Chapter 10: Trick or Treat
Summary: The kids trick-or-treat in the Seaside Wellness office before Addison takes Olivia to the airport.
After dinner, they headed back to the practice to get trick-or-treating underway. Olivia was bouncing off the walls excitedly. She wanted to show off her costume to anyone and everyone she came across. Addison hauled the girl off to her office to get changed and explained to her that everyone wasn't quite ready yet, so she'd still have to wait a bit.
After they got dressed, Olivia took off while Addison's back was turned, wanting to go around surprising people. Seeing the empty, open office, Olivia darted in, looking for the perfect place to hide. When she saw Betsey, she grabbed her friend's hand with a giggle, dragging her along. She decided under the desk was the best spot for them because they could both fit in perfectly. Sometimes, she hid under Mommy's desk to confuse people.
The two waited for what felt like forever for someone to find them. And they ignored Addison's calls because they didn't want to give away their hiding spot.
"Jake!" Addison called, seeing him about to enter his office.
She'd been out in the hall, her eyes scanning for any sight of Olivia. Addison knew she couldn't be with Amelia because Amelia had gone somewhere. She wasn't sure where, but she was sure that whatever it was involved Michelle like it usually did.
"Have you seen Liv? I took my eyes off her for two seconds and she took off! She knows better than to wander off on her own, but she hasn't come back," Addison said as her mind started to spiral.
"She knows better, but I let it go because this place is a freaking circle! And I can't find her anywhere!" Addison added, looking around frantically.
"I haven't seen her, but she couldn't have gone far. Don't worry, we'll find her," Jake said calmly, trying to soothe his girlfriend.
Addison just nodded back, still looking around, trying to find her daughter as Jake placed a hand on her back.
"Why don't you start looking on that side of the building? I'll start over here," Jake pointed. He decided it'd be best to divide and conquer. Addison nodded in agreement before walking in the opposite direction.
Jake looked high and low, paying close attention to any small spaces where Olivia could hide. He checked the exam rooms, the hallways, and the kitchen before stopping at Dell's office.
"Hey, is Olivia in here?" Jake asked.
"No, why?" Dell asked, looking up from his desk.
"She ran out of Addison's office. We can't find her," Jake explained.
"I'll help you look," Dell offered, getting out of his seat.
"Where's Betsey?" Jake asked when Dell reached the door.
"She went to the kitchen for a snack," Dell said.
"You sure? I didn't see her when I was there," Jake pointed out.
"Great. They probably found each other and ran off together," Dell said, sighing. Olivia and Betsey, while they were good kids, had a habit of getting into trouble with each other when they were around each other.
They continued searching and made their way into Jake's office. When they got there, they immediately heard giggling. Jake and Dell looked at each other and back into Jake's office and came to the same realization; they were behind Jake's desk.
"Gee, I wonder where Betsey is," Dell said loudly so the girls could hear.
"Betsey? I thought we were looking for Liv," Jake said, playing along. The girls giggled, trying to keep quiet.
"Well, maybe they're behind the couch," Dell offered. There was almost no room behind the couch with it almost touching the wall, making it difficult for anyone, even a little girl, to fit behind there.
"What about the bar? Maybe they wanted some Shirley Temples," Jake tried after they made an effort to look like they were searching behind the couch.
"Yeah, maybe they were just thirsty," Dell said. The two went over to the bar station set up in Jake's office and looked behind it. The girls giggled again.
"Oh, I know! The desk!" Jake exclaimed dramatically. Olivia and Betsey held onto each other, their hands over each other's mouths as they tried to keep quiet. The guys went over behind the desk, pulled Jake's chair back, and found the girls giggling.
"What do you guys think you're doing?" Dell asked playfully as he pulled Betsey out from under Jake's desk.
"Your mom's worried sick looking for you, you know," Jake said as he held out a hand for Olivia to take hold of.
"I just wanted to show you my costume. Look, Dr. Jake! I'm Ariel!" Olivia spun around after getting out from under his desk.
"You're a mermaid?" Jake asked confusedly, playing dumb.
"Hey Dell, did you know Olivia was a mermaid? Nobody told me!" Jake exclaimed playfully.
"No, I didn't. Hey, you know, mermaids can't stay dry for very long…," Dell said thoughtfully, playing along with Jake.
"You're right! I have to make sure nothing happens to her!" Jake exclaimed dramatically, scooping the girl up and carrying her to the kitchen.
