Okay folks! This where things begin to, very sadly, fall apart. :( But, there is some good to come from it all! :D OwO

So don't worry, you know how the story will end. :) I just hope you'll enjoy the journey!

Sally awoke the next morning, and the first thing she knew that she was not in her room. Her bed was more spacious, and had a softer mattress. But where was she? Was she dreaming? What was going on?

"Good morning, sleepy!" Came Marina's voice.

Sitting up in the bed, Sally stretched her arms and rubbed her eyes. She saw Marina sitting in the other bed adjacent to her. She suddenly recognized this room, it was very much alike the room they had stayed in the very first time they came to visit the mansion. That meant they never went home? But why? What had happened? Why were they here?

"Marina...I...what's happened?" Sally blinked sleepily.

"You fell asleep last night, silly!" Marina grinned. "And in Jack's arms, I might add! It was so cute! I found the two of you in the observatory, and you had already fallen asleep in his arms! Awwwww! And he didn't want to wake you up, so we decided that you and I spend the night here, and then we'll go home this afternoon! Plain and simple! Aww, he was so sweet, Sally! He put you to bed here, had a maid come to bring you some clothes you could wear, and just wanted to make sure you were okay! I stayed here with you, so I could look after you and so as not to rouse any suspicion at all. And don't worry, Mom and Daddy were fine with it...albeit reluctantly on Daddy's part. Jack's parents were fine with it too, so don't worry!"

"...Oh...so we...I..." Sally could not believe she actually fell asleep, and in Jack's arms no less. Yes, she had fallen asleep while laying her head against his shoulder a couple of times, but not like this.

She even looked down, now seeing that she was in a nightgown, and there was a pair of fresh clothes on the small stool at the foot of her bed. Getting up, though a bit wobbly, Sally went over to see what had been laid out. There was a lovely dark blue peasant dress, along with a gray, short-sleeved wrap. Along with that was also the dress she had worn the night before.

"I didn't want to wake you up, but I did for maybe half a second, and I changed you." Marina explained, and giggled. "You were so out of it and delirious, and wondering where Jack was!"

Sally blushed. "I...I was?"

"Yep!" Marina laughed. "You're so cute! Anyway, why don't you go get changed and we'll go down for breakfast? That's why I came back in here anyway, to see if you were awake, since I went down to see if everything was going well."

"Oh...well, all right." Sally nodded, taking the clothes and then going over to the changing screen, disappearing behind it. Once she was all dressed, she stepped back out, and took a brush that was set out for her, brushing her hair.

"Ooh, how lovely!" Marina complimented. "There was such a nice maid, her name was Celeste, and she said you could keep the clothes and the nightgown!"

"What? But, they're not mine, I-"

"Nope! Jack even said it was all right too, and Celeste wanted to let you keep them anyway. She adores you!" Marina grinned.

"Oh...well...I'll have to thank them both, then." Sally blushed.

"Awesome! Well, shall we, sis?"

Sally nodded, and then followed her sister out of the room.

XXX

When the girls came downstairs and into the sitting room, Jack was already there. He grinned upon seeing them enter and immediately crossed the room to greet them.

"Good morning, girls!" He said, shaking Marina's hand, and then holding Sally's hands in his. "Did you both sleep well?"

"Uh-huh, we did! Thanks so much for letting us stay last night, Jack!" Marina said with a smile before she went to go sit down on one of the sofas.

"Oh, anytime! You know you girls are always welcome here." Jack waved it off, grinning more as he turned his attention to Sally. His gaze grew softer as he looked at her lovingly, squeezing her hands gently. "Sally...good morning, my darling." He kissed her tenderly, lingering for a few moments and then pulling away.

"Awwwww!" Marina giggled nearby.

Blushing, but smiling lovingly in return, Sally nuzzled her cheek against his hands for a moment. "Good morning, Jack... Um...I wanted to thank you...for...for letting me sleep here, and for the clothes..."

"No need to thank me, Sally! I didn't want to wake you up, especially when you had to be taken home." Jack chuckled, and now brought his arms around her, embracing her. "You look very lovely, by the way."

"Thank you..." Sally reciprocated the embrace without hesitation.

Marina smiled as she watched the two of them embrace, a feeling of happiness coursed through her heart. They really were just such a horribly adorable couple, she could just feel it as she looked at them. Even if she knew neither of them, it wouldn't be hard to guess that they had such strong chemistry and loved each other so much. She just hoped all would go well, but, she had a bad feeling something was going to happen to them, and tear them apart. But she hoped not. She knew how devastated and heartbroken her sister would be if that happened. After all this time that she had been happier than she ever did in her entire existence?

