As the sun sank down, two figures stood stock still in front of the opening to an underground tomb, the gateway from their world to what was referred to throughout the town as the "Real World". Both one-thin splotches on the rising moon were extreme in height, the head of the smaller one coming to the shoulder of the other. The small one tugged at his ivory bat bow tie, not with nervousness but anticipation. It would be his first trip outside of Halloween Town.

Jack looked up to the other figure, an older skeleton who grinned back down at the young sixteen year old prince, his son. Jack's first trip to the Real World would reveal much of his ability to rule in his absence. His son would demonstrate stealth, grace, and an overall magnificent aptitude for terrifying. But the first trip also meant Jack would lose a part of his innocence. The first trip meant a prince would collect his first Halloween Town soul. A first trip meant a prince would witness his first Real World death.

The old skeleton frowned at the thought, earning a confused look from the prince. His father had been particularly on edge as of late, but Jack just brushed it off as nervousness for his first visit. He couldn't wait to use his techniques on the cowering, jumpy mortals instead of his gruesome brethren. He vaguely remembered having to bring Dr. Finkelstein a soul for his new creation (not that the elderly doctor allowed him to SEE said creation) but he was much more interested in the newest citizen than in the process of obtaining said soul. He hoped they would be more pleasant than that Oogie Boogie character, and if female, more pleasing to the eye than those older witches. Just because he liked frightening things didn't mean he didn't like beautiful things as well.

Of course this topic all registered last in his mind as he and his father began to step into the tomb…

X-x-x-x-X

"Trick or Treat!"

Sally smiled down at the trio in front of her. A witch, a devil, and a skeleton. Their costumes appeared to be more like pajamas, but they each had their own mask and she simply adored masks ever since she saw Phantom of the Opera. With a toothy grin, she complemented them on their craftsmanship and their extremely large and almost full bag and allowed them the pick of the lot from her bowl.

"Happy Halloween!" she sang after them as she stepped back into the seclusion of the house. Immediately her senses were bombarded with heavy music and the potent scent of sweat and alcohol coming from the living room.

Sally glued herself to the wall in an effort to get around a couple shamelessly giving public displays of affection in the hallway, just in the path to the kitchen. Once her ultimate goal was achieved, she proceeded to refill the half empty bowl of candy just as a blonde girl her age dressed as Bunny Foo Foo (complete with mallet and bunny ears) came from the other living room door.

"Hey Sally," she called bringing the mallet to balance on her shoulder. "Sorry to have to stick you on candy duty." She continued apologetically.

Sally just smiled gleefully in response. "It's no problem at all. I love kids and I'm not fond of the idea of drinking spiked punch." She grabbed an unopened bottle of water from the fridge in emphasis.

The girl just rolled her eyes, although she did have the decency to blush. "So, yeah, what are you exactly?" she said, looking Sally up and down in tea party interest.

She looked like a Halloween doll. She had an overcoat top striped orange and black with puffy shoulders that clung at the upper arm and then belled out at the elbow and down over her knuckles. It cut in a square neck just to under her breasts, which were covered in a white bunched Victorian shirt. The coat continued down to her hips, buckled at her waist to keep it closed, where it shot out a bit over her white shorts that resembled a Victorian doll's underpants. Orange socks with silk black ties up her legs went to her thighs and disappeared into a pair of what appeared to be platform Mary Janes. The whole shebang was topped off with a small top hat sitting lopsided on her silky red hair, tied firmly under chin in a silk black bow.

Sally looked thoughtful for a moment then smiled prettily at the girl. "I guess I'm the Pumpkin Princess."

X-x-x-x-X

Jack silently cheered to himself as he walked down the street. His Halloween had gone great! He had terrified the living like none before him! He did feel kind of sorry for the wife of that guy in Kentucky. Poor woman had to do his laundry…

The only thing preventing him from returning home to celebrate another successful year with the rest of his home town was the search for Dr. Finkelstein's soul. This put a real damper on his cheerful mood.

His father would only tell him to look for the Grim Reaper. Ha. That's a little DIFFICULT on Halloween! Every other person was dressed as one! How is he gonna find—

"Jack!"

He was suddenly propelled foreword as three bodies collided with his. Jack mentally groaned as he picked himself up to face the three children. "What are you three doing?"

