A/N:
Hi everyone! Here's the next chapter, and I really hope you like it : ) The Town Meeting…and some big revelations! Enjoy, and please review if you can ^_^
Dearest Friends
Chapter 19:
The Town Meeting
'Oh, those blood red lips, like velvet and satin…. No, like crushed dark roses. She felt even more wonderful than I remembered. And the way we lost our breaths even though we don't need to breathe, how her mouth started to move with mine, how we pressed gently together, giving and taking and holding and touching…. And how she said she would 'hold that thought' about our time together until later tonight when we're home all alone again, just the two of us, and the darkness, and the truth, and forever. Oh, to have even one more passionate moment like that with her…I could sing.'
Though Jack smiled pleasantly and spoke normally and betrayed no signs of preoccupation as he addressed the citizens from his current place on stage, thoughts like these were racing through his skull. He wanted to go home with Sally, he wanted to explain entirely his recent actions and his true feelings to her, and then he wanted them to get swept up in something again, and he did not want them to be interrupted. He had addressed their first fight already and the misunderstanding that had led to it—that had to be the hardest part of everything, right? Taking care of the bug problem and announcing his and Sally's courtship would certainly be a cinch compared to the last three days of anxiety and suspicious trips and confusing dates and midnight rendezvouses and lover's quarrels and trying to make up.
And then finally would come the easiest task of all—Jack would take his lovely Sally home, tell her he loved her very dearly and explain his anxieties that had led him to behaving so foolishly lately about that love, and then, well…he would get to 'entertain' her for the rest of the evening. Maybe Jack hadn't actively tapped into the romantic side of himself, the sensual side of himself, the intimately trusting and passionate side of himself in a very long while, but he simply couldn't resist the compulsions to do so anymore, and he really didn't want to anyway. Those few precious moments of kissing in the back of the town hall had gotten intense enough…. What more would they do together?
Jack was finally more curious than he was nervous to find out.
Anyway, while all of these romantic thoughts had been fluttering through his mind, externally Jack had indeed been conducting the town meeting with his usual charisma and skill; thanking the citizens for their patience with his absence and their efforts to locate Sally and Jewel, assuring them that he was all right and that everything for next Halloween was under control and well underway, and briefly introducing his Valentine guests. Next he had moved on to the bug problem (and had done Lock, Shock and Barrel the favor of minimizing their negative role in the situation), making sure to keep his tone very calm about the whole thing. So there were bugs? Not a huge issue—there were bugs all over town after all, and there was no sign of Oogie Boogie himself, so really this problem was more of a nuisance than a threat. But one that should really be fixed if possible, of course.
Meanwhile, as Jack was making his announcements, Sally had been standing a bit behind him and looking downward, her hands clasped in front of herself as she rocked on her feet a little and blushed a lot. Being on this stage in front of everyone under the bright lights was very overwhelming to her shy nature. Not to mention she was still giddy from that kiss backstage. Oh, she had felt something so wonderfully willing in Jack during it, and she was so ready for him too. How he had begged her to 'hold that thought' about their embrace for just a little while longer in that deep, pleading voice of his like he couldn't bear to be out of contact with her anymore, how she had given him a pleading 'yes' in return in a tone she had never heard herself use but liked. 'Oh dearest Jack…' And now how he stood up here, trying to act calm and professional, though Sally knew the truth: inside he was trembling with passion for her just as she trembled for him. And later they would go home together and be open with each other and then…
Sally blushed even more darkly at the thought. She and her true love…
She just kept remembering a thought she'd had back during the early hours of Christmas morn when she had woken up sleeping outside of Jack's gate but with his blankets all wrapped around her, which had made her unsure of her location for a moment…until his scent had caused her wonder if last night she hadn't gone to him somehow and snuggled warmly with him in his bed.
Not that Sally wanted to move too fast, but she loved him and wanted their relationship to finally have a simple opportunity to grow now. She wanted the most dramatic thing in their lives to be deciding where they would have their next date or what to make together for breakfast or whether it would be too much of a risk to kiss out in the moonlight just as passionately as they would do hidden away in their own little house.
Sally still had to get through this town meeting though, of course, before she and Jack could move on to that happy period of carefree courtship. And though right now she tried to have great concern for the bug issues, mostly her thoughts were preoccupied with what the Doctor was going to do when she and Jack announced their relationship (and it wasn't helping make her any less uneasy that she couldn't spot the Doctor or Jewel in the crowd right now—where were they, and when would the Doctor come for her?).
Sally did have one consoling thought though regarding Doctor Finkelstein: she knew now that Jack wasn't 'sick', just a little loopy from the love potion candies he had been taking, which meant he didn't need a doctor, which meant Sally no longer had to consider the possibility of bringing him to Doctor Finkelstein and having him cure Jack in exchange for Sally's renewed servitude. She still had her freedom. However, Sally was prepared for a fight nonetheless, though she didn't want one. How embarrassing it would be if the Doctor started calling her his property and trying to yank her all the way home in front of everyone! And she knew the Doctor and Jack had always been friends—what if that relationship was ruined forever too? Not to mention Jewel…. Sally wanted to be friends with Jewel and to be able to see her. What if the Doctor hated her so much after he found out about her and Jack that he wouldn't let her see the manor or Jewel or even Igor ever again? Sally felt so sad thinking about that idea. Jewel was a friend, and also she wanted to help her regarding a certain issue—Jewel clearly liked Doctor Finkelstein very, very, very much, after all, even if the poor creation didn't seem to realize the depths her feelings yet. And Sally knew if anybody could relate to her situation and be supportive, it was herself.
Sally blinked and realized now that she hadn't been paying attention to a single word that had left Jack's mouth in the last ten minutes. She sighed and tried to focus. 'I know you're embarrassed and worried, but just think about Jack's voice—that'll make everything better. And this will all be over soon.' She glanced forward to her dearest Jack.
"…So there is our situation, my dear fellow citizens," Jack finished with a smile as he lightly clapped together his bony hands. "A bug problem. A simple matter, but one in need of being addressed nonetheless. I know we're all anxious for everything in our town to get back to normal and for Halloween preparations to return to their usual full swing, so I say we think up a solution to this issue as quickly as possible. And whatever it is, I'll make all the arrangements to have it done."
