W00t! New chapter! Hope you all like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Nightmare Before Christmas and if I did, I'd give it back to Tim Burton because he just rocks like that...

Later that afternoon, all of the work that was scheduled that day was finished early so everyone took a well-deserved rest of the day off. Amelia decided to spend her extra time with Alucard. They walked aimlessly together hand-in-hand around town, not really sure where they were headed but enjoyed each other's company.

"So Amelia, how close are you to becoming a master in sorcery?" the vampire asked out of curiosity.

"Oh, well I'm not sure." She tilted her head in thought. "I've mastered several spells and don't even have to use the incantations on a few if that gives you an idea. Of course, most of that I owe to Jack being an excellent instructor and all." She beamed.

"Well I would think that you're close. I can tell you're already very powerful." He smiled. "I mean, you must have gained your full powers years ago."

"Eh? Oh! Actually, I haven't turned sixteen yet. That's when I'll gain them according to one of the books Jack found in his library." She explained.

"You're kidding me." He was slightly taken aback, "But sorcerers age slowly. If you really are sixteen, you should still look like a child!"

"Well…that's because I spent the past few years in the human realm and I had to blend in!" she remembered her cover up, "I had to have the appearance of a normal human girl. Otherwise I would risk the discovery of the holidays, and I made a promise to Jack that I wouldn't reveal anything about this world."

"You know, you talk about him a lot." Alucard pointed out, mentally recalled her saying his name in almost all of their conversations. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were rather fond of him." He arched an eyebrow.

"What!" she was greatly surprised by his assumption, "No, no, no, no! It's not like that at all! He's like family to me and we're just really close, that's all." She clung onto his arm and rested her head on his shoulder, "Besides, I have you! And I wouldn't have it any other way." She beamed up at him.

He chuckled lightly and smiled at her as well. He let her lean on him for a few moments but he didn't really like the silence.

"Jumping back a few subjects," he stated, "What do you know about curses, seals and release spells?

"Um, not much really." She stood upright but still held onto his arm, "The closest I came was a banishment spell that I used nearly six years ago."

"Ah, I see. Didn't that have something to do with you becoming Pumpkin Princess?" he questioned.

She cringed at the nickname and glared at him. "I told you not to call me that ever again."

"Why?" he teased.

"I just…don't like it!" she stated, becoming a little ticked.

"Why? I think it's cute." He leaned in closer to her and smirked.

"Well I don't." she huffed and turned her head away.

"I thought you were the kind of person who would be honored to have a royal title." He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, for he knew she would get flustered.

"Hey! Cut it out." Just as he thought, she blushed red at his touch and jumped away a little. "If you don't stop, I won't tell how why I had to use the banishment spell."

"Fine, you're no fun." He chuckled as he gave in to her demands.

She smiled in triumph and went back to holding his hand.

"It's kind of a long story, but it goes like this." She began. "A rumor was going around town that the Boogie Man, though he's called Oogie Boogie, had escaped and was heading toward the other holiday realms to try and take over all of them."

"The Boogie Man?" he said in disbelief, "You're kidding me, aren't you?"

"I'm serious! He's real!" she protested and then went back to her story. "As it turned out, the rumor was all a ploy to get Jack away from me for I was unknowingly kidnapped and taken to Oogie's lair. He convinced me that Jack was evil and was only using me for his own gain. I then agreed to help him take over Halloween Town by hypnotizing Jack into doing his bidding. But I was finally able to realize that Oogie had lied and that Jack was really my friend. So I broke the spell he was under and we worked together to take back the town. In the end, I was given the task of casting an extremely powerful banishment spell to make sure Oogie would never be able to set foot outside his home ever again. After that, Jack made a huge announcement that because I showed true bravery saving the town and overcoming my fears, he named me the Princess of Halloween."

"Wow, quite the story." He smiled, "Even when you were so young you were very strong, impressive."

"Thanks." She blushed at the compliment. "But honestly, I'm really not all that great."

"Oh but you are, Amelia. You're absolutely astounding." He stopped their walk and stood in front of her. He took her hands in his captured her ocean blue eyes with his crimson red colored ones. "It's one of the many reasons why I fell head over heels for you." He smiled.

"Oh stop." She laughed lightly as a pink blush splashed across her cheeks.

"I'm sorry that I can't help but find you alluring." His tone of voice had changed and began to lean in closer to her.

"U-uh…" she became flustered and very nervous. Suddenly, she saw something white zoom by out of the corner of her eyes.

"Amelia!" a familiar voice called.

She quickly turned to see Jack several yards away, he seemed to be searching for her because he hadn't noticed her yet. Alucard had stopped and he too was looking toward the source of the voice.

The young sorceress looked back up to her vampire boyfriend and muttered a quick apology before she ran to where the Pumpkin King stood. Secretly, she was relieved that he had called for her. "Yes Jack?" she said once she got close enough.

"Ah, there you are." He moved to face her. "I wanted to ask you a few things about the set up for the masquerade in the town square."

"Of course!" she beamed.

"Great! Follow me then." He turned on his heel and began to walk off with Amelia trailing close behind.

Alucard crossed his arms and glared at the two as they made their way across town.

"At this rate, I'll never be able to gain back what I lost, so long as that insufferable Pumpkin King keeps getting in the way." He growled. "I'm running out of time!"

He then sauntered off angrily and failed to notice a ghostly canine appear out of a tree close to where Jack had stood. It then took off in the direction where the tall skeleton and the young sorceress were headed.

