NintendoGal55: Here it is, folks! :D Jack and Sally's first date! Despite all the planning and work going into Christmas...Jack of course makes sure to make time for his beloved Sally! ^w^
Azure129: :D DATE TIME! Wait until you see how cute things get : 3 I hope you all enjoy!
It was exactly two hours later right now...and Jack Skellington had spent the better part of the last hour making sure his suit was perfect, his bowtie was perfect, his shoes were perfect, even that his skull was a little polished...And he had also gone through the whole pumpkin patch picking a fresh bouquet of dried flowers...and then he had just spent several minutes talking to Zero as he tried to convince himself that this wasn't going to be some kind of disaster and that he could handle this...a whole romantic evening with her at his disposal...and then he had sent off to Dr. Finkelstein's house for his Sally. And now he was at the door. He straightened his bowtie, checked that his flower bouquet was still looking fine, and then he let out a breath and knocked at the door. 'It will be fine...Just calm down...It will be fine...'
A moment passed, and rather than the usual reply of "The door is open!" from inside, there was instead something quite different. There was the sound of locks and latches being unlocked and undone, before the door was then pulled open.
"Jack Skellington, come on in, my boy!" Dr. Finkelstein called from inside, apparently downstairs for once. "You can let go now, Igor."
Jack blinked at the unusual reception and hesitantly stepped inside, clearing his throat a little. "Um...hello, Dr. Finkelstein. You're having a pleasant evening, I hope?" Jack did his best to smile as his sights finally turned to the old scientist.
"Why yes, you could say that." Dr. Finkelstein replied, wheeling toward him. He then looked up the ramp. "SALLY! Your...date is here! Don't keep him waiting! It's not polite, you know!"
An anxious and timid "Coming!" was heard from upstairs.
"Well my boy..." The doctor turned back to him. "I must say, I never expected in all my afterlife that the Pumpkin King of all in this town, would actually come here and court a creation of mine! Though I suppose it could have been a worse pick that you, my boy." He paused a moment, and studied him carefully. "Now then, you remember, have her back by no later than midnight. She needs her rest, you know."
Jack nodded very firmly. "O-Of course, no later, you have my word." He gave a small bow. "A-And I...well, I just...as I said, I couldn't help it...wanting to court her...She's...very special." He glanced down with a touch of shyness. "She's wonderful, actually...And I'm more grateful to you than I can say for creating her, doctor." Jack looked at him very sincerely.
A bit of a surprised look came to the scientist's face before he cleared his throat. "Um...right, yes... Now then my boy, where do you plan to take her? Be honest now, I only want to make sure to know where she may be."
"Oh!" Jack blinked several times and answered truthfully, "W-Well, to be honest, I...hadn't really picked a particular place. I just thought we'd go wherever it seemed best for us to go. Um...perhaps for a walk near the graveyard and pumpkin patch first...and then perhaps we'll head over to the town to look at the fountain at night in the moonlight with all of the new Christmas decorations on it, a-and then, if there's nothing else we'd like to see, I thought we might go back to my house...I...was going to make us tea and something to eat, and then I thought we could talk more about...our new courtship." He looked to the doctor unsurely, hoping all of that would meet with his approval.
"Mm-hmm..." The doctor pondered this for a moment. "Well, my boy, I suppose that will be all right."
There was a loud, echoing, clicking noise heard then, and it was then that they saw none other than Sally coming down the spiral ramp, actually very close to the bottom now.
She approached, slowly, and wore a new dress. Short sleeves, the bust was black, with an orange stitched waistline, almost like a very thin belt. It revealed a lot more of her shoulders, and had a round, modest neckline. The skirt of it was a patchwork skirt, stitched to the waistline. She wore her usual black and white striped socks, black short-heeled shoes, and actually had a black bow in the shape of a bat tied to her head.
Jack's eye sockets flew open wide and his jaw fell and he almost dropped his flower bouquet right to the ground. 'She...She dressed up...for me...' It was such a fascinating concept to him...That not only had she cared about her appearance enough to dress up for him but that she had actually had any doubts that how she normally looked wasn't already overwhelmingly beautiful enough. "O-Oh...my..." was all that stuttered out of him at first.
Sally approached, shyly, and slowly, but with a smile. "...He...Hello...Jack..." She managed softly, bringing her arms behind her back.
Seeing how speechless he was, Dr. Finkelstein loudly cleared his throat to get his attention. "It's not polite to stare, my boy."
Jack blinked and instantly cleared his throat, snapping out of it. "Sorry! I...I...h-hello, Sally..." he said shyly, glancing down bashfully... Then he realized something again. "Oh! Um...these are for you!" He quickly held out the flowers to her, looking to her again. "A-And...you look beautiful, Sally..." He smiled softly.
"Oh!" Sally was utterly surprised, and gently took them, admiring them with wide eyes. "F-For me? Flowers? ...Oh..." She was so touched, so speechless...she had no idea what to make of this. In the best way possible! Beaming, she resisted the urge to practically attack him with a hug, deciding to save that for in private. "Awwww...thank you so much, Jack...no one's ever given me flowers before..."
"Really?" Jack swallowed...and then smiled warmly, his arms going behind his back. "Well...you deserve them, Sally...You deserve flowers all the time..."
"Oh..." Sally smiled shyly, and then turned around for a moment. "Doctor...will you please put these in my room...if it's not too much trouble?"
A light grumble escaped him, but he nodded and took them from her. "Yes yes, I'll do that. Now go, you have a lot to do. Midnight, Sally, don't you forget."
"Oh, I won't, Doctor. ...Thank you so much for this!" She actually gave him a hug and kissed his metallic head in a daughterly way before letting go, turning back to her date. "Um...shall we go...Jack?"
"Y-Yes...let's go..." Jack was feeling so very warm and happy inside already, all anxiety starting to wash away. He gently reached out and took her hand to lead her over to the door. "Goodbye, Dr. Finkelstein!" he called over to the old scientist, "Have a good evening and I'll have Sally back at midnight." Jack opened the front door and released Sally's hand for a moment to gently lean down and gesture forward. "Ladies first, Sally..." He smiled up at her.
Used to that little chivalry, Sally giggled and murmured a thank-you before stepping outside. To freedom! ...For the evening, at least.
'Oh well, at least the doctor is letting Jack court me...' Sally thought happily. She was so lost in thought, she didn't realized she had overstepped in a stumble and was then falling backward. "Oh!"
Jack, instantly recognizing her stumble, stood up and was behind her, and she fell backward into his arms. "Are you alright, Sally?" he asked sincerely, looking down at her with a worried frown as he held her.
"Y-Yes..." Sally managed a nod, feeling VERY silly. "I...wasn't watching where I was going..."
Jack smiled warmly down at her. "It's alright...People trip...I'm just happy I was here to catch you."
"Thank you, Jack..." She murmured gratefully, her eyelids lowering slightly.
Jack gulped...starting to tremble a little. "You're...welcome...Sally..." He sighed a little.
Giggling a bit, Sally managed to straighten herself and stand properly, regaining her balance. She brushed imaginary dust off her skirt, and then looked at him shyly, but as lovingly as can be. "...Jack...I..." She brought her arms around him in an embrace.
Jack took in a sharp, deep breath. "Y-Y-Yes...Sally?" he asked, his eye sockets half lidded...his arms slowly managing to come around her waist.
"I...um...well...wanted to greet you...w-without anyone watching..." Sally managed timidly, and then leaned up to kiss him sweetly, and pulled back, smiling shyly.
"Mmm..." A little pleasurable moan/sigh escaped Jack and his knees buckled a tiny bit. "I...th-thanks..." he replied sweetly and lovesickly... "I adore you..." he couldn't help but add.
"I adore you, too..." Sally said softly, and giggled, now bringing her hands to his shoulders. "And I...I... I'm glad we could do this, Jack."
