A/N:

Hello! Before you read this story, I highly recommend you check out the source story, Two Dearest Friends, which you can find on my profile or here: s/13211120/1/Two-Dearest-Friends


The Skellington manor has only housed 2 residents in most of its existence.

The 3-story mansion equipped with a large observatory atop has only ever sheltered Jack Skellington and his ghostly pet, Zero. It comes to no surprise that the house wasn't expecting the softer pair of footsteps that came in one fateful afternoon. The moment Sally Finklestein steps into the Pumpkin King's manor, there's an audible groan that sounds from the floor, accompanied by the walls making sudden, sharp creaks. The ragdoll freezes in fear. But as her foot lingers longer on the tiled surface, the noises stop and she is left to listen to the sudden silence in its absence. She turns to the skeleton watching from the doorway, not knowing how to express the right confusion from such a situation.

"Did I do something wrong?" She asks, her voice quiet and polite as usual. Jack shakes his skull and approaches one of the walls, patting it a couple of times and smiling weakly.

"No, no of course not. The house just needs to...get used to you, is all. It settles when it's comfortable."

"I didn't know houses can be aware like this..." She remembers the time he invited her in for tea, but doesn't recall anything peculiar. "It didn't make those noises last time I was here."

"It understands the difference between a guest and a resident. It's sentient, and very, very courteous. It won't do any harm to you, I assure."

She relaxes as he smiles at her, and watches as he picks up the boxes that were situated by the front door. She is suddenly reminded of why she's even here. After years of a long, eventful life living with Doctor Finklestein in his tower after being created by him...she is now moving in with Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King. Her mind scrambles trying to recall everything that's happened prior to this moment - when she was first kidnapped by Oogie Boogie, saved by the skeleton himself, getting a tour of Halloween Town, finding Jack in the Graveyard and befriending him, experiencing a long yet blossomed relationship with the man...they started as friends and grew to something closer than that, then eventually, they became a couple. Everything about it was simply beautiful to Sally; how she turned from an imprisoned slave into a free spirit with a purpose.

How could she forget the first time she stepped out of that tower, when she saw Jack's smile, and all of the times she left everything she had to endure just to see him again...She had only dreamed of him reciprocating her love, showing him how much he means to her, and sharing a domestic life with him...she wanted it badly, and just today had she been presented with this opportunity. Nothing could've made her more happier. And how ironic, it seemed, that this decision was only supported by the Doctor because he had a replacement for her now. He had no use for Sally anymore, and handed her off to someone else. She was very lucky that happened to be Jack. She was more than fortunate to be with the man who did everything for her.

The skeleton steps around her and heads through a doorway. She quickly follows after, carrying a box of her own. "-I decided on a room for you already. I figured the stairs would be too much of a hassle for you, so I found a bedroom on the ground floor."

She blinks her eyes, marveling at the old chandelier hanging from the ceiling and the many paintings they pass. "How many floors does your house have?"

"Three, if you include the observatory. But don't worry. I try to keep all the necessities downstairs. There's mostly bedrooms and guest rooms on the second floor, so you won't have a need to come up that often." He stops once they reach a door at the end of the hallway. "-This is it!"

He hesitates to put his bony hand on the doorknob, looking over at her uncertainly. "Would you, uh, mind waiting here for a minute? I didn't exactly have the time to prepare the room. I'm sorry for being so unprepared, but I hadn't expected-"

"No, it's okay. I didn't plan on this either, otherwise I'd be more ready myself." She sets the box down carefully and sighs in relief. "Take your time, Jack. I'll wait out here."

He gives her a grateful smile. "Thank you, Sally...Don't be afraid to look around, get curious about things. Technically, this is your home now, too, so I want you to get used to the place."

"I will."

He gives her one last nod before leaving into the room, which she only gets a glance of before he hurriedly shuts the door. She waits a few moments before turning around and admiring the long hallway. There is a red rug on the floor with intricate designs of spiderwebs on it. Her attention is suddenly brought to the walls, where she now notices a collection of framed pictures hanging in neat patterns with one another. She admires them all as she walks carefully on the rug, humming in curiosity. Most of them are old photographs of Halloween Town. She catches one of Jack and the Mayor standing in front of the Town Hall shaking hands, and smiles to herself. She admires him for keeping such history of his town in his own home.

