Future Meant to Be Universe – Halloween Challenge
Requirements for Challenge:
--A pumpkin (it can be a fiasco, carving, etc.)
--something reminiscent of a scary movie (a quote, scene, etc.--put an author's note in telling what movie your something is from)
--a costume mishap
--at least one group of trick-or-treaters
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Costume Party
"TRICK OR TREAT!"
"Wow, look at all of you! You look great," Mary cooed as she passed out candy to the five or six kids who stood on the porch.
Each kid took their turn at the door with their candy bag wide open as Mary doled out handfuls of treats.
She could hear yells of, "Thanks," "Thank you," and "Thanks, Mrs. McCoy," as the kids scrambled to the next house.
Mary smiled as the last little boy addressed her by name. She and Danny had been married over a year and she still found herself grinning like an idiot every time someone called her 'Mrs. McCoy.'
As she shut the front door, Mary felt a hand sneak around her waist—a very furry hand.
"Do you have anything in that basket of goodies for me, little girl?"
"Don't you think you've had enough candy for one day?" Mary questioned as she turned in Danny's arms.
"I wasn't talking about candy," Danny replied as he waggled his bushy eyebrows and began nuzzling her neck.
"Danny, stop," Mary giggled as he nibbled her ear with his fake teeth.
DING DONG
Mary took that opportunity to push Danny away and put her hands on her hips, "Would you please get the door so I can finish getting ready?"
"Are you going to be this bossy from now on?" Danny asked
"Probably," Mary replied
"Well, you better be nice or I'll huff and puff and blow your house down," Danny playfully growled.
"That's the wrong story, goofball. You're supposed to be the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood."
"I always thought it was the same wolf."
"I don't think so," Mary said as she looked at him skeptically.
"What, you don't think it's possible to have a wolf who likes pigs and grandmas?"
Mary rolled her eyes and headed upstairs to put the finishing touches on her costume.
---
Mystique was full of partygoers attending the annual Montecito Halloween Bash. Ed had decided this year that all proceeds from the ticket sales would go to the Children's Shelter. In keeping with the kid's theme he also decided that everyone should dress up as a favorite childhood character. Danny and Mary had decided to go as Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf and they were eager to see what everyone else had chosen.
"Hey, guys. How's it going?" Delinda immediately approached her two friends as they entered the party.
"Hey, great costume!" Mary said as she pulled Delinda into a hug. Delinda was dressed as Princess Jasmine from Aladdin. Her sheer pants and midriff-bearing top left little to the imagination.
"Daddy says this is too risqué for a children's benefit, but it's not like the kids are actually here."
"I still say it's too sexy," Ed interrupted as he and Jillian joined the group, dressed as Captain Hook and Sleeping Beauty.
Danny gave Delinda an obvious once over before commenting, "I think you look great."
Mary gave her husband a playful swat to the chest before excusing herself and heading across the room to say hello to Sam.
"Daddy, there's Mr. Vincent from the Shelter," Delinda said as she headed towards the entrance to the restaurant.
"Jillian, we really should say hello to him," Ed told his wife.
"I'll be right there, Eddie," Jillian replied.
As soon as Ed and Delinda were out of earshot, Jillian crossed her arms and glared at Danny.
"What? What'd I say?" Danny asked, clueless.
"You're not supposed to check out other women in front of your wife."
"Mary knows I love her more than anything in this world. She knows I don't mean anything by it."
"That may be so, but she's probably extra sensitive right now. You need to be careful what you say and do."
Danny stared at Jillian dumbfounded. "She told you?"
"No, I figured it out yesterday when we were carving pumpkins for the party. Delinda wanted to get an early start so she decided to clean out all the pumpkins last weekend, not realizing that pumpkins don't last that long once you cut them," Jillian led Danny to a quieter corner of Mystique as she continued her story, "they weren't rotted, but they were beginning to smell a little pungent. Mary turned three shades of green and high-tailed it to the ladies' room," Danny nodded his head as Jillian relayed a scene that was all too familiar to him.
"For a moment I thought her head was going to start spinning and she'd spew split pea soup everywhere. Luckily, the Exorcist reenactment didn't happen. She tried to tell me it was the stomach flu, but a mother can tell these things. How far along is she?"
"Only eleven weeks. Mary wanted to wait to tell everyone until we were sure everything was going to be alright."
"Well, I promise to keep it a secret, but if she needs to talk to someone I'm always here--for both of you."
Jillian patted Danny on the chest before heading off to join Ed.
