Ack! I'm so sorry these chapters have been so short! They get longer, I promise... and if they don't, I give you permission to throw sticky candy at me. And thanks again for your awesome reviews!

Usual disclaimers... I wish they were mine, but unfortunately, they're not.

She felt her heart sink. The Mayor's face grew even more distressed. "Ohhh, Jack, this isn't good…" Jack's face looked like his patience was about to snap. "Yes, Mayor, I know," he said, in a tightly controlled voice. Sally put a gentle hand on his arm. He took a deep breath.

"Alright," Jack said. "Mayor, you will not breathe a word of this to anyone, understand?"

The Mayor nodded. "Right, Jack. You'll make everything good?"

"Yes, Mayor," Jack said. The Mayor's head swiveled to smile at all three of them. "Good. Remember, Jack, if you need anything, you can find me at City Hall!"

Jack nodded, and the Mayor turned and left. As soon as the door shut Tera said, "I know it's Oogie Boogie that's got those little bastards employed."

It was either her language or her confession that made them both stare, and for some reason she had a feeling it was the latter. She cringed slightly. "I should have told you earlier, I know that it was Lock, Shock, and Barrel, and it's Oogie Boogie, and I knew who you are, I knew the Mayor…"

"What? How?" Sally whispered. Tera bit her bottom lip. "I just -- you -- you wouldn't understand!"

"We'll try," Jack said. Tera shook her head, placing her palms against her temples. "No, no, it just won't work…you'll…I'll…"

"Tera, calm down," he said gently. Tera let out a huff of breath. They wouldn't even understand what a movie was.

"Really," she said, "I just…you wouldn't understand any of it!"

"Give us an idea."

She shook her head. She felt herself falling to pieces. She didn't want to ruin their fantasy that they were real. She couldn't destroy their wonderful masquerade just in a few words!

"No," she said. "I'm sorry, I just can't…" She let out an exasperated groan and cradled her head in her hands.

"If you're having that much of a trouble, then don't worry about it," Sally said.

Tera sighed. "Alright. Thanks." She rubbed a hand across her face. "I would tell you, if I could. You're the only ones here for me right now."

She felt Jack place his bone hand comfortingly against her back. "We understand," he said. "Don't worry."

There was a sudden noise from the square outside the door, and Sally peered out the window. She gasped. "Jack, they're back!"

"What?" He pulled his arm back and strode over to where she stood. Tera hung back, not wanting to see the little terrors that had become real only an hour ago.

"I have to go speak to them," he said. Sally stepped back, obviously disapproving of his choice of action, and he disappeared out the narrow door.

Hesitantly Tera stepped forward to look out the window. What she saw made her back right up: Jack was leading the little things to his house.