In the fall air, the streets were filled with families, children, laughter, and screams. Houses were decked out in skeletons, pumpkins, and spooky trapping. Each house was unique and rarely did you see a dark one. Ghosts, witches, goblins, and vampires roamed the streets. Princesses, superheroes, and cute fairies fluttered.

The neighborhood never looked better. Games, costume contests, prizes, and food. Oh, the food.

Roland trotted along happily with a bucket full of candy. He'd gotten his wish and they'd stayed out for three hours. Rob held Regina's hand while they watched their son enter haunted houses, fairy castles, and engage in games like dunking for apples.

Troy, a boy from Roland's school happily shared in the excitement. They were like thieves in the night. Each propelled the other forward to try haunted houses, scare little girls, and snuck candy in between houses. Rob grinned. This wasn't what he had in mind for Halloween, but he wouldn't have it any other way.

He imagined walking him down a few streets and spending the rest of the time handing out candy. This was better.

The pure joy on his son's face was better than anything. Having Regina's hand tucked in his felt right. In the weeks they planned this night, he rarely was apart from her. They went for walks in the city, he'd taken her to a fancy restaurant, and they'd spent time on his property.

There were stolen kisses, surprise dinners, flowers, and romance. He wooed her like she deserved to be wooed. When the mood struck, he'd cut out early from work and meet them at Maggie's. Roland and he decorated the house that was currently full of people.

Regina and Maggie agonized over decorations, food, candy, and she'd made a German chocolate cake he couldn't wait to taste. His parents were there now helping Maggie and David hand out candy. His dad—to his amusement—dressed like a clown and seemed to enjoy scaring the crap out of the kids.

He glanced over to see Regina looking happy. Relaxed. He released her hand and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "This is fun."

"It is. Every year it seems to get bigger and better." She snuggled closer and pleased him. She simply fit against him. Just against him in a way that told him she belonged there from the beginning.

He pressed his lips to her temple. "I'm glad I get to be here this time." There was no malice in his comment, but he felt her tense. "I didn't mean that as a criticism."

"I know." She bit her lip and peeked at him under her lashes.

Roland and Troy screamed when a zombie popped out from under a coffin lid and ran away giggling. "Don't." He squeezed her shoulder. A habit he formed to reassure and keep her from talking down to herself. "I'm having a blast. I can't wait to taste that cake."

Regina's lips curved the way he liked them. "I hope it meets your expectations. You know I'm not a great baker."

He laughed. "I'd still eat it if it tasted like cardboard."

The wind started to pick up as the rounded to the last block. "That's sweet of you."

They laughed, ate candy, and snuck kisses as the kids went down the street.

"I wanted to talk to you about something that's been on my mind." He waited a beat before he spoke again. "I've been thinking about Roland and somethings that I'd like to change." He peered over at her confused expression.

"Like what?" She turned her head. He couldn't resist kissing her.

"Well, I guess let's start with his birth certificate. Is my name on it?" He'd wondered. Often felt compelled to ask.

"Yes."

His brow rose in surprise. "Interesting."

"Rob…"

"Don't. Now's not the time for apologies. You know they annoy me." Irritated, he led her across the street when the boys headed that way. When they stood in line to play a game, he turned her toward him and pulled her close. "Why didn't you give him my name?"

"I…" He cursed himself for putting that confused and guilty look on her face. He hated bringing up certain things because it always ended up in a fight.

"I'm just curious," he insisted when she looked panicked.

"It seemed easier at the time to give him mine. I didn't want to have a different last name because they said it would be complicated with the insurance. I guess I didn't even think about it. I was overwhelmed at the time."

"Well, I want you to think about it. I want him to have my name." He kissed her nose. He wanted her to have his name too, but one step at a time. If he mentioned that now, she'd rabbit out of here so fast, his head would spin.

"You want to change his last name?" Her smile told him her feelings on it.

"Yes, I do. He's my son." Pride filled him.

"Okay. We'll do it." A smile played on her lips.

"Just like that? No argument?" He couldn't say why it thrilled him so much.

"Robin." Her hands framed his face and kissed him. "He should have his father's name and I know how important that is to you. I remember when you used to talk about family and how leaving a legacy was your dream."

"Good." Overwhelmed with emotion, he hugged her tightly. "I love you, darlin'."

…

The party was in full swing, the music swelled, food was served, and the place was loud. Regina couldn't hear her own thoughts as the repetitive sound of the beat thudded around her. Jack was on scare duty. He succeeded in scaring away half the kids.

Betty handed out candy while David chased down the ones that ran away to make sure they didn't miss out. Everyone got candy, she mused. It was sweet. The kids were placated, given candy, and sent on their way to the next house.

