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Carlos never particularly liked Halloween. They never really celebrated it growing up, except for when they dressed up in school for it. Trick-or Treating around their family ranch wasn’t exactly doable, so they never did. Their parents would buy them some candy to enjoy for the night and that was it. As Carlos got older, he really never saw the appeal of it.
Carlos was always the one who agreed to work on Halloween. A lot of his coworkers had kids who they wanted to take around their neighborhood, so Carlos didn’t mind working the day so someone else could have that experience with their family. He never understood how much someone could love the holiday until he met TK.
TK lived for Halloween. It was his favorite day of the year. And Captain Strand was the same. When October 1st came around, the firehouse was decked out in decorations, and they had organized a whole shift the night of Halloween to hand out candy to kids. The first year they were together TK had asked him what they should be, and Carlos was not expecting it.
“So I’m working the day shift for Halloween this year, and then I volunteered to hand out candy from 6-8. I asked my dad if you could join. He has no problem with it. What should we go as?” TK asked as they cleaned up dinner one night.
“I work halloween.” Carlos said.
“All day?” TK frowned.
“I normally do a double. Lots of officers want the day or night off to take their kids trick or treating and since I don’t celebrate the holiday, I always volunteer to work the whole day.” He explained.
“Wait, you don’t celebrate Halloween?” TK asked, shocked.
“Nope. Wasn’t a thing growing up.” Carlos said as he put the plates in the sink.
“You mean, you’ve never gone trick or treating?” TK asked. “You’ve never dressed up?”
“I dressed up in school. When we would have costume day around the 31st, but other than that, no.” Carlos said. “I didn’t enjoy it. I’m pretty sure I was a cowboy for three years in a row because I already had all the stuff and it still fit.”
“What?” TK said so shocked.
“I’m guessing you love Halloween.” Carlos said.
“It’s my favorite holiday.” TK admitted.
“That doesn’t surprise me at all.” Carlos smiled.
“So you won’t be able to hand out candy with me?” TK asked.
“Afraid not, but I can stop by to see you.” Carlos offered.
“I’d like that.” TK smiled. Then his face fell.
“What?” Carlos asked.
“Please tell me you at least give out candy.” TK said and Carlos laughs.
“I always sit two bowls out on my step.” Carlos said. “They’re always gone by the time I get home.” He reassured him.
“Good.” TK said and Carlos laughs. “I can’t believe you don’t celebrate Halloween. I thought everyone did.” He said after a moment still shocked
“My family celebrates Dia de los Muertos.” Carlos said. “It’s the 1st and 2nd of November.” He explains.
“Oh.” TK said.
“What’s wrong?” Carlos asked curiously.
“I didn’t even think about that.” TK admitted.
“Don’t worry about it. Why would you think about a Mexican holiday anyway?” Carlos said.
“Uh, cause you’re my boyfriend and I want to celebrate everything that’s important to you.” TK said.
“Is that so?” Carlos smiled.
“Of course.” TK said.
“You could come.” Carlos offered.
“To the celebration of your dead relatives?” TK asked and Carlos laughed.
“My abuela made sure everyone in the family knew how important it was to celebrate those before us.” Carlos said. “It was a whole thing when I was a kid, but after she passed, it became something we celebrated because of her. It’s not very traditional anymore, but it’s nice to see everyone.” He explained. “You don’t have to come, but you’re always welcome.”
“I’ll see if I have off.” TK said. “I’d love to come.”
“I’ll let mami know. She’ll probably make it a whole thing for you to get the whole experience. But it can be fun.” Carlos explains.
Needless to say, Halloween still wasn’t Carlos’ favored day, but he did enjoy seeing the little kids walking around in their cute costumes. It was the teenagers causing trouble and the adult house parties that he could live without. It’s not even Halloween yet, and they are headed out to their 4th noise complaint of the night.
“I really hate Halloween.” Carlos said as he pulled into the neighborhood.
“Oh come on Reyes it’s fun!” Mitchel smiled.
