This part is also a bit shorter, and chronicles Jack dealing with being at home without Sally there...and Sally doing what she's doing at the Finkelstein household! :D
For those of you who were guessing about Jack's secret...you were right. ;)
About an hour and a half later, Sally managed to prepare and get everything she needed. By the looks of it, she was going to make it a three-day visit, four if she was absolutely needed longer.
"All right, so I've prepared some food for you in containers, I've labeled them Day One AM or Day One PM, Day Two AM and so forth. My room is clean, so you won't have to worry about tending to it while I'm gone, you must have enough on your plate." Sally was now by the front door, all decked up and ready to leave, with her bag in hand. "You know how to reach me in case anything does go wrong, of course. I pressed and ironed enough suits for you for at least four days...and that's it."
Jack was utterly touched inside so very deeply. She had seen to everything...He just wanted to pick her up and twirl her and tell her she was the most splendid creature and that she would be the most splendid wife and the most splendid mother and that he didn't want her to go and leave him because he didn't want to live without her and... He took a breath and stopped himself just in time. 'Jack, do NOT make this hard on her. She's trying to do something good by going to help the doctor and you can't be selfish...She'll be back in a few days, sort of an extra long weekend...and she'll be right across the town...Just let her go...she'll come back to you soon.' Jack managed to contain his enthusiasm and to just smile and nod at her appreciatively. "Thank you, Sally, that's really very sweet of you, but I just hope it didnt put you to too much trouble-I know you've had to pack so much to get ready for your trip and if it was too much, Zero and I could have made do on our own...But you're very sweet to have seen to us so well anyway." He moved closer to her, smiling down at her.
A bit of a funny look came to her face but she shook it off. He won't miss me...it's no big deal, right? Well, then I don't need to burden him with how much I'll miss him or be selfish when he's clearly ready to have some alone time. "You're welcome. Well, I'd better go." She paused a moment. "Jack...if it's not too much to ask...could you...please kiss me once more, before I leave?"
Jack blinked and then his smile grew and his eye sockets became half lidded. 'Certainly a goodbye kiss couldn't make her guilty and wouldn't be too selfish...Why not?' He nodded. "Of course, my darling Sally...How would I make it through without one? They're the most special part of my day after all..." He moved extra close to her, gazing down at her lovingly.
A sweep of happiness coursed through her. Maybe he wouldn't miss her so much, but at least he wasn't about to pass up loving gestures with her. "Oh...mine too..." Sally cooed sweetly, and brought her arms up around his neck, leaning up on tiptoe. "And it will be a few days until we can, anyway..."
"Hmm..." Jack's arms came lightly around her waist, pulling her body against his. "Yes...so many days...and no sweet Sally kisses...Whatever shall I do?" He chuckled a little warmly.
"We've survived two weeks before...haven't we?" Sally giggled, shaking her head. "Oh, six in one half a dozen in another..." And she leaned up to meld their lips together in one final, passionate kiss before leaving.
"Mmm!" Jack couldn't help exclaiming at the back of his throat in a touch of surprise...but then he smiled and melted into her kiss and kissed her right back, sliding one hand a litte up her back, brushing into her hair, while his other hand remained low, and he used his hold to dip her back a little.
Oh yes, being dipped back sometimes came to happen when they'd kiss, so she giggled and allowed it. Unable to help herself, she even brought out her little cloth tongue to poke and trace his lips gently.
Jack's breathing through his nose picked up a little and for a moment he paused their kiss, though their mouths were still practically touching. He whispered to her with a smile. "We...haven't done that in a little while...have we?"
This made Sally giggle. "No, we haven't, I guess...have we?" Now she looked mildly puzzled.
Jack just chuckled. "Just...wanted to let you know that it sounds like a lovey idea to me..." And then he closed his eyes again and placed his mouth to hers and then opened it a little, waiting for her.
Sally giggled once more before slowly opening her own mouth as much as she could, and inserted her little cloth tongue inside. Her hold tightened on him and she moaned between kisses, feeling as if her legs were giving out.
Jack's legs weren't done much better-it felt like his bones were rattling and it wasn't helping to feel her legs quiver so very close to him...In a very small way it reminded him of what she had told him the other day about her dream about...the two of them...and how towards the end she hadn't been able to stand any longer and the dream him had carried her to their bed to... "Mmm..." Jack moaned deeply, trying not to think about the overwhelming idea and instead to just focus on her sweet little tongue in his mouth. He gently brought his own forward to meet hers, shyly touching it and then pulling back with a touch of coyness.
Giggling again between kisses, she too gently brought hers in a bit further (having to bring herself closer to do so), to shyly greet his yet again and then pulled back coyly for a moment. And then came right back in to explore a bit.
A low little chuckle escaped Jack at the back of his throat at her cute little actions...He decided if she wanted to explore, who was he to deny her...Her brought his tongue forward completely and began to slowly wrap it and Sally's cute little piece of cloth together snugly and tightly, all the while his hold on her tightening.
"Mmah!" Sally all but gasped against him and then they just fell up against the front door, losing themselves in each other! Oh it was so hard not to! Like any kiss they shared, they never wanted it to end! But on top of that was the fact that they would not get to do so for a few days, and it certainly added to their wanton.
This had certainly never happened before-her falling back against a door or a wall like this with him right against her, the two of them locked in a kiss of so much heat and intimacy. It was very new and very...he felt like every bone in his body was rattling and his chest was heaving a little with breaths and she would leave him for days...and she tasted like Halloween and autumn and midnight...He pressed up against her more against the door, unable to help himself.
Feeling just so lost, even to the point that she was forgetting what she was supposed to be doing (guilt was already stabbing her gut...if she had one) but oh, she couldn't help it. She tightened her hold against him, despite the door now somewhat supporting them, since her legs were giving out all the more and she had to find a way to keep on standing.
They were locked in their heated kissing for at least two minutes. And much to their reluctant dismay, they did manage to break apart.
"I um...oh my...that's a little more tongue than I'm used to..." Sally blinked, wide-eyed in a daze.
"Th-That was..." Jack was utterly lovestruck...He was surprised he didn't swoon and fall to his knees and ask her to... "I-I...that was...very...good...So good..." he said amidst heavy, warm breaths, still holding close to her...
"It was..." Sally murmured dreamily, her eyes half-lidded. She almost just wanted to steal one more kiss and just-She did, though it was a lingering peck, and pulled back. "I love you... You'll be fine without me...right?"
He was so far gone that he wanted to say that he couldn't live without her and that she was a demon goddess and that if she would only never leave he would dote on her until the end of time... But he managed, just barely, to come out of it enough to let out a shuddery breath and reply... "Y-Yes, I...I'll...be alright...You're need at the doctor's...I-I can be okay for a few days. N-No problem..." It left a lump in his throat to say that but...he knew it was for the best.
"...All right then..." Sally smiled more and slowly entangled herself away, sadly.
"Arf!" Zero tugged on her cloak, whimpering.
"Awww...of course I didn't forget you, Zero!" She knelt down in front of him, petting him and smiling. "I know you'll be a good boy. Mommy Sally will be back soon, don't you worry. Have a good time!" She nuzzled him, as he nuzzled right back into her, and she stood back up. "Well, goodbye you two..." She opened the front door, which immediately let in a strong gust of wind and snowflakes. "Oh my!" She picked up her bag, and then slowly descended down the snow-covered front steps, and waved up at them once more. "Goodbye!"
Jack was instantly leaning out of the door to wave down to her as she departed. "Goodbye! Please have a safe walk! Are you certain you'll be alright? It's snowing so much...Please keep warm and go slowly so that you don't trip! And say hi to Dr. Finkelstein for me and wish him well! A-And make sure you flicker the candlelight twice in your old room the moment you get there so that I know you arrived safely!" He couldn't help but call down all of this with a touch of loving concern. After all, just because he wouldn't let her know how much he'd miss her didn't mean he wouldn't let her know he might be concerned for her little trip in the cold, however brief of a trip it might be.
"I will, don't worry!" Sally called back to him above the roar of the wind. She waved once more and then went through the gate, closing it behind her and heading off into town.
"Arf! Arf!" Zero came up beside his master, watching her go as well.
The two remained there, even when the light gray of her winter cloak and the red of her hair were soon out of sight.
For a moment, Jack just absorbed the sudden silence all around him...and the feeling of the warmth from their embrace leaving his body...and then he swallowed and looked to Zero. He tried to smile. "W-Well, um...Zero...Looks like the long bachelor weekend officially begins!" The little dog just looked at him curiously. Jack did his best to smile a little more. "Oh c-come on, Zero, i-it'll be fun! Just like the old days when it was just you and me...We can do whatever we'd like! We don't have to keep things tidy or worry about making too much noise or...or anything! Come on, let's try, i-it'll be fun..." He stood up and briskly started pacing around the room, trying to smile and trying to come up with 'all those millions of things' he ought to be able to do now that he was on his own again...though his mind seemed to be blanking a bit just at present.
"Arf!" Said Zero floated toward his master and lay his diaphanous body on a cushion on the couch, watching him pace a bit. "...Arf?" He tilted his head lightly.
"What?" Jack glanced to him, seeming a touch nervous. "I...I'm fine, Zero. Come on, she just left...I-I'm just waiting to think of the first thing we should...do..." Jack sighed and stopped pacing and walking...His eyes had fallen on Sally's bedroom door...And now he was just looking at it with a small frown...not saying anything else...just looking at it...
Zero gave a doggy shrug and looked back at his master, as if waiting for something.
One minute.
Zero went to play with a candy cane.
Two minutes.
Zero was now back on the cushion.
Three minutes.
Zero was now on his back, staring out the window.
Four minutes.
Zero watched his master a bit.
Five minutes.
Jack hadn't looked away from the door...the pretty little door...with the pretty little bed behind it...and the pretty little closet...with the pretty little dresses...and her pretty little sewing machine...and every pretty little thing she had ever said or done or hoped or dreamed...and all of her pretty love... "Zero?" Jack finally said quietly, his eyes still on the bedroom door though.
