A/N:

This is a LEMON FIC, 18+!

Yes, this will be a smut fic with Jack Skellington and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Something I've always thought of trying for myself. I know there are a good handful of Lemon fics in this fandom...but some weren't quite to my taste. I'm aware there's SEVERAL different scenarios I've seen of Jack and Sally - I have my own theories, my own interpretations...you'll be seeing what they are.

This is implied to take place in future timing for my other fic, "Our Nightmare", but...well, we're not quite there yet and I got a little impatient. You don't have to take this story as 'canon' to the other one if you don't want - but that's my little intention there.

It was almost like a privilege to Sally when she moved in with the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town.

Her previous home was best regarded as her once-prison. Where she had been locked countless of times inside of that metal building, behind her literal and figurative bars. There were plenty of sleepless nights spent in the room she was cooped up in for so long - occupied only by the sewing machine she had and the books tucked away under her bed. Her captor's possessiveness and obsession with her was a constant reminder of her upbringing. A 'wretched creation' , she was once considered.

It wasn't the most pleasant part of her life. She avoided even remembering those times.

To say her health got better after she settled down with Jack would be an understatement. It took years of exposure to the outside world in order for her to realize her own self-worth. He had been the one to introduce her to such a thing, and remained an influential figure in her desire for freedom. Not only that, but of romantic interest as well - she had fallen in love with him from the start, all from his alluring kindness. To be invited into his home was like setting a bird free from its cage.

A couple of years passed since she first settled in. Autumn had started a week prior to this day, and it was showing beautifully in Halloween Town. The sky was at its healthiest shade of orange this time of year. Every morning she would find the Gatekeeper raking all the leaves off of the trails and streets in town, creating piles that the children would ecstatically play and jump in. The creatures most exposed to the temperature equipped themselves with scarves and warmer coats, as the weather increasingly got colder as the months went on.

Sally busied herself this time of year in her sewing shop, knitting scarves and providing jackets and gloves to any creatures who desired them. When her day was done, she'd return to the Skellington Manor, where she would retire for the evening and spend her nights with her beloved and their ghost dog. Normally, it was a very relaxing time for her - compared to the constant work and pressure of Halloween as it drew closer for her skeleton.

Today was another day where such a thing was apparent. Jack had to leave so early in the morning that she hadn't the chance to tell him goodbye. They would usually meet at the door when he had to leave, and she grew the habit of pulling him down by his lapels and leaving a kiss on his lips. It was a small gesture, but one that kept them both on their feet for the rest of the day.

She returned inside after tending to the garden in the small sanctuary behind their house. The ragdoll removed the coat from her figure and carefully set it on its rightful hook by the back door. Since October was coming around, the wind was getting a little cold. Any visit she made outside, she'd have to bundle up for. Even Jack equipped himself with a scarf she made for him, along with a black jacket over his usual suit.

As she made her way down the hallway, she was surprised to find his scarf wrapped on the coat hanger just by the front door. A grin naturally formed on her lips as she eagerly turned and searched the room. It wasn't long before the tall skeleton presented himself from their staircase, opening up his arms and smiling at his girlfriend.

"I'm home!" He announced. Merely seconds after those words left his lips, Sally came running and tossed herself into his arms. He was quick to catch her and enjoyed the pecks she laid on the side of his skull.

"You're back early," She commented in surprise as he carefully let her down. This only widened his stitched smile.

"And what a relief it is..! We thought the planning would've lasted all day. I couldn't wait to return."

He began his stride down the house and she innately followed after. He began to talk about his day - all of which was told in bright detail and exaggerated in ways that would make her giggle. His words were genuine and enthusiastic, and she loved hearing them. He always sounded so eager to inform her of his work. She was all too happy to indulge in the Pumpkin King's affairs in return.

As he went into light about the Grim Reaper making an appearance in the Town Hall, a ghostly apparition flew from the ceiling and ducked towards their heads, sniffing around in the air. They greeted their pet with smiles and received excited licks and pants. He trailed after them as they made their way down the hallway, their included company now intently listening in on how his master's day went.

"I'll make us some warm tea and toast," The skeleton insisted as they entered the kitchen. "It's been getting chilly. You've been keeping yourself warm, haven't you?"

"Of course. I was just checking in on the garden before you came home."

"Everything wilting all right?"

"Just beautifully."

He ducked down to trail his phalanges through a couple of strands in her hair. In one smooth movement, he pressed his lips softly against her cheek, then resumed what he'd been doing. The contact alone was enough to send goosebumps along her skin. She smiled almost bashfully as she dismissed herself into the other room. Zero followed after and laid by her feet as she sat down. She flattened her dress and began to fidget with her seams in thought.

