"It all started at 1 a.m.," Lindsay began, glancing over her shoulder before she changed lanes. "And before I tell this story I need you to know that when this happened, I was wearing that ugly mint green robe that's way too big, bright red Christmas slippers, one of Adam's old t-shirts, no bra, and snowflake pajama pants."

"Did you also have curlers in your hair?" Austin chuckled, picturing the scene.

"No, but about two minutes later and I would have had a face mask on. Anyway, we're just about ready to go up to bed and someone knocks on the door. And at first I thought maybe they got the wrong house so I ignored it and started turning off the lights. And then it happened again. So I go to the door and open it and there's no one there, but I can hear this giggling. I slam the door and turn off the porch light, go to the couch to wake Adam up so I don't have to try and drag him upstairs, and I'm halfway to him when someone starts pounding on the back door."

"Oh boy."

"So I run over there and throw the door open and find no one. By this time Adam is awake and I hear these idiots run back to the front door. I go out there but they're already back at the back door pounding on it again."

"Linds."

"Yes, I chased them! They go around the backside of the house and around the other side, through the gate back onto the sidewalk. I can hear pounding on the neighbors door too and I realize there's about six or eight of these morons pounding on doors for fun. I took off running after them-"

"Now the whole outfit makes sense."

"Cussing and shaking my fist and trying to see if they go into any of the neighbors houses because heck if I'm not going to retaliate, right?"

"Oh Linds, you're ridiculous," Austin said, laughing as she pictured the scene.

"They were faster than me so I went back to the house and got the car to try and chase them down. I never found the little jerks."

"You really ran off after them?"

"Yes! I don't know why. They haven't been back in two nights but Adam says they're probably going to egg the crazy mismatched pajama lady's house tonight."

"Oooh, what if we make the guys take the kids out tonight and we'll stake out the house just in case?"

"There's a reason you're my best friend in the world, Austin Messer."

They chuckled together and Lindsay parked the car on the street in front of the house, stretching a little before she got out.

"I think this is going to be the last year the kids allow us to choose their costumes," Austin noted as they approached the house. "Isa and Colton are getting too old."

"I agree. At least they're good sports."

"And are really good at compromise. At least with each other."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Yes but that makes me nervous."

"Is everything okay with Isa?"

Austin sighed and wrinkled her nose, undoing the seatbelt when the car stopped but not getting out of the car.

"Right now I'm chalking it up to her personality colliding with early hormones. Has she been difficult for you?"

"No she's been fine but occasionally she just seems not herself."

"We've been butting heads. I was banking on the teen years not starting until she was actually a teenager."

"She's always gone her own way."

"Just wait until Averylin hits that age, you won't be smirking anymore."

"Good thing we finally learned to throw down the gauntlet earlier."

"Yeah."

"Okay, let's go in and see if they're ready to go pander for candy yet."

They got out of the car and went inside where all six kids were ready to Trick or Treat, decked out in their Cat in the Hat themed costumes. It had been Avery's choice because she could finally read the book on her own, and though Isa had been last on the bandwagon, they'd compromised by letting her be the Cat tonight but going to school in a costume of her own choice the day before.

"Hey check it out!" she said enthusiastically. "I'm taller than Colt finally."

"That's quite the hat, my girl," Lindsay laughed, lifting the brim to look at her. "You look fab. Who did your face painting?"

"Sarah. Don't I look awesome?"

"Much better than when you were Ozzy yesterday," Colton noted.

"I just like to dress up. C'mon fish, you can have a piggy back ride," she offered, motioning to Avery who was struggling with her loot bag.

"You mean a catty back ride?" Avery questioned before bursting into laughter. Isa snorted and crouched down until Avery was secure, then stood up and headed for the door.

"So are we going or what?"

"Yeah, we're going," Adam answered. "Dudes and dudette, let's get a move on!"

Ben, Junior, and Sarah tumbled out of the bathroom upstairs where they'd been admiring themselves in the mirror, and ran down the stairs.

"Averylin is Isa going to be your buddy then?" Sarah asked, seeing the two paired up.

"Yep, if she will have me."

"Sure Aves. I heard that you didn't get a Halloween party in your class."

"Yes, because I switched classes, remember? My kindergarten had a party after I leaved it and my first grade had a party before I got there! But that is okay. Halloween is for candy and I am more interested in cheese."

