't put my words into stone. I still have final projects in school.

I'd like to thank the idiot Boogeyman who gave me a nightmare a couple nights ago for the inspiration that'll be coming. Though I clearly established a 'no nightmare' policy because I'm on his side, he did help me pass a roadblock.

Anyway! Enough talking, let's get to it.

Chapter 25

Human.

I am...human. I woke up to that thought echoing in my mind. Human. I forgot what it all felt like, not being immortal. I could feel sensations that I hadn't as a spirit, like temperatures and heart beats. I would sweat when hot and shiver when cold. My tongue would feel dry when thirsty and my stomach rumbled when I was hungry.

Experiencing hunger for me was the strangest thing of all. As a spirit, we ate food just for the pleasure of flavors. There was no need for sustenance, but it was something we didn't want to give up. It made us feel human. Now I had to eat in order to survive.

When I woke up that morning, my stomach felt like it was concaving. The rumbling woke me up along with a weird sensation, triggering my brain to think of any type of food in existence. That...excited me. It was a feeling I never experienced as a spirit, and this was the first time my body acted like a human's. I thoroughly enjoyed the sensations of being alive, and not...cold and empty.

I noticed Alice was missing from her spot in the bed, her imprint still pressed against the pillow. Immediately I rolled onto it and smelled it, noticing her scent still was woven between the threads. Smells were stronger as a human, too. Oh God above, I'm going to enjoy being a human!

I finally urged myself to roll out of bed and pull on a shirt before making my way down to the kitchen. The lights were on in the hallway, and I heard a bustling of breakfast preparations and clinking of utensils that indicated Sadie and Alice were up. Sure enough, by the time I rounded the corner I saw Sadie making herself a bowl of rainbow colored cereal and Alice frying three eggs in a black pan, sizzling and letting the smell fill my nose.

Sadie looked up at my entrance and grinned, "Hey, Pitch. How's it feel being a human now?"

"I enjoy it thoroughly. I...I actually feel hungry," I pressed my hand against my stomach, hoping pressure would stop the emptiness that growled inside, "I forgot how uncomfortable it feels."

"You're lucky, cause your eggs are ready," Alice said as she flawlessly flipped two onto a spare plate that had dark toast already lying on it, butter and strawberry jam already on it.

I kissed her cheek and whispered thanks in her ear, making her shiver and grin back at me. For the rest of breakfast Sadie almost chatted my ears off with what she's been studying in school, which to be quite honest interested me a lot, especially her world history classes. If anything the Roman Empire, the unit she's studying now, was the closest thing to the Golden Age I was in, at least in war relations. She seemed pretty interested enough. Sadie was so deep into telling what she learned, she almost missed the bus for school, that's how much I know she's a history buff like I was.

"Sadie's pretty excited about you being human." Alice stated as she sat next to me, finishing her cup of tea.

"She is?"

"Of course she is," Alice beamed over the rim of her mug, "She nearly missed the bus because of it. When she gets excited she talks a lot. Even if it isn't relating to something she's excited about, I could tell by her eyes that she's happy you're here."

I felt a smile tug at the corner of my lips as my hand touched Alice's hand that rested on the table. Her fingers weaved with mine, playing. I brought her hand to my chest, right above my heart. She looked up at me, confused, her mouth parted in question.

"Pitch?"

I smiled up at her, letting her feel my heartbeat. "Can you feel it? It's actually there…"

She softly smiled as she put down her cup, watching her fingers press deeper into my chest to feel the heart beat. It throbbed at her touch sharper than before. She lightly laughed and pulled away, "I've never seen someone so fascinated with their own heartbeat before. It's kinda cute."

I smirked at her, raising a brow, "You're not going to get used to calling me Koz, are you?"

"It'll take a while," she waved off that idea, "I can adapt. Sadie on the other hand might take a while."

I rolled my eyes, "Way to throw your sister under the bus."

"Hey, I was not!"

Laughing as a human felt different than when I was a spirit as well. Somehow it made me feel oddly lighter, like it somehow gave me both amusement and happiness all in one package. Later that day when I was cutting up fruit to help Alice with lunch I accidentally nicked my index finger, and I was amazed at seeing the blood bead up and slowly fall onto the wooden countertop. It was so dark...and it hurt. Somehow my heartbeat began thumping right in my finger, and Alice hurriedly put it under cold water and put pressure on it to make it stop. Despite having the humility of wearing a pink band-aid, it was odd seeing that I actually had blood. I realized then I never bled when I was a spirit, not even when I was slashed at by North's blades or punched directly in the nose by Bunny or even when I fell from that great height of a building that Sandy threw me off of. I never bled. Pain, yes. Broken, sprained or bruised bones? Yes. But blood? Never.

I'm human now...but a part of me misses the spirit form I once had proudly. Mostly the power I wielded-which wasn't very much, mind you, but still something-and that I instantly healed when injured. But the new cut on my finger took days for it to finally heal, at least a week.

