Cobwebs Tend to Grow on Halloween

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

Chapter 16

Cobweb awoke, only to find that Maverick had disappeared from the end of his bed. He'd woken up in the night and Maverick had been there. He was always there.

"Maverick?" Cobweb called out. "Where are you?"

Alistair sat up. "What's wrong, Cob?"

"Maverick's gone." Cobweb replied.

Alistair looked around the room, despite knowing he probably wouldn't see Maverick again any time soon. "He probably went back to his body."

"You mean he's not coming back?" Cobweb asked, sounding panicky.

"No, I mean-"

"Maverick!" Cobweb ran over to the door, opening it and running downstairs.

"Cobweb!" Alistair called, running after him.

…

"Dad!"

Jack turned. "Morning, Cobweb."

"Dad, Alu said that Maverick went back to his body! He's gone!"

Jack stared down at his son before looking at Alistair. "What?"

"He's panicking because he can't find Maverick." Alistair explained, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Cobweb, Maverick isn't going to be around 24/7." Jack said. "He needs a break sometimes."

"But he's supposed to be here." Cobweb whined.

"Cobweb," Shadow spoke up, setting up her sewing machine. "Maverick can't go back to his body. He doesn't know where it is. Besides, as long as you have his limbs, he can't go."

"How do you know that?"

"He and I were talking last night. He wanted to know what had happened to Halloween Town after he died. I told him that I couldn't tell, because I wasn't born yet."

Lock, Shock and Barrel entered the room, wringing their hands.

"Morning." Jack greeted, sounding agitated.

"Jack…we…ur…we want to read you something…" Lock said. "Barrel, get the paper!"

Barrel produced a folded sheet of paper from his pocket, handing it to his cohort. Lock snatched the paper from his hand. "So…here goes…" He cleared his throat and stared at the paper, reading it out loud: "We're really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really-" He paused to gasp for air. "really, really, really, really sorry."

Jack blinked. "That's it?"

Lock nodded.

"It's all we could come up with." Shock shrugged.

"What? Nothing else about nearly killing Cobweb and Al?" Jack asked, irritated. "About bringing Oogie back when I specifically told you not to?"

"About taking my limbs?"

The three of them jumped and turned.

Maverick stood behind them and, despite having his hands in his pockets, they knew his fists were clenched. He was angry. "You took my limbs, you little brats." He began mumbling curse words to himself, not caring whether he was in front of children or not. "Now I'll just have to take yours."

Jack's eye sockets widened. He thought Maverick was a hero.

Shadow had heard of this before. Maverick had legendary rage and anger. Sometimes, he couldn't even control himself and inflicted harm upon anyone who went against him.

The three trick-or-treaters began backing away from the angry and enraged ghost.

Maverick took a step forward, cracking his fists.

"No!" Cobweb exclaimed and rushed over, standing in front of Maverick, protecting the three with his body. "Maverick! You can't!"

Maverick stared into Cobweb's eye socket. This boy was standing against him. Usually, he would've melted them all by now, but something was stopping him. Care. He cared about the boy standing against him. This wasn't a kid who would kneel and give up in defeat.

Cobweb went over to him and hugged his other guardian around the waist, his arms and face going slightly through him. "You can't. I won't let you."

Maverick stared down at Cobweb, his hand over his head, ready to click his fingers and burn this boy. But he just couldn't.

Maverick's shoulders began shaking and he put his hands on the back of Cobweb's shoulder blades. He made little noises Jack had only heard from Cobweb. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" Maverick apologized, invisible tears pouring down his skull.

Shadow read about the immense guilt that Maverick felt after his anger. "Maverick, if they didn't take your limbs, you wouldn't be here now. The fact that Cobweb has your arm and leg connects you two together. That's the reason you're here." Shadow explained softly.

Maverick nodded.

"I love you, Maverick…" Cobweb said.

Maverick looked at Cobweb, surprised. The boy had told him that he loved him. And he wasn't taking it back.

"You're like my second daddy." Cobweb continued, a smile plastered on his face.

Shadow let out a small "Aww".

"Your…daddy?" Maverick questioned.

Cobweb nodded.

Just like that, Maverick disappeared and Cobweb nearly fell over. "Where'd he go?"

"I don't know, Cobweb, I don't know." Jack answered.

