Chapter 7: Haunted
Diaz Residence
Halloween season had arrived and Alisa was decorating up a storm in the Diaz residence. While Christopher loved Christmas, Halloween was Alisa's, Eddie just loved celebrating all the holidays with his family as he had no favorite one. The incident at the 118 has been placed in the back of their minds but that incident placed Alisa as another unofficial child of Athena and Bobby. "You're doing great over there, mijo!" Alisa complimented from her side in the living room, setting up their Halloween tree.
"Thanks, mommy!" Christopher grinned as he artistically spread out the cobwebs in the den, "Are we also going to put up garlands?"
"Definitely! And we're also putting up jack-o-lanterns when it's nearer to Halloween." Alisa grinned, "For now, we're going to make our home look like Halloween Town!"
"Let's do this!" Christopher pumped his fists as high as he could.
The mother and son spent the day preparing their home for Halloween and by dinnertime, they finished decorating the house. Alisa and Christopher rewarded themselves with a nice bowl of ice cream after dinner. "So, what do you think, mijo?" they sat on the patio, basking in the Halloween decorations.
"Perfecto!" he nodded his head, "Do you think we can invite our friends here?"
"Oh, I'm sure we could, mijo. I'll ask your dad to let the 118 know." Alisa nodded, "It would be nice to host a party. What a wonderful idea, mijo." she showered him with kisses.
"Mommy! Stoooop!" he erupted in giggles.
Station 118
"Uh, everyone," Eddie cleared his throat and the 118 looked at him.
"Everything okay, Eddie?" Buck asked, ever the stalwart friend.
"Yeah, everything's fine. Uh, Alisa wanted me to give these to all of you." He handed them black envelopes with their names written in gold and sealed with a violet stamp wax with a Jack Skellington design.
"Oh, wow… I knew your wife did art but this is beautiful!" Hen admired the invite as she opened it, "It's so different seeing the real thing."
"She does commissions if you guys need anything." Eddie added.
Bobby opened it slowly and smiled, "You're invited to The Diaz Family Halloween Party…I'll let Athena and the kids know. Also, I think Athena would love to commission Alisa for something."
"It's so… it's so detailed!" Chimney was flipping the burned paper over and over, "But yeah, imma definitely go! Thanks for the invite!"
"Woaaaah…." Buck stared in amazement, "Can I bring Maddie?"
"Family and friends, hermano. Of course, you can bring her. Alisa would throw a fit if you didn't." Eddie smiled, "Just RSVP to her directly so she could plan accordingly, please. She and Christopher are excited to have you guys over if you're available."
"Oh, Denny's going to have a field day. Karen's been dying to meet another firehouse wife too!" Hen winked.
Before they could delve further into the conversation, the alarm rang for Ladder 118 and EMS 118 to deploy.
Diaz Residence
Alisa watched from the kitchen as her husband was fixing his tie in the den. She couldn't help but ogle at him in his business suit, something he wore rarely and she was certainly feeling the heat pool in her core. She packed some food and snacks for Christopher and Buck, who agreed to drop him off at Abuela's home. Abuela was also insistent on having Buck over since her grandson and great-grandson wouldn't stop talking about him. "Alright, this should be fine." Alisa closed the lunchbox just in time to hear the doorbell ring.
"Mommy, it's Buck!" Christopher's excited voice rang around the house.
"Let him in, mijo!" she instructed and smiled when the two walked into the kitchen.
"Woah, did I just walk into a Vogue magazine photoshoot?" Buck greeted, "You guys are going to a school, right? Not a photoshoot."
Eddie raised an eyebrow, "Hello to you, too, Buck."
"Flatterer." Alisa waved him off with a smile.
"Hey." Buck grinned.
"Christopher, please get your backpack or you'll be late to your Abuela's." Eddie instructed.
"Okay, daddy!" he disappeared to his room.
"Thanks for doing this, Buck. Carla's meeting us at Durand for the interview." Eddie gave him a quick hug, "Abuela's been wanting to meet you as well."
