NintendoGal55: Hello one and all, welcome to the epilogue! We hope you all enjoyed this adorable story, because we sure enjoyed writing it! This takes place of course after the film! :) Well, almost. We had to include the last scene before we progressed.

And fear not, because we have a sequel underway! :) Stay tuned!

Azure129: HEY fellow TNBC fanatics! Yup, that's right, the epilogue is already here and that is because NintendoGal and I just love to write, write, write ;) We hope you all enjoy how this ends! And yes, please stay tuned for the sequel story 8D (It will be posted on NintedoGal's account so please put her on AUTHOR ALERT! Thank you! )

Pumpkin Petals

Chapter 2:

A New Beginning…

A little over a year later...things had certainly changed.

It first began last Halloween. The Halloween of last year, following the first time the two had met.

That year, the emptiness within Jack had come to a head. In it all, he actually ended up deep in the forest, and had discovered the doors leading to all other Holidays of the world. Including the very famous Christmas Town. Then came his attempt to try to bring Christmas into Halloween Town...which had been one big disaster after another.

Today, at this very moment...things had changed for the better. Jack had turned out not to be shot down dead, and came back to try to make things right. He had successfully defeated the notoriously evil Oogie Boogie, helped save Santa and Sally, which allowed Santa to fix and save Christmas, restoring it to what it had once been. Ever since he had, everything went back to normal. There were no hard feelings between either town leader at all. Santa had even flown over Halloween Town, and snow, actual snow, had fallen around, confusing and yet delighting everyone.

Sally was more than happy to see that everything was all right. Especially Jack, her beloved...the one who meant the most to her in the world. Now everything was back to normal. Kind of.

Sally was now alone on Spiral Hill, sitting on the snowy bank, with a small flower in hand. Just as she did a few days earlier, the day she had received a premonition that impended a certain doom, she plucked the petals softly.

He loves me...he loves me not...he loves me...he loves me not.

All was well, all was beautiful. Except one thing she hoped for. ...But that could wait for now. She was just glad things were back to normal and that Jack was back safe and sound, with no hard feelings with Santa Claus, or who was once known as Sandy Claws.

She paused then, upon hearing very soft approaching footsteps, and the angelic, sweet sound of...singing...right toward her.

Jack had been so perfectly happy when the snow had started to fall on Halloween Town on this night. It was truly the most wonderful Christmas present he could have asked for for his citizens...

That feeling of perfection though had dimmed all of a sudden at the sight of Dr. Finkelstein...with a newly built caretaker doting all over him.

Instantly Jack's eyes had gone wide and his head and heart had recalled one other thing that had been left unfinished. One other thing he really did need to look into before this adventure could be said to have come to an end. Upon seeing Sally disappear through the gate leading to the cemetery, he thought of what he could do about that.

And so now Jack had been standing at the bottom of Spiral Hill just watching Sally sit there with her flower for at least five minutes. In truth, on the way there, he hadn't been sure of what he might say upon finding her. She had just...his other friends, good as their intentions had been, had been more concerned with pleasing him via all this Christmas stuff than showing him the error of his ways about it...but not Sally.

Sally had...she had done things...dangerous things. She had gone to Oogie Boogie, even! So dangerous...Entering that disgusting creature's lair and seeing her at his mercy, about to perish...Something inside of Jack had just boiled over! There would be no leniency with Oogie this time, no warning, no deals...It was the last straw. And in that moment he had probably known...how he felt about her...though he had been a little distracted with saving her and Sandy Cl- 'Er...Santa Claus...' Jack corrected himself mentally.

But then at the end, really taking in all that she had done for him...and for the first time in his life feeling...genuinely loved...Oh he had just jumped all over it! She...She had everything he had been looking for with this whole 'Christmas escapade'...only in the way he was meant to have all of that warmth and kindness and sharing and...love. And now, at the bottom of this hill, all he wanted was to let her know that he knew...and to let her know, if she wanted it, that...his feelings were just the same...

He began his ascent up the hill and sang to her softly.

"My dearest friend, if you don't mind...I'd like to join you by your side..." Jack smiled, ever bone in his body full of a tingling and trembling hope.

Sally was shocked, but so pleasantly shocked, that she just couldn't help but melt at the utter sweetness of his words...and of course the angelic tone of his singing. It brought her back to that night a year ago, when she had heard him sing for the first time, right here in the graveyard. How captivated she had been with his singing, and the pure emotion within it all...how she understood exactly how he felt, and how sorry she felt for him.

She stood up, turning around and facing him with a hopeful, loving smile, as he continued his ascent toward her.

She was looking at him, she was smiling, she was standing...and the way the moon glowed behind her...It practically made him shake and he was just grateful he didn't falter in his footing or his words as he continued to climb. 'She's so beautiful...My dear, darling, sweet Sally...The answer to all of my emptiness and longing...My perfect Christmas gift...'

He smiled more and sang on... "...Where we can gaze into the stars..." He had almost reached her now.

"And sit together, now and forever..." Sally sang softly along with him.

It was a wonder how she was able to contain herself right now. It was almost too good to be true...but here it came, and she was more than happy to take it, and show Jack the love and devotion she had for him.

"For it is plain as anyone can see..." The two continued to sing together, eyes never once leaving each other.

Jack held his hands toward her as he approached, and held her little hands in his own, gently closing around them as they once more.

"We're simply meant to be..."

For a moment they were just holding hands and looking at each other, right into each other's eyes. It was funny...he almost...wasn't sure what to do right now and yet...he...Somehow their hands separated and his arms came around her to hold her close and he felt hers come around him too, and for a moment he was ready for just the blissful satisfaction of the two of them actually and purposefully embracing at the same time...until somehow their eyes shut and their mouths met in that lovely kissing thing he had seen everywhere in Christmas town. And doing it felt better than eating all the candy canes and giving all the presents and flying all the magical sleighs in the world! He didn't understand how his bony legs didn't just collapse out from under him, melting into the snow with their new, love-induced warmth. 'Love...' yes that was the word. He loved her...in a very very very special way.

Sally wasn't entirely sure how this happened, but it was a wonder she didn't burst at the seams, literally! First they were eyeing each other with such love, and then they came together in an embrace, and their mouths met in a soft, tender kiss. She knew very little of kissing, but knew it was something romantic couples liked to do in showing affection. Showing love. Her happiness soared, and if it were possible to love him any more than she did before, it was probably happening.

She couldn't have asked for a better...Christmas? Yes, Christmas. A beautiful Christmas. With all the snow and warm cheer, which although was stark contrast to the dark but fun feelings of Halloween...still just seemed to fit so beautifully.

She felt so complete. Jack loved her in return! She was so happy. Happier than she had ever felt in her entire undead life.

His kiss was so gentle, so achingly sweet that it was a wonder she didn't burst into tears. If she had a heart, it might've jumped out of her chest and danced around in a happy fit of lovesick joy.

Jack let out the lightest sigh through his nose. This felt...well...he just knew deep down that if he had discovered this before this whole insane Christmas thing he would NEVER have wandered off into the woods in search of some place and something new! Nothing, nothing, nothing would ever be better than kissing his sweet Sally. Holding her and kissing her...His love. 'My love...' He was pretty sure, at that idea of a pet name, that he had just fallen in love with her the littlest bit more.

They soon parted, eyes opening and meeting each other as their hands lowered, fingers intertwining.

As if a miracle, a single tear ran down Sally's cheek. She didn't even realize she could produce tears. Or was it just a flake of falling snow that struck her face?

"Jack...I..." She murmured, feeling shy all over again as she gazed up at him, feeling as if she were falling in love with him all over again.

Jack could barely keep his eye sockets meeting her eyes... He felt about as shy as she usually was all of a sudden, a warm little grin on his face. He had never...considered...himself in a position like this and what he might do. His only romantic experience prior to this had been fan girls wanting a chance just to touch him or something and him repelling them at all costs. He didn't know how to...p-pursue a girl. It was almost funny really...so wonderfully funny. "Y-Yes...S-Sally?" he managed to whisper, feeling just...giddy with delight inside despite his bashful exterior.