Alice knew I missed some parts of being a spirit. Maybe because I exuded that thought when she would teach me things I needed to know in the adult world like how to vote and what a bank account does and why I need a job...401(k)'s are still confusing as hell.

I was learning, trying to adapt into the human world and blend in as much as I could. I know a lot of people would hate that, trying to become something they previously weren't, but I honestly enjoyed it. I loved learning more of the human world. Before, I didn't care much for it, but now that Alice and Sadie have opened my eyes to their lifestyle, that I was now involved in it, made it the utmost importance to me.

In fact, I was given the ultimate test of 'blending in' when Alice's work friend and her husband and son stopped by for a surprise visit that one fateful Sunday.

Right when the doorbell chimed, Sadie immediately ran for the door like she always does. Alice and I sat in the living room flipping through books on insurance that utterly bored the hell out of me, and hearing Sadie's chipper voice talking to someone that didn't know my existence scared the living daylights out of me.

"Oh, hi Mr. and Mrs. Nicholls! Hi, Cassius!"

"Hello, Sadie," a voice almost matching Sadie's cheerful one greeted back, "Is your sister home?"

Alice glanced at me, knowing I wasn't prepared for actual communication at this stage where I was. How was I supposed to act?! Knowing Sadie and Alice, they also might slip and call me Pitch by accident. We agreed that in the presence of other people, we would call myself Koz or Kozmotis, the old name I used to have. But it's so hard to adapt to that after millenias of hearing just 'Pitch Black'. Not even a combo would work, and that was actually my idea. My behavior, even the way I walked would probably make people realize that I wasn't human entirely like they've been since the day they were born. I'll definitely screw up. If they bring up anything relating to things I haven't yet learned with Alice I'm doomed.

I tried jumping up and running towards Alice's room, but Alice sprang up as well and tugged the back of my shirt so I was forced to stand next to her. Just as the visitors' eyes cast towards our direction, Alice elbowed me in the rib to smile, so I did.

The five year old boy started crying.

Great. Just what I needed. First fishy thing to happen is that a child is in utter fear of me he starts sobbing. Looks like I retained some Boogeyman material afterall.

"Hi, Emma! Hi, Tom!" Alice hugged each of them and tried getting a high five from their son, but he was too busy wiping his tears with his father's shirt and whimpering.

"This is odd," Emma glanced at Cassius with a curious brow, "Cas never cried in public before."

"Sorry…" I mutter, glad they didn't hear me. Truly, I was.

"You must be Alice's boyfriend!" Emma beamed at me, her brown eyes shining. Her husband grinned as well, nodding to show respect. I nodded back, not really sure what to say.

"I can't believe after so many years this is the first time we meet," Tom grabbed my hand and shook it tightly, "I'm Thomas, and you're?"

"Pit-uh...Koz. Kozmotis Black." I stammered, almost tripping up. I wished I smiled, but maybe it was good I didn't so the kid wouldn't cry again.

I saw Alice release a sigh of relief and Sadie grin in success. Good! Introductions are down and covered, now we don't have to worry about it again. God, this is going to take a while…

The kid stopped crying after a couple of minutes, and afterwards would not stop staring at me. His blue eyes were wide like gumballs, and I couldn't tell if it was because of fear or amazement. I lost the ability to sense fear like I did before. I hated that. But nonetheless, I ignored the staring of Cassius and tried making small talk with Emma and Tom. They were nice people, don't get me wrong. If I was human for a longer amount of time maybe I would be more comfortable talking with them and acting like a human being, but...Emma kept making glances at me.

They were glances that held a story, kind of like the way Alice would drift off into her mind and focus on the memories of her parents. But Emma's glances...they looked questioning. Like she was trying to figure me out with just one little look.

The man named Tom was kind enough to keep me busy talking with him to ignore the incessant chatter and clamor of his son and Sadie goofing off around the house and playing with her old toys. I had to give it to him, he knew how to make someone feel less on the spot. I didn't feel as scrutinized as Emma was making me feel.

"So do you live around here, Koz?" he asked, folding his arms.

I nodded, "I just moved in with Alice lately. Though it was time for a stronger commitment than living on my own."

He laughed at that and winked, "The strongest commitment is marriage, my friend. Trust me, I would know," he grinned at Emma, who was laughing at something Alice said, "I dated Emma for such a long time I could see she was getting impatient."

I smirked at that, glancing at Alice in turn, "Sounds like something Alice would do, too."

"I don't doubt it. You thinking about it, though?" he looked at me, though posing a serious question he seemed rather lighthearted about it.

A moment must've passed. It wasn't because I was thinking of reasons why I would love to marry her...more like daydreams of what a married life would be like with Alice. I finally smiled at Tom, "...Yeah. I've been thinking about it a lot."

