Aah, now this is one of my favorite chapters! Mostly the ending because I know some people will burst into happy confetti, hopefully. No spoilers! *pops popcorn into mouth* This'll be good. Enjoy!

Chapter 29

Back to Pitch's POV

"Pitch, calm down. Sandy told us she's coming back. It'll be okay."

You know, for someone who is just as worried like I was and worked herself sick with anxiety and stress, she's one to talk. I don't kid around when I say she worried herself sick, she really did become ill from stress of her sister almost dying and having difficulty facing the facts that her sister would be...well, not mortal.

Not mortal.

That hurt. That hurt like a bee sting. I gave up my spirit form for them and Sadie had to be given it in order to live. Does that not defeat the purpose of my choice? No, I can't do that to her. She had no say in it nor did we want her to die, we're both happy she's alive. It wasn't something we planned on. Maybe...Maybe the Elders could help us once more. They normally don't assist spirits in cases like this but maybe with an exception-

"I see that thinking face, Pitch. Stop." Alice murmured, sitting up from her seat in the couch.

I looked over at her, scowling. I hated it when she caught me in those thoughts. She knew me too well. Not like I was bugged by it, but that she wouldn't allow me to talk about it until Sadie came back. She had every right to hear, Alice said. Yes. Yes, I know.

She looked so tired, so fragile sitting there. It broke my heart just seeing her so weak and pale from sickness. Despite it being just the flu, the stress wasn't making it any better. Work was putting a lot of weight on her as well, and she had the obligation that if she was at home, she must work at home. That infuriated me. They're going to work my princess to death.

"Do you want any more tea, love?" I asked, about to head towards the kitchen once more.

She groaned and her neck became lax against the back of the couch. "No way. I swear, if I touch another drop of tea I'll puke. That's all you've allowed me to drink."

"But tea has herbs that can help you-" I started.

Alice got up and came over to me, her eyes big like a begging puppy. I knew she wanted an embrace, and she knew fairly well I wasn't one to deny one for her. She rested her head against my shoulder as I rubbed her back, kissing her cheek. I didn't care if she was ill. Even if I caught her flu, I would not care one bit. Nothing's worse than what she's dealing with...the fear of losing her sister and not knowing what to do for the future.

"Why did this have to happen…" she murmured, and I could tell by the waver in her voice she was going to start crying.

Hushing her, I pulled her closer so she was flush against my chest, and she buried her face in my chest and starting shaking with tears.

"Sadie's alive. That's all that matters. Sandy protected her like he promised, and we saved her. You did what you had to do. Shh…"

Little did I know that outside Sandy and Sadie were standing outside and watching us from the backyard. Sandy looked over at her and raised a brow, curious as to why Sadie was grinning. He knew that smile. That was the smile of a planning prankster.

"Let's trick them into thinking I'm a mute like you now." Sadie giggled at him.

Sandy felt his mouth open and then teasingly shook a finger in mock ridicule. Sadie laughed.

"Aw, why not? It'll lighten the mood and it'll be funny, now that I know how to use the dreamsand!"

Sandy rolled his eyes before finally shrugging, his way of saying, Oh, why not...just don't go too far.

Alice and I immediately whipped around when we heard the sliding glass door open and close, and saw both Sadie and Sandy smiling as they entered in, as if they were coming home like any other night.

There was about a four second moment of silence before Alice cried out in glee before attacking her sister with a hug, and Sandy floated out of the way, giggling as Sadie pretended to be absolutely disgusted since her sister was sick with the flu.

"Oh Sadie, my baby sister! Are you okay? I was worried sick about you and Pitch was just as worried and-"

"Good God, what the heck are you wearing?" I asked, looking at her harem pants.

Everything she wore was literally gold, just like Sandy's clothes. I shot him a look, and he innocently looked at his fingers and a musical note floated from his lips, as if he was whistling nonchalantly.

I looked over in time to see Alice's mouth drop as Sadie mouthed words along with the floating images above her head, and immediately mimicked Alice's shock. She...she had no voice? No...it can't be.