Only mumbling met him from the crowd however, and it sounded a bit uncertain. Jack wasn't surprised though—even he was having a little trouble thinking up a solution to this one. 'I suppose we could just let the bugs go, and I could carry out my plan to fill in the gorge.' Yet still, the bugs made Jack uneasy. After all, clearly this situation had a direct relation to the topic of Oogie Boogie, so the Pumpkin King simply couldn't justify to himself leaving solving the nature of the bug matter untended (even if anything related to Oogie Boogie was the last thing Jack wanted any more to do with these days). He cleared his throat and added to the crowd for good measure, "Also, to keep the problem from growing and as long as no one's using the site to live on anymore, I've been thinking of plans to fill in the gorge underneath the old town bridge either to turn it into a fungus and moss garden or a bog or possibly even just a landfill for the town. That will help with the problem somewhat of course, but I would to hear like any other opinion anyone wants to give on the bugs." 'There we go—that should ease everyone's minds and get the ball rolling with some ideas hopefully.'
The murmurs increased a little at this announcement, and then some voices were heard distinctly.
"But what if it's a sign?"
"What if Oogie Boogie is okay?"
"What if he seeks his revenge?"
"Maybe we should destroy the bugs!"
"We could eat them!"
Jack frowned—panic was definitely still a possibility for the crowd.
"Now, now, one at a time please!" the Mayor announced, smiling face showing as he came up alongside Jack. "I'm sure Oogie Boogie's not back, but we have to let Jack take in all of these ideas so that he can think about which would be best to do! And besides we can't be too hasty about this matter—everyone isn't even here at the town meeting to contribute, after all." He squinted and looked out over the crowd. "Has anybody seen Doctor Finkelstein or Jewel? I could have sworn they were here just before Jack arrived."
Helgamine the witch spoke up. "I think they're back at the Doctor's manor." She grinned a little. "Jewel insisted the Doctor eat his dinner before it got too cold and rotted to nothing, and the Doctor grumbled a lot but said yes and let her take him." She giggled and nudged Zeldabourne and the Undersea Gal, who both giggled a little too.
Sally blushed at hearing this news and glanced up with a frown. Was Jewel's secret affection for the Doctor really becoming so obvious? It was possible. Jewel didn't seem aware of her affection, and either way she didn't seem to have developed Sally's natural guile for hiding personal secrets. But still… 'They shouldn't tease her.' Then Sally swallowed and paled a little. 'What'll they say about me?' She could almost imagine…. 'Sally, you think you're good enough to be Jack's girlfriend? Sally, you've been secretly living with Jack for days now? Sally, you managed to have a fight with Jack already? Sally, you're going to be living with Jack permanently?!' She figured she had about a twenty percent chance of them patting her on the back and congratulating her for finally 'snagging' the Pumpkin King, a thirty percent chance of them laughing at her and teasing her, and a fifty percent chance of them getting very angry and jealous. Either one of those options made Sally blush with potential embarrassment.
"All right then," the Mayor went on, "the Doctor and Jewel should be back soon, so we won't make any final decisions until they return. Hmm…" He considered and then glanced at Flora and Marigold. "Ah, our new other holiday friends—you're both leaders, perhaps you have a suggestion for how to handle our little bug problem. Any input would be greatly appreciated."
Flora blinked at being addressed so suddenly and smiled. She looked to Marigold. "May I? Provided we have time of course."
Marigold sighed but nodded. "We have time to participate in the discussion but not to help afterwards. Deal?" She held out her hand.
Flora nodded and smiled. "Deal." She shook Marigold's hand.
Marigold smiled to her in return as their shake ended. "Okay then, Flora, have fun addressing the crowd. I know it's one of your favorite things to do—show off." She smirked just a little.
The Heart Queen chuckled lightly and then turned to face the full town hall assembly. Her smile softened, and she let out a breath and stepped forward as regally as possible.
Behind her the three trick-or-treaters (still leaning against their tub full of uncovered bug-filled cages) started laughing.
"Oh please—how's miss hearts and rosy cheeks going to handle Halloween Town bugs?! Turn them into pretty flowers or something?" Shock cackled to herself, and the boys joined in her laughter.
Marigold just sighed and mumbled to herself under her breath. "Oh good—rabble-rousers. This outing just keeps getting better and better." She rubbed her temple, trying not to smile at the absurdity of it all.
At Shock's challenge, meanwhile, Flora just smiled and glanced to the children and the bathtub. "Well, actually," she started simply, "if these were normal bugs, personally I would go with the suggestion of eating them." Her smile picked up a little on one side. "Chocolate covered insects are considered a delicacy in my world—I'm especially fond of crickets myself."
The three kids blinked in surprise, their mouths hanging open a little. Then Lock glanced over at the main podium. "Uh, Jack, I may have to vote for Flora over Sally." Barrel nodded, and Shock just rolled her eyes.
Jack just looked over at the children with a light scowl and a shake of his head.
Sally frowned at them as well, but then just sighed and looked down shyly again, arms crossed over her chest.
"Pick Flora over Sally for what, Jack?" the Mayor asked in confusion, scratching his head.
Jack blinked and looked back to him and then the crowd with a smile. "Oh, erm…nothing, it's not important. The children are just having another one of their little popularity contests." He glanced back at the trick-or-treaters and said under his breath with a slight glare in his eye sockets, "I won the last one of those, remember?"
Shock rolled her eyes but sighed and nodded. "Right, right, you're the leader, we're loyal to you, yada, yada, yada, taking forever to make big announcements."
Jack just shook his head and smiled a little again. Then he looked to Flora. "So, Heart Queen, you were saying something about eating the bugs, and covered in chocolate? Hmm, I don't believe anybody's ever tried that here. But it seems like a delicious idea. I really do think our holidays will get along just splendidly."
Flora smiled at him and gave a small bow. "Thank you, Jack. But, as I was saying, if these were normal bugs I think that would be a fine option. But I don't think they are…" She approached the bathtub, looking at the caged bugs curiously, and then frowned. "They're so large, and look at their eyes—there's fear in them, Jack…and the sensation that they've never been cared for or loved but have just lived in fear for a very long time." She turned back to the Pumpkin King. "I think someone needs to go to the root of the problem and see what's down in that old lair even before you fill in that gorge, Jack. Even just to check that no more of these poor bugs are down there to save."
"I see." Going back to the gorge was one thing, but Jack had some serious reservations about returning to that lair. Yet, Flora made an excellent point, and Jack wasn't about to put his own desires over the needs of his citizens (or innocent creatures like the bugs), not when he had been doing that so heavily lately. He nodded. "I think you're right, Flora."
