"I can't wait to see you again."

How true those words rang in his skull...he's only said them a few minutes ago, yet they still hold so much meaning. The Pumpkin King briskly makes his way into Halloween Town after passing through the gates of his home. His stride is confident and he wears his usual, outstretched smile as he passes by his citizens. It's almost second nature for him to greet anyone who addresses him, and execute it all in a chipper manner. That has always been a habit of his, but this time, there is no underlying sadness he is attempting to conceal. The way he presents himself feels...more true, now, to how he's always wanted to be. And he only has Sally to thank for that.

He feels particularly happy as he approaches the Town Hall, and opens the doors eagerly to get inside.

It was only a week ago that Jack had been hesitant to do something like this. He recalls spending a long time pacing around his study, wondering how exactly to break this news. He knew the situation was complex from the start - to his people, he's always been seen as a bachelor. That's why he's had so many women around him before, many of whom treated him with the upmost admiration and even coquetry. But he always had a 'thing' for his personal space, and never quite expressed interest in eligibility to those who imposed themselves on him. It rather gave him a sour taste in his mouth, just thinking about it...

'But things are different now. Oh, so different...'

He knows there will be disappointment. Outrage, maybe. For those who have endlessly asked for him before - all, in which, he politely declined. But now Jack Skellington knows he's in love, fallen skull-over-heels for the Mad Scientist's creation. Sally is the sweetest, most caring person he has ever known in a long time. He has great expectations that the town will see the same things in her, and come to appreciate her for them as well. It's because of this self-assurance he is able to stroll backstage with anticipation, scanning the room in search for his coworker so they can get things started immediately.

He finds the politician at his desk, scribbling away mindlessly as he always is. The skeleton clears his throat as he approaches him, hoping his sudden appearance won't end in frantic interrogation. The Mayor jumps at the sound and whips his head towards the source of the noise. His face clicks to the side wearing a grin. He happily hops down to meet with the man below. The first thing he does is reach out to shake his hands - the usual greeting they shared every time they worked together.

"Jack! I was so worried when you didn't come in first thing this morning. I was hoping you'd come around before I'd have to find you myself!"

"Thank you for that, Mayor. I apologize for not meeting with you. There are a few things I need to tell you..."

The shorter man perks up. "Oh? And what would that be?"

He holds his breath for a moment. This isn't just his colleague, but a friend of his. He knows it would be right to tell him the truth, but the Mayor doesn't exactly have a reputation for holding secrets for very long...He has to bite his tongue as he goes with what he originally intended, letting go of the smaller hand and cocking his skull to the side.

"You see, I had an epiphany the other day with the Halloween planning! The citizens must know of my ideas as soon as they can. I need to know what they think before I start arranging anything. Would you mind calling for a town meeting immediately?"

"-Immediately!? Why, this must be important! Very important, indeed!"

He runs over back to his desk and grabs the megaphone sitting atop. Jack grins as he watches him rush out of the room, presumably to get to his hearse as soon as he can. The skeleton tugs at his sleeves as he mentally works through how he will execute this meeting. How he will break the news, and ensure it's in a way that won't put Sally or himself at risk. He may have to actually come up with a genius Halloween idea, but that wasn't very difficult. What else the meeting is going to be about, however, certainly will be.

'It IS going to be tricky...' He mulls to himself, scratching at his jaw. 'But I know how I can make this work...'


"TOWN MEETING! TOWN MEETING IMMEDIATELY! JACK REQUESTS WE ALL BE THERE AT ONCE!"

Sally jumps when she hears the Mayor's voice from a nearby window. She rushes out of the room and glances outside, only to see the citizens emerging from their homes and graves. They are all walking towards the Town Hall. She can see them speaking with each other, whispering and laughing. The ragdoll removes herself from the window as she starts chewing at her nails, preparing herself for what's about to come. Not that she hasn't already been doing that for the past half hour, but she still feels a little nervous...

After some words of encouragement from herself, Sally holds her breath as she finally pushes through the doors of the Skellington Manor. By this point, nearly everyone is already inside of the Town Hall, so she doesn't attract any attention as she goes down the stairs and through the gates. She hurries to get there so she won't miss any second of it. She goes through the open doors and finds that it's crowded already, much like the last time she had been to a meeting. Her eyes scan the crowds before she finds a familiar tree sitting in the back.