Despite it was made clear, she couldn't help but want to say so...the one thing she had been too shy to say ever since she realized it. "Jack I...I wanted to tell you...for some time...I...I love you..."

Jack just absolutely burst inside! "Oh Sally!" Suddenly his arms were around her again and he had picked her up and twirled her around, his eyes shut tightly in bliss and an ear to ear grin on his skull! "Oh Sally..." he placed her down, though he still held her close. He opened his eye sockets now to look lovingly into her eyes. "Can you ever forgive me?"

"Well, of course I-" Then she looked confused. "Ah...for what?"

He just chuckled a little. "For putting you through all of this...all of this Christmas insanity and worry about my sleigh ride and saving me and saving everybody and nearly being lost to Oogie...Can you forgive me for putting you through all of that before I could finally realize that...you were what was missing for me, Sally...this whole time...and that I..." he let out a breath, "I love you, Sally. I love you too."

Sally just smiled and kissed him on the cheek, beaming at him with absolute love. "Of course I forgive you, Jack...I know you were only trying to make something wonderful out of it! ...You did the right thing and came back...and fixed the mistakes. I...wanted to help you, I didn't want anything bad to happen to you. I'm just glad you're all right, Jack..."

Jack leaned down and kissed her cheek as well. "Thank you, Sally...And I'm so very happy that you're alright too." He chuckled a tiny bit and shrugged sheepishly and shyly as he added, "I told you I could be scarier than Oogie Boogie when I had a mind to be."

Sally giggled. "Well, you certainly proved that, Jack."

Jack chuckled a little in response to her giggle. Then he sighed and gulped and took a step back from her nervously. "Well, um...I guess...now we should head back to town...I think we both need a good rest, especially you, Sally, considering all you've done for me today..." 'How to...how to tell her about Dr. Finkelstein ...and...how to figure out what she should do from here...' He did have one idea about what she could do about her living arrangements now but...he was even more nervous about suggesting that than he was about bringing up Dr. Finkelstein with her.

"Oh Jack, you need to rest more than I do." Sally took his hand, and realized the reality of the situation. "Oh...the doctor has a new creation...I saw glimpses of it and I think it's complete by now." She was unsure about going back...he would likely turn her away. Not even the fact she helped Santa Claus would win him over. She sighed, shaking her head. She was homeless.

Holding her hand Jack began to walk her down the hill, a very sad look on his face at the sad look on her own face. The walked slowly on and finally with a breath he summed up his courage and began to try and lead her to a suggestion he had for her about this whole Dr. Finkelstein thing. "Oh...so you saw his new project then...Yes, it's complete. She was wheeling him around through the snow actually, heh..." He smiled, trying to lighten the mood. Inside he was just hoping that when he finally made his suggestion for her, she wouldn't be offended or something at his forwardness.

"So, he made a creation to dote all over him?" Sally couldn't help but giggle. "Well...I suppose that leaves me off the hook, then. I'll find a new place to live."

"Heh..." Jack gave a sheepish half grin, "Yes, well...speaking of that...I-I was wondering..." He swallowed and looked down with shy, wide eye sockets as he spoke, lacing his fingers a little more completely with hers, "Since you...need a new place to live...and since you...well, since we love each other..." he gathered up all of his courage and just asked it, "Would you like to come live with me, Sally?" He blinked and quickly added, almost stumbling as they walked, he was so nervous, "Y-You could have your own room of course, and come and go as you please, heh..." He looked at her hopefully, awaiting her reply.

"What?" Sally looked at him in shock. "Jack...I...! I...that's...oh Jack..." She hugged him tightly. "That's so sweet of you Jack...but I can't impose on you like that...it's all right, I can find a place close by..."

Jack blinked and his breath caught in his throat at her hug. He took in her words and then instantly put his hands on her shoulders and spoke to her sincerely. "Sally, you wouldn't be imposing...I love your company so much, I would love to have you live with me and Zero. Only if you'd be comfortable though of course. I just want you to be happy and safe...and to be loved..." He smiled. He nuzzled his head against hers a little, adoring the feel of her soft yarn hair against his skull. "I want to love you and take care of you and be happy with you forever, Sally..." he whispered with a lovesick grin before he could even think about his words.

"Oh, Jack..." Sally melted against him and sighed happily, giggling. "Well...all right. I'd love to live with you, Jack...I can help cook, I can sew, I'll be able to pull my own weight no problem..."

Jack pulled back a little and grinned ear to ear, and then just looked down at her so lovingly. "You just do whatever makes you happy...Your happiness lighting up my...our...house, alone, is more than enough.

Sally beamed up at him lovingly, her eyes seeming to sparkle with so much love and adoration. Their house...he said it was now their house...she wanted to dance! Just dance! She was so happy. "Well...I think we still have time before the doctor returns to his lab...I could go back to my room and get a few things."

Jack just smiled and smiled and smiled...He never wanted to not smile again! He nodded. "Alright then. I'll come with you to help you." He lifted up her hand and gave it a gentle kiss, then lowered it. "We'll make you such a pretty room in our house, Sally. It can have anything you want in it. And you'll be the most beautiful thing in it of all." His eye sockets were half lidded.

"Oh!" Sally giggled at his sweet, courteous act of affection. "Thank you Jack...that's sweet of you to say...I... I can't tell you how happy all of this makes me..."

"Me too, Sally...Me too..." He let out a content sigh, a funny and shy thought occurring to him that he started to say out loud before he could stop himself. "It's almost like...this whole time I kept thinking I was missing a beard or a hat or reindeer to capture something like the Christmas feeling...but it turned out the most important thing I needed was sort of a...um... 'Mrs. Claus'...heh..." He glanced away with a bashful smile. "You were a very good Mrs. Claus this year, Sally. Thank you again for that."

"Mrs. Claus..." Sally smiled and giggled at that. "Santa Claus does have a Mrs. Claus, right? Well...you're welcome, Jack..."

"Hmm..." Jack sighed in contentment to himself. "And now I'll have you around me all the time...as long as you want to be around me, of course. There to remind me of what's really important in case i ever forget again..." He squeezed her hand a little more.

"I've...I've wanted to be around you since the moment I met you, Jack..." Sally admitted softly. "And I haven't changed my mind since."

Jack blinked several times, looking at her with a curious smile. "Ever since the moment you met me? Really?"

"Oh! Well I..." Sally looked away shyly. "I guess I...um..."

Jack chuckled warmly. "Sally...it's okay to tell me, you know...After all, as I told you, I...I really am sort of taken with you..." His smile went a little goofier. "You can tell me anything and I'll just find myself more and more drawn to you."

"Oh...well I..." She looked to the ground a little, still shy about admitting this. "...Yes I...I did...have a feeling about you when I first met you...talked to you..."

Jack let out a small, dreamy sigh. "And you didn't say anything...left me to figure out how perfect you are all on my own." He gulped and glanced down with a shy smile. "Actually, Sally...I...well, I knew I liked you from the moment I met you but...you should also know that the first time someone made a joke about me and you being together that day we met...I started thinking about wanting to be with you from that moment on...and always trying to avoid it. I was so afraid the idea would make you uncomfortable, and so afraid of ruining our friendship...and also...I...well..." He got even quieter for a moment, his shy smile still remaining. "Actually maybe I shouldn't say it. You'll probably laugh, Sally..."

Sally looked at him then, and saw they were coming back into town. Walking in snow sure did make travel on foot a little slower, didn't it? But boy she was quite...surprised, and very...flattered at his words. She could understand exactly how he felt, the fact he was afraid of ruining their friendship, making her uncomfortable with his feelings... "Oh, Jack... I...I understand completely...that's why I couldn't...well, tell you sooner. I was afraid you'd never feel the same way...that it would ruin our friendship or make you uncomfortable." She squeezed his hand. "...You can tell me, Jack...I won't laugh."

Jack felt his bones tremble with warmth at her soft, sweet words...Had it really been only fear and misunderstanding keeping them apart for so long? So silly when you thought about it...But it didn't matter, the truth was out now, and they could be together forever. Happy with these thoughts, Jack let out a small sigh and told her the thing he thought she might laugh about. "Well, I...I was also trying not to think about you...like that...because I...never had...pursued a young lady before. I wasn't really sure how to do it...and I was terrified of how much of a fool I might make of myself if I tried it. The Pumpkin King, scared of being scared of telling...the girl he likes most...that he likes her...so very much." He chuckled a little at his own small fears. "But I'm...I'm so happy that it looks like I'm doing something right since I have you here and with me now...my sweet Sally..."