Sally frowned. She could handle going near the gorge, but she did not want to go back down into Oogie's lair; back to the place where she'd been tied to a slab, where a very awful person had looked at her in ways that had turned her stomach…where she'd had to experience the romantic touch of another man the memory of which still made her skin crawl, especially her poor leg. For a moment she recalled being pulled down there by Oogie's vacuum breath after he had caught her trying to free Santa, and how he had tossed her leg back at her while tying Santa to the slab and made her stitch her knee back to her thigh while he watched and chuckled. Sally didn't like that the emotion was inside of her, but quite frankly she hated Oogie Boogie and everything and every place to do with him. But she also had a feeling that Jack would be the one who would have to investigate the lair, and she knew that no matter what her feelings were about the place she would go with him and be by his side.
Meanwhile out in the crowd murmurs of approval started cropping up.
"Yes, we should check the lair!"
"Jack can go! He made it through that place with Oogie there, it'll be easy to do now that he's gone!"
"And if there's nothing down there, it means the bugs aren't a problem, and we can just fill in the gorge like he said!"
"And if Oogie is coming back, if anyone can stop him, it's Jack!"
"Jack's our hero, the bravest King of them all!"
Everybody cheered in approval.
"Whoa, whoa." Jack held up his hands, trying to silence them. "Everybody, please calm down." The room quieted a little. Jack smiled humbly and lowered his hands. "I appreciate your enthusiasm, and I'll certainly go down to the lair myself as your king to make sure everything's all right. But this isn't a spectacle for me to show off or a Halloween stunt for everyone to admire—it's a very serious thing. There's really no need for cheering. If anything…" he sighed and frowned, "…if anything you should be demanding my apology for allowing this problem and countless others to develop in the first place through my negligence lately as King of Halloween."
Jack stepped forward to address the crowd more directly. He cleared his throat—it was time to move on to a new topic of discussion now that they had a plan about the bugs. "Everyone, I have to say something. I'm so very sorry for trying to change us and make us do Christmas. It was a mistake. Though I can't tell you all how much I appreciate the faith you had in me throughout the whole thing." He smiled a little. "Believe me, if I had thought even for a moment during all of the preparations that our Christmas would fail as much as it did—that I would fail Christmas as much as I did—I would have stopped things immediately. But I thought we could do something grand with it. For the first time in years I was truly hap—" Jack paused and stopped himself from going on. 'You're not talking to Sally right now, you're talking to the town. Tone it down a little.'
Jack took a breath and chose to express himself a little differently. "…There was a certain excitement and newness about celebrating the first Halloweens that I think we can all remember. I just wanted to recapture some of that wonder by celebrating Christmas for the first time. And I wanted to explore a different side of myself. I needed to prove to myself that I could be more than just the Pumpkin King." He frowned a little. "But then I realized that the problem wasn't that being the Pumpkin King wasn't enough for me, the problem was I wasn't being everything I could be anymore as the Pumpkin King." He smiled. "That was the best thing that came out of Christmas for me—a new appreciation for our horrifying holiday that comes so naturally to us all. I'm the Pumpkin King, and I know now I can express all the sides of myself as the Pumpkin King—as Jack Skellington."
Jack paused for a moment and then added with one final breath, "But for all of the effort and turmoil I put our town through, and for any Halloween plan delays this year, and for any Oogie Boogie or bug development now that may be a consequence of what I did, I'm truly sorry." He bowed his head to the crowd. "I'm honored to serve you all as your King, and I will continue to do my best at that job."
The whole crowd was very quiet.
The silence weighed heavily on Jack.
Then he heard very light clapping coming from behind him.
Shy Sally was gently clapping her cloth hands together with as much force as she could muster.
Hearing and seeing her, Flora joined in with the clapping and did her best to guide the crowd. The Mayor and Marigold followed in suite with smiles.
The claps from out in the audience started slowly but then grew and grew.
Jack's eye sockets went a little wide and he looked up to see all of his citizens clapping and cheering just like when he had returned home safe from his nearly fatal Christmas flight.
"Jack, we're just happy you're okay!"
"Oh Jack, you're so humble!"
"We're just happy your safe!"
"Jack safe!"
"Oh, we care about you so much, Jack—who else makes walls fall?"
"And mountains crack?"
"And wounds ooze and flesh crawl?"
"Oh Jack," the Mayor wiped a tear from his eye and came forward to his King, "how kind of you to show so much concern for all of us. But of course we all forgive you and we were happy to help you with Christmas. You're our leader, Jack—you guide us and give us so much whether by scaring the whole world or just by being around town for us to see and talk to. We'd do anything for you, Jack, we all just want you to be happy."
The whole crowd nodded.
Jack was so moved. In fact, he was the happiest he had been on this stage in this town hall since he could remember. And his happiness was only added to as Sally now came alongside him and nodded as well, gazing up at him warmly.
Jack smiled at her and then at the crowd again. "And I just want all of you to be happy too, my friends…my family. I'm so very glad to be back in this town, we call home, where everyone hails to the Pumpkin song." He gave the crowd a graceful bow which was met with another burst of applause.
Then a beaming Jack popped back up and clapped his hands together again. "All right, it's settled then—I will be making another trip out to the gorge as soon as this meeting is over to see about the source of the bug situation." On the inside Jack frowned a little—a task after this meant he couldn't go home with Sally right away. He hated to disappoint her like that…and he also hated to leave that trembling ache for her inside of himself without relief for a little longer…but it had to be done for the safety of the town and for the sake of his own peace of mind. He glanced back at Sally with an apologetic frown. "I'm sorry," he mumbled to her while the crowd's clapping continued. "Just let me take care of this, and then I promise we'll get to be alone."
Sally smiled and nodded in understanding. "It's okay. We can go back to the lair first and then home. As long as we're together."
Jack blinked and frowned more. "Sally, I'd prefer to go alone."
She blinked and then frowned too. "Jack, I thought we talked about how I'm perfectly capable of handling anyth—"
"It's not about that." Jack cut her off quickly, rubbing his hands together and looking uneasy. "I know you're capable." His voice was unintentionally becoming a bit more audible, and just as the applause was starting to die down too. "I'd rather explain it to you later."
Sally's voice was suffering from the same effect. "Jack, I can't just sit alone at home while you go there all by yourself. I can help, just like I helped with Christmas. Why don't you want me to come? Please tell me." Her expression softened a little.
Jack hesitated but remained firm. "Sally, I need to go down into the gorge by myself, and I'm going down into the gorge by myself. I don't want anybody coming with me, including you."
