Ok, well I have not a lot to say about this chapter before it gets started, so let's get to reading! =D

A few more days passed and it was finally a week since Amelia had "escaped" to Halloween Town. On that day, Jack tried to confront the sorceress about at least when she should go back, but then their eyes would lock onto each other and he would say something completely different than what he intended. He just couldn't bring himself to talk about it, and it was apparent in her demeanor that she didn't want to leave. Oddly enough, Jack really didn't want her to either. He had come to find that he enjoyed her company, much more than he ever did before. Though she was still quiet to their friends, Amelia always opened up around him when they were alone. She confided in him and he would always listen. He wanted nothing more than to make her happy. The more time they spent together, the more the thought of her actually leaving again seemed less and less desirable, even though they both knew she couldn't remain there forever. But that wasn't going to stop them from avoiding it as long as possible.

Before anyone realized it, another week had passed. Amelia was almost back to her old, cheery self and the nightmares had vanished for the most part. It was a rare moment when she and the Pumpkin King weren't together, talking enthusiastically about something or picking on each other for their own amusement. Still, Jack couldn't find it within himself to bring up the subject of her returning home. But now, it was becoming a matter of whether or not he wanted her to leave.

One day, it had been one of the unusual moments where the two Halloween royals weren't together until Jack returned home from a meeting with the Mayor. As soon as he entered his house, the faint sound of piano music reached him. Climbing the steep staircase into the living room the sound grew louder and the tune seemed vaguely familiar. The skeleton man quietly walked down the hall and approached the practice room where the grand piano was. He peered into the open doorway and saw none other than Amelia at the beautiful instrument, playing the song which he now fully recognized as the famous Moonlight Sonata.

Like always, Amelia was completely oblivious of his presence as she was to everyone whenever she played. So, like always, Jack quietly observed her, entranced by the music. After a few more minutes, the pianist gradually brought the song to a close, the last note softly dying in the air until it faded away completely.

"You know I never get tired of hearing you play."

Amelia gasped in surprise when he spoke and quickly turned to face him. When she saw Jack walking toward her, she let out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding.

"Really, or is it that you never get tired of seeing me jump?" She asked with an amused smile.

"Possibly," he shrugged, "it is one of the few times you don't hear me sneaking up on you."

"So you admit that my skills as the Daughter of Fright have improved."

"Hmm, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were getting an ego."

"Like you don't have one."

"I don't, I just happen to be really good at what I do."

"Right." She rolled her eyes and laughed.

Jack then offered his hand to her, which earned him a questioning look that he returned with his signature smile. Still slightly confused, she took his hand and he pulled her up with surprising strength. He chuckled when she stumbled, earning him a miffed glare in response, which he ignored as he led her to stand in the center of the room.

"What are you doing?" She asked, puzzled as his free hand took hers and placed it on his shoulder.

"Proving to you just how much of a courteous gentleman I can be." He stated as his skeletal hand came to rest on her waist.

Suddenly the room became filled with beautiful, orchestral music and Jack began to lead her in a waltz. Amelia smiled as she recognized the familiar tune from both masquerades, and let herself be completely absorbed in the moment. Their eerily graceful movements complimented each other as they danced perfectly in time. The world seemed to melt away as they became lost in the music, feeling like they were floating across the floor moving as one. Jack and Amelia's gazes locked onto one another. She felt her heart leap and her cheeks flush as she stared up at him. She sensed her pendant beginning to emit its soft glow but paid no mind. He was completely entranced with her deep ocean colored eyes and her soft smile. His hidden feelings made him realize how much he loved being with her like this, being this close.

The song came to a close and they stopped with just a mere sliver of space between them. Amelia saw the strange look in his eyes, the very same look he had given her during and after their dinner. It seemed like such a distant memory now, yet it all came rushing back to her as she gazed up at him. Jack began to lean toward her, his eyes slowly closing. Amelia did the same as her heart began to race, but then the light from the Gem of the Armonias became brighter, snapping them both out of their dazes. They became fully aware just how close their proximity to each other was. The sorceress's blush deepened and, had the skeleton man been in his human form, all of his blood would have rushed to his face. Feeling the awkward tension fall heavily upon them, he let go of her and stepped back. The two turned their away from one another and Jack crossed his arms as Amelia held her upper arm with the opposite hand.

"Um…" he cleared his throat nervously while still avoiding eye-contact. "So…why does your pendant tend to glow like that?" He unintentionally blurted the question, though he was only trying to break the uncomfortable silence.

"Oh, w-well…th-that's because…" She hesitated as she racked her brain to think of a suitable lie. "I…don't really know." The sorceress shrugged her shoulders as she looked down at the said jewelry. "It just…happens at random times."

"Oh…I see."

The two stood in an awkward silence still not meeting each other's gazes. But then Jack heard her giggle and he couldn't help but turn toward her curiously.

"What is it?" He asked, arching a would-be eyebrow.

"I think dancing has become a favorite pastime of ours, have you noticed?" She beamed as she looked up at him.

