Cobweb Tend to Grow on Halloween.

I don't own anything but my OC's.

Chapter 3

Jack was awoken by a loud thump. Quickly jolting up in bed, Jack turned the lever to turn on the fire. It lit up the room, the darkness shifting to the deepest, dampest corners. The Pumpkin King glanced around the room. No, nothing had fallen off the shelves. Zero was sleeping soundly in his bed.

In one clever thought, Jack threw the covers off of himself, speed-walking towards the stairs and descending them as quickly as he could.

He switched the light on in the living room, only to find Cobweb on the floor, his head missing.

"Cobweb!" Jack exclaimed. "Where's your head?"

Cobweb's body sat up and shrugged its shoulders.

"Over here." A voice said. Jack turned his head and the body turned its neck, as if looking at the source of the voice.

Cobweb's head sat over by the wall.

"What happened?" Jack asked, looking back and forth, from Cobweb's body to his head; as if the two parts of the child's body were two people.

"I fell off the couch and hit my head on the coffee table, it came off." Cobweb explained.

"How did your head get over there?"

"Hm…I found out my head is quite bouncy…"

Jack sighed. He walked over to Cobweb's skull and lifted it. "Are you alright?"

"I think so. Though my head hurts." Cobweb said.

Jack hummed thoughtfully and walked over to Cobweb's body, placing the boy's head on its neck; connecting the two parts together.

"Ow." Cobweb said, placing a hand on the back of his neck.

Jack knelt down in front of him. "Don't worry, you'll get used to that."

Jack stretched and looked at the clock. "Hmm. Looks like it's breakfast time." He said then entered the kitchen, Cobweb following.

"Cereal again?" Jack asked, already taking out the box of Cobweb's new favourite cereal.

"Yes, please." Cobweb nodded.

Jack smiled. At least Cobweb had manners.

Cobweb sat at the table and waited for Jack to bring his breakfast, which he did after a few moments. The boy immediately dug the spoon into his breakfast, quickly eating it.

Jack chuckled. That reminded him of when he himself were a child.

The Pumpkin King turned back to the counter and poured himself some coffee. Sitting opposite Cobweb, Jack sipped the drink.

Cobweb looked up from his cereal. "What's that?"

Jack glanced at him. "Coffee."

"Oh."

Jack stared at him for a few moments before speaking up. "Cobweb,"

"Yes, Jack?"

"Have you remembered anything since you came here?"

Cobweb paused. "No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing."

Jack sighed. He continuously sipped at his black coffee while watching Cobweb eat his cereal. "I've got to go to a meeting this morning," He informed the boy, talking as if it wasn't breaking news. Well, it wasn't, but Cobweb had never heard of these meetings before. "So, you'll have to stay here."

Cobweb paused his eating, holding his spoon in mid-air. "On my own?"

"Well, you'll have Zero here with you."

"Could I not come with you, Jack?"

Jack stayed silent for a moment or so before speaking again. "Maybe. Though I don't think the Mayor would be entirely happy about me bringing you along. But…" He sighed, seeing Cobweb's pouting face. "Alright, you can come."

Cobweb smiled a happy and relieved smile. Being in this big house, all alone, with no one to talk to but a ghost dog didn't exactly appeal to Cobweb; despite his liking of Zero.

Jack left the kitchen several minutes later, heading up to his bedroom to get changed.

Cobweb also left the kitchen, going into the living room to change into his suit. After putting on his nice, new suit, Cobweb glanced at the bookcase. He walked over to it carefully, as if he thought something was about to jump out and attack him. As he searched through the books, he stepped on something and looked down. The book from the night before was under his foot. He stepped off of it and picked it up. Christmas. What in the world is that? Cobweb thought to himself.

He suddenly heard the sound of footsteps and turned. Jack was walking in, dressed in his usual pinstriped suit and bat bow tie.

"Jack," Cobweb began, catching the skeleton's attention like a net would catch a butterfly. "What's…Ch-ristmass?"

Jack tilted his head in confusion and walked over to the boy, then saw the book he was holding. "Oh, that. It's pronounced Christmas and it's a holiday."

"Holiday?"

"Like Halloween. There are more holidays then just ours. In fact, there's quite a lot."

"Oh, I see."

