A/N:

Here's chapter 2! Now we get Sally's perspective on everything that happened, and her thoughts on where she and Jack should go from here. I hope you like it! Thanks for reading!

Dearest Friends

Chapter 2:

Jack & Sally, Part 2

Have you ever had a lovely dream? Just the loveliest dream there could ever be? Sally certainly felt like she had.

"I sense there's something in the wind
That feels like romance is in bloom.
Oh yes, last night I stood by him
On a hill beneath the moon.

"There we two gazed into the stars…
And he did notice my feelings for him.
Finally he sees how much he means to me,
For we are meant to be.

"He said I was his dearest friend.
He sang such words to me, and then
He took my hands as the snow fell…
And there was nothing left to tell.

"With hope, I kissed the man I love.
And now and forever we'll be together.
Yes, it must be, now and eternally…
Together…Jack and Sally."

Half awake, half asleep, light starting to filter past her shut eyelids, Sally finished mumbling this little new reprise of her song to herself. She was fairly certain that she had had one of those 'lovely dreams' in question—one about Jack, to be specific. She often dreamed about Jack—Jack scooping her up and carrying her off to love her forever, Jack getting down on one knee and suddenly asking her to be his bride, she and Jack sitting by a fire in his…their…house with little skeletons and maybe a little ragdoll or two running by in play—princes and princesses for the Pumpkin King and Queen. However, Sally had to admit that the particular dream she'd just had had felt quite different than her usual nightly fantasies.

Indeed, last night's 'dream' about kissing Jack atop Spiral Hill had been much less extreme than other dreams of hers, and yet…there had been a certain 'potency' to it, a certain something so akin to the real that it made her almost swoon. She had always imagined the feel of his skeletal grin under her lips, and yet she had never experienced the fantasy in such detail as she had last night. She had never considered the true smoothness of his skull, the pleasant grooves of his lips, the delightful movements of his mouth, the bracing feeling of his strong arms around her soft body as he had shared with her that single kiss she so desired.

Sally trembled in her half sleep, though not from the cold…and especially not from the cold as she suddenly started to realize that she had blankets, warm blankets, wrapped all around herself. Where had they come from? Where was she? She didn't have this many blankets at Dr. Finkelstein's house, and she didn't have enough materials to stitch them up herself to use if she happened to be outside again tonight. Perhaps they were part of her dream? But no…they felt so real….

Just like Jack had felt so real.

Oh well, the point was she was warm and comfortable. Sally smiled more to herself and snuggled into her covers.

Jack…. She wanted to remember more of her dream. Well, okay, not all of her dream—some parts had been rather scary and rather sad, after all: Jack's tragic sleigh ride for Christmas, the mayor announcing he had been blown to smithereens, herself and Santa being captured by Oogie Boogie. Oh, but then the loveliest parts came! Jack showing up to rescue them just in time, Sally getting to watch from the sarcophagus as Jack nimbly and swiftly outmaneuvered all Oogie could throw at him (and, though terror had been Sally's primary emotion about it all, she also hadn't been able to help finding Jack's 'moves' rather heart pounding—all of his agile grace, his boldness and daring, that stern look upon his face.)

And then, of course, there had been the loveliness of their little talk at the end of the battle. How Jack had smiled at her, come close to her, talked to her, actually touched her! She had wanted it to go on, and yet if it had gone on for much longer she knew she would have utterly melted and collapsed against him and started cooing her feelings to him. Yes, he had talked to her before of course in their lives, but never so closely, so alone, so warmly…and had she mentioned the touching? She would have told him anything and everything if he had wanted—every dream, every daydream, every little emotional detail, every hope for their happy and child-filled future, she would have laid it all out at his royal feet in that moment when he had been standing alone with her in Oogie's lair and smiling kindly down at her, almost like he knew how she felt about him and found it sweet.

Which was why she had been both severely secretly relieved but also wrenchingly frustrated inside when that rescue light had interrupted them, shining brightly into their faces. Yes, it had saved her from possibly making a fool of herself and in the worst possible place, but it had also interrupted their 'moment,' and she'd never had one of those with Jack before, after all.

