A/N:

Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay—I was away for a while and then a few things came up. It's been a challenging month, this month is too ^^ But here's the final chapter of the story, and I hope you all enjoy it : ) There will also be posted an epilogue that's a little bit longer than one of the usual chapters, and I'll try to have it up soon. Thank you all so much for reading and for supporting this story, I really appreciate it ^_^

Dearest Friends

Chapter 24:

Meant To Be

In the heart of Halloween Town on this late afternoon, as the citizens went about their business and the buzz of the day progressed, two distinct figures were seated across from each other at a little table on the sidewalk smiling and talking as several empty plates and cups rested upon the tablecloth between them.

"…And you're sure you can't give me just a little hint about what special surprise you have in store for me?" the Pumpkin King asked his lady friend, hazing his eyes and lowering his tone to something rich and slightly deep as he rested his skull on his hand and grinned. "I know it must involve sewing."

Sally just smiled back as she replied to him. "Yes, it does involve sewing, Jack. But I won't give you one single hint, no matter how charming you are. You'll just have to be surprised." She giggled a little to herself. 'He'll love the new blankets for his bed I'm going to make him, I just know it And they'll go so nice with the robe and the slippers I promised him too.'

"Ah," Jack chuckled, "so you've caught on to my efforts to flirt with you to get you to tell me what I want to know, have you? Very well then, I give up." He sighed dramatically and put a hand to his forehead. "I'll just be wracked with curiosity and longing until I get my special surprise. I won't sleep, I probably won't eat, I won't even sing—I'll just lie in the gloom wondering what special surprise it is you're planning for me that you needed all of that black cloth from the store for." He smirked and laughed warmly.

Sally smirked a little in return and shook her head. "Oh, you always are so curious, Jack. Don't you ever just want to enjoy the mystery of thing? I love mysteries." Her eyes hazed, and her smile picked up on one side. "They're interesting and exciting. And besides, you'll know the answer in a few weeks."

"Well…" Jack reached across the table to pick up her hand in his, "as long as I have you to keep me company for those weeks, I'm sure I'll be entertained enough to keep my curiosity at bay." He kissed the back of her hand.

"Jack…" Sally blushed and smiled, looking away. She knew people passing by were glancing at them constantly (and had been doing so for the entire time Jack and Sally had been seated here together taking their afternoon repast). Thinking about the other citizens seeing her and Jack's relationship in action made Sally feel exposed and yet also strangely liberated. "I love this, Jack." She looked to him again and squeezed his hand once more. "This has been the most wonderful afternoon I could ever have imagined."

Jack lowered both of their hands and nodded. "I think it was just perfect. Everything's worked out now: Christmas had it's day, everyone's safe, our town is back on track with Halloween, Oogie Boogie is a matter on its way to resting in peace, and I've fallen in love with the most loving creature to ever be dead and we'll be together forever. Not one loose end to tie up." He winked.

Sally, however, hesitated, her mouth quirking to the side as she glanced off pensively.

"Sally?" Jack raised part of his brow and released her hand. "What is it?"

"Oh, I don't know…" She sighed. "Something's been nagging at me…but I think I know what it is now." She looked to him, an eyebrow raised. "The Doctor and Jewel. We sort of left things up in the air with them. And I don't think I saw them gathered outside of your house this morning."

"Our house," Jack couldn't help but correct with a little smile.

Sally blinked and blushed, then smiled more and nodded. "Yes…our house." She cleared her throat. "Anyway, I didn't seem them there, and I haven't seen them in town at all while we've been shopping. I'm worried: maybe something happened with them after the town meeting. I know Flora mentioned talking with them before she left in her goodbye letter." Sally sighed. "I just hope everything's all right."

Jack frowned but then did his best to smile and speak encouragingly. "Oh, don't worry, my darling, I'm sure they're both okay. The Doctor and Jewel have been through a lot and probably need their rest. But if you'd like, we could go over to the manor when we're done here and check up on them," he offered.

Sally smiled again and nodded. "Yes, I'd like that very much, Jack." She blushed a little and added with a humble shrug, "But how much longer do you want to keep shopping, Jack? We've already bought so much…or you've already bought it for me. And it's more than enough. I really don't need anything extra. We already have a bed on the way for me, and you even ordered a new bigger one for yourself…" Sally tried not to blush too much at the implications (though she had noticed Jack blanching mercilessly while putting in the order for the bed despite the calm demeanor he'd tried to keep up). She took a breath and went on. "And then there's all of that cloth you're having delivered to the house for me, and that little silver spider web necklace you insisted on buying me from the clown's shop when you caught me looking at it." Sally touched the necklace currently strung over her collar. "Then there's the changing screen and new curtains and a new rug that are all going to be sent to the house for me—Jack, it's already so much, I can't possibly accept anything else." She smiled. "I appreciate the generosity, but I've never needed much, Jack. I promise."

Jack smiled more and nodded. "We don't have to buy another thing if you're uncomfortable, Sally. Right now I'd be happy just to sit with you and talk. That's one of my favorite things to do, actually." He blanched just a little. "I didn't mean to go overboard. I know you don't want me showering you with things. I just thought just this once though that it might be okay—there's so much to set up at the house after all, so many changes. I just want you to be able to make your room feel like it's really yours right from the start." He looked into her eyes. "I won't buy you anything more though unless you say it's okay. You have my word."

Sally smiled more. "Thank you, Jack. And, well…" she played with her hair, "I am sort of excited about my new furniture and decorations and all of that cloth. I think I could do very good things with it. Maybe once we get my sewing machine together I'll even be able to put together enough samples to start selling things to people. I'd just need to find a little space here in town to set up shop, and then I could begin."

"You know," Jack stood up from the table and held out a hand to Sally, "we could take a quick walk into the town center before seeing the Doctor. There are a few small rundown little shacks between some of the larger shops there. Their condition wouldn't be great, but the location's ideal. If we find one that you like, I'm sure the Mayor would let us fix it up together for you. What do you think?"

Sally beamed a little and took Jack's hand to stand up. "I think that's a wonderful idea, Jack! And if the Mayor really would be that nice, I'd even sew him a new tie just to show my gratitude—one that won't bite him like that spider he uses." She laughed.

Jack laughed too and nodded. "Oh, I'm sure he'd appreciate that very much." He hooked arms with her and they began to proceed onward toward the town center. "Sally?" His voice lowered a little as they moved among the citizens (who still snuck glances at them here and there). "I'm sorry everyone's staring at us." He smiled sheepishly. "I know you don't like crowds, but I'm afraid any public appearances we make are going to involve us being the center of attention. No one means anything by it," he assured her, "they just tend to notice me all the time, and now that there's two of us, they really won't be able to help themselves."

Sally just smiled softly and nodded and blushed, moving a little closer alongside him. "As long as they don't start singing about us while we're right here, I'll be okay, Jack."

