Author's Note: Ladies and gentlemen, the Stork has entered the story. He wasn't in The Nightmare Before Christmas, which is where this and many of my others stories sprang from. I kind of own his portrayal here, unlike Jack or Sally, who sprang from the wonderful minds of Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, Henry Selick, Disney, and Touchstone Pictures. However, the Stork has been around for ages and ages, you know, because telling kids the 'facts of life' is really tough. Then again, telling Jack and Sally is no picnic either.
Cupid and his avian companion landed just paces away from the round table. The god took the white bundle the Stork was carrying in his long beak so he could speak when he had the chance. He was a very odd looking stork. He was wearing a blue jacket and cap, as if he were some kind of mail carrier; instead of having a postage company badge on his jacket, it was a square patch split in half, one side was blue, the other was pink. That same patch was found on the front of his cap. Just below the rim of the cap, the group at the round table could make out glasses peeking over the Stork's brown eyes, eyes that were focusing on, of all things, Jack.
"You're the new boy?" he asked, pointing his right wing at Jack.
"New boy?" Jack asked.
"Well, Henry said you weren't the sharpest knife in the drawer," the Stork said before looking to Cupid. "Hey, look in that bag and take out my letter. Give it to the new boy."
"Here you go," Cupid said as he handed a letter to Jack. "So, how has everything gone?" the God of Love asked, looking at the group.
"Son, Go find Psyche and bring her back. We won't mind if she retches in the bucket, this is a golden opportunity for her to see the Stork," Venus said to Cupid. "Oh, and when this is all over, I am going to sew your mouth shut."
"Why?" Cupid asked before noticing that Saint Valentine was there. "Oh, right. Well, I'll be back," Cupid finished before handing the bag back to the Stork and flying off yet again.
"Take a seat, Mr. Stork," Saint Valentine said as the bird gently placed the white bag on the table and sat down between Venus and Sally.
"Much obliged," said the Stork before turning to Jack. "Oh, and sorry for taking so long with the souls, kid. I figured once you had that first one under control, you'd be ready for the rest of them."
"You know each other?" Venus asked the Stork.
"Supposed to, but things kind of got in the way in the Real World," the Stork explained.
"That's another story," Jack added.
"Mr. Stork, can you help us too?" Sally asked.
"Sure. What's the problem?" the Stork asked.
"Cupid didn't tell you?" Saint Valentine asked. "Well, that is a surprise."
"We were in a rush. I had to deliver some souls before I could get here. I have a team taking care of any births happening right now so I could be here."
"Well, to summarize," Venus started as he waved her hand towards the hopeful couple, "Jack and Sally here want to be open to the possibility of having children one day. There are a few biological kinks in their way that I can fix-"
"Or make worse," Saint Valentine interrupted.
"Oh hush, you!" Venus exclaimed before continuing. "We have yet to cover all of the aspects of how children are formed, but we will get to that, honest."
"What do you know so far?" the Stork asked Sally.
"We're missing organs," Sally said. "I'm missing a womb and Jack... Jack, what are you missing?"
"I'd rather not say," Jack said, clearing his throat and blushing slightly.
"You're a skeleton," the Stork said. "I know. It rhymes with her name," he said, nodding towards Venus.
"Well, I never thought of explaining it that way," the goddess said. "Good show."
"I work with the souls of children. You learn to be very careful with the subjects you bring up around them. They can become corrupted very easily," the Stork explained to Venus before turning back to Jack and Sally. "And you two are dead. You do realize that the dead aren't supposed to have kids, right?"
"Does it matter if we're dead or not? I know we can provide a loving home for any of our children," Jack said.
"It's just never been done before. Though, I can imagine why you two would want this so badly. You never had the chance to have a true love or a family of your own in your lives. It's a subconscious desire that has been brought up by the whole situation with the Native baby."
"Wait," Sally said as her eyes widened. "You know who we were before we died?"
