Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jack x Sally

~*~

The snow was cold beneath her legs as she sat atop the pumpkin hill. It had stopped snowing, but though it was brief, Santa had made sure to gift the citizens of Halloweentown a lot of the tiny frozen crystals. Leaving a blanket of it behind that covered all of Halloweentown and beyond into the forests that surrounded the town. She didn’t plan on leaving the joyous celebration, but after seeing Jack interact with his people, including seeing her creator with another creation, many thoughts had begun to circle her head. She needed a quiet place to think and the only place she had in mind was Jack’s pumpkin patch. Besides herself, which is how she knows, Jack is the only one who comes out here. And knowing her King, she’s sure he wouldn’t mind her visiting the patch to clear her head. It’s peaceful here.

Sally began plucking the petals from the flower she had picked up on the way over here, and silently said in her head, “He loves me. He loves me not”. She always believed that Jack would never love her the way she wants him to. That they would only ever be friends. But down in Oogie Boogie’s lair, she’s certain they were having a moment. A moment that, unfortunately, got rudely interrupted by Shock, Lock, and Barrel. And from that moment to now she can’t help but constantly wonder what he was going to say to her. She’ll never know now, and she’s certainly not going to ask him about it. He probably doesn’t even remember their little encounter.

And now that he seems to be back to his old self, he’ll be too busy trying to catch up on his planning for next Halloween. Sally’s sure he has tons of new ideas for next year’s new, thrilling spooktacular. He’ll be too busy for her silly little gift baskets too. Sure, he had a little time to accept the first one she had offered him when he was doing his Christmas planning, but he’s already lost a lot of time.

She shouldn’t be a bother.

Maybe he’ll still keep in touch though. Of course, they’ll see each other in town here and there, and perhaps he’ll be in need of a seamstress. There’s probably a lot of costume ideas he has in mind. Either for himself or for everyone else. Maybe some will be Christmas themed. She sure hopes so. It would keep her busy and she hates being bored. She just hopes that she can be of service in some way now that she’s free and of no use to Dr. Finklestein. At least she hopes so.

Why would he still keep her when he has another creation to care for him? One who will actually do what she’s told and won’t poison him every chance she gets. She certainly seemed obedient. So why waste his time creating her and still keep Sally? Surely, he doesn’t need two. And if it’s true that he has no use for her, does that mean there is no longer a place for her in his home? Will he kick her out? Where will she go? Where can she call home?

A high-pitched barking caught her attention right before she got to the last petal, which unfortunately was going to be a “ He loves me not. ” Zero’s face appears in front of her, floating up from under the hill, and she smiles at him, grateful that someone noticed her absence from the celebration. It made her feel special. 

“Hello, Zero,” Sally says, reaching her hand out for the ghost dog to lean into, which he does, partially going through her. “What brings you here, boy? Are you spying on me?”

Another voice reaches her ears. “I wouldn’t necessarily call it spying. More like some friends wanting to check in.”

Sally jumps and whirls around, still sitting. Standing a few feet away from her, near a gravestone was Jack. Her Pumpkin King. Her love. He smiles and awkwardly waves, while Zero happily barks. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Oh, no you’re fine.” Sally says in a rush, embarrassed. “What brings you out here, Jack?”

Jack starts to make his way up the hill, up to her, and her heart races faster. Smiling, he says. “Well, this is my pumpkin patch, after all. I think I can visit it whenever I like.” 

Sally knew he was teasing and smirks. “Not when you have a celebration to be present for. Shouldn’t you be in town with the citizens?” She tenses when he approaches her, towering over her like his home towers over the town, and when he sits down next to her she’s sure her heart is going to jump out of her chest, ripping through the stitches.

“Well,” he starts, looking a little…shy. “I noticed that one of my citizens wasn’t there. Therefore, as king, I had to find you. Well actually, I guess I didn’t really find you per se. I saw you leave and followed you but–”

“So, you are spying on me!” She interrupts, trying to be playful in hopes that it would warm both of them up to each other. Things are still a bit awkward it feels like, so she thinks “Why not break the ice with some playful teasing? ” She then laughs at Jack’s worried expression.

“No! I just–”

“Relax, Jack,” she puts a nervous hand on his shoulder. “I’m just teasing. Really though, why did you follow me here?”

Jack takes her hand off his shoulder and holds it in his, not letting go, much to her surprise. “I saw the Doctor with another creation of his. I assumed you did too and got upset about it. I figured you needed a friend.”

Sally squeezes his bony hand, thankful that he cares, but making sure not to read too much into it. “Oh, I’m not upset. Not in the slightest. I’m…relieved.”

“Relieved? Why?”

“Because now I’m free of him.” And saying it out loud made her feel powerful. “I can do as I please, explore my curiosities, and hopefully find my purpose. My real purpose. A purpose that doesn’t involve me being a servant.”

Jack nods, understanding. “I can help you if you’d like. Find your purpose. Like you did with me.”

Sally’s heart does a flip, and she smiles wide. “That would be lovely, Jack. I’d like that a lot. However, I don’t think I really did much to help you. In fact, I’m pretty sure I tried to stop your Christmas shenanigans.”

Jack chuckles. “You were still there for me though. Supporting me even when you knew it was wrong. At least…I had hoped you were. Supporting and being there for me, that is.”

Sally cocks her head to the side like Zero does when he’s intrigued or confused, and Jack found it to be so adorable. “Oh? Why's that?” 

Jack starts to play with the snow beside him, drawing little spirals as nervousness shakes his bones. “I wanted everyone to be as excited as I was for this new project, but…I didn’t realize it right away, but eventually, I’ve come to the realization that I wanted your excitement the most.”

Sally was in awe of his confession. “Mine? How come?” Because she’s nothing special, so why? 

“Because out of everyone, your excitement and curiosity reminded me of my own, and I suppose I wanted to impress you. To keep the spark alive.”

“Oh, Jack,” Sally breathes, touched by the beauty of his words, “How very generous of you.”

A silence takes over, but it wasn’t awkward. It was nice. Peaceful. It remained that way even after Sally realized they were still holding hands, sending her mind into a storm. Friends hold hands just as lovers do. There’s nothing special about their entwined fingers. Nothing special about them sitting under a blanket of sparkling snow, which laid under a glowing full moon. Nothing special about them being alone together at Jack’s special place.

Sally herself…is nothing special. 

But to Jack, she is perfect.

Jack was always fond of Sally. Her kindness, wisdom, and curiosity were things he always admired about her. And she’s oh so beautiful. Jack always wondered what she was to the Dr, a wife or daughter, and he wondered if she loved him, and it wasn’t until down in Boogie’s lair that he wished she was a daughter and that her love for the Dr is one for a father. 

Because it wasn’t until she was in danger that he realized his feelings for her. Feelings he had hidden away because he didn’t want to be the man who fell in love with another’s wife. Falling in love with someone you can’t have is torture. And yes, he could have asked the Dr, but when you’re King you don’t really have the time. Plus, how does one start a conversation like that? And when he became obsessed with Christmas it was the perfect distraction from his arising feelings. Well, somewhat. He did seek her out a few times for costume designing, which didn’t help keep his heart distracted, but his planning was able to distract his brain.

But now he knows how she feels about the Dr. He knows now that she felt trapped. And with how the Dr was acting with his new creation, maybe no drama can come about with the suggestion he’s about to ask. 

“Sally, how do you feel about moving in with me?” 

Sally’s eyes go wide in shock. “What?!”

Jack couldn’t help but laugh. “I know you must be in shock, but I mean it. You’ll have your own room and plenty of space to do as you please without the Dr nagging on you. That’s the even better part; the Dr won’t be there. You’ll be free and I promise I won’t make you my servant. I know I’m a King, but there is truly no need for servitude. Consider yourself my new housemate. I want to help you find your purpose and give you a place to live, so…what do you say?” 

Sally was too stunned to speak. Living with the man of her dreams?? It’s almost a dream come true! Because the complete dream would be him loving her back. Is she really going to set herself up for torture living with her love but only being his friend? Well, she’s not stupid. She needs a place to stay and since her King is offering then…who is she to deny the king? She’ll just have to suck it up. 

“Yes,” she breaks out into a grin and is overcome with excitement. “I would love that, Jack! Thank you!” And then she reaches over to hug him, which takes Jack off guard, and he loses his balance, making them both fall back into the snow.

The two of them laugh, but when Sally realizes that she’s laying on top of Jack’s chest, her face flushes and she stops laughing. Jack stopped laughing too at her expression and opened his mouth to ask if everything was alright (because he was feeling pretty amazing having her in his arms). Maybe she got uncomfortable? Maybe–

Before he could finish his thoughts and form words to ask her if she was okay, he felt a pressure on his lips. A pair of different lips. Sally’s lips. On his own! She’s kissing him! He was so stunned that he didn’t kiss her back, frozen in shock, and Sally is quick to react, pushing herself back frantically.

“Oh my gosh! Jack, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I–” And then she’s cut off too when he reaches forward, cups her face, and pulls her to him. Her eyes go wide when his lips touch hers, but she’s closing them a split second later, melting into the kiss.

It was sweet and soft and everything she dreamed it would be. She prayed that, for once, it wasn’t a dream. When they pull apart, neither say anything as they stare into each other's eyes, bodies high off the energy of love. 

Because that’s exactly what it is: love. 

“Never apologize for kissing me.” Jack whispers. “I quite liked it and have been waiting a long time for it to happen.”

Sally couldn’t believe her ears. “You what?!”

Jack chuckles and looks shy. “Yeah, I…um…I’ve been quite fond of you for a while now.”

This whole time, her king had felt the same about her, and Sally couldn’t help but laugh. “My goodness, I never thought I’d be so lucky! This must be a dream.”

Jack cups the side of her face and shakes his head. “No, my dear, this is very much real.”

“Why didn’t you pursue me sooner?” She had to nearly kill the Dr. a plethora of times just so she can go outside and do things. So, she can live . Ironic that she brought him to the brink of a second death many times before, just so she can have a moment to experience life outside of his brick walls. Things would have been much less stressful for both Sally and the Dr if Jack had come to her sooner.

“I wasn’t sure on what I was feeling exactly,” Jack answers, honestly. “I’ve never felt this way before about anyone. It wasn’t until you were in danger with Oogie Boogie that I realized just how strongly this feeling really is. But even before then I always felt… something. But I was also under the impression that you were the Dr.’s wife and not daughter. It was always hard for me to tell.” He then laughs. “You have no idea how glad I am no know you despise him.”

Sally giggles. “So, what does this mean about us? This changes everything. You and me…being together. The citizens–”

“Already adore you,” Jack interrupts, hoping to ease her mind. “And one day, they will love you even more as their Queen.”

Queen, Sally repeats the word in her mind. If her and Jack are meant to be, that means she will be the Pumpkin Queen to the Pumpkin King. Is that the purpose she is looking for? Will she be able to handle it? What if she can’t? What if it’s too much? What if it’s not her purpose at all?

“But that won’t be for a while,” Jack assures her. “I’m not quite ready to share you yet with our citizens. I want you all to myself, if you’ll have me. And when the time does come, I’ll be there every step of the way to help guide you. I’m sorry, is this all too much?”

Sally smiles. “It is,” she admits, nodding. “But that’s okay. As long as I have you by my side, I know everything is going to be alright.”

Jack grins. “That’s right.”

“Just no more stealing holidays,” Sally teases, and Jack bursts into laughter.

“Yes, my dear.” He starts to lean forward again. “Whatever you say, it shall be.”

And as their lips did as hands do, entwining ever so softly, Sally felt deep within her soul that they are simply meant to be.