Jack chuckled. "Don't worry, they always wait until I'm not around to sing about me except under special circumstances. I'm sure the same will hold for us as a couple." He nuzzled against her hair gently. "We can go out to eat from time to time and take walks through town, but we can keep a lot of our outings private, if you'd like. I'd actually prefer that myself." He blanched slightly. "I'm a very private person about my feelings, and eventually the staring would make me too nervous to be very intimate with you on our dates."

"I understand." Sally nodded. "But maybe everyone will get used to us soon and they'll give us a bit more privacy when we're in town, then we can come and go as we please. For now though, we can keep things private." She nuzzled him back a little.

Jack sighed softly. "Splendid, my Sally." They came now to the end of the street, which opened into town square. Jack's eyes brightened as he looked around. "Here we are, the center of town. Oh, and it's not too crowded on the streets here—everyone must be tending to their shops after all of the commotion last night with the town meeting and the bugs. Shall we explore some of the available spaces, Sally?" Silence. "Sally?"

Jack glanced at Sally (who still hadn't replied) only to feel her arm leave his and to see her swiftly walking toward the fountain at the center of the square. Jack looked after her with an eyebrow raised but then blinked as his gaze came to the fountain only to see Jewel sitting on the edge of the structure alone…and frowning.

While Jack stayed back for a moment, Sally approached Jewel with a smile. "Jewel! Hello. Jack and I were going to visit you at the Doctor's house in a little while to see you." She sat down next to her friend on the fountain edge.

"Oh, hello, Sally." Jewel sighed deeply. She kept looking down with a frown.

"Jewel…is something wrong?" Sally frowned a little too. "Did the Doctor send you into town to get him something? I can help you pick out his favorite kinds of things if you're not familiar with all of them yet." She smiled again.

Jewel did her best to smile back at her. "Oh, that's nice of you, Sally, but I'm already familiar with his favorite things. He did send me out, but…instead of running errands, I decided to just spend the afternoon taking a walk and thinking…and maybe the evening too." She shrugged. "I don't think the Doctor minds either way."

Sally's eyes went a little wide. "The Doctor doesn't mind either way if you go out for however long?" 'He really does like her better than me. A lot better.' Sally shrugged and smiled again. "Well…maybe that's just a sign of how much he trusts you."

Jewel shook her head though. "I don't think so. He hasn't spoken to me much since last night. And I felt sad staying in the house with it so quiet. So I asked him if I could go to town for some things, and he told me he didn't need me and to do what I wanted. Then he went back to his work."

"Did you and the Doctor have a fight, Jewel?" Sally frowned again. "Is it about me running off with Jack? I'm sorry if he's upset about us and treating you differently because of it."

Jewel blushed peachy (the effect of reddish color going against her off white skin) and shook her head. "No, no, it's not that. He's okay with you and Jack, I think. In fact, after we left the town hall last night, he seemed like his only worry was that I might leave him too one day like you did. But I told him I wouldn't, and then he was happy again. It's just…" she sighed, "Sally, how did you tell Jack you were in love with him? Or did he tell you first?"

Sally blinked. 'Oh…' "Oh, um…oh, well, Jack just sort of realized how I felt, and then I didn't want to hide it from him anymore anyway, and then he realized how he felt, and we just decided to be together." Sally bit her lip, considered her words, then added delicately, "Doctor Finkelstein's very special to you, isn't he, Jewel?"

Jewel nodded. "That nice Flora lady helped fix the Doctor's headaches and helped me too. She said there was imbalance because we were sharing a brain and I got all the logic and the Doctor kept all the emotions. So she gave him back some logic and gave me back some emotions." She swallowed. "And than I realized…I'm in love with him, Sally," Jewel admitted very softly, her eyes lowering again. "I love him so much. He's so smart and creative and secretly kind even if he acts grumpy most of the time. And he's so good looking. And sometimes when he used to have headaches he would let me touch his cranium, and I knew I was responding to it in some big way but I never understood until now. But now he won't let me touch him anymore, and he won't look at me…even though I want both things." She looked up again. "Is that how you feel about Jack? Is it really love? I've been worried that maybe I made a mistake in naming the emotion and that's why the Doctor's angry with me."

"It sounds like love," Sally admitted, blushing a little. "I thought you might love him actually from the way you talked about him when we first met."

Jewel nodded, considering. "Then maybe the mistake I made was telling him. Maybe I should have just let him figure it out on his own like you and Jack."

Sally blinked. "You told him already?"

"I was just trying to be logical," Jewel explained. "It seemed silly to hide the emotion. He didn't take it well though." She frowned. "I guess that means he doesn't love me too." Jewel looked down again. "It hurts, Sally. I'm…more than sad. I'm…um…" She furrowed her brow in thought.

"Upset?" Sally offered. "Frustrated? Or maybe unhappy…?"

Jewel shook her head. "I'm so…angry!" She scowled and dashed at the fountain water with her hand (appearing eerily reminiscent of how the Doctor could look when he was quite angry). "I know it's not fair, I know he can't help if he doesn't love me. But he doesn't have to not even like me anymore! We share a mind, and I care about him. He's so stubborn."

Sally's eyes went a little wide in surprise at the outburst. 'Then again, the Doctor did have a bit of a temper…I guess that was located all over his brain.' "Jewel," she touched her friend's arm, "it's okay to be angry. But I think it'll help you feel better if you talk about things. Talking always makes me feel better, and I think if you can manage to talk to the Doctor, it'll help you both feel better too. Maybe you could tell me about what you said to him exactly. Maybe he misunderstood something?" Sally smiled.

Jewel sighed and looked to her friend again. Her gaze and tone calmed to their normal sweetness. "We were walking back to the house and talking after the town meeting. Then I realized how I felt, and I told him I was in love with him. And then I figured if we were going to love each other, we should do something to show our love, like how you and Jack started living together when you ended up in love. But the Doctor and I couldn't do that since we already live together. So I suggested the next logical step: I asked him to marry me."

Sally gasped and brought her hand to her mouth, her eyes perfectly wide.

Jewel raised an eyebrow. "That was…wrong to ask?"

"Um… well, Jewel, it's not that it was 'wrong'." Sally blushed and cleared her throat. "It's just that it's already a lot for a person to take in when you tell them you have feelings for them. But then to ask to marry someone so quickly…it would be too overwhelming even for the most passionate and impulsive of people. The Doctor would have needed a lot more time to understand your feelings and to explore his own before a question like that should ever have come up."

Jewel tilted her head to the side. "So then…that's why you and Jack aren't having a wedding now that everything's settled: you want more time together first, even though you might like to get married eventually. And the time helps even though you both know what you want?"

Sally blushed and smiled more. "Something like that, yes." Her gaze softened. "Jewel? Can I ask what the Doctor said after you told him how you felt and asked him to marry you?"

Jewel sighed. "Nothing. He just said we should go home. Then, once we got inside, instead of letting me get him his tea he told me he'd take care of everything himself. Then he left me and went to bed. And ever since last night, the most he's talked to me was when he told me he wouldn't need me when I said I was leaving for the afternoon."

"Pardon me, ladies? Erm…I don't want to intrude. I was just wondering if I could be of any assistance at all?" This greeting came from Jack Skellington who now approached Jewel and Sally and gave a small nod of his head with a smile as he came to stand before the fountain.