"Cool," he nodded, "Might want to act on it fast, though. You have any idea when?"

"Mm...when she's ready. Probably when we get enough money to buy a bigger house. She's been talking about that lately." I glanced at my shoes, knowing it could take another couple years for Alice to even consider buying a new home.

"What's wrong with this one?" Tom looked at the kitchen and then the hallway, "If you guys were selling this, Emma and I would buy it in a heartbeat. It's really cozy."

"Yeah, but...she's got her reasons. It's a little run down, too." I glanced at him, who nodded in return in understanding.

"Sure, but nothing like a little maintenance couldn't fix. When I was little my parents-"

But the more Tom talked, my ears tuned in to Alice and Emma's conversation. I still nodded in a pattern and looked at Tom as he talked to show I was listening, but I could hear Alice whisper, "You okay, Emma? You look a little….pensive."

"I'm fine," Emma paused, probably glancing at me again, "It's just...something about your boyfriend is weird."

"Weird? How?" Alice sounded nervous. That was when I glanced at her, and she stared back.

She knew I was listening in. I haven't lost all my abilities.

Emma shrugged, looking back at Alice, "I don't know. I feel like somehow I know him from somewhere, but I can't place it. Like...like childhood or something."

That made me panic. I must've made a sudden movement because Tom rested a hand on my shoulder and asked, "You okay, buddy? You look a little pale."

I've given so many nightmares to children in the past. Almost every single child known in the planet. If Emma was one of those few children that was able to sneak a glance before they fell asleep or saw me leave after they woke up from fright, I'm dead. I wouldn't know what to do or say...or what Emma would even do or say. Hell, not even Alice. Tom would definitely be shocked into silence, and probably think Emma was talking nonsense.

But the rest of the visit went well, and Emma soon forgot about thinking she knew me from somewhere. Tom and I ended up being acquaintances, a person I would definitely remember and want to see from time to time. By the time they left, Cassius was less afraid of me, but still wouldn't breathe a word when my presence was near. He would just stare in awe...probably wondering why I was human and not hiding under his bed.

"Thank you so much for visiting, Emma, Tom," Alice bidded as they left into the open, night air.

"It was a pleasure, thank you in return for letting us stay a little longer." Emma smiled at us, and I bowed my head in return.

Tom squinted up at the night sky, "I say, the wind is awfully chilly tonight. I thought it was supposed to be warm?"

I looked up, noting the moon was a sinister shade of grey instead of its milky white. The wind was colder as well...something about the night ran a chill up my spine.

That scared me...I have not felt this chill in such a long time.

"I bet the weatherman screwed up again," Emma rolled her eyes before turning to Cassius in her arms, "Say goodbye, Cas, we're going home now."

Cassius blinked at Alice and I before waving a tiny hand at us, "Bye bye, Boogeyman." he said softly.

I heard Alice gasp, and I sucked in a breath. Even though Emma scolded Cassius for calling me that before they left, Alice was pretty shaken up by that. I guess children could still see...that part of me. Though that moment was almost an identity breach, it wasn't something we could worry about. I didn't see it as fitting to fret over, since now the deed was done and I had a pulse, a breath and a heart beating once more. We could easily brush it off as nonsense of children…

...Even if it wasn't.

Deep down, Alice knew the Boogeyman was a part of me. I may have been returned to the body I once had before the time of darkness and nightmares, but I felt like a part of me was missing. I was still the man that enjoyed the darkness, that found peace when it was just the silence of night and found comfort in the nightmares that others had. It made me feel not alone. Now that they're gone, what could replace it?

Alice's hand gently touched my arm, getting my attention. I glanced from her, smiled and then back at the sky.

"You've been standing there for a while. Is everything okay?" she asked, her hand slipping down to hold my wrist.

"Yeah…" I stared at the moon, "For now."

"For now?"

I shook my head and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, closing the door after us. "Something's going to happen. If humans like Emma and Tom can feel it in the air...it's going to be soon."

Alice watched me as I locked the door and slid the bolt shut, making sure no one could leave or enter for the night. The only lights on now were in the kitchen, the bathroom across from Sadie's room and the hallway where Alice's room lay. Night was upon us, along with something else I wasn't sure of.

"You know what it is?" Alice seemed pretty serious.

I shook my head again. "No. Besides," I smiled at her, "We're under the protection of the Guardians along with myself. It was their promise to you and Sadie, as well as me. They owe us that much."

Alice grinned at that, and then tugged on my arm like a naive child. "Come to bed, Pitch. Keep telling me your promises."

I laughed at that, and then followed her to her room, unbuttoning my shirt.

Little did I know, something lurked outside. It watched us. It heard the promise the Guardians kept as well as the one I made, watching through the window while hidden in the forest.

With a smirk, she disappeared into the mist of the forest…

Seeking the revenge she promised on my family.