They each grinned behind masked faces. "We know something you don't know!" the chorused.

Jack gave them a dry look. "Oh? Then please…enlighten me."

Barrel began bouncing from one foot to the other in excitement. Lock swished his tail back and forth as he usually did before he caused trouble. Shock puffed out her chest proudly and exclaimed, "We know where your soul is."

Then they ran away.

Jack blinked twice then dusted off his shoulder.

…wait…what?!

X-x-x-x-X

"Sally! Doorbell!"

Sally skipped merrily to the door, happy for an excuse to get away from the creepy fat guy dressed as a burlap sack (?!) who kept hitting on her. What did he say he was supposed to be? The Boogie Man?

Whatever his name was, she would hardly stand for his extremely vulgar language and his obvious gambling problem. Not to mention some other guy in the corner seemed to be watching her every move… 'Horrah for trick-or-treaters!' she thought happily.

Until she opened the door.

Instead of a cute little child clad in a failed attempt to appear terrifying, there stood a seven foot man (or at least that's what she thinks it is) cloaked head to toe in black with a bloody scythe in his long bony fist. She almost fainted at the sudden barrage to her nose when the putrid scent of death that rolled off him finally hit her. Then he leaned forward and said,

"It is time."

And then she fainted.

X-x-x-x-X

"Pumpkin Doll?" Jack asked confused. "What on earth are you three talking about?"

"We're saying she looked like a Pumpkin Doll!" Shock yelled back in aggravation. "Like you should put her on a shelf and stare at her forever…" She looked down at the ground somewhat dejectedly with her cohorts at either side of her. They were leading Jack back to the exceptionally loud and smelly house that the "doll" resided in. They couldn't make a break for it since Jack stole their bag of candy…

Finally they arrived at the house. Lock turned over to Shock and they shared a lightly nervous look. The house was WAY to quiet WAY to early. Maybe the doll was already dead? They didn't get to think about it too long before Jack reached out and rang the doorbell.

Bunny Foo Foo answered this time, looking rather nervous as she tried to cover the fact that almost the entire party had gathered behind her in a circle around something that wasn't visible to them. "U-um, I'm sorry, w-we don't have any candy…"

The trio glared up at her apparent lie but Jack simply smiled. "Actually, we just needed to borrow a bathroom." Then as if he had just noticed the crowd, he added, "My goodness, did something happen?"

She was about to deny it when a rather loud groan exploded from the center of the ring of people, making it painfully obvious something DID happen and whoever it happened to was awake now. They began to disperse, leaving the groaning object open and in full view of the door.

Had he had breath, it would've caught in Jack's throat. He found himself moving towards her to help her to her feet. 'She really is like a doll.' he thought. Her long straight hair fell gracefully around her long pale neck and he imagined its texture as it slipped through his bony fingers. She felt small in his arms as he lifted her, completely ignoring the look the three forgotten children were giving him and one very disgruntled person at the edge of the dissipating crowd. All he was concerned with was this Halloween Doll.

'Whoa there boy. Listen to yourself for a second. For all you know she could be Shock reincarnate.' She struggled to tie the bow back in place under her chin, and then looked up at him appreciatively, flashing a brilliant smile.

'Crap. Definitely not Shock.'

Sally looked up at the ONLY person who had helped her. Vaguely she wondered how long she had been out, until she caught her helper's eyes…or lack thereof.

Briefly she considered fainting again. Then her head throbbed. Not gonna happen.

'Another skeleton?!' However, this one had helped her and he didn't smell of death. So, to be polite, she smiled at him in thanks.

Jack knew if he had flesh, he would be blushing, but he acted as if nothing was wrong with his insides (which were getting some serious air on Jack's internal half-pipe). "Are you okay?"

She blinked slowly at his question. Briefly a Bill Engvall response came to her mind, but she squashed it down. She smiled again and responded, "Yes I'm fine now. I must've… hit my head or something." 'Yeah, on the way to the floor.'

Jack didn't buy it at all, but he decided to let it go. The party had resumed its regular beat and he instantly began to have a headache. Lock, Shock, and Barrel surrounded the two and looked up with blank expressions. "Trick-or-Treat."