She approaches him and taps on his bark, smiling in relief when he turns to look at her. The Hanging Tree's sockets widen in surprise. It has been awhile since they've seen each other - seeing her friends was difficult when the Doctor locked her away completely from the outside world. So much happened after that, and she didn't have the time to go out of her way and apologize for her sudden disappearance. This makes her weary as the Hanging Tree observes her, but then he smiles, and his skeletons follow suit. They all look particularly happy to see her.

"Why, Sally, it's been quite some time! We hope you've been alright?" He asks.

"I've been through a lot. But I didn't mean to disappear from you like that. I'm very sorry I haven't been seeing you all much around." She plays with her fingers. "I must be an awful friend."

"Not at all! I understand, really. We were just hoping you were okay after not hearing from you for so long!"

She smiles. "I am doing much better, thank you. I...didn't think you'd worry about me."

"Nonsense. I'm always worrying about my knitting buddy while she's not around." He motions to branch atop. "Would you like a seat? I can tell you aren't going to find one in this room!"

"That'd be perfect...thank you, again."

The hanging skeletons help Sally up, and she happily sits herself on his branch. She gets comfortable and sighs in content. Her friends truly do care about her. Already can she feel her life getting so much better. She has a loving and wonderful boyfriend whom she's living with, in such a comfortable and spacious home. And her friends still care about her deeply...how can she not feel content? It lowers her stress as she glances about the room, wincing only slightly when she sees all the females sitting in front. She hopes they won't be too distressed by the news...or that anyone will be, for that matter.

The room eventually shushes down when Jack comes through the door. The whispering and movement cease as he arrives to the podium. The Mayor turns on the spotlight from above, aiming it at the skeleton with careful hands. Everyone is completely silent as they wait for the Pumpkin King to begin talking - of what wonders he's thought of for Halloween this year, and what might have been so urgent to call them all at once...

"Horrible afternoon, everyone! Thank you all for making it here. I'm sorry I had to call this meeting out of the black, but there are some important things I must tell you all."

Sally scans the crowds as Jack talks, blanking out what he's saying. She isn't surprised when she doesn't find Doctor Finklestein anywhere. Not like he would need to be here, anyway - he's well-informed about the situation already, and she already knows how he reacted. This causes her eyes to fall to the ground, and she frowns slightly. It's only when she hears Jack moving that she moves her eyes back to the stage, finding that he is addressing the crowd with a bright grin, pointing at some of them.

"-Yes, exactly! Black goo would work! Which is why I think with just the right amount, you can really get the effect of..."

'So he is distracting them with a Halloween idea'. She has no clue how long it'll be until he changes subjects, and her nails start digging into the bark as she waits. The longer she has to sit there, the more anxious she grows. She wants to get this over with. Have the black cat out of the bag already so they no longer have to hide themselves. So Jack will stop having those women invading his space, and she will be able to hold his hand without worrying about others seeing. This makes the ragdoll smile, and she eagerly listens as Jack carries on with the meeting.

"I digress, folks. While this brainstorming has certainly been enlightening, there are some...other things that this skeleton has been keeping in his closet." He clutches the podium for a moment, smiling as he observes the crowd. "-I want you all to know that I am courting a woman."

The crowd gasps in surprise. They look at each other and frantically begin whispering. Sally can hear the voices, and most of them sounding confused. She pays no attention, as her stitched grin widens on her face. She looks at Jack with adoring eyes, elated that their secret has finally been revealed. He catches her look and returns the smile, the two of them sharing a fond gaze between the unknowing pairs of eyes. Suddenly, questions begin to called out from the crowd, snapping the two of them out of their daze.

"-But with WHO?" "How long has this been going on?" "Who is it, Jack?" "I'm so happy for you!" "Where is she?"

"-Everyone, everyone! I will answer all of your questions in time, but before I do, I want to make it very clear that this woman is, indeed, in this very room right now."

