The party was set to begin at eight o'clock on October 31st. Gena sat at her dresser and put the last touches on her makeup.

"There. I'm finished," she said as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was up with a few tendrils hanging out her gold headpiece. She straightened out her toga, which was delicately sewn with gold accents.

"Oh wow. Hun, you look like a goddess," Gavin said as he entered her room.

"Well, that's the point," she said as she struck an ancient pose. "Tonight I am Prosperina, Roman goddess of the Underworld." She looked at her partner, who was dressed sharply in a tuxedo. "And what are you supposed to be…besides handsome I mean."

He flashed her a devastating smile. "My name is Bond…James Bond. Master spy and ladies man extraordinaire." He took her hand smoothly and gave it a kiss. "I'm here to escort you tonight and show you a good time at this shindig." He offered her his arm. "The caterer is here and the guests are soon to arrive. Shall we?"

She couldn't help but smile as she wrapped her arm around his. "Yes, we shall."

The house was set in full decorations, which created a wonderful atmosphere. The caterer was at the door giving away candy and other treats to the neighborhood children. Stefan and Elena walked through the front door as Gena and Gavin made their way down the stairs.

Elena was dressed in a beautiful white velvet gown. Her golden hair shimmered down her back almost as brightly as her tiara, which was securely pinned in her soft hair. She was the most breathtaking princess Gena had ever seen.

Next to her, Stefan was dressed as Robin Hood. He seemed to carry the costume well. It probably had something to do with him being used to wearing an outfit close to that.

"Gena, you look wonderful," Stefan admonished as he pulled her into an embrace.

"You look great too, and your wife looks amazing."

"She always does," he said as he pulled Elena closer.

Gavin went up to him and shook Stefan's hand.

"So, tights huh?" Gavin and Stefan shared a smile and a laugh.

The four of them went to the buffet table on the back porch and started to snack on some sweet treats. As they started to get engulfed in conversation, Bonnie and Meredith arrived.

Bonnie was dressed in a tight black leather outfit. None of them could believe that it was Bonnie who waltzed in with such presence.

The most amazing was Meredith. The red gothic dress she wore was definitely not her style, but she pulled it off amazingly. Meredith, who was never one to show off her body, was showing off a lot of curves.

"So Bon, where's your costume," Elena asked her friend intently, as the group gathered around the decorated table.

"I'm a contemporary witch. But doesn't Mere look ravishing in my dress? Thank goddess I didn't get it hemmed yet."

"Yeah, Meredith looks radiant," Stefan said. "It's good to see her out and about again."

Gavin leaned over and gave Gena a kiss on the cheek.

"Listen babe, I'm going to go out front and wait for my friend. I can't wait for everyone to meet him!" Gavin walked towards the front of the house. Passing him on the way to the door was Damon, who was dressed all in snug black.

"Hey Damon!," Gena yelled to her older brother. "What the hell are you supposed to be?"

"A vampire," he replied with another one of his amazing smiles.

Meredith took in the scene. They all looked lovely in their costumes having the time of their lives. But Meredith couldn't shake off whatever was eating her away, and it didn't help having Damon stare at her like he could see into her soul.

'What the hell is wrong with him? Is he trying to scare me? Intimidate me? I have never been scared of him, and I'm sick of his macho crap!'

She looked around the room and tried to find something besides the group to focus on. There were new people; Gena introduced them as Em and Philip, butterfly and convict respectively. Mere noticed the look Gena gave the couple as they strode in; if looks could kill, that one could have defeated Klaus in one instant. Then another girl arrived named Zoe. She was dressed up as a hippie which seemed to match her personality. Meredith over heard her saying that her boyfriend was going to be a bit late.

But she was in mood to meet new people.

'There has to be something else….'

Then she saw it; the bar. Never the big drinker, she was nervous to try anything, but she found herself drifting closer to the tap.

"What will ya have?" the bartender asked.

"Oh what the hell; I'll have a martini."

Gena found herself immensely enjoying the party. Everything was outstanding! She had never had more fun in her life!

With Gavin gone waiting for his friend, she found herself the only one with out a dance partner. Even Zoe had a partner now since her boyfriend showed up. He was dressed as the phantom of the opera, except he had a full mask. Gena watched as Zoe give him a quick kiss, whispered something to him, and walked away to get something to drink.

Gena looked over to Zo, who gave her a secret smile and nodded in the direction of the Phantom. He was walking elegantly in her direction. Once he got with in reach, he held out his hand. She laughingly took it and was escorted out to the makeshift dance floor.

The music slowed down.

'Of course it had to be a slow dance,' she thought.

She looked up at her partner, who was being very quiet.

"So," Gena said casually, "what made you walk all the way across the yard to ask me to dance?" She tried to look into his eyes, but the mask shadowed them.

"Well, Zo and I noticed that you were just sitting there for a long time. You didn't look like you were having much fun, so I …"

"Wait a minute, you've been watching me?" She looked up at him accusingly.

"I wasn't watching, I was observing," he responded.

Then they both froze. She looked up at him again and a thought of those words brought a stir inside her. She had heard that exact phrase from someone a long time ago. He only moved to reach down and pick up her left hand. The only thing he looked at was the ring on her finger.

The Phantom reached up and pulled off his mask.

His blue eyes looked back at her. His blond hair fell gracefully around his face.

Her own dark eyes became saucers.

"Will?"

As if in a worded reply, he moved her closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her and moved in for a kiss. Their lips were barely touching when Gavin walked in.

"Alright, finally. Everyone, this is my friend, Matt Honeycutt." He then noticed Gena and the strange man. "What the…!?!"