"Christmas is a holiday of joy and hope. A time when people spend time with their families, and give each other presents and then they-" He stopped when he glanced at the clock. "Oh, no! We best be going!"

Quickly, he took Cobweb by the hand and began leading him to the front door. Cobweb had a tight grip on the Christmas book; deciding that this was his new treasure. It seemed important to Jack, so he supposed it must be valuable.

…

Jack and Cobweb ventured out into town, getting greetings from the citizens of Halloween Town on the way. Even the Witches had said their hellos. Cobweb remembered meeting the two sisters. They had tried to pinch his cheeks. Before they could, he had swiftly run behind Jack's legs and was too terrified to come out from hiding.

Cobweb walked a few more steps before realizing Jack had stopped. He looked back, only to see the skeleton looking in a different direction. Cobweb looked in the same direction and saw what Jack was staring at. Or, more accurately, who.

Shadow sat outside her shop, doing some work on- what looked like- a jacket with her sewing machine. She looked so peaceful while working and Cobweb had found out that making clothes was her passion. She suddenly looked up, as if she knew she was being watched. A smile was born on her face when she saw the two skeletons.

Jack waved shyly with his free hand.

Shadow suddenly frowned and turned off the sewing machine, getting up from her stool and walking over to the them.

Jack quickly let go of Cobweb and straightened his tie before smiling, a smile that a child would use to act innocent. "Good morning, Shadow." He greeted as she approached.

"Good morning, Jack, Cobweb." She said absentmindedly, hand to her chin and still frowning, narrowing her eyes.

The thing Jack didn't like was that fact that she was frowning up at him. He suddenly began mentally panicking, praying to God that he hadn't upset her. The first reason was: Shadow was his friend and he didn't enjoy seeing her upset. The second reason being: Shadow was the type of girl who loved to sing and dance and was genuinely happy, but would bite your head off if she was upset with you.

"W-What's the matter?" Jack asked, mentally slapping himself for stuttering.

"Just…Imagining you in a different suit."

"Different suit?"

"Hmm. I know I made this one, Jack," She put a hand on his arm, gently stroking the material used for his suit. This action made an imaginary pink blush splash across Jack's cheeks. "But don't you ever get tired of it? Like you want something different?"

"Yes!" He answered, thinking that that was the answer she wanted to hear. A sudden thought occurred to him. What if she was upset that he didn't want that suit anymore? "I-I mean, no, Shadow. It's fine. I know I have been wearing this suit for a while now, but I-" He was interrupted when Shadow reached up and took hold of both ends of his tie, moving it slightly. Jack hadn't even noticed it had gone wonky when he had tried to straighten it.

"Sorry, Jack. It was distracting me." Shadow said after seeing the confusion on his face.

Before Jack could respond, Cobweb tugged on his sleeve. When Jack looked at him, Cobweb pointed at the town hall's open doors, gesturing to the Mayor.

Jack sighed. "I'm sorry, Shadow, I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut this meeting-" He paused and glanced over at the Mayor, who was waving; his happy face being displayed. "-short."

Shadow blinked. "Oh, of course, Jack…I understand that you're busy…"

Jack smiled. "Oh, but I was wondering if you knew any spells to…expand my house."

"Expand?"

"Yes. If Cobweb is to stay in my house, he needs a bedroom of his own."

"Oh, of course! I'll get to work on it. But if you do want a new suit, you know where to find me."

Jack nodded in understanding. "Thank you, Shadow."

Shadow gave him a smile before turning around and walking back to her sewing machine.

Jack stared for a few more seconds before the Mayor called his name. He sighed again and took Cobweb's hand, leading him to the town hall.

Meetings. They were too boring for Jack. Just sitting around, talking about something that happened every year. And he was about to put poor Cobweb through such torture.

"Morning, Jack!" The Mayor exclaimed, waving and grinning.

Cobweb stepped back a bit, still slightly afraid of the man.

"Good morning, Mayor." Jack replied tiredly. "Cobweb, you go inside."

Cobweb did as he was told, releasing Jack's hand and hugging his treasured Christmas book to his chest.

The Mayor's head spun around, displaying his worried face. "Jack, what is Cobweb doing here?"