"Arf!" Zero barked in reply, and tilted his head. It had been five minutes since Sally had left. Was he ready to crack? He had a pretty good feeling he might be.
"Do you think..." Jack spoke in such a...deflated tone, "Do you think it's silly that...Daddy Jack...already misses Mommy Sally...very much?"
"Arf..." Zero said in sympathy. No, he didn't think it was silly at all. What kind of good, loyal doggy friend would he be if he didn't understand? He knew how much his master loved his mistress! How much happier and "alive" he seemed ever since she moved in. And now that she was gone, there was just some kind of a cold emptiness.
Jack swallowed and nodded at the little comforting 'Arf'... "Zero...would you mind terribly if we...put off the 'bachelor weekend' until later...a-and maybe we could do...that other thing I mentioned we should while she's gone...later too...Right now, I...think I'd like to take a little nap before dinner...if you don't mind..." Jack glanced away from Sally's door only for a moment to look to his little ghostly companion.
"Arf!" Zero nodded agreeably. And now he felt a bit worried. There was such sadness in him then, he was beginning to grow a little concern. He went over to him and nuzzled against his skinny leg to offer some comfort.
Jack felt the little touch of his friend and he let out a deep sigh and managed to look to him with a smile. "Zero..." he knelt low and rubbed him behind the ears, "It's alright...I-I know I'm being a bit..dramatic, I suppose. After all, she's just across town and she'll be back in a few short days. And we've been apart before...I guess it's just...well...she's gone back to Dr. Finkelstein's house...to her little room...and I get afraid enough as it is sometimes that our love is just a dream I'll wake up from or something...And so with her back at the doctor's it's like things are suddenly back to how they were last year...and I'm right back where I started...alone. I just want her back so badly just to know that she'll indeed come back, I guess...But I know she will, deep down..and...I'll be alright." He smiled a little more. "Plus you and I have that special project to work on to keep me busy..." He winked at the little dog. "A couple of special projects actually..."
Zero smiled a bit, nodding. He then looked out the window as he remembered something. "Arf!" He then tugged at his coattails, bringing him toward the window to look out, so that he would be able to see her light.
Jack blinked at first, looking at him curiously, but then he looked in the direction Zero was indicating and instantly realized what he meant. "Oh, of course! I almost forgot in all of my melancholy..." He walked over to the window and looked out of it toward Sally's old window...his gaze getting dreamy quickly...
A minute or two passed, and then, as if by a miracle, though further off away and the snow was blowing...there was a light in her old window! A candle, flickering twice.
"Arf!" Zero gave a happy bark. They could almost feel the warmth of the candle from there, almost as if she wasn't even gone.
Something in Jack just burst with warmth and light! "Oh Zero..." And instantly he couldn't help being all but plastered against the window looking out to hers, his grin and voice all goofy, "Isn't she just...a frightful delight..." He chuckled a little lovesickly.
"Arf!" Zero couldn't help but say happily and laughingly. He could recall how his master would even get dreamy and lovesick back last year before the courting began. It reminded him of those times he'd gone back and forth from here to there with letters they were exchanging!
And then there was something else!
Out from her old window, despite being within the wind, were green and red coloured little iridescent smoke shapes fly out in the shape of hearts!
Jack inhaled sharply and his eye sockets went wide...and then he melted so much inside that he actually fell to his knees upon the floor, a single hand and his skull all but plastered to the window again. "Oh Zero, look what she did...Oh isn't she utterly clever? Isn't she the perfect Mommy for this place, Zero?" The window had a thin layer of cold vapor condensed upon it and Jack absentmindedly put a single bony fingertip to it and drew a little heart.
"Arf!" Zero agreed, and looked out the window once more. The flickering candle was brought back, and then even at a distance, the light was held to a little face. It was hard to make out, given the distance, but almost so clear. "Arf!"
A happy gasp escaped Jack and he lit up inside again. "Zero, look, there she is!" He chuckled a little goofily. This almost reminded him of one of the good parts of the old days...flirting with her without even knowing he was flrting with her through their little letters back and forth and just looking out of his window to see hers whenever he had felt particularly bored or melancholy...and how happy that had always made him. Jack's fingertip added a little Cupid's arrow going through either side of the heart he had traced, and then he added a little 'J + S' in the middle.
Then a small hand appeared next to the flame, waving a little. And then...the light was gone.
"Arf..." Zero said sadly.
Jack, in the middle of being about to wave himself, blinked, and a little light went out in him as well...His Sally had other matters to take care of...and he had to not be selfish and to let her do this good thing she was doing. And he musn't make her feel bad or like she was neglecting him or something by doing it... And so with a deep sigh Jack stood up and turned away from the window and walked across the room, looking to Zero as he went and managing to smile a little. "Zero, Daddy Jack promises he's alright...but I think I will take that nap now...Just for a little while...We can move on to other things after that..." He approached Sally's bedroom door.
"Arf?" Zero now looked after him questioningly.
Jack turned back to the little dog and smiled more, a hand on Sally's bedroom door. "I thought I might rest in Sally's room...j-just to keep it warm...I...think I'd sleep best in there. And after I wake up we'll eat some of the lovey food she prepared for us...we'll spend the evening together on our project...and then I'll get into the nice pajamas she pressed for me and...maybe sleep in here tonight too. I'm sure that as long as I make the bed and don't make a mess or disturb anything, she'll understand..." He looked to Zero with a touch of sheepishness.
"Arf!" Zero said agreeably. After all, Sally did the same whenever he was away by sleeping in his room.
Jack nodded. "Thank you. Well, goodnight, boy. I'll wake up soon for dinner." He gave a little bow and then entered Sally's room and closed the door gently behind him. The sight of it was such a comfort. And yet she had cleaned it up so as to not be occupied for the four days she was gone and so no fire was lit and the curtains were drawn and the room had a cold feeling. He instantly set to taking care of it. He opened her curtains slightly and quickly kindled a fire in her fireplace and then he even lit a candle. Now the room glowed in a lovely way. Jack took of his jacket and laid it on the back of the chair Sally used for her sewing maching. He removed his bat bowtie and put it with it too, and then laid down on Sally's bed, pulling the quilt on the top of it snugly around him. He inhaled near her pillow and the edge of her quilt. "Sally..." he whispered as her familiar scent entered his nose and his bones warmed the the knowledge that he was lying wrapped in something she had sewn...her cute little cloth fingers... He let out a happy sigh and already began to drift off into dreams... "Sally...my Sally...marry me, my Sally..." he whispered in quiet joy as he lost himself to his happy dreams of her.
"My...dearest...dearest...dearest...Sally...I know that we have often talked about...the final culmination of our love...but that, since our courtship is only a year old...though a truly precious year it has been...we've been wanting to wait and take things slowly and get used to being together and in love...But now that this first year has come and gone...and we both know how truly meant to be we are...I have to ask you something. My Sally...My Miss Sally Finkelstein..." Jack bent low on one knee and held out a little box of deep purple velvet... "...will you do me the eternal honor of becoming Mrs. Sally Skellington? Will you be my wife and make me the happiest man in this or any holiday world? Will you marry me, Sally?" He looked up, filled with tenderness, warmth, sincerity, hope, offering up the little box and gently letting it pop open to reveal a little gold band...topped with a perfectly clear and sparkling little diamond in the shape of a little pumpkin.
There was silence and Jack didn't breathe.
The only response was this.
"Arf!"
And then Zero, doning a little red yarn wig meant for a doll, looking very silly, especially since it was pigtailed, came over and licked his face happily, as if to portray a happy reaction.
Jack couldn't help it! He had to laugh and almost fall back a little from Zero's enthusiasm. "Z-Zero!" He closed the little ring box and put it into his jacket pocket. "I'm happy you liked that one! Oh I hope I pick the right way to ask her...I don't know if she'll dive at me and give me kisses...a-although..." He smiled a little goofily and shrugged bashfully, "If she did I certainly wouldn't complain."
Still though despite the joke, Jack had to sigh again, a touch of worry coming to his face. "Still though...I think we should practice some other ones...just in case... I-I mean...not to presume but I...I think we both know she'll probably say yes..." Jack sat down on the floor instead of kneeling on it and clasped his hands in his lap, looking very shy and yet hopeful... He cleared his throat and looked to Zero again. "B-But...Zero...it'll mean so much to her...and to me...I already know when I'm going to ask her and where I'm going to ask her but...I simply must ask her in the perfect way. She deserves that, Zero, so very much, and especially after all of the build up I've put her through for this, both of us waiting and just taking our time to see if we'll really work...I don't want it to be anticlimactic for her. I want it to be so special that...we'll never be able to look at each other and not be instantly reminded of that moment ever again..." He smiled lovingly, lost in a daydream for a moment...
"Arf! Arf!" Zero said, and shook the silly wig off his head. Despite he wanted to help his master, he didn't quite like wearing things like that. But, he was always willing to help, like the good, loyal companion he was.
He paused then. "Arf! Arf!" Then he floated out through the front door.
A few moments later, he came back through an open window. He had to, since he was carrying a physical item in his mouth. He brought it to his master, revealing it to be an envelope. It was understood now that he had sensed a bat messenger having come by and fetched the letter that was delivered.
"Arf!"
Jack blinked. "What's that, boy?" He stood up and dusted himself off from the floor and then walked over to Zero, taking the envelope and opening it.
It was on basic Halloween stationary, and given the neat, spidery handwriting, it was a little letter from Sally.
Dearest Jack,
How are you doing? I hope things are going well for you at home. I'm doing all right, it does feel kind of odd to be back in my old home after so long for an extended period of time, I must admit. But Jewel has been very sweet and welcoming, and the Doctor, despite how sick he is, was happy to see me. Hee hee, I wonder how long I have to not live there before I'm considered a guest?
Anyway, things are going quite well by now. The doctor is getting better, though he is spending most of his time in bed. Jewel and I are working hard, but we've had it easier now that it's both of us managing the organization of the lab, cleaning the place, cooking, and running any needed errands. So far, things are going a bit better than I thought, which is good.
So you don't have to worry, of course. I just wanted to touch base with you. Of course, you don't have to write back if you don't want to, it's up to you. I only wanted to keep you updated for now.