"Happy to help, Eddie." the taller male patted his back, "You packed me food, too?" his eyes widened.
"What friend would I be if I don't pack you food for doing us a big favor, Buck?" she laughed, handing him the lunchbox and a smaller bag, "It's a veggie burger."
"Woah. Thanks! The guys at the station are going to be so jealous." Buck grinned while Eddie smirked, "You get to have her cooking everyday. Let me have my fun!"
"Yeah, yeah." Eddie chuckled, "Ready, Superman?"
"Ready!" Christopher appeared with his backpack.
"Alright, un besos!" Alisa kissed his cheeks, "Have a good day, mijo."
"Have a good day, mommy. I'll see you tomorrow?" Christopher gave her a hug.
"Of course, your tia will drop you off at lunch." she nodded.
"Adios, mijo. Be good for your bisabuela." Eddie kissed his forehead.
"I will, daddy! We're gonna go now!" Christopher pulled Buck towards the door, "Adiooooos!"
"See you, guys!" Buck waved and the couple waved back as they exited their home, "Good luck at Durand!"
"Alisa." Eddie's voice was low.
"Si?" Alisa tilted her head to look at him.
Eddie pulled her into a passionate kiss but was careful not to mess up their clothes. Alisa wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him even closer as he pushed her against the wall of the den. "What brought this on?" Alisa gasped for air as they pulled away from each other, "Not that I mind with you looking very, very handsome in your suit."
"You just look so beautiful, mi amor." Eddie placed a kiss on her neck and smirked when her breath hitched again, "Go on a date with me after?" He really loved the blue dress on her.
"Yes, of course." she blushed prettilly at him.
Durand School
A couple of hours later, Alisa, Eddie, and Carla were walking with Durand School's principal as she was the one giving them the tour of the facilities. The couple was impressed with the state-of-the-art facilities and the children who ran about the schoolyard, looking very happy. They met a few teachers who dealt with special needs students and Alisa interviewed them as if she was in a courthouse, her cautious nature was making sure that they knew what they were doing. "You seemed to know how to handle special needs children, Mrs. Diaz." Principal Caroline Summers commented.
"Oh, I was a nurse in peds and trauma when I was doing my doctorate." Alisa replied, "And I learned through Christopher as well."
"Oh, that's amazing!" Principal Summers looked in awe, "Anyway, our school has one of the best academic programs, including cognitive programs."
"The programs look amazing, Principal Summers but what's important to us is our son's happiness." Eddie interjected, "I-We don't want him to be treated like a charity case."
"Rest assured our students here are happy." she replied in understanding, "Every child is special, some with additional needs, but at the end of the day, they're all equally our children." she gestured to one of the indoor playrooms where some special needs students were playing with the other children, "We all learn from each other here in Durand. No one gets left behind."
Carla patted the couple's hands, "He's going to be cared for here."
"Mi amor?" Eddie looked at his wife.
Alisa nodded, "Let's do it."
"Great! Shall we do the family interview?" Principal Summers smiled at the couple, "It won't take very long, I promise."
"Alright." Alisa nodded and they followed Principal Summers.
A little while later, they walked to Alisa's Lexus but Eddie was going to drive. The auburn-haired girl gave Carla a big hug in thanks as she helped the couple sort out Christopher's academic needs. Carla was the one that recommended Durand because she knew couples whose kids went there. "Thank you so much for today, Carla." Alisa hugged her some more.
"Oh, you're welcome, dear heart. I am very happy to help." Carla hugged back, "Now, since you and your husband are already dressed up, why not go on a date?" she wiggled her eyebrows causing them to laugh.
"We are actually. We managed to get reservations at Il Cielo so we're headed there now." Alisa replied.
"Sounds great, have fun you two." Carla gave them one last hug before getting in her car, "Such a beautiful couple."
"Shall we go?" Eddie asked, opening the passenger door for Alisa.
"Let's." she nodded, "Then we can go home." she smiled as he closed the door.
"Tired?" Eddie tilted his head, entering the driver's side and starting the car.