Sally watches in awe as the skeleton steps down from the stage, and starts walking down the aisle. His gaze is fixated on hers, and she keeps her stare locked with his. Everyone is completely silent as the Pumpkin King approaches the Hanging Tree. He moves his skull up so he can properly look at the ragdoll, then he offers her his hand. She feels bewildered as she stares at him, but then he gives her that assuring smile of his - the one that always sends goosebumps along her skin. She smiles and takes it, only to find that he pulls her down so he can lock his lips with hers. Her eyes widen before she naturally relaxes against him, and tenderly kisses him back.

Neither of them can see the awe-stricken faces of the citizens, nor can they see the enraged looks from the women. All they focus on is each other, and what they're sharing right now. She feels almost disappointed when he pulls away, but they take a moment to stare into their eyes longingly. Sally suddenly remembers how far they have come - from the time she first attended a town meeting, to where they are now: sharing a kiss in the same spot she sat in, hoping to just see his face. She sighs, and feels like a great weight has finally been taken off of her shoulders.

The room is filled with various noises, some cheers and others snarls. Jack and Sally finally turn to face the room, finding most of the citizens clapping and grinning. Sally, however, notices the glares from the witches and other fans of his. She sinks into her shoulders as she waves weakly to them. She then brings her attention to the rest of the room. To the people crying out their support for the Pumpkin King and his girlfriend; the people she has known and seen for a long time, standing by their side. Even the skeletons from below are clapping, and she can see the Hanging Tree grinning widely. She feels a tear escape from her eye: a result of pure bliss.

The voices come back: "-See? I TOLD you Jack had a lady friend!" "Good for you both!" "I can't believe this...!" "Jack, you look so happy!" "She's awful; she's just perfect for you!" "-Jack's in love with the Doctor's girl!?" "Sally! You got a good catch!"

Jack turns around and grabs her from her seat. She lets out a surprised noise as she's gently guided to the ground. She clutches onto his side once she's down. She smiles nervously and waves at everyone around them. She still can't believe how much support they're getting! Well, ignoring the hundreds of daggers glared her way from the front row, that is...

The skeleton leads her to the stage, and she makes no move of protest. It only makes sense, seeing as she's the center of attention right now...as much as she thought she would've hated this, it feels almost...soothing. To be holding Jack's hand as they're both under a spotlight, with so many cheers being sent their way from the crowd. She stands proudly beside him as they look at the audience. It's now that she's face-to-face with the witches and admirers in the front. She waves at them again, but they all look away from her and scoff. Jack doesn't notice this as he sneaks his arm around her waist.

"Yes, I am courting Sally Finklestein. I think it's fair to let you all know that this isn't something new. We have been romantically involved for quite some time now. We were keeping it from you all purely for personal reasons - but now we're ready to tell you all that we are in love, and we ask for your respect and consideration for our relationship."

They're met with applause again, letting them know right away that they are accepted. They do, however, find a few claws and hands raised in the audience. Jack nods his skull in the direction of one, and they find a curious citizen scratching their head.

"Correct me if I am wrong, but..." The ghoul looks between the two uncertainly. "Wasn't Sally the Doctor's wife? There were so many rumors in town about it, and I just don't understand..."

"Oh, yes! I meant to mention that." Jack hesitates to answer. "While the Doctor intended on marrying Sally, it was never official, as their certificate wasn't properly...signed." Sally frowns at this. "-So, no, my good man. They were never married."

Another paw shoots up in the air. The Werewolf scratches at his fur. "I'm just wonderin' on what made you change your mind, Jack? You said you didn't wanna get into the dating pool, right? Well, now you got a girlfriend, so..."

"I had intended for that, yes, but...Sally is very special to me. It was...simply meant to be." He turns and smiles at her. "She helped me realize a lot of things about myself. One being that I wanted to have love in my death. But a special kind. One I only wanted to share with her."

They hold hands. She melts all over again. Some of the crowd coos. They find another hand raised and acknowledge them. This time, it's one of the admirers sat upfront. The Sea Gal raises herself in her seat, eying the two with slight suspicion. Finally, she asks, "-And how exactly did you two meet?"

The skeleton opens his mouth to reply, but, to his surprise, the ragdoll answers instead. "-Jack rescued me when I was taken by that Bug King. He visited the Doctor's to welcome me into town after that, and we started talking since then."