Sally looked down surprised at them before she grinned and bent down to their level. "Sorry, no hitting the same house twice. Isn't that an unwritten rule?" Then she straightened up to face Jack. "I think I heard you need a bathroom. Are they your siblings or something?"

Jack gave her a look that in Halloween Town would have meant 'How can you even suggest that?!' but to her just meant 'Yes, unfortunately, now do you have some place I can bury them?' "They're my responsibility." he told her.

She giggled in response. "Well, there's one upstairs, so you won't have to go through the living room." With that she began to lead him up the stairs which he happily followed with the children behind them.

Now the two teenagers stood on either side of the door while the three children did…whatever on earth they were doing in there. Sally glanced over at him and caught his 'eye'. Hesitantly in a hushed voice she said to him, "You're not living, are you?"

He looked extremely startled, almost like he chocked on spit. He turned to her and quickly swept down the hallway to make sure no one was listening, then leaned closer to her and said, "How'd you know?"

She giggled a little, which calmed him a bit. "You may not believe me—or maybe you would—but the real reason I was on the ground was because I think the Grim Reaper paid me a visit."

Something in his chest rose at this. 'So it is true. This is the one who's going to be the newest citizen of Halloween Town! How wonderful, she's so pleasant and polite unlike most of these mortals.'

"And now I'm…I'm a little scared." She admitted in shame. "I mean, he said it's my time, but he didn't 'take my soul'" she added in air quotes. "So I'm kind of wondering what's wrong with me…"

"Nothing is wrong with you!" He blurted out. Quickly realizing his outburst, he blushed to himself and turned away. "I-I mean, it could just be someone pulling a prank, right?"

Sally looked at him incredulously for a moment before smiling brightly at him again. "Yeah…maybe you're right." Suddenly she blushed and looked at the floor. "You know, you're a really nice guy."

"Jack."

"What?" she replied, totally confused. 'Me calling you a nice guy was jack?'

Suddenly he was in front of her, bowed at the waist, with her right hand in his.

"We haven't yet introduced ourselves. Consequently, I am called Jack Skellington. You may laugh now."

Sally did begin to giggle until he brought her hand to his dry lips, effectively silencing her with the strange alluring texture. Then he looked up at her in total innocence.

"And you, mademoiselle?"

"M-my name's—"

"HEY!"

The two were snapped out of their trances when a large burly teenager roughly pushed Jack into the wall, electing a shriek of fright from Sally. Jack just glared back at the boy whom had ruined his moment in front of the Doll.

"May I assist you in any way sir?" Jack said with mock sincerity.

"Yea, you can assist me by staying away from my girl!" The furious boy screeched back at him.

Jack felt his proverbial heart sink in his chest. 'His girl? What does that mean? That's she's…?'

"Leave him alone, Johnson! You don't own me!" Sally yelled directly in the large boy's ear. "I don't even take pleasure in your company! What gave you the idea I was 'your girl'?!"

Jack looked up hopefully at this, just in time to dodge Johnson's fist which was headed straight for his head. Slipping under his large arm, Jack placed himself between Sally and Johnson, looking unnaturally calm when he turned to face the two, nostrils flared and veins popping from his neck.

"Dammit, Sally, you belong to me!" He screeched. "I'll be damned if I let some skinny pansy boy take you from me!"

Without any regard for his actions, he shoved his fist to where Jack's chest was. Out of reflex, Jack moved, completely forgetting that Sally was right behind him. Everything after that went quickly and at the same time slowly. Johnson's fist collided with Sally's collar bone, forcing her backwards. What both males didn't realize was behind Sally was the staircase she had led Jack and the three trick-or-treaters up earlier. Said children opened the door in time to see Sally's head disappear and her feet leave the floor as she fell head first down the stairs to crash at the bottom in front of the door.

A sickening crack filled the room. Johnson fainted in horrification. Lock, Shock, and Barrel raced to the top of the stairs only to turn back quickly at the scene. Jack stood terrified as his imaginary heart beat rapidly in his chest. 'That didn't just happen…that DIDN'T just happen…'

Slowly he stepped to where the children were. Looking down, he saw her. Her limbs were spread wide about her, her red hair turning even darker as her blood stained it. But what brought him back to reality, what forced a chocked sob from him was her eyes, wide and dilated black pupils.

