-0-

Enough was enough, Eros decided. The Man in the Moon might not like Pitch but that didn't mean he was allowed to make everyone hate the fear spirit. Pitch did not deserve to be the outcast he was for doing his job and Eros was going to use drastic measures to insure it.

Really, if either of them swung that way this wouldn't be a problem but they didn't and Eros was happily married, kthanxbai.

So one little arrow shot at an unsuspecting Nightmare King as he slept and Eros felt like he accomplished a job well done. Whistling a jaunty tune, Eros flew home to see if Pysche. He was sure she'd be happy to hear the good news.

-1-

Pitch did not think much of his Nightmares' behavior. They were a little more energetic and affectionate but the 'boogeyman' simply assumed the night had been particularly ripe with fear. Awarding the bolder ones with a few affectionate pets and allowing them to lick him, Pitch brushed the small peculiarity aside and left to see to his duties in person.

The left behind Nightmares whinnied delightedly.

"We have the best master!"

"He goes for rides with us and feeds us yummy dreams!"

"He names us and forgave us for hurting him!"

A collective breathy sigh issued from the Nightmares.

"And those legs~."

-2-

The first true clue Pitch noticed that something was amiss was when several golden sand creatures swarmed him. Desperately he fought them off in case they put him asleep and left him defenseless to any spirit that spotted him. With no alternative, Pitch fled into the safety of shadows and decided to focus on his work where the Sandman and his creaturesweren't. Recent events must have really upset Sanderson, Pitch could not recall a time Sandy had attacked him so aggressively.

Finally floating down from his dream cloud, Sandy sighed soundlessly in disappointment. The tall, dark, handsome, mysterious, and refined Pitch got away. Why did the Nightmare King have to be so free-spirited? Did not he know Sandy just wanted to cuddle together as they dreamed happy dreams? They're height difference was so nice, Pitch could probably wrap those deliciously long legs around him and still have leg to spare.

Sandy sighed sadly once more as he tried to comfort his dreamsand creatures.

Leggy got away, they mourned.

I know. I know. We'll get him next time.

-3-

Pitch might have been oblivious to the growing situation but, unfortunately, the believers of Jack Frost were not.

"I mean his eyes, Jamie, his eyes. They look like, like... a solar eclipse! Isn't that cool?" Jack asked eagerly as the eight year old gaped at him with horror.

"Cool! Cool!" Sophie parroted cheerfully as she swung from Jack's shoulders. It was a good thing no adults were around to see a levitating two year old but-

"I- uh, I don't know Jack. Why, um, why don't you try talking to Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. They've known Pitch longer, haven't they?" Jamie suggested as Pippa and Cupcake broke out into giggles from their whispered conversation. At least someone found Jack's sudden, unexplained crush amusing.

Twisting Sophie around so she hanging off the front of his hoodie instead of his back, Jack sat down, wounded eyes wide as he clutched Jamie's sister like a teddybear. "I would but they're fighting over Pitch too!"

"WHAT?" Monty managed to yelp milliseconds before the other Burgess children.

"It's true! They keep arguing over whether Pitch likes Easter or Christmas more. Or, or whether Pitch's fingers or nose are his best feature when anyone really in love with Pitch knows it's his legs!" Jack explained, releasing his hold on Sophie so he could move his hands to emphasize his point.

"Legs! Legs!" Sophie chimed in dutifully. When she received no praise for her words Sophie looked around cautiously and added, "Bunny, hop, hop?"

"Hey, you're right Sophie. Pitch thought Bunny was adorable when he was small. I should get him a bunny! Thanks," Jack said cheerfully, smiling joyfully for the first time since he arrived to tell his believers about how amazing Pitch was. "I better go get one before someone else does. See you later kids!"

Before Jamie could protest, Jack was being swept away from the wind.

"Wow. That was like, a love-spell or something, right?" Caleb asked, hesitantly. Really hoping that was all that was wrong with Jack.

"Yeah... Yeah you're right!" Jamie agreed as everything about Jack's weird behavior made sense. "He's under a spell!"

"So are Santa and the Easter Bunny. Does that mean all the Guardians are?" Pippa asked worriedly.

"Probably but these things work out in all the stories," Jamie admitted before quickly reassuring his friends. "I'm sure Jack'll be back to normal in no time!"

Cupcake huffed, "Eat as much sugar as possible to forget Jack ever visited?"

"I'm in!"

"Great idea Cupcake!"

"Legs, Legs!"

...

"This might be harder to forget than I thought."

author's note: right, so, why did I take forever posting this on ffnet? I don't know. I'm sorry.

Disclaimer: don't own rotg, William Joyce and DWA do.