6th Chapter. Hope you like it!

As the two walked towards the cemetery, Chris was becoming more and more nervous.

Come on Chris say something. Anything! I have to say something. But something smart, not something dumb. Say something smart!

"You um, you look pretty tonight." Chris said. Maria looked up at him at the sudden commit he made and smiled.

Doh that was stupid Chris! That was really stupid! Not smart, stupid.

"Thank you Chris." Maria said. Chris looked at her and had a surprised look on his face. He was surprised that she hadn't started laughing. So he smiled one of his father's famous smiles at her. Maria slightly blushed.

Oh no Maria! Don't even fall for that smile. Remember you came hear to do a job, not to flirt with the Pumpkin Prince!

But she couldn't help it. That smile and those eye sockets were just too much. She kept trying to deny it but she couldn't. She was in love with Chris.

"Okay." Chris said. "Were here." Maria starred at the hill with wide eyes. Then she began to climb it. Chris followed right behind her.

"It's…it's…it's beautiful." Maria said sitting down. Chris sat down right next to her. It was the perfect night, because there was a full moon.

"Chris, isn't beautiful?" Maria asked.

"Yah, it sure is." He said, but he wasn't looking at the moon. He was looking at the beautiful rag doll that basked in its light. He just sat there and starred at her. But he must have starred for too long, because she noticed him starring and turned to look at him. He tried to turn away so that she wouldn't notice, but she saw him. She smiled and blushed. They had been quiet for a while, but Chris wanted to break the ice.

Okay Chris, this time say something smart!

"So um, where are you from?" Chris asked. The smile on Maria's face suddenly turned into a frown.

Oh, great job Chris, now you've offended her!

"Sorry Maria. If you don't want to……"

"No, it's okay Chris, its just hard that's all. I'm from…from the hu-human world." She replied sadly. Chris starred in disbelief.

"Some scientists wanted to create a living breathing person, but they created me instead. They locked me in a cage and put me under study. They used me for different tests and studies like I was a lab rat or something. Finally I couldn't take it anymore, so I escaped. But when people saw me out on the streets they began to panic. They would say things like "Freak on the Street" when they saw me. So I ran deep into the woods where they couldn't find me. I was really weak. I thought I was going to die, until I came upon some trees with doors on them. I noticed the Pumpkin door, so I went into it. That's when I found Oog…. I mean Halloween Town."

Chris just that there completely dumbfounded. That was the worst thing he had ever heard. "Maria I'm so…how could they…I mean why would they…" He couldn't even finish his sentence. Finally when he had collected himself he asked her the question.

"Why did they do that to you?"

"I don't know. I guess all people like to hurt things." She said sadly.

Chris looked at her compassionately as he moved closer towards her. "I would never hurt you Maria." Chris said

Maria tried to smile but it was difficult. "I know you wouldn't Chris, but some people are afraid of ugly things."

Chris couldn't believe what she just said. Ugly? She was many things but ugly was not one of them. Then he noticed a few tears roll down her cheek. He took one of his bony fingers, and tilted her chin towards him. Then he wiped away the tears on her cheek.

"You are not ugly." He said.

Maria smiled. "Do you really mean that Chris?" Maria asked

"From the bottom of my heart." With that he rapped his long arms around her and pulled her o close to him that there face were just a few inches apart.

"I, I don't know what to say Chris." Maria said

They pulled there faces closer together. They were now only an inch apart. "Just say…..you love me." And with that they went into a deep sensual kiss. It seemed to last for eternity. They became totally oblivious to all of there surroundings, and Maria's thoughts of Oogie Boogie, her job, everything seemed to disappear. All she saw was Chris. When there lips pulled apart Chris noticed that Maria was crying.

"Maria? What's wrong?" Chris asked.

"Nothing Chris it's just I've never felt so safe, so warm, so…so…"

"loved." Chris finished

"Yes."

"Don't worry as long as you are with me you will always be safe, warm, and loved." And with that the two fell asleep together. Little did the two lovers know that a certain Oogie Boogie was watching them through a crystal ball.

"My, my, my, don't those two look cozy?" Oogie said while smiling a terrible smile. "Very cozy."