"No," Sally shook her head and said back just as firmly, not in anger but just as a simple refusal, "I'm going to Oogie's lair too, Jack. I am."
"What am I hearing?! Sally, my creation, publicly refusing a direct formal order from Jack the Pumpkin King!?"
Sally froze up entirely and didn't blink or move. The Doctor's voice, so harsh, so grating, so unfortunately familiar and so surprising that it made her cloth flesh crawl in a way she had almost forgotten it could do: that voice had just met her ears, and it made her undead heart sink in her chest.
Jack blinked and instantly looked out to the crowd where he now saw the Doctor coming up the central aisle as a shy-looking Jewel pushed his chair. Jewel spoke to the Doctor softly. "Oh Doctor, don't be mad at Sally. She and Jack get along so well together, I think it makes perfectly logical sense that she wants to go with him."
"Mmm…" The Doctor grumbled a little. "Jewel, that is enough—this place is too exciting for you. It was awkward enough that you insisted on rolling me home for dinner right when the town was anticipating Jack's return to start the meeting, and when you made me give in and let you accompany me back here, but you don't have enough experience yet to start making judgments in public about town matters."
Jewel blinked and then looked down. "I'm sorry, Doctor. I just wanted you to get your nutrition. And I just wanted to make a point." As far as Jewel knew, the Doctor was a more logical person than she was—he had made her, after all. But in a moment like this she felt like saying something against his position, even if she logically didn't have much to gain from doing so. He was so extra crabby this afternoon though…and he kept rubbing his cranium (the left side specifically).
The Doctor just grumbled again, his emotional response upon seeing Sally clearly outweighing all other concerns. "Take me over to the stage." He rubbed his temple again.
Jewel nodded and wheeled the Doctor past the front row and to the ramp on the side of the stage. They both ascended together and went over to Jack and Sally.
The Doctor looked up at his first creation with a suspicious scowl. "Where have you been?" he asked in a low tone.
Sally felt like she could have just started shaking, started crying, and run off far away right now. Here it was, her humiliation in front of everybody. But she couldn't give him the satisfaction, she just couldn't, but she also couldn't leave Jack alone to go into that lair himself. That place may have terrified her but she was more terrified of the idea of Jack all by himself down there. She looked at the Doctor and replied simply and firmly so everyone could hear, "I've been out."
The Doctor blinked, seeming taken aback by her slightly brazen response. "Out where?" He leaned closer to her. "Do you have any idea how much we have all been worried about you? How much I've been worried about you? No one's seen you for days, we thought you'd somehow ended up back in Oogie's lair or lost in the hinterlands or that you were perishing somewhere without help. I have been frantic, Sally! How were any of us supposed to know if you were safe?"
For a moment the defensiveness slipped from Sally's tone. She blinked. "You…were worried about me…and me being safe?"
The Doctor let out an annoyed sigh. "Of course, Sally! Haven't you realized yet—I'd always tell you not to wander off because you were my creation and I wanted you in the house where you belonged, but also because I was trying to keep you from having too much stimulation and too many dangerous experiences and so many chances for getting lost! Everyone around here is centuries old, and you're so young, and this place is a death trap! I have been trying to protect you since the day you first opened your eyes! Why did you not tell me where you were?!"
Sally looked (and felt) confused and hurt and touched and angry all at once. She took a step toward him. "I didn't tell you because you just would have tried to capture me and make me come back to the manor. I don't want to live with you, Doctor Finkelstein, I don't want to do the chores and take care of the house. And if you ever really were just trying to take care of me, I appreciate the effort, but you did it all wrong. And I don't need your protection anyway. I can take care of myself." She tried to smile. "I can, really. I'm sorry if I worried you or anybody else by disappearing, but I'm fine on my own. And you have a wonderful person to take care of you now, and Jewel loves doing it."
Jewel smiled softly behind the Doctor.
"That is not the point!" Doctor Finkelstein scowled, sounding much more emotionally frustrated than usual. "I asked you a question, and I want an answer. Where have you been?"
Sally swallowed, frowning a little again. "Why does it matter?" she managed.
Doctor Finkelstein glowered more. "Because if it was not some place safe—and with how secretive you're being, I'm guessing it was indeed someplace quite unsafe—then you are coming back to the manor with me where you at least have a roof over your head!" And then he reached out his hand, clearly in a motion to take Sally's arm.
The Doctor was stopped by Jack moving between him and Sally at the just that moment.
There was a long silence now.
Then Jack swallowed and said aloud to everyone as calmly and professionally as he could, "Doctor, there is no need for concern over Sally's safety. Ever since Christmas…Sally has been with me." For the first time in his life Jack felt like everybody was staring at him, and he really did not relish the feeling.
There were a few whispers in the crowd.
Doctor Finkelstein just looked confused. He pulled back his hand wheeled back slightly. "What do you mean?"
Jack cleared his throat awkwardly, and Sally stepped out from behind him now to speak for herself again. "He means I haven't been missing. I've been with Jack, in the tower at Jack's house. And after thinking about it awhile and after a generous offer from him, I've decided to live there permanently for now. " She looked down, digging her foot into the stage but staying strong.
Jack couldn't help suddenly beaming a little. He looked to her. "Really? You really will stay…and not go?"
Sally beamed a little too and glanced up at him and nodded. "Yes, Jack. I only wanted to go before because I thought my being there was what was, um…disturbing your rest. And because we were fighting. But now that I know that it was just a misunderstanding and that you're feeling better now, of course I want to stay." She moved closer to him.
Jack smiled so happily, and Sally smiled pretty happily herself.
Doctor Finkelstein blinked and then looked to Jack. "Jack, my boy, you know I have always respected your decisions and been willing to grant you any favors I could, and I appreciate you looking after her like this, but this simply isn't fair—I created Sally to be my servant, she can't just leave me to go and be yours. You have no idea what you're getting into. She's very restless and stubborn." He turned his chair in Sally's direction. "And, Sally, you can't just run away from home forever like this—your room's waiting for you, and Jewel won't stop talking about how much she cares for you, and even Igor asks about you, and I…I'm…used to you." He glanced down stubbornly.
Jack and Sally both stood there with wide eyes.
Then Sally took a step forward. She considered the Doctor's words carefully. The Doctor was acting differently than he usually did—explaining himself more, indirectly implying emotional concern, appearing almost shy in a way. "Doctor…" she started softly, "if Jewel likes me very much and if Igor misses me and if you'll need me to help you sometimes before you can get used to me not being around, I can visit. I'll help Jewel learn more about the chores around the house, and I'll explain to Igor why I'm going away, and…I could try to explain it better to you too. But you have Jewel now, and she loves running the manor and helping you with your experiments—there's no place for me with you, Doctor. I have a place of my own now." She smiled with pride but then added with a touch of seriousness, "And I'm not Jack's servant."