"Oh, hello King Jack." Jewel managed to smile a little more. "I wish you could, but…I'm afraid I've made a very big mistake. And I think I might have to be the one to fix it."

"Jewel," Sally started as she took one of her hands, "I think you should go back to the manor now. Jack and I can walk you. We were going to stop by anyway." She looked up to Jack. "Do you mind if we go there now, Jack? It's important." She frowned a little as she looked into his eye sockets.

Jack nodded. "Of course, dearest Sally. Jewel," he turned to Jewel, "It would be our honor to escort you home. We owe you a great debt, and after all you're family."

Jewel blinked. "I'm family?"

"Yes." Jack nodded. "To me you are, at least. You're the nearest thing to a relative Sally has."

Sally smiled a little. "Actually, I think of you as sort of my sister, Jewel."

Jewel took a moment to absorb the idea and then smiled. "Hmm…I feel…Sally, it's…it's possible to feel love even when you're not in love. I didn't realize…"

Sally nodded. "Oh, yes, Jewel, you can love anybody you want to even if you only end up being in love with one special person. And I love you very much, and I hope you love me too."

Jewel smiled more and hugged Sally. "Oh I do!" Then she stood up and hugged Jack. "And I love you too, Jack, thank you." She let him go and straightened her dress a little, finally smiling fully again. "Emotions are very fascinating, especially love. I'd like to do some experiments some day. But for now let's go back to the manor, and I'll make everyone tea. Maybe having you two around will make the Doctor more comfortable. At least it'll make him talk more." She started to walk forward in the direction of the Finkelstein manor.

Jack just looked after her with part of his brow raised. As Sally stood up from the fountain now and joined him at his side, Jack glanced at her. "Sally, what did Jewel mean when she was talking about love and being in love? And what's wrong with the Doctor exactly?"

Sally smiled warmly as she hooked her arm with Jack's and the two of them followed after Jewel. "Well…Jewel asked the Doctor to marry her, but I don't think he's ready yet. That's all." She shrugged.

Jack's eye sockets popped open wide. "Marry?! The Doctor?! But…why in the world would she ask that?"

"The same reason anybody would ask anybody else to marry them." Sally blushed a little and smiled more. "She wants them to be dearest friends forever. She's in love with him, Jack. She realized it last night. Flora helped."

Jack let out a small sigh, his eye sockets wide as he looked down into her eyes. "Oh…" He smiled a little, shifting closer to her. "Yes, well…I understand. But still…why marriage so suddenly?"

Sally smiled more. "She just got a little carried away. I told her that proposing is a little too much for anyone to handle so quickly. Even if she does love him that much and even if he loves her too, a little time to get to know each other never hurt. What do you think, my King?" She gazed up at him.

Jack blanched and smiled as he looked down shyly. "I agree. A nice courtship never hurt anybody. Why not savor the moments instead of rushing?" He lowered his voice slightly. "Sally, um…maybe 'my King' could be saved for just when we're in private? It makes me shy…and I love it so much."

Sally giggled and kissed his cheek. "Of course, Jack. We'll save that for in private."

Jack nodded. "Thank you, my splendid Sally." He kissed the top of her head. Then he cleared his throat, bringing his voice back up to a normal level. "Sally, do you really think the Doctor can love Jewel back? Or that he'll admit it even if he does?"

Sally considered. "I think he already does love Jewel back a little. Oh Jack, I watched him put her together. He cared so much." She squeezed his hand. "But you're right, he'll probably have trouble admitting it. But maybe we can help somehow. I owe it to Jewel to try."

"We owe it to her," Jack corrected, squeezing her hand back. "She helped us come together. We never would have made up so quickly if we hadn't had to work together to save her, and she did work so hard to find us when the town thought we were lost."

Sally smiled a little. "Yes, you're right. We both owe her a lot. But that's not the only reason I think we should be a part of making this better." Sally frowned a little, looking forward. "Jack, you were always good friends with the Doctor. Maybe you didn't visit him much, but he was always so happy when you did, and both of you would always smile when you talked. He admires and respects you very much, Jack. And I know he said he's okay with me and you being together now, but it makes me sad thinking that I might have hurt your friendship with him. So maybe somehow by going to see him now, things can get patched up and you two can start being good friends again. I'd really like that."

Jack considered deeply then sighed. "Sally…I…I won't lie, yes, I'm sure our relationship has put a bit of a strain on mine with the Doctor, but that's not anybody's fault. You and I both had a part in challenging him. I would like to be good friends with him again—we've known each other for so long, and he's one of the reasons I have you to be friends with now after all—but it's okay if it takes time." He smiled again.

Sally smiled again too. "Thank you, Jack." She nuzzled his shoulder.

"You're eternally welcome, my darling." Jack nuzzled her back with a smile.

Jewel, meanwhile, was getting rather far ahead of the casually strolling happy couple now. She glanced back. "Jack, Sally, am I walking too quickly? I'm sorry, I'm just excited, but I can slow down a little."

"No, no!" Jack assured, glancing to forward with a grin and a blanch. "We'll catch up, Jewel. I'm sorry, Sally and I got a bit distracted talking, that's all." He picked up his pace.

"Yes!" Sally nodded, moving along with him. "We'll be right there."

Jewel waited patiently and then proceeded forward again when they were just behind her.

"Jack," Sally asked quietly, "can we still go look at the empty stores in the town square one day?"

Jack smiled to her. "We can go every day if your heart desires, delightful dolly." He winked, causing Sally to giggle.

"Thank you, dearest Jack," Sally cooed into his ear.

Jack just smiled dreamily and blanched a little.

And meanwhile, Jewel continued moving forward with her smile still restored and full of hope.

The three walked onward.

Soon enough, they had reached the familiar house on the outskirts of town: Finkelstein manor.

Jewel gave a knock on the manor door and then opened it slightly and peered in. "Doctor Finkelstein? It's Jewel. I'm home, and I've brought some company." She opened the door fully and gestured for Jack and Sally to enter. "Please come inside, both of you."

Arms still hooked, Jack and Sally nodded and entered. Jack cleared his throat and called out. "Hello, Doctor? It's Jack. And Sally is with me too. We saw Jewel in town and decided to escort her home. And we thought it would be nice to see you as well now that things around here have settled down a little." He smiled (but couldn't help swallowing in a touch of nervousness).

Sally hesitated for a moment, then cleared her throat as well and added, "And I wanted to see you very much too, Doctor."

There was another moment of silence, but then the familiar sound of the Doctor's electric wheelchair met all of their ears. Suddenly, he appeared at the top of the spiral ramp leading down to the main floor. The Doctor just looked at them all in that inscrutable way he had. Then he slowly began to wheel himself downward. He cleared his throat. "I don't usually have so much company. You'll have to excuse me if I'm unprepared, Jack. Jewel, go make us some tea and something to eat. Sally, you know the kitchen well. Why don't you help her?"

