Days went by…they turned to weeks. Silence. Ed looked out his window. He closed his eyes and looked away. The sun was begin it's slow journey down. His mother looked at him through the doorway. She opened her mouth then stopped. She knew better than anyone what it was like to love someone from apart. Yet, despite her hurt for her son…she knew it was wrong. Oogie Boogie's daughter was not one to associate with. Yet…those dreams! She had gotten dreams during the night. The girl was indeed skilled in her father's trade. They were so lifelike, so terrifying it had made her want to scream in fright. She touched the door frame. She wanted to comfort him…yet he despised her judgment. It had always caused him pain; it was an eternal annoyance for him. Her love for her son made her speak. "Edward…"

Ed turned to look at her. His eyes were empty. They looked completely soulless. He had not eaten since Arachne had went into hiding. He barely drank water as it was. He looked gaunt, his skin had barely any color in his cheeks. "Hm." Was all his reply was. He hardly spoke any more. If he said a sentence to you, you were thankful, and if he had spoken a paragraph, it was a miracle.

"Please… you have to give this up." Said she. She walked into the room. "This is too much strain on your body!"

"Is it..?" he asked softly. She looked at him, worried. More days of silence followed their encounter.

.

Arachne red eyes looked at the wound. Yes, that was the only way. Nightmares could only be created by Oogie Boogie. The only way she could create the nightmares was by dripping blood onto the thin strands of web. She was only half of him for her mother did not possess the art herself. Even though her mother had created the Web of Nightmares, she could not use it. Only Oogie Boogie had the power to create thme. The nightmares craved his blood, and it flowed through her veins. She did not want to be underground anymore. She did not like living where her father ruled. Where he had gambled. Created nightmares… and had died. Yet she had no choice now. Lock and Shock had told her. The whole Halloween Town knew who she was now. She could do nothing now. Nothing. She saw her wound slowly heal as her web naturally pulled the skin back together. The blood dripped down the web slowly, separating onto other strands. The nightmare was now created and was sent out into Halloween Town. She sat down on one of her webs. She had wanted nothing else in the world but to die. The way he had looked at her… His face twisted in horror. She clenched her eyes, a small tear running down her face. She wanted her webs to swallow her up; to entangle her in it and slowly suffocate the air from her body.

Barrel had done everything he could to help her. He wanted to talk to Arachne, but Shock and Lock would no longer allow it once they had found out it was he who had helped her. They thought that he was too much of an influence on her. But he always lowered down a small letter to her. It was her only glimpse of what was going on outside. 'Look at yourself Ara.' She ordered herself to do. She looked. Her eyes shown red, her nose red from crying, her face pale in the little light she was granted. Her black hair hung down neatly. Everything looked just like it always had. Yet it was different somehow. 'Is this who you want to be?' she asked herself. 'Causing pain on others for the rest of your life?' she continued to look at herself in the mirror. 'I wanted to be with him…' she thought to herself. 'But that's out of the question of course.'

She sniffed at the mirror then something out of the corner of her eyes moved. She turned and looked. Her eyes widened in shock. She blinked, then again.

He walked over to her slowly. She backed away slightly, then separated them by one of her webs. "Ara." Said the soft voice.

"Please Ed. I don't want to see you." She said turning away before her heart betrayed her. Ed walked closer and then stepped near the web.

"I won't leave until I have spoken to you." Said he. Ara felt like she was going to throw up. He heard her inhale sharply, trying to calm her breathing he stepped around the web and touched her shoulder. She flinched slightly, knowing that the distance was now closed. "Please Ara."

"Ed…you know what I am." She said quietly. "This isn't good. Your father…I could never do anything to hurt you."

"Let me see you." He whispered. Slowly she turned and was shocked to see him not horrified, nor angry. He looked at her emotionless. Slowly she saw a small tear roll out of the corner of his eye. She suddenly became aware of the fact that tears were rolling down her face too. He hugged her tightly. She held him close, she cried desperately onto her shoulder, and his hold became more tighter.

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed.

He shook his head. "Don't be." He said happy to feel her next to him again. "You couldn't help it… you can't choose who your father is."