The Doctor let out a breath, rubbing his left temple again. "But…Sally, if you're not his servant and just his guest for now, then how are you going to survive? Repairs, food, money…. Who will look after you, Sally?"
Jack opened his mouth to say something, but Sally stopped him by speaking for herself again, still smiling a little. "I'll look after myself. I can sew myself together. And Jack was kind enough to offer to take up sewing if I ever really fall apart." She tried not to blush too much. "And I don't eat much, but if I do need money then I can sew things for people and do odd jobs. You…you did a good job making me, Doctor, just like you did with Jewel—I'm fine on my own. I've been trying to explain that to you for a while now."
A look of concern actually overtook Doctor Finkelstein's features. "But Sally, you can't inconvenience Jack by relying on his hospitality forever."
"But she's not," Jack gently interrupted. "She's not an inconvenience at all. And she's not my servant. She just wants the right to live her life as freely and creatively as any other citizen of Halloween Town. And I'm sorry if we worried all of you…" he glanced out to the crowd, "we truly are, but Sally needed a rest after Christmas just as much as I did. After all…" he smiled a little more, "she did save Santa Claus's life."
The whole crowd gasped in surprise, and Sally looked to Jack with uneasy shyness. "Jack," she said softly, "you don't have to…I didn't…"
Jack just shook his head though. "She's going to be modest, but she did save him. I was so busy with my Christmas flight, I didn't realize that, er…certain people…" behind Jack, Lock, Shock and Barrel cowered near their bathtub a little, glancing away and innocently whistling, "…had misplaced Santa, leaving him to the mercy of Oogie Boogie. No one noticed, of course, because of all the holiday festivities and confusion. But Sally remembered Santa. And she made a daring rescue attempt on her own to save him, and got caught by Oogie herself in the process. Yet, it was her sacrifice that kept Santa unharmed long enough for me to make it to Oogie's lair and perform a rescue!" Jack smiled proudly as he finished his summary of the harrowing tale—he had been using hand gestures now, getting a little caught up in the drama of the moment as usual. He glanced to his dearest friend.
Sally just looked down entirely now, though she did smile. "Thank you, Jack…" she said softly. "But, please, what I did wasn't anything too special. We don't have to talk about it too much right now." Her eyes met his again.
Jack nodded and smiled gently. "Of course. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get carried away."
And now bunch of impressed 'Ooos' and chatter left the crowd at this revelation of Sally's role.
Near the back of the stage, Marigold smirked at Flora and spoke lightly under her breath. "No wonder you've insisted on befriending her—she sounds almost as reckless as you when pushed."
Flora smirked back a little, her voice likewise low. "Very funny."
Then the Mayor waddled forward between Doctor Finkelstein and Jack and Sally. "Well, in that case, Sally's just as much of a hero as Jack is, and I think I speak for everybody when I say I'm certain she's proven herself a capable citizen!" He clapped and got the audience started in a brief round of applause. "Don't you agree, Doctor Finkelstein?" He looked to the Doctor.
Doctor Finkelstein blinked a few times. "I…well…Sally," he glanced back at her, "You really did this? That's why you were down in the lair with Santa when Jack rescued him?"
Sally nodded. "Yes," she said softly. "Somebody had to help Santa, and I did my best. I only got myself captured, but then Jack had enough time to rescue us, like he said." She moved closer to Jack.
Doctor Finkelstein considered. No creature in this town had ever been brave enough to confront Oogie Boogie about anything except for Jack. So either Sally was completely foolish or she was possibly the most clever and daring citizen in town. And considering her chemistry expertise with poisoning his tea over the years and her multiple escapes from the manor (some of which still baffled him) and the amount of work he had put into her brain as his first sentient creation, the Doctor could only conclude that she fell into the 'clever and daring' category. Not to mention (unusually enough) he just had a feeling that was where she belonged.
Even if he brought her back she would only run off again and again…
And the town seemed to be supporting her position…
And as long as she wasn't getting into any mischief but just living a thrifty, honest life…
And as long as he did have Jewel who actually liked running the manor…
Doctor Finkelstein took a breath and spoke. "I…I suppose you are a capable citizen, Sally. And I suppose after all of that, if you want to lead your own life…I won't stop you." He let out a deep sigh, looking firm. "But I do strongly advise that you visit the manor on a regular basis, erm…so that Jewel doesn't miss you too much. And I advise that you find a way to get living quarters of your own soon enough. The Pumpkin King has been very nice to offer you his tower indefinitely, but he has business to attend to and you must not wear out your welcome."
The Mayor nodded, still grinning. "Yes, yes, I'm certain we'll all come to her for any sewing jobs we need so that she has means, and we'll provide her with a place to make a home of her own for whenever she ever does decide to live on her own." He clapped some more, and the audience joined in again.
"Yes, but meanwhile, lucky her for getting to live so close to the Pumpkin King!" Helgamine whispered loudly to Zeldabourne as the applause died down once more.
"Yeah," Zeldabourne nodded, "I'd give anything just to live next door to Jack, let alone in his house."
"Maybe she'll have us over so we can visit," Undersea Gal suggested with a smile.
The three women giggled together.
Sally blushed and glanced down more. She knew the announcement that was coming next, after all. And she also knew that she still had no idea how the town was going to react to this one (let alone the Doctor who was still positioned only a few feet away from her).
"Attention, everyone, settle down please!" Jack held up his arms and requested with a kind smile (and an awkward clearing of his throat after those few comments by the women in the crowd). He clapped his hands together as the audience became quiet again. "Thank you all for your support." He glanced at the Doctor and gave a polite bow. "And thank you, Doctor Finkelstein, for being so understanding about all of this."
Doctor Finkelstein still pouted a little but nodded. "Certainly, Jack," he mumbled out gruffly.
Jack gave him a nod in return, then straightened up and looked to everyone again. "Sally and I appreciate such a warm reception in regards to the news of her whereabouts and plans. However…there is another announcement we wish to make before all of you here: our family, our friends. A personal announcement."
Sally nodded, summoned her courage, and spoke too as she managed to look out to the crowd again. "Yes. We have to share something together with everyone."