“You find adults who can’t hold their liquor dressed as bunny rabbits and vampires fun?” Carlos asked.
“Hell yea! Chris and I are going as Jack and the Beanstalk this year.” She said.
“How original.” Carlos deadpanned.
“It is! Cause he’s super tall and I’m short.” Mitchel explained.
“Yea, I got that.” Carlos said.
“You’re a buzzkill. Which is surprising since your boyfriend is all about Halloween.” Mitchel said.
“I know. The decorations keep getting worse each year.” Carlos smiled. He really didn’t mind all the decorations at the house, especially because they make TK so happy.
“When you two have kids, will you finally take a Halloween off?” Mitchel asked, and Carlos stopped the car and looked at her.
“Maybe.” He said and Mitchel laughed.
“You won’t be able to resist TK when he asks you to do a family costume.” Mitchel smiles. Carlos shakes his head and gets out but knows she’s right. Carlos would do anything to make TK happy, even dress up for Halloween.
They made their way up to the front door and Carlos knocked. After a few moments, he knocked again. There was still no answer. He wasn’t surprised, the music was loud. He pounded his fist on the door even louder this time.
“Austin PD, open up!!” He called out. They heard the music lower before the door opened and there stood a girl who couldn’t be older than 18.
“Hello officer.” She batted her eyelashes at Carlos. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
“Evening ma’am, is this your house?” Carlos asked.
“My parents' house. They’re out of town for the weekend.” She said.
“And you’re here, alone?” Mitchel asks.
“No. My siblings are here, and some friends.” She admits.
“And the music is so loud because?” Carlos asks.
“We’re just having a little fun, officer.” She smiled. “It’s been a long school week and we’re just happy it’s the weekend.” She explained. Carlos wanted nothing more than to go in there and fine them for underaged drinking but there was no alcohol visible and she didn’t smell like it.
“A noise complaint came in for this address. Keep the music down please. If we get called out here again, it’ll be a fine.” Mitchel told her.
“No problem officer.” She said to Carlos before closing the door on them.
“I wish we had probable cause to search the house. How much you wanna bet there is a keg in there with wasted teenagers?” Mitchel said as they made it back into the cruiser.
“I’d bet you coffee for a week.” Carlos said and Mitchel laughed. “Mind if we stop by the fire house for a minute? I promised TK I’d go see him, I just didn’t expect tonight to be so busy.” He asked.
“Sure thing partner.” Mitchel said, happy to visit the 126.
They made their way to the 126, and Carlos couldn’t wait to see TK. He was working a 24 hour shift and Carlos wasn’t off until 11 tonight so he wouldn’t see TK until tomorrow night. Any opportunity to see him for a second Carlos would take. They pulled up to the station and were happy to see all the trucks and the ambulance in the bay.
“Happy Halloween!” Mateo called out when he spotted them.
“Not Halloween yet probie.” Paul said.
“We only have like 2 hours left!” Mateo said.
“Hey guys, how’s it going?” Paul asked the two officers.
“Fine. Getting back from our 4th noise complaint of the night.” Mitchel said.
“Mischief night is the worst part of halloween.” Paul said.
“Yea. We’ve already had 3 cars get egged, and two houses get covered in toilet paper.” Carlos said. “I’m happy to be done in a few hours.”
“We got called to a scene because the neighbor thought a decoration was someone caught in a guillotine.” Paul admitted.
“No shit?” Mitchel said.
“Yea, it was insane. The cops were all over it, until they saw that it was fake. They told the poor people they had to take it down cause it was causing their neighbors too much distress.” Paul said. “TK is up in the bunk room. Had a bit of a headache, was trying to get some sleep before the bell went off again.” Paul told Carlos.
“Thanks man.” Carlos said before heading up there. He saw TK curled up on his bed, trying to block as much light as possible. Carlos was as quiet as possible when he sat on the edge near TK’s head. “Hey baby.” Carlos whispered.
“Carlos?” TK questioned.
“Unless someone else calls you baby, it’s me.” Carlos smiled. TK pulled the blanket down from his head.
