~Little Tooth~

Chapter 11:

Runaway

-...-

Baby Tooth sat at the Kitchen table, drawing her little heart away. Paper was everywhere, as well as paints and crayons. She worked on very many pieces, most of which were related in one way or another to magic. Oliver sat in the living room, every once in a while looking at her. He'd listen to her humming and maybe whatever was on the little TV in front of him. After awhile, probably around 9 in the morning, Oliver would get up and join her at the table. He'd make breakfast for them both.

"You're a very good artist, Baby Tooth." He smiled while cooking some eggs.

"Thank you!" Baby Tooth smiled while coloring a picture of a snowflake.

"What would you like to be when you grow up?" Oliver asked.

Baby Tooth stopped. She thought about it. She didn't know much about human jobs. She also hoped she didn't have to stay here that long. She went back to coloring.

"Dentist."

Oliver looked surprised.

He chuckled. "How peculiar."

Baby Tooth grinned, listening to Oliver. He was in full support of her, even with such an odd dream. Heck, he'd probably support her doing whatever. She loved him because he wasn't strict or mean or judgmental at all. If he was, he kept it inside.

"So, I was thinking we could go out today around the parks."

Their day went on and there were no complaints about what was planned or impromptu. Oliver kept her very busy with many activities. Baby Tooth's mind, already used to the human life, didn't take long to adjust to the thought of Oliver being a father. Her father. With a wonderful, home made dinner, and some TV and dessert, Baby Tooth was back in bed with Nightlight by 8:30.

But no matter how amazing her human life could be, she hadn't forgotten. Not the Orphans. Not Jackson. Not the Guardians. It was an infection that lingered in her mind, her only pain medication being forgetting. Well, that and Oliver Time. The Man on the Moon had not told her anything so far, and it seemed he had not told the Guardians her location. Didn't he know where she was? Did he not know everything?

Her dreams did continue to bother her. They were not nightmares, not like the one she months ago. They were happy, and included everyone. Jackson, Oliver, and the guardians. The orphans too all made up one big family. But that was what bothered her. None of this was true. Sometimes sandy's dreams mixed with a child's could be evil.

Speaking of evil, ever since she had been taken from Jackson, she has wanted to go back. She has wanted to ask him why. She's wanted to see everyone again as well, but Jackson was more important. Or so she thought. It still hurt her that he'd give her up with no explanation. The more she thought about it, the more Baby Tooth wanted Oliver to take her back.

And so, one day, she asked.

And he said yes.

-...-

"Oh, well hello!"

Mrs. Hamilton was the first to see Oliver and Baby Tooth walk into the building. She looked confused, but content. Happy, in a way. She leaned down to hug Baby Tooth before asking Oliver why they were hear.

"What brings you both back?"

"Oh, well-"

"Oliver!" Mrs. Overland walked out of a doorway to see them. She looked surprised.

"We came for a visit!" Oliver smiled kindly.

"Oh...really?" Mrs. Overland had an odd smile. " , would you mind following me? I think it's about time to finish that paper work."

Baby Tooth followed as the two adults walked into Mrs. Overland's office. However, Baby Tooth was left to sit outside of the door, for Mrs. Overland had shut the door. Baby Tooth turned away from the door, hoping to see Mrs. Hamilton, only to see the lady was gone. She sat at a nearby chair, kicking her legs back and forth. She could just distantly hear Oliver and Mrs. Overland, but nothing they said made sense.

After a few minutes, Baby Tooth was getting bored. It was quiet in the halls, and after awhile, it seemed like she could hear anything. That is if anything made sound. Her ear's picked up on children murmuring. Her head lifted and she turned to see, just down the hall, kids looking out of a room at her. She smiled as she recognized Felix, Alyss, and Aster. They smiled back.

Baby Tooth quietly made her way past the door before running down the hall, meeting them, and even hugging them. Felix gave his welcoming chucked that made Baby Tooth a bit home sick.

"What brings you back?" Alyss asked, tilting her head. "If I got to go to wonderland, i'd never come back."

