Flora was excited to go to Burgess. Sure she's been there plenty of times way before the settlers first came. But this was going to be the first time to see her soon to be brother, even if he doesn't see her. Mother had told them of her plan to appoint her uncle the position of Winter when he gets older. It would be nice to have someone new added to their small family, especially after Old Man Winter's death five centuries.

Flora smiled as East Wind gently carried her through the air. She giggled at Wind's playful manner. She loved spring.

Mother Nature is going to join us, East Wind whispered as they flew over a forest.

"Oh?" Flora look slightly confused. Why would Mother want to join her on her runs? "Mother is more than welcome to join us. Although I have a feeling she has an agenda then coming to join me spread spring."

East wind giggled as she swirled around Flora. The child. The child. She wants to see the child again.

Flora laughed along with her friend. Mother wasn't the only one.

Pitch wasn't that surprised to see his daughter. In fact he had a feeling that she was the reason he hadn't seen the Guardians.

"Morning father," she greeted as she landed on the flower covered ground of the forest.

"Morning," he greeted with a smile. "You just missed your Head of Spring. She just went to tend some flowers and trees that needed blooming."

"Oh, I'll catch up to her soon enough," Emily said in dismissal. "How's Jackson?"

"Okay." Pitch leaned against a tree. "He hasn't had any of those dreams that Sanderson usually sends." He raised his nonexistent brow. "In fact I haven't seen them in over a month now, neither have my Nightmares. You wouldn't happen to visit them by any chance, have you?"

Emily flushed slightly. She began laughing, twirling her hair around her finger in a nervous matter. "I may have threaten them and allowed the Winds to create five magical blizzards around the workshop."

Pitch smirked at his daughter. She was just as bad as him. "I'm assuming you left one of your enchanted flowers to neutralize all magic."

"Of course," she said as she walked on one of the paths that would take them to the cottage. "It's in the Globe Room. The only way they will be able to get out is if they find it. But that could be a very months."

Pitch shook his head in amusement. That explained why some lights went out. Although Toothiana and Sanderson are the ones that are in trouble since they work everyday. The Guardians must be regretting their actions now. Oh Pitch was loving this.

Pitch walked next to his daughter as they exited the forest. Emily gave him a confused frown when he walked passed the cottage.

"Father where are you going?"

Pitch stopped walking and turned slightly to her. "The children are not at home. They are just over the hill," he said as he gestured to the hill that was slightly covered by the forest.

"Why would they be over there?" she asked in bewilderment.

"Apparently it's Mothering Day," Pitch said as they resumed walking.

"Oh, yes. I vaguely remember that holiday. That's today?" Emily asked. Was Mothering Day really today? Was she really that distracted to forget the day dedicated to her and mothers?

"Yes, that's day." Pitch wasn't surprised that his daughter forgot. She usually doesn't pay attention to holidays, especially when she's busy with keeping the balance.

The two walked in silence as they made their way through the forest. At the end of the clearing and just over the hill was a small Indian Tribe. Pitch had wondered how Jackson managed to befriend the Indians, especially since the settlers don't seem that accepting of them.

Pitch glanced at his daughter and noticed the slightly confused look on her features. Pitch shrugged when she gave him a questioning look. He wasn't sure either. They continued walking in silence as they made their way to the small tribe. As the entered they were surprised (more Emily then Pitch) when they were greeted by both adults and indian children.

The Indians all bowed their heads in respect as they passed by. They stopped when they came face to face with the chief of the tribe. "Ah, Nightmare King, Great Mother, welcome to our humble tribe." Chief was just as tall as Pitch. He had brown eyes, rich black hair, and tan skin. He wore pants made of brown animal fur and skin, and brown shoes. On his chest, arms, and face were various paint markings.

"Thank you, Chief. Thank you for having us."

"It is always a pleasure," Chief said. "Anything for old wise spirits."

Pitch smiled in turn with a nod. "Chief I'm looking for my younger brother, Jackson Overland. Is he here?"

Chief nodded with a smile. "Yes, he is near river with daugher, Ali."

Pitch nodded and bowed slightly. "Thank you, again, Chief."

The chief bowed. "I must be going. We have feast to prepare for. I hope you will attend."

"We'll love to," Pitch told him.

"Yes, thank you," Emily replied. Chief nodded and then walked off. Pitch directed his daugher further into the tribe and in the direction of the river. They walked in silence as they were greeted several times by the Indians. When they reached the end of the tribe Emily finally spoke. "How are they able to see us?"

Pitch continued to walk as he answered, "Indians, unlike the settlers, believe in all spirits."

Emily hummed in response as they made the short distance to the river. The sound of laughter was the first thing they heard before Jackson, Flee, Ali, and Night came into view. Emily smiled as she saw the three children making crowns out of the flowers that they were surround in. Pitch stopped behind Jackson and looked at the numerous carnations, daisies, and marigolds that Jackson was weaving into a crown.

