A/N: Hello! I am including this brief interlude because I decided to add another element to the story, after all. So, this one is rather short. But, not to worry, there's more to come.

Thanks be to everyone who reviewed, etc. I check my e-mail like a mad-woman on days i post new chapters.

Hope everyone's enjoying. Particularly because I'm realizing how much work this is! :)

Gillian walked into Cal's office the day before Halloween. He was sitting at his desk staring at nothing. Gillian paused to take in the sight of him. He was clad in jeans and a black button up shirt and he was reclining in his chair with his legs stretched out before him crossed at the ankles. His hands, for their part, were clasped behind his head, acting as a pillow of sorts against the chair.

She was surprised that her presence had not yet broken his concentration and she let out a little laugh before she observed, "Busy, I see."

Cal startled slightly at her words before he turned to face her with a full grin, swiveling the chair slightly so he was facing her. He brought his legs up as he turned, but left his hands where they were. "Yes, of course," he said, a grin still on his face, "I usually am."

"True," she said as she stepped further into his office.

Gillian shook her head slightly, were it not for the faintest furrow of his brow while he was reclining before she disturbed him, Cal would have looked like the picture of relaxation. To any normal observer, he would have been.

But the truth of the matter was that Cal had actually been deep in thought—he was thinking about the upcoming weekend and about the upcoming holiday and he was thinking in no uncertain terms about his business partner.

It had been years since he had been so excited for Halloween. He hadn't anticipated the holiday so much since Emily was a small child. Back then, he had loved taking her trick-or-treating and he loved to watch her eyes light up when someone would throw an extra piece of candy in her bag because of how adorable she was. Cal still enjoyed the holiday because he spent it with his daughter, but it had been years since he actually relished its arrival the way he did now.

Oftentimes he felt in denial about a multitude of things—the array and depth of feelings Gillian Foster stirred within him not being last on the list. However, Cal was not so delusional that he could fool himself into overlooking or mistaking the reason his reaction to Halloween this year was different. For one, he wouldn't be spending the holiday with Emily and his ex-wife. He wouldn't be spending the holiday with Zoe trying not to fight with her or sleep with her. He'd be spending it with Gillian. And therein lay the difference.

And there was one of the particularly big and gruesome can of worms he had not been so keen on opening.

"Always working, I am," He said, regarding her with a particular twinkle in his eye.

She laughed and Cal turned his head slightly as he admired her beauty.

"Such a tragic life." She said as she sat down in front of him.

Finally, he dropped his hands from behind his head, "Indeed." He studied her face momentarily, "So, what's up?" he asked, knowing that she hadn't come to his office simply for idle chatter. Not that she didn't do that, sometimes, but he'd known her too long and too well by now, so he knew that there was a purpose to this particular visit.

Gillian gave a small smile—one that seemed, to Cal anyway, rooted in discomfort. He was not entirely inaccurate, though the stem of it did elude him: "You're not canceling are you?" He asked, worry etched on his face. He didn't even try to hide the disappointment he felt at the thought.

She was quick to reassure him, "No, no, I'll be there…" she said, her voice trailing off slightly. To Cal, this was an indication that there was something more she wished to say—

He regarded her and raised one eyebrow slightly in question. The look of embarrassment she shot him struck him as funny and he let out a little laugh as he watched her struggle internally to find the words,

"Well, out with it then, Foster." Cal commanded in a friendly tone, enjoying the way she fixed her gaze in her lap at her hands wrung together instead of on him.

She reached up to tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear, "Well… this might be a weird question, but, I don't know…"

His interest piqued as he watched her begin to fidget even more,

"Yes?" He prompted finding it comical that she was having such difficulty. He could tell by her demeanor that it was nothing earth-shattering or deep, but her struggle was real.

She smiled and then Cal watched as resolve came over her face, "For Halloween—" She paused, "When I come over—is there supposed to be—are we supposed to—Do you and Emily—" she kept trying and failing to ask the simple question. Gillian became slightly frustrated with herself and she tried again, "Costumes." She said simply, her hands moving to the side of her body.

"Costumes?" Cal asked, amusement evident in his voice.

Gillian nodded curtly, "Yes. Costumes. Do you and Emily wear them?"

Cal wasn't quite sure where she was going with this although he firmly believed that he should be well aware. He blamed it on Gillian's mere presence, which had often been a source of befuddlement for years. She was dressed in jeans today with a deep blue top. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail with a few strands falling around her face. Her jewelry was simple and she took Cal's breath away. So, he was unable to understand and follow her current train of thought.

He considered the question—did he and Emily wear costumes? Well, Emily certainly did. She always had. She loved the holiday and that love never waned with age for his daughter. He, however, hadn't dressed up since Emily was eleven—since she stopped needing him as that particular sort of partner in crime.

At his silence, Gillian frowned. She was slightly frustrated at the fact that Cal wasn't helping her out at all, though she would not have been upset had she known the reason for it.

She sighed, "Do I need to wear a costume, Cal?" Her gaze met his eyes but then quickly shifted away, evidence of her embarrassment.

Realization swept over Cal and Gillian watch as it made its way to his face. She nearly laughed at the way his eyes widened and his eyebrows shot up.

"Ah, I see…" Cal replied.

He considered her question momentarily—weighing the pros and cons of the situation. Emily always dressed up; Cal never did. Therefore, he had two choices—he could tell Gillian that no, she didn't need a costume, that Emily was the only one who dressed up. Or, he could tell her that yes, it was a family tradition that they always dressed up for Halloween and that Gillian most definitely should too.

Cal didn't really want to dress up and his hesitation left him at a crossroads. The thought of seeing the lovely Gillian Foster dressed up in costume—any costume, really—appealed to him on so many levels that it felt a little bit ridiculous. Seeing Gillian in a costume would come at a great self-sacrifice. Smiling as his mind turned over the possibilities (what, after all, would she dress as?), he made a quick decision.

"Yes." He said finally, nodding affirmation. "Yes, you need a costume," Something flickered in his gaze and Gillian caught it.

She sent him a questioning glance, but Cal gave nothing else away.

"Okay," she said cautiously, and watched as mischief made its way onto Cal's face. Something in his expression caused within her a bout of exhilaration. Her breath quickened and it did not seem to go unnoticed by Cal. His reaction to her response caused her to tilt her head slightly and ask, "You're sure?"

Cal's eyes sparkled—"Oh yes," he said emphatically, "I'm sure. We always dress up, Em and I," He lied. He cleared his throat, "Tradition, of course. You understand."

A small smile played on Gillian's lips as her gaze flicked from Cal's eyes to his lips and back to his eyes, taking in all of the microexpressions he was flashing before she finally responded,

"Oh, yes," she replied as she slipped something sultry into her voice and turned on her heel to leave, "I understand."

She left Cal's office as fast as she'd come in leaving Cal to his own thoughts which took a decidedly different turn after her departure.

After all, he was going to get to see Gillian Foster in costume.

To be fluffily continued.

Best,

Calculated Artificiality / CuteLittleTRex / Natalie / Cheez-It Queen