Letting his words sink in, Sally smiled more and exhaled happily, closing her eyes for a moment, and then looked up at him. They were walking through town now, and a few of the townsfolk, still playing around in the snow, were casting glances at them. A few were even muttering, "It's about time!"

"Jack...that's not silly at all." She said sweetly. "In fact...even I didn't know what to do in pursuing a man. I've read stories, but I still didn't know how I could possibly win a man's heart. Especially if I was too much of a...well, a coward about it. I tried to push it back, but it would never go. Eventually I...kept the feelings close because I didn't want to lie to myself...and it made me feel happy. A lot better. It made me look forward to seeing you so much more. ...And you...well, you're definitely...doing right...Jack...I...I really..." She giggled and looked away.

Jack practically felt like collapsing into a puddle. Saying all those things about her sweet shyness...being that unsure of herself...when her charm and warmth were more than enough to win any man's heart. Her denying her feelings to herself and then just keeping them a happy secret. And then saying he was doing right with her...And giggling like that. He felt such an urge come over himself to kiss her and he swore, if it hadn't been for his own modesty and his concern for her comfort considering the public place they were in (and he too was aware that people were more than looking at them at this point), he would have stopped their walk and hugged her close and kissed her once again tonight. For now though he just sighed dreamily. "You...what...Sally?" he prompted so very gently. "You can tell me..." he whispered... "Remember? Anything you say...I'll only fall more and more and more...in love with you."

Sally felt like she were blushing if she could, and giggled more. "...I really just...have never felt more happy in my life than I am right now...you've done nothing but make me the happiest...I've ever been."

That was it. He could barely take it anymore. She was just...Charming wasn't a good enough word anymore. She was enchanting. He felt like if he could have just sat with her and talked with her forever it would have made him so happy. "S-Sally..." he managed to get out with a shuddery sigh.

They weren't too far from the laboratory, and weren't in sight of many townsfolk...although they could hear the giggling of the three kids who were once Oogie Boogie's subordinates. Sally felt herself shiver, as she looked at him yet again. "...Yes, Jack?"

Jack took in a shallow breath, and then he turned and looked at her. And then suddenly he laughed and stopped their walk and (so very grateful they were in private again) he just scooped her up in both of his arms lifted her off the ground to spontaneously cradle her. "Sally...I should have offered to carry you forever ago...Your shoes must be soaked through with snow. Don't worry though-we'll get your things and then go back to our house and get you warmed up by the fire." He chuckled in joy again and winked at her, and then proceeded to carry her forward as they came in sight of the gates of Dr. Finkelstein's house.

"Ohh!" Sally exclaimed in surprise, and was taken aback by his sudden action. She looped her stitched arms around his neck, a little bit nervous at being carried like this, since it never happened before. But she trusted Jack, she knew he wouldn't drop her. It was just a new feeling, a new thing for her, that's all it was. "I...I...okay, Jack..." She murmured bashfully.

Jack chuckled a little more as they walked on, finally heading up to the entrance of Dr. Finkelstein's house. "Sally, if you keep just letting me have my way when it comes to you, then...I...I..." he glanced away so very shyly, all the while savoring the feeling of her light, soft little form in his arms. He shrugged a tiny bit. "...I-I'm bound to end up just plain marrying you before New Years..."

Sally's eyes went wide and she just was at loss for words. Did he seriously mean that? That all of that just made him want to take this a step further?

Of course, she definitely fantasized about them marrying a few times in her lovesick little daydreams. To be the Pumpkin Queen... To be Sally Skellington...to be...his wife. "Oh Jack..." She murmured lovingly.

Jack just blinked a few times, his shy grin staying on his face and his eye sockets half lidded as he held her as they approached the front door of the house. "Ah, but it's true..." he joked with her with a chuckle, "And after all...who else is clever enough to be my Mrs. Claus...my Pumpkin Queen?" He hugged her closer as he cradled her.

Giggles escaped Sally, partly at the memory of when he had said the same kind of line several days earlier, upon asking who was clever enough to make the Sandy Claws...er...Santa Claus suit. "Jack I...I..." She giggled again.

He chuckled a little himself as they reached the door. "I hope you'll say something besides just my name with a giggle again soon, Miss Sally. And how is it that after all we've been through you only grow shyer and shyer?" He smiled at her. "I was hoping you would help me fill our house with pleasant conversation for a very long time to come, to be honset...But I suppose your natural, quiet charm would do just as well to bring joy to my evenings." He pushed the door open with his hip and entered, still holding her. "Oh Sally..." he just finished with a delighted sigh as he looked down lovingly upon her.

"You're...you're too much, Jack..." Sally just couldn't help giggle. She felt like an embarrassed but blissfully happy school girl. "I'm sorry...I suppose this is new to me."

Jack's smile grew. He spoke softly and kindly. "It's new to me too..So we'll just ...learn together...Alright?" He winked down at her.

"Of course..." She smiled more at him. "Couldn't have said it better myself."

They were inside and he gently pushed the door closed behind them. "Would you like me to carry you upstairs or would you like to walk yourself? It's entirely up to you, Sally."

"...Well...I..." She was perfectly capable of walking herself, but she almost just didn't have the heart to ask him to put her down. "You can carry me...if it's not too much trouble." She said demurely.

"It would be my honor, my..." he laughed a little, "Well...I guess you're not technically my Pumpkin Queen yet, huh?...What about Pumpkin Princess? Would you like that for now?" he asked sweetly.

Sally giggled, nodding. "Sure, Jack...I like it." And she did, it seemed so obvious, given their case, but it was so sweet coming out of his mouth, that it just made it seem wonderful.

"Splendid!" He happily carried her up the stairs leading them to the top of the tower. "So...about your room in our house...you can pick any you like, Sally...set it up any way you like...I just want you to be the happiest and the more comfortable that you can be." He chuckled a little. "I'll even carry you into your room like this every night for you to go to sleep if it's what you want."

"Oh..." Sally giggled, again! Was she ever going to stop? She must've had a giggle box inside of her somewhere and it was acting on overdrive. "Well...since you offered, I see no reason not to take it..." Indeed, he was so sweet in doing what he was doing, she couldn't help but enjoy it and love it. He just did it because he wanted to make her happy, because he wanted to. She could tell. She would never demand such a thing, she wasn't that kind of person at all. It was just so sweet.

Jack's eye sockets all but lit up! "Really? You'd let me? Oh Sally...I...seeing you safely off to sleep each night would be...it would be like a little piece of Christmas at the end of each day." He chuckled and now they were at her room door.

Sally smiled as she was placed down onto the floor, and opened the door to her old room. "That's very sweet, Jack... Thank you. I'll...always have a good night's sleep knowing you're there to see me off to sleep."

Jack nodded and the two of them entered her room. There wasn't much there to collect: a few old books, her sewing basket, a few canisters of tea and herbs...and then Jack's eyes also lit on a small bundle of papers tied together with thread. There was something familiar about them and, taking another step into the room, he blinked: they were his stationary, from his own desk. He turned back to Sally in surprise. "Sally...did you save all of my messages...all this time?"

Sally turned to look at what he was referring to, and her eyes widened. "Oh! ...Yes, Jack...I...I kept them all this time." There was no use denying it, the cat was out of the bag. "I just couldn't throw them away. They were special, because you wrote them to me, and I...treasured every one." She looked out her window, and exhaled softly. "You were the only person who cared about me, saw me for who I was...and were my friend, something I needed so very much. It was part of that...holding close to a dear friend."

He let out a breath...he smiled...and then he nodded and said simply, "I saved all of yours too, Sally...my dear, dear Sally..."

Her eyes widened as she went to gather her belongings. "...You did?"

Jack nodded. "I thought they were all...so nice. And I didn't get to see you much because of Dr. Finkelstein so...whenever I felt a bit lonely for you, I'd read them and it always made me happy."