"Well, it's only going to be us tonight. Christopher is staying at Abuela's." she replied innocently and smirked a little when he got the hint.
"I'm going to have you screaming later." His eyes darkened and had a satisfied smirk when she blushed profusely.
The 118 arrived at the scene of a bat attack, Alisa was given permission to ride along by Chief Alonzo from time to time as a specialist since she expressed her interest in coming back part-time. Chief Alonzo and the LAFD were able to hire her as a part-time specialist when they received letters from New York and El Paso. They were definitely going to get one of the famed Dream Team members in their department, part-time or full-time. "Buck, Eddie, go check what's wrong with the power. We can't save what we can't see." Bobby instructed.
"Got it, cap!" the two firefighters headed to find the power source.
"Eddie, stop staring at your wife's ass!" Buck teased as they hastily looked for the power source.
"I can't help it. I haven't seen her in a uniform in a while, even if she's just on a part-time basis." Eddie unabashedly declared.
"Man, did you guys ever get past the honeymoon phase?" Buck laughed as they disappeared from the immediate area.
Alisa shook her head fondly as she surveyed what she could see in the area. She noticed a cop who looked very distressed as soon as the power came on while Chimney was examining the clown who caught on fire. "Excuse me, officer." she approached him with her jump bag, "Are you hurt? Is everything okay?"
"I'm alright. It's my dear horse." he gestured for her to follow him.
"Cap, I'm going to check what's wrong." she informed Bobby who nodded.
"Over here." he kneeled down beside his horse, "He got so spooked and got injured in the commotion."
"Oh, he's beautiful." Alisa kneeled down to assess the beautiful stallion, "I know, I know, it hurts." she was doing checks on his leg, "Unfortunately, I don't think we can help him anymore officer. The injury is too bad for anyone to do anything." she saw him tear up, "Would you like for me to make him comfortable as he passes?"
"Yes, yes, please. Thank you, ma'am." he nodded, eyes tearing up.
"Pushing morphine." Alisa injected the drug, "Talk to him as he passes. He'd like that."
"You speak from experience, ma'am?" he stroked the horse's mane as it whine some more.
"I had a similar incident in El Paso. It was a rider and her stallion… they were hit by a car." she reminisced, "I was the responding paramedic on the scene. The rider said that her horse didn't want to see her sad so she spoke to him as she slowly passed."
"Mister police?" a child approached them, "Is your friend going to be alright?"
"No, sweetheart. He got hurt real bad." he replied, "Would you like to keep him company with me as he falls asleep?" she nodded and went to the horse, stroking his mane as well. The other people in the area had their heads down to pay their respects as the horse slowly passed away.
Diaz Residence
"Who are you!?" Alisa laughs from the bathroom while she fixes her hair as Eddie exits their walk-in closet.
"Snake Plissken? From that John Carpenter movie? Escape from New York?" Eddie responded.
"I'm sorry, darling. I don't know who that is." she shook her head, "The only Snake I know is Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid." her eyes following him exiting the bathroom.
"I'm making you watch that sometime soon." he pouted before walking out of their bedroom, "Carla will know who I am."
"Yes, so I can dress up already!" she shooed him quickly so she could change into her costume.
When Eddie arrived in the den, he took out his gun and posed as Carla looked at him with a raised eyebrow. He sighed knowing she didn't know who she was. "Not you too…" he pouted.
"I thought you were some sort of pirate, Eddie." Carla good-naturedly laughed, "I'm guessing your wife didn't know who you were either?"
"No." he rolled his eyes.
"Do you know who your wife is going to be dressed as?" she asked.
"Not even a hint. She hides her costumes so well." Eddie replied.
"Daddy?" Christopher appeared before them with his claws raised and some growling.
"Now look at this handsome fellow. How are you doing, Wolverine?" Carlo cooed, "I just wanna tear you up to shreds, cutie!"
"Hehe mommy and daddy helped make my costume, Carla!" Christopher beamed.
"And you look very amazing, Wolverine." Carla complimented.
"Awwww you look so cute, mijo!" a blur of red and green scooped up Christopher.
