A/N: Thanks for your reviews!
Chapter 27 – Bewitched
"I think we're the only ones here not in costume," Jeff remarked as he and Jim made their way through the throng of party goers at the firm's annual Halloween Bash.
"I don't care," Jim replied. "I gave up costumes when I was a kid."
"Me too; but it's fun to laugh at the ones who do dress up."
"That's why I'm here," Jim laughed.
"I thought you were here to see what Sassy is wearing."
"I can have more than one reason," he quipped. "I would've brought her if we hadn't had to sit through that meeting with that pompous windbag."
"I know," Jeff commiserated. "I didn't think he was ever going to shut up. I would've liked to have been present for the unveiling of Maggie's costume."
"I don't see her anywhere yet…of course I don't know what she's dressed as."
"Do you recognize anyone?"
"Yeah," Jim answered. "I'm pretty sure the nitwit in the clown suit is Steve."
Jeff glanced at the man in question and laughed. "Yeah, I think so too. It looks like Neil is a leprechaun."
"He must've gotten his holidays mixed up."
"Melanie's a cat…again."
"The woman lacks originality," Jim stated, watching as the woman sauntered around the room.
"What was it that Jo said about her the other day? That her mind could fit into a thimble?"
"Something like that," he murmured as he scanned the crowd in search of Johanna.
At his side, Jeff whistled and clapped him on the shoulder. "There's a sexy witch over there at the corner of the bar and she's giving you the eye."
Jim's head jerked in the direction of the bar, his gaze colliding with Johanna's as her red lips curved into a mischievous smirk. He moved toward her without thought, his best friend chuckling quietly at his side as he followed along. As he reached her, 'Witchy Woman' began to play, causing him to grin at her. "Sounds like they're playing your song."
"It does have a certain appeal, doesn't it?" Johanna replied.
"Oh yeah," he said, his eyes raking over her. She was wearing a witch's hat of course; her dark hair was laying in curls. Her makeup was heavier than usual, but done in a way to look alluring instead of clownish like it had been at Colleen's wedding. The dark makeup on her eyes seemed to make them look bigger and greener. The long sleeves of her black dress were filmy and see through, the bodice was tightly fitted and was a deep purple with black corset lacings that ended with an enticing little bow at the daringly low cut of the neck line. The black skirt was snug and short, showing off legs clad in fishnet stockings, her feet concealed in a pair of stiletto heeled black boots.
"Breathe, Jim," Jeff jested lightly as he smacked him on the back. "See what happens when you shop in the sexy costume aisle, Sassy? You get Jim all distracted."
She gave a shrug. "I'm not sorry."
"Interesting," Jeff replied.
"Apparently you two didn't shop at all," Johanna remarked. "Where are your costumes?"
'"We figured we were scary enough without them," Jim said as he finally found his voice. "Especially Jeff."
Johanna laughed and took a sip of her purple colored drink which caught his attention, making his brow furrow in puzzlement. "What are you drinking?"
"Witch's brew," she answered.
"Did you make it in your own cauldron?" Jeff teased.
"No, it's really a margarita in disguise."
"Hmm, even the drinks have costumes; the firm must be doing well this year."
"Either that or it's because they asked the Devonshire firm to join us," Johanna replied.
"I thought it looked like there were more people than usual," Jim said.
"Have you seen Maggie?" Jeff inquired.
"Yeah, she brought me. She's over there somewhere," she said with a wave of her hand.
"What's she dressed as?"
"Cleopatra."
A grin crossed Jeff's lips. "Well then, I guess I'll go find her and see if she's willing to float down the Nile with me. If Jim misbehaves, just turn him into a frog, Sassy."
"I'll do that," she laughed as he walked away.
"You wouldn't dare," Jim remarked.
"I might."
"I doubt it…you'd miss me."
The teasing gleam in her eyes remained in place but there was softness there as well. "Most likely."
"That translated to definitely in my mind."
"You know, I thought you'd come as a vampire," Johanna said; a teasing smirk upon her lips. "Given your past history."
Jim grinned; he knew exactly what history she was referring to. "A few hickeys and I'm branded for life."
"That's what happens when you go around leaving your mark," she responded.
"You didn't seem to mind; in fact I think you enjoyed it a great deal. That's probably why you wanted to see me dressed up as a vampire; you're hoping for it to happen again," he teased. "And if that's the case, Sweetheart; all you have to do is ask. I'll be more then happy to oblige."
"Oh I'm sure you would be," she quipped.
He couldn't resist teasing her further by leaning towards her as if he was going for that spot on the side of her neck.
"Not here!" Johanna exclaimed; putting a hand against his chest to hold him at bay.
"Not here?" he asked; regarding her with a raised brow and eyes full of amusement. "Do you want to take it elsewhere? Do you want to go out to my car?"
She shifted on her feet, placing a hand on her hip which only made her look all the more alluring to him while she glared at him playfully. "I don't think so. I'm not that kind of girl."
His gaze raked over her costume once again and he smiled mischievously. "Alright then, do you want to go out to your broom?"
She shoved his shoulder, making him laugh in the process as she shook her head at him. "You just stop that," she said lightly, the laugh she had been trying to hold back spilling from her lips.
"Come on, Jo," he replied; "It'll be fun; you can 'bewitch' me."
Johanna rolled her eyes, but she couldn't keep the smile from her face. "Is this what I'm going to get from you all night, witch jokes?"
"I'm trying to offer you more but you're not cooperating," Jim told her. "I hear that's a common trait among your people."
"Oh I wish I had brought a broom," Johanna laughed; "Because I'd beat you with it."
"That sounds like fun," Jim teased. "I guess you're a bad witch after all, which I'm completely alright with."