I miss you very much, Jack. I hope you're doing okay. Give Zero a hug and a kiss for me, will you?
I love you, darling. I'll see you soon.
Love always,
Sally
Jack knew, after it happened, that it was a bit much but...it felt like an eternity since she had left and to suddenly have such a beautiful little message of love fall into his lap was just blissful...and so the second he had concluded reading it he had sunk back down to the floor in a lovesick slump. "Oh Sally..." He closed his eye sockets and brought the letter close to his face and smelled it, and indeed a touch of her scent was upon it, and then he just held it close to his chest, cradling it. "Zero..." he didn't open his eye sockets and he still smiled, "I know I'm ridiculous for getting like this but...I really do like her so very very much...my Queen..." He let out a sigh and opened his eye sockets and finally managed to place the letter gently down on the coffee table and then instantly he was up to find a pen and paper to write back to her!
'Silly creature...Saying I don't have to write back if I don't want to...Of course I want to!' He found what he was looking for and placed them down on the coffee table beside her letter, all ready to respond. "I want to tell her all about how much long for her presence and..." Jack stopped himself just before the ink hit the page. "N-No, Jack..." he reminded himself calmly, "She's so busy over there right now, don't make her feel guilty about still being there. It's just for a little while longer." He sighed and then began to compose as calmly as possible. Upon finishing he folded up the letter and gave it to Zero. "Zero, I know it's rather chilly but...would you mind taking this to her? I promise it won't be like the old days where we went back and forth for hours." He winked at the little ghost dog.
"Arf!" Zero gave a nod, taking the letter and flying out the open window to bring the letter to his beloved mistress. Oh yes, he remembered those days, having to bring letters between them back and forth, back and forth, sometimes for hours! How they were flirting with each other, and didn't even know it...
Jack watched the little dog go wtih a smile and hoped he had worded all of that right and that she really would feel perfectly fine about being over at the doctor's for as long as she needed to and yet at the same time that her work there would be done soon and that she would return. While he waited for Zero he thought back to those old days and did his best not to laugh... Hours of sweet letters back and forth...and in them he recalled how he had talked to her: more sweetly than he would ever have felt comfortable writing to anyone else...Saying nice little things about her...complimenting things she did or said...telling her quite frequently that he desired her presence as often as she could give it... 'How she beared pining for me for so long when I was being that unknowingly flirtatious, I'll never know...She must have been dying half the time to just jump on me and give me kisses and coo that she loved me in the hopes that all of my niceness wasn't just me being nice but loving her too...' He chuckled a little more at the cuteness of it all and his own touch of blindness back then, not being able to see how dear she really was to him... And then he just took the little pumpkin diamond ring out of his pocket and admired it some more with a smile as he awaited Zero's return.
Meanwhile, at Dr. Finkelstein's Laboratory, Sally was just entering the doctor's room to bring him some worm's wart soup, along with some herbs that would help in relieving his flu symptoms. Jewel stood in the doorway, observing to make sure all was well, and just couldn't help but admire the scene before her as Sally, such a caring and kind soul, was utilizing those qualities to help and care for her creator.
"Here you go, Doctor." Sally said sweetly as she placed the tray onto his bed, making sure to keep it steady. "We also made you some tea, I hope you'll like it, too. Is there anything else you need?"
"Well..." Dr. Finkelstein cleared his throat and glanced to the side innocently, "I'm feeling better so...I wouldn't mind some of those Christmas cookies I could smell you girls baking down there...Just one? It won't upset my illness, I promise!" He looked to Sally hopefully.
Sally giggled, looking toward Jewel for a moment.
"Oh, what the heck." Jewel smiled. "I think we can allow him at least one."
"All right then, Doctor. I'll bring one for you." Sally promised with a smile.
"Nonsense dear, I'll get it." Jewel assured her, and left the room to go fetch a cookie.
Dr. Finkelstein smiled happily and then immediately grabbed his soup bowl in both hands and started all but chugging it. When he was half way done a few seconds later, he stopped and let out a satisfied sigh. He looked to Sally, putting down the bowl. "That was delicious, my dear, I'd forgotten how nice you're cooking is...when it wasn't laced with nightshade of course." He chuckled a tiny bit.
Sally blushed and cracked a smile at his little joke. "Rest assured, Doctor, those days are over."
"I know..." The doctor nodded. "Besides, who would you poison anyway-Jack? He was the one you were sneaking out to see every time you poisoned me in the first place." He chuckled a little again and then took a sip of the tea. "Sally..." he looked to her with a touch of seriousness now, "I..." not being the best at 'tender moments', he decided to start with a basic lead in question, "I-Is your old room still comfortable and to your liking? It's not to drafty, is it?"
Sally blushed all the more at the fact he was indeed correct, the very source of why she snuck out was indeed Jack...and why would she poison him like that? But then she cleared her throat. "Yes, it's quite fine, actually. It's very cozy." She smiled.
The doctor cleared his throat. "That's good..." He sighed and played with his soup a little, finally picking up the wooden spoon beside it. "Er...Sally...I...well, now that I'm feeling better I just wanted to thank you for coming to help Jewel...and to help me...It was...very sweet of you, Sally...e-especially considering you and Jack and...h-how I'm sure it's very important for you to be together during the Christmas season for sentimental reasons..." He still played with his soup, not really looking at her.
"It was no trouble at all, Doctor." Sally assured with a smile. "And Jack understood completely, we both knew how important this was. And you're my creator...and something of a father figure to me, I wasn't about to turn my back when you and Jewel needed a bit of extra help. I may not live here any longer, but that doesn't mean I won't come to visit or that I won't come and help you both when you need it." She sighed then, smiling more in a dreamy way. "But you are right, Christmas has become very important to the both of us for a lot of reasons..."
During the first part of Sally's speech Dr. Finkelstein had started to smile warmly, sipping his soup peacefully. "That's...very nice of you, Sally...that you'll visit me..." For the last part of her reply though, the part about her and Jack, he couldn't help clearing his throat and getting a little awkward again, and especially at that look on Sally's face. "Y-Yes, well...I supposed..." He sipped some more tea. Then he let out a breath. "So...you and Jack are...doing alright?" was the best he could manage to ask.
"Of course I will." Sally confirmed once more, nodding. "And yes, we're doing just fine, actually."
Dr. Finkelstein nodded. "And he's still being very nice to you? Helping you with the chores?...Giving you your own little room and space and everything?" He entirely played with the soup now rather than eating it.
"Absolutely. He's very good to me, we both participate in household chores equally, caring for Zero included, and I do have my own room, always have since the beginning." Sally assured all with a smile.
The doctor let out a little sigh, almost of relief. "Good...I-I mean, I'm glad, Sally... So...you're happy?" He looked to her at this question.
A bit of a silence fell in the room as a dreamy, warm smile came to the rag doll's face. Finally, she nodded, clasping her hands on her lap. "I am happy. And I'm very happy to have all of you in my life."
The spoon dropped from Dr. Finkelstein's hand right into the soup bowl and his eyes popped open wide! "I-I-I...w-well, I...I-I'm s-sure...er..that's v-very...y-you're...a-and w-we, um...f-feel the same..." He ended by clearing his throat signficantly and focusing very much on sipping his tea from his cup.
Sally giggled a bit, smiling more. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"Here you are, dear! One Christmas cookie for you." Jewel now came back, holding a small plate with a cookie in the shape of a Christmas bell on it. "Oh, and Sally, I must thank you for that lovely recipe. They turned out delicious!"
"Oh, no problem. I was happy to share!" Sally giggled. "I thought I saw one missing earlier..."
"I confess, I did take one to try it!" Jewel laughed, nodding.
Dr. Finkelstein just snatched up his Christmas cookie and decided to focus on eating that for the moment. "Y-Yes, v-very good...Thank you, Jewel." He continued nibbling away, still looking a little awkward from before. It was just...sometimes Sally was so sentimental and selfless that it overwhelmed him to no end. He knew how to talk to people in straight, direct, often harsh terms...but not all...mushily! Jewel, of course, was starting to prove a slight exception to that rule but only when they were alone and even then it was rare and usually didn't last for too long.
"You're welcome, dear." Jewel smiled and patted his metallic cranium. "Don't eat too fast now, you. We don't want you choking. Slow down!"
Sally giggled, and cleared her throat a bit. It was pretty amusing to watch the two of them sometimes, as she noted over the past few months and especially since she'd been here. And it was also sweet in a way, especially that her creator found someone he cared about so much and who felt the same way. He wasn't alone, and that was nice to see, that even he was able to find happiness last Christmas as well.
At her little touch (not to mention calling him 'dear'), Dr. Finkelstein's eyes popped open again and he did almost choke on the cookie piece in his mouth. He put down the last half of the cookie and cleared his throat. "U-Uh...th-thank you, Jewel...But..." he glanced at the two of them with a touch of rare shyness, "P-Perhaps not in front of Sally..." He cleared his throat again and went back to giving little nibbles to the last of his cookie, going much more slowly now just in case one of the girls went and to it into their head to give him a spontaneoud hug or kiss or something on top of everything else.
"Oh, don't be silly!" Jewel giggled, winking at Sally. "She won't mind."
"Pretend as though I'm not here." Sally giggled also, unable to help from teasing. A happy blush filled her cheeks as she just felt so...well, happy. It was kind of like having eccentric but lovable parents. Even if her "mother" figure was far younger than she herself was. But who was keeping track?
Sally stood up then, brushing her patchwork dress of invisible dust. "Do you need anything else, Doctor? I need to retrieve some herbs from my room to use for later."
The doctor just let out a little sigh, still looking a touch shy. "N-No, no, I...I think I have everything...Thank you, Sally. And I'm happy you're happy with Jack, and I'm...happy to have you in my life too..." he finished, sincerely but with an obvious touch of stubborness in his tone at having to admit something so soft-hearted.
Sally was taken aback, but she beamed happily. Like a little girl on her birthday. "Awww, thank you, Doctor! That's very sweet of you to say. I appreciate it so very much." She patted his cranium as well, and then left the room to head over to her old room.
