A/N:

Hi everyone! Sorry about the update delay—I was away for a bit, and then I had hard drive issues _ But anyway, here's another chapter! ^_^ So excited that this story's almost complete!

Tiny notice: while the content for the rest of this story, just like all the other chapters of this story, is still definitely at the teen level, for these last few chapters, every once in a while, Jack and Sally may imply something about increasing their intimacy in the future to an adult level. There's no explicit language used, nothing ever actually happens, but…as two adults who are thinking about marriage (and perhaps children) the subject comes up here and there (mostly in the epilogue where they really do have a serious talk about having children). So, just wanted to give a heads up : )

Dearest Friends

Chapter 23:

Mornings Together

Jack and Sally had stayed up rather late the previous evening, and so the two of them slept in rather late the following morning. Indeed, the couple probably would have dozed straight through to the afternoon if the orange sunlight leaking through a slight opening in the curtains of one of the windows hadn't begun to shine directly on Jack and Sally as the morning wore on.

As the light hit his eye sockets, Jack cringed a little and felt himself pulled to consciousness. His first response was to tug his nightcap down a little more and to move closer to the very soft source of warmth he had come to embrace in the night. 'I'll have to get Sally thicker curtain material for up here,' he thought to himself. 'I like my room better. Only one window, and I keep it covered over with black damask all night. It's so nice and gloomy. We should sleep together in there next time…. The bed's bigger too.' He yawned and started trying to fall back asleep.

Then a true appreciation of the thoughts he had just had suddenly hit Jack, upon which his eye sockets popped open wide and he blanched considerably.

The first batch of memories that came into his skull were of his evening together with Sally yesterday and everything that had led to them sharing her sofa together as a bed. The second batch of memories that came into his skull were of all the little wisps of dreams he'd had of Sally last night—happy images of cuddling with her and kissing her and even just looking into his eyes endlessly.

Jack's skull felt warm. 'At least I didn't sleepwalk and seek out things like that from her.' That fact was a great relief to him. And, well…He smiled a little to himself. 'Maybe it's a final effect of those candies, making me dream of her so much. Whatever it was, it was nice.' Jack sighed dreamily.

At the sound of his sigh, Sally yawned in her sleep.

Now Jack humbly let his eye sockets come up to view Sally's face and form as she slumbered near him. She seemed so serene. He could notice all of the gentle stitches covering her face; her shoulders were breathtaking; and he thought the gentle lines of her body under the covers were pure art. And that scent she had of autumn spices lingered on their pillow in the loveliest of ways.

Jack savored his closeness to her and the warmth they somehow made together even in death. He wasn't sure how he had ever lived without mornings like this one. Jack didn't want to disturb her, but he did wish she would wake up soon to share this special moment with him: he wanted her to smile and for them to talk and laugh together and plan their day.

The sunlight shining through the curtain was growing brighter, and Sally yawned again and pouted a little as the light finally hit her closed eyes. She let out a breath, and then her eyes fluttered open. She was quiet and seemed calm for a moment. Then she saw Jack: she blushed, and her smile grew considerably.

Jack smiled back at her.

Sally realized right away that she wasn't dreaming—the colors and the warmth and the embers and herb scent of Jack on her pillow were simply too real. And as she recalled their time together last night, she decided that the sight of Jack's eye sockets was the most comforting and beautiful image to wake up to: they were so warm and inviting and full of such love for her. "Good morning, dearest Jack." Sally closed her eyes again and nuzzled against his skull. "I love you."

Jack chuckled softly. "Good morning, most splendid Sally." He whispered by her ear. "I love you too." He kissed the top of her head and then nuzzled her as well.

Sally let out a content sigh and opened her eyes again. "What time do you think it is?"

Jack shrugged. "Oh, rather late in the morning for the sun to be shining through that window. I'm not surprised though—we've both been through so much lately, we needed a good night's sleep." He kissed her lips softly. "Are you hungry?"

Sally nodded. "I…I guess…" She blinked a few times, and Jack was about to ask her if she was all right when suddenly Sally beamed and wrapped her arms tightly around him. "Jack, before anything else, thank you for staying with me last night. I always wanted…I love you so much, I always dreamed of a moment like this with you…." She squeezed him even more tightly.

Jack blinked at the sudden burst of affection but then patted her back gently. "Don't thank me. Please. It was my honor." He kissed her cheek and then pulled back a little. "I'm just a humble skeleton man who's courting you. And besides…we can have many more mornings like this if you'd like." Jack swallowed and smiled.

Sally bit her lower lip slightly: her gaze came back to his, and she raised an eyebrow. "Can we have more mornings like this even once I have a bed up here to sleep on instead of a sofa?" She blushed.

Jack blinked and blanched just a little. He gave a small nod. "If you want to, I wouldn't mind at all. As long as we could just take things slowly for a while—these last few months, and especially last few days, have been such a whirlwind after all." He smiled a little and added, "It might take a while to find you a bed and get it all set up in here. Until then we could spend some mornings like this on your sofa. Or we could spend a morning or two in my bed." Jack let out a breath, trying not to tremble. "It's a bit small but definitely larger than this sofa. I'm sure it would accommodate us."

Sally's eyes went wide and her mouth went into a little 'o.' She hadn't been expecting… "I-If…you'd be comfortable, I don't see why not, Jack." She nodded. "A-And, of course we could take things slowly." 'Jack's room…Jack's bed.' She let out a breath. "Maybe we could start up here on the sofa for a while and just work our way to my bed or your bed?"

Jack nodded. "I think that sounds lovely."

Sally smiled and then giggled a little. "Or…we really could just run off together like you suggested the final time you came to me in your sleep—just you and me and celebrating a holiday all about each other. And we could make our own special place to sleep while we're there." She traced gently over his shirt with a fingertip.

