A/N:

Hi everyone! Thank you all so much for being patient about updates to this story—the last few months have been very full for me, and there's just been so much to take care of, especially with the holidays ^^ But there are only four chapters left, and I should be able to update every other week from now on until things are all finished (also, please pretend this was posted last night (Sunday) which makes it technically last week—sorry, I dozed off last night before I could get it up ^^). Anyway, I hope you all enjoy and please review! Thanks! ^_^

Dearest Friends

Chapter 21:

Home Sweet Home

Back in the town, the citizens had had a very interesting and productive meeting together, guided here and there by advice and explanations from Flora and Marigold. And in the end, the Halloween townsfolk had found a new perspective on the Jack and Sally situation and come to a decision. Soon enough they had a message written up for their King and his new lady friend, and the Mayor was tasked with delivering it. He even offered Flora and Marigold a ride in the town's car so that he could drop them off at the holiday forest after quickly stopping by Jack's house. The two ladies had accepted the ride very graciously, and Flora had even added a small note from herself to go with the Mayor's delivery.

The Mayor had pulled the hearse up to the Skellington house a couple of minutes ago. Not seeing anybody at home though (the Mayor wasn't surprised—who knew when Jack might be finished with the bug situation, after all?), he had slipped the town's letter and the note from Flora into Jack's mailbox. Then he drove off again, Flora in the backseat and Marigold seated beside him.

"I'm sorry you two ladies had to see our town in such a confusing state," the Mayor apologized, his sad face coming around to the front. "Things have been more chaotic than usual around here ever since this past Halloween." He glanced over his shoulder. "You say now that Jack and Sally are together, things will be better, right, Queen Flora?"

Flora nodded. "Absolutely." She smiled and clasped her hands together gently in her lap as she explained. "Jack has been ready for love for a very long time, Mayor. He just didn't realize it until he knew Sally was willing to give him that love. They'll provide each other with great happiness and satisfaction. Your King will be even better than usual soon enough." The Heart Queen sighed softly, gazing out at the strange gothic landscape. "It's lonely being the leader, Mayor, even if none of the holiday Kings or myself like to talk about that aspect of the job. Everyone needs you to be a certain way so that the town and holiday can run smoothly. But sometimes you just want to be yourself. Sally will give Jack a chance to be himself." She smiled more as she turned her gaze back to the front seat. "And Jack will give Sally all of the care and affection and freedom she deserves."

The Mayor's sad face remained for a moment longer. "Yes, that might be for the best, especially if they're happier together than they are apart." His face then flipped to its happy look as he looked forward again. "This is going to be a first for us to deal with though—an in love Jack Skellington." He laughed. "Hmm, you two should see him with the ladies normally. He attracts all of their attention without even trying and then politely turns every single one of them down. It should be interesting seeing how he behaves now."

"He's a very mellow and sweet man in love from what I've seen, I assure you," Marigold remarked beside him as she finished taking a few notes on a pad with a golden quill. "Meanwhile, I've got this one in the back to worry about in the future." She jerked the quill back over her shoulder before resuming her writing. "When she falls in love, prepare for another holiday fiasco—I can almost guarantee it."

Flora smirked and waved her off. "Oh, it won't be so bad, Mari. Quite painless probably for the mistress of love." She held her head a little high. "And in the meantime, I still have to find a proper companion for you."

Marigold sighed as she finished writing a line and looked up. "Ignore her, please. She's a helpless matchmaker, and it's almost Valentine's Day, I'm surprised she was able to limit herself to setting up only two couples in your world during the time she's been here."

The Mayor nodded. "Oh, well, that's…" Then he paused, and his sad face came around again. "Two couples? Oh dear, I don't have to go through another town meeting, do I? There have been so many of those in the last few months, I'm not sure if I can handle another one so suddenly."

Flora laughed warmly. "Don't worry, Mayor. The second couple will take care of itself, I promise." She winked.

"That I can guarantee you, Mayor," Marigold added. "Flora's never wrong about these things." She turned to the Mayor with a smile as his happy face returned, then she went on. "Now then, I've taken some preliminary notes to help with planning the first inter-holiday council meeting soon. I'm sure you and I and the other advisors will be seeing each other regularly beforehand to set that up. And then I've listed some ideas for our own advisors-only board meeting, which I think will be very helpful for coordinating holiday festivities in the off season and also for figuring out ways to improve our relationships with the leaders we serve. We could even try working out an exchange program for the sake of spreading cultural awareness and learning more about each other's techniques for running our towns. What do you think?"

The Mayor nodded to Marigold. "Oh well, certainly, that all sounds fine. And thank you so much for organizing it all so well. It's very much appreciated. I can't tell you how glad to know now that there are other advisors in the other holiday worlds."

"Yes…" Flora leaned over the back seat a little and grinned at her own advisor. "And Marigold's one of the best. Punctual and precise and capable—and totally unattached, by the way—sharp, creative, and very responsible."

"Flora…." A light blush entered Marigold's features.

"Isn't she adorable when she blushes? Or horrible rather?" Flora had to laugh softly as she sat back again.

Marigold took a breath and rubbed one of her temples. "When we get home, you are embroidering every single final doily we need by hand even if it takes you all night and even if I have to watch you do it personally."

Flora just smirked a little but did nod. "As you wish, Magistrate Marigold."

Marigold rolled her eyes. "Sorry, Mayor. She really does get carried away just before our holiday. I think the moon shifts phase into the seventh house or something, and then she's giddy as a cherub really. She'll probably be trying to pawn me off on all of the advisors soon enough." She glanced at the Mayor and blushed a little more as she noticed his sad face on now. "Mayor? Is something wrong?"

"Oh…no." He shrugged. "Well…it's just…Jack's not a matchmaker, but the thought just occurred to me that…if all the women in town don't have him to throw themselves at anymore, I might be next in line. Jack's so much better at dealing with attention like that. I cannot handle that kind of pressure. I'm really just an elected official!" He sighed. "I'm very glad Jack's going to be so happy with Sally, but I wish he would think of these things."

