Work Text:
“Emily! We got so much candy!” Jack announced as Aaron opened the door. Emily smiled at the sight of Jack running into the apartment, his candy bag in hand and the cape on his Batman costume flapping behind him. Unlike last year, when he had dressed up as Aaron, this year Batman was his favourite superhero.
“That’s amazing!” Emily beamed from her position on the sofa. Her broken ankle had prevented her from joining Jack and Aaron tonight but she was pleased to see that he had achieved such a good haul. “Did you go to every apartment?”
“Yeah and to Aunt Jess’s street, there were so many costumes!” Jack explained excitedly. “I saw lots of vampires and zombies and princesses and lots of superheroes like me.”
“That sounds like so much fun,” Emily smiled. “I’m sorry I couldn’t join you. I didn’t want to slow you down.”
“It’s OK,” Jack reassured. Although he would have been OK with Emily joining them, even if she had been slow on her crutches, he knew he would have gotten less candy than he had. But that just meant there was even more to share. “Daddy, can we have our candy now?”
“Only a few pieces, it’s almost bedtime.” Aaron replied. He knew that between them, Jack and Emily would gorge on the entire haul of candy but he had to at least try and advise them not to do so. “Although the peanut butter cups are mine.”
“That’s what you think!” Emily said as she reached out and snatched them from the top of the bag. “You can fight me for them.”
Aaron huffed in amusement before he reached into the bag and pulled out a fun size Twizzlers, knowing that Jack hated any form of liquorice candy. Jack picked out a twix bar and eagerly unwrapped it. For a few minutes, they sat quietly eating their candy. They could hear the distance sounds of fireworks from displays and private residences and Emily had had the TV turned to the marathon of The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes that had been playing all evening. Jack and Emily sorted the pile of candy, taking their preferences first and debating and exchanging their favourites and leaving the candy corn and liquorice for Aaron. Aaron let them do so, he didn’t eat much candy anyway but he was slightly disappointed that he didn’t get one decent piece of candy while Jack took the lollipops and fruit flavoured candies like Skittles whereas Emily called dibs on the sour sugar candies and chocolate treats.
“Two packets of Skittles and red strawberry laces for the big, round lollipop.” Emily offered as Jack looked at the rainbow patterned swirly lollipop in his hand.
“Two packets of Skittles, the strawberry laces and all the M&Ms,” Jack retorted. He had gotten crispy and chocolate M&Ms but he knew along with the Reeses Pieces and Oreos, they were Emily’s favourites.
“Deal,” Emily conceded as she handed over the candies, including her M&Ms in exchange for the lollipop. Jack eagerly tore open a packet of crispy M&Ms as Aaron laughed softly at Emily’s determination to get the lollipop and the fact that she promptly opened it and began licking it to ensure Jack wouldn’t get it back.
By the time Jack started yawning and his eyes started drooping, they were only a quarter of the way through his Halloween haul, the TV was showing Treehouse of Horror IX and Emily rubbed a hand on his back as he snuggled in close to her. Aaron smiled softly at the two of them and quickly snapped a photo of the two of them.
“I think it’s bedtime,” Aaron said gently as Jack moaned in sleepy protest but allowed Aaron to pick him up. Emily stood up, resting most of her weight on the arm of the sofa as she kissed Jack goodnight and sat back down, mindful of her cast.
“Nuh-night Emily,” Jack yawned as Aaron carried him across the room.
“Goodnight Jack, Happy Halloween,” Emily smiled as she settled back onto the couch. There was still a lot of candy to get through but it was fine. They would share it.