Jack frowned and stepped forward. Sally put a hand on his shoulder though and whispered to him very quietly. "Jack, it's all right. He doesn't mean anything by it. He's used to having me here as a servant, not a guest. Besides, maybe he'll open up more if you're alone together. He really does respect you a lot, Jack."

Jack considered her words and then nodded. He smiled and unhooked their arms.

Sally went over to Jewel and ushered her toward the kitchen. "Let's go, Jewel. I can show you some of my secret hiding places for ingredients."

Jewel nodded and moved forward. "Thank you, Sally." The Doctor had reached the main floor now, and she looked to him and frowned slightly as she passed by him. When he didn't stop to greet her, she couldn't help giving a small frustrated sigh and pout before looking away and finally heading with Sally into the kitchen.

The two ladies were gone now.

The Doctor wheeled himself near Jack.

Jack Skellington almost never felt awkward. He was the popular Pumpkin King, after all: he always felt liked and esteemed and like his presence was always more than welcome and more than enjoyable for people.

Thus, unfortunately, he had no preparation for dealing with how awkward he felt now.

There was just silence at first. The Doctor never had been very unnecessarily talkative, and Jack was usually expected to take the lead in most social situations anyway.

And so the Pumpkin King finally just cleared his throat and started very directly with a gentle smile. "We don't mean to impose on you at all, Doctor. I'm sure you've had a very tiring holiday season just like the rest of us. And I know it might still be strange for you seeing Sally and I together. We just wanted to come by and pay our respects." He let out a breath. "We don't want any hard feelings between us. But we'll leave if we're making you uncomfortable at all."

"Actually, I would prefer if you stayed for as long as possible," the Doctor merely replied in a grumble as he started wheeling toward a small table in the center of the main room where he usually took his meals or entertained guests.

Jack blinked at this reply. "Really? Then, you approve of Sally and I—"

"The question of you and Sally is something that I really cannot control, now can I?" the Doctor replied back a little sharply as he turned his chair to face Jack and parked himself at the head of the table. He sighed and shook his head. "I should have known this was what she had in mind. She was always staring at you, trying to get near you…. I thought she just wanted to see if you could help her leave her position here, maybe grant her some kind of sanctuary or give her some means to live on her own. But I should have realized…young girls, falling in love." He glanced away with a frown. "She hated me. But I was only trying to help. Our world's not safe for a foolish girl running around on her own."

Jack frowned a little as he approached the table. "She doesn't hate you, Doctor. She's been mad and upset and frustrated, but she doesn't hate you. She cares, but she needs time to forgive the bad things that happened between both of you. And I think she might like you to forgiver her too for anything she might have done." He smiled a little. "And she'll be fine in our world. She's smart—she can take care of herself perfectly. And I'll care for her, Doctor. And I'll make sure she's happy. I respect her a great deal."

The Doctor let out a deep breath. "I know. And I suppose maybe you're right. She and I will both just need time to accept our new situation."

"Well, I can think of one good way to start." Jack smiled a little more as he took a seat at one of the sides of the table. "I know Sally would like to visit here sometimes, especially to see Jewel. They think of themselves as sisters now. So if you would welcome Sally as a guest, it would mean a great deal to her."

"I would appreciate all the company I could get, and for as long as I could get it." The Doctor looked down with is brow furrowed and then added, "Or Jewel could go live with you too. Or anywhere. She would make an excellent assistant to anyone."

Jack blinked. "Doctor, why would you say that?"

The Doctor sighed. "I find it difficult to be alone with her now. That's all. I'm an old man,

Jack, I'm picky about the company I keep."

Jack was quiet for a moment, considering. Then he started softly, "I don't think Jewel would like to be away from you, Doctor. She's quite taken with you, actually, from what I've heard."

The Doctor's eyes came up, and he glared in Jack's direction a little. "So…you know the situation then."

Jack nodded. "Yes. Jewel told Sally, and Sally and I talked about it. So I know Jewel cares for you very much. And…I've heard you seem quite fond of her as well. Sally says you never cared for her the way you seem to care for Jewel."

The Doctor raised his brow but then shook his head and looked away. "You wouldn't understand, Jack. The situation is quite embarrassing."

"But it doesn't have to be." Jack smiled encouragingly, "Who could fault you a lady friend? Your private affairs are your own business, and you both can take things at your own pace. Sally already spoke with her anyway, and Jewel understands she went a little too quickly. She didn't mean to overwhelm you. She just wanted you to know she cares for you, and that she hopes you care for her too."

The Doctor was quiet, looking down all the more.

Jack looked down a little himself. Then he let out a sigh and spoke once more. "You know, I've been hiding myself and hiding Sally ever since Christmas because I was quite embarrassed by my sudden feelings for her, and I didn't want her to have to share in that embarrassment." Jack noticed the Doctor glance up just a little. He went on. "I felt so awkward. I had no idea how to care for her or what people would say when they found out. I'm not a private citizen, I don't have the luxury of keeping my affairs to myself: I was going to have to make a public announcement about our relationship sooner or later. But I couldn't even explain to Sally how I felt. All I could think was this lovely creature had shown a special interest in me, and there were a million ways I could ruin the happiness I found in her affection, and a million reasons why she might never like me as much as I liked her or why she might stop liking me one day. And because of all that doubt, I was ashamed to even get close to her at all. I was so ashamed and so hesitant and so secretive…she actually almost left me a few days ago."

The Doctor definitely looked up now.

Jack went on. "She still cared about me, but she didn't want to have a relationship with someone who wouldn't be honest with her about his feelings no matter what they were. She hated how I kept pushing her away. She told me she would go out on her own, make her own way entirely without me. And she could. She's strong. I had to apologize to her a great deal and prove my feelings and my determination to be truthful to her several times before she forgave me and would trust me again. My secrecy got so bad that she started keeping secrets too, and I had to forgive her for that as well. We're better now, and happy. But I was so busy being worried that I almost drove her away completely. And I would have regretted losing her for eternity." He looked up and smiled softly. "Love is very nice, Doctor. I don't think I'll ever feel lonely again. And that's all I ever wanted."

The Doctor blinked a few times. Then he let out a breath. "Loneliness is never enjoyable."

Both men nodded.

"I have the tea, Doctor." Jewel entered now from the kitchen with a tray.

"Jewel, please let me help you carry something—I insist," Sally suggested, dashing after her.

Jewel just smiled and shook her head as she reached the table. "No, no, you helped me in the kitchen but you're a guest too, so please sit, Sally, I insist. I'll be right back with the biscuits."

Sally smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Jewel." She sat down on the side of the table next to Jack as Jewel set down the tea tray and then dashed back into the kitchen.

There was silence at first as the party of three found themselves alone now.

Then Sally bit her lip, not sure what to do and just wishing Jack and the Doctor would go back to talking about whatever they had been talking about before she had entered so that she could have some more time to think of what to say to the man who had created her and yet imprisoned her, and who had cared for her and yet had her do his bidding for so many years. She blushed slightly and looked down.

"Sally, please pour me some tea," the Doctor suddenly grumbled softly.