But then another good moment had occurred as Jack had grabbed the rope ladder and then grabbed her arm to help whisk them away to safety. Touching again! And he was so strong to lift her up like that! It had even made her give a little yelp as they were rising, and Jack had smiled and pulled her extra close against him, making her just shut down inside but in the best possible way. She had felt barely able to breathe or think while lost in the safe, warm feeling of being in his embrace. And his bony chest was so inviting to be held close to. And she had wondered again in her life, secretly, at the back of her blushing mind, what his chest actually looked like and felt like. He always wore those full-length pinstripe suits, which were so dapper and so handsome looking, but she wanted to know more of those ribs that she now found herself pressed so near for the moment. Did he have feeling in them, she had to wonder to herself? And if so, then if she ever touched them…touched him…what in the world might he do?

These thoughts had passed through her head so quickly, and then suddenly they had been in the car with the Mayor and Lock, Shock and Barrel, and the three children had been talking Jack's ear off with so many apologies and the Mayor had been cheering so much about Jack's return that Sally had just sat there silently, demurely, trying not to interfere, just trying to savor the joy and relief that their Christmas had managed to end with. Jack was safe, and he had saved her, and he liked her…and he had touched her… and he almost seemed to know how particularly she might have 'liked' him but he hadn't run off in fear or given her a gentle letdown in response. There had been smiles! What more could a girl in love ask for? Well…obviously there was of course something more a girl in love could ask for, but Sally hadn't dared to articulate the hope to herself.

They had returned to town quickly in the car. Jack, of course, had walked off among the citizens to assure them that he was indeed all right, which had been very necessary since they had all been so very devastated by the news of his demise, herself most of all. Hearing he had been blown to smithereens while Oogie had had her on that slab…it wasn't even sadness Sally had felt, there had just been emptiness. Her dearest friend was gone. And she had almost thought that if she escaped all of this, she might very well have returned to Dr. Finkelstein and finally just accepted her life as his servant, at least for a good, long while. She would have worked faithfully, diligently, tirelessly…just kept moving…anything to keep from remembering what more she had wanted with Jack.

Despite the blankets, Sally in the present shivered in her sleep, and this time not any good kind of shiver. Her mind wandered onward now from the painful 'what ifs' of her dream….

They had come back to town, Jack had gone off. Then the snow had fallen. It had worried her for a moment—Christmassy things had brought so much risk to her town lately, after all. And yet when she had picked a flower amidst all of that white, cold loveliness, nothing bad had happened—no premonition. Actually the flower had looked rather pretty with the soft, glittery, moonlit snow upon it. Yes, this much of Christmas was all right…just a tiny bit instead of everything all at once. Sally had let out a breath and felt at peace.

Then she had heard that familiar sound…the sound of the wheelchair…Dr. Finkelstein's wheelchair.

Her first instinct was to glance up fearfully, figure out the direction in which the Doctor might be headed, and then run in the exact opposite direction!

But then Sally had caught sight of him from her place hiding near the town gate, and the first unusual thing that had made her pause in her instinct to run was the fact that he was smiling (something which the Doctor rarely did). The second thing that had given her pause was that he didn't seem to be looking around for her at all. And the third thing that had completely made her abandon any desire to flee was that he had his new creation with him, pushing him along, smiling down and doting upon him. Something about their relationship seemed to work, and he seemed happy—Sally had a very good feeling about how these two would be together. And she had wondered in a moment of curiosity, glancing at her replacement, if the Doctor would even think about her at all ever again now that he had someone new.

At first the idea had been surprisingly almost sad to Sally—losing her place, losing the protection of her creator, losing her little room with her spindly bed and thin blanket and little sewing machine and her few books, and suddenly being thrust fully into the freedom she had always craved. Yet the sadness had been very fleeting. She loved freedom and hated being the Doctor's servant. She would be all right with whatever her life had in store for her. She was young and capable and resilient—she could take care of herself.

It also had occurred to her that the only way this new situation would have made her sad would have been if Jack had not been okay and she had come back to town, ready to resume her servitude to Dr. Finkelstein, only to find her place suddenly taken. Sally knew that certainly somehow she would have gathered her courage and found a place for herself in town somewhere doing something, but she could not have imagined ever being truly happy or ever not feeling completely alone ever again.

But why dwell on all the unfortunate things that could have happened but hadn't? Everything was fine now—listen to the song! Jack was okay! He was A-Okay! The one she loved was safe and happy, and she was safe and happy and free as well! As long as that was true, her life had purpose and she would be okay too.