"That it has." He laughed a little. The atmosphere became rather thick again and they again nervously avoided eye-contact.

Um, Jack…" Amelia broke the silence after a minute or so had passed, "There's something…I need to tell you." She felt her heart begin to race and she clutched her pendant as it began to glow again.

Simultaneously, they moved to face one another and again were captivated by each other's gaze.

"Yes, Amelia?" He asked after a moment.

Just the way he said her name made butterflies dance in her stomach, her heart leap, and her already red face became a shade darker.

"I…I…" She tried to speak but then suddenly her nerves took over. "W-well, w-what I'm t-trying to s-say is…th-that I…I…" her voice went out.

"It's alright Amelia, whatever it is, you can tell me." Jack said reassuringly with his signature smile.

"Well I…w-wanted to t-tell you," she gulped, "I…I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" He repeated as he blinked in surprise, taken aback, "for what?"

"Just…I'm sorry. Forget I ever said anything." She hastily brushed past him, the glow from the pendant quickly faded away as she walked down the hall.

"Amelia!" He called after her, but all he got in response what the distant sound of a door closing. He sighed forlornly and held his hands behind his back. He turned to stare at his reflection in the mirror-lined wall.

'What was that about?' He thought and then solemnly shook his head. He slouched gloomily as he slowly made his way back up to the tower, dragging his feet.

"It happened again, Zero." Jack grumbled to his loyal companion who was floating nearby, his ears perked with interest. The skeleton man was slouched in his desk chair as he continued to vent. "I almost…I can't even bring myself to say it." He put his head in his hands. "Ok, I'll admit it. I feel something for her, but…why on earth am I even thinking this way!"

He let out a frustrated groan and leaned back in his chair to stare up at the ceiling. Zero whimpered sadly and cocked his head to the side trying to understand his master's frustration.

"I don't know what to do Zero…" The Pumpkin King sighed sadly. "What exactly do I feel toward my Ami?" He paused, "My Ami?" He blinked shook his head, then he looked off to the side, "Even if I did…possibly…like her that way, there is absolutely no way she would return it. Why am I even talking to myself about this!" he shouted, flailing his arms for emphasis. In a huff he stood up and gazed out the window with a puzzled expression.

"She's a human. A strong, kind, funny, lovely…scratch that, beautiful young woman." His dreamy look turned into a glare toward his reflection in the glass. "And I'm a century and-a-half year-old skeleton. There's just no way anything could possibly work between us." He sighed again and shoved his hands in his pockets as he stared down at the floor. "She deserves someone better anyway, someone alive at least."

"Again, why am I telling myself all of this when these feelings shouldn't even be there!" Jack's gaze returned to the distant horizon. "But…I just can't help it. Amelia is just so…so wonderful. She's a powerful sorceress and a natural leader. True, she's mischievous at times," he chuckled, "but so kind and warm-hearted. She's grown up now, I've definitely come to realize it, and she still has her whole life ahead of her. But…I just…don't want her leave again." He turned toward the ghostly canine.

"Is it strange to feel completely and utterly empty when someone isn't in your presence, but your heart will soar when they are?" Jack asked Zero, who only gave his version of a shrug in return.

"Well…that's how I feel when I'm around her." His hollowed eyes became downcast for a moment, "When I held her to comfort her that night, I couldn't help but notice how right it felt. How we just seemed to be…perfect together…But, was it just my imagination? And just a while ago," he lifted his head, "I felt like I had no control as I became lost in those ocean blue eyes of hers. I almost didn't realize that I was trying to…I still can't say it, but she didn't move away. She didn't protest. She…" he choked on his words again.

"And when she was trying to tell me something," he finally spoke, "I had the crazy idea that she was going to confess that she had feelings for me." He laughed at the thought. "That girl has really gotten to me, Zero. I can't seem to get her out of my mind."

He turned his attention back toward the window and just happened to look down. He gasped in surprise when he saw the very Armonia sorceress, who was driving him crazy, sitting on the stone wall bordering the front yard. He squinted to peer closer, and noticed she held a sketch pad in her hands and was drawing something. Then, her head turned just enough so he could see the profile of her face, and one astounding ocean colored eye. Had he had a beating heart, he was certain it would have been racing and leap into his throat.

"Amelia…" he breathed as a smile crossed his features. "I'm certain of it now, I cannot doubt it anymore. I want to tell you…" he hesitated, "I don't even know how to put these emotions into words." He sighed sadly and turned away from the window.

"Who am I kidding?" he crossed his arms, "I know we could never be together, even if you did feel the same way as I do. It's all just wishful thinking."

If only the Pumpkin King knew that the very sorceress he held feelings for was going through similar inner turmoil.

'What was I thinking!' She scolded herself mentally. 'Why did I even try to confess to him!' She scowled at her sketch pad. 'You're such an idiot, Amelia, as if he would actually return your feelings.' Her gaze softened with a solemn look as she glanced to the side.

