Another Halloween, another group costume. This year, no one really had the energy to go out anywhere, but they knew they could at least hand out candy. Kids wandered the neighborhood, though they didn't really come into the girls' apartment building, so they opted to set up a little station in the yard instead. After the success of their group costume the previous year, and knowing that they were going to be greeting children, Kate suggested they go with a more friendly theme this year – Inside Out.

Kate wore a blue wig, fake glasses, and a sweater. She had even gone the extra mile, getting a tiny sweater and some light fur coloring for Alice. Max had a shirt and tie, and dyed her hair bright red. Chloe opted to return to form in beautiful blue hair, with a yellow dress. And Victoria, naturally, was Disgust, joining the others in dying her hair and, rather than actually coloring her skin, instead went with some perfect green make-up to highlight the basic idea.

Halloween itself was fantastic. There were a ton of kids coming around and Kate and Max would gleefully (and mock-sadly) hand out full-sized candy bars, reveling in the bright smiles they got in return. Victoria thoroughly enjoyed getting to act a bit like her old self, in a way that actually made kids happy instead of ruining their lives. It was a perfect evening, and since public opinion was that trick-or-treating after dark was dangerous, they still had plenty of time to go inside and soak up some horror movies.

Still, something had been bugging Victoria all night. Kate was... well, obviously it wasn't that she was sad. She was playing up her character, that was totally normal for her. It was more like she had been... distracted. She finally got her answer as she went into her room to wipe off the heavy make-up and she heard a knock at her door. "Come in~"

Kate stepped in, having shed her wig and glasses but still wearing that sweater, which was good news because it was a fucking amazing look on her. "Tori, we need to talk."

Oh god, that phrase was never, ever good. Victoria's heart actually stopped for a moment or two and she silently prayed that just this once it didn't have to be the harbinger of doom. "Uh, yeah, of course." She resumed wiping away the make-up, as if the mundane task might keep her from freaking out.

Kate took a seat on the edge of her bed and took a deep breath. "So... I got a call from my mom the other day. She wanted to check in with me about my holiday plans. U-Uh, so we talked for a while and it sounded like going home for Thanksgiving would be nice. And then... she asked me if I could bring you along. Not... like... 'Oh would Victoria like to join us?' but 'I want to meet your girlfriend' kind of thing."

Her heart started beating again, but now it was way too fast. Victoria ignored the process of cleaning her face and moved to the bedside to sit with Kate, taking her hand. Even simply holding it was already helping to calm her down, at least a little. "Well... You said that she was doing better lately, right? I mean, do you get the impression that she wants me out there so she can murder me?"

Luckily, that got at least a tiny little laugh, and Kate gave her a playful shove in return. "No one's getting murdered. It's less about the danger, and more that it's a big huge milestone I've never experienced before. Your significant other meeting the parents and all that? And mom is doing better, but she still has a tendency to ask some awkward questions. It could be a pretty weird weekend if that's the case." Kate suddenly gasped and squeezed her hand. "Oh goodness! I didn't even think to ask what your plans were!"

Giggling, Victoria gently pecked her cheek. "That's alright. My parents are going to Aspen anyway, and I was planning on celebrating here. Max and Chloe are inviting a few people around for a hipster holiday. Call me crazy, but I'd love to party with the Marsh clan."

"You are crazy. But I love you anyway. I promise I will do my best to not leave the two of you alone if I can help it."

Somehow Victoria knew she couldn't necessarily keep that vow. But that was okay, sometimes you just had to go through these things, if only so you could cross it off the checklist.

Things really were pleasant for a while. The Marsh house was an adorable place that bore all the marks of a religious family with an excess of women present. Hell, Victoria had to admit that even Richard Marsh had a kind of gentleness to him that she couldn't deny. Some pastors could be pretty terrifying, but he seemed to be the sort of person you could actually imagine going to in times of trouble. She wondered what kind of sermons he gave.

Kate's sisters were more or less like younger versions of her. Tara was now a senior in high school herself, and though she seemed just as quiet, Victoria also recognized a child putting up a facade. She was a middle child, no doubt she knew when to get in trouble and when to keep her head down. Lynn was the most curious – animated and lively and chatty. If it weren't for the fact that everyone in the family looked so damn similar, you'd think she was adopted.

And then there was Rebecca Marsh. The word that constantly came to Victoria's mind was 'trying'. When Victoria and Kate first arrived at the house, she had hesitated in calling her Kate's 'girlfriend' and settled on 'friend' instead. She did her best to smile at Victoria and to be welcoming, but always there was an uneasiness bubbling just under the surface. Still, the moment she realized that maybe this wouldn't be explosive was when the two of them were about to head upstairs with their luggage. Rebecca called after them with that same level of unease. "Ah, we don't really have any guest room to speak of. You'll be sleeping with- Well, you'll be in Kate's room." Pretty much everyone was red-faced as they hurried to get upstairs so that they could hide.

Her room made for a nice break, if only because it gave Victoria ample time to look at all the embarrassing childhood pictures and awards and knick-knacks.