Isa guffawed at that as they all headed outside.

"I can't believe you got to skip kindergarten. That's pretty cool."

"Yep, I know. Mama and daddy said I must work a little harder now. But that's okay. The boys help me with my work."

"That's good. Hey Dum, could we drive over to Papaw and Jo's?"

"Maybe, do you think they have something good over there?"

"Jo likes any excuse to give us presents!"

"That's true. Maybe we'll head over there later."

"Well hello my little children," Jo greeted, waving her long, fake nails at the kids who just giggled at her Wicked Witch of the West costume. "Have I got some goodies for you!"

"Jo-Jo, can I still hug you if you're terrifying?" Ben asked skeptically. Jo laughed and broke character, leaning down to hug him.

"Sure kiddo."

"What's Mac dressed up as?"

"I guess you'll have to go and see."

All six kids rushed into the darkened living room, then screamed in delight when Mac jumped out at them, dressed as a flying monkey. He managed to scoop Sarah up, kissing her cheek while she shrieked with laughter so hard it made her cry.

"Papaw," she breathed after a minute, once they had all calmed down. "I can't believe you dressed up!"

"Hey, you gotta live sometime, Sarah Claire," he replied with a shrug. She nodded and slid down to the floor where Jo was handing goody bags to all of the kids.

"Wait!" Junior shouted suddenly, causing all the kids to freeze. "We can't open these without Teagan and Liam!"

"They were already here," Jo assured. "Teagan was a cupcake and Liam was a basket of dirty laundry."

"I love that kid," Ben chuckled. "He gets my sense of humor."

They continued to open their gifts, exclaiming about the things Mac and Jo had picked out for them.

"Wow, this is great!" Avery shouted, holding up the small ant farm she'd been eyeing for weeks. "Thank you so most!"

She jumped up off the floor and hugged them both, excitement making her feet twitch.

"Mac, can you come to my home an' help me set it up?"

"It's a date. We'll get it all set up then send away for the ants."

She nodded happily and took the box to show Adam while the rest of the kids inspected their small gifts. Isa was right, Jo did like to spoil them with things every chance she got, but the kids were always grateful and didn't expect it every time.

"Okay kids, turn in your candy," Danny prompted after a while. The kids obeyed, much happier with the tokens of love from Mac and Jo than they would have been with bowls full of candy. They quickly picked out a handful of favorite treats, then gave the candy to Jo, who would take it to the lab break room to be eaten.

They stayed for a while longer before it was time to pack up the kids and head home. All six of them begged for a sleepover and the parents finally gave in, seeing as it was a Saturday night and there was no reason not to say yes. The Messers headed home to pack bags for the kids; they were both working in the morning and would be taking their kids over to the Ross house anyway.

"Could we do a big fort in our room?" Ben asked excitedly once they returned home. "One for all of us kids?"

"I don't know if I can make one big enough, but I'll try," Adam promised. "Go upstairs and get changed."

"Um, how am I going to get this paint off my face?" Colton asked, reaching up to scratch at the caking face paint.

"I'll help you, buddy," Lindsay chuckled, herding him upstairs. "You can use my makeup remover."

"Aw man!"

Ben and Avery laughed at his expense but he followed Lindsay anyway, eager to get the Thing 1 face paint off. He was hoping that he could just go as a doctor next year and not have to do a group outfit. He knew it was fun for the younger kids and he didn't mind so much, but he was getting too old.

"Here, use this," Lindsay said, handing him a bottle of blue liquid. "But don't get it in your eyes."

He made a face and she chuckled, shaking her head and leaning over to do it herself.

"Hey mama?"

"Hmm?"

"You know how Ben has a girlfriend, Charlotte?"

"Yeah," Lindsay answered with a roll of her eyes. "They seem to be very serious."

"Do you think it's stupid to like someone when you're a kid?"

"Not at all."

"Well what if… What if I had a girlfriend?"

"You have someone in mind?"

"Sort of."

"You want my advice?"

"Yeah, how do I get her to notice me?"

"You don't. If she likes you, she's already noticing you. And if she doesn't… well, you don't really want to waste your time trying to change her mind. It will happen how it happens, if it's the right thing."

"So that's how it happened with you and daddy?"

"Pretty much. We were just friends for a while before we fell in love."

"So I should just let it happen naturally?"