"I...did the same..." Sally admitted softly, looking away as she gathered her things. "...As if to reassure myself that it was all real, that it wasn't a dream. They made me happy, too..."

Jack felt so warm inside...They had done the exact same thing. How lovely was that? Jack smiled a little more to himself and felt his bones tremble a little. He took a single large stride backward so that he was out of her door and just beyond the threshold of her room. "Sally...when you're finished gathering everything, will you come over here for a second? I have something to give you."

Sally cocked her head lightly, a little puzzled. What did he want to give her? "Oh, of course, Jack...I'll be right there."

She finished gathering her belongings, and took one last look out the big window. It wasn't going to be easy leaving this place behind. It was her first home, after all. But, she was ready. Ready to take the new step in her life. She patted the sewing machine, unable to take it with her, and then left the room. For the last time. She closed the door behind her, before turning to Jack with a smile.

"So...what did you...want to give me?" She asked shyly.

Jack chuckled a little, looking down with a smitten grin. He let out a little sigh. "Well, first of all..when we get back to our new home, I'm going to do my best to get you a sewing machine. You just patted yours, so it must be important to you..." He looked at her warmly.

Sally blinked, and then beamed with happiness. "You...you will? Really, Jack? I...that would be wonderful..."

Jack's eyes lit up in joy at having made her so happy! He put his hands on her shoulders. "Oh Sally...I'd...I'd give you anything! You saved my life and you saved Christmas and you love me and I...love you too. Oh course I'll get you a sewing machine, my darling!"

Soft loving giggles escaped Sally as she beamed up at him adoringly, unable to keep from smiling in joy and hearty amusement. He was so sweet, and so adorable in how he expressed himself sometimes! She loved him all the more for it. He was like an excited child on Christmas morning (which she now came to learn about) ...and frankly, that was practically what was happening here.

Of course, she would never take advantage of his sweet kindness like that, but to know he would, was just so sweet, it made her melt. "Oh Jack... That's very sweet of you, and I...well...you know I would do anything for you, too..."

If anything could have made Jack happier it was hearing her say that she would do anything for him too. To know that she cared for him in that deep way he cared for her...They had been so very connected as friends, and now as lovers...it was like they were parts of a whole or something.

And so now, considering all of this connection, Jack figured it was as good a time as any to get on to the real thing he had wanted to give her out here. "Sally..." he started softly, looking into her eyes, "Right now there's...o-only one thing I want you to do for me...I...want you to let me give you what I wanted to give you in the first place when I asked you to come out here...So...may I, my Sally?"

"Oh, of course..." Sally smiled lovingly, nodding her head. "I mean...yes, you may..."

A very shy Jack just let out small, blissful sigh. "Alright then...my Pumpkin Princess..." he whispered. And then he brought up one hand to gently cup her face, his bony fingers burying in and being warmed by her yarn hair. And then he leaned in and closed his eyes and brought his mouth to hers in a kiss.

Sally's bag of belongings fell to the floor. She was taken aback by his kiss so much that she barely had time to react. None the less, her eyes drifted shut as she placed her hands on his thin, bony chest, before moving one of them to place over his hand on her face.

He felt her stiffen then melt, felt her hands touch him and then one slide up to his skull. He...All of this Christmas stuff, it had given him this tingly, warm feeling every time he had done something for it, and so he had done everything he could for it just to get the tingly, warm feelings to come back. But...Sally...and her kiss...and her touch...He didn't just feel 'warm and tingly', he felt 'burning and wired'! He kept his mouth to hers, never wanting it to end. And he swore to himself that from now on he would kiss her like this at least once every day if not more! He had wasted so much time already in his existence missing out on what was important...and now he never would again!

There was so much she could say about how his kiss made her melt and want to just fly all at the same time! Her thoughts sadly were thrown right out the window as she lost herself in his sweet, gentle but thorough kiss. It wasn't unlike their first kiss just minutes earlier, back on Spiral Hill, but it was still just as wonderful. She felt his bony fingers in her hair, which made her smile inside. He seemed to like gently tousling her hair, and if he liked that, she gladly had no objections to it. Besides, it felt pretty nice to have someone playing with her hair.

Jack just...didn't know how to stop. He knew he had to stop eventually, and he knew he might be making things awkward by having not stopped already, but he just...didn't know how. This was only the second kiss he had ever had in his entire life and...well...it wasn't exactly easy to stop kissing a beautiful girl whom you loved. 'But we...can...do it again...later...In a better place...' Right now they were still in Dr. Finkelstein's house, after all. It really would probably be better to wait until they were outside again, or maybe even in their house. But still, it was so hard to stop...And so he lingered...just for a little longer at least...

Even Sally found it hard to stop, despite their location at the moment. But they had to, so that they wouldn't risk gettting carried away...and not risk Dr. Finkelstein and his new creation coming home way too soon.

They eventually parted, and Sally just exhaled happily before she lay her head against his chest for a moment to savour the sweet feeling.

Jack just...He brought his arms around her to pull her close, savoring the feeling of her resting against him like she was. He stroked her yarn hair a little. His beautiful, sweet, soft Sally. He smiled a little to himself, and then he whispered to her. "When I first went to Christmas Town...I saw two people kiss for the first time and...I wanted to try it so much. And now I have...Thank you for that, Sally..."

"You're welcome." Sally murmured softly. "I was curious about what a kiss was when I first...saw what it was."

He just kept holding her, not wanting to let her go. She had saved him in so many ways...Ways that he felt he couldn't even begin to thank her for. He smiled a little. "Well...for two people who don't know what they're doing...I think we're off to a good start." A peaceful sigh escaped him, and he whispered near her ear. " I'll kiss you every day...my sweet Sally."

Sally giggled, pulling back just a little. "Well, if you want to...I...I could definitely try to do the same, too."

Jack blinked several times and instantly looked away bashfullly with a small, goofy grin on his face. "S-Sally..." He had never heard her say anything...playful or even close to forward to him before like this. It made him feel funny. He sort of liked it.

"Oh...too much?" She giggled. "Never mind. We should go...I don't want the doctor to come home and find us here... But um...I suppose...we can talk more about this later...?"

Jack, still all goofy and bashful looking, just gave a little swallow and shrug. "U-Um...yes, well, um...sh-shall we then? Heh..." He slipped away from her a little, gathered her things that she had dropped on the floor and then started to head down the corridor (tripping a little at first in his nervousness but then righting himself and managing to go along alright.)

Sally went along with him, giggling and wondering just what got to him all of a sudden. But she decided to save it for later, when they were away from her oppressed former home...and maybe in his...er...their home instead.

Lucky for them, they managed to get outside, with the snow falling yet again, and were so far unseen. Best of all, the doctor hadn't returned yet, so it would be as if they were never there.

Sally looked back at the tower, and then turned her back on it as she followed Jack through the snow-covered streets of Halloween Town, and did not once look back.

Jack was still walking along through the snow, holding Sally's small satchel of things. He wasn't going too quickly or anything, but he was still at least a little bit ahead of Sally and he knew it. It was just that...He let out a small sigh, the enamored smile still upon his face. It was just that...her saying that small playful thing about kissing him... 'If...she's not going to be shy anymore sometimes about...us...then...' The little smile on his face grew a little. And he was feeling rather funny again. And once again..he really liked it. A lot, actually.

As they neared his home, Sally was suddenly pelted in the back with a snowball. She squeaked and turned around...seeing the tall, pointy hat belonging to Shock.

She blinked, unsure of how to respond to that.

And then, got an idea.

She rolled a snowball between her hands, and caught up to Jack. And then...

THWACK!

She was struck right in the stomach! Upon seeing Jack grinning and laughing a bit, she instantly realized that he had beaten to her to the punch! Grinning back, she tossed her snowball at him, hitting him in the side.

Jack laughed, putting down Sally's small bag of things. He grinned at her, crossing his arms over his chest. "Sally...do you really want to start this, my dear? Do you really think you can win a snowball fight against The Pumpkin King, who was also Santa Claus for a night?" His grin grew a little.

"No." She smiled, bringing her hands behind her back. "I never thought that...I only wanted to play with you. But...well...I...do like a challenge, so..." She grinned and tossed another snowball at him, giggling.