…

Maverick stood in front of the two graves. His hands were stuffed into his pockets.

"Hello, Ellie, Ed." He nodded at the two graves. "I've missed you both."

Maverick turned to the grave with 'Eleanor' written on its tombstone. "I don't know what to do now, Ellie. The boy thinks of me as a second father. I'm not anything like that."

He removed his hat and scratched his skull. "What a mess, eh, honey?" He turned to the smaller grave with the name 'Edwin' written on its stone. "I hope you're being good, Ed."

He sighed. "I'm sorry I can't stay, I have to take care of Cobweb too. Do you think I should teach him magic?"

He imagined them both nodding.

"Yeah, so do I. I love you both, very much." He produced a small, gold wedding ring out of his pocket. "You're my one and only, Ellie."

Maverick disappeared.

…

Maverick appeared again, only to see Cobweb stirring his cereal slowly and sadly. The missed him. He needed to see him again.

Maverick sighed. "Cobweb,"

Cobweb's head snapped up. "Maverick?"

"Yes, I'm here."

"Maverick!" Cobweb exclaimed.

Jack looked over his newspaper. "Hm? Maverick?"

"He's back! He came back!"

"Where?" Jack asked. "Where is he?"

Cobweb looked around. Maverick stood next to him. "Next to me. Right here."

Maverick nodded. "Hm."

"Where've you been, Maverick?" Jack questioned out loud.

Maverick appeared beside the boy. "I was visiting my wife and son."

"Wife and son? The book didn't mention any wife or son." Shadow spoke up.

"Why do you think I stood up to the resurrected beast? It killed my Eleanor and Edwin."

Everyone went silent.

"I just needed to see their graves."

Jack nodded in understanding, feeling guilt wash over him. How could he be annoyed with Maverick now? He just missed his family. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't be." Maverick held up a dismissive hand. He disappeared.

Cobweb smiled up at his ghostly guardian and he was sure that Maverick was smiling back.

"Shadow," Jack spoke up. "Do you still have that spell for Cobweb's room?"

Shadow turned to him, smiling. "Yes, I do."

"Well, let's go then." Jack said, folding his newspaper up and placing it on the table.

Cobweb got off of his chair, following Jack to the door. Shadow and Alistair followed, leaving the three trick-or-treaters with Zero.

…

The rain had finally stopped and the sunlight burst through the clouds that had kept it hidden for so long.

Once Jack and the others reached the town plaza, everyone erupted into cheers.

Cob's ok! And he's back! Ok!

He's alright, let's shout!

Make a fuss, scream it out!

Cob is back, now everyone sing!

In our town of Halloween!

A huge smile was plastered across Cobweb's face.

"Everyone!" Jack called out. "Say welcome back to, Cobweb Skellington, your new Pumpkin Prince!"

Everyone let out their own cheers of "Welcome back, Cobweb!"

"Thank you, everyone!" Cobweb called back.

"Mayor," Jack knelt down to man he was addressing. "Call a town meeting!"

And so, the Mayor rode around in his hearse, calling out the town meeting through his megaphone.

"C'mon," Jack took hold of Cobweb's hand. "We have a lot to tell them."

…

"And so," Jack continued, his voice booming throughout the town hall.

Everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting for the end of the story about Cobweb and Maverick.

"I decided to adopt Cobweb as my own son. Maverick shall stay with Cobweb and I in my manor. I expect you all to treat him and Maverick with respect."

Everyone began murmuring and whispering.

"That is all!" Jack dismissed.

"Dad," Cobweb tugged on Jack's trouser leg to get his attention. "I have a question."

"Yes?" Jack asked.

"When is my birthday?"

Jack paused. "I asked Lock, Shock and Barrel the same thing. They said it was simple."

"When is it?"

Jack smiled softly. "The day I found you. Halloween."

Cobweb smiled and allowed his father to pick him up and hug him. Cobweb looked over Jack's shoulder.

Maverick stood by the wall, leaning against it with his hands in his pockets. He lifted his hand and gave Cobweb a thumbs up.

Cobweb mouthed a thank you before hugging his father back. "I love you, Daddy,"

Jack smiled. "I love you too, son."

…

Author's note:

Aw. Sad and cute chapter! One more chapter left, guys!"