Chapter 6: Three more years later

"Mama can we get pie after we're done shopping?" Meagan asked, holding her mother's hand as they walked. Sally smiled down at her daughter. She was eight years old now, with her bright orange hair hanging to her chest. The curls weren't as tight as when she was younger, but looser. "If you're on your best behavior then yes we may." Meagan grinned. "Okay, mama! I'll be good!" Sally giggled. "That's my little girl. They walked into the witches' shop and stepped up to the counter. "Hello ladies." Sally greeted. The shorter sister stopped stirring the cauldron and the taller looked up. "Hello Mrs. Skellington! How are you and Meagan doing today?" Meagan waved politely. "Hello!" "We're doing great today, thank you for asking. We're just getting some errands done right now. Do you have any worms wart in stock? by chance?" The taller witch smiled. "I believe so. One second!" She turned around and checked the shelves. "Eye of newt, dragon scale, wolfs bane...Ah here it is! Worms Wart!" She grabbed the small bottle and set it on the counter. Sally pulled out some orange coins and the witch took them. "Thank you, Sally! Come by anytime!" "Thank you. Have a good day, you two! Goodbye!" Meagan waved. "Bye!"

She followed her mother out as she put the bottle in her bag. Next they headed into the market. Meagan picked up a basket for her mother. "Thank you sweetie." Sally took the basket and they walked into the produce section. "Okay I need one pumpkins, three carrots, a head of lettuce and five tomatoes. Think you get all that?" Meagan nodded. "I'll get it mama!" She grabbed a pumpkin, carrying it over carefully so not to drop them, setting it in the basket. Next she grabbed the carrots and lettuce, setting them in the basket as well. She grabbed a bag and put the tomatoes in. "Good job! Next we need a thing of eggs, one gallon of milk and...a package of cheese." They walked over to the dairy and grabbed the milk and eggs together, putting them in the basket.

Meagan grabbed the cheese and put it in as well. "What's next?" Sally looked at her list. "Two pounds of meat. and a loaf of bread." They walked up to the deli, ran by the wolfman. "Hello, Mr. Wolf." The wolfman waved, giving a small howl. "Hello, Sally, Meagan. How are you and Jack doing?"

"We're all doing great thanks for asking. I need two pounds of meat, please." The wolfman gave a nod. "Two pounds of meat coming up!" He pulled out some meat and weighed it. He then wrapped it up sandwhich held it out for Sally. She pulled out some coins and put them on the course. "Thank you, very much!"

"My pleasure, Sally. Say hi to Jack for me." Sally smiled. Meagan waved. "We will, Mr. Wolfman!" "Have a nice day." Sally said. She led Meagan up to the front of the store, setting the basket down at the register. The clerk, a zombie, removed the items and scanned them. Sally pulled out a handful of coins and handed them to the clerk. The clerk put the coins in the register and bagged the items. Meagan grabbed one of the bags while Sally grabbed the other two. Meagan followed her out the store, walking through the square and stopping at their gate. Sally opened it and they went up the walk and entered the house. "Jack we're home!" Sally called. They both walked to the kitchen and put the groceries down on the table, taking them out of the bags. "I'm in the living room, my loves! Just a moment!" Jack called. As they put the groceries up, Meagan got curious. "Mama, how did you and papa meet?" Sally paused, looking at her. She smiled, stroking her daughter's hair. "Well...It happened on an autumn day, in grandpa's laboratory..."

A shadow stood outside the window, peeking in to the Skellington manor. It was Oogie's shadow, sent to spy while the real Oogie Boogie remained at home, working on his schemes. "Enjoy your peach while you can, bone family...Because it won't last forever! Not if Oogie Boogie has anything to say about it! I will have my revenge soon enough! Then, I'll tear up this town, and I'll start with you! AH HA HA HA HA!"