Her old room...
She almost couldn't believe that it had been early a year since she'd no longer been living here. It seemed like so much longer, and yet, as if she had never left. Her room was the same, though her bed had a nicer mattress and blanket, and it was still tidy. Her old sewing machine was still there, which she couldn't help but having patted upon seeing when she first came here.
And then, on her bed, she saw an envelope there. Surprised, she immediately went over to it, looking at it...
Jack wrote back to me...
Unable to help it, Sally went over to the window, peering outside at the beautiful falling snow, and then right toward her and Jack's home...especially up at the tower, where she wondered if he was.
Oh...why not.
Taking her binoculars from her bag, she peered through them, looking through at the tower. Sure enough, she saw Jack in there, pacing. He looked a little...distressed.
"Awww..." She said sadly, lowering the binoculars. She then placed them down, and opened his letter to her.
My dearest Sally,
Thank you for your lovely letter-it certainly brightened Zero's and my afternoon. We're so happy things are going well at Dr. Finkelstein's and that he's almost better. Send him my regards, and the same to Jewel! And I'm happy to hear you're doing well too, darling. I'm not worried though, I promise-I knew you'd do a splendid job at everything to help out the doctor and Jewel. There's my clever Sally!
Things are just dandy here, my dearest! Zero and I have been keeping on another company and managing, and we've enjoyed all of your delicious meals. Thank you again for those, Sally!
Please stay at the Finkelstein's for as long as you need to. Zero and I will always be here when you get back!
Oh and I gave Zero that big hug and kiss for you-he spent a good ten minutes licking my face so I think he sends lots of kisses back. And of course I send kisses and hugs to you too!
I'll see you whenever you're ready to come home!
I love you, my Princess,
Your Jack 3
Blink. One blink, and then two more.
Before Sally's lips curled into a sweet, loving smile.
"...Oh, Jack..." She cooed, and held the letter to her chest. It almost reminded her of the old days, back when they'd exchange letters back and forth, how every letter she received from him made her feel happy and special. Looking back...he had been flirting with her, though he didn't realize it. She had always been sure that her in-love mind had just been telling her that, wishful thinking. Only now, it wasn't just flirting, it was loving and sweet...
A resolution came to her, and she smiled then.
"He may not miss me...but that's okay." Yes, she felt better about it. "He can do all right without me. I can surely do the same." While she would miss him, and still did, she was not going to dwell on it.
Gently folding the letter, she placed it in her bag to bring home, and then peered out the window once more. And then, she had an idea.
Severing her hand, she took out one of her leaves, and placed it next to her old sewing machine. She sewed her hand back in place, and then picked up the leaf again. She kissed it, and then held it flat on her palm, before blowing it out through the bars of her old window, and it blew off into the wintery, snow-falling wind outside.
"I love you..." She whispered into the wind.
Smiling as she gazed at their home, she then gathered the herbs and bottles she needed before leaving the room.
Outside of her window, Zero had been waiting, hiding snugly under the eaves of the house's roof, just in case if when Sally saw the letter he had delivered to his master she wanted to write a reply and send it back with him. Instead all he saw though when she entered her room was her reading the letter, then looking utterly dazed and holding it to herself just like her master had done with her letter, and then...taking a little leaf from inside of her hand and...now blowing it out the window with a kiss upon it? Zero had a feeling he should act fast! He flew up and caught the little leaf gently in his mouth before it could get lost in the lightly falling snow and wind, and then he flew with it directly to his master's house!
Meanwhile, in the observatory house, Jack was still watching the pretty ring in its box, still imagining it on his pretty Sally's hand...still imagining her pretty wedding dress...when he heard a little tap at the window twice and looked up to see Zero there, and with something in his mouth... "Zero!" Jack smiled and stood up and walked over to the window, opening it for a moment to let the little dog in from the cold. "What do you have there, boy? Is it another letter from our Sally?" he asked, almost dreamily.
"Arf!" Zero approached his master, and gently dropped the object he had in his mouth onto his bony hand. "Arf, arf!"
A smiling Jack had been expecting a letter...Instead, he got... 'A leaf?' Jack blinked, looking in puzzlement at it for a moment. Then he looked back to Zero. "Zero, I don't understand...And...where did you get this anyway? It's winter-all the tree leaves are gone already or buried under the snow...but this one is perfectly dry and...warm, even..." he noted curiously.
"Arf!" Zero said pointedly, nudging the leaf. "Arf! Arf!" He then looked back out the window, and then back at his master, hoping he'd understand.
Jack blinked several times, looking at Zero and then the leaf, trying to understand. He brought the leaf close to his face to examine it more closely. The result of doing so was that he unintentionally took a small sniff of the leaf through his nose...and upon doing so his eye sockets popped open wide and his bones heated and trembled. "Sally..." left his mouth in a whisper. Then his breath caught in his throat and his jaw dropped open quite widely and he held he leaf away from him almost as though it hurt to be too close to it, and if it could have blushed he would have, though at the very least his bones felt like they blanched! "O-One of her l-leaves?" He looked to Zero for confirmation.
"Arf!" Zero gave a nod of confirmation, smiling. It was indeed one of her leaves!
The little leaf instantly dropped from Jack's hand and fell slowly and gently to rest upon a pillow on the couch while Jack just looked at it in awe. "Sh-She...gave me...one of her leaves...f-f-from i-inside of h-her?" Jack couldn't help but question again, as he was just so very flustered at the moment. Certainly she let him touch so many of her pretty seams and so much of her soft blue cloth skin, and even her little cloth tongue, and...sometimes when he was that deep into her mouth, he could almost barely touch the edge of a leaf or two of hers at the back of her throat, but...overall he had never gotten access to one of these precious objects-her leaves that kept her warm and soft and smelling of autumn air. It was the single most beautiful sight to him at the moment, especially with so many days without her.
"Arf?" Zero looked up at his master, and then down at the little leaf, then back at Jack as he tilted his head. He nudged him lightly, trying to get his attention.
Jack just blinked a few more times...and then he melted into the biggest smile and grin he had ever gotten. "Oh Zero...it's the loveliest sight I've ever seen. Thank you so much for bringing it to me!" And then suddenly he was on his stomach with his head resting in his hands and gazing at the little leaf. "It's like a little piece of Sally right here..." And then Jack sighed and on instinct reached into his pocket and pulled out the little ring box again. "Oh my Sally, you must know that if I hadn't felt like it would have been too forward I wouldn't have just asked you to live with me that first Christmas night we came together, I would have asked you to be my wife then and there. And yet, why do we torture ourselves, my dearest love? We know we must be together...So please become my wife and let me love you...every piece of you...for all time..." And then he took the stem of the little leaf, brought it forward and placed the little ring on it.
"Arf." Zero looked as if he were trying to smile, but it wasn't quite there.
Jack just sighed and looked to the little dog with a smile and a shrug. "What? I'm just...trying to progress a little. First I was proposing to you dressed at her and now I've moved on to proposing to an actual piece of her. I think that's progress." He shrugged and chuckled a little.
"Arf!" Zero left, heading downstairs. He then came back up with something in his mouth, what looked like a frame. It was a photo (courtesy of a camera invented by Dr. Finkelstein) in a frame, with her smiling sweetly as she stood in a shy but cute posture, her head titled slightly.
Jack's smile went even more goofy if that was possible. "Zero...what are you trying to do, make me pass out? I can barely handle memories of her...and now her leaf..." He took the little photo...Oh it was so very adorable! Then he smiled a little extra and looked to Zero. "Are you trying to say that I should propose to the photo now? You know that'll involve looking into her perfect eyes...That's kind of a big step." Jack chuckled a little.
Zero gave a doggy shrug, just smiling. "Arf!" He looked at the photo with a smile, and then settled on the couch as he observed what his master was going to do.
Jack just sighed and shrugged. "Alright, here goes nothing...And let's try a different approach this time and see how it plays out..." Jack placed the picture on top of a pillow or two, took the ring off of Sally's leaf and then tucked the leaf away inside of his jacket, and then got down on one knee again. This time when he spoke, rather than nervously or even sweetly, his voice came out deeply, passionately, heatedly...slowly... "Sally...most ravishing creature of the night...most hauntingly beautiful woman in all our frightening land...warmest, most passionate, most undeniable female creation, you who have made my heart blaze with love and my bones tremble with longing, I cannot wait a moment longer until our lives are united as one! I need you Sally...Please be mine and frighten millions with me and satisfy all of our deepest burning desires for one another for all eternity!" He had one arm passionately around the pillows at this point and the other was holding the ring to her picture as he gazed into its eyes, his eye sockets ablaze with passion!
Her photo only stared back at him with the same expression. If it had been the real Sally...well, there'd be a lot more than just that little smile on her face.
"Arf!" Said Zero.
Jack let out a deep sigh and managed to release his grasp on the pillows and to bring himself down a few notches . He shut the ring box and looked to Zero again with a small smile. "Too much? I mean...I want her to say yes, of course...But I want her to say it because she's in love and means it more than anything else in that moment, not because she's collapsing in trembles because I just overwhelmed her with passion."
"Arf!" Zero knew all too well that even if his beloved mistress was overwhelmed and swept away with passion, her answer of yes would still be genuine and true. He looked out the window then for a moment, and then perked. "Arf!"
Since it was growing darker out within the windy falling snow, there was a distinct light coming from her old bedroom window clear across town! It was brighter, and almost blinking as it faded, then grew bright once more.
Jack instantly noticed where Zero was indicating and then slipped the ring and box back into his pocket and headed over to the window. "Oh Zero, look at the lights from her room...I wonder what they are?" He looked at them in pleasant curiosity.
The light grew brighter once more. And then was gone.
Then there was a green light. A red light. Green light. Red light.
Then there was a small tremor in the ground, and smoke sparkly, silvery smoke seemed to explode from the window!
"Arf!" Despite not feeling anything, Zero couldn't help but jump back.
At the lab, both Jewel and Sally stood over a table, both covered in soot and silvery confetti-like bits, as an experiment promptly exploded.