She looked over at me and grinned, and Alice looked absolutely shaken.

Just as Alice's chin was about to quiver with another cry, Sadie burst into peals of laughter, having to bend over and clutch at her stomach from the full-on force of her guffaws. Even Sandy was rolling around on the floor in silent giggles, trying to cover his mouth so I wouldn't notice and have the urge to step on his face.

Alice frowned, her eyes gleaming with annoyance, "Oh, you think that's funny?!"

"It was a pretty good prank!" Sadie chuckled, winking at her sister.

Alice folded her arms and looked away, trying to fight of a relieved smile. Sadie saw her struggle immediately and wrapped her in a hug, still trying to fight off the urge to snort along with her laughter.

I rolled my eyes at Sandy, "Glad you're finding amusement to making your sister worry herself to death."

But then again, despite acting like I wasn't okay with Sadie's little trick, it certainly was welcoming seeing her being tightly hugged by her sister, gasping for air and silently begging me to pry her off. I chuckled, and when Sadie tapped the top of Alice's head, she finally released her little sister.

"So...is this gonna be you from now on? You know, being a spirit and everything?" Alice dropped the question that was on everyone's mind.

Sandy suddenly stopped his merry laughter to look at Sadie with sad eyes. That told me even he didn't know what could be done. I knew that since Sadie was half spirit she could still be seen and possibly continue her studies in school, but...knowing Sadie she would want to be with Sandman. At this point, it was all her call. Not mine, not Alice's and not Sandman's either.

Sadie shrugged, "I thought...well, while I was resting and Sandy was taking care of me, I thought maybe...maybe I could enjoy it for a while? But after maybe a few weeks or something I would want to return to being human."

Alice and I shared a look before returning our gaze to Sadie. Alice slowly released her and sat back down on the couch, looking at me for a response.

"Pitch, you know this sort of stuff. Is that possible?"

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Ashamed, I looked away. Sandy didn't even know, and he was almost as old as I was in the spirit world. What were we to do? If Sadie truly wished to return to her human life, she had every right to...didn't she?

"My first bet is to talk with the Elders. They would know what to do, but I highly doubt they would want to help."

"Aren't they obligated to?" Sadie asked, sitting next to her sister and holding her hand, "I mean, they're the Elders. That's kind of an important role."

"It may be, but that doesn't make them act like a form of government you're used to. It's all based on the judgement of Man in Moon, along with theirs." I gruffly responded, folding my arms.

There was a silence between the four of us. Not a cold one, but one of confusion. One of questions. Was that our plan? Go to the Elders and ask for a reverse spell or something of the matter? I thought it was our best bet, and Sandy fully agreed with me, as well.

Speaking of the sandbag, he floated over in front of me with a confident smile that made my stomach turn sour. Cheeriness...blech.

I think it's worth a shot. Sandy looked completely for the idea.

Sadie grinned at him, one of admire. I smirked at that. Haha...petty teenage crushes.

"I agree with him." Alice said, looking at me once more.

"Me too!" Sadie beamed, "But after I've enjoyed it. I want this to last for a week. It might be fun being a spirit!"

Everyone watched me, waiting for my decision, the final opinion. They all wore too eager faces. Alice's face was both pure happiness and hope, and I could tell she was feeling less ill and a little bit healthier now that Sadie was back.

With a sigh, I nodded and gave a lopsided smile, "Sure, why not?"

Sadie cheered and gave a fist pump, and Alice stood up and kissed my cheek gently, quickly as to not gross out Sadie.

So that's how it was from then. We allowed Sadie a week to enjoy spirithood, no more and no less. Alice did give a good reason behind it as Sadie is still in school, and could be pretending she's sick with some bug or something. I told her to work on it sounding convincing, to which she responded with, 'Trust me, I'm an expert in fake sick days.'

That day we made the decision was precisely Sunday, and it was by Tuesday night that I saw how much Sandy really meant to Sadie at her age, and how maybe she was connecting with the world and becoming more balanced through her spirithood.