Jack chuckled at her words and at the slightly ticklish action. "Very funny. Please…don't tempt me." He sighed and grinned a little. "At the very least I might end up just never wanting to leave this cozy sofa that I've had the privilege of sharing with you." He reached up and gently traced a seam along the curve of her cheek with his thumb.

"I wish we never had to." Sally blushed lightly, giggling more at the feeling of his finger lightly dancing over her stitches there. "I know we have other things to do, but I wouldn't mind a day lying in bed with you." She cuddled up close to his chest and yawned. "Can we at least spend a few more minutes together here?"

Jack nodded. "Yes, of course, my darling." He put an arm over her. "I couldn't deny my lover."

Sally blushed and almost swooned at him using the word she had suggested last night. "And I couldn't deny you either, my lover…my King." She beamed and rested her head even more deeply against Jack's chest and the pillow.

Jack chuckled. It was so nice to hear her call him lover too. And he did still love 'my King'… "Besides," he continued, brushing through a few strands of her hair underneath the covers, "we need all the rest we can get. Oh, it's going to be such a long day." He yawned. "I can't even imagine what will be expected of us. We'll have Halloween planning; we should probably check on Lock, Shock and Barrel; it would be nice if we popped over to see the Doctor and Jewel; I should really send a thank you message to Flora and Marigold for all of their help. And of course we'll have to hold a town meeting to wrap things up with the bug issue and to thank the town for their letter and to give everyone the latest update on our 'torrid, scandalous love affair'."

Sally giggled. "But I thought we weren't a scandal anymore, Jack—everyone seems to approve now."

Jack laughed and nodded. "Oh, yes, they approve, but that doesn't mean we won't be the gossip of the entire town for the next ten months until Halloween. The Pumpkin King dwelling all alone with his ravishing rag doll friend…."

Sally smiled more and reached up to play with the little ball at the end of his nightcap. "Oh, well then, I suppose they'll be expecting me to chase after you and dote on you and cry your praises everywhere we go as the most handsome and frightening man who ever lived."

Jack grinned completely. "Not as much as they'll be expecting me to fulfill every assumption every one of them has ever made about me secretly being some fiery and passionate lover. I'm sure they're imagining I'll tango with you through the streets and neck with you on every corner in the town." Jack blanched and laughed warmly all the more.

Sally's grin picked up on one side. "Or we could just avoid any awkward moments by staying in bed together forever."

Jack's grin picked up as well at the little jest. Then he sighed and sat up a little to look down at her. "I feel myself becoming horribly irresponsible and carefree the closer I get to you, Sally. And do you know what?" He leaned in closer to her, his eye sockets practically sparkling and his bony grin as wide as could be. "I'm happier than I've ever been, my dearest Sally doll." The Pumpkin King then leaned down to kiss Sally's lips only to have a blushing Sally put her arms around him and pull him close so that their kiss simply didn't have to end.

Jack was surprised at first at her move but then quickly found himself settling into his position lying over her while she held him. It reminded him of when he had rolled on top of her that day he had accidentally stitched her arm to his sleeve but better: he felt so much more comfortable about exploring their relationship now. And she was so warm and soft all over; he could feel himself sinking against her without even trying as his hands held her shoulders and their lips didn't separate.

Soon their passion cooled to deep romantic calm, and Jack and Sally's lips came apart at moments only to touch together again. Sally's arms came to hold more completely around Jack's small torso, and Jack's hands clung to Sally even more fully.

Their kissing found a gentle rhythm together.

Then Jack felt a compulsion and led his lips to Sally's cheek and then down toward her long neck. Her sweet mouth was a beautiful start, but there was so much more to her. She fascinated him beyond all reason, and he wanted to learn and explore all he could about her. He wanted things he had never willfully imagined wanting with her or anybody else because the idea had been too unreal to him until now.

And as Sally felt her mouth become free and Jack's mouth come to the seams of her throat, she closed her eyes, smiling, and let shallow breaths escape her. She didn't know what to think: she was filled with anticipation and wonder. She had dreamed about moments like these with him, daydreamed, longed. She…

Jack worked at the seams of her neck so slowly and so deeply. The way she held close and moved and breathed beneath him as he doted on her was more than enough to keep him pursuing this line of intimacy. He felt like each set of stitches were a new pair of lips for him to kiss.

Sally's breaths grew shallower and shallower. "J-Jack…" barely left her in a whisper. "Oh…mmm…" finally left her in a light moan she couldn't help.

The sound made Jack lock up and gasp. He removed his mouth from her neck and let a bit of reality return to him. He realized along with kissing her neck (and now collar) he also had a leg entwined with hers beneath the covers and his hands were pressing into the bare flesh of her shoulders so deeply he was surprised he didn't cause a seam to pop from the pressure. He also became very aware that the marrow in his bones was rushing like crazy, probably causing his entire body to blanch. Jack finally just looked down at the beautiful woman beneath him for a moment, trying to catch his breath, trying to think.

Once Jack's kisses had stopped, it had taken Sally a moment but now she blinked a few times and started to come back to reality herself. She became aware of their legs, aware of his hands, aware of her own hands (one almost gripping his spine, and the other which had moved farther down his spine than she had ever intended), and of course she became fully aware of the high degree of warmth they were generating. It was almost uncomfortably hot now on the sofa.

Jack, meanwhile, was stuck looking down into Sally's eyes with his eye sockets wide.

Sally noticed his hesitation, and she could see in the slight angle of those big eye sockets of his the uncertainty and almost fear he must be feeling. She tried to smile a little and to avoid the trembles trying to overtake her. "Jack." She wasn't sure how to put her thought at first, then settled on… "Is something on your mind?"

