"Fuck!" Ryan's voice broke from the other room.
Stephen stood up and gazed in the mirror with an inquisitive look, as his toothbrush hung from his mouth. He grabbed the handle and continued brushing as he wandered into the dining room. There he found Ryan and the table engulfed in black satin and silver lamé. The boy fiddled frantically with his sewing machine.
"Everyting okay in here?" Stephen muttered, his mouth full of toothpaste.
"Yeah," Ryan sighed, "I just forgot how much I freaking hate this fabric. It snags whenever you try to stitch it."
"What are you doing anyway? I tought your costume was done," Stephen inquired.
"It is," the boy replied, tugging at his fabric in an attempt to shift the fibers back into place, "but I had forgotten there was a hole in the lining of the cape where I stepped on it last year."
"Oooooh," the man acknowledged as he returned to the bathroom to spit and rinse his mouth.
He returned a few moments later, wiping his face with a hand towel. He glanced down at it and realized it was a decorative Halloween towel with a glittery decal.
"Shit. I'm not glittery am I?"
"No," Ryan laughed getting up from the machine, "you look just fine."
"Well, I'd look fine even if I twas glittery."
"You sure would," Ryan assured, kissing the man softly.
"Well, I'm getting ready to head off to the gym."
"On Halloween?" Ryan inquired in a surprisingly puzzled tone.
"Yes, on Halloween," Stephen chuckled, "the gym is open. It's not a federal holiday."
"It should be!"
"Yes," Stephen indulged, "perhaps it should be. Anyway, I need to hit the gym so I can look hot in my costume tonight for ya."
The man flexed in dramatic, old school muscle builder pose.
"You'd look hot in this costume anyway!" Ryan assured.
"And you'll be hot in yours…but I think we'll both be even hotter out of our costumes," Stephen smiled coyly and gripped Ryan around the waist, pulling him in tight.
The two nuzzled a bit and kissed.
"Have a good mornin, okay?" Stephen squeezed Ryan tightly.
"I'll try…" he replied.
"Try? Come on, fella. It's Halloween, your favorite holiday!"
"I know," Ryan sighed, "it just doesn't really feel like it. I'm so used to the fall in Indiana, where everything is brown and gold and crisp and cool. Here in Tampa it's all still green…and humid. Just doesn't feel the same."
"I know it's not what you're used ta. I know you're still gettin used ta livin' here with me. But look, I promise tonight will be one of the best Halloweens you've ever had."
Ryan brightened up. He had to take Stephen's word on the matter.
"Okay," he smiled.
"And at least your mom sent you a box of your favorite decorations," Stephen gestured to the Halloween cutouts and figures adorning the living room.
"True," Ryan's face lit up as he looked at the display of nostalgia.
"I'll be back in a few hours," Stephen pecked Ryan quickly on the lips, "I love ya."
"I love you too," Ryan responded.
Stephen gathered up a few things and was out the door. Ryan sighed and returned to his station at the sewing machine. He was ready to be done mending his stupid cape so he could attempt to get into the Halloween spirit.
The living room smelled like autumn for sure. From the kitchen came the smell of chicken simmering on the stove in a sauce of apples, honey, and thyme. The scent of the food blended well with that of the pumpkin spice candle burning in the living room. Ryan sat on the couch watching HOCUS POCUS and snacking on a bag of mellocreme pumpkin candies. Suddenly he heard an odd noise at the door. It sounded like someone was leaning on and messing with the doorknob.
"What the hell?" he muttered to himself.
Rising from the couch, he made his way over to the door. Peering through the peephole, he could only make out a mass of orange. He opened the door and was almost knocked over by Stephen who staggered across the threshold. In his arms he held a large pumpkin.
He smiled at Ryan, "Tanks, love. I had me hands full and couldn't get ta me keys."
Ryan shut the door, not taking his eyes off of the massive pumpkin Stephen held.
"I tought we could carve this together after dinner," Stephen said as he sat it down on the table by the window, "believe it or not, I've never made a Jack-O-Lantern before."
"Really?" Ryan questioned. "We always did them every year in my family."
"Well, Halloween wasn't dat big of a ting for me family. But I tought, hell, if I'm gonna do it, I might as well do it right. I got da biggest one dey had…expensive little bastard. 17 bucks. Never paid dat much for a fruit in me life," Stephen explained.
"Well," Ryan smiled snuggling up to Stephen, "This fruit really appreciates you paying $17 for him."
The two giggled and kissed softly. Stephen held the boy close for a moment. Then he inhaled deeply.
"Dinner smells amazing."
"Wait until you taste it – you got home just in time!"
The two ate dinner together. This had become a regular occurrence they looked forward to on their nights off. Stephen liked Ryan living with him for many reasons and the home cooked meals was definitely one of them. After dinner, they made a couple activity out of washing dishes. Well, actually, Ryan washed, Stephen just offered entertainment. Once this chore was finished, they snuggled on couch watching old monster movies on TV. Occasionally one of them would have to get up to handout candy to a group of Trick-Or-Treaters. Around 8:30, they decided they had better start getting ready for the Halloween party that Drew McIntyre was throwing.