A/N- Hey again, all! I apologize for the wait, as I meant to have waaay more chapters spat out by the end of October. Ah well, better late than never, right?

In other news, I thought I'd take this moment to address one of the more critical reviews given to me, as this person was anon and unable to be reached. The only reason I'm addressing it publicly is because I think doing so will highlight a better method of reviewing, (namely, one that I prefer and that many other writers will appreciate as well). So, without further ado, this goes out to Miss Blah-

First of all, Miss Blah, I want to thank you for your review and I want to let you know that I appreciate your criticism. I encourage this kind of review, because I know and realize that solely positive feedback isn't going to help me grow as writer(that's not to say that I only ever get positive reviews. I'm really not trying to sound stuck-up, honest). But while I appreciate your honesty (if I ever find a story boring, I usually just backspace so I admire you for voicing your opinion), I have to admit that your review didn't help me much more than a 'OMG this is so good lolz'. While you pointed out the issue (that the story was boring, it had too much unnecessary detail), you didn't highlight any specific examples or give me pointers on what I might have done differently. To me, that's sort of like calling the fire department and telling them there's a fire and then hanging up without giving a remote address. Also, in my own defense, you were reading the prologue, which is -and I quote wikipedia- "an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information". So, all in all, it's not necessarily supposed to be brimming with action (though, if you ask me, I'd hardly call running through the streets of New York from a drug dealer boring, but to each his own) or storyline and is, in fact, meant to house all of that "unnecessary" detail.

So, Miss Blah, if you ever happen to grace this story again, I will ask you to-

1) Be a bit more specific in your criticism so I will perhaps know what to correct/make better when I beta this.

2) Try and give the actual chapters a chance. You never know, you might enjoy the actual story.

Ironically enough, though, I find this particular chapter to be somewhat dull. I didn't have that much fun writing it, to be honest, because I'm kind of excited to get to the Masquerade Ball (next chapter! OMG!). Let me know what you think, readers, and don't be afraid to get detailed!

Disclaimer- Burton's, et al.


"Good morning," she yawned as alluringly as possible.

"Good morning!" Was the unnaturally-cheery-for-this-early-in-the-morning response.

She had made sure to pop a pill before showering and brushing her teeth, so despite the fact that she had neglected her lengthy morning make-up routine, she knew she could rely on Ensnare to compensate.

Tivona then tightened the silk belt of her robe before sauntering in the kitchen to pour herself a mug of coffee. Jack, meanwhile, had returned to the study to put the finishing touches on his costume. The Masquerade Ball would take place that very evening, and all week he had kept the garment out and on display in case new accessory ideas came to him. Tivona, on the other hand, chose to keep her ball gown a secret. She had gone to great lengths to stealthily retrieve it from Gloria's Boutique, bring it back to Jack's estate, and bury it in her guestroom closet behind the amounting dresses Jack had commissioned for her. She liked to think that there was someone out there who desperately wanted to get an early peek of what she would be wearing to the gala, and that for this reason, it would be imperative to hide it.

Eventually, she joined Jack in his backroom study. With a dramatic stretch and loud yawn, she proceeded to flop herself down in a nearby chaise.

"Did you sleep well, my dear?" he asked as he critically inspected the blue, Cavalier ensemble before him.

"Fine," she responded, a bit halfheartedly. She then glanced over at his costume, wandering why it had to be the sole-recipient of his attention when she was lounging -somewhat proactively- in a thigh-length black robe. "What are you going to be, anyway?"

He turned to her, smiling disbelievingly. "Why, Athos, of course!"

Her subsequent, raised eyebrow spoke volumes.

"One of the three musketeers," he explained with a chuckle. "I could have sworn I had told you that before…"

Most likely, she thought to herself, knowing how apt she was to zone out when someone would talk in great length about something not pertaining to her. Jack had been better than most people about this, but he still had digressive moments where she'd wish she could just ask him to hush. Unfortunately, they weren't even engaged yet, so her charm had to remain thick.

