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Carson wasn’t surprised when she saw multiple bags filled with Halloween decorations. The stores had been stocked for weeks now and every time they’d gone to get groceries Greta would ask if they could look up the seasonal isle, picking up every pumpkin spiced candle and plastic skeleton she could find. Carson would usually just roll her eyes and Greta would place the items back down on the shelf.
She silently shook her head waiting for her girlfriend to materialise. The redhead burst through the door carrying a pizza box from their favourite restaurant.
“Hey chickadee, I got carried away with the Halloween stuff I thought I’d pick up dinner” Greta gave her one of her most dazzling smiles as she walked towards the kitchen.
“What’s all this stuff for anyway?” Carson asked carrying the decorations towards Greta.
“I told you me and Joey were talking about throwing a Halloween party”
“Oh” Carson cast her eyes on the floor picking at a stray piece of cotton on her sweater.
“What’s up buttercup?” Greta moved and placed a hand on Carson’s back
“I- I don’t really do Halloween” Carson’s lower lip worried between her teeth.
“Oh I’m sorry baby, I should’ve asked first, I just thought it’d be fun” she started rubbing the shorter woman’s back
“I haven’t really celebrated Halloween since my mom left” Carson trailed off taking a shaky breath. “She would make all of our costumes and take us trick or treating… and when she left all of that just… Stopped” Carson turned her head to face Greta and shrugged “so I’ve just never thought about it much since then. Besides isn’t all this stuff for kids?”
“Joey and I have ran around in bed sheets begging for candy since we were six. It’s my favourite holiday, maybe I can convince you it’s not all bad?” Greta’s hand moved over to Carson’s ass giving it a playful squeeze, wiggling her eyebrows at her girlfriend.
“Hmmmm I dunno” Carson gave the taller woman a cheeky wink
“Why, scared you’ll have too much fun” she gave the pert ass a small smack and moved to grab herself a slice of pizza.
Carson rolled her eyes again and fetched some plates from the cabinet. “Fiiiiiiine, but it better be worth it” she gave Greta a small smile before sinking her teeth into her first slice.
The rest of the week seem to speed past, between Carson running practices and Greta putting in extra hours at the office they’d barely had any time together. Carson was half looking forward to a lazy weekend in bed with her lover. But when their alarm blared and woke them both at 8:30am Carson quickly realised a relaxing start to her Saturday wasn’t on the cards.
“Mmmm… good morning gorgeous” Greta stretched her arms and slung one of them around Carson’s hip pulling her in for a quick kiss.
“Morning. So what’s on the agenda for today seeing you’re wanting to be up early”
“Well, I thought we could go for breakfast and then I have something planned for later this morning” she said pressing a soft kiss to Carson’s shoulder.
“Or we could just stay here, where it’s cozy and you don’t have to wear clothes” Carson rolled over and claimed Greta’s lips with her own while a perfectly manicured hand made its way into her thick curls.
The redhead tugged slightly at the hair allowing her to pull away from the kiss.
“Not so easy Shaw, there’ll be plenty of time for that after my Halloween extravaganza plan” Greta smacked Carson’s ass before sauntering over to their on-suite. “If you’re good I’ll let you jump in the shower with me” Greta’s tongue darted out, baiting her lover.
Carson scrambled off the bed and made a sprint towards the bathroom catching the taller woman by her waist as she turned on the hot water.
“Are you sure we can’t be a little late for breakfast” Carson wined, stepping into the shower.
“Nope you said I had to convince you to like Halloween. So we’re on a tight schedule coach. Now can you get my back”
Carson rolled her eyes once again. Well a joint shower wasn’t the worst way to start the day.
———————————————————————
A stack of pancakes each and buttload of coffee later Greta was driving them to their first destination.
“Am I not even allowed to know what we’re doing today?” Carson hated surprises. She was usually the ones making the plans in their relationship. Carson remembered a time Greta had planned for them to go out for a fancy dinner only to get there and she had reserved the table for the wrong day.
“Don’t worry Car, Halloween is what I do best I’ve got this”
The rest of the car journey was pretty quiet, Carson was still begrudging the early wake up call on her day off.
“Okay we’re here” the redhead said triumphantly as she pulled up beside an old red barn.
“Urrrr is there where you’ve brought me to murder me and hide the body” Carson joked.
“Ha ha very funny. No there’s a pumpkin patch on the other side of the barn you doofus. Now come on before all the good ones go!”
The two women made their way round the side of the barn. Carson didn’t know how she’d not seen the expanse of the farmland on their way in. There seemed to be nothing but rows of pumpkins for a full mile. The front of the barn was decorated with hay-bales and scarecrows and there was a small kiosk to pay. They walked hand in hand, Greta’s eyes lighting up at all the Halloween decorations. Family’s were scattered all around the field with colourful wheelbarrows ladened with big orange pumpkins. Carson spotted a Photo Booth at the other end of the barn where kids were getting their pictures taken all dressed up in their costumes. Even though it made Carson think of her own childhood it brought a warmth to her heart seeing everyone so happy.