The longer she follows these photos, the more she finds of Jack himself. He's in various ones surrounded by other people, mostly his citizens and coworkers. But then Sally would find one of him by himself, or just him and Zero. There were times when his smile was big, and where it wasn't very enthusiastic. After knowing him for so long, she was able to recognize it. A troubled frown comes onto the ragdoll's face as she stops at one in particular, which is a picture of Jack sitting at his desk, turned around to smile at the one taking the picture. But there is something gloom about his posture, and something sad in his eye sockets. She holds her small hand over the picture and feels her chest grow cold.

'He looks so...lonely.'

She doesn't feel as excited to look at the rest of the pictures, so she turns around to look at other things instead. She adores the wallpaper in these hallways - it's of a crimson color with elaborate, yellow lines that break the color. The design reminds her of the fancy castles she used to read about - the exact ones kings and queens would live in. In fact, everything about his mansion reminds her of someplace...elegant, and tidy. It makes sense that the Pumpkin King would inhabit such a place like this. Nothing like the old tower she lived in before, that was always so suffocating, cold, and had leaks everywhere. The walls and the floor were made of metal there, but in here, the ground was warm and the walls felt inviting. Everything in the Skellington Manor looked absolutely well-kept.

'It's all so homey', She thinks. 'A gentlewoman would be suited better here than me, that's for sure...'

A voice suddenly breaks her thoughts:

"Sally? It's ready now, if you want to see it!"

She hurries over to meet with the skeleton, who happily clasps his hands together once she's in front of him. He doesn't look anything like how he did in that picture she saw. 'Which is a good thing, I guess...' She notices the door is closed and all of her belongings are brought in already. He clears his throat as he rubs his palms together, looking like a child excited to show something he had made.

"I think you're going to like it! I made a few touches here-and-there, though I'm sure you won't even notice them." He eagerly swoops over next to the door, fingers caressing the doorknob. "Now, close your eyes and wait until I say you can open them..."

She does as she is told, giggling slightly at the idea that the unveiling of her room has to be some sort of grand surprise. She listens as he opens the door and feels his hand gently guiding her forward on her back. She plays his game and takes a few steps in his direction until he stops her, then closes the door behind them. She can't help but feel giddy in this time, wondering what her new room is going to look like. She already knows it's going to be nothing like her old one, and yet, the curiosity is still gnawing at her leaves...

"Alright, you can open your eyes!"

Immediately, she opens them. And as she does, her jaw falls open in utter shock. Before her is, in her opinion, a room fit for a princess! Due to the high ceiling, there is a beautiful collection of cobwebs that hang above a queen-sized bed. It leaves enough space for a nightstand to rest on its left side, with a beautiful lamp and small clock. Across the bed is a vanity desk that contains a mirror, tall enough that she can see herself in, and enough room to work on whatever she desires. Beside that is a large bookshelf filled to the brim with dusty novels. She approaches it and glances at some of the titles, smiling when she notices that most of them are fictional romances. The exact type she loves to read. There are so many on the shelves...she could be reading for days!

When she turns around, she notices there is a petite desk next to the covered window with her sewing machine on it. Unlike her old one, there is plenty of space for her to set all the materials where they need to go, and there is even a mirror on the wall for her to check her work. She walks over to admire it before bringing her attention over to the window. She finds the curtains are closed, and gently opens them to reveal whatever is beyond it. This causes her jaw to drop once more - as she is provided with a beautiful view of Halloween Town. Since the manor is raised, she can see the roofs of all the houses and the streets from above. She had a similar view from her tower, but this one isn't obscured by the bars on the window. She has a perfect view she can see out of anytime. And to think, it's right by her desk, so she can gaze outside while she works!

"Jack, this is all so lovely..." She confesses. "I-I don't know what to say."

He starts to tsk. At her confusion, he simply smiles. "You haven't seen your new closet yet, have you?"

She blinks several times, wondering how in Halloween she could've missed her closet! The skeleton slides open a large door to reveal a spacious closet beside her bed. She finds the dresses she made are already hung inside, handled with great care. There is plenty of space for new ones and even a proper place to put her shoes in. She approaches it in awe and leaves her hand to trail along its side, imagining filling it with all the new creations she's bound to make. She sees nothing but a blank canvas laid right before her, and Jack seems happy as he taps his finger on the wall, watching her gawk at the room.

"I thought you would appreciate a room that felt like it was for you. You didn't have an awful lot in your last one."