"Where's Sally?" she finally wondered aloud, realizing that it was nine o'clock and no type writer echoes could be heard from the front lobby.

She was not normally eager to see Sally, as her closeness with Jack had already become blatantly apparent. However, Tivona did not yet seriously consider her a direct threat, as it seemed her skeleton was oblivious of the rather obvious crush his assistant was harboring for him. Still, she knew the ragdoll was quicker on the up-take than most in this town. If anyone were to discover and expose Tivona's mortality, it would definitely be Sally.

But on this morning, however, Tivona desperately needed some servant attention. She also desired to use this as an opportunity to establish an upper hand and remind Sally who was boss. If she could do that, she thought, perhaps the chances of subterfuge would lessen.

"Oh, I figured I give her the day off."

Jack began dusting off and adjusting the costume critically, as if he noticed some microscopic flaw that needed to be eradicated. "It is the day of the ball."

Tiovna sat straight up, neglecting her former attempt to look sexy-tired.

"But, Jack…" she whined. He still didn't bother to face her, and so she rose from the chaise, came up beside him, and linked their arms. "Jack…I really needed Sally here today to help me prepare…just for a little while…"

Her physical contact did not go unacknowledged. He finally turned from his costume to look at her, prepared to gently refuse her wishes. As per her expectations, however, the sight of her "Ensnaring" eyes would be his ruin.

"Well…" he began, hesitant. "I suppose I could call her in…just for a little while."

She stood on her tip-toes as she planted a lingering kiss on his cheekbone.

"Oh, Jack…you really are the sweetest Skeleton King in existence!"

She then scampered off to find a less-alluring robe to wear for Sally's arrival, leaving Jack as a metaphorical puddle of goo in the middle of his study's floor.

Never mind that you're the ONLY Skeleton King in existence, she thought. As far as I know…


Sally yawned and stretched as she waited patiently outside the manor doors. Having finished that, she took a glance at her wristwatch.

9:30 am, it read mockingly. Well, she thought to herself reassuringly, it's much later than I've had to wake up for the past two weeks…

Indeed, the beginning of Sally's October had been insanely busy. Between working for Jack and heading up the plans for the ball, there had been nary a spare moment for herself. Her typical schedule was waking up 4 am to open up the newly-made ballroom for preparations, greeting the various employees as they arrived, and then arriving at Jack's by 8. Her lunchtime was spent back at the ballroom checking on things. Afterwards, she would head back to the manor to work until 7pm, at which time she was back at the ballroom with the evening shift until 1 am.

So, all in all, her time for sleep and eating was a grand total of 3 hours. Needless to say, she had been looking forward to dedicating this day to sleeping in until 1pm, getting pampered at the spa, and then having fun at the ball.

Jack's early morning phone call soon proved that wish was too good to be true.

"Sally! There you are!"

The now almost-familiar voice of Tivona ripped Sally from her reverie. She looked up to see the unnaturally gorgeous young woman standing in the entryway.

"I'm ever so glad you make it today," she gushed. "You have no idea how much help I need to get ready!"

Now Sally was confused.

"Oh," she began, uncertain. "I sort of thought Jack needed me to-"

"He needs you to help me."

She then seized the ragdoll by her wrist and nearly dragged her inside the manor. The doors automatically closed behind them both with a reverberating echo.

"There really is so much to do," Tivona mentioned partly to herself, as she began her ascent up the winding staircase. "It would be impossible for me to get it done all by myself…"

"Now, hold on a moment," Sally called out to her. "With all due respect, Miss O'Dwyer, I work for Jack and he didn't exactly specify that I would need to be assisting you. Furthermore, I would like to get ready for the ball as well…"

Tivona grinned with obviously-feigned charm. "And so you shall. Didn't I say we would be going to the spa first? Hair and nails are a must, after all."

And why do I think my time there won't be as relaxing with you around? Sally wondered to herself.


Truthfully, their time at the spa hadn't been terrible.

