Azure129: Lol, hi, all! This is the result of a thought experiment and a lot of rpging :) Plus it's fun to mess with Jack a little XDXD Anyway, this is sort of like what would happen if Jack got hit by his feelings first, just so we can see how much of a complete basketcase he would have turned into, you know? ;) After all, it's in Sally's nature to be shy and hidden about things but Jack randomly bursts into songs about his latest emotional states XD Anyway, we hope you enjoy and please review! Thank you :D

NintendoGal55: For any of you has read the Hey Arnold collaboration fanfic "Escalating Love", which is on my account, and which Azure has taken over collaborating with me, you'll see a similar dynamic to what's happening here. XD

But yes, as said, this is a universe of the movie as if Jack fell in love with Sally, and Sally was a little bit oblivious and not at all realizing it, as well as her own feelings. At the moment though, they have a complex best friends with benefits relationship. XD Except, without the lovemaking.

"Jack! And don't forget the plans I left for you! Remember, we should have them done and ready! We only have six months until next Halloween!"

In the town square, the Mayor's shrill voice carried over to one particular individual who was slowly walking away from the Town Hall, carrying some things.

"Hurry now Jack! Be back early tomorrow so we're not behind on schedule!"

A little ghost dog floated alongside the departing skeleton, looking from his master to behind them, and barking occasionally. "Arf!"

Jack sighed and nodded, turning back to look at the Mayor as he did his best to keep his grip on all of the scrolls and papers in his arms. "Yes, Yes, of course, I've got them right here, Mayor! I'll look over them tonight and we can talk about any additions or alterations tomorrow!" Jack waved and did his best to smile at his friend...though inside he couldn't help sighing a little. Halloween, Halloween, Halloween, everything here was Halloween! He was the Pumpkin King but...was it so horrible NOT to want to be immersed in Halloween all the time? He knew it would probably sound strange though and so he just let out a breath and frowned a little to himself, still half looking over his shoulder. 'What in the world is wrong with me...? What could be missing from Halloween that would make me

feel so-' "Oh!" Jack suddenly exclaimed, falling to the cobblestone ground, his paper and parchment flying everywhere. "Ow..." He rubbed the side of his skull, his eyes shut and he felt a twinge of humiliation as he realized , from the familiar feeling that it was, that he had just slammed into a light post in his distraction. 'I really must stop walking and letting my emotions wander at the same time...' he couldn't help but admonish himself sheepishly.

"Arf! Arf!" Zero, his dog, floated quickly to his side, whimpering and seeing if he was all right.

Jack sighed, opening his eyes and smiling as he looked to his best friend...the closest he had in life to another being who understood him. 'If only Zero could talk though...It'd be nice to have someone reply to me when I talk about how I feel...and to have someone who could tell me their feelings in return.' "Thanks, Zero, but I'm alright, really...Just let myself get distracted again." Jack chuckled a little.

Suddenly, there was the sound of light footsteps approaching, and a pair of tiny feet in small black heeled shoes appeared, followed by a sweet, soft, female voice.

"Oh! Are you all right? Here, let me help you pick these up..." Said the voice.

There was a ruffling sound and a shadow cast near Jack as someone, the owner of the voice, got down on their knees to help pick up his scattered papers.

"Oh that's perfectly alright!" Jack was instantly standing up and grabbing as many of the papers her could (and not realizing his awareness, at the back of his mind, that he did not recognize this particular citizen voice). "Thank you but I...don't want to...impose..." Jack had finally straightened up and looked forward to see the person who was helping him. And... 'Where...in the world did...sh-she come from?' He actually gulped and just looked at her bashfully and unsurely, waiting to see what she might do next.

In front of him was a young woman, a rag doll. She had long, rusty auburn red hair that seemed to be made out of a very soft yet firm material, her material skin was pale blue, and she had visible stitches along her arms, legs, and probably on her face, which was obscured from view since her head was down low looking on the ground.

Finally, she looked up at him. She had wide, big eyes, with long eyelashes, a series of stitches on the corners of her mouth, made to look like blood red lips, and along her the right side of her face from her hairline down her right eye.

"Oh...it's no trouble at all..."

The few papers Jack had managed to grab up slowly dropped from his hands back to the ground. "I...I d-don't believe we've ever met before..." he couldn't help but say in a sort of surprised daze, blinking a few times. He really didn't know what else to say.

"Arf?" Zero looked at his master strangely. He had NEVER seen him act like this before!

"Oh! I'm sorry... I didn't even introduce myself. ...My name is Sally. ...I...I'm a rag doll created by Dr. Finkelstein nearly a year ago. Um...and...you are...?" The rag doll, Sally, looked at him with a sweet, curious smile.

'O-Oh dear...My name...What's my name? C-Come on, Jack, you know your-' "I-It's Jack! I-I-I mean..." his voice had cracked and he cleared his throat now and did his best to go on in a normal tone, "I-I'm Jack...The Pumpkin King..." He slowly and hesitantly held out his hand. "Sally...Th-That's a pretty name..." he managed with a shy little smile (and another small crack of his voice that he couldn't help).

"O-Oh...thank you..." Sally blushed a bit, looking away shyly before taking his hand in a little shake. "I...I..um, oh...you're...Jack Skellington...the Pumpkin King?" She looked at him with mild surprise. "Oh! Well...it's very nice to meet you, Jack."

"Really?" His eye sockets went wide. "It...It is?" His smile sort of beamed for a moment, unconsciously. 'It's nice to meet me...Wow...'

"Yes, of course..." Sally smiled a bit more, and gathered some more of his fallen items.

Jack remained beaming for a second more but then instantly blinked and bent down to assist her again. "Oh I'm dreadfully sorry, where are my manners...Leaving you to pick up all of this. Do forgive me...Sally?" He had gathered what he could from the ground and now gently held out an arm to receive the papers she had gathered up...and his face looked so very sincere.

"Huh? Forgive...but there's nothing to forgive at all!" Sally assured, and smiled as she handed them to him. Their hands brushed lightly as she did so. "I wanted to help you...and I'm very happy to do so, Jack..."

If he hadn't been so worried about giving her more work to do by picking up his papers yet again, at the touch of her hand to his Jack would have dropped everything once more. As it was he almost gasped a little and had to take a small, nervous step back from her. 'I never...really touched a girl's hand before...' The little observation couldn't help but pop into his head-after all, he mostly spent his time trying to AVOID being touched by his fangirls aka the small but VERY 'enthusiastic' female population of Halloween Town...w-with Sally as a new exception...If she ever wanted to touch his hand...he had a feeling he'd be perfectly fine with that. "I'm...very very...very happy you could help me too..." Jack let out a sigh and smiled...then grinned a little and glanced down and added,

"You're very sweet...Miss Sally..."

Sally looked at him with wide, surprised eyes, and a blush formed yet again on her cheeks. She looked down shyly, not responding for a moment. To him, she looked as if she were genuinely surprised to hear him say such things, as if she didn't even know what to do with them. Like she never received a compliment in her life.

By her next words, it seemed to ring true.

"No one...h-has ever said that to me before...but...thank you. ...Um, and you don't have to call me Miss...just Sally is fine."

Jack blinked, surprised at her response. That shy, almost unsure look on her face. 'How strange?' "Well...I'm certain everyone's been thinking it...but it's just that no one's been brave enough yet to approach you and let you know." He smiled again. "A-And, um...a-alright...j-just Sally if you prefer...It really is a very nice name after all." He winked at her.

"...I don't get out much, so I wouldn't know..." Sally murmured, and looked at him again. She smiled a little bit. "You're...very kind...I appreciate your kindess, Jack. I...wanted you to know that."

Jack's smile softened and warmed and his eye sockets even went half lidded. And then, unable to help the compulsion, he shifted his papers into one arm and then reached out with his other arm and took one of her hands, and then went into a low and gracious bow and looked up at her sweetly. "You are quite welcome...And I am always at the service of one of my sweetest subjects...and especially at the service of a young lady."

"O-Oh!" Sally gasped at his gesture, wide-eyed.

It was true, she never had anyone treat her like this, let alone...bow to her. She wasn't sure what to think! And yet...there was just something so sweet, so kind, so sincerely genuine about his actions. She was...touched.

"...Thank you..." She managed softly, looking at him with a shy smile.

"Any time..." he almost cooed...And then...very quickly and before he could lose the nerve...he took a breath and gave the back of her hand a little kiss and then instantly straightened up, taking his papers in both arms again and smiling almost giddily to himself. "E-Er, w-well, I...I should probablly let you get on your way...Wh-Who knows what I'm detaining you from, anyway." He gulped shyly.

"Oh!" Sally was yet again taken aback. He kissed her hand. She didn't know what to make of it, and yet...she felt...she didn't even know! ...It was nice, though...really nice. "Um...n-nothing...I was...taking a walk..."

In truth, she completely forgot why she was even out!

Jack blinked and then couldn't help but ask, "Oh...w-well...were you going anywhere in particular? Because if it...h-happens to lie in the way of my house, well, that's where I'm going right now...And maybe we could walk together there..." A second passed and then his eye sockets went wide. "I-I mean, n-not to take you back to my house or anything!...Oh, I...I don't mean to say that I wouldn't love to have you over sometime, I-I-I just wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable being alone with me in my house only a few minutes after we've met...N-Not that I would ever give you any reason to be uncomfortable! I...Oh dear I..." he let out a deep sigh, just drowning in nerves, and finally managed, hoping it wasn't too late to fix this, "I just meant...if you were going my way...perhaps we

could walk together so that I might get to know you better since we just met." He looked sincerely to her eyes. "But if you were heading somewhere else or don't want to, it's perfectly alright, really. I just...thought I'd ask." He looked at her very humbly.

"Oh...well..." Sally blushed and wondered what he was so nervous about!

That was when she remembered. Dr. Finkelstein had sent her out, actually allowing her to leave, to run some errands and stay within town boundaries. ...She didn't want to disobey him, but she...liked this man. She wanted to spend more time with him, get to know him...Jack... Yes, she liked him. He was...so friendly, so kind...she didn't want to let this go! Who knows when she would see him again, since he was the Pumpkin King and all?

"I...I'm not busy..." Sally lied through her teeth. "I'd...like to, that'd be nice..."

Jack just beamed! "Splendid! Come along then, Miss...I-I mean, Sally." He chuckled a little. "My house is just this way. I promise it's not too far." He started to walk and gestured with a smile for her to follow alongside him.

Sally smiled more as well, feeling so...free! So happy! And...he seemed happy to spend time with her, too. It was astounding! She blushed a little and nodded as she followed alongside him. "Thank you, Jack..."

"You're welcome." Jack nodded, smiling even more. "So...Dr. Finkelstein made you a year ago, did he? He...certainly did a very nice job on you...if that 's not too bold for me to say..." Jack gulped and glanced forward shyly.

Blushing, Sally looked down at the ground, rubbing her arm a little as she giggled. "...Thank you. Y-Yes, he did...nearly a year ago..."

Oh she was blushing and giggling...Jack could have just... "A-And...h-how are you enjoying Halloween Town? Do you like it here?" he managed, barely pushing another thought or two away...for now.

"...I...don't get to see much of it, but...I do like it...it's very intriguing." Sally admitted with a smile, looking at him shyly.

"Oh. Well, I hope you get to see more of it soon. Erm...I-I could give you a tour anytime you might like...I-I am the King after all." He chuckled a little.

"Oh, I couldn't possibly! You must be so busy...a-and you would need time to relax and recharge in order to keep going! Oh, I could never waste your time like that!" Sally said in panic!

Jack blinked, rather surprised at her response to say the least. "Sally, I...that's very sweet of you to worry about me so much but...you could never waste my time..." He smiled at her sincerely, "...And...I would find giving you a tour to be a very relaxing endeavor, I think... You're just...a very calm and nice and relaxing person after all."

"O-Oh...well...um..." Sally looked down at the ground shyly, blushing all the more. "I would love it...if you ever find the time..."

Jack nodded happily. "Alright, it's settled then, the first moment you want to and the first moment I have free that coincide with one another, a tour it is...A-And after the tour I..I-I could even...m-make us dinner or something at my house...if you like...?" He looked utterly goofy. Inside he couldn't understand what was going on but he was torn between euphoria and utter perplexity. 'Wh-Why does she make me feel so funny? And why does she make me smile? And...why is she...so very pretty?' He chuckled a little at that last thought.