"I know who everyone is, was, or is to become. My job isn't what people think it is."
"What is it then?" Jack asked.
The Stork replied by undoing the knot keeping his white bundle together. When it came undone, it spread out all over the table. Inside were tiny little balls of light, no bigger than pearls. They glowed with purity and bustled with energy. The Stork looked down upon them proudly before clearing his throat and explaining just what he had in his bundle.
"I am in charge of souls. I deliver them to developing children just before they're born. When they're born, my team and I watch over them and make sure they do what they are meant to do. That applies for life and afterlife, good and bad."
"Wow. Those are all people?" Sally asked, fighting the urge to pick a soul up.
"For the most part, Sally. Animals have souls too," the Stork said as he heard a ruffling of wings. "Well, look who's back."
"Mr. Stork, this is my wife, Psyche," Cupid said as he led a slightly dizzy Psyche over to the table.
"Don't worry, the nausea will let up in a month," the Stork said.
"Thank you," Psyche said as she and Cupid sat down.
"Is this everybody?" the Stork asked Venus.
"I believe so," the goddess replied.
"Alright. So as I was saying, that bundle never carried babies. Just souls," the Stork repeated to the complete group.
"Then why do the mortals think babies come in the bag?" Jack asked.
"Not all mortals think that, only children do."
"Why?" Sally asked.
"Well, the humans have this, well, shame about where babies come from," the Stork began. "A lot of them think it's kind of evil, so they tell their young a story about a stork bringing children into the world until they feel they are mature enough to know the truth," the Stork explained before pausing for breath. "Then there are those that exploit the act for their own satisfaction, and sometimes profit. Now, there's nothing wrong with getting satisfaction from it, that's part of the whole deal."
"What about profit?" Jack asked.
"Not part of the deal," the Stork said. "See, the whole combination of shame and people who abuse the most intimate act of love make even speaking about it taboo."
"Too bad," Cupid interrupted. "Such a shame something that was meant to be so beautiful turned so ugly."
"Indeed. Don't even get me started on the diseases people give each other," the Stork said to Cupid.
"Diseases?" Jack and Sally asked.
"You two plan to be true to one another, right? No other men or women for you?" the Stork asked.
"No. Never," Jack said and Sally nodded in agreement.
"Stick to that and you won't need to worry about catching anything."
"That's a relief," Sally said.
"Now, let's get away from all those bad aspects. You two want to have kids when you're ready, right?" the Stork asked as Sally and Jack nodded towards him. "I figure some time as a couple, and only a couple, will do you some good. Venus, you can go over anything they want to do to ensure that situation."
"I will, Mr. Stork. When the time comes," the goddess said.
"Jack, I'll give you a follow-up on that list of souls I gave you in a while. For the record, you two will make fine parents when you're ready. Believe me, I know," the Stork said. "If you all may excuse me, I'm running a little late on soul deliveries."
Cupid took this as a hint to tie up the bundle of souls and let the Stork take it in his beak. With a wink to the group, the Stork took flight and soon disappeared into the clouds. Psyche sighed, still amazed that she witnessed who was in charge of her baby's soul while Saint Valentine seemed to be in a foul mood. Venus quickly escorted Jack and Sally back into the temple before they got a chance to ask him what was the matter.
"Pay no mind to Valentine. He is against innovative planning," Venus said.
"Why would he be against that?" Jack asked Venus.
"I am not sure, to be honest. Something to do with interfering with Nature. If you ask me, we are simply postponing it for the shortest of time."
"How will we do that?" Sally asked the goddess as the three stepped in front of golden doors in the shape of a heart.
"You shall soon see, dearies. Now is the time for me to work my magic," Venus said as she knocked on the doors three times and watched them open to the mystery that lay within.
What is Venus planning? What kind of magic will she use on Jack and Sally? Will Saint Valentine try to put a stop to any of this? That's all for another chapter to tell. ( Re-edit Comment: I can't wait to bring the Stork back.)
