Cobwebs Tend to Grow on Halloween

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

Chapter 15

Jack woke up, his sight blurry. He'd dozed off, woke up to watch over Cobweb a bit more then fallen asleep again. He didn't even remember what he had gone to sleep at.

He looked over at the clock. 8:43am. Jack sighed.

The rain was still pouring outside, hitting the window with such force that it looked like it was about break it.

Jack looked at Cobweb, still in a deep slumber. He sighed again and descended the stairs.

Shadow was sitting on the sofa in her shop, drinking a coffee. "Morning, Jack."

"Good morning, Shadow." Jack nodded in greeting.

"There's more coffee in the kitchen if you'd like some."

"Thank you."

Jack entered Shadow's small kitchen, making himself some coffee and joining Shadow on the sofa, sipping his mug of coffee.

"How're they?" Shadow asked.

"Still asleep." Jack replied simply.

Shadow took hold of Jack's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Don't worry, Jack, they'll be fine."

"I hope you're right, Shadow." Jack sighed.

They heard something from upstairs and looked at each other.

Alistair Skelton descended the stairs, rubbing his eye socket.

Jack jumped up. "Al!" He exclaimed. "You're alright!"

Alistair gave a slight nod. "I saw Cob…when I got up." He walked down to Jack, limping slightly. He collapsed onto the couch next to Shadow. "My throat hurts."

"Try not to talk then," Shadow advised. "I'll get you some medicine, Al."

Alistair nodded, taking Shadow's advice.

Jack looked over at the stairs.

"Go and see him, Jack." Shadow said.

Jack looked at her then Alistair, who nodded in agreement.

The Pumpkin King nodded. "Yes, you're right. I should, shouldn't I?"

Jack placed his coffee on the table and got up, climbing the stairs; praying that Cobweb was awake.

…

Jack entered the guest room. He hoped that he would see Cobweb sitting up in bed, greeting him and smiling that smile that was identical to Jack's. But no. All he saw was Lock, Shock and Barrel, still fast asleep.

Jack let out a huge sigh. He'd been sighing a lot lately, he'd noticed and he was sure everyone else had noticed too.

Then he noticed something else.

Cobweb wasn't in bed. And the window was open.

Jack let out a gasp and ran downstairs.

He ignored Alistair and Shadow's questions and threw open the door.

Cobweb was standing in the rain, getting soaked.

Jack was about to speak, when he heard Cobweb mumble a question. He was talking to someone.

He was talking to Maverick.

…

Cobweb allowed the rain to soak his clothes and hair, the rain drops hitting his frayed bat wings. He'd never felt this before. Water was falling from the sky, coming from the collection of puffy clouds floating above him.

Maverick stood beside him, hands in his pockets. He'd watched the boy, even when Jack had fallen asleep.

"What is this, Maverick?" Cobweb asked out loud. "Water is falling from the sky. It's cold and wet."

"It's rain, Cobweb." Maverick answered, his voice only audible to Cobweb.

"Rain?"

"Yes, rain."

"Is it bad?"

"Not entirely. To some it is. My mother used to tell me that it was God's way of washing out the demons and bad things in the world."

"Is that true?"

"Some believe it is."

"Do you?"

Maverick nodded. "You and I are quite gullible, aren't we?"

"What does that mean?"

"It means we easily trust people, we can be tricked easily."

Cobweb nodded. "That's true." Cobweb stayed silent, only looking up at Maverick, well aware that he was the only one who could see him.

Maverick was his other guardian, he had come to learn that. He had saved him from the fire.

Maverick hadn't told Cobweb his name. He had asked the boy, and Cobweb had immediately told him that his name was Maverick. The sorcerer was surprised and had asked how he knew such a thing. Cobweb had replied with a shrug and a: "I just had a feeling your name was Maverick."

"Maverick, where are you from?" Cobweb questioned.

"Here." Maverick replied.

"But your clothes are different."

"I was born, and undead, years and years before even Jack."

"Wow, so…you're really old!" Cobweb exclaimed happily.

Maverick's glowing eyes narrowed. He didn't seem too angry.

"I'm sorry, Maverick, did I offend you?" Cobweb asked worriedly.

"No. You've just reminded me that I'm dead. I have been around for a while, haven't I?" Maverick said. "You know, I used to be quite the charmer back in my day. Well, I was to the people who didn't hate me. I wasn't always a skeleton, you know. I actually had real eyes once. Brown hair too. Skin, blood, all that jazz." He looked at Cobweb. "Perhaps you'll be like that too."

"Maybe." Cobweb nodded. "What about your parents?"

"They're dead. My mother was human. My father was a Halloween citizen. He died soon after I was born. I didn't know him."

