Myka hadn't slept well at all. Despite going to bed early, she was restless all night and got up sometime around 6am. Captain had given them the day off – leaving her on call in case there was a murder – and Myka had no idea what to do with herself. She considered briefly calling Pete to see if he wanted to do anything, but knew that he probably wouldn't be up for hours.

Myka got up and cleaned her entire apartment, did almost a week's worth of laundry, scrubbed down her entire bathroom, and re-organized her book collection before eight. She had thrown half of the contents in her refrigerator out, so with nothing else to do, she grabbed her keys, and went to the grocery store.

She had been hoping it would take longer to purchase enough food to satisfy even Pete's needs, but alas, it didn't. She was home well before ten and bored out of her mind. Taking a chance, she dialed Pete's number while emptying her grocery bags. It rang over and over until finally a gruff, groggy voice picked up.

"Humph...Lattimer?"

"It's me. You up yet?"

"Myka? What time is it?"

Myka shoved milk into the fridge and shot a glance at her microwave clock. "9:38."

"Is someone dead?"

"No. I just thought maybe..."

"Myks, it is the day after Halloween, I didn't even get home until three something, and we have the day off. Now, unless someone kicks it I am gonna sleep for at least two, probably more like four more hours."

Myka sighed. "Sorry Pete."

"No...it's..." Myka could hear him sitting up and his voice softened. "Myks, it's fine. Are you...I mean, I can come over."

"No, Pete I'm totally fine, just bored. Get some sleep, I'll find something to entertain myself."

"All right, I'll call you when I wake up."

"Sure." Myka hung up and plopped down on her couch. Flicking through the channels and finding nothing to capture her interests, she called her father to check in. He seemed fine, but was about to go fishing with one of his friends, so Myka let him go. She knew not to even bother with Claudia, the girl loved Halloween and tended to stay out all night and sleep most of the day away after. Leena had had a date to her party last night, so there was a good chance she would not be up or interested in hanging out with Myka.

Bored, Myka pulled on her jacket and decided to take a walk. Annoyingly, she ended up at HG's apartment building. Myka felt bad about saying no to going trick or treating with her and Christina, but it felt like she and HG weren't close enough to do something like that. Perhaps it had been because of Christina, Myka hadn't wanted to impose on mother/daughter time, and she didn't know the little girl well enough, or HG for that matter, to just jump in on a family outing. At least, that was what Myka was telling herself.

Myka didn't know why she ended up at HG's loft, but as she currently had no one else, and was going out of her mind, she climbed up the steps and paced outside HG's door. Twice she almost stalked back downstairs and considered sneaking into the precinct for the day. The chances that Captain Neilsen would find her and order her home were pretty good however, so she sighed and knocked on HG's door.

"Myka!" HG swung the door open and grinned broadly up at Myka. The detective smiled back, HG's smile was infectious. "To what do I owe the pleasure? Has someone perished gruesomely?"

"Umm...no."

HG cocked her head to the side in confusion, but pushed the door open and stepped back to let Myka in. "No one is dead, then...a personal call?"

Myka bit her bottom lip, she should have just tried to sneak into work. "Umm...I just went for a walk, I realized I was near where you lived, thought I'd say hi. How did the trick or treating go after you left?"

HG pointed to a table near the couch that was overflowing with candy. "We did quite well, would have been fun if you had joined us though."

"I didn't want to impose, plus Halloween's not really my thing."

"So I've been told, why is that?" HG asked. Myka shifted back and forth on her feet uncomfortably. HG ignored it and strolled past her into the kitchen. "Coffee?" She called over her shoulder.

"Um yes please, black..."

"One sugar." HG finished for her. Myka looked up in surprise. "Darling, I make paying attention to details my job. I am writing a series of novels about you, I do pay attention to you from time to time."

Myka smiled nervously and sat down at one of the stools in HG's kitchen. Unconsciously she began twirling a curl between her fingers. She smiled when HG set a mug in front of her and wrapped her hands around it. Grinning she raised her eyebrows at HG. "Is this a picture of Christina?"

"Yes. She made the mug for me last Christmas. There is a picture on the bottom of the mug once you finish your coffee as well." HG sat down across from Myka with her own mug and took a sip, her eyes remaining on Myka the entire time. "You never answered my question." She said.

"Hum?"

"Why you dislike Halloween."

"I told you yesterday, I don't eat sugar, so candy's out, I don't like dressing up and I'm not a big fan of scary movies."

HG was silent for a minute, drinking her coffee and sitting there looking elegant somehow in a t-shirt and leggins. Myka took a large sip of her coffee and instantly regretted it, choking a little and waving off HG as she rose to help. "You sure you're alright?" HG asked a moment later as Myka stopped coughing. Myka only nodded, not trusting herself to talk yet. "Well, then, I believe you are lying Detective Bering."

"What?"

"You say you don't eat sugar, but I've seen the stash of twizzlers in your desk drawer, perhaps you do indeed dislike dressing up, but the way your eyes lit up for a fleeting moment last night when Christina offered you be Tinkerbell makes me think at one time, you did enjoy it. Something is stopping you from doing so now, very likely, yourself. And finally, you were watching The Phantom of the Opera last night as we showed up, admittedly, while not exactly what I would qualify as a 'scary' movie it is a ghost story and a haunting tale at that. You're a brave woman, I doubt a scary movie would frighten you. Also, Pete told me that the two of you used to go see old horror flicks together on the weekends, so you're busted." HG grinned triumphantly and leaned back in her chair, sipping her coffee. Myka was going to punch Pete the next time she saw him.

