So I was asked if I was going to incorporate the Team Hogan stuff into the story since Ro/Ric are on the same side but when I started brainstorming/drafting this chapter a few weeks ago I forgot Crown Jewel was even a thing...so, enjoy a regular Halloween chapter. :-)


"If you aren't going out, why did you go through the trouble of putting on a costume?" Trevor asked inside of Rob's apartment after he'd taken numerous shots of her.

"Don't you know women stunt on the 'gram all the time without actually leaving the house?" she chuckled in her The Mask of Zorro, Elena Montero inspired look complete with a sword. "I've been invited to a few things but right now I just want to take this off and watch scary movies until I fall asleep. Plus it's a Thursday night and what happens tomorrow?"

"Friday Night Smackdown…"

"Right," she confirmed with a nod. "So, I just want to have a quiet night and rest up."

"Well, I'm going out with my son. I'd invite you but his mother is very particular about who I bring around him," he said in his black Adidas tracksuit, bucket style hat and gaudy gold chains.

"I understand. I wouldn't feel right meeting him this soon anyway so it's fine," she assured.

"I'll call when I'm finished but if it's late, I'll just go back to my place and see you in the morning," he kissed her. "Have fun, Elena."

"You too, Run...or are you DMC?"

Him: What are you doing?

Rob: Loading up Netflix.

Him: Are you alone?

Rob: I am now, why?

She waited for a response but after 15 minutes, nothing. A knock on her door caused her to jump. Looking through the peephole, she saw a large figure wearing a Michael Myers head. It creeped her out.

"It's me, Rob before you call security," the mask muffled voice said.

"Don't scare me like that!" she said, opening the door. "What are you doing here and don't tell me you need help again?"

"I want to show you the house. I've ordered some of the things you recommended. No, I'm lying," he freely admitted. "I just want to take you out tonight."

"Joe, we can't keep doing this to Trevor. Well maybe you can but I can't," she shook her head.

"Doing what? Since the car thing, nothing sexual or romantic has happened. We'll just be friends spending Hallloween together."

"That's still inappropriate because I wouldn't be able to call him and say, 'Ricky, I'll be hanging out with single Joe tonight and it's definitely not work related' without setting off all kinds of alarms in his head."

"Rob, tonight is very important to me and I need you to be there," his tone was serious.

"Why do you do this? It only makes me curious and I end up going along with it just like last week when you claimed to have needed help," she sighed. "Let's go."

Off to Tampa they went again until they stopped in front of his previous residence.

She sunk down in her seat. "Joe…don't make me do this. We aren't even together! What am I supposed to go in there and say? 'Hey, Galina, didn't take him long, did it? Hi kids, Daddy wants to live with me now.'"

"Not exactly," he reached behind them to the back seat and handed her a Jason mask. "Put this on."

"This doesn't exactly go with my look..."

"It's going to have to tonight."

"The only reason I'm coming in is because the sooner we do whatever this is, the sooner you can have me back in Orlando," she fixed the mask over her face and got out of the car. He knocked and they waited. "Aren't you still living here until you get ready to move into the new house? Why not use your key?"

"I'm just trying to give her a warning that we're here instead of just barging in," he explained.

Galina opened the door looking like Robyn's worst nightmare in a pair of devil horns.

The living room was filled with little Halloween decorations, a sign that children lived there. Their wedding photos and the like were still on the walls. She could hear the boys before she saw them as they ran around the corner with one chasing the other wearing matching Captain America costumes. Jojo was on the sofa, eyes glued to her iPad wearing a costume of some character Robyn didn't recognize. None of them seemed to notice her until Galina cleared her throat.

"Kids," Galina called them over. "I'm taking a break tonight and I don't want your dad to go alone so a friend of mine is going to help him out."

"What's your name?" one of the boys asked.

If Joe gave her a mask, it was for a reason so she decided to lighten her voice from its usual tone. "Elena."

"Elena what?" Jojo inquired further.

"Montero," the movie released in 1998 so she could get away with it.

"Can I see you in the kitchen, Elena," Galina requested.

"Sure…" Robyn nodded, following her.

"For the record, this was not my idea but Joe was adamant about it happening and convinced that you're going to be in his life so why not?" she said. "The thing is, Jojo is still upset and the first time we let her in on the divorce plan, she blamed you. She hasn't mentioned you this time but seeing your face and knowing you're here with Joe may trigger her."