"Because you're an equal opportunity for witches kind of guy?" she replied with a smirk.
"Of course," he replied. "Good witches, bad witches, sexy witches...I don't discriminate."
She giggled. "How is it that you haven't won an award for being such a great humanitarian?"
"I don't know," he said; "It's a grave miscarriage of justice. Maybe you can make me feel better about it."
"And how do you propose I do that?"
Jim shrugged; a hint of a grin still clinging to his lips. "Maybe you can put me under your spell."
She moved closer, invading his personal space as he often did to her. "Maybe I already have."
The scent of her perfume filled his senses as her body brushed against his. She was enjoying this, he thought to himself as he slipped an arm around her waist to keep her from stepping back. "That's a good possibility," he whispered; his lips grazing against her ear, sending a shiver through her.
"Would you like me to take off the spell?" she asked; a part of her suddenly wishing that they weren't in a room full of people, even if they did seem to be concealed in one of the darker areas of the room.
He'd like her to take something off alright, he thought to himself; but it certainly wasn't that spell that she seemed to have had him under since that first day he laid eyes on her.
"No," he answered. "I find that being spellbound can sometimes be an incredible thing."
Once Jim had ordered a drink, he and Johanna drifted to a table in the corner of the room. "So what I have I missed?" he asked.
"Not much; no one's drunk enough to start any trouble yet. Melanie's been strutting around in her cat costume, rubbing up against anyone she thinks she has a chance with."
Jim nodded. "I saw her when I came in. I also saw Steve in a clown suit."
"Yeah, like he's really disguised," she commented.
He laughed. "What's Stanley dressed as?"
"A King," Johanna replied as she rolled her eyes.
Jim scoffed. "What's he King of?"
"Jackass land of course," she remarked. "You should know that, honey."
"You're right, I should've known. What about Sharon?"
"Alice in Wonderland."
"And Phil?"
Johanna burst into laughter. "That bad?" he asked; amusement in his eyes.
She nodded, laughter still spilling from her lips. "See that big white rabbit over there?" she asked, gesturing in the rabbit's direction.
"Yeah."
"That's him."
"Phil's a rabbit?"
"Yes," she laughed.
"Are you sure?"
"Oh yeah, a hundred percent sure."
"Oh my God," Jim replied. "What the hell possessed him?"
"Sharon," she answered. "You know Alice followed the white rabbit and ended up in Wonderland."
His shoulders shook with laughter. "He's never going to live this down."
"I don't think so either."
"How did she talk him into that?"
"I don't know the specifics but I'm sure it took a lot of time and energy."
"Nothing's worth that…no matter how good it might be," Jim laughed. "Where's Jeff? He's got to see this."
"Over there," she replied with a nod in the man's direction.
Jim caught his eye and waved him over. "What's going on?" Jeff asked when he and Maggie reached their table.
"See that rabbit over there?"
"Yeah."
"That's Phil."
Jeff's lips quivered with barely suppressed glee. "Phil? Our Phil?"
"That's the one."
"Oh God, I wish I was dressed as Elmer Fudd right now," Jeff remarked.
"Why?" Maggie asked.
"Because I'd walk up behind him and say, 'it looks like wabbit season'."
Johanna almost choked on her drink. "I'd like to see that."
"I'll give you ten dollars to do it," Jim goaded.
"I need a toy gun," his friend lamented. "Sassy, you're a witch, twitch your nose like Samantha Stevens and get me a toy gun."
"I wish I could," she laughed. "You don't know how many times I tried to do that as a kid when I'd watch that show."
"Improvise," Jim told Jeff. "Go get that rabbit."
"I think I will," he responded. "Cleopatra, stay here; don't go looking for Caesar or Marc Antony."
"I thought you said you were Marc Antony in disguise," Maggie replied.
"I lied. I just told you that so you'd come along with me. Really I'm the big bad wolf," he grinned.
She laughed and sat down at the table with Jim and Johanna as Jeff made his way to Phil. They watched as he walked up behind him and shoved his finger into the man's back and Johanna could read the words on his lips. "It looks like wabbit season."
Phil turned around, a disgruntled look on his face that made Jim and the girls laugh, drawing Phil's attention to them. He glared at them but it only served to make them laugh more. After a few moments of back and forth between the two men, Jeff headed back to the table, amusement written across his face.
"That's one mean rabbit," he remarked as he dropped into the chair beside Maggie.
Jim laughed. "He didn't like being informed about rabbit season?"
"Nope. He told me it was asshole season. I told him I checked the calendar and it's definitely rabbit season."
"Sometimes Phil can't take a joke," Jim laughed. "Which of course only makes it more fun."
About that time, Sharon and Phil headed their way. "Uh oh, it's that wascally rabbit," Jeff called out.
"I'm not Bugs Bunny," Phil exclaimed.
"Doesn't matter," Jim remarked. "A rabbit is a rabbit."
Johanna giggled at the comment and the man glared at her. "Shut up, Johanna," Phil barked.
"Hey," Jim interceded; "Don't get smart with my witch. I'll let her turn you into a goat."
"He's just jealous because my costume is better than his," Johanna replied as she settled back in the circle of Jim's arm that he had dropped around her.
"All of you need to leave Phil alone. He's been a good sport about going along with my theme," Sharon stated.
Jeff laughed. "Now, Sharon; if you're going to dress him up as a bunny, you have to expect that were going to walk through that door of comments."
The secretary frowned at him as Phil continued to glare. "At least I'm man enough to wear a costume," he remarked.
"I don't know if a man in a bunny suit can brag about manliness," Jeff quipped.
"What's the matter, Phil? Did you get a hold of a bad carrot or something?" Jim asked.
"Maybe he got chased out of Mr. McGregor's garden," Maggie laughed.
