Halloween Meme Answers
3/11/11 15:34![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shanachie_quillA little before Halloween I posted a meme asking for trick or treaters. I thought I'd post my stories here all together so everyone could read them. I ended up with eight stories for a total of 3,923 words. That's 8 different fandoms or well 8 different verses in about a week. I don't think I'll ever be able to do that again. If you'd like to see the original post, it's still up, but please don't trick or treat, because I'm not doing anymore.
Losers An Unlikely Family verse
Pooch dipped his hand into the bowl, intending to grab a handful as the doorbell rang. When his fingers encountered nothing but empty air, he looked into the bowl. “Jen-sen!”
The hacker’s head poked around the corner, a confused look on his face. “Yeah, Pooch?”
Pooch eyed him for a minute, surprised to see an almost calm expression on the other man’s face. “Where’s the candy, man?”
“In. The. Bowl?” Jensen answered slowly.
Picking the bowl up, Pooch turned it upside down, demonstrating its emptiness. “Wanna try again?”
“Well, I didn’t eat it. I promised Beth I’d take her to the parade. And after last year…if I go on a sugar high, I’ll get kicked out before I walk in the door,” Jensen said defensively. “Maybe you handed it all out already?”
“It was full thirty minutes ago, Jay-man.” The doorbell rang more insistently and Pooch swung around towards it. “Now what?”
Jensen leaned back into the other room and came back out with a plastic bag of treats. “Here. This is what I confiscated from Beth. What she doesn’t eat or doesn’t need. Hand it out for now.”
As Pooch swung the door open, rapidly dumping candy into the waiting hands of the older kids (and glaring at the ones who tried to take more than what he considered their fair share) there was a resounding crash and giggling from the upper story. By the time he got the door shut and dropped the bag on the table, Jensen was already three-quarters of the way up the steps, yelling for Beth.
Gales of laughter were the only response and by the time the two men got up there, Cougar and Beth were laying in a tangle of blankets and chairs in the middle of the hallway. Cougar’s hat hung on by a corner on Beth’s head and for a minute Pooch wasn’t sure which one of them had been wearing it, until the little girl sat up and straightened it out. She was dressed in a miniature version of a military uniform and clearly enamored with her uncle as she launched herself at him as soon as the blonde cleared the stairs. “Uncle Jake! Tio Cougar tackled me!” she cried.
Jensen hefted the girl until she sat comfortably on his hip and turned to Pooch. “I think we figured out where the candy went.”
Warehouse 13
“You don’t think this is a little bit creepy?” Jinks asked as he followed Claudia up the steps.
“Think about where we work,” she replied over her shoulder.
Jinks paused and then had to take the remaining steps two at a time to make it through the door at the same time as her. “Let me take the lead just while we’re in here,” he cautioned.
Claudia looked ready to argue, but then caught sight of all the cops still roaming around. She shifted her bag to the other shoulder and faded back. “Yeah. Okay,” she agreed.
Pulling his wallet from his pocket, Jinks moved forward, picking out the man that seemed to be in charge. “Excuse me. Agent Jinks. ATF. We had a report of suspicious circs here that we think relates to another case we’ve been investigating.”
“And what case would that be?” the man asked.
“Woman suffocated in her sleep by no apparent means,” Claudia broke in.
“No. It wasn’t that. She simply passed away in her sleep,” the detective answered too quickly.
Claudia grabbed Jinks’s arm, pulling him away before the agent could say anything else. “He’s lying,” Jinks burst out as soon as they were far enough away.
“Yeah. And you know how well that went over with the guys who knew you. We know enough to trust when you say it that it actually means someone is lying, but people tend to get annoyed when you accuse them.” Claudia glanced around. “Think we can get upstairs without causing too much of a disturbance?”
Jinks grinned at her. “They aren’t going to notice two more people heading upstairs.”
“Gloves?” Claudia pulled two pairs out of her bag and handed one to him.
“Got a bag?” he asked as he tugged them on.
She held it up, waving it at him, before tucking it in one of her jeans’ pockets. “Now remember. You’ll looking for something antiquey.”
“Is that even a word?” he questioned as they made their way up the stairs.
“It is in the Claud-tionary,” she answered from behind him. “Got any ideas for how to…”
He held up a hand, hoping she’d know to keep quiet, and waited for some crime scene techs to pass them. When they looked next, the room where the girl had died was empty and they slipped inside. The pillows from the bed had been tossed around and they began to pick through them.
“How’s this?” Jinks held up a pillow encased in a laced edged case after a few minutes.
Claudia eyed it for a moment. “Why would you think I’d know what a girlie pillowcase looks like?”
“I’d think you’d have a better chance than me and do not say a word about me being gay, Claud,” he cautioned when he saw the thought start to cross her mind.
“I wasn’t,” she protested as she pulled the bag from her pocket. “I just figure we have an equal chance.”
“I’m gonna point out that I’m male and just because I’m gay does not automatically make me queer eye for the straight guy,” he said as he prepared to drop the pillowcase.
“Just drop it in the bag,” she replied, holding it out to him.
Jinks waded it up and dropped it into the open mouth, both of them jerking away as the sparks flew. “Guess we found it,” he commented.