And unbeknownst to her, the last petal on the flower she was picking earlier to determine if Jack loves her or not, had a secret petal hidden underneath. Changing the answer from “he loves me not” to…

He loves me. 

Chapter Text

Hannah x Orson

~*~

She was a lot like those girls in the stories. Wendy, Alice, Dorothy, Sarah. Even the Pevensie sisters Susan and Lucy. Just like them, Hannah was transported to another realm where she made friends who became family. Where she felt she belonged. A realm that felt more like a home than her actual home. But just like them, the real world found its way of keeping her and making her forget.

Well, partially. Anything she does remember from the Fright Side she always assumes is just fragments of dreams she’s had when she was little. Dreams so intense, so real, that she still remembers them at 18 years old. Fragments that she likes to draw in her sketchbook from time to time.

And there’s one particular character in her dreams and drawings that makes her stomach flutter, heart race, and face flushed. And even though she knows the red eyes she draws are nothing more than colored pencil on paper, she can’t help but feel that the pair of eyes were once real to her, once upon a time…

Because there’s only so much she can remember from her dreams when she awakens; limited details that she’s able to express in her sketchbook. But him? She’ll never forget his every detail. Never forget his glowing blood red eyes, spiky black hair that points out in every direction, smooth pale, almost gray skin, crooked smile, and the sharp fangs that linger underneath his lips.

She’ll never forget this boy who she’s never met. This boy who is not real. This boy who is quite literally the guy of her dreams. But unbeknownst to her, she’s already met him before. Unbeknownst to her, he is very much real and has been waiting a very long time for their reunion. 

A reunion that neither him or her would ever think would happen. Her because she thinks he’s merely a character her mind had made up, and him because he thought he lost her forever and that reuniting would never come to be. 

That never stopped his search though. Despite logically knowing he’d never find her again, his hope that resided deep within him kept him going on in his search. While he was in her dreams, she was in his too. Not as a made up character, but as someone real who he is desperately and hopelessly in love with. Someone who he prays he will meet again and who will stay around should they ever meet again.

“Orson?” comes the voice of his mother on the other side of his coffin. “It’s time to get up. Scary Godmother is awaiting us.”

And so, Orson rises from his coffin, readies himself for the party, and leaves with his parents for Scary Godmother’s annual Halloween Spooktacular. It hasn’t been much of a party though since Hannah’s been gone. It’s more like…a lame get together. Sometimes he wonders if Halloween still holds a special place in her heart, or if it is a sad reminder of all the Halloweens they’ve spent together. That’s how he’s felt about it these last five years. Does she dread the holiday now too? Does she dread the pain the memories bring? Does she even remember them? Remember him?

Sometimes he wishes that she does dread the holiday because the idea comforts him. That it makes her sad because it reminds her of him and makes her miss him. But then he feels guilty because Hannah doesn’t deserve to be sad like him. She deserves to be the happiest girl in the world. Even if it means he’s not by her side. 

And while something has indeed felt like it’s been missing from Hannah’s life for years during the Spooky Season, she still finds joy in Halloween. She doesn’t feel sadness at Orson’s absence because…well…she can’t miss something that she believes was never real. She knows him as fantasy. Fantasy that somehow feels familiar. But despite the familiarity and the yearning for something she feels she has lost–but doesn’t know what–the immense levels of serotonin that fills her body never halts at the first sight of Halloween candy in a store.

She loves this time of the year.

She’s obsessed.

Especially with anything vampire related.

She’s not sure if it’s because she genuinely likes the gothic style and aesthetic that vampires are known for or if it’s because she’s under the influence of her crush. The vampire boy from her dreams. She’s not entirely sure if that’s what he is but he certainly looks the part. It’s why she’s been dressing up as a vampire for the last few Halloweens since being in her new neighborhood. 

But now she’s back.

It’s been years since she’s been back in her childhood neighborhood where she and her cousin Jimmy grew up. And now here she is, back in town at 18, dressed as a vampire princess for Halloween and hanging out with her older cousin and his friends. Just like the good old times.

Aaannnddd they’re all dressed up too, much to her relief. Hannah has always been the type to ignore the judgmental opinions of people who say she’s too old to dress up and trick or treat, but sometimes it’s harder to ignore when it’s coming from people you’ve known all your life. 

“I can’t believe the Spook House is still standing,” she says as the five of them—Jimmy, Katie, Daryl, and Bert—make their way down the sidewalk. 

“It’s pretty much immortal,” says Darl while chowing down on some candy he brought with him. 

“One of these days, I’m gonna save enough money to make it an arcade,” says Bert, walking and playing on his phone like a champ.

“We haven’t been back in years,” says Katie. “Not since you left five years ago. It just wasn’t the same without you.”

Hannah beams. “Aww, that’s sweet.”

“Oh great,” Jimmy says, playfully rolling his eyes. “Now you’re giving her a big head.”

Hannah giggles and remembers the times when Jimmy’s teasing was that of a bully and not a friend. Oh how he’s changed throughout the years. Definitely for the better! 

A couple minutes later, they arrived. 

The graveyard was the same as it was five years ago. Dark, lifeless, spooky, and cold. And up ahead stood the old abandoned house. The wood is more rotten and faded, and she’s pretty sure it smells even worse than what it had the last time she’d been here. 

The five of them walked through the graveyard with no problems, but the closer they got to the house, the more freaked out the four 20-something year old adults became. But Hannah…she was more fascinated than fearful. She’s not the scared little girl she used to be. She loves all things Spooky, scary, and paranormal now. What punk-goth doesn’t? 

Oh yeah, her choice in clothing now is nothing like how it used to be when she was younger. Her wardrobe is mainly black, gothic clothing now, but she does have the occasional pastel colors when she’s feeling like being a colorful Pastel-Goth. 

Jimmy wasn’t surprised by her new wardrobe she had started to display when she was 15, but her parents and aunt and uncle certainly were.

When the five of them made it to the house steps, they stood in silence as they watched the house gently shake from the wind. After a moment, Hannah takes in a shuddering breath, overcome with excitement. “Last one inside gives me all their candy!” And then she bolts, ignoring the four voices calling out to her.

As soon as she’s inside, the memories come flooding back to her. Or are they memories of dreams she’s had? She’s not entirely sure. What she does know is that she remembers being six years old when she first appeared in this house. 

It was a prank. Her cousin and his friends pranked her, scared her shitless, and then…she appeared. A woman. A witch. 

Another dream, Hannah thinks to herself.

Just like the vampire boy she draws, she’s drawn this Witchy woman before too. Has dreamt of her and other characters. A skeleton, werewolf, a huge furry monster…Just characters. Memories from dreams, but not memories from real experiences. 

Hannah shines her flashlight around her, observing her surroundings, and trying not to breathe in too much dust. She picks up the hem of her vampire dress so it doesn’t remove the dust from the floor and into her lungs, and as she makes her way further into the house, she notices something shiny by a hallway, closet door.

She moves closer towards the object, observes it with her naked eye, then picks it up for a better inspection. At first glance, it looked like a small human bone, and the only reason why she picked it up is because…well, she felt compelled to. She didn’t feel as if it was actually something to worry about. If she had that feeling, she would have left it alone. 

“A key,” she says to herself once she realizes what it is. But not just any key. “I…I’ve seen this key before. I’ve drawn this key before. I’ve dreamt about it. I…I used to own it. Right? This key used to be mine, but then I…I lost it. Before…before the move. Or…was that all a dream too?”

Her eyes look to the door in front of her, and then all of a sudden, a memory—well what she thinks is a memory—plays in her head.

It was her last visit to the Fright Side. She was telling everyone about her and her family moving. She had left through the door and couldn’t find her key the next day. She had no way of getting back. She had thought maybe her Godmother would magically show up and give her a new key, or maybe simply check in on her, but neither happened. She got older, the memories faded, coming to her randomly in dream-like fragments. She grew to believe it was all in her head, but now…

Without a second thought, she jabs the key into the door’s lock, twists, turns, and then…opens. A blast of colorful light nearly blinds her and for a moment all she could do is stare at the swirling portal in front of her. 

“No way,” she breathes, heart racing. And then her body is moving on its own and she’s walking through it, her body erupting in chills at the tickling sensation. When she makes it to the other side, she’s in the house again, exactly where she was a moment ago, except…not entirely. 

Vibrant color replaced the gloomy gray, and decorations replaced the dust. Light replaced the dark and the smell of cookies replaced the mold and rot. Soft music replaced the howling wind and the unexplainable empty hole in Hannah’s heart felt…whole. 

“It wasn’t a dream,” she whispers to herself. And then louder, not meaning to, she exclaims: “They were never dreams!”

Scary Godmother, Skully, Harry, Bugaboo, Max, Ruby, and…Orson. The boy in her dreams, the one who she could never stop thinking about…his name is Orson. And they were the best of friends. Her vampire and his human.

They were all real.

A new voice reached her ears, curious and alarmed. “Skully, is someone here?” A thin, red headed woman comes around the corner and stops dead in her tracks, eyes wide at the human girl that stood in front of her.

Both Hannah and the woman were frozen in shock, both too afraid to move in case it spooked the other. But then Skully comes around the corner. 

“Hey, I thought I heard—OH MY SPIDERS!! HANNAH?!”

Hannah’s face breaks out into a grin and she awkwardly waved. “Hi.” 

Scary Godmother snaps out of her trance and flies towards Hannah, embracing her in a tight hug. “Oh my stars, Hannah! How I’ve missed you so! You’ve grown up so much. Where have you been all this time? You never visited and we didn’t know where or even how to find you. We searched your entire home state—“

“But Godmother,” Hannah interrupts, “I moved out of state. Way across the country. And I never visited because I lost my key before the move. I just found it a moment ago still inside the Spook House. I remember waiting for you to magically find me, to appear out of nowhere like you had when I first met you, but you never did. I had thought you had forgotten me and then…as I grew older I started to believe that everything was a dream. That you were never real. It was me who was forgetting you !”

Tears fill the other woman’s eyes and she cups the teen’s face. “Oh, Hannah. I thought you knew. I can only appear to you when you are deathly afraid and are in need of me. All these years, you never were. You were always brave.”

The doorbell rings then, and their heads turn towards the door. 

“Oh! That must be Ruby, Max, and…” she gives Hannah a delighted smile. “And Orson. I think he’s missed you most of all. He searched high and low in the human realm looking for you—“ The doorbell rings again. “Oh! Silly me. Skully, open the door!” 

Skully does what he’s told, while Godmother stands in front of Hannah, hiding her with her body. “Let’s surprise them.” She whispers to the girl.

The door opens, revealing the three royal vampires, and Hannah couldn’t help but gasp when she saw Orson. He’s exactly how she’s always drawn him, but more beautiful in person, and suddenly, she feels shy, and intimidated. Not because he’s scary looking, but because he’s so hooottttttt. 

Hannah’s face blushes deeply, and her heart races; she could feel it in her throat. Can they hear it? Can they smell the fresh blood in her veins?

“Greetings, your Majesties!” Says Scary Godmother and Skully in unison. 

The Counts nod in appreciation. “Thank you. We do hope we’re not late,” says Ruby.

Skully waves her off. “Not at all. I say you’re right on time. Especially for the surprise.”

“By surprise,” says Count Max, who gestures to Scary Godmother. Or rather Hannah who she was trying to hide, “I do hope you mean this deliciously smelling human you are hiding from us.”

“Yes, actually,” Says Skully. “But she’s not here to be devoured. At least not by you.” He sends a mischievous look at Orson, but the Prince was too focused trying to get a good look at the girl behind Godmother. When her scent reaches his nose, however, his eyes widen.

He knows that scent. “Wait…” he takes a cautious step forward. “H-Hannah?” He asks, hopefully.