Marigold just looked at him with wide eyes and an eyebrow raised for a moment. And then she couldn't help herself—her lip curled up at one end in a smile and she laughed.

In the back seat, Flora raised an eyebrow and smiled warmly.

The Mayor looked to Marigold. "It's really not a laughing matter. I know it's just the three of them, but you have no idea how ruthless the witches and Undersea Gal can be. I'll never figure out how Jack was ever able to stay one step ahead of them. And then what if Jewel starts in now too?"

"Erm, I can personally guarantee Jewel will not be starting in," Flora had to assure from the back, smiling more.

Meanwhile, Marigold finished laughing and wiped a tear from her eye behind her half moon glasses. "I'm sorry, Mayor, truly. It's just, coming from our world, that's such an unusual thing to hear somebody be worried about—too much affection. And besides, I'm sure you'd be just as capable of handling that kind of attention as Jack, maybe even more so. And I'm sure any of the women would be very lucky to have you."

"Oh." The Mayor looked down a little. "Well…thank you." He sighed. "Forgive me for saying so, but your holiday must be terribly complicated dealing with an emotion like love. Fear makes so much more sense." He hesitated, and then slowly his happy face turned around. "Maybe Jack's right and it's good we might have a chance to meet the other holidays formally now. It's hard for us here to understand anything outside of Halloween, but it wasn't so bad to try with Christmas and maybe we could learn a lot from the other holidays too. And if we could all visit, maybe the witches and Undersea Gal could all find suitors."

Marigold smiled softly and nodded. "I'm sure things will all work out for the best, especially as we all get to know each other and to share more and more. At the very least, getting to know each other is a great way to make good friends.""

The Mayor nodded to her. "I just wish you two could share with us more now. Your holiday sounds terribly interesting and very useful considering Jack's current situation. Are you sure you two can't stay longer with us? At least until we're sure all of this Jack and Sally business is settled?" He glanced over his shoulder at the Heart Queen.

Flora shook her head, though she still smiled. "I'm sorry, Mayor, I wish I could. But like I said, I have my own holiday coming up in barely six weeks." She sighed deeply. "There are arrows to make, bows to string, chocolate sculptures to carve, the doves have to be bathed, Valentine cards have to be created for the great exchange, boxes of candy need to be wrapped up as presents. Then there are all the matches to finish preparing between new couples for the humans…. That'll require the most work of all."

Marigold couldn't help smirking a little. "I'm impressed that you actually have a working mental inventory of our responsibilities at the moment."

Flora smirked in a touch of pride and gave a shrug.

The Mayor, meanwhile, nodded to Flora in understanding. "Of course, I understand. Your holiday has to come first. That's exactly how we feel around here too." He turned forward to continue driving. "I guess it makes sense then that Jack would visit your holiday considering Sally. Everybody must have somebody special in your town."

Flora shrugged, gazing out at the landscape again. "Most of them do find somebody, but only when the time is right. And I'm usually quite good at determining when the time is right for people, if I do say so myself. But everyone goes at their own pace. And some people even just prefer dedicating their lives to the study and admiration of love all on their own." She turned her smile forward again. "Next to me, actually, Marigold's the foremost love expert in our entire world, you know."

Marigold blushed slightly again. "Oh," she smiled and waved her off, "I don't know if I'd go that far. I suppose I know my way around a love arrow or two, but…really, I'm all formalities."

"Well," the Mayor's smile turned in her direction, "I'm sure no matter what you say, you must be highly qualified. I'm looking forward to working with you, Magistrate."

Marigold smiled a little more. "And I'm sure you're exceptionally qualified as well. And I'm looking forward to working with you too, Mayor."

"You see, I knew you'd relax on this trip at some point, Mari." Flora smiled and stretched up, grinning at Marigold. "Everything worked out, just like I knew it would."

Marigold smirked a little and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and Jack knew from the start the Christmas thing would fix itself perfectly enough to keep the holiday safe and find him his true love." She sighed, looking out of the car window. "Next year when our holiday starts getting close, I'm not letting you out of my sight for a second."

The Mayor sighed and shook his head. "That's exactly how I feel about Jack and next Halloween."

Flora laughed. "Maybe next year Jack and I will intentionally switch holidays. That could probably work out, right?"

Marigold sighed and grinned at her over her shoulder. "Or we could quit tempting fate and keep things organized. For my sanity. Please?"

Flora giggled and nodded. "Whatever you say, Magistrate."

Marigold just rolled her eyes and looked forward again with a grin.

The Mayor kept smiling. "I know the circumstances weren't ideal, but I'm so very glad you ladies came to visit. You've helped so much, and even just seeing that other holiday worlds have problems and advisors makes me feel so much better about everything that's happened here lately."

"Glad we could help spread some love, Mayor." Flora winked.

Marigold nodded and added, "…And some peace of mind too."

The three holiday beings shared a laugh as the car puttered along on its way back to the holiday forest.

Meanwhile, the bugs were all taken care of now that the trick-or-treaters had gone to drop them off in the pumpkin patch (with Zero supervising of course, just to make sure things went smoothly), the citizens were going about whatever they were going about, and Jack and Sally were finally just walking home alone together arm in arm.

Jack yawned, unable to help himself. "Sally, I know it's just dreadful of me, but I'm so tired after everything that's happened over the past week. I'm not sure how long I'll last tonight before I utterly collapse. And then I'm not sure just how many days I might stay asleep. I feel like I could nap until spring." He chuckled.

Sally nodded, yawning a little herself now. "I'm tired too, Jack. It's been such a long night, and it's so late." She looked up at him. "But couldn't we stay up together just for a little while? Just to talk? We've barely talked at all since Christmas Eve, Jack, at least not openly."

Jack nodded. "Yes, of course. Besides I could use a little dinner, and I'm sure you could too."