Tivona had sent for a carriage to transport them there from the manor, and she had spent most of the travel time babbling to Sally about what sort of hairstyle she wanted. When they finally arrived, Tivona decided she'd have her hair done immediately and since Sally was fairly certain that would take at least an hour, she decided to get a massage in the mean time.

It was bliss to just lay in the quiet, dimmed room while the large monster creation –another one of Doctor Finkelstein's, in fact- worked magic on her knotted back. After all the work she had put in for the past two weeks, Sally couldn't help but think that she deserved this. Technically speaking, of course, she probably deserved a lot more than one hour's worth. But it didn't really matter, she supposed. Any massage was better than none.

She eventually emerged from the room feeling looser and more relaxed than ever before. Before she could fully appreciate this, however, Tivona appeared before her at the end of the hallway.

"Sally!" she called out, waving her hand as though she might have been difficult to see. "Come on, it's mani-pedi time!"

Tivona's hair was beautifully done, if not terribly artificial-looking. It had been intricately styled into something that Sally couldn't quite classify as a bun or a crown, but definitely somewhere in between. It had a sheen of stiff hairspray that made her strands shine unnaturally in the fluorescent lighting, and as Sally followed her to the next room, she could see how plastic said hairspray made the styling look.

"Sit next to me," Tivona beckoned, waving her hand over the chair beside the one she had just claimed.

Sally was reluctant, at best, knowing that she would have to spend the rest of their time here chatting it up with the one person in Halloween Town she honestly didn't care for. But she soon scolded herself for being so single-minded and not giving Tivona a fair chance.

Perhaps our first meeting was just a fluke, she thought to herself. Perhaps she isn't as bad as I think she is…either way, I can't dislike someone just because I'm a little jealous of them. Stop being so petty, Sally Stitches. You can do better than that.

Sally then accepted the seat beside the eager young woman and prepared to have her hands and feet clutched at by other people for the next half-hour.

"I'm so glad we're doing this together," Tivona said sweetly, taking a sip of the complimentary Mimosa she had been given. She made a grimace after having tasted it, and promptly put the drink back beside her with the implication she wouldn't touch it again. "It'll be good for us to spend time together, don't you think, Sally?"

Sally made the most convincing smile she could manage. "Yes, of course."

"I mean, I know how close you and Jack are, and I think it's only appropriate that you and I become as close. Don't you agree?"

"Why would that be only appropriate?" she felt compelled to ask.

Tivona chuckled a bit in an attempt to lighten the increasingly awkward situation. "Oh dear, Sally, I think I've unintentionally implied something. I don't mean anything negative with what I'm saying, but…oh, well…think of it this way- if your significant other was close friends with someone of the opposite sex, you'd want to…shall we say, be in on that relationship, wouldn't you?"

Sally took a swig of her complimentary alcohol. "Tivona, I do hope you're not trying to rope me into a ménage-a-"

"Of course not!" she interrupted quickly. "That's not what I mean…"

Sally then sighed and replaced her drink.

"Look, you have nothing to worry about with Jack and I, trust me. There never has been anything between us and there never will. We're just friends."

Tivona seemed noticeably satisfied with this answer, as she smiled triumphantly and sat a bit straighter in her chair.

"Well, I suppose we shouldn't dwell on that," she decided with some finality. "Let's talk just about you, Sally. Do you have any men in your life?"

There had never been a question Sally was more loathe to answer.

"By men, I assume you mean someone I'm romantically interested in?"

The other woman nodded a bit incredulously.

"Then no," she answered, taking another sip of her beverage. "I don't."

"Well, isn't someone taking you to the ball?"

"Yes, I suppose. But he's just a friend."

Tivona brightened with excitement. "Oh, who? You must tell me!"

Sally craned her neck to get a good look at the clock on the far wall. Her discomfort with this situation had been rapidly increasing, and she wouldn't have minded at all for it to come to a screeching halt. Unfortunately, the clock proceeded to inform her that she had only been conversing with her new friend for six minutes.

