Epilogue

October 31, 1998

"I have been coping with both the physical and mental side effects and I'm just glad I have been cured of whatever plague those creatures were carrying," Gerald said as he sank into the tan leather padded recliner. It was soft and smooth and felt cool to the touch. It helped him relax even more while in the office of his psychiatrist. "The whole situation was frightening for everyone that was involved." He had kept to the story that Daniel Clamp concocted. He was kidnapped when he had informed Doctor Friedrich that Prescott Prestige was going to stop funding his genetics team. He was experimented on along with Peltzer and became ill while Friedrich's experimental monkey's had escaped and attacked the mall and Gerald had spent several weeks in a private care facility to be treated for his symptoms.

"You are feeling much better in a physical sense?" Doctor Kupferberg asked. He was seated in his plush arm chair and had his elbows on his lap and head in his hands.

"No more nausea or fainting spells," Gerald explained as he rattled off the made up symptoms that Clamp told him to say. "No more rash or random body aches." He smiled as he stared at one of the pictures in the pastel blue office. It was off a little girl in a white dress standing in a field of flowers. "No more side effects." He hated lying, but how was he going to explain to his therapist that he still changed into a half gremlin half human whenever he gets wet?

"Have you been having any nightmares?"

"None, none since the last time we talked and none since my ordeal and you would think it would have opened old wounds or made new ones, but it didn't. Dreams have been dull and nothing too out of the ordinary." He placed his hands behind his head. "I once woke up at four in the morning with a headache and I went back to sleep and I dreamt I took some Tylenol and when I woke up the headache was gone, simple dreams like that."

"No more dreams about the creatures that attacked you?" Kupferberg raised his eyebrows. "Even after coming across creatures that were similar to what you saw?"

"It is kind of weird, but I have dreamed about them, but I am no longer running or hiding from them. I fight them, lock them away and blow them up." He sat up. "I think it might be because I fought those mutated monkey things."

"Sounds like you had some form of closure."

"Closure," Gerald repeated as blinked. "That was what it was and I think that helped. I guess what I wanted was to go back in time and save my former boss from being attacked instead of just running and hiding, but you are the doctor and not me." He relaxed again.

"No, no you are on the right track," Kupferberg said. "Fourteen years ago you prided yourself on being your definition of tough and when you and your boss were attacked you were afraid and locked yourself in the vault. You felt ashamed and weak and wished you could go back and be the so called tough guy you thought you were and now you have, but the question is where you standing up to those who attacked you, or yourself?"

"Good question," Gerald said and tried to think. Who did he want to confront at the time? Was it his old cowardly, greedy, ambitious self or the creatures? "Perhaps both?" He shrugged. "I've been confronting my past self for the past decade at least and now I was able to physically confront the things from my nightmares. I think I needed both."

"I know it is cliché but I believe you have made a breakthrough but sadly our time is up." He rose from his chair and held out his hand. "Same time next week?"

"Of course," Gerald said as he shook his hand. "Enjoy your evening and well have a happy Halloween."

"Enjoy your night. Are you taking your girls out for trick or treat?"

"Yes in fact we are doing it at the mall."

Lily and Maddie had been dropped off at his place and they were chatting with Darwin. That was a little secret the girls kept from their mother and Darwin was an expert at hiding from Jenny but while it was a surprise for his daughter at first they grew to love him and he loved them

Their costumes looked great. Maddie with her dark hair tied up in a top not was dressed as Mulan and Lily was dressed in a green and white costume that looked like a cheerleader, except with a pink bow on her chest and another on her back skirt and she also had gloves and a tiara. Her wavy light brown hair was in a ponytail. The character was called Sailor Jupiter and she was Lily's favorite.

"When are we going dad?" Lily asked.

"When our ride is here," Gerald answered. "I still have to get into my costume. Darwin is in charge until I get back." He smiled at his adopted son.

"Yee-haw," Darwin responded. He had on a plaid shirt and chaps on over his denim pants. He also had a leather vest and a bandana around his neck and a white cowboy hat rested on his head.