Olivia giggled the entire time, wondering what Dr. Jake was doing.
After placing her in the sink, Jake playfully splashed some water on her as they laughed along.
"Olivia Adrianne Montgomery-Shepherd! You know better than to wander off on your own!" Addison scolded as she marched into the kitchen, having heard her daughter's voice.
Olivia froze, her face dropping as she looked up at Jake, knowing she was in big trouble now. She just wanted to play and show Dr. Jake her costume; she didn't mean to scare her mommy.
Addison crossed the kitchen, picked the girl up, and squeezed her tight against her chest. Part of her wanted to keep her home and close by for the weekend, but she knew she couldn't do that. Olivia was so excited about Halloween at her dad's, and he even asked if she could put her on a flight tonight instead of tomorrow so he could spend more time with her. He'd even be at the airport personally to pick her up for once.
"I'm sorry. Mommy," Olivia's voice trembled. She was a very impulsive child, much like her aunt, and she always regretted it when her mom gave her trouble afterward or when she knew she scared her mom.
"Just don't do that ever again," Addison said, holding her.
She wrapped her arms around her mommy's neck, sniffling. She knew she really scared her mommy.
"Where did you find her?" Addison asked after a minute of silence.
"Under my desk with Betsey. They were hiding," Jake informed her. Addison nodded. She knew Olivia often got Betsey into trouble, but thankfully, Dell never minded. And he made for a great last-minute babysitter. Dell was a bit out of the way during emergencies but it was better then when she had been asking Sam. Now thankfully these days were rare with Amelia living with them.
"Thank you for finding her. I owe you." Addison whispered.
"You don't owe me anything," Jake flashed an easy smile at her.
"You sure?" Addison asked coyly.
"Well…," Jake started suggestively. The two smiled coyly, silently flirting with each other.
"Just so you know…," Addison started.
"She's catching a plane tonight, right after trick-or-treating. So, I'll have a whole weekend child-free," Addison finished, hoping Jake would get the hint.
"Good to know," Jake winked, making Addison blush.
"Mommy?" Olivia asked, breaking the tension.
"Yeah, Liv?" Addison asked.
"Can I go to school with Betsey? Her school sounds so much more funner," Olivia asked. Addison scrunched her nose at the thought of sending her daughter to public school. She saw Amelia through her high school years, and she knew what the conditions were like.
"I'll think about it," Addison eventually settled on.
"But you know what? Now we're gonna go back to my office and you can sit or play quietly for a bit before we go around," Addison said, not ready to let her out of her sight just yet.
Jake chuckled, following the two back. Addison was in mama bear mode and nobody would stop that.
An hour later, the kids were finally allowed to go trick or treating. Olivia grasped Betsey's hand, running into the kitchen together where they'd meet everyone to go on their expedition for candy.
"Daddy, we want Maya and Angie to take us," Betsey declared boldly.
"Oh, really?" Dell asked with a laugh. He wasn't sure if he should trust the two girls after their earlier stunt, but Angela and Maya were well-behaved and more than capable of watching the two girls for an hour.
"Please, Daddy?" Betsey batted her eyes.
"We'll be super good and we'll stay inside!" Betsey begged her dad because she really wanted this.
Dell looked at Addison, wondering what she thought. She was much more protective than he was.
"Alright. But only on the third and fourth floors. No detours. Got it?" Addison told the girls sternly. They nodded fast, agreeing, knowing if they didn't, they'd probably get grounded or something.
"You girls good with taking them?" Addison asked, certain that they'd rather be doing anything but take care of two girls.
"Of course, Auntie Addison. They won't cause trouble with us," Maya smiled.
"You're sure?" Addison double-checked.
"Yeah. You and Dell can set your offices up and we'll come to visit you guys last," Maya insisted.
"Violet, can we take Lucas too?" Maya asked, reaching for the little boy in his mom's arms.
Lucas, in his beetle costume, flailed his arms excitedly.
"Sure," Violet replied, handing the boy over after seeing how excited he was. Maya took him, set him down, and held his hand.
"Mason, wanna come?" Angela asked, seeing the boy hang back with his father.
They were all dressed as The Incredibles characters because Cooper insisted on a family costume. Cooper and Charlotte were Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, while Mason was Dash, and his mom, Erica, was Violet, AKA Invisible Girl.
