1304 words, this chapter. The end of the first half. Stay tuned...please. I'll get it written as soon as possible.

Chapter Seven, Just a Costume 2: Redressed

He dressed, but heard her outside his booth. "Jess? I thought I was going to check you first?"

"Oh, this one is wicked, but it's not too short or revealing," she said.

He opened his curtain to see a very sexy evil queen in front of him. She wore a black long dress trimmed in deep purple and covered in tiny, shiny purple sequins. Two long slits, starting about mid thigh showed nice teases of her legs.

The showpiece of the outfit was the high, black collar around the neck. The look was crowned, literally, with a tall shiny black crown upon her head.

He whistled. "That might be the most alluring yet. You can definitely do long dresses."

She looked at him and smirked. "Do you prefer long?"

"Oh no. It's a shame to cover up those gorgeous legs," he said, teasingly moving the fabric at the slit with a sword.

She swatted it away. "I'm the evil one!"

He laughed. "You're corrupting me. In fact, I surrender, your majesty."

She laughed. "I like being evil, I think." She twirled around in the skirt, acting far more innocent and sweet then evil.

He had to laugh. She was too adorable. "I'm sold."

"So am I. You're quite charming."

He wore white pants and a light purple shirt, both trimmed in shiny gold. He had a gold crown on his head. Of course he had his sword. He gave her a little bow. "Thank you."

She laughed. "So...will you wear it?"

He sighed. "If her highness commands."

She gave him a hot, smoking look of desire, then walked slowly toward him, letting the fabric tease him with peeks of her legs. She caressed his cheek and kissed him, first slowly, then deeply. She cooed, "I don't think I have to command..."

He actually blushed. "No. Your evil seductress ways are enough."

She squealed and clapped her hands. "Yay!"

He laughed. "And Jess is back I see."

She smiled. "Oh, I think the evil queen may make an appearance later." She kissed him again. "Thank you, for doing all of this for me. I love you."

"I know. I love you too."

She held his hand and sighed happily. "Well, I think I'm done, at least with the public costumes. I want to look through the private outfits before we leave."

"That's fine."

They walked to the adult section, a small secluded room. They waved to Joe who came over and unlocked it for them. "You guys need help?"

"We'll be fine. Thanks," said Jess.

Joe nodded and left them alone. Jess browsed through the shelves. "I don't see anything yet that reaches out and grabs me."

Becker whistled.

"What?"

He smiled wickedly. "I think I just got grabbed."

She laughed and walked over. He was holding a couple costumes. "Let me see." She looked at the costumes. "No," she said flatly.

"Wow, that was quick."

"Yes. I hate them, Becker."

"They're not that bad."

She sighed. "I thought you were more evolved than this."

"Apparently I'm not," he said, laughing.

She sighed and took the female costume from him. She was holding a Playboy Bunny outfit. "I don't get the allure. Besides, the Bunnies wore a one piece. This is a very tiny bikini set."

"I know," he said. "I chose the pink one for you."

"Thank you," she said, not at all happy. "It's so degrading."

"What's so degrading about a bunny?"

She scoffed. "There is nothing cute and fuzzy about this." Besides the tiny, bright pink bikini set, it came with white fishnet stockings, a pink fuzzy ball tail, and of course, the famous bunny ear headpiece. "I want to see yours. Is it a sexy male bunny?" She winked.

"No." He showed it to her.

"Hugh Hefner? That's cheating!"

"How? He's the founder of the Playboy Club."

"That's not fair! You get a smoking jacket, ascot necktie, and a pipe."

"So?"

"So? Mine is so...cheap."

He smirked. "That's why I like it."

"Becker!"

"Please," he said, whining like she did earlier. "For me?"

She narrowed her eyes and glared at him. "That's not fair. Why should I let you get these? They're so sexist!"

"How are they sexist?"

"Because I'm practically naked and you're dressed to the nines!"

"No I'm not. I'm just as loose and racy as you."

"How?"

He leaned in close and whispered. "No pants included."

Her eyes grew wider and she smiled. Then they both giggled. "Oh," she said, blushing. "Then, never mind." She added both costumes to their cart.

He laughed and kissed her.

They left and locked up the room. Then they met Joe up at the register.

"Don't forget our twenty percent off," said Jess.

Joe laughed.

"For what?" asked Becker.

"Trauma," said Joe.

Jess nodded. "And you said you'd throw in a couple of free costumes."

"How do you do that?" asked Becker.

"I'm an expert shopper," said Jess, "That's how."

Joe wrung up the considerable number of costumes. He looked quickly at the adult ones they'd picked, but as usual, didn't comment. He put them quickly into bags. "I've got some more in," he said. He handed them some conservatively wrapped boxes. "Check them out before I put them in the adult room."

Jess looked around to make sure no one under the proper age was around. She looked at the first package and turned bright red. So did Becker.

"Wow. That's a very small bikini," she said.

"Yeah, but at least Eve has fake vines and flowers over hers," said Becker, "Adam is...

"Nothing but a fig leaf," finished Jess.

They kept blushing.

"Well?" asked Joe.

Jess had turned even redder and turned her back to Joe. She was very embarrassed as she nodded 'yes.'

Joe laughed as he wrung them up. "Are you really going to wear that, Captain?"

Becker shot him a bashful glare. "No comment."

Jess giggled. "Yeah, no comment."

Joe laughed. "Like I said, I love you guys." Then the total of their purchases came up. Joe smiled great big. "I really, really love you guys."

Becker handed him a card. "You should."

"It was kind of light, actually. Only...ten costumes a piece."

Jess giggled. "It's still a ways until Halloween. Lots of time left, Joe."

He laughed. "I've got costumes coming all through the month, trust me. Something new every day."

"You're sick, Joe. We'll go broke."

"Don't forget our twenty percent, Becker."

Joe corrected her. "That was just today, Jess."

"Really? Are you sure?" she asked sweetly, smiling at him.

Joe laughed. "You're going to let her flirt with me, a married man?"

Becker smiled. "I don't seem to have a problem with it, right now, Joe."

He laughed, shaking his head as Jess smiled sweetly. She even blew the store owner a kiss.

"Fine. Twenty percent off."

"Yay!" cried Jess, jumping up and down and clapping. She leaned across the counter and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Joe."

"You're welcome, Jess," he said. "I'll still come out ahead."

"Of course you will," said Becker. "She's a costume nut."

Jess nodded.

Joe laughed. "And you love her. She got you into a pirate costume after all."

"It was the guns, Joe, not the girl."

"Right," said the owner, handing him the full bag. "Of course," he said, but he shook his head at Jess.

Jess just giggled. "See you tomorrow Joe."

"Can't we give it a day or two, Jess?"

"Becker, you're so funny," she said, taking his hand and leading him out.

End of Chapter Seven