Jack let out a happy sigh and then swiftly closed his eye sockets and moved in and placed a tender kiss upon her lips...Then he pulled back and opened his eye sockets again, smiling down at her. "I'm...glad we could do this as well, Sally." He chuckled a little.
"Ohh..." Sally utterly melted, a lovesick smile coming to her face as she tried to stay steady, their embrace pretty much all that kept her standing. "...Jack...I love you..." She cooed.
"I...love you too...Sally...I..." He was barely breathing anymore. "Oh Sally, how am I ever supposed to bring you back here at midnight...Now that I have you, I want to keep you...forever..." He reached up and gently pulled a few bony fingers through her soft yarn hair.
Blinking a few times, Sally smiled bashfully as she looked down a bit. "I asked myself the same thing just now...I'd go anywhere with you, Jack..."
Jack's smile grew. "I...And I would want you always by my side...anywhere..." He let out a small sigh. "But...But for now...since we only have a short time...will you at least accompany me to the pumpkin patch perhaps for a walk? I know it's not much but...it's a start."
"Not much? Jack...don't be silly. I'm more than happy to do anything with you, together..." Sally assured, beaming. "I'd love to go for a walk in the pumpkin patch."
"Oh...thank you...haunting vision of dark loveliness..." And then he hugged her close and snuggled her a little, and then took her hand, lacing their fingers, and proceeded to walk off with her into the evening air toward the pumpkin patch.
Some time passed as they walked along in contended silence. It wasn't awkward nor tense, just quiet. It was kind of nice, to be able to just walk together, silently enjoying each other's company, and just taking the time to listen to everything around them, smell, and see. Even if words weren't leaving their mouths, it didn't matter, because they were spending time with one another.
While the worry continued to eat her inside, Sally repressed any of "those" worries, because tonight, she wanted to focus on just the two of them together, and their growing courtship.
They passed by the band playing Christmas songs, which they had been appointed to do.
"Jack...are they playing those...Christmas songs you were talking about before?" Sally couldn't help but ask.
Jack nodded, coming out of some quiet personal reminisces about how magical this night was to turn to her with a smile. "Yes, I asked them to play them especially...Of course, in Christmas Town they sound much more, er...perky, I suppose...But the band is still doing a nice job nonetheless."
"Oooohh...I see...um...well, I like this one...it's very nice. Um...what is it? If you don't mind my asking, of course." Now she looked toward the band as they played, curious.
Jack chuckled. "It's 'Here Comes Sandy Claws'...It's a song about Sandy Claws getting ready to come and deliver presents to all the good little children on Christmas Eve night. Oh Sally, they have such sweet little songs, there-there's this one and then there's one about a reindeer with a glowing red nose just like Zero has, and one all about Christmas trees, and one about silver bells...They're all just so...pretty!" He chuckled a little, then glanced away with a touch of shyness. "I'm sorry,Sally, I probably seem so strange...I'm supposed to be the scary Pumpkin King and, not to say I don't adore horror and fear and frightfulness but...I'm utterly charmed by sweet and nice things too..." he gulped and added, "...which I guess sort of explains my deep love of you...You're like the best of both towns combined..." He looked to her, his eye sockets half lidded
"O-Oh..." Sally looked away shyly at that. "Jack, don't be silly. You're allowed to like whatever you want. Just because you're the Pumpkin King doesn't mean you can't appreciate other kinds of things that catch your interest... If that makes any sense..."
Jack let out a small, happy sigh. "Thank you...You're so good to me, Sally...I'm so happy with you..." He closed his eye sockets and leaned against her a little, snuggling into her.
Beaming, Sally snuggled against him a bit too. "I feel the exact same way, Jack... Being with you is by far...the greatest gift I could ever ask for."
Jack was touched so very deeply. "I'm honored...And you're my greatest gift too...I can't wait until all of this bustle about Christmas is done so I can finally have more of an opportunity to unwrap you a little..." Jack was still smiling and snuggling her for about a second longer...and then his eye sockets popped wide opened and he straightened up and cleared his throat and instantly stammered in explanation and clarification, "I-I-I-I mean, y-y-you know...unwrap a-as in spend more time figuring you and figuring us out a-and just trying to explore our unexpected new love!" He cleared his throat and looked away with a touch of distress as the pumpkin patch came within sight. 'That's it-I'm never opening my mouth again...Ever...' He even cringed a tiny bit.
Sally giggled, holding her free hand to her mouth. She never would've thought anyone could be as bashful like this! "Jack, you're so cute. ...Um...but what else could you possibly mean by that? I'm afraid I don't follow."
Jack blinked and then turned to look at her in utter curiosity. "I...you...don't?"
"No, I don't." Sally shook her head. "What in the world could it be if it has you so...flustered?" She looked at him with curious eyes and a concerned pout.
Jack gulped a little, still a touch confused. "I..." Then it hit him. 'She's...She looks...my age but...she's only been around...barely a year, actually...and a very sheltered year it's been...' Jack considered and then reached up with his free hand to rub the back of his neck as he replied. "I...the word 'unwrap'...can...suggest...something...intimate...Um...th-think of it as sort of like if you were to take off my jacket for me." He did his best to smle, grateful for the innocent example. "And I-I'm sorry, Sally, I just got flustered because I...I didn't mean it in that way really...and I didn't want you to think I was making some kind of...forward joke about you and I together. I really do just want to figure you out, my dearest Sally...I feel like I could spend days...years...maybe centuries...just trying to explore every part of who you really are..." He smiled warmly down at her.
"Oh...I...I...understand that, Jack..." Sally said sweetly, snuggling more into him and looking up at him. "I want to figure you out too, figure...um...u-us out...and everything..." She leaned up and kissed his cheek. Then she looked confused again. "But what could be so forward and intimate about taking off your jacket?"
Jack gave another tiny gulp. "I...well...you would be taking a piece of clothing off of me..so there would be less clothing between us...so if we held each other...we would be much closer...and we could be...more intimate." He glanced at her hesitantly, hoping he had put that alright and not offensively or anything.
Now Sally tilted her head, still very puzzled. "I've only ever had just a dress on and we've...h-held each other... Jack, I'm afraid I still don't follow."
Jack let out a deep sigh and stopped their walking for a moment. Then he turned to Sally and placed both of his hands on her shoulders and looked down into her eyes. "Sally, I...A-Alright...please listen to me very carefully...because I just...want to try and explain something to you a little...o-on the very off chance that you're ever with...s-someone else besides me...because I would never take advantage of your newness to this world, my darling, you have my word." He tried not to focus too much on the cringe the idea of her loving another man sent through him and just went on with what he had to say. "You are...only a year old, technically...but you're also a very pretty woman...and not just pretty but...a-attractive...especially your body...and especially from a man's perspective. And...I-I suppose it follows that the more men are attracted to your body...the more of it they would like to see...But Sally..." his tone took on something a bit more serious, "...you...i-it's your body to do with as you please, of course, but...please always keep in mind that someone else's attraction to you is never as important as whether or not they really love you...and also that...if a man can't appreciate your natural modesty and soft loveliness...pardon my saying so but I don't think he's good enough for you, Sally. B-But, overall, the point is that...things...change between two people and how they look at one another when they fall in love...but you have my word that I will never take advantage of you in any way just because of that...and that all I want is for you to be your most comfortable and your most happy...alright?"
Unfortunately, it left her even more confused, since it didn't quite answer her initial questions. But, none the less, Sally did feel very touched and so comforted by his words. She didn't know exactly what he was entailing completely, but could see, kind of, where he was coming from. Loving someone for more than just superficial reasons... And that he'd never take advantage of her... She didn't know what that meant exactly, but could see it wasn't anything good. It probably entailed taking someone for granted and then treating them like some kind of trophy and slave to your wills.