No. Marina did not want to see that happen to her. She wanted nothing more than for her sister to be happy. It was already bad enough that she herself was to marry the man her sister had fallen in love with. But to have them eventually get torn apart, while she would remain within the plan? It hurt her heart to think.

But she had a bad feeling something was going to go wrong.

Later on, after breakfast, Frederick returned to his office to resume some work he had to do. Patricia joined him in his office to help out, and the King and Queen were soon looking over some paperwork together. This was a morning routine for them, in which they would get their paperwork and other such things done during the morning, for as long as they needed to, until the afternoon. Over the years, they learned that working hard was a good thing, but then again, not to overwork. Patricia especially played a hand in telling her husband when to stop working and just relax for a while.

Yes, being King and Queen was a huge responsibility, and this they took very, very seriously. But in time, they knew to take care of themselves as well, to feel better and be able to work as best as they could.

But, paperwork was just not on their minds right now.

What concerned them now was their son.

Something was up with him, that much they could tell. Whatever it was, they had a feeling that getting him to fall in love with his future bride just wasn't working. All this time, they could still see that there was absolutely no sparks between them whatsoever. Sure, they had grown to be fairly good friends and were a lot less awkward, but it just wasn't quite it. There was no love, no attraction, nothing of the sort between them. Why was this?

At first, they simply attributed it to the fact he simply wasn't in love with her. And even right now, they were still right. However, the discovery of something a little more, was what cemented it.

Frederick had looked out the window that overlooked the garden, and could see Jack there now, walking around with someone. By the head of copper red hair, he was surprised to see that he was walking with Sally. While he knew far well of the fact that his son was good friends with her, he couldn't help but feel concerned at seeing them together sometimes. The attraction, the sparks between them, their intense chemistry, was just far too mutual, far too strong to be ignored. Frederick knew they were infatuated with one another, and this still concerned him very much.

His worst fears were confirmed at the sight of Jack bringing Sally into his arms in an embrace that clearly wasn't one to happen between two friends. As much as he hated spying on his son, he had to get down to the truth.

Frederick took a pair of binoculars, and focused in on his son and the rag doll. Jack was saying something to her, and judging by the loving, soft look in his eye sockets and how he was smiling...it had to be something sweet. Sally said something in return, and then brought her arms around his neck. Jack held her tighter and then, much to his horror, kissed her deeply. Lowering his binoculars, Frederick wasn't sure what to think.

"Honey? Honey, what are you looking at?" Patricia asked in concern.

Sighing, he faced his wife with a grim look. "Our son is having an affair with Sally the rag doll, the Finkelstein maid...the illegitimate sister of Marina. They're kissing in the garden right now."

The Queen's eye sockets went wide with shock. She then stood up, went to the window, and peered out, taking the binoculars from him. Indeed, Jack and Sally were locked in a romantic embrace as they shared a searing kiss in the garden. Patricia lowered the binoculars, still very wide-eyed, and she sat back next to her husband's chair.

"...Fred...I don't know what to say." She finally said, her bony hands clutching the binoculars tightly. "Our son...is having an affair...with a woman he isn't marrying!"

Frederick sighed, running a hand along his skull. "I knew the attraction and chemistry between those two was very strong, but I never...never would've thought that our own son would actually have an affair."

"He's in love with her." Patricia said grimly. "I want to believe it's just lust, but even I know Jack would never fall into that if it was lust alone."

"I believe it." Frederick agreed. "Oh, Pat... I hate to be the enemy here, I really do. I want to be happy for Jack in falling in love, but, we can't let him do this. He has to think about his duties as the future King."

"I don't want to be the enemy here either, honey." Patricia's gaze casted downward, tears running down her skull. "I want to be happy for him, I'm happy he found love...but this can't go on. Marrying Marina is what he needs to do."

"He'll resent us if we keep this up, but we have no choice. I don't want our son to resent us either, dear. But there's nothing we can do. ...I have to tell the Finkelsteins, they have to know about this. They can't see each other."

Patricia looked shocked. "Darling...you're not!"

"I have to, honey. Do you think I want to do this?" Frederick stood up, looking defeated. "I hate myself for doing this, but I have to. They can't see each other, not at all. He has to uphold his duties above all else."

"...You're right." The Queen began to cry. "I just wish our son's happiness wasn't at stake."

Bones lurching, Frederick headed out to go make the dreaded announcement to his longtime friend. He hated to have to do this to his own son, even if he was betraying them with his affair.

As expected, Dr. Finkelstein did NOT take this news well.

