There was candy everywhere. And candy wrappers. And in the middle of it all were two very full, slightly queasy and rather sleepy small boys, both still in their Halloween costumes.
Coming back from giving out candy to the last of the trick-or-treaters, JD had to step over Vin who was lying on the floor in front of the TV. He had to smile at the choice of costume. Buck had asked his son a week before Halloween what he wanted to dress up as. The six years old hadn’t surprised anyone when he had said that he wanted to be a cowboy. As he had been the last two years as well. Buck had merely looked at his husband and asked; “Do you think he’s trying to tell us something?”
Their youngest hadn’t had a ready answer when asked what he wanted to be. The just turned four year old had spent the week thinking, before coming up with his answer. He wanted to be a horse. Every cowboy needed a horse. Even if this case the cowboy was bigger than the horse. Now Ezra was in Chris’ lap, almost asleep. Trick or treating was a completely new experience for the small boy and all the children milling around the street in all kinds of costumes had been a little bit too much to take at first. Both fathers had made sure to talk to their youngest before the actual night, about all the small ghosts, monsters, vampires and assorted ghouls, and explained that they were just regular people in costumes.
Growing tired of the TV Vin got up from the floor and climbed into the couch before settling down between his parents.
“Did you have a good time tonight, sprout?” Buck asked, ruffling his son’s curls.
“Yeah!” Vin replied, grinning. “I got tons of candy!”
Buck discreetly wiped away a chocolate stain from Vin's face. “Yes, so I see…” He met Chris’ eyes and smiled. Leaning over both little boys, he planted a kiss on his husband’s lips and whispered something into the blond’s ear.
“My God,” Josiah commented from his chair. “I do believe he is blushing.”
Of course the comment only made the condition worse and Chris sent the older man a pretend glare.
And of course it was JD who asked the actual question. “What did you say to him, Buck?”
“I merely told him what my favourite Halloween candy is,” Buck revealed. The room erupted in laughter and Vin looked puzzled. He didn’t really understand the comment, but then his papa said some strange things at times. Abandoning the thought, he leaned into Buck, feeling safe and protected as always as his papa placed a strong arm around him.
Vin loved Halloween. Not just for the candy, although that was great. He could have as much as he wanted and no one said a word about it. To his surprise Ezra didn’t seem to share his feelings. His little brother didn’t seem to be having fun at first, but as they had moved down the street the four years old had decided that things had gone from scary to exciting. And of course, there was candy…
No, Vin’s favourite part of Halloween was right now. Both Ezra and he were allowed to stay up late and everybody of their extended family was here. Nathan had brought Rain who Vin adored because she worked in a place where they had real live wolves and JD had brought Casey who Vin adored because she taught him great pranks.
Both girls had on costumes too. Rain was dressed as a pirate, complete down to the fake stubble and eye patch. She wore knee-high black boots, tight black pants and a white ruffled shirt. Her long and curly black hair was mostly tucked in under a red scarf. Everyone thought she looked great, but Nathan thought she looked especially good. Vin figured that was as it was supposed to be. His uncle Nate and aunt Rain was to be married next summer.
Casey on the other hand was dressed up as a computer. She had on a silver gym suit and silver tights, with a lot of buttons attached. Silver make up coated her face and she had a hat of tin foil over her head. All of Vin’s uncles and his fathers too, seemed to think Casey’s costume was really funny and for some reason they were laughing at JD too. Papa even slapped him on the shoulder and whispered something that made JD blush and Casey giggle. Papa did that a lot.
In the background the TV was humming quietly. Scooby Doo and mysteries was on, but Vin wasn’t really watching anymore. Next to him, on daddy’s lap, Ezra had fallen asleep, head tucked in under Chris’ chin. The TV and the voices became a pleasant hum of noises as Vin closed his eyes and burrowed in closer to his papa.
Yep, it had been a good Halloween indeed.
The End