"Sorry…"

"It's alright. It's not like it's your fault my parents are dead."

"What was your mother like?"

"…She was the nicest mother you could imagine, Cobweb."

"I don't have a mother. I never did." Cobweb looked at his feet. "Shock's not really my mother, nor is she my sister."

"She's one of your creator's. It's a creator/creation sort of thing, Cobweb."

"Oh."

"Cobweb!"

Cobweb and Maverick turned.

Jack stood in the doorway, still clad in his suit.

Cobweb smiled. "Jack!"

He ran towards Jack, just as the skeleton ran towards him.

Jack picked Cobweb up and hugged him, Cobweb returning the embrace.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again, Cobweb, unless called for." Jack warned, but he didn't sound angry. He sounded relieved.

"I'm sorry." Cobweb murmured. Cobweb looked over at where Maverick was standing. "Maverick! C'mon!"

Jack looked in the same direction. "He's here? Right now?"

Cobweb nodded.

Maverick walked over. "I never got to do this with my father." He said.

"C'mon, let's got inside." Jack said, already beginning to walk back. "You too, Maverick."

Maverick looked up. "Hm."

…

Everyone sat on the couch, Alistair on Shadow's lap and Cobweb on Jack's.

Shadow smiled at Cobweb. "Cobweb, you must tell me what Maverick is like."

Cobweb paused in thought. "He's nice to me. He tells me lots of things. Maverick! Why don't you show yourself?"

"I only show myself when your in danger or if I need to." Maverick answered.

"Can't you? Please?"

Maverick sighed. Suddenly, Shadow jumped as Maverick appeared beside her, legs crossed. "There, happy?"

Cobweb nodded.

Shadow let out a gasp. "You're Maverick…"

"Yes, I am." Maverick replied.

Shadow held out a shaky hand. "I-It's an honour to meet you, Maverick. We sorcerers have a lot to owe you for."

Maverick glanced at her hand before taking it in his and shaking it. Considering Maverick was a ghost, his hand actually went through Shadow's. "Nice to meet you." Sensing Shadow was about to faint from meeting him and holding his hand, he released her hand.

"Why're you dressed like a pirate?" Alistair asked in a raspy voice, due to his sore throat.

"It's what we used to wear back in my day." Maverick replied. "And it's sorcerer clothing, not pirate."

"How come you don't show yourself, Maverick?" Cobweb asked.

"We ghosts decide whether we wish to be seen or not. Like Zero, Jack."

Jack nodded. "I wondered where he disappeared to…"

"Exactly."

…

The day had been long yet quick, and soon Cobweb and Alistair were being tucked into bed.

Maverick sat, once again, on the edge of Cobweb's bed. He had made himself invisible again, to everyone but Cobweb. The boy had his limbs. Whether he liked it or not, the boy could see him.

Jack sat on the stool beside Cobweb's bed. "Cobweb,"

"Yes, Jack?"

"You're not allowed to call me Jack anymore."

Cobweb sat up and everyone's attention was set towards the two skeletons. Even Maverick showed some interest.

"Why not?" Cobweb asked.

"You have to call me…Dad."

"Dad?"

"Or Father if you prefer."

"What do you mean."

Jack smiled softly. "I'm adopting you, Cobweb."

"Adopting? What does that mean?"

"It means you're going to be my son and I'll be your father."

"…Really?"

"Only if you want. I can't make you."

Cobweb flung his arms around his new father's neck.

Jack laughed and hugged his new son back.

"Congratulations," Maverick said.

"Maverick, show yourself." Jack said.

Maverick appeared before Jack's eyes. "Hello,"

"Maverick, I wanted to thank-"

"Oh, for God's sake!" Maverick exclaimed, cutting Jack off. "Do you know how many times you've thanked me? Ten. And I have been counting."

"If it weren't for you, Cobweb would be dead. I wouldn't know what to do with myself."

"Mourn for a few weeks until you get over it." Maverick answered, though he did not need to. "It's what I did when my mother died."

Jack smiled as Maverick disappeared again. He turned to Cobweb. "Go to sleep, son."

Cobweb nodded and rested down in the bed. "Good night…Dad."

Jack suddenly felt happy. Cobweb was his son, and Jack was his father.

…

Author's note:

Aw! Jack adopted Cobweb! Well, this chapter was fun to write! I now love Maverick. Not sure why, probably the pirate clothing. Don't ask why he's wearing that, it just looked good. If anyone's confused about Maverick's speech, italics are used when only Cobweb can hear him and normal is used when everyone can hear him. I loved writing the bit where Maverick and Cobweb are talking. Only a few chapters left, guys!