The snowball hit Jack and he blinked at first at her challenge...but then resumed grinning and just grinned all the more as a matter of fact. He let out a sigh and shook his head, speaking warmly and jokingly. "I really must be insane, you know: first I steal Christmas, then I go and fall in love with the most complicated girl in this or any other holiday world. But if it's a challenge she wants then...who am I to deny the Pumpkin Princess?" In a quick movement Jack then scooped up some snow, tossed it at Sally and completley hit his mark, and then gracefully slid his thin, bony form behind a tree right beside himself.

"Oh!" She laughed, and fell to the ground on her behind. Standing back up, Sally made another snowball. "Gosh...where did he go? I had no idea he could make himself invisible..." She said jokingly, inching toward the tree he had hidden himself behind. Where did that come from? I never knew I could say things like that...

Jack chuckled a little, unable to help it, though he knew it might gave away his position. Slowly he allowed one of his arms to creep down and gently roll a snowball, just to be prepared for-WHACK! A snowball had just hit him sharply in the back. Jack turned to see Sally standing there coyly, her arms behind her back. He blinked a few times but then just grinned again. "Hey, no fair!" He tossed his own snowball at her, hitting her lightly in the shoulder with it.

"Sorry!" She called to him, waving one hand. She tossed another snowball...and missed, hitting the tree instead. "Aww..."

"Ah, you missed me!" Jack called out playfully and triumphantly, "Now you're mine..." He scooped up a snowball and started chasing after her!

"Oh! No!" Sally squealed and started to run away in a vain attempt to avoid being pelted again. Unfortunately for her, physical movement wasn't exactly her strong point. Especially when it came to running.

Luckily, Jack's strides were much longer than Sally's and he was quickly catching up to her, still holding the snowball high!

Suddenly though...

WHACK! WHUMPH! WOOMP!

Jack all but collapsed to the ground at being pelted by three snowballs at once. Blinking a bunch of times and looking around, his eyes instantly fell on Lock, Shock and Barrel giggling to each other behind some graves and high fiving. He was about to give the kids a soft reprimand when all of a sudden they started singing...

"Jack and Sally, scaring in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Jack just blinked all the more, feeling completely flustered all of a sudden. "I...um..." He didn't even know what to say!

The three kids just laughed a bunch more and then instantly scrambled away through the graves, leaving Jack to his unexpected embarrassment.

Sally meanwhile stood nearby, her eyes wide and very much embarrassed and bashful. Noticing Jack's position, she went over to him and smiled a bit. "Um...are you all right, Jack?"

Jack just gulped, and then did his best to stand himself up, dusting the snow from his suit. "Um...yes, heh..." He did his best to smile, trying to play it off. "Guess we'll have to be dealing with that a little bit, huh? From them and the rest of our extended family..." His smile continued but then he looked at Sally with a touch of concern. "I hope it won't make you too uncomfortable, Sally."

"Oh...well..." Sally rubbed her arm nervously, but looked at him. "I...I suppose it is a little bit embarrassing to hear them say those things...but... We'll get...used to it...right? Just as they will, I suppose..."

The concern remained on Jack's face for a moment longer. And then he smiled at her sincerely. "Sally...you're too good for me. The most understanding woman in the whole world...I love you."

"I love you too, Jack..." Sally said softly, bringing her hands behind her back again.

"They said it! They said it!" A few townsfolk, including the two witches, exclaimed as they walked by them. "It's all true!"

Both Jack and Sally instantly stopped and blinked and didn't move at all. 'W-We...must be closer to town than I thought...' Jack could only think to himself in total shock.

The witches stopped before them now. "Oh it's not fair..." one of them pouted, "I've wanted Jack for years!"

"Hey!" the other one threw in, "I've wanted him for LONGER!"

"Oh please," the first one rolled her eyes, "That's only because you're a full two centuries older than me! If either one of us deserved Jack, it was me!"

"Oh yeah?" The two witches started walking off, bickering with each other.

Jack just...remained frozen and shocked looking for another moment...and then gulped in deep mortification and let out a sigh and placed his hand on his forehead, dragging it down his skull a little. He almost smiled to himself. "Well, it's official...first the public Santa Claus fiasco and now this...once we get home I'm never going outside again."

Sally shook her head, and touched his shoulder. "I'll stay inside with you... until the attention on us blows over...maybe by next Halloween?"

That comment actually got Jack to laugh. He looked down at her, smiling. "Actually...you know what, Sally...forget about it. Who cares what anyone says about us being in love? It's the truth, after all, isn't it? And as for the witches, well..." he moved a little closer to her, "...at least now they won't...keep pestering me about 'worshipping' me...now that they know I'm taken by the beautiful Miss Sally, right?" He winked at her.

Blinking, Sally giggled as she realized he was quite right. "That's...that's very true, Jack. You're right."

Jack chuckled a little. "Splendid..." He then reached forward and gently took her hand in his. Her small satchel was on the ground near them and he picked it up in his free hand. "Come on, Sally...Let's go home." He gently began to lead her into town.

"Home..." Sally murmured to herself, looking up all around the falling snow as her eyes fell upon his...now to be their home, not so far away from where they were now. It was her new home.

Surreal was pretty much one of the best ways to describe all of this, in the best way possible, of course. Who would've thought the events of before would lead to this? All of this? What if things had been different? What if Jack never walked off into the woods and discovered Christmas Town? What if he never tried to attempt to make Christmas? What if he never tried to be Santa Claus?

What would have become of him, or her, or them as a whole...if none of this ever happened?

"Mmm..." She mumbled thoughtfully.

Jack blinked and looked back at the girl he was slowly leading forward. "Sally...What is it?" he asked sincerely as they walked onward.

Blinking, she was brought back to reality and shook her head. "It's nothing. ...But I suppose I'm wondering...how things would've been if none of this happened... It's almost...frightening to think about..." She blinked and looked away. "I'm sorry...you must think I'm being silly right now. It doesn't even make sense."

Jack blinked a few more times, looking at her curiously as they slowly went on. "Sally, what do you mean about how things would have been different? What things?"

"Everything, I suppose..." She admitted. "It's kind of hard to imagine, and yet, I suppose I can't help but wonder what you would have done if you hadn't walked into the forest and discovered those doors...Christmas Town...becoming Santa Claus, and...all of this. Oh, it's silly. It doesn't even matter, does it? Everything fell into place a lot better than we thought, didn't it?" She looked away again, sheepish.

Jack still looked curious at first, but then his eyes went wide and it hit him what she was getting at. "Sally...are you asking me if...we're only together right now because of Christmas?"

"Oh! No no!" She shook her head. "No...I don't just mean...you and I...I also mean you. Back then, before you discovered Christmas, ...I wondered what would come of you, and I was...I was worried."

Jack took in that extra concern of hers. He stopped their walking for a moment. He thought about all of this and her worry very carefully. "Sally..." he let out a breath and looked at her very seriously and sincerely, "I...If I hadn't discovered Christmas...I think I...I think you would have still saved me, Sally...The story of you doing it just would have been different."

Sally blinked a few times. She didn't doubt his words, she would have saved him no matter what kind of trouble he was in. That was just who she was, and she loved him...of course she would do what she could. It just surprised her of the different possibilities that could've occurred had it not been for what did come about in the past year. "You think so?"

Jack smiled, and he nodded. He spoke softly. "Yes, Sally...I...I think you would have found me one day on one of my long lonely walks. Or I would have found you. I think I would have been stubborn and tried to hide what I was feeling...I think you and your cleverness would have seen through it in an instant and coaxed me into telling the truth. I think I would have admitted everything to you, and then somewhere in the middle of my ranting and raving I would have looked at you and seen you smiling patiently and I...I would have know...all of a sudden...that I love you. And that would have saved me from any despair...just like it has saved me now."

"Oh...Well I..." Sally suddenly grew shy and bashful again as she looked away, just as they were coming to his...er...their home. "I...think you're right...I would have...always tried to help you..."

Jack smiled and stepped back toward her and leaned down. He gave her cloth cheek a soft kiss. Then he straightened back up again. "I know, Sally...Now shh...you've had a long day saving me...Let's go home, and I'll warm you by the fire, lay you down into whatever bed we can make for you for the evening, and kiss you goodnight..." He began to lead her onward again.