Unable to help herself, Sally threw her arms around his neck and engaged them into a loving and grateful kiss. She had so much to say, in such thanks and love, but settled on showing how she felt for a moment...
"Mmm?" Jack moaned in surprise, almost reeling back a little at her sudden embrace and kiss. And what did this mean anyway? Was she that happy that he wouldn't take advantage of her? Or was this some kind of...signal to him that...she understood his meaning and wasn't entirely opposed to exploring it a little one of these days...? He didn't know what to think and so for now just settled in relaxing a little and bringing his hands up to her shoulders and kissing her back tenderly, at least grateful that she didn't seem angry with him about his verbal slip from before or about his admission that he had started to think about her a little 'differently' than before during their friendship.
Holding it for some time, she pulled back, and looked quite lovesick for a few moments before gathering her bearings. "Jack...I...I just want to say how sweet of you it was...to say you'd never take advantage of me. ...I...I have to foolishly admit that I do not know what you mean by that entirely...but, I have a feeling it's...well, probably something that goes against your character or even any good man, isn't it? And...I'm so...so flattered you'd say that, that you would want me to be so comfortable and happy with you...because...I am, I truly am..." She kissed his cheek, and then his other, and then the corner of his mouth. "I love you... I have f-for quite some time. ...And to be with you is a dream come true for me. I know it may be soon to say to say this, but I can't...see myself with another like this. Um...so, you won't have to think abotu that, okay? Because I want this to last. I don't even want to think about..." Her voice trailed off. "Anyway...I-I hope I'm making sense. ...And Jack...I still don't quite follow what you're trying to tell me about...my body and intimacy... But um...whatever it may be...I'm sure it would be wonderful to share together...would it?"
Jack was utterly overwhelmed...She..only wanted to be with him...forever...She didn't even want to think about being with another man...She thought he was a good man with a good character...And she thought it would be wonderful for them to share...to...to share...He honestly couldn't even bear to finish the thought...It just felt too...unimaginably blissful...to let fully into his mind. "Y-You...I...I..." Jack felt so...much inside of him for a moment that he almost felt like he could have...cried, really, "Sally...you love me like that...forever...only...me...? I...I..." he swallowed, then found the courage to add, "I've never felt about another woman the way I feel about you...and...if I have any say in the matter...I'd rather feel this way about...only you...forever...too...And..." his voice lowered to a whisper. "I...do love to share with you, my Sally...all the wonderful things in the world...one day...maybe..." his voice was almost inaudible as he finished, "...hopefully..."
A soft, warm giggle escaped her as she nuzzled their cheeks affectionately, bringing her arms more around him as she gently pressed closer. "Yes. I want to commit myself to you fully... You may be...the first I've ever loved, but I know how I feel...and I will promise you my complete faithfulness and love to you. If you'll have me..." She kissed his cheek. "Jack? Won't you tell me what you were implying earlier? Please? You keep it so mysterious to a point...is it really that serious?"
Jack both melted and locked up a little inside. He didn't want to lie to her...but he didn't want to overwhelm her on their first night. "I..." he whispered slowly, "If I...tell you...may I skip the details? A-After all, even I'm not clear on all of the details..." And then he added lovingly though still quietly, "And...I'll have you...forever...Sally."
"I'll have you, too...now and forever..." Sally cooed, and kissed his cheek again. "And um...skipping details?" She was puzzled. "Oh dear...well...if you want to tell me...whatever this is..."
Jack let out a tiny bit of a breath again, and then put his arms around her tenderly as he answered her question. "When two people love each other very much...for a very long time...usually they get married, like everyone was joking about earlier with us...but also they go off...and get very close...and hold each other...and touch each other...and see parts of each other that no one else sees...all as part of expressing their love. It's very private...and, I've heard, very...special...and beautiful...and wonderful...just like you are, my Sally. And whoever shares something like that with you will truly be the luckiest man in the whole wide world." He managed to smile at her, despite all of the awkwardness and his embarrassment...and surprisingly he felt more at peace than ashamed or nervous. It was nice...very nice.
The explanation was vague, obviously because of the lack of any deeper details (whatever they may have been), but she was starting to get the gist of what it was all about. Being intimate, close together, often took place after a couple was married... Whatever it was, it had be big and serious if it made him THIS flustered and vague about the details. But Sally processed what he said, understanding it as much as she could. Yes, she was still curious and wanted to know what it ALL entailed, but she wasn't about to pry any further.
"I...I see...thank you for explaining it to me." She said finally, smiling. "But um...there is one thing that bothers me... You said whoever shares that with me, whatever it may be, would be lucky?" She shook her head then. "I think...I'd prefer
to one day...share that with...you."
Uh-oh. Maybe that wasn't the best thing to say. Too bold? Too much? And even just too forceful? It probably made her sound silly.
Jack's eye sockets flew open to the point of cracking his skull and he stepped back from her, unable to help it. "S-Sally...you..." he barely knew what to... "I...think you should...get to know me...g-get to know a-anybody...a little better...before you...want to...w-with them...o-or me...just to be certain that they're the one you want...or rather that I'm the one you want...certain that you love me...every part of me...Do you understand?" He looked at her very carefully and very deliberately, hoping he hd chosen his words well enough.
"No no! I didn't mean...I meant...um..." An awkward silence befell them as she pulled away, looking weirded out and ashamed. She had no idea what to say now, and felt all the more awkward and anxious. 'Me and my big mouth-AGAIN...'
"Sally..." She looked so...horribly sad all of a sudden...He had to make this better: he was the one who had started this in the first place after all with that idiotic 'unwrap' comment accidentally flying out of his mouth before. He moved back toward her again and looked sincerely down at her. "Sally...please don't feel bad or sad...If anything I'm the one who ought to feel horrible-I started this whole conversation with that...insensitive slip of the tongue of mine before...It was accidental but it was still inexcusable and I'm truly sorry. But, I...Sally, I...don't mean to...push you away right now or be vague...I just don't want to overwhelm you and I just want you to be aware that...these are rather large issues you're bringing up and wanting answers about, and I...I don't have all of the answers...on top of which I just...I just don't think I can give them to you plainly and still be any kind of a gentleman at the same time...so I would prefer not to. But that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate you wanting me and only me, Sally...or that I don't want...you and...only you too...And I'm sorry if I made you feel like either one of those two things wasn't the case...alright?" He looked to her hesitantly as he awaited her reply.
An embarrassed look came to her face yet again, and Sally shook her head. "No...it's not your fault. It's just me being so curious and not willing to sit on vague answers. I'm sorry. I was being a brat, and then just kind of started saying things I should've just kept to myself, and I put you in a very difficult position, it was unfair of me. I'm so sorry."
Jack blinked, not having expected a further apology from her. "Sally, Sally," he put his hands onto her shoulders, "You musn't ever be sorry for being curious and having questions-that's part of what I love about you. You're so clever and inquisitive and adventurous. I never want you to feel bad about being that way or want to change it. Now, listen to me. You have every right to wonder about...how things might change...between us..or any couple...now that we're together. And if you're ever truly unsure about something, of course I want to know. I'm just...shy about this, Sally...and I can't help it. But I told you everything I could bring myself to tell you, and especially only on our first date, and I only hope that it was enough...I'm sorry, Sally, I'm sorry..." He frowned so deeply, feeling like he had messed up their date so horribly and in such a short amount of time.
Her eyes went wide, and then instantly, she brought her arms around him and nuzzled into his neck, the tips of the flared wings of her bow tickling his skull a bit. "Don't be sorry. ...I love you...it would take a lot more than that for me to be angry at you. ...I...I'm very new to a lot of things, especially courting, and I...didn't quite take into account how much you would feel in certain areas...don't worry, we'll drop it for now...and let things evolve naturally..."
