Little Tooth

Chapter two

Jackson

-...-

Baby Tooth could have awoken to a better morning if it wasn't for the fact that she hadn't forgotten everything from last night and that her first sight that morning was of almost all the other children's gazing eyes looking down at her. It was creepy to have this happen to her. She almost screamed if it wasn't for an older teen who calmed her down.

"Shush. It's okay. We aren't going to hurt you." The older teen, who was a 15 year old boy, patted her back like mothers did to their children. "The name's Jackson."

Baby Tooth looked at the boy, noting his appearance. He looked nice, and had brown hair and yellow-brown eyes. He looked kind of like Jack, but it was most definitely not Jack. Baby Tooth yawned and rubbed her eyes. She looked back at Jackson and smiled.

"Welcome to Little Apple." Jackson said, waving out his hand in a way that told Baby Tooth to look around at all the other children.

There were tons of children. Like 30 of them. It killed her to know each and every one of them lived without a parent or guardian. And By guardian, she meant someone other than their parents who would take care of them with food and a home. But at least the guardians she knew still looked after them!

"Well good morning everyone! I see you've met our new friend." Suddenly Mrs. Overland walked into the room. All the children turned to her with a smile.

"I see our new friend is awake and has already met Jackson." She smiled, walking over and sitting at the end of the bed. She had a pad of paper and a pen in her hands.

"I feel bad for her. She's so adorable." Jackson half smiled at Mrs. Overland.

"Sorry I had no time to introduce myself, little one. I'm Mrs. Overland, the head of Little Apple Orphanage. " Mrs. Overland handed Baby Tooth the pad of paper and pen. "I know you can't speak, but can you write?" Mrs. Overland knew it was a long shot for a 5 year old to know how to write, but it was possible.

Baby Tooth held the pen in her hands and stared at the paper. She probably could write one or two things, but just as speaking, it was something she didn't try to learn. She could draw though! She's no Leonardo Da Vinci, but she could!

"Can you write your name?" Jackson asked.

Baby Tooth dragged the pen across the paper, not spelling things but drawing things. She drew a small tooth with a pin on diaper and pacifier. She smiled at what she drew and showed it to Mrs. Overland, Jackson, and the kids that were still watching.

"A…a baby tooth?" One of the kids asked in confusion.

"That's beautiful dear, but could you write your name?" Mrs. Overland chuckled silently at Baby Tooth's drawing.

Baby Tooth huffed and pointed at the drawing with her finger, leaving the pen to drop on the bed. She made a small noise, almost a squeak, as she did so. Jackson laughed. He took the picture from Baby Tooth and looked at it.

"I think she's saying that her name is Baby Tooth." He smiled.

Yes! Yes! Exactly! Baby Tooth wanted to jump up in celebration, but instead, leaned herself on the other teen in a way of saying he was right.

"Baby Tooth? Oh, sweetie, that's your name?" Mrs. Overland was sure it couldn't be Baby Tooth. Baby Tooth nodded.

"It's not just Tooth or Toothiana or something?" Mrs. Overland asked.

No silly, that was her mother's name. But then again, Baby Tooth thought, Baby Tooth wasn't a very human name. It wasn't really a name in general. It was what she was called and she happened to like it. If she was to pass off better as a mortal, she'd have to go as something else. She really didn't want to, but what else could she do?

"Nuh." Baby Tooth shook her head.

"Well, Baby Tooth, Can I call you Toothiana?" Mrs. Overland asked.

Well, Baby Tooth thought, I guess that's as close as she'll accept. Baby Tooth nodded her head and Mrs. Overland smiled. She sat up and brushed off her clothes.

"Well, Toothiana, I'm going to make a few phone calls and then I'm going to need to see you. But don't worry too much." She turned to Jackson. "Jackson, you don't mind showing her around and introducing her to the others while I'm busy, do you?"

"Don't worry!" Jackson smiled proudly and saluted. Mrs. Overland left the room and Jackson Turned to Baby Tooth.

"Don't worry, Baby Tooth! I'll call you by your name!" He then put his hand on her head like an older brother does. "It suits you."

Baby Tooth tilted her head. She was overly happy, but what made him think that, as he was a mortal human boy. "Hm?"

Jackson then began tickling her. "Because you and your name are both just so cute!"

Baby Tooth squealed and then started laughing. Jack had made her mad once and then tickled her just to get her to forgive him. Oh, she missed Jack just as much as she missed her mother. Jack was like a big brother to her. Baby Tooth tried kicking Jackson away to get him to stop, just as any other child does when someone tickles them. Jackson did eventually stop so that they both could catch their breath.

"Okay, okay! Now I need to show you to the other kids." Jackson got off the bed. Baby Tooth looked up at him.

Jackson started walking away but Baby Tooth didn't want him to leave. She jumped off the bed and followed Jackson. Jackson smiled as she followed him. They walked up to a table were a few kids were playing a board game. It was Candy Land. Jackson lifted Baby Tooth into his arms so that she could see them better.