Scary Godmother steps aside to reveal the girl, and when Hannah is exposed for them to fully see, the three vampires gasp. 

Hannah awkwardly curtsies, the best she can in her vampire costume. “Hello again.” She says, smiling. The breath is then knocked out of her when a body is colliding with hers and squeezing her tight in a hug. 

“Is it really you?” Orson asks, afraid to pull back and look at her, fearful that he’ll wake up and realize he’s holding onto his pillow whilst dreaming.

Hannah hugs him back, this boy who is a stranger but also not. So much time has passed…”Yeah. It’s me. I should be asking you that though. For years, I thought you all were nothing but a dream.”

His hold on her tightened, and yet she’s never felt more comfortable. “No. No, we're very much real. I’m very much real. I’m just afraid you’re not and that I’m the one who is dreaming.”

“No, I’m real too.”

“How did you get here?”

“I finally found my key. I lost it all those years ago. That’s why I never returned. But I’m here now.” She pulls away so the two of them can look at each other, really look. After all this time. “We have so much to catch up on, princeling.”

Orson grins at the old nickname, flashing his fangs that always made Hannah envious. Even now she still wishes she had a pair. “That we do, Princess.”

And as much as he wanted to kiss her, to reenact the dramatic scenarios in his head of their reunion kiss, he knew better than to spring into action so suddenly. 1) because his parents are watching, 2) a house isn’t a romantic setting that Hannah deserves, especially with people around 3) it’s been five years since they’ve last seen each other, so unfortunately they are a bit like strangers, strangers who need to get to know each other again, and 4) it’s not confirmed that Hannah even likes him romantically, especially after all this time. 

Although, he’s pretty sure she does. One can never be too sure though. Plus, maybe it’s just his mind telling himself that she does. Like mentioned before, it’s been five years. What if she doesn’t see him that way anymore? If she ever did to begin with. 

But now that she’s back, he’s going to do everything he can to woo her and win her heart. Like his father did his mother. They’re both of the right age now. The perfect age actually. And he’ll be damned if time will ever separate them again.

Five minutes, hours, days, maybe, but no more than that. Not even five weeks, months, and especially not 5 years. He may be an immortal vampire, but even he is aware of how precious time with loved ones is. Especially when they’re human like Hannah.

“Okay, love bats,” Scary Godmother interrupts, making Hannah blush madly and Orson’s heart to skip a beat. “We gotta be prepared for Bugaboo! He’s going to be so thrilled to see you again, Hannah, and I’m sure he’s going to flood the place with his tears. Skully, get the monster sized tissues!”

Hannah’s eyes widen at the name of her most dearest friend, and her eyes brim with tears. Orson realized them right away. “Oh no, Hannah are you okay? Why do you cry?”

Hannah chuckles, embarrassed. “Sorry, I’m just…I’m so happy right now. I’ve missed everyone so much.”

Scary Godmother puts a hand over her heart, her own eyes tearing up now as everything starts to sit on for her too. “Skully, get the regular sized tissues too!” She then pulls Hannah into a hug, having Orson step aside. “We’ve missed you too, honey. There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where we haven’t thought of you.”

Hannah hugs Scary Godmother tightly. Her eyes having a mind of their own as they scanned over to Orson, drawn to him most of all. She smiled and couldn’t help but think…

Home. I’m finally home. 

~Hours Later~

It was reaching midnight by the time Scary Godmother’s party slash Hannah’s unexpected reunion came to an end. It was full of tears and laughter and hugs and storytelling and so many yummy treats. Hannah didn’t want to go, but she was already there longer than she was supposed to be.

Her cousin and his friends must be losing their minds in the human realm. 

Scary Godmother made sure to make four new skeleton keys. Two for Hannah (one being a spare), one for Godmother and one for Orson. Their keys were different from Hannah’s. Hannah’s keys would take her to Scary Godmother’s house, but their keys would take them to her, wherever she may be in the world.

And as she was saying goodbye to everyone, Orson decided at the last minute to go with her. Just so he could spend a little more time with her. 

“You really don’t have to,” Hannah says, nervously. If her cousin and friends are still there at the Spook House and not putting up missing fliers of her already, she doubts they’d be happy seeing her return with a strange boy. 

“I want to,” Orson assures. “Plus, it’s the gentlemanly thing to do. I need to make sure you get home safe.”

And there’s something he wants to ask her when they’re alone too, but he kept that to himself. 

Hannah gives everyone one last hug, making sure to rub Bugaboo’s favorite spot (behind the ears), and when she and Orson walk through the door, back to the human realm, she’s hit with so many emotions.

Disbelief. Happiness. Sadness…she wishes she didn’t have to leave. But now that she has three keys, she knows she can go back any time she wants, and will be extra careful where she puts them. 

Orson closes the door and prepares himself to ask her his question, but before he can open his mouth, voices come from outside.

“We checked all inside the house,” says Jimmy. “I don’t know where she could be. We’ve even checked every inch of the graveyard. I’m this close to calling the cops!”

The voices of Katie, Daryl, and Bert fill the air, but Hannah ignores them, chuckling. “I know time works differently in the realms, but I wonder how long I’ve been gone. I thought it was a long time, but maybe not too long since the cops haven’t been called yet.”

As much as he didn’t want to let her go just yet, Orson didn’t want to be selfish. “I guess you should ease their worries then, huh?”

Hannah sighs, but leans against the wall, not yet moving towards the door entrance. “Yeah, I should, but…” she trails off, biting her lip, and trying to convince herself not to do what she really, really wants to do. 

Orson looks at her, hopefully, his red eyes glowing in the dark. “But?” He questions.

Hannah remembers Scary Godmother’s words: I can only appear to you when you are deathly afraid and are in need of me. All these years, you never were. You were always brave .

It’s time to be brave now.

Hannah steps forward, grabs the collar of his white pirate shirt, and pulls him to her. Before Orson can register what she’s doing, her lips are on his. His eyes go wide, but a split second later instinct takes over and he’s kissing her back. 

Their kiss is gentle and soft, but when he gently bites her bottom lip, making a moan escape her, the gentleness and innocence of their kiss turns into a passionate heated one. With eyes closed, he pushes her against the wall, making her gasp against his lips, but neither one dared to open their eyes, afraid that it would all end. 

However, the chatter from outside got louder, and next thing they knew, the door was barging open, and they’re pulling apart.

“Let’s just check one more—OH MY GOD, HANNAH!!” It was Jimmy who stood at the front of the door, the other behind him trying to get a look inside. 

“We’ve been looking everywhere for you,” he then glares at Orson, “and who the hell are you? Were you two making out? How do you guys know each other?”

And much to Hannah’s horror (and secret delight), Orson says: “I’m her boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend?!” The four adults screech in unison. Hannah would have laughed, but she’s too much in shock at Orson’s proclamation, blushing madly at not only that but also at the memory of the kiss just moments before. 

Her lips are burning.

And she likes it. 

Jimmy laughs. “Yeah, I call bullshit—“ 

Katie smacks him in the arm. “Oh shush. You said the same thing about Daryl and I being together.” She pushes past him, extends her hand out to Orson, and says: “My name is Katie. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Orson takes her hand, shakes it, and says: “Same to you. My name is Orson.”

“Orson huh?” Says Deryl, intrigued. “Sounds foreign. Norwegian?”

“Transylvanian, actually.”

“Nice.”

“Okay, conversation over!” Jimmy interrupts, annoyed. “It’s late and we need to get Hannah back to her parents. They’re leaving tomorrow. So say bye bye to your long distance emo boyfriend who was chilling alone in the Spook House waiting for you like a creep and let’s go.”

Hannah rolls her eyes. “Honestly, Jimmy, there’s no need to be rude.”

Smirking, Orson says, “He’s just jealous I have better hair than him.”

The three friends snicker while Jimmy glares. “I’ll be waiting outside. Come on guys.” And so the four of them leave the house, closing the door behind them.

Hannah giggles and kisses Orson’s cheek. “Well that was eventful.”

“Which part? The kiss or the interruption?”

“Both.”

He grins and kisses her again. Hannah smiles against his lips and says when they pull apart: “So boyfriend, huh? You don’t think we’re going too fast? I mean, for years I thought you were a figment of my imagination. I need to get to know you again.”

“Says the one who kissed me first. Unless that’s your way of getting to know me. By all means, get to know more of me please.” 

Hannah laughs and gives him a gentle shove. “Whatever.” She kisses his cheek one more time and says: “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

The vampire prince nods. “Yes. Absolutely.”

“I’ll see you then.”

And then he’s watching her go, but knows that this time isn’t the last time. He'll see her again. Tomorrow .

And tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

Chapter Text

Gomez x Morticia

~*~

They stood around her, her children and grandchildren. Awaiting for the inevitable death that they all so gladly anticipated for. Of course, they will miss their dearly beloved Matriarch, but death in this family is sacred and beautiful and a most eager event. Death and funerals in the Addams family are what birth and weddings are to the normal modern family. 

And they are no normal modern family. At least to the “normal” society.

And no one was more excited to die than the Matriarch herself. The Queen of Darkness and Torture and Seduction. Morticia Addams. 

Even at her ripe old age, she was a beauty that even Death herself did not want to touch, in fear of tainting it. But alas, death is inevitable for everyone. She had taken many Addams’ before, Gomez being one of them some years ago, and she would not exempt Morticia. 

It would be torture to do so, which Morticia is admittedly not opposed to, but she misses her husband and has been waiting a long time for the reunion. 

And finally, at long last, she feels her heart beat slower and slower. For normal people, they see light when they die, but for the Addams’ it is a deep black smoky mist. And in this darkness stood her beloved Gomez. 

Morticia smiled where she laid, her strained eyes seeing only her husband, who stood at the doorway. Her surroundings began to blur out until suddenly she couldn't see them at all in the darkness that now took over the room. Gomez being the only thing in her sight, causing a feeling of lust to return to her body that she hadn’t felt in so long. As he made his way to her, he reached his hand out for her to take. “Cara Mia,” he says, his voice a whisper even though no one could hear or see him. Just her. His wife. 

“Mon Cher,” Morticia replies, taking his hand. She takes in a shuddering breath and when he pulls her up from the bed and onto her feet, her surroundings come back into view. 

And that’s when she knew she had died.

Because the first thing she notices is her old body lying lifeless on the bed.

Her family realized it instantly and cheered through their tears. A mixture of happy and sad.

“Our legacy lives on,” Gomez said, kissing her fingers and watching her intently. “Oh, Tish, it’s been so long. I’ve missed you so.”

“And I you, my love,” Morticia cups his face affectionately and examines the details. He’s exactly the same as how he left her, only there’s more color on his face and his skin is warm. Even in death he is alive and maybe that’s because of her. 

Because she swears her heart is still beating and she knows it’s because of him. Because only her Gomez can make her feel alive when dead. 

And now, they finally get to be dead together.

And they’ve never felt more alive. 

Chapter Text

Mavis x Johnny

~*~

The wedding went perfectly. It was better than Mavis and Johnny (and especially Drac) had expected. And yes, while Mavis was nervous about the ceremony, it didn’t compare to her nerves now. Not because of what was to come during the wedding night, but because of what else they had planned to do. 

“You know you really don’t need to do this,” Mavis said as she prepared the towels in case things got too messy. “You’re already immortal because your life is tied to mine. You’re my Zing. That’s part of the benefit of being Zinged to someone. There’s no need for you to become a vampire. I know it’s because you don’t want to be the only human amongst monsters, but Johnny, I love you just the way you are. Plus, everyone accepts that you’re human.”

