NEWS: Jack Skellington was married yesterday afternoon to his beloved Sally. The young woman, previously employed as a town seamstress, will be henceforth known as Sally Skellington, the Pumpkin Queen of Halloweentown. As recently as a few weeks ago, Sally's creator, highly respected local mad scientist Doctor Finklestein, disputed the impending nuptials, however it would seem a resolution was reached. Despite occasional naysayers in the town, spectral sources inform us that an eventual agreement was never truly in question, as the happy couple showed no signs of willingness to relent in their plan to marry.

While proverbial sour grapes are expected, given Jack's veritable galaxy of hopeful admirers, level-headed ghouls view this union as a breath of relief for Halloween itself. After the catastrophe of Jack's attempted holiday switch, we wondered if he'd ever be able to regain his previous delight in horror. Observations indicate that since finding romance with his now queen, the terrifyingly talented, but often mercurial, Jack has displayed renewed passion for holiday work. It seems there is nothing more horrific than the Pumpkin King in love! His wife has already demonstrated an unprecedented talent for capturing her headstrong husband's attention, and directing his focus where it belongs. Thank the darkness for that! With next Halloween only months away, one almost feels sorry for those poor unsuspecting humans!

Sally uttered a tiny squeak of a giggle behind her fingers.

oOo

Jack crept back to the inn, well after sunrise. Aware he was returning later than planned, one of the Halloweentown vampires kindly gave him lend of a black parasol. It blocked the glare well enough, but Jack still heaved a tired sigh at the relentless morning heat, before ducking into the inn's shadow. Inside, he made his way to the room. So far, so good. he thought. If the babies were crying, he would have heard them from the entry foyer. Jack pressed the side of his skull against the paneled door, listening. Silence, as he'd hoped and expected. His family was asleep. He opened the door as quietly as possible.

The babies were indeed asleep. That much was true. Even Zero was sleeping, flipped upside-down on the bedspread like a stray pillowcase. Jack's queen, however, was not. She sat up at a small table beside the window, drinking tea and sorting through a pile of worn papers. A single golden sunbeam stretched through a crack between the curtains, illuminating her page. She smiled at him and mouthed a silent greeting, before returning to whatever so captivated her.

Announcement: We're delighted to report that Sally Skellington, the Pumpkin Queen gave birth to twin sons this morning! The new princes and their mother are said to be doing well. Jack Skellington returned early from an unparalled holiday performance to attend the birth of his sons. According to a restless spirit who lingered in the Skellington mansion just before sunrise, the tiny ghouls lay to rest any careless talk in town regarding their paternity. Quoth the spirit: "There is no doubt."

"Ah-hah. I knew that rumor was out there." Sally whispered to herself. She thought back to the town meeting when she and Jack introduced their sons to the world, and suddenly wished she'd paid more attention to the faces around her. She'd been so nervous having the twins out of the house for the first time. It was difficult to believe that months later, here she was, a world away. Even with both children, and no Jack by her side, she'd managed perfectly well. She'd even ventured out with new friends. Sally closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She found herself as serene and quiet inside as the woods that surrounded Halloweentown.

"Hello. What's all this?" Jack asked, kneeling by his wife. "I thought you'd be long since fallen asleep."

"I should be, I suppose." Sally answered, opening her eyes. "But look, Jack! Isabel, the one who helped me the other day? She's kept all these things, and she let me borrow them! It's all the news about everything! It's Halloweentown, and you, and me. It's us! Even Nicky and Jacky! Isn't that amazing?"

Jack flipped through a handful of the messages, but as the words: "Jack Skellington" and "Christmas" in close proximity to one another greeted his sockets, he flinched and placed the papers back where he'd found them.

"Bother." he sighed. "I told you all of that disaster was news just about everywhere."

"Oh, stop, Jack." Sally said lightly, kissing his skull. Jack groaned and slunk away toward the bed. He paused turning back to her.

"Why would anyone want you to read that, anyway? Are they trying to get you to remember what a fool your dear husband was? That hardly seems nice."

"I asked for these, darling. Don't worry. That's not the part I'm interested in. " Sally replied, without lifting her eyes from the page. Jack waited a moment, expecting elaboration, but within seconds she was engrossed once more, and he was as good as alone by her side.

"Come to bed, love." he said. "I'm so sorry our trip was interrupted by work silliness."

"I will Jack. I'm nearly ready."

"I want to hear about your evening, Sally. Promise you'll tell me everything? But, for the moment, I'm afraid that if we don't get some sleep, we won't be much good after sundown. I'm exhausted after all that holiday business, and you know how spoiled you've made me for not sleeping alone."

Sally at last broke from the page, favoring him with a smile. She breathed a small sigh, and pulled the curtains tight against the sunlight.