“Ooooh can we get a pink wheelbarrow?” Greta’s words brought the brunette back out of her thoughts.
“You can get whatever colour you want beautiful”.
Carson ended up being the one to push the wheelbarrow and pull the pumpkins from the vines. Something about Greta not wanting to ruin her nails was said, but Carson was sure it was just because Greta likes to watch her lift heavy things. The shorter woman tried to show off by trying to lift the biggest pumpkin she could find, but when she went to lift it into the wheelbarrow she lost her footing and landed on her ass in the muddy field.
“Are you okay” Greta barely made out between fits of laughter
“Yeah only my ego that’s bruised” Carson chuckled and lifted her hands for Greta to help her back up.
“I think we have enough baby. We’ve got a pumpkin each to carve and then a few smaller ones for decoration. Plus I don’t want to putting your back out trying to lift that thing again.”
They made their way to the kiosk and paid for their goods before making their way back home.
Greta asked Carson if she would bring the pumpkins in while she set up everything. Carson cocked an eyebrow wondering what the beautiful woman had planned. On her third trip from the car to the house arms full with the smaller pumpkins, Carson spotted their dining room table covered in garbage bags and an array of knives and spoons laid out in the centre.
“Oh this is where you’re planning to kill me.” Carson joked bumping a hip into Greta’s side.
“Well I didn’t want to ruin the table.” Greta winked. “Now sit down so we can carve these bad boys.”
Greta started scrolling through Pinterest immediately to find a design she wanted. Carson just sat there her eyes flicking from the pumpkin to the excitable redhead. Greta felt the eyes boring into her face, she turned to look at Carson taking one of her hands and rubbing her thumb across her knuckles.
“Hey.” She spoke softly
“Hi” Carson’s voice was barely a whisper.
“I appreciate you’re trying for me and that’s all I can ask. You don’t have to make your pumpkin halloweeny if you don’t want to, just carve something you like. I’m gonna carve a cat on a moon.” Greta held up a reference photo on her phone before bringing Carson’s hand to her lips to kiss it.
Carson let out a small sigh. No. She could do this. She could definitely do this for Greta, seeing how much joy the holiday brought to Greta’s face just made her melt so she could definitely take one for the team and carve a stupid pumpkin. Wait that was it. The team!
Carson grabbed the biggest knife on the table and started making the top hole to start emptying the pumpkin.
“Woah slow down their coach. Don’t hurt yourself with that thing, I don’t want to have to drive us to the ER”
Carson gave her a goofy smile before sticking her tongue out to concentrate on making the lid of the pumpkin even.
Soon there were stringy pumpkin guts all over the table and seeds sticking to their clothes and trash bag on the table.
Carson went to wipe her hand on her jeans but stopped knowing she would have to change if she did.
“I hate pumpkin” she muttered.
“Yeah, but it’ll be worth it. Greta retorted.
Greta shifted to grab them some kitchen roll to wipe their hands, when she returned she saw Carson looking triumphantly at her pumpkin.
“Are you finished already?” The taller woman passed her some paper to wipe her hands.
“Yup” she said making the ‘p’ pop as she turned her pumpkin so Greta could see.
Carson had carved a peach. A fucking peach onto her pumpkin. Of course she would. Greta beamed at her lover.
“I love it! Very you Shaw.”
Carson blushed and moved to look at Greta’s pumpkin.
“Uh-uh, you have to wait till it’s finished! You can start clearing the pumpkin goo away I’ll be done in a sec.”
Carson huffed, grabbing one of trash bags from the table and scooped the leftover pumpkin into it, making multiple disgusted faces every time the wet goo touched her fingers. Once most of the table was cleared minus the last knife greta was using she plopped down in her chair.
“Can I see it yet?” She said craning her neck to get a better view of Greta’s pumpkin.
“Sure go get me two tea lights from the cupboard and the matches”
“But. I - I thought you were gunna show me your pumpkin”
“And I will once it’s lit now shoo”
Carson retrieved what Greta had asked for while Greta cleared the rest of the table to showcase their creations. Once the candles were lit and placed in the pumpkins Greta turned off the lights and drew the blinds.
“Right now you can look”
The orange glow from the pumpkins was the only light in the room, Carson proudly saw the peach she had carved into her pumpkin. Not bad for a rookie really she thought. Her eyes then cast over to Greta’s pumpkin and she audibly gasped when she saw what Greta had done. Greta had carved a whole scene of a cat sat on a crescent moon surrounded by little stars it was better than the reference photo she’d shown her.
“Well… what do you think”
“How did you even do that? It’s so good! I feel bad about my peach now”
“Don’t be silly I love your peach” Greta said smacking her ass once again. “But I do need to change I’ll just be a minute”
The redhead bounded up the stairs almost taking two at a time. Carson settled down on the couch, flicking through instagram. 15 minutes passed by and there was no sign of Greta.