Maggie was wrapped in a game with a group of kids. They were playing 3-D Jenga. The blocks were made of foam and just as she looked over, a kid toppled right into the tower and it went down. She laughed as Maggie fell back onto it.

Sitting next to Betty, Regina took a deep breath. "Well, I'm exhausted."

Betty's smile was quick and bright. "Me too, dear. It's great, isn't it? Working all day is good for the bones."

Her eyes locked on Rob and Roland huddled around a plastic pool playing a fishing game. "It couldn't be better."

"I have something for you," Betty said handing her an envelope.

"What's this?"

"Open it, dear." Her smile was full of mischief.

Regina opened the envelope and looked inside to see three tickets to Disney Land. They were booked for January. "Betty. Oh, you shouldn't have."

"Nonsense. You've all had a hard year and Roland's been talking Jack's ear off about wanting to go to Disney Land. You deserve a little break. I hope you have a good time."

Tears prickled her eyes. "You're the best mother anyone could have."

"Well, I'll be a mess in a minute." They embraced. "Go on and enjoy your time with that sweet boy and my handsome son."

Regina walked up to hear Rob explaining how to reel in the rod to get his fish. The rod was made of rope and a magnet hung at the bottom to stick to the wooden fish. With her amusement, Roland was eating it up like cream.

As he tossed out the line, she nudged Rob. "I need a word with you." Her smile coaxed him away from the crowd and out into the backyard. The stars were out twinkling in the black sky. The moon was almost full and threatened to hide behind the thick gray clouds.

They sat on Maggie's swing and huddled close from the cold. It was flanked by lavender and hydrangeas. "Betty had a surprise for us." Handing over the envelope, she watched his eyes widen and his mouth curve into a grin.

"Disney? Roland will freak out," he laughed. "Does he have time off in January?"

"A little. Enough for this to work." Regina tucked herself against his side and listened to laughter, screams, and music. "I got a call today from a law firm," she blurted out.

"Oh?" She felt him tense.

"It's in the city. Bennett and Charles are looking for lawyers. Carla recommended me for the job." She wished she was looking at him to see his reaction. But she sensed his shift in mood.

"Is this position the type of work you want to be doing?"

"Not really but, it's a foot in the door," she said. "If I can just manage to save enough, I'd like to eventually open my own practice."

"Really?" He shifted and looked at her face. "That's amazing. I didn't know you had thought about it."

"I've toyed with the idea since I started at the district attorney's office. It would be a dream realized if I had that kind of money. I'll work hard for it," she declared. "It'll take a few years, but if I'm frugal with money, I can do it in three. Maybe four."

He toyed with her hair. "I have no doubt you'll work hard for it. Will you stay with Maggie?"

"No. I've imposed long enough. I need to start thinking of planting roots. I want to look at houses." God, she needed her own space.

"To buy?" He frowned.

Averting her eyes, she saw his irritation. "Possibly."

"I didn't realize you wanted to stay in the city. You were making noise about moving closer. I figured with you being closer, we'd have more time together." His temper was being held, she mused. "I hoped Roland could change schools."

"Change schools? Why?" She hadn't considered he'd have to change schools. He had a great education and it was just far enough away from Maggie's she could walk.

"He hates it there. Don't you listen to anything he says?" Abruptly, he shoved to his feet. "Kids make fun of him, his teachers harp on him, and he's lonely, Regina. Troy is the only kids who took an interest and trust me, it took more than a little convincing his mother to get him here tonight."

He paced. "I thought we were making some moves in the right direction. Now, it seems you're wanting to go somewhere else."

Dumfounded, she stared at him. "We never discussed my living arrangements." Her temper was simmering now but she saw the hurt on his face. In his eyes.

"I didn't want to pressure you. You're like a damn tea kettle quick to whistle," he grumbled.

"That analogy is lost on me," she bit out.

"You spook easy," he explained. "You jump like a rabbit when I bring up the future. Our future. I get it, it's complicated. We've just gotten into this rhythm."

"What are you talking about?" Panic snaked into her stomach and fisted.

"Love isn't easy, Regina. We're seeing each other and your making plans without me. I don't understand it."

On her feet, she took two measured breaths. "This is my decision. I'm not following along with what other people want anymore. Even you." She jabbed him in the chest with her finger. "I won't be controlled anymore."

"I don't want to control you," he said with a dangerous tone. "You know better. I want to make a life with you. I'm sick of settling on time with my son. With you." Regina watched him quiver with anger. "I get him when it's convenient for everyone one else. I get weekends like some deadbeat."

"That's not true. You know that's not true." Baffled, she rolled her eyes.

"I want him to live with me." He stopped and stood firm.

Regina went very still. "Live with you?"