"...D-Dinner...me...? Really...?" Now Sally actually stopped walking. "I...gosh...you're...this is so generous of you..."

Jack had stopped as well. He almost froze up entirely! 'W-Was that a yes...Did...Did she really say yes?' He gulped and then asked softly, "S-So...y-you're saying...yes...you would be willing to i-indulge me with a dinner?" A hopeful yet nervous little smile came to his face.

Sally blushed and shyly looked down at the ground as she brought her arms behind her back. "Y-Yes...I am...I...I'd like that..."

Jack absolutely glowed and he hugged his papers to his chest for a moment in just...delight! "O-Oh...Oh I...I...thank you!" He would have just hugged her if his arms had been free and he had no idea why because, even though he liked hugs, he had never felt like hugging someone quite like he felt like hugging her! To feel his arms wrap around her soft, pretty little body...She would probably be warm...and she would make him warm too...And maybe she would even hug him back...and softly whisper his name with a little smile...And he would have whispered her name with a little smile too...and then...

By this point, Jack had just gone off in to a daydreamy daze, his spine slumped and his eye sockets half lidded as the goofy grin on his face grew and grew.

Blinking, Sally studied him for a moment before responding. Jack seemed so...happy. What was he so happy about? His posture and goofy grin were very much an indication that he was deliriously happy about something, but what? Did her acceptance to his invitation please him that much? He did thank her with so much happiness in his tone, so maybe...he was? He liked her that company that much? But why? Sally didn't understand! She was immensely flattered, very much so, but wondered why he seemed to take joy in it all. And with her...she was nothing special! So what was up with him?

'Maybe...he's lonely. Maybe he doesn't really have a true friend...because he's King, and maybe worries about whether or not someone will like him for who he is or

because he is king...' Sally thought. "...Jack? Are you all right?"

"Oh Sally..." escaped him in a dreamy sigh at the sound of her saying his name. "I...I..." slowly though now reality began to flood back into his senses. He blinked a few times, his head clearing, and then realized that he must have been off in such a daze that he had just been staring at her for a few minutes straight and instantly he gulped and looked down with utter bashfulness and humility. "O-Oh I...I'm...I'm so terribly sorry, Sally. H-Here I am just l-lost in my own thoughts when we were in the middle of a conversation...a-and you just agreed to have d-dinner with me some night... Do forgive me, Sally, please? I really didn't mean to get so distracted. I hope I didn't offend you." He looked at her with eye sockets brimming with sincerity and a little frown on his face.

"No! Not at all..." Sally said in mild panic. "I can understand how you were feeling... And um...no one has ever given me that kind of invitation, either..."

"Oh...really?" Something in Jack's smile definitely picked up again, all of his sadness slipping away once more. "I...I would have thought that...a young lady as kind and sweet as you would have more dinner invitations than you could hope to fulfill in an eternity. I...I'm really the first?" He almost couldn't believe his good fortune. To be the first one to really enjoy her company all to himself. 'She'd probably be the cutest dinner companion...Very shy and polite, giggling at little jokes and admiring the food...Spending the whole meal just looking at and talking to her host...and letting him do the same in regards to her...'

"Don't be silly...I don't know anyone very well." Sally admitted. Yes, she knew the Hanging Tree and his Hanging Men just fine and got along with them, and she also had been fairly friendly with the witches and even the Corpse family. But beyond that, she didn't know anyone well. "And I don't think they'd do that...not with me, anyway... But um...yes, you are the first to invite me to this kind of thing..."

Jack looked at her with a touch of a frown for a moment...and then he bit his lower lip and considered something...and then he shifted his papers in to one arm and reached out with his free hand and gently let it clasp Sally's hand. "I think anyone would be honored to have you as a guest in their home...And I'll be most honored of all when you choose to grace mine with your presence." He smiled affectionately at her and gave her hand a tiny squeeze.

Blinking, Sally blushed and looked away shyly. And now he was holding her hand! She didn't know what to think! It felt...nice. Very nice. "Um...th-thank you, Jack..."

She was blushing and it just made him come all undone inside. "You're...You're welcome...Sally..." slowly left him in a quiet voice...and he moved a little bit closer to her, to catch better sight of her blush...and he still held her hand.

Now she looked up at him, and felt both curious and...perplexed. She had such strange feelings within her she didn't understand. But moreover, what was up with him? He was so sweet and kind to her, without even being told to do so or expecting some kind of reward. And he was still holding her hand.

Her blush deepened.

If anyone saw them (and a few did), it was plain that there were sparks of attraction between them. Not that either party noticed, let alone comprehended. Especially Sally.

The way her blush glowed and bloomed on her pretty face... Jack wanted to do something. He didn't know what really but whatever it was, it would involve being closer to her...very close...and touching her still...maybe even an embrace...He didn't know, he just wanted to do...whatever it was. He gulped...and then asked, barely thinking about it and before he could stop himself, "Sally...would you like to have dinner with me...tonight, perhaps?" He all but trembled in anticipation of her reply.

Sally's eyes went a touch wider, if that was possible, and she blinked once. Her bloody red lips forming into a small, surprised "o". She let out a breath, her blush became a bit more pink, and she nodded a little, not once tearing her eyes from him. "...Yes...that'd be nice..."

A deep breath entered Jack's ribcage through his nose and his smile grew a little. "U-Um...s-splendid, then...Sh-Shall we?" Still holding her hand he bent a little low and gestured forward with his head. "Ladies first..."

"Thank you...?" Sally was puzzled. Ladies first? Since when? What did that even mean? She'd read of it several times in books, but never understood it. But she smiled crookedly and walked on slowly.

Jack smiled more and walked along with her, holding her hand and just feeling perfect inside! "You're welcome, Sally." He chuckled a little and then asked, his eye sockets a little half lidded again as he looked at her, "So, what would you like for dinner? Just name it...you're the guest after all."

He was actually letting her choose? This was so...unexpected! She made a new friend, who wanted to spend time with her, seemed happy to do so, and to eat with! She blushed, looking at the ground again.

"Um...wormghetti with eyeballs...and snake sauce..." She admitted softly, one of her favourite meals ever.

Jack chuckled a little, he couldn't help it. It was just...she was so clever and yet so sweet and straightforward that he had been certain the moment the question about dinner had left his mouth that she could have replied with something as simple as childish as peanut butter and jellied brains sandwiches or something as sophisticated as braised bat under glass with rotted truffle sauce and either extreme would have fit her. And she had gone and picked something right in the middle and it STILL fit her! 'She's just...delightful!' "Alright then, Sally, wormghetti it is." He winked at her...and even swung their hands a little as they made it to the gate leading to the drive up to his front door.

"Oh, so that's all right...?" Sally blinked. "I mean...I'm sure you're used to eating something lavish, right? Oh...I hope it's not too little for you..."

Jack couldn't help glancing down a little shyly and replying with a small shrug and a smile, "A-Actually, as a skeleton I usually don't eat much at all...But when I do, I don't just enjoy lavish, rich meals...There's something to be said for simplicity and tradition, after all. Although honestly," he chuckled a little, "If I had to pick one thing to eat at any given time it would be dessert-pumpkin pie and spider cakes and Halloween candies...After all if you're only going to eat a tiny bit at a time...you might as well make that tiny bit as fun as it can be, right?" He winked at her.

Sally giggled, smiling brightly. "Oh, that's very true! I love dessert, too. I cook all the time for the doctor, so I know a thing or two... And...oh! Well, if you want...I can make you a little pumpkin pie...you know, as a thank you for all of this. Oh! I also make poison berry and spider pie, one of the doctor's favourites...um...it's very easy to make. I could make that for you also, if you'd prefer that."

"You'd...bake a pie...for me..." It was absolutely the most wonderful thing anyone had ever offered to do for him ever! "Oh Sally...if it wouldn't be too much trouble...I would just adore that..." He smiled at her with so much affection...affection and adoration...and something else trying to break on through.

"Really?" Sally beamed, looking excited. "Oh, well...I'd love to, then! In fact, if you have some ingredients, I'll make one for you now! We could have it for dessert!"

Jack nodded eagerly. "Oh yes, I have everything right upstairs! Oh thank you so much, Sally!" He sighed happily. "I am...very very glad that I ran into you today..." He smiled a little more to himself and then stopped the two of them (they had reached the top of his stoop by now) and reached out and opened the front door for her. "Ladies first again, Sally..."

"Me too..." Sally admitted softly, and then stepped inside.

She couldn't believe it. She made a new friend, a man, no less, and he was already inviting her to his home! This had to be some kind of scandal.

And yet, it felt right. She was really getting to enjoy his company, and he was so...sweet, so kind, so...gentlemanly. Not to mention he was quite suave without being arrogant about it.

"It's just up the stairs here...Be careful, I don't want you to trip..." He lead her gently along up the spiral flight leading to the main portion of his house. "O-Oh and, erm...j-just to..make sure you're comfortable...i-it won't just be us..a-alone up there...Z-Zero's home too. He's my dog and best friend...heh..." Jack gulped in utter bashfulness as he continued to lead her along, hoping he had worded all of that in the best possible way.

"Awww, you mean that ghost dog I saw with you earlier? Awww...how cute!" Sally giggled. "That would be-oh!" She tripped on a step and due to her imbalance, and ended up falling right against him!

"Oh dear!" Jack caught her under the arms and tumbled back a tiny bit, falling to sit down on one of the steps...with her all but draped over his body. His jaw fell open. He tried to make a word or two but none came...not a single one. But what could you say, after all, with a red haired vision hovering over you and your body warmed by hers?

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Jack...I'm very imbalanced and clumsy sometimes..." Sally said apologetically, looking at him with a concerned, yet blushy gaze. "Are you all right?"

"I'm...I-I'm...p-perfect..." He blinked and quickly amended, his bones practically blanching in awkwardness, "I-I mean, erm...y-yes, of course, but...that's not what's important. A-Are you alright...Sally?" The look in his eye sockets almost suggested that if she really had been hurt in any way from losing a limb to having a pull in one of her seams, it would have just devastated him.

Sally blinked, and just...blushed more...he seemed so concerned about her. From what she could tell, she didn't lose a limb nor did she have a pull in any of her seams, so she was all right. "Yes...I'm fine..." She felt...touched he was so concerned, and even that he'd be devestated if she wasn't! What a sweetie. She couldn't help but melt.

And for some reason...she couldn't move.

"Thank you...for trying to catch me..." She was now leaning a little closer to him, the tip of her triangular nose just barely an inch from his own, not quite realizing the position they were in.

'Oh...Oh...' Jack wasn't breathing anymore, he wasn't blinking, he wasn't thinking...All he was doing was feeling her soft weight on his body and hands on his shoulders as she braced herself and all he was seeing were her perfect large eyes and those ruby red lips and that cute little nose. And he never wanted them to leave... "Y-You're welcome..." barely left him in a whisper...and then... "I like you, Sally...v-very much..." before he could think any better of it.

Sally blushed, her eyes drifting away shyly. He liked her? Already? There were no traces of doubt or insincerity in his tone or his expression...she felt so touched. "I like you, too...um...oh!" She realized what was going on, and gently got off him.

The second she removed herself Jack started breathing again, and heavily, just looking upward toward the ceiling in the direction her sweet face had formerly been...and so very close to his own. 'She...likes me...too...' It was enough to make him just burst! It was enough to make him just...he didn't know what! But he knew it involved Sally...sweet Sally...Where had his sweet Sally gone? With all of her warmth and perfection...

"...Jack? Are you okay?" Her face came into view again, looking down at him with concern.

The vision of loveliness that had left him returned and let out the happiest sigh in the world, a big smile on his face. "Better now that I can see you again..." left him in a coo before he suddenly blinked and started and scooched up a step or two and then sat up, looking the picture of nervousness. "I-I-I mean, erm...I...b-better now that I can see you again...to...know that you're really alright, heh...Sh-Sh-Shall we then?" He stood and held out a hand to her and mentally kicked himself for acting so absurdly in front of her. What if he made her uncomfortable? Oh he couldn't bear the thought!

"Oh, yes...we shall..." Sally smiled and took his hand, her cheeks pinkening. "L-Let's..."