"That's enough," Sharon retorted. "Let's talk about all of you; witches and Cleopatra are over done in the costume department you know."
"I don't look at it as being over done," Johanna remarked. "I see it as expressing a part of my inner self. There is a part of me that wishes I could turn people into insects or toads."
"And I happen to like Egyptian culture," Maggie replied. "I also like Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra."
"What about you two?" the secretary asked as she pointed at Jim and Jeff. "At least Phil's in costume; you're not!"
"I'm in costume," Jim declared. "I'm a vampire in disguise as a lawyer."
"I can vouch for that," Johanna said.
"Oh you can?" her best friend asked.
"Yeah, he tried to bite my neck over there at the bar."
"You must not have minded, you're cozied up to him."
"We're trying to improve relations between vampires and witches," she answered.
"It's going well," Jim added.
"Jim," Jeff said with a grin. "Did you try to nibble on Sassy when I left you alone with her?"
"It's her own fault," he replied. "She made a few remarks that I took as a challenge."
"Witches are like that," he friend responded.
"And what are you supposed to be, Jeff?" Sharon asked.
"I'm the big bad wolf in disguise," he grinned. "Just ask Cleopatra here, she was on her way to see her grand-pharaoh…"
"There's no such thing as grand-pharaohs," Johanna laughed.
"Hush, Sassy; or we'll load you up and take you up to Salem. You know what they do to your people there, don't you?"
"My apologies please continue."
Jeff nodded. "Anyway, I snatched up this lovely Queen on the banks of the Nile. Tell them, Mags; tell them I'm the big bad wolf."
"There's no doubt in my mind that you're the big bad wolf," his girlfriend confirmed with a laugh.
"You're all just being mean," Sharon replied.
"Come on, Sharon; we're just having some fun. There's no harm meant," Jim told her.
"Yeah, you're being awfully sensitive," Johanna commented. "If it was anyone else you'd be having fun with it too."
"Well you're not having fun at my expense any more," Phil said as he stalked away from the table, Sharon following behind him.
"Sharon," Jeff called after her. "Just for the record, you look very cute in your Alice costume…but I wouldn't count on that rabbit to take you to Wonderland tonight…or anytime soon for that matter."
Sharon ignored him as she continued to follow Phil, leaving her friends stifling laughs in their wake. Johanna dropped a hand to Jim's knee. "Come on, Dracula, dance with me."
"I'd be glad to," he replied as he took her hand and led her to the dance floor. He pulled her close and she smiled up at him.
"There's nothing worse than a sensitive rabbit," he commented.
She nodded. "Alice was a bit touchy too."
"They might not speak to us tomorrow."
"Wouldn't be the first time," Johanna replied. "But it's okay, I'll talk to you."
Jim gave her a grin. "That suits me just fine."
Jim was sitting at their table, nursing his drink as he watched the party-goers. He had reluctantly released his claim on Johanna when Jeff asked her to dance and to keep things fair, he had asked Maggie to dance to make the swap official, but afterwards he had moved back to the table, waiting for his bewitching temptress to reappear. After her dance with Jeff she had been claimed by a few other colleagues and she had yet to materialize. He frowned, he didn't mind when she danced with Jeff or Phil or even with Zach or his friend Mark…he felt as though they all had an understanding of who belonged to who even if there wasn't an official claim. There wasn't that understanding with other men and his frown deepened as he recalled the glimpse he had gotten of Johanna dancing with the office's Latin heartthrob as he had been dubbed. Antonio Caruthers was a man he didn't want dancing with her. He didn't trust Don Juan as far as he could throw him.
Jim took a sip of his drink. Johanna was beautiful, she attracted attention. It wasn't her fault…and he couldn't help that he sometimes found himself jealous when other men paid attention to her. He shook the thought away as he saw the object of his thoughts scurrying towards him. Johanna slipped onto his lap before he could even say a word and he grinned. This was better. She wouldn't do this with just anyone.
"It's nice to see you too, sweetheart," he said, wrapping an arm around her.
"Pretend you're with me," she replied; her eyes subtly darting in the direction she had just come from.
"Uh oh, which one of your admirers is after you?"
"That Marvin Santori from the Devonshire firm."
He laughed quietly. "I'll do what I can to dissuade him if he comes this way."
Sure enough, Marvin Santori appeared within moments. "Dance with me, Johanna," he pleaded in his nasally tone.
"I already told you no, Marvin," she replied. "I told you that I'm here with Jim and that I've already neglected him far too much. Now run along and ask someone else."
"But I don't want anyone else," he retorted. "Jim won't mind."
"Actually I do," Jim said firmly as he eyed the man with a menacing look. "She's mine and she told you no, now get lost."
Marvin sized up the situation and then decided that he didn't have any desire to tango with Jim and he scurried away. "Thank you," Johanna murmured as she slipped into her own chair.
"I was happy to do it," he replied.
"You're good at it," she responded; picking up his glass and taking a sip.
"Do you want me to get you a fresh drink?"
Johanna nodded and he got up and went to the bar and got them both another drink and then returned to the table.
"How would you like to go trick or treating?" Jim asked.
She eyed him. "Is this some sort of holiday themed pick up line?"
"No," he laughed. "I'm serious."
"Aren't we a little old for trick or treating?"
"Probably; but I meant going as a chaperone."
Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Who would we be chaperoning?"
"Take a wild guess."
"Uh oh; sounds like Uncle Jim got roped into something again."
"Yeah, I got shanghaied again."
"How?"
"I made the mistake of accepting a dinner invitation at their house last night. I should've known that my brother wanted something. Every time I'm invited to dinner I end up caught up in some scheme."
Johanna laughed. "I'm assuming that you're taking the kids trick or treating?"