She shook her head, "No Ed. It's what I'm doing now…I'm causing people to have nightmares."

"I know." He whispered. "Listen to me Ara." He looked at her, and she looked at his face. "I don't care who you are. I don't care what you did. I don't care what you're doing now…just let me be with you. We can spend the days together; we can spend the nights together. I don't care what anyone says. I know your real character. They don't." He closed the small gap that was left in between them with his lips. They slowly were planted onto her soft curved lips. She trembled in his arms. "I love you," he said finally when they broke embrace. "I was going to tell you earlier but…"

"Ed…please…" she began but he kissed her again. He could feel her tears on his own skin, and taste them in their kiss. "I don't want you to suffer. I love you with all my heart but we can't." she whispered but he only kissed her once more. She moaned slightly when his tongue touched her lip. She wrapped her arms around his neck and their tongues slowly met. Their tongues pressing against each other. He held her close to him as he began to kiss her cheek, her jaw bone, then down to her neck. He felt her grow warm in his arms. Slowly they laid down on the web underneath them. He was almost shocked to find that he did not stick. He continued to caress her neck with his lips, his tongue massaging her tension. He felt her take off his shirt, and slowly he took off her dress. He gripped onto her skin and then stripped her completely. He looked at her perfect body. He took off his own clothes and carelessly threw them aside. He got on top of her and continued to kiss her neck, feeling juvenilely embarrassed as his naked body rubbed against hers. She held onto him as he kissed her tears away.

"Are you ready?" he whispered softly into her ear. She nodded apprehensively. He parted her legs slowly and then looked at her once last time before he inserted his erection into her body. The thrusts were slow at first, and then became more and more frequent. Their breathing a rhythm repeated over generations. His hips rocking against hers. She grabbed onto the threads of her web tightly and then they both let out a small moan of unadulterated pleasure. He emptied himself and she took a sharp intake of breath at the feeling. They both looked at each other; almost shocked at what they had done. "Are you alright?" he asked her. She nodded and he pulled himself out and cradled her body against his. She held his hand as they both laid next to each other. Arachne gently pulled a thick spider web over them and Ed sighed. "No going back now." He whispered.

"I'm going to stop making these nightmares. They hurt everyone more than they hurt me…I'm going to free Barrel from the Boogie Boy's oaths. I don't want him to live a life in which he cannot do anything that he wants…" she kissed him. He held her naked body close to his. "I feel so…free…"

"If they don't accept you, I'll run away and we can truly be together. I can't stand loving you from afar. It's not what I want." He said. She nodded and she rested her head on his chest.

"Together," she whispered.

"To the end." He answered back slowly and they were dragged into sleep.

.

Sally looked at her son, tears in her eyes. She had listened quietly to his statement. Her husband was beside her, looking thoughtfully at them. He had a hand up to his face. "Is this your decision?" he asked.

"It is." Ed said softly. He held Arachne's hand tightly.

Sally looked at her husband, wondering what he was going to say.

"I cannot turn away from my son. Nor will I allow a woman who creates nightmares to take the throne."

"Ara knows what was to be done. She has destroyed the Web of Nightmares." He answered quietly. Jack nodded slowly.

"In time I know the people will accept her… but you must stay by her side, son, even when it seems everyone wishes against it." Jack said, then he took both Ara's hand and his heir's son.

.

5 years later…

.

Ara woke up next to her husband. Ed breathed slowly, the sun peeking through the window. She loved mornings. The way the sun would greet them. Ed stirred and looked at her. "What is it?" he asked. She smiled at him, and kissed his cheek.

"I love you."

Ed smiled and kissed his wife. "Perhaps Draco is awake." Said he. "Shall we get him?"

"No. Let him sleep. Young children his age need sleep." She whispered. They both stood and walked to the cradle. The baby breathed slowly and peacefully. Arachne leaned down and kissed the baby's forehead.

"He's more perfect then I imagined." He said.

"Little Draco," she said quietly then smiled. Her boy was now heir to the throne after her husband. Jack had given up the throne and gave it whole heartedly to Edward Skellington and his wife Arachne Skellington. Sally was delighted to have the grandson, and Jack was delighted to find that the child had an interest with pumpkins.