Angela felt bad for Mason. He was stuck in one of the in-between ages. He was too old to really have fun with the girls, but too young to hang out with her and Maya. It must've sucked when he was stuck at the office.
Just as all six kids were about to head off, Amelia called Olivia.
"Hey, Liv!" Amelia ran over. Olivia looked over, curious about what her aunt wanted.
"Grab me a Kit Kat or something, would 'ya?" Amelia asked. The girl nodded back, giggling.
"You could just go buy your own instead of taking from your niece," Sam commented.
"Lia and I share everything!" Olivia told him, giving him a little glare. She didn't like him much; she thought the way he talked to her aunt was mean.
"Hey, Livvy. It's okay," Amelia said softly, trying to defuse the situation.
"He's right; I can get my own. You just get candy for yourself, okay? Mitchie and I will be in my office when you guys come around," Amelia told the girl, dragging her friend off.
Olivia decided she'd get a Kit Kat for her aunt, anyway. Just because she knew Uncle Sam wouldn't like it. She knew her aunt would appreciate it, and her mom would, too. Addison just shook her head. Sam never truly cared for Amelia the same way. He never let her forget she screwed up.
Finally, once it looked like the adults were ready to let them go, the group of six headed downstairs to the third floor to start trick-or-treating.
Meanwhile, the adults moved toward their offices to hand out candy to the other kids who came by. Jake took his bowl of candy, moving to join Addison at her office.
"Hey," Addison smiled.
"You didn't last very long," Addison commented.
"Yeah, well, it's boring just waiting there for the kids. Especially by yourself. So I thought you might like some company. But, I mean, if you don't…," Jake started, trailing off.
"No no, stay. You're right; it is boring," Addison chuckled.
"So, what are your plans after this?" Addison asks casually.
"Well, I'm taking Ange home, maybe catch the Knicks game, and then go to bed. Why? Got a better offer?" Jake asked in a flirty voice.
"Well…," Addison drew the word out to get his attention.
"Like I said earlier, I'll be alone for the weekend. How about you? Amelia's off on a girls' trip with Michelle and Charlotte and Liv is off to Seattle to see her dad," Addison explained.
"I'm sorry, did you say Charlotte?" Jake nearly choked on his water.
"They're friends. I don't pretend to understand it," Addison shrugged, used to it by now.
"That's…," Jake trailed off, not knowing what to say.
"Unexpected? Yeah," Addison laughed.
"I'm used to it by now. Anyway, I will be without my kid this weekend. How about you?" Addison asked coyly.
"Thankfully, my kid's pretty self-sufficient," Jake chuckled.
"But I'm sure I can get her to hang with a friend for the weekend if you're offering something," Jake said suggestively.
"Well, you know where I live if you can slip away for the weekend," Addison suggested before handing out some candy to some kids coming by.
Jake chuckled, watching her, his head spinning as he tried to get Angela occupied for the weekend so he could spend it with Addison.
About 40 minutes later, the kids finally made their way to Addison's office to collect the candy. Olivia begged her mom to let her and Betsey look inside their bags and trade candy. So Addison caved, telling them to do it in the conference room where she could see them. So the girls ran off to do exactly that, Mason following behind, thinking he may as well trade with them. From Addison's office, she could just see the kids in the room, so she let them be.
The teen girls escaped to Jake's empty office once they knew it was okay and after they returned Lucas to his parents.
Amelia and Michelle made their way in, swiping some candy from Addison's nearly empty bowl.
"You know, I was going to donate that to the peds ward," Addison informed the two.
"I'm pregnant. I have cravings," Amelia joked. Addison just rolled her eyes while Jake chuckled.
"And what's your excuse?" Addison asked, turning toward Michelle.
"I'm holding your cat hostage. So…it's ransom?" Michelle suggested jokingly, with a cheeky smile.
"What do you mean, you're holding my cat hostage? Where's Milo?" Addison asked in disbelief.
"Oh yeah, we kinda thought of the perfect addition to our theme. Cheshire cat. So I grabbed Milo on my way over. He's chilling in Amelia's office on the bed I brought with him," Michelle explained.
"You broke into my house, took my cat, put him in a costume, and brought him to the office?" Addison asked, trying to make sure she heard right.
"That is…mostly correct. I have a key and Amelia said I could use it, so I technically didn't break in. Milo didn't seem to mind, and Liv was thrilled to see him," Michelle shrugged unapologetically. Addison just groaned.