"Yes. A few weeks ago, we talked about it. He wants to live with me, have his own room, his cat, and a new school. I didn't give him an answer. I thought I'd run it by you first." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Seems to me, I should've."

"Wait." Shaking her head to clear the ache, she stepped forward. "Roland asked to live with you?"

"He's tired of sharing a room with his mom. Too many people are in the house when he wants to shower. No privacy. The list goes on. He rattles complainants on the phone all day long until my ears bleed. He wants more time with me."

"I didn't know he was so unhappy," she frowned.

"He's not unhappy, he's cramped. You're all cramped. You know I have the room." He stepped to her and took her shoulders. She felt dizzy. "I want you to move in too when you're ready. You know I want you."

"Move—I need to sit down." He caught her when she swayed. "How could I do that?"

"Do what? Live with the man you love?" His eyes were steel. "I want you, Regina. I have always wanted you. What do you want?"

"So many things," she admitted.

"Name some," he suggested nudging her to sit on the swing and pushing her head between her knees when she paled. "Take deep breaths."

Following his advice, she breathed until she was calm. Sitting up, she glanced over to see him watching her. "This is all too fast."

"I beg to differ. This is a snail crawl if I ever saw one. I've been in love with you for half my life. I've been courting you over the last few weeks, haven't I?"

Regina looked back and realized that was exactly what he'd been doing. Courting her. Taking her to dinner, long walks, silly shops. God, she'd enjoyed it and him. Family outings to the zoo, the museums, the pumpkin patch. It all blended into normalcy.

Nights were spent apart, and they'd sneak a few steamy moments when they could. They spent a lot of time with Jack and Betty. He'd finally introduced her to Yvonne. They rode horses. They were having a wonderfully intimate romance.

When she remained silent, he sat beside her. "Regina, I know you're dealing with a lot. I've watched you and I admire the hell out of you. It's not easy, I know. But I've been patient and understanding. I don't want to settle. I know what I want. I want you and our son to share a home." When she met his eyes, she teared up. "I want to be a family like we should've been."

Closing her eyes, she let a tear fall. His thumb caught it. "When I wear you down enough, I'll ask you to marry me." Her breath caught. "I'll convince you to walk down the aisle in my mother's veil. We'll settle in the house and you can change any damn thing you want. Then, we'll talk about putting a baby in that belly a little while after that."

"What?" Her eyes widened.

"I want more kids," he declared. "A few if we're lucky. A kid like Roland shouldn't be alone. You're still young enough for us to try." Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her sweetly. "I love you." He kissed her again. "If you take that job, it'll drive us apart. How long can we last with the crazy schedule we've been on?"

"I don't know." Her head was spinning. Marriage? More kids?

"Think about it. I've spent a decade apart from you and I won't sacrifice more time. Will you?"

…

Idiot. Moron. Half-brained.

Rob berated himself for days after Halloween. Regina's job announcement had hit him hard in the gut. He'd been plotting, he mused. Taking baby steps to nudge her in the direction he'd wanted her to go in. She was on another train in the opposite direction, he realized.

A full two weeks later and he was still reeling. Still waiting for her to come to her senses.

As he sat in his office looking over his schedule, he scowled when his phone rang. "Ross."

"Something wrong?" Jack's voice calmed him a bit.

"No. What's up?" Phone to his ear, he typed an e-mail to Tuck. He was feeling prickly.

"Delivery comes in this afternoon," he said. "I'll send it with Regina."

"No." He sighed. "She's not coming. I'll pick it up tomorrow afternoon." He'd stepped in it, he thought. She'd yet to call, to text. He hadn't even spoken to Roland, he thought bitterly.

"Alright. You want to talk about it?"

Rob paused before dismissing him. "Nope."

Jack knew when to take the hint. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Great." He hung up the phone and tried to focus on what he was doing. Only, he'd read the same damn lines of the e-mail over and over. Stalking to the window, he looked outside. The leaves were darker brown than orange.

The frost would be sneaking its way over the earth and the plants, trees, and flowers would hibernate. The horses were already anxious for the weather to turn. He watched Dante and Boulder—the new best friends—play in the field. Soon the field would be white and slick with snow.

Thanksgiving was right around the corner, he mused. His mother had already made noise about hosting. Maggie and David already agreed. He knew Regina would be here despite the silent treatment she placed on him. He'd called, he'd texted.

Nothing. Not a damn word.

There was hurt buried deep inside of him. He'd pined for her enough to recognize the break in his heart. It was a feeling that stayed with him long enough to realize it could be permanent. He hoped to hell he kept his patience because she had a rude awakening coming.

A rude awakening, he thought darkly. Shifting his attention to his work, he planned.