Guests began to arrive, and the Tracy family mingled with them in the ballroom. Virgil sat at the piano happily as people danced to the music he was playing and Penelope approached him with a smile.

"Thank you, Virgil, you're really lighting up the room."

"My pleasure. Well done on the ball, it's brilliant."

"I'll leave you to it, I need to find my Hatter," Penelope giggled then walked away.

Virgil looked out on the floor and spotted someone in blue, he gasped slightly realising it was The Corpse Bride, he felt himself blush slightly as her eyes fell on him and he quickly looked back at his hands. "Keep it together. Keep it cool."

The girl walked over and rested a skeleton-gloved hand on the piano, "hello, Victor."

Virgil chuckled. "Emily."

The girl laughed, "well done. Wow, what are the odds of coming to a ball and finding someone in your matching theme?"

"Usually very slim."

"I'm Zara," she held her hand out. "Don't worry, it's just a glove."

Virgil shook her hand as he held the melody down, "Virgil Tracy."

Zara raised an eyebrow recognising the name, "care to join me for a drink?"

Virgil stood up, "sure, but who will play the piano?"

"Don't worry, someone will take over."

John sat in the alcove with Ridley, "so many people. I'm way out of my comfort zone."

"Awwh John, you're doing fine. Want to dance?"

"Alright. I can't sit here all night."

Ralph turned up the stereo and slow lilting music echoed out into the room, he smiled watching his daughter dancing with Gordon before he went to ask Sally for a dance.

"This evening is amazing Penelope, I'm so proud of you," Gordon tightened his grip around her waist.

"Thank you, my love. Your brothers are doing well with finding partners, even Alan has made a friend."

Gordon looked over at his youngest who was eating sweets with a boy his age, then looked over to where Virgil was sitting with his costume twin. Kayo was waltzing with Scott, and John was twirling Ridley happily on the dance floor, "cool. Who's that girl with Virgil?"

"Ah, that's Lord Malor's daughter, Zara. They're getting on well, aren't they?"

The evening went on and the drinks had hit everyone, Penelope walked up onto the makeshift podium as Virgil hammered out chords on the piano with Zara sitting beside him.

"Honoured guests, I believe it's time to award the best costumes here tonight. In first place for the ladies, it's Sally Tracy for her Mrs Havisham!"

Grandma laughed as her grandsons hugged her and Virgil played a quick theme for her, "oh my goodness, I didn't think I had done such a good job."

Penelope kissed her cheek, "well done, Mrs Tracy."

"Thank you," Grandma raised the spider trophy above her head. "Thank you, everyone."

"In first place for the men; Gordon Tracy for his Mad Hatter costume!"

Gordon punched the air then walked drunkenly up to the podium, "thanks, everyone! Your Ladyship."

Penelope kissed his cheek, "I'll give you more, later." She whispered.

Gordon grinned. "FAB."

"Shoo," she smirked. "Well done, Gordon."

Virgil laughed as his co-pilot almost fell off the stage, "watch your step, brother."

"In second place for the ladies; Zara Malor, the Corpse Bride!"

Virgil grinned and kissed her cheek at the piano as the room erupted into cheering, "well done."

Zara blushed the colour of her wine and stood up from the piano as Virgil played Emily's song from The Corpse Bride. "Thanks, everyone," she smiled. "I didn't think a corpse could win anything."

Penelope smiled. "You've done a great job on the blue, and the open ribs."

Zora laughed. "Thank you. I'm just honoured to have found my Victor tonight too."

Penelope watched her walk down the steps back to Virgil and snuggle up against his side, "and in second place for the men, it's Mr Anders for his amazing Beetlejuice costume!"

Mr Anders clapped Ralph on the back and went to collect his award, "just call me three times."

Penelope laughed. "Very good!"

Mr Anders kissed her cheek, "thank you, your Ladyship."

"And finally, third place for the ladies; Kayo Kyrano as Katherine Pierce, and for that gorgeous red dress!"

Kayo grinned and hugged Scott before making her way up to the podium, her train spreading out behind her, "thank you Penelope, and all of you."

"Don't go biting everyone now, Katherine."

Kayo chuckled and flashed a smile revealing her fangs, "I can't make that promise."

"Well done. Finally, in third place for the men; Alan Tracy for his adorable Pugsley Addams!"

Virgil began to play the Addams Family theme as Alan ran up to the podium, "yes yes yes! Thank you!"

Penelope grinned. "Now everyone, let's do the Time Warp!"

Gordon smirked. "Again!"

Everyone laughed, and Kayo stood on the podium to call out the instructions.

"It's just a jump to the left...Put your hands on your hips!"

Zara sang to herself. "Well, I was walking down the street, just'a having a think. When a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink….He stared at me and I felt a change, time meant nothing, and never would again!"

Virgil chuckled. "Let's do the time warp again," he sang before pecking her on the lips as the instructions for the routine were shouted out again, and finally, the music droned to the end and Penelope clapped for everyone's attention.

"If everyone would kindly follow me to the garden, we've organised a fireworks display."