The citizens start murmuring among themselves, remembering the incident all too well. Jack and Sally find more hands raised in the crowd, and both of them take the time to answer any questions from curious monsters. They are surprised to find how respectful the inquiries were, and despite the sour looks tossed in her direction, Sally doesn't receive any harsh words from the females. She feels very uplifted and hopeful from their reactions - hearing many words of encouragement, support, and adoration for their relationship. She wonders why they ever waited for this, feeling rather ridiculous for being fearful of the reactions...

As they continue to answer these questions, she turns and relaxes against Jack, already knowing this is going to change their relationship for the better.


The meeting eventually ends after the citizens' curiosities are appeased. Sally purposely lingers with Jack as they're waiting for everyone to leave, but stops to say goodbye to the Hanging Tree. She's surprised to find a wide grin stretched on his bark, all of the skeletons holding their hands together adoringly. She steps forward, but she doesn't need to say a word. An unison of congratulations is immediately sent her way, by the skeletons and their tree included.

"I can't believe it, I just truly can't!" He looks between the two several times. "Hearing the Pumpkin King has a girlfriend, and it's Sally...I don't think anyone saw it coming!"

"Then we did a great job on keeping it a secret." Jack replies. Sally brushes her blood hair behind her shoulder as she giggles along.

"We are very happy for you two. Sally is the sweetest person I know, and very talented, may I add! I hope nothing but for the worst for you both."

"Thank you...it means a lot hearing that from you." She comes forward and holds his hands. "You were one of the first friends I made in town, you know..."

"-And how far you've come! Not everyone gets to say they've won the undead heart of the Pumpkin King."

She glances back at Jack and blushes. The Hanging Tree bids his goodbye as his skeletons wave while they leave the Town Hall. As soon as they're gone, the Pumpkin King glances down and notices the smile stretched on his girlfriend's face. He rests his hand on her shoulder, and she places her palm over his fingers. It's silent as they take in everything that had happened during that meeting - but for the important part, their secret os out. Everyone knows about them. And for Jack, that is more than a relief. It felt so easy for him to spill everything out that he had been holding in - and for it to be received the way it was, he feels grateful for it.

"I think we should start heading home. That was a lot, wasn't it?" He asks. She looks at him slowly and nods, squeezing his fingers.

"Yeah, I think we should, too. There's...a lot I want to talk about with you."

He smiles. There was a lot he wants to say, too. "-Let's start getting back, then."

The two of them leave through the back way, as to not draw any additional attention. While they're in private, they share another kiss. It feels different doing it out in the open rather than behind closed walls like they had been so used to before - or sharing all of their tender moments in the Graveyard. Jack slumps against her as he finds his posture relaxed. As they break away, he trails his hand on her skin and brushes the hair out of her face.

He opens his mouth to tell her what's on his mind, but finds that it's actually empty. Peaceful. For once, he is not thinking of Halloween, its planning, or anything else that stresses him out - he feels completely at ease as he stares at Sally's face. She looks just as content, judging by the way her eyes droop and how her hand caresses his palm in thought. Neither of them say anything in this comfortable period of silence, enjoying their existence out in the open for once. They eventually pick up their walk after a few minutes of holding each other, and intend to return to the Skellington Manor as soon as they can.

It's not long, however, before they find three familiar faces leaning against the wall. When the Halloween Town Band finds the Pumpkin King heading their way, they prepare to greet him. But when they find the Doctor's creation at his side, they grow smug smiles instead. The two stop to greet them, figuring this is more than an appropriate time to speak to their friends. James looks more than happy as he shakes Jack's hand, and winks at the woman lingering to the side.

"We heard 'bout th' meetin'! Congrats on tellin' the town, you two!"

"We were wonderin' when you'd spill the poisonous beans." John comments. The skeleton chuckles.

"It was all in due time. We had a setback, as I'm sure you know...but now we finally told the town, and things couldn't be better!"

Sally comes forward and suddenly hugs the three. They return the embrace, and she smiles to herself. How supportive all of her friends are being for this...it feels almost natural for her to thank them, figuring they were the only ones keeping the secret as well. She removes herself and holds her hands together, wondering just how she could properly show her gratitude.