"What are you doing, Jackson?"

Jackson jumped slightly at Pitch's voice. "Koz!" Jackson greeted cheerfully after he quickly collected himself. Flee tried to stifle a laugh. "What you doing here? I thought you'll be sleeping or making nightmares."

"I have a day off," Pitch told him as he sat next to him, Emily did the same to Flee.

"Hello, Nightmare King, Great Mother. I'm Ali. It's very nice to see you again." Ali greeted as the wind gently blew her long black hair

"It's very nice to see you again too, Ali. What are you three doing?" Pitch asked.

"We are making crowns for mothers," the tan Indian Girl replied.

"It's Mothering Day today and we thought we would make some for mom," Flee told them.

"Want to help?" Jackson asked Pitch. "I'll be fuuuunnnn."

"Why not?" Emily replied as Ali handed her some flowers.

"No thanks. I'll just watch," Pitch answered and got a pout from Jackson in return.

"You have no sense of fun."

Pitch huffed. "I do to have a sense a fun. My apologizes if I don't find making flower crowns fun." Pitch snapped his mouth shut when he realized the dangerous, venomous tone that laced his words. He opened his mouth again to apologize, but the damage was already done.

A flash of hurt appeared in Jackson's eyes before it was quickly replaced with a cold glare. Pitch felt his shoulders slump as Jackson return his attention back to his work. Pitch mumbled under his breath as he sulked. He couldn't believe he said that to his younger brother. All his brother wanted to do was make flower crowns with him.

He was the Nightmare King. The Nightmare King does not make flower crowns. However, Kozmotis Pitchiner wouldn't have snapped like that. Wouldn't have have spoke in a tone as if Jackson was the enemy. He would have sat through it and made crowns with him. Like he used to do when Emily was a little girl.

He wanted to hit himself. He was a stupid moron. Now Jackson was mad at him. He looked at the girls and noticed the disappointed looks they were shooting at him. Emily raised a brow at him. She tilted her head towards Jackson and then mouthed the word 'apologize'. He sighed.

He shifted his gaze back to his brother and cleared his throat. "Jackson?" He ignored him. Okay. He may have deserved that.

He placed his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Jackson," he tried again. He sighed again when he got no response. He mentally crushed down his pride. Damn him if he was going to let his pride get in the way of fixing what he had damaged. "Jackson, I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Okay he got a reply this time. But Pitch wasn't sure if he liked the neutral, non-cheerful tone in his brother's voice. It wasn't like him. Jackson was a hyper, cheerful, mischievous child. He would not accept anything else.

Pitch mentally kicked himself. "No it's not. I was just a little irritated today and I took out my frustration on you." He sighed when Jackson looked at him, hesitantly. "You didn't deserve that. I'm sorry."

Jackson frowned at him. "You didn't have to snap at me, you know?"

"Yes, I know. I couldn't stop it. I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Pitch smiled slightly. "Can you forgive me?"

Jackson smiled slowly at him. The hurt in his eyes were gone now and was replaced with relief. "Yeah, I forgive you." Jackson paused and lifted up the unfinished crown. "Do you want to help?" Pitch stared at the crown. He honestly didn't want to. He was the Nightmare King. Those flowers do not go well with his reputation. "You don't have to if you don't want to." Jackson's face fell in disappointment when Pitch didn't answer right away. "I mean...I just thought…"

Pitch crushed down his pride again and locked it away. He will not make Jackson sad. He will not! Pitch reached out his hands in front of him. "Hand it over."

"Wha?" Jackson blinked at him for a moment in confusion before his whole face lit up. Jackson excitedly placed the unfinished crown in Pitch's offered hands. Pitch smiled as he began weaving his own design into the crown. Jackson, meanwhile, was happily talking a mile a minute on how his mother will love her gifts. And then he started plotting how to get his mother here for the feast, without her knowing of course.

Pitch shook his head as he worked. Jackson will never learn. I hope he never changes, Pitch thought with a smile. Jackson please stay the way you are. You deserve to be happy and carefree.

While Pitch was distracted with his own musing he didn't see the look Jackson and Night shared. He didn't see the amused looks on the girl's face. And he also didn't see Jackson getting on his now fully grown horse and dramatically placing a fully finished marigold and sunflower crown on his head.

"All hail the Nightmare King!" Jackson announced as he and Night laughed. Pitch growled as he dropped the crown he was working on and tuned to face his brother, his robe dramatically spun around with him as he did so.

Jackson waved at him with a look of mischief in his brown orbs. "You are dead, little brother."

"Come and get me!" Jackson said around several giggles as Night galloped away. Pitch shadowed right behind them, completely ignoring the laughters behind him.