Jack gave a shy little nod and then pulled her along until they reached the door leading to his living room, which he pushed open with his hip and then he laid down his papers on an end table near the door before turning back to Sally. "Well, um...this is it...Home sweet home. I-I know it's not much...a-and that it's a little messy...S-Sorry, Zero and I are just used to living alone and also we weren't expecting company tonight of course a-and especially not a charming young lady..." He swallowed , putting his free arms shyly behind his back. "B-But I hope it will suffice, at least for this evening..."

"Arf!" Zero floated into the room then, happily panting and wagging his sheet.

"Oh! Hello there..." Sally bent down to his level, holding her hand out to him. "I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself to you before, Zero..."

"Arf! Arf!" Zero sniffed Sally curiously, and then licked her hand.

"Awwww..." Sally giggled, beaming at him. "It's very nice to meet you, Zero..." She looked at Jack with a kind smile. "It's all right, Jack...I couldn't possibly fault you for that at all, especially considering the circumstances. But...really, thank you for inviting me into your home...it was sweet of you."

Jack's cute little smile picked up on one side and he rubbed the back of his neck. "O-Oh, well, I...I try..." He shrugged modestly. 'She called me sweet...Oh...' He was just tickled at the whole thing!

Sally giggled and petted Zero, who happily let her, obviously in bliss. She...liked this, a lot. A new friend, a sweet pet ghost dog, and just...hanging around together like average joes on a normal day. It was pleasant, comforting, and just...very heartwarming. She could get used to this!

She petted Zero some more, and then stood up straight. "You have a very interesting place, Jack...oh! If you don't mind my asking...I noticed there was a tower rising from the main house here, from outside...I was curious as to what it was, it has big windows..." She asked curiously and sweetly.

Jack blinked and looked a touch sheepish as he replied truthfully, "Oh that's...sort of a study of mine, I guess...Just a place where I go to experiment with new ideas for Halloween or to read or just to think about things...I-I can get a little...intense when I'm p-passionately involved in something and I feel more comfortable during those times being alone i guess than being with the Mayor and the others at the Town Hall." He glanced to her eyes. " I suppose that sounds a little silly though..."

"Why would that be silly?" Sally asked, genuinely puzzled as to why he would think that. "There's nothing wrong with needing time to yourself when it comes to your job. Sometimes...we all need our time alone when we're working on certain things, or to think about things, or to just relax. There isn't anything wrong with that."

Jack's smile picked up again. "Thank you, Sally...You're a...very understanding girl...Oh, y-young lady, I mean, heh...I-I mean, y-you're certainly far too grown up to be just a girl, n-no matter when you were created..." He was tugging at his collar. "Erm...well, l-let me get started on that dinner for us! Y-You just sit on the couch and make yourself comfortable and I-I'll just be right in the kitchen over there," he gestured to a little space in the corner of the room and then zipped toward it, quickly putting on an apron and getting to work and trying not to cringe too much at the capacity he seemed to be having with this new little friend of his to say the absolutely most awkward things at random.

"Are you sure you don't need any help?" Sally asked after him, taking a step forward.

"Oh, no, it's alright, Sally," Jack glanced at her over his shoulder, "You're my guest after all-you deserve to relax. I don't want you to trouble yourse-Ow!" Jack had been so distracted with talking to her that he had accidenly burned the joints of one of his fingers on the edge of the pot of boiling water. He winced and held the finger up, shaking it a little in discomfort.

"Oh!" Sally immediately came over, her expression and tone laced with concern. "Are you all right? Here, let me see it." She gently took hold of his hand.

Jack gasped a tiny bit at her holding his hand so gently. "It...I..I-It'll be okay..." was all he could half mumble out, though he let her continue to hold his hand...and loved it.

"It's not bad...though you should run it under some cold water to numb the pain." Sally said softly, gently stroking his hand in comfort. There was something very motherly about her actions, and yet, very sweet and intimate. "If nothing else, of course." Her eyes rose to meet his again, a little blush on her cheeks.

The way she...what she did to his hand...He had never felt closer to another person in his life...and especially not to a girl...a young lady...a woman... "Th-Thank...you..." He merely whispered...and at the back of his mind he couldn't help but feel a small tug of desire for her to do something else to 'make it all better'...though he couldn't really figure out what...but it would definitely involve her staying as close to him as she was right now...

"You're welcome..." Sally smiled, and then let go of his hand, with regret. She went and sat down on the couch in a ladylike way, as if afraid to make herself completely comfortable.

"Arf!" Zero floated up beside her, nuzzling into her. He couldn't help it, he liked this very nice and sweet rag doll!

An urge he had never known before came over Jack: he wanted to...well, for lack of a better word, swoon. He just wanted to sigh blissfully and drop to the floor and admire the hand she had been so tender with for the rest of forever! Oh it was so tempting. He was so happy that Sally was distracted with Zero for a moment and probably wouldn't see the horribly goofy look that must be on his face right now.

"Hi there, Zero..." Sally giggled, petting the ghost dog. What a sweet dog...she had never interacted with animals very often, except for a stray black cat a couple if times. She liked Zero, and she was glad he seemed to like her, too.

"Arf arf!" Said Zero, panting happily.

"Are you all right, Jack?" Sally looked toward him then, seeing that he was very quiet.

Right now Jack was currently imagining Sally sitting at his dinner table waiting for him to finish cooking her a meal every evening from now on...holding him whenever he got hurt...cooing to him gently...Her soft little voice... 'She probably sings like a dark angel of the night...' He sighed happily to himself but finally managed to reply to her with, "Oh..y-yes, Sally...I'm alright...now...Just...distracted again, I guess..." He cleared his throat and looked to her. "Thank you so much for caring about my burn...That was very gracious and kind of you." He gave her a little bow. "Dinner will be ready soon, I promise..." He turned back to the pot to work on the sauce now. "Can I get you anything to drink while you're waiting? There's pumpkin juice and fresh cider and always hot tea."

"Oh, that'd be lovely, thank you!" Sally nodded, and clasped her hands in her lap. 'Keep your posture straight...sit like a lady...he is the King after all! I have to be polite.' "You're welcome, too...it's my pleasure."

Jack nodded, smiling even more at her politeness. 'So sweet, so polite, so graceful...What a fair creature...She's almost like a princess...or a Queen even...' The word 'queen' made something tremble in his bones...and then he remembered he was the Pumpkin King...and then he spazzed so much he nearly upset both pots on the stove in his effort to move over to the ice box for some chilled pumpkin juice for the two of them. "O-Oh my, heh..." he righted the pots quickly and then went about his business with the drinks. 'Q-Q-Queen...h-how funny...Y-You know, I...I've been the Pumpkin King for so long...you'd think the idea of a P-P-P-Pumpkin Q-Q-Queen w-would have come up, a-and...Oh dear...' He could barely keep himself together as he did his best to pour the drinks without spilling juice

everywhere, his hands were shaking so badly. And those words kept ringing in his head: 'Queen...Queen...Pumpkin Queen...' All he would need for something like that was a girl whom he...loved... 'Love...' The word was too much for him to process as he just did his best to finish up with the drinks and to center himself for bringing them over to the table.

'Okay, I can do this...dining with royalty...oh dear, maybe I should have gone home and dressed up! But then again this was all kind of last minute and-"Oh!" Sally leaned to the side way too far to try to adjust her posture that she fell to the floor.

"Arf!"

Jack, who had been just a foot or two from the table with the drinks and at Sally's falling he quickly put the drinks on the table and was instantly on the floor, picking her up in his arms, cradling her, looking at her with all the tenderness in the world. "Sally, darling Sally, are you alright?" he asked, barely aware of the words coming out of his mouth. "Oh dear, my Sally..." His eye sockets brimmed with worry.

"I-I'm fine..." Sally looked up at him with wide eyes, her cheeks bright pink. Had he...really called her darling? And dear? Terms of endearment? He was cradling her...and was so worried, so tender...She felt a shiver course up her spine, and felt compelled...

He just looked down at her, his face full of sweet tenderness. "Oh Sally..." he whispered caringly, one arm holding around her, the other gently moving a few strands of hair from her face, "Are you very certain? I could never forgive myself if something happened to you while under my care..."

Sally didn't know what it was, but there was something about his tender little gesture that just...made her feel touched and flattered. If any other man she didn't know did that, she might have backed away out of discomfort. And yet, she felt so comfortable around him. He was so kind, sweet, tender, understanding...concerned for her safety... She fought back the urge to lay his hand against her cheek...

"Absolutely...I can't feel pain... So if I fall, I don't get hurt."

"Alright..." left Jack quietly... "If you're sure..." He took a moment to hug her a little, snuggling his head alongside hers, and then he let her go and stood up, bringing her with him and then placing her gently down in her seat again. He smiled at her. "I'll bring you your dinner now. I promise it won't be a moment longer." He winked at her and then bowed and took a few steps back to the kitchen.

"Oh, t-take your time..." Sally managed, sitting back. 'Did I just...stutter? Oh goodness, what is the matter with me? ...And why do I feel so cold?'

'So, so, so very polite...' Jack smiled more, putting pasta and sauce into two bowls, and then he grabbed a couple of forks and napkins and headed back over to the table and placed one setting in front of her and then one in front of himself. He went to his chair opposite her, taking off his apron and hanging it over the back of it. Then he looked to her with a little smile. "Bon appetit!" He chuckled.

Sally giggled and smiled. "Muchas gracias, Senor..." She took a sniff. It smelled deadly delicious! So she tried some, trying all she could not to slurp. Her eyes went wide as she finished her bite. "Oh my...this is very good! Wow!"

Jack beamed! "Really? You like it? Oh I'm so very glad, Sally. I don't get to cook much for others so I worry that I get a little rusty." He chuckled a little. "But I'm happy to see I can still whip up something decent." He took a bit of the food as well and once again was so very grateful that it had turned out alright.

"It's wonderful! This dish is better than mine!" Sally giggled, eating some more.

Jack smiled bashfully and waved her off. "Oh, now, I'm certain that's not true-you must be such a wonderful cook. I'll be you cook delicious things for Dr. Finkelstein."

"Oh no, this is better than mine!" Sally smiled. "But yes, I do my best..."

"Dr. Finkelstein is very very very lucky to have you around all the time, Sally...All I'm having of you is dinner and I can't remember having a more pleasant evening...I can't imagine the joy of...w-well...living with you..." He glanced down with a bashful little smile.

Sally blushed and looked down at her food bashfully. "Thank you, Jack...I'm glad you're enjoying yourself...s-so am I... But, oh...you wouldn't want that, no...I'm restless and sometimes don't even do as I'm asked."

Jack just chuckled a little and rested his skull on one of his hands. "Oh but I admire a free spirit...Besides, if you always did what you were asked, that would be boring. I think it shows a lot of...cleverness...to do things a little differently than expected."

Blinking, Sally looked up at him. "...I...I back talk sometimes."

Jack blinked and raised part of his brow sometimes. "You?" He hadn't meant for it to sound so skeptical...But...well... "But you're so...so...sweet...Oh Sally, even if you do 'back talk' I'm sure you must have a perfectly good reason for it."

"...I suppose I try to stand for what I believe in or when I'm worried." Sally admitted sheepishly.

Jack's smile returned. "Well...that's good. Sally, anyone can just 'follow orders'...But it takes a brave and strong person to really think about the tasks they get assigned in life and to have enough discretion to recognize when they're not comfortable performing one of them...and a lot of bravery to refuse to do them. I'm...I-I know I don't know all of the details or the full context but...I'm very proud of you, Sally," he finished sincerely.

Blinking once, Sally looked at him and then down at her half-eaten bowl again with a bashful smile. "..Thank you...not a lot of people would think it was wise for a woman to do that."

A little pout couldn't help but come to Jack's face. "Well, I...I-I for one think that...boldness is a rather...a-attractive quality in a woman." He couldn't help saying it. And now that he had he 'diligently' proceeded to focus on his food.

Sally looked up again, wide-eyed. "...Really? You do?"

Jack just couldn't look at her. He just finished a bite of food and nodded his head. "Yes...V-Very much so..." he managed quietly.

"Oh...well...I...that's very sweet." Sally smiled, blushing a little. "I'm...glad there are others out there who find it to be a good thing when women are...well, brave." She didn't feel all that brave, she was shy and nervous most of the time...who was she kidding?