Jack straightened and trembled a little bit at her sudden hug...but then as she spoke to him he relaxed and calmed...and now that she was done he just nodded a little. "A-Alright..." he said back quietly, "We'll...we'll save it for later...I...think it might be easier for us to talk about later, anyway. And I love you too, Sally...And I...this is our first date...I'd like to just be slow and gentle together...Is that alright, dearest darling Sally?" He managed a small, soft smile down at her.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Sally tilted her head lightly, her lips curving into a smile.
Jack melted a little more and smiled more to go right along with it. "O-Oh...well...o-okay then..." His eye sockets were half lidded. "You have...such a pretty smile..." It left him in a little sigh without him even thinking about it.
"Oh..." A giggle escaped Sally and she looked down shyly, her stitched smile growing. "You think so?"
A low little chuckle escaped Jack and he gave a few, goofy nods. "Oh...yes... It's frightful and yet...beautiful...and especially when the moonlight catches upon your stitches..."
Sally blushed, giggling as she looked back up at him. "You really are such a charmer, Jack...I...and um...if I may...I love your skeleton grin..." She smiled more, tracing his mouth with her finger, very gently.
Jack instantly straightened up and his eye sockets went wide and his jaw trembled a little, his breaths becoming shallow. "I...I-I..." her soft cloth little finger touching his mouth was just... "You...do?" was all he managed to sort of squeak out in surprise.
"Yes..." Sally lowered her finger, and then brought her hands to his shoulders, then shyly kissed his lips, sweetly, and pulled back. "I do."
"Mmm-" sort of squeaked out of Jack as he felt his knees starting to buckle, "S-Sally...I...how do you...do that?" he barely managed to whisper out to her.
"Do what, Jack?" Sally blinked, looking at him in genuine curiosity.
"How do you...make me just...I don't even...How do you always know what to do to make me feel so...so...happy...inside?" he asked blissfully.
"Oh...well...I don't know...I can't help how you feel...I...I just...do what feels right in expressing...h-how much I...love you..." Sally managed, and nuzzled her head into his neck again, a dreamy sigh escaping her lips. "I'm glad it makes you feel happy, Jack..."
Jack let out a dreamy sigh and brought his arms around her. "I just...hope I make you as happy, my Sally..." He nuzzled his chin on top of her head.
Now her embrace tightened a bit. "Jack...you truly do...you make me happier than I've ever felt..."
Jack was utterly touched in such a deep way. "If...that's the case...then I believe I'm now happier than I've ever been...Your happiness is my happiness, Sally..." He gently brushed his hand through her hair.
A little coo of appreciation came from Sally at his gesture, she loved when he tousled her hair... She looked up at him then, positively beaming, and just feeling so touched. "It's true, Jack... Ever since you've been my friend, and now...m-more than my friend...you've made me so happy. And...I'm glad it's made you, happy too. Your happiness is my happiness, too... And I'll continue to do all I can to make this work, and make us both happy for as long as we're together."
"As will I...most darling Sally...As will I..." Jack replied, gazing down at her with warmth and love. He just looked at her...all of her smiling, beaming, loving perfection... Then he swallowed...and asked shyly, hoping this wouldn't lead to anything upsetting like before. "...Sally?"
"Yes?" She looked at him with curiosity, her gaze soft.
Jack swallowed, then asked with a small smile, "...If...you really are curious about...love...There...is one thing at least that I...would be more than happy to answer any detail about for you..."
The neutrality melted away into pure curiosity. "...There is? Oh, well...what is it, Jack?" She gave a smile.
Jack gulped, and then replied shyly... "Marriage...I'd be...more than happy to...tell you anything you would like to know about that..."
Sally blinked, and then she beamed. "Really, Jack? I...I've read in some stories about...well...marriage, but I know very little about it. All I know is that it is a way of two people forever becoming united. ...Um...I'd love to know more about it.."
Jack's eye sockets all but beamed. "O-Oh...well then...Walk with me, my dearest Sally, and...I will tell you all I know..." He took her hand and raised it and kissed it and then gently lead her off toward the pumpkin patch and through its opening gate so that they could stroll through its paths as they conversed. "So, all that you know is that it's about two people forever being united?"
"Yes, that is all I know..." Sally looked down at the ground to make sure she wasn't going to step into any vines or thorns and trip. "Um...I've meant to ask you before...well, before all of this. You know, out of...curiosity...and probably to daydream about..." She admitted, sheepish. "But it never came up, and when I thought to do so, I was afraid it would be an obvious...well, giveaway of my feelings."
Jack smiled warmly at her. "Oh, my Sally...I adore your feelings...and even though you must have been afraid of letting me know them, I'm so very happy that you finally did." He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek and then pulled back and turned forward, carefully leading her alongside him through the small paths between the large pumpking and jack-o-lanterns here. "Now...as for marriage...well, yes, you're correct...It involves one person and another person uniting. You see...first two people...find feelings for one another...of love..." he smiled a little more, "...sort of like you and I have done, I suppose..." He squeezed her hand a bit.
"I suppose that goes without saying." Sally giggled, smiling and squeezing his hand right back. "Okay, so there's that...what else?"
Jack chuckled a little. "Well, then..." he swung their hands a tiny bit, "After two people realize they may love one another...they usually court one another...much as I have chose to court you, my dearest, dearest...friend..." He glanced to her bashfully.
"Oooh..." Sally giggled and swung their hands along too. She stepped over a small pumpkin she almost didn't see, avoiding stepping on it. "Then, I suppose marriage comes much later on in the...um...process, for lack of a term, when the couple feels...well, that they want no one else but each other?"
Smiling all the more, Jack nodded. "Yes. Actually...it's when they decide they want no one else but each other...but also when they feel...ready to handle...all of the commitment and all of the responsibilities and all of the...depth...emotional and otherwise...that marriage entails. It is...something sacred, Sally. It is a promise to love another person and only that other person fully, faithfully and eternally..."
"Ooohh... I see, that's what I was getting at, it makes sense.. So what exactly-oh!" Sally tripped over a vine, nearly falling over.
"Oh!" Jack reached out and instantly caught her up in his arms, pulling her close. "Are you alright, Sally?" He looked to her with a touch of concern.
"Yes, I'm fine...I tripped on a vine..." Sally giggled sheepishly. "Sometimes I'm quite imbalanced...and clumsy..."
Jack just smiled and shook his head a little. "No, not clumsy...You're just...Sally. And if we walk sometimes and I have to catch you, well then...I'm just glad I'm here to do it..." He gave her a small bow with his skull.
"Awww..." Sally giggled, managing to straighten herself a bit. "Thank you, Jack..."
"You're quite welcome, Sally..." he replied with a low and graceful bow to her. "Now..." he looked up toward her from his position still bowing, "Shall we continue our talk upon marriage?" He smiled up at her charmingly.
"Ooh, yes! Um...I was meaning to ask...um...the stories have referred to some kind of...sacred ritualistic festivity of sorts."
Jack did his best not to chuckle, not wanting to hurt her feelings or anything for her naivete. He straightened up and resumed walking with her. "Ah, you mean a wedding. Yes, well...after we...o-or any other couple...decides to marry...usually after a proposal in which I...or any man...o-or even you if you wanted to...might get down on one knee and take his love's hand and ask her to be his wife...well, then there's a period of engagement...during which we plan the wedding. And then the wedding comes. And the couple dress nicely...usually in a suit and a white dress...and then they stand before someone ordained to perform marriages...and they take vows to one another...and then they kiss...and then they are married...and husband and wife." He looked at her with his eye sockets unconsciously half lidded.
"Ohhh..." A sweet image entered her mind...the two of them standing in the Town Hall...she wearing a beautiful dress, and he in a dapper suit...as they stare at each other...holding hands, the townsfolk all cheering and crying...
