"I've been thinking," John said suddenly over lunch one day.

"Oh no. I'm almost afraid to hear this," retorted Rodney.

"No, this is good. I was looking at the calendar and realized Halloween is in a few days back on earth."

"That's nice."

"I was thinking that we could take the kids trick-or-treating."

Rodney paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. "Actually, that is a good idea. But wouldn't it be odd if there was just five kids going trick-or-treating?"

John nodded. "Elizabeth thinks that we should invite the Athosian kids over for the night, introduce them to the holiday. Teyla loves the idea once we told her what Halloween was all about."

"Where would we get all the candy for them?"

"The Dedalus brought back tons."

"Have you been planning this for a while?" asked a suspicious Rodney.

"No, General O'Neill and Dr. Jackson sent it. I came up with the idea when Elizabeth was wondering what to do with it all."

"We're going to need costumes."

"Aurora is going to be a ninja."

Rodney gave his friend a strange look. "You've been hanging out with Lorne again haven't you?"

"It was actually Aurora's idea."

"I'm sure it was."

"So what are your kids going as?"

"Well, since I just heard of this right now, I don't know." Just then Rodney's watch beeped. "Damn. I've got to get back to work. I'll talk to you later about this," he said as he stood up and quickly left.

John leaned back in his chair. "I wonder if I could convince his to wear a costume as well."

"Dad! Can we dress up for Halloween?" asked Keith as soon as Rodney had entered the room.

"Can I be a ninja like Rora?" Kristin asked.

"I wanted to be a ninja!" Keith yelled at his twin.

"Well I asked first," she answered as she stuck out her tongue.

"Dad! Tell Kristin that she can't be a ninja!"

"None of my children will be ninja's," Rodney answered as he looked around for his husband. "Carson?"

"Yes?" Carson answered as he exited their room with their youngest daughter in his arms.

"I take it you've heard of John's latest plan?"

"Of course. The kids are really excited about it."

"I want to be a ninja!" Keith yelled as he stomped his foot.

Rodney rolled his eyes. "I just might harm John. Or maybe Lorne. Don't know which one started it."

Carson just smiled and placed a kiss on Rodney's lips. "Just suggest something better and they'll forget about ninja's."

"Hey kids, how would you feel about being scientists for Halloween?" he asked as he crouched down to their level.

"That's boring. And 'sides dad, you have to be something that you're not for Halloween. Uncle John said so," replied Kristin.

"Yeah, and we're scientists!"

"You are, are you?" asked Carson.

"Yep, Uncle Radek said so when we helped him last week."

"Last week? But last week he was working," Rodney started. "I'll kill him. He put my kids life's in danger, I'll kill him."

"Calm down luv. It's not what you think. They were helping him with his side project, not what you had him working on last week. He knows better than that," Carson said before Rodney built up too much steam against his friend.

"Side project? What? Oh, okay." Rodney, now very relieved that he didn't have to kill the other competent person in his lab, turned back to his twins. "What else do you want to be? Besides a ninja?"

Keith and Kristin exchanged a look. "I wanna be a wraith," declared Keith.

"I wanna be a vampire," declared Kristin.

Rodney just stared at his five year olds. "Couldn't you pick something, I don't know, more cheerful? Like a princess or a superhero?"

"But I'm a princess every day so I can't be that on Halloween," Kristin stated.

Carson smiled. "She's got you there."

"And you and daddy are superhero's and Uncle John said that you couldn't be what your parents are either," Keith added.

Rodney's pride and ego grew just that much more. "We're superhero's," he said to Carson.

"To our five year old children. Wait ten years, luv. Then we'll be the worst people in the world."

"Can I go tell Rora that I'm going to be vampire?" Kristin asked.

"I cannot believe that you are letting your kids going as a vampire and a wraith but you wouldn't let them go as ninjas," said John.

"Rodney has issues with ninja's," Carson stage whispered.