This ...was a reoccurring thing.

Affection was no stranger to her, nor was it a foreign thing in her relationship with Jack. Nearly every day they shared their handful of kisses, embraces, and words of fondness. The first few times were almost intimidating . She recalled the early days where even touching his palm or getting close to him was enough to send her out of her wits! But that was an old feeling, she thought; one that numbed after they continued to share those exact things for a few years now.

Nowadays...it's becoming familiar with her again.

Every kiss, every hug or slight contact shared between them now - and she'd experience it all over again. The numbness that turned her legs to jelly, the butterflies that crazed in her stomach, the frenzy her mind was sent into as her knees buckled. But most noticeable of them all - a strange hotness would engulf her body. It was driving her crazy. At times, she simply wished to be alone or found herself desperately searching for fresh air. The cool winds outside would calm her down, but then the warmth would only return later.

"Be careful..! Remember when you nearly picked your arm off the other day?"

She jumped in her seat and looked up in alarm. Jack was standing across from her, looking concerned. She glanced down at what she had been doing and noticed she had a good amount of thread bunched in her hand that she had picked out of her arm. She became flustered and muttered an apology, reaching for some thread and her needle to fix this mistake.

"Oh, please , let me..." He came forward and grabbed the items out of her hands. "-You know how I want to practice doing this."

As his hand touched hers, she felt that heat again. She allowed him to do what he wanted, promptly turning to look away. He noticed this, but said nothing. Instead, he busied himself with threading the needle and sewing that part of her arm back on, humming in delight as he did so. The noise was at least suppressing the hammering in her chest.

"Are you feeling alright?"

She looked back and noticed he was done, returning the spool of thread and needle in her hands. She didn't reply right away, obliging him to continue: "-This is the third time I've seen you picking at your seams...dearest, please tell me if something is wrong?"

'He sounds so worried... ' She thought as she bit her lip. She almost feels terrible for not answering honestly. "I'm fine...they just feel..." She quickly thought of an excuse. "-Itchy?"

"..Itchy? Hmm."

He looked to be deep in thought. She opened her mouth to mention anything else, but he smiled and stood to his full height again before she could. He grabbed the plate and cups he brought into the room to begin with, gently setting them down on the coffee table between the chairs. He sat in the other one and began pouring their tea.

"If it bothers you too much, we can just ask the Doctor. I'm sure he'll be able to-"

" -No !" She realizes her outburst and shakes her head. "I'm sure it'll go away on its own...we don't need to bother him."

Truthfully, she just doesn't want to make any bigger of a deal out of this than it already is. Or for him to find out the real reason as to why. She doesn't understand it yet, but...confessing that she gets hot around him feels far too embarrassing ...especially with the reasons as to why.

She found herself strangely interested every time she saw him at home with her like this - wearing one of his white undershirts with the sleeves folded up at his elbows. It's become more baggy with the extra layers he's been wearing lately, the buttons occasionally becoming undone when the fire in the hearth warmed him too much. Not to mention the suspenders held by his long, pinstriped pants - fitting him snugly and forming a sort of 'X' shape on his back, with his shirt tucked in firmly.

Her charcoal eyes glance down to his clothes now. It's exactly what she'd been thinking of, except he's not sitting up straight like he usually would. There's a little looseness to his posture now, as if he were slumping in his seat. For a moment, he's tense. He blinks before relaxing his frame and nodding his skull.

"If you insist you'll be alright..."

Sally chose to start on her tea and take a few nibbles out of the toast he brought her. He carries on the conversation in a very Jack-like manner, acting as if what just happened is already past them, and continuing his stories about his time in the Town Hall. She feels relieved he changed subjects and rests her back against the seat, allowing the tea to warm her stomach in a more pleasant way this time.

Sleeping was one of the things Jack Skellington greatly looked forward to.

Before Sally came in his death, it was almost a nightmare falling asleep. And not the frightening kind! Very rarely would he get many hours in the night, and instead spent most of his time tossing and turning restlessly. He tried everything back in those days - taking doses of Deadly Nightshade, opening the windows, or trying a more uncomfortable mattress. But nothing solved his insomnia better than she did.

Her presence in his home was enough to keep his thoughts to a minimum for him to sleep. But when they began sharing a bed together...he experienced the most pleasant results! Almost instantly he was allowed peaceful nights of sleep. If he had to guess, her ability to soothe him with a mere touch of her hand and the beautiful lullabies she'd sing him to sleep would be to thank for. Not to mention how she looked every morning when he'd wake before her...so serene, laying there on his bed, with her lips parted slightly as her figure gently moved with her soft breaths.