Jack blinked and blanched but at least found his voice again. "I…" He looked down from her eyes. "I…yes." 'It's okay. It's okay, you trust her and there's nothing bad about love, nothing at all.' "You and me. Together… Being together…" Jack sighed and frowned. "I'm so sorry for putting you in this position," he mumbled out quickly, blanching white-hot. "I've never…" He frowned more. "I'm sorry," he finished very softly, barely looking up.

Sally sighed softly and caught his eyes again. She shook her head. "Don't be. I…I think about you and me together sometimes too, Jack. There really are many ways to express love, after all." Her voice was very quiet, and she blushed so darkly. "I'm curious too, Jack. And it's a nice thought for one day…even if we're going slowly for now."

"Yes," Jack gave a nod, "slowly." He took a breath. "It would be a wonderful thing to share…" he added as he managed to look into her eyes fully again. He raised part of his brow, and in response Sally just smiled shyly and gave the lightest, affirming nod. Jack gave her a slight nod in return. "One day we'll share then," he offered with the shyest smile. Then he swallowed and added quickly, "F-For now though, um…I'm not really sure how to get off of you. I'm quite terrified that any place I touch to start pushing away is somehow going to manage to be even more intimate than any place I'm already in contact with." He smiled sheepishly.

Sally just smiled more. "Oh, I can fix that, Jack. But first, just relax—I can feel how tense you are all over. You don't have to be. I'm not so scary." A small warm laugh left her. "Just think of me as your dearest friend who happens to be a woman. Don't worry, you won't offend me, I promise." She blushed more. "I like being this close to you actually."

Jack blanched slightly, then nodded and took a breath and did relax himself. Doing so made him melt a bit more against her, sinking upon the softness of her cloth and the silk nightgown covering her. But her words were soothing, and he managed to be okay. (In fact, he was actually more than okay with his thin bones nestling upon her luxurious curves beneath the blankets, but he tried not to think about that fact too much right now). "All right, Sally." Jack's gaze remained locked with hers for guidance. "Now what?"

Sally's smile remained warm as ever. "Now this, silly skeleton man." She brought her lips up to kiss his gently. Then she pulled away, held on to him very tightly, and turned them both around in the blankets which resulted in Jack lying flat on his back on the sofa and Sally sitting over him, the blankets a bit twisted around her body. "There." She pushed up a little to sit up over him with a smile. "See, all better, Jack." She leaned down and gave one final soft kiss to his forehead and then moved off of him to sit on the far end of the sofa.

Jack just lay prone on his back for a few seconds, staring up at the ceiling with wide eye sockets. He almost could have moaned himself at what he had just experienced and the feeling it had left him with. 'She's…rather creative isn't she?' The corner of his mouth twitched a little upward. 'Oh I'm going to like very much spending mornings with her, I think, even if I will blanch almost the entire time we're having them.' Finally he couldn't help smiling at the whole thing as he sat up and looked to her. "So very clever, my darling. I approve." He reached over and took her hand to raise it and kiss the back of it. "Thank you," he added when he was finished,

Sally giggled. "Jack." She shook her head with a grin and pulled back her hand. "Come on, be serious, we really do have to get up—I think it must be practically noon. We have to see everybody in town, and before that I have to make the bed and we both have to get dressed and then we really should have something to eat."

Jack smiled and nodded. "Yes, you're quite right my dearest." He yawned and stood up, going over to the window and pulling aside the curtain a little to double check the position of the sun. "Oh dear, yes, it really must be practically noon. Hmm…I haven't slept until noon in ages." He smiled to himself and stretched upward.

From her position still seated on the edge of the sofa, Sally watched as his stretching before the brightly illuminated window caused the sun to shine through his shirt, showing her the shadows of all of his ribs and spine. She sighed dreamily.

Jack turned at the sound and lowered his arms. "What is it, Sally?"

She just blushed and smiled more. "From the sunlight I could sort of see your bones and…you're just such a beautiful man, Jack. That's all." Sally swallowed and then stood up and quickly started making the bed.

Jack blinked and looked down. He realized what she meant—he could see the light shining through his shirt too now that he looked. A proud grin came to his features, and he walked back over to her. "Oh, I see." He looked down. "Well, as someone who always saw himself as 'lanky' at best, I'll take 'beautiful man' as the highest compliment, my dear lady." He gave her a small bow.

Sally just laughed and shook her head as she finished folding the blankets. "Jack…"

Jack laughed too and straightened up. "Can I help you finish making the bed, Sally? It's either that or you let me prepare our entire meal for you once you get downstairs." He picked up a sheet that she had laid aside over the back of the sofa.

Sally smiled but shook her head. "Thank you, Jack, but it's all right. I'm practically done with the bed already, and I need that sheet for something else anyway." She took it from him and blushed slightly. "You can cook for me if you'd like to, but I wouldn't mind helping. For now though let's just both get dressed and ready for the day, and then we can talk about what we want to do next."

"As you wish, my Sally." Jack nodded.

Sally nodded in return and kissed him on the cheek. Then she headed over to the only windowless corner of the room where, Jack noticed, most of her clothes and sewing items were stacked on a small stool. There was also a sturdy piece of string set up high near the ceiling stretching from one wall to the next across the corner. Sally threw the sheet over the string, and as it hung down it sectioned off that small space of the room.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Sally, what do you use the sheet for?"

Sally blushed and turned to him a little. "I dress and undress behind it. I just like my privacy, I suppose." Then she slipped behind the curtain.

Jack blinked. "Oh." He tried not to blanch too much. "Erm, if you wouldn't mind the indulgence, I could purchase you an actual changing screen to go with your bed." He rubbed the back of his neck, looking down a little and shuffling a bit toward the trap door. "I-I actually keep one in my own room—strange coincidence that we both like the idea of them, I guess."

"Yes, that is funny," Sally agreed in understanding from behind the curtain. "Hmm…well, if we find a simple one in town, I wouldn't mind it for up here."

