Author's Note: Round after round the seven will play, is it likely the game will last until day? With a whole summer month of freedom at stake, it's enough to make even the Pumpkin King shake. And what of his need to cause a good fright, to tingle two spines on this topsy-turvy night? Well, all I know, and this is quite certain, is that this tale adds to a movie that came from Tim Burton. I am not he, so I have no real clearance to claim Jack as my own, though he makes an appearance. Now, enough of this disclaimer, besides, I think we all know that I'm just a rabid fangirl who wants you to enjoy the show. (Re-edit comment: Well, that was charming.)

"I can't believe you set his kitchen on fire," Tevel said to Jack as the third round continued.

"It was his dinner. He wasn't watching it and it overcooked," Jack said as he put two marbles in front of him.

"Was he busy doing something else?" Santa Claus asked as he bet a marble.

"Yes. Screaming like a maniac away from me. One of my better jobs if I do say so myself."

"Fascinating," Jacob said as he bet a marble.

"Indeed," Saint Patrick added, both to the conversation and to the marbles.

"I fold," Cupid said, placing his cards on the table. "How about you, Easter Bunny?" he asked, watching the bunny shake his head and place his cards face up. "Well, I am most certainly glad I folded."

"Why?" Jacob asked, watching Santa Claus peek over to the rabbit's cards.

"A straight flush of diamonds," Santa Claus said. "Only a royal flush can beat that."

"Lucky rabbit," Saint Patrick huffed once more as he put down his cards, along with the rest of the table.

"So much for having the most marbles," Jack sighed as the marbles were swept to the Easter Bunny.

"Come now, the night is still young. We have twenty-eight more rounds to go anyway," Cupid said as Santa Claus dealt out the cards.

"They sound like so many," Jacob said.

"Time goes fast," Tevel said. "Especially when the table banters and talks."

"Not too fast I hope. I'd like to win some of my marbles back," Jacob said.

"What happened to not being allowed to gamble, Lad?" Saint Patrick asked.

"This is strictly business."

"Sure 'tis,"

"Enough. If we're going to have conversation, it can at least be peaceful," Santa Claus said before looking over to Jack. "Jack, the game is here, not in the living room."

"I know, I know," Jack said, turning his head away from the kitchen door as soon as he heard his name.

"We are all off-duty tonight," Cupid said.

"But it's a scary movie. I can just feel the music tensing up for something big," Jack said.

"Easy there. You focus on keeping your marbles," Saint Patrick said.

"Not all of them, though. Having another holiday to spread love would be ideal," Cupid said as he grinned at his cards.

"Why would that be so?" Jacob asked the God of Love as he bet a marble.

"Summer love wraps up in August. It would be nice for it to go out with more happiness. What do any of you need August for?"

"I'd plan to hold a grand Celtic festival in honor of Ireland," Saint Patrick said. "People tend to forget the meaning of my day."

"Perhaps because they have been drinking themselves into stupors," Santa Claus said offhandedly.

"At least they don't get drunk on raw eggs, Nicholas."

"Excuse me, Patrick?"

"Well, I would hold a summer symposium," Tevel interrupted before the saints could argue any further. "Just knowledge, learning, education. No harm in that, right?"

"None," Jacob said. "I was just planning to hold a feast."

"That sounds good. Make sure to have a kosher menu too."

"No problem. Jack, what would you do with the extra month?" Jacob asked.

"Get people into the Halloween spirit earlier. It would carry over through September and last until October, Halloween day itself. Three months of absolute terror," Jack said with a wide grin.

"Scary," Santa Claus said, not in the nicest tone.

"Exactly!" Jack exclaimed.

"Easter Bunny, anything you can mime to the conversation?" Cupid asked the rabbit, who put a folded piece of paper on the table. "Looks like a picture," Cupid said as he unfolded it."

"Peace and Joy," Tevel read, the title of the drawing over a world full of stick figures holding hands and smiling. "Very noble of you."

"Very," Santa Claus agreed. "Puts my idea to shame."

"What was your idea?" Saint Patrick asked.

"Expanding our little organization," Santa Claus said as he put down his cards. "I want to go deeper in the forest and find out who else is out there. I've already contacted some interesting people."

"Who?" Jacob asked as he put down his cards as well.

"Revolutionaries. They're all behind the star-spangled door," Santa Claus replied. "Well, you beat my hand, Jacob. Four of a kind is a good play."

"Too good for me, alas," Cupid said as he put his cards down.

"Me too," Jack said as he folded his hand.

"Ach, the luck of the Irish isn't with me tonight," Saint Patrick said as both he and the Easter Bunny but down cards and watched Jacob collect the marble pile.

"So why is it ok for you to go to other holidays?" Jack asked Santa Claus as the fifth round of cards began.

"Because I don't try to steal them," Santa Claus replied.

"That was only twice, and the second time I was bewitched."

"Well, I wouldn't want to risk a third mishap."

"He's got a point there, Lad. I wouldn't argue it anymore," Saint Patrick said as he looked at his cards and scowled. "What is this? Nicholas, are you dealing me weak hands on purpose?"

"Just because you won the first round doesn't mean you'll win them all," Rabbi Tevel said wisely as he looked at his cards.

"Patience is a virtue. You should know that, Patrick," Santa Claus said.

"Well, I'm folding," Saint Patrick said with a slight scowl before a high-pitched scream came from the living room.

"What was that?" Cupid asked as the Easter Bunny dove under the table at the sound.

"Oh, they must have seen something really scary. Please, can I go in there for a second, Sandy Claws, please?" Jack begged.

"No, Jack."

"Fine," Jack said, his frown matching Saint Patrick's.

As to what had caused the scream, Vanessa was currently clinging on Billy. On the screen, the titular monster had just flashed right by its unsuspecting prey. The music, the atmosphere, the whole reaction of the hunted character had run a shiver down Vanessa's spine. Billy, however, saw it coming. Hey, after being stalked by a skeleton for twenty years, nothing much fazes you anymore.

"What happened, Miss I'm-Not-Scared?" Billy teased the jittery Vanessa.

"I always hated that part," she said before she got up.

"Where are you going?" Billy asked.

"I'm going to get a drink. Want anything?"

"No, you don't have to do that."

"It's ok, Billy. Just pause the movie."

"Wait, I'll go with you!" Billy exclaimed as he got to his feet.

"I'm not that scared," Vanessa said.

"Oh, I know, just that... um, roaches, roaches! I think I have roaches in the kitchen."

"No you don't," Vanessa said as she stopped by the kitchen door.

"Yes I do. Big ones. They'll bite your head off," Billy said as he grabbed her free hand.

"Maybe weird is too vague to describe you. Out-there and insane sound much better."

"Fine, you give yourself up to the mutant roaches. Go ahead, more popcorn for me."

"If you say so," Vanessa said as she opened the kitchen door, ignoring the look of intense fear on Billy's face.

Nice try, Billy. Will the poker players mind him and his girlfriend interrupting their little game? Does he have any use for a whole month to tell the group while he's in there? Can our guy from Kentucky manage to balance out his attention to Vanessa and his attention to the supernatural beings in his house without looking like a psychopath? Well, I can't exactly say, not yet.