She was stunning. He'd guiltily admit to just sitting there and admiring the way she looked when she slept. His ribs always felt so weak whenever he did it. He'd never been more in love.

It's safe to say that he's thrown plenty of ways back when Sally tells him she wants to spend the night in the guest room - her old room he'd given her when she first moved in.

The worry grew in his bones. "Are you not sleeping well?"

"Not at all. I sleep wonderfully with you." She looked away for a moment. "It's just...too hot."

"You're too hot? I can open the windows! We can sleep with only the sheets - or none at all, if you prefer...I'll even stay on my side of the bed-"

"It's just for one night, to see if the heat really is the problem." She replied quickly, grabbing her pillow from his bed. "I won't be that far from you. You know it's just downstairs."

"Well, yes, but..."

-But what ? What can he tell her? How cold it's going to be without her at his side; how lonely this entire night will be without her company...how he's going to miss the breathtaking sight of his ragdoll sleeping when the morning comes..? He feels too worked up to admit any of it and isn't sure what to say.

"I'll have Zero with me, so you don't have to worry."

She began to whistle and motion for Zero to come at her side. He perked up from his doggy bed across the room and happily jumped out to greet her. Jack felt almost defeated as the pup licked her face and wagged his sheet. He was still having a hard time coming to terms with what was happening right now.

"Well, if you need anything at all during the night-"

"-I'll come and get you. I love you."

She leaned up to leave a kiss on the side of his skull. And just like that, she left the room with Zero. He listened to her footsteps climbing down the stairs to the guest bedroom. He would've followed her and insisted on tucking her in or ensuring she was comfortable enough for the night like he used to, but decided against it. He climbed into his bed and stared at the now-empty space beside him. Beyond the noises of her settling in the bedroom downstairs, things were utterly silent.

He turned his lights off and was left in the dark. Not like it obscured his vision with how excellent he could see without light. But his stare was fixated on the emptiness beside him and refused to leave it. Minutes began to pass by. Hours , even. And he was still awake - his gaze nowhere different. Eventually, he let out a sigh and moved his skull to look at the empty doggy bed in the room as well.

'It's been awhile since I've been alone like this...'

Jack suddenly wanted to slap himself across the skull. This was only for one night..! Had he really grown this needy ? So obsessed over Sally's company to the point where he feels miserable without it..? Part of him believes it's too pathetic, while the other reflects on how clingy it is. He'd just never known his death any different since Sally moved in with him. Everything started to become comfortable - and now that he is missing that, he feels...strangely empty.

He thought he heard her leave the room sometime during the night and nearly jumped out of his bed, until he realized it was only an owl landing on the roof. He sat up in frustration and ran a bony hand along his skull. 'I'm not going to get any sleep, am I..?' He thought defeatedly.

Like he always does when he is restless and has too much on his mind, he gets up and begins to pace around the room. Normally, with this much movement, it'd make plenty of noise to wake Sally up from downstairs. But the Pumpkin King is an expert on this sort of thing and knows the tricks to being quiet - he barely makes a sound as he rushes around in a line, with a hand placed on his skull in thought.

If he's lucky, exerting all this energy might make him tired. But right now, it just feels like there's a lot on his mind...

Something is wrong, isn't it? Sally has never shown any discomfort in sleeping with him before. Sure, she's acted a little strange as of late...catching her picking at her seams was only one of many new habits he'd noticed. She seemed a lot more startled every time he spoke to her, sometimes he'd catch her flinching when he'd touch her, and the way she'd inch away from him if he got too close at times...She used to be right at his side every night when they slept together, cuddling more or less - but lately she's resorted to resting on her own side of the bed.

...The signs were all there, weren't they?

The more he thinks, the worse his thoughts get. 'What if she's unhappy with me? Am I doing something wrong? Does she have a problem with the way I kiss her?' This is the price to pay for staying up at ungodly hours, he supposed. Eventually, his practicality came back and he sat on the edge of his bed, staring out of the window thoughtfully. He's convinced this is more of a physical issue for Sally - and his mind resorts back to the man who created her, Dr. Finklestein.

He might know what is happening. And even better, he might be able to inform Jack on what it is. He's tempted to pry and ask Sally himself, but the way she's been hesitant to answer his questions lately and the way she looks every time she does it...constantly looking away from him, picking at her seams, and looking terribly uncomfortable...he might have better luck asking the Doctor.

He makes the decision on visiting Finklestein's Tower tomorrow and brings himself back under the blankets. It still takes him a few hours to fall asleep, and by then, the sound of a dead rooster crowing from outside sounds shortly after.