Johnny frowned as he helped her prepare the bed. “But Mavis, we talked about this already. It’s more than just me wanting to fit in better. I’m fine with being an oddball. I’ve been an oddball all my life. It’s all because we don’t really know if our lives are actually tied together or not. Being human means being fragile compared to you monsters. And let’s say our lives are tied together, but it goes both ways. If I die in a freak accident, what if you die too? You’re the heart of your family, Mavis. It would destroy them if you died. And if that doesn’t happen I still have aging to worry about. You don’t think it’ll be weird being with me when I’m old and wrinkly and gross and smelly?”

Mavis smiles fondly. She strides over to him and kisses his cheek. “Johnny, I’ll love you no matter what. Human, monster, wrinkles, or none. I see where you’re coming from though. You’re right that we don’t really know about our lives being tied together, but I sure am hoping. I don’t want you dying at all.” She pulls him into a deep hug. 

“I don’t want you to go where I can’t follow,” she whispers, suddenly very emotional, and tries her best to fight back tears. 

Johnny hugs her back tightly. “We won’t have to worry about that after tonight. After tonight, we’ll be together forever. Until the end of time.”

“Are you sure this is what you really want then?” Mavis asked, her voice still a whisper.

“Yes.”

“Then I won’t be selfish. Not like my father.”

Dracula has always had good intentions when it came to his daughter, but sometimes those intentions were occasionally done out of selfishness rather than protectiveness. He had also warned her when she first started dating Johnny to never ever bite him or try to turn him. Why? Simple. She’s never drank human blood before. She could end up killing him, sucking him dry. She might not be able to stop. 

Johnny secretly prays that she won’t like the taste of human blood. He knows that to become a vampire he has to die briefly, but he doesn’t want to die permanently if Mavis ends up in uncontrollable bloodlust. He hopes that the substitutes she has drank all her life will make the taste of his blood disgusting. And if that ends up happening, he hopes it’s not too gross so she can complete the task.

Back to Mavis though. She knows how much of a liar her father can be. He’s the one who said that Johnny’s life is tied to hers in the first place because they are Zings; that there’s no need for a Turning. Who's to say he wasn’t lying then too? 

Plus, what was so wrong with Johnny becoming a vampire? Johnny taught her so much about what it meant to be human. Now, it’s her chance to show him what it’s like to be a vampire. Sure, she didn’t turn human, but she learned that being human comes from the heart, no matter what type of creature you are. 

Johnny grins at her words, his smile wide, and he’s quick to kiss his new wife. He was going for a quick, chaste kiss, but when her lips met his all wanted was to kiss her some more.

So he did. Especially when he realized that turning him into a vampire is not the only thing they will be doing this night. 

Mavis smiles against his lips at his eagerness and gently pulls away. “So which shall we do first, huh?”

“I kind of want to see what it’s like in both human and vampire form,” he chuckles nervously. “If that’s okay with you?”

Mavis’s eyes gleamed. “Oh, I am all for it.” 

~*~

They laid wrapped in each other’s arms, euphoria filling their bodies as they calmed down from their intimate moment spent together as husband and wife. 

Mavis drew circles on Johnny’s chest as she listened to his human heart. A heartbeat that would soon stop beating and then change into the slow beating that is a vampire’s heart. They beat so much slower than a regular human’s. 

“Are you ready?” She asks, nervous but also a little excited. She wants to get it over with, to be done with the nerves that ache her, but also wants to introduce to him all the wonders that make being a vampire so amazing. The heightened senses, the speed, the transforming, the flying! All of it! 

She can hear his heartbeat pick up speed, most likely a little scared. Not of her, but of the pain that is to come. She felt her own slow heart pick up speed, scared that everything will go wrong. 

Mavis swallows down her fear and doubts, putting on a brave face and welcoming thoughts. 

I can do this, she thinks. I will have control.

Besides, it goes against the nature of a Zing to kill them, right? 

Suddenly done with the waiting and anticipation, Mavis springs into action, straddling Johnny, who was surprised in a very good way. 

“Mavis—“

“It’s time. No more waiting,” she stresses, “I want to get it over with. I…I’m scared and the more we wait the more scared I get.”

Johnny nods, understanding exactly how she feels. He tilts his head, exposing his bare neck. Mavis can see the vein slightly sticking out, as if it’s trying to tell her “Hey! I’m right here. Bite me!” 

She slowly brings her face down, inhaling his human scent. This will be the last time she’ll get to smell his originality. Maybe. She’s never done this before and doesn’t know any turned vampires at all. Maybe he’ll still smell the same. Maybe his personality won’t change. Maybe he’ll still be her Johnny. 

She’s just changing his genetic makeup. The things that make him human. Not who he is as a person. Because it’s like she learned before. Being human takes place at the heart and soul.

Instinct takes over and before she knows what she’s doing, she’s licking the spot on his neck where she’s going to go for the bite. Before she does, she leans back, bites her wrist until blood is drawn and offers it to him. It looked like it hurt a lot, but Mavis made it seem like it was nothing. “You need to drink my blood in order for this to work. Vampire blood and venom need to be in your system.” 

Johnny nods again, the whole situation making him speechless for once. He grimaced at the sight of her blood oozing down her arm, but didn’t think for a second that they should stop. 

He wants this. He wants to be with her forever with no risk of any possibility coming in between. This is the only way.

He musters up as much courage as he possibly could and hesitantly brings his mouth down to her bleeding wrists. Surprisingly, the taste of her blood wasn’t so bad. It wasn’t metallic like that of a human, but instead sweet. He wonders if it’s a Zing thing. When he’s done drinking, or what he hoped was a good chug of blood, Mavis goes back to his neck. 

Right at that second, a euphoric high starts to overcome him. “Am I getting high? Why do I feel like I’m getting high?”

Mavis giggles and kisses his cheek. “That’s my blood at work. It’s supposed to make the pain hurt less. Are you ready?”

He nods. “Yes. Make me yours eternally.”

“Oh, Johnny,” she kisses the spot on his neck. “You already are.” Then bites.

A surprised gasp followed by a pained cry comes out of Johnny’s mouth and his eyes fly open, wide as saucers. God this hurts! Luckily, it was only for a few seconds, and thankfully the pain was replaced with pleasure. Huh, he thinks, that wasn’t so bad after all. Feels kind of good. 

And Mavis…well turns out she hates the taste of human blood after all. Looks like it was a good thing Dracula never had her try it when she was younger. Maybe she would have liked it then to now, but she’s so accustomed to the blood substitutes that she’s had all her life that human blood is actually really disgusting to her. Like broccoli to human children. 

She was so afraid that she would end up loving it too much that she would go into a bloodlust and kill him. 

Thank god that’s not the case. However she does wish she could be enjoying this even a little bit. After all, Johnny seems to be having the time of his life. She fought back the urge to gag though and kept it going. She wasn’t sure how long she had to suck his blood for. All she knew was that her venom had to go inside his bloodstream. She was messy, most blood going in her mouth, some of it spilling out and smearing onto her cheeks and chin and dripping onto her chest and the bed, but she tried her best. 

When she felt the task was done, she pulled away from Johnny’s neck and wiped the blood off her mouth, her pale lips stained. “Johnny?” 

But Johnny was barely conscious. His heart was beating so fast and his vision was blurry. He could barely hear her. He was feeling bliss and pain, but not too much, just a sting really. But what he really wanted to feel was the nothingness of sleep.

“I love you, Johnnystein,” Mavis says, realizing that these are his final moments. “Please come back to me.” She closes his half-lidded eyes and upon doing so, Johnny’s heart stops entirely.

~*~

Mavis couldn’t sleep. Her body wouldn’t let her even though her eyes begged for rest. She stayed awake for the entire thirteen hours (which is how long the transformation takes) cuddled next to Johnny’s dead body.

He’ll come back to me, she thinks, praying that she’s right. He will. I know he will.

The grandfather clock in their bedroom chimes loudly, indicating that the thirteenth hour has come, and Mavis is quick to sit up, eyes glued to Johnny’s body and face, waiting for any sign of movement. Of life!

“Johnny?” She whispers to him. “It’s time to wake up, my Zing. Please wake up.” Only a few seconds had passed, but it was enough to scare Mavis to tears. She gives him a gentle shake, hoping that would wake him. “Johnny? Johnny, please! I love you. Wake up!”

And then…

His eyes fly open and he’s jumping upward, crashing into Mavis, and is breathing heavily. Breathing in his first gasps of immortality. Mavis is overcome with relief and happiness that she ends up sobbing. “Johnny! Thank god!” She wraps her arms around him and is squeezing him tightly. “I thought you weren’t going to wake up. How do you feel?”

“M-Mavis?” Johnny stutters out, a bit dazed and confused. “What happened?”

Not letting go of him, she explained. “I did it, Johnny. The transformation is done. You’re a vampire now.”

Johnny’s eyes widened in shock. “Holy shit! No way! I mean, I never doubted you, but I was totally, totally, totally scared.”

She pulled away from him and noticed his red eyes first. She doesn’t comment on it though, knowing that with time and plenty of blood substitutes they will fade back into their brown shade. At least, that’s what she theorizes. From all the texts and answers her father has given her, that’s what usually happens. Unless the new vamps regularly drink human blood then their eyes will remain red. However, every vampire is different.

“I was totally, totally, totally scared too! I’m so glad you’re okay.”

He grins, flashing his new fangs, which made Mavis squeal. “Oh my god! Your fangs are so cute!”

His eyes widened again. “Really? I gotta see!” He moves his head from side to side looking for an enchanted mirror anywhere that will allow him to see his reflection. His excitement makes Mavis giggle. 

“All in good time,” she says, “We have forever after all, you know.”

Johnny’s grin widens and his eyes sparkle. “Forever,” he repeats. “With nothing in the way.”

He kisses her passionately, taking her by surprise, but she welcomes his kiss, melting into it almost instantly. He suddenly pulls away, a serious look on his face. “Wait,” he says, “I don’t feel any different though. Do I look different? Am I vampire-sexy?”

Mavis couldn’t help but laugh.

Because her Johnny is still the same.

Chapter Text

Coraline x Wybie

~*~

Coraline woke up with a start. She was sweating so bad that the droplets fell into her panting mouth, the taste of salt coating her the tip of her tongue. She ran a hand through her black hair, no longer the deep blue it had been ten years ago when everything had gone down with the Other-Mother.

Other-Mother might have physically been gone, but mentally she’s been haunting Coraline’s dreams for the past ten years. Not always, but sometimes. It’s not like her life is nothing but darkness and despair. Coraline actually loves her life. She has a great relationship with her real parents and has an amazing boyfriend who has been there through thick and thin with her. They’ve helped her greatly. She’s gone to therapy and has found ways to cope with the paranoia and anxiety Other-Mother had left her with. 

She’s happy and safe.

But sometimes the nightmares still come.

Sometimes they’re so bad that she’s thrashing in her bed and screaming for help.

Other times she’s jumping awake with a gasp and is dripping in sweat. A panic attack sometimes follows after.

Like now.

The body next to her stirs, rubbing his eyes from sleep, but then springing to action when he realizes his girlfriend is trying to get her breathing under control. “Coraline! Hey, it’s okay.” Wybie sits up quickly. “I’m going to touch you now, okay?”

Coraline nods, focusing on getting her panic attack under control. She’s shaking and breathing hard; it feels like her heart is in her throat and her hands are starting to go numb. Even Wybie’s voice sounded a bit faded; too quiet over the thundering of her rapidly beating heart. 

Wybie gently grabs her hands and starts squeezing and rubbing them. “Squeeze my hand, Coraline. Remember to count how many knuckles you feel.”

She does as he says, squeezing his hand with every count. “1…2…3…4…5…”

“Good. What color is my shirt?”

“P-pink,” she manages to smile. “Gross.”