"I couldn't leave him on his own, Mayor." Jack answered.

"He would have Zero!"

"Despite the fact that I trust Zero, he is a dog. Cobweb needs a person to take care of him. Besides, he's only a child. I don't think leaving him with only my dog would be a wise thing to do."

The Mayor's head spun back around. "Of course, Jack, I understand." The man turned and walked into the town hall.

Jack sighed before following.

…

"Ok, so, which colour?" The Mayor asked, holding up one of the jack-o-lanterns.

"Hm?" Jack looked up.

They both sat on nice, comfy chairs up on the stage while Cobweb sat on a wooden chair near the podium, reading through his Christmas book and occasionally swinging his legs.

Jack took another look at the jack-o-lanterns on the table between them. They all looked the same bloody colour to him- not that he could tell the Mayor that. "Hmm…I don't think it matters, Mayor. They'll all look horrible next Halloween." He said.

"If I were you, Jack," A voice said and they turned to the skeleton who had spoken. "I'd go with Halloween Orange. It just seems…what's the word?"

"Horrible?" the Mayor suggested.

"No," Cobweb clicked his fingers in thought. "Na…too-al?"

"Natoo-al?" Jack asked. "Oh! You mean natural!"

"Is that how it is pronounced?"

"Yes."

"Oh. Well, then, yes, I meant…that."

Jack smiled. "Excellent idea!" He turned his attention back to the Mayor. "Halloween Orange it is!"

The Mayor had a somewhat shocked look on his face. Jack, Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, was taking the advice of a child? What was running through the skeleton's skull? Nevertheless, he nodded and began putting the unwanted jack-o-lanterns into a wheelbarrow, leaving the Halloween Orange jack-o-lantern on the table.

Meanwhile, Jack had gotten up. He walked over to Cobweb and ruffled the boy's hair. "Good job, Cobweb." He praised. That's when he finally noticed Cobweb's book. "Cobweb, why do you still have that?"

"It's my new treasure." The boy said simply.

Jack raised an imaginary eyebrow. Cobweb knew what treasure and natural meant, yet he didn't know about milk and cereal? Whoever educated this boy didn't do a very good job.

…

After a few more hours of torture, the meeting was over; another one being scheduled two days away.

Jack and Cobweb walked home, not even interrupted by a visit to Shadow for a new suit. Jack had explained to the boy that he would get the suit later. Cobweb didn't understand. Earlier, Jack had stopped just to stare at her, now he acted as if he had a secret. Cobweb just found it odd.

After reaching Skellington Manor, Jack allowed Cobweb and himself to enter. Cobweb immediately ran into the living room, where Zero came over and nuzzled against him in greeting.

Jack smiled. "I'd stay here, but unfortunately," He gestured to the wad of paper under his arm. "I've got to fill these out."

Cobweb nodded.

The Mayor had given Jack some documents that needed his approval. "I'll just be upstairs. You can sit here and read if you want." With that, Jack made his way upstairs.

Cobweb sat on the couch, Christmas book open on his lap.

…

Two hours later, Cobweb was preparing for bed after another tasty helping of dinner.

Jack entered the room just as Cobweb was putting on his shirt. "I best get to bed."

Cobweb looked up and nodded. "Yes."

"Goodnight, Cobweb." Jack ruffled Cobweb's hair before going back up the stairs to his bedroom.

Cobweb watched him as he disappeared, then watched Zero follow his master. The boy found himself staring at the stairs.

Shaking his head, he got under the blanket and laid his head down on the pillow.

…

Jack laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling. Cobweb still wasn't remembering anything. Needless to say, it was only a couple of days since he had found the boy. Jack sighed and turned off the fire.

…

Cobweb stirred in his sleep. The laughing wouldn't stop. The shrill laughing wouldn't stop. It carried on repeating itself in his head. He clutched his head, pulling at his hair.

"Make it stop…" He pleaded, whispering. "Please!"

Cobweb's eye sockets popped open. The bright orange colour of the eyes and mouth of his jack-o-lantern mask dimmed, becoming a very dull black. And his eye sockets stayed open.

Cobweb was not in Halloween Town anymore.

…

Author's note:

Shock! Horror! I have updated. This chapter was…productive.

So, what has happened to poor little Cobweb?