"Baby Tooth, this is Felix, Toby, Nova, Dan," Jackson pointed to each child. "And Marzia."

The five of the 30 children looked up and waved at Baby Tooth. Felix was 15 with blond hair that waves off to one side, blue eyes, a yellow shirt with a fist on it, broken headphones around his neck, and you could tell that sooner or later he'd have a beard. Marzia, who sat across from Felix, was 14 and had long, silky brown hair and beautiful brown eyes. Her shirt was pink and she wore the right amount of lipstick and blush on her face.

Toby, who was 13, had a green shirt with a pixel symbol on it. He had short brown hair and green eyes. Nova and Dan, who were both 13, had hoodies on in a way so that it covered their hair, so it was hard to tell what their hair color was. They both seemed to be very good friends, nice people as well.

"Hello, sweetie pie!" Marzia giggled and waved. Baby Tooth waved back.

Jackson leaned into Baby Tooth's ear and whispered "Felix likes Marzia. Don't they look cute together?"

Baby Tooth giggled. Not only did she giggle because of how much she agreed, but Jackson tends to point out a lot of cute things.

"What did you tell her?" Toby asked. His voice was somewhat high-pitched, but he obviously made himself talk like that.

"Oh nothing." Jackson smiled innocently.

"It was nice meeting you, um…." Dan started out but was side tracked.

"Baby Tooth. " Jackson said.

"It was nice meeting you, Baby…Tooth…Baby Tooth, But I kind of want to continue our game." Dan finished.

"Awwww." Marzia whined.

"Yeah, I know, but she also has to meet everyone else and take a tour around Little Apple." Jackson sighed.

As Jackson put Baby Tooth down and walked away with her following, the group at the table waved bye. Baby Tooth smiled, waving by. Jack approached a group of girls huddled on a bed talking. There were three of them, each around 9 years old.

"Baby Tooth, this is Romana, Feli, and Sebastian." Jackson introduced.

The three girls turned and waved at Baby Tooth, not saying anything. Sebastian was an odd name for a girl, but then again so was Baby Tooth. Romana had long, dark brown hair that was pulled back with a red headband. Feli had red-brown hair that was pulled into a ponytail, and Sebastian had feli's hair color, but hers was more of a red, while also being pulled into a braid.

"You can call me Seba!" Sebastian tilted her head with a smile.

"Girls, this is Baby Tooth." Jackson smiled.

"Baby Tooth? What kind of name is that?" Romana asked in a rather harsh tone.

"Shhhhh, Sorella! Don't be so mean!" Feli leaned on her sister. They were all three sisters.

"Don't lean on me!" Romana growled, pushing her sister away.

"Awww, don't be that way!" Feli cried.

Jackson laughed and then turned to Baby Tooth. "They always fight. But it's cute when Romana stands up for her sisters. She's very protective with them when other older people come around."

"I am not!" Romana hissed.

"You keep saying that." Sebastian sang.

"Oh, shut your trap!"

"I think we should continue onward unless we want Romana to continue yelling." Jackson sighed.

"Awww, It was nice meeting you!" Feli turned to Baby Tooth and waved. Baby Tooth giggled and waved back.

"Goodbye!" Sebastian smiled and Jackson took Baby Tooth away, towards other kids.

"Arrivederci!" Romana half yelled half hissed.

"Bye!" Jackson said.

Jackson led Baby Tooth over to a lone girl who saw In the corner of the room with papers everywhere. Each one had a drawing on them. Pictures of castles and queens and kings. Hearts and diamonds, card soldiers and smiling cats. The girl who must have drawn them all was sitting there doing nothing but looking down. She was around 10. Baby Tooth felt sad seeing her, for she looked sad.

"Hey Jackson?" The girl asked. Jackson stopped walking and paused for a second.

"Yes, Alyss?" So the girl's name was Alice…well, Alice was what Baby Tooth heard.

"Do you believe me…?" She asked, looking up at him with hurt eyes.

"Believe…what, Alyss?" Jackson was confused.

"When I say that I've seen them. That they're real?" Alyss slowly stood up.

Could they be talking about the guardians, Baby Tooth thought.

"What are you talking about? Do you mean Santa Clause?" Jackson asked, a slight chuckle to his tone.

"NO! NO NO NO! Jackson! Of all the people here, why you!?" Alyss yelled, hurt. " I mean The kingdoms and the card soldiers and the smiling cat!

"Wonderland? Oh, of course I do!" Jackson rubbed the back of his head in awkwardness.

"What about you, new girl?! If I said I've seen a world of Wonder, a world of imagination and crazy things, would you believe?" Alyss turned to Baby Tooth. Baby Tooth nodded her head. Of course she would, for what all she's seen.

Jackson leaned down to Baby Tooth's level. "That's Alyss Hearts. Her parents abandoned her here and because she won't give up the claim that she's seen Wonderland and that she's Alice herself, no one wants her. But, I believe her. Too bad I can't help her. I really wish I could."

"And what is her name?" Alyss asked. Jackson stood back up.

"This is Baby Tooth." Jackson smiled.

