Spooky Love

Jack x Sally

*Nightmare Before Christmas*

~*~

The snow was cold beneath her legs as she sat atop the pumpkin hill. It had stopped snowing, but though it was brief, Santa had made sure to gift the citizens of Halloweentown a lot of the tiny frozen crystals. Leaving a blanket of it behind that covered all of Halloweentown and beyond into the forests that surrounded the town. She didn't plan on leaving the joyous celebration, but after seeing Jack interact with his people, including seeing her creator with another creation, many thoughts had begun to circle her head. She needed a quiet place to think and the only place she had in mind was Jack's pumpkin patch. Besides herself, which is how she knows, Jack is the only one who comes out here. And knowing her King, she's sure he wouldn't mind her visiting the patch to clear her head. It's peaceful here.

Sally began plucking the petals from the flower she had picked up on the way over here, and silently said in her head, "He loves me. He loves me not". She always believed that Jack would never love her the way she wants him to. That they would only ever be friends. But down in Oogie Boogie's lair, she's certain they were having a moment. A moment that, unfortunately, got rudely interrupted by Shock, Lock, and Barrel. And from that moment to now she can't help but constantly wonder what he was going to say to her. She'll never know now, and she's certainly not going to ask him about it. He probably doesn't even remember their little encounter.

And now that he seems to be back to his old self, he'll be too busy trying to catch up on his planning for next Halloween. Sally's sure he has tons of new ideas for next year's new, thrilling spooktacular. He'll be too busy for her silly little gift baskets too. Sure, he had a little time to accept the first one she had offered him when he was doing his Christmas planning, but he's already lost a lot of time.

She shouldn't be a bother.

Maybe he'll still keep in touch though. Of course, they'll see each other in town here and there, and perhaps he'll be in need of a seamstress. There's probably a lot of costume ideas he has in mind. Either for himself or for everyone else. Maybe some will be Christmas themed. She sure hopes so. It would keep her busy and she hates being bored. She just hopes that she can be of service in some way now that she's free and of no use to Dr. Finklestein. At least she hopes so.

Why would he still keep her when he has another creation to care for him? One who will actually do what she's told and won't poison him every chance she gets. She certainly seemed obedient. So why waste his time creating her and still keep Sally? Surely, he doesn't need two. And if it's true that he has no use for her, does that mean there is no longer a place for her in his home? Will he kick her out? Where will she go? Where can she call home?

A high-pitched barking caught her attention right before she got to the last petal, which unfortunately was going to be a " He loves me not. " Zero's face appears in front of her, floating up from under the hill, and she smiles at him, grateful that someone noticed her absence from the celebration. It made her feel special.

"Hello, Zero," Sally says, reaching her hand out for the ghost dog to lean into, which he does, partially going through her. "What brings you here, boy? Are you spying on me?"

Another voice reaches her ears. "I wouldn't necessarily call it spying. More like some friends wanting to check in."

Sally jumps and whirls around, still sitting. Standing a few feet away from her, near a gravestone was Jack. Her Pumpkin King. Her love. He smiles and awkwardly waves, while Zero happily barks. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

"Oh, no you're fine." Sally says in a rush, embarrassed. "What brings you out here, Jack?"

Jack starts to make his way up the hill, up to her, and her heart races faster. Smiling, he says. "Well, this is my pumpkin patch, after all. I think I can visit it whenever I like."