"I think it's a wonderful quality in anyone, and especially a woman..." Jack managed to look over at her now, something dreamy in his eye sockets. "After all, boldness, bravery, being opinionated...all of those things provide such a lovely challenge in life...Who wouldn't be drawn to them?"

"...I-I suppose that's true..." Sally said softly, and then soon finished her food, and wiped her mouth with a napkin. "I do try to...sometimes I just can't keep my mouth closed if it's something dangerous or serious."

"And I hope you never shall..." he replied sincerely, "I hope that you'll always say exactly how you feel forever...I hope that part of you never changes, Sally..."

Sally giggled, blushing bashfully. "Jack...thank you...you're so sweet..."

Oh she was giggling and blushing and calling him sweet...This dinner had just risen is level of perfection from better than pumpkin pie to better than pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin whipped cream and pumpkin tea all in one! "Thank you, Sally but how can I help being sweet...when I'm talking to such a sweet young lady?" His smile picked up a little on one side. He just couldn't help himself.

"Oh...well I...I..." She giggled coyly as she glanced away shyly. "Jack...you've been so kind to me...I can't help it, either..."

Jack chuckled a little to go along with her giggling. "Oh I'm sure it's mostly just your natural charm. What a delightful little rag doll Dr. Finkelstein made for our town. I really will have to thank him."

'He doesn't think so...' Sally thought, taking on a bit of a look, but then shook it off as she decided not to bring her problems into this. "Anything you say, Jack..."

Jack couldn't help but notice a little frown that came to her face as she said that, and it made him frown a little too. "Sally...are you alright? Did I say something wrong?" 'Perhaps I was too forward...Oh dear I hope I wasn't...'

"Oh! No no, not at all." Sally assured quickly. "You didn't, I promise. I was just...thinking of something stupid. Don't you worry, it had nothing to do with what you said."

'There I go again, lying... Oh goodness, what's wrong with me?'

Despite her assurances another deeper frown came to Jack's face now. "Oh but...Sally, nothing you could ever think of could be stupid...Your concerns and thoughts are genuine and deep...And if you ever want to talk about anything...I'd be more than willing to listen." He looked at her with tender sincerity.

"Really...? ...Jack, thank you very much for that..." Sally looked down at the table shyly. "I appreciate that you would be willing to do that...you don't have to, of course, but I do appreciate. Um, and the same goes for you, too...if you...well, want to talk about something, I'd be happy to listen! Even if I may not know how to advise you about it...I will still listen."

Jack smiled so warmly. "Thank you, Sally...That's such a kind offer...Thank you...And I'm sure your advice would be wonderful, since you're such a wonderful person after all..."

Sally blushed all the more, clasping her hands in her lap a bit. "I...I'm nothing special, I'm just Sally..."

"Sally...is very very very special...in and of herself..." Jack replied softly and affectionately, with all the sincerity in the world. "And if all else fails...at the very least...she's very very...very special to me..."

"...I...um...a-am I?" Sally wasn't sure what to think! Special to someone? Namely, her new friend?

Jack nodded a tiny bit, smiling more. "Yes...of course...I already told you...I like you, Sally...so you're definitely special to me. I-I mean, f-for instance...y-you're so special to me that I invited you to dinner tonight...and I've...I've never had a lady over to dinner alone in my whole entire life..." he admitted shyly.

"...Never?" Sally blinked, utterly perplexed. How did he not? She didn't understand! Not just because he was attractive ('I meant that with intellect!' She berated herself) or because of his status, but because he was so kind and generous. But because of how kind he was and that he treated women with respect and would more than likely treat the woman he...loved, with that and more. "But why not? Surely any woman would be so lucky to be in your company, Jack...you're very kind and generous and you...well, know how to treat people, and women very well."

Jack felt that bone blanching thing starting to happen again. "O-Oh...I...w-well..." he just looked down with the shyest little smile, barely able to handle such a kind and generous reply. "Th-That's very nice of you to say, S-Sally...a-and...I've had...o-offers a lot of time from the women here to s-spend time together...but...I always turn them down..." he frowned a tiny bit, feeling a touch embarrassed, "They're nice but...they mostly just want to go on and on about how I'm the Pumpkin King...a-and I'm not really looking for that in a...'companion'...I'm shy I suppose..." He blinked a few times, barely able to look at her by now. "That sounds so silly, doesn't it...I'm not a child, I'm a full grown man...What reason do I have to be shy? But...I still am..." he swallowed and then managed

to add very quietly, "But...I'm not shy...with you..."

"...Well, if it's not too bold to say...I suppose you're insecure about the fact that you worry about whether or not a woman would like you because of who you are as a person...or if it's because you're the ruler of our town." Sally offered, looking at him sympathetically. "I think anyone in your position would shy away from women... If it were me, I certainly would be hesitant about being with men."

The fork dropped from Jack's hand into the mostly empty plate before him. His eye sockets were wide and they shot right up to look to Sally's eyes. 'No one ever...ever tried to...understand...like that...' "Oh...Oh thank you...Sally I...thank you so much for understanding...That's the kindest and most genuine thing anyone's ever said to me." He smiled in utter appreciation.

Sally let out a little squeak and looked away shyly, blushing all the more. "I...I...j-just calling it as I see it...but you're welcome..."

"Oh..." her little blushes and giggles and now squeaks could melt him as nothing else in the whole world could. He smiled in such happiness. "Oh Sally...dear Sally..." he sighed dreamily, "You know, one day...once you're more well known around town...you'll have your fair share of gentleman callers just as I have my...w-well, for lack of a better word...f-fangirls, I suppose...A-And, anyway, when that happens for you I just hope that you'll have as good and clear a head about these things in regards to yourself as you have in regards to me."

"D-Don't be silly..." Sally giggled shyly. "I hardly think that would happen..."

Jack let out a little sigh, shaking his head at her a tiny bit. "Oh but...Sally...you're charming and sweet and kind and clever and funny and interesting and brave and modest and smart and beautiful and witty and sincere and...and...erm..." Jack finally realized the little rant he had been going off into ('And I called her beautiful too...Fantastic.') and stopped himself. "Wh-What I mean is...you have many attractive qualities...and once their known, well...wh-who wouldn't want to be your suitor?" He played with his fork in his now empty bowl, just for something to do.

"...Thank you, Jack...you are very sweet to say that..." Sally said softly, looing at him again.

"You're...very welcome..." he assured her kindly. "A-And...if..if it's not too much for me to say...if any of those suitors ever...oversteps any boundaries...please let me know." A little frown came back to his face. "I could never stand the idea of someone offending you in any way...You're such a special woman. You deserve to be treated like a..." Dare he say it? "...You deserve to be treated like a Queen." Everything inside of him rattled and warmed exquisitely...just...everything... 'Queen...' Really it was such a lovely thought.

Sally blinked at this, feeling both perplexed, and yet humbled and flattered that he wanted to look out for her like this. She smiled shyly, playing with her hair. "...Jack...I...I appreciate that, thank you... You're really sweet."

"I just want you to be happy, Sally...Happy and safe and comfortable," Jack replied with utmost sincerity. "And if I can assist in any way in that, it would be an honor for me."

"Well...I...I'll make sure to let you know of that, Jack." Sally beamed at him gratefully. "Oh! That reminds me...um...I'd love to still make that pie for you! ...If you'll have me..." She looked down with a blush. "It won't take me very long, and I'll pay you back to replace any of the ingredients, of course!"

Jack blinked and then almost chuckled a little and shook his head. "Sally..." He stood up from the table, dabbing at the corner of his mouth with a napkin, and then approaching her and moving behind her chair, "You don't have to 'pay me back' for ingredients...You're doing me the honor of cooking for me...if anyone should be paying anyone, it's me paying you...Aren't you sweet though for offering..." He chuckled a little more. "Now, if you'll allow me I'll pull out your chair for you and then you can begin...And Zero and I are really so grateful to you for offering to make us dessert in the first place."

"Oh...well...all right, go ahead, Jack..." Sally blushed, not at all sure why he insisted on pulling her chair out like that. "All right then! What kind would you like? Name it, and I'll make it. I've made a few different types of pies, and even if I never did, as long as you have a recipe and prep reference, I'll be able to make it no problem!"

Jack gently pulled out her chair and then leaned over her shoulder a little and asked with a shy smile, "Could we have Pumpkin pie...? Would that be too much trouble?" A playful little chuckle escaped him.

Blushing a bit, she giggled and nodded. "No, that'd be fine... Um...do you have the ingredients for it, then?"

"Hmm...Always...I am the Pumpkin King after all...It wouldn't do for me to not have the ingredients for pumpkin pie..." He was close enough to smell her hair and the scent of it was intoxicating...Like autumn leaves and pumpkin spices and midnight October air... A little shuddery sigh couldn't help but escape him. "S-So yes, I...have...everything..." He was getting just a little lost in her at the moment.

"All right then..." Sally was now standing, and very much aware of how close he was to her. Surprisingly, she didn't mind. "I'll make you a pumpkin pie!"

"Oh...splendid..." Jack couldn't help but coo a little as she stood up and he watched her walk off to the kitchen. Then suddenly he blinked and chased after her, grabbing his apron again in the process. "Oh, but, dear, where are my manners? Here, let me get all of the ingredients out for you. And here, you can use my apron if you'd like." He handed her the apron with a smile and then was instantly going into cupboards and pulling out spices and some mashed pumpkin flesh, flour, oil, eggs...Anything she might need.

Sally giggled and watched him do so, having been about to say she could get them herself...when she realized she could never find them unless he did! For some odd reason, she just felt so comfortable, it barely registered in her mind that this was her first time as a guest in his home! Or anyone's home, for that matter.

Once everything was laid out, she got to work. All the while, Jack insisted to help her out if she needed it, but she had it under control but WOULD ask if she needed it.

While she baked the mix and rolled the dough, the two of them got to talking. Nothing in particular, they just simply nattered about anything that came to mind. The weather, theories about good scare tactics, legends, meanings behind scary stories, anything.

"And so then I suggested to the doctor that he use traces of CO2, since I knew it would likely help in preventing the formula from becoming too hot. At first he brushed off my advice as nonsense. After all, what could I possibly know? I don't like to brag...but when you do live with scientist, and have many books on scientific methods and theories at your disposal, you do learn some things."

"Well, I think that was very clever of you, Sally. And it's so nice that you take the time to study and try and improve yourself during your free time with the doctor. I love science too and...aside from the doctor I've never met anyone else with a passion for it..." His grin was utterly dreamy. "You're really a...special kind of woman, aren't you?"

"N-No...I just...well, you see..." Sally looked embarrassed. "I wanted to be able to make myself useful to the doctor while working in the lab, like his assistant. Unfortunately, every time I mix the chemicals and other elements for a formula...they explode. I'm not joking..." She sighed. "I can bake and make potions no problem...but a scientific mixture, it explodes."

Jack blinked a few times at the little admission...but then couldn't help but smile and nearly chuckle a bit. "Oh Sally...not everyone is good at everything they try. And you are good at baking and the potions...and that's very impressive in itself! And maybe one day later after some practice you'll be better at scientific mixtures." He nodded to her reassuringly.

"...I suppose...but lately I've feared even trying. So I mostly stick to the knowledge aspect of it..." Sally gave a mild shrug. "Though I mostly just sew. I carry a needle and spool of thread on my person at all times...since it is necessary for me to be able to sew so I can repair myself. ...I made this dress here. You'll have to excuse the crudity of it." She indicated her patchwork dress, made of various and very mismatched fabrics, including two different sleeves.

Jack blinked and couldn't help but reply, "I think it's beautiful..." in a way so honest and so sincere that it couldn't be denied that was his true opinion of it.

Sally blinked as she paused in her mixing. "Ah..I...um...you...what?" She was so taken aback by his statement, it was hard to formulate a complete and coherent sentence!

"I think your dress is...beautiful...One of the most beautiful pieces of clothing I've ever seen...And it looks beautiful on you..." He couldn't help it, he knew it was too much...But still it was so very much the truth...and he wanted her to know...

"...Oh...well...I...I..." Sally looked down with a blush, feeling very shy and bashful, yet humbled and flattered. "You're very kind to say that, Jack..."

