"Does my Bone Daddy like?"

A devious smile curled the Pumpkin King's lips as Sally appeared in the doorway, sporting a jet black, silken teddy with fine fishnet stockings. She shrugged her shoulders persuasively and he grinned back in reply. Tapping a stiletto heel she persisted for a verbal response. "Well?"

"Sally... you're so..." He came toward her, embracing her in a backwards hug. His hand caressed her small waist. He breathed into her hair, "...Magnificent."

She giggled. "You're not so bad either. But I'd prefer if you played dress up too."

"I dunno," Jack said playfully. He tapped his chin with one long, bony finger. "As I recall, the last time I did that I ended up pretending to be a certain 'Sandy Claws' and wreaking havoc upon small children. So, it might be better if I stay as is."

"Jack... please? For me?" Sally implored. "Or I won't handcuff you to the bed."

"Ohhhh," he moaned in protest. "But that's my favorite part." Sally gave him a stern look and Jack finally gave in. "Fine, fine..."

He disappeared into the other room to hunt for a costume. Sally smiled to herself contentedly. Ever since she and Jack became lovers, she had been on cloud nine. She would never forget the night he realized she had always secretly cared for him.

"He'll fix things Jack. He knows what to do," she had said of Santa, gone to rescue a wrecked holiday. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Jack turned toward her, awestruck. "How did you get down here, Sally?"

Sally blushed and twisted her hands. "Oh, I was trying to... well, I wanted to... to..."

"To help me," Jack finished.

"I couldn't let you just..."

He seemed to view her in an entirely different light. "Sally, I can't believe I never realized that you—"

And that was it. Though cut off by the imposing mayor, they had made a connection, and later that evening, along with finding Jack upon the Hilltop, she truly found herself.

"Feast your eyes, my rag doll," he drawled, leaning against the doorway, legs crossed.

Jack was decked out in a sweeping velvet cape of the deepest black, bedecked with small diamond crystals that resembled snow. Beneath the billowing cloak, he revealed a red silk shirt with puffed, medieval sleeves, ribbons flowing loosely at the wrists. The top of the shirt hung open. His pants were black, smooth as the surface of a gravestone, and his shoes reached considerable heights.

Sally squealed with delight.

"Any requests to be... swept off your feet?" he asked, covering her with his cape. She was drowning in his enticing, familiar scent of... what was that? It was so comforting: a soothing, manly smell... the scent of lavender... so sensual...

"Oh Jack..." she said, closing her eyes and breathing deeply. "I love you so much." He bent down and kissed her neck and then her collarbone, until she felt pinpricks of pleasure all over her and could no longer tell where his lips grazed.

She pushed him on the bed where they kissed passionately. Sally was untying his cloak, giggling. "You're such a—"

The doorbell rang.

They tried to carry on with their affection.

It rang again.

And again.

"Maybe... you should... answer that," Sally managed between kisses.

And again; each time the noise seemed to be louder than the one preceding.

Finally, Jack came to terms with the fact he was no longer 'in the mood' and moaned angrily. Sally bolted upright, fixing her shoulder strap hastily. "Dammit!" Jack swore, stomping forward to answer the door. "Who the hell visits at this hour?"

The door rang one more time as he reached for the handle and jerked it open. "WHAAAT?" he bellowed, wearing a ghastly expression that could make hell freeze over.

There upon the doorstep was the Mayor, a happy grin from his face completely gone and replaced by frozen terror.

"Oh, mayor," said Jack apologetically, his tone completely changing. "I'm terribly sorry. What can I do for you?"

A tick pulsed under the mayor's left eye as he whispered, "Plans... for... next... Halloween," before fainting right there on the spot.

As Sally asked Jack who was at the door, he simply eyed the spread-eagled mayor lying on his porch.

"Oops."