My longest chapter yet! But how can it not be? Because it's time for SUZY'S CLASS PARTY! ;oP Thanks as always for reading! And dedicating this one to madmum38


October 28—"Bobbing for Apples"

Sybil smiled as greeted her husband with a kiss, just outside of Suzy's school. She had come straight from the hospital, as soon as Thomas had arrived to take over for her shift. "Did you remember to bring—?" she started to ask, but stopped when Tom produced her witch's hat in question. "Thank you, darling," she laughed, taking the hat and placing it on her head. "Hmmm, I'll be a strange looking witch, though; black, pointy hat, but in blue hospital scrubs."

"You're a 'healing witch'," Tom answered, putting his arm around his wife's shoulders. "And every bit as sexy as your flapper counterpart," he said with a low growl and a devilish grin, bending his head to steal another kiss.

Sybil giggled but stopped him before he could proceed. "Did you bring your cape?" She noticed he wasn't dressed up, not that she had planned to wear her full costume to Suzy's party. Having come straight from work, she figured her hat would be sufficient enough. Besides, this was the children's party. Still, she was a little surprised Tom hadn't come with anything resembling his vampire counterpart.

Tom shook his head. "I think I'll just be 'the bumbling writer' for today," he explained with a chuckle.

Sybil rolled her eyes. "You're not a 'bumbling' anything," she quietly chastised. She eyed his mouth for a moment. "You could have worn your fangs—"

"No," Tom cut her off. He saw the effect those things had had on Sybil, and while he didn't mind seducing his wife, the thought of those other mothers, catching a glimpse of him with those fangs…

He shuddered.

"Tom Branson…" he winced at his wife's tone. She no doubt knew what he was thinking. And she was right. She groaned and shook her head. "You truly are 'frightfully full of yourself'," she sighed.

Maybe, but he was "popular enough" with some of the mothers, he didn't need to throw vampire fangs on top of it.

"Come on," Sybil looped her arm through his. "Time to 'get down and boogie' with all the little gremlins."

"Boos and ghouls," Tom offered, which earned a laugh from Sybil.

They entered the school and after checking in with the office, went straight to Suzy's classroom, where music could already be heard playing from the hallway. Upon entering, the found the children playing a rousing game of musical chairs, while the other parents who were chaperoning were off to the side, setting up the treat table.

"Mummy! Daddy!" Suzy waved from where she was marching around the circle of chairs. Mrs. Quincy, who was in charge of the music for the game, glanced up and smiled at the Bransons. So did the other chaperones, their heads all seeming to jerk upward as soon as they heard Suzy cry out "daddy!"

"I suppose we should go over here?" Tom murmured to Sybil, gesturing her towards the group of mothers. Sybil smiled and allowed him to lead her, though she noticed he seemed to be eagerly pushing her forward…and ahead of him.

"Mr. Branson," several of the women greeted, all of them smiling, and their cheeks a bright shade of pink.

"Hello…" Tom greeted back, blushing a bit himself. "Um, have you met my wife? Sybil?"

The mothers turned their eyes towards Sybil, and Tom held his breath, unsure exactly on what would happen next.

Their smiles never seemed to lessen. "Oh! Mrs. Branson, how wonderful that you were able to come!" One of the mothers gasped, reaching forward and taking Sybil's hands in hers and shaking them. Tom's eyes widened slightly as he recognized that the woman was none other than Mrs. Donnelly. All of the mothers gathered around Sybil then, each introducing themselves, each remarking that they were both surprised and glad she was able to get off work to attend the children's party…and Tom was surprised as he was practically pushed away from the group, left on the outskirts and…seemingly being ignored.

"Mr. Branson?" Mrs. Quincy called from where she sat. Tom moved away from the women and went to Suzy's teacher. "Would you be so kind as to prepare our 'apple barrel'?"

"Apple barrel?" Tom repeated, looking over Mrs. Quincy's shoulder to the item in question.