Sobbing to himself, he rushed down the rest of the stairs. When he reached her, he lifted her head to his chest, his tears leaving trails where the blood stained her face. The sound of his sorrow was all he could hear in his world even though more people began to rush in from the other room. Though he just met her…for some reason…it hurt like he'd always known her…

"Jack?"

That voice was all that broke through his silence. Whipping his head around, but keeping a firm grip on Sally's body, he was shocked to find her standing there. The tears continued to fall, but now from happiness. She still looked like a doll, but now a more simplistic one. She was bathed in a yellow light that radiated from her pale skin. A white ribbon replaced her top hat and her body was covered in a simply white knee length dress with a bow on the bodice right above her breasts. And she was talking to him…

"Jack? I feel funny Jack. Everyone else is moving so slowly…" She paused to look around her where the scared party guests were rushing the door, but now time had slowed for everyone but the two of them and the children. "Jack, I feel so cold. I don't know where to go Jack…I'm scared…" She began to weep into her outstretched hands.

Jack swallowed loudly before finally releasing his vice grip on her body. Slowly he walked to her small shaking body, the trick-or-treaters completely forgotten. When he reached her, he wrapped his long thin arms around her and rested his head on hers.

"Don't worry…I'll take you where you want to go. You won't ever have to feel scared again." Jack whispered into her hair. Then he suddenly chuckled to himself. "Though it might be difficult if I don't know your name."

Beneath his chin, Sally felt herself blush. She snuggled warmly into his neck before giving a slightly muffled reply.

"Sally…"

X-x-x-x-X

Jack grinned widely at his subjects as he congratulated them on an exceptional holiday. It was the first Halloween since the Christmas fiasco, and despite the two month delay, it was the most successful Halloween in a millennia! This was due in part to Jack's newfound excitement to his job, a feeling that had until ten months ago long since eluded him. Though the residents of the Real World knew it as a disaster, Halloween Town praised it as a revolution.

They, of course, gave all credit to Jack. He had given them new petrifying ideas, he had dispatched Oogie Boogie whom terrorized them on the sidelines of Halloween, and he had led them to victory in the torment of the humans yet again. But that's not who he gave credit to…

Sally had defied everyone else to try and prevent him from doing something that he was too oblivious to realize was a bad idea. When this failed, she risked her afterlife to correct what he had done. Though most everyone in Halloween Town knew she was down in Boogie's lair, very few knew her role in the saving of Sandy Claws and, subconsciously, Jack.

Because of this, it wasn't very surprising that most of the town, while happy for Jack, was extremely confused when Jack announced his engagement to Sally.

Now Jack stepped quietly into the alley he use to use as an escape route. He still found the awards ceremony extremely tiresome and there was another place he would much rather be. Sally was waiting for him and she had told him she had a surprise.

He passed the musicians and tossed them a silver coin. The saxophone looked up at Jack and said what he did every year. "Nice work, Bone-Daddy."

This year, Jack halted and turned towards him with a friendly grin. "We all did wonderfully this year. Would any of you gentlemen know where Sally is?"

"Rag-doll?" the throaty voice from inside the bass gasped out. "Saw her headed off to Spiral Hill 'bout the time your speech was done. I'd say she's been waiting only ten minutes."

Jack nodded his head in thanks and continued on his way. The members of the band watched until he was out of view then turned to each other with secretive smiles.

"Looked awwwwwwful pretty, that Rag-doll."

X-x-x-x-X

Jack stepped around a pumpkin, scanning the tombstones for a head of red hair. He had been slightly shocked that she wasn't at the peak of the hill, but he rather enjoyed this game of hide and seek. Meanwhile, he let his mind wonder to the night he first met Sally.

He was at Dr. Finkelstein's lab. He couldn't remember why. His face was a little damp, as if he had cried recently. He couldn't remember the reason. The doctor was grinning wickedly, thanking him repeatedly. Now, why would he do that? After that the doctor lead him to his lab room, where a body covered in a thin sheet lay on the largest operating table. He remembered looking at it intensely until finally the body began to stir. It rose on its own, tugging at the sheet caught on its head as the Doctor's shrieks of terrifying joy filled the hollow room. Jack stepped towards the table to free the poor creature from where it was held captive under the sheet. Tugging the sheet, a head of red hair popped out from under it and he was met with wide black eyes.