Sally smiled in a special way. "And I could also use a goodnight kiss, and I'm sure you could too." She nuzzled the side of his skull a little, whispering. "Oh, it was just awful getting interrupted in the town hall before. I've wanted to kiss you like that again from the first morning we spent together in your…our house."

"Oh…" Jack melted at her affectionate touches and clung a little closer to her. "Well…we did agree to 'hold the thought' until later…and now is later…isn't it?" He nuzzled her gently in return.

Sally giggled. "Yes, it's later. It's later and I adore you, my silly skeleton man."

"And I adore you, my delightful dolly…" Jack cooed back to her, pushing open the gate leading them up the drive.

The couple shared a warm laugh as they strolled up the wooden steps to the front door. Jack grinned down at Sally, his eye sockets hazed with happiness. "Well, Sally, at least we have each other now even if it might take a while for everyone else to catch up about us."

"And we have the trick-or-treaters too," Sally pointed out with a grin of her own. "And Zero. And probably most of Valentine Town."

Jack nodded as they reached the front door. "You're very optimistic, my darling. I love that."

Sally blushed at that lovely L word. "Oh Jack, speaking of lo—"

"Oh. What's this?" As Jack had gone to open the door, he had found a folded up parchment wedged in the mail slot along with another smaller note. "I'm sorry, Sally," he added, observing the items with an eyebrow raised as he opened the door and lead them both in, "I usually don't get letters."

Sally blushed a little but nodded. "It's all right, Jack. They might be important. Maybe you should read them. I'll get some tea for us, and I'll heat up a couple bowls of that leftover stew from the other night," she offered with a smile as she released her arm from Jack's and headed toward the kitchen.

Jack nodded. "Yes, of course. Thank you, Sally." Then he sat down on the sofa and started with reading the first small note.

"Good news, I hope?" Sally couldn't help but ask over her shoulder from the kitchen.

Jack sighed but smiled. "Oh, yes and no. The little note's from Flora. She just apologized again for any problems she may have caused and thanked us for our hospitality while she was here. But unfortunately she had to head home along with Marigold for holiday planning. The Mayor was kind enough to drive them, it seems. I know we'll probably see her again soon, but still I wish we'd gotten a chance to say goodbye." Jack put the note on the table and then took up the larger letter.

"Oh, that's a shame. I would have liked to have said goodbye to her too," Sally called over to him.

"I'm just glad you two are friends now," Jack replied back as he opened the seal on the letter.

"Me too. I can't wait to see her soon. It'll be nice to visit Valentine Town—going to a place where our love isn't a 'forbidden scandal.'" She giggled at the thought.

Jack chuckled. "Yes. But in the meantime, I'm sure we'll have quite a bit of fun around here sneaking off for secret romantic rendezvouses and shocking the town with our appearances together at Town Meetings and keeping the lights glowing in this old house as we stay up together for hours to play games and sing songs…. Not to mention how I plan to have you right at my side and in my arms for next Halloween and every Halloween after."

Jack started reading the letter now.

"Oh Jack, really?" came Sally's happy voice from the kitchen. She reentered the living room now with the teapot and a couple of cups on a tray. "I'd be so nervous at the center of the parade, but with you there right with me I think I'd have a lot of fun." Jack was very absorbed in his letter, so Sally barely noticed that he didn't make any reply to her. She set down the tray. "I don't think our relationship will be easy, Jack, but I have a very good feeling about it. Don't you?" She noticed more this time now that he didn't reply to a question, but figured he might say something after he finished the section of the letter that he was looking at. Finally, Sally sat on the sofa next to him and poured herself a cup of tea. "Tea, Jack?" she offered, holding the spout over his empty cup.

Jack still did not reply though. He just read with wide eye sockets.

Sally frowned. "Jack?" She lowered the teapot and gently touched his arm. "What is it?"

Jack blinked and instantly popped out of his daze. "Oh. I'm sorry, Sally, it's just, um…" he smiled, he seemed almost a little teary, "I…I don't think that we'll have to worry about being a scandal anymore. Look." He handed her the letter to read.

Sally took the letter. And as she read, she got a bit wide-eyed and teary too.

The message part of the letter was brief enough. It consisted of an apology to Jack and Sally for reacting so unsupportively about their relationship, followed by an explanation that the town's concerns came from the fact that Jack had always been so resistant to romance that it couldn't help but seem strange to everyone that he would suddenly take up with somebody. They had just wanted to be sure Jack was truly back to his old self again and of course that Sally didn't have her heart broken if he wasn't. Finally, the letter explained Flora and Marigold's general advice to the town followed by the events of the rest of the town meeting where everyone recalled how much trust they had in Jack and how grateful they were to Sally for her role in saving him and their town and Christmas. So in short the citizens just wanted Jack and Sally to know that they were very the pair had found happiness together, and that they hoped none of their unpleasantness had caused any problems between the happy couple. The body of the letter finished with a brief statement of thanks to both Jack and Sally for their efforts with the bug problem as well.

The bulk of the letter came next: every member of the town had signed the message, so naturally the parchment had ended up quite long.

When Sally was done reading, she placed the letter down and wiped a tear from her eye. "Oh Jack!" She giggled and then just dove against him in a big hug. "Even the Doctor signed it!"

Jack hugged her back, smiling so merrily as well. "Yes, yes, of course, the doctor too. After all, who could deny that Jack and Sally are meant to be, hmm?" He pulled back, and the two of them just looked at each other as they finished sharing a laugh of happiness.

Then everything was just quiet and warm, and they were both very close, looking into each other's eyes.

They could feel the something beautiful stirring up between them again.

Jack swallowed and did his best to resist for just one more time in his life. "Sally…" he started in a quiet and trembly voice, "before anything else happens, I just need to explain myself. I need to tell you something about how I feel for you. Please." His voice had dropped to a low whisper, his gaze still locked onto her big, beautiful eyes.