"WHAT?.!.? You have to be kidding me! That wretched girl!" Dr. Finkelstein angrily pounded the table with his small fists.

"Darling..." Jewel coaxed.

"I'm afraid so." Frederick said grimly. "My son is having an affair with your creation, as I just said."

"That wretched girl is trumping on Marina's future and happiness! I knew she was jealous and resentful of her, but this is madness!" Dr. Finkelstein said angrily, holding his bolted head. "She gave him some kind of potion, and wanted him all for herself! She wants revenge on us, I bet that's it!"

"Dear, come now...Sally isn't like that." Jewel said. "She's likely just very much in lust with him, and Jack thinks he's in love."

Frederick didn't say anything to that, but went on. "We have to separate them. My son needs to uphold his duties, and your daughter is the one he is to marry. I hate to ask this of you, but I need you to keep your creation away from him." He looked pained as he said this, very pained.

"It will be done, I assure you. That wretched girl is not leaving this house or her room ever again." Dr. Finkelstein promised.

While Frederick wanted to tell him not to do something so drastic, he knew it was not his place to say. "I am very sorry for the trouble, friend. I cannot believe this has happened."

"Don't blame yourself Fred, if anything, blame that treacherous Sally."

But the King just couldn't. He couldn't fault his son for falling in love. After all, you can't help who you fall in love with.

"Again, I'm sorry." Frederick stood up. "I'll leave now, I have some matters to attend to."

Dr. Finkelstein nodded, bidding his old friend a farewell before he wheeled his way back to his lab, grumbling to himself. Jewel, however, stayed behind, and she stood up, pursing her equally-shaped duckbill lips.

"I'm very sorry for this, Sire." She said kindly.

"It's not your fault, Lady Finkelstein." Frederick assured with a small smile. "We'll settle all of this." And with that, he bid her farewell and then left.

"All righty, we're home." Marina hopped off the wagon, and then helped Sally down. "You all right, Sal?"

"I'm fine, Marina." Sally smiled. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Marina smiled sadly. The bad feeling she had from earlier didn't leave her. In fact, she felt something very uneasy in the air. "Nothing. Let's go inside."

The girls tipped the driver, and then went up the front walk to the Finkelstein abode. Marina took out her keys and was about to unlock the front door, but found it to be unlocked. Shrugging, she opened the door, and they went inside, closing the door behind them.

"Mom! Daddy! We're home!" Marina called up the ramp.

"Sally." Jewel came into view, looking down at the rag doll with a bit of a harsh, yet worried gaze. "Come upstairs right now. We need to talk."

Gulping a bit, Sally only nodded and went up the ramp toward her other creator, while Marina followed. Upon reaching the second level, they went to the dining room, where Dr. Finkelstein and Jewel waited.

"Sit. Now." Dr. Finkelstein ordered Sally as she sat down quickly. "Marina dear, you go and practice your music. We need to teach Sally a lesson."

"But Daddy-" Marina began.

"Go, dear." Jewel told her sternly. "Please."

Frowning, Marina left the room, closing the door behind her partway. She feigned walking away, and then crept to the crack in the door to listen in.

Nervously clasping her hands on her lap, Sally had a bad feeling about all this. But what were they so angry about? It had to be something she did, that much she knew. She was about to ask what was wrong, but was cut off by an angry raging rant.

"You WRETCHED GIRL! You've been sneaking around behind all of our backs, especially behind Marina's back! Don't think we don't know now... You...YOU! You sicken me! Having an affair with poor Jack like that! How dare you rope him into your sick, sick, sick fangirl fantasies!" Dr. Finkelstein growled. "You should be ashamed of yourself! Do you have any idea of what you could be doing to his reputation? To his future kingship? And our own dear daughter?.!"

Sally's eyes widened and she gasped. They knew. They knew about her affair with Jack. How they found out, she didn't know, but there was no two ways about it. They knew about it. She was in big trouble now. Worse off, what if Jack was in trouble too? Did his parents know?

"Do you have any idea how serious this is?" Jewel snapped, though in a softer tone.

"...Yes." Sally looked down at her lap in shame. "I'm...I'm sorry."

"Sorry! HA! Don't say such stupid nonsense. You're not sorry! You had every intention to bring him down to your wretched level! All to worm your way into a life of riches and luxury and royalty...what a horrible wretched being you've become! So greedy and selfish, you're despicable!" Dr. Finkelstein slammed his fist into the table. "To think you would use a good man like Jack for your greedy needs!"