"It's only the truth, Sally...It's...creative and pretty and unique and wonderful to observe...j-just like the young lady who made it, if it isn't too much for me to say..." He smiled a little-her blushes made him bolder and he just couldn't help it.

The blush deepened as she quickened in mixing, not realizing she was doing so. "Thank you..." Oh, why did he have to be so kind and sweet? It was almost too much! She wobbled a little.

He could see the effect he was having on her plain as day...Oh did he dare to hope from it...Did he dare to hope that she...might...one day...feel about him...how he was starting to realize he felt about her? "You're quite...quite...welcome..." he cooed...in a voice exactly one octave lower than usual. And then, noticing her nervous mixing, an idea occurred to him...he summed up his courage...and hoped he wouldn't make her uncomfortable...and then he came up behind her and placed one hand over her hand holding the mixing bowl, and his other arm and hand over her arm and hand with the mixing spoon and began to guide her a little, slowing the speed of her mixing, his head over her shoulder...and a smile on his lips... "Oh Sally...why are you mixing so quickly? You know that can hurt the consistency of the batter...Here, slowly, like this..."

Sally's eyes went wide and she half stiffened at his actions. Was she imagining it, or was he being somewhat...flirtatious? The way he spoke, and how their position was kind of...sweet and intimate...

She shook it off. No, he was just being nice, a good friend, and helping her to mix the batter right.

"Oh..." She blushed all the more, and once the surprise wore off...she found she...liked being so close to him. "S-Sorry...I didn't realize I was mixing too fast..."

"Perfectly alright..." he cooed suavely to her ear, his smile growing a little more. And yet, despite the fact that she had become aware of her little change in the mixing speed and the fact that it had been corrected, she didn't seem to be pushing him away and...he never wanted to leave this position ever if he was allowed. "We'll just...mix it together...if that's alright with you..." He moved just a bit closer to her and let himself take a small, imperceptible sniff of her yarn hair. 'Oh...' Oh how he longed to touch it...to pull his fingers through it...It was probably so very soft...

"O-Oh..." Sally felt a shiver course up her spine at his suave tone, how he moved closer to her...and wasn't letting go of her. She actually didn't want him to let go. It reminded her of earlier, when she had fallen down and he'd cradled her and hugged her...how nice it felt. She blushed all the more, and even leaned back against him a little. ...She liked this...and she didn't understand why! "Sure...I'd like that...we can mix it together..."

"Mmm..." When she leaned back against him and their bodies touched, a little, warm moan couldn't help but escape Jack. Oh and she had said yes to them mixing the batter together... He moved more against her as well, melting into her a little. And yet...he had to be sure she wasn't uncomfortable and just trying to accommodate him... "We...are very close right now...aren't we...S-Sally..." he observed quietly, figuring that if she didn't want to be this close then that statement would give her a jumping off point to let him know in some small, polite way.

"Yes, we are..." Sally murmured, staring down into the mix...and somewhat at their joined hands. She felt herself smile more, and the blush deepened. "It's actually kind of nice...kind of like we're connecting as we work together..."

Oh she... 'Oh!'... Jack practically hugged up against her and asked, bursting with joy inside, though his voice was still quiet, "A-A-And...do you like...connecting...with me?"

"Ooh! ...Um...yes, I do..." Sally just couldn't explain why she liked it. Okay, it was kind of obvious enough. The fact that they were growing to be good friends, she liked him, he liked her too, and they really hit it off over the past couple of hours since they first met. So that in itself could explain it, right?

But it didn't feel that simple at all. She didn't get it. All she knew was...that she liked it.

A lot.

"Oh Sally, I...I like it too...We should...bake together more often..." He paused but then...gently allowed his chin to rest on her shoudler, and hoped that would be alright with her...

Sally felt it, and just...melted...she...liked it, too. "Ooohh..." She sighed a bit dreamily. "Sure, I'd love it if we...baked together more often..."

A deep sigh escaped through Jack's nose, his eye sockets starting to close... "And...maybe we could...do other things...together...too...fair Sally...?"

"Absolutely...we could do all kinds of things together..." Sally let out a soft, dreamy sigh as they continued to mix the batter together, slowly. "That'd be nice..."

"Oh thank you...Sally...I would adore that...I...I've never been this close to a girl before..." The last thing left him without his even thinking about it, and he was still blissfully unaware of it.

"And I've...well, never been this close to a man before." Sally admitted a bit sheepishly.

He had been so close to panicking a tiny bit upon finally realizing what he had admitted to her, but when she admitted the same thing about herself...all the panic went away...and he just held her even more closely, like she was some rare creature he had been fortunate enough to catch and now he never wanted to risk losing her. "I'm...h-honored to b-be the first..." he managed with a proud little grin...before gently snuggling a little against her hair.

"O-Ooh..." Sally giggled, closing her eyes a little. "And I'm honoured to be the first..."

It was so odd. They were so close, and so comfortable with each other, and being this close together with no awkwardness or complaint! And they didn't even know each other for a full day! Why was that? It almost seemed to feel as if they'd known each other forever. Everything just clicked!

But what did it truly mean?

She decided not to delve into the logic of this for now. She was just having fun!

"Yes...you are the first...But forgive me, I shouldn't have said 'girl'...I was just nervous...You're a woman, after all, Sally..." Then he chuckled a tiny bit and added, "And you mix divinely..."

"Thank you, Jack..." Sally giggled, leaning back against him a bit more.

"Mmm...you're...eternally welcome...Sally..." He let out a sigh near her ear and then whispered, "I think that's enough mixing...why don't we pour the filling into the pie crust to bake it..." His hand atop her hand holding the bowl moved away to grab the nearby pie crust in a pan and then and shifted it over to them.

"O-Oh, of course, then..." Sally gave a nod. Oh no, this didn't mean he was going to let go of her soon, was he?

Jack just smiled more. "Come on...we can do it together..." He gently moved her hand on the mixing bowl over to the pie crust with his own and then he slipped the wooden spoon from her hand with his hand that was upon that, and then he placed the full palm of his bony hand against the back of her hand and pressed both against the side of the bowl, ready to lift it. "Ready...Sally?" he asked with just a touch of suaveness.

"Yes, I'm ready, Jack..." Sally murmured with a touch of flirtation to her tone, and she giggled. His suave tone yet again sent shivers up her spine!

He tone and giggle made him snuggled his head against her shoulder and hair a little more. "Alright then, Sally...One...two...three.." And then both of them slowly lifted the bowl together and poured the contents into the pie crust, and then they placed the bowl down...And then Jack put his arms fully around Sally's torso and hugged her warmly and fully from behind. "We did it...fair Sally..."

"Ooohhh..." Sally let out a soft, happy sigh as she leaned back against him, gently placing her hands over his. "Yes, we did, Jack... We did well so far..." She managed in a soft coo, blushing all the more.

They were even closer than before! And yet, Sally really didn't mind it at all. In fact, she really liked it! It felt wonderful to be this close to him.

He snuggled into her...He never wanted to leave her...But he had to ask once more just in case. "Sally...is it really okay wiht you...for us to be this close...I know we only just met...I don't mean to overstep...But I like you, Sally...a lot...and a lot more than I've liked any other woman in...what feels like forever...I can't help it. I'm sorry if it offends you at all though...I just want you to be happy..." He nestled againt her and her hair, savored her hands upon his own...and a thousand drams flitted through him of wanting to hold her and touch her and be with her...be with her forever...

"Awwww..." Sally murmured, a little lost in the moment. "No, it's all right, Jack...it's sweet of you... I like you too, and it's nice...to be close to someone you like. We may have only just met, but...well, I don't mind at all..." She loved the feel of him holding her like this...was he touching her hair?

"Oh...do you really mean it? Oh thank you, Sally...S-Sally..." He held her gently, sweetly, tenderly, like she was his most precious thing in the whole world... "S-S-Sally...a-as long as you don't m-mind...a-all of this...c-can I...c-c-can I..." He gulped in utter shyness.

"W-What is it, Jack...?" Sally asked softly, blushing more.

"Can I touch your hair...? It's just...It's the prettiest hair I've ever seen in my entire life..and it looks so soft...and the color is...so...happy... May I? May I touch your hair...?" He hoped so very much that she would say yes.

"O-Oh...really?" Sally blinked, not at all expecting that. "Well...sure...go ahead..." Someone liked her hair? That was new!

Jack's eye sockets popped open. "I...a-actually can...R-Really?" he had to ask in disbelief just for a moment.

"Sure...I mean...why not? Nothing wrong with it." Sally smiled. "I admit no one has ever asked that kind of thing of me before...but...well, I certainly don't see why not."

"All...All right..." escaped Jack breathily...and then he removed an arm from around her and reached up and he gently placed it on the crown of her head...paused for a moment to savor the softness...and then gently pulled through the full length of it with his fingers...and he was surprised he didn't collapse to the floor in a puddle at doing so.

"Ah-ooohh..." Sally sighed softly, and giggled. "That feels nice, Jack...mmm..." Who would've though the feeling of someone gently playing with your hair could feel so nice? It was relaxing, calming, and yet with enough feeling to notice and feel it.

"It...is?" he barely whispered, barely able to believe that something that felt so wonderful for him could feel so wonderful for her as well... He brought his face back off of her shoulder to rest his cheek fully against her hair as his fingers finished trailing through it and then reached up, prepared for a second time. "I'll...do it more...if you'd like?"

"Go ahead...it feels nice..." Sally murmured, closing her eyes as they had grown droopy with pleasure.

He didn't need to be told twice and was instantly pulling slowly and gently through her hair again. "You know...not just your dress and how you look in it is beautiful...you yourself...are a very beautiful woman...and your hair's just one of the many beautiful parts of you..." His other arm held her a little more closely around the waist.

"Oh..." Sally felt as if her legs were about to give out! She melted at the more against him, especially at the feeling of him holding her more closely. And oh! The wonderful feel of his hand in her hair...

What was going on, what was this fluttering within her body, especially in her chest, what was this feeling? It was...amazing, wonderful. She felt so...safe, warm, cherished...protected. ...So...

She didn't know. Whatever it was, she liked it.

He could feel her trembling and it both made him happy...and worried. Happy that...his hopes...seemed more and more like they might be coming true...that maybe she could feel about him...as much as he felt about her... But he was also worried about overwhelming her. "Is it too much, Sally?" he whispered sweetly. "I can slow down...or stop...if it's too much...All I want is your happiness..."

"No, it's all right...I'm fine..." Sally assured, giggling a little. 'It's so odd. I've never been this close to anyone before, and I've never felt this way...what does it all mean? And yet...oohh...whatever it is, I do like it...I hope he does, too.'

"Alright...if you're sure..." he whispered, his smile returning, and now he was just reaching up and playing with strands of her hair, twirling them around his fingers. "S-Sally, perhaps...p-perhaps we would be more comfortable...s-sitting on the couch together?"

"Oh, of course..." Sally felt her legs about to give out all the more anyway! "That sounds all right..."

"O-Okay then...Oh but first..." He released her, for the moment, and first stepped back over to the pie and quickly popped it into the oven and then he gently led her over to the couch where they both sat down close to one another. He was facing her now for the first time in what felt like forever and it made an awkward little goofy smile come to his face. "Um...h-hi...S-Sally..." He sighed-oh to think he had run his fingers twice through that red yarn hair..even the memory of it felt wonderful.

Sally blushed, looking at him with a shy smile. "Hi, Jack..." She then turned around so her back was facing him, brushing back some of her hair, and granting him access to it all.

At first Jack didn't know what to make of her turning away from him and he just blinked and looked at the back of her head, not getting that she was all but offering it to him. 'Wh...Why did she turn away? Is she too embarrassed to look at me? Did I push things too far?' A little frown came to his features, and he hesitated about what he should do, waiting for a sign or indication from her before he proceeded farther.

"...Oh, did you not want to, anymore?" Sally turned back around. "That's all right, you don't have to." She took a comb out of her pocket and proceeded to comb it through her hair, humming a little.

Jack blinked several time. "Oh! You were...o-offering to let me...t-touch it...a-again? I...Oh, I...I thought I had been lucky enough just to touch it twice but...i-if you'd let me...if you'd let me I'd touch it again...I might even touch it forever..." He smiled lovingly. "May I touch you...er...your hair...again, Sally?" he asked sweetly.