Wybie smiles, feeling a little relieved that she’s not too badly deep into her attack, that she’s still able to find humor and joke. Even if it’s only a little. “It’s salmon actually.”

“W-whatever,” Coraline stammers, continuing with what she was taught. After a few minutes of counting and saying the colors to the different things in her room, as well as naming off different objects, she finally finds herself calming down.

“Okay,” she says, finally looking up at Wybie, and giving him a weak, embarrassed smile. “I’m okay. It’s over with.”

“Another bad dream?” He guesses, then scolds himself. “Sorry, of course it was. Do you want to talk about it?”

Coraline shakes her head. “No, not really. Besides, it’s just like the others. There’s only ever slight differences, and the only thing that remains the same is her. She’s always there. The Other-Mother.” Tears filled her eyes and she couldn’t help but curse. “Fuck. It’s been ten years. I can’t get rid of her. No matter what I do, she’ll always be there.”

Wybie gently brings her to his chest, holding her and rubbing her back. “You will, Coraline. Someday you will.”

She brings a hand over her pregnant belly. “Well, I hope that someday is soon. I don’t want my trauma to fuck up our kid. What if I end up being way too protective and overbearing? What if I end up being a bad mom–”

Wybie puts a hand over her mouth to shut her up. “I’m going to stop you right there. Don’t you ever think you’ll be a bad mom. You’re not going to be perfect, but I know you sure as hell won’t replace our kids' eyes with buttons and then later try to eat them.”

Coraline chuckles. “Okay, fair point.”

“Do you want to stay awake?”

Coraline nods. “Yeah. Will you stay awake with me?”

“Of course.” He kisses her sweetly, and she smiles against his lips, feeling a huge amount of gratitude for him. She never thought he’d become such a huge part of her life. If you had told her ten years ago that this weird, awkward boy who she had somewhat made fun of and who annoyed her to no end would become the love of her life and father of her child, she would have insulted you until you cried.

She was probably around sixteen when she first started having feelings for Wybie. They hit her like a truck when she realized she was jealous that he was hanging out with this girl from a Filmography class he was taking. At first she ignored what she felt, until eventually she exploded at him one night when he told her he wouldn’t be able to hang out with her because he has already made plans with the other girl. Coraline had exposed her feelings in a fit of rage and hadn’t spoken to him for an entire week out of embarrassment.

The only reason why they’re together now is because he had broken into her house and confessed that he was in love with her too and was pissed off that she ignored him for a whole week. Boy did he ever lay it out on her. 

That’s another great thing about Wybie. He eventually learned to give Coraline an attitude right back. He’s the first guy to ever do such a thing. It’s one reason why she was able to grow a crush on him. He learned to treat her like an equal. 

And now here they are a few years later, happy and in love and with a little one on the way. 

And she vows that she’s going to be the best mother in the whole wide world. Better than her own mother, and definitely better than her Other-Mother. She doesn’t know the first thing about being a mother, but she knows that as long as she has her weirdo of a baby daddy by her side, she’s going to be alright.

“Actually,” Wybie breaks the silence, “Do you want to get some late night breakfast?”

Coraline’s heart soars. “Oh hell yeah.” 

Yes, she’s going to be perfectly fine. 

Chapter Text

Victor x Emily

~*~

Victoria never made it to the altar. She never made it to the wedding. Victor and Emily’s wedding, that is. No, unfortunately, after the dinner for her and Lord Barkis, they had gone on their way for the honeymoon. Leaving Victor certain of the choice he was about to make. The commitment. The suicide. The death that he hopes will make him feel alive. 

His life was never really one worth living anyway. Maybe now…he can be free. With Emily.

He doesn’t love her. Not yet. He knows that with time he will though. She’s so kind and thoughtful and patient and strangely beautiful for a rotten corpse. She’s also so full of life for someone dead. She’s charming, and she deserves to finally have the wedding of her dreams.

There is nothing left in the human world for Victor. But maybe, with Emily, there’s a future in the land of the dead that he’s not aware of. A happy one,  he hopes. One with purpose. One where they can live their undead lives in peace with many adopted deceased children. They’ll look after them until their parents come. And for the ones that don’t, they’ll love them until the end of time. 

Victor feels a blush creep up on his face. He hasn’t even married her yet and he’s already thinking of children. How silly. But then again he was always a silly one. 

The ceremony then begins. The music plays, the people stand, and their heads turn to the doors. He’s watching her walk down the aisle, his Emily, and he can feel his heart beating so fast. He’s not sure if it’s because of her or if it’s because of the poison sitting next to him. Whichever it was, it was the type of heart pounding reaction that was more so excited than fearful. 

When she made it to the altar, standing tall and happy and beautiful, he almost reached for her hands to hold. If it wasn’t for her bouquet of undead flowers he would have. 

Elder Gutknecht began speaking, but Victor was paying no attention. His only focus was his bride, and even though this whole wedding was his eager idea, it was in this moment right here where he felt genuinely and deeply enthusiastic to be her husband. For real this time. 

Maybe he does love her after all. 

He just didn’t realize. And of course he wouldn’t. This is Victor, the clumsy, oblivious idiot.

He hopes he can make her happy. She deserves it. And he’s come to the realization that not only does he have growing feelings for her, but also that this wedding isn’t just for her, but it’s for him too. This is his wedding and she is his bride. And even though it’s not the wedding (or bride) that he was expecting to have, he still finds everything to be perfect. 

And then finally, the moment comes. 

“…and I will be your wine.” He says, lifting the cup full of the poison that Emily had just poured to his mouth. The rim was nearly to his lips until suddenly, Emily stopped him, saying no, and taking the cup back. “What—“

“I can’t. This is wrong,” she says, eyes brimming with tears. The crowd broke out into shocked whispers, looking amongst one another, as if someone would have the answer. 

A tear slid down her cheek and without even thinking, he reached up to wipe it away. “Emily,” he whispers, confused, “whatever do you mean? What’s wrong?”

Emily leans into his touch, eyes closed. “My life was taken from me too soon. I do not want to be the reason for taking yours. I love you, Victor, but you deserve to live. I did not have my wedding, and I want you to have yours. With Victoria.”

And while in the beginning, that was all Victor had wanted, he found his heart breaking at her words, and realized that Victoria is not the future he wants. And even if she was, it’s too late. She’s already married and gone. But Emily is right here. Emily is ready.

And so is he. 

“I don’t want Victoria,” he says, meaning it. “It appears that…I have feelings for you. Feelings I didn’t even know were growing until I saw you walking down the aisle to me. I was sure that I would love you in time, but…it appears that happened faster than expected. I want to stay by your side. Let me do this.”

Emily was shocked at his confession. That’s all she wanted was for him to love her back, but now that he does and is willing to commit suicide to be with her, she finds that she would rather him not be with her if it meant keeping him alive. “No,” she says, sternly. “I will not—“

Victor, tired of people thinking they know what’s best for him, springs into action, grabbing the bottle of poison on the table and taking a big swig of it. Emily and the crowd gasp, and a few skeleton jaws fall to the ground in loud clacks. Emily stood frozen, unsure of what to do. There was nothing she could do. The poison was already in his system.

Now it’s only a matter of time.

“Victor,” Emily says in disbelief, unsure of what to even say except: “Why? Why did you do that? Are you insane?”

Victor smiles softly and takes her hands. “It’s like I said. I want to stay by your side…as your husband. I’m not running away from you anymore. I—“ he’s cut off when he suddenly finds it hard to breathe. He stumbles, falling to his knees, the poison fast at work. 

“We must finish the ceremony,” says Elder Gutknecht. “Do you Victor take Emily to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

And even though he was struggling to breathe, his face slowly turning blue, he managed to nod and say: “I do.”

Emily would have been thrilled, after all she’s been waiting to hear those two words from her love for so long, but now she was met with complete sorrow. She knew what would happen, but seeing it unfold was too hard to watch.

“And do you Emily take Victor to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

A trail of tears fell down her face, soaking and staining her cheeks. “I do.”

“Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.” 

Victor tried to get to his feet, but he couldn’t stand, and his breathing became frantic. So this is it, he thinks, I’m dying. It hurts so bad. But when he looks at Emily, he knows there will be peace and bliss at the end of it. 

Emily drops to her knees and cups his face. “No,” she says to no one in particular. “I may now kiss the groom.” She gently brings his face to hers and kisses him softly.

Victor’s dying pants come to a halt as he melts into the kiss, and then before he knows it, he stops breathing, giving his last breath to Emily, and being greeted with darkness.

His body goes limp and lifeless, falling into Emily’s arms. Even though she knew in a few minutes he’d awaken, she couldn’t help but sob, struck with devastating grief. 

“My dear, why do you cry?” Asks Elder Gutknecht. “He’ll awaken soon. You should be happy. This is exactly what you wanted.”

Emily shakes her head. “No. I…I never wanted him to die. I just wanted him to love me and accept me for who I am. Like how I accepted him. This whole wedding was such a selfish request. I shouldn’t have asked—“

“But you didn’t. He chose to. This was his choice.”

“Influenced by me, I’m sure. He did it out of pity. I shouldn’t have agreed to let him do this.”

“Let me rephrase that. You were his choice. If he truly loved Victoria, he could have easily ran off after her. He knew where she was going for the honeymoon, knew that if he went and found her that she’d go with him willingly, but instead he stayed to marry you. He stayed to make you happy. He kept his promise and—“

“And I would do it again and again,” Victor suddenly says, lifting his head, unalive and feeling better than ever. 

“Oh, Victor,” Emily breathes, but she’s unsure of what else to say. So instead, she hugs him tightly. 

Victor returns her hug and looks to Elder Gutknecht when he speaks. “That was a quick return. Usually it takes hours, sometimes days, for a reawakening.”

Victor smiles against the crook of Emily’s neck. He lifts his head and says to the Elder: “I guess I had someone worth coming back quickly to.”

And if Emily had a pumping heart and blood in her veins, she’s sure her face would be blushing. “Well,” she starts, suddenly feeling shy, “I guess that means you’re eager for the honeymoon, huh?”

Victor’s eyes widen at her hidden meaning. “I…uh…” Now that was definitely something that hasn’t crossed his mind. Children yes, but the process of making them? Even though, technically, they are unable to reproduce. But it hadn’t occurred to him that they could still be…physical. Movement catches his eyes and that’s when he remembers the Church filled with friends who had come to watch the couple be wed. Victor grows even more embarrassed. They came for a wedding, not a drama show. “Oh! H-Hello, everyone. Sorry for the dramatics. I–”

“Best wedding ever!” General Bonesapart shouts, instigating a cheer from the crowd. “To the newlyweds!”

“To the newlyweds!” The crowd repeats.

Emily helps Victor to his feet and links her arm through his, leading them down the aisle towards the door. “I must say,” she says to him, “I was expecting to take you to the back room so you could die and awaken in a comfortable setting. Not a Church floor. I’m sorry.”

Victor chuckles. “There’s nothing to worry about. I was a quick one, apparently. But I must say as well, I was not expecting you to back out.”

Emily frowns. “I wanted to give you a choice–”

“And I chose you,” he interrupts, softly, with a loving look in his eyes. “In life…and in death.”

They reached the doors then, but Emily had stopped walking to face him. “Do you promise?”

“I promise.”

And with a huge smile on her face, she leans forward to kiss him.

The Corpse Bride…

And her Corpse Groom.

They walk out the doors afterwards, walking down the cobblestone towards no specific destination, but instead towards their future together.

As husband and wife.