Sally had smelled her little flower plucked from the snow, forgetting Dr. Finkelstein and his creation for the moment. In fact, right now, Sally had suddenly decided, she just wanted to be alone for a little while to absorb all the joy in her heart and also maybe to plan what she might do next with herself. She had walked over to the town gate, gently stepping through it, and snuck away from the crowd. Her thoughts bubbled and grew as she headed off into the quiet, moonlit night: perhaps, if she could get together enough materials, she might build herself a little tailor shop and sew and knit things for people to earn a living. She would have liked that. It probably would end up being much more work than serving Dr. Finkelstein had been, of course, but it would be her own work and of her own free will! She would no longer have to be kept by him—she could keep herself. And maybe every once in a while Jack would come in and ask her to mend a tie or a sleeve, and he would smile at her and tell her she was clever and she might smile shyly and blush because she couldn't keep her feelings hidden much anymore, and he would have been so kind and just taken her hand and given her a small nod to let her know he understood how she felt and that it was okay and that he still wanted to be friends…and all of that would have been enough.

Her walk had taken her to Spiral Hill. She had climbed it. She wanted to sit atop it, she had decided, and admire her flower in the moonlight and the soft glow of the new mantle of snow. Maybe she would even pluck some petals from it and let herself half entertain the idea that…that Jack might…

Sally had knelt in the snow and begun to pluck. She had done this before sometimes, on a lark. Though now for some reason the activity made her so nervous, like the outcome would actually have a bearing on her real life. She thought the familiar words in her head. 'He loves me…He loves me not…He loves me…He loves me not…He love me….'

'My dearest friend, if you don't mind, I'd like to join you by your side…'

Sally had started trembling, utterly trembling. His voice, his singing…. Jack had never sung to her, just for her. He…could he really be here? And could he really mean…or did he truly just mean dearest 'friend'? She had stood and slowly turned, letting her flower drop to the snow.

'Where we can gaze into the stars…'

He had paused then, both in his song and his ascent up the hill.

The way he looked to her, it was like he was waiting for her permission before he would come closer— like she was something beautiful and he was a humble suitor to her, like he wanted her.

Sally had slumped a little, feeling herself going weak and wishing she had something to support her.

Then she had sung back to him—they had sung together. A duet. What beautiful music they made.

He approached as she awaited him. What would he do with her? She couldn't bear the wait to find out as he came closer…and closer…and closer.

'And sit together…now and forever. For it is plain…as anyone can see….'

They clasped hands. His touch helped to sustain her. Their eyes locked, and then…could it be?

'We're simply meant to be.'

His arms came around her waist and hers clung around his neck in need, and then he gave it to her…he gave her the kiss. Such a kiss….

In her half sleep in the present, Sally puckered her lips. "Jack…" she cooed softly in wanton.

On that hill they had held one another and kissed, and Sally had just lit up inside.

Slowly their lips had separated, arms coming from around one another so that they could clasp hands together.

She had looked up at him in such wonder, such desire, such love. She wanted him to say it and wanted to say it to him—that they each loved each other. They opened their mouths at the same time and…

The sounds of the townsfolk coming their way interrupted the clear, peaceful night around them.

Sally noticed Jack looking startled and unsure, but she had known what to do. She was always calm and thinking, and she knew that getting caught together like this would only lead to speculation and confusion and make talking about their feelings even more difficult. She had smiled and released his hands and then placed a single fingertip over his lips (which had made Jack's eye sockets go wide in the most adorable way).'Shh,' she had cooed softly, gesturing over his shoulder in the direction of the town and his house. Jack had blinked and turned as though trying to understand her meaning.

In that moment she had taken the opportunity to slip away. Luckily the snow gave her a soft landing as she dashed down the unfurling spiral of the hill and plopped onto the grounds of the graveyard below. And then Sally had been off, darting away, not wanting anyone to see she had been there and not once looking back and just letting the bursting hope in her heart sustain her escape along with the utter euphoria that Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, had just KISSED HER! Yes, Jack, the most charming, yet bashful, the most vibrant, yet genteel, the most horrifying, yet tender, creature there ever had been had chosen her (not the witches, not the Undersea Gal, but her) to give his kiss to! He really liked her. She felt overjoyed!

She had trailed along the outskirts of town a little, just to be safe, heading in the direction of her small herb garden. But then, like always, Sally found herself drawn home. But not to the house Dr. Finkelstein had tried to make her call home. Rather, it was to Jack's house she was drawn; he was her 'home', deep down.