Sally blinked then nodded and poured the tea. She knew from the single word 'please' that something in his mind had shifted about their relationship as creator and creation.

"Sally," the Doctor spoke as she poured, "You may come visit Jewel here, if you'd like. Perhaps on the weekends when we're not busy. She likes your company and…Igor misses you." The Doctor took a breath. "And I would not be unhappy to see you from time to time."

Sally blinked and almost dropped the teapot. "Oh!" She set the teapot back on the tray and nodded. "I would like that, Doctor. Jewel is nice and you seem happier around her. And I miss Igor too." She considered and then added, "And I'd like to talk to you sometime about some things."

The Doctor nodded as he took his teacup. "I would not mind that...sometime."

Sally smiled a little. Then she glanced at Jack who just gave her a small smile and nod. Sally smiled more.

Suddenly, Jewel returned from the kitchen, now with a platter of biscuits. "Here we go, a nice snack for everybody."

"Jack, Sally," the Doctor announced suddenly as he lowered his teacup, "I'm sorry to cut our visit short, but I'm feeling a little tired from the excitement of the last few days. Would you mind if we put off tea until another time? I…wouldn't mind having you both by again soon."

Sally frowned at first but then she looked from him to Jewel, considered, and smiled. "Yes, of course, Doctor. You need your rest." She stood up.

"Oh, well…if you're sure it would be best for you to leave," Jewel added with a slight frown (but also a slight blush). "I hope I can see you again soon though."

"Of course." Jack nodded as he stood up and smiled as well. "We would love that."

"Maybe you and I could have another sewing lesson and then lunch together one day in town, Jewel?" Sally offered. "I just ate out for the first time today, and it was very fun. I'd love the chance to try it again. And with you sitting with me instead of Jack, people wouldn't stare and whisper as much." She glanced down with a little blush.

Jewel smiled and nodded. "Oh, yes, Sally. I'd like that very much. Eating out. Hmm…someone to make the food and clear it up and do all of the dishes for you. That sounds wonderful." She clasped her hands together.

Sally giggled and nodded. "Yes, it does, doesn't it? That's just what I said." She went forward and hugged her 'sister.' "Goodbye for now, Jewel. Have a lovely day."

Jewel hugged her back. "You too, Sally. Thank you."

The girls pulled back, and then Jewel went over to Jack. "And thank you too, Jack. I appreciate both of you escorting me home."

Jack gave a polite bow. "It was our pleasure, Jewel. Doctor?" He approached the Doctor and held out his hand as he usually did during their departures. "Please rest and have a simply horrible day."

At first, the Doctor just gave a gruff nod. "Thank you." But then, after a sigh, he gave Jack's hand a brief shake. "And you as well, Jack my boy."

"Goodbye Doctor. I'll see you soon." Sally moved near him, looking unsure for a moment. Then she reached out her hand.

The Doctor paused but then managed to reach out and shake with her as well. "If you need anything—concerning your repairs—do not hesitate to contact me."

"Thank you." Sally nodded. She separated from him and went back over to Jack. She hooked arms with him once again. "Goodbye." She waved, and then Jack and Sally approached the door and stepped outside.

The door closed behind them, leaving the couple walking forward in a cool winter air of the early evening,

Sally glanced at Jack. "Do you think they'll be okay, Jack?"

Jack nodded. "Yes. You were right, Sally, the Doctor has feelings for Jewel too. He's just been a little shy…a little embarrassed…a little overwhelmed. I told him it was okay to feel that way, that I'd felt like that way…but that I let it cloud my judgment and almost lost you. And I told him that the joy I get from being with you is worth any bit of awkwardness I might have to endure as well. I think he just needs to talk to Jewel now. He knows she didn't mean to go so quickly. And I think he wants her to forgive his silliness as much as I wanted you would forgive mine." Jack smiled softly and looked down the road toward the pumpkin sun growing low in the sky, illuminating their home in the distance.

A great sense of peace came over Jack then as Sally cuddled up entirely against his shoulder while they strolled. "You're a good man, Jack Skellington. And a good king. And I'll love you until the day I die or live or for eternity, whatever's in store for us." She sighed softly and looked forward too at the sunset and their lovely house. "I appreciate what you did for Jewel, Jack. I know you found it hard to even talk to me about your intimate feelings, let alone the Doctor now too. I just hope things work out between them. I have a feeling they would be very good for each other."

Jack smiled more. "Speaking of 'feelings', I have a small present for you back at the house. I ordered it special and had it sent over while you were picking out your cloth this afternoon. I'd like to show it to you and talk to you a little bit about it tonight."

Sally frowned a little. "Jack, I told you, no more presents."

Jack nodded, looking sheepish. "I know, I know, but this isn't a trinket or anything—it's something important and Halloween related. I promise. It's for the parade, actually. And if you don't like it or it doesn't work out, I'll send it right back, all right?" He squeezed her hand a little.

Sally considered and nodded. "Well…all right, Jack. As long as it's something that's important for Halloween too and not just for me."

"You have my word it is." Jack smiled again. "But for now what would you like to do? Go look at empty shops in the town center? Pick up some ingredients for a new recipe for dinner tonight? Or we could go for a stroll out into the hinterlands to watch the sunset?"

Sally smiled but shook her head. "It's been a long day, Jack, and a long night last night. I'd like to just go home together." She looked up at him. "And maybe we could come up with some more Halloween ideas to show the Mayor tomorrow?"

Jack nodded down at her. "That sounds splendid, Sally. And while we're doing that, I'll tell you all about your present and my special idea for you for the parade."

Sally beamed a little to herself, wondering very much what Jack meant and what exactly he had gotten for her.

Back in the manor, Jewel and the Doctor were sitting together and sipping tea, an uneaten biscuit on each of their plates.

Neither of them had said a word yet.

Bu then finally the Doctor sighed and started with something small. "So…Sally's teaching you how to sew yourself?"

Jewel nodded. "Yes," she replied coolly as she set down her cup. "She says being able to repair oneself is very important. And she's right. I can't expect you to do all of my repairs forever, after all."

The Doctor frowned slightly. "I see…" There was silence again. Then after a particularly awkward amount had passed, he spoke once more. "Jewel…"

"If you want me to go, Doctor, I can go." Jewel kept her tone calm, though she frowned as she spoke. "I don't want to leave the manor, but if it would be for the best then I will. Sally said I could stay with her if I ever needed to."

"I don't want you to go."

Jewel paused at the Doctor's words and finally let her eyes meet his.

There was silence for a moment.

Then the Doctor spoke again. "My precious Jewel…"

A light, peachy blush came into Jewel's features.

The Doctor went on, his voice low, his gaze still meeting hers. "I've been considering things, and I realize that it was a very grave error of mine to leave you deficient in emotions and myself deficient in logic when I decided we should share a brain. But it was the graver error leaving you deficient in emotions. I'm used to having access to both methods of thought, so when that Valentine Queen restored things for me it was just like going back to normal without a problem. But when she restored emotions to you…it must have been very overwhelming not knowing what they were like and then suddenly having so many possible ones to contend with."