'Even if by some freak chance he did, we could never be together. He's an undead skeleton and king of Halloween Town, and I'm just a human who still has her life to live. We're from two totally different worlds…Being able to come here at all is a stretch in itself, which will end by the time I graduate.' She sighed sadly, 'I hate being in love, it's too complicated. Or is it that I just don't exactly have good luck with picking guys?'

Her thoughts wandered back to the moment they had just a short while before. The way he held her so close, that look in his eyes which has appeared more and more often, and when they became half-lidded as…

'Was he trying to kiss me?' Amelia thought as her face became flush red. She hugged her sketchbook to herself as she gazed down at the ground, a troubled expression across her features. 'He couldn't have…but it was just like before…could he possibly…?' Her rapidly beating heart finally began to slow as she convinced herself otherwise. 'No, I'm sure I just imagined it. There's just no way.'

She clutched her pendant as her heart began to ache. 'Of all people, I fell in love with the one man truly out of reach.' Amelia turned to gaze out toward the horizon. 'Jack…I want you to know how I feel, so much. But, maybe it would be best if I kept quiet…I don't think I could handle heartbreak again.'

"I've got to tell her." Jack whispered as he continued to watch the Armonia sorceress. "I still don't know how to put my feelings into words, but I think she'll understand…hopefully." He turned on his heel to exit but then a thought crossed his mind, causing him to reconsider his decision.

"She came here to escape trauma, not accept my feelings." He stated sadly, "Hoping for there to be something more than friendship between us now would be taking advantage of her fragile situation." He looked back toward the window, "But I still want her to know…"

Unsure if he was making the right choice, he descended the spiral staircase and proceeded to make his exit. As his hand grasped the doorknob to the outside, he gulped nervously. Again he second-guessed himself but then shook all doubts out of his head and opened the door. He felt his non-existent heart fall when he didn't see any trace of the sorceress.

"Amelia?" He whispered and then hastily rushed down the steep staircase, practically bursting through the gate. "Amelia!" He called and looked around frantically, but there was no sign of her.

As calmly as he could, which was still very anxious, he asked all of the nearby citizens if they had seen the Princess of Halloween. Unfortunately, they all responded the same, "No, sorry Jack." He searched all of her normal hangouts around town, including the grotesque monster fountain in Town Square. But no matter where he looked, there wasn't a single indication of her presence anywhere, almost as if she had just vanished off the face of the earth.

But there was one place the Pumpkin King had forgotten to check, the path that led down to the old cemetery.

Amelia walked along the edge of the forest down the old beaten trail to the graveyard. She stopped and gazed up into the sky. The sun had begun to set and painted the sky a beautiful array of warm oranges and reds fading into violets and dark blues. A soft smile graced the young woman's lips as she closed her eyes and slowly drew in a deep breath, exhaling softly.

"I never knew that a sunset in mid-November could be so picturesque." She commented as she returned her gaze to the beautiful horizon. "I need more evenings like this. I finally feel…relaxed." She sighed happily and then continued on her way down the old trail.

"It's alright Amelia, whatever it is, you can tell me." Jack's reassuring voice rang in her head, causing her to stop again.

"Oh Jack…" She choked a little and fixed her gaze to the ground as tears began to form. "My heart…it hurts…" The young woman looked back up, wiped away her tears, and a determined expression crossed her features. "I've got to tell you."

Though a little hesitantly, she began to make her way back toward town. As she walked, the last of the sun's setting rays hit something just a short distance in front of her. The object gleamed in the light, catching the sorceress's attention. She didn't know why, but she oddly felt drawn to it.

"What's that?" She asked no one in particular as she approached it curiously. Her mind was yelling at her to forget about it and go back to Halloween Town, but it was as if a thick, hazy fog had descended upon her, clouding her thoughts other than what concerned the mysterious object.

She crouched down and saw that it was something gold, no bigger than the palm of her hand. Gingerly, she picked it up and dusted off most of the dirt that covered it. She gasped in shock, her expression a mixture of both surprise and terror. Her hands trembled as she held the heart shaped golden locket in her shaky grasp. It was the very piece of jewelry she had chucked into the woods three years ago after Eric had forgotten who she was that awful Christmas Eve. She was about to throw it again when she couldn't help but wonder how on earth it got in Halloween Town. She didn't know what but something compelled her to wipe off the remaining dirt on the front of the locket. Carefully, she dusted it off and her eyebrow arched in confusion. On the front of the locket was what looked like a red, painted hourglass.

"What the?" Amelia muttered.

All of a sudden, eight thin, prickly, black, grotesque legs sprouted out from the locket, causing the sorceress to gasp in horror. It suddenly jumped out of her grasp and latched on her throat. Then, everything went black.

Oooh I am so cruel. First an almost kiss, then an almost confession, then a would-be confession but Amelia goes missing! *evil laugh* Ok time to start fleeing from the mob...now! *runs*

*runs back for a sec* Don't forget to check out the sneak peek! *flees again*