"Sure..." She offered him her comb to help along, and turned away again.

Jack took the little comb and looked at her long length of red yarn hair and was just...in a bliss he had never known before. He reached up with one hand, gently holding the strands, and reached up with the other and gently pulled the comb through it, savoring every movement. "You're so beautiful..." he couldn't help but whisper with a smile.

"Th-Thank you..." Sally murmured, giggling a little as a shiver coursed up her spine. It was funny...she never had someone comb her hair like this before...It felt so nice... "Mmm..."

Her little sound made a sigh escape through Jack's nose and he moved closer to her. "Oh Sally...m-may I?" And then he removed his free hand from her hair and put his arm around her waist, pulling her in close to him. He hoped that would be alright.

"Oh!" Sally squeaked, but she smiled at the feeling. "Yes, of course..."

Jack chuckled a little. "Thank you...Oh Sally..." he sighed blissfully, "I am...so very happy I bumped into you today...There's nowhere I'd rather be than with you...Not ever...Dearest Sally..."

"Awww..." Sally felt so touched, and sighed happily, closing her eyes. "I'm...glad I ran into today too, Jack... I'm glad to be here with you..."

"Really?" Jack all but beamed. "I...That's just...That's just the most splendid thing in the whole entire world!" And then suddenly he had put down the brush and he was hugging her tightly from behind. "I like you, Sally, I like you so much! ...I can barely contain it..." He snuggled completely into her from behind, burying his skull into her red hair.

"Ooh!" Sally giggled, and although her blush deepened at their closeness, she relaxed. "I...I like you too, Jack..."

So many thoughts raced through Jack's mind at her lovely, perfect words! And then suddenly...he got an idea...His eye socket flew open, fully of brightness, and he released her and then put his hands on her shoulders and turned her around to face him. "Sally...I...I want to...do something for you...to give you something...I just...want to. Will you...Will you wait right here, please?" He looked at her with so much eagerness and hope!

Sally blinked, and felt both a pang of disappointment from the loss of contact and warmth, and also confusion. "Oh, well, sure...but what is it?"

"I...I don't know yet...But I have a feeling that...Ah, okay, I know! Just stay put and I'll be right back! Make yourself comfortable! Here..." He took some throw pillows and placed them near her, almost tucking her in with them. "Now I'll be right back, I promise!" Then he stood up, winked, bowed, and quickly zipped out of the living room door and the sounds of him descending the steps to the ground floor exit could be heard, followed by the exit door opening and closing.

Sally just blinked, sitting there with wide, confused eyes, wondering what he could possibly have in mind. Or even what in the world he was doing. And didn't they just meet? What could he possibly have for her? She didn't understand...

Still, she smiled.

'It's all so very odd, and yet...it's wonderful. He's very sweet...he's a wonderful friend... I hope we can see each other again after today...'

It wasn't a few seconds later before the bottom door was heard opening and closing and then quick steps were heard coming up the stairs. The door the living room opened slowly though with Jack just barely peeking his head around it with a smile on his face. "Miss Sally...you're still here. Wonderful." And then with a gulp he shuffled into the room and pushed the door shut behind him, one hand hiding something behind his back. He went back to her and sat on the couch beside her again, just taking a moment to gaze at her loveliness before he gave her the little thing he had found to give her. "You're even prettier than I remember," he couldn't help but remark playfully and with a little chuckle.

"...Thank you?" Sally raised a would-be eyebrow...but could not stop the smile from tugging at her lips. 'What is he up to?'

Jack just chuckled at her cute little response and then glanced to the side shyly. "You're welcome...A-And...I found you something...I-It's not much but...I think it will suit you...Or at least I hope it does...It's sort of a small, natural beauty...just like your natural beauty...A calm, sweet thing that brightens up any place it happens to be, just like you must..." And then her brought his hand out from behind his back and presented her with a single dried forget-me-not...and the little smile on his face spoke so much nervousness about whether or not she would accept his little gift.

"O-Oh!" Sally's eyes went wide, and she brought a hand to her mouth. "I...I...Jack...a flower? ...For me? ...Really?"

Jack just nodded shyly. "If...If you'll accept it then, yes...A flower...for a woman whose grace and loveliness and sweetness and fairness echo that of a flower...though at the same time outdo it in so many ways..." He smiled lovingly at her.

"...Oh...Jack that's...so sweet of you..." Sally accepted the flower, looking at it with awe. "No one has ever given me a flower before...Um...I...thank you..." She stood up, hesitated, and then brought her arms around him in a light hug.

Jack locked up entirely...and then melted and hugged her right back! "Oh you're welcome!" he called out merrily... "Oh...whoa!" before their hugging made them go a little off balance and fall back to the couch together, just holding each other...And Jack felt so very happy. "You...really like the flower?" he had to ask just once more in amazement. "I-I mean...it's...it's good enough for you? B-Because you deserve palaces, Sally...you deserve to be treated like a...Queen..." He threw out the last word once more this evening so very shyly.

"Jack, don't be silly..." Sally giggled. "I don't need any of those things, nor do I expect them. Of course a flower is good enough...I love it, and it was very sweet of you to give it to me. ...Since it came from the kindness of your heart."

Jack just beamed! "Oh thank you, Sally, thank you!" He held fast to her, smiling brightly, eye sockets closed in mirth! "It's worthy of you...Oh I'm so happy it's worthy of you..." He chuckled a little more and then let one of his hands brush gently through a few strands of her hair a few times as they snuggled together on the couch.

"Don't say things like that, Jack..." Sally tried to sound serious, but her sweet smile was betraying her tone. "A sweet gift from your heart means more to me than any kind of huge thing someone would give me."

"Hmm..." Jack just sighed dreamily...Then he opened his eye sockets and gazed at her as they held each other. "Sally...may I propose something to you?" he started very quietly with a little smile.

"Sure...what is it?" Sally looked at him with a curious smile.

"Well...I was just wondering...Since you're new here...and since I like you...and you like me...Could...Could we be...best friends?" The look in his eye sockets plainly showed that her reponse to this question would mean everything in the world to him.

"Best friends? ...I...well...um...sure, we could..." Sally gave more of a smile. "I've...never had a best friend before..."

More hope had never shown in Jack's coutenance. He could barely believe her reply, it was so wonderful. "Oh th-thank you...A-And, well...being best friends would just mean that...we have other friends that we like...but we like each other in a very special way...and we tell each other secrets...and spend time together...and get closer than we do with our other friends...Dearest Sally...Dearest friend...does all of that sound alright with you?"

"Oh, well..." Sally blinked, and then smiled as she snuggled into him. "Yes, it sounds very good..." She had a best friend! A best friend!

Someone she had only just met barely mere hours ago, and already they were very close, and just about the best of friends. She didn't know what to think!

And yet, she felt so happy...So very happy.

Jack felt so elated...and yet...a little worry that had been tugging at his mind couldn't help but want to be expressed, especially now that he had gotten her to agree to be his best friend. "I'm glad, Sally...S-So...since best friends visit each other a lot...Th-That means that...after you leave her tonight...and go back to the doctor's...y-you'll come back here soon...right?" He gulped and looked at her with worry and hope.

"Of course..." Sally said softly, nodding.

Inside, however, she was panicking.

'Oh no...how will I ever get out again? And after I'm so late coming home tonight, he won't let me out again! Oh no...no...I have to do something...'

Jack could almost feel the extra tension in her body and it made him worry. "Sally...what is it?" He looked to her with concern. "Are you...u-unsure about coming here? Is it because we'd be alone...? I don't want you to be uncomfortable, Sally. I-If it would make you feel better we could do something in public or outside. We could go for a walk in the town or out to the pumpkin patch-anywhere your heart desires...As long as you're happy." He smiled sincerely at her, snuggling her closer to him.

"Oh, no no! I was just thinking, that's all." Sally assured, yet again lying through her teeth. 'Oh, why must I lie?' "It's fine Jack, I don't mind...if we're alone."

Jack blinked several times at her saying that, and then all but blanched and a little shiver went through his spine. "You don't mind if we're...alone..." he repeated softly to himself...and they were the most beautiful words he had ever heard.

"Well...we're alone now, aren't we? And we're...having a good time...right?" Sally looked a bit nervous. "...Right? So...why wouldn't I be okay with it?"

Jack blinked several time and then glanced down awkwardly, twirling a strand or two of her hair around his fingers as a distraction. "O-Oh w-well it's just...I'm a man...and you're a woman...a-and...s-sometimes...s-some people d-don't consider it...appropriate...for a man and a woman to be together alone...and especially after they've known each other for such a little bit of time." He felt all flustered.

"Oh...well...Jack, if we like to...spend time together, alone or not, who is anyone to say we can't?" Sally said softly. "We're...well, best friends now, aren't we? We should have the right to do as we please together."

Jack smiled warmly and so very gratefully at her. "Y-Yes...I...I feel that way too...As long as we want to spend time together...e-even time alone...we should. If you're comfortable and happy with that then so am I, dearest Sally...I'm...I'm thrilled about it, actually..."

He grinned happily.

"Well, good then...there's no problem..." Sally blushed a bit, looking away shyly.

"Yes...No problem at all..." Jack moved closer to her, letting their foreheads rest against one another as they held each other, his smile so blissfully happy looking. "Sally...Can we...hold each other like this until the pumpkin pie is done...and then can we eat it together...and then can I walk you home...and then hug you to say goodbye?" He let out a happy sigh at all those nice ideas.

'Oh no...if he walks me home, then he'll know I lied to the doctor!' Sally thought in panic. "Um...sure, Jack...we can do that...but um, don't worry about my walking home, I can go on my own! In fact, I might have to stop at the Witches' shop to pick up some things, and I don't want to hold you up. So it's all right."

Jack looked at her with a touch of concern. "Oh! Are...Are you sure? It's just...To send such a beautiful and sweet young lady off on her own at night through the town...I won't be able to help but worry about you, dearest Sally. Are you sure?"

"Yes, absolutely...I'll be perfectly fine, I promise. Besides, I'm sure you must have a lot to do...I appreciate your offer, and well, maybe next time you can walk me home?" 'Phew...'

Sally tried not to sigh in relief, and instead exhaled and smiled in assurance. "It would be nice, just not tonight..."

Jack still hesitated for a moment longer but then finally sighed and smiled and nodded. 'It's alright...She probably does need a few minutes to herself after all of this...I-I mean I had her to dinner and held her and touched her hair...That's so much...' "Okay, Sally, if you're sure. But please be safe and careful on your way back. I don't want anything to happen ever to my dearest friend." He hugged her a little more closely for a moment.

"Awwww..." Touched, Sally snuggled more into him. She had to admit, she liked being close to him...snuggling was nice. "I will, Jack...I promise you."

"Mmm..." Jack chuckled warmly. "Oh Sally...I...I..."

Ding!

The oven sounded, signaling that the pie was done. Jack blinked, having almost forgotten about it! "Oh! The pie..." he almost looked a touch sad, "I almost forgot..." 'But I want to snuggle with her on here...forever...' he thought wistfully.

Sally giggled. "Oh, come on now... Why don't we get it together?"

Jack gulped in shyness for a moment...but then considered...and then smiled again. He nodded. "Alright then..." He sat up... "Sally, may I...take a small liberty with you?" he asked shyly, having a little idea.

"What do you mean?" Sally tilted her head lightly.

Jack swallowed, and then he placed an arm behind her back and one under her knees. "Can I pick you up and carry you to the kitchen?" He smiled more.

"Oh!" Sally squeaked, and blushed quite a bit. "Um...no one has ever carried me before...um...sure..."

"Thanks..." Jack replied sweetly. "A-And I promise I'll be careful and gentle..." And with that he stood up and held her close to him and looked down lovinginly into her eyes. "Are you alright so far?" He almost chuckled a little.

"...Y-Y-Yes...I'm fine..." Sally felt slightly nervous since she had never been carried like this, let alone picked up at all! But she...well, she trusted him. She knew he wouldn't hurt her like this. "It will just take getting used to..."

"Well then...if...you don't object...we'll have to practice this often to get used to it." He winked down at her playfully and then slowly walked her over to the kitchen, and the whole time wished it was twenty miles away instead of barely twenty feet. He sighed at the beauty of her in his arms.