Something in Sally just snapped, like a twig. She could not believe he would say that. She felt terrible, yes, but she was not about to take that lying down. No. Not when it would look like Jack meant nothing but money to her. That was far from true. To her, Jack was always Jack Skellington first and the Prince of the Kingdom of the Undead second. She didn't even care about his title, not in the least. As much as she was proud of him and had a lot of faith in him being a good King one day, no denying that, she didn't let that define him as a whole, and also did not use that to define his worth. Jack was more than just a Prince to her. Far more.

"That's not true!" Sally cried in desperation. "I love him, Doctor! I love him! I would never use him, or anyone for that matter, just for money...I-I could never do that... I love Jack...he's more than just a Prince to me. Please, understand...I was not out for any kind of riches or luxury, I swear. I love him. I wanted to be with him. I acted selfishly in that regard, yes. But I swear to you it had nothing to do with his status." Tears pooled in her eyes, pleading for them to understand.

Jewel's stern gaze softened, and she nodded slowly before placing her hand on her husband's shoulder, who grumbled in anger.

"Fine then. But that doesn't change that you are NEVER to see him again! If I am ever to catch you with him, I will burn your body!" Dr. Finkelstein threatened.

"Dear, please. Don't be rash." Jewel coaxed, and looked at Sally. "He is right, however. You are not to see Jack, not alone, ever again. The affair stops today, right now. Is that clear?"

Sniffling, Sally gave a short nod. "Yes."

"Now get out of my face. You are to remain in your room at all times. Now GO!"

Without a single word, not even a sound, Sally got up and left the room in tears.

Sighing, Jewel faced her husband. "Dear...you're not surely going to go through with it are you?"

"It's the only way, my dear." Dr. Finkelstein said in a softer, gruff tone. "I will be glad to be rid of her forever, and without upsetting Marina too much."

Inside Sally's bedroom, Marina stood by her sister's bed, looking utterly heartbroken. She could not believe her bad feeling turned out to be this. Her worst nightmare had come true. Sally looked miserable. Far more miserable than she had ever seen her since her creation. It was a heart-wrenching sight.

Her big, normally expressive eyes, were just dull and void of any sign of life. If she could lose colour in her skin, she surely looked paler now. Her lips were pursed, though quivering a bit at times, and she had tears running down her face.

All she wanted was to be with someone she loved... Marina felt even worse about being the one in the way of her sister's happiness. She sat down next to her, bringing her arms around her and holding her close, rocking her gently. "Sally...I want you to know...I swear upon everything I have...I didn't tell anyone about your affair, and I didn't tell Mom or Dad. I swear."

Sniffling, Sally uttered, "I...b-believe you..." and that was all she said before she burst into tears and sobbed softly into Marina's shoulder. Marina held her, still rocking her and soothing her as best as she could. All their options were gone, and Marina knew it too. She hated this feeling. She hated feeling so lost. And most of all, she hated seeing her sister so unhappy, and being able to do nothing to solve it.

"My poor little Sally..." Marina moaned, tears of her own streaming down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry about all this. You don't deserve this, not by a long shot. I know...you love Jack as a person, the person he is inside, and that his title had nothing to do with anything. You love him for who he is. Don't ever forget that. I am so proud of you for standing up in that regard. ...I know there wasn't much else you could do, but I'm so proud of you. ...I'll still get you of here somehow. I won't let anything stop me. I promise."

Sally didn't respond, she just sobbed brokenheartedly. Marina understood, and continued to hold her and comfort her.

Jack...please do something. Get my sister out of this damn Hell hole she's in.

"Son, there is no use hiding it any longer. We know." Frederick said calmly, but sternly. "You were having an affair with Sally."

Jack's eye sockets went wide, before he sighed and just looked down at the floor in shame, nodding.

"How long has this been going on?" Patricia wanted to know.

"Three months." Jack admitted shamefully.

"And yet you were engaged to Marina. Why, Jack? Why did you do this?" Frederick asked him, more stern than calm now. "Do you have any idea how much you could have hurt her?"

"Father...please understand, I did not do any of this with the intention to hurt anyone, or to rebel. And Marina and I...we're not in love. We have an understanding with each other."

"Did she know about this?" Patricia questioned.

"Yes, Mother. She knew all along that I loved Sally, and she did know about our secret affair." Jack said, now looking back up at his parents. "She was all right with it." He would have added that she encouraged it, but decided not to put her on the spot like that. "There were no secrets between us in that regard. We were honest about our feelings, so that we would know where we stood with each other, and that neither of us would be dragged along or mislead. I care about Marina and I consider her a good friend. But I am not in love with her. I'm in love with Sally."

Frederick and Patricia both exchanged glances, looking a bit sad at this, and looked back at their son.