Late that evening, Amelia wandered absentmindedly around Jack's house, not really looking for anything in particular. The Pumpkin King had gone into town momentarily on an errand so she was left behind alone, bored, with a wandering mind. Alucard's words from earlier that day rang in her head.

"What is Jack to me, really?" she asked aloud as she strolled down the long corridor on the first floor. "He's my dearest friend. He cares for me and looks out for me. But…" she watched her feet as she walked, "If that's true, then why did I have that strange dream about him? It just doesn't make any sense!" she shook her head.

"I'm in a wonderful relationship with the most perfect guy and still there's this nagging at the back of my mind! What is it? What does it mean?" She glared down at her feet, but then decided that she had best let the matter drop for it just wasn't that important.

To keep her curious mind occupied, she turned around and opened random doors along the corridor. She discovered another library, a storage room full of Halloween props, and most surprising a large room with mirrors along the side of one wall with practically no furniture. She didn't realize that it was the very same room her strange dream with Jack took place, for something else that was against the wall adjacent to the mirrors caught her eye. A piano. Not just any old piano though, beautiful intricate designs were carved into the dark wood and even the music stand alone was a piece of artwork. It seemed rather out of place considering it didn't have any cracks in it at all or appear the least bit scary. She gently trailed her index finger along the woodwork, just itching to sit down and play. She glanced at the door before she gave into her desire and sat down on the bench. Quietly, she lifted the key cover and was slightly surprised to find that all of the keys were still intact and not broken.

'But I wonder if it's even in tune.' She thought. 'It doesn't seem like it has been played much.'

She placed her hand upon the keys in the C position and played a few notes. She was even more astounded to find that it sounded perfect, like new almost. Her eyes glistened with excitement and then began to play a soft, slow tune. Her fingers gracefully pressed down the keys with practically no effort at all, as though she had been playing her whole life. In truth, Amelia had started piano lessons only a year before. She was a natural. She progressed faster than any of her teacher's other students with hardly any trouble.

Finally, she felt the song so much within her soul she opened her mouth to let out the voice that so longed to sing.

It isn't far to Hushabye Mountain,

And your boat waits down by the key.

The winds of night so softly, are sighing.

Soon they will fly your troubles to sea.

So close your eyes on Hushabye Mountain.

Wave goodbye, to cares of he day,

And watch your boat from Hushabye Mountain,

Sail far away from Lullaby Bay.

She did a piano solo before she continued. As she played, she remembered a night nearly seven years ago. She had woken up in the middle of the night from a horrible nightmare. Jack had come in and gave her the teddy bear that she would keep for many, many years. He then sang to her a song, the very same song she was now playing, to help her drift into a peaceful slumber. She remembered his voice, how smooth and lulling it was. She had never forgotten that night, or the sound of his voice.

As she began to sing once more, she heard his voice sing along with her in her mind.

So close your eyes on Hushabye Mountain.

Wave goodbye, to cares of the day,

And watch your boat from Hushabye Mountain,

Sail far away from Lullaby Bay…

"You have quite the lovely voice, Amelia." The person she thought she had only imagined spoke from behind her.

She turned and there stood Jack, right next to her. How she hadn't heard him come in she'll never know.

"Your piano playing is just as astounding." He complimented and beamed at her.

"Y-you really think so?" a light blush appeared on her cheeks.

"Certainly." He grinned, "I also think our voices blend together quite nicely. We should sing together more often." He chuckled.

'That was really him singing!' she thought as her face turned a deeper shade of red. She looked back down at her fingers on the keys, too embarrassed to look him in the eye.

"Don't be modest Ami." he rested a hand on her shoulder, "You have quite the musical talent."

What Amelia wanted to do at that point was to hide in a dark, secluded corner for she felt even more flushed, although he had merely given her small praise. Even more, when his hand touched her shoulder, she could have sworn her heart skipped a beat.

"W-well I haven't been p-playing for that long s-so I g-guess I'm just not used t-to such compliments." She stuttered, still staring at her hands as if they were the most fascinating things in the world.

"Really?" he removed his hand from her shoulder and crossed his arms, much to her relief. "To me, you sound as though you've been playing for several years, and singing since before you could talk." He laughed softly.

"Th-thank you." Her cheeks were still splashed pink as she gave a soft, yet grateful smile. "Um, well…it's getting late." She stood up from the piano bench, "I guess it's time to turn in." she closed the key cover and made her way over to the door.

"Alright then, goodnight Ami." He beamed at her as she turned and smiled as well before she took her leave.

Jack then sat down on the seat and heaved a deep sigh. He rested his head in the palm of his bony hand, lost in thought. After a few minutes had passed, he stood up.

"Zero." He spoke in a normal tone for he knew his canine companion was near.

Sure enough, the ghostly dog with the glowing Jack-O-Lantern nose floated up and out from within the piano.

"Zero, I'd like to thank you for telling me about Amelia earlier today." A slightly worried expression came across his features as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I know I really shouldn't have you spying on her, but it's better if I know when she's alone with that vampire so I can make sure nothing bad happens to her." He crossed his arms and looked solemnly at the floor, "I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost her on account of my own foolish mistake." He said more to himself than his loyal friend.

His demeanor changed to determination, even a little angry as he gazed at his reflection in the wall of mirrors.

"I will not let a repeat of six years ago happen again. I promised I would look after her and protect her, even at the cost of my own undead life."

Oooh, Jack's being all protective again LOL! But wait! What could Alucard be talking about? Why is he running out of time? Will Amelia ever figure out her troublesome love life? The plot thickens...dun dun DUN!