Chapter Text

Kat x Casper 

~*~

The chiming of the grandfather clock striking 10 echoed through the house. Casper pulls away from Kat, looking at her sadly. Kat wasn’t sure what was happening, not with the sad way he was looking at her and certainly not with the fact that he’s alive somehow. She had thought that maybe the machine his father had created worked somehow, that they just needed to wait it out for a bit for the process to work. She could have asked him when he first approached her, but…she didn’t have the words to say anything at all. 

And he didn’t either. He spoke to her with his human eyes, and all they said to her was: “Will you dance with me?” 

She wanted to live in the moment, dancing with her crush, rather than ask questions. 

And even now she still didn’t know what to ask. So instead she says his name. “Casper…?”

He smiles, fondly, and then slowly leans forward. Kat’s heart jolts, knowing he's about to kiss her, and she’s never felt so ready for anything in her entire life. She closes her eyes and melts into his lips when they meet hers. 

So this is why people like to kiss. It’s not as gross as they both thought it would be. It’s warm and soft and wet (but in a good way) and never has either of them felt such euphoria. 

When they pulled away, they were no longer levitating in the air, and Casper…

Was still human. 

To Kat she wasn’t expecting a change, but Casper was. Amelia had told him he had until 10 to be a human. Had she changed it to midnight after all? Or…no. He’s not going to even think of that wish.

“Casper,” Kat finally finds her voice, “What’s going on? How are you human? How are you alive?!”

Casper grins. “Your mom. She made this happen.”

Her eyes widen and immediately brim with tears. “My…my mom? How?”

Casper shrugs. “I guess my uncles aren’t so bad after all. They kept their word.”

“Is she still here?” Kat asks, feeling nervous and hopeful and excited and scared. Because if she sees her mom, she knows it’ll only be brief. She’ll have to let her go again.

But at least this time, Kat will have a proper goodbye. 

“I don’t know,” Casper answers, “Last I seen her she was—“

A scream erupts from the crowd of kids that Kat and Casper forgot were watching them. Everyone took off running towards the door and when Kat saw what they were screaming at, she gasped.

Because high in the air, floating down to her, was a ghost dressed in red. 

Her mom.

Looking as beautiful as the day she lost her. 

By the time Amelia had approached Kat, the floor was empty. Its only occupants being Casper, Kat, Amelia, and her dad upstairs, watching. 

Kat was left speechless again, her eyes never leaving her mom, afraid that if she looks away or blinks, Amelia will vanish. 

“Hi, baby,” Amelia says, smiling.

That was all it took for Kat to break down into tears. “Hi, mom.” She wanted to run to her, to hold her and feel her warmth. But she knew she’d just go right through her. She still felt warm though. It was like the light that glowed around her mom was giving off a little bit of heat. Or maybe she’s imagining it? Maybe she’s about to faint.

“You’ve grown so much,” says Amelia, crying too, and it bewildered Kat that ghosts can cry too. But wait…her mom isn’t a ghost at all. 

“And you…” Kat wasn’t sure what to say again. “Haven’t aged a day.” She laughs lightly with her mom and just hearing her laugh brought more tears to her eyes. So many memories… “You look good, is what I’m trying to say.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you a ghost?” She knew the answer, but wanted confirmation.

“No, baby. I’m on the other side. I came here as a favor.” She glanced at Casper, who was watching silently to the side. “And while Casper is well aware of the agreement we had a while ago, a…higher up of mine, you can say,” she winks, and Kat immediately knew she meant either God or Jesus, “has decided to do something that’s so rarely ever done.” 

“What is it?” Kat and Casper speak at the same time. They smiled at each other, but remained silent so Amelia could answer. 

“It’s been decided at the last minute that…”, she pauses for dramatic effect.

“Mooom,” Kat playfully groans. “You know I hate the anticipation. What is it?” 

Amelia smiles then takes a hold of each of their hands. “It’s been decided that Casper is given a second chance at life.”

Casper and Kat gasp in unison and their heads whip to each other, sharing similar shocked expressions. “So, wait, does that mean…” Casper starts, looking at Amelia with teary eyes. He couldn’t finish his sentence though, too stunned to speak. 

Amelia nods. Even she was getting teary eyed. “Yes, Casper. It’s why you haven’t changed back. It means you’re alive, and alive you will stay until death can claim you again.”

“It means you get to grow up with me,” Kat says, and faster than lightning, she’s pressed against him, hugging him so tightly that the air is knocked out of him. 

Air that he’s going to need to breathe for the rest of his life. Life. A second chance. A future with Kat.

Wetness dripped down his cheeks and for the first time in so long, Casper was crying. He hugged Kat back and hired his face in the crook of her neck. Kat could feel his tears and put more pressure into her hug. Because actually touching him without going through him is so strange and wonderful. “Oh, Casper.” But that was all she said, letting her hug be the comfort that he needed. 

Besides, what words could she possibly say to comfort him? “Congrats on being alive again”? No, absolutely not. 

“Enjoy your life, Casper,” Amelia says, looking down at her daughter and possible future son in law, with such love and affection. There was sadness in her eyes at having to leave again, but also happiness for the former ghost boy whose life was taken from him too soon. “And don’t break my daughter’s heart.”

Her mother began to fade and at first Kat thought it was because her vision was blurry due to her tears. But no, she was really disappearing right before her eyes. And even though she knows they will be reunited again one day, she hates having to let her go again. “I love you, mom. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, my love. Until we meet again.” She blew her daughter a kiss and Kat swore her whole body was filled with a feeling—a warmth—she couldn’t describe. Heaven’s light, she thinks. Maybe that’s what it is.

When Amelia was no longer present, Kat was glad that the warmth stayed.

She and Casper stared at the empty space in the air for a moment, still wrapped in each other’s arms, and at the same time, as if both suddenly realizing that they were holding on to each other, they turned their heads to look at each other.

Neither said anything, but their eyes spoke for them, asking one question.

Can I kiss you?

They answered each other by doing exactly that.

It was short though when a loud, “AHEM!” crossed their ears, making them jump apart.

“Okay,” starts Kat’s dad as he stalks down the staircase, “So obviously, this is great! You’re human again, but–” Kat was surprised at his seriousness, “Because you’re human, that means you’re able to do human things. Like reproduce. And since you guys are dating now and living together, I will not–”

Mortified, Kat groans loudly, cutting him off. “Oh my god! Dad, no! Please just…” she grimaced, feeling her face heat up, hotter than the pits of hell. “Shut up.”

And even though her dad meant what he said, he still smiled, amused that he got to embarrass his daughter in front of her boyfriend. “I’m just saying. I know how hormones work, especially for boys.”

Casper’s face was just as red as Kat’s, and even though he doesn’t like the feeling of heat rushing to his face, it was also a little nice. It meant he was human. Really, truly, human. With a beating heart and blood. “I-I promise sir, nothing will…uh…happen.” He gulps and for the first time was a little intimidated by Kat’s dad. 

He had approached the two pre-teens and said: “Good. Because you both are going to be in some real big trouble if so. Now,” he claps his hands together, “are you hungry?”

As if on cue, Casper’s stomach growls, and the feeling of hunger hits him like a truck. “Yeah,” Casper laughs. “I could definitely eat.”

Kat’s dad stood between them, wrapping an arm around his daughter and the now human boy. “Burgers and milkshakes it is. And then we can talk about what the heck just happened tonight.”

And as the three of them walked towards the doors, Casper and Kat snuck a glance at each other, both finding it hard to believe that this was happening. They both prayed it wasn’t a dream.

And even though young love is seen as something temporary; not something to ever last, Kat believes she and Casper will. 

After all…it was their love that brought him back. At least that’s what she likes to think.

And she can’t wait to teach him how to be human.

And Casper? Well, he doesn’t care what goes on, as long as he’s with her.

Chapter Text

Cerise x Howleen

~*~

Her bare feet left imprints on the damp soil as she ran through the wet woods. It had rained earlier that morning, but the sun was out now, as well as the creatures that live in the woods. Squirrels scavenged for nuts, birds collected twigs, and deer gnawed on the moist grass. But the wolves that roam the lands? They ran. 

And she ran with them.

Her red hood flowing behind her like a trail of blood.

After Raven had declared that the Rebels should write their own destinies during Legacy Day, Cerise fled to the human world as soon as she could. She had done research way before the events of Legacy Day, and what she found had struck her to her very core. 

Others like her live in the Human World. People with wolf-like abilities. People who, like her father, can turn into wolves. Werewolves, the realm calls it. Cerise can’t turn into a wolf like the werewolf monsters in this realm can, but she has the ears, eyes, and heightened senses of one. She’s one of them. One of the pack.

Which was the first thing she searched for. Luckily, Cupid, who had lived a long time in the Human Realm, helped navigate her in the right direction, which led Cerise to Monster High. Cerise was put off by the idea of starting school again, but when she was told that werewolves go to the school, she was sold. 

And meeting Howleen definitely sealed the deal.

Cerise has known she’s liked girls for a few years now; since she was thirteen. Like another big secret of hers, (being half-wolf that is), she kept her bisexuality in the closet. Not even her best friend Raven knew. Cerise had planned on coming out to her once they graduated Ever After High, but alas…plans change. No, instead, she came out in the middle of the school year at a new school. All with the help of Howleen, her fierce and loyal werewolf girlfriend.

And fortunately, FaceTime and text messaging works amongst the realms. Which means Cerise was able to come out to Raven, who has her 100% support and love. However, it’s one thing to come out to your friend; it’s a whole different level when it’s your family. It’s also something Cerise wanted to do in person rather than over the phone.

But it’s been a year since they graduated. A year since she came out. A year since she and Howleen became a couple. She’s able to visit her home-realm, but Cerise is scared. She’s afraid coming out to her parents will be a grave mistake.

Sometimes she feels silly for thinking this way. After all, according to them, their society had a strict rule of Royals not romantically mingling with Rebels, especially if they were destined to be the Villain of the Tale. Her parents were never supposed to be together. Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. And to this day, their love and the question of who Cerise’s father is, is a secret that may never be revealed. 

So why should she do the same? Why should she come clean? Why should she emerge from the shadows? Her parents have been safe all these years living in hiding. That’s what Cerise wants for her and Howleen; safety. She’s not saying that she doesn’t feel safe with her parents, but…one can never be too sure.

However, she also wants acceptance and support from those who mean the world to her. And if they truly don’t support and love her, then why should she even consider them Pack? Why bother with those who would want nothing to do with you? Especially when there are better people more worthy of your time and company. Cerise knows if she doesn’t come out, she’ll never know if they love her unconditionally or not. 

Cerise stops running when she makes it to her favorite spot in the woods; a cliff, which shows hundreds of trees along the horizon. It’s Autumn time in the Human Realm, so the leaves are all sorts of colors. Red, brown, yellow, orange, green. It’s her favorite time of the year, and the festivities that the people of the realm host are just as fun as the ones back home.

This is my home now though, she thinks as she stares out into the open space, It has been for the last year. It was never supposed to be permanent though, but…

Cerise’s wolf ears twitch at the sound of noise coming from behind her. She looks and sees Howleen in wolf form. She’s just as beautiful as an animal as she is in her human form. Thick, orangish-brown fur, big golden eyes, and the sharpest of claws and teeth. She walks up to Cerise on all fours before shifting into a cloud of orange and pink smoke which reveals her human self.

“The plan was to go hunting,” is the first thing she says, “not tree gazing, Cerise. What are you doing in our special spot?”

Cerise smiles softly at the word ‘our’. “I just needed a place to think real quick, is all. I can’t really think straight to hunt right now.” She plops down on the ground and starts picking at the grass, feeling a little sheepish that she couldn’t control her thoughts for one moment and had let her instincts carry her away from her task. “I’ll try not to do it again. Can we sit for a moment, though? I know the pack is hungry, but–”

She’s cut off when Howleen crouches down to kiss her nose. “Of course we can, silly. There’s nothing wrong with needing a breather. Are you okay?” She sits next to Cerise, looking concerned. “Is this about seeing your parents and coming out to them? You don’t need to unless you feel safe and ready.”