"Do you Sally, take Jack Skellington to be your husband?"
"I do...I do..."
"I do...I do..." She murmured dreamily as she gazed in a daze at the sky.
"Hmm? Sally...What do you 'do', exactly? Why do you keep saying 'I do'?" Jack suddenly asked with a surprised gulp at the strange trance she seemed to be off in.
"Oh, nothing..." Sally snapped back to reality. "So...wed...ing? Oooh...I always thought it was a weeding."
Jack just smiled again and looked at her curiously and then he shook his head and chuckled a little. "No, no...definitely a 'wedding'...And after it was done...provided...hypothetically...it as between you and I...well, then...you would take my name, if you wanted, and be, um...Mrs. S-Sally Skellington...and also, I suppose...that would make you our new Pumpkin Queen, wouldn't it?" He chuckled a little to himself at the thought.
"Oh! It would?" Sally blinked, and should have realized that before. "Oh, of course. Of course anyone you marry would be...well, your Queen. And um...yes, I certainly would... Um...I don't even have a last name...it's just Sally." She admitted sheepishly.
"W-well then..." Jack couldn't help whispering with a small smile, "...all the more reason to look to providing you with one then, I suppose..." And then he leaned over and placed a gentle kiss atop her head.
"Oooh!" Sally giggled, and beamed. "Anything you say, Jack...Um...all right, so then, is there anything else about all of this...I should know?"
Jack chuckled a little. "Well...married people live together, so you would come live with me...They share a room...And sometimes they even...have families together..." He looked off to the side in a touch of bashfulness.
"Oooh, I did know that...kind of..." Sally admitted, and then looked thoughtful. "Families...I, oh! I did read of families. A mother, a father, child or children."
"Mmm hmm..." Jack nodded. "Exactly...Children. Do you like children, Sally?" Jack asked shyly.
"I've...never really been around children before." Sally admitted sheepishly. "I can't say for sure, but...I think I do...I certainly have no ill will toward them in the least...if I saw a child in trouble, I'd help them. So...I suppose you can say I do."
Jack smiled more. "You're so sweet...So naturally loving towards everyone. I'm happy you think you like children, Sally...I like children too. I think they're very sweet and kind. That's part of why I'm so excited about Christmas-the chance to deliver happiness to so many little children."
Looking away to hide the worried look on her face, Sally nodded. "Yes...I'm sure that's...a-a lovely idea to...make children happy... Um, so! Most married people have families, do they? I suppose one day I could be a homemaker...making clothes for them, blankets, pillowcases..."
"You'd make a lovely wife and mother. I can feel it in my bones, Sally. In fact, I...think that's part of why the doctor seems so strict about us dating. I know he can seem a little cold sometimes, Sally, but I think he values you very much...You take care of him so wonderfully and...I'm certain the idea of another man taking that away worries him very much. You're a security to him, Sally...Just like you would be a security to your husband...and your children..." Jack squeezed her hand a little.
"Oh...thank you..." Sally looked down at the ground shyly. "...You really think so, Jack? He has a bizarre way of showing it." She pouted a bit. "He acts as if he were a far too overprotective father who belittles and yells at me every chance he gets."
Jack let out a small sigh, a touch of a frown coming to his face. "Sally, I know that's...unfair of him. And I'm sorry you have to go through that. But...if you're good and understanding nature has patience to permit it...please keep in mind that perhaps he just...doesn't know any other way to express how much he cares about you. Dr. Finkelstein's always been fairly alone until you came along so...perhaps he needs more time to learn how to show love in a more...positive way."
Sally considered that. Yes, she knew the Doctor wasn't evil nor cruel, but he sure did have a misguided way of treating her. "...I suppose that's true. I'm trying to be as patient and kind as I can, but even my patience can wear thin. ...Mmm...not that it would do any good, of course." She chuckled mirthlessly. "I couldn't scare nor intimidate anyone to save my stuffing."
Jack blinked and turned to look at her. "Sally, I...that's..." a small, uncomfortable look came to his face and he let out a little sigh, "...well...yes, you're not...terribly 'ghastly' or anything but you still have something of the macabre in you...But regardless, I don't think the best way to go about things is scaring him into being nicer to you. That would be more like bullying...and you're too nice to be a bully. I think that...it's better to use your natural niceness and goodness around him...as an example to him of how you would like to be treated by him. And I think that...if you give him time...perhaps things could be better for you both. And even if things don't work out like that...well...as I said before..." he gave a small, shy swallow, "...when you marry you'll go off to live with your husband...forever."
"Oh! No no no, I didn't mean scaring him into being nice to me, oh no, I couldn't do that even if I was able to scare..." Sally assured, wiping her forehead. "I'm sorry, that did come out very wrong. But...you're right...I should just do my best to be nice, and patient, and let...well, things evolve, I suppose..." She smiled a bit more, and leaned a little closer. "And um...I do like that idea...marrying someone I love and living with them..."
Jack grinned and trembled a little inside. "Oh...I"m glad to hear that..." He let out a small sigh and then added, "And, you're so good, Sally...so good and kind and patient...If the doctor doesn't start adoring you before you know it, then nothing in all the world makes any sense..." He chuckled a little.
"I thought nothing did make sense in our dear town..." Sally giggled, snuggling into his side.
Jack melted even more. "N-No...n-nothing ever has...u-until I met you..." He was so blissfully caught up in her that, as they were stepping over the threshold of the gated area to conclude their walk through the pumpkin patch, Jack tripped on a vine and fell into a soft batch of vines and pumpkin leaves, and he took Sally right down with him, pretty much on top of him.
"Oh my!" Sally blinked, not at all realizing what happened. Then she realized she was on top of something...hard and yet... She looked down, realizing she had fallen on top of Jack. "Oh! Jack! I'm sorry!" She scrambled off in fear. "A-Are you...all right?"
Jack just remained very wide eyed for a moment, unbreathing, looking up at the midnight black sky. "I...um..." He swallowed, still in a bit of shock at his sudden fall...and at that single moment when his Sally had landed softly atop him.
"...Jack...?" Now Sally's face came into view as she knelt down next to him, looking utterly concerned. "Are you okay?"
He swallowed. "O-Oh...um...yes...I-I'm sorry I made you fall along with me, Sally..." He glanced away in a touch of embarrassment as he sat up on the ground, rubbing his skull a little.
"No...it's okay..." Sally assured, bringing a hand to his cheek. "Don't be sorry. It was an accident."
Jack melted a little at her touch, his eye sockets still wide. "I...Alright...Thank you, Sally." He looked into her eyes.
"You don't need to thank me, Jack...but you're welcome." Sally then took his hands and helped her beloved to his feet, though she didn't need to. She then groomed him a little, fixing his tie, brushing off his clothes, much like the other morning when she had fixed him up.
Her little touches sent sparks all over Jack's skeletal form. There was just something about her little adjustments to his person that...It felt almost like something a wife would do. It felt so nice to him. "Thank you for...fixing me up, Sally..." he managed shyly as she finished up.
"You're welcome..." Sally brushed off his shoulders, blowing any remaining particles off, and stood back. "It's my pleasure." She smiled.
Jack just smiled at her. "You really will make a lovely wife one day, won't you? So doting and caring and affectionate as you are..."
Sally blushed, looking down shyly as she brought her arms behind her back. "It's just what I do...but um...I'm glad I could possibly make a good wife one day...to someone I love..." She looked right at him as she said this, smiling meaningfully.
Jack's eye sockets went wide for a moment and he swallowed...but then he just smiled meaningfully back to her. "I'm glad too...It's something to look forward to...for whoever gets to have you as his wife..." He winked at her.
A part of her wanted to say she'd rather one day be his wife but decided not to go there for now. "Well...any woman you choose to be your wife will be a very lucky woman, as well."