Sally smiled shyly and she gave a nod. "If you want to, Jack. I'm here for you, and I'm listening." She came forward and gave his cheek a soft kiss, then pulled back.

Jack sighed softly at the gesture. "Thank you." He took a deep breath, then clasped his hands together shyly. "Sally? I love you." He frowned, going on. "I've been in love with you since Christmas Eve night. I'm sorry I didn't tell you until now." He cleared his throat and added sheepishly, "Well, actually, I did sort of tell your arm back when I had it, but of course that's not the same." He swallowed and went on. "I was just afraid that you would think I was being impulsive, that I couldn't sincerely care for you after the events of one single evening…and I thought you might even be insulted if I suggested that I could care for you so deeply so quickly. But I don't want to have any more secrets, Sally. I do love you." He took up one of her hands in both of his. "And if you need me to prove it in any way, I'll go to the ends of every holiday world and back again to do so, my dearest friend."

Sally looked back at him with such wide, curious, wondrous eyes. And then a smile bloomed on her face that she was quite sure would never leave. "You don't have to prove…. But oh Jack, it's not a secret: the last time you came to me sleepwalking, you told me that you loved me. But it's so wonderful to hear you say it now like this...and to know that you even said it to my arm—no wonder she was willing to lead you to me when we were fighting." She giggled. "I understand, Jack, I really do," she assured him, her whole look bright.

Jack blinked at her words for a moment, but then frowned in realization. "I already told you when I was sleeping…" His skull lowered, and he released her hand. "I'm sorry. I couldn't even tell you 'I love you' the right way."

Sally reached out and placed her fingertips underneath his chin, gently lifting up his skull to let their gazes meet once more. She was still smiling. "As long as you mean it, it's the right way, Jack. And if it helps make things any better…" she lowered her voice to a whisper and moved closer, "I'm in love with you too, Jack Skellington. I loved you from the moment I met you. I always have, and I always will."

Jack's eye sockets went wide. "Really?" he whispered back.

Sally nodded. "Yes. You seemed so shy the last few days though, that I didn't want to tell you. And I never wanted to tell you from the start because I was afraid you would think I was just like every other woman in town claiming to care about you without really knowing you." Her hand moved to rest gently against the side of his skull. "But I would have told you now even if you hadn't just told me first. No more secrets, just like you said. I love you, Jack Skellington. And I've been dying to tell you for so long that it felt like I was going to burst."

Jack smiled so dreamily. "Oh Sally…" he chuckled softly, a hand coming up to gently brush through her hair, "I-I've never been in love with another person who loves me back. It feels splendid though."

Sally giggled as she lowered her hand and pulled back just a little. "I'm glad you like it." Then she swallowed and asked, both of her hands coming to rest together in her lap, "So, um…you being worried about letting me know that you love me…that's part of why you've been nervous about kissing me up until now? Because if it is, it's…very nice that that's out of the way and behind us." She bit her lower lip a little, looking to his eye sockets in meaningful anticipation.

Jack blinked at the question. Then he sighed and swallowed. "I…it's part of the reason, Sally, but there's more to it than that." He rubbed the back of his neck. "You see…it's sort of like…well, there are a lot of reasons and…" He thought to himself for a moment. Then the Pumpkin King looked to her eyes again and spoke simply. "Sally, maybe instead of trying to explain it all at once, I should just do what I want to do from now on: be honest with you about everything involving our romantic experiences as they happen. I was afraid of what you would think, but I'm not so much anymore. And especially now that I've had some time to settle in to the idea of our relationship and now that those candies put me in touch with my subconscious a little, I think I'm ready to try all on my own." He smiled. "Is that all right, Sally?"

Sally smiled more and nodded. "Of course, Jack. And we don't even have to start with kissing if you still need some time to be comfortable with it. I just like sharing with you and being near you, hearing your voice…" She blushed lightly, and her eyes hazed all the more.

Jack smiled with a touch of pride at her praise. He sighed and leaned in a little closer to her. "Well, I suppose we could just start with whatever feels more right. Though I think eventually it would lead to kisses and quickly." He blanched a little. "I'm very attracted to you, Miss Sally," he managed.

Sally blushed, her breaths growing shallow. "I feel the same," she whispered with a touch of anticipation she couldn't hide. "I think you're the most dashing and desirable man dead actually, my King." She giggled.

Jack brightened a little, and his smile grew. "We could try a kiss right now. It'll be nice to finally be together some place private and without interruptions."

"Okay." Sally nodded, her eyes wide and her cheeks flushed a light purple as she smiled, feeling her leaves practically fluttering inside.

Jack continued to look into her eyes. Then he bit his lip and moved forward…but hesitated, raised a hand but hesitated again. He let out a deep breath. "Sally? If we're not caught up in the heat of the moment, I'm not really sure how to start a kiss." He swallowed with a sheepish look. "Which way should I tilt my skull? And where exactly is it okay for my hands to go? And should we always kiss with our eyes closed or would you like to try with our eyes open sometime? I know it's embarrassing that I have to ask, but…I do have to ask. Even though I'm worried about seeming very inexperienced and awkward to you, especially since you've had so much time loving me in secret to build me up as a lover in your mind." He blanched a little. "Any guidance would be helpful."

Sally blinked at all of the sudden questions. "Oh. I…" she raised an eyebrow and considered a moment before replying, "I don't really think I have any definite answers, Jack. I always just thought instinct was the best thing to go with whether we were caught up in the heat of the moment or whether we were just together and making our own moment." She smiled softly. "Don't feel embarrassed though, Jack. There's nothing wrong with being new at something and wanting to learn. I've never done this before either. We can learn together."

Jack smiled more. "I went to Valentine Town trying to learn on my own for you but…learning together sounds very nice."