"Okay..." Sally giggled, smiling agreeably. "Oooh, it does smell nice...I hope it turned out all right, and I didn't put too many spiders..."

Jack nodded, inhaling deeply the scent of the pie as well. "Oh I'm sure you put the perfect amount of spiders in it...I'm sure you put the perfect amount of everything in it...I'm sure it'll be the most delicious pumpkin pie I've ever eaten." He chuckled warmly at the idea.

"I hope so..." Sally murmured wistfully. "So...shall we get it out?"

They had just reached the oven and Jack nodded. "Yes...we should do that...I just hate to have to put you down to do it..." He smiled at her tenderly. "I love...to hold you, Sally..."

"Oh..." She giggled a little and blushed, looking downward. "You're sweet, Jack... I like it, too..."

"Then we really will have to practice this more often..." He cuddled against her a little more and then with a sigh gently put her down and removed her pie from the oven. He gazed at it. "It looks beautiful, Sally...I knew it would.." He then gently took her hand in his and led her over to the table, where they both sat, Jack placing the pie at the center.

"Oh, that's good! I'm glad it turned out all right, Jack..." Sally said softly, looking pleased. "It smells wonderful..."

"Arf!" Zero came floating over, eagerly!

Jack smiled at the little dog. "Oh, there you are, Zero. Yes, the pie is all done. Would you like a little piece...as long as it's alright with Sally..." He looked to Sally with a smile for her approval.

"Of course, as long as it's okay for him to eat food like this." Sally smiled, nodding. "You can have the first piece if you'd like, Zero."

"Arf!" Zero wagged his sheet happily and then did a flip in midair before snuggling against her in happiness, making her giggle. Oh it was settled, he loved this rag doll!

"Oh he certainly...loves you, Sally..." Jack couldn't resist commenting, his eyes all dreamy looking... "Thank you for letting him have a piece..." Jack picked up a pie server and quickly carved Zero a nice sliver and then offered it to him on a little plate. "Here you are, boy."

Zero barked happily and then went to eating it. He kept at it, going and going...he loved it! It was the best he'd ever had! Once he finished, he looked up at them, happily wagging his sheet and panting. "Arf!"

"Oh! Well, so you liked it!" Sally beamed. "Well good, I'm so happy you did..."

Meanwhile, Jack had carved another two pieces, one for Sally and one for himself, and had placed them before each other. He smiled down at the little pie piece, picking up a fork and then with great delicacy placing a bite on it and lifting it to his mouth and slowly putting it inside. He savored the bite as though it was a precious thing...and it was, at least to him. And it was... "Delicious...Oh it's...dreadfully delicious...Sally..." he all but purred out, he was so content at the moment.

Sally blushed heavily at his tone and looked down at her slice, suddenly finding it very interesting. "...Thank you...I'm glad you like it, Jack... It was the least I could do."

"Oh Sally...It's so much more than you realize...No one's ever cooked for me...And, w-well..." he tried not to chicken out from saying what he wanted to say,"...I've heard a saying that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach...and I...I don't think I ever fully believed or understood it until right now...You've absolutely touched my heart, Sally...if it's not too much to say..." He couldn't even look at her. He just smiled down at his pie, feeling all flustered and happy.

Blushing more, Sally managed to look at him with a smile, giggling. "Jack...I bet you say that to all the rag dolls you meet..." Of course she was being silly, given what he'd told her before, but a part of her couldn't help but make a little quip for the fun of it.

Jack got even shyer looking if that was possible. "O-Oh I...even if there were other rag dolls...I-I barely have enough courage to say all of these things to you...let alone to anyone else...And even if there were other rag dolls...I'd like you best of all...I like you better than anyone, actually...and I'll never talk to anyone the way...the way I talk to you...You're my special Sally..." He was like a shy little boy at this point, all looking down and with barely any volume to his quiet little voice.

For a moment, Sally was speechless.

This was all happening way too fast.

And yet, what did that matter? He was perfectly honest, sincere, kind... So what was the problem?

Mostly that she didn't understand these feelings...

Yet, she was so happy...so...flattered. She had a true friend.

"...Really, Jack?"

He actually trembled a little bit, he felt so overwhelmed. He couldn't even bear to lift another bite of her pie to his lips. He just nodded and little and answered, "Yes, Sally...You must know...Y-You're...I-I mean...I-I feel like I...I-I have these f-feelings for...I..." He frowned a tiny bit, both in frustration at himself for not being able to say it and in sadness as he thought about how awkward it would be for her if he did...How terribly terribly awkward...She would hate him, certainly...

"...What's wrong?" Now she reached over and gently touched his hand. "Are you all right? ...What do you mean about these...um...certain feelings?"

Jack gasped and his eye sockets went wide and he instantly glanced away from her. "I...just...l-like you in a way I don't like anyone else...is all..." he mumbled shyly...

"Oh..." Sally blinked, and then smiled! "I understand, Jack...I mean, we are now...best friends and all, and we've really hit it off and got along very well, and we...well, you said you're not around women very often like this, and I certainly haven't been around men like this very much, or anyone, really. But oh, I understand now...I suppose best friends have a special kind of bond together, don't they?"

"O-Oh...y-yes...s-sure...Wh-Why n-not, heh?" Jack smiled at her with so much nervousness and fluster. That certainly got him off the hook, but ...perhaps he didn't want to be let off the hook. Not that he wanted her to realize what he meant and reject him like she inevitably must (they really had only known each other for a few hours)...but...he wouldn't have minded her realizing his emotions and suddenly reciprocating them and kicking things off by diving into his arms and never leaving him... "You mean everything to me, dearest friend Sally..." he finished, letting a touch of something more sincere come to his eye sockets, hoping she would at least pick up on something special about his feelings...his real feelings...

"Oh..." Touched, Sally reached over to place her other hand over his as well. "You...mean so very much to me too, Jack...everything..." Her eyelids lowered a bit, her smile growing.

Jack's breathing became shallow...She was holding both of his hands...leaning across the table...her lips were smiling...and there was something suggesting something in her eyes...And he meant everything to her too, according to her words... "S-Sally..." he barely managed to whisper, leaning a bit closer to her too...He trembled in anticipation, unsure of where this was going but starting to feel instinct take over, and his instinct screamed for him to be as close to her as possible.

"Yes, Jack...?" Strangely, Sally didn't even notice that they were now leaning closer to each other, their hands touching. Strange sparks of attraction were running between them, the tension levels were rising...and she felt so...compelled. She leaned a little closer, her instincts completely taking over.

"What if...I wanted to be...b-better than...best friends with you...? ...What about...that?" left him quietly, his eye sockets half lidded, his forehead nearly touching her as he entwined the fingers of their hands together on the table.

"B-Better than...best friends...?" While Sally didn't understand what he meant by that, it didn't stop her eyelids from lowering and to now lean her forehead against his. A tingling, sweet feeling coursed through her at how he entwined their fingers...

Jack nodded a tiny bit, letting their forehead nuzzle a little in the process. "Oh y-yes...better than the best of friends...the best kind of friends that a...man and a woman can be, actually..." He knew it would soon be too much...He also knew that, given the chance, he would do something he only knew existed and yet had never actually never seen in Halloween Town...He would move right across this table and kiss those soft, blood red lips that even now were beckoning him with their sweet coos, and if he was horrible at it, well, so be it...but he would give it his all and if it even gave her an ounce of the pleasure it was sure to give him, it would be worth it...though he hoped it would give her worlds of pleasure if it ever came to pass...

Still so, Sally was puzzled as to what he meant. And yet, whatever was happening now, she didn't want it to end! They were so close...this was sweet, and...very heartwarming. Whatever this special kind of feeling was between how close a man and a woman could be, she did like it.

"I...Jack..." She nuzzled their foreheads a little and was leaning closer, the tip of her nose touching his, their mouths only inches apart...

"Do you want it too, Sally...? Do you want to be that close to me...because I think I would die to be that close to you..." He barely had air in his lungs...So close...So close and she was so warm...and he wanted to touch and kiss her and beg her to be his Queen one day...

As much as she wanted to accept, she didn't even know what it entailed! And she was almost afraid to ask, fearing it would ruin this...very strange, but so alluring moment between them. They were so close, so very close.

"I...I..." Her voice was trailing off, and she just came closer. She had no idea what they were doing, or what would happen, but she was so curious to find out...

"If you don't want to...please tell me now...b-but if you do, th-then...I know a way to express it to each other...How we might feel...if you'll let me..." escaped his mouth in the most tender whisper imaginable.

As much as Sally wanted to think about this, and even ask what he meant by it all...she just couldn't. She didn't know why. These strange feelings were making it hard for her to think. Very hard. All she could think about was what they were doing at the very moment.

"...Yes..." She said softly.

Oh her consent just...just did it for him! He sighed and then squeezed her hand and then... "Oh thank you, Sally...My Sally...I've never done this with anyone before but I'll do my best...And I won't do too much...You have my word..." He was ready to burst and just needed one more yes from her to give in...One more word to say that this was really what she desired and that she trusted him and really wanted it just as much as he did.

Once more Sally wasn't sure what she was doing, or if she was doing the right thing, but then again...at the moment, she decided to deal with it later. She was lost in this sweet new feeling...and wanted to see what would happen.

"I believe you...I trust you..." She whispered honestly.

"Okay..." And then he closed his eye sockets. And then he tilted his head. And then he brought his lips to hers...and how his bones didn't melt into a puddle then and there was beyond him.

Sally all but froze. Their lips were touching...this was...a kiss. In stories characters sometimes shared a kiss. Why for, she didn't know...

And now this was...

She couldn't think...

She didn't know what to do...

She wasn't sure how to kiss...

And yet...

The feeling of warmth and happiness coursed through her! It felt...so nice.

Shyly, she applied very light pressure, unsure of what to do...

She was kissing him back. Jack could have just died (again). Shallow breaths started coming through his nose. He angled his head more, applying more pressure in return. He massaged his fingers and her fingers together. Oh how he wished the table wasn't between them: he wanted to hold her, cradle her, gently stroke her hair, tell her in whispers that she was the single most interesting, kindest, sweetest, dearest, most beautiful, most charming female creature he had ever come across, and he was sorry if it offended her at all but he had fallen in love with her at first sight...and only a few hours in, his passionate and expressive nature could deny it no longer.

'Oh gosh...what is happening...he's kissing me, and I...I'm kissing him too...and it feels...so... Absolutely wonderful.' Sally thought, utterly lost in the moment, and all she could feel were their lips, the joining of their hands... She felt ready to faint!

"Mmm...mmm..." Jack couldn't help but sigh out some little moans...Oh he adored her...He felt himself leaning more and more across the table-he just wanted to fall against her and keep her forever. This kissing thing was strange at first but it was starting to come to him, gradually...He did his best to be gentle, sweet, tender. He didn't want to overwhelm her...he just wanted her to know that he wanted to fall at her feet and beg for her to be his forever. Simple enough really...

"M-mm..." Sally too, leaned more across the table, and wondered...just how this would feel if the table weren't between them. If they were closer together...maybe even...

A part of her wanted to move around the table, to just do this...a better way, but yet she was almost afraid to end it...and he didn't seem anxious to end it, either...

Jack couldn't take it anymore. Keeping their lips together he managed to stand up and to come around the table and he moved her seat a little and came in front of her and now he was kneeling on the floor before her, still kissing her, his hands burying themselves in her hair. 'Sally...be mine. I love you, Sally... Yes, that's it...I love you...I've never been in love before but I just know that this is what it is. But I know now...and oh I hope you know too...know and feel the same...'

Taken aback by their change in position, not to mention his hands in her hair, which she liked, Sally slinked off her chair and onto her knees as well. She took hold of his shoulders for leverage, her entire body trembling with pleasure...this kissing thing...she liked it. This is what friends did? Best friends...they kissed?

She was shaking and holding him and he suddenly put one of his arms around her and pulled her flush against him, dipping her back, unable to help him. "Mmmmmm!" he gave one final deep moan, feeling his air running out but just savoring the last moments of their kiss...their first kiss...

"Mmmm!" Sally's eyes actually popped open as he pulled her flush against him AND dipped her back a bit. But eventually she relaxed, melting into it all.

'I've never kissed anyone...never saw anyone kiss...is this how kissing feels...? I...I...like it...'