"Yeah. My brother has to go out of town for a few days on business so he can't take them. The baby is sick and Natalie's coming down with a cold so she doesn't think she'll be able to take them either. So they sic Angie on me…with her blonde curls, big blue eyes and button nose, her little lip poking out as she says 'Please, Uncle Jim; can't you take us?' Now how am I supposed to say no to that?"
"You can't," she replied. "That's a powerful weapon."
"Damn right I can't, especially when the other two start chiming in, looking like their whole world will be crushed. They must've rehearsed before I got there."
"You're a good uncle."
"I'm a dumb uncle. I have to stop going over there. I asked them why it's always me. Michael said it's because William lives out of the country and has the personality of an icicle."
Johanna laughed. "I think I'm glad I haven't met that one."
"You should be. I can't stand him. Then Michael said that Andrew travels a lot and they aren't sure they could trust him with the job. They figure he'd try to pick up a few women along the way."
"What about Madelyn?"
"They don't think she could handle it. Her patience wears thin after awhile."
"Well then they really have no choice but you," she grinned.
"I need you to go with me. I'm afraid I might lose one. If you go, Angie will stick to you like glue…and if you wear something to show off your legs, Mikey will cling to one of them. That would just leave me Danny and I can carry him."
"Always thinking about how I can make your life easier, aren't you?" Johanna asked lightly.
"I wouldn't put it like that," Jim chuckled. "I think of it as spending quality time with you. So how about it?"
"Well…I do adore those kids…"
"What about me?"
"Oh I suppose there's a level of adoration," she replied coyly.
His hand fell to her knee and caressed it. "Just a level?"
"It could be more."
"I think it's definitely more."
"And you?" she asked.
"My adoration for you knows no bounds," he remarked. "You should know that."
Johanna smiled. "In that case, I'll go trick or treating with you."
He picked up her hand and kissed it. "Thank you, I'm eternally grateful."
"You'll owe me one."
Jim laughed. "That's fine; you just let me know what you want to collect."
"I'll give it serious thought," she smiled.
The party had turned a little too rowdy for Johanna's taste as the clock ticked past midnight. Jim offered to take her home and she had accepted. When they reached her apartment, he followed her inside as usual, not that she minded, she thought to herself as he settled down on her couch.
"What time will you pick me up for trick or treating?" she asked as she put her purse in the closet and took off her witch hat.
"I'll have to let you know. I'll have to call Natalie and ask. They were too busy setting me up to give too many details."
Johanna crossed the room and put a foot up on the coffee table
"What are you doing?" Jim asked as his eyes widened.
"I'm taking off my boots," she replied, reaching for the zipper that was on the side of her black boot.
He appreciated the view…but had to wonder if she was trying to tempt him as she repeated the maneuver for the second boot. "Aren't you going to take off the stockings?" he asked, the words slipping from his mouth without permission.
Johanna gave a soft laugh. "Why? Do you want to take one home with you as a souvenir?"
"I hadn't considered that..."
"What were you considering?"
"Your comfort of course."
"Mhmm."
"When have my intentions ever been impure toward you?"
"Lots of times," she quipped as she sat down beside him.
"So you're not taking off the stockings?"
A sassy smile curved her lips upward. She wasn't drunk but she had a little liquid courage in her veins and she felt like toying with him. She stood and lifted her foot back up on the coffee table and reached beneath the hem of her dress. Slowly she rolled down the stocking, smirking at his mesmerized expression as she dropped the hosiery to the floor and then moved to the other leg. She pulled the stocking off with exaggerated slowness and then tossed it at him. "Don't say I never gave you anything," she quipped as she retook her seat beside him.
"I've always thought you were a generous soul, Jo."
"That's good; I don't want you thinking I'm stingy."
"Never. Do you need any help getting out of your costume?" Jim asked; pretending like the question was purely innocent.
"You're just desperate to pull this little bow, aren't you?" Johanna asked with a smile as she toyed with the little bow that rested at the low cut of her neckline.
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean."
"Mhmm, I've seen you eyeing it all night. I can just imagine what you were thinking."
"I was thinking that it's a cute little bow…and that you don't usually wear dresses that are cut like this."
"Special occasion," she remarked, his eyes still on her bow.
"I will help you though, if you need assistance," Jim reiterated.
She licked her lips as she contemplated her next move. Boldness won out once more. "Well…I guess you could give this bow a tug. I'm afraid it might be knotted and I'd hate to have to cut it."
Jim's eyes widened. "Really?" he asked warily; wondering if she was just tormenting him.
"You said you wanted to help…so do it."
His fingers reached out for the bow but then he drew his hand back. "Is this one of those things where if I do it, you'll slap me?"
"No," she laughed.
"What if my hand slips or something?"
Johanna shrugged. "Wouldn't be anywhere you haven't had your hands before."
He chuckled quietly. "How much of that witches brew did you have tonight?"
"Not enough to make me drunk," she replied; "And it's the truth…you've had your hands on me before."
"You didn't mind," he replied lightly.
"So why should I mind now?" she asked, a hint of seductiveness in her voice.
He couldn't resist the urge to kiss that sassy mouth of hers and he did so, stealing her breath away and leaving her under a momentary spell of his own once it was over and his fingers caught hold of that elusive silken bow. He tugged at it, finding that it was indeed knotted, and then he picked at it, working the knot lose as he breathed in the scent of her perfume and felt the rise and fall of her chest beneath his hands as he worked. It was far too intoxicating, he thought to himself and yet he didn't even think about pulling back and leaving her to deal with the thing on her own. Finally the knot gave and he grinned as he tugged on the silk ribbon, thinking that it was going to loosen the whole front of her dress. His smile faded when he realized that wasn't the case at all and when he looked up at her amused green eyes, he knew he had been taken.