Bereft of any real method of escape, Sally returned to the conversation.

"You know Victor VanDort, right?"

"Victor? Jack's friend? Of course I do! Oh, Sally, he is adorable, isn't he? Now he would be a good match for you."

Sally wondered if it would be worth the effort to correct her with the another, we're just friends, I assure you. Ultimately deciding that it wouldn't, she proceeded to acquiesce to Tivona's wishes.

"Yes, maybe." She then flashed the other woman a bright smile. "Say, your hair is lovely. I'm sorry I didn't notice it before! Where did you get the inspiration for that style?"

And thus, Sally was spared from all uncomfortable conversation in favor of 'hair talk' for the rest of their spa appointment.


"I don't think she likes you."

Gloria mentioned this as soon as Sally had disappeared from the bedroom on an errand to fetch tea for Tivona and her two 'helpers'. Really though, it had just been an excuse for Sally to leave the two new best friends- Gloria and Tivona, that is, who had decided in the course of their acquaintance that they rather liked each other, after all- to gossip about her.

"I know she doesn't like me," the younger woman corrected, gasping a bit when Gloria tugged the strings on her corset. "And who can blame her? I am encroaching on Jack, after all."

"Oh, well, we all hate you for that," Gloria replied with a scoff, referring to the female population of Halloween Town.

"Yeah, but he and Sally are, like…well, bros, really. I think that made her a bit delusional about the possibilities of their relationship."

Tivona could see Gloria nod in understanding in the reflection of her vanity mirror. "Ah, the token female friend, I get it. You shouldn't misjudge her, though, Vonie. I made Herb get rid of all of his by the second year in our marriage. 'Didn't trust a single one of them."

"Why? Was he unfaithful?"

Gloria shook her head as she finished cinching the corset. "Nah. I didn't give 'im the chance. Ya see, he'd come home and I'd let 'im know what a lazy, worthless corpse he was. I was only bein' honest. But then he'd say, 'Ya know, Gloria, my friend Suzy can't ever stop saying good things about me. Why is that my WIFE always puts me down?'. So then I explained that the wife is the one who has to whip the husband into shape and that, by the way, he can tell Suzy never to talk to him again 'less I take matters into my own hands."

Tivona cocked an eyebrow. "Wow. I never knew being married was so difficult."

Gloria shuffled over to the wardrobe to carefully fish out the first article of Tivona's costume gown.

"Oh, don't worry, sweetie. Marriage is gonna be a walk in the park for you," she assured. "Jack will have his life and you'll have yours- as a flippin' Queen, might I remind you- and you'll both have piles of money in between."

Tivona rose from the seat of the vanity mirror and stretched her arms outward on either side of her so that Gloria could fit the bodice of the gown around her torso.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Gloria," she sighed. "Jack has yet to propose."

"But we all know he will, don't we? Hell, he's already asked you to live with him. It can't be long now."

Tivona glanced at herself in the mirror, taking a moment to really admire the effect Ensnare had on her features. However, she couldn't seem to wipe away the lingering sense of doubt that seemed to taint her self-confidence and, thusly, her beauty. Would Jack propose? Most certainly he would, as he had basically stated the fact in his first letter to her. She also supposed there wasn't an exact deadline, so it wasn't as if he would need to it in a certain amount of time. Still, she prayed she wouldn't have to wait too long. The sooner she became Queen, the sooner her position in this world would become permanent.


Jack strolled into his large kitchen to find Sally tending to a tea tray and grumbling. He checked the time on the wall and nearly jumped once he saw how late it was.

"Sally! What are you still doing here? It's 5:30, shouldn't you be home getting ready?"

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Jack could have sworn it was something of a glare, but he couldn't think of one reason she should be angry with him.

"I would think so," she answered him flatly. "But Miss O'Dwyer has yet to release me."

"Oh, I see," Jack chuckled, coming beside her to finish the remaining dishes in the sink. "Well, it was awfully kind of you to come today and assist her, but she has Mrs. Dobberstein here now. I think she'll fare just fine without you."