"Splendid," Jack offered with a relieved sigh, and then he smiled and prepared to exit the room.

Suddenly, though, he paused as his ears caught the light sound of fabric gently falling to fabric.

Jack glanced toward Sally's sheet, unable to help himself…where he could now see her blue silk nightgown gently hanging over the top of the makeshift changing screen.

Jack let out a very deep breath and made his eye sockets turn straight toward the exit and his feet head in that direction as well. "So, I-I'm just going to go now. Thank you for letting me be a little more generous with you about your furnishings, and, erm… I'll see you downstairs! Bye, Sally!" And with that the Pumpkin King dashed down the trap door steps.

Sally just giggled as she heard him go, and called out before he closed the trap door behind him, "I'll see you there, dearest Jack."

Once down the stairs and in the main part of the house, Jack dashed into his bedroom, closed the door behind him, and then slumped down against it to the floor, breathing shallowly. He looked embarrassed at first but then just couldn't help smiling. "Hmm…I'd almost forgotten that I even knew how to desire another being so completely. How did I live for all of these centuries never being in love?" He got himself standing and laughed a little. "Oh, I'm so happy I could sing!"

"Arf, Arf!"

Just then Zero flew through jack's window. Jack beamed at the sight of his faithful companion and scratched him behind the ears. "Zero! I'm very glad to see you." He chuckled. "You'll be happy to know that everything's worked out with dearest Sally, and she'll be staying with us forever. We intend on being very happy together, and I hope you're happy too."

Zero's nose glowed brightly and he nodded. "Arf!" He flew in a few circles in the air.

Jack just laughed more, clapping his hands together. "Splendid! Oh, our lives will be so wonderful, Zero, I'm sure of it! Now, I just have to get changed and cleaned up, and then I can see her again." He opened his armoire and got a shirt, a new suit, and a few other essentials in hand and then headed for his changing screen. "Zero, while I change, please go find a little dried flower for my lapel—just something to spruce up my look? Only the best for our Sally!" He was already behind the screen now and had his clothes for the day laid out over the top.

"Arf!" Zero nodded and then disappeared through the walls to head outside and find the flower.

And Jack, meanwhile, just hummed the tune to 'This is Halloween' to himself as he finished getting ready and prepared for his and Sally's relationship to finally have its first normal, happy carefree day.

A little while later, Sally, her hair freshly brushed, her dress looking neat and pressed, and her shoes even polished a little, quietly crept down the steps leading down from her tower room. She was trying to control her smiling, quite afraid it would burst some of the stitches on her face if her crooked lips continued trying to curl upward more and more. And she was also blushing lightly—an effect uncontrollable at this point, for better or worse. But could she really be blamed?

'I can't believe last night and this morning too with him: how close we got and how nice it was to wake up together. And then what happened afterwards…' Sally's leaves fluttered. She now knew without a doubt that Jack officially wanted her in every way and to the depths of which she had always wanted him. It was comforting and overwhelming all at once. 'It was so nice to talk to him about it, even if we had to be indirect. But I still can't believe what I did behind my sheet for changing.' Sally bit her lip and turned quite scarlet as she came down finally to the lower floor landing. 'If I hadn't had a slip on underneath my nightgown, I couldn't have done it,' she admitted to herself shyly.

Of course, now that Sally was about to see Jack again in the kitchen, she was feeling a bit shy. 'I hope I wasn't too bold.' She was a few paces away from the kitchen entrance when she heard something—Jack's voice speaking softly…and possibly humming? She couldn't help quietly tiptoeing to the kitchen entrance and lingering secretly by the doorway to have a listen.

Jack was just standing near stove in one of his usual pinstripe suites (and with a little dried flower in his lapel, she noticed) preparing the kettle for tea. And as he did so, he looked out of the window and was lightly singing a few lyrics of a song as he hummed a tune Sally found familiar.

"Oh, somewhere deep inside of these bones,
A new feeling has found its home,
There's someone out there whom my heart knows,
A lady to woo who cares for me so…."

Jack chuckled to himself. "Hmm…Good morning, Lady Sally. Fresh tea and crumpets, my love?" He pretended to address an imaginary Sally before resuming singing once more.

"And since I am dead I can take off my head
To recite Shakespearian quotations.
No animal nor man can scream like I can
With the fury of my recitations…."

Jack sighed. "Madame Sally, would you like to go for a walk in the hinterlands? ….Madame Skellington, you're looking particularly ravishing today…" He laughed warmly again, pouring hot water out of the freshly whistling kettle and into two oddly shaped mugs. His singing resumed.

"But who here would ever have guessed
That the Pumpkin King with the skeletal grin
Would have a secret delight that he's dying to unfurl…
Thanks to true love, he's finally charmed his favorite girl."

Jack's voice lowered to a doting whisper as he gazed down at the two mugs. "Pumpkin Queen Sally, would you like to plan Halloween forever by my side?" In the steam rising from the mugs, Jack drew a heart with his bony fingertip that held in the air for a moment and then curled back into the rising steam.

Sally watched, mesmerized both by his voice and the lyrics (his little asides complete with titles for her were quite enchanting as well).

Suddenly, Jack glided across the kitchen to grab the tray for the tea, and couldn't help singing one final verse as he did so.

"There was an empty place in my bones,
That called out for something now quite known.
Somehow with help I did this right…
And I'll never be alone, not for one single night…"

He finished the last word in one of his deepest, most sonorous tones.

…A tone that couldn't help but make Sally sigh just a little in love and admiration and attraction.

As he finished setting down the mugs on the tray, Jack's ears instantly picked up the sigh and he gasped a little, his eye sockets wide. He turned, and his gaze quickly found the red top of Sally's yarn-covered head as she gasped now too and pulled back just a little from her position peeking around the doorway.

