Okay folks, this is the final chapter, an epilogue, for the time being! :D Thank you all so much for reading! I hope you enjoy this!

Oh yes, and I wanted to clarify something. This story is an AU, where the Holiday Worlds all know each other's names. So the movie didn't quite happen.

Seriously, though? I could NEVER do this to them after the movie! D: How cruel would that be? It wouldn't make sense. That's not just messing with canon. It's MESSING with canon.

So yes, it's AU. Sorry if I wasn't clear before!

A month had gone by. A very blissful, wonderful month!

As Jack sat in his home, on the couch, with the fire going, with his Sally cuddled up next to him, as the rain went on outside...it was a sweet nightmare. Ever since his decision to court her, he had not once regretted it. Good moments and bad.

While he still kicked himself for having been a fool in the past, he didn't dwell on it any longer. It even helped him learn a lot of things, and to really see things. They were together now, and he vowed to do everything he could to make it work, to commit to her completely. He wouldn't even think about ending it. No, he was going to put his all in making their courtship work. And he knew without a doubt that Sally was also putting her effort and hard work into making this relationship last.

It had been a month, and so far so good. So they had to be doing something right.

Jack just loved being with her! Yes, it wasn't all too different than them being friends, aside from the added courtship perks, but it did still feel to be a new step to take. And he liked it so much! Not to mention, how happy Sally was never failed to make him happy, too. Yes, she certainly had been happy before when she got her life together, but here now, she was certainly very happy too. As the month progressed, she was a little less anxious and guarded, and understandably so, considering she might have been slightly wary of him breaking her heart again. He was patient, and lovingly let her know that she had nothing to worry about. He saw her relax more as time went by, and it was a relief to see her at ease.

Sally was a wonderful girlfriend, and her having been his dearest friend (and still is) was an indication of that. And now given the chance, she gave such lovely kisses! One little touch, anywhere, from her sweet scarlet lips felt nothing short of heavenly. Once more, she was very snuggly, and he could never get enough of holding her close.

And she wore that lovely stripey dress here and there, too...

As they cuddled on the couch, her soft voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Are you all right? You've been very quiet this evening." Sally queried.

Blinking, he looked at her and smiled. "Oh yes, I'm fine. I suppose I couldn't help but think about all of this. Us, you and I together."

"Oh..." Sally blushed a bit, and snuggled her chin on his shoulder as she looked at him. "Are you happy, darling?"

Jack chuckled, his smile growing goofy at her sweet term of endearment. "Oh, Sally...of course I am. Happier than I can possibly say. Are you happy?"

She nodded, beaming at him. "Yes...I am happy, Jack...and I'm so glad that you're happy."

"I'm glad you're happy too, my Sally." Jack kissed her on the forehead. Oh, he just loved being romantic to his doll. It was getting easier as time went by as he just let his romantic charmer instincts take over. So far, it seemed to go fine since Sally responded very positively to it all. Really, it was all about doing what was natural to you and if the other person seemed to like it, it worked. "To see a smile on your beautiful face is a joy forever, baby doll..."

Sally giggled, and beamed at him. "Oh, Jack...you're so sweet."

Unable to help it, Jack smiled more and then gently pulled her into his lap, which she let him do. He brought his arms around her, and cuddled her close in his lap, laying his skull against her wonderful hair. "Nothing is sweeter than you, Sally."

"Oh, stop it..." Sally giggled, nuzzling her head into his neck.

"I don't think so, beautiful." Jack chuckled, stroking her hair with one hand. "How can I help telling the truth about you, when it makes you smile and giggle? You're a delight, an immense delight."

"You're a delight too, Jack..." Sally whispered sweetly.

Jack laughed, and held her closer as they continued to cuddle on the couch together, closer than ever.

Much later in the evening, after they'd had dinner together and sat down to read, it wasn't long before Sally soon fell asleep on the couch. Because Jack didn't want to wake her up, he decided to let her sleep there. She'd had a long day, after all.

He went to the linen closet, and brought back a nice warm, thick, cozy blanket for her, and lay it over her form. Once she was covered and cozy, he gently brushed back a few strands of her hair from her face, and then leaned down to kiss her cheek.

Very softly, he then whispered into her ear.

"I love you, Sally."

And he did. There was no more uncertainty in that regard, either. Jack loved Sally. Plain and simple.

XXX

When Sally awoke the next morning, she had been surprised and even a little confused. Making sure to have gotten up before she did, Jack assured her of what had happened. This of course sent Sally into a fit of blushing and mumbling nervously. It was, after all, the first time she had ever spent the night in his home. It was a whole new thing for her, especially since she'd been living in her new home for nearly a year by this point and by then was used to it, not to mention never having spent the night in someone else's home. It was a lot to take in and get used to.

"Oh, but I am sorry for having fallen asleep like that." Sally murmured shyly. "I...I'm sure it wasn't...easy having a woman asleep in your home."

"Don't be silly, Sally. You were sleepy, and I didn't want to wake you up." Jack assured sweetly, kissing her hands. "You don't have to apologize, sometimes these kinds of things happen, and I certainly don't condemn you for it! After all, while you may be the first woman ever to sleep in my home..." His bones blanched just a bit at the thought. "But you are my dearest friend, and my lover..." He smiled and gently tugged her closer, his grin growing. "Who else would I want to spend the night in my home?"

Sally giggled madly, her worried look fading into a bright smile. "Thank you, Jack...you're sweet to say that. I...well, I'd feel the same way if you ever fell asleep in my home, too."

Jack blanched a little, but managed to chuckle. "Oh, Sally. You're too kind to me. I could never ask that of you."

"Don't be silly, I'd never dream of waking you up if you fell asleep in my house." Sally said, blushing a bit. "You're the Pumpkin King, and you need your rest, time to relax from all your hard work. And well..I love you, I'd want you to feel comfortable."

Touched, Jack chuckled and grinned widely. "Oh, Sally... Come here, you!"

He pulled a giggling Sally flush against him, turned, and dipped her, before laying a very sweeping kiss on her lips. She of course happily reciprocated, holding tightly to him.

It had been a long journey to get to this point. To think it all began when she confessed her feelings for him a year ago, and at the time, he had been unsure and even thought she clearly wasn't the one for him. But now he knew that was not true in the slightest.

Soon came reconnecting with her as a friend. But in that, stirred up certain, growing feelings. That's all part in what it took, being friends with her like this. Realizing things about her that he hadn't before. Coming to see that the reason he loved hugging her so much and felt he couldn't let her go had been because he was falling in love with her.

The decision to court her. The ideals of being together, their future. He had to be sure he didn't just like the idea of her. That was not the case.

Sure, they had a long way to go yet, but so far, it was still very promising.

Jack loved being with Sally, and she loved being with him right back. They made a commitment to each other, and were going to work things out together.

And hey, who's to say he didn't enjoy making her romantic dreams come true?