“Yeah,” she said as she sealed the bag, tucking it away in her satchel. “Mary Shelley won’t be claiming anymore victims. Wanna grab something to eat before we head home?”
“Sounds good. But you aren’t picking this time. I’m not eating at some vegan place again.”
“I swear! I didn’t know it was vegan!” Claudia called after him as he left the room ahead of her.
Hawaii Five-0 Honolulu 96731 verse
“Steve?”
The teen looked up from the book he was reading. “What, Gracie?”
She stared at him for a moment, until he sighed and moved his chair back, allowing her to scramble into his lap. “Danno’s still sick,” she informed him. “And he’s not gonna be better for Halloween.”
“It’s just a cold, he’ll be better soon,” Steve assured her.
“But not for Halloween! And I’m gonna miss trick or treating!”
“Well, your mom will take you then,” Steve answered.
Grace shook her head, her pigtails bouncing against her back. “Mom has to work. And Matt won’t. He says it’s for babies.” Resting her head against his shoulder for a minute, she turned her face up towards him and widening her already big brown eyes. “I’m going to miss everything and I already got my costume.”
Knowing full well that she was manipulating him and not caring one bit, Steve hugged her. “If Danny’s not feeling up to it, I’ll ask your mom if I can take you around while it’s still light out, okay, Gracie?”
Throwing her arms around his neck, she smacked a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Stevie! You’re awesome!” Wiggling off his lap, she skipped from the room, pausing to hug Danny around the waist.
Steve turned to see Danny grinning at him. “What?”
“You’re adorable. You know she’s got you right where she wants you, right?” Danny asked.
“Should I be worried?” Steve asked.
Danny slipped an arm around him. “Only when she uses you to take over the world.”
NCIS: LA An Unlikely Family verse
“Uncle GG! Uncle Sam!” Lara Blye wiggled out of her father’s arms and dashed across the open floor towards her uncles.
She made it to Callen first and he pushed his chair back, allowing her to scramble into his lap, looking her over. “And who are you supposed to be, Princess?” he asked as she threw her arms around his neck. He grinned up at Deeks. “Nice outfit, Deeks.”
Unselfconsciously, Deeks straightened the sword belted at his waist. “Hey. I’m a pirate.”
“I’m Buttercup!” Lara informed Callen. “And Daddy’s the Dread Pirate Roberts. From the Princess Bride. Don’t you know anything?”
“Yeah, Callen, don’t you know anything?” Sam said from his desk. “Come mere, Lara. I might have something I hid from your mommy if you remember the right words.”
Lara wiggled until Callen let her down and then skipped over to Sam, stopping in front of him and saying, “Abracadabra?” When he just looked at her, she grinned in response. “Please?” she asked, opening her brown eyes wide at him. When Sam still didn’t budge, she frowned at him. Finally she sighed and said, “Okay. Trick or treat.”
“That’s my girl.” Sam reached into his desk and pulled out a chocolate bar, handing it over.
Lara squealed with glee and accepted it, running back to Deeks with her prize. “Turn right back around and go use your manners,” he informed her when she showed him what she had.
Immediately Lara looked abashed and ran back to Sam. “Thank you, Uncle Sam,” she told him, trying to reach up and hug him. The former SEAL gathered the little girl into his arms and hugged her gently before setting her back down.
“And what is going on here?” Kensi asked as she re-entered the bullpen to find her daughter charming her team.
“Look what Uncle Sam gave me, Mommy,” Lara said, holding out the chocolate bar.
Kensi crouched down in front of her little girl, examining her prize with all of the honor it required. “That’s your favorite,” she said. “That was really nice of Uncle Sam. Did you tell him thank you?”
Lara nodded before looking sheepish. “After Daddy reminded me.”
“Well, it happens.” She winked at Lara. “I’ll tell you a secret. Even Daddy has to be reminded sometimes.”
“Hey!” Deeks yelped. “Don’t tell her that. You’re supposed to be a good influence!”
Kensi winced as the baby kicked her in the ribs, obviously a counter-point to its father’s protest, and she tried to straighten up. Deeks was instantly there, hauling her to her full height and letting her lean against him without protest. He settled a hand against her stomach, rubbing gently until the baby settled down again. “Thanks, Deeks,” she told him.
“So are you planning to go trick or treating tonight?” Sam asked as Lara’s hand joined her father’s.
Lara nodded enthusiastically. “Daddy’s gonna take me. Mommy and Baby are gonna stay home.”
“Better make sure she doesn’t eat all the candy before it gets handed out,” Callen teased.
“This baby doesn’t have nearly the sweet tooth Lara did. Must be Deeks’s influence,” Kensi answered. Turning to her daughter, she said, “Eric and Nell have a surprise for you up in Ops. Why don’t you go up and get it and then we’ll head out?”
“Okay.” Lara hugged Sam and Callen one last time before quickly scurrying up the stairs towards Ops. Maybe most children wouldn’t be allowed free rein in a base like this, but Lara seemed to instinctively know she couldn’t speak about what she saw here and had been allowed to run unchecked from day one. Kensi wouldn’t have it any other way and there was no one else she would trust with her daughter. From upstairs she heard the sound of childish laughter as the two techs revealed whatever surprise they’d cooked up and she smiled. This was the best family she could have asked for.