"I do not! I just never got into the whole 'ninjas are cool' stage," retorted Rodney.

John and Carson exchanged a glance. "What are you two going as? And what is Michelle going to be?"

"Now we have to find a costume?" asked Rodney.

"Of course. I'm going as Zorro," John answered with a smug smile.

"I really don't want to know."

"Probably not. Elizabeth is being no fun though. She's staying home."

"Someone has to hand out the candy. And besides, I'm seven month pregnant and in no condition to walk around the city," Elizabeth said as she defended herself.

"I was actually going to stay home with Michelle me self," Carson said. "She'll be asleep by the time you boys wanted to go out with the kids."

"Why don't you bring Michelle over here and I'll watch her while you go out with the kids?" suggested Elizabeth.

"If you're sure it won't be too much," said Carson.

"Nonsense. Forrest is also staying here so they can play together until the fall asleep."

"So then were back to the question of what you two are going to be," John said with a smile.

"Why did we let John convince us to wear a ridiculous costume?" asked Rodney as they were getting their kids ready for a fun night of trick-or-treating.

"Its for the kids."

"Dad! Your hat is on backwards!" Kristin yelled.

"What?" Rodney took off his hat and looked at it. "How can you tell?"

"Because it is," was the smart reply.

"Ah. So are you two ready?" he asked.

"Daddy is helping Keith."

"Do you have your bucket?"

"Yep!" Kristin held up a container that at one point had held various broken Ancient gadgets. And might still hold one if the noise inside was at all telling.

"Is there still something in there?" he asked.

Kristin looked in her bucket. "Yep." She took it out and as she got it out, an image of the solar system was displayed on the wall. "Wow."

"Wow is right. I thought that was broken," Rodney said as he crossed towards his daughter.

"Can I keep it?"

"After you show Uncle Radek tomorrow and he says its okay."

"Keith! Look what I found!" Kristin shouted as her brother came out of their room.

"Cool! What else does it show?" he asked as he tried to take it from her.

The image changed to one of another galaxy with a Stargate address and a planet glowing just a little brighter.

"What is that?" asked Carson.

"I have no idea. It was in Kristin's bucket. I thought it was broken. I told her she had to show Radek tomorrow."

Carson nodded. "Do you want to play with that all night or do you want to go trick-or-treating?" he asked when it looked like the five year olds were going to argue about their new toy all night.

"Trick-or-treating!" they yelled. Kristin threw her 'toy' onto the couch as they hurried to the door.

"Are you ready to go, partner?" Carson asked with a very large grin on his face.

"Haha. Very funny," Rodney retorted as they followed their kids down the hall to the first door for trick-or-treating.

"I'm a vampire," Kristin was saying as Rodney and Carson caught up to them.

"I'm a wraith," said Keith.

"Well, I think that deserves an extra candy," Col. Lorne said as he places a few more chocolate goodies in their bags.

"Thanks!" Kristin and Keith exclaimed as Lorne shut the door.

"Look dad, he gave us extra!" Kristin said with a great big smile.

"So he did." Rodney was about to say something else, but the kids had already ran down the hall to the next door.

It was about thirty doors later and much gushing from the female population, they reached Radek's door. "Uncle Radek, look at what we've got so far!" said Keith as he opened up his bag.

"Wow, you sure have a lot there. You aren't going to eat that all tonight are you?" he asked.

"No, we would get a tummy ache," answered Kristin.

"But then daddy would sit with us when we feel sick," Keith whispered to his sister. Kristin got a contemplating look on her face.

"Ye are not going to be eating it all tonight and giving yourself a stomach ache," Carson scolded.

Kristin pouted and then remembered what she found earlier. "I found a toy! Dad said that I had to show it to you, but I forgot to bring it."

"Oh really? What is it?"

"It shows solar systems! Not just one, but many!"

Radek raised an eyebrow and looked over at Rodney.