He turned to see Mary laughing and chatting with Sam who was dressed appropriately as Cruella DeVil. Jillian was right. Mary had been especially sensitive lately. She knew he was a hopeless flirt—it was just his nature--but he realized with all the hormones raging she might not see things so clearly. The last thing he wanted was Mary to be stressed out or worried about their relationship when she needed to concentrate on herself and the baby. Danny sighed deeply and headed off to join his wife.
"What are you two laughing about," Danny asked as he held Mary tightly from behind, letting his hands rest on her still-flat stomach. Mary leaned back against him, obviously enjoying the feel of his strong arms around her.
"You know how much Mike hated Ed's new pit boss. He kept insisting on a friendly wager over how long the guy would last. I finally had to agree so he would shut up. The funny part is the winner got to pick the loser's Halloween costume," Sam couldn't stop herself from laughing as she explained to Danny the terms of the bet.
"And I'm guessing by your state of amusement that you were the winner," Danny asked with a grin.
"You're damn right I won. You are going to die when you see Mike's costume."
At that moment Mary began laughing uncontrollably as she caught sight of Mike entering from the kitchen. Danny and Sam noticed too and quickly burst into hysterics.
"Laugh it up, guys," Mike grumbled.
"Mike, you look…. I'm not really sure how to describe it," Mary spoke between giggles.
"Lovely is a good word. You look lovely," Danny responded once he could stifle his laughter.
"Shut up, man," was Mike's response as he turned to Sam, "I hope you're enjoying this, Ms. Marquez, because payback is a bitch."
"Mike, I swear to you that is not the costume I sent over," Sam could barely breathe as she tried to defend herself.
"Yeah, right. You know you wanted to humiliate me and you succeeded."
"Oh, I definitely wanted to humiliate you, but this is too good even for me," Sam replied, having calmed down somewhat from her initial shock at Mike's attire, "I sent over a Peter Pan costume. I thought you'd look cute in the tights, but this is much better."
"Are you serious? How the hell did I end up with this?"
At that moment, Ed and Jillian walked up, "Are you mocking my theme, Mr. Cannon?"
"Ed, no, of course not. You see, there was this bet…and then there was some kind of mix-up with the costume… and," Mike stumbled through an explanation.
"Bet? Were you gambling in my casino?" Ed asked incredulously.
"No. You see it was actually Sam."
"Stop trying to push this off on someone else. I hope this will be a lesson to you that you should not be wagering while you're working for me," Ed's voice was stern.
"Yes, boss. I promise—never again," Mike quickly assured him.
"Now, all of you stop standing around and mingle. This is a party," Ed barked and the group quickly scattered.
Jillian glanced at her husband and noticed the amused smile on his face as he watched Mike make his way to the dance floor.
"By the way, Eddie. There was a message at the house before I left this afternoon from the costume shop. I thought it was a mistake so I didn't tell you about it, but now I'm sure it was for you."
"What did it say?"
"The extra large Little Bo Peep costume needs to be back by noon tomorrow."
---
"Baby, we're home," Danny whispered as he softly ran his hand down Mary's face.
The doctor had told her that she'd probably be overly tired—especially in the first few months—so she should get as much rest as possible. She'd fallen asleep in the car on the way home from the party and Danny hated to wake her, but he knew he wouldn't be able to get her out of her costume and into bed without some assistance.
Mary slowly opened her eyes and noticed they were parked under the carport of the house. Danny jumped out of the car and ran to the passenger's side to open her door.
Once inside Mary went straight to the master bath and began removing her clothes and make-up. Danny used the guest bathroom to take off his own make-up and costume, joining Mary in their bedroom once he was done.
Danny saw Mary hesitate as she reached the bed. She turned to face him and the look on her face told him she had something important to say.
"Danny, do you think…," Mary said before stopping herself.
Jillian's words fresh in his mind, Danny anticipated her question and quickly crossed the room to take Mary in his arms.
"Mary, you are my whole world and I want you to know that I love you. You are the most beautiful person I've ever known and I am so thankful every day that you're my wife. You're the other half of my soul. This baby is going to be the best part of both of us and it's only going to make our love stronger."
"Oh, Danny, that's so sweet and I love you too," she responded through her tears.
Danny held her close and softly rocked her as he ran his fingers through her hair. They stayed that way for a few moments before Danny pulled back from the embrace and looked into her eyes.
"Now, what did you want to ask me?"
"Oh, umm, do you think you could go to the store for me?" Mary asked shyly.
Danny couldn't help but chuckle as he looked into Mary's pleading face. He rested his forehead against hers and asked, "What do you need me to get?"
"All of a sudden I'm having this weird craving for split pea soup."