Sally frowned to herself, blushing lightly. 'He knows I was listening anyway. I don't want to act like I'm trying to keep it from him. That would seem so silly and unfair.' Sally swallowed and shuffled forward now into sight and into the kitchen as she pushed some hair behind her ear. "Good morning, Jack," she said softly, smiling a little. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you."

Jack just blinked a few times and then blanched and put his arms behind his back. "Y-You didn't. I, um…I was just finishing up making the tea anyway. I thought it would be a nice way to start the morning before we decided what to eat." He tried to smile a little but then just sighed and swallowed.

Sally came forward now with a warm smile. "I think tea sounds lovely." She went behind him and gestured to the tea tray. "But first, why don't we get some curdled cream and black sugar and sour lemons to put on the tray too, okay?"

Jack just nodded.

The two of them proceeded at their task, working slowly.

"Jack?" Sally said softly after a moment. "I'm sorry I listened in on you singing and talking to yourself just now. I just think it's beautiful when you sing, and I was so happy to hear you sounding so happy." She blushed a little more and added, "And I wouldn't mind being called Lady Sally…or even Queen Sally. Madame Skellington was my favorite though. I'd love that." She smiled more to herself.

Jack smiled just a little too as he finished filling the creamer. "It's okay, Sally. And I didn't mean to seem so embarrassed. I'm just shy with you sometimes, I can't help it. Yes…I am happier now. Much happier." He smiled a little more. "I didn't realize my singing was so grand to you."

"I've always found it very spine tingling…" She set the lemons and sugar on the tray and moved closer to him. "I have a song I could sing too, you know." She swallowed. "I was just always shy about singing in front of other people. I never understood how you could be so brave during Halloween and sing in front of everyone."

Jack smiled more. "I never heard you sing a whole song before. Until we sang together on Christmas Eve, I never even knew you could sing at all. The Doctor never mentioned it, and neither did you. I just assumed you didn't know how, and that's why I never offered you a singing part in the parade. I didn't want to put pressure on you."

Sally smiled more as well. "You're very sweet, Jack. But I can sing, even if it's not as good as you." Her blush deepened and she looked down at the tea tray. Then she cleared her throat and began.

"I once sensed something in the wind
That felt like tragedy at hand.
And though I wanted to be with him,
Couldn't shake this feeling that I had.

"The worst seemed just around the bend.
And he didn't notice my feelings for him…
He couldn't see how much he meant to me.
I wondered if we weren't to be…"

Then Sally gave a very deep sigh and looked into Jack's eye sockets. She sang on.

"But now and forever, we'll be together…
Yes, it must be, now and eternally.
Together, Jack and Sally…"

Jack just looked at her with such love. He sighed softly as she finished. "Why would a siren keep her call a secret? Why would a melodious banshee never open her blood red lips?"

Sally blinked and smiled more, then just looked down. "I'm shy too." She shrugged.

Jack raised an eyebrow and then just laughed warmly and hugged her from the side. "Oh you're a delight is what you are, Sally! Oh Sally…" He pulled back. "I'm sorry for acting so awkward. I don't mind that you heard me singing. In fact I'm just glad to know now that my singing has such an effect on you." He moved closer, something in his eye sockets brightening as they narrowed romantically. "I can serenade you any time you wish, you know. You and only you… I might reuse a few familiar tunes, but I could come up with new things to say about you in song whenever you wanted easily enough." He winked at her.

Sally giggled. "I, um…" she wrung her hands together a little bit in front of herself, "I…I used to daydream you would serenade me when I was up in my tower at the Doctor's," she admitted softly.

Jack's bony grin only grew. "Ah, well…one more reason for me to make a habit of it here." He took her hand, moving closer. "We could even dance together while I sang. I did promise to dance with you one day—a waltz, I think, would be nice." He put his other arm around her waist and then dipped her back a little.

Sally looked up at him, her eyes wide and smile bright. "H-Here? Now?"

Jack laughed and straightened them both up. "It can wait until later if you'd like. For now though, let's stick with tea and a toast to the start of a beautiful morning together." He picked up a mug for himself handed her the second one. "To True love."

"To True Love." Sally took the mug and toasted with Jack, and then the two of them took sips of the hot liquid.

Jack leaned back against the counter, looking out of the kitchen window and smiling.

"We should probably make something to eat that's quick, Jack," Sally advised, pouring some curdled cream into her cup and sipping her tea again. "You're right, it's getting late and we really should go see everybody soon to let them know we're okay and to thank them for their sweet letter."

Jack nodded as he finished a sip of tea. "Hmm…yes, that's an excellent point." He considered, still gazing toward the window, and then glanced at Sally. "Sally, would you like to go out to eat?" He raised part of his brow.

Sally blinked and lowered her mug. "Out? Like a picnic?" She tilted her head to the side.

Jack just smiled and shook his skull. "No, I meant…out, like to a café or a restaurant. The Corpse Wife serves light meals at her Inn, the Demon's got a whole eatery of light fair to choose from, then there's dining at the Wolfman's bistro. We could go into town to eat, publically, together. What do you think?"

Sally blinked. "I never thought about that, Jack." Most of her daydreams had only involved cozy, romantic dinners for two. "Yes." She smiled more as the idea sunk in. "Yes, let's go out to eat. I've never eaten out before. Someone to prepare everything and set everything up and clean everything afterwards…" She sighed. "It sounds heavenly."

Jack frowned a little. 'She never got to eat out when she was living with the Doctor, not once…' But then he smiled again. "Oh, eating out is very nice, yes. And I'm happy to give you your first experience of it." He took her hand. "We could eat out in other holiday worlds sometime soon too if you're ready, or even among the humans. They have some delicacies that are just delightful, and I'm sure the other holiday worlds would have the same."