"Um…excuse me?" Flora lightly cleared her throat and came up behind them. "I think a brief mention of Valentine Town and certain visits might be a good transition into that subject." She smiled a little more, looking from jack to Sally.
Jack blinked and understood. 'Yes, of course I have to explain about my trips and about her too. I almost forgot. And maybe that really would be the best way to start…' Jack looked out to the crowd. "The Heart Queen makes an excellent point. I should also explain to all of you why and how she and her friend have come to be here…and I'm afraid I also our town another apology." He took a breath, his look and tone solemn. "Part of what I've been doing for the past few days is taking secret trips back to the holiday forest and visiting Flora's land, Valentine Town." He frowned. "I'm sorry. Visiting the holiday forest and its worlds secretly is what got our town into trouble in the first place. I wasn't thinking, and I promise all visits now will be conducted formally, publically, and for the sake of diplomacy and cultural exchange."
The crowd responded with smiles and calls of clemency.
"We forgive you, Jack!"
"Yes, of course!"
"We're all curious about the other worlds too!"
"And you didn't steal this holiday!"
"Tell them exactly WHY you picked Valentine Town, I'm guessing!"
That last phrase (followed by a cackle) came from Shock at the back of the stage.
The whole audience latched onto it though, as shown by how they suddenly nodded to each other with some general words of interest and then looked to Jack with rapt attention. Jack had explained to all of them countless times what was so special about Christmas. So why focus his efforts on a new holiday—this Valentine's Day? What was so special about that?
Sally was quite interested too. Jack hadn't entirely explained to her yet what had begun his deep interest in the new holiday after all.
Jack blinked. This was the moment, wasn't it? The moment when he would tell the town that he and Sally were dearest friends and more. Funny, but he suddenly realized that didn't feel nervous anymore. He actually felt quite elated in a way. The Pumpkin King cleared his throat and smiled a little to himself. "I chose Valentine Town because…Valentine's Day is a holiday of love." He did blanch slightly at having to use that word. He went on. "Romantic attachment seems to be the, um…primary concern of the holiday. So I went to learn about…I…" Jack felt so tongue-tied—he never got tongue-tied in front of the town. He clasped his hands together and finally forced himself to go on. "I can talk more about the specific nature of Valentine's Day later. It's not what's really important here, and Flora and Marigold would do a better job of explaining it anyway. The point is, I chose to go to Valentine Town, and deepest reason I went there involves only me and one other person. And what I have to say now involves only me and that one other person." Jack smiled in a special way. 'I always fall back on giving them what they want. But right now I have to focus on what Sally and I want and on what everyone needs to hear.' He took a deep breath and let himself softly sing what he had to say next, the tune slow and similar to the end of his town meeting song about Christmas.
"Yes, the best, I must confess, I have saved for the last,
For I went to this loving land,
To learn about companionship and courtship and care,
And now I have to let you all understand.
In our land of night and harvest moonlight, the Pumpkin King has this to say…"
Jack lowered his voice and finished.
"Sally has sewn her way into my heart…"
Then his voice grew lighter, though it remained singsong-ish.
"And I'm very excited, now I have a dearest friend.
And I plan to stay close to her until the bitter end."
Jack looked to Sally now. "A dearest more than friend actually, right, my dearest Sally…?" And then Jack took Sally's hand, raised it up, and kissed the back of it, lingering.
There were quite a few shocked gasps and whispers from the crowd now, to say the least.
Jack removed his lips from the back of Sally's hand and looked into her eyes, his warm skeletal grin growing. He spoke so everyone could hear. "We formed a very intimate relationship together over the holidays, wouldn't you say, Sally?"
Despite her shyness, Sally couldn't help a smile coming to her lips at his sweet words. She even wobbled on her legs a little, though by holding his hand she managed to keep herself steady. "I…" She realized now more than ever how she had never spoken of her feelings with any member of the town before. Sally took a deep breath and managed to make her voice audible to the room (though she kept her eyes on Jack's eye sockets). "Jack is the kindest, most caring, most interesting, and best man I've ever known." She sighed softly. "I've cared about him for a very long time. And even though we've only been together a few days, I have the best feeling that we'll be together for more Halloweens than any of us can count." Sally squeezed Jack's hand, her smile warm and bright.
Jack beamed in such contentment in return.
"Boo!" Shock called out from in back of them on the stage. "Enough with the cutesy stuff! At least kiss or something!" She laughed, and the boys joined in. Then… "Ow, Hey!"
Shock was a little surprised to suddenly have the Heart Queen standing over her (after nudging her slightly) and seeming quite authoritative as she spoke though she smiled sweetly. "Shock, Barrel, Lock…" Flora's voice was quiet as she addressed all three children, "you're starting to encroach on my territory a little and upsetting the delicate chemistry of the moment—leave it alone please, or I'll be forced to plant eternally growing pink roses all around your tree house. Or I'll just let Marigold turn it into the neatest and most organized place in town. All right?"
Beside her, Marigold grinned a little. "She'll do it. You don't want to mess with her about love, believe me."
Shock rolled her eyes but then just arms crossed over her chest and sighed. "Oh fine, whatever." Lock and Barrel grumbled a little but just went back to quietly watching the onstage confession too.
Meanwhile Jack and Sally were still just standing before each other at the front of the stage smiling awkwardly. Then Jack gathered a great deal of courage and quickly gave Sally the smallest peck on the corner of her mouth before pulling away and clearing his throat. He lowered their still clasped hands and glanced to the crowd again. "I apologize for the announcement being so sudden. Our relationship escalated a bit quickly. But we've found a great happiness with each other. And we don't want to be apart anymore or to keep things a secret." Jack turned to smile down at Sally once more, trying not to chuckle at how her big smile contrasted with her shy posture.
There was silence.
Then Jewel smiled and clapped happily!
The crowd simply remained in awe.
Then Doctor Finkelstein came out of his awe. "Wait, I…sh-she can't just…and he can't just…but she's…a-and they….Ohh…Ohh my head…!" He put a hand to his cranium and let out a deep sigh.
Jewel quickly bent down beside him and put a hand to his cranium as well. "Doctor it's been a very exciting day. Maybe I should take you home to lie down or to let me massage your half of the brain."
Sally frowned, concern coming to her features at the Doctor's distressed state.
Then the Mayor came toward Jack. His frowning face was on now. "Jack…are you serious?"
Jack blinked at that question and nodded. "Yes, Mayor, of course. Sally and I are involved together, and that's the way we both want to be."