She turns to him and smiles. "Well, the Doctor only gave me what he thought was necessary..."

"You mean a bed that looked like it would snap in half at any moment, and a closet that could barely fit three days worth of clothes?" He crosses his arms. "I have to disagree."

"I'm not sure if I deserve a big bed like this, or such a view, or...any of this, really. I don't need much, and I don't want to ask too much from y-"

"-Shh sh sh." He lays a bony finger over her lips. "All of this is for you. You have your own space now. And anything you need or want, I will happily get for you. You have as much right to a decent bed and your own hobby like anyone else. And I don't want to hear otherwise."

Her eyelashes brush against the tip of his finger as he brings it away. "Thank you, Jack..."

"Alright, then." He steps back and grins, opening the door and motioning outside. "I'll show you a bit more around."

She was happy to skip to the door and follow Jack around his mansion. He did as he promised, giving her a small little tour of his home and informing her where things were. There was a bathroom just down the hallway she was roomed in, and she wasn't very far from the kitchen. The living room and den were close from there, and everything else seems to be upstairs. She follows him above as he briefly shows her his own bedroom, which, she finds, has a respectably king-sized bed. There were even more stairs after that, and she grew a little fatigued as she stepped through a spiral one, before finding that she was standing in the middle of his study. The same room she used to watch him pace around in for hours when she was back in Finklestein's Tower, watching his silhouette through the windows...

After looking at all the projects he had laying around in there and admiring the highest view in Halloween Town, Jack helps her down the staircase to show her a few things they missed. She was having a hard time coming to terms that this is the house she'll be staying in from now on: an exquisite, 3-floor mansion filled to the brim with rooms and fancy things...she'll be sharing it with The Pumpkin King, and she'll be seeing these things every day from this day forward. It makes her excited, but under that, she feels a familiar insecurity brewing in the pit of her stomach...


By the time their little tour is finished, Sally collapses on one of his couches, wanting to take a break from all the steps and stairs she endured from this hour alone. Jack, meanwhile, is still musing about something with a skeletal finger propped on his jaw. He eventually shrugs and smiles happily at his girlfriend, who opens her eyes after she finally has her breath back.

"-And I think that's just about it!" He announces happily. "Do you have any questions, Sal? Before it gets too late?"

She glances out of a nearby window and notices that it's already night time. There was a lot that happened today, yet the time still feels like it flew right by. She lets out an exhausted sigh as she sits forward, trying to think of anything she is curious about. There's plenty, but now isn't the time to pester him with 20 questions. They both need a lot of rest after today, and in the morning, they can talk about things further. For now...she had at least one question that was bothering her.

"Yes, I was just wondering..." She brings her gaze up to lock with his. "What are the rules here?"

"Hm?"

"You know, the rules you have for...staying here." She plays with her fingers. "How often do I need to do the dishes, when your meals should be cooked, what time I'm allowed to get up and go to sleep..."

The skeleton looks bewildered. She sinks into her shoulders, feeling embarrassed for asking such a thing. It just felt so natural, and like she was suppose to ask. Was it the wrong thing to say? Or did he truly not know the answer?

"There...are no rules. None whatsoever." He takes a seat next to her and holds her hand endearingly. "Sally, I'm not the Doctor. I'm not going to give you a million of chores you have to do just at the expense of living here. I want you here, and you shouldn't feel obligated to do anything for that."

Her eyes widen. "You mean, you don't want me to cook, or clean, or...or make your clothes?"

He shakes his skull. "Not really. If you'd like to do those things, then I won't stop you, but...you don't have to do them. Those things may have been a little tough for the Doctor to do, but I am able-bodied and I'm capable of cooking and cleaning like you are."

"I...I wasn't expecting that answer." She confesses.

He leans forward and leaves a kiss on her cheek, making her blush slightly. "-You don't owe me anything, and I want you to remember that. As long as you're comfortable, healthy, and happy here, that's all I ask. It's about time someone took care of you for once, rather than the other way around."

This makes her smile, and her leaves grow tingly. She lets out a content sigh as he pulls back. "You're right. I guess I'm just so...so used to being around the Doctor that...I don't know what it's like to live any other way."

"Well, we're going to change that. From now on, you don't have to worry about any of those things, and I'll be here for you. I'm ready to share my death with you, Sally. I certainly hope you're ready to share it with me?"