"Daddy, daddy!" The seven year old ran up to his father, brown hair a disheveled mess. He waved a picture he drew frantically. "Look, look! I drew you a picture!" The real Oogie groaned as his thoughts were interrupted. "Alistar what have I told you about interrupting daddy when he's busy?" Oogie tried to keep his annoyance hidden. Alistar frowned, lowering his picture. "But, you're not doing anything..."

"Au contraire, I'm busy plotting my revenge. Now go play somewhere else!" Alistar sniffles as tears started to form in his eyes. He ran off into the other room. Oogie sighed in relief. "Now, where was I...Ah yes, I'll wait til the child is old enough to be alone. Then when wandering around the graveyard, I'll-"

"Daddy!" Alistar ran back in, holding some dice. "Can we torture one of the skeletons downstairs, maybe? I found the dice!" Oogie turned around, stooping to shoot him a look. "Alistar! Interrupt me one more time and YOU'LL go downstairs! Understood?!" Alistair's eyes widened and tears fell in fear. He'd been punished once before. "Y-yes, sir..."

"Good. Now go to your room!" Oogie ordered. Alistar threw the dice to the floor and ran to his room, slamming the door shut. It wasn't fair! Every time he tried spending time his father, he was always told to go away, and not to interrupt him when he was busy. All he ever did was think about his scheme! He only cared abut getting his revenge. He didn't even care about Alistar. "Why do I keep trying to get his attention? It never works...He never looks at my drawings or spends time with me...I should just quit..." He looked down his drawing. It was him and his dad standing side by side, holding hands. His tears fell onto the drawing and he grit his teeth, sobbing. After he finished crying he tore up the drawing, then walked up to his tiny desk. He picked up the other drawings and one by one, tore them into tiny pieces, letting them flutter to the floor. "If he doesn't want to spend time with me then fine! I don't care anymore! Who needs that big meany anyway! I don't need him! Let him spend all his time on his dumb revenge! I don't need anybody!" Alistar yelled to himself. He stormed over to his bed, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. He pulled himself onto his bed to lie down, resting his head on his pillow.

"And that's the story of how we met..." Sally concluded the story with a smile, sitting beside her daughter in the living room on the couch. Jack sat on the other side of Meagan, a long arm stretched behind her to wrap around Sally's shoulders, pulling them both into a hug. Sally and Meagan hugged back. "So do you two have any duets? You both sing, you must have sung together." Meagan said. Jack smile. "As a matter of fact, pumpkin we have! Would you like to hear one?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Oh please, please, please can I?" Sally laughed. "Settle down honey. Of course you can. Ready Jack?"

"I'm always ready to sing with you..." Jack cleared his throat before starting.
"My dearest friend...If you don't mind...I'd like to join you by your side...Where we can gaze into the stars..." Sally smiled, joining in.
"And sit together, now and forever...for it is plain...as anyone can see...we're simply meant to be..." As they finished, Jack took her, reaching over to kiss her softly. Tears fell from Meagan's eyes. "Awww! That was so beautiful! Any others?" Both parents smiled. Jack looked at Sally and started singing again.
"You give me strength, you show you care...I cannot fail with you so near...I know I'd be lost without you..." Sally blushed joining in again. "We'll stand together...now and forever...And I'll tell you...this very troubled night...That we will set things right..." They kissed again and Meagan applauded, drying her eyes. "Bravo, mama and papa! But what do you mean by set things right?"
She was confused. Jack and Sally looked at each other. Sally bit her lip, shaking her head. "Don't." She mouthed. Jack nodded in agreement. "Sorry pumpkin princess, but you're not ready to hear that story yet...When you're older..."

A/N: Wow! 16 reviews! Thank you so much everyone, keep those awesome reviews coming! Alistar belongs to the wicked awesome Breanlt! She helped me with the ideas for Alistar this chapter! Thanks, sis! Still no sign of our favorite trio! But with the missing food is it possible the townsfolk are right in their accusations? You'll have to wait for eight more years to find out I'm afraid!
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