Sally smiled more. "Good. And to start, well…as I said, Jack, I don't think there are any 'rules' about how to kiss. But I think eyes open or closed is okay, though closed so far feels nicest to me. We can try the other way too though. And I'm not sure if it matters which way you tilt your skull or even if you have to tilt it at all—you don't have a nose, Jack, so there's nothing to get in the way. But tilting does have a nice feeling to it as long as we tilt opposite ways. And as for your hands…" she blushed and tried to keep her breaths from growing shallow, "they can go wherever you want them to go. I don't mind. But, um, if you wanted a place or two to start…" Sally reached out and gently took and guided one of his hands, "Here…" and then she took and guided his other hand, "And here…are fine."

A very wide eyed and slightly paler than usual Jack now found himself with his arms around Sally's body, one hand resting just above her left hip and one hand resting midway down her back and gently touching her long yarn hair.

Sally smiled, her blush continuing. "Where would you like me to touch you, Jack? Or would you like me to pick?" she asked softly, coming closer.

Jack felt quite like passing out, only he feared that if he did so then some of the residual effect of those candies would cause him to 'wake up' right away and start doing things with his eager, adoring, forgiving Sally that he would never have the courage to remember. He swallowed, his voice very quiet, as he responded. "You can pick, Sally. Well, um…maybe if one of your hands could touch my face or just anywhere on my skull again, I'd like that. I think it feels nice to have my bones touched." He blanched so much, though he still managed a smile.

Sally smiled more and giggled softly. "Of course, Jack. All you ever have to do is ask." One of her hands came up to gently cup the whole side of his skull. "Your bones feel nice to me, or at least your skull does—so smooth and cool. And I like the faint little seams in the bone along your cranium. Who knows, maybe you have a little rag doll in you somewhere." Her other hand came up to rest on his shoulder, tenderly holding there.

Jack actually smiled and laughed a little at her joke. "No one ever noticed my 'seams' before." He closed his eyes a little for a moment. "It feels nicest when you touch them." Unconsciously his hands started to gently press against the parts of her body he held.

"Hmm, that's funny…it feels nicest when you touch my seams too," Sally cooed, closing her eyes a little as well as she felt his hands brush up against parts of her dress that covered the hidden seams along her body.

"Hmm?" Jack asked softly, opening his eye sockets a little again.

"Your hands… When you move them like that, sometimes they touch seams. I like it," Sally cooed in a heavy whisper. She came very close to him, pressing their foreheads together.

Jack opened his eye sockets a little more. He was very aware of the movements of his fingers now, of her dress and hidden seams, of curiosities and desires that he had begged himself to keep at bay but wanted satisfied somehow, someway, one day…though part of him might not have said no to now.

Sally came forward now, and Jack closed his eye sockets and met her. Then they kissed in that long, slow, tender way they both seemed to love.

They pulled back from each other eventually, breaths a little shallow.

Sally smiled dreamily at Jack. "That was nice." She giggled, unable to help herself.

Jack grinned a little. "Yes, it was." He swallowed. "Um, Sally, before we get carried away—I-I mean, um, if we were planning to get carried away, depending on what 'carried away' entailed—there really is another concern of mine I think I should mention."

Sally just sighed softly, her eyes still hazed in an entranced way. "Oh Jack, you worry so very much. You don't have to worry." She giggled. "Relax, please." And then with smile she came forward so much that she pounced him down to the couch with herself half on top of him.

"Whoa!" left Jack as he felt himself fall backward. Now he just lay there with a smiling, lovely doll atop him. He looked up at her with wide eye sockets.

Sally smiled sweetly down at him. "I'm sorry if I'm a little enthusiastic, Jack. I'm just so happy to be with you." She touched the side of his face again. "If you're uncomfortable though, just let me know and we can do something else."

Jack felt his face warm up and felt his fingers unable to help pressing gently against her dress as he continued to hold her. "I-It's not that," he assured. "I just…I'm unsure about something again. And it's embarrassing again." He frowned a little.

Sally's smile only warmed. "It's okay, Jack. You can tell me what it is if you want, and I promise to help you if I can. Or you can tell me later, if you're not ready to yet. I'm just happy we can finally share now."

Jack smiled a little again. "I think I need to tell you now." He took a deep breath and finally explained. "I'm not just worried about being inadequate as a lover, Sally. I'm also worried about being too adequate." He made himself explain his words very quickly while he had the courage. "You see, I've been around for so long but never had anyone like you before. I had to repress everything about the romantic side of myself over all of these years. That was part of why I went to Valentine Town—I needed to reconnect with my heart and passions. Those candies actually seemed to do the trick best of all by giving that side of myself nowhere to hide. But now I'm…concerned. I can't tell how intense letting go of all of that repression might make me or if it would overwhelm you. I have so many thoughts about you, so many desires, so many compulsions, it makes me shake trying to control myself sometimes. I can only imagine what I must have said and done when I came to you during the nights." He looked up, his voice a deep, almost pleading tone, and such a frown marring his features.

Sally blinked a few times and frowned too, only to see even more guilt come into his gaze. She gently stroked the side of his skull. "You were passionate during the nights, yes…but you were also a perfect gentleman, Jack." She smiled. "Please don't be so nervous about loving me. I promise nothing bad will happen no matter how long you've had to suppress that part of yourself. I only wish I could have been created sooner so that you wouldn't have had to be alone so long. But I'm here now, and I trust you: you're a good man, Jack Skellington. We'll just find what feels right for us together." Her smile grew, and she blushed lightly. "Besides, I understand. I have some repression too from all those years of loving you from far away."

Jack blinked once and raised an eyebrow in wonder. Then a shuddery breath escaped him, and he held her a little more closely. "Sally?"

"Yes?" she replied softly.

"I know it's a lot to ask considering my own behavior this week, but…if you could not end up mysteriously disappearing in the morning like you're just a dream, that would be splendid." The Pumpkin King smiled again. "You're the best person I know."

Sally giggled. "I won't disappear if you won't. We can be together forever if you want, my King." She gently traced along the side of his skull.

Jack's grin picked up on that side. "I guarantee I won't disappear…and I guarantee I'd love to be together with you forever…my lady." Jack's took in a deep breath through his nose and let out a sigh. "Sally?"