"We missed you!" Aster looked up at Baby Tooth, grinning form ear to ear.

"I missed you guys too!" Baby Tooth smiled.

"It's been a bit quiet now, but we all seem to be getting along fine." Felix sighed. "Even with you gone 'n all."

"That's good." Baby Tooth made her way into the room, only to see the others she called family. And a new face...er...mask.

"Hello." Baby Tooth walked up to a child, probably about 13 years old, who had brown hair, a green jacket, and a mask. One that hid his face. It was white and had a black string attached to the top. There were small holes for eyes and a straight line for a mouth. You couldn't see his real face.

"..." The boy said nothing.

"Baby Tooth, meet Cry." Felix smiled. "He's new here, and is a bit quiet, but he's really nice."

"Cry?" Baby Tooth looked up at Felix.

"He has amnesia and can't remember his real name. The word Cryaotic is written on the back of his mask in sharpie, and so we shortened it and call him Cry." Felix lowered his voice. "He came here last night because the Hospital down the street was too crowded. We had a few other people as well as some employees, but they all were taken home by family members or back to the hospital when room was made. No one has come by for him yet and Mr. Frosten went to the Police office an hour ago to look into Cry's history."

Baby Tooth felt bad for the older kid, but she smiled and walked over to him, holding out her hand.

"My name is Baby Tooth." She smiled.

Cry slowly took her hand to shake it. His hands were cold.

"Hello." He said softly back.

"Hey, Baby Tooth, you never answered Alyss." Baby Tooth turned to see Penny, the black haired girl that reminded her of Pitch.

"Hm?" Baby Tooth tilted her head.

"Yeah. What are you doing here anyway?" Sebastian pulled on Baby Tooth's sleeve.

"Not like we care." Romana whispered and Felicia pushed her elder sister.

Baby Tooth looked confused for a second before gasping and realizing why she was here.

"I wanted to ask Jackson a question!"

The name Jackson spilled out her mouth and everyone went quiet. Baby Tooth expected Jackson to run up and look happy to see her...but he didn't appear at all. Baby Tooth looked around, but then stopped and looked at Felix.

"Where is Jackson?" She asked.

"Well...um..." Felix played with his thumbs.

"Sweetie." Marzia pushed her way past her boyfriend and keeled down to Baby Tooth's height.

"We arn't quite sure why, but he's gone."

gone?

Baby Tooth looked horrified.

Marzia paused. "Some time last night he ran away. Out the door. Screaming, too."

"Mr. Frost and Mr. Auditore went after him, but he was gone so quickly. The police are looking for him, but..." Felix added.

"They havn't seen him at all." Alyss spoke.

Baby Tooth looked wide eyed at everyone. Tears fell from her eyes. Jackson ran away? Screaming? What happened!? Was he in pain? Was he being chased? Was he scared? Baby Tooth didn't dare think that he could have been delusional or insane. Baby Tooth rubbed her eyes with her long sleeve and pushed away from Marzia, running out the room. Jackson was gone, but had to be somewhere in this damned city!

"HEY! WAIT!" Felix cried after her.

Baby Tooth may have done the wrong thing, but she fled the building, running out of sight. Felix and Alyss ran down the hallway and into Mrs. Overland's office, where Oliver and Mrs. Overland were talking. They looked surprised and stood from their seats.

"B-BABY TOOTH RAN AWAY!" Felix yelled.

"What!?"

Oliver pushed his way out the office while Mrs. Overland looked confused and shocked. She pondered why. Oliver was followed by Mrs. Hamilton, Felix, and Marzia. They didn't see the girl at all, shouting her name out into the darkening sky. As thought it were a horror movie, It felt misty and the sky looked like it were raining. Oliver felt worry in his heart. He searched everywhere. Where was his child?

"The Police were informed!" Nova called from the build's front door.

"BABY TOOTH!" Felix continued to yell.

"TOOTHIANA!" Mrs. Hamilton shouted.

The search began.

And it didn't end for hours.