“Are you okay?” Carson shouted up the stairs but there was no answer. “Hey Greta?!” She shouted again still with no reply.
Carson started climbing the stairs all of the upstairs lights were off and all the curtains closed. Carson gulped slightly the silence was deafening.
“G-Greta? Greta where are you” the brunette rounded the door of their bedroom scanning the room but there was no one there
“Greta this isn’t funny” Carson tried to sound authoritative but that crack in her voice betrayed her. Carson made her way towards the on-suite but there was still no sign of Greta.
“BOO!” The red head jumped out and grabbed her girlfriend by the hips, causing Carson to jump a few feet in the air.
“Did I scare you?” Greta tickled the other woman’s sides and kissed her cheek by way of an apology.
“Nooooo, I knew you were there the whole time”
“Yeah sure you did, I’ve been waiting up here for ages”
“So what now?” Carson thread her fingers with Greta’s swinging their arms slightly.
“Well now I know you’re not a scaredy cat how about some horror movies” Greta dive into their bed picking up the tv remote and flicking it on. She tapped the space between her encouraging Carson to take her place on the bed.
Carson’s palm palms were starting to sweat she knew Greta loved horror films and the ones she had caught glimpses of her watching were always terrifying.
“Urmm sure”. Greta could sense the tension in Carson’s voice and smiled softly at her.
“Look if you don’t like it or you get too scared we can watch nightmare before Christmas”
“Okay only if we can keep the lights on”
Greta nodded and flicked the light switch by the bed. Carson crawled into the space next and pulled the covers up to her chin.
Greta was flicking through a multitude of horror films naming their directors and the main actors before settling on sinister.
“It’s scientifically the most scary horror film, they had people hooked up to ECGs while they watched to measure their heart beats. So if it’s too scary for you just let me know, okay”
“Hmm” she moved closer to buddy herself into Greta’s side as she pressed play on the film.
They weren’t even 15 minutes into the film before Carson’s face was buried under the covers with one ear pressed to Greta’s stomach and her hand over the other.
Greta hit pause on the film “oop okay” she patted Carson’s back to signal it was safe to come out.
“No why did you stop?”
“Because you’re fucking terrified and I’d rather have a girlfriend with a beating heart” she continued to rub the other woman’s back until her breathing and heart rate had slowed.
“I know you have plans but can we go somewhere instead?”
“Of course we can chickadee, actually it’s on my list of stuff to go into the town square”
They bundled themselves up in jackets and scarves before heading out the air was just crisp so they had decided to walk so Carson could get some fresh air.
As they approached the town centre, Greta pulled Carson to the other side of the sidewalk.
“Come on I’ll treat you to a Starbucks for being so brave earlier” she winked at her lover before they joined the queue.
Greta ordered a pumpkin spice latte (obviously) and Carson got a double shot iced espresso, they walked hand in hand towards the town square where there was kids crafts and an outdoor disco playing the monster mash.
They walked past food tents and a make your own tombstone workshop the front tombstone read ‘Justin Pieces 1904-1943’ Carson chuckled as they walked past, finding a free bench while they finished they’re coffee.
“We should really get May and Joey to bring the kids for this next year, they’d love it”
Carson hummed
“Penny for you thoughts my love?” Greta gently elbowed the shorter woman
“Just thinking about my mom, and how I don’t want our kids to miss out on all of this”
“Oh our kids?”
Carson blushed into a deep shade of red, not quite believing what she had said.
“I-I mean if you wanted them. We’re not even married yet I don’t know why I said that I’m just gunna stamp taking now and forever”
Greta placed a hand on Carson’s cheek bringing her face back up to meet hers.
“Carson, I would love to bring our kids here too. And I for one think you’ll be a great mom” she placed a sweet kiss on Carson’s forehead before slapping her legs and getting up from the bench.
“What do you say to grabbing a slice of pie and heading home?”
“Sounds like a plan to me!” She said grabbing the redheads hand and lead her to their favourite diner.
Pie acquired they began the short walk home when the heavens opened and the sky turned a darker shade of grey.
“Uh-oh looks like it’s gunna-“ Greta couldn’t get the rest of her sentence out before a massive raindrop landed on her nose.
“Oh shit” Carson grasped Greta’s hand tighter and they started to run through the leaf filled streets back towards their house. The rain didn’t let up the whole time and their clothes and hair were starting to stick to their skin. They made it to their front porch both out of breath and giggling at the state of each other. Greta moved a stray piece of hair from Carson’s face to behind her ear before moving her lips to claim the other woman’s. They pulled apart still giggling.
“I’ve loved today” the brunette let out as Greta was fumbling with her keys.
“Does that mean we can have a Halloween party then?” Greta bounced on the spot excited.
“Fiiiiiine but only if I get to pick the costumes”
Greta pulled Carson into the house locking the door.
“Anything you want pumpkin” she winked “race you to the shower” she joked before making a quick run for the stairs.
Carson laughed. Maybe she was going to like Halloween after all.