"This shouldn't take too long," Gerald said before he ran into the bathroom where his costume hung. It was too small for him. He tore of his clothes and jumped into the shower and waited.

He stared at his hands as the fifth finger shriveled up and his skin turned green and claws grew on the remaining digits. He turned off the water and quickly dried off. Now his costume could fit. He slipped on the white shirt, red top coat, brown trousers, a cravat went around his neck and he used a belt with a fake plastic sword, he topped it off with a pirate hat.

"Okay I'm ready," Gerald said as he stepped out.

"Daddy, are you going to change into a goblin every year?" Lily asked. That was the second secret his daughter's kept from their mother.

"Maybe not every year," Gerald said. "But this-" the knock at the door cut him off. "That should be them." He opened the door to reveal Chuck and Valerie both wearing suits and trench coats and both with fake FBI badges tapped to their costumes. "Hey great costumes."

"Look Scully," Chuck said. "A little green man."

"There has to be a reasonable explanation," Valerie said. Her costume was complete with a bright red wig and in her arms was Gene. The little mogwai was pleased to see them.

"Ready to get some candy?" Chuck asked them with a grin.

"Yes," Lily, Maddie and Darwin cheered.

"Candy yummy," Gene said.

"I promise to give him half my stash," Gerald said as he held up his plastic pumpkin bucket.

The drive to the mall was short and while their friends arrived in Valerie's car they rode together in Gerald's minivan, it had enough room for all six of them.

"Remember the safety rules," Chuck said while Gerald and Darwin donned a pair of shades. There even was a small pair of sunglasses for Gene, courtesy of Clamp of course. "Stay together, no wandering off. If you get lost look for a security guard. I am off duty but I still have my radio. Do not eat any candy until it is inspected by a grown up. Remember to wait in line. No shoving or name calling. No going into bright light. Stay out of water and do not eat after midnight." He let out a sigh. "How did I do?"

"Very good," Gerald said with a clap. "You will make a good dad someday."

"Heh, thanks," Chuck said. "Well enough standing around lets go meet the others."

There was a small group waiting for them in front of the entrance near the food court consisting of Billy and Kate Peltzer and their children and Penny, Brody and a green female gremlin dressed as a witch. Gerald had learned of Great not long after the mall incident and he met the female who seemed similar to Brody. She and Penny even spent time together and read magazines and did each other's hair and makeup.

Like Gerald, Billy had also gone for goblin form tonight, though he was wearing a Superman costume. He even used hair gel to give him that significant curl. He had also started therapy sessions and while in human form he was the Billy Peltzer that Gerald had remembered. The boy next door all grown up and he had explained that while in goblin form he worked on curbing his aggression and immaturity.

"You all look great," Billy said as he took in all of their costumes.

"I like yours," Darwin said. "I like all of yours."

The other costumes did look great. Benny was dressed as a Red power ranger and little Sarah was a pink glitter fairy. Brody had a dinosaur costume and his own plastic bucket and while Kate wasn't wearing any she was carrying Gizmo.

Penny was gorgeous in her nurse outfit. The skirt was short enough to reveal her legs and once the kids were in bed Gerald was going for a different kind of treat with her. That was another thing about his life had changed. He was in love with her and the only reason he switched back to his human form was for his daughters and job. The Peltzers were not too keen on them dating considering how new to the world she was, but he showed himself to be a perfect gentleman to her and while Billy was still annoyed with him having gone all the way with her he gradually accepted.

"Helix isn't joining us?" Val asked.

"According to Clamp he wants to stay in and wants to watch some movies," Billy explained with the shrug. "He says he isn't really into candy and prefers savory snacks."

"I share with him," Greta said as she held up her pail.

"Greta says she will offer some of hers to him," Billy said.

"I'd take everyone's picture," Kate said. "But the flash."

"Thanks, sweetie," Billy said as he adjusted his sunglasses. "Happy Halloween everyone."

"Happy Halloween," Gerald answered along with everyone else before they entered the building.

The End.

AN: Doctor Kupferberg is doctor Melfi's therapist from the Sopranos. He belongs to HBO and David Chase