The Mayor studied him closely. He chose his words carefully. "Erm, Jack…these last few months really have taken a toll on you, and especially the last few days. I just…well…are you sure you're feeling all right?"
Many responses of agreement with the Mayor's concern came from the audience to Jack.
"Jack, did you hit your head in that Christmas crash?"
"Maybe Oogie Boogie rattled him…"
"He can come rest up and get well at my house if he wants and if Sally needs his for now!"
"Maybe we should let the Doctor look at him."
"How could this have happened?!"
Then the Doctor, feeling better for a moment, wheeled toward Sally, scowling. "Sally, you can't just…pursue a man you barely know, move into his house!" He had to wince and rub the left side of his head again but went on. "You know Jack as the King just as the rest of us do—you've only had three days to even begin trying to know him personally."
Jack and Sally were just startled, to say the least, by this borderline negative response to their announcement of affection.
Jack eyed the audience in perplexity. 'What are they talking about? What's so strange about me liking Sally? And they actually think I'm ill for it?'
Sally just looked at the Doctor with wide eyes and moved herself a little bit away from him, still clinging to Jack. 'I don't care if he approves or not, I don't care what happens, he promised to respect my freedom, and he's not taking me back!'
"Sally?" Jack asked quietly and glanced at her.
Sally nodded and looked to him as well. "Yes, Jack?"
"I don't understand." His face fell more.
"I know…I don't either." Her face fell more too.
Flora, meanwhile, from behind them on the stage watched this scene playing out with great concern (and even Marigold had to raise an eyebrow and frown). Finally, though, the situation reached a pitch she could no longer handle, and so the Heart Queen stepped forward slowly but with a great regal bearing.
"Attention, please!" she announced firmly, and her prism eyes flashing brightly.
Everybody in the crowd stopped talking and just watched her for a moment in a daze.
She smiled a little and bowed slightly. "Thank you. Now, I don't mean to presume upon the affairs of your world, but something is imbalanced here with love, and it needs some correcting. First," she looked to Jack and Sally, "Jack, Sally, I think you should see about that bug problem. Together. Alone." 'All of this is too overwhelming for them. They've been through a lot.' "When you're done, I should have everything cleared up here." She smiled more.
Jack looked uneasy at first but then considered and nodded. "Very well. It's my duty anyway to resolve any problem relating Oogie Boogie as soon as possible." He glanced back to the children. "Trick-or-treaters, keep those bugs here until I get back—do not eat them, torture them, 'lose' them, or otherwise do anything to bother them. Are we clear?" He seemed particularly firm at the moment, a fact attested to by the way the three children blinked, swallowed in slight fear, and then just nodded to his request.
Jack looked to Sally now, his gaze and tone soft once more. "Sally," he squeezed her hand, "please consider going back to back to the house and waiting for me there. I'm not trying to exclude you, I know you can handle a trip to the gorge…and even the lair. But I just…need a moment there."
Sally looked right up into his eyes. "Then I'll give you a moment there, but I'm still going with you."
Jack frowned and let her hand go to rub his temple. "Sally…"
Sally was firm. "Jack…"
Jack was almost bothered enough to say something again about that strange way she could say his name sometimes when she was upset—that way that couldn't help but annoy him yet make realize he might be wrong all at the same time. "Oh…" Jack finally just sighed and nodded, "fine, Sally, do whatever will make you happy, but please let's just go." Jack went forward and hopped down from the stage. Even though he was a little frustrated, he of course still turned back to the stage now and reached out his hand to offer Sally help getting down.
However, Sally ignored the gesture and just jumped down from the stage herself. She wobbled a bit at first but then quickly righted herself. Sally frowned at him. "There's no need to get upset with me, Jack, just because nothing worked out like we hoped it would." And then she walked off ahead of him toward the exit doors proudly, though he could tell from the tone of her voice that tears were somewhere in her.
Jack frowned in concern and followed after her. "Sally!"
The entrance door closed behind them as they finally left the building.
Talking instantly erupted again among the crowd, which Flora silenced with a light raising of her hand and a firm flashing of her eyes. She observed the citizens closely and then turned to the Doctor and Mayor on the stage. She looked to the Doctor first. "Doctor, I'd like to talk to you privately in a moment—you and Jewel." The Doctor and Jewel just raised their eyebrows at the strange request, but Flora only smiled and turned her attention to the Mayor now. Her expression softened considerably, and she raised an eyebrow. "And Mayor…why in the world would your town react like this to the announcement that your King has found his true love?"
"Yeah, what is wrong with you dummies?" Shock suddenly added. Their bathtub stored away in the back now, the three trick-or-treaters walked across the stage to the front. Shock looked at the whole crowd with a scowl, her hands on her hips. "You were supposed to laugh at Jack and make awkward comments to the both of them and embarrass the heck out of them, not act like they just made the biggest mistake in the world!"
The boys nodded. "Yeah, what was that about?" Lock raised an eyebrow in confusion. "That's all we did when we found out."
Barrel shrugged. "Yeah. What, is Sally diseased or something? Come on—it's funny: Jack finally quit acting shy and went and got a girl. I say more power to him." He licked his lollipop.
"The point is," Shock went on, rolling her eyes, "it's our job to make people feel crummy about themselves and spread misery. But you people were way more awful than we were to Jack about all of this, and he actually likes most of you all of the time—so what gives?" She raised an eyebrow, glaring at gathering of citizens.
The Mayor looked to the children and the Heart Queen and Marigold, his distressed face still on. "Queen Flora, Marigold, trick-or-treaters, please, you don't understand. We didn't mean to upset Jack and Sally. It's just…Jack isn't a romantic person. Jack has made a point never to pursue a single woman in this town over the centuries. He has no interest, he's always tried to be very clear about that. But then after only a few days to suddenly make an announcement like this…. We're very worried about him! What if something from the Christmas ordeal harmed him?"
There were murmurs of assent from the audience.
The Mayor went on. "We're concerned for his health. He's our king—we worry about him almost more than he worries about the rest of us. And there's Sally too to consider in all of this. That poor girl is clearly very taken with Jack. Suppose he suddenly comes back to his senses and goes right back to not wanting a romantic relationship?" The Mayor frowned even more than usual. "Her heart might get broken."
Shock blinked at that reply and then sighed dramatically rolled her eyes. "Oh brother, Jack's right, he DOES need the three of us as loyal citizens—everyone else is too busy thinking he's perfect to ever actually know anything about him let alone recognize when he's done something right or wrong."
