Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews! It made my whole day! I got one review saying Jack was a little out of character, thank you so much for pointing that out, and I hope Jack is more in character in chapter 3. All the reviews were a pressure to read, thank you again! And I hope everyone enjoys Chapter 3 :). I do not own anything to do with nightmare before Christmas.

Chapter 3

The citizens of Halloween town piled into town hall, grumbling while they selected a seat. Why in the world would the pumpkin king call a town meeting on such a nice day? No one wanted to be cooped up in a hot and sticky building, any other day sure, but not today.

Sally came wobbling into town hall, she was one of the rare few that actually looked happy about attending today. Sure she was enjoying the nice day just as much as everyone else, but if Jack called this meeting then, it had to be something important or at least interesting.

She stumbled into a seat in the front row. She wanted the best view of her beloved Jack. She grinned a little bit when she thought, what girl wouldn't want a good view of Jack? He was irresistible. She giggled a little bit at the thought.

The werewolf beside sitting beside, gave her a puzzled look. Right away Sally noticed, her cheeks blushed bright red from embarrassment, and quickly she covered her mouth.

Jack came out of the side door and stepped onto the stage, he stood in front of his platform and lifted one hand, "Listen everyone." He called politely to the audience, while the mayor shown the spotlight on the Pumpkin king.

The room quickly fell into a soft mumble, and then finally complete silence, with all focus on Jack.

Before Jack spoke anymore, he scanned the entire room to find Sally. When his eyes finally met hers, he gave her a heartfelt grin. It always made it easier for Jack to present his ideas to a crowd when he knew her loving gaze was somewhere in the room.

Jack cleared his throat, "Now most of you here probably know about the three ex boogies boys..." The master of frights sentence was interrupted by a tired, annoyed grown that swept through the audience. Jack struggled not to grin shaking his head a bit, perhaps like himself they knew a little to much about the wicked trio.

The skeleton man continued, "I am fully aware that they're little pranks have gotten a little, well, out of hand."

"That's a nice way of putting it." A unidentified voice grumbled somewhere from the middle row.

The tallest of the witches jumped up, showing off her cased arm, "Because of those three little monsters I have to wear this big ugly cast!"

The room started to fall into a chatter.

Jack raised a hand, "Please," He said with a small charming smile, "Allow me to continue."

The room fell quiet again.

"And as the Pumpkin king I think it's time we put a stop to, they're little pranks." Jack scanned the room, looking over at all the witches in casts, the doctor with a neck brace, and the Mayors two black eyes hunched over because of his sore back, "Before they kill someone..." Jack murmured under his breath.

"Jack's right!" A voice in the back row agreed.

"Let's push them down the stairs!" Another voice called out.

"And cut the breaks from they're little bathtub!" The doctor hissed.

"And break their arms and legs!" One of the witches chanted.

"Please, let me finish," Jack said calmly waving his long arms to try to quiet the crowd. Once they fell silent again, he continued, "I know how angry you all are, but you have to remember they are only children."

"So?" Someone snorted in the front row.

"So perhaps they don't know better." Jack explained lovingly.

"They knew not to take Sandy Claus to Oogie boogie and they still did!"

Jack cringed that statement because it was a little tough to defend, "I'm sure they had their reasons." He explained, "I'm sure they didn't think Oogie was going to harm Sandy." Jack lied.

"They're brats!" Someone shouted.

Jack gave a soft smile, and raised a hand, "They aren't as bad as we all think." The master of fright tired to defend the trio best he could, "They really are sweet kids, we just don't get to see that side of them that often, I am speaking for myself here, but if I lived with Oogie Boogie as long as they had to, I would be just as mean and nasty, or most likely worse, then they are." Jack scanned the room before continuing, "And I know there isn't a good enough excuse for all the terrible things they have done to most of you, but they are still children, and children learn from adults, the only adult they ever learned anything from was Oogie, and as we all know he certainly wasn't the greatest role model."

"So where are you trying to go with this Jack?" The Mayor asked innocently.

Jack looked up at him and gave the crowd a warm smile, "What I am trying to say to you all is, perhaps it's time we gave Lock, Shock, and Barrel a fair chance, and gave them a proper role model, someone to look up to, and respect." The skeleton man paused again, then gave a charming smile, "Maybe just maybe if one of you were too volunteer to invite them into your home for, I dunno perhaps month that would set them on the correct path."

Sally bit her lower lip trying not to cringe at the idea. It wasn't that it was a bad idea, it was a wonderful idea, and Jack's heart was in the right place, but it wasn't going to sit well with the town, not one bit, maybe a month or two ago, but the ex boogie boys have managed to press every single bottom the towns people had and have finally grated on they're final nerve.

Most of the audience sat with their mouths wide open in disbelief at such an insane idea. I mean a couple of months ago with the whole Christmas thing they thought Jack might have been crazy, but this idea was the icing on the cake, Jack was nuts. He had to be.

His idea was so ridiculous to the towns people that no one could find a single word to even say to the bizarre thought. The audience was actually afraid now to speak up, the crazy skeleton man might think they actually wanted to volunteer.

Jack stood with a big grin on his face scanning the room waiting for someone to jump at what he thought was the perfect plan. His smile got smaller and smaller, and things quickly became very awkward.

The Mayor cleared his throat, and right away everyone in the room including Jack turned to stare at him.

"If I may suggest an idea," He said nervously raising a hand, "As punishment for their actions in Halloween town I think it would be a good idea to lock up their tree house for at least a month, they can't use any of those dangerous toys they have if we lock them away."

"That's a splendid idea!" Jack said excitedly, but then turning back to the crowd and back to the Mayor, "But they would need somewhere to stay in the meantime, they can't just live on the streets for a month."

"Well Jack." The Mayor said a little shyly, "I think the best person to take on your plan of giving them a good role model would be you," He gestured to Sally, "And Sally," He said sincerely.

Sally blushed uncomfortably in her seat, looking away now from both Jack and the mayor. She hated the attention.

Jack turned to Sally, then back at the mayor, in a bit of disbelief, "Me?" He said now puzzled. Flattered of course, but still puzzled.

"They do listen to you Jack." The mayor said honestly.

The audience nodded in agreement when the pumpkin king glanced in their direction.

The mayor continued, "And both you and Sally are very polite people, almost a little to polite." He chuckled, "Why if you two couldn't rub off some of your good manners on someone then I don't know who else could."

"Why thank you," Jack said with a proud grin. He never thought of himself taking on such a task, it was his idea so he supposed it was only fair. He'd have to ask Sally first of course. But could they really handle the three of them?

"Sally?" Jack asked looking right at her.

Sally shyly turned and looked at her beloved Jack, "Yes?" She whispered shyly.

"Would you be willing to allow Lock, Shock, and Barrel to move in with us?"

All eyes in the room turned to Sally, which made Sally wish the floor would just open up and suck her in. Didn't these people have anything better to look at?

She tried to get over her shyness, and really think about Jack's question. She supposed if she could put of with the doctor, what were three kids? Besides she was sure they couldn't be that bad, they were only Children, right?

Sally gave Jack a nod, "Sure." She mumbled with a tiny smile.

Jack's face lite up at her answer.

Sally gave Jack a shy smile back, letting the boogies boys move in, well to say the least this was certainty going to be interesting...

I hope you guys enjoyed chapter 3, for me personally it was my favourite to write, though I'm really looking forward to chapter 4, so we can finally get this story rolling. I do apologize for not writing more, I just felt like this was a good way to end the chapter. Also I well update at least once every week if not sooner. If you have any thoughts I'd love to hear them! :)