"Don't you hate when that happens?" Johanna asked. "You think you're going to get this big reveal and then you end up disappointed."
"That was cold, Johanna," Jim remarked. "Cold and cruel."
She shook her head. "Oh I don't think so. I mean I can't help it if it slipped my mind to tell you about that little zipper hidden in the back."
"I just bet it slipped your mind, you evil little temptress."
Johanna laughed. "Evil? Surely not."
He nodded. "Definitely evil. What time does the library close?"
"The library? I don't know, why?"
"Because I want to go see if they have a book about how to punish witches because you're in need of punishment."
"Do you want me to kiss you and make it better?" she asked as he got up from the couch.
"I don't know…you might be wicked again."
"Sounds like a challenge," she remarked as she sidled up to him as he paused in front of the door. She ran her hands over his chest as she moved closer, smiling as she saw him swallow hard.
"You seem to be up to a challenge tonight," he answered; trying not to stammer as she invaded his space. "I think I like this side of you."
"I'm sure you do," she murmured; her lips brushing against his as she spoke and then she claimed his mouth in a searing kiss before he could answer.
"You should dress up as a witch more often," he said, his tone husky when they broke their kiss.
"You think so?"
"Mhmm," he replied, reclaiming her lips, distracting her as he searched out the hidden zipper in the back of her dress. He found it and lowered it fast enough that she couldn't stop him once realization set in and she broke their kiss. The dress fell off her shoulder and he brushed her hand away as she tried to grab it and set it to rights.
"You're not the only one capable of trickery," Jim remarked, lowering his head and brushing a lingering kiss against the skin of her shoulder before moving to her neck.
"You're going to leave a mark," she said, giving his ear a tug as he concentrated on one area of her neck.
"Good, that's what I'm aiming for."
She gave him a little push. "That's not something you want your niece and nephews seeing."
"You have makeup to cover it up," he remarked, managing to dodge her as he returned to that spot, making her melt against him for a moment until she regained her resolve and pushed him away once more.
"That's enough, Dracula."
Jim grinned at her. "What's the matter, sweetheart? You can dish it out but you can't take it?"
"Oh I can take you," she said, her tone dropping an octave. "The question is, can you take me?"
His mouth grazed hers once more. "In more ways than you can imagine…and I better go before I start showing you all of them."
She gave him an amused smirk. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, witchy woman."
Johanna laughed at the remark and closed the door, heading for the bathroom to get ready for bed. As she glanced in the mirror she saw the mark on her neck and shook her head. "Damn you, Jim," she muttered…but a smile remained on her lips and there was too much affection in her voice for it to hold any amount of disdain.
"Mikey's going to be disappointed," Jim remarked early on Halloween evening as he and Johanna made their way to Natalie's door.
"I think it's you who's disappointed," she replied with a knowing look; "And besides, if I recall my childhood correctly, and I'm sure I do, trick or treating entails a lot of walking and I don't want to do it in a skirt and heels. I'm sure I can entice him to hold my hand if need be."
He grinned. "But I was going to hold your hand."
"You can hold it later," she quipped as he knocked on the door.
Natalie answered the door after the second knock, a fussy Alicia on her hip. "I see you brought back up," she teased her brother-in-law.
"You didn't think I was going to go this alone, did you?" Jim replied lightly.
"I admit that I wondered if you'd convince her to come along," Natalie answered. "Hello, Johanna."
"Hi, Natalie," she responded. "What's wrong with Miss Alicia?"
"She has an ear infection and it's making her miserable."
"It must be the month for it," Johanna said as she brushed a hand over Alicia's soft brown hair. "My nephew just got over an ear infection."
Natalie gave a nod. "It's that season again, colds, flus and ear aches. I'm grateful that the two of you are taking the other three out for me. They'd be so disappointed if they couldn't go."
"Are they ready?" Jim asked.
"Yes, they're just rummaging through my collection of shopping bags that I've saved for them to take along for anything that won't fit into their buckets."
"Smart kids," he remarked. "They must get that from me."
Natalie's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Michael might disagree about that."
Jim shrugged. "He can disagree if he wants to but we all know the truth."
She gave a soft laugh and called for the kids as Alicia fussed and tried to draw her uncle's attention. Johanna smacked his shoulder. "Your niece wants your attention."
His gaze shifted to the baby who was stretching her arms out to him. "You're not going to throw up on me, are you?" he asked.
"She only did that once," his sister-in-law remarked. "Let it go."
Johanna gave him another whack. "Hold that child before she cries…because if you make her cry, then I'll have to make you cry later."
He obediently lifted his niece from Natalie's arms and the baby smiled at him. "You're training him well, Johanna," Natalie stated with a laugh. "He followed your command without any hesitation or questioning."
"Ha ha," Jim retorted as the three older children trooped into the room with their plastic pumpkin buckets and a couple of shopping bags dangling from their hands.
"Miss Jo, are you going trick or treating with us?" Angie asked excitedly.
"Yes I am, and you're a very pretty ballerina, Angie," she remarked as she looked over the little girl's pink ballerina costume and the plastic tiara on her head.
"I'm Superman," Danny exclaimed as he vied for attention by running up to her and tugging on the leg of her jeans. "I gots a cape, Miss Jo."
"I see that," she smiled, stooping down to be on eye level with him. "You're looking very cute tonight, Superman. Angie and I will feel very safe having you along with us."
The three year old beamed under her praise but his big brother wasn't about to be outdone as he pushed his way to her side. "I'm a cowboy, Miss Jo."
Johanna grinned at him. "A very handsome cowboy."
