Hello again, fellow readers. Thanks for all the great comments! I really appreciate it and hope you will continue.

Another note: Sorry for my little typo and thanks to for pointing out that error. When I took another look at it I thought "Oops..." I'll try to fix that as soon as possible (Quite embarrassing of an error on my part). To quote "perfect prosecuter" Miles Edgeworth: "My finger must have slipped due to excessive pressure." (Kidding!)

Also, this is a bit of a short chapter in comparison to the last chapter.

Okay, I'll shut up now so you can read what's going to happen next.

"Something's here I'm not quite getting, though I try I keep forgetting..."

"Wake up Scarlette," said Jack entering her room. "You're going back to Christmas Town today... Scarlette?"

Jack took a closer look at the bed and jerked the sheets off the bed to find no one there. "Oh, Miss Bellewood," he said in a sarcastic sing song voice. "Where are you?" Was she somewhere else in the house? No, he would've seen her already. Perhaps he needed to take this outside.

Jack went outside and found Sally talking to Scarlette, who was standing on the wall that bordered the lake.

"Scarlette, dear, please come down before you hurt yourself!" Sally pleaded.

"What in the world is going on here?" Jack demanded.

"I'm not going," replied Scarlette. "And I don't care what you... Whoa... Aaaauuuuggggghhhhh!" Scarlette was pushed into the lake by Lock, Shock, and Barrel. The three left laughing mischeviously, and saying things to each other like "Good one" and "Best trick ever!".

Luckily for Scarlette, the lake wasn't very deep, and she was able to swim in it quite easily. The impact of her fall, however, was enough to alarm the Undersea Gal, and make her want to see who had disturbed her. Scarlette sreamed at the sight of her, and the Undersea Gal, seeing as there was nothing left here, left. Reluctantly, Jack took off his coat, handed it to Sally, and dived in the lake.

"I've got you," said Jack swimming towards Scarlette. "I've got you. You aren't going to drown." Scarlette screamed as she felt a bony hand grab her arm. "Calm down! It's me!"

"Who were those kids?" asked Scarlette.

"Lock, Shock, and Barrel," said Jack. "They've been pulling pranks like that for years."

"Years?"

"They will somehow always remain children. Now, are you going to Chrirstmas Town, or not?"

"Fine." Scarlette climbed out of the lake completely soaked. "But I can't exactly go like this, can I?"

"Don't worry, you'll be dry by the time we've finished walking."

"Well, Mr. Skellington," said Santa staley after opening the door. "It seems as though you returned Scarlette."

"I'm not a kidnapper, Mr. Claws," Jack replied icily.

"Jack, what am I going to do now?" groaned Scarlette desprately with head in her hands.

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." All was silent. "What? Am I suddendly the only one who knows that quote? Scarlette? No? Really? Anyway, Sandy, I wanted to discuss..."

"No," Santa said coldly.

"You didn't even know what I was going to say."

"You can't just take over other people's holidays. Especially after you've done it once. It's the law."

"That was not what I was going to say." Santa's face turned red as his suit.

"Oh... Then what is it?"

"Well, my wife, children, and I have talked about adopting Scarlette."

"WHAT? As Santa yelled, he accidentally pulled on Scarlette's tie.

"Well, you don't seem like a better guardian considering you're about to murder the girl. Don't chase the workers, little ones." After Jack left to find Ella and Vincent, Santa asked Sally, Marie, Rhett, and Scarlette to take a seat on the sofa.

Scarlette, however, was a bit awestruck. Did Jack really just say that? Adopt? That must have been the best five letter word she's ever heard.

"Now, Santa, you know that Jack's a good parent," Sally insisted.

"Well, yes, but I still don't know if I can shake off what happened all those years ago."

"You still can't forgive Dad for that?" asked Rhett.

"I never forgave you the time you dunked my head in the well," added Marie.

"That was when you were seven and I thought it was empty!"

"My point is," interrupted Sally trying to avoid a fight. "If you can't do it for Jack, then do it for me, do it for the rest of our children."

"But I still can't imagine Jack taking care of-" started Santa. Scarlette bounded out of her seat and shook the entire coffee table. She didn't even begin to consider her actions when she shouted to Santa:

"You can give presents to two billion kids, but you can't give me the one thing I want when this is the perfect opportunity?" She ran up to her room in tears, not noticing that she dashed right past Jack. He sent the children back to their mother and seached for where Scarlette could have gone. When he found the door, he knocked twice.

"Scarlette?" he asked. "Scarlette, it's me, Jack."

"Fine," she replied on the bed with her knees up to her chin. When he attempted to enter, however, he bumped his head on the too low arch. She couldn't help but giggle at what happened. Then she came to realize that he was actually a whole lot taller than most of the residents in his own holiday world. At least two feet taller Seeing that his height was an obstacle, he resorted to walking on his knees.

"Scarlette," he said. "You probably think that Sandy Claws can just do anything. That you can just wish it and, poof, it's there. But it takes so much more than that. Sometimes, it takes this." He points to her heart. "It may take a lot of them, but when they are all together, nothing is impossible."

"Really?"

"Of course! You just have to have faith in it, and never let it go. Can you do that for me?"

"Yeah, I think I can," replied Scarlette smiling.

"Excellent. Now, let's see if we can get Sandy Claws to change his mind before my knees give out." But Santa had been watching the two the entire time. He had heard what Jack had said. And as much as he didn't want to admit it, Jack was right: It was more than just a Santa Claus miracle that she needed. So much more. He went back downstaris and told everyone his final discision.

"Well, Jack," he sighed. "I suppose I could let her stay in your town for a month. If she is happy, then she can call it a permanent home."

"I assure you, Sandy, that Scarlette will be treated with upmost care," answered Jack. "Isn't that right, Scarlette?" But Scarlette could only nod. "Right."

Well? What do you think? Please read and review.

Also, I may not be able to update in one or two of the coming weeks. I have tech week for a musical at my local theatre and performances after that. I promise, though, that I'll try not to keep you waiting too long!