"It was in with the stuff that we thought was broken. Apparently its not."

"Can I show you tomorrow?" asked Kristin.

"Of course."

Keith nudged his sister. "The candy!" he whispered.

"Oh! Trick-or-treat!"

"Trick-or-treat!"

Radek smiled and gave his surrogate niece and nephew a handful of candy each.

"Thanks Uncle Radek!" they said before skipping down the hall again.

Thirty-seven doors later they ran into the Sheppard's. "Rora!" Kristin shrieked before running towards her friend. They then proceeded to talk up a storm.

"Rodney, looking good!" commented John.

Rodney just glared. Carson smiled and wrapped his arm around Rodney's waist. "I think it's a good look for him."

"Daddy! Can Kristin stay the night?" Aurora asked.

John looked down at his daughter. "I don't know. You would have to ask her parents."

"Uncle Rodney, Uncle Carson, can Kristin stay over?" asked Aurora. Kristin nudged her. "And Keith," she quickly added.

Carson and Rodney looked at John who shrugged in response. "We've already got Michelle over. What's two more little munchkins?"

"Yeah!" Aurora and Kristin cheered.

Keith walked over to Rodney and pulled on his pants. "Dad, if they start to tease me, can I come home?" he asked very quietly.

"Of course. But tell either John or Elizabeth. I don't want you walking in the halls by yourself." Keith nodded.

"Are you munchkins about done for the night?" asked John.

All three children nodded.

"Why don't you give me your buckets and we'll take them home for you," said Rodney.

Kristin started to hand over her bucket and then paused. "You won't eat any, will you?"

"I'll make sure he doesn't, luv," Carson said as he took Keith's bucket.

"Thanks Daddy!" After handing her bucket over to Rodney, she skipped over to Aurora and then they skipped down the hall towards John and Elizabeth's quarters.

"Come on Keith, we men must stick together," John said as he took Keith's hand and followed the two skipping girls.

"Well then, it looks like it's just you and me," commented Rodney.

Just then Dr. Heightmeyer came around the corner and stopped when she saw the pair of them. "Is there something you guys are not telling the rest of us?" she asked.

"We were just trick-or-treating with the kids," Carson explained. "John just took them to stay the night with him."

She just nodded.

"They were John's idea!" said Rodney, trying to defend himself.

"I don't doubt it."

Upon seeing Rodney trying to further defend himself, he grabbed his arm and said his goodbyes. "A night with no kids, luv. No kids. First time in how long?"

"Right." Rodney was now dragging Carson down the hall.

As soon as they got in the room, Rodney tore off his hat. "Stupid hat. Stupid costume. Why did I let John convince me to be a cowboy?"

Carson came up behind him. "I kinda like it."

Rodney turned around. "Really? Well, I like this pirate look you have."

Carson smiled and pushed Rodney into their bedroom. Where they fell asleep a few hours later.

"Daddy. Daddy," Carson heard a few hours after he fell asleep.

"Hm?"

"Daddy? Can I climb in with you?" asked a small voice.

Carson lifted up the blanket and a small body climbed over him and settled between him and Rodney.

"Carson?" Rodney sleepily asked.

"Its just Keith. Good thing we put our pants on, now isn't?"

"Mmm." Rodney snuggled closer to his son, who giggled.

Just then the door opened again and Kristin was standing in the doorway. When she saw her brother in between her parents, she leaped onto the bed and settled between Carson and Keith.

"What happened?" asked Carson when they were all settled.

"We missed you," said Keith.

"Yeah, you didn't tuck us in and say goodnight," added Kristin.

Rodney and Carson exchanged a glance over the twin's heads. This happened every time they spent the night at either the Sheppard's place or with Radek.

"Well, goodnight," said Rodney.

"Goodnight dad. Goodnight daddy," Keith and Kristin said in unison.

"Goodnight luvs" Carson added before hugging Kristin closer and slowly falling asleep.