Sanctuary Pack Life verse
“Wolf!” Bella declared happily before wiggling out of her father’s grasp.
“Yes, good…” Henry sighed as his daughter shifted into a wolf cub. “Not exactly what I mean, Bella.” He held up the costume he’d been trying to convince her to put on. “You’re supposed to wear a costume at Halloween, not turn into another animal.”
Bella shifted back into a little girl and grabbed her feet, grinning at Henry. “Wolf! Like Daddy!”
“Yeah, in a way.” He held out the costume again. “Will you put this on?”
“No!” She glared at him and shifted back into the wolf form, twisting into a ball.
“Bella, this does not work,” Henry informed her as he stared at the ball of fluff that used to be his daughter. He looked over at his mate who had been studiously ignoring the antics. “Cee, talk to your daughter, please?”
“You’re the one who wanted her to have a ‘normal’ childhood,” Cee replied, not looking up from the sketchbook she was drawing in. “Besides, you know very well that she’s Daddy’s little girl.”
Scooping up the cub (and growling softly at her when she bared her teeth at him), Henry carried her over to the bed where Cee lounged. Setting her down next to her mother, he curled up around the two of them. “Hey,” he said softly. “Are you upset that I want her to have some things normal kids have? I know my childhood was more Addams’ Family than Leave It to Beaver and we both know yours wasn’t anywhere near considered sane, but there are some things we can give Bella.” He stroked a hand down Cee’s hair, smiling as she leaned into the touch. “Yeah, her playmates are abnormals and her godfather is considered a lunatic, but she can go trick or treating. If it bothers you though…”
She rested her head against his shoulder, smiling as Bella ran in circles around the bed. “No. But maybe you should wait until next year.”
Laughing, lunging forward to catch Bella before she fell off the bed, he agreed, “Yeah, okay. Maybe it’ll make more sense to her then.”
“And maybe not an animal,” Cee suggested. “It might be less confusing to her.”
“Oh so that’s what’s confusing her?” Henry asked.
“Maybe just a little,” Cee said as she accepted her daughter and began attempting to coax her into human form.
Sitting back down next to them, Henry began to offer suggestions of what to attempt as a costume next year. Soon Cee was laughing and offering more ridiculous suggestions. It looked like they might actually come up with a workable plan before Halloween rolled around again.
Hawaii Five-0 Shifter verse
“Steve?” Danny called as he entered the beachside house after dropping Grace back at Rachel and Stan’s. “Where are you, babe?” When there was no answer, he shut and locked the door behind him, glancing at the alarm pad. “Hey, Steve?”
He’d grown used to Steve appearing out of the shadows or just slipping up behind him, but the man was normally in human form so when one hundred plus pounds of tiger bumped into the back of Danny’s legs, he almost stumbled in shock. He twisted around to look at the tiger. “Really?” he asked. “This is your response to me saying it might be fun to dress up for the trick or treaters? I don’t think so. You’re going to scare the crap out of them!” When Steve just stared at him before nudging his hand in an attempt to get Danny to pet him, he continued, “No. I don’t think so.”
Steve huffed an annoyed sigh and paced towards the door, staring at it for a minute before clearly deciding Danny wasn’t going to open it for him. Turning, he moved towards the back door. In a maneuver he’d clearly been practicing, he pushed the handle on the door down and slipped outside. “Well, shit,” Danny said when he spied the result. By the time Danny made it out the door himself, Steve had leaped over the retaining wall and taken off. Pulling his phone off his belt, he dialed the person most likely to help him.
“Happy Halloween, bruddah. Did you have fun with Grace?” Chin asked when he answered the phone.
“Yeah a blast. Listen. I got home and Steve was a tiger. Not that I’m freaking out or anything because ya know he does that, but any particular reason he might do it tonight?” Danny replied.
“Well, I’d say it has something to do with you leaving him behind while you went out with Grace,” Chin suggested.
“I invited him!” Danny protested. “He said he didn’t want to go!”
“Don’t know what to tell you, but I’d suggest you look there first.” There was a click as the other man hung up the phone.
“Because that was so helpful,” Danny grumbled. Quickly locking the doors, he made his way out to the Camaro and headed for Rachel and Stan’s. He was halfway there when his phone went off, the ringtone identifying the last person he wanted to hear from. “Rach,” he answered, “It’s not really the best time.”
“Daniel. There is a…tiger. Outside. I think it’s trying to get to Grace!”
“Okay, listen to me. I know this is going to sound a bit nuts. But he is not going to hurt Grace.”
“A bit nuts?!” she screeched.
“Rachel, just…never mind. I’ll be there in like five minutes.” Tossing the phone onto the seat, he hit the lights and siren, figuring it was better just to get there. He wasn’t at all surprised to find the gate open when he arrived at the house and he pulled right up, leaving the car running as he ran up the steps. Rachel threw the door open as he reached it. “He’s up on the balcony! Right outside her bedroom!” she cried.