They then looked up from their respective assignments to exchange brief smiles, though Sally's was a bit heavier on the gratitude and relief.

"Besides, you work for me, Miss Stitches."

Sally nodded and grinned to herself. "Yes, I do, Mr. Skellington."

She then lingered for a moment beside him while he clattered dishes around in mountains of soap suds. He took little notice of her momentary reluctance to leave, having become so accustom to Sally's presence that it was more of a security blanket now than anything else. Because he took such comfort in having her around, he had no reason to protest her lingering there. In fact, an argument could have been made that it was one of the many reasons he scheduled her to work so extensively.

Finally, she turned to leave and had gotten a good third of the way across the kitchen floor before Jack felt the rather familiar emptiness that always accompanied her departure.

"Sally," he called out, causing her to almost immediately turn back around. "I was wondering if you had a moment to talk?"

She nodded and resumed her position beside him, in front of the long-forgotten tray of tea.

"You might remember a week and a half ago I asked you what you thought of Tivona, and you told me that you didn't know her well enough to have an opinion."

Sally fidgeted as she awaited the subsequent query, while Jack began drying each dish with a hand towel.

"Well, now that she's been living here for awhile and you've had a chance to interact with her, I thought you might have some more concrete thoughts. Anything?"

He then looked over at her expectantly, and she tried very hard not to seem uncomfortable or nervous about answering his request.

"Oh…well," she began, avoiding eye contact. "I just don't know, Jack, I still feel like we're as good as strangers. Any opinion I have about her is bound to be inaccurate and uninformed."

"Even after you went to the spa with her today?" he challenged.

Sally exhaled somewhat loudly and turned to lean frontwards against the counter surface. Clearly, this was a battle she was losing.

"Sally," Jack continued, not without some patronization. "We've been friends for a year now, and I've known you even longer than that. I know you don't like her and are unwilling to tell it to me straightforward."

She looked at him in shocked disbelief, and for a moment her mouth moved as though she planned to refute the point. Instead, she sighed once more and walked away from the supportive counter to pace the marble floor.

"Well…why is it so important what I think?"

Jack placed a dish in the upper cabinet slowly, all the while eyeing her with confusion.

"Because you're my best friend." The statement was simple and Jack had said it with air of incredulity, as if the situation should require no other explanation and was surprised Sally had requested one.

She, in turn, crossed her arms over her chest and tried not to show remorse for her prior attitude.

"So, you want my approval?"

He shook his head and faced the sink once more.

"No," he mumbled. "It would be nice, of course…especially tonight, when I ask-"

The sentence stopped abruptly, as though it had been severed by a particularly sharp and clean-cutting sword. Even stranger, Jack proceeded to offer no explanation for this sudden secession of words. Sally was then left to wade in the silent confusion.

"Tonight, when you…?"

"Nothing," he insisted, still focusing solely on the dishes with more concentration than was necessary. "I…just lost my train of thought."

Another tense moment of silence passed between them before Sally decided she wasn't obligated to reveal –or admit, rather- her secrets if Jack refused to do the same.

"If there's nothing else then, Jack, I think I ought to be going."

"Yes, there's not much time left."

"I'll see you there."

"Yes, of course, I'll see you-"

Jack had just turned around from dish duty to give his closest friend a proper farewell, when he saw that she was no longer there. The echo of the heavy front doors closing signaled her rapid departure.

"-there." He finished half-heartedly.

Sighing cathartically, he placed the last bone-dry dish in the cabinet and released the stopper on the sink drain. He intended to pause a moment to gaze wistfully out the front window at the sight of the early fall evening, but soon took notice of the tea tray sitting expectantly where Sally had been standing not two minutes ago.

Realizing that he was the only one available to bring his beloved her tea, he gathered up the tray and set off in the direction of her boudoir.


A/N- How about it, guys?

My chapter rating- 5.5-6, somewhere in there. What do you think?