Robyn grimaced behind her mask. "Yeah, that's what I figured this face disguise was about."

"Moving on, you and Ricochet. As of just a few hours ago you were tagging each other and now you're here with Joe so I'm confused about what's going on. How are you meeting Joe's children while in a relationship with another man?"

"It's complicated…"

"That seems to be a trend with you," Galina muttered. "Anyway, I'm going to ask you a question and I want the truth."

"Okay, go ahead?" Robyn took a deep breath and braced herself.

"Were you sleeping with my husband while we were back together?"

"I-I-I, I didn't want to…"

"But you did and I'm pretty sure he didn't force you," she looked at Rob accusingly. "If I was vindictive, I would never allow you to set foot in my house or even speak my children's names, let alone take them out. Joe did not have a prenup because we both thought our marriage was forever so I could've easily taken half, asked for the maximum in child support for all 3 kids and spousal support. He wouldn't have been able to get that big, nice house he just bought or any house for that matter because I would've drained him to the point where all he'd be able to afford was a shitty apartment. Hell, he probably would've had to move in with and live off of you. The only thing saving you two is me knowing that what we had was already gone. That's it."

"I am so sorry and I never meant to betray you. Also, slept because sleeping with would imply that it happened more than once which neither of us could've done because we felt horrible afterwards. We were just caught up in the moment, not that that made it right," Robyn apologized.

"It didn't. But seriously, you need to figure out what you want to do and where you want to be, whether that's with Joe or Ricochet because straddling the fence isn't going to work. Take it from me, finding out your significant other is in love with someone else isn't a good feeling," her expression was blank. "Kids are involved now and they don't need someone who's going to be in and out of their lives depending on the week."

Their first stop of course was their own neighborhood and then Joe loaded them up in the car.

"How do you know my dad?" Jojo asked.

"She knows your mom," Joe answered.

"I asked her," Jojo replied. "Did you go to Georgia State?"

Robyn saw Joe's grip tightened on the steering wheel. Jojo was smart enough to set a trap but Robyn was smarter and recognized the trick question when she heard it. "I think you mean, Georgia Tech."

"Yeah..." Jojo mumbled and Joe visibly relaxed.

Things were going smoothly after hitting two more neighborhoods.

"Shit, it's hot under here," he raised the mask to breathe in fresh air as they watched the three children approach a front door while they hung back at the mailbox.

"Just take it off. You don't have anything to hide like me."

"Actually, I do. I don't want to risk being recognized which will only lead to selfies and/or some smark telling me how much better the show would be if we did this or that when I'm just trying to spend time with my family," he explained.

"The boys are so well behaved. I assumed we'd have to run after them and everything else once we hit the streets," she commented.

"We would have a few months ago but with them starting school this year Galina broke them from that because she didn't want them being hyperactive with their teacher."

"I didn't know how this would go but I'm actually enjoying it this far. This feels so natural and it's really making me think about us and how a future with me inserted into this mix would look," she revealed.

"Oh?" he asked, raising one of his thick dark brows.

"Think, just think. I don't want to make any promises, okay?"

"Okay," he agreed with a nod just as they heard the front door of the house close and they kids began approaching.

"There's a haunted house a few blocks away, Dad," Jojo said. "I heard about it at school today."

Joe pulled into a full parking lot in front of a building covered in cobwebs with windows boarded up. "Oh, wow. This may be okay for someone your age but not appropriate for 3 year olds so I need to go check it out first and I'll be back for you guys."

Trevor called, she let it ring. He called again and her actions were the same. A third attempt was made but he hung up after 4 rings.

"Why didn't you answer?" Jojo inquired.

"Oh, it wasn't important," she shook her head.

Trevor: I guess you really did watch movies and fall asleep. I'll try again in the morning.

"Alright, I spoke to one of the organizers and it's friendly to all ages," Joe popped back up to inform them.

They let the children out of the back. Jojo walked ahead while Joe grabbed one twin's hand and she grabbed the other.

The 'scares' in the house were hilariously bad and she found herself chuckling quite few times but of course Robyn didn't have a child's point of view. The kids seemed to be handling it well, shrieking a couple times.

Then, it happened. Someone in a Pennywise clown costume slowly crawled up on them. It was creepy even for Robyn and she noticed before the children. Jojo jumped when it grabbed her leg and the boys went into hysterics screaming. Joe picked up one and she followed suit. Robyn's twin wiggled, his arms flailing and the mask was knocked off.