"See my gun and holster?" he asked, turning slightly sideways so she could see the toy pistol strapped to his hip.
"I see it. My brother and I had toy guns just like those."
"You played cowboys?" he exclaimed.
"I was a cowgirl," she corrected; "But yes, I played cowboys with my brother when I was a little girl."
"Did you 'shoot' Frankie, Jo?" Jim asked with amusement.
"Every chance I got," she grinned. "I even took his badge a few times."
He laughed. "Come on kids, let's get started."
Natalie kissed the top of each child's head. "Remember to do what Jim and Johanna tells you. And don't eat any candy until it's been checked first or unless its from someone that we know we can trust."
Three heads nodded, their expressions conveying that they had already heard this lecture. "And remember to hold hands and don't go running off."
"We won't," they chorused, Angie moving to take Johanna's hand while Danny latched on to Jim's once he had handed Alicia back to her mother.
"Johanna, do you want to leave your purse here?" Natalie asked.
"Yes, if you don't mind."
Jim's sister-in-law took the purse from her hand and waved them off. "Have fun guys."
Once they got down the sidewalk and past the house, Jim paused and turned to his eldest nephew. "Hey, Mikey; I have a job for you."
"What?"
"When you go to the doors and get your candy, you open up one of your extra bags and ask them for a treat for your sick little sister at home."
"But Alicia's a baby, she can't eat candy yet," Mikey replied.
"They don't need to know that," Jim told him. "Me and Johanna will split that candy."
"Jim," she exclaimed.
"What? I'm splitting it with you, you shouldn't complain. It's fine, everyone does it. It'll be fun, Mikey; you're supposed to play tricks on Halloween and we don't have to tell your mom."
The boy grinned. "Okay, I'll do it."
"That's my boy," Jim remarked. They started on their way again, pausing at the first house. Angie took Danny's hand and they followed Mikey up to the door as Jim and Johanna waited on the sidewalk.
"You're shameless," Johanna said quietly as she heard Mikey making the request for his little sister.
He smiled, seeing the treats fall into the bag. "Sweetheart, how else are we going to get candy?"
"We could buy it."
"What's the fun in that? It's free here."
She shook her head but a smile clung to her lips. "I still say you're shameless."
"I'm okay with that," he quipped as the children returned from the door.
"This sucks," Mikey declared a half hour later.
"We're not getting much candy," Angie added to the complaint.
"It doesn't look like many people are participating this year," Jim remarked. "Maybe we should take them somewhere else."
"We should go to my mother's neighborhood," Johanna replied. "That place is always a goldmine on Halloween; nearly everyone participates."
"I want more candy, Uncle Jim," Danny declared as they passed yet another darkened house.
"Don't worry, buddy; we'll get you more candy. We'll go somewhere else. Let's go tell your mommy."
Jim stashed the extra bag of candy in the car and then they went to the door and told Natalie about the change of plans while the kids went inside and dumped the candy they had collected into a bowl. With Natalie's blessing they loaded the kids into the car and headed for the McKenzie's neighborhood.
The children's spirits were lifted as they saw that nearly every house had their porch lights on. Things went along smoothly for awhile until they reached a house where they residents had gone all out, decorating the place to look like a haunted house that you could also go inside and tour. There was a man in costume standing on the porch and Johanna wasn't sure what he was supposed to be, a zombie of some sort, she figured but he gave her the creeps. The growls and roaring noises he was making didn't help matters and when he looked in Danny's direction, the little boy started to cry, wrapping himself around Johanna's leg.
"It's alright," she soothed as she lifted the boy into her arms. "It's just a man in a mask, he won't hurt you."
"Scary," he cried. "I don't like it."
"I'll stay here with Danny," Johanna said to Jim. "You can take the other two in."
"Are you sure? We can skip this house."
"No!" Mikey exclaimed. "I want to go inside!"
"Go on, we'll be fine."
Jim started up to the house with Mikey and Angie but as the zombie turned toward Angie, she screamed and bolted back down the sidewalk to Johanna. "Is it okay not to be brave this time, Miss Jo?"
"Absolutely. Go ahead, Jim; I got her."
Jim gave a wave and led Mikey into the haunted house. Danny remained tightly wrapped around her neck and she rubbed his back as Angie's small hand clung to the pocket of her jeans as she pressed close to her.
"Why does that man have to be so scary?" the little girl asked.
"Because he thinks it's fun to scare little kids."
"Does he scare you?"
"A little," Johanna admitted.
"I feel better then," Angie proclaimed, leaning her head against Johanna's leg.
She smiled and dropped a hand to Angie's shoulder, wishing that Mr. Creepy would quit watching them. Apparently Angie was in the same frame of mind. "Can we move somewhere else?"
"Yeah, we'll move back up to the house next door. They were only there for a few minutes when Jim appeared, laughing as he carried a disgruntled looking Mikey.
"What happened?" Johanna asked when they made their way to her.
"Everything was going fine until a mummy jumped out of a closet at him," Jim said. "I think he jumped a foot in the air."
"You jumped too!" the six year old tattled.
"I did not."
"Did too."
"Anyway, after his feet touched the floor again, he proved that's he's been watching too many westerns."
"How?"
Jim chuckled. "He pulled out his gun and said he was calling him out."
Johanna laughed. "What happened then?"
"The mummy is either really stupid and thinks we'd let a six year old walk around with a real gun or he has a phobia about all guns in general even toy ones, because his eyes got as round as saucers and he jumped back into that closet faster than you can say your name. I'd say he and Mikey are even now."
"Stupid mummy," Mikey muttered.
"It's alright, cowboy," Johanna stated. "You won the showdown. Let's keep going."
"I want to eat some candy," Mikey grumbled awhile later as he toted his bucket down the sidewalk. "We're getting really good stuff here."