Jewel considered, then nodded. "Yes, it was overwhelming, though I've become very comfortable now. But even with the Flora's help, I'm still a very logical person, Doctor. And because of that I don't see much point in hiding emotions. I'm starting to understand why some people do hide them, but for me…if I feel something, I'd like to express that feeling. Secrets waste time."

"A very logical conclusion." The Doctor nodded. "But…you have to understand that sometimes such an attitude, even when put in place regarding another very logical person, can cause some discomfort."

Jewel frowned a little and her gaze lowered. "I understand it was too much to ask you to marry me, Doctor." She glanced back up at him. "But I am very in love with you. When you call me precious, it…it's the closest thing I knew to happiness before I knew what happiness was. And now it's the greatest happiness I can imagine."

Doctor Finkelstein looked down now. "I…"

"Master, I have the plans you wanted…." Igor lisped as he suddenly entered the room with a few dusty scrolls in hand. He blinked. "Mistress Jewel!" He dropped the scrolls and ran toward her, smiling. "You came back! When you left, Igor was sad. When Sally used to leave, she would stay away for days. Igor is happy you're back so soon though." He hugged at the hem of her dress.

The Doctor scowled as was about to say something harsh to Igor but stopped as he observed him with Jewel closely.

Jewel smiled and patted Igor's head. "Yes, I'm back, Igor. Don't worry, I won't leave. I know you need me and that you like me. And Sally will visit sometimes too now. I know you'd like to see her again."

Igor nodded. "Yes, Igor would like to see Sally very much. Is Sally okay now?"

Jewel nodded. "Yes, Sally is doing very well. She's very happy. She went to go live with nice King Jack."

Igor smiled. "Good. Sally likes Jack." He nodded to his mistress and then limped back over to fetch up the plans he had dropped. "Master? Where do you want Igor to bring the plans?"

Doctor Finkelstein blinked a few times and cleared his throat. "Erm…the lab, Igor. And please leave Jewel and I alone for a while."

Igor nodded. "As you wish, Master." Then he limped away.

There was quiet for a moment.

Then the Doctor sighed and looked to Jewel once more. "Igor isn't the only one who needs you, Jewel…or who likes you very much." He moved his chair out and wheeled it closer to her.

Jewel sat very still, blushing peachy as he came up right alongside her. "Doctor…"

"You have to understand," the Doctor glanced away, "I'm an old man set in my ways. I need time to adjust to new things and feelings."

Jewel frowned a little. "I was very angry when you wouldn't speak to me."

"And I was very frustrated when you said you started bringing up affections and matrimony to me without warning," the Doctor replied with some of his gruffness.

Jewel sighed. "All I want is to go back to you talking to me kindly and calling me your precious and smiling when I'm with you and letting me massage your cranium or your half of our brain whenever you're tired. But you have to know at the same time that I love you very much. You're smart and skillful and good and brilliant. You're the best man in the world to me."

The Doctor swallowed. "And you're very capable and talented and kind…and pretty. And a very competent woman." He quickly cleared his throat and wheeled a few feet back. "Erm, my precious Jewel? My head hurts a little. Perhaps we could go upstairs and perhaps you could massage my half of our brain and I could sew you if you need it, and we could talk…. And we could do that from time to time, a day here and a day there, and see where that goes…as a scientific sort of experiment?"

Jewel, blushing peachy again, smiled and stood up. "I think that's logical, Doctor. Let's go then." She got behind his chair and began to wheel it upstairs.

"Jewel?"

"Yes, Doctor?"

The Doctor sighed. "I'm sorry if I hurt you. And…my feelings for you aren't entirely dissimilar to the feelings you have for me. And in time they might grow to be like yours, I believe."

Jewel leaned down and kissed the Doctor on his cranium. "I think your hypothesis is sound. We'll take our time then, my dearest Doctor, and see what happens." She straightened up, beaming a little.

"Oh, erm…thank you, my precious Jewel." The Doctor just nodded and smiled quite a bit too. 'Dearest Doctor…?' And he tried not to let his anticipation show about how much he wondered what it would feel like for Jewel to touch any part of him, especially his brain, now that he knew how tenderly she felt about him and now that she knew how fond he was of her.

"Jack…what in the world?" Sally asked, both of her eyebrows arched high.

Jack and Sally were at home sitting upon the living room sofa together, and Jack had just presented Sally with her packaged special present, which she had just opened with great interest.

Nestled in the box, Sally found a perfectly round and quite large glassy orb made of strange crystal.

Jack smiled at her and explained; he explained about how hearing about her vision of the flower turning into a tree and burning on Christmas Eve had interested him, he explained how he noticed that the 'feelings' she talked about getting about certain things really did seem to be accurate, he explained how intuitive he found her beyond anyone he had ever known.

Sally blushed, of course, during his speech of praise and compliments, and smiled as he finished. "But, Jack, what does any of that have to do with this?" She gestured to the glass ball in its box. "Or with Halloween?" she added, remembering his promise earlier that this gift was important for the upcoming holiday.

Jack smiled more and moved closer to her on the sofa. "Well, you wanted a bigger role to play in the parade, and I did promise Oogie's old slot in the song to you, and you are very good at predicting things and being intuitive…so I thought you might like to be our town fortune teller, Sally." His eye socket practically sparkled.

Sally blushed and blinked. "Fortune teller?" She considered. "Jack, I don't know if…I mean, I only get feelings sometimes, and that vision was the first one ever. I don't know if I could tell fortunes…" She hesitated, then added, "…And if I could, do you really think that would be scary?"

"I think you might need some practice and a chance to hone your skills," Jack observed, "but I do think you would make a powerful fortune teller. So that's a genuine crystal ball." He gestured to it. "I thought you could practice with it if you wanted. And if it doesn't work out or you don't want to be a fortuneteller, it's not a problem at all, and we'll just find some other thing for you to do in the parade. But I do hope you'll at least consider the suggestion, Sally. And Sally," he smiled more, "of course fortune tellers are scary—they know the mysterious future, the frightful things that may or may not befall us. Wasn't your Christmas vision rather scary?"

Sally nodded. "Yes. Very." She considered more and then looked down at the dull crystal ball in the box again. "I…I suppose practicing wouldn't hurt. Do you know how exactly I'm supposed to…?" Sally put her hands on the ball and carefully lifted it out of its box, then paused. Suddenly her eyes went wide. "Oh! Jack, it feels warm…and it glows so beautifully. I like the colors." She smiled as she watched the colors shift from slime green to pumpkin orange to deep purple mists.

Jack blinked and looked to the ball with part of his brow raised. "It just looks a bit cloudy to me, Sally. There are colors to you?"

Sally nodded, her gaze still locked on the ball. "Yes. And shapes. I can't make out anything clearly, but I do see them…" She smiled more and then looked up as she put the ball back down into its box. The cloudiness (and colors, from Sally's perspective) all disappeared, leaving the ball clear once more. "Jack, I love it. Maybe I really could be a fortune teller." Her eyes brightened. "Maybe I could even have a shop where I make sewing repairs and tell fortunes if I got good enough."