“Okay. It’s fine, Rachel.” Danny tried to step around her, but she almost pitched herself into his arms. “Rachel, I need you to stay down here and trust me when I say I’ll take care of this. You know I won’t let Grace get hurt.”
“Daniel, there’s a bloody tiger! Outside my daughter’s room!”
Ignoring her, Danny pulled away and took the stairs two at a time towards Grace’s room. He knew Steve wouldn’t hurt her, but he had no idea what he would find.
Opening the bedroom door, he found Grace lying on the floor; Steve curled around her as she examined her haul from trick or treating. He crossed his arms and leaned against the jam, observing them for a moment before speaking, “Why am I not surprised you let him in?”
“Danno!” Grace popped up. “Kika just wanted to check on me!”
“You realize you scared the…” Danny swallowed the words he would have said and ended with, “out of Rachel, right?” When Steve just regarded him balefully from his spot behind Grace, he replied, “I’m just saying. It wasn’t your most intelligent move. Now. Out the window and back home since you know she’s fine. And you, Monkey, into bed.”
Clearly satisfied now that he’d seen Grace, Steve got to his feet and nudged her. She got up willingly, hugging him, before crossing over and hugging Danny. “Shoo. I’ll see you at home, crazy man.” He shooed Steve out the window before turning to tuck Grace into bed and leaning over to kiss her good-night. Pausing at the door, he took one last look at his already sleeping daughter before going outside to head home.
Avengers Avengers' Assistants verse
“What I would like to know,” Fury said, in a deceptively calm voice. “Is whose bright idea it was to take Thor trick or treating?” He stared at the group arrayed in front of him. The SHIELD agents, all of them Avenger Assistants, at least had the good sense to look abashed, but the Avengers themselves looked rather amused.
“In our defense, it’s not like we took him out unattended,” Jane started.
“There is no defense for this clusterfuck,” Fury growled. He turned to the Assistants, who straightened up even more. “When I told you one of your assignments was to help them assimilate, I didn’t mean by scaring the populous!”
“Sir,” Olivia Donner, Bruce’s Assistant, spoke up, “I’m not sure we scared the populous so much as…”
“Agent Donner, are you telling me that a six foot five Norse god acting like a three year old didn’t scare the populous?” Fury thundered. “I want to see reports and damage control suggestions on my desk by oh-six hundred, is that clear?” He glared at the Assistants who nodded rapidly in response. “And, Doctor Foster, I’ll have the assignment for Thor’s Assistant to you tomorrow morning. Clearly you need some guidance. Dismissed!”
The three Assistants who had been involved paused outside the door, smiling reassuringly at Jane and Darcy, after waving the Avengers on. “That could have gone a lot worse,” Tessa Monroe, Clint’s Assistant, assured them.
“Yeah,” Jack Douglas, Steve’s Assistant, drawled from where he was leaning against the wall, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “They could have turned Thor into a kid, instead of just making him act like one. Although that tantrum was worse than some of the ones my sister’s kids throw.”
“I’m just glad Colonel Fury didn’t realize it was Darcy’s idea,” Jane started.
“Hey, I would have taken the heat,” Darcy protested. “It was a good idea. We had fun until that thug tried to hurt Thor!”
“Don’t worry about it, Darcy,” Tessa assured her. “Part of our job is ‘taking the heat’.”
Jack pushed himself away from the wall. “And I for one don’t mind it this time. That was the most fun I’ve had on Halloween in years. I’m going to go check on Thor and then start my report.” He waved over his shoulder as he started off down the hall.
Jane turned to the two women that were left. “Was the colonel serious about assigning an Assistant?”
Olivia motioned for them to start walking. “Yes. But I wouldn’t worry. He hasn’t chosen wrong yet with the assignments.”
Tessa grinned. “You mean Coulson hasn’t chosen wrong. We all know that’s who’s making the decisions. Fury just approves them.”
“Tess! You aren’t supposed to tell the civvies those things!” Olivia scolded.
When Jane looked worried, Tessa reassured her, “Livvie’s just teasing.” She dodged the swat the other woman aimed at her. “Come on. Let’s see if the medics have figured out how long the serum’s going to affect Thor and when they’re going to release him.”
Haven The Continuing Saga of the Wuornos Clan verse
"I don't see why I have to take them," Lucy Wuornos protested.
Audrey looked at her oldest daughter. "Because your father and I both have to work. And there's no reason you can't do it."
"But Mo-om," Lucy whined. "It's not fa-air!"
"Life isn't fair, young lady. You're going to take your brother and sisters trick or treating. And that's final."
Lucy glared. "I swear you're ruining my life!"
"Absolutely," Audrey agreed as her oldest daughter stamped out of the room. She turned as she heard footsteps behind her. "Sure you want this last one?" she asked her husband as he slipped his arm around her shoulders.
Nathan rested his other hand on the swell of her stomach. "Just look at it this way, by the time this one's a teenager, we'll either be perfect at this or completely ruined the other three and not care."
"Nathan? Really not helping."
He tipped her chin up, kissing her lightly. "Audrey, you are a fabulous mom. And an even better cop." Kissing her again, he added, "Shall we head down to the station and see what Haven is going to throw at us this Halloween?"