"...Let's not do that again." Sally blew a strand of her hair out of her face as she fanned the smoke, coughing.
"Agreed...at least he's a heavy sleeper..." Jewel agreed, shaking her head as she fanned more of the smoke from her face also. "Sally, will you be a dear and get the broom while I get the dust pan and a wash cloth to clean all of this up a little?" Jewel asked with a smile, indicating the broom in the corner.
"Of course!" Sally nodded, going to fetch the broom and located the dust pan. "Perhaps we should stick to cooking when it comes to mixing things..." Indeed, she recalled the time Dr. Finkelstein had one time following her conception asked her to perform a scientific experiment. The result? It exploded. She could cook well, and was great at mixing herbs and such for a potion, but involving all the science and chemicals as such? All she could do was make it explode.
Jewel giggled and nodded. "Yes, that might be best... He'll end up having quite a few experiments to catch up on once he's all better and out of that bed, but...I think we'd better just leave them to him so that we don't hurt ourselves or something." Jewel began to clean some of the scorch marks from the counter. "Thank you so much for at least trying with me though, Sally, and thank you so much again for staying here in general with us for so long! You're just such a peach for doing that! I hope Jack doesn't mind terribly..." She smiled a little more at Sally.
"Oh, it's no trouble at all!" Sally smiled as she swept along the floor, rolling her shirt sleeves back down as she did so. She smiled more at her creator's wife also. "You're very welcome really, I'm glad to be able to help you two out. The Doctor and I...well, we have had our tough times in the past...but...I now realize he truly was only trying to protect me, and didn't want anything bad to happen to me. And now that I have a chance to help and visit, I surely wasn't about to turn away from you both when you needed help. Jack was perfectly fine with it, he understood very much."
"Oh Sally, that's so sweet of you to say. And I'm really so happy you and the doctor have patched things up so well." Jewel moved a little closer to her and whispered with a little giggle, "Don't tell him I told you this but he's so very happy every time you stop by or he sees you in town and you smile and wave at him...and he's been just tickled that you offered to come back for all of these days...! He just adores you,Sally, like you're his little girl or something! And whenever we're alone and you get brought up he smiles and talks about how he's so proud of you for saving Christmas and Jack and for helping lead the twon now and for preparing one day to become the Pumpkin Queen! He tries to cover it up a little whenever I call him on it by swearing that he's just proud that he created the person doing all of those things but with how awkward he always looks adding that, I know he's just proud of you in general." Jewel winked at her.
"Oh..." Sally blushed and giggled, unable to keep from smiling quite bashfully now. Who would've thought that her own creator, who she once felt a bit resentful toward...could have turned out to be a type of father who was gruff but lovable, and tended to keep his emotions in check despite having his moments. She giggled, still sweeping. "I won't tell him, I promise...I never knew he'd feel that way toward me. I mean...our relationship has been a lot better since we did patch things up months ago...but...goodness... Well, if it means that much to him, I certainly don't see why I can't make him happy."
"Oh and you do, Sally, you really do!" Jewel assured happily. "Actually..." she giggled again, "Don't tell him this either but, really, ever since you showed up here a few days ago he's even started letting me have a few more affectionate moments with him. Usually he's so fussy about letting me hug him and tell him how smart he is and stuff but between the sickness and you being here, every word I say to him whenever we end up alone just makes him smile and snuggle close to me. It's the most adorable thing I've ever seen!" She giggled some more.
"Ohh...really?" Sally blinked, and smiled more. "Well that's good...I'm certainly glad he's letting you be more affectionate with him like this! He has...always been a little misguided in expressing how much he cares. I'm sure you know a lot better than I do by now. But, that is good to hear...at least he's coming around in that sense."
Aw, thank you, dear. You're always so nice, caring so much about other people's welfare...Oh but listen to me prattling on and on about me my Finkey..." Instantly Jewel paused then and brought a hand to her mouth, her eyes going a little wide. "Oh, Sally dear, please don't ever let him know you know that I call him that! He'd never be able to bear it!" She cleared his throat shyly.
As much as Sally wanted to laugh at the utter ridiculousness at the silly nickname being associated with her creator, she wasn't about to make her feel bad for it. It wasn't even because it came from a woman who loved him, just that it was silly and associated with her creator! It was too funny! "D-Don't worry..." Sally managed, smiling. "I-I never would've thought that anyone would call him something like that, but...don't you worry, I won't tell him or anyone."
Jewel let out a sigh of relief and smiled appreciatively at Sally. "Thank you, sweetie. You're the best!" She giggled and then recalled where she had been going with their conversation before the whole 'Finkey' thing. "Oh but anyway, what I was trying to say was, listen to me prattling on about me and my Finkey..." she giggled at using the name again, but then went on with, "I should be asking you all about you and Jack and how things are going? What's it like living with him? Is he sweet? Is he charming? Does he just worship you as much as he seems to whenever you both walk through town together?" Jewel let out a lovesick sigh at the whole sweet thing.
"Oh...well..." Sally actually stopped sweeping for a moment to gather herself. "It's very nice living with him...he's always sweet and charming every day. And I love him more as each day passes..." A dreamy look came to Sally's face, the broom pretty much serving as the only thing keeping her up a bit. "And um, well, I wouldn't say worshiping me, but...I certainly have no doubt he loves me very much..."
"Awww!" Jewel giggled some more. "That sounds so wonderful! I'm so happy for you! Meant to be with such a nice and caring and loving man...and he's very handsome too, Sally..." Jewel gave he a little wink as she started on cleaning out some of the beakers and test tubes. "That plus all that charm of his...I don't know how you manage to keep yourself together, Sally. Really, I'd just be going all to pieces and giggles all the time-the doctor's more my speed with all of his cute gruffness." She smiled a little more to herself.
"Sometimes I wonder how I hold myself together and don't burst at the seams." Sally agreed and swayed a little bit, still holding the broom. "Thank you though, you're sweet to say that...I do still think I am lucky, but...I know more than ever it's meant to be... He's very caring, charming, and loving...with so much to offer to the world and anyone he cares about. I love him... We're planning to get married, though he hasn't proposed to me yet..." She giggled at that.
Jewel's eyes lit up! "Married! Oh!" And instantly she had dropped the washcloth and dust pan and was hugging Sally tightly! "Oh Sally, my Sally, a bride! Oh you'll be so cute! Oh the doctor won't know what to do with himself! He'll be a nervous little wreck for the whole engagement, oh, but don't you worry, he'll love the idea too! I can't wait! Are you sure there's been no proposal, Sally? Oh I hope it comes soon! And if it doesn't then I think you should just go and be the one to do it! After all, you're a bright young woman and you know what you want-if Jack's too shy, you just jumpstart him a little!" Jewel winked at her, still hugging her close.
"Ooh!" Sally was taken aback by the sudden hug! Yes, she and her "mother figure" have exchanged hugs before, but not like this! Still, she smiled and hugged her in return. "Yes, that's true...I can only imagine how he'd react to it all..." She giggled then at the last bit, smiling more. "We have joked about that, the idea of me being the one to do it...I have to admit I'd feel very silly doing that..."
Jewel just chuckled. "Oh Sally, no need to feel silly-you love each other so what would be the problem. But if you want to wait for him to do it, that's perfectly alright too. But if he drags his feet at all, you just keep reminding him that you can't become his Pumpkin Queen without a wedding." She winked and then released Sally. "Oh but Sally I really hope you'll let me help a lot with the wedding! Ooo and then you'll have to plan your honeymoon too of course! Oh won't that be fun!" She giggled. "I wish the doctor would take me on a honeymoon..." she sighed dreamily, clasping her hands together over her heart. "I'd just adore it!"
"Of course I'll let you help if you'd like." Sally assured with a smile. And then she giggled at the idea of Dr. Finkelstein actually taking Jewel somewhere on a bit of a honeymoon. "Ooooh...that would certainly be something if he took you on a honeymoon... I don't see why not, though. You certainly deserve something nice like that."
"Really?" Jewel beamed, turning her sights back to Sally. "Oh, thank you, Sally, what nice thing to say! Oh and you and Jack certainly deserve a nice one two!" Suddenly her eyes lit up with an idea! "Oh Sally, sometime after you're married or maybe even before, Finkey and I should have you and Jack over for dinner! Sort of a double date! Ooo, if you get engaged soon then it would be perfect and we could talk all about the wedding and get everyone used to the idea! What do you think, Sally? We'd simply love to have both you and Jack here together sometime."
"Really? ...Ooohh...well, certainly!" Sally blinked at the idea, but smiled at how interesting it seemed! She'd read this in storybooks before, about how a couple would go to the home of the "in-laws", whichever side of the family, and have dinner with them. Often becoming awkward, chaotic, weird, troublesome...
But it would certainly be interesting! "I think it would be a lovely idea, and I don't think Jack would object to it, either."
"Perfect! It's all settled then!" Jewel clapped her hands together firmly...unfortunately the sound was so loud, mostly due to quite a bit of an echo, that it roused a certain someone from their nap and made him finally come wheeling to the spiral ramp.
"Oooh, girls, what in the world are you doing down there?" he asked but in more of a tired voice than a chastising or angry one. "You're not destroying my lab, are you?" he asked with a touch of suspicion.
"N-No! Not at all, Doctor!" Sally called back up sheepishly. "Y-You just go back to bed now! You need your rest! ...This is...um...that um...girl talk thing!"
"Oh yes!" Jewel seconded, calling up to him. "We were just gossiping and talking about cooking and sewing and boys-nothing new to report!" She couldn't help having to stifle a little chuckle. "You just get to sleep and I'll be up to tuck in you soon and read you a story and pat your read like you like!"
Sally giggled, covering her mouth with her hands. "And if you need anything else, just ring your little bell and we'll tend to it, you know that!"
Dr. Finkelstein just looked sort of wide eyed and awkward and shocked and then he shyly cleared his throat and looked downward, pretending to clean his glasses. "Y-Yes, well...cooking...b-boys...a-alright then, you two have fun! Um...bring me more cookies when you can! A-And I'll ring my bell!" And with that he was doing everything he could to three point turn his wheelchair and hightail it back to his room and bed.