"Did you attend the meeting?" She asks. They nod their heads, much to her relief.

"We were in the back. It got so crowded by the time we were there, we couldn't find a seat." Jimmy shakes his head. "You two took those questions very well. Like you rehearsed the whole thing."

"I wish that were possible." Jack smiles weakly. "It was hard to tell what was going to happen. I thought for sure there would've been a few that were upset..."

"'Course they're upset! Dolly stole our beloved King here so easily while they've been tryin' fer years." James teases. "I bet'cha they're jus' keepin' it to themselves. I wouldn't feel so sure if I were ya'."

Sally frowns. Jimmy notices this and leans forward. "-But we know you two can handle it. Your relationship's the strongest we've seen! I'm sure no jealous ghouls are going to ruin that for you."

This relieves the two of them. They speak more with the Band, the conversation mainly consisting of their absences. It was a little painful for Sally to explain how Dr. Finklestein locked her away from the outside world completely. She recalls how upset she had been through the entire process, and she feels a little guilty for not looking out her window often for the three. They forgive her regardless, and shared their sympathy. Jack especially isn't a fan of how sad she describes herself in that time. He ensures he is holding onto her side as the two of them finally begin their way home, rubbing her arm softly.

"Are you alright?" He asks. She nods her head but doesn't say a word. "-I know how tough that was for you. It was hard on me, too. I can't imagine what talking about it is like..."

"I'll be alright, Jack. So many good things have happened today; I just can't see anything getting in the way of that."

His chest warms. They've reached the Skellington Manor at this point, and he happily offers his beloved his skeletal hand. She giggles as she takes it, allowing him to graciously help her up the set of stairs and to the door. He's very open about this as he does it - no longer having the fear of being spotted holding this woman's hand, and knowing that they are free to express themselves now. He feels ecstatic as they climb the steps, and feels the anticipation gnawing at his bones by the time they reach the front door.


Jack decides to end his work for the day there, seeing as the meeting is done. He returns once to the Town Hall so he can answer any questions the Mayor has. He finds that the shorter coworker has many, and spends a good hour or two answering them. They are out of good-nature, much to the skeleton's relief. Most of the inquires are about work and if his relationship would affect it at all - to which the answer was a firm 'no'. He did make it clear that Sally is going to be his top priority from now on, and while that news makes the Mayor a little anxious, the Pumpkin King stands firmly by it.

They end their conversation on good terms, as the Mayor wishes the two of them horrible luck and for the worst. Jack thanks him and quickly returns home, wanting to see his beautiful ragdoll by his side again. And he gets that wish when he finds her at the front door waiting to greet him, hugging him tightly as she leaves a trail of kisses on the side of his skull. He relaxes against her and sighs, letting all of the stress out of his bones as he melts on her.

"I think we should take it easy today," She whispers to him. He nods rhythmically, her words soothing him almost naturally.

"We should."

He lets out a noise when he feels her soft hands start massaging his sides. The smile grows on his face as he digs his head into her shoulder. God, how badly he has wanted this. Holding her in his arms, hearing her voice, seeing her before him...knowing she's safe, loved, and happy - that's all he ever really wanted. He doesn't know how he can feel any bit upset with her around like this - it's merely been more than a day, and yet, it already feels like she's been here for years...

"You're tense," She comments quietly, digging her fingers further into his bones. He shivers. "When was the last time you relaxed?"

"The last moment we were together." He leans back and holds her hands. "I feel completely at peace, believe me. I've just kept so much stress in these old bones that I haven't even noticed it."

She grins at him coyly. "Well, I think I can take care of that..."

His eye sockets widen in pleasure. Before she can do anything, though, he leads her over to the couch in their sitting room, setting her gently on the cushion. He decides the best way they can get comfortable is by first warming the old mansion. She watches as he kindles a fire. He returns to her side after it's done, sitting as close as possible to her on the couch. She leans forward to nuzzle the tip of her nose against his bone, relaxing her shoulders as she feels the fire start to warm the room. They both begin to close their eyes as they inch closer to one another, their lips merely inches apart-

"Arf! Arf!"