Jack beamed. "Yes, yes of course you could! Anything's possible. Oh, I'm very happy you like my idea, Sally!" He came forward and wrapped her up in a big hug.

Sally laughed and hugged him back.

Jack pulled back to place the box on the coffee table, his mind already working. "I can get to work rewriting the lyrics of the Halloween song to incorporate your fortune telling anytime you'd like, Sally. Just let me know when. I already have some ideas."

Sally nodded. "It might take me some time to decide, Jack, but thank you." She smiled more to herself. "I'm going to have lyrics of my own in the song…"

Jack nodded as he turned back to face her again. "Yes, you are, just as you always should have had." Then he swallowed and clasped his hands in his lap as he added a touch bashfully, "And, erm…perhaps, if you wouldn't mind…you might do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to the awards ceremony after the parade this year? Only if you wanted to of course."

Sally blinked. "But Jack, I thought you didn't like the awards ceremony. You always sneak away from it."

Jack shrugged. "Oh it's not so bad."

Sally raised an eyebrow.

Jack sighed. "All right, yes, I do find it rather boring. But I never had the prospect of a lovely young lady to entertain by going. To be honest, no matter how predictable the awards ceremony is each year, I would love to attend with you even just once." He smiled sheepishly. "It's a town tradition, and I would just love to share it with you. That's all."

Sally smiled more and blushed. "I would love to go with you to the awards ceremony Halloween night, Jack." She blushed a little more and added, "Then after that could we just spend the rest of Halloween night together, you and I?" She played with her hair. "I always thought there was something about you on Halloween that was very attractive. And besides, I think Halloweens are best when they're shared. I'd love to share all of that night with you, my dearest Jack." She looked to his eye sockets.

Jack blanched a little and smiled a lot. He lowered his voice and picked up her hand, feeling a touch of that Halloween passion come over him and in a most frightfully delightful way. He even lowered his voice a little. "After the awards are over, we'll sneak off to Spiral Hill, hide underneath its curl, and neck with wild and youthful abandon in the moonlight and shadow in between telling each other haunting stories and scary things. And we won't rest until the pumpkin sun rises on the next day." He kissed the back of her hand.

Sally trembled. "I can't wait, Jack."

As Jack raised his skull from the back of her hand, their eyes met, and they both realized how close they were.

Sally came forward and gently brought her lips to Jack's, and Jack kissed her in return as he brought an arm around her waist. The two of them lost themselves together, moving back and forth, savoring. Sally pulled back for a moment to take a breath. "Jack, l-let me try…" Then she moved in again and parted her lips slightly. Jack blinked once and then followed her lead.

Sally felt electrified all over as she wound her arms around Jack and brought them closer and closer together.

Jack just did his best to resist the urge to be the one pouncing upon her for a change as he felt her deepen the intimacy of their kiss. 'Oh, what a woman…' He longed to coo those words to her in the deepest tone of his voice…but decided to save doing so until sometime later tonight when the would be alone and in the darkness together.

Jack and Sally separated a few moments later. Their eyes fluttered open, and they took a few breaths and shared light laugh of happiness. Then Jack put an arm around Sally's waist to cuddle in close to her and Sally leaned up against his side a little. The two of them looked out of the living room windows to watch the pumpkin sun setting.

"Sally, we have had a very unusual start to our courtship," Jack observed with a smile.

"Yes." Sally nodded. "But looking back on it, I don't mind the Valentine's stuff and the adventure we had, just like how I don't mind much about everything we had to go through with Christmas. We ended up here because of what we shared, after all."

Jack chuckled but shook his head. "Yes, that's true, Sally, but I wasn't talking about all of the trials we endured. I meant, well…the intensity of our relationship has been unusual." He raised part of his brow. "I never had anybody special in my life until you, and then over the course of one single but eventful Christmas Eve I fell for you completely, and we started living together the next day. But then for so many days after you moved in, I could barely bring myself to speak to you, let alone kiss you again, and I was too shy to even admit to myself that what I felt was 'love' no matter how much I knew it was. Meanwhile, I was coming to you in the night spouting extreme passions. Then suddenly everything ends up revealed and worked out, and we end up finally ready to be truly more than dearest friends…but instead of just the occasional kiss and talking about our feelings to start things out, we're suddenly up all night together sharing intimate secrets and holding each other in the moonlight. And then today of course we woke up sharing a bed…and talked about love leading to marriage." He blanched considerably. "There have been a lot of extremes."

Sally smiled a little. "Yes, you have a point, Jack. We've had a strange time together so far as a new couple." She swallowed. "I don't know if the crystal ball would help show you what I mean, but I have a good feeling this is actually how things are supposed to be for us. We're meant to be, Jack: maybe we can't help being a little intense together. We are meant to be, after all. Maybe it even makes sense for us that after barely any time together we would wonder about getting married…and other things…." She touched his arm lightly. Her voice lowered to a very soft whisper. "You remember, like we talked about this morning in bed after we kissed…" She looked down, her cheeks flushed rosy.

"Yes, this morning, when we were together…" stumbled out of Jack's mouth in a slight tone of fluster. "I-I remember..." He swallowed and tried not to tremble. "I, um…with time and preparation, I'm sure we'll make a lot of progress in…all the ways we can be together." He took a deep breath, and his tone calmed a little. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to seem nervous, Sally. I don't feel bad anymore about wanting such passionate things together. In fact, I'm becoming very fond of our passions. I just…have limited experience." He blanched shyly. "And it makes me more curious than I can say."

A special smile came to Sally's lips. "It's okay." She nestled alongside him just a little more. She whispered again. "I'm curious too. Even from the first day I fell in love with you, I secretly wanted to be close to you in every possible way, dearest Jack…my King."

Jack's skull warmed considerably. "My splendid Sally…" He sighed and then a small, joyful chuckle escaped him. He let out a breath and moved his fingers through a few strands of her hair. "May we still try to go a little slowly though? I'm still getting used to being in love, and I've been around and lonely for a very long time. I need to adjust. And besides, I don't want us to be like Christmas—I don't want us to come together in a frenzy and end with some grand bang just as fast. I want us to savor every little piece of what it is we have together no matter how intense we are. I want to know you in a thousand different ways as my dearest friend and lady lover, and I want to take my time with each of them." He had her arm in his hands now (the arm that had so often become detached and that had guided him so very much in his romance with Sally), and he was kissing slowly, sensually along the limb starting at her wrist. "I want to explore everything and learn together along the way." He smiled a little every time his bony lips found a seam.

Sally smiled dreamily as he finished by kissing the crux of her elbow. "Yes." She nodded. "I like the idea of savoring things. Taking our time sounds horribly lovely when you put it that way, dearest Jack." Her smile quirked upward in a playful way. "So then…no matter how quickly things have moved so far, I guess you'd like me to wait at least a few more days before I bring up the idea of us having children together?" She blushed but smiled more.

Jack stiffened up a little and took in a quick sharp breath.