-..-

Baby Tooth ran at a slow pace through the shopping district of the city. Jackson had taken her here once. This was where they got Nightlight. But she didn't notice this. She was looking for Jackson. Its not like he'd board a train and go up north. She knew he wouldn't. However, she did know based on the information given, that he could be hungry, alone, tired, or even hurt. Tears still flung themselves out of her eyes, but she didn't cry out loud. She tried to look as normal as possible.

It began to lightly rain sooner or later, and the sky was dim. Dark almost. It was probably around 6, but she wasn't hungry. She began to realize that if anyone was hiding from the police, they'd probably be hiding in the areas between the buildings. The ones with trashcans and mug and more trash. It scared her, but she started looking there too.

Maybe an hour later, her legs were about to give in and she, herself, was in an awful state. She was hungry now, and soaked from the rain. Her hair went over her eyes, but she kept pushing them back. By now she was lost as well. How careless had she been.

"jaacckkssooonn..." Her cries were so weak, so quiet, so helpless.

Her legs gave out and she fell into a muddy puddle. Mud went everywhere on her. She broke down and cried, just sitting there. She hugged herself for some sort of affection, but it was worthless. The bag with Alexis' tooth sat against her leg, hanging from her thin belt. It only pained her more now. Oh, how she had failed.

Then there was a shake. Baby Tooth twitched and looked up, fearing that maybe someone was there. There was, but it looked like they were there first. Against the wall, hiding behind a trashcan, just peeking out, was a boy. A boy with brown hair and bright, yet sad, eyes. The boy probably didn't recognize her yet, but she sure did him.

"JACKSON!"

Baby Tooth ran over to the boy, running into his weak body and hugging him. She cried, but this time tears of joy. The boy held her in his arms. He was too weak to hug her back fully.

"B-Baby...Tooth." Baby Tooth wanted to die, his voice was so horrible.

"What...are you doing...here?"

Baby Tooth looked up at Jackson's painful face. She then hugged him more and dug her head into his chest. She nor Jackson cared about the Mud that made Jackson's clothes worse.

"I came to visit you but you were not there!" She cried. "They said you ran away and I ran away to look for you!"

Jackson stiffened. He pulled her from his chest and looked into her hurt eyes.

"You shouldn't have..." He said, his head tilting ONLY BECAUSE his body could hardly stand being so heavy.

"But...I wanted to see you again so badly. I missed you so much."

"You could have gotten hurt looking for me. You fell down a few moments ago, right? You look sleepy and hungry. I wasn't worth all this." Jackson continued before Baby Tooth could butt in. " Mr. Time is probably sick with worry right now. I mean, for all he knows, you could have gotten trapped or kidnapped or even murdered. These streets are not safe, you know."

Baby Tooth felt hurt. He was yelling at her. Well, he wasn't yelling, but he would if he had the strength. Baby Tooth looked down.

"You could have...too, you know."

Jackson didn't reply.

"Why...why did you run?" Baby Tooth looked back up at him.

Jackson felt pain in his heart. Baby Tooth was so innocent. He couldn't tell her the truth.

"Look, Baby..." He sighed. "Don't ever go back to Little Apple Orphanage."

"What?"

"Don't ever look at it, don't ever touch it. Forget that it even ever existed."

Baby Tooth's hands held onto the edges of Jackson's shirt with a tight grip.

"Why?"

Jackson pulled Baby Tooth into a hug, his body in a pain that he ignored.

"Because it worries me." Jackson ran his hand down her long hair. "You worry me."

"but...why?" Baby Tooth didn't understand.

"Because I love you. I care for you. You are closer then any family I've ever had." Jackson smiled.

Baby Tooth only yawned, gripping onto the older teen more. Her eyes were heavy. She was too tired to say anything. Before her brain could shut her down for sleep, she yawned again and asked:

"Like...a little sister?"

Jackson formed a weak smile. Little sister wasn't the best explanation, but it would have to do for now.

"Yes...like a little sister."

Jackson had noticed within the silence that followed that the girl had fallen asleep. He normally would try to wake her up and get her home without being spotted, but...he was just as sleepy. He'd enjoy what little peace was left to take.

-...-