"Yeah," she answered. "I could use a bit of normal after that argument with Lucy."
"Should I be worried that's what you consider normal?" Nathan asked as he followed her out the door.
Losers An Unlikely Family verse
Pooch dipped his hand into the bowl, intending to grab a handful as the doorbell rang. When his fingers encountered nothing but empty air, he looked into the bowl. “Jen-sen!”
The hacker’s head poked around the corner, a confused look on his face. “Yeah, Pooch?”
Pooch eyed him for a minute, surprised to see an almost calm expression on the other man’s face. “Where’s the candy, man?”
“In. The. Bowl?” Jensen answered slowly.
Picking the bowl up, Pooch turned it upside down, demonstrating its emptiness. “Wanna try again?”
“Well, I didn’t eat it. I promised Beth I’d take her to the parade. And after last year…if I go on a sugar high, I’ll get kicked out before I walk in the door,” Jensen said defensively. “Maybe you handed it all out already?”
“It was full thirty minutes ago, Jay-man.” The doorbell rang more insistently and Pooch swung around towards it. “Now what?”
Jensen leaned back into the other room and came back out with a plastic bag of treats. “Here. This is what I confiscated from Beth. What she doesn’t eat or doesn’t need. Hand it out for now.”
As Pooch swung the door open, rapidly dumping candy into the waiting hands of the older kids (and glaring at the ones who tried to take more than what he considered their fair share) there was a resounding crash and giggling from the upper story. By the time he got the door shut and dropped the bag on the table, Jensen was already three-quarters of the way up the steps, yelling for Beth.
Gales of laughter were the only response and by the time the two men got up there, Cougar and Beth were laying in a tangle of blankets and chairs in the middle of the hallway. Cougar’s hat hung on by a corner on Beth’s head and for a minute Pooch wasn’t sure which one of them had been wearing it, until the little girl sat up and straightened it out. She was dressed in a miniature version of a military uniform and clearly enamored with her uncle as she launched herself at him as soon as the blonde cleared the stairs. “Uncle Jake! Tio Cougar tackled me!” she cried.
Jensen hefted the girl until she sat comfortably on his hip and turned to Pooch. “I think we figured out where the candy went.”
Warehouse 13
“You don’t think this is a little bit creepy?” Jinks asked as he followed Claudia up the steps.
“Think about where we work,” she replied over her shoulder.
Jinks paused and then had to take the remaining steps two at a time to make it through the door at the same time as her. “Let me take the lead just while we’re in here,” he cautioned.
Claudia looked ready to argue, but then caught sight of all the cops still roaming around. She shifted her bag to the other shoulder and faded back. “Yeah. Okay,” she agreed.
Pulling his wallet from his pocket, Jinks moved forward, picking out the man that seemed to be in charge. “Excuse me. Agent Jinks. ATF. We had a report of suspicious circs here that we think relates to another case we’ve been investigating.”
“And what case would that be?” the man asked.
“Woman suffocated in her sleep by no apparent means,” Claudia broke in.
“No. It wasn’t that. She simply passed away in her sleep,” the detective answered too quickly.
Claudia grabbed Jinks’s arm, pulling him away before the agent could say anything else. “He’s lying,” Jinks burst out as soon as they were far enough away.
“Yeah. And you know how well that went over with the guys who knew you. We know enough to trust when you say it that it actually means someone is lying, but people tend to get annoyed when you accuse them.” Claudia glanced around. “Think we can get upstairs without causing too much of a disturbance?”
Jinks grinned at her. “They aren’t going to notice two more people heading upstairs.”
“Gloves?” Claudia pulled two pairs out of her bag and handed one to him.
“Got a bag?” he asked as he tugged them on.
She held it up, waving it at him, before tucking it in one of her jeans’ pockets. “Now remember. You’ll looking for something antiquey.”
“Is that even a word?” he questioned as they made their way up the stairs.
“It is in the Claud-tionary,” she answered from behind him. “Got any ideas for how to…”
He held up a hand, hoping she’d know to keep quiet, and waited for some crime scene techs to pass them. When they looked next, the room where the girl had died was empty and they slipped inside. The pillows from the bed had been tossed around and they began to pick through them.
“How’s this?” Jinks held up a pillow encased in a laced edged case after a few minutes.
Claudia eyed it for a moment. “Why would you think I’d know what a girlie pillowcase looks like?”
“I’d think you’d have a better chance than me and do not say a word about me being gay, Claud,” he cautioned when he saw the thought start to cross her mind.
“I wasn’t,” she protested as she pulled the bag from her pocket. “I just figure we have an equal chance.”
“I’m gonna point out that I’m male and just because I’m gay does not automatically make me queer eye for the straight guy,” he said as he prepared to drop the pillowcase.
“Just drop it in the bag,” she replied, holding it out to him.
Jinks waded it up and dropped it into the open mouth, both of them jerking away as the sparks flew. “Guess we found it,” he commented.
“Yeah,” she said as she sealed the bag, tucking it away in her satchel. “Mary Shelley won’t be claiming anymore victims. Wanna grab something to eat before we head home?”