Sally opened her mouth to say something else, but instead just smiled and nodded. "All right, Jack...let's do that."

Jack smiled more to himself. They were very close to the gate of his...their house now. "I'm so happy, Sally..."

"Oh Jack...so am I..." She squeezed his hand. "I hope...we can make wonderful memories together..."

"We already have...And we'll make a lot more..." he mused softly, smiling and looking bashfully down as they went up to and slowly through his gate. "We'll eat breakfast together in the mornings...we'll have talks as the day goes on and we do whatever makes us happy...we'll have tea every evening...and at night we'll read together by the fire, in each other's arms. And every Halloween you'll be the parade with me, and every Christmas, if Santa lets it snow, we'll make snowmen and have snowball fights and...mistletoe...And then one day...well..." he got very quiet right now and shrugged a little, "one day...you know...maybe..."

Sally just beamed, and immediately loved all of those things. If they would do that every day, and every Halloween and Christmas...her life would be far beyond what she could have imagined...and absolutely wonderful. She leaned up on tiptoe to reach his face, kissing his bony cheek. "Jack, that all sounds wonderful...it really does, I would love for us to do all of that. ...But, what else are you trying to say? Please tell me."

She had just kissed him on the face and he stopped walking and perked up, and it popped out of his mouth in a shy, determined little voice before he even knew it was happening. "One day we might be married!" His eye sockets went as wide as could be as it hit him that he had just said that aloud. Yes, he had already made little jokes and small, sentimental comments about this topic but, this time he had been talking about serious things they could have memories about and now that one was out there too.

That possibility was certainly in the realm of her mind, it had been for some time. Jack's earlier joking and sentimental comments about it were absolutely adorable, and even reassured her a little bit that it was possible. Now it really did. She beamed, though shy and coy about it, and giggled. "I...well I...I know it's a little early to think of that...but...well I...definitely..." She couldn't even finish her sentence.

Jack blinked a lot of times. A LOT of times. "Y-You...r-really...w-would?" he asked in the most nervous sounding voice he had ever been heard to speak in. 'She...said...d-d-definitely...' His bones practicly hummed with trembling.

"Yes..." Sally murmured, looking away coyly.

Jack just remained with his eye sockets wide, unmoving, at first. Then he gulped and said quietly, still not looking at her... "One day...I really do think I'll ask you, Sally..I...I hope you're answer will be the same then. That would be the...the happiest memory of all."

It was a wonder Sally didn't faint by then! They were already talking about one day getting married? It was all too much! And yet it just brought so much happiness and joy, she couldn't help but just let it wash over her. "Jack... I really don't see myself changing my mind. ...When the time is right and we decide to...my answer will be the same..."

Jack was still rather 'in shock' looking for a moment more...But then he took in a deep breath and smiled. "I'm happy, Sally. But, even still...I think I'll use the time between now and then to make sure that there's no possible reason you could want to change your answer." He squeezed her hand. "Come on, my darling, let's go into our home now. There's so much to do. We have to make up a lovely place for you to sleep for tonight and then tomorrow we'll find a proper room and set it up with a proper bed and a sewing machine and books and music and all the thing's you could possibly need. Right this way..." He walked her the few feet to the front door and then slowly opened it and bowed low, looking at her. "Ladies first..."

Now she knew better, the Ladies First thing was just an act of courtesy, and she found it sweet that he could be such a gentleman. "Thank you." She said, and stepped inside. There was indeed so much to do in getting things in place now that they were living together and soon to start their new lives, but boy she couldn't wait to get started! It would be such an exciting process.

This was it. She was home now, in her new home. Their home. It was their home now. It was still amazingly overwhelming to address this wondrous place as theirs, shared. But it was worth it, and would be worth the process.

Jack closed the door behind them and took her hand again and began to lead her upstairs to the main section of his observatory house. He was so thrilled. She was his now to care for and love and to make sure her life was filled with happiness and joy every day. Things must have been so hard for her with Dr. Finkelstein-he had seen little things over the course of their friendship that he didn't like...His Sally deserved better. And he would give it to her. She would never be his 'caretaker'. She would be his equal, his partner, his Pumpkin Princess and later...Pumpkin Queen. He would cherish her as she deserved to be cherished. Case closed.

Sally took in the place again, even though having been here before...and sighed happily. "Jack...I have to thank you again for this...it means so much to me, not just giving me a place to live...but to be with you, by your side every day...that's more than I could have ever wanted...thank you so much." She embraced him warmly in pure love and gratitude.

Jack just just grinned ear to ear and hugged her back. "Sally, it's okay...Really. I love you, I would never want you anywhere else than beside me. Remember...my dearest friend...how I asked to join you by your side...on Spiral Hill...where we could gaze into the stars?" He pulled back a little and looked at her with so much love.

: "And sit together...now and forever, for it is plain as anyone can see..we're simply meant to be..." Sally finished, looking back with so much love as well, and gently lay her head against his chest again, melting into him. Now that they were home, where they wanted to be all along, there was no holding back.

"Arf!" Zero lay in his basket, having come back earlier on to wait for them, looking on happily, just as he had done earlier back in the graveyard when the were upon Spiral Hill.

Jack gave a very small, warm chuckle as he put his arms around Sally, pulling her in close. His eyes were closed and his chin rested atop her soft yarn covered head. "No fetch right now, Zero...Jack and Sally are busy..." He let out a content and blissful sigh.

Zero made a barking noise that sounded as if he were laughing as he winked at them, his nose glowing brightly.

"Sally..." he whispered, pulling back a little, though he still hugged her close. His eye sockets opened a little. 'She's...so ...Oh Sally...'

Looking up a bit, she smiled some more, probably wide as she could go. It was a wonder her mouth stitches didn't burst. "Yes, Jack?"

"I think I...want to kiss you again. D-Do you think that's normal? To be wanting to do it so much...and so spontaneously?" His shy smile was shaky, his eye sockets bashful.

Her smile remained, though it grew bashful, and she giggled. "Well, I think it's...normal enough... When you love someone, you want to be near them and exchange...affection together..."

"O-Oh...I guess your right...that does make sense...Um...d-do you want to kiss me again too now?" he asked quietly.

"...Well I...um...yes..." She admitted softly, looking away shyly.

Jack gulped, the small smile still on his skull. "Well...then...I-I guess...w-we should, um..." He felt all tongue tied. He knew it was silly but...this time they were kissing in their new home. So private and all alone...and before coming in the door she had basically promised to marry him. And now she was his, all his, to protect and love and...and... "W-We should, um..." he voice repeated quietly.

"Arf!" Suddenly the sound of Zero playfully barking entered Jack's ears. He blinked, coming out of his romantic trance for a moment. "Zero, I..." he paused and blinked again. The dog was floating over their heads with a smile on his face...and a sprig of mistletoe clasped in his jaw. He winked down at Jack.

Jack felt his bones tremble again today, and his eye sockets went wide and then looked away shyly.

Sally, though feeling bashful and shy, had no idea what the little plant was. "Jack...what is that?" She pointed up at the mistletoe.

Jack swallowed. He gave a tiny shrug. "It, um...it's called Mistletoe. At Christmastime, it's tradition that if you find yourself standing under some with another person...you're supposed to kiss them." He barely managed to glance at her, and to give a little smile on top of it. "I suppose Zero is...trying to help us along a little."

"Oh..." Sally's eyes widened, and then she looked away bit. "Um...Jack, could I...could I try?"

Jack blinked and tilted his head to the side in curiosity. "Could you try what, Sally?" he asked sincerely.

"Um...I wanted to be the one to...kiss you." She said in a small voice.

Jack...barely knew what to say. He just gave something that was a mix of a nod and a shrug and a shy blink and gulp.

"Arf!" Zero prompted again.

Sally looked at the mistletoe again, and then back up at Jack, before she gathered her nerve. I can do this...it's just kissing him...and I love him so much, I'd do anything for him...to show how much I care. This isn't rocket science!

Closing her eyes, she leaned up on tiptoe and gently touched her lips to his.