Once he was gone, Sally giggled behind her hand and resumed sweeping. "I...I have learned that...there is this thing some call girl talk and that men tend to avoid it. I...panicked and wasn't sure what else to say..."
Jewel just giggled like crazy. "Oh Sally, you absolutely made the right call! If you ever are worried about Dr. Finkelstein finding out about something or interrupting something that's a surprise for him, all you have to do is say that you're having 'girl talk' or something to that effect and he instantly gets all adorably awkward!" Her smile got a little dreamy. "He's just not used to expressing his big old feelings or talking about other people's feelings...at least not without some hot tea and a warm blanket and lots and lots of snuggles to that big cranium of his..." She sighed a little lovesickly, unable to help it. "I just adore him, Sally, I swear."
"Awwww..." Sally giggled, smiling warmly at that. She was indeed very happy for her "father", glad to know that he was being taken care of, and that he had a nice woman who loved him, and who he loved back. Yes, she knew about the whole thing of kids feeling grossed out by romance between their parents, but she found it sweet.
Then again, she was never actually a "kid". She was created as a full grown woman, in a sense, and had been that way ever since.
"I think that's wonderful. He's very lucky to have you, Jewel. You really have taken so much good care of him and this place, and I'm happy to see that... You know, I had told him several times in the past that he could make other creations...and look now."
Jewel beamed at her. "Oh I know, Sally, he told me, and if it wasn't for you then I wouldn't be here to love and cuddle my Finkey and I can't tell you how much I appreciate that forever. You're like...well, you're not even just like my 'daughter' or something since the doctor's the one who created you...I...like to think of you as sort of my best friend or even a sister or something...if you don't mind." Jewel looked to her hopefully.
"Oh, of course I don't mind!" Sally beamed, nodding. "You can think of me any way you like. I'm not about to discourage someone for how they see me."
Jewel smiled happily. "Thank you, Sally, that's so very sweet of you." She let out an appreciative sigh and went to put the broom and things away now that they were done cleaning from their litte experiment. "Oh, and, Sally, I've been meaning to ask, how many more days do you think you'll be able to stay with us? I know he won't say it but if you came to stay indefinitely before your wedding or something, the doctor would love it, and I always enjoy your company too of course." She chuckled a little and then walked back over to Sally. "But I know you must be eager to get back home and to Jack and that he must miss you terribly, so whenever you do have to leave, especially now that the doctor's doing a lot better, it's really okay. We'd love for you to stay as long as you'd like but we also don't want to impose, of course." She smiled.
"Oh, Jewel...thank you very much for that..." Sally blushed a bit. "Well, the doctor is doing better, but I will stay for as long as you both need me. Perhaps maybe tomorrow he should be all right, and if not, perhaps the day after I'll go home. I'm not too worried, though. Jack hasn't been missing me so much. In fact, I think he might appreciate some time alone. And well, that's all right, isn't it? It leaves me without worrying so much and I know that we can be separated for however long, right?"
Jewel blinked, a touch of a frown coming to her face. "Oh Sally...I'm sure he must miss you. Even though you're not so very far away I'm sure so many days without you and especially around Christmas is hard on him-after all, Christmas is your one year anniversary, right? Maybe he's just having trouble expressing how he's feeling, you know, like the doctor does sometimes. Or maybe he's distracted by something. But I know he misses you, Sally-how in the world could he help it?"
"...You think so?" Sally blinked. "I mean, he seemed to take it all in stride, and that is good, but I wondered if he'd miss me at all."
Jewel considered for a moment and then smiled more at Sally. "Well...maybe at the beginning he didn't think he'd miss you too much because you were only going across town but...I'm sure after you left and it hit him you were really gone he's been missing you ever since then very deeply. After all, you're such a big, lovely part of his life, Sally. You leaving, even only for a short time and going a short distance, must have practically...put out a little light in his life."
Sally considered that. While she had no idea for sure, considering that she could not monitor his reactions at the very moment, she wondered if maybe that were true. He had stated to miss her anytime he left town for whatever reason, and she too felt the same way. Especially back in March when he had been gone for two weeks, the longest they'd ever been apart.
Now it was her turn to be gone. Though for her, it was a couple of days and still in town, just barely a ten minute walk away.
But then again, if it were the other way around, she would have felt the same way. As if a little light had gone out in her life. A piece of herself missing.
"...I suppose you're right...it's how I would feel, too."
Jewel nodded, smiling. "There you go...I'm sure when you get back he'll just be all over you with affection and saying he missed you so very much more than he ever thought he could! And I'm sure he'll even explain why he might not have acted too sentimental about you leaving when you first went away. He misses you, Sally, I promise..." She chuckled and rolled her eyes upward, gesturing toward Dr. Finkelstein's room. "After all, if Finkey, who's goal in life it is to pretend like he doesn't have a mushy good-hearted center, can miss me half the time when I'm out for more than a couple of hours shopping-he always wheels over to the door the second I come in to make sure I'm okay...Then, trust me, that big emotional lug you've got at home has been thinking about you from the second you stepped out the front door and wishing for nothing more than you're safe return home." She winked at Sally.
Sally both smiled and felt a little bit...guilty for a moment. She knew of course, more than ever, that the doctor had only ever been trying to protect her and keep her safe. After all, she was, according to some, a very lovely rag doll and also the least scariest citizen in town. That left her at a serious disadvantage in a lot of ways. While she could sever her limbs and remain unharmed, which was good, there was still problems with her physical prowess. She was still imbalanced, couldn't run very fast (if at all), prone to tripping and swaggering, and she was, even now, still a little naive. While the experience of being caught and imprisoned by Oogie Boogie were enough to wake her up to the fact that there were terrible people out there, she did still posses that childlike naivete, much to her dismay. She was very kind, trusting, sweet, and maybe not always the best judge of character at times. Back then it was a bit more of a problem, but today she was more aware.
Back then though, she was a serious walking target, and she didn't realize that at all. That was part of why Dr. Finkelstein was so adamant about protecting her from the outside. Yes, none of the townsfolk would take advantage of her like that, they were still good people with souls and big hearts. But there was still that chance. And he didn't want to take it. Her disobedience only worsened it.
All along, he would always worry. Despite he'd use anger to mask it, he was worried about her.
She could see Jewel could freely come and go as she pleased, which was good, but it still left him worrying and missing her terribly.
Just like with me. Sally thought, biting her lip.
She smiled then, though, feeling a bit better. "I'm not surprised he'd miss you so much and feel worried about you being gone, and wait for you like that."
Jewel smiled softly and nodded. "Thank you, Sally...And...when you get home and find out just how much Jack's been missing you...I won't be surprised either." She winked at her again. "He loves you so very much, Sally, and I'll bet you'll walk in to find him not knowing what to do with himself while you were gone. Don't you worry about it."
Smiling in return, Sally returned to sweeping and used the dustpan to clear things away off the floor. "I think you're right..."
"Zero, don't laugh..." Jack said with as straight a face as he could as he half came out of Sally's room and obviously had something hidden just behind her half ajar door that he wasn't showing the little dog yet. Then Jack let out a sigh and pulled out what it was for Zero to see: it was Sally's dress dummy with one of her patchwork dresses on it and a quickly sketched picture of her face taped to the neck. "What do you think?" He asked with a little sheepish smile and shrug.
If a dog could laugh, Zero probably would be right now. As much as he understood and didn't want his master to feel bad, it was too funny! Now there was a dummy, who just wasn't his mistress, in place of her for this. But, he smiled and did a little spin. "Arf! Arf!"
Jack chuckled. "Thank you, Zero, I'm happy you like her. I call her "Sally 2". Oh and, just to motivate myself a little..." Then Jack reached into Sally's room again and pulled something that looked like a small piece of paper or a sign on a string which he put around the neck of the dress dummy. Jack stepped back to reveal that it read, 'Propose to ME, please! :D ' in big bold letters. "There we go-it's perfect!" He stepped back to admire his creation dreamily, clasping his hands together near his heart.
Zero actually let out a noise that seemed like a snicker. The little sign was so childishly goofy...but amusing in a way, and if it worked as a motivator, why not? Still, he sniffed the creation a bit. He could smell her scent from the dress, and it was her dummy that she used to test outfits she made and know where to make alterations and adjustments, and to even have it all exposed like this to make it easier. So it smelled like her, but it still wasn't "her".
"Arf!"
Jack let out a small sigh, knowing what Zero was thinking in an instant. "I know, I know...Sally 2 isn't even close to as splendid as Sally 1...But then, nothing in the whole wide world is as splendid as Sally 1..." A goofy little smile came to his face and he looked away from his creation to Zero. "But she'll have to do for now until I'm all perfectly ready for proposing to our real Sally very soon."
"Arf!" Zero did a little spin again. He couldn't help but agree, nothing could ever match up to the original Sally, even if a dummy with a crude drawing of her face helped if only for a simulation of sorts.
Jack chuckled at Zero's cute little responses and then turned back to his Sally dummy. "Alright, Sally 2, I'm gonna try another one on you. You just stand there, my fake little darling, and I'll do all the work..." He took a step back from the dummy and took the ring in its box out of his pocket and hid it behind his back with one hand and then cleared his throat and looked to the dummy, a look of sincerity and love coming to his face as he gazed at the little drawing of her face. "Sally...I have something I must ask you...and I'm afraid I cannot wait any longer...in fact I...don't know how I've waited as long as I already have in the first place." He took a single step toward her.
"Sally, I will be perfectly honest with you, I adore you to no end. Every word, every movement, every smile from you makes my heart soar and my bones tremble. I am enamored of you beyond distraction, it has consumed my mind, my heart, my very person. I desire you in every way it is possible for one person to desire another!" By this point he had taken a quick step forward and put his free arm behind the dummy, leaning it back a little, gazing passionately into its paper face. "I worship you, my princess...And when a King worships his princess so very much...there is but one thing he can do...He must make her his Queen or perish from all of his longing and love! So my Sally...my sweetest...most sensual...Sally...Will you marry me and complete my very being? Will you be my Pumpkin Queen?" The ring box was quickly brough forward and popped open with a sort of dramatic flair as Jack gazed and smiled down at his 'Sally 2.'