Sally took in a deep breath too (and tried not to tremble at him calling her his lady). "Yes?" Her eyes gazed directly into his eye sockets.

Jack held her more closely, something in his eye sockets shining through any hesitation. "I think I want to…um…I think I…" Then suddenly the smile fell from his face a little, and he raised part of his brow. "I think I smell something burning." He glanced around curiously, smelling the air again, though there wasn't even a fire burning in the fireplace at the moment.

Sally raised an eyebrow. Then she sniffed and blinked. "Oh, I think I do too."

"Hmm…" Jack inhaled the distinct scent again. "Strange."

They continued pondering for a moment more. Then….

"The stew!" they looked at each other and announced at the same time!

Sally tried to get off of Jack just as Jack tried to get out from under Sally, the result of which was to leave Sally fallen back against the other end of the sofa and Jack half fallen on the floor by the coffee table.

As quickly as they both could, the pair got on their feet and scrambled to the kitchen in an effort to save their dinnertime stew!

About an hour later…

There was a light knocking on the trap door leading up to Sally's room.

"Sally?" Jack called up from just underneath the door. "May I come in? I brought you a snack and some tea."

Sally, her bed on the sofa all made up (which was basically a few blankets and a couple of pillows, but laid out very neatly), finished tying her new robe she had just put the finishing touches on and dashed over to the trap door. She opened it up with a smile. "You can come in, Jack. I was just getting ready for bed." She stepped back to give him room to ascend.

Jack walked up the remaining stairs, tray in hand…and wearing just about the cutest pajamas Sally could have ever imagined him wearing. She smiled at the idea that other people probably expected the master of fright to dawn some black cowl or some torn up suit of darkness to bed at night, if the demon of light himself even slept. Yet the Jack before her now had just come up to her room wearing a cream-colored ensemble of long, pressed cotton pants, a long nightshirt with buttons down the center, and to top it all off a little night cap with a white ball on the end of it. Sally thought it sweet that even living alone he would still dress for bed so formally.

Jack's smile warmed as his gaze met hers, and he closed the trap door behind them. "I got you some witch hazel sugar biscuits and I brewed some black tea with nectar. I thought you could use a little something after our disaster with the stew." He shrugged sheepishly, then noticed what she was wearing and blinked and smiled. "Oh Sally, what a lovely flannel robe you made for yourself. It looks quite cozy." She had chosen purple and black for colors, which suited her well.

Sally smiled at him as she cleared a place on her coffee table for the tray. "Oh, Jack, dinner wasn't that bad—we managed to salvage at least a little bowl each to eat. But thank you, I'm still a little hungry, and biscuits and tea would be just wonderful." Then she smiled more as she stepped back from the table, her arms behind her back, and added, "And thank you, I'm glad you like my robe. If you want, I could make you one to go with your nightclothes." She did her best not to giggle.

"Only if it wouldn't inconvenience you," Jack replied politely as he set the tray on the table. "I'd love one. I don't have much insulation, being a skeleton, so especially this time of year the warmer the clothes I can find the better."

Sally nodded. "That makes sense. You even have a nightcap." She glanced him over once more. "I could make you some slippers to go with everything if you wanted." Her smile only grew at the sight of his skeleton feet sticking out from underneath the bottoms of his pajamas, the fine bones so detailed and distinct. It might have sounded silly, but she saw so little of Jack's form that she wished she could take a peek and explore them just a bit. "I could even try making them out of some of the yarn you gave me," she added as she came out of a slight daze.

Jack smiled modestly and shrugged. "Sally, you don't have to do all of that for me. I'm sure you still have enough sewing projects between your own things and whatever anybody might ask you to do."

"But I want to, Jack," she assured. "Please—slippers wouldn't take me long, and I could make them match your nightclothes perfectly."

How could Jack deny her? He smiled warmly. "Well, if you put it that way, thank you, Sally, I'd love some slippers. But you have to promise me that you'll take the time to make a pair for yourself." He gestured with his head down to the tips of her blue cloth feet sticking out from under the long winter robe before looking back up at her. "I don't want you ever catching cold or getting sick, if we can help it. You are to stay well and happy and loved for the rest of forever. Promise me?"

Sally blushed and smiled in such joy. "Of course, Jack. I'll make a pair of slippers for both of us. And I'll try to stay well, I promise." Then she popped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a very tight hug, resting her head against his chest. "Thank you."

Jack's smile beamed, and he put his arms around her to hold her gently in return. "For what, my darling?"

She sighed softly. "For caring about me so much. I never thought anyone would do that. It's wonderful." She hugged him more.

Jack just chuckled. "Oh, but it's the least I could do. And you do such a lovely job caring for me in return."

Sally giggled and then pulled back. "And speaking of that, please come sit with me and eat something and have some tea." She took his hand led him over to her sofa. "You've been overworking yourself for months now, and today was very stressful. I insist."

Jack smiled a touch sheepishly. "Well, I would have thought you'd have had quite enough of my company at all hours of the night, but…now that you mention it, I am a little peckish." He gestured down to the sofa with his free arm. "But ladies sit first please, and especially when they're in their own rooms."

Sally giggled. "Jack, you're so silly. Oh all right…" She sat down and then patted the place beside her. "Your turn."

Jack sat too, smiling a little sheepishly. "Sorry. If I'm recalling correctly, I have a sort of chivalrous streak. I think it stems from how much I value politeness." He reached out and took up the kettle. "Would you like me to pour you some tea, Sally?"

Sally smiled and nodded. "That would be nice, Jack, thank you."

They were quiet for a moment as the tea was poured and the two of them finished a biscuit each.

Then Jack took a breath and began for the sake of starting more conversation (and for getting to a potentially awkward topic), "I'm starting to remember my little visits to you." He sipped his tea.

Sally blinked and glanced at him. "Really?" She blushed slightly. "All of them?"

