I went home that morning before everyone even paid attention to my whereabouts. Mum and Dad never questioned me. She was too kind to me and she gave me a kiss and ruffled my hair. "Morning mum."

"Morning my darling. Did you sleep?"

"I attempted it."

"I take it that attempt didn't go well?"

"Not as well as I would have liked."

She nodded. "I can understand that. If I were you I couldn't sleep like the dead either." She chuckled at her own joke "My goodness that is awful!"

I laughed "Just a bit mum.. But it was used in a good way."

"Ah the kingdom is alive and thriving with laughter today! Wonderful. Harry I need your help in the lab after school."

"Yes sir."

"I'll have chocolate chip cookies waiting."

"See my boy she spoils us." He clasped a hand on my shoulder. "Son. I would like to walk you to school today.. Do you mind?"

I shook my head. "I'd like that a lot actually."

"Well here is your lunch. Would you like breakfast?"

"No ma'am I'm not so much hungry as thirsty."

She smiled and handed me a thermos of her famous hot cocoa. "of course."

"Thanks. I love you." I kissed her stitched cheek.

"You're welcome." She kissed my regular one.

I liked to look at Sally. (I call her Sally in this inner monologue because I think it makes sense.) I thought she was the most beautiful woman with sparkling red hair and beautiful red lips. She had always seemed so flawless. Even with all the flaws of being sewn together and broken apart she is was still flawless to me. She was everything I'd ever wanted in my dreams of a family. I couldn't have been luckier if I died and went to heaven.

I took the steps with my dad to school, only we went left. It was odd., but i didn't mind. I didn't mind at all. It was just another day with my dad. A solid day for us, and I would be missing school today. I wondered why. Why he would keep me out of school when he knew I was in dire need to learn everything I could just in case something happened and I was alone I could stop it. I wasn't going to ask. I had no real reason to. Jack knew best. He would always know best. Even when I didn't.

"Son it's about time that you meet someone who will help you in the science department."

"Why would I need help in the science department?"

"Because with all magic comes a little science. Just ask your mother... We are going to meet her father after all."

"Grandfather?"

"Yes and your grammy Jewel."

I looked up at him. Who were these people? I don't remember Sally mentioning them in the slightest. "Sally doesn't mention them."

"Your mother doesn't mention a lot of people."

I looked down. I could understand that. Why would she? I wouldn't mention very many of the people in my life if I didn't have to. I shuddered and was joyful for a moment. Something so pure and real ran through me. They knew me and I knew them. Even if it was at all it was something.

We walked into a darker spot of town and I seen a house with a tower built onto it. I was more afraid that electricity was popping and crackling through the tower. "Is this it?" I asked with soft gulp.

"That would be the place son." Dad said and bent down. "He's a sour old man.. Who doesn't much love your mother the way we do.. So be nice.. No matter what he says."

I looked at my father confused. Who wouldn't like the Queen of Halloween town? I didn't ask him I just looked at the tall home that was grey and more and more creepy. When we finally arrived the woman who opened the door had a beak lip, grey skin, and black glasses. I stared at her. Was this where Sally came from? I asked myself and eventually I would ask Sally. But for now I'd like to only see what it is about.

"Jewel how are you?"

"Fine.. He's up stairs he needs dinner and bed so you should hurry." She said. Her shrill music was like ones ears but like fingernails on a chalk board to me.

"I.. I won't be long."

"Of course Sally wouldn't come and see her ailing father!"

"Sally's rather busy."

"She can make time for that boy.. But never for her father!"

"This boy is your nephew! You would be better to show him more respect."

Jewel turned her nose up at us and we commenced to walking up the stairs. Once we reached the top there was a room that was empty and covered in dust. I looked at the dust pouring dancing inside the room and I started to travel toward it, like it was calling, I walked toward the room and Jewel stood in front of me. "No room for children."

"Come Harry." Dad said and pulled me in to see my grandfather. A man who looked like Jewel. His faces was duck face was turned up into a somewhat wicked smile when he seen my father. "Hello Frank."