“Hi.” TK smiled.
“Hey, Paul said you had a bit of a headache.” Carlos said.
“Yea. The last medical call was at a house party and the music was so loud and it reeked of weed.” TK said. “My head had been bothering me before but that sent me over the edge.” He explained.
“You take anything?” Carlos asked.
“Tommy had me take some Tylenol. Told me to rest before our next call and we’d go from there.” TK said.
“Okay, good. I’ll head out then. I just wanted to see you.” Carlos said.
“Stay for a few minutes?” TK asked.
“Of course babe.” Carlos smiled.
“How has your night been?” TK asked.
“Very annoying. So many noise complaints and teenagers egging cars and teepeeing peoples houses.” Carlos said.
“I’m sorry babe.” TK said.
“I’m off in a few hours. Just hope it settles down.” Carlos said.
“Mischief night is always worse than Halloween. Kids think it’s the night they can do anything and get away with it.” TK said.
“Tell that to the kids currently sitting at the station getting processed.” Carlos said and TK smiled.
“You coming to hand out candy with me tomorrow night?” TK asked.
“I get off at 8, so I’ll be swinging by after.” Carlos smiled. Handing out candy at the firehouse was actually something Carlos enjoyed doing. So he tried to get off work at a normal time to participate ever since he found out how much TK loved Halloween.
“You’re the best.” TK smiled. “And we’re going to your parents for lunch the next day, right?” He asked.
“Yes. Mami is making this the biggest day of the dead in a long time.” Carlos said and TK smiled.
“Tia Lucy was a very important woman. She deserves to have the celebration.” TK said and Carlos smiled sadly. She had passed a few months ago, old age had just caught up to her. It was one of the hardest losses Carlos has ever experienced.
“That she was.” Carlos agreed. They were quiet for a few moments.
“I guess you have to get back soon.” TK said.
“I do.” Carlos said. “Mitchel and I are just patrolling the area. Hoping that if kids see police cars they won’t do dumb things.” He said and TK laughed.
“Be safe out there.” TK said and Carlos leaned down and gave him a kiss.
“Always. You stay safe as well.” Carlos told TK. People are crazy every day of the year, but they really take it up a notch on Halloween, and he wants his boyfriend to be as careful as possible.
“You know I always try my best.” TK said and Carlos smiled. “Love you babe.”
“Love you too.” Carlos said. With one final kiss on the forehead, he headed back downstairs to Mitchel.
“You ready lover boy?” Mitchel asked.
“Yea. Let’s go. See you all tomorrow night.” Carlos said to the crew. They all waved and then they were back in the cruiser headed back out to patrol. He might hate Halloween but he was slowly getting used to it thanks to TK, and who knows maybe one day far in the future, when he does have his own kid, he might actually participate in the madness and dress up, but that was still a long way away from now.
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Five years later, as Carlos stood at the bottom of yet another driveway, dressed in his police jacket and matching APD hat, with his handcuffs hanging from his belt loop,and his badge clipped to his waist, he couldn’t get the smile off his face.
When Cameron came home from daycare at the beginning of October with the Halloween flyer in his little backpack reminding parents of their classroom costume party, he was so excited he picked out a number of costumes that he wanted to be. Naturally TK made sure they were all options so that he could be whatever he chose when the party rolled around. When TK told Cameron that he didn’t have to be the same thing for Halloween, Cameron all but jumped at the opportunity to be a shark for his costume party. Carlos might be biased, but he was the cutest shark you ever saw.
When Halloween night got close, TK asked Cameron what he wanted to be, and Cameron looked him dead in the eyes and said ‘I want to be a cop, like Papi. Duh daddy’. And TK couldn’t help but laugh. So they got him a plain black jacket, and hat, added the APD logo onto it, gave him fake handcuffs, and a fake badge, and he was the mini version of Carlos. It was enough to make TK’s heart melt, and for Carlos to agree to dress as anything Cameron ever wanted for the rest of their Halloween together.