Jack just chuckled a little. "Really? Well, thank you...But I...suppose a wife for me is a bit of a ways off...After all first I'd have to find a woman I love..." he reached out and took Sally's hand, "...and then I'd have to court her..." He raised her hand and gently kissed the back of it, not taking his eye sockets off of her eyes.
Sally giggled a bit, stepping closer to him. "And I would have to find a man I love...who would then court me..."
Jack lowered her hand from his lips. "And...where would you find a man like that, I wonder?" he asked, his grin picking up a little on one side.
"You tell me, Jack...and um...where would you find a woman like that?" Sally smiled all the more, not once tearing her eyes away from his.
"I tell you?" Jack raised part of his brow at her with a coy smirk. "Well, then, all I can say is...look no further..." He moved rather close to her now, something in his bones racing. "And as for me...don't worry, Sally...perhaps I already have found a woman like that...A woman upon whom I may have certain intentions..." He squeezed her hand, lacing his fingers with hers.
"Oh, well..." Sally stepped closer as well, smiling coyly. "If you have...won't you tell me?"
"I can describe her to you, if you'd like?" He smiled even more.
"Go ahead, Jack..." She stepped a little closer, squeezing his hand.
Jack swallowed, still smiling. "Well...she's tall...and soft...and hauntingly beautiful..." he started.
Now she blushed, giggling. "Go on..."
"She's got pale blue skin like the lightest shade of cloudy twilight...lips like dead red roses...and hair softer than the ghastly clouds that blow through the sky on Halloween nights..."
Sally would normally get modest and bashful, even probably deny most of that...but she just smiled and stepped closer to him, her smile picking up on one side. "She's a lucky lady, Jack..." She said, playing along some more.
"No, not lucky..." Jack shook his head a little, "Just...perfect...for me..." Suddenly one of his arms was around her waist, hugging her up close to him as he looked down on her, still with a grin. "Oh and did I mention she's utterly irresistible to me?" He did his best not to chuckle.
"Oh...well...no...I don't think so..." Sally brought her arms around him as well, fluttering her eyelashes unconsciously.
Jack swallowed. "Now, um...have you found this man you're looking for to marry yet, do you think?"
"Well, he did just say to look no further..." Sally cooed, smiling all the more. "Um...I can certainly..describe him, too...if you want."
Jack's smile grew to its utmost. "I-I-If you'd like..."
"...He's very tall...charming, kind, dapper...very much a gentleman...he's a skeleton..." Sally said softly. "He has no eyes, but his eye sockets can never fail to express his emotions very well."
Jack got utterly bashful looking. "O-Oh, I...I see...He sounds quite nice..."
"He's...well, the ruler of our town..." For a moment she couldn't help but recall his lament, and that was when a little sad look came to her face, but she shook it off. "And I admire his leadership very much."
Despite her compliments, Jack couldn't help but notice the touch of sadness that had come to her face for a moment. "Oh...well that's...nice as well. But...do you not like that...he's the leader, perhaps?" he asked all, what if she really was overwhelmed by him being the Pumpkin King and all of the attention it would bring to them as a couple. She was so shy and she'd already had a preview of it earlier today with that whole rumor about them having eloped. What if she didn't like him being the King because of that?
"No no! No, I...Actually, Jack...there is something I want to be honest with you about. ...Do you remember that Halloween night, you wandered off into the graveyard?" Sally pulled away, looking nervous and anxious.
Jack blinked. "Yes..." he said automatically, "The awards were going on but I...didn't want to go...They're always sort of the same each year anyway...Why?" He raised part of his brow at her.
"...I was in the graveyard that night, after the doctor caught me, and I ran away from him...by severing one of my arms." Now she turned away, hugging herself. "I hid there, stuffing myself with any fallen leaves I could find...And then you came into the graveyard alone. I hid behind a tombstone, and you didn't notice me at all..."
Jack's eye sockets went a bit wide for a moment. "And...h-how long exactly...did you stay there?" he asked with a touch of nervousness.
"...I heard your lament...bemoaning about your misery and how you were desiring more out of life...that there was possibly more that you can do than just...being the Pumpkin King. ...I hid the entire time, listening, and I..." She looked at him over her shoulder, and then down at the ground. "...I know how you feel. ...I wanted to see you, to talk to you...but you were already gone in to the Hinterlands when I finally showed myself and gathered my courage."
Jack just remained quite frozen for a moment, taking all of that it. It wasn't that he was angry, of course, it was just...awkward finding out that someone had overheard something so private. "I...didn't realize..." he merely mumbled at first. "My whole, erm...I see..." And then he blinked. "You know how I feel?"
"Of course. ...You desired more out of life, that there had to be something else out there. ...I always felt that way myself. I wanted more than just being a maid, and locked away in a lab all the time. And...well...I suppose so many years of doing the same thing can be a bore, couldn't it? ...I understand you were feeling that way." She hugged herself tighter, her back still to him as she shivered a bit from the cold air. "I know a lot of people would think it's...well, as you said...who would understand that the Pumpkin King of all people had problems? They think he can't possibly have any. ...I don't believe that."
She turned around, facing him completely, though still shivering. "You're still a person, and you do still have problems...you're no different from anybody, including me. You may be the ruler of our town...but even that doesn't completely overshadow the fact that even you have trouble in your life...it's normal. You remember...the first time we came to Spiral Hill? And you said it was a place of solace for you, that you came to escape for a while, to just relax. ...And I said that anyone could use time to relax, and someone in your position of such work...could use time to relax. I still mean that, and this is the same thing. If any other person were lamenting about being...well, unhappy with their lives and doing the same thing year after year...it wouldn't change the fact that it's still a problem one can have."
Jack just stood there, eye sockets wide, jaw slightly agape, absorbing all of that. And there really was so much... 'And...she...' And then Jack swallowed...and then he turned away from her, arms crossed over his chest...He felt as though he was going to cry but the idea of doing so in front of her felt so utterly foolish to him that he didn't want her to see it if it happened. "Thank you, Sally..." was all he managed to whisper very weakly and quietly.
"...Jack? ...Jack, are you all right?" Sally snapped out of her nervousness, and approached him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "You're welcome, but...what's wrong?"
"N-Nothing..." Jack said weakly, turning his face even more downward. "I just...Don't worry, please..."
Frowning slightly, Sally brought her arms around his torso from behind, laying her head against his back. "Jack...Answer me this. Where am I right now?"
Jack blinked in a touch of confusion...and froze up entirely at her embrace. "Y-You're...right behind me..." he threw out quietly with a small swallow.
"That's right." Sally squeezed gently. "And that's where I'll always be. No matter what...please tell me what's wrong, Jack...I'm here for you."
A breath left Jack...and he just...couldn't not tell her anymore. "Nothing's wrong..." he replied back very quietly, head still turned downward. "It's just that what you said before about...understanding and...it being okay for me to have problems too...it touched me so perfectly deeply that I feel like I'll cry...And I'll feel foolish as the Pumpkin King crying in front of you...So I just want to stay turned away from you until I feel better...That's all." He brought his hands up and held her hands against his chest.
"...Oh, Jack..." Sally whispered softly. "You can cry in front of me. It would never make me think any less of you, or see you as weak, ever. But I will not force you, okay? I love you, and I'm here for you, no matter what." She felt so touched, so moved that that this precious being right in front of her could feel moved to tears from how she felt about the matter, and how she just felt compassionate for him, truly. "I meant what I said...I just wanted you to know all of that. And thank you for understanding..."
"Oh Sally!" And suddenly Jack had turned around and wrapped his arms around her tightly and he was leaning up against her with his eye sockets closed tightly and a little tear or two dripping down from them. "Oh what did I do to deserve you? Oh Sally, be mine forever...my dearest, dearest friend forever...I need you! And I love you..."