No response was given from the dummy, it only just had its crudely drawn paper face staring back at him.
Zero observed, and did a little backflip. "Arf! Arf!"
Jack had to give a small sigh, coming out of 'proposal mode' and gently releasing the dummy and righting it. "I think that's part of why I liked it when you pretended to be her, Zero. At least when I asked, I got an answer..." Suddenly Jack's eye sockets popped open and he looked to Zero, almost in a fright. "Zero! What if...What if she's so surprised...or so not ready yet...that she doesn't give me an answer! Oh what if it's too soon, Zero! What if I upset her by doing it! What if she wants to say no for now but doesn't want to hurt my feelings so she doesn't say anything at all! Oh Zero, what would I do, that would be so horribly humiliating for us both!" Jack was pacing at this point in his dramatics, and breathing a little heavily.
"Arf! Arf!" Zero barked in trying to calm his master down and to assure him that it was all right. He knew Sally was anxious to get married soon, she even confided in him sometimes when the two of them were at home alone waiting for Jack to return from working for the day. She would never rush him or try to force him, but she was ready for it. She knew she wanted to be his wife, there was no uncertainty or doubt. "Arf"!
Jack let out a deep sigh and sat down upon the couch, resting his elbows on his knees and his skull in his hands. "I know, Zero..." he said in a tired sounding voice, "I'm...getting carried away again, aren't I? I just..." He looked to the side with an uneasy little pout. "I'm just...kind of...sort of...um...y-you know, um...s-scared...Zero..." he added with a slightly embarrassed little gulp. "I'd understand if she needed to wait just a little bit longer but...if she didn't say yes after I'd worked up the courage to finally ask her...I think I'd just be devastated inside..."
Zero whimpered sympathetically and placed himself on the couch next to him. He could understand that he was nervous, and wished he could tell him that he had nothing to worry about, since Sally would definitely say yes in a heartbeat if he proposed to her. But, he knew that would be better to leave to her to tell him when the time came. As well as that, he could see how much he missed her, and that too was factor in why he was so down at the moment. "Arf..."
At the comforting little bark and his best canine friend nuzzling against him, Jack felt a deep warm comfort come over him. He smiled and looked to his companion, scratching him behind the ears a little. "Zero...you've always been there for me...even before Sally...If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have made it as many Halloweens as I did without cracking from loneliness...Thank you so much for being there for me back then...and now." He picked up his little friend and gave him a smiling hug.
"Arf!" Zero barked happily, pleased with himself. Indeed, there had been tough times over the years together, even when he was just a little ghost puppy. Ever since, Zero stuck by his side and loyally followed him everywhere with no question. When his loneliness and desire for more out of life sunk in, poor Zero didn't know what to do! At least, not until some things fell into place and he knew that one day, things would change somehow. For the better, he'd hope. There were tough moments, even way back then, but Zero never gave up on him, ever. And he never would. "Arf!" A dog was a man's best friend, and he lived up to it completely, and wasn't about to change his mind.
And now he had two wonderful owners to look after and happily follow!
Jack hugged the dog a little more tightly and then released him, looking at him with a happy smile. "You're the best dog ever, Zero...You're my dearest friend and Sally's dearest friend...and one day you'll be the dearest friend to our little children...My good boy...My Zero..." He petted the little dogs head tenderly.
"Arf!" Zero did a happy little spin and nuzzled against him some more. If there was one thing Zero adored, and any dog really, it was knowing he was loved and appreciated by his owners, there was no greater joy!
Aside from treats...fetch...toys...treats...going for walks...tummy rubs... treats... being sang to...being snuggled...treats...
Jack saw Zero starting to get extra smiley and happy looking, a decided something. "You know, Zero, not that this proposal practicing hasn't been very good and helpful but...I think we've put off that little 'bachelor weekend' I was talking about for too long. So, why don't I put away Sally 2 and then the two of us will change into our pajamas and I'll cook us up some snacks and we'll play fetch and decorate a little more for Christmas and whatever you'd like to do! What do you say?" He smiled widely.
"Arf!" Zero gave an eager nod, glad to see them perking up again! Now they could REALLY have a little "bachelor" time! It was time to enjoy it while it lasted before the relapse would return.
Jack clapped his hands together happily! "Splendid! Alright Zero, you get into your little Christmas sleeping cap with the reindeer on it and I'll get into those red and green striped pajamas Sally made me and we'll start!" He stood up from the couch enthusiastically!
"Arf! Arf!" Zero barked happily and went to the bedroom over to his sleeping basket, fishing out his little cap from all of his toys.
Jack chuckled at his cute little enthusiasm and then sighed and went to his own bedroom door to change into his own yuletide sleeping attire. 'Maybe a little 'guys time' with Zero will help me feel a little better about all of this...I really do hope it goes well though...' He let out another sigh as he closed his bedroom door behind him, deciding for at least the next few hours to put his worries about this proposal aside to enjoy himself for a little while.
~A few hours later...~
Jack sighed deeply and turned to his little ghostly friend yet again this evening. "So, what else should we do now, Zero?" Jack let out a sigh and glanced around. It was a few hours since he and Zero had decided to have their guys night and it had started out fairly strong but...slowly it had dwindled and withered in excitement. They had played fetch, eaten snacks, Jack had scratched Zero a lot, Zero had kissed Jack a lot, they had read a little bit together but otherwise... 'It really is more fun with my Sally around...She always brightens up a room and brings such lively conversation to everything and always has the best ideas for games and stuff...' Jack let out a little sigh again, still hoping for a fresh suggestion from Zero but not necessarily expecting one of course.
Of course, Zero was no fool. He could see that realization was setting in. Things just weren't the same anymore. Sure, if they had a lonely night more than a year ago, it didn't matter because they were used to it. They had nothing to compare it to. It was just the two of them all these years, and that was all that they had known.
But now, ever since having Sally live with them, she just brought such life and brightness to the place! It was by far the greatest thing when she came to live with them.
And yet, when she was gone like this, it wasn't the same trying to be bachelors again. They could no longer have nothing to compare living alone to.
"Arf..." Was all Zero could say by then, looking pretty sad.
He was really starting to miss her so much, too. After all, when his master was out for the day for whatever reason, back then, he was always all alone. It never bothered him, except that he missed him and hoped he would come back soon.
And now, whenever Jack had to tend to his duties with the Mayor or whoever, Sally was around to keep Zero company, and vice-versa. And he loved having someone staying home with him, taking him for walks and just being with him! Now that she was gone, it just made him feel sad, too.
He missed his beloved mistress a lot more than before now.
So Zero abandoned his little toy and went to lay himself on the couch next to his master again, letting out a sad whimper. He just wanted his whole family back home and complete again!
"Aww, Zero..." Jack understood his whimper in an instant and snuggled close to him. "I know, I know...our Sally has made life so fun that we barely know what to do with ourselves without her." He chuckled a little, a small sheepish smile coming to his face as he scratched behind Zero's ears. "Now you see, this is why I have to propose to her just right so she'll marry me-because then she really will be with us forever, guaranteed. And even if she ever has to go away after that for a little while...well...eventually I'm sure she'll be kind enough to leave us with lots of little skeletons and rag dolls to occupy our time until she gets back." He smiled a little more and glanced down shyly.
Zero titled his head a bit and managed a little smile amidst a whimper. He understood why before, and now he really did. "Arf." He nuzzled into him happily. If his beloved mistress could be with them forever, completing their family and household, he hoped it would all work out! While they could manage all right on their own, face it, they loved Sally so much and were so used to having her around, and loving it, no less, that it was just hard to be without her. He could understand full when she was sad whenever Jack was gone, and now he really got a taste of how his master felt when she was gone.
Jack let out another sigh, still scratching Zero's head absentmindedly. "It'll be alright, Zero...She'll be back soon to brighten our lives like that sparkling Christmas tree star she is...And we'll show her all the love and affection we have the second she walks through that door again, won't we?" He winked at the little dog with a grin.
"Arf!" Zero agreed, managing to smile more. His ears and head perked then, and he turned toward the window again.
Sure enough, a little bat messenger was flying outside, holding an envelope in its talons. Zero happily barked, rushed outside, took the envelope, made a thanking bark to the messenger bat before flying back in as he pushed open the window to let himself back in.
"Arf!" He dropped the letter onto his master's lap.
Jack's eye sockets went open and he just knew in an instant who it was from! "Sally!" He beamed and then instantly tore the letter open and began to read it eagerly!
Dear Jack, (And Zero, of course!)
I have wonderful news. I'll be coming home tomorrow in the afternoon! The doctor is feeling much better, and we can surmise that by tomorrow, he should be just fine. We're very glad, and I'm so happy I was able to help him and Jewel.
I missed you both so much! I can't wait to see you! I hope you two are doing all right, of course.
Have a good night, Jack. And give Zero my love, will you?
I love you so much, my darling! See you soon!
Love always,
Sally
Everything inside of Jack practically burst! He stood up, grinning ear to ear and hugged the letter to his chest and spun around in place! "Oh Zero, Zero, our pretty, perfect, wonderful Miss Sally is coming back tomorrow! Oh she's coming back...and she misses us...and sends all of her love to you and I..." He let out a dreamy sigh and collapsed back onto the couch in happiness.
"Arf! Arf!" Zero barked happily, doing a flip in midair before settling back onto the couch next to his master. She was coming home tomorrow! He was so happy, too! By tomorrow his entire doggy pack, his family, would be home and everything would be wonderful again!
Suddenly Jack's eye sockets popped open, a wonderful idea occurring to him! "Oh Zero...I have a splendid idea for when she comes back!" And then he sat up and moved his skull near the little dog's ear and began to whisper his plan to him. Perhaps it seemed like a strange thing to do since they were alone but Jack was just sort of caught up in the moment, on top of which he felt an absolute obligation to keep his plans a secret.
Zero listened intently, nodding occasionally, his own eyes going wide and he smiled in the best way a doggy could. "Arf!"