Sally giggled and nodded. "Maybe we could. I'm just excited to be trying it here and now. Maybe I should fix my hair a certain way or something." She considered, touching a few strands of her yarn. "Do you think I should dressed up to go out to eat?" Her gaze fell to his lapel for a moment. "Like you with your flower." Her eyes came back to his again.

Jack just smiled more and shook his skull. "You don't need to change a thing." He blinked though and then added, "If it would make you feel more comfortable though, I could offer you a little something to wear as a wrap. It's a little chilly out anyway."

Sally nodded. "I'd like that very much, Jack. Thank you."

Jack nodded with a gracious smile. "Come with me, then, my lady." He put down his mug and took her hand and gave a small bow, then straightened up and led her from the kitchen.

Sally set down her mug and followed obligingly.

They came to Jack's coffin-like bedroom door, upon which Jack released her hand to open the door for them both. He entered and quickly went over to a trunk on one side of the room, opening it up and beginning to rummage. "It should be in here somewhere…" he said softly to himself.

Meanwhile, Sally still remained in the doorway, resting against the doorframe and biting her lip slightly.

Jack continued to rummage. "Hmm…it's somewhere in here. So many things have gotten misplaced ever since the Christmas thing…" He smiled to himself and then glanced over his shoulder to Sally. Then he raised part of his brow in surprise.

Sally was still just standing in the doorway.

The Pumpkin King smiled more. "I hoped the direct invitation would be unnecessary but just in case it's not, please come in, Sally. Have a seat on the bed, if you'd like. I'll just be a moment."

With a little crooked smile on her lips and a small nod, Sally pushed some hair back behind her ear and shuffled into the room. "Okay. Thank you, Jack." She let out a breath and glanced around as Jack went back to searching through the trunk, feeling her leaves flutter pleasantly inside. She couldn't even count the number of secret daydreams she'd had over the years about what this room must look like, how Jack might take her in and bring her here to care for her, what it would be like to awaken one morning or even at the stroke of midnight wrapped in the strong arms of Jack Skellington as she reposed with him in his high-arching gothic bed.

Sally looked around with such interest, her daydreams leaving her for the reality of the space. 'It's different than I imagined.' Indeed, the room was a bit small, the bed was a wrought iron frame with a single comfortable-looking pillow and black blankets and sheets, there was an armoire in one corner, a desk bearing some bottles of cologne and a few clean rags, a mirror above the desk and a dark wood chair just below it, and a single oddly shaped window half-covered by a large dark curtain. And of course there was Jack's tall changing screen in one corner of the room, and then his large trunk against the opposite wall which he was currently bent over.

Sally already felt calm and peaceful in this special space of Jack's.

Of course, that fact didn't stop her from giving into the indulgence of tiptoeing forward and then back to examine all the little details of things she could find as thoroughly as possible. She went to his changing screen and observed the pattern or etched skulls in it closely, then she looked and felt along the wall, finding interest in its textured yet warm surface of black wood. She even noticed the stitching in the blankets on his bed. 'Oh, these are nice but I could make him something much better. I'd love to make him something much better.' She did her best to hold back a girlish giggle.

Jack, meanwhile, glanced over his shoulder again and opened his mouth, about to remark to Sally about the color of what he was looking for and how he was sure it would suit her well. Instead though he blinked, catching her as she now examined a few little knickknacks on the mantle of his small fireplace. She picked one up but then turned the object and nearly dropped it, seemed panicked about that fact, and then quickly put it back and stepped away with a sheepish pout. Jack smiled a little to himself and turned back to the trunk once more, not wanting to intrude on her explorations. He cleared his throat and spoke as he continued to search. "I suppose most people would imagine the Pumpkin King to sleep in some kind of grand gothic chamber, when he even does sleep, but I prefer this small, simple space. It's quiet and dark, and I feel very cozy here. And I hope you'll make your room suit your needs just as well as I've made my room suit mine."

Sally blushed lightly and moved to the center of the room now, looking up at the ceiling and at the light cobwebs here and there. "I think your room is nicer than anyone could imagine, Jack. I like it very much. I hope mine turns out just as gloomy." Then she stepped around the bedpost and sat down delicately on the surface of the blankets near Jack. She beamed a little more as her eyes fell to him and the trunk. "Do you need any help finding what you're looking for, Jack?"

Jack smiled more to himself but shook his skull, digging a little deeper in his trunk. "It's all right, Sally. It must be at the bottom…and…ah, I feel it. There it is!" He held up the item he had been searching for and turned to her: it was a wide rectangle of tulle fabric, black and sheer but with dark black spider webs stitched into it, a black border, and little black and silver spiders added in for effect. "I keep a lot of decorations and some material swatches here for each Halloween in case anybody wants any new costume designs," he explained. "I particularly like this one. Perhaps if you folded it you could wear it around your shoulders, like a shawl?" He held out the fabric to her.

Sally took the lovely stretch of fabric, and her eyes and smile grew at the sight. "I always wanted to try wearing black." She folded the fabric and wrapped the garment lightly around her shoulders. "I love it, Jack. Thank you." She smiled.

Jack closed the trunk and stood. "You're quite welcome, my darling Sally. And black does indeed suite you, in case you were wondering." Then he rose and sat beside her on the bed. "I just want everything to be special. All for you."

She smiled more. "I feel special, Jack."

"And happy too? And safe? And comfortable?" he added, looking at her hopefully.

Sally raised an eyebrow and nodded, pushing some hair behind her shoulder. "Oh, yes. I'm happy that I'm free, and I always feel safest when I'm with you, and I couldn't imagine a more comfortable life together." Then her crooked little smile picked up on one side as she added, "And of course I also feel very scared sometimes too, but I guess that's to be expected from living with the terrifying Pumpkin King." She giggled.

Jack laughed too, looking down and giving a little humble shrug. "Yes, I suppose that's true. I am the master of fright after all."

They shared a small laugh and smile together.