Sally blushed and opened her mouth, about to apologize and assure him she was just joking (in a way).

But then Jack gave a small smile and laugh. "Yes, well, um…all in due time perhaps."

"Arf! Arf!"

"Whoa!" Jack suddenly blinked and pulled back a little as Zero suddenly flew into the house and descended between him and Sally. The smiling little ghost dog kissed his master and mistress.

"Zero!" Sally giggled. "It's good to see you too."

Jack chuckled and scratched Zero behind the ears. "Yes, it is. I'm sorry we haven't had time to play together much ever since I got carried away with Christmas. Hmm…tell you what, how would you like to have a nice dinner with Sally and I?"

"Arf!" Zero did a tumble in the air, and his nose glowed. Then he flew around Sally once and cuddled up against her.

"Yes, Zero." Sally petted him. "I'm staying, and I'm very happy to be here too."

Jack looked on at the little scene with a soft smile and then cleared his throat. "Sally doll, speaking of dinner, I have a grand idea for the rest of our evening if you're interested."

Sally smiled at him but then blinked and hesitated for a moment. She considered questioning his strange response to her joke just before Zero had arrived…but then she let out a breath and smiled again. 'Maybe him being a little surprised makes sense: Jack was always completely alone before me. Having children must be the strangest thought in the world to him. And if he maybe doesn't want to, well…I'll be sad, but we can talk about it. We have a lot of time.' "What did you have in mind, Jack?" she asked.

Jack's eye sockets hazed, and his smile grew. "Well, since I need to go meet with the Mayor in the morning, I thought you and I could start spending the night together as soon as possible. After dinner, maybe we could change into our nightclothes and retire together early for the rest of the evening. We could just sit up together until it's time for bed, eat snacks, talk, work on Halloween plans and on your sewing machine, tease each other and laugh. I'll even bring out the phonograph, and…" His eye sockets lit up, and he clapped his hands together. "Oh, I know! Why don't we make sort of a sleepover of it? A real one down here in the living room where there's plenty of space to move around—if Zero would be kind enough to take my bed for the night."

The little ghost dog winked.

Jack chuckled. "Thank you, boy." He looked to Sally again, his smile growing. "And perhaps we could use the phonograph to have that dance we've been dying for—a nice waltz, maybe even a tango?" He leaned in closer to her, his eye sockets practically twinkling.

Sally's eyes went wide, and her crooked smile practically split its own stitches. "I…sleepover…Halloween…snacks…tango." She giggled.

Jack grinned more and leaned in so close that their noses touched. His voice dropped an octave. "I'll even serenade you, Sally…you and only you for eternity." His voice went to its deepest, most sonorous pitch on the last two words.

Sally took in a deep breath, and her whole face brightened. ""Oh, Jack!" she cooed. "Let's get started on dinner then. Now please!" Suddenly she took his arm, stood up with a giggle, and pulled him along with her to the kitchen.

"Whoa!" Jack had to steady himself at first but then he just laughed at her enthusiasm as he followed along. "All right, Sally. Come along, Zero."

"Arf!" Zero flew after the happy couple.

Jack looked to Sally again and swallowed, then added, "Then, um…maybe sometime soon since we've slept in your room and out here, we could try sleeping together my room like we talked about." He blanched a little as they finally entered the kitchen. "I would have asked you to share it with me tonight, but I'll need days to set things up in there first. I've never had to prepare my room for a lady before, after all." He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye socket as they came to stand before the counter. "I'd want to make sure everything was perfect. Fresh blankets and fragrant candles and dead black rose petals everywhere…and, um…the new larger bed I ordered for myself, if it's finished soon." He shrugged, his small grin spreading over the width of his skull.

Sally released his arm and turned to him with a special smile. "Only if you really wanted to, Jack. But I don't need anything special. Your room is lovely just as it is." She blushed a little and turned to the stove to light the burner.

Jack reached up to the cupboard doors to grab some ingredients for their dinner as Zero went off to start gathering silverware and napkins for the table. "But it would be the first night you ever share my bed. The first of many, I hope. I'd want it to be special." He smiled more.

"It will be, Jack, no matter how you decorate." Sally blushed a little rosier and added, "Though the dead black rose petals did sound nice."

"Then dead black rose petals you shall definitely have." Jack chuckled as he set the ingredients out on the counter and took down a few bowls. "Oh, but if you think any of my other suggestions sounded extravagant, you can't even imagine the visual spectacle I'm going to make of this entire town for your first official Halloween parade by my side. I've had centuries of decorating experience, Sally, and no thrill for using it for so long until now." His eye sockets twinkled a little and his bony grin went wide. "I'm going to finally stop moping about and start making this town a dazzlingly display of horror just as it was always meant to be, ruled by the fearsome Pumpkin King Jack and his Macabre Mistress of Stitches Sally."

Sally looked back at him with a smile full of wonder as she took a small cauldron from the cabinet. "Jack, that sounds wonderful and horrible all at once. I've never seen you so passionate before."

The Pumpkin King sighed and nodded as he opened a few spice containers. "Almost losing Christmas helped make me passionate again about Halloween, and now you've made me passionate about you and myself and all of the people I love. I'm utterly bursting with emotions." He looked to her. "I haven't been passionate in so long, Sally. It's felt like forever. I'll never be able to express to you how much it means to me how you've helped me. Everything was so grey until I found you."

"You don't have to thank me, Jack." Sally smiled and looked down a little. "Just…be happy. That's all I've ever wanted."

Jack gazed at her so tenderly. Then he smiled more to himself and went back to measuring and mixing some spices. "And are you passionate and happy too, Sally?"

Sally's little smile picked up on one side as she turned back to the cauldron and the stove. "I've done everything from fight with you to pounce on you with kisses over the last week, and I woke up this morning alongside the one man I've dreamed of waking up with ever since I can remember…my dearest friend. You tell me if I'm happy and passionate, Jack."

Jack couldn't help chuckling, and that sent Sally off into giggling. And then they were just sharing a warm laugh together.

When the funny moment subsided, Jack just sighed as he finished mixing a few things in a bowl. "I love you, Sally."

Sally smiled more as she set lit the burner beneath the cauldron. "And I love you, Jack."

The happy pair stood side by side as they went about preparing dinner, and their free hands alongside each other soon joined in a gentle hold, no words needing to be said, no notice needing to be given as a little ghost dog occasionally darted back and forth overhead.

They were just Jack and Sally making a meal together, surrounded by a gentle silence and warmed inside by an eternal love. And no one needed a crystal ball or expertise in a holiday about love to understand the moment they were sharing.

They were simply dearest friends, meant to be.

A/N:

Well, that's the conclusion ^_^ Thank you all so much again for reading and reviewing, I've appreciated it a lot. Like I said, there's going to be an epilogue chapter coming up too. It's set a few months later, and we'll see Valentine Town a little bit again and also Jack and Sally after they've had some time to really get close (and there'll be something about the Doctor and Jewel's progress too). I hope you all like it!

Take care!

~Azure129 aka Jenna