Jack took in a deep, involuntary breath through his nose, and his eyes shut. She... 'She...' No, he couldn't even think it right now. Her soft little kiss, all for him. At the very least though his subconscious made a mental note to just FLOOD this place with mistletoe every Christmas... 'o-or everyday'...Whatever worked.

Sally melted into the feeling and felt herself come closer to him, twining her arms around his neck. She was so unsure, but kissed him like she did before, gentle and so sweet. Her head exploded with fireworks and sparks ran through her body like fast-charged electric circuits.

Her hands came up to touch him and small, short, breaths began to escape Jack through his nose. I-It was just so much...This girl he was in love with was kissing him...He hadn't even known what kissing WAS until last Christmas...and he hadn't even realized that he loved her until this Christmas...which was today. But now she was his and she was...q-quite enthusiastically all over him. He was almost terrified really...And that idea almost made him laugh-he, the Pumpkin King, had really never been afraid of anyting...until today with Sally. First she had made him afraid of her being hurt by Oogie Boogie, and now he was afraid of her unexpected kisss and all it was and might be.

A few more moments passed before Sally pulled back a bit, a blissful and lovesick, dazed look on her face as she sighed happily. "Jack...? Was that all right?"

Jack's eye sockets slowly fluttered open. His mouth trembled a little, then smiled. "Hmm...?" he said quietly at first.

"I...did I do all right...?" She asked softly, smiling.

"You..." he looked down at her so lovingly. And then he sighed and spoke so tenderly. "Oh my darling, darling, Sally, how can you even ask if you did it all right? Oh my darling, darling, darling Sally..." He smiled and shut his eyes and scooped her up in a hug and twirled her around, just because he felt like it. His own Sally in their own house! "You make kissing a thousand times better than I ever dreamed it could be when I watched it happen in Christmas Town! You did it splendidly! And I'm so happy you're with me now, dear Sally..." He just held her close and happy now, savoring their closeness.

"Oh my!" Sally squealed in surprise as he had twirled around, but had smiled and giggled a bit before he stopped. She snuggled close to him, her eyes closing as she was filled with so much joy! So much love! Who would've thought that loving someone and being loved right back would be so wonderful? So beautiful?

"I'll always be right with you, Jack...I promise."

Jack let out such a happy sigh. "I promise too, Sally. I'll always be with you and protect you and care for you...and we'll start right now!" He pulled back from her and smiled at her eagerly. "First we'll make a lovely place for you to rest for the night! Now, um..."

Jack glanced around, still with his eager look...but then he blinked and frowned a little, clearing his throat in a touch of embarrassment. This place was a nightmare! And NOT in the good 'Halloween-oriented' way. After all of his brooding and planning and experiments lately with all of this Christmas stuff, the entire place really was just a complete wreck-papers crumpled and cut and curled were all over the floor and tables and walls, his chalkboard was covered with half crazed looking doodles about what Christmas might mean, furniture was pushed around and all over the place-whatever had been most convenient for his experiments at the time, and then just in general there was a mix of halloween and christmas decorations all over the place. It was a wreck and he felt so self conscious all of a sudden about asking her to live here with him now all of a sudden. 'She shouldn't have to walk into THIS as her new home!' He sighed and put a hand to his forehead.

"Jack?" Sally looked curious and concerned, as well as puzzled as to why Jack seemed so troubled all of a sudden. "Jack, what's the matter?"

Jack opened his eyes and swallowed and crossed his arms over his chest. "I.." he let out a deep sigh and turned to her, so apologetically, "Sally, this place is a mess. I should have kept it up better, but I've just been so obsessed with this Christmas thing...But you shouldn't have to walk into all of this when this is supposed to be your new home! It should have been spotless, perfect! It's so embarrassing..." He glanced down with a bashful frown. "I...supposed Zero and I are just used to living like bachelors, heh..."

Sally blinked, now quite confused. She looked around, just realizing that it was indeed quite a mess. A very untidy and dastardly messy mess. But, she just smiled and came around to look him in the eye. "Jack...after everything we've gone through, and where we are now...do you think that I would be bothered by something like this? It's all right, Jack... You were going through a lot, and things just kind of fell in and out of place along the way. I could never fault you for this, ever. And I don't..." She placed her hands on his shoulders. "I can even help you clean it up...if you want."

Jack blinked and then instantly shook his head! "No! I-I mean, no, I-I'm supposed to take care of you now! I just want you to relax and be happy and safe! I'll take care of all of it, every scrap of it! I'll make this place sparkle like the new fallen snow and even then..." he smiled, "And even then it won't be good enough for you, but it'll be the closest I can come."

"Jack...it's our home too, isn't it? Shouldn't I help? ...At least a little?" She looked at him pleadingly.

"I-I..." Jack was so torn...On the one hand he wanted to take care of ALL of this for her very VERY much! He wanted to care for her and give her the perfect home and love her so much...But on the other hand he...well...she was looking at him with this smile and these eyes,,,asking him for something she wanted...and it felt so hard to deny her like that. "I...I w-wish you'd let me take care of it..." was all he could manage weakly... "...b-but I...just want you to do whatever makes you happy..." he finished with.

"Well I..." Sally too, felt quite torn. She wanted to help so much! To really pull her weight around the place, and hey, it was their home now, right? She too, was responsible for its upkeep. It wouldn't be easy, but she was ready for it. But now Jack wanted to take care of it all, just to take care of her...it was so sweet.

"Jack...I...I could do...the little things for you, and you could...do the rest?"

Jack considered then nodded. "Alright...yes, I...I suppose that would be okay." He smiled. But then he added sincerely, "But please don't over exert yourself. You've had such a long day, my Sally. Um...here! Why don't you put the Christmas ornaments back in this box?" He snatched up a cardboard box and gave it to her. "The ornaments are all around." He smiled. "I'll start taking care of everything else." He winked and then scurried off start gathering and throwing out papers...papers all about Christmas' warmth and caring and happiness, and the potential formulas for these attainments. But who needd them now though? Jack had love and that made him happier than even Christmas.

Sally smiled as she took the box, nodding her head. "All right, Jack, I'll do that." She proceeded to pick up some ornaments from the floor that had fallen, and from other spots.

Upon spotting the mistletoe again, she giggled and decided to just leave it there. Who knows, it could come in handy...

Later on, some time over an hour later, the place was a lot more tidy and organized. Sally had of course insisted on helping with other things, and Jack caved and offered for her to arrange and organize some books, which she was happy to do.

It had been quite tiring, especially after all they'd been through this evening, but it was all worth it.

There were two things left to do. Light a fire, and find a nice spot for her to sleep. Sally wanted to help, but Jack immediately sat her down on the couch with a blanket, a soothing record playing on the phonograph, while he took care of those things. She of course didn't have the heart to protest, so she just sat there, listening to the music, all cozied up as she waited for him.

Jack just hustled and bustled. He quickly prepared her some tea and a few sweet spider cakes, then he got her an extra pillow...or three (hey, better safe than sorry!), then he scooped up her little sewing basket that they had taken from Dr. Finkelstein's house and approached her with an eager smile. "Alright, here we go...everything to make you as comfortable as possible." He nearly faltered with some of the things but then he finally got the sewing basket into her lap and got the pillows all around her and got the tea tray resting gently on the coffee table in front of her. "Now, do you need anything else, my lovely Sally?" He smiled warmly down at her. "Anything at all and I'll try to get it for you."

"Well..." Sally giggled and smiled at him brightly. It was so sweet how he was doting on her like this, and she didn't even ask for it! He just did it, because that's just what Jack did in showing how he cared. "I...think there is...one more thing I need."

Jack smiled, happy to be able to help of course. He leaned over her a little. "Of course, Sally-anything."

Unable to believe she was being so bold, she looked at him, and patted the seat beside her. "Would you join me, Jack?"

Jack's eye sockets went very wide at first and he didn't move. "I..." He swallowed and blinked a few times, and then he gave a small bashful smile and glanced to the side. "If...If you would like, Sally..." he replied humbly and sweetly, and then he took a delicate seat right on the opposite end of the couch next to her. For a moment he just let out a sigh and savored it all-the first peaceful evening...of many...that he would have with his Sally here.