"Ah Jack hello." He looked at me through thick glasses "Who is this?"

"I-I'm Harry." I stammered. Why was I scared of this weird looking man with a stitches that kept his head together, but I was petrified of him.

"He's your grandson."

"She's had no children!"

"She has Harry."

"He's not her real son!"

"He is."

"He really isn't.. Doesn't look like you or her so he's not the prince of anything."

I looked at Jack and then I looked at them. Maybe I didn't look like them, maybe I wasn't theirs by blood but they were the best thing I had and I was their best. Or so they told me. So why didn't I feel it here. It felt like the days of which I was alive and wanted to live wthout that. I traveled out of the room and made my way to the room of which I was banned. Something told me that this was the time I needed to look and I seen it. I seen what confused me.

A room covered in dust. Fossilized by it's very memories. Why? Why was this here, and why was the doll here? On the bed there was a doll with red hair and a glass face. Blue skin just like Mums. It was pulling me to it but like a hidden snake in the ground Jewel grabbed my arm. "Not a room for children. Not even a prince!" She looked down at me with her beaked face. "If I can call you that."

"Harry!" Dad called for me. "Harry come here."

I looked at her. "I am a Skellington. And if you don't like it I suppose you don't have to.. But you will bow to me and my mother just the same." I turned and walked away. Feeling like deep inside I'd just won a battle for the woman who actually took the time to fight for me. I walked into the laboratory where the men sat and my grandfather, if you can call him that, flipped his lid and scratched his brain.

"So you're my grand son.. Are you?"

"I am."

"Do you like potions?"

"I.. I am not very good at them."

"So funny you're not." His voice was curd and soft at the same time. It was almost too confusing for comfort. "Your mother was excellent and I'm sure your real father was to."

"I'd appreciate if you not speak of them."

"Well Jack of course is a pillar of this realm.. I hope you can fill his suit... I don't want to depend on this boy forever." He looked at Jack. "You know Jack.. I could have made you a son.. He would've looked like sally and not been so piss pot afraid when I speak." He chuckled. Then looked back at me. "They'd forget about you.. Not even remember you existed."

"Oh I find that hard to believe." I answered his accusation quite simply. "I think You're afraid."

"Me? Afraid? Afraid of what?"

"Me." I said "You're afraid they'll forget about you."

Dr. Finkelstein laughed at me so harshly it was almost a cough. "I.. I like you."

I stared at Jack who shrugged.

"I like the way you are.. I love Jack.. And she would have been better had I had trained'er more, but you boy.. You are the perfect combination of the two.. You would poison my soup wouldn't you?'

I cocked an eyebrow. "Why would I poison you?"

"Because she did.. Must rub off."

I looked at my dad again for answers and he shook his head no as if to tell me don't go into it. So I decided against my follow ups. "I won't." I said simply hoping he understood simple.

"I am glad to hear it." He turned to Jack. "Bring'em here in Saturdays and Wednesdays I'll sharpen him up."

Jack stood. "Thank you.. I suppose."

"You're welcome. No supposing to it." He looked over at me with fogged glasses and leathery grey skin. "You're not going to be scared for long my boy.. I'm going to show you things."

"Things?"

"Quite scary things.. But you're going to use them where you're going."

"Where am I going?" I asked my dad more than him.

"Perhaps this is enough for now.. Til Saturday doctor."

"Until then."

Jack hurried me out of the door and then into the crisp air of a constant fall. "What's going on?" I asked

"I shouldn't have brought you here."

"No.. You shouldn't have." I smiled. "I don't like him very much."

"Trust me neither do we... But he's going to show you things I can't Harry. And that's what's best."

"What's going on dad?"

"Not now Harry." He looked over and seen Blythe and the other children playing. "Why don't you join your friends; I'll see you for dinner."

I nodded and ran toward them. Waving at them I looked at my father. Something was being hid from me and I couldn't seem to find out what, But I would and I trusted them to be honest with me even if I didn't want them to be.