Cerise nods. “I know. It’s just…” she sighs then leans back so she’s laying down on the grass, not caring that it’s wet from the morning rain. “Everything is so perfect right now. There’s no conflict. I don’t want to be the cause of that happening. But then it’s like…I also don’t want to keep you a secret from my family. I don’t know what to do.”

Howleen leans back to lay next to her and says: “You've got to really think deeply on what you feel is right, my love. Consider the pros and cons, but please don’t let me be an influence. This is about you, Cerise. I’m fine staying in the shadows with you no matter how long it takes.”

“And what if I never want to leave the shadows?”

“Then that’s exactly where we’ll stay.”

Tears brimmed Cerise’s eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. Howleen’s sister, Clawdeen, worked hard on Cerise’s makeup, so she doesn’t want to ruin the work. “I love you.” She blurts, smiling. “Thank you for being so patient and understanding.”

Howleen leans forward and kisses her nose again. “Of course, babe. But guess what?”

“What?”

Howleen quickly gets to her feet. “I love you more than you love me!” She shifts into wolf form and dashed towards the trees.

Cerise scrambles to her feet, stumbling over her red hood, and shouts: “No, I love you more!” She finds balance and chases after her werewolf girlfriend, feeling envious that she couldn’t turn into a wolf too. A feeling she never felt while at Ever After High. Over there, she wanted so desperately to be human, but over here? She wants nothing more than to be a full werewolf. 

She used to be so ashamed of her wolf-heritage, but ever since coming to Monster High, she’s learned to embrace it like she never thought she would. She doesn’t hide her ears and isn’t afraid to use her wolf sight, which changes her eye color to gold. She doesn’t hold back her speed and strength. And while she knows she’s not a full wolf, she also knows that she actually is in the only ways that count. Heart, mind, and soul. She doesn’t need to shift in order to be a Child of the Moon. She doesn’t need to shift to be part of the Pack. Because Howleen’s family welcomed her with no hesitation.

And as she’s running after Howleen, she couldn’t help but wonder if her own mother ever chased her father like this when he was in wolf form. It made her smile against the breeze that kissed her face and blew through her now white hair, streaked with brown stripes instead of the other way around like it was last year. She wondered if her mom ever felt envious at not being a werewolf like her father. Or if her father wished to be human like her mother. And here Cerise is…the perfect combination of both. Wolf and Human. 

Maybe she has nothing to worry about after all. Her parents' situation and Cerise’s aren’t too different. Maybe if they were to look at Cerise and Howleen, they would see themselves.

Because after all, just like her mother, Cerise was a girl…

That fell in love with a wolf.

Chapter Text

Clawdeen x Catrine

~*~

Clawdeen was fuming and it was all thanks to Toralei. Not only did Toralei deliberately ruin her favorite tiger striped shirt, but she also was the reason why Clawdeen became frustrated and said some not so kind words. About Toralei and her kind. Werecats. 

Like all Werebeasts, Werewolves and Werecats share the same moon. They are shifters with more similarities than differences. The same can be said about Vampires, though strangely they are not categorized as a Werebeast, even though they can shift into bats and are also Children of the Moon. It is just something that has always been. The same can be said about the two feuds that have been going on with the Werewolves. Werewolves have been in conflict with Vampires and Werecats for centuries, and while Clawdeen is in no way prejudiced at all like her grandparents are, Toralei just brought out the absolute worst in her. Her words would make you think she is racist against the felines, but that’s not true at all.

It’s not all werecats she dislikes. It’s just Toralei and the Twins and every single other one that acts like them. 

“I hope you drown in a river you flea bitten, hissfitting, pussycats ! You cats are nothing but trouble and this school would be better off without you!”

And just like how werewolves hate being called dogs and/or mutts, pussycat is a derogatory term for Werecats. They also hate being called hissfits and take it real personal when you wish them to die in a body of water. The whole sentence she had said was real personal and rude, but they did deserve it after all.

Needless to say, Toralei and her two friends, Meowlody and Purrsephone were pissed. So much so in fact that Toralei actually got violent, causing the two of them to, as the humans say, “throw hands”. They caused quite a bit of damage to each other, drawing blood as well, but with their super healing abilities, it wasn’t much of a worry. Though, they still got into an immense amount of trouble. Toralei’s punishment was one month of suspension, while Clawdeen’s was a day due to her technically defending herself.

So here she is now, cleaning the attic of the school, and hating every second of it.

That is, until a certain someone decides to visit her.

Her ears perk at the sound of her girlfriend’s soft steps and her mouth nearly waters at the scent of her. But the words that came out of her girlfriend’s mouth almost made her whimper.

“You know, for someone who hates werecats, you sure do wear a lot of cat print. It looks to me that you secretly want to be one of us, and yet you believe we shouldn’t be at this school.”

Clawdeen sighs. This is exactly what she was fearing would happen. That her secret werecat girlfriend would make a comment about Clawdeen’s not so kind words to Toralei. Clawdeen slowly turns around to face Catrine, her ears lowered in submission, and her nerves on high alert. She prays this doesn’t turn into an argument. Catrine isn’t the type to argue, she’s mature and likes talking things out, but sometimes you never know. Maybe today isn’t going to be a talking day for her. Maybe Clawdeen overstepped with her words, even though they weren’t directed at Catrine at all.

“Hey, babe,” Clawdeen says, nervously rubbing the back of her neck. Catrine is glaring at her, not saying a word, which causes Clawdeen to break. “Cat, I’m sorry. I really am. Please don’t be mad at me. But you gotta understand that I didn’t mean all werecats. It’s literally just Toralei and the twins. You and Catty obviously belong here, but those three devils? Back to the pound where they came from. All they do is cause trouble. You know I love all monsters, but those three? They could go to hell for all I care.”

Catrine sighs and shakes her head like a disappointed parent. “Oh, mon amour. Why do you let them get to you?”

“I don’t,” Clawdeen retorts, quickly. “But once they ruin my outfit, of course I’m going to have things to say. And when you put a claw on me? I’m using fangs next.” Her anger dies down again and she’s looking at Catrine with sad eyes. “My words didn’t hurt you though, did they?”

Catrine stays silent and that was all Clawdeen needed to hear. Tears sprang to her eyes instantly and her voice brakes when she speaks. “Oh, Cat, I’m so sorry. I really didn’t–”

“It was only for a brief moment,” Catrine quickly explains, “It stung at first, but I knew you were only talking about the three of them. Not all werecats. I swear, I’m okay now. Pinkie promise.”

That was a thing between the two of them. Pinky Promises that they never ever broke. And when you pinky promise something that means you meant it and are serious. No crosses count and no lies. So hearing those words calmed Clawdeen down.

“Okay,” she said, taking a deep breath in. “I really am sorry though. I didn’t mean to offend you or cause you even the briefest of pains. I just–” Clawdeen is cut off again, but this time it’s due to Catrine kissing her.

Clawdeen melts into the kiss and tries not to giggle when she hears Catrine purr. She loves hearing those purrs, especially during cuddle time. It knocks her out in under five minutes. 

When they pull apart, Clawdeen laughs. “Okay, I’ll take the hint. You don’t want me to dawdle in despair. Correct?”

“Obviously,” Catrine giggles. 

“Well, that’s too bad,” Clawdeen states, confidently. “Because if that’s how you’re gonna shut me up, then I’ll keep dawdling.”

Catrine kisses Clawdeen’s nose. “Silly, pup. Now,” she looks around the room, “got another broom somewhere? I’m gonna help you. The faster we get this done the faster we can go home. You have your designs to work on and I have my portrait of you working on your designs that I need to finish as well.”

Clawdeen laughs. “Don’t lie to me, Cat. You just want cuddles.”

Catrine joins her girlfriend’s laughter. “Maybe.” She winks but then slowly frowns.

Clawdeen notices and asks: “What’s wrong?”

Suddenly, Catrine is bashful. “I just…I’m sorry I’m overthinking again.”

“About?”

“Us.”

“What about it?” Suddenly, Clawdeen’s heart is racing.

“Everyone knows that we’ve been working together on our projects, your clothes and my paintings,” Catrine explains, avoiding eye contact, “but no one knows that we’re together- together. I was just wondering if…if you’re ashamed.”

“Ashamed?!” Clawdeen repeats, completely in shock.

“And I wonder,” Catrine goes on, while it’s on her mind, “is it because we’re alike or is it because we’re different?”

“What do you mean?” Clawdeen asks, confused. Because what the hell is Catrine even talking about?

“Are you ashamed of us because we’re the same, meaning that we’re both girls, or are you ashamed of us because we’re both different, meaning you’re a werewolf and I’m a werecat. Is it both? We’re looked down upon, not once but twice. First for being female lovers, and second for being different races of Werebeast–”

“Well, we’re still both Werebeasts, so I don’t think our subcategories should matter–

“But they do though–”

“Weren’t you the one telling me that I shouldn’t care what others think and not let them get to me?” Catrine is silent and Clawdeen couldn’t help but say: “Ha! Got you there.”

Smiling, Catrine waves her off and takes the broom from her. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Now go find your own broom.”

Instead, Clawdeen kisses Catrine, making this one last longer than the previous one, and when they part for air, Clawdeen rests her forehead against Catrine’s and says: “I’m not ashamed of us. I love us. I’m just…not ready yet.”

The truth is, Clawdeen has been ready for a while now. The only reason why she hasn’t come out yet is because she’s been secretly planning a coming out party that will surprise both her friends and Catrine. And getting detention/cleaning duty has definitely set her back a few hours. 

Catrine nods. “I know. I’ll wait forever if I have to. Just…reassure me once in a while, okay?”

“Of course, babe,” she pulls her into a tight hug. “I’ll do it everyday. Starting now.”

And so, she covers Catrine’s face with kisses and whispers in her ears sweet words and promises that make the butterflies in both of their stomachs flutter.

They have many differences and similarities, but Clawdeen’s favorite thing about them that they have in common is their love for each other.

Not all Werecats are bad like Toralei and the Twins, and if she’s going to fight and die for one it’ll always and forever be Catrine.

Chapter Text

Scary Godmother x Santa Clause (aka North from Rise of the Guardians)

.

.

.

“Scary Godmother, have you ever been in love?”

The question took the red headed witch off guard. So much so, in fact, that she gasps and nearly dropped her tray of roasted pumpkin seeds. Quickly, she sets them on top of the stove and takes off her oven mitts. “Pardon me, Hannah, I think I might have misheard you. What did you say?” 

Sixteen-year-old Hannah asked her question again, eyeballing her godmother curiously. “I asked if you’ve ever been in love. I’m sorry. Is it a touchy subject?”

“Of course not, my dear!” Scary Godmother assures her, hating that she indeed heard her right, and also hating that she lied. It’s a touchy subject indeed, but…if her goddaughter wants to know, Scary Godmother will be truthful. “Well…actually, yes. Yes, it is a touchy subject, but I don’t mind telling you, Hannah. I have a feeling I know why you asked.” 

It was clear as a crystal ball that Hannah is head over heels in love with the vampire prince Orson. And it’s very obvious that he feels the same. The only issue is that the two love bats are blind to each other’s very obvious feelings.

A blush forms on Hannah’s cheeks, and she looks away, embarrassed. “You do?”

Scary Godmother giggles. “Oh, Hannah. Even Skully, who has no eyes, can see the love you have for Orson.”

Hannah’s blush deepens, but she doesn’t deny it. “Is it that obvious?”