"Baby Tooth? Really? It's cute, but this place had strange names, don't you think? My name is Alyss, A.L.Y.S.S., one girl's name is Sebastian, there are a few foreign names here. Little Apple is a strange place."

"Haha, That's true."

"I know." Alyss nodded hear head and slowly turned to a sketch book she had. She sat down and took out a pen, drawing in the free space in that.

"Come on, Baby Tooth. There are many other kids and I need to get this over with before Mrs. Overland calls for you." Jackson began walking away, then stopped. "Oh, how about I just make this shorter. You're going to learn them all one by one anyway."

Jackson dropped down to his knees, now eye level with Baby Tooth. He pointed to the children as he talked.

"There is Callie, Tyler, and Michael. Callie and Tyler are sister brother, while Michael is Callie's best friend. "

Callie had a bean at on her head and long, long silver-brown hair. Tyler had short, straight brown hair and Michael had short, blonde hair. Callie looked 14, while Tyler was 8 and Michael was 10.

"Sophia, James, and Pip."

Sophia had curly blond hair that almost covered her green-yellow eyes. James and Pip had brown hair, but James's was short and curly while Pip's was short and straight. Sophia had to be 6, while James was 10 and Pip was 4. On closer look, they reminded Baby Tooth of Sophie and Jamie Bennett. It wasn't too long ago that they had met because of Pitch's evilness.

"Stephano, Steven, Eden, and Alex."

They were all huddled up under a bed and laughing about something, so Baby Tooth couldn't really see them.

"Olivia, Mark, and David."

Olivia was a girl with puffy brown hair, Mark and David were twins with messy dark-blond hair. They all looked to be 7 years of age and they were all playing with toy cars on a mat.

"Bryan and Sara."

Bryan looked to be 7 and had brown, straight hair with bangs that almost went over his eyes. Sara, who sat next to him, looked like she was 10 and had short blond hair that was in a braid.

"Norm, Aster, Sam, and Penny."

Okay, now this was interesting. Norm looked 17, the oldest who could still be a kid. His hair was long and curly, but also slightly gray. His eyes were bright, bright blue and his smile was big. Aster was 4 and had gray-brown hair that stuck up a little. He had a headband with rabbit ears on him and was giggling as Norm poked and played with him. Sam was a little boy, around 8, who was sleeping on the rug beside them, snoring just a bit. He had golden locks that went in front of his eyes, yet also stuck up a bit like Aster's. Penny was 13 and sat, watching Norm and Aster. She had yellow eyes and long black hair that covered half her face.

What almost scared Baby Tooth was that they reminded her of North, Bunny, Sandy, and Pitch. Jackson reminded her of Jack and now these people, only by first glance, reminded her of the rest of her family. She sniffed, being reminded of how much she missed her family. But she didn't cry. Jackson stood up as someone called him.

"Jackson!" A man at the doorway of the room called for him. Jackson looked up Baby Tooth.

"Alright now. Mr. Auditore, the place's doctor, seems to want me so I'll be right back. In the meantime, why don't you walk around and play with someone?" Jackson said and then got up to left after Baby Tooth nodded her head. Baby Tooth watched Jackson leave, now suddenly more alone and lost then before.

"Hey! Baby Tooth!" Baby Tooth turned to see Alyss standing at her bed, holding up the paper with the drawing of a baby tooth. Baby Tooth walked over, wondering what she needed.

"You don't mind teaching me how to draw, do you?" Alyss asked and Baby Tooth, for her small figure, claimed on the bed. Baby Tooth looked up at Alyss and smiled, nodding her head.

She didn't belong here, but she should at least make as many smiles as she can before her mother saved her.

-…-

"Tooth! Tooth! Calm down!" North put his hand on the shoulder of the Tooth Fairy, who was freaking out. She had gone to the North Pole only to have North call the other guardians here.

"What's got you so upset? Did you see Pitch again?" Bunny asked the fairy.

"No! It's worse!" Tooth cried, flinching as the others walked closer to her.

"What could possibly be worse than Pitch?" Jack asked.

"Baby Tooth is missing!" Tooth cried out, her voice squeaking.

"What!?" Jack gasped. He did care a whole lot for that little fairy. She was like a little sister.

"I sent her on a mission and when she didn't return and flew her rote to find her! The Tooth had been taken from the girl, replaced with a quarter like normal, but Baby Tooth was nowhere to be found!" Tooth explained her situation.

"We need to go find her!" Jack said, almost shouted.

"Please help!" Tooth said.

"Of course we'll help ya', Tooth. I'm sure we all care for the little fella." Bunny said.

"Alright then." North began. "We shall all look for her."

"I'll have to stay at the palace and direct more, but I'm sure you four have time to take a quick look." Tooth said with a hopeful voice.

"Of course we do, right Sandy?" Jack smiled, then turned to the dream spirit. Sandy smiled and nodded.

"Thank you guys so much!" Tooth tried to act happy, but she was still without her baby.

"No problem, Tooth. We all feel your pain." Bunny said.

"Let's just hope it's not for long…"

-...-