"No!" she yelled, trying to cover her face but it was too late.

"I knew it! Robyn had the same gold phone case as Elena!" Jojo hissed. "I thought you didn't leave us for her?"

"Boys, go play in the fog down the hall. Robyn keep an eye on them to make sure they don't go any further while I handle this," he directed before he knelt in front of Jojo, lifting his mask. "Joelle, your mother and I's problems began long before Robyn came into the picture. We just didn't want you to know. I'm sure you don't understand this right now but staying would've eventually done more harm than good and that wouldn't have been a healthy environment to raise you in. We didn't want to grow to become one of those couples who fuss and fight all the time with pent up resentment so we did what we thought was best for all of us. Rob and I reconnected after the fact. None of this was her fault."

"You're just saying that to take up for her," Jojo shook her head, on the verge of tears.

"He's telling the truth," Robyn gently defended, while keeping her eyes on the twins who were just a few feet away. "Joe loves you and would never do anything to hurt you."

"She's right," Joe agreed. "If Robyn was the real cause, Galina would never be okay with us taking you out tonight."

"I just want to go home," she replied.

The ride back to the house was quiet. When they made it, Robyn stayed in the car while he took the kids inside. It took him almost 30 minutes to reappear and she could tell whatever happened was tense. Neither said much on the drive to Orlando.

"Turn left," she directed.

"But your condo is on the other side of town," he said.

"I know but I have somewhere else in mind," she said. "Now take a right up ahead at the stop sign."

He pulled into the parking lot of an apartment complex. "Where are we going?"

"You're going back to Tampa and I'm going inside to spend the night with Trevor," she stated.

"What?!" he jerked the car into park and turned to her. "Really? After I had you spend time with me and my kids?"

"I don't know why you fooled yourself into thinking this would work. Sure, you're officially single but even with the marriage out of the way, Jojo isn't going to forgive either of us anytime soon," she said and he opened his mouth to speak but she raised a hand to silence him. "I know, I know, she'll get over it but what if she doesn't? In the long run, I can't see you staying with someone your daughter hates. You'll eventually have to make a choice: having a relationship with me or having a relationship with your daughter. We already know who you'll choose. You can always get a new girlfriend but you can't replace your daughter."

"If I were to lose you, a new girlfriend could never replace you in my heart and you know that because you're currently going through the same thing," he argued. "Look at the sham of a relationship you're forcing yourself to carry on. How has that been working out? Can't be too good if you always wind up back here with me. That's because you know this is where you belong and where you'll be a hell of a lot happier."

She sighed, shaking her head. "We have to give up this fantasy because we just left reality back in Tampa…"

"Robyn, I love my daughter but I'm not going to let a child run me. The last time I was mostly influenced by guilt and fear. If I was going to cave in, back at the house when I dropped her off would've been the time to do it but I love you too much to let you go again," he declared.

"After seeing you go through all of this trouble, I'm more than convinced that you love me. I love you too but I don't want this feeling I'll have knowing that I drove a wedge between you and your daughter," she blinked away the welling in her eyes. Joe was visibly crushed. The look on his face was like a thousand daggers piercing her heart. She unclicked her seatbelt and went for the door handle.

Ricochet opened the door shirtless and wet with a towel wrapped around his waist, his brows knitted in confusion. "Rob, what are you doing here this late. I tried calling but you didn't answer so I figured you were asleep."

"I ended up going out after all and couldn't hear the phone over all the commotion," she shrugged. "I saw your message on my way home and decided to come here instead. Is that okay?"

"Of course," he stepped aside, tilting his head when he noticed her expression. "Are you alright?"

"I am now," she smiled, knowing she had no other choice but to do right by him now.

"I left the shower running when I heard the knock so I'm going to finish," he said.

"Go ahead," she nodded, trailing behind him to the bedroom.

His phone chimed on the bedside table. It was already unlocked and open on a text thread. She glanced toward it before stopping herself. No. She glanced again before turning her entire back to it. Looking would be an invasion of privacy. It dinged again. One peek wouldn't hurt. She leaned over. The message was from Kacy and from the looks of it they'd been texting back and forth all night so she scrolled up to the beginning.

Trevor: Hey.

Kacy: Hi! Haven't heard from you in awhile.

Trevor: I know. Things have been hectic but I'm settled now. Are you enjoying Halloween.

