Back at the Skellington residence May sat on the faded red sofa in front of the fireplace with Zero curled up next to her, dozing off as the corners of his ghostly sheet occasionally twitched as he dreamed about chasing bats.

She heard the front door open.

"May? Are you home?" Sally called out as she and Jack made their way up the spiral staircase.

"Yes! I'm home!" May responded.

"Oh, good! I was a little worried," Sally sighed with relief.

"You missed your award ceremony, May!" Jack proclaimed as he held up a silver medal. "'Most Elusive Specter'!" Jack beamed as he handed it to his daughter. "You should be proud!"

May looked at her reflection in the medal in a melancholy way. I should, shouldn't I…?

"Were you here this whole time?" Sally questioned.

"Yeah," May lied. "It's just… It's just been a very tiring night. I needed to rest a little."

"Okay, kiddo," Jack replied. "I understand."

May tilted her medal back and forth, her reflection warping against the stamped lettering.

She turned around to see her mother was getting started on dinner while her father was looking through his library, already collecting books to find ideas for next Halloween.

"Papa?" May questioned, her voice small as she was almost afraid to ask him this.

Jack paused from search, stepping down the ladder with three books in the crook of his arm. "What is it, May?"

"Do you—" Her voice briefly gave out, so she cleared her throat as if to physically work up the courage. "Do you ever… stay in touch with the other holidays?"

Jack raised one brow in unpleasant surprise, while Sally froze, accidentally pouring too much Worm's Wart to the pasta sauce.

"Why would you ask such a thing?" Jack questioned. "You know very well contact with other holidays is forbidden!"

"Why not?" May stood up as she suggested, "We could learn so much from them, and—"

"And put ourselves in mortal danger!" Jack reminded. He set his books on his desk and brought May over to the window, looking over the town with Spiral Hill in the distance. "We remain in Halloween Town because trying to mix with other holidays can only lead to disaster!"

"I didn't mean 'mixing', I meant just—"

"No, May! It's out of the question! End of story!" He gathered his books and angrily retreated to his study, slamming the door.

"… just a visit…" May turned to her mother, who had to add more Witch Hazel to balance out the flavor for the sauce. "Mama, you understand, right? I don't mean I…"

Sally rubbed at her eyes and looked up at her daughter, a look of undeniable terror on her face. "May, your father's right. You can't risk it." She resumed stirring the sauce. "First you develop an infatuation with another holiday, next you'll be wanting to do 'your own version' of the holiday. Then before you know it the people you care about are almost murdered by a burlap ghoul made of bugs!" Sally's stirring had gotten so violent it had splattered on both her and May's cheeks.

Sally calmed herself down as May wiped some of the sauce from her face, confused as to how those events go together. "What? What are you talking about, Mama?"

"Oh, it's nothing you need to worry about." Sally wiped May's cheeks with the corner of her apron. Still she doted on her daughter like she was a child. "My point is you don't need other holidays. You're fine here, and you do a wonderful job at Halloween every year."

May rolled her eyes, afraid that was the answer she'd get. "I know…"

"Oh, sweetie…" Sally had seen this kind of ennui before. "We know what you're going through. We really do. But these feelings won't last forever. Give it a few days, maybe weeks. You'll be back to your usual spooky self once again."

May gave her mother a half-smile. She appreciated her attempt to reassure her.

Sally chuckled at the mess she made. "Go wash up. Dinner will be ready in about an hour."

May retreated to her room, and sighed in frustration as she leaned against the door as she shut it. Of course, they wouldn't understand. She didn't know why she bothered asking them to begin with.

She glanced over at her balcony window. With her partially opened drapes she could still see Spiral Hill from where she stood.

She moved her curtains aside. I wonder if Snake will understand…