Jack was thrust back into reality when he heard his faithful dog barking and an all too familiar giggle to his right. With a rather chilling grin, Jack got close to the ground in a spider-like fashion and began to creep towards the noise. Finally, he could see just the top of her red head over a rounded tombstone.

'Perfect' he thought, pressing himself against the stone then bringing himself to tower of her unaware form. His creepy grin spread as did his arms. He pointed his fingers to imitate claws. Zero huddled close to Sally's lap, having full view of Jack's terrifying spectacle. Slowly, Jack brought his arms down until his fingers, like spiders, ran through her hair. She tensed beneath his touch and gave out a shriek. Her body rose quickly, but halted when she found the arms of her captor were around her waist and clad in pin-striped sleeves.

Her features twisted into a glare she knew he couldn't see, but he could feel his muscles relaxing so he leaned down to bring his mouth to her ear.

"Happy Halloween, Sally."

Her glare diminished immediately. She felt him step over the tombstone, so she took the moment to lean back against his chest. Then Sally gripped his hands and twisted in his grip, forcing him to release her waist and grip her hands. At his sudden look of astonishment, she smiled prettily back up at him, stepping back so he could get a good look at her.

"Happy Halloween Jack."

His astonishment was due to her attire. Upon her locks was a golden crown, lopsided on her head. Black cotton material bunched her bosom and puffed at her shoulders. The rest of her arms were incased in an orange material that stuck like a second skin only to wave out over her hands at her wrists. The skirt was orange and came to points in the front, back, and sides, ending just below her knees with a thick black trim. Underneath was a torn white slip and a steal frame skirt that extended past the orange material by about three inches. She wore black tights and platform Mary Janes, her lips stretched into a knowing grin…

'A Pumpkin Doll...!'

Jack mentally shook himself at the feeling of déjà vu before stepping closer to her.

"You look freightingly beautiful."

Sally, long since used to the negative language meaning the positive, blushed bright red and leaned her head on his chest, unconsciously fingering the weight on her left ring finger. About a month ago, it had been an engagement ring. Now it was a wedding ring…

"I felt I should dress for the occasion."

Jack rested his head on hers. "Occasion?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion. "It's only Halloween. Your dress is perfectly appropriate for me and such an event."

Sally blushed harder, bringing her ringed finger to her lips where she could inspect it carefully. Steering her courage she shifted her head so she was staring up at him from just under his chin.

"Jack?"

"Yes Sally?"

"You know I love you right?"

"Of course, baby-doll, and I love you too."

"Well, I hope you can spread the love, Jack."

"What? Sally, you're not making any sense. What are you talking about?"

"Jack?"

"Yes Sally?"

"I'm pregnant."

"…"

Briefly Sally wondered if Jack's was still unloving. He wasn't moving at all and from under his chin she couldn't very well see his facial expression. Putting her hands on his chest, she pushed back enough to try and get a look at his face.

"Jack?"

"YES!!!!!!!!"

Sally suddenly let out a loud 'eep!' as she was picked up bridal style (something very difficult in her steel frame skirt, but Jack managed) and was twirled around in vast circles.

"A child, Sally! One all our own! I didn't think I could be any happier, but apparently, I was wrong! You've made me the happiest skeleton in Halloween Town!"

Suddenly Jack collapsed backwards, bringing Sally with him to fall in front of tombstone, Sally resting on his chest. She brought her head up, her world still spinning, when Jack brought his hand to rest on her cheek.

"You look so beautiful Sally…a child…a beautiful child…"

Sally giggled as she placed her hand over the one on her cheek. "Jack, you're rambling. Do you even hear yourself, I wonder?"

"I hear every word. Sally. My Sally. Would you deny your Pumpkin King one wish on Hallows Eve?"

Sally's eyes seemed to darken and she smiled dreamily back at him. "I could never deny my Pumpkin King, especially not on Hallows Eve."

"Then kiss me, my queen. Kiss me hear and if I should rapidly decompose, I do so a happy man." He spoke softly as his hand went to the back of her head to press her gently towards his face.

"Kill joy…" she whispered and closed the distance between them.

Zero just wagged his tail.