Hello there guys. Long time, no see! This is my final chapter for this story. I have no idea if any of you have stuck along for this whole ride. If so, thank you. I'll have a few notes at the end of this chapter, and if you have any questions, feel free to message me.

-Wolf

Chapter 37

Jack sighed as he leaned against the wall. It hadn't taken long for the pair to devolve into arguing. He had hoped that North would be able to help Pitch see what he was, like he had with Jack. He thought, then sighed again. As the pair yelled, he noticed some things they were saying, but it was hard to focus when they were both yelling at the same time. He thought, then stood up. "I'm calling the others." He started for the door, hearing silence behind him, then footsteps to follow.

North caught up first. "Is no need! Why call,when there is no threat?"

Pitch followed as well, moving to the opposite side of Jack. "The only threat here is to me." He glared at North, who gave him a look as if he would murder him if Jack wasn't there with them. Jack ignored them both, moving to send out the aurora signal.

Jack smirked as he waited, knowing it wouldn't take long. It never did. He moved Pitch to stand in the middle of the room, and pointed to him as he smirked more. "You stay right there. I'm going to make you understand if it kills me."

Pitch narrowed his eyes at the phrase, almost growling out a response, but snapped his mouth closed as Sandy arrived. Sandy smiled, waving at Pitch, and Jack before floating over to North, who seemed to be sulking. Jack couldn't hear what they were talking about, not that he could ever hear Sandy, but he figured that North was filling him in on the argument. Tooth arrived just after Bunny, and they all seemed confused as they looked at North. The large guardian shook his head silently, and motioned to Jack. "Was not me."

Jack moved, turning off the signal, and turning to the room. "I've called you all here today..." He wrinkled his nose, almost strutting as he spun his staff. He was doing his best to sound like an office boss he had seen in some old movie. "To discuss the shadow in the room." He chuckled, leaning on Pitch slightly. "What do you see when you look at him?"

The other guardians seemed confused, and Bunny was the first to speak up. "Did you hit your head, mate? What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

Jack sighed, feeling a bit less confident with this plan, but blinked when Sandy threw his hand up. He formed a Russian nesting doll above his head, and pointed, grinning. Jack nodded, and pointed. "Exactly. So first thing. The first thing that you notice about him." He moved around Pitch, almost pacing. Pitch was just standing with his arms crossed, looking very done with the entire situation.

Bunny narrowed his eyes. "Oh where to start? How about the fact that he's an arrogant prick?" Pitch glared at the rabbit, about to speak, but was stopped by Jack. He growled as he closed his mouth, letting the boy have this. He wanted to see where he was going with this.

Jack nodded, pulling out a notepad from his pocket. He chuckled. "Arrogant. On the list. Next!" He pointed to Sandy, who was bouncing excitedly. "Yes Sandy?" Sandy made a motion like he was sneaking in a suspicious manner. "Sneaky?" Sandy shook his head, trying again, and moving to stand closer than is comfortable to Bunny. Jack pointed at him again. "Creepy?" Sandy nodded, giving a thumbs up.

Pitch scoffed, and waved one hand. "Am I just here to be insulted? If so, you hardly had to call them all here for that. They seem to find me when they want to tell me off." He crossed his arms again, standing taller. "Like constantly breaking into my home."

Jack chuckled. "Well there goes Sarcastic on the list." He hopped up onto his staff, kicking his legs. "Not to mention, perhaps, Cunning, and Determined." He leaned forward, looking at Pitch. "But do you know what I see? What I've noticed more, and more since the day we got you back to your job?" Pitch just raised an eyebrow at him, and motioned with one hand for Jack to continue.

Jack shifted, one foot on top of his staff so he could lean his chin on his knee. He smiled at Pitch, a gentle look in his eyes. "Courage." He noticed the shocked looks on everyone around him. He stood on his staff, then dropped to the floor. "Courage to keep pushing, even when you're scared yourself. Courage to fight for the things you believe in. Courage to learn so that you can be stronger in the end." He turned, scooping up his staff, and pointing it around slowly. "I mean. Doesn't the saying go. 'Courage doesn't mean you aren't afraid. Courage is moving forward when you are.' Or something like that."

Pitch was just staring at Jack, slack-jawed. The words made him feel... warm inside, though a voice in the back of his head told him it wasn't true. He shook his head, looking away. "And just how do you suppose I protect Courage in children?"

Jack turned to him, and smiled. "The same way that you did with that little girl at the pool. The one that could see you, but not me." He heard a confused mutter from the others, but his focus was on Pitch. "I've seen it. I've seen what you really do. The fear makes you strong, because there will always be fear. But what makes you a guardian... Is that your fear protects children from danger until they are ready to learn to fight it."

There was stunned silence from the guardians, and Pitch looked like he was trying to process what all had been said. Jack slowly stepped forward, pulling a patch of cloth, and holding it out. It was black, with a G that almost looked like pale blue frost. He looked at Pitch, smiling. "Don't do it if you feel like you're being forced, but don't reject it just because you're scared. You can do this. I believe in you, and I know that you're far more than even you realize."