However, though more than half an hour had passed now since she had left him on the hill, Sally did not see any lights on in Jack's manor. She had considered knocking, but hesitated, suddenly almost feeling too afraid to face him directly. After all, whatever they would say to each other next would probably result in the most meaningful conversation they had ever had! And that realization had been too much for a nearly exhausted ragdoll to think of handling right now. Even if they had chosen to postpone a conversation about their feelings upon meeting again, at the very least the topic would naturally come up of…well…Sally not having a home anymore. Oh, she could imagine that if she (or even he) had broached the topic, he would have invited her into his home, and once she had been in that place that so dripped of his essence, she would have lost all ability to hide a single shred of her feelings. And then what might they do up there together all alone? Her lips had warmed and trembled at the notion, and Sally had felt so overwhelmed with possibilities that she had instantly taken a step back from Jack's large manor house.

So instead Sally had curled herself into a corner of his gate near a stone wall. It didn't matter to her that she was outside and exposed: as long as she was near Jack, she would feel safe. And so what if it was a little cold—she was made of cloth and cloth was used for blankets so she was sort of like a blanket herself in a way, on top of which her warm little stray cat friend had found his way into her lap. And the snow hadn't gathered into this little corner of the wall, on top of which there were some warm, dried leaves here that she could use for a little extra comfort.

Yes, she would sleep perfectly peacefully here. She could decide more about how to fix up her life and what to say to Jack in the morning. And then, as these events of her dream had ended, Sally recalled her dream self drifting off thinking of her Jack and kisses….

In the present, Sally yawned and squinted as more orangey sunlight hit her shut eyelids, suddenly causing her to wake up just a little more. She snuggled as much as she could under these strange blankets around her. The last thing she wanted to do was wake up because doing so would mean leaving behind her wonderful dream about Jack and Christmas, and also she wasn't in the mood to see what place she had randomly found to sleep this time after running away (though for all she knew she really had taken refuge just inside of Jack's gate). It could be so unsettling waking up in so many new places.

But she couldn't go back to Dr. Finkelstein. She wouldn't, no matter how unsettling waking up in strange places might be. Besides, he had his new creation now, his 'precious Jewel'.

'Precious Jewel.' Sally felt confused. She had seen the doctor making her, but…where had she heard the name? The name….

Sally smiled in her sleepiness. She remembered now. She had heard the Doctor call his creation that name when the town had come together to celebrate after the Mayor had returned her and Jack safely from Oogie Boogie's lair. Sally had seen 'Jewel' pushing the Doctor's wheelchair through the snow, and after that was when she had decided to sneak off to Spiral Hill where she and Jack had kissed. Yes, that was where she knew the doctor's name for his new female companion from.

Sally's half sleeping mind was contented with this answer to herself for a moment. She even snuggled more in the mysterious blankets around her with a happy yawn.

But Sally really was a clever girl….

Suddenly, her closer-and-closer-to-being-awake mind made the connection that, if all of her memories had been a dream, she could not have known Jewel's real name as she now did. Furthermore, the Christmas preparations going on around here for the last few months certainly had been real. Therefore, her thoughts about last night couldn't be dreams—they could only be memories. Sally's light breathing quickly stopped. She was almost entirely conscious now, and she knew something was off here.

Not to mention, that kiss really had felt potent…so potent. 'Oh…'

And she was in blankets! Odd, unexpected, warm blankets! And she was in a strange sleeping place she did not know! And she had kissed the Pumpkin King last night and come near his house! What if that meant she somehow was in Jack's—!?

Sally's eyes flew wide open in fright and confusion and embarrassment all at once. She tried to glance around, but for a moment she could only squint, the glint of the rising pumpkin sun off of the snow around her hurting her eyes. But then once she was used to the light (and once she finished processing that there really was snow on the ground which meant for certain that last night really had not been a dream), her eyes flew open again. She looked around herself quickly, taking in her surroundings.