Sally let out a soft sigh, and hugged him tightly in return, gently stroking his spine, and leaned up to kiss his tears away. "I love you too, Jack...I'll be yours forever, I promise..." She whispered softly. "...And you, you were nothing but yourself with me, and have done so much for others and for me... But more than that, I love you. I'm here for you...you're not alone."
So much comfort washed over Jack at her words and touches and kisses and everything about her. "N-No, I...I'm not alone anymore, am I?" he replied, feeling her take his tears away and make them stop in the first place with her kindness. "I have you...And I'll be happy being the Pumpkin King forever as long as you're with me, my darling." He never wanted to let her go. Not ever.
Smiling a little, feeling tears of her own pool in her eyes, Sally kissed his cheek, and gently nuzzled her own against him, before lowering her head to look up at him. A few tears of her own coursed down her face before she spoke. "You'll always have me, Jack. I want you to be happy more than anything in the world. You'll never be alone ever again...I promise..." Shyly, she tacked on, "My dearest, darling Jack..."
A tremor of happiness passed through him as, looking into her eyes, he smiled and replied, "And you shall never be alone ever again either. My dearest...darling...delightful Sally." he cooed gently to her.
"And I will always love you..." Sally sang out in a soft voice, clear as a bell, flowing around them. She then brought one hand to his cheek, caressing the smooth bone of his skull.
Jack trembled in bliss. "Oh Sally...I shall...always love you too..." he sang back to her in a deep, rich tone... He let out a soft sigh, his eye sockets tarting to close, "I love when you touch me, dearest Sally..." He placed his hand upon the back of her hand against his face.
A tremor coursed through her, and her smile grew all the more. It made her remember, two nights before, how she had ran her hands along his skull and that he liked it, a lot. It made sense, didn't it? Sally planted a kiss on his other cheek before whispering, "I do, too..."
Jack was melting into absolute putty. He could barely form words anymore. His spine slouched fully. "Sally...Sally..." He slipped his arms around her, hugging her in close to him.
For a moment, she just couldn't help but find this so interesting. Sally never did hold herself in high regard and saw herself as nothing special. That wasn't to say she willingly accepted her less-than desirable life because she felt she didn't deserve better, because she did have more self-worth than that, with only her fear of never getting out holding her back. But to think she could possibly have this much effect over someone, especially someone she loved, and the very ruler of their town, no less, was just something she would have normally thought was beyond what she'd ever come to do.
It was sweet. Sally liked to be able to make someone smile, to make them feel good, and just relax and enjoy themselves with her. To see Jack all but turn into putty and just melt, with pure happiness, because of her, was just something she never would've imagined. But she loved it, loved to make him happy and smile. She brought her hand down, raising both her arms and looping them gently around his shoulders and neck, smiling all the more lovingly.
"Jack..." She whispered, nuzzling their cheeks.
She had the most perfect voice, at least to Jack's hears...It cooed so delicately, so softly, so sweetly...And they way it said his name. "S-Sally..." he whispered back, nuzzling her back. "Sally...what...are we doing...?" He snuggled into her, pressing her hands gently against her back."I...how do we end up like this...like last night...and now...? I don't understand but I just can't...stop being near you...I just can't...and won't..." He placed a gentle, soft kiss or two on her cloth cheek.
"I don't even know, either..." Sally managed, giggling a bit. "I suppose the best way I can think of is...well, I think...love just...makes you want to be near that person as much as you can... And I...anytime I'm near you, I never want to stop being near you...even right now I feel that."
"Oh...Oh...sweetest darling...Let's...Let's never be apart then...Or at least let's pretend like we never have to be apart for the few sweet hours we have left together tonight..." He held her gently and kissed her pretty face, gently pulling the fingers of one of his hands through her hair.
"We can try that... I certainly tried to before." Sally whispered. "...Jack?"
"Yes...my prettiest pumpkin in the whole pumpkin patch?" he whispered with a low chuckle, resting his forehead against hers.
Sally smiled more, her eyelids lowering a bit. "Can we go to Spiral Hill, too?"
Jack's eye sockets opened and then he smiled at her. "Certainly...why not... Although, I...I did tell Dr. Finkelstein that we would probably just come here and then go for a walk through the town to see the Christmas decorations and then go back to my house, but...I suppose a little secret side trip won't hurt." He took her hand and pulled her up. "Come along, then, my darling-to spiral hill it is." He began to swiftly lead her away.
"I hardly think he'd notice..." Sally giggled, beaming happily as she followed alongside him. "Even for just a couple of minutes...it's no trouble..." She tacked on shyly.
Into the night, off they went!
Halloween Town's sweetest couple had indeed proceeded to Spiral Hill following the pumpkin patch where they had sat together and observed the moon and stars and gotten to know each other a little more...and had even kissed a few more times...And then they had headed into town and to its center at the fountain to see all the Christmas decorations (which had delighted Jack...though Sally had had a hidden look of discomfort at the sight of most of them).
Finally, following this little stroll, the two had headed back to Jack's house together, where Jack had prepared them a roaring fire to sit near and some tea and cakes to drink and eat, and they had sat close together and enjoyed these little diversions and just enjoyed each other's company...Now though the tea and cakes were all gone and they were just sitting together, resting together, looking to the fire with Jack's arm around Sally's waist and with Sally leaning up close against Jack's side.
"This...is a very nice ending to a date, Sally...I'm happy we could have this evening together." Jack smiled to himself and pulled her in a little closer.
"Me too, Jack...this is a lovely way to bring it to a close...after all we'd done." Sally murmured, unable to stop smiling. "I'm...happy you wanted to do this with me. I know how busy you must be with everything...but, I appreciate you making time to see me, I really do..."
Jack blinked and glanced to her curiously, still smiling. He started to stroke his fingers through her hair. "Sally...I'm never too busy for you. Christmas and Halloween are important of course but...you're a person...so you're most important of all. And besides...after a long day of holiday planning...what could I want more than a few hours with my dearest more-than-friend, hmm?" He smiled more at her.
Sally blinked, and looked up at him, blushing a bit. She snuggled more into him happily, feeling so...warm, happy, special. "Jack... Thank you...I'll always be happy to be there for you."
Jack let out a sigh and then gently placed his hand under her chin, tilting her head up so that he could look into her eyes with his half lidded eye sockets. "As I will be to be there for you..." he replied quietly...
A beaming, yet shy smile came to her face. "Oh...Jack...what have I done to deserve you...and your love..."
"You're just...so good for me...And I hope to prove myself worthy of you," he replied gallantly.
"Worthy of me? Jack...I'm just Sally..." Sally blushed more.
"Well, Sally...is a very worthwhile creature..." he replied suavely.
Sally shivered, utterly melting with how he was acting. "Jack..." She cooed in utter love and adoration.
His whole spine shivered at how she said his name. "Sally..." he whispered back, "Shh...let's not speak...let's just...just..." He paused and swallowed shyly, utterly overwhelmed with his love for her.
"O-" Was all she could get out, trying to agree with him, but a bony finger on her lip effectively silenced her. Sally smiled and obliged, not saying a word and just nuzzled against him.
"May I have this kiss, Sally?" Jack asked so very politely...and yet in a tone full of desire.
A giggle escaped Sally, amused by that adorable way of twisting the famous question in asking a lady to dance. "Yes, you may..." She managed, her tone full of love and desire as well.
Jack chuckled and then instantly his lips were gently upon hers, though he pulled her body close to his at least quite passionately...The two of them all wrapped up and cozy on this night together.
Utterly melting like a snowflake to a flame, Sally brought her arms around his shoulders for support, and lovingly reciprocated the kiss, feeling warmer and warmer already...
"Mmm..." She was so soft and warm and just...Jack breathing picked up through his nose and he started to get more carried away, almost leaning her back on the couch.