Jack smiled a little and shook his head. "No, no…I think I'm just remembering the last one at the moment. I think what you said about me telling you I loved you during that time triggered the memory." He looked at her hesitantly. "Did I really ask you to run away with me so that we could make our own holiday every day about only our love?"

Sally smiled shyly and nodded. "Yes." She sipped her tea.

Jack lowered his teacup and sighed deeply as he slumped back against the sofa. "I really do like you so much, Sally. It's terribly easy for me to get passionate about you and carried away. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable at all."

Sally set down her teacup and moved close alongside him. "Oh, you didn't mean to come on so strongly, Jack. And, well, I can't say the idea doesn't have appeal in a fantasy sort of way." She reached up and let herself gently trace a finger around his jawline. "The two of us just running off together without a care in the world but each other…" She giggled. "But I know our life that we have here now is the best option of all." She lowered her hand. "Don't feel embarrassed, Jack. I told you before, there's nothing wrong with expressing yourself even if you are passionate." She blushed a little as she recalled his admission downstairs not too long ago about how he feared being unable to control himself with her. Sally's teacup shook as she tried to take it up from its saucer again for a sip, making several light clinking sounds.

"Sally?" Jack (blanching slightly from her touch) asked with an eyebrow raised as he noticed the action.

Sally swallowed her sip. "Sorry, um…I'm fine. I guess I'm just tired." She smiled at him, moving things along. "Anyway, your last visit to me really wasn't as bad as you think and neither were the other two, I promise."

Jack hesitated, then asked, "Will you tell me about the other two times?"

Sally bit her lip and looked down, blushing. "I don't want it all to overwhelm you, Jack. Maybe it's better to let you remember on your own gradually."

Jack blanched a little and nodded, looking down too. "Maybe. I suppose you're right—I shouldn't risk jarring my nerves too much after all the new experiences I've had lately." He sipped his tea again and considered, and then set his now empty cup down on the tray and stood up again. "Anyway, Sally, I think I should go to bed now and let you get to bed too. We could both use our sleep."

Sally frowned and stood up as well. "Oh. Um…if you want to." She looked down.

Jack's smile fell a little, and he tilted his skull to the side. "Is something on your mind, Sally?"

She wrung her hands together slightly, rocking on her feet. "It's just…being near you makes me happy, and I'm so glad that you're going to be okay now since you're not eating any more of Flora's candies. But I just wish you would stay with me longer." She looked up at him. "But I understand that you need your rest. Can I at least have a kiss good night?" She smiled hopefully.

Jack didn't say anything for a moment. Then he smiled softly. He came forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I wouldn't mind staying more. I find our time together very relaxing, Sally…and being near you makes me happy too. But I'm worried about falling asleep up here." He frowned. "Flora said those candies should be out of my system soon, but there's a chance I could sleepwalk again tonight. And I don't want to come to you like that anymore. In fact, when I do leave you should probably lock the trapdoor behind me."

Jack paused as Sally took his skull into her hands, looking up into his eye sockets. "I'm not going to lock my door to keep you out, Jack. I just want more time for us to talk." She swallowed. "The only thing I'd ask is that if you do sleepwalk, you don't sneak off in the morning before I wake up. It was lonely each night thinking I'd been with you and then waking up by myself."

Jack looked after her with his eye sockets wide. Then he smiled and nodded. "I'll stay with you as long as you'd like then, Sally. At least having the end of a proper date to show for everything we've been through today might be nice. And if I do sleepwalk, I won't leave in the morning until you're awake too. I promise." He whispered the last two words softly near her ear.

Sally sighed, her whole look going dreamy. "Thank you, Jack." She released him and then turned back to the sofa. "I'll pour us more tea," she offered brightly as she took up the kettle. "It's so nice on a cold winter's night like this."

Jack just watched her pour with a warm smile. Then he sighed and held his arms as her comment about it being winter really made him process for the first time the light chill in the room. 'No wonder she made herself a robe.' He turned toward the fireplace, which only had a faint glow of flame. "…And I'll get this fireplace lit a little better for you, Sally. The room should be toasty warm in no time." He got some more logs and continued talking to Sally, "I'll get you warmer material for blankets tomorrow, Sally. In fact, we can go to town and buy you whatever fabrics you think you'll need to start sewing for customers. Oh, and we'll get your sewing machine all fixed up too. I'm determined to get it running!" The flame was increasing and Jack puffed at it with the billows a bit and then took the poker to adjust the logs more. The fire suddenly rose up in a bright, happy flame.

"Oh…" came Sally's soft voice behind him in an odd tone he couldn't recall her using before. "Well, it'll probably be easier to get it running…when I give you back the gears I hid from it when you were trying to get it running in the first place."

Jack blinked, then turned around.

Sally was just standing by the sofa wringing her hands in an obvious gesture of guilt. "Jack, I'm sorry." She frowned so much. "I was so afraid the other day that when you finished the machine and then left the house and went to town hall, everyone would question you about where I was and the doctor would find me and tell you bad things about me and try to take me back to his manor. I was going to tell you, I just needed a little more time. I'm so sorry." Her eyes came up, nearly with tears in them.

Jack was quiet for a moment, his eye sockets wide as he absorbed this sudden truth. Then he came back over to her and took her hands in his. "Sally," he said softly but seriously, "I understand what you did and why you did it, and I appreciate you sharing the truth with me. But no more of this between us, right? Honesty and openness only."

Sally nodded. "Yes, of course, Jack. I'm sorry again."

Jack smiled and touched the side of her face. "It's all right. We've both made mistakes lately. But they're in the past now. And I'll always forgive you, Sally. Never doubt that for a moment, my love."

Sally felt like her stitches were about to burst, her smile grew so much at the term of affection. "Oh Jack…" She came forward and kissed him right on the mouth, then pulled back. "I can't believe you never tried courting anyone else before—you're wonderful at it." She giggled.