"Son, listen...you're young, and we know that Sally is a very pretty girl, and you have really liked the idea of her, but you have to understand that she is not-"

"No." Jack suddenly said, his eye sockets narrowing.

"...Excuse me?" The King looked both surprised and a little bit stern.

"Father, you don't understand. You don't know her like I do. I love her, Father, Mother. Sally is not like any of the other girls I have known or met. Many of these girls like me for the fact that I am the Prince, as well as superficial reasons. But Sally was never like that. While she was shy and overwhelmed by me and you both as well, she would feel that way around anyone. But beyond that, she has done nothing but reach out to me, and treat me like a regular person. She talked to me, listened to me. She liked talking to me, and I liked talking to her. She isn't just some poor fangirl who is desperate for a man or desperate for money. Sally is the kindest, sweetest, most compassionate and intelligent girl I have ever known in my afterlife. That's another thing too, she's compassionate. She understands me, more than I can say. Sally has done nothing but be a good friend to me in the beginning. And I fell in love with her, for who she is, and because she saw me for who I am, and not just Jack, the future King."

Jack paused, facing his parents yet again. They looked at him with attentive gazes, and could see that they were taking all of this in. After another brief pause, he went on.

"And I know far well by now that this isn't some kind of a fling. I love Sally, more than anything in the world, Father. I just want you to understand that."

Both the King and Queen took in what their son was telling them. There was no trace of doubt, deceit, irony, nothing in his face or within his eye sockets about what he had said. Jack was not an idiot, he would have chosen true love over a casual, lusty fling any day. Yes, they knew now more than ever that Jack did love Sally. It pained them all the more, since it made them feel as if they were the bad guys, ruining his life. It wasn't as if they wanted to, far from it. But there was no choice in the matter. Family and legacy were far important, and sometimes, it took great sacrifice to uphold them.

"Son..." Frederick sighed, softening into concerned father mode. "I understand how you feel. I can see you do love Sally...but I'm afraid being with her is just not possible."

"I don't understand." Jack frowned. "Sally is just as much a part of that family as Marina is."

"...She is not." Patricia said. "...Fred, tell him."

"Sally is not a Finkelstein, not legitimately. She is exactly as she is, a rag doll. She was created to be a second child, but failed in that, and was to be a maid instead. But either way, she was created, and is not a legitimate child of the family. She was brought along on their first visit due to the insistence of Marina, given that she is indeed very fond of her and thinks of her as a sister. Marina is the true Finkelstein heiress." Frederick explained. "Do you understand that now, son?"

While a little surprised, there was a part of Jack that somehow expected something like this. It was no wonder Sally was so mistreated while Marina was considered an angel to her parents. Then again, that wasn't fair to her. She did still live in the house with them, and surely participated within family meals and sit-downs, didn't she? She was isolated and alone most of the time, which broke his heart, even still to this day.

"I do understand, Father. But it will not change my mind about her." Jack said firmly. "I love Sally for who she is. Finkelstein family member or not."

Again Frederick and Patricia exchanged sorrowful glances.

"Regardless of that, Jack, you cannot see her anymore." Frederick informed him, with regret. "I'm sorry. But you have your duties to uphold, and you know far well that they take precedence above all else."

A pained look came to Jack's face then. He didn't answer, he only turned and headed to leave his father's office. His mother approached him, laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Sweetheart...please try to understand...it's not as if we want you to be unhappy. You just have to realize what exactly is at stake here." Patricia said softly. "I understand you're upset. We both do."

"...Mother, not now." Jack said, moving away from her. "Please." Without waiting for a response, he left the room quietly.

Frederick sighed as he watched his son depart, and went over to his wife. "We should leave him alone for now, honey. I think this hit him very hard."

Patricia nodded. "Darling...I know we're doing the right thing, but I...I just...Oh, I feel horrible. It's no wonder he seemed so happy these past few months."

"That's very true." Frederick agreed, and hugged his wife warmly. "I don't want to be the one to rain on his parade either, but we have no choice."

"If he's happy with her..." Patricia sighed, and looked up at him then, her eye sockets glimmering with sadness. "I wish I could have said he should just go for it."

"Trust me honey, even I wanted to tell him it's his choice." Frederick sighed, shaking his head. "I just hope in time he can forgive us."

"...I don't know, dear. As much as we are trying to follow royal protocol, and as much as he may have snuck around behind our backs, we did still...take his freedom to fall in love away." Patricia sniffled a bit then.

The King and Queen embraced for some time, wishing they could do something to make things right. Not just for the royal protocol, but for their son's happiness as well.