Pitch was still in shock, his mouth hanging open slightly as he stared between the patch, and Jack. His hand moved slowly, almost on it's own. He laid his hand in Jack's, the patch pressed between their palms as he looked the younger spirit in the face. He took a moment to collect himself before he spoke. "Do you honestly believe any of what you just said?" He shifted, not able to believe it himself. How could anyone... see all of that in him? He was just the boogieman.

Jack's smile seemed to brighten as he looked at Pitch, gripping his hand. "Every single one of them." He shrugged, and shifted. "I mean, If I was lying you'd know. You're the one who keeps telling me what a bad liar I am." He stepped closer to Pitch, and looked up at him more. "So? What do you say?"

Pitch took a step back, and he saw the disappointment in Jack's face before he slipped his hand away, but he held up the patch. He looked Jack in the eyes. "I may not completely believe you..." He paused, looking at the patch, then back to Jack with a gentle smile. "But I do trust you. I suppose that should be enough for a start." Jack's face lit up, and he practically threw himself into Pitch's arms, clinging to the older spirit. Pitch slowly wrapped his arms around him.

North stared, but a grin spread across his face. "Music!" He snapped his fingers, and elves started to scramble for instruments.

Pitch glared at him. "Absolutely not! I haven't even taken your stupid oath, and I will not if you let those annoying beasts give me a headache first!" Jack chuckled, then moved over to North. He looked up at him as the large man seemed to produce the book that contained the oath from nowhere.

Jack looked to Pitch again, smiling, and actually getting a weak smile in return. He stayed where he was as North spoke the oath, all eyes on the Nightmare King, who stood tall. "Will you, Pitch Black, vow to watch over the children of the world? To guard them with your life? Their hopes, their wishes, and their dreams? For they are all that we have, all that we are, and all that we will ever be."

Pitch shifted, looking around at the five in front of him. Tooth, and Bunny both still looked hesitant, but each looked at him, waiting for his response. Sandy looked quite excited, and North was giving him a warm smile, which was very strange to have that look directed at him. His eyes went to Jack, and the rest of the room seemed to fade away. The look Jack was giving him was full of pride, and hope, and so much love that Pitch felt his heart would explode. He took a breath, not able to help the smile that tugged at his lips as he looked at Jack. "Yes. I will."

The room came back in a rush as North slammed the book, his voice booming with joy as he spoke again. "Then congratulations, Pitch Black! For you are now, and forever more, a Guardian!"

Sandy was jumping happily, and clapping. Pitch couldn't remember ever seeing the little man use so much energy. Bunny huffed, and crossed his arms. "Still say this is a bad idea... but then again..." He looked at Jack. "I thought you would be the worst Guardian we could get." The last bit was said with amusement as Jack shot him a glare.

Jack moved over to Pitch, smiling up at him. "So? Do you feel any different?" He rocked on his feet, clutching his hands behind his back.

Pitch shifted, and hummed. "Other than being utterly exhausted from this whole ordeal? Not in the least."

Jack grinned, going up on his toes to wrap his arms around Pitch's neck. "Good. I don't want you to change." He shifted, pressing a quick kiss to Pitch's lips, pulling back before the other could even register to kiss back. "I love you."

Pitch stared at Jack, his heart actually fluttering. He slowly wrapped his arms around Jack, pulling him close. "I love you too." He smiled, leaning down to catch Jack in a kiss, lingering this time.

The pair broke apart when someone cleared their throat, and they both looked to Bunny, who seemed very uncomfortable. "Will you two bloody lovebirds get a room, and stop being mushy in front of us? At this point I'm starting to think you like showing off."

Pitch smirked, though he noticed frost spreading across Jack's cheeks. "Well I suppose we should take our leave then." He scooped Jack up, throwing the boy over his shoulder. "I believe we need a moment, anyway." He waved over his shoulder as he headed for the shadows.

Jack waved at the other's, actually laughing, as he did. "Thank's guys. Don't worry. I'll be back later."

As they stepped through the shadows, both had a single thought. This was certainly the start of something completely new. Luckily they wouldn't have to be alone. Neither of them would ever be alone again. They had a whole family now.

THE END

So this didn't exactly end how I really wanted, but I got hit with the inspiration, and just like the rest of the story, it ran away with me. I can not believe how long this story has gone. Can anyone believe this started out as a 12 chapter plotted out story? This has all been crazy, and I am glad to have finally given it an end, even if it isn't the one I planned for it. Now if anyone is curious about how things work out with Bunny, and April I may add a very short bonus chapter, but I will just say things work out, but maybe not quite how some would want.

I can not believe that after more than 6 years this story is complete. I will be adding one last chapter to Behind Closed Doors, and that will be the absolute end of the story. Just a final little bit of something. Jack and Pitch get their happily ever after, and now the family has the creepy, goth boyfriend to watch out for with Jack.

Thank you to all my readers, and everyone who has left me a review on this story. You guys are honestly the reason I felt the need to give this some kind of ending. I always hate leaving people hanging. Maybe someday you'll read more from me. Until then... Happy reading dears.

-Your faithfully lost author, Wolf