Eventually, Jack pulled back, smiling down at his little friend. "Alright then, it's all settled-we'll spend all morning tomorrow getting it ready, just you and me. It'll be wonderful, Zero! And then, um...maybe afterward Daddy Jack and Mommy Sally will have one of our little sleepovers..." Jack chuckled goofily a little to himself.
"Arf!" Zero gave a little knowing bark before doing a little spin. He was so excited, too! This was going to be wonderful!
Jack chuckled a little more and then stood up from the couch with a stretch and a yawn. "Alright, well...I guess until then I'll go to sleep boy." He smiled at Zero. "Would you like me to move your basket into Sally's room on the floor near my bed so that we can keep each other company?"
"Arf!" Zero gave a nod, smiling widely.
Jack chuckled a little and nodded. "Okay, boy!" Jack picked up his basket and headed into Sally's room. "Come on, Zero..The sooner we go to sleep, the sooner she comes back!" He chuckled a little more as he disappeared into the room.
"Awww...my eyes were closed." Sally pouted as she looked over some recently developed photos of herself that Jewel had insisted on taking to make Christmas photos. She wore a white knitted sweater with red reindeer and red snowflakes stitched on, along with a green and red skirt she (Jewel) had made.
And for every photo she had, her eyes were closed. For some odd reason, she was unable to keep her eyes open. Except for one photo, the first photo ever taken of her (which she gve to Jack, of course), every other one after that had her eyes closed.
"I'm sorry." She said sadly to Jewel, who was adding a new role of film to the camera the Doctor had made.
"Oh Sally..." Jewel assured with a smile, "It's alright, don't worry, dear. Sometimes these things happen. We just need to be patient, that's all." She smiled more. "Now, shall we try again?"
"All right, we can try again..." Sally placed the photos back down on the examining table before sitting herself down on the stool once more, in front of a Christmas backdrop, along with decorations and a little tree. She placed her hands in her lap, and sat demurely. "Okay...I'm ready."
"Alright, then, I'll count to three and then take the photo, and I'll count extra slowly this time..." Jewel brought the camera up to her eyes and focused it. "One...two...three!" She snapped the picture.
Sally tried not to blink, or to close her eyes. But it all happened so fast, she wasn't even sure what happened! That's how it had always felt. She blinked a few times to try to get the after flash out of her eyes. "I hope this works...otherwise I might just have to take my eyes out and hold them in my hands...and that would look too gruesome." She couldn't help but wonder if the photo that was taken back on Halloween night had her with her eyes closed. Only those two young kids would know... I wonder how those two are doing...
"Oh...eyes closed again..." Jewel had to sadly let Sally know. "Perhaps we should stick with just sketches of you..."
"Oh dear..." Sally stood up once more, and looked at the photos again. She did pick one to take, since she did like it. "At least we had tried...and I do like this one...may I keep it?"
Jewel smiled and nodded accommodatingly. "Of course, Sally, you can keep as many as you'd like! And that one is the best out of all of them, I think."
Indeed, it was one of the best, if not the best of them. Her eyes were closed, yes, but it was kind of as if she were dreaming amidst a Christmas surrounding... It only added to its charm. "Yes, I think it is, too. ...I think Jack will love it..." She giggled a bit.
Jewel giggled as well and waved her off. "Oh Sally, Jack'll love any picture of you! But I know he'll like that one extra specially since you picked it out for him...I bet you can't wait to see him and I bet he's just dying to see you again!"
"Yes, I can't wait...I did send him a letter letting him know I was coming home..." Sally then did a little twirl on her heel. "I'm sure that made him and Zero happy."
The next day came, and after having taken care of some last minute things, and double checking on Dr. Finkelstein's health, which turned out to be much better, just still with a sniffle and cough remaining.
It was snowing again that beautiful wintery December day, and Christmas songs provided by the band were filling the air!
By the front door, Sally was getting ready to go. It felt a little odd leaving her old home after having stayed here longer than she ever had since she moved out, especially since her stay had been great. There had been accidents and tough moments, but overall, it all went smoothly and it was worth it. She was glad she came to help them out.
"Thank you both so much for having me." Sally turned back to Dr. Finkelstein and Jewel, who were waiting by the door with her. "It was great to see you both, and I'm glad I could help you both out. If you ever need my help again, just let me know."
"Oh Sally, it was just a delight to have you with us! We can't tell you how much we've appreciated your help! And really if you ever want to come visit again, even just to spend some time here, we'd love to have you...wouldn't we Fin-um...wouldn't we, doctor?" Jewel turned to him with a smile and a small clearing of her throat, hoping he hadn't caught that near slip.
The doctor just cleared his throat though, tyring to seem stern as usual...though not doing a very good job at it. "Y-Yes, well...of course you're...always welcome here, Sally...I created you after all...You have a right to a place here. And, er...I...well..." He let out a breath and then wheeled himself forward towards her, stopping before her. "Thank you...for helping me and Jewel. It was very good of you, Sally..." And then Dr. Finkelstein paused and seemed to be struggling with something in himself... And then he let out a sigh and, glancing to the sigh, managed to mumble... "N-Now, um...give your creator a hug goodbye..." He held out his arms just the tiniest bit.
"Awww! Of course!" Sally giggled and did so, leaning down to hug her creator/father. "You're both so very welcome!"
Dr. Finkelstein's eyes went open a little wide at her warm and sudden embrace, but then he let out a sigh and relaxed a little...and even hugged her back. "You're a good girl, Sally...and a very good creation. I'm happy I made you. Thank you for taking care of me..."
"Aww..." Jewel couldn't help but look on sentimentally at the sweet moment. Then with a little giggle she used the distraction to sneak off around a corner and grab something she had been meaning to present their Sally with before she left.
"You're welcome, Doctor." Sally smiled and they parted. "It was my pleasure to help you! And I'm sorry that I had my eyes closed in our 'family portrait'..." She said sheepishly.
The doctor cleared his throat and waved her off, trying to return to his stern demeanor once more. "Oh, don't...don't worry about it, Sally. The point is that you were in it-that's all that matters..." he assured her in his more normal tone.
Just then Jewel reentered the room with a smile, hiding something behind her back. "Hello, you two! Can I interrupt or are you still in the middle of giving hugs?" She giggled a little as she approached Sally and the doctor (the latter of whom just gave a little pout and grumble, still trying to seem so very 'serious' all the time).
Jewel pulled out the item from behind her back. It was a lovely knit hat with a little pom pom ball on the top. The hat was silvery with flecks and bits of Christmas red in the fabric, the color combination almost reminding one of a candy cane. "Here, it's a tuque! I made it for you as a thank you present! Plus, I hoped it would keep you warm on your long walk home." She presented it forward to Sally.
"Oh! A tuque!" Sally exclaimed, and took the hat, examining it. "Oh my..." She batted the little white pompom ball on the top, giggling. "It's so cute!" She placed it on her head, adjusting it to her liking. "It's cozy... Thank you, Jewel!" She gave her a happy hug in thanks.
Jewel giggled and hugged Sally bag warmly. "Oh you're so welcome, dear, and I'm so very happy you like it!"
Dr. Finkelstein cleared his throat, wheeling himself back a little. "Alright, ladies, that's very nice...very sentimental..." He cleared his throat again.
"Thank you!" Sally then pulled away, beaming as she smiled at the two again, adjusting her hat and then she pulled on her winter cloak. She picked up her bag, and then went to the door, pulling it open. A gust of wind and snowflakes blew into the room from outside. "Goodbye, and Merry Christmas! ...Even though it's not quite here yet." She giggled, and waved to them.
Jewel waved back to her. "Bye, bye, Sally! We'll miss you! Have a safe trip home!"
The doctor gave a little wave too. "Goodbye, Sally. Yes, have a safe trip...I...erm...care for you...Merry Christmas," he said shyly.
Jewel just giggled and helped him out. "He means we both love you! Bye!"
"Goodbye!" Sally waved once more and then was out the door, closing it behind her.
Jewel's smile grew as she placed her hand on Dr. Finkelstein's shoulder, gently squeezing. "What a lovely visit that was F-...Doctor. She really is such a sweet girl. Having her around this time of year certainly makes things feel a bit brighter!"
The doctor let out a sigh...his voice softening a little, despite his not wanting it to. "Yes...she's...very nice...I suppose she turned out...very well..."
"She certainly did, she had you to create her!" Jewel giggled. "We're lucky to have her in our little family...and Jack is one lucky man to have her..." She smiled and even sighed a bit. "I told you things would turn out just fine..." That was what she had said a year before. "And now look! One little happy family!" She went behind his wheelchair, and placed her hands on his cranium, giggling. "With you as our masterful patriarch, what could be better..."
Dr. Finkelstein cleared his throat, his eyes blinking several times and his breath catching. "I-I...s-s-suppose...Th-That is to say, I...you're r-right, Jewel..." He gulped a tiny bit in a touch of fluster. Jewel could be so very...affectionate...And it got to him...a lot...all the time...
Jewel giggled, seeing that he was indeed melting into her affections a bit. She stroked and caressed his cranium gently. "What can I say... it's just the way things came to be... And you certainly do well in showing it to Sally, my dear Finkey..."
Dr. Finkelstein sort of shivered a little, both at her gentle touches and...that name...that accursed...and yet...strangely alluring...little nickname for him from her... "I...I've been...t-trying h-harder..." he managed to mumble out shyly... "I'm happy it's been helping...my...precious Jewel..." he managed, very very quietly.
"Awww! And you do fine, Finkey." Jewel cooed, smiling more. She then proceeded to push his wheelchair, turning it around toward the ramp. "Shall we return up to the lab, dear?" She patted his cranium affectionately, giggling.
Dr. Finkelstein's eyes popped open a little wide. "Er...if...if you'd like..." he started to melt a tiny bit more...a smile coming on... "...my precious Jewel..." he added again, this time much more affectionately.
"Onward then!" Jewel said, beaming happily as she carefully wheeled his chair up the ramp toward the lab up above.
Oh yes, this had been a great day in the Finkelstein household...