"Of course, Jack...I couldn't ask for anything better."


Jack Skellington prepares to rest for that night, and ensures that his partner is more than comfortable. He leaves her after she's settled in her bed and heads for his own room, where he leaves his door cracked open in case Sally needed him at all during the night. He promised her she could call for him, and he was more than prepared to fend for another person after so long. That thought buzzes in his skull as he changes into his sleeping clothes, laying in his bed and staring at the ceiling. A very prominent thought resurfaces in his mind, and he's left to dwell on it for the night.

Sally is living with him now.

It's almost the same feeling as when Doctor Finklestein first mentioned it to him. After being alone for so long, living only with his dog for years...now they have another person in their home. And it's not a guest or a mere visitor; it's the love of his death sharing the same space as him, and only a floor down. This was the least he could do for her after she got kicked out of her last place as soon as it was decided that the Doctor didn't need her anymore. 'This is his loss.' Jack thinks to himself. 'Sally is talented, kind, and sweet...having her around is going to be the best thing in my death.'

And what a thought that was...no longer will his mornings feel so empty and cold, and he won't have to come home to a nearly-empty mansion anymore. He's going to have her to listen to, her to see and hold, her at his side when he needs her most. It's felt like ages since he's had something like this to look forward to, and now that things were so much easier...he wasn't going to let any moment go to waste. He's going to cherish this ragdoll, show his love and appreciation for her, and take good care of her on the account that she hasn't had a very good home life before. He's going to do everything for her, and ensure that she is his top priority at all times.

He drifts off to sleep thinking of everything he is going to do for her, and how better his death is going to be after this night. He looks forward to the morning and wishes it could come sooner - so he can see her beautiful dark eyes again, and hear her soft voice the first thing after the skeletal rooster crows...


Sally Finklestein flutters her eyelashes after she finds her room engulfed in the pumpkin sun. The air feels only slightly musty as she rises from her bed and lets out a small yawn, blinking her eyes several times in an attempt to clear her vision. She recalls sleeping almost perfectly in her new bed, the mattress comfortable and her pillow so soft...the blanket was actually big enough to cover her whole body, and not once did she toss and turn in her sleep. It was unusually quiet this morning. This is new to her, as she would usually hear the Doctor screaming at her for his breakfast by now, and Igor would've surely waken her at such an hour like this.

She tosses the blanket off of her as she takes a weary step on the floor. She feels so well-rested, it almost makes her dizzy! She trudges on despite this, and gently opens her door. The sound of something sizzling comes down the hallway, and she curiously follows it. The closer she gets to the kitchen, the more she can make out the smell of something sweet - something that makes her tongue water, and her nose curiously inch more towards the source of the smell. When she peeks her head through the doorway, she finds a skeleton standing in front of the stove, one hand holding the handle of a pan and the other shoved in his pocket.

She quietly attempts to step in the room without catching his attention, but he happens to turn his skull in her direction. She freezes almost instantly - a habit thinking she had been caught. But after finding a large smile on his lips and hearing a cheerful hum, Sally relaxes.

"Awful morning, Sally. Did you sleep terrible?"

"Just horrible, thank you." She blinks curiously as she comes to his side, peeking at what was in the pan. She is surprised to find a couple slices of toast. "What are you making?"

"'Pain perdu'...or, as some call it, 'French Toast'." He reaches over to grab a plate. "I picked up this recipe from the human world. I'm wondering if you'll like it." He turns and motions towards the other room with his skull. "I made you a plate already."

She follows his gaze and notices a doorway leading into the dining room. She heads in and finds a plate of toast that has been sitting on the table. She curiously heads over and takes a seat, grabbing the fork and poking curiously at the bread. It certainly smells sweeter now that she's in front of it, and just staring at it is making her mouth water...she eagerly takes a bite and 'mmm's almost immediately at the taste. It is sweet! And it has just a little bit of syrup, cinnamon, and sugar coated on top...she begins to eat the rest mindlessly, not noticing how hungry she was.

Jack comes into the room and sits across from her, setting down his own serving. Sally notices that he's already dressed in his pinstriped suit while she remains in her pajamas. She shyly brushes her hair as he sits down, and sets her fork down as she thinks of what to say. This is their first morning they're spending together...and, already, it feels so much better. She didn't have to make breakfast, and for what awaited her that day, she had no clue. She was just relieved it wasn't chores or cleaning!