And then Jack suddenly came forward and hugged Sally very tightly, wrapping his arms around her.

Sally blinked in utter surprise at first. "Jack…?" she prompted softly as second after second passed and he still just continued to hug her, his skull resting on her shoulder.

Jack was quiet for a few moments longer. Then he let out a deep breath, though he continued to hold her. His voice was quiet. "I've been sadder than it's okay for a person to be, Sally. Sad for a very, very, very…a very long time. And lonely. And I ignored you, and then I thought I'd lost you. But I have you now. And I'll need you for forever. I'm so grateful I stopped being foolish about all of this in time not to lose you again."

Sally blinked several times and frowned. She held him in return as best she could considering his firm hold on her. "You tried your best. That's all I ever expected. And you love me. That's all I've ever wanted." She sighed softly. "I'm here for you, Jack, whether you're happy or you're hurt…forever…meant to be. You're my dearest friend in the world."

Jack held her a little more tightly, and then he finally let out a breath and released her. "I'm sorry. I think that was building up for a while. Part of me is terrified of doing something to lose you. You're my dearest friend too after all." He brought his eye sockets to her eyes again.

Sally smiled in tenderness. "You won't lose me. You have my word. We have true love—nothing can ever come between us, not really."

"True love…" Jack smiled a little and nodded. "I know. But thank you for saying that to me anyway. It helps."

Sally just smiled shyly and giggled. "I feel the same way, Jack." Then she swallowed and kissed his cheek, moving things right along. "Now, let's go out to eat. You have to keep up your strength, after all. No more running around and forgetting to eat and sleep. You deserve to take care of yourself, Jack." She winked.

Jack smiled more. "Yes, I suppose that's very true." A playful grin came to his features. "How about first one through the front door gets to pick where we eat once we get into town, hmm?"

Sally's whole countenance lit up. "Oh, yes, let's do that! Ready…" She smiled more, gripping the edge of Jack's bed.

"Set…" Jack leaned forward.

"Go!" yelled Sally, and then she jumped up and dashed over to the bedroom door, giggling to herself as she held her new little shawl in place while she ran.

Jack sprung up after her. "Maybe I'll catch you on the way there, my dearest Sally doll, and scoop you up in my arms—then we can be tied when we go through the front door!" He chuckled warmly as she darted out of the bedroom and he pursued her.

Sally giggled like mad and veered away from him through the living room. "No, no, you can't catch me, Jack! What would people say? We'd be a scandal again! Besides, I'm the one who's supposed to catch you!"

Jack just shook his skull as they went on a little dash around the coffee table now and then into the dining room. "Oh, but what man in his mind could resist pursuing the mysterious and brilliant Miss Sally? I adore you!"

There was more laughter as they made a quick pass through the kitchen and then Sally finally bolted for the front door. "Silly skeleton!" she called after him, getting the front door open and smirking at him a little over her shoulder as she raced outside onto the small balcony overlooking the long staircase down to the drive below.

Jack ran outside right after her, and then his arms were around her and he had her caught against the balcony's railing. "There, I've got you, my delightful dolly!" He laughed as the two of them caught their breaths and he continued to hold her. "Oh what fun…" He gazed down at her.

Sally turned in his arms to face him. "I love our fun," she cooed sweetly.

And then suddenly a familiar voice from the ground below called out to them. "Oh good, we don't have to break into an afternoon verse of our song wondering how Jack and Sally are doing! The Pumpkin King and his lady friend are right here! Oh, and look at how much they're enjoying each other's company!"

As the Mayor finished making this announcement, it was followed by the sound of a few dozen hands clapping and several coos of "Aw!" from the citizens who were apparently down below with him.

Jack blinked and gasped a little, straightening up with Sally still held close in his arms. "Oh…dear," he mumbled to himself as he finally looked down to the ground. And indeed right by the staircase leading up to his front door the whole town was gathered, it seemed, along with the Mayor...and they had clearly been waiting for quite a while in anticipation of Jack and Sally's presence on this day.

Sally noticed the crowd too now. Her eyes went wide and she gave a small squeak of surprise and blushed.

Jack carefully separated himself and Sally, and then stepped to the side swallowed as he did his best to smile and address the crowd. "Erm…hello, everyone! So nice to see you today. I hope you weren't waiting or singing for too long. My apologies for the late start this morning."

"Oh Jack, that's perfectly all right!" the Mayor assured, waddling forward. "We knew you'd come out eventually. You always do! Besides, we all wanted to talk to you in person and we didn't want to wait for another town meeting." His frowning face came up. "We hope you accept our apologies, Jack, and you too, Sally. We're sorry for not supporting your decision about your relationship at first, and we're sorry if we caused any trouble between you two."

The whole town nodded.

"Yeah, we're sorry!" chimed in the Wolfman.

"Indeed!" "We just want you to…" "Be happy!" Mr. Hyde (and his little guy under his hat, and the little guy under that one's hat) added.

"We knew you'd be scooped up sooner or later, Jack," Helgamine added, her witch's hat in her hand. "We were just surprised it happened so suddenly, that's all, weren't we, girls?"

Zeldabourne and Undersea Gal nodded solemnly.

"Yeah," Zeldabourne added, "But we didn't mean to try and break you two up or anything. Please say you're going to stay together!"

The whole crowd looked up to Jack and Sally in nervous anticipation.

Jack and Sally blinked at the suggestion and then looked at each other and then looked back at the crowd. Jack cleared his throat and held up a hand. "Everyone, everyone, please! Sally and I aren't breaking up." He smiled. "We may have had some misunderstandings and disagreements, and we may still have some of those in the future. But we'll always care for each other. And besides we…we made up a lot last night anyway…" He blanched a little and looked down, still managing to smile though.

Sally nodded, looking down quite shyly. "Yes, we're…we're not fighting or anything," she managed with some small volume, pulling at her hair. "We're all better now. And we loved your letter. It was the nicest thing I've ever read."

