Author's note: I just want to say thank you for all of your great reviews. You all prompted me to write more quickly and get this chapter up. Keep on R&R! There's much more to come.

Chapter 4

Downstairs, Jack dumped the burnt food into the garbage. He dropped the pots into the sink and cleaned up the mess, all the while muttering incoherently to himself. With a sigh, Jack collapsed into a chair. Rubbing his eye sockets, Jack tried to clear his mind of the sight that had met his eyes when he came home. Upon entering the kitchen, Jack had seriously thought Sally was having a fit or a seizure or something. She was on the floor, writhing in pain or fear, a blood-curdling scream emitting from her mouth. What haunted him most was what she was saying in between screams. Sally had shrieked, "No! Get away from me! No!" repeatedly, but mixed in "Jack!" in between sentences. Jack moaned and buried his face in his hands. Was Sally frightened of his touch? Did he actually give her nightmares? The very thought made Jack want to cry. Maybe he should rethink his proposal and give Sally a bit more time . . .

It was then that Jack heard the sound. Jack stood from the table and hurried to the staircase, taking the stairs four at a time. Finally, he emerged into the tower bedroom to spot Sally sobbing into his pillow. She was unaware of his presence. Jack crossed the room to his bed silently, placing a hand on Sally's quacking shoulder. "My love, what is troubling you?"

Sally jumped when she learned of his presence. She hurriedly sat up at swiped at her tearing eyes. "Oh, Jack, it's nothing. Completely trivial." Sally knew that Jack wouldn't buy this lame excuse, but she was not so eager to reveal the source of her discontent.

Jack wrapped a bony arm around her shoulders. "Sally, anything that can reduce you to hysterical tears would never be considered 'trivial' in my books." He gently kissed her hair and wiped away a few stray tears. "Please tell me."

Sally drew a shuddery breath and dropped her gaze to her lap. "I had a premonition before . . . when you found me on the floor." She felt Jack's body tense up, but he was silent. She took this as a signal to continue. "In my vision, I was chained to this flat concrete thing—I guess it was a bed—and I", Sally gulped, slightly embarrassed to admit the next detail aloud "had no clothes on." To Sally's alarm, Jack's grip on her shoulders tightened and what sounded like an angry growl emitted from his throat. Sally dared to glance up into his skeletal face. Jack's brow was furrowed, eyes narrowed, and mouth turned down into an angry frown. Sally continued in a shaky voice. "In the corner was a pair of glowing eyes, laughing a horrible, eerie laugh. It was coming closer and closer," Sally paused again. "I think it was Oogie Boogie."

Jack sighed in relief. His tight grip on her loosened a bit. "You have nothing to worry about, Sal. Oogie's gone; there is no way he could come back. Even if he did, he wouldn't have a prayer."

"Are you sure, Jack?"

"Positive. You have nothing to worry about, trust me." Jack stood and walked to the windows, viewing the sun setting over his town, casting it in a rosy glow.

Sally was silent for a moment. "You seem unnaturally relieved, Jack. Were you worried about something else before?"

Jack turned back to Sally. He seemed hesitant to answer her question. "Why do you ask that, love?"

"You seemed to tense up right before I told you who was in my premonition. Were you worried about the name I would say?"

Jack sighed and sat down on the bed beside Sally. "To be perfectly honest with you, I was afraid you were going to say that I was in the premonition, that I was the one chaining you down and making you scream in terror." Jack stared at the floor. "I was worried that you were afraid of me and felt threatened by my touch. That was why I left so quickly before. I didn't want to scare you."

"Oh Jack," Sally sighed, lifting herself up onto her knees and wrapping her arms around Jack. "I was calling for you to help me." Sally kissed Jack's brow tenderly. "You are the only one that can truly save me."

"Really?" Jack asked softly, pulling Sally into his lap.

"Really." Sally assured him, resting her head against his shoulder. "Honestly, the thought of your touch entices me. I yearn for it."

A playful grin crept its way onto Jack's face. "Do you really?"

"I do," Sally murmured, a seducing grin spreading across her face. She eased her hand into Jack's waistcoat, moving her hand up and down his ribs. Jack was pleasantly shocked. Never before was Sally so forward. Sally herself was shocked with her courage. Here she was, sitting in the lap of the Pumpkin King, seducing him. Daringly, Sally whispered into Jack's ear, "I want you, Jack."

These words made Jack's breath catch in his throat. A classic skeletal grin spread across his face as he gently eased Sally off his lap and onto the bed. "Well, madam, your desires are certainly not lost on me." With a few long strides, Jack made his way around the bedroom, closing the drapes, allowing only the light of the fire in the hearth to illuminate the two lovers. He unbuttoned his coat and removed his shirt. "Ready?" Jack asked.

Sally took it all in. Her Jack, the love of her life, was truly breathtaking before her. Tall and lean with his torso exposed, he wasn't just a king; he was a god.

"Yes," she breathed.

Hours later, Jack and Sally lay in bed, wrapped in each other's arms. They were silent; there was no need for words. It was simply enough to enjoy the bliss and hope it would never end. After a moment, Jack finally spoke. "I love you, Sally, more than you could ever possibly know."

"I love you too, Jack. I don't know what I would ever do without you."

"Do you know what day it is?"

Sally looked at the clock beside the bed. It read half past twelve. "I guess now it's December 24th." Sally smiled and turned back to look into Jack's eyes. "Our anniversary."

Jack smiled back at her. "Indeed it is, Sally." He stood and crossed the room, pulling back the drapes to allow the full moon to illuminate the room. Sally stood from the bed and crossed the room to stand beside Jack, admiring the night sky. "Beautiful," Jack said. Sally looked up at him to see that Jack was looking at her the whole time. Jack reached for his waistcoat and fished something out of the pocket.

"Sally," Jack sunk to one knee, making Sally catch her breath. "I love you more than anything else in this world. I can't imagine where I would be without you. You brought so much sunshine and beauty into my life. The happiest day of my life so far was the day you told me you loved me one year ago." Jack held up the box in his hand and opened it to reveal the beautiful diamond ring. "I want to have infinitely many more happy days with you. My love, will you marry me and be my queen?"

Sally was absolutely breathless. It seems like all of her dreams were coming true in a matter of hours. She saw Jack staring up at her, awaiting her answer expectantly.

"Yes, Jack. A million times, yes!" With a huge grin that took up his entire face, Jack removed the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. It was a perfect fit.

Jack stood and wrapped his arms around Sally's bare body and kissed her passionately. Sally felt like she was floating on air. Everything was absolutely perfect.