Chapter Text
It had been a long shift full of crazy calls, nothing tragic, nothing heartbreaking just… bizarre. Which Buck could only blame on the full moon managing to fall over Halloween weekend. It seemed like every adult in LA had lost their minds, and like something out of Freaky Friday, the kids were the ones frustrated and fed up with their parents over the top and more often than not downright ridiculous behavior.
Like when they'd had to respond to a seemingly normal neighborhood because a woman named Deborah had been driving around the neighborhood stealing her neighbors Halloween decorations and trying to anoint people's homes and property with essential oils. She'd somehow lost control of her vehicle and crashed into her own garage. The 118 had been called to extract the woman from her car which was trapped under the destroyed garage. When they'd finally extricated Debora from her SUV, turning her over to Officer Martin she'd been screaming about how he should be arresting her neighbors for spiritual warfare the red headed officer had looked visibly exasperated as he cuffed the screaming blonde woman.
“Ma'am, last time I checked, spiritual warfare does not violate any laws. But property theft does. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.” Officer Martin continued to read her, her rights as the 118 packed up to leave while also doing their best to let kids of the neighborhood ask them questions, and Hen gave her full attention to a precocious little girl with dark skin and tight black curls dressed in her Halloween costume.
“I look just like you!” The little girl exclaimed proudly showing Hen her adorable, and accurate, black and yellow firefighter costume and cuddling a stuffed Dalmatian. Hen of course melted, shifting seamlessly from Captain Wilson to Mama Hen.
“Almost, but I have something that will make us twins.” Hen promised before going into the engine where she kept different firefighter themed stickers to give to small children who were scared, or curious, or just excited to meet real life firefighters. Hen gave the little girl a large sticker of a Captain's badge, handing it to the girl. “Now we look exactly alike.” Hen said smiling, helping the little girl attach the sticker to her costume. They hung back a little while longer than they probably should have so that the little girl, whose name they learned is Willow, could get her picture taken with Hen.
Hen of course went the extra mile, letting Willow wear her Captain's helmet while Hen wore Willow's bright red plastic helmet as Willow's parents took pictures of the pair together telling the rest of the team how Willow wants to be a firefighter when she grows up.
That had been the best part of the 118's day.
But now he was walking in the front door of the house and was treated to three sets of tiny feet running towards him.
“Daddy!” All three girls yelled with Caly leading the charge. The girls were all dressed in their matching Halloween pajamas that were bright orange and patterned with witch hats. Caly wrapped her entire body around his good leg sitting on his foot while he lifted Andi and Daphne into his arms.
“Happy Halloween Daddy!” Caly exclaimed As he staggered towards the kitchen where he could smell Tommy making breakfast.
“No! It's our Birthday!” Daphne yelled at Caly, but was really more in Buck's ear making him wince.
“Yes, Happy birthday Daphne and Andi.” Buck said before yawning so loudly his jaw cracked making the twins giggle, laughing at him.
“Your birthday is Halloween.” Caly snapped at Daphne as he finally made it into the kitchen.
“Your coffee is on the counter, I added a couple shots of espresso for you.” His husband said with a wink while frying bacon, scrambling eggs, and making funfetti pancakes.
“You are an angel.” Buck said, debating the best way to set the twins down without angering the birthday girls so he could drink the coffee Tommy had made for him, when Andi shoved the board book she'd been clutching into his face.
“Nevermore please, Daddy!” She requested loudly with big brown doe eyes that remind him so much of Maddie's.
“Noooooo!” Caly yelled dramatically. “Papa read it a million times already this morning.” Caly exaggerated while Tommy held up his hand indicating it had in fact only been five times.
“Please Daddy!” The twins whined in unison.
“It's their favorite book.” Buck said diplomatically. “Let me get my coffee and we will read it in the big chair in the living room.” He promised his three year olds, setting them on the floor watching as they took off for the living room shaking his head fondly.
“Bobby is coming Trick-Or-Treating with us this year.” Tommy informed him casually, flipping a pancake with such competence and ease he momentarily thought about throwing away their plans to wait a couple more years along with their condoms, “I guess Auntie Nikki, Athena, and May are dressing up as the Sanderson sisters together to hand out candy for us this year.”
“Gram, Grandma, and Auntie May are coming?” Caly asked releasing Buck's leg to climb up on her stool next to Tommy, who was nodding. “Best Halloween ever!” She exclaimed.
“Daddy!” Exasperated twin voices yelled from the next room over making him laugh picking up his cup of coffee saluting his husband with it.
“I am being summoned.” Tommy nodded smiling as Buck walked past him and they exchanged a brief welcome home kiss.
“You had better go before they lead the Siege of Kinard Castle.” Tommy said straight faced but with a twinkle in his eye that means he is teasing.
In the living room, Buck settles into the oversized plush armchair between his twin daughters. He sets his large cup of coffee and espresso on the end table next to the chair and accepts the battered and well loved board book from Andi, opening it to the first page.
“The poet was so sad. He had lost his Love Lenore.” And from that first sentence both girls were entranced, “While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, as of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. And then a raven came to tell him… Nevermore.”