Virgil caught Zara's arm, "want to go somewhere private?"

Zara smirked. "What are you up to, Virgil Tracy?"

"You'll see," Virgil smiled back and they disappeared to the garage together.

Ralph pulled a remote out from his pocket and cheers erupted, "Happy Halloween!"

Bursts of orange, green and pink lit up the sky above the guests, and Penelope hugged her dad before moving to stand next to Gordon, he smiled and wrapped his arms around her stomach lovingly. Scott looked up at the lights and felt Kayo's hand settle around his waist as Alan filmed the display on his phone and Grandma rested her hand on his shoulder. Behind them, John and Ridley took the opportunity to kiss in the darkness.

Scott looked around, "where's Virgil, he loves fireworks?"

Kayo chuckled. "Oh leave him. Perhaps he's making his own fireworks?"

"Oh, you mean…"

"Well, do you see her anywhere?" Kayo smirked as she pressed herself against Scott's side.

"What a scorer," Scott smiled at the fireworks again then wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

The Renault bounced up and down gently making the pair of dice Virgil liked to keep in his car swing violently back and forth from the mirror. Eventually, the squeaking stopped and Zora gripped the car door's handle to pull herself up.

"Wow, that was….breathtaking."

Virgil re-did his tie and zipped up his pinstriped trousers, "just breathtaking?"

"In a very good way," Zara smirked as she tidied her hair back into her Emily style and got redressed. "Maybe this is the alcohol talking, but how did we get together so fast?"

Virgil closed the space between them, "I don't know, but this has become one of my favourite Halloweens ever because I've met you."

Zara stroked his hair off his forehead, smiling when it fell back, "you're so cute."

"We should probably be getting back to the house, don't you think?"

"One more kiss," Zara re-attached her veil and skeleton glove.

"You can have more than one if you'd like?" Virgil ran his fingers up her blue leg. "Em."

"Vic," Zara chuckled as she rubbed her nose against his, and locked her lips to his again in a hard kiss against the door of the car.

Guests began to leave and the couple left the garage unnoticed as some cars left the mansion, the pair returned to the house and Zara went to talk to her father whilst Virgil rejoined his brothers, Scott grinned at him.

"What?" Virgil frowned at him but received nothing but a shrug. "Oh come on, it's one night."

"Sure, and what a night. Lipstick on the collar and all that."

"Very funny," Virgil rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, but I'm not making a joke, you really do have lipstick on your collar. Red huh? Yeah, it suits you."

Virgil hit him, "ugh, you're so annoying!"

"We've got the house to ourselves with Penny, and she's asked us to have coffee with her in the lounge. The service staff are moving the piano back in there before they go home. You coming?"

"Sure, I'll be there. I just need to say goodbye to Zara, then I'll join you."

"FAB, brother."

Virgil found Zara outside on the steps, "hey."

"Guess what? My father is letting me stay here tonight."

Virgil grinned and swung her around in his arms, "that's wonderful!"

"Aww, Virgil! Come on, let's go inside."

Parker walked around the lounge offering coffee to the remaining members of the party and Virgil walked in with Zara.

Penelope smiled. "Good to see you're staying, Zara. Are you alright, Virgil?"

"I'm fine, absolutely fine," Virgil smiled back as he took a mug of coffee off the tray before sitting down next to Zara on the loveseat.

"What a night," Kayo leant back against the sofa with a yawn.

"It's been great though. Huge congratulations on a smashing ball, Penny," Gordon grinned as he put his top hat down on the table beside him.

"Aw Gordon, you've just ruined your look," Alan whined.

"It was itching me!"

Grandma sat next to Ralph, "this certainly was fun."

Ralph smiled. "I'm glad you all had a good time, we don't usually throw such big gatherings."

Virgil walked over to the piano and began to play, he glanced over at Zora who was watching him and he smiled before bringing the music down to pianissimo as the conversation continued in the room.

"I can't believe no one called us out," John wrapped an arm around Ridley's shoulders.

"There's still time," Scott smirked as he finished his coffee.

"Don't trigger it," Alan rolled his eyes as he stroked Sherbet who was sitting on his lap.

"I'm just saying," Scott shrugged. "Anything could've happened today if you think about it."

Zara got her phone out. "Did anyone take any photos tonight?"

"A few," Virgil smiled.

"We should take some final ones before we change out of our costumes."

Parker cleared his throat, "h'allow me to miss?"

Zara handed him the phone, "thank you, Parker. It'd be great to get a group shot."

Penelope stood up. "Oh, that's a wonderful idea! Alright everyone, gather in front of the fireplace and we can get a nice photo."

Virgil remained at the piano but turned out so that he was facing the room, Zara stood behind him with her hands on his shoulders, Grandma sat on one of the chairs by the bookshelf with Ralph and the others filled the gap in between.

Parker smiled at them and made sure everyone was in the photo, "ready?"

Penelope nodded. "Yes."

"One, two, three," Parker took a selection, then for the rest of the evening, the party took selfies of each other and watched the time change to the 1st of November.