“Very.”

Hannah groans and buries her face in her hands. “Ugh this is so embarrassing.”

Scary Godmother flicks her hand, using her magic to pull out a seat, and sits in it, taking hold of her goddaughter’s hands. “Oh, no, hun. Love isn’t embarrassing at all. I think it’s beautiful, but if it’s any consolation, I’ve been embarrassed too about my feelings.”

Looking up from her hands, Hannah asks: “Are you sure you want to talk about it? I get the feeling that it didn’t end well.”

Scary Godmother smiles sadly. “Well, not exactly. It didn’t end the way I wanted it to, but we’re still good friends. Sort of. I send him a Spooky Christmas basket every time his holiday comes along.”

“Holiday? Wait, do you mean Christmas is his holiday?” Hannah repeats with the tilt of her head. 

“Yes. You see, my first and only love was named North. Or as you might know him as…Santa Clause.” Scary Godmother braced herself for the girl’s shocked face and possibly loudness.

“What?!” Hannah screeches, eyes wide. “No way! How did you guys meet?”

Scary Godmother chuckles. “I met him about 300 years ago, give or take, a few months after the Sweden Witch Trials in 1675. It was the following Christmas after all hell had broken loose. He could sense what I was. A witch, but not just any witch. Not a human witch. At least, not anymore. I had died during the trials. I was the only victim that actually was a witch, but not even my magic could save me. I was chosen by the Man in the Moon to come back to earth to be a protector of children. A Guardian. The Guardian of Bravery and the Spirit of Halloween. My new purpose was to bring courage to scared children, to help them face their fears, especially on the ‘scariest night of the year’. And let me tell ya, that no good Boogeyman Pitch Black, sure did give me a run for my money.”

Hannah giggles, making Scary Godmother smile. She hasn’t spoken about her past in decades. It was hard when she was first opening up to Skully way back when—he’s the only one that has ever known—but she found that telling her story was easier than she thought it would be. Maybe it’s because Hannah is just so easy to talk to. 

“North—er, Santa—was the Guardian of Wonder and Spirit of Christmas. Then there’s the Easter Bunny, or just Bunny as he likes to be called, who is the Guardian of Hope and Spirit of Easter; next is the Sandman—Sandy—who is the Guardian of Dreams, and then the Tooth Fairy—Toothiana—who we just called Tooth; she’s the Guardian of Memories.”

“How do teeth and memories mesh together?” Hannah asks, confused.

Scary Godmother points to her teeth. “Because your teeth hold your memories.”

“Ooohhh,” Hannah says, as if she understood, but really, she doesn’t. “That still doesn’t make sense, but I’ll take it.”

Scary Godmother gives a big, hearty laugh. “Nothing really does, huh? Anyway, the five of us were a really great team. When needed, that is. We only spent time together when absolutely necessary. We would meet up four times a year at the beginning of every season. So once in March, once in June, once in September, and once in December. We did this to keep track of everything and to report anything out of the usual. And it saddened me that we didn’t visit each other more often. And with North being our leader, I decided I’ll start with him first, to hopefully achieve my goal in him realizing the team would benefit better by spending more time together. But somewhere down the line, I lost sight of my goal because I…” she trails off, suddenly finding it hard now.

“Because you fell in love with him.” Hannah says, understanding. 

Scary Godmother nods. “That’s right. I still could have achieved my goal, but I liked having him all to myself.”

“So, when did you tell him you loved him?” Hannah asked, eyes full of wonder that made Scary Godmother’s heart ache. North would have loved seeing those wonder-filled eyes. He would absolutely adore Hannah, just as Scary Godmother and the others do in the Fright Side. “I mean, being the Guardian of Bravery, surely it was you who had confessed first, right?”

Scary Godmother laughs. “Oh, you bet your bat’s wing I did! It had taken me weeks, maybe months, to realize I was in love with him. During a meeting with the other Guardians, I had actually gotten jealous when he laughed at one of Tooth’s jokes and then there was a different time when he praised her for her hard work. I didn’t even realize what I was feeling was jealousy until Skully pointed it out. Anyway, I decided to wait until after Christmas was done to confess. I waited a week to give him time to rest up, and when I came to visit, I brought a mistletoe with me and well…let’s just say it was a kiss that I’ll never forget.”

Hannah smiles. “I bet you were so happy that he reciprocated the feelings.”

“It was the happiest day of my life,” Scary Godmother smiles fondly, but then it slowly drifted down into a frown. 

“So, what happened? Why are you not together anymore”

“The Salem Witch Trials is what happened,” Scary Godmother sighs sadly, then looks out the window as the memories flash in her head. “It was almost twenty years after the Sweden trials that I had died in. That’s how long North and I were together, and yes, I did end up succeeding on having the Guardians spend more time together as a family rather than as coworkers you only saw once in a while. I wanted us to protect the victims that were accused. To actually put our powers and skills to use; for a cause that went beyond what we normally use them for. In order for humans to see us, they have to believe in us, and since a lot of them–the adults–didn’t believe, it would have been so easy to help the accused. But North felt that that was a bad idea. He felt that since the idea of magic and the mystical unknown was on everyone’s mind that it would have made them sensitive to all things magical; that they were currently believing in everything and thus would have been able to see us.

He didn’t want to put us in danger and felt that we would be able to help those indirectly. And we did save a few people and children, they were our number one priority, but we couldn’t save them all. After the trials, I decided that my new goal would be to convince North that we have to stop hiding ourselves. We would have so many more believers if they actually saw us in the flesh. He said it wouldn’t work because in order for them to see us, they had to believe first. But I always felt that we could make them believe. All one has to do is make the right signs and make sure their target is smart enough to see them and understand them. I also thought it would make life so much more meaningful if we could actually spend time and get to know the children that believed in us. The children we were chosen to protect. But he didn’t think that was a good idea either. He said it takes away the wonder and mystery and blah blah blah. I was so angry with him for not understanding, for being so stubborn, for not changing the rules for me. It’s selfish of me, I know. He was just doing the only thing he’s ever known to do, but for me? The Guardian of Bravery felt he was being scared, and I hated that not even I could bring him courage.

I decided that if he didn’t want children to see him that that’s fine; it’s his choice. But my choice was to be seen. And I made it happen. You see, when I was reborn, no one knew me, so I had no believers at first, but thanks to the Man in Moon, he had used his magic to start my lore, just like how North and Bunny and Tooth and Sandy all have lore of their own. I tracked down a believer, confronted him, and he helped spread the word. I tracked down a different believer on the opposite side of the same country, and done the same thing until I had managed to make it across the world. I then took extra measure to bless myself. It took a lot of magic and energy out of me, so much so that i was drained for an entire month, but what I had done in my blessing was basically gifting myself the ability to be seen without believers–”

“Like me!” Hannah interrupts. “I had no idea of you at all until you showed up when I was six.”

Scary Godmother nods, grinning. “That’s right! I’ll never regret doing that spell, but North was furious. He said that I was going against the Guardian code, and I told him I didn’t care. I told him what’s the point of being a Guardian if we can't even spend time with the kids we protect. He told me that the point is to protect them and that I was putting them in more danger by revealing myself to them. I understood later that he was scared for me and them, but at that moment all I could see was red. I told him that I didn’t want to be part of the team anymore and that I’ll be a solo Guardian instead and…well I never really got a response from him because I had flown off. I stayed in Halloween Town for a bit–you’d love the Pumpkin King by the way, Jack Skellington is a wonderful skeleton–and then eventually I made my way to the Fright Side where I’ve been ever since. And to do this day, I still do my duty as a Guardian. I protect kids on Halloween night, I spread the Halloween Spirit, and I help bring courage to their fearful hearts. Just like I did with you ten years ago.”

“I know about you having other god-kids,” Hannah comments, “but how come I’m the only one that comes over here to the Fright Side?”

“Well, to be quite honest with you Hannah,” Scary Godmother rubs her neck, embarrassed. “Please don’t ever say anything to one of them if you ever meet them, but the reason for that is because you’re honestly my favorite.”

Hannah bursts into laughter, flattered beyond belief. “Oh my gosh! Really?! That’s awesome.”

Scary Godmother giggles with her. “You didn’t hear that from me though.” She winks at the girl then says: “But anyway, that’s our story.”

“And you haven’t seen him since?”

“No. It took me a few years to write to him, but I was so happy when he replied immediately. Apparently, he had been wanting to look for me for years, but never did because he felt that I didn’t want to be found. I told him I was glad he didn’t, that he respected my need for space. It just…would have made things so much harder since I was calmer at the time of the letters. I told him everything that had happened with me, he told me everything that had happened with him, and we’ve been writing here and there ever since. He told me last year actually about their newest recruit, Jack Frost, Bringer of Winter and Guardian of Fun. I even told him about you. We’ve said our apologies and we’re good now, but…I don’t think I’ll ever see him again. He's brought it up, but I...I don't want to risk it. I'm afraid to."

"But you're the Guardian of Bravery!" Hannah reminds her, hoping she can help the Guardian remember her purpose.

Scary Godmother smiles sadly. "For you and the children yes, but I've lost the drive to find bravery within myself. At least when it comes to this. That's okay though.  Things are better how they are now. We’re both happy with our lives.”

“Are you really sure about that?” Hannah inquires. “You might be, but I don’t know if he is. Honestly, I don’t know if you are either. You miss him, Scary Godmother, I can see it clear as day in your eyes, and I think…I think you still love him too. That much is clear too."

Tears spring to Scary Godmother’s eyes. Leave it to Hannah to be so smart and knowing. Or perhaps it’s because Scary Godmother isn’t exactly subtle. “It doesn’t matter that I still love him. I refuse to ruin the peace that took me a long time to find. Would I love to have him back in my life? Yes, of course, but that can never be now. Like I said, it took me a long time to find my peace and I know it took him a long time too. I don’t want to ruin it for either of us. If I can only have his letters and postcards and goody baskets, then so be it.”

“If he doesn’t know where you live, how is he able to send you stuff?” Hannah asks. “Teleportation magic, perhaps?”

“Actually, that’s exactly it.” Scary Godmother swallows back her tears from a moment ago and gets to her feet. “Now enough chit chat. We’re running a bit behind and have lots more Halloween planning to do. I’m thinking of pumpkin spice cookies…”

But of course, that was a lie. 

Because the only thing she was really thinking about–and trying hard not to–was North. She wondered if he was currently thinking of her. Probably not with Christmas being a little over two months away, but a witch can dream.

But unbeknownst to her, far far away in the icy depths of the North pole, her beloved North was hard at work in his office, sculpting together a miniature ice figurine of her. He hadn’t seen her in years, so he’s not sure what she looks like now, but regardless of her appearance, he knows that she’s as beautiful now just as she was the day he lost her. 

Unbeknownst to Scary Godmother, North has never stopped thinking of her, and he never will. He’ll never stop loving her and he hopes that one day, when she’s ready, that she’ll come back to him, and they can restart. Ever since his adventure last year with Jack and the trouble that Pitch Black had caused them, which resulted in some children protecting them for a change, his views on mingling with humans have changed. At least with the little humans he bonded with last year. He had told her all about it and he remembers reading about her excitement, but it wasn't enough for her to want to visit in person. She said she needed more time--as if decades weren't enough already--but he understood. He messed up badly and he's been paying for it ever since.

He hopes that one day, she'll release him from his suffering. He hopes that one day his own Christmas wish will come true; that his spooky Mrs. Clause will come back home to him.

To humans, Halloween and Christmas are rival holidays, but to the Spirits of these holidays, they are anything but rivals. They were lovers once upon a time.

And lovers they will remain.

Granted, it's complicated, but hey...

All is fair in love and war.