Jack smiled warmly at Sally and then turned back to their friends, this time taking Sally's hand in his own and giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze as he addressed the crowd again. "I understand the last few months have been very trying and confusing for everybody, and that the last couple of weeks especially have been a whirlwind. It's understandable that there would be questions about yet another change coming to our happy home. But Sally and I are both just terribly delighted to be able to share our relationship with all of you, and I would like to thank all of you for your kindness, patience, and understanding in these new times upon which we are embarking. I will always be your King, and Halloween will always be the sole production of our fair town. But now the holidays will at least know each other's names and traditions, and I'll have someone by my side to share in guiding all of you. We all have much to share and much to learn, and I believe more than ever that this year's Halloween will be our most horrible yet!"

Cheers and applause erupted from the crowd at this empowering announcement!

Sally just gazed up at Jack with a touch of awe. 'He commands a crowd so well. I hope I can do that someday. Especially if I'm ever going to really be Queen…' She blushed and smiled more at the thought.

"Horrible, Jack, simply horrible!" the Mayor announced, his happy face returning as he clapped his hands together. "Shall we start at once then on the Halloween plans?"

Jack blinked and then smiled a touch sheepishly. "Oh, well, um…actually, Mayor, first Sally and I could use something to eat. We were going to head into town for that right now. But I'd love to stop the town hall and see you later in the day, Mayor, to discuss plans and to show you some things Sally and I have been working on. And then perhaps tomorrow we could start fresh with the planning."

The Mayor nodded. "Of course, of course, that sounds fine, Jack. And I have some plans that I've been working on as well to share with you. I'm sure we'll be all caught up in no time." He then turned to address the crowd. "Come along then, let's all give the Pumpkin King and his new lady friend a grand escort back to town!"

"Erm…" Jack held up a hand and leaned a little over the rail, smiling politely. "That's all right, Mayor. Um…Sally and I might be a few more minutes. We don't want to impose or inconvenience anyone. Please, everyone, feel free to go on ahead of us. We'll join all of you very shortly."

The Mayor considered and then nodded. "Okay, Jack. Always so modest and considerate." He winked. "And Sally…" he looked to her now, "we'll all look forward to seeing you around town more as well." He gave her a polite bow. "We'll see you both soon!" Then he turned back to the crowd and waddled past them toward Jack's gate. "All right, everyone, let's get going! Jack and Sally will be joining us soon!"

The crowd nodded their assent and then began to disperse.

Jack and Sally just waited patiently on the balcony until everyone was past Jack's gate and well on their way back to town.

Then Jack turned to Sally with a shy smile. "I'm so sorry that was so sudden, Sally. I know you don't like addressing crowds. For what it's worth though I think you did a lovely job. And it felt nice to have you by my side to talk to everyone."

Sally beamed a little though she still blushed in shyness. "Thank you, Jack: coming from you that's a very high compliment. You're the best speaker I've ever seen. And I felt a lot more confident standing beside you."

Jack beamed now himself. "Oh, well, I don't know about the best…but I have had a lot of practice. And I'm very glad I could help your confidence." Then he stepped aside, bent a little low and held out his hand to her. "Shall we away to dine together then, fair Lady Sally?"

Sally giggled and nodded. She took his hand. "Oh yes, Jack. I can't wait." Then she suddenly squeezed his hand and began dashing down the front steps with him in tow.

"Whoa!" Jack almost lost his balance but managed to steady himself and then smiled and chuckled as they dashed along. "I can't wait too."

Jack and Sally reached the ground and then began a leisurely stroll into the heart of Halloween Town to enjoy themselves for the rest of the afternoon as only two happy lovers could.

Though at first glance it had seemed like the entire town had been gathered outside of Jack and Sally's house just now, in fact two very distinct members were missing.

Those two members were the Doctor and Jewel.

In the Finkelstein manor, Jewel walked through the lower story of the house toward the front door with a basket in one hand and a list in the other. "Doctor…" Silence. She went on. "I'm leaving now."

A faint grumble was heard and then the sound of whirring as the Doctor's electric chair brought him down the spiral ramp leading from the upper story.

Jewel waited as he moved himself to the bottom of the ramp. She swallowed and went on. "You're sure you don't need me? I might not be back from town for a while."

"Mmm…" The Doctor grumbled again. "Do whatever you want to. There's nothing I need from you." And then he started to wheel away.

Jewel frowned. "Fine." And then she finally turned and headed toward the door. She paused though and looked behind her…but the Doctor was still wheeling away. Jewel turned back around, frowning so much, and opened the front door to head outside.

At the sound of the door opening, meanwhile, the Doctor paused for a moment. Then he turned, a hand held up as though he were about to speak…but as he saw Jewel walking away, his hand fell.

The manor door closed, and the Doctor sighed…and now he frowned too.

Finally, he faced forward again and wheeled his chair into the lab.

Igor approached him. "Master, shall I bring you the plans?"

The Doctor let out another low grumble. "No, Igor, not now."

"Oh," Igor took a step back, "Do you have another headache master?"

The Doctor shook his head. "No, not quite, Igor…" And then he wheeled himself down the hall until he came to the doorway to the room where he kept the spare body parts and some of his plans for living creatures and a spare surgery table where he had built his two greatest creations—one of them particularly special, at least to him.

The Doctor spent some time alone gazing into this room but not entering, his eyes closed and his brow furrowed as he considered very deeply.

A/N:

Only one more chapter left and then the epilogue, can you believe it? I'm excited but also sad XD Next time, we see Jack and Sally on their outing through town together, Jack presents Sally with an interesting suggestion for her future role in Halloween, and the Doctor and Jewel finally confront their problems. I hope you all enjoy!

~Azure129 aka Jenna