"Nanna, Nanna! I'm ready for Trick-or-Treat!" Alexandra ran into the kitchen. She was wearing a purple bodysuit with red boots, a yellow stomach, and a yellow tipped tail. On her head sat a headband with purple ears that protruded off the sides of her head.
"Well, don't you look just adorable?" Helen cooed, crouching down to watch as her granddaughter showed off her costume. "Where are your dad and Miss Ellie?"
"Miss Ellie is in the bathroom and daddy is still in his bedroom," Alexandra reported.
"Well, while we wait, we should get some supper in you," Helen told her granddaughter, picking her up and sitting her in her booster seat. "How about a peanut butter and banana sandwich for the little monkey?"
"Yay!" Alexandra cheered as her nanna quickly pulled out bread, a jar of peanut butter, a knife, and broke a banana off the bunch that was sitting on the counter.
Helen had just finished slicing up the banana and was just about to start assembling Alexandra's sandwich when Ellie came into the kitchen, her auburn hair had been secured underneath to make it appear as if she had a bob. She wore a pick shirt, orange shirt, and a pair of hiking boots. "Well, what do you think?" She asked.
"You look just like Dora!" Alexandra cheered.
"Well, you are the most adorable little Boots I've ever seen," Ellie smiled at the four-year-old.
"Would you like a sandwich before you head out?" Helen offered, "I'm making a peanut butter and banana sandwich for Alexandra."
"I would love one; if you don't mind," Ellie smiled at the older woman, "I'll get us some milk to wash it down with."
She went over to the cabinet, pulling down Alexandra's sippy cup and a glass for herself before retrieving the milk and pouring some milk for both the little girl and herself. By the time she'd set the cups down on the table, Helen had made and plated both sandwiches, cut diagonally since Alexandra insisted that sandwiches tasted better that way, an opinion that Ellie agreed with, if only to appease her boyfriend's daughter.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Ellie asked, swallowing a bite of sandwich.
"I'm sure," Helen nodded, "Someone has to hand out candy to all the kiddos who come knocking while you young folks are out getting candy from the neighbors."
They were nearly done, and John still hadn't emerged from his room. Alexandra was getting anxious to go, so Ellie offered to go and find out what was keeping him. Heading down the hallway she knocked on the door, "John, is everything okay in there?"
"I ain't going out like this," John protested from inside his room, "I don't know how you got me to agree to dressing up this way."
"Because you love your daughter and she gave you the puppy eyes and pout combo," Ellie reminded him as she turned the knob and slowly opened the door, "I'm coming in John, so if anything needs covered up, do it now."
A grunt of resigned agreement sounded as Ellie opened the door the rest of the way and entered. She had to suppress a giggle at him, he was wearing an adult-sized fox onesie, the hood was still laying down his back.
"I look ridiculous," He protested.
"It's Halloween, John," Ellie reminded him with a small smile, "The one time a year you can get away with it, not to mention, it's what your daughter wanted. It's only for a few hours, I'm sure you'll survive."
"I survived two tours to come home and dress up like a gorram cartoon character," He grumped, sitting on his bed, and resignedly pulling on his boots.
"Welcome to being a dad," Ellie smiled, walking over to pull up his hood and tie a blue mask over his eyes. "I can't tell you the sheer amount of silly get ups my brother and I convinced our parents to wear when we were kids. The last Halloween before Mom left and Chuck decided he no longer wanted to take part in trick-or-treating, we dressed up at the Jetsons." She giggled, "Even tried to pass poor Peaches off as Astro. Trust me, trying to pass off a Cocker Spaniel as a Great Dane, isn't an easy feat."
John rolled his eyes behind his mask, "I can't get out of this, can I?"
"Nope, not for at least another 6 years or so." Ellie gave him a fake sympathetic smile. "But I promise, if you're a good little fox and don't swipe your daughter's candy... or complain verbally or through grunts from now until we return from our candy collection, I'll make it worth your while."
John's eyebrows shot up, "What exactly do you have in mind?"
"Something that led me to pack up an overnight bag for Alex so that she can have a sleepover with Nanna." She smirked, "Then maybe this Dora and you can have some fun... exploring."
"I like the way you think, Doc," John stood and kissed the smirk off Ellie's face, "When can we go?"
"As soon as you get your ass in gear, Marine," Ellie laughed at his eagerness, "Our little Boots is fed and ready to get her sugar high on!"
The duo came back into the living room and Ellie shouldered the purple backpack that she was borrowing from Alexandra for the night. "Ready to go, Sweetie?" She held her hand out to the little girl.
"Wait, I have to get a picture," Helen insisted.
John looked like he was about to protest, but after a quick glance at his girlfriend, bit his tongue. After indulging his mother in a few pictures, he, Ellie, and Alex made their way out into the neighborhood.
They only made it around a couple blocks before the little girl began to tire, so John scooped her up and they made their way back to the house.
"Well, you are officially out of candy," Helen reported as they entered the house.
"Thanks for manning the fort, Mom," John kissed the older woman on the cheek, "We'll have Alexandra ready to go soon so you can head out."
"No, hurry, Johnny," Helen patted his arm, "All that's awaiting us at the condo is some popcorn and the yearly visitation of The Great Pumpkin."
"Alright," John nodded and headed to his room to change while Ellie took Alex to go get changed into her jammies to head to her nanna's house.
Soon, Alexandra was ready to go. After a round of hugs and kisses, John strapped his daughter into the carseat in Helen's car and bid them goodnight.
Reentering the house, he locked the door and turned off the porch light. Turning, he found his girlfriend sitting on the couch, "Now I believe I was promised a bit of exploring if I was a good sport."
"You were a very good sport," Ellie agreed, standing and walking over to wrap her arms around his neck. "I have a few ideas of what I'd like to explore, care to join me?"
John didn't have to be asked twice, scooping up his girlfriend in his arms and heading down the hall as Ellie's melodious laughter rang in his ears.