Maybe the town's definition of something wonderful and heavenly came in the form of something frightening...but this had to be just simply heavenly, it had to be. It all felt wonderful, and so right.

After taking a few sips of tea, which refreshed her all the more, as well as eating the yummy pastries, Sally gingerly reached over, placing her smaller hand atop his bony one, shyly. She wanted to savour the moment, knowing that this was just the first of what would soon be their many wonderful nights together. But she still felt bashful in making a romantic move. "Jack...I..."

Jack had barely been able to resist the urge to just absolutely jump up in surprise at the feeling of her holding his hand. He really felt rather...nervous. He...He had been so focused on just getting things ready for her and making her comfortable and making sure she felt provided for on her first night here that...he hadn't even thought about what might happen when it was all done, just leaving himself and her together in private to enjoy it all. He swallowed, trying to be calm for the sake of keeping her night calm. "Yes...Sally?" he asked quietly, glancing at her. He didn't move his hand out from under the soft clothe of hers.

"I know it seems silly of me to say...but...I never would've thought that someone would go to so much trouble, just for me... I just wanted you to know...I appreciate it so much, Jack... Though, overall, I'm just so...glad we're here, together." She finally looked at him. "I...I love you, Jack. I'm so happy to be here, with you..."

Jack instantly filled with warm joy inside. His smile beamed. "Oh Sally..." he held her hand a little now, looking at her sincerely, "That's all I wanted...To treat you as specially as you deserve to be treated. You're so kind, Sally, and you deserve a life filled with people being kind to you too. And I love you too, Sally...and I'm so happy to be here too..." He moved a little closer, just admiring how she looked with the firelight glowing upon her. The two of them cozy on the couch, snow lightly falling outside on this night...and all the while the firelight dancing upon her. "Sally...you look so beautiful tonight..." he added quietly, barely realizing he was saying it out loud.

"Oh..." Sally giggled and looked away bahsfully, having not expected him to compliment her like that. "Thank you, Jack... For everything. You've given me so much...ever since we first met. You've been nothing but kind, sweet, helpful, caring and just so thoughtful...even in the time I was trying to tell you something was wrong with what you were doing before... I'm glad...you didn't see it as me trying to spoil your fun. I only wanted to help, I'm sorry if it seemed silly of me, though."

Jack chuckled. "Well, how could I get upset with you, Sally? WIth those big, endearing eyes, and that long soft hair, and that sweet, warm voice of yours...No one could. All you've ever made me want to do since the day I met you is smile, Sally. And nothing could ever change that."

She looked away and giggled a bit more, holding her free hand to her mouth. "Jack...stop it...you're too much..."

Jack smiled more and laughed more. "I'm just telling you the truth, Sally." He let out a small, happy sigh, observing the lovely sight of her happiness. "Even more smile is more beautiful by the firelight...my Pumpkin Princess."

"Oh Jack..." Sally sighed happily and looked at him with absolute fond love. "What did I do...to deserve your sweet kindness...?"

"Probably the same thing that I did to deserve yours...You were just...yourself. And that's more than enough." He smiled warmly.

She scooted a little closer to him, feeling quite an overwhelming sense of being bold in doing so. "Jack? ...Merry Christmas..."

Jack smiled a little more and gave her a small nod. "Merry Christmas to you too, Sally..."

Sally finally sat closer to him, and snuggled into his side, holding the blanket over her a little tighter. "A very Merry Christmas...isn't it?"

Jack blinked several times and swallowed, giving a small gulp. "Y-Yes..." his voice cracked a little and he instantly cleared his throat to get it back to normal. "I mean...yes...it is..." She was against him again and he once more tonight felt just so overwhelmed that his bones practically trembled. He had to let out a small, light sigh just to relieve some of what it was doing to him.

"Mmm...goodnight darling...Merry...Christme..." Sally yawned a bit, and closed her eyes, slowly falling asleep.

Jack smiled goofily and let out a full sigh. 'She called me 'darling'...' Before Jack could even really think about it he had slipped his hand from hers and put his full arm around her waist, pulling them more together. "Goodnight, my dear..." He closed his eyes in happiness.

But then a few seconds later, an idea struck him and he opened his eyes and blinked, looked very bashful for a moment at the sight of himself with his arm around her...considered for a moment longer...and then he whispered gently to her, hoping she hadn't fallen asleep yet. "Sally...Sally...I...I'm not sure if it's...right...for us to fall asleep...here...together...l-like this...Are you sure that's okay?" He looked genuinely concerned.

"Mmm? Mmm...?" Sally opened her eyes and looked up, a little dazed. "Oh...what? Is something...something wrong?"

He still looked all full of concern as he repeated the question. "Is it really alright for us to fall asleep together like this? I-I just, um...I'm worried that it might not be right for or fair to you...Me, um...imposing on your space like this...a-and so suddenly..."

Her eyes went wide as she was more awake, and pondered his question. "I...I don't know...would it?"

Jack gave a sigh. This whole love thing was more complicated than it seemed, wasn't it? "Well, I...does it feel wrong to you, Sally?" he asked sincerely and plainly.

Sally thought for a moment. Love really was tricky and complicated, that was for sure. But she had to think not about what was believed universally, but rather, on her own free thought. Did it feel right? Did it feel wrong?

"...No." She finally said, honestly. "I don't mind, Jack...not at all. But...if you're not quite ready for that, it's all right! I would never have you take such a step if you're not quite prepared for it."

Jack gulped, considered her whole answer and his own feelings...then he spoke again, once more sincerely and plainly. "Actually, Sally, I...want to too...I was just worried about you doing anything you weren't prepared for...but if you want to then I...would like to at least try it for tonight...And after all it really is a special night." He smiled. "It's Christmas and also...well...from now on this day is going to be our anniversary too so...I'll stay with you, at least for tonight, Sally..." He relaxed his slightly tensed form again, pulled her in close, snuggled against her. "Are you warm enough, my sweet Sally?" he asked, closing his eyes as he rested his skull atop her head.

"Oh Jack..." Sally murmured lovingly as she sighed in bliss, snuggling into him. "Thank you... I'm warmer than I can imagine..." In truth she did want them to sleep within each other's presence, she didn't think much of it until he had brought it up. And it only made her want this even more. She was glad he decided to try, even just for tonight. If he hadn't, she would have understood.

Jack sighed, feeling all goofy and trembly in his bones at her continued closeness. He pulled the blanket up close around them and rested against her, holding her. She was so...comforting. His soft, sweet, trusting, loving, warming Sally... "I'm warm too, Sally..." He let his skull brush against her yarn hair. "Very warm...with my lovely Sally..."

Her insides seemed to turn to mush as his skull yet again brushed along her hair, which she just loved. "I'm glad, Jack...we'll be warm...and greet the morning together..."

Jack nodded a little, already starting to nod off. "Yes...my Sally and I..." he hugged her a little closer, almost unconsciously, "Goodnight, my darling."

"Goodnight, Jack..." Sally closed her eyes, smiling all the while as she snuggled a little closer. "Pleasant nightmares..."

Jack chuckled a tiny bit. "Goodnight, Sally...Bad dreams..." he added with another small laugh before letting out one final deep sigh and drifting off.

And so that very night, the Pumpkin King and his Pumpkin Princess slept well into the night as the snow fell upon the town of Halloween. The greatest night anyone had ever seen. Many things have happened over the course of this year, especially this very night alone, there was much to fear.

Good things, bad things, horrid things...but in the end, it all turned out just as well as anyone could expect, so much so you swear you could hear birds sing.

Christmas was saved, Santa was back in action, Oogie Boogie was defeated, and Halloween Town was prosperous yet again for all time. Not just that, but the shy friends were now much more than they ever expected, together at last, their love sweet as a bell's wondrous chime.

The journey still wasn't over, not by a long shot. There was still many times, good and bad, yet to come in the future, with many things yet to be fought. But together, they could face anything. Nothing would come between the newly acclaimed Pumpkin Princess, and her beloved Pumpkin King.

That's all for now, folks! But not to worry, because if you enjoyed this there will indeed be a sequel story coming soon ;) Please read and review and thank you all so much! Happy Reading!