Her moan sent tremors through him and he kissed her for as much longer as he could bear it and then finally he gently pulled his mouth from hers. He was panting lightly, he still had her dipped back and against him...and he was happier than he had ever been in his entire life. He didn't even know what to say. He was just so happy...so, so, so, so very happy...

Sally was...well, very...lost. Her eyes were dazed, half-lidded, her lips were parted slightly, and she felt so...strange.

She looked at him with curiosity, and wonder...and wasn't sure what to do, or what to say!

He saw the look on her face and smiled. He took the hand of his arm not around her waist and gently stroked some of her hair. "Oh Sally...darling Sally...you feel the same...don't you? You feel the same about me...as I do about you...don't you...prettiest Sally?" He imagined her shyly nodded, maybe whispering 'yes' and then oh how he would kiss her...He would kiss her for hours and hours...for however long she wanted him to...Oh he would make her his Queen, he pledged it to himself...one day...

"Yes..." Sally shyly whispered, looking away a little, now blushing more than she had all day.

Unfortunately, she didn't exactly catch the length, meaning of what he meant by that... Not entirely.

"Oh...Oh you...Oh..." Jack dipped her back all the more, smiling down at her, eye sockets burning with something. "Oh...Sally..." His voice went deep and low at her name...

Sally shuddered at the way he said her name, feeling as if she would split a seam or two! "Jack..."

He felt the tremor that went through her and just smiled more, cradling her more firmly. "Shh, darling, don't worry...I've got you..." He leaned closer to her...but then paused and blinked for a moment as he realized something...and then he smiled passionately again. "Oh, Sally, we're on the floor...That's no place for a Queen...Don't worry though, I'll fix us..." Then he got his arm in her hair under her knees and got to the side of her, and then stood up from the floor and proceeded to carry her to the couch. "I'll take us back to the couch...We can... 'explore' our 'friendship' a little more comfortably there...Oh darling Sally...I can't believe this is happening...I'm so happy...So very happy..."

"I...I...me too, Jack..." Sally murmured in a daze, smiling. "I feel so strange...but, so...happy." She just about forgot that she should've been getting home soon...it was already evening, and getting a little dark.

"Oh I'm so happy you're happy..." He sat down on the couch, resting her in his lap, holding her in his arms. "I...I was so worried about...kissing you but...now that I know you're happy too...Oh Sally, where have you been all my life? I can't take my eyes off of you." He smiled more.

Sally blushed, both at his words and their position. It felt so odd, so strange, so foreign...but she liked it. She loved the feeling, and loved to be so close to someone she liked...

She smiled, bringing an arm around his shoulders, her other hand curled against his chest. "I...I've...I don't know...I have to wonder the same thing..."

He chuckled and sighed dreamily. "Oh, I suppose it doesn't matter...The point is that we're together now...and...well...that we can kiss together...now that we both want each other like this...Oh Sally I know this is so sudden but...call me impulsive, I...I felt something for you like this from the moment we met in the street." He looked at her with adoration and shyness.

She liked this...this was...a very interesting kind of friendship she never knew. Whatever it all entailed and meant...she was willing to find out.

"I felt...something too, Jack...when we first...well, when our eyes met..." She admitted softly, blushing more. "I've never had a special friend before..."

Oh he was all but shaking again...She had felt it too...when their eyes had... "You have the most beautiful eyes...have I mentioned that yet, my special...extra special friend? They glow...I could look into them forever...I could look at all of you forever...I want you forever, sweet Sally."

Sally blinked, and blushed all the more, giggling a little. "Jack...goodness, what have I done to deserve you...and your kindness and friendship...What I did...I'll never understand..." She cooed sweetly, nuzzling her cheek against his. She liked this so much! Being such special friends together, and even sharing kisses? She didn't know what to do with it all! But she liked it. A lot.

He chuckled at her cute little nuzzles and nuzzled back. "You're kind...and sweet...and you listen...and you care...and you make me happy...That's more than enough-that's everything. But what I did to deserve you, I'll never understand...What could an old skeleton like me have done to deserve the affections of a ravishing rag doll? I'll never know but now that we're together all that matters is you and I. Oh thank you for returning my kiss, Sally, thank you for...caring about me...in such a special way.

"You don't have to thank me..." Sally whispered, closing her eyes. "Whatever we feel together...is what matters..."

"Yes...Yes it...does..." His eye sockets had been closing and he had been leaning closer to her. "Sally..." he whispered, "...kiss me again? Please...let us kiss once more..." Their faces were so close and he could see her perfect lips that he was coming to know so well.

"Oh...sure...of course..." Sally beamed, her blush deepening. She wanted to try kissing again, too. "Um...how do I do this?"

Jack blinked...but the just smiled and chuckled warmly. He moved closer to touch noses and then nuzzled hers a little as he explained, "W-Well...you just...tilt you head and...close your eyes and...put your fair lips to mine...I know it's a lot but I think it just takes some getting used to...A-After all, right now was my first time kissing too...But really all you have to do is put your lips to mine and let instinct take over the rest."

"O-Okay..." Sally gave a little nod, and leaned in, her eyes closing. She gulped, hoping she'd do this right. Her lips touched his, literally against his...and she felt unsure. She pulled back. "...Did I do that right?"

"M-Mmm h-hmm..." he managed shakily, his smile just so very wide. "You kissed me...My fair, sweetest Sally kissed me all on her own...My dearest friend...The only woman I've ever cared for...She kissed me..." He could have just utterly passed out in bliss."Your lips are beautiful too, Sally...and you kiss as softly as a ghost...and yet with as much warmth as a glowing, flaming jack-o-lantern on a Halloween night..." He had started to get a little daydreamy at this point, obviously.

"...Thank you..." Sally murmured, smiling a little more. "You kiss very nicely, too." 'Dearest friend...the only woman he's ever cared for? Oh goodness, what is happening with us? With me? ...But I can't escape it, I don't want to...I want...him...'

"N-Never as nicely as you...S-Sally...can I kiss you again? Can I hold you and kiss you...?" he whispered tenderly.

"...Yes, Jack..." She whispered softly. "Of course..." 'Be it as it may...he still makes me feel wonderful...like a real person, and someone who deserves to be heard...and seen...and cared for...'

"Oh..." was all that escaped him in a tender sigh before he placed his mouth upon hers again and gently laid her back against the arm of the couch and went right along with her for the ride, holding her gently the whole time.

While Sally didn't know how this happened, why this happened, or anything at all, she decided not to dwell on the facts for now. All she could do, all she wanted to do, was to lose herself in the sweet, warm, wonderful kisses of her dear friend the Pumpkin King...

XXX

Later...well, not too much later, though it felt like an eternity... The two were now cleaning up after having finally finished at least one slice of her pumpkin pie. Once more, they nattered about whatever came to mind, playfully bumped each other occasionally as they washed the dishes side by side, and just enjoyed each other's company again. It was very nice. A lot of fun.

"Well, I didn't think of it that way, but it does make sense. I always wondered how it was possible for Spiral Hill to uncurl that way." Sally giggled, and finally looked at the old grandfather clock in the living room. Her smile faded. It was almost seven-thirty.

"Oh, no...it's late. I...I should be getting home." She said, biting her lip.

"Oh...yes..." Jack couldn't help but sigh a little mournfully, though he knew he had to keep up a smile. He didn't want her to feel bad about leaving after all and really she did have to leave at some point...It wasn't like she...lived here, or anything... That last idea/possibility made a little tremble go up Jack's spine though he did his best to put it aside and to focus back on her and the end of their evening. "But...I do hope you'll come back soon...You're welcome here anytime, really...M-My home is your home..." He gave her a small, gracious bow.

"Thank you, Jack...that's very sweet of you." Sally smiled, and headed to the front door, slowly, deliberately. "I'll certainly come and see you soon...if you'll have me."

"I'll always have you..." He smiled tenderly, slowly following after her. "A-And even if I'm not here for some reason, please feel free to just come in and play with Zero until I come back. I promise..you're always welcome here.

"

"Oh, well...I...I...um...okay..." Sally was surprised he seemed to trust her that much to even come inside and stick around if he wasn't home! "Sure..." She brought her arms behind her back, rocking on her feet a bit. "...Thank you for today, Jack...I really am glad I got to meet you, and spend time with you..."

Moving in front of her, Jack copied her posture and put his arms behind his back and shifted a little on his feet himself. "I'm glad I got to meet you too, Sally...Very glad...I...I don't know how I could be more grateful, to be honest. It's been a magical evening." He smiled more.

"...Yes, magical..." Sally gave a nod, smiling at the word. "Well I...hope to see you again soon..."

"You will...I guarantee it..." He winked at her, unable to help himself. Then he gulped and asked once more this evening, just to be sure. "Are you certain you can get home by yourself alright?"

"Of course, I'll be just fine...it's not very dark, and I do have to make a quick stop, and the lab isn't very far. I'll be fine, really." Sally forced a smile.

'I am in big trouble...There's no way Dr. Finkelstein would even approve of me having stayed out longer than I was allowed, and then...kissed around with Jack...'

"Alright...If you're very sure..." He smiled at her. And then he reached up and took her hand and raised it and bowed a little low. "Have a pleasant night, Sally...And thank you so much for your company. I can never express how happy the privilege of it has made me."

"You're welcome...and thank you too..." Sally blushed more, giggling.

Jack let out a small, blissful sigh at her giggling and then gently kissed the back of her hand before straightening up. "You're welcome too..." He swallowed and then managed to shuffle another step closer to her...sort of hoping for something though he was too shy to ask for it... "Well...I guess this is goodbye..." he added quietly and with a little shrug.

"...Yes, I suppose it is..." Her hand came to the doorknob, and then she rose her head to look up at him. "Good...Goodbye, Jack...thank you again..."

Jack leaned in just a bit closer to her, mere inches between their faces. "Y-Yes...good...bye..." he added softly.

Sally hesitated, blushed more, and then leaned up to gently touch her lips to his, holding it a moment or two, and then broke away. "...Bye..."

She opened the front door, gingerly stepped outside onto the steps. She smiled, and waved.

Jack's eye sockets popped open wide and the biggest, brightest grin ever came upon his face! He looked down at her and waved enthusiastically! "Bye, Sally! Bye! I'll miss you! Oh and Zero will too! Goodbye, dearest Sally!"

Giggling, Sally waved some more. "Goodbye! I'll miss you both!" She was backing away now, at the bottom of the steps, then went back through the gate.

"Goodni-oh!" She crashed into some metal garbage cans outside the gate, causing them to topple over. "Sorry!" She picked them up hastily.

Jack couldn't help but chuckled at her cuteness. "As long as you're alright, it's fine, don't worry about it, dearest... Have a spooky walk home!" He winked at her.

"O-Okay...!" She called back up to him, giggling. She waved again, and then disapeared around the corner of the wall.

Jack remained looking at the last place he had been able to see her before she had slipped away for a few more seconds with a dreamy grin and half lidded eye sockets...and then he just utterly collapsed to the floor and shut the door behind him, leaning up against it. "Oh...Oh Zero, I...I never..." Jack trembled all over.. "Zero...I never thought I could feel this way but I do...Oh she's so perfect for me and she smiles and giggles and listens and helps and...kisses...Oh Zero..." He looked to the little ghost dog brightly. "I love her...I love Sally, I'm in love with her. And I think she feels the same. Oh isn't it grand?" He clasped his hands over his non-existent heart, just chuckling with joy to himself.

"Arf! Arf!" Zero gave a bark, wagging his sheet. Who would've thought? After all this time, his master actually fell in love! Skull over heels! "Arf!" Maybe now the nice rag doll woman would be around more often, and grace them with her presence!

And pet him, give him treats, take him for walks, give him treats, tummy rubs, play fetch, treats, sing to him, treats...

Jack just chuckled more. "Oh I know, I know, Zero...Who would have thought...But...I can just feel it...There's something about her...and her and I. I think we're meant for great things..." He smiled more to himself and then let out a deep sigh and stood up from the door. "Come on, Zero...Let's go eat the rest of her sweet pie and then go to sleep...Perhaps I'll dream about her and her sweetness..." And with that a lovesick Jack trotted off to the kitchen, a skip practically in his step, to do just that, his head and heart overflowing with ideas about love and the woman who had planted them there in the first place.