“Sounds good. But you aren’t picking this time. I’m not eating at some vegan place again.”
“I swear! I didn’t know it was vegan!” Claudia called after him as he left the room ahead of her.
Hawaii Five-0 Honolulu 96731 verse
“Steve?”
The teen looked up from the book he was reading. “What, Gracie?”
She stared at him for a moment, until he sighed and moved his chair back, allowing her to scramble into his lap. “Danno’s still sick,” she informed him. “And he’s not gonna be better for Halloween.”
“It’s just a cold, he’ll be better soon,” Steve assured her.
“But not for Halloween! And I’m gonna miss trick or treating!”
“Well, your mom will take you then,” Steve answered.
Grace shook her head, her pigtails bouncing against her back. “Mom has to work. And Matt won’t. He says it’s for babies.” Resting her head against his shoulder for a minute, she turned her face up towards him and widening her already big brown eyes. “I’m going to miss everything and I already got my costume.”
Knowing full well that she was manipulating him and not caring one bit, Steve hugged her. “If Danny’s not feeling up to it, I’ll ask your mom if I can take you around while it’s still light out, okay, Gracie?”
Throwing her arms around his neck, she smacked a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Stevie! You’re awesome!” Wiggling off his lap, she skipped from the room, pausing to hug Danny around the waist.
Steve turned to see Danny grinning at him. “What?”
“You’re adorable. You know she’s got you right where she wants you, right?” Danny asked.
“Should I be worried?” Steve asked.
Danny slipped an arm around him. “Only when she uses you to take over the world.”
NCIS: LA An Unlikely Family verse
“Uncle GG! Uncle Sam!” Lara Blye wiggled out of her father’s arms and dashed across the open floor towards her uncles.
She made it to Callen first and he pushed his chair back, allowing her to scramble into his lap, looking her over. “And who are you supposed to be, Princess?” he asked as she threw her arms around his neck. He grinned up at Deeks. “Nice outfit, Deeks.”
Unselfconsciously, Deeks straightened the sword belted at his waist. “Hey. I’m a pirate.”
“I’m Buttercup!” Lara informed Callen. “And Daddy’s the Dread Pirate Roberts. From the Princess Bride. Don’t you know anything?”
“Yeah, Callen, don’t you know anything?” Sam said from his desk. “Come mere, Lara. I might have something I hid from your mommy if you remember the right words.”
Lara wiggled until Callen let her down and then skipped over to Sam, stopping in front of him and saying, “Abracadabra?” When he just looked at her, she grinned in response. “Please?” she asked, opening her brown eyes wide at him. When Sam still didn’t budge, she frowned at him. Finally she sighed and said, “Okay. Trick or treat.”
“That’s my girl.” Sam reached into his desk and pulled out a chocolate bar, handing it over.
Lara squealed with glee and accepted it, running back to Deeks with her prize. “Turn right back around and go use your manners,” he informed her when she showed him what she had.
Immediately Lara looked abashed and ran back to Sam. “Thank you, Uncle Sam,” she told him, trying to reach up and hug him. The former SEAL gathered the little girl into his arms and hugged her gently before setting her back down.
“And what is going on here?” Kensi asked as she re-entered the bullpen to find her daughter charming her team.
“Look what Uncle Sam gave me, Mommy,” Lara said, holding out the chocolate bar.
Kensi crouched down in front of her little girl, examining her prize with all of the honor it required. “That’s your favorite,” she said. “That was really nice of Uncle Sam. Did you tell him thank you?”
Lara nodded before looking sheepish. “After Daddy reminded me.”
“Well, it happens.” She winked at Lara. “I’ll tell you a secret. Even Daddy has to be reminded sometimes.”
“Hey!” Deeks yelped. “Don’t tell her that. You’re supposed to be a good influence!”
Kensi winced as the baby kicked her in the ribs, obviously a counter-point to its father’s protest, and she tried to straighten up. Deeks was instantly there, hauling her to her full height and letting her lean against him without protest. He settled a hand against her stomach, rubbing gently until the baby settled down again. “Thanks, Deeks,” she told him.
“So are you planning to go trick or treating tonight?” Sam asked as Lara’s hand joined her father’s.
Lara nodded enthusiastically. “Daddy’s gonna take me. Mommy and Baby are gonna stay home.”
“Better make sure she doesn’t eat all the candy before it gets handed out,” Callen teased.
“This baby doesn’t have nearly the sweet tooth Lara did. Must be Deeks’s influence,” Kensi answered. Turning to her daughter, she said, “Eric and Nell have a surprise for you up in Ops. Why don’t you go up and get it and then we’ll head out?”
“Okay.” Lara hugged Sam and Callen one last time before quickly scurrying up the stairs towards Ops. Maybe most children wouldn’t be allowed free rein in a base like this, but Lara seemed to instinctively know she couldn’t speak about what she saw here and had been allowed to run unchecked from day one. Kensi wouldn’t have it any other way and there was no one else she would trust with her daughter. From upstairs she heard the sound of childish laughter as the two techs revealed whatever surprise they’d cooked up and she smiled. This was the best family she could have asked for.