Kacy: Kind of. This may be inappropriate because you have a girlfriend but it would've been better if you were here. I miss you.

Trevor: I miss you too.

Kacy: How are things going with you two? I saw her at a gas station last week and idk, it was strange.

Trevor: We're okay and while I think she's into me, when we're alone she just feels absent like her body is there but her mind is somewhere else.

Kacy: Hmm, I wonder what that's about.

Trevor: No idea but I hope to get to the bottom of it soon. Anyway, what have I missed.?

They went on to catch up and from the looks of it, they were clearly still into each other. She put the phone down, standing to pace back and forth through the room. She stopped to peek through the blinds, shocked to see Joe's car still sitting there in the parking lot complete was a dark shadow of his head. There was a sad pang in her heart at the sight.

She couldn't do this anymore. If Joe could have an honest conversation with his WIFE, she could have one with a guy she's only been dating a month. The shower turned off and she listened as he gargled mouthwash and exited.

"Hey, can you sit down for a minute? I think we need to talk…"

"Uh oh, what did I do?"

"Nothing, absolutely nothing. As a matter of fact, you've been perfect, which is why I have to do this," she paused to sigh before continuing. "Trevor, I feel like you deserve so much more than what I'm giving you. More time. More effort. More everything. You deserve someone who is going to put you first and unfortunately I can't. If I met you a year ago, I'm sure this would've worked out differently but the way things are now, I just can't give my everything to this relationship and that's not fair to you at all. I hope you aren't mad at me."

He sat there quietly for a few moments as if he was absorbing what she'd just said. Then, he nodded with understanding. "I'm kind of disappointed but it all makes sense now and thank you for telling me the truth instead of wasting my time. I felt a growing awareness of a disconnect between us. It was very strange to be involved with someone that you don't really click with other than sexually."

"Yep," she agreed. "To be honest, even if I didn't come clean about this and carried on like normal, we probably would've had to break up eventually due to the brand split and our general awkwardness together."

"You know what, I'm going to miss you. It was good while it lasted," he leaned over to hug her which made his towel unwrap. "Uhm, how about one last round for old time sake?"

"Nice try but I have to go," she laughed.

Outside, she crept up on Joe from the passenger side, knocking on the window which brought him out of his daze.

The glass let down. "Did you forget something?"

"More like couldn't forget something...you," that was so cheesy that she couldn't stop herself from smiling when she said it. He had the same problem, because a smile spread over his face as well.

"Get in here!" he replied, unlocking the doors. He pulled her close and they kissed like they'd never kissed before. Her body melted into him. She lacked any form except for the way her lips molded to his. When he matched her lock, she felt her knees grow weak and her head grew foggy. The rest of the world faded away. Everything that was not contained within the car didn't exist. The only thing in the entire world was them. It was perfect and they stayed that way for a long while. Finally, their kiss broke and she opened her eyes as she pulled away slightly. His eyes were still closed and he looked angelic, innocent. Eventually his large brown eyes fluttered open. "Not that I care because you're here now but what happened?"

"A combination of me being tired of living a lie, knowing that if I stayed with Trev I'd only be denying him something real with Kacy and finally, hating how I left things with you," she said.

"I love you so much," he replied fiercely.

"I love you more," she returned. "I'm sorry for leaving even if it was only for fifteen minutes. I was surprised to see your car still down here. Why did you stay?"

"When you left, I told myself that I wasn't leaving this parking lot without you and I meant it. If I couldn't talk any sense into you, I was going to get to him when you two came out in the morning," he cleared his throat. "Look, I'm coming to you like a man. I'm in love with Rob and she's in love with me and I'm respectfully asking you to step aside and if you don't, it doesn't make a difference because she'll just cheat...for a third time."

She scoffed. "The first time didn't count because he and I weren't officially a couple and the thing in the car happened so fast I couldn't think to stop it. I swear to God I would've killed you if you said that!"

"Maybe I wouldn't have come on as strong but he would've known what was up by the time I finished," he replied. "What about the Jojo situation? That's what made you leave in the first place. What changed your mind?"

"I won't be the first woman with a stepdaughter who hates her and I won't be the last," chuckling, she shrugged. "Besides, if we follow the pattern of movies, television and books, she'll love me by the end."

He started the car, smirking over at her. "Let's go back to your condo so we can make this thing official. Before the mask came off, you were so good with my kids that I might want to put another one in you tonight."

"Don't get carried away…" she deadpanned.