"Mmmm..." Now Sally lowered one arm to support herself along the couch a bit to keep from falling, though her body was just weakening! She applied a little more pressure, shuddering happily.
Jack was getting more and more carried away, feeling her shy shuddering and just being delighted by it and by her and their perfect kiss. He couldn't think anymore and he was slowly starting to come entirely on top of her, only knowing inside that he wanted her and only her now and forever...
"Arf! Arf!"
Jack, keeping up the kiss, cringed a little bit at Zero's barking and hoped the little dog would realize that he was 'busy' and would find a way to amuse himself until the end of his and Sally's date... 'The end of our...'
"Arf! Arf, Arf!"
And now Zero was tugging at the tails of Jack's suit rather strongly and suddenly his eye sockets popped open and went to a large grandfather clock across from him against the wall. 'Ten minutes to midnight...TEN MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT?' Jack instantly broke from the kiss. Panting and with wide eye sockets he looked down at Sally. "Sally! It's almost midnight! We have to get you home!" he announced in panic!
"What?" Sally blinked, also having lost track of the time. "Oh no! We should hurry, the Doctor will be furious! Oh...we can make it if we run!"
"I'll run, and I'll hold you-it'll be quicker that way," Jack announced firmly and then instantly he was off of her and standing up and then his arms were under her back and knees and he had her lifted up and was swiftly carrying her through the house and down the stairs and out the gate!
"O-ahh!"
That was all Sally could possibly muster upon all of that. She hadn't even thought of that alternative! Soon he ran swiftly through the town, just about as fast as his long skinny limbs could carry them, as she held on tightly to him, afraid to fall. She trusted him immensely, but he hadn't held her like this before, it was almost overwhelming! And yet, it was so...caring, sweet...
'He's right, it is quicker this way...I would have just slowed us down.' She thought sadly.
Jack held her as tightly and securely as possible as he ran swiftly, Dr. Finkelstein's house luckily coming in sight. Jack took a moment now to look down at Sally. "I-I...I'm sorry if I was a bit forward picking you up like this, Sally, but I...I simply couldn't bear it if I got you back home late and Dr. Finkelstein wouldn't let me court you anymore. But I promise next time I'll time things out better...I would have loved a long, leisurely walk back to your home, my dearest..." He smiled down at her.
"Oh...don't be sorry, Jack...I too wasn't paying attention to the time." Sally assured with a smile. "And I...well, no one ever held me like this before, it does feel strange, but...I trust you. ...Well, looks like the coach has turned back into a pumpkin."
Jack blinked at first at her little comment but then just smiled and chuckled. "Yes but...there's always our next date to look forward to, of course." He winked down at her as Jack ran up the drive toward the doctor's door.
"Oh, of course..." Sally giggled then, smiling more. She thought to ask when that would be, but decided against it, so as not to seem too clingy. "We made it in time...that's good."
Jack raced up to the front door and stopped just in front of it. He took a second to catch his breath and then gently placed Sally on the ground. "Yes, we made it...A-And, um...speaking of our next date...as long as the doctor can spare you...perhaps...the day after tomorrow...y-you know, after my Sandy Claws outfit fitting with you?" He looked to her hopefully.
"Sure...that would be nice..." Sally beamed, nodding. "I'll be...well, available..." She brought her arms behind her back shyly.
Jack smiled a little more. "Really? You mean...none of the many other gentleman callers you must have have you reserved for that time? Well how fortunate for me." He winked at her.
Sally laughed a bit. "Jack! Don't be silly...why would I want to see other men when I'm with you?"
Jack just chuckled. "Just making a point-I still don't see how every man in town doesn't knock at Dr. Finkelstein's door wanting to court you..." He took her hand in his.
"If they did, I would kindly turn them down." Sally giggle, smiling more. "Um...Jack? Will you...um...kiss me goodnight...? If that's...okay?"
Jack's grin hit its utmost width. "I...was hoping you'd ask..." And then instantly he had her in his arms and he had twirled her around and dipped her back, and then did as she had requested, kissing her passionately.
"Mmm!" Sally was wide-eyed and taken completely by surprise at this sudden passionate gesture! But oh, she just couldn't resist it for long and kissed him back, holding on to him tightly for support.
"Mm...Mmmm..." Jack angled his skull more, giving their final farewell kiss his all...never wanting it to stop...
Until the sound of a familiar gruff figure clearing his throat sort of broke into the moment. "Alright...I think that's enough for now..." came Dr. Finkelstein's voice in a level grumble. Apparently he had been waiting for Sally by the door, considering the time, and now he had chosen to open it upon witnessing the sight he was currently witnessing taking place on his stoop.
Sally actually pouted, sighing as they let go of each other after she was steadied up straight. "All right, Doctor..." She sighed a bit. She turned to Jack once more, smiling coyly. "Goodnight, Jack...thank you for tonight...it was wonderful."
Jack cleared his throat, looking rather flustered and embarrassed. "U-Um...you're welcome, Sally...Goodnight..." He gave her a gentlemanly bow. Then he turned to Dr. Finkelstein. "And goodnight to you too, Dr. Finkelstein. Thank you for letting me take Sally out this evening doctor. I appreciate it very much."
"Oh, well...think nothing of it, my boy. I guess it's...nice that she gets out of the house for a while." Dr. Finkelstein managed, and turned to Sally. "All right Sally, inside now. It's time for you to get to bed."
Sally nodded, casting one more loving smile at Jack. "I love you..." She whispered to him before heading inside.
Jack swallowed and his eye sockets went wide at her sweet final message. He just waved in the direction she had gone. "Er..." he glanced to the side and then addressed Dr. Finkelstein again, "Um...doctor, I...was wondering...I have a fitting with Sally for my Sandy Claws outfit the day after tomorrow...After we're done, might I take her out again?" He looked humbly to the doctor.
"Hmm...well she has been behaving, and I can see you two had a lovely time..." Dr. Finkelstein sighed then. "I'll be honest, my boy, I haven't seen her this happy even since her creation. ...I suppose it would be wrong of me to not let you see her." He admitted, though not looking at him as he did so, gruffly clearing his throat. "Of course only because I know she'd do far worse than slip Deadly Nightshade into my tea! ...Goodnight Jack my boy."
Hope filled Jack and he just couldn't help himself. With a big smile he took one of the doctor's hands in both of his own and shook it! "Oh thank you, Doctor! I promise you won't regret this! Thank you so much and have a horrifying evening!" Jack straightened up and chuckled, he felt so happy.
The scientist was wide-eyed behind his dark glasses and could only sit there stiff as a board at his enthusiastic gesture of thanks. "Erm...right, certainly." He cleared his throat. "You have a horrifying evening yourself, my boy." He then wheeled back into the house and shut the door.
Jack was just utterly joyous! He looked up to Sally's window with a smile and whispered sweetly, "Goodnight, dearest Sally...I love you too..." He blew her a kiss and then he was running off to his house, just bubbling with love and wonderful memories of his first official date with Sally. Sally, Christmas...how could his life get any better? Upon reaching home he changed into his familiar pajamas and nightcap and climbed into bed to have lovely nightmares about spending all of eternity scaring with Sally by his side...Pumpkin Queen to his Pumpkin King.
Little had Jack realized, Sally had been in her room when this happened, and was peering out her window, and watched him hurry home. She sighed dreamily, blowing a kiss into the night air before she changed out of her datewear, slipping her patchwork dress back on, and then crawling into her wrought-iron bed. She was going to remember this wonderful first date with her beloved for all time...and hoped that many more would come in the future.
Thoughts of her premonition then filled her mind, melting the smile off her face for a few moments. She sighed, rolling onto her back.
"Oh, I hope my premonition is wrong..." Was all she said before she soon drifted off to sleep.