"You two have to take him home yourselves, then. I'm taking Olivia to the airport in an hour," Addison explained, not even bothering to try to understand these two. They were something else.
Olivia ran in with a smile on her face.
"Lia! I saved you a Kit Kat," Olivia exclaimed, climbing into her aunt's lap.
"Well, actually, I traded two Smarties for it 'cause I didn't get any and I know you really like Kit Kats," Olivia corrected herself, snuggling in with a yawn.
"Thanks, kid. You didn't have to do that," Amelia smiled, kissing her head.
"Make sure you have tons of fun with Daddy this weekend and take lots of photos. I want to see them all," Amelia said. Olivia nodded fast, her body betraying her as she snuggled deeper.
"Maybe I should take her home and send her first thing in the morning," Addison wondered out loud.
"No!" Olivia sat up straight, bursting out.
"I wanna see Daddy! I'll be good!" Olivia insisted.
"Livvy, you're tired," Addison pointed out gently.
"I can sleep on the plane to Daddy's. I do it all the time!" Olivia protested.
"Not when you fly by yourself. Your caregivers on the plane tell me everything," Addison pointed out.
"Then I'll stay awake," Olivia insisted stubbornly.
"I don't know, Liv," Addison looked conflicted.
"Let me call Daddy and see what he says, okay?" Addison offered.
"I wanna go," Olivia said, sitting up straight, even though her body was betraying her.
Addison sighed and called Derek to see what he had to say. Surprisingly, he picked up on the first ring, speaking before she could even get a chance.
"Have you guys left for the airport yet?" Derek asked.
"Well, hello to you too, Derek." Addison quipped dryly.
Amelia rolled her eyes hearing Addison, knowing her brother had said something annoying per usual.
"Sorry. Hi, Addie. Have you guys left yet?" Derek tried again.
"No, not yet. I was calling to talk to you about that," Addison looked across to her daughter, who was slowly losing the fight to stay awake in her aunt's arms.
"What's wrong?" Derek asked, concerned.
"Nothing, I was just thinking maybe I should send her first thing tomorrow instead. She's falling asleep in your sister's arms as we speak. And I really don't like the idea of her sleeping on a plane next to strangers," Addison explained.
"Why can't you or Amy fly her out?" Derek asked, annoyed.
"Because we both have lives, Derek. Your sister isn't our nanny. I made plans for tonight after you said you wanted Liv early. Amelia's going away this weekend," Addison explained.
"You can't cancel your plans?" Derek asked.
"No, because I have to work tomorrow. And I won't get any sleep if I have to fly back-and-forth tonight," Addison replied.
"Well, Little Grey's flying back tonight. She's been visiting her sister, Molly, and her flight leaves in an hour and a half if you can get her there. It looks like her flight isn't full, so you can buy a ticket at the counter," Derek said, clearly looking at the plane tickets on his phone.
"You said all this just to tell me that Lexie freaking Grey can sit with her? God, Derek, you couldn't have led with that?!" Addison asked angrily.
"I was going to, but you went off before I had a chance. If you can get Liv there on time, it shouldn't be a problem," Derek said. Addison rolled her eyes.
"Fine, I'll get her there," Addison said before hanging up.
"I need to get her to the airport now, but I have no time to change her," Addison sighed, looking at the sleeping little girl.
"She's fine. There's no wig, she's a frequent flyer and she'll have Lexie. She'll be fine, Addie. Kids dress up all the time. It's Halloween weekend; I'm sure they won't make a thing out of it. Lexie can always wake her or call you or Derek to confirm if you need her to," Amelia said.
"She'll be fine. Take her to Lexie. We like Lexie," Amelia said, standing up and transferring the sleeping girl into her mother's arms.
"Go, I'm crashing with Michelle tonight once we bring Milo back," Amelia chuckled, pushing her former sister-in-law out the door.
A/N: The chapter title was inspired by the song, Trick or Treat by LUM!X and MOLOW.
We probably should've posted this for Halloween but we lack follow through lol. Enjoy Halloween on American Thanksgiving!
We're still irrationally mad at Sam for judging Amelia for asking for a piece of candy. Who are you more irrationally mad at? Sam or Derek? Both are asshats today in our little Chosen Family world and could easily be tied for first place, Jake is the clear winner here.
P.S. The Smarties are the Canadian Smarties in case anyone wants to know. The gross chocolate kind. In case you're wondering where they got the smarties, someone on the 4th floor probably gave it to them.