The familiar sounds of barking interrupt the two, momentarily getting them to jump. But then they see the hollow eye sockets of Jack's dog, Zero. Sally grins widely as he comes flying over to her, and reaches her hands out to pet him. The ghost whines as he rubs his head on her cheek, showing that he greatly missed her. She closes her eyes as she trails her hand on his sheet, feeling the same way for him.

"Oh, Zero! I couldn't find you the other night," She tells him. "Where were you?"

The dog whines as he tilts his head. Jack decides to answer for him. "-He was most likely in the Graveyard. He'll usually spend his time there if he's not around the house."

He suddenly realizes something. The skeleton leans forward and wraps an arm around Sally's shoulder, tugging her closer. Zero watches the two with curious eye sockets. Jack turns to the dog and grins, ruffling his head with his free hand.

"Say, I didn't break the news to you yet, did I, boy?" The ghost shakes his head. "Well, the big news is...Sally's going to live with us! You're going to see a lot more of her around from now on! No more waiting for her by those graves, or sneaking into her room."

The pet jumps in alarm and sharply turns his head to the ragdoll. She laughs and nods her head to confirm the news. The dog yaps in excitement as he comes forward to lick her chin. Sally continues to laugh in delight as the dog wags his sheet, attempting to nuzzle every part of her. He's eventually ushered down by Jack, who whistles and points by the fire. The two watch as Zero gets comfortable by the hearth, looking at them with a wide smile on his muzzle.

"I think he's happy with the news." The skeleton informs her. Sally nods in agreement.

"I sure hope so; I couldn't live here knowing if I didn't have Zero's permission!"

The dog barks a final time before resting his head down, leaving the two of them alone for the time being. She turns to Jack and resumes what she had been doing before - carefully massaging her thumbs in circles along his back. The same noise escapes the skeleton's throat as he leans forward, succumbing to the heaven her hands are working on him. She grins in delight as she brings the massage lower, attempting to get all the tension out of his bones. Every time she hears a pop!, there's a slight sigh of relief she can hear from her boyfriend. Eventually, she gets all of them out as she finishes his small massage, resting her head on the side of his shoulder.

His eyes are drooping as he bows his skull. "Thank you..."

"Anything for you, my Pumpkin King."

His phantom heart skips a beat at her words. He looks at her for a moment before laying himself down on the couch, moving Sally with him so she can rest her head on his chest. He feels her entire body weight shifted on him as she relaxes. The two close their eyes and enjoy the warmth from the fire, listening to the cracks and pops in the silence. Occasionally, it's interrupted by the chiming of a clock - but it doesn't stir either of them. They continue to lay there, enjoying this new reality that both of them have longed for their entire deaths. Having the love of his death on his chest, laying by a comfortable fire with his good pet at their side...it's like he's only dreamed of this moment.

Jack runs his hand through her yarn hair, admiring her face as she rests her eyes. "-They love you."

She opens her eyes. "Who?"

"Who do you think?" He chuckles. "-The Town. The people. They like you."

She looks away from him, biting her lip shyly. "...Most of them do. And I hadn't expected that..."

"Well, why wouldn't they? You're beautiful, you're smart, you're caring, and you're sweet...I think anyone can know that just a mile away."

"Maybe you're right. There were people there I haven't even met that were very supportive..." She thinks for a moment before laying her head back down. "-Jack?"

"Mm?"

"Even if they didn't...would you still feel this happy?"

"Of course I would. The whole point is that I'm with you." He nuzzles her forehead with his nasal bone. "The meeting was just letting them all know that. I don't need anyone else's approval to be with you."

She shuts her eyes again. "That's relieving..."

He kisses the tip of her scalp. "-It's true."

They spend the rest of their afternoon lounging together, refusing to separate from the other. In this time, they speak quietly with each other, mentioning anything that is on their mind. Eventually, their words turn into soft murmurs as the afternoon turns into evening. Jack suddenly feels the fatigue hit him, considering this is the most relaxed he's felt in years. He blinks his eyes open several times as he glances down, and finds Sally has fallen asleep on him. He smiles as he brings his arms around her, holding her close and relishing their contact for several minutes more.

"I love you," He whispers into her ear. She stirs slightly, but there's no response.

He doesn't even need one, anyway.