Okay, first of all, yes, she had blankets, nice warm cozy (if unfamiliar) ones all around her, but at least she was definitely outside in one of her usual places to sleep near Jack's house…which meant that she wasn't right now waking up next to Jack in his bed or something, his strong, bony arms wrapped around her, his skull near her head on a mutual pillow, his skeletal grin so close that she could press her lips to it yet again. Not that she hadn't privately imagined mornings like that with him, but, really, waking up in his bed after only a single kiss? And yet as dazed as she had been last night from that moment between them, she almost wouldn't have been surprised if she had wandered to his house in the cold and dark looking for a warmer place to sleep than a stone wall, and one thing had led to another…which had led to her snuggled with Jack, if not in his bed than at least upon his couch with him. She knew he would never have put her in an awkward or uncomfortable position about it, but really who would ever want to resist him after all? He smelled like jack-o-lantern embers and grey smoke in the night air and a touch of spice or herb as though he used some kind of cologne but just a little bit….

And Sally also could now put a taste to him. Yes, his skull was bone, and bone had more of a texture than a taste—smooth, cool, strong—but there had been a touch of something else that had filled her senses at their contact; a touch of fear. But not the bad kind of fear—the good kind that made your flesh tingle and made you tremble in wonder of what might come next. He seemed to drip with that kind of fear.

Sally in the present trembled once more this morning, and it was as 'not the bad kind of trembling' as it was possible for it to be.

She managed to blink a few times and snap herself out of her dazed thoughts about Jack and their experience together. She couldn't just sit here daydreaming and reminiscing, she had to figure out what was going on and take some action. This was her first day of freedom after all, and also her first day of a life in which she had been kissed by Jack. Not to mention it was Christmas Day! No, she had to focus.

The first thing she focused on were the blankets. She looked at them—they looked nice, fine, cozy…yet definitely unfamiliar. She tilted her head down a little toward them, and then through her nose she caught a scent—Jack's scent! Her eyes flew open wide and she was instantly standing, clinging the blankets to herself in surprise. Had he…could he have…found her out here last night and given her these? "But…" she started softly to herself in confusion, "But then why didn't he just invite me inside or at least wake me up to talk to me?"

She glanced up at Jack's large house and blushed a little, her initial assumption about her location resurfacing in her mind. Perhaps he hadn't wanted to take the risk that they might get too close too quickly? She blushed even further, swallowing in a touch of embarrassment that was mostly directed at her own admission to herself not more than a few moments ago that she probably wouldn't exactly have said no to a cozy little sleepover in his strong arms by the fireplace…and lots more kisses besides.

"Arf, arf! Arf, arf!" came a familiar string of little barks to her ears that made her blink and look upward toward their source.

Zero was floating down toward her, and he appeared to be coming in the direction from Jack's tower.

Sally smiled at the little dog, letting the blankets fall to the ground around her so that she could wave at him.

Instantly, Zero was right near her and giving her happy little kisses.

Sally giggled, petting him nicely. "Aw, aren't you a good boy, Zero."

A smiling Zero nuzzled under her chin a little. He really did like Sally a lot. She was nice and sweet and good and pretty, and she liked Jack and she liked him as well. He finished his nuzzles and looked to Sally with a smile again. "Arf, arf!" Then suddenly he had grabbed a bit of the hem of her dress and he was pulling her along toward the rope ladder Jack had left for her.

Sally looked at him in puzzlement, hesitating a little. "Zero, what is it?" she asked curiously.

"Arf…Arf!" Zero managed despite his grip on her with his mouth, gesturing with his head now toward the end of the rope ladder.

Sally looked on past where they were and soon discovered his meaning. She raised an eyebrow as she took up the blankets from the ground under her arm and went along with his tugs, looking at the rope ladder curiously. Then her eyes slowly roved along its length until she saw that it ascended to a large window in the tower off of Jack's main house. She blinked at the sight. "Hmm…" Then she looked down at the little dog. "Should I climb that, Zero? Is it all right to?"

Zero nodded eagerly, very happy she seemed to understand. He released the hem of her dress and flew down to pick up the end of the ladder and then he flew up and put it to one of her hands.

Sally smiled down at him as she took the ladder. She walked forward until she was close enough that a few steps of it were off the ground, and then she began to ascend. She wondered what she would find up there, and she smiled extra and blushed a little at the idea of maybe finding Jack himself in the tower, smiling and waiting for her…using this as some kind of cute little trick to see if she really did want to come to him all on her own. She giggled at the idea.

Zero flew up alongside Sally as she climbed, happy she was doing so well with the ladder. And he hoped she'd like what Jack had done up there for her. It really was lovely; Zero had been very impressed. Jack really must have liked Sally something awful to have put so much effort into it, yet he had kept things subtle too so as not to overwhelm her shyness or to come on too strong.