Their last stop was the precinct, because he had to show Mitchel, and his Sargent. Cameron came walking into the station like he owned the place, and handcuffed Mitchel to her desk when she only gave him 1 piece of candy. Needless to say, the whole bullpen was laughing, and agreed to have Cameron arrest any bad guy they get. Cameron and TK went to get some candy from his Sargent, but Carlos stayed back.
“I told you that once you had a kid you’d be into the whole Halloween thing.” Mitchel teased.
“I wouldn’t say I’m into it.” Carlos admitted. “If he wanted me to dress up as a giant dinosaur I would be a little apprehensive, but when he said he wanted to be a cop, I was shocked. Then TK came home with his little outfit, and when he tried it on and got so happy he looked like me, I knew there was nowhere else I wanted to be than trick or treating with him.” He explained.
“Kids have a way of surprising us in the best way possible.” Mitchel smiled at her partner. “I still can’t believe the 126 was cool with him picking a police officer over a firefighter.” She laughed.
“Owen was beside himself when TK told him.” Carlos laughed. “But Cameron said he’ll be a firefighter next year. Who knows. Cameron changes his mind daily about what snacks he wants, I think picking out his Halloween costume a year in advance is a little unbelievable.” He said with a smile.
“Papi! Your boss gave me a big candy bar!” Cameron cheered as he ran over and showed him his giant Twix bar.
“Thank you so much Sargent.” Carlos said sarcastically and he just laughed.
“Had to give my favorite APD officer a good treat.” His Sargent said. “Especially for getting this criminal off the street.” He pointed to TK, who was sporting a jailhouse outfit. Cameron insisted he be a bad guy, TK was so happy to oblige.
“So when he’s not sleeping tonight, I give you a call, correct?” Carlos teased and his Sargent laughed.
“My phone will be on silent and I will not pick up.” His Sargent smiled before heading back to his office.
“Alright officer, shall we go home?” Carlos asked Cameron.
“Can we eat two pieces of candy before bed?” Cameron negotiated.
“How about 1 piece, and you can have the other after breakfast tomorrow?” TK negotiated back.
“Okay.” Cameron agreed pretty easily. “Are we going to see Abuela tomorrow? For the dead day?” He asked and Carlos laughed.
“We are.” Carlos explained. “And it’s Dia de los Muertos mijo.” He reminded him.
“Dia de los mertos.” Cameron copied, and Carlos smiled.
“Close enough.” Carlos encouraged. When he was placed in their care almost 1 ago, and he heard Carlos speaking Spanish with his mom, he had insisted he wanted to learn too. Since it was something he had never heard before, he was still trying to figure it out, but he was doing so well, and couldn’t wait for him to be speaking away in Spanish all the time. TK was learning as well, so Spanish lessons happened often in their household. They got him strapped into the car and headed home.
“Thank you for coming with us tonight babe. I know it’s not your favorite holiday, but Cameron had so much fun.” TK smiled
“There isn’t anywhere else I would rather be tonight.” Carlos said honestly. “I kind of get it now. Why so many of my colleagues wanted off for Halloween.” He admitted. “Seeing his face light up when he got candy was enough to make all the nonsense I’ve had to deal with in the past worth it.”
“So we can start thinking about family costumes for next year?” TK asked hopeful and Carlos laughed.
“Let’s get through the rest of the holidays this year, and we can get back to this next year.” Carlos said and TK laughed.
“Deal, but next year, we have to make it good. Judd and Grace challenged us to a costume off, and they can’t beat us babe. They just can’t.” TK whined and Carlos smiled.
“What did they go as again this year?” Carlos asked.
“Grace was Bo-Peep, Judd was Woody, and the girls were sheep. It was honestly so stinking cute, I couldn't believe it.” TK said.
“That does sound pretty cute.” Carlos agreed.
“So next year, we have to bring our A game.” TK said and Carlos just smiled.
“We can do whatever you want next year babe.” Carlos said honestly. “We will win against the Ryders, no doubt in my mind.” He said and TK cheered. Yea, maybe Halloween wasn’t as bad as Carlos thought at all.