Jack was blanching and grinning so much. "I…Well, I try…" He blinked a few times and chuckled almost giddily. "I could get used to kissing you being a regular part of my life. You're very fun to love. I can't wait to know even more."

Sally blushed slightly. "You're very fun to love too, Jack…and I can't wait to know more either."

The two of them smiled to each other, then glanced away with shy grins.

Then Sally's eyes caught sight of the bright light of the fire beside them as she felt its warmth radiating out to her. "Thank you for the nice fire, Jack. I've never gotten it that…roaring. But then again, I'm a little afraid to play with the fireplace too much. I worry about sparks catching on my skin."

Jack nodded, his smile only growing. "Well, if you ever want me to light it for you, you know where to find me.

Sally just remained looking at the warm fire like she was thinking of something, a little crooked smile on her face.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Sally?

She blinked a few times, coming out of her thoughts, and then looked to him again. "Sorry, Jack. I was just, um…thinking about where we left off downstairs…before the stew burned." She smiled in a special way, then turned and sauntered a little bit away from him.

Jack blanched a little. "O-Oh…that." He nodded. "I remember." Sally having pounced him down to the sofa in the living room, her smile as she tried to soothe his worries, her assurances that any passions he wanted to try indulging were fine with her, her revelation that she liked when his hands touched her seams. His thoughts about what they could do next. Yes, he remembered quite well. He grinned a little in a special way of his own.

Sally giggled and shook her head. "Silly skeleton. Just making sure." She turned around to face him, looking more shy than sensual.

There was a moment of sweet silence between them. Sally was unsure whether all of the warmth flowing through her came mostly from the fire or from her own blushing. Either way she felt too flushed for words. And meanwhile Jack, confused but curious, couldn't tell how much of the warmth in his bones was coming from the fire at his back or the marrow racing in and out of his joints and an astonishingly glorious speed.

The two lovers were finally in their own private world with no expectations or responsibilities or doubts. They could just enjoy each other's company and fully embrace the love they had found together.

The Mayor had taken Flora and Marigold as far into the forest as the car would allow, and then the ladies had been obliged to say their goodbyes to the kind Halloween advisor and continue the rest of the way along a footpath. Luckily though, the distance wasn't too great, and so the pair discovered themselves at the holiday circle of trees soon enough.

"You know…" Flora smiled, arms behind her back and a little grin upon her features, "no one at home knows when to be expecting us back exactly. And we could use a break after all of the hard work we've put in here. We could always sneak off somewhere for just a little while longer—maybe build a snowman in Christmas Town?" She shrugged at her advisor, her eyes bright.

"Do not even think about it." Despite the seriousness of her reply, Marigold smiled as she delivered it, adjusting her glasses. "When the holiday's over, then you can go off playing with the other holidays and holiday leaders all you want." She sighed as she came to stand before the heart door. "For now though, I'm afraid you and I both know we have to go home."

Flora approached her, an eyebrow raised though her smile was still bright. "You almost sound disappointed."

Marigold blinked, then bit her lip. "Well…I suppose it's just…I wish we had time to stay and make certain of guiding Jack and Sally's and the doctor and Jewel's relationships down the right paths. I don't know how you stand never leading things through all the way when dealing with love, but personally I'd like to know all of our loose ends were tired up." She looked to the Heart Queen.

Flora sighed, and smiled more. "Mari, I know you want to run everything through down to the last detail, but I also know you know that's not how this works. It would be too forced, too artificial regarding love to just make it work straight down the line. No, the thing to do is plant and nurture the seed between two people. And then finally when the romance has brushed against its true path, you let it go and work itself out. Sometimes there are mistakes, but it's necessary. Part of love is instinct, and time, and being alone for a bit." Her smile grew, and her eyes hazed. "Jack and Sally have been shoved into the limelight and have had to involve other people in their affairs enough lately. Now they need a little privacy to figure out what they want together for themselves. And the same goes for the Doctor and Jewel. Believe me, I know it goes against your bureaucratic nature, but we're doing the right thing."

Marigold sighed but nodded. "I know. It's just always a lot for me to accept when we hit this point in things. That crazy Pumpkin King and that kind doll just started to grow on me a bit, I suppose. And the Doctor and Jewel too." She smiled again. "But I guess our holiday preparations will take our mind off of everything for now."

"Yes, of course." Flora nodded. "And I guarantee that after Valentine's Day, Jack and Sally will be visiting us, strolling through Lovers Lane, and talking about their bright future together." The Heart Queen winked.

Marigold laughed softly. "All right, Miss Heart Queen, enough optimism. Now, through the door, please." She opened the heart door. "And please promise me if we visit any more holiday worlds together that you won't try to set me up with advisors or kings or anybody? You know I'm not the matchmaking type." She blushed a little.

Flora chuckled. "All right, all right, at this point I'll leave you to instinct too. Come on, Mari…" She took a last look at the stark, somber holiday forest around her and sighed. "Let's go home…"

Marigold glanced around with a final smile at the place too. Then… "Oh!" She gasped as Flora suddenly grabbed the sleeve of her robe, and the pull of the holiday door sucked them both inside. "Flora! You know I like warning for that!" came Marigold's echoey voice out through the portal.

Queen Flora just laughed. "Oh, but it's more fun being surprised! Valentine Town, here we come!" Her voice was growing fainter.

The holiday door stayed open for a moment longer but then lazily shut, leaving the Halloween landscape in peace and quiet. Valentine's Day and Halloween had brushed together and created a lovely, horrible encounter, but now the leaders were returning to their tasks. And so every holiday was finally back where it belonged, at least for the moment.

A/N:

That's all for now! We won't be seeing anyone from Valentine Town again until the epilogue (chapter 25), but that'll give us plenty of time to finish things up with Jack and Sally (and the Doctor and Jewel).

Now, next chapter is a fun chapter—lots and lots of romantic (though still safely PG 13-ish) stuff happens as Jack and Sally finally have some time alone. ^_^ I really hope you guys like it!

~Azure129 aka Jenna