"Well, look at you, Alisa." Carla looked impressed, "You could pass for the real one."
"Thank you, Carla." Alisa twirled a little, "I made sure it had pockets too!" she did a demonstration.
"Amazing!" Carla laughed then nudged Eddie, "Earth to Eddie!"
Eddie snapped out of his trance as he drank in Alisa dressed up as a Disney Princess. He discreetly stared at her chest a little longer, despite Alisa altering it a little bit more since she had quite an ample chest. "That's how you know~" Alisa winked, "he loves me."
"Come here, you." Eddie pulled her into a kiss.
"Eeeeew!" Christopher giggled with Carla as the couple pulled away from the kiss.
"Well, since you're all ready to hit the town, I'll take my leave and go home to my husband." Carla winked.
"Alright. Drive safe and say hi to Howard for us!" Alisa gave her a hug, "Oh! Before you leave, could you take our photo?"
"Sure thing, Alisa. I'd like a copy too!" Carla got Alisa's phone and herded the family to their den.
A few hours later, Christopher's pumpkin bucket was filled to the brim with all kinds of candy and Alisa's cheeks hurt from a number of children asking to take a photo with her, some of whom were Christopher's friends in the neighborhood. She obliged them and even stayed in character the whole time as they walked around the block. "Okay, Wolvie!" Alisa clapped her hands together, "Are you ready for our next mission!?"
"Yes!" Christopher nodded, "I'm going to set up the patio with daddy for the party!"
"That's right! I'm just going to heat up the food since it's almost time for everyone to arrive." Alisa nodded, "Take a little break first though or you'll be too tired when you play with the other kids later."
"Okay~" Christopher headed towards his bedroom.
"Have I told you how beautiful you look?" Eddie wrapped his arms around her middle and nuzzled her neck.
"At least once a day." Alisa replied, against him.
"Good and you deserve to know it all the time." he peppered her neck and shoulders with kisses.
"Eddie!" she giggled before he pulled her into a kiss.
Diaz Residence
"I hope we're not too late! Buck was being a brat!" Maddie greeted when Eddie opened the door for them and let them in, "Oh, wow! Who are you?" She was dressed up as a cat.
Eddie pouted, "Really? You too?"
"Are you dressed as Snake Plissken?" Chim's jaw dropped. He was dressed like Indiana Jones.
"Finally, someone recognized me. Alisa owes me 20 bucks." Eddie sighed in relief, "Where's Buck?"
"I'm here! I'm here!" the blonde was rushing to get in, "Why is your yard so… so… am I in Halloween Town?" he stammered while dressed in a pirate costume.
"You guys made it!" Alisa popped out of the entryway.
"Awww!" Maddie ran towards the younger girl and gave her a big hug, "You look so so so pretty! Are you really sure you are not a Disney princess?"
The auburn-haired girl laughed and reassured the older she wasn't and gestured for everyone to follow her to the patio where the rest of the 118 was. Eddie and Chim were teasing Buck because he still looked spooked until they got to the patio that had even more Halloween decorations. Bobby commandeered the grill and shooed everyone away, stating he brought the steaks and he would cook it while Michael was the self-appointed photographer of the evening. Christopher was playing a board game with Denny, Harry, and May with Karen, Hen, and Athena drinking their wine. "Don't worry, I got your food in the oven, Buck." Alisa gestured, "I found this recipe for cheese quesadilla but vegan version."
"Wow… thanks…" he blushed, "Sorry, I know my diet is weird…"
"No worries, Buck." Eddie patted his shoulder, "Everyone has their own thing and we respect that. Also, Alisa likes learning new things so yeah. She already adopted you, TK also after you guys bonded when he visited." Buck blushed even more.
"Thanks for thinking of him too. He was worried he wouldn't have any food aside from lentils and potatoes." Maddie said.
"No worries, Maddie. I know how it is for people with dietary needs, be it for health or by choice." Alisa nodded and opened the door to the patio, "Look who's here!"
"Finally!" the group cheered.