Sanctuary Pack Life verse
“Wolf!” Bella declared happily before wiggling out of her father’s grasp.
“Yes, good…” Henry sighed as his daughter shifted into a wolf cub. “Not exactly what I mean, Bella.” He held up the costume he’d been trying to convince her to put on. “You’re supposed to wear a costume at Halloween, not turn into another animal.”
Bella shifted back into a little girl and grabbed her feet, grinning at Henry. “Wolf! Like Daddy!”
“Yeah, in a way.” He held out the costume again. “Will you put this on?”
“No!” She glared at him and shifted back into the wolf form, twisting into a ball.
“Bella, this does not work,” Henry informed her as he stared at the ball of fluff that used to be his daughter. He looked over at his mate who had been studiously ignoring the antics. “Cee, talk to your daughter, please?”
“You’re the one who wanted her to have a ‘normal’ childhood,” Cee replied, not looking up from the sketchbook she was drawing in. “Besides, you know very well that she’s Daddy’s little girl.”
Scooping up the cub (and growling softly at her when she bared her teeth at him), Henry carried her over to the bed where Cee lounged. Setting her down next to her mother, he curled up around the two of them. “Hey,” he said softly. “Are you upset that I want her to have some things normal kids have? I know my childhood was more Addams’ Family than Leave It to Beaver and we both know yours wasn’t anywhere near considered sane, but there are some things we can give Bella.” He stroked a hand down Cee’s hair, smiling as she leaned into the touch. “Yeah, her playmates are abnormals and her godfather is considered a lunatic, but she can go trick or treating. If it bothers you though…”
She rested her head against his shoulder, smiling as Bella ran in circles around the bed. “No. But maybe you should wait until next year.”
Laughing, lunging forward to catch Bella before she fell off the bed, he agreed, “Yeah, okay. Maybe it’ll make more sense to her then.”
“And maybe not an animal,” Cee suggested. “It might be less confusing to her.”
“Oh so that’s what’s confusing her?” Henry asked.
“Maybe just a little,” Cee said as she accepted her daughter and began attempting to coax her into human form.
Sitting back down next to them, Henry began to offer suggestions of what to attempt as a costume next year. Soon Cee was laughing and offering more ridiculous suggestions. It looked like they might actually come up with a workable plan before Halloween rolled around again.
Hawaii Five-0 Shifter verse
“Steve?” Danny called as he entered the beachside house after dropping Grace back at Rachel and Stan’s. “Where are you, babe?” When there was no answer, he shut and locked the door behind him, glancing at the alarm pad. “Hey, Steve?”
He’d grown used to Steve appearing out of the shadows or just slipping up behind him, but the man was normally in human form so when one hundred plus pounds of tiger bumped into the back of Danny’s legs, he almost stumbled in shock. He twisted around to look at the tiger. “Really?” he asked. “This is your response to me saying it might be fun to dress up for the trick or treaters? I don’t think so. You’re going to scare the crap out of them!” When Steve just stared at him before nudging his hand in an attempt to get Danny to pet him, he continued, “No. I don’t think so.”
Steve huffed an annoyed sigh and paced towards the door, staring at it for a minute before clearly deciding Danny wasn’t going to open it for him. Turning, he moved towards the back door. In a maneuver he’d clearly been practicing, he pushed the handle on the door down and slipped outside. “Well, shit,” Danny said when he spied the result. By the time Danny made it out the door himself, Steve had leaped over the retaining wall and taken off. Pulling his phone off his belt, he dialed the person most likely to help him.
“Happy Halloween, bruddah. Did you have fun with Grace?” Chin asked when he answered the phone.
“Yeah a blast. Listen. I got home and Steve was a tiger. Not that I’m freaking out or anything because ya know he does that, but any particular reason he might do it tonight?” Danny replied.
“Well, I’d say it has something to do with you leaving him behind while you went out with Grace,” Chin suggested.
“I invited him!” Danny protested. “He said he didn’t want to go!”
“Don’t know what to tell you, but I’d suggest you look there first.” There was a click as the other man hung up the phone.
“Because that was so helpful,” Danny grumbled. Quickly locking the doors, he made his way out to the Camaro and headed for Rachel and Stan’s. He was halfway there when his phone went off, the ringtone identifying the last person he wanted to hear from. “Rach,” he answered, “It’s not really the best time.”
“Daniel. There is a…tiger. Outside. I think it’s trying to get to Grace!”
“Okay, listen to me. I know this is going to sound a bit nuts. But he is not going to hurt Grace.”
“A bit nuts?!” she screeched.
“Rachel, just…never mind. I’ll be there in like five minutes.” Tossing the phone onto the seat, he hit the lights and siren, figuring it was better just to get there. He wasn’t at all surprised to find the gate open when he arrived at the house and he pulled right up, leaving the car running as he ran up the steps. Rachel threw the door open as he reached it. “He’s up on the balcony! Right outside her bedroom!” she cried.
“Okay. It’s fine, Rachel.” Danny tried to step around her, but she almost pitched herself into his arms. “Rachel, I need you to stay down here and trust me when I say I’ll take care of this. You know I won’t let Grace get hurt.”