"I want candy too," Angie commented. "Can't we just stop and have one piece, Uncle Jim?"
"Your mother said you couldn't have anything until it was checked or unless it was from someone we know," Jim reminded them, although he understood the desire to dive in. Johanna was right, her mother's neighborhood was a goldmine and the kids were making out like bandits with their candy haul. It was a good thing they had brought extra bags.
"Just one candy, Uncle Jim?" Danny pleaded, holding up one finger for emphasis.
Johanna peered down the street at her mother's house. Her father's car wasn't in the driveway but she knew that her mother would be giving out candy. She leaned close to her colleague so she could speak quietly. "Jim, we'll go to my mom's; they can eat what she's giving out. She'll let us in and we can sit down for a minute."
"Are you sure?" he asked, and she knew that he was asking if she was sure she wanted her mother to see her in this situation.
"I'm sure. We'll let them hit these two houses and then we'll be at hers."
After the kids collected their treats at the two houses next to Naomi's; Johanna led them all up on the porch of her mother's house and knocked on the door.
Naomi appeared a moment later with the large punch bowl full of candy and her eyes widened in surprise at seeing her daughter with a child attached to each hand. "Johanna," she exclaimed.
"It's Miss Jo's mommy!" Angie announced.
"Can we come in?" Johanna asked.
"Of course," her mother replied as she opened the screen door for them. "Hello, Jim; it's nice to see you again."
"Hello, Naomi," he smiled as he guided Danny inside.
"Mom, these children are in desperate need of candy that they can eat," Johanna remarked; "But their mother told them they can't have any unless it's checked first or it's from someone we know we can trust. I told them it's okay to eat the candy you give them."
Naomi smiled and nodded as she moved to the children who had lined up in front of their caretakers. "What a pretty ballerina you are," she said as she stooped down in front of Angie with the bowl of candy. "Take whatever you'd like. Your name is Angie, right?"
"Yes," she replied as she selected a candy necklace. "What do I call you?"
"You call her Mrs. McKenzie," Jim stated; "And don't forget to say thank you."
"Thank you, Mrs. McKenzie."
"You're welcome, dear. You can sit down and rest your feet."
"On the floor with your candy," Jim remarked.
"They don't have to sit on the floor," Naomi replied.
"Yes they do," he replied. "They're known for making messes and if they go home and tell their mother that they got candy on someone's furniture, she'll kill me."
"Don't argue with him, Mom; he gets a little uptight when he babysits."
"I see that," her mother laughed as she moved on to Mikey. "What's your name, cowboy?"
"Mikey," he answered.
"How old are you?"
"Six and a half. Are you really Miss Jo's mommy?"
"Yes I am," she smiled. "Pick out whatever you want from the bowl."
"I like Miss Jo a whole lot," he declared; "And you know what else?"
"What?"
"She's got nice legs; even Uncle Jim says so."
Naomi burst into laughter as her daughter blushed. "She does have nice legs, doesn't she?" she agreed. "I'm a bit jealous of them myself at times. Her legs turned out better than mine."
"Mother," Johanna muttered.
"She's really pretty," Mikey went on; "And nice…we think Uncle Jim kisses her but he won't tell us if he does or not."
"Mikey," Jim warned; "Pick a piece of candy and put it in your mouth."
"I need to take one for my sick little sister at home," his nephew announced.
"Mikey, not here," Jim said.
Naomi eyed him and Johanna and then shifted her attention back to the six year old as he dropped a treat into his extra bag. "Do you really have a sick sister at home?"
"Yeah but she's just a baby," Angie declared.
"She's too little for candy," Mikey added; "But Uncle Jim said that no one needs to know that. He's going to share the candy with Miss Jo."
Her jaw dropped. "Shame on you two!" Naomi exclaimed as she eyed Jim and Johanna. "Running a candy scam and involving a child; that's terrible!"
"I didn't have anything to do with it," Johanna declared. "That was Jim's idea."
"You let it happen."
"I can't stop him. I have no control here. I'm just a friend not a relative."
"I asked Mommy if we could call you Aunt Jo," Angie said; "But she said we have to wait until Uncle Jim gets his head out of the sand and marries you. Uncle Jim, why do you put your head in sand?"
"This wasn't a good idea," Johanna remarked; her cheeks burning once more as her mother laughed.
"You've been having a string of bad ideas lately," Jim replied.
"Me! You're the one running a scam here, Candy Man."
"Alright that's enough," Naomi said as she finally moved on to Danny who was waiting patiently. 'What's your name, Superman?"
"Danny," he said shyly.
Naomi admired his cuteness and complimented his costume as he took his candy. When all three kids were settled on the floor with their candy, Jim and Johanna sat down on the sofa while her mother took care of the trick or treaters at the door. When she returned, she sat down in the chair. "Where's Dad?" Johanna asked.
"At his club," her mother answered. "He won't be back until ten."
"We'll be long gone by then."
Naomi smiled indulgently. "How did you end up with these children?"
"My brother is out of town and my sister-in-law and the baby aren't feeling well," Jim answered.
"You're a good uncle to step in like that…even if you are running a candy scam," the older woman replied.
"I'm going to share it with your daughter; shouldn't that count for something? That and the fact that I brought her along because I have faith in her ability to be responsible and wrangle small humans? That has to be a credit to your parenting, I'm sure she learned it all from you."
Naomi's eyes sparkled with amusement. "You're a smooth talker. I can see why you've turned her head."
Jim chuckled. "Really she's just in it for the free candy."
"Johanna Elizabeth, are you going to accept candy that was collected fraudulently?"
"Well you always told me it was wrong to be wasteful."