The teacher nodded. "It's a large tub, really; we just need it filled for our next game."

He still didn't quite understand what the teacher meant, but nodded his head and went to work as she instructed, filling a large plastic tub with water and making sure the plastic table cloth upon which it sat covered the whole table. The game of musical chairs had ended; Suzy had made it to the final three, but went out after that. Still, she didn't look disappointed one bit; it was clear she was having the time of her life.

"Alright, gather around!" Mrs. Quincy called forth. The children eagerly did so, joining their teacher (and Tom) by the tub, where Mrs. Quincy revealed a large sack of apples. "This is a very simple game, called 'bobbing for apples'," she began.

"OH! I KNOW THIS ONE!" Suzy eagerly volunteered. "You put the apples in the water, and we have to catch them, but we can only use our teeth!"

Mrs. Quincy laughed and nodded her head. "Yes, exactly. This is a very popular Halloween game, especially in America."

She then proceeded to pour the apples into the water, each making a little splash as they landed. "Now, you WILL get wet during this game, so be mindful of that…" she warned, although her warning fell on deaf ears, as the children clearly couldn't care less about soaking themselves, they were just eager to play. Tom wisely took a step back.

"Alright, let's begin with four children, and then we'll rotate," Mrs. Quincy advised. Suzy got to be one of the first four.

"Careful, me darlin'," Tom murmured to the child, but she was too busy concentrating on which apple to go after.

"Alright…ready?" Mrs. Quincy looked at the four, each gripping an edge of the tub. "GO!"

Tom practically leapt back when a great splash erupted as four little heads dove under the water in their quest to catch an apple. Laughter filled the room, and when he glanced over towards Sybil, he noticed she had managed to free herself at last from the clutches of the other mothers, and was giggling as she filmed Suzy with her phone.

"Free at last?" he whispered in Sybil's ear as she approached.

Sybil glanced up at him. "They're lovely ladies," she quietly defended, before adding, "who do seem a bit infatuated with you, but I don't think you need to 'worry' as much as you seem to," she added with a roll of her eyes. "They're just naturally charmed by the sight of a loving father…who also happens to be extremely fit," she teased, nudging him with her hip.

Tom nudged her back. "They seemed eager to talk to you," he murmured, glancing over at the women who were looking back and forth between the giggling children, and both he and Sybil.

"Miss your fan club?"

Tom shuddered. "No, I didn't mean it like that!" he hissed.

Sybil laughed. "Well…I probably shouldn't tell you this, because it will just inflate your ego EVEN MORE, but…" she sighed. "They wanted to hear my side of the story…how we met, how we fell in love…" she leaned her body close to his. "How you proposed; all the details they had been imagining but until now, hadn't been able to learn."

Tom wasn't sure if he found this information flattering or frightening?

"Don't worry, darling…this 'flapper/hospital witch' will make sure no one steals her 'vampire' away," she giggled.

He knew he was being silly, deep down, but still…he appreciated his wife's words.

"MUMMY! DADDY! LOOK!"

They turned their heads to Suzy's enthusiastic voice. "I GOT ONE!" she exclaimed, holding up an apple. She was also soaking wet, dripping water everywhere.

"I brought towels," Mrs. Quincy assured the parents, to which Sybil nodded her head in thanks, before taking one and ushering Suzy aside to dry her off.

"She's lovely, Mr. Branson…" Tom heard a voice murmur behind him. He swallowed and turned to see a few of the mothers, including Mrs. Donnelly, standing nearby, smiling at the sight of Sybil and Suzy, before returning their admiring gazes back to him. What was he supposed to say? Thank you? And were they talking about Sybil or Suzy or both?

"Your wife also told us how your mother made an adorable costume for your son," one of the women offered. They all started to gather around him, closing in. "She said you had a picture on your phone?"

Tom's face burned brightly and he glanced over at Sybil, his eyes narrowed as she innocently smiled back at him.

To be continued...