“Daniel, there’s a bloody tiger! Outside my daughter’s room!”
Ignoring her, Danny pulled away and took the stairs two at a time towards Grace’s room. He knew Steve wouldn’t hurt her, but he had no idea what he would find.
Opening the bedroom door, he found Grace lying on the floor; Steve curled around her as she examined her haul from trick or treating. He crossed his arms and leaned against the jam, observing them for a moment before speaking, “Why am I not surprised you let him in?”
“Danno!” Grace popped up. “Kika just wanted to check on me!”
“You realize you scared the…” Danny swallowed the words he would have said and ended with, “out of Rachel, right?” When Steve just regarded him balefully from his spot behind Grace, he replied, “I’m just saying. It wasn’t your most intelligent move. Now. Out the window and back home since you know she’s fine. And you, Monkey, into bed.”
Clearly satisfied now that he’d seen Grace, Steve got to his feet and nudged her. She got up willingly, hugging him, before crossing over and hugging Danny. “Shoo. I’ll see you at home, crazy man.” He shooed Steve out the window before turning to tuck Grace into bed and leaning over to kiss her good-night. Pausing at the door, he took one last look at his already sleeping daughter before going outside to head home.
Avengers Avengers' Assistants verse
“What I would like to know,” Fury said, in a deceptively calm voice. “Is whose bright idea it was to take Thor trick or treating?” He stared at the group arrayed in front of him. The SHIELD agents, all of them Avenger Assistants, at least had the good sense to look abashed, but the Avengers themselves looked rather amused.
“In our defense, it’s not like we took him out unattended,” Jane started.
“There is no defense for this clusterfuck,” Fury growled. He turned to the Assistants, who straightened up even more. “When I told you one of your assignments was to help them assimilate, I didn’t mean by scaring the populous!”
“Sir,” Olivia Donner, Bruce’s Assistant, spoke up, “I’m not sure we scared the populous so much as…”
“Agent Donner, are you telling me that a six foot five Norse god acting like a three year old didn’t scare the populous?” Fury thundered. “I want to see reports and damage control suggestions on my desk by oh-six hundred, is that clear?” He glared at the Assistants who nodded rapidly in response. “And, Doctor Foster, I’ll have the assignment for Thor’s Assistant to you tomorrow morning. Clearly you need some guidance. Dismissed!”
The three Assistants who had been involved paused outside the door, smiling reassuringly at Jane and Darcy, after waving the Avengers on. “That could have gone a lot worse,” Tessa Monroe, Clint’s Assistant, assured them.
“Yeah,” Jack Douglas, Steve’s Assistant, drawled from where he was leaning against the wall, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “They could have turned Thor into a kid, instead of just making him act like one. Although that tantrum was worse than some of the ones my sister’s kids throw.”
“I’m just glad Colonel Fury didn’t realize it was Darcy’s idea,” Jane started.
“Hey, I would have taken the heat,” Darcy protested. “It was a good idea. We had fun until that thug tried to hurt Thor!”
“Don’t worry about it, Darcy,” Tessa assured her. “Part of our job is ‘taking the heat’.”
Jack pushed himself away from the wall. “And I for one don’t mind it this time. That was the most fun I’ve had on Halloween in years. I’m going to go check on Thor and then start my report.” He waved over his shoulder as he started off down the hall.
Jane turned to the two women that were left. “Was the colonel serious about assigning an Assistant?”
Olivia motioned for them to start walking. “Yes. But I wouldn’t worry. He hasn’t chosen wrong yet with the assignments.”
Tessa grinned. “You mean Coulson hasn’t chosen wrong. We all know that’s who’s making the decisions. Fury just approves them.”
“Tess! You aren’t supposed to tell the civvies those things!” Olivia scolded.
When Jane looked worried, Tessa reassured her, “Livvie’s just teasing.” She dodged the swat the other woman aimed at her. “Come on. Let’s see if the medics have figured out how long the serum’s going to affect Thor and when they’re going to release him.”
Haven The Continuing Saga of the Wuornos Clan verse
"I don't see why I have to take them," Lucy Wuornos protested.
Audrey looked at her oldest daughter. "Because your father and I both have to work. And there's no reason you can't do it."
"But Mo-om," Lucy whined. "It's not fa-air!"
"Life isn't fair, young lady. You're going to take your brother and sisters trick or treating. And that's final."
Lucy glared. "I swear you're ruining my life!"
"Absolutely," Audrey agreed as her oldest daughter stamped out of the room. She turned as she heard footsteps behind her. "Sure you want this last one?" she asked her husband as he slipped his arm around her shoulders.
Nathan rested his other hand on the swell of her stomach. "Just look at it this way, by the time this one's a teenager, we'll either be perfect at this or completely ruined the other three and not care."
"Nathan? Really not helping."
He tipped her chin up, kissing her lightly. "Audrey, you are a fabulous mom. And an even better cop." Kissing her again, he added, "Shall we head down to the station and see what Haven is going to throw at us this Halloween?"
"Yeah," she answered. "I could use a bit of normal after that argument with Lucy."
"Should I be worried that's what you consider normal?" Nathan asked as he followed her out the door.