"Yeah, really!" Barrel nodded. "You're all really this surprised that Jack's dating? He's probably like a thousand years old! it was bound to happen eventually. Besides, he's the sappiest guy in town—if anyone was doomed to fall for somebody, it was Jack. And you know once Jack gets into something, wild snakes couldn't drag him away from it. He's not going to leave her."
"He may be the scariest," Lock added with a scowl, "but in case you all haven't noticed, he's also the nicest and the most polite and most considerate and the most sensitive person around here whether the three of us think that's right or not. He even walked us over here after catching us doing something bad and told us all about how he appreciates us as citizens and loves us just as much as he loves all of you!" He rolled his eyes. "He made us all do CHRISTMAS for crying out loud with cooing baby dolls and sugar plum fairies and merry songs!" He shuddered but then shook his head and finished, "How that sappy skeleton didn't fall for somebody yet was always more confusing to the three of us."
The children all nodded.
Then Shock scowled more and added for good measure, "And so what if he's been locking himself away for a few days with Sally. In case no one's noticed, that's just how Jack is—he's always off brooding and tinkering and being weird. Just because he's never gone off alone with any of the people who throw themselves at him before…" she eyed three well-known female members of the crowd in the front row, "…doesn't make it bad that he would go off with somebody now." She turned up her nose at the crowd. "Anyway, our point is, you were all supposed to just laugh and tease Jack and make him and Sally feel super embarrassed and awkward—now instead the two of them are maybe having a fight again and all upset, and that's no fun for anyone. Way to ruin the joke, Halloween town, way to ruin the joke!" She turned to the two boys. "Come on, guys, let's get away from these unsophisticated, boring dummies."
Lock and Barrel nodded firmly.
"Yes, lets." Lock turned, likewise holding up his nose in the air.
"Absolutely." Barrel turned too, his nose also turned up.
The children marched off and left the stage through the back curtain.
Everybody was very quiet.
Then the Mayor, his sad face looking exceptionally sad, looked down in thought and shame.
Flora watched them all. Then she slowly approached the Mayor. She knelt down to his level and smiled. "Mayor…Jack and Sally's relationship may seem sudden, but personally they feel meant to be to me. And I promise you Jack's not unwell." She smiled more. "Actually, he's feeling better than ever now." She straightened up and looked out at the crowd, her voice tender if still possessing a regal bearing. "Where I come from, the bringing together of two people meant for each other is the most celebrated and desired event we have. And it's a relationship that's respected…even if it's not understood at first. But every love deserves a chance, no matter what the risks."
Murmurs of concern and shame came from the audience members.
Flora glanced to the Mayor and lowered her voice. "Mayor, please go talk to your citizens—I think you're a man with a good heart, I'm sure you can make all of this better." She smiled.
It took a moment of thought, but then the Mayor's smiling face slowly came back. He nodded. "I'll do my best. I think I understand. Thank you, Queen Flora."
Flora nodded and then her smile turned to Marigold. She grabbed the magistrate's arm and pulled her forward so that she was standing beside the Mayor now. "And I'm sure Marigold will be willing to help you out while I step off stage for a moment to take care of something."
Marigold blinked and her smile fell. "Flora, really, we do not have a lot of time. This trip has been fun and informative, I'll admit that, and I'd like to help our new friends, truly, but…"
"Marigold," Flora's tone was serious, "it's an emergency." And then she leaned in and whispered to Marigold for a moment.
As Flora spoke, Marigold raised an eyebrow at first but then her eyes went wide. The Heart Queen pulled back. Marigold looked at her. "You're serious?"
"Very." Flora nodded, glancing over to the Doctor and Jewel for a moment and then looking back to her magistrate. She sighed and rolled her eyes to the side innocently for a moment, "Though I suppose you make a point—we really don't have much time…" She smiled just a little.
"Well, we'll make time for something like that," Marigold replied without any hesitation. She smiled slightly as well. "You go and do what you do best, miss Heart Queen. And I'll do what I do best up here—keeping a holiday town calm and organized."
Flora smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Marigold." She gave a small bow of her head, which Marigold reciprocated. And then Flora moved back to Doctor Finkelstein and Jewel. "Doctor, I need to see you and Jewel backstage now please."
The Doctor still held his clearly aching head. "Ooo why?" he grumbled.
Flora lowered her voice. "Because I know why you're having headaches, I think. But first I need to ask you a little bit about Jewel and her 'creation', since from what I've gathered here her origin is similar to Sally's. And if what is going on is what I think is going on, you and I need to have a discussion about making sure your creations have full and free emotional range just as Sally does. And then we need to discuss Sally's new relationship."
The Doctor looked hesitant and unhappy to say the least. But then… "You can really fix the headaches?" left him uncertainly.
Flora nodded, her smile growing. "Absolutely."
Finally the Doctor sighed and gave Jewel a nod. She smiled and quickly pushed him forward and behind the stage curtains, Flora following after them.
Marigold and the Mayor watched them go, then the two turned to each other. Marigold sighed. "All right, Mayor, let's have a nice talk with your town and see what we can do to make this romantic situation better."
The Mayor nodded. "Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated, Magistrate Marigold. Thank you. It's simply…lovely? Is that the word your people would use? It's simply…lovely to have your help for this."
Marigold smiled more and nodded. "Yes, that's the right word. And think nothing of it, Mayor—it's simply horrible for me to get to be here to help your town in this time of romantic crisis." She sighed and gestured forward. "Come on, let's begin."
The Mayor nodded, and the two of them headed forward to have a good long talk with the citizens about Jack and Sally.
And meanwhile, Flora commenced to have a good, long talk with the Doctor about Jewel…and Jewel's lack of emotions, and lack of one very important emotion in particular.
A/N:
That's all for now, everyone! I'm sorry it's a big cliffhanger-ish ^^ I'll give you a brief overview of the next chapter though: some big stuff happens with the Doctor and Jewel, Jack and Sally have a long discussion about defying the romantic expectations of everyone around them, and Jack makes a special visit to Oogie's lair. And there's some Jack and Sally romantic moments thrown in there too : ) The next chapter is pretty much the last dramatic one, and after that we're getting closer to the story's conclusion and lots of lots of romantic stuff lol.
As for the next update—I'm heading into a very 'dense' month for November. It's honestly probably going to be one of the most stressful months of my life. So I'm going to try very hard to give you guys another update during it, but the next chapter might have to wait until December or New Year's. Sorry about that ^^ But I appreciate your patience very much. Thanks, guys, and thanks again for reading!
Happy Reading!
~Azure129 aka Jenna