Taptaptap. "Trick or treat!"

"Is that Noah?" Jacob bounced on the balls of his feet as Serafina Carisi finished pinning his mushroom hat in place.

"I got it." Carisi grabbed his hat off the counter and jammed it on his head before opening the door. Olivia and Noah stood in the hall, Noah in a kid's green dinosaur costume and Olivia in a thrift store yellow dress and cardboard crown. "Hey Cap, hi Noah. You guys look awesome- molto bene!"

Olivia took in his green long sleeve shirt, blue suspenders, and green hat with a big L stamped on the front. "You went all out!"

He tossed a thumb backward. "Hard to get Mama Carisi off the train when she's on a roll, what can I say?" He moved back so they could come in.

"Jacob!" Noah wiggled his way past the two adults and into the living room, where Serafina had just helped Jacob into his little blue vest. The two boys began talking excitedly about their costumes, and how excited they were to trick or treat.

"Where's the rest of your Mario party?" Serafina asked Carisi. "Hello, Captain Benson."

"Ah, Serafina Carisi, it's a pleasure," Olivia smiled, offering Carisi's mother a hand. "I've been meaning to thank you for all of your fabulous cannolis." She looked at Jacob's Toad costume. "He looks fantastic."

Serafina laughed. "I love this whole thing," she said, gesturing to everybody in the room. "And I can't wait to see Amanda and the girls' costumes," she added, looking pointedly at her son.

Olivia glanced at Carisi, who just shook his head with a smile. "They should be here any second, Ma," he replied.

As if they'd been summoned, Carisi heard familiar voices talking animatedly in the stairwell, and then a moment later, Princess Peach came bursting through the door in a bright pink princess dress and silver crown. Jesse Rollins was followed by her mother in a red shirt and blue suspenders, holding Billie's diaper bag and a very tiny-

"See? Told you I can't say no to that face!" Carisi took a tiny Shy Guy out of Amanda's arms. "And the whole gang's here."

"Oh before you all go, we've got to get a group picture!" Serafina pulled out her cell phone from her purse and started waving everyone into a group. "Here, let's see. Lieutenant, if you and your son would come stand here…oh, and then Sonny and Jacob, go stand by her." Serafina looked straight at Carisi, and Sonny had to do his best not to roll his eyes. "Amanda, hon, you and Jesse go stand by Sonny. And Sonny, you just hold on to that little one."

Carisi adjusted Billie in his arms and stuck a hand on Jacob's shoulder. He mouthed I'm sorry to Amanda. She gave him an amused smile back as she straightened Jesse's crown. "Now I see where you get your photography skills," she whispered under her breath.

"And his closing arguments," Olivia laughed.

"Smile everybody!" Serafina commanded, and snapped several pictures.

"Okay, Ma, we gotta get goin' before all the good candy's gone," Carisi said, handing Billie back to Amanda. He patted Jacob's mushroom hat. "Ready to go, Jacob?"

"Yeah!" Jacob grabbed his pumpkin bucket and ran to join Noah, who was getting on his coat. "Three….two…one…let's goooo!" Both boys made racecar noises as they bounded out into the hall, Olivia and Carisi on the run to keep up.


The trunk or treat didn't last long, and the four kids made out like banshees with their loot. Everyone there complimented the group's costumes. The adults had to help carry the bags back up to Carisi's apartment so that they could go through everything. Almost an hour later, after they'd gone through all the candy looking for broken pieces or open wrappers, and divvied out all the little toys, Jesse was crashed on the couch and Olivia was readying herself for a Noah on a sugar high the rest of the night. The Bensons bowed out after the candy count, with Noah proclaiming it the "best Halloween ever!"

"Night Noah! See you tomorrow, Cap," Carisi nodded to Olivia as he let the two of them out. He closed the door and looked back at the crowd left over. Amanda had just come out from Carisi's bedroom after putting Billie down. Jesse was almost asleep on the couch, her crown tilted over her forehead.

"Sonny?" Jacob asked through a mouthful of Snickers.

"Yeah, buddy?"

"Can we go show my costume to Grandma?"

Carisi glanced at the clock. The assisted living place Lola Rodriguez was recovering in had visiting hours for another few. "Sure," he agreed. He looked at Amanda. "Ah, you're more than welcome to stick around since you just got Billie down-"

"Why don't you both go with him?" Serafina suggested. "I'll watch the girls, Amanda."

"Ma-" Carisi held up a hand.

"No, it's okay. I'd like to meet her," Amanda cut in before the Italians could start arguing. "If that's okay with Jacob?"

He shrugged. "Sure. Grandma will think our costumes are cool!" He ran to put his shoes on again.

Amanda carefully got up from the couch, trying not to jostle Jesse. Carisi had pulled on his sneakers, and handed Amanda her boots. She put her hand on his shoulder to steady herself as she pulled one on. Carisi caught his mother's knowing grin over Amanda's head, and he shot her a Look.


Jacob skipped up to his grandmother's door and knocked twice. "Trick or Treat!" he announced.

The door opened, and Lola stood behind it, hands gripping a walker. "Hi baby!" she said, "Oh, and you brought some friends!" she added, looking at Carisi and Amanda. "Sonny, it's good to see you again."

"Hi Lola," Carisi said. "Happy Halloween. This little sugar goblin decided he wanted to come show off his costume."

"I don't think I've ever heard it put quite that way, but I can't say I disagree!" Lola slowly moved backward and motioned for Carisi and Amanda to come inside. "Who is your friend?"

"Oh, sorry. Lola, this is Detective Amanda Rollins."

"Your partner?" Lola questioned.

"Used to be," Amanda said. "It's so nice to meet you Mrs. Rodriguez. Jacob's a great kid."

Lola studied the two of them. "He is," she agreed, her mind clearly thinking about something else.

"Sonny, show her the picture of all of us!" Jacob begged, tugging on Carisi's arm. His Big Brother obliged, fishing out his cell phone and swiping through to the group photo from earlier. He flipped it and handed it to Lola.

"Oh look at all of you!" Lola exclaimed. "You look amazing. I don't know the theme," she continued, "but you all look like you belong together." She smiled at the two of them.