It was a warm night, not a cloud in the sky so the stars could shine their brightest. The moon was halfway full, but the brightness was enough to light up the night in a white glow against the wavering trees and grass. Sadie was floating on a dream-cloud, close to the ground as to prevent a haphazard fall but high enough to get the full view of the stars above. Sandy sat next to her, sending his dreams into the night for the children of the town to enjoy. They looked pretty happy together...

I hated to admit it, but Sandy's dreamsand was beautifully bittersweet. I may not like them from personal experience...or maybe it was because I was around him too much. Yes, definitely that. I was around the sandbag too much.

"Hey, Pitch?" I heard Sadie's voice shake me from my thoughts.

The young lady stood in front of me now, no longer up in the sky and enjoying the sight of the stars. She looked...guilty, like a kicked puppy. I have no idea why she looked like such a state, but it definitely caught my attention.

I raised a brow, "What's wrong?"

Sadie mumbled something and looked at her toes, wiggling them in the grass. I craned my neck forward to hear better, but couldn't tell what she said.

"What was that?"

"I said, I'm really sorry I put you guys through this." Sadie said a little bit louder, but her voice wavered a bit.

Oh! Oh...Oh God no. No. She can't do this to herself. No, no, I've done it to myself for years and there's no way I'm allowing this child to be burdened with that.

"Don't you dare start blaming yourself, Sadie, it wasn't your fault." I said firmly, touching her shoulder.

She looked up with those big blue eyes of hers that never will stop reminding me of the nine year old I met many years ago, "But...if I wasn't outside, I wouldn't-"

"You wouldn't be alive. Sadie, you can't do that to yourself. Misery is at fault, not you. Never you, sweetheart."

Sadie whimpered and looked down at her toes again. Hushing her I took her in for a hug. I knew she needed that. She immediately wrapped her arms around my waist and sniffed back tears against my chest, shivering from sadness and the wind chill.

"You are one of the kindest and open minded people I ever met, Sadie. You strongly believe there's a good in everyone, and I admire that. You saw something in Misery...didn't you? That's why you were with her?"

Sadie hesitated for a moment before nodding. She pulled back and wiped at her eyes stubbornly before taking a shaky breath. "I... I know she was an evil spirit. There was no point in helping her, cause she was so sucked into the misery of others. But...maybe that's what made me feel bad for her. She's so used to other's people's misfortune, and nothing else. That's a sad life. Something told me she came from a bad place, so all she knew was of badness...you know?" she looked up at me.

Though not entirely agreeing with her, I nodded anyways. I didn't see the point of telling her the damages Misery did, it would probably only strengthen her to pity her. She didn't need that pressure.

"I saw that in you, too."

That surprised me. "You...you did?"

She nodded, "Even before I met you and Sandy told me everything about you, I felt like I knew what you were going through. What Sandy told me when I was eight just made me want to meet you even more, because...well...I don't know."

I grinned, "Because you have a huge amount of empathy, and your biggest talent is helping those and being there for those. Am I correct?"

Sadie gave a slight laugh before nodding shyly, "Yeah, I guess. I guess so!"

"That's what I thought." I chuckled, enveloping her in another hug.

I looked up at the dreamcloud and saw Sandy beaming at us. Once I willed a smirk back, he resumed his dream casting, peacefully closing his eyes in the bliss of the silent night besides the rustling of the leaves.

That reminds me. Speaking of bliss, I need Sadie's help with something.

"Would uh, would you mind assisting me with something?" I asked her, making sure Sandy wouldn't overhear me.

She shrugged, "Sure. What's the dealio?"

I took a big breath in and exhaled, looking back into the house to make sure Alice wasn't in the kitchen or the sitting room. For a second, I caught a glimpse of her taking a folder from the kitchen table, flipping through it before clicking her tongue and making her way to her room, probably to where her laptop lay for her work.

I turned back to Sadie, knowing there's no turning back. I was alright with it. Absolutely fine.

"How should I ask your sister to marry me?"