"That would be best. You want to tell me a little about this girl?"

"Are you sure you won't try to meet her and embarrass me?"

"Positive. What's her name?"

"Brianna. She's really pretty, mama. And she's so, so nice. She's really smart too and she's the only other kid in class that reads as much as I do. She wants to be an actress when she grows up, or a singer. I just really like her mama."

Lindsay smiled and finished cleaning his face off, then pulled him into a hug.

"You're such a good man, Colton Matthew."

"Aw mama," he sighed, wrinkling his nose.

"I just want you to know that falling in love isn't the most important thing right now. If it happens, then okay, but if it doesn't that's okay too."

"I know. And it wouldn't be for serious, like I want to marry her. It would just be that I want to get to know her better."

"Alright."

"You have that face."

"What face?"

"The face you always make when you think us kids are growing up too fast."

"You're always growing up too fast," she countered with a grin. "All clean. Better go help daddy with that fort."

He nodded and they went back downstairs where Adam was struggling with the fort while Ben held part of it up and Avery jumped around inside. Within a few minutes they had worked together to structure a fairly large blanket fort, just in time for the Messer's arrival.

"Hello y'all!" Avery shouted from the top of the stairs. "Hey, where's Isa?"

"She sassed ma pretty bad," Junior reported with a shrug. "So she lost her chance to come here."

"How bad is pretty bad, Daniel?"

"Well she said a word that I will not even say. And I like swearin'."

"Whoa," Avery breathed in fascination.

"Is she in big trouble forever?" Ben asked sadly, while Colton took Sarah's bag from Danny.

"For the foreseeable future."

"I will make her a Get Better card," Avery decided. "And she could get better in her mood or with her mouth. Because bad words is like a sickness."

"Sure seems to be," Danny muttered, bidding his kids goodbye. "Be good."

"We will," they chorused, clambering up the stairs.

"Lookit the fort we maked!" Avery announced, tossing her arm out Vanna White style. "Isn't it most great?"

"Wow, that's really neat Averylin! Could we all sleep in it?"

"Of course! Daddy said he will have a fun breakfast game for us in the morning as well. Come along, you can put your sleepin' bag next to mine! We will whisper stories okay Sarah?"

"Okay."

It was getting late and the kids settled down relatively easily, despite the excitement of the night. Avery asked for several goodnight kisses but was finally satisfied with the affection and curled up next to Sarah, who was always game to snuggle with her best friend.

"I'd better go clean up the kitchen," Adam said, stretching as he went down the stairs.

"You did dinner and got all the kids costumed up, I'll clean the kitchen."

"It's pretty bad."

"That's okay. I'll clean if you'll find me some leftovers."

"Deal."

She started with the dishes and he went to the fridge, pulling out the leftovers and making a plate for her.

"I didn't have a chance to talk to Avery about school yet, how was her first day?"

"She said she loved it," Lindsay replied, still slightly shocked that the school had recommended Avery move up. "She doesn't mind being the youngest and she said she liked her math and reading time."

"I didn't realize she was really that far ahead."

"I didn't either, but I guess it helps that the boys show her what they're learning."

"I just hope she's really ready for this."

"Me too. It probably helps that she moved up now rather than earlier in the year, just so she had some schooling behind her."

"Did she make friends?"

"She didn't say, actually. She was excited to have recess with Ben and Junior though. She'll be okay."

"I hope she keeps that self-confidence as she grows up," Adam noted, moving across the room to check his phone. "I'd hate for her to spend her middle school years crying into her pillow because of some kid drama."

"Me too. She won't be immune but she'll probably hold her own. Why are you frowning?"

"Missed a call from Shelly."

Lindsay dried her hands and went for her phone as well, pulling it off the charger and finding a missed call and voicemail, probably similar to the one Adam was listening to.

"What is it?"

"She said to call her first thing Monday. She has some news."

"Does she sound… is it bad?"

"I have no idea."

"It's too late to call tonight. Think we should call her tomorrow instead?"

"She won't be in the office on a Sunday. We'd better just wait."

"I don't want to know. If it's bad, I don't want to know."

"Neither do I."

"What if…" she trailed off; they'd both entertained as many ideas about good news as bad, there was no reason to complete the sentence.

"I know. C'mere babe."

She settled into his arms and they sighed together, both almost nauseated with anxiety about what was going to happen next.