To avoid answering, Myka sipped her coffee. HG sat back, waiting patiently and Myka caved. "I did used to like Halloween as a kid. I guess I grew out of it."

"Any particular reason?"

"It came in as a very close second after Christmas to my mother's favorite holiday. I guess I associate it with her." Myka answered quickly and without looking at HG.

"That makes sense." HG answered softly. Myka finished her coffee and laughed lightly at the picture she found at the bottom of the mug. Christina and HG, faces covered in makeup – clearly done by a very young Christina – their tongues sticking out and laughing. "So, Detective, if we are not off to solve a murder, what would you like to do today?"

"Oh, I don't...I wasn't trying to, I mean you don't have to..."

"Darling, I am yours for the day!" HG declared. "I welcome any opportunity to avoid writing and more so if it is with a beautiful woman."

Myka handed over the mug as HG held her hand out. And forced herself not to show her discomfort at the compliment. Even if Myka was interested in HG in that way – which she wasn't – the notion that HG wasn't exactly monogamous wasn't lost on Myka. Not only that, Myka had always been rather horrible at accepting any form of compliments.

Myka's phone rang and she quickly reached into her pocket and pulled it out as HG rinsed their coffee mugs. "Hey Pete."

"MYKS!" Pete screamed. Myka held the phone away from her ear. "HEY SO I'M UP NOW!"

"Why are you yelling?" Myka asked.

"CAUSE I AM TRYING TO ANNOY MY NEIGHBOR WHO TOTALLY STOLE ONE OF MY MAGAZINES."

"Well, you're annoying me so stop."

"Ugh, fine, want to get breakfast?"

"Pete, its almost noon."

"Lunch then, whatever I just woke up I want food. I don't really care what it is. Except I want it to be pizza, let's get pizza."

Myka glanced over at HG who had turned around and was watching Myka closely. Uncomfortably, she shifted in her seat. "Pete, I'm actually at HG's hold on a sec."

"Oh...Myka and HG sittin' in..." Pete began in a sing song voice. Myka immediately shoved the phone down under her leg to muffle the noise. HG crossed her arms and watched Myka with an amused look on her face.

"Umm...do you want to get pizza with Pete?" Myka asked.

"Sounds lovely, let me go change. Tell him to come meet us here, there is a brilliant place down the street."

"Okay." Myka nodded. HG ran upstairs and Myka pulled her phone back up. "Come to HG's she knows a good place around here."

"Myka, you know I take my pizza very seriously." Pete warned.

"Pete, do you want pizza or not?"

"Fine, I'm coming. But, may I add, whatcha doing at HG's place?"

"You were asleep, Leena's probably still with her date and who the hell knows what Claudia is still up to. I cleaned my whole apartment, bought enough groceries to last me two months, and was bored out of my mind. Because of my job, I don't know anyone else who is not a murderer. She was the last person on my list."

"Yeah...you really need to learn how to have a day off."

"I know how to have a day off." Myka protested.

"No, you don't. Any time you ever have a day off, you call me and make me tell you what to do."

"That is not..." Myka stoping bothering to protest. It was true. "Shut up Pete."

Pete hung up and promised he'd be there in less than twenty minutes. Myka stood up, walking around HG's loft and exploring. There were a lot of adorable picture of her and Christina, toys strewn about, but not cluttered, lived in, cosy. Myka liked it. She hadn't really gotten a goof look at the place the last time she had been here. She had been focused on their current case and had only glanced briefly around HG's office. She walked over to a book shelf and smiled at the titles, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, The Velveteen Rabbit, and many more. Most of them were first editions, they must have cost a fortune. Myka forgot sometimes that HG was a millionaire. She hugged herself as she glanced around, itching to reach out and grab one of the books.

"Which one's your favorite?"

Myka jumped at HG's voice behind her. She turned around embarrassed and smiled awkwardly. "Oh, um, I always liked Peter Pan. You?"

"Neverland for me as well." HG grinned. "Is Pete on his way?"

"Oh, yeah, he should be here in a few minutes."

"Wonderful." HG smiled and gestured for Myka to have a seat. Myka waited for HG to say something, unsure why she felt so incredibly awkward and nervous. She couldn't remember feeling like this since she was a teenager. The way HG was studying her intently wasn't helping matters at all. She realized that for all the time they had spent together alone, they had almost always had a case to focus on. Now, Myka had no idea what to talk about.

"Stop." Myka finally ordered.

"Stop what?" HG laughed.

"Looking at me like that."

"Like what darling?"

"Like a puzzle or something. I thought you finished your novel, cut it out."

"You think I'm studying you for my books?"

"What else?"

"Myka, have you ever considered that perhaps I genuinely like you and desire your friendship?"

"Well...if we're gonna be friends, you can't do that. Its unnerving."

The doorbell rang and HG only smiled suggestively at Myka as she stood to greet Pete. "Who's ready for pizza!" Pete cheered. "HG, I don't know if Myka told you, but pizza is my favorite food and I am a harsh judge, so this better be good." Pete crossed his arms and stood over HG, trying to look intimidating. Myka stifled a laugh. "Or...or you know what, we might not be able to be friends. If you feed me bad pizza, we are done." Pete pointed his finger in HG's face and Myka burst out laughing.

"Well Mr Lattimer, today is your lucky day. I guarantee this is the best pizza you will ever have."

"That is a loaded statement HG." Myka warned as she walked over to them. "He doesn't kid around about pizza."

HG put her arms around both Myka and Pete's waists and led them out of the loft. "Prepare to be amazed my friends."