"So neither one of you is going to suffer from a guilty conscience over this?"
"Nope," Jim grinned; "And we're not the least bit ashamed."
"I can see that," Naomi replied; her attention shifting to her daughter. "We're going to have some things to talk about tomorrow, darling."
"About the candy scam or everything else?"
"All of it," her mother remarked.
Johanna looked to Jim. "You really owe me for this one."
"I'll buy you lunch all week…even if I can't go with you. Does that ease the impending pain?"
"A little, but I might have to add additional terms if something comes to mind."
"Deal," he said as Naomi watched the exchange with interest. She had a feeling this could all work out very nicely if they both got their heads out of the sand and did something about it.
Later that evening they arrived back at Natalie's with three tired kids. Jim lifted a sleeping Danny out of the car and deposited him in Johanna's arms. Mikey scrambled out on his own, clutching his bucket and bags as he did so. Jim then lifted Angie into his arms and they made the trek to the door where Natalie was waiting for them.
"Looks like you've worn them out," she remarked quietly as she allowed them inside.
"We did," Johanna agreed as Natalie lifted Danny from her arms. "How are you feeling?"
"A little tired;" she admitted.
"I'll help you get them put to bed while Jim brings their candy in," Johanna said as she took Angie from him.
"Thank you, Johanna; I'd appreciate that."
Jim brought in Danny and Angie's candy and waited patiently while Johanna and Natalie got the kids out of their costumes and into their pajamas. They then tucked them into their beds, Mikey falling asleep as he told his mother that he had fun. The women rejoined Jim in the living room and he handed Johanna her purse which he had picked up from the stand.
"Thanks for taking them out tonight," Natalie said sincerely.
"It wasn't a problem," Jim assured. "You get some rest and if you need something, call."
She nodded. "Thank you, Jim. Goodnight, Johanna. I don't know how he talks you into these things but we were glad to see you again."
"It was nice to see all of you again too. I hope you and Alicia feel better soon."
They said goodnight and Jim and Johanna left the house and got back into the car. "I forgot how tiring trick or treating can be," she commented as they headed toward her apartment.
"Me too…but it was fun."
"It was," she agreed warmly as she smiled at him. "Did you keep our bag of candy?"
"Of course I did. We'll split it up at your place," he grinned.
"I'm calling dibs on the cherry suckers."
"Fine," he replied; "But I'm calling dibs on the Snickers bars."
She pondered that for a second. "What if I trade you one cherry sucker for a Snickers bar?"
"Hmm, sounds like you're in a bargaining mood, counselor."
Johanna eyed him warily. "Suddenly I feel like I should worry."
Jim laughed. "Surely a witch doesn't fear a vampire."
"Perhaps the vampire should fear the witch," she retorted, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"I guess we'll just have to see about that. All's fair in love and candy, you know."
"I know," she laughed. "I know…just like all's fair in love and war which is why I had to cover up a certain mark on my neck."
He shook his head as they stopped for a light. "Those things happen when you're a naughty witch, Jo. Surely you know that."
"I do now," she quipped.
"Are you sorry for your behavior?"
"Nope."
"Well then I guess I'll just have to keep teaching you lessons," he teased.
She grinned at him. "Maybe I'll teach you a few."
"You always do, sweetheart; you always do."
Later on at her apartment, they sat at the coffee table, a pile of candy in front of each of them and a lone Snickers bar in the center of the table.
"So what will you give me for that Snickers?" Jim asked.
"What do you want?"
"How about two Hersheys and three of those fireballs?"
"Four fireballs and a chocolate coin," she countered.
"Stingy with the Hersheys I see."
"I have to be since you called dibs on Snickers. What's your next deal?"
"Four fireballs, two grape pixie sticks, a Kit Kat and a mallow cup."
Johanna studied her pile of candy. "Four fireballs, a Kit Kat and two Mallow Cups."
"I don't know if that's enough," he teased.
"What more do you want?"
"How about a kiss?"
"A Hershey Kiss?"
Jim grinned. "A Johanna kiss."
A coy smile ghosted across her lips. "If I had known that I could bargain with that, I'd have two Snickers."
"I'll let you have two Snickers for a kiss…I'll even let you keep two of your fireballs."
Johanna considered that. "I'll let you keep the four fireballs in trade for that blue pixie stick you have."
"I'll trade it for one of your grape ones and you can keep one fireball."
"Okay, it's a deal," she replied. He wasted no time in collecting his kiss, allowing it to linger and morph into two. When it was over, Johanna snatched the candy she had bargained for and pushed his tokens toward him. "Happy Halloween, Jim."
"Happy Halloween, Sweetheart…we should trick or treat together again sometime."
"I'd like that," she smiled. "We'll just have to find some children in need of a chaperone again."
"That shouldn't be a problem; I can always find a way to volunteer us to take the kids next year…maybe we could even take Greg along."
"Adding to our temporary brood?" she asked. "You must be feeling more confident in your babysitting capabilities."
Jim gave a quiet laugh. "No, I just have faith in yours. We didn't lose track of any kids tonight and there were no scraped knees or elbows, no fighting and only one small incident of tears, which hardly counts."
"We did a good job," Johanna agreed. "We're a good team."
"The best," he smiled. "I'm looking forward to our next adventure."
"Me too," she replied as she leaned toward him and kissed his cheek. "Most of my favorite adventures are with you."
"Only most?"
"I've had a few good adventures with Sharon."
He swept his candy into the bag and then rose from his place on the floor. "Your adventures with me are better," he remarked; "And you know it."
"Okay, I'll give you that one but don't tell her."
"You're secret is safe with me," he promised. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow," she murmured before closing the door and locking it. He was right, her adventures were always better with him…and she hoped there were many more in store for them.