Sally had almost reached the top, and though she had gotten a little frightened once or twice by the wobbling of the rope ladder, she felt safe—if Zero was telling her to do this then obviously Jack had told him to tell her so, and she knew that Jack, as her friend or as anything else, would always keep her safe.

Yet, at the same time, Sally had to wonder…why the tower? Why not leave Zero with a key for her to get inside? Or why not let her in himself, provided he was home of course? Then again, she knew Jack—he tended to be an early riser when the mood struck him, and the house did look pretty deserted. Perhaps he was out for now? "Hmm…" She shrugged at the idea as she finally made it up to the open window and got her arms on the sill, pushing herself up and over into the—

"Oh!" she suddenly exclaimed, half falling forward into the room and dropping the blankets from under her arm onto the floor as she did so! She quickly regained her balance though and managed to get her legs through the window properly now to stand…and then she just sat back on the sill and looked with wide shy eyes at the room before her. "Ooo…" she cooed at the wonder of it.

His tower, where so often she had seen flashing lights of experimentation, looked so…cozy.

Everything was neat and tidy—the curtains were half drawn at all the windows, tables filled with anything Jack had been working on lately were covered over with white sheets and pushed off to the side to provide her with a lot of room for moving around, the start of a dull, warm fire glowed in the hearth, and there were bits of sweet yet spooky Halloween décor all over the place.

The thing that really caught Sally's eye though was at the center of it all. There was a soft, plush-looking sofa all set up for her. It had pretty throw pillows on it in all different colors and a lovely Halloween quilt. And on the coffee table in front of the sofa was a little vase full of dried flowers set alongside what looked like some vanity implements—a little hand mirror with a spider motif handle and backing, a nice white fishbone comb, and to top it off a fresh needle glinting in the firelight surrounded by several spools of thread of all sizes and colors. She giggled a little at how sweet it all was, at how Halloween Town's most eligible bachelor had done his best to anticipate her needs. Then her eyes moved to the little end table on one side of the sofa, and she smiled in pleasant surprise at its contents: books, several of them, all old yet dusted off. From the spines it appeared some were about science, some were about Halloween history, and a few were even little romantic novels; like Jack hadn't been sure what might interest her, and so had been considerate enough to leave her a variety of reading material. And next to the books sat a lovely full plate of fresh sweet spider cakes along with a corked bottle of fermented pumpkin juice to drink.

Standing up, Sally dashed over to the sight with a big smile on her face, barely able to believe that all of this could all be for her. Jack was so kind to have clearly put so much effort into everything. Sally giggled to herself and was about to sit down on the little sofa when she noticed a single dried flower on one of the throw pillows, and underneath the flower was a single sheet of paper, folded in half. 'A note?' Curiously, Sally blinked and reached down first to pick up the little flower (which she smelled, causing her to smile a touch dreamily). Then she placed the flower down on the coffee table, turned to the little note, picked it up, unfolded it, and read as follows:

My dearest friend,

My apologies for not being here to greet you good morning. I had to step out for a while. Hopefully, I will return to you shortly. I would have invited you to stay up here in the tower last night, but when I found you sleeping so peacefully out by the gate, I couldn't bring myself to wake you. So I just brought you blankets instead. I hope that was all right. From now on though please feel free to use this room as your own, if you wish. I hope it's set up to your liking. And I hope you won't mind using the rope ladder to come up here for now—I'll show you how to enter through a passage at the base of the main house when I see you again. Zero will stay here to show you around and keep you company until I get back and can assist with any of your needs or concerns myself. We should talk about the doctor and other things soon.

I hope you are comfortable here, Sally.

~Jack Skellington

P.S.

I am dreadfully sorry about your harrowing experiences last night. I will spend the rest of eternity apologizing to you if that's what it takes for you to forgive me for it all.

Also…thank you for being so calm last evening, Sally, and for making sure the townspeople didn't see us. The last thing I would want is for you to be at the center of any rumors or for your privacy to be invaded. And also thank you for the 'moment' with you. I hope I was not too forward.

~Your dearest friend, Jack.