That Wednesday evening was a relatively easy affair. Victoria got to know everyone better, there was simple food like sandwiches and chips. Richard's prayer was quick and gentle, and Victoria quite liked that. Kate helped to prep some of the more time-consuming pieces for the meal the next day. Everyone gathered in the living room to watch Charlie Brown specials and other various themed media. It was lovely, and at least for a short while Victoria didn't feel the need to stress too much about whatever it was Rebecca had planned for her.

Kate's bed might not have been ideal for two people, but Victoria was damn sure the beds at Blackwell were even smaller, and they had made those work. It wasn't like they didn't tend to sleep wrapped up together as tight as they could get anyway. The family had no plans to eat until mid-afternoon, which gave the two of them time to lay together and talk softly to each other, happy to linger in the light shafts entering through her blinds.

"Your family is incredible. I see where you get it from."

Kate turned around so that they could face one another. She was giving her usual warm smile, laughing with delight. "Even my mother?"

Victoria nodded, nuzzling into her gently. "Even her. Based on everything you've told us, it's clear she's changed a lot. Seems you have that effect on people."

"Oh hush..." Kate bopped her playfully on the nose. "That was a lifetime ago. Everything feels so different now, warm and safe. If you say that's thanks to me, well... I suppose I won't argue the point with you."

Eventually they had to get up, if only because the smell of food was floating up from the kitchen and it was hard to lay there any longer. So they showered and dressed in their nicest clothes and headed down to help out with getting everything ready. Unlike the day before, Rebecca seemed even more distracted and anxious around Victoria. It wasn't bad, and all that weirdness was mitigated by Richard, Lynn, and Tara, and of course dear Kate. But ultimately Rebecca was the reason Victoria had come along in the first place. And there really was no ignoring her.

In fact, everyone seemed to be painfully aware that A Talk was coming even if only two of them were going to be involved. Amazing turkey, delicious stuffing, perfect gravy, yadda yadda, everything was wonderful except for that tiniest detail. When the meal was over and the time came to go into a food coma, the girls decided to retire to Kate's bedroom. They weren't even really cuddling or anything, just stretched out side by side and letting all the carbs digest. But before they were able to get too comfy, a knock sounded at the door.

Rebecca walked in, looking bashful and glancing anywhere except at either of them. "Kate... May I speak to Victoria for a moment?"

"Mom, anything you need to say, you can always talk about with-"

Victoria sat up, shaking her head and rubbing her shoulder gently. "That's sweet of you, but I'm sure it will be just fine. I bet Lynn and Tara would like some more quality time with their sister."

Hesitantly, Kate got up and kissed her cheek before leaving the two alone in the room. Rebecca took a seat in the bay window and offered Victoria her warmest smile. "I owe you an apology, dear. I spent far too long making your relationship seem like something to be ignored or despised. Even now, I wanted to welcome you here but I was so nervous about all of this that I've rather messed it all up."

"That... means a great deal. And I'm glad to see just how sincere you are about correcting this. In many ways, it's not as if I can really judge you. Did... Kate happen to tell you the full story of our time at Blackwell?"

Rebecca shook her head, her face darkening a little. This was dangerous territory, obviously, but Victoria felt this was necessary to explain.

"I wasn't just one of the mean kids who pestered her occasionally. Sometimes, it feels like I'm the one who... who um... ultimately put her up on that roof. I i-insulted her and made fun of her and I promoted that stupid video and... But I learned. I began defending her. And do you know what your daughter did? Shortly after getting out of the hospital, she came to see me – not to offer me forgiveness, but to ask for it. She felt bad because she had nasty thoughts about us, the kind of thing any normal teenager would feel without guilt." She chuckled softly, looking down at her hands where they lay folded in her lap. "I think perhaps that was the first moment I really fell in love with her. Because she exemplified something that us mere mortals could never hope to achieve."

Rebecca also began to laugh softly, glancing briefly at her before looking back down at the floor. "She gets that from her father. From me, she mostly gets an example for how not to behave." The woman paused for a moment, then seemed to decide it was time to switch topics, rather jarringly. "Have the two of you talked much about the future? I-If not, that's fine... I'd just like to know..."

If Kate's mother was still insisting on being horrible, Victoria might have lied. But she seemed legitimately interested in hearing more. "A little bit. After the recent court case victory, our friend Max rather awkwardly brought up the subject with her girlfriend, and that planted a bug in our ears as well." Best to remain as close to the truth as possible. "If we did, it wouldn't be until after we graduate. We have our whole lives, there's no rush..."

Suddenly closing the gap between them, Rebecca hauled Victoria up to her feet and into a tight hug. "Ohhhh my baby girl has been growing up and I completely ignored it!"

"You're trying now, which is more than I can say for my own parents..."

She pulled back and looked into Victoria's face with eyebrows furrowed. "That simply won't do. Victoria, I... I want you to know that you're a part of this family now. I've got a lot of work to do, to make up for my previous awfulness. It's the least I can do, if you need a home for Christmas or anything."

Kate appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, now hugging the both of them even tighter. "Sorry, um. I was. Kinda listening in. I love you both. So much."