35

Hey, I think this isn't such a bad wait for an update. I mean, heck, this is within the same week! So, hope you all enjoy and R&R.

"Cedric, you can't let people affect you like this."

Cedric sighed with unhappiness. "I know. Its just...well, Jake stood up for us this whole time. I didn't know he disagreed so heartily." He murmered.

Vannesa sighed with equal unhappiness. "People are like oranges Ceddie...when they get squeezed, whats on the inside is what comes out."

"Wise words Vannesa...but I hadn't any idea that Jake felt like that. He certainly hid it well." Cedric said irritably. Vannesa looked sadly over at her depressed love.

Cedric cheered up a bit. "You know, I'm really sick of just sitting around in the house. Lets go do something." he said, getting up.

Vannesa cocked her head. "But what Cedric?"

Cedric considered. "Hmmm, well, why don't we go for a drive? I know where my dad keeps the keys to the hearse."

"I dunno Ceddie...your parents already went to bed." Vannesa said. "I'm not sure if you should just take the hearse."

Cedric laughed. "You're telling me to ask for permission? Well, thats a change. And besides, its only ten o'clock, do you really think they went to sleep? More like they're having a romantic evening to themselves." he said with a crooked grin.

"Ceddie! I'm surprised at you! Are you saying your parents are..." she dropped her voice. "having sex?"

Cedric shrugged. "They're two adults I suppose. I learned the facts of the afterlife at a young age from Jake." he said nonchalantly. He picked up a pair of old fashioned skeleton keys from a side table, and spun them around his finger. "Wanna go?"

And they backed out of the long skinny driveway, Vannesa marveled at the hearse.

"Its amazing a thing this old still runs..." she murmered.

Cedric nodded. "Its an old model, yes, but it still runs. Jake and Harry worked on it last summer." He wrapped one arm around Vannesa's shoulders, pulling her close as he drove down the cobblestone street.

"It's just not right." murmered the the wolfman.

"I agree. What a disgrace!" sniffed a tall vampire.

"Imagine, a Skellington, being with a, a...a human!" scoffed the clown with no face.

"Tell me about it." growled a voice from the back of the bar. The three looked to see Jake Skellington sitting on a bar stool, slumped over and very much pissed off.

The wolfman, vampire, and clown were bewildered. Just the last week Jake Skellington had reprimanded a patron of the bar for speaking like that.

A shrill scream came from the door as Harry Howler entered the barroom. He slid into the stool next to Jake.

"Hey man, you're not looking so great." he said, concerned.

Jake didn't turn to face him. "I don't feel so great."

Harry nodded, ordering a scotch. "I don't think it's your little bro's wedding thats got you down, is it Jake?" he asked casually while wolfing down a shot of scotch.

Jake sighed, tracing a finger over the film on his glass. "No..." he said, defeated. He took a sip.

"Suzy's pregnant." he murmered finally.

Harry nodded. "Congradulations." he said.

Jake looked mournfully over at Harry. "Harry, you know that I've never been much for getting scared. I live in HalloweenTown, I'm going to be the new Pumpkin King for ghoul's sake! But...I gotta admit, this has gotten me shaking."

He took another sip before continueing.

"I'm a horrible father Harry. I curse, I drink, I'm not the most careful guy. Heck, I probably traumatized Jill tonight. Suzy's gonna be pissed when I go home..." he swallowed.

Harry said nothing for a minute, before starting, cautiously, "I ain't the best with feelings, but...Jake, I don't think Suzy'll be mad. She's probably really worried right now. She loves you Jake. Have you told her how you've been feeling?"

Jake shook his head. "She's pregnant Harry! I think she's more important right now. Of course she'd listen and all, but I don't want to worry her with anything more. She's got enough on her mind right now you know? She doesn't need to worry about me to add to it all."

Harry fumbled with his empty glass. "I guess so Jake. I'm just saying, don't beat yourself up like this. You're a great father...much better than mine growing up."

Jake frowned at him. "Thats not saying much. Your father threw glasses at you and called you a fuck up for as long as I can remember. You practically lived over at my house."

Harry shrugged, a crooked grin on his face. "See? Compared to that, you're nothing. C'mon, Suzy'll want you to go home." he said, helping Jake out of the bar and back home.

Cedric finally parked the car on a hill overlooking the cemetary, on the edge of the strange Hinterland forests, a ways out of town.

Since the seats in the hearse were bench-style, Vannesa scooted closer to Cedric, nuzzling into his shoulder. He wrapped a bony arm around her shoulder's, pulling her closer.

As Cedric breathed in her scent, he remembered why he had fallen for her in the first place. She was perfect, simply perfect. From those deep, astounding emerald eyes, to her wavy, dark hair, he loved every bit of her. He caught himself smiling.

Vannesa did too. With a sly smile, she said, "Cedric, smiling? And what caused this?"

Cedric shrugged. "I miss this...just being with you, no responsibilities, no worries...its nice."

"Its been awhile since we've gotten to do that." Vannesa sighed.

Cedric frowned playfully at her. "Now now, we won't be young forever...why don't we just enjoy it?"

Vannesa frowned. Somehow, she had sensed a...warning? in Cedric's voice.

"Cedric, you said something earlier about me being careful...what was all that about?"

Cedric shrugged, but didn't face her. "I don't recall." he said indifferently.

"Lame excuse." Vannesa said flatly. "Try again."

Cedric still didn't face her. He said nothing for a couple of minutes.

"Vannesa...have you ever had, a..feeling? Like something's going to go wrong?" he started slowly.

"Sure. Most all the time, and its been right hasn't it?" Vannesa retorted.

"Well...have you ever had a, I dunno, vision? A vision that something...tragic is going to happen?" Cedric said, choosing his words carefully.

"Not quite following you..."

Cedric turned, irritated. "Never mind. Its stupid."

Vannesa sat on his lap. "No, I want to hear. It sounds important...what are you keeping from me Ceddie?"

Cedric couldn't stand it. How could you look into moonlit emeralds like that, and tell her that you had a vision she was going to die? And the baby too?

"Just that I...I sometimes get visions. Only once in a while, when something really important is going to happen."

"Thats cool Cedric. I wish I could do that." Vannesa answered.

"No. No you don't." Cedric said flatly.

"Why not?" Vannesa asked, slightly hurt at Cedric's cold response.

Cedric's face took on the expression of a caged animal. "Well...I had a vision today. That you, and the baby, well...something really awful was going to happen to you."

Vannesa became silent.

"Nothings for sure of course! It could have been anything, I'm not even sure it was vision...forget it, just forget it okay Vannesa? Put it out of your mind." Cedric assured.

"What happened to me?" Vannesa asked quietly.

"Huh?" Cedric asked, pretending not to hear.

"What happened to me? Was I drowning? Hung? Electrocuted?"

"...Lets not talk about it."

"It seems pretty damn important to me Cedric."

"Its nothing. I'm probably just worrying too much. You're fine."

"You sound like my aunt telling me not to worry about money."

"Really?"

"Yes. And you know what? She went bankrupt."

Alright people...lets please, please review?