With a soft sigh Sally sat herself upon the couch, just gazing at the little note and rereading it. It was so like Jack—elegant yet not at all pretentious, thorough yet not verbose, kind and soft yet professional and regal just the same…and so very modest and humble and genteel. The way he had put their kiss—the 'moment' with her. How he was so concerned for her comfort and welfare and had even apologized for the mess last night, and how he was worried he had been too forward by sharing a simple mutual kiss. Sally found the whole thing to be very cute. She giggled and then folded up the note placed the precious letter in the pocket of her dress. "Oh Jack…" she cooed softly to herself.

Sally let herself remain sitting in peaceful contentment for a few more moments longer. Then she blinked a few times, coming out of her reverie, and looked to Zero (who had just finished shutting the window and was now putting a few little logs into the fireplace with his mouth to grow the flame a bit more for her). "Zero, do you know how soon Jack will be back?" she asked with interest.

Zero put a last log in the hearth and turned to her. He thought about it for a moment but then shrugged his ghostly little shoulders. "Arf, arf!" he said, indicating he wasn't sure. But then he flew over to a grandfather clock in the corner. "Arf, arf!" he pointed with his glowing nose to the number twelve at the top, indicating that Jack would probably be back around then or somewhere generally in the afternoon.

Sally nodded, understanding. Then she asked, unable to help a small frown, "Is he safe, wherever he is, Zero?"

Zero had to hesitate at that question. He was sure his master must be fine of course, and yet…so many things could go wrong, it seemed, for the Pumpkin King when strayed from the Halloween world in which he belonged. But Zero didn't want to worry Sally of course, and Jack had promised this would be a simple trip he was taking. So Zero settled on flying over to Sally with a little smile and nuzzling against her sweetly. "Arf…Arf…" he said cutely, doing his best to indicate that she shouldn't worry herself.

Sally had noticed Zero's hesitation at first, but then there were his sweet barks and nuzzles now. And so she figured that either Zero wasn't supposed to tell her where Jack was, or that Zero was only pretty sure Jack would be fine (leading Sally to guess that Jack wasn't some place as dangerous as doing battle with Oogie boogie again, but he also wasn't some place as safe as right here in his own home) and the little dog just didn't want Sally to worry about his master. Either way, she decided that the best thing to do would be to comfort and spend time with Zero, and then if the evening rolled around and Jack still wasn't home she might go out looking for him herself or possibly get the Mayor and tell him about Jack's new sudden absence—perhaps they could even take the car together to search for his whereabouts.

So Sally petted Zero and smiled, speaking sweetly to him. "All right, Zero. I'm sure Jack will be fine too. Thank you for leading me up here in the meantime. It was very sweet of you. And it was very sweet of Jack to do all of this for me. Since I can't give him a little kiss to thank him for it right now, could I give it to you instead?"

Zero blinked, and then his nose glowed bright red and he nuzzled her happily.

Sally giggled. "I'll take that as a yes." She brought the little ghost dog to her face with her hands and placed a small kiss right on his glowing nose, giggling as she pulled away. Then she pulled the Halloween quilt around herself and settled him alongside her, stroking his ears. "Good boy, Zero…" she cooed.

The little dog was beaming and utterly melting under her touch. "Arf!" he said in appreciation before snuggling into her.

Sally smiled and gave Zero another pet or two until she saw him close his eyes, getting ready to fall asleep. "Shh," she whispered to him, "You had a very long night pulling Jack's sleigh. You get some rest now, Zero." Zero yawned and began to do just that. Meanwhile, Sally reached over to the end table and picked up a spider cake and a romance novel to occupy herself with for now. And she thought to herself that perhaps as it got closer to Jack's return time she would take the fish bone comb and straighten her hair, maybe use the needle to retighten some of her stitches, and she would finish things by using the little mirror to check her appearance. She smiled more at the idea, opening her book.

A little bed, a warm fire, something to eat and drink, something to read, amenities, what might be called a love letter, and possibly now an official suitor…and still her little dream of a sewing shop.

"I knew the doctor was silly…" Sally remarked to herself, gazing down at her book with bright eyes. "For someone who supposedly 'can't handle so much excitement' I seem to be doing all right…and on my first day too!"

Sally smiled happily to herself at the notion of her own confidence and ability, and then took a bite of spider cake as she got lost in reading the story before her.

A/N:

That's all for now, and I hope you all liked it. I'll try to have the next update posted soon, and in the meantime please review and also check out some of the oneshots I just posted for this pairing if you'd like : ) And as always please review whenever you can. Thank you!

Happy Reading!

~Azure129 aka Jenna