"Thank you for letting me sleep in." She tells him quietly.

"You needed the rest, with everything you've been through." He wipes his mouth with a napkin. "It is still rather early, anyway."

"Really? I'm surprised to see you awake and dressed already."

"I'm used to getting up the moment the sun rises. I have to wake early to work with the Mayor every morning."

"Oh..." She looks down and plays with her hands under the table. "I'm not taking you away from work right now, am I...?"

"Not at all! I wanted to make you something because I had a feeling you'd be wake up famished. Neither of us ate last night." He points to her plate with his fork. "How is it, by the way? Terrible?"

"The worst." She grins. "Thank you, Jack...it's delicious. I'm not really used to anyone making breakfast for me."

The memory of Finklestein making a meal for her once surfaces in her mind; the indescribable. awful food on her plate...she winces at the image. She's grateful her boyfriend knows how to cook properly. This won't be something she has to worry about every morning anymore, desperately working over the stove just so she doesn't have to worry about her disgruntled creator. The skeleton finishes his serving and sets his plate to the side.

"-Well, you might want to adjust. I enjoy cooking."

She smiles and finishes her food while the skeleton sits there, looking away in thought. It's only after her plate is empty that Sally realizes there is much to talk about with him. So much has happened yesterday, and while she already feels comfortable in this new environment, there are still other matters to handle. Ones they've neglected for awhile, and have been meaning to get around to.

"Jack, I want to thank you for everything last night, but there are other things on my mind, too." She brings up slowly. "I think we should tell the town about us already. If we don't, then me living here may look a little suspicious, or raise a lot of questions with our friends and the citizens..."

He brings his attention to her and nods. "-That's exactly what I was thinking! You and I were talking about...a meeting, weren't we? Where I called everyone for some Halloween announcement and finally tell them? I still think we should do that."

"I do, too. If only what happened with the Doctor hadn't gotten in the way..." Her gaze comes down as she mumbles quietly. "I wish he had taken it much better than he did..."

She finds his bony hand over hers, urging Sally to look up at him. The skeleton gives her an assuring smile. "What's important is that it's done with. The Doctor knows, and you're living with me now. If anything, that makes this a whole lot easier."

"Yes, that's true...he was the first one we wanted to know, anyway, wasn't it?"

"That he was. And now everyone else can! Well, besides the Band." He sits back in his seat and thinks for a moment. "I'll go ahead and schedule one today. You're going to be there, right?"

She plays with her hair, nodding slowly. "Of course I'll be."

"Great! You'll know when it is; I'll be sure to send the Mayor out to announce it. He'll be going around town soon if things go as planned."

He collects both of their plates before disappearing into the kitchen. Sally frowns and stares at the tablecloth while he's gone. She wonders how the meeting will go, and if her presence will complicate anything. She knows the females will surely be disappointed, especially the admirers of Jack. She quietly fears if any of them will take it out on her - but the better part of her thinks otherwise. Halloween Town is full of kind, generous citizens from what she's seen. They'll surely be respectful about her and Jack's relationship, won't they?

The skeleton suddenly comes back in the room, tugging at his sleeves as he lingers by the doorway. "-Well, I should be heading off, now. I need to catch up with the Mayor and explain my absence. The first thing I'll do is schedule that meeting."

She gets up from her seat and nods. "That sounds like a good idea."

He looks at her and smiles, turning to face her. "I guess I'll be seeing you there, then?"

"I guess you will."

He stand there idly before walking over to her and leaning forward. She gets the hint and raises her head slightly to kiss him. It was a gentle. And every passing second where their lips interlocked, it assured Sally that things are going to be okay. That she had absolutely nothing to worry about so long as she had this man by her side. Her best friend...her lover. They're going to get through this together, no matter how it turns out. She already feels immensely protected. Jack eventually pulls away and gives her one last smile.

"You'll be alright without me here?" She nods. "-I'm sure you know where everything is. Help yourself to anything in the meantime. I can't wait to see you again."

He heads for the door and dips his skull before leaving. As the door closes behind him, the ragdoll stares at it for a few minutes. She listens as his footsteps climb down the stairs, then silence ensues after. She clasps her hands together and squeezes them, rocking on her heels gently. Her leaves start to swell anxiously as she sits down, and she spends many minutes staring around the room hoping, quietly, that things will go alright.