The dress was supremely uncomfortable, and now Emma was cold. Regina vetoed the red leather jacket/pink princess combo, leaving Emma sleeveless and feeling exposed. She did fight for her holster and badge which fit snuggly in place around her ruffled pink waist. She was still the Sheriff and had to assert her authority, which why she insisted on driving to the school.
Entering Henry's classroom, young heads turned, some of the more mature boys were openly gawking at Regina's cleavage. Regina seemed not to notice, but Emma felt a little surge of pride and wished she could announce to the room that she would be the only one getting close to Regina's chest. She hoped beyond hope that dream would become reality very soon.
Henry waved to them, looking like a perfect miniature Captain America. Emma finally understood why he had insisted on switching his costume from Iron Man. Henry was sitting amidst a whole Avenger's posse: Nicholas dressed as Iron Man, Ava as Black Widow. Two Iron men and no Captain America would have been heresy. Amongst the group, a tubby little green Hulk, and a puny kid who made a pathetic Thor, only identifiable because he was holding a thick plastic hammer. Emma withheld judgment and smiled back at Henry. He looked happy and in his element. She looked at the other costumes and noticed there were no fewer than 3 Katniss's with Nerf bows and suction cup arrows, (although one might have been a feminine Night Hawk, hard to say.)
Emma was thinking that she had the hang of this parenting thing and it was super easy, until the teacher announced that Regina would be providing the afternoon's entertainment by sharing a 'scary' Halloween story….
-V
Emma looked around in worry. These kids were never going to sleep again. 25 terrified students were held in rapt attention as Regina's tale finally began to wind down:
"…And although the witch was blind she could still smell the mouthwatering scent of young tender children. 'I smell dinner' she'd say excitedly, as her insatiable hunger for the flesh of innocents raged. She'd lure the children in, tempting them with confectionaries and mouthwatering cupcakes. They'd eat themselves into a stupor and wouldn't even notice when she would lock them in a cage until it was too late. After days of force feeding, they'd be plump and ready to meet their horrific end.
Sometimes she'd baste them with butter or gravy before roasting them in her oven. Other times she would paint them their small bodies with barbeque sauce and impale them on metal rods to cook rotisserie style over a fiery spit. Their screams were only muffled by the apple she'd shove into their open gaping mouths. Cooking them until they were perfectly done, the witch would suck the meat off of each rib until the bones were picked clean of flesh…No one came for the children, no one saved them, and in their last terrified moments they were utterly hopeless and alone…."
"Erm…okay, thank you Madam Mayor. Very graphic," Henry's 5th grade teacher hadn't dared interrupt the mayor, but was extremely relieved the story was over. The room was completely silent. Regina stalked up and down the aisles, smiling brightly as she placed a perfectly frosted orange cupcake on each child's desk. Only the husky kid dressed as the Hulk dared to eat.
Regina finished delivering the sweets and went to stand next to Emma, giving her a private look of appreciation that caused Emma to swoon.
"Cupcake, dear?" She held out the proffered treat, "I know how badly you wanted this last night, but I promise they are much tastier today."
Regina was officially trying to kill her, as Emma's eyes followed the motion of Regina's pink tongue as she suggestively licked a dollop of frosting from her finger, sucking it between perfect red lips. Emma knew she should not be having these stirring thoughts in the company of children, and that move alone almost caused Emma to forget Regina's horrifying child cannibalism tale…almost.
"Sheriff Swan will now be sharing some Halloween safety tips with the class. Sheriff, the floor is yours?" Henry's teacher announced, and Emma slowly meandered to the front of the class.
"So we all want to have fun tonight, but we also have to be safe…" Emma started her talk realizing Halloween safety could double as sex ed. Her mind was just too far in the gutter to really think of anything else.
"Candy should be inspected before it's ingested. Don't eat anything suspicious, or anything that has been repackaged. Masks can reduce visibility so make sure you can see and hear clearly, and look both ways before crossing the street, and wear a glow stick or something reflective. Also, don't wear anything plastic over your head so you can breathe properly. Be careful with latex paints, and make sure you don't leave lit candles unsupervised. Lastly, don't enter stranger's homes, I think the mayor's story is enough warning as to why. Above all, have fun and get some candy! Any questions?"
There were no questions so the students were allowed to eat their treats, (if they dared) show off their costumes and mingle.
Henry ran up to Regina and Emma, "Nicholas's dad said that if you guys take us trick or treating, than I can go over for a slumber party tonight at their house. Please!"
"Yes!" Emma agreed instantly before even consulting Regina.
"I suppose, that will be fine, but you must limit the amount of candy you consume," Regina insisted. Henry nodded enthusiastically as the final bell rang. The kids rushed out of the room just about plowing Regina and Emma down.
Out in the parking lot, Emma took stock of the group of kids that she was now in charge of, "Everybody get on in."
-V
They made quite the sight as they cruised down the street in the squad car. It looked like a witch and a princess had just arrested all of the Avengers.
"This is so cool we get to ride in the back of the squad car!" The hulk spoke up, looking out the window as they raced back to Regina's so she could set out treats since she wouldn't be home to hand them out in person.
"Let's hope this is the only time you're ever in the backseat of this car, kid," Emma warned in jest.
They pulled up to Regina's, and she quickly got out placing a huge basket of apples on the front step. Attached was a note that read, "Just one per goblin, please."
"Apples? Seriously?"
"Some people would kill for my apples. It's only thanks to my supremely generous nature that I give them out for free once a year," Regina insisted, readjusting her outfit and settling back into her seat. She shot Emma a self-satisfied look and bounced her chest for added effect and Emma's benefit.
Emma fondly thought back to the time Regina showed up to her room at Granny's offering a whole basket of her apples. The sooner the trick or treating was over and done the sooner Emma could get Regina home and 'taste her forbidden fruit.'
"Avenger's unite! It's time to get this show on the road," Emma floored the accelerator as the kids shouted, 'Siren! Siren!'
She flipped the switch just because she could, and the lights and sounds roared and whirred as they sped back to town.