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"Boo!"
Stephen had popped out from behind a corner in the Sanctum and grabbed your daughter up in his arms. Her squeals and giggles echoing through the halls of the building. Making you smile where you stood in the large dining room, getting ready to crawl back up onto the table to hang the rest of the paper bats you had cut so they dangled and "flew" from the chandelier.
In moments like this it was easy to forget it was just the three of you in this universe. That outside of the walls of the grand building you had turned into a home full of love, the world was still in the early stages of stitching itself back together. That not so long ago you fell into Stephen's fractured world and changed the tortured lonely sorcerer into a brand new man. A better man than he could ever have dreamed of being.
He still found himself dumbfounded that you were actually there in his arms each and every morning. He was still not 100% convinced he hadn't conjured you up unwittingly somehow from his wildest desires and fantasies. Except now he had not just you, but your shared daughter Donna to marvel at and dote upon.
There was absolutely no doubting that she was his either. Her dark hair and emotive blue eyes made that fact clear as day. A spitting image of her father from day one, and the absolute apple of his eye. His little perfect princess. He wanted to give her everything, which in your desolate corner of the multiverse was easier said than done.
So you had both decided, in an effort to give Donna as much of a normal childhood as you could, you would celebrate all the normal holidays and life events as you would if you were back in your original universe. This included birthdays, Christmas, and your personal favorite Halloween.
This would be Donna's third Halloween, but the first that she would actually be able to remember. So you went all out. Having her help you cut out ghosts, bats, and pumpkins to hang up around the Sanctum. Having Stephen conjure up all sorts of stuffed black cats and Halloween colored blankets. He had even managed to conjure up a couple real pumpkins for the three of you to carve together. He would never tell you just how long he had spent figuring out how to do that. The genuine joy on your face was well worth the time.
You were even so close to getting him to dress up for your little Halloween celebration. He hadn't caved to that yet though, but you weren't giving up just yet. Telling him over and over how sexy he would look as your knight in shining armor, or that you would both be perfect as Gomez and Morticia Addams. Perhaps you could even just talk him into playing along with you after you put Donna to bed. It would still count even if only you saw it this year.
You were pulled from your mischievous thoughts and plans for your own private party with your husband when your daughter ran into the dining room. Stephen was close behind her, a wide genuine smile on his face and his eyes bright with adoration. Donna was dressed in her sparkling purple princess dress, having picked out her own costume herself. Real twinkling sparkles courtesy of Stephen's magic. She could get him to do practically anything she wanted.
"Alright princess, go give mommy a hug and a kiss then it's time to go get ready for bed. Tomorrow is Halloween and you want to make sure you are well rested for our spooky fun day."
You climbed down and plopped into one of the dining chairs, opening your arms as your daughter giddily ran into them. You squeezed her tight and gave her plenty of goodnight hugs and kisses. Telling her to make sure she told her daddy thank you for making her such a beautiful costume.
Your heart fluttered when you looked past her and saw Stephen's cheeks blush a little at your compliment. He always looked like a lovesick school boy when you praised him, and you loved him even more for it.
After a few more minutes of twirling and excited bouncing around the room Stephen managed to corral your daughter. Holding her on one hip as she half-heartedly protested that she "really wasn't even that tired." Trying her darndest to stifle a yawn that hit her suddenly. It didn't get past either of you and eventually she relented. Letting her father take her to go find her favorite stuffed animal, a small white bunny, before getting her ready for bed.
You knew it would take him a bit of time to get her put to sleep. There wasn't a single night that she didn't make her father read her a story, or two or three if she got her way.
For Halloween he had started reading her a book very fitting for the holiday, and one that you always loved as a kid. Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery. She was probably too young for it really, but since she loved her little stuffed bunny so much you figured she would like it.
Tomorrow you would surprise her with the small little collar and vampire cape you had made for her stuffed bunny. He might as well get to dress up for Halloween too. Now if you could just figure out how to make it look like he had sucked all the "blood" out of a tomato.
After a little bit the silence in the room felt weird. Going from hearing a toddler at nearly full volume to nothing always felt weird. So you went over to put on the playlist of Halloween themed and general spooky songs that you had spent years curating. Opting to hit shuffle instead of going in order. The playlist was so massive it made more sense that way.
Immediately "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder had you dancing in place and as you moved around putting up more decorations. Singing along at a low volume. Still doing the same when "Don't Fear The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult followed. After a couple more from Fleetwood Mac and Concrete Blondes you had totally lost track of time.
You turned the volume up a little when you heard the opening melody of "Spooky" by Classics IV. It had always been a song that had a special place in your heart for some reason. It was easy for you to get lost in the smooth sounds of the guitar and the deep bass rhythm that ended each musical phrase.
Stephen snuck up behind you as you swayed and sang along with the song. Placing his arms around you and nuzzling into your neck. You could feel him smiling against your skin as he held you tight. His eyelashes tickling the juncture of your neck and shoulder.
Eventually he looked up and noticed the little red devil horns you were wearing. He had to chuckle at the irony. He thought of you as his angel. Although he did enjoy your naughty side just as much as your nice one.
"You know, if either of us is suited to be the devil I'm pretty sure it's me. You, my love, are far too angelic to be a devil."
You turned around in his arms and let your hands run up the lapels of his dark robes and come to rest around his neck. Tilting your head up to place a soft kiss on his chin and then letting your lips connect with his. It was long and sensual and easy. Letting your tongue dance across his lower lip before nipping at it just a little, enough to pull a quiet moan from the dark sorcerer before pulling back with a devious smirk on your face.
"I can still be your little devil though too. You seem to like it when I'm a little bit bad. After all, I've definitely picked up some tricks from the master."
You reached up and pulled off the headband the horns were mounted to. Moving them off of your own head and placed them on Stephen's. Giggling cheerily when he let you place them without protest. Taking care to leave the soft dark strands that fell against his forehead hang loose. Brushing your thumbs over the gray streaks at his temples that you found oh so sexy. Sighing in contentment as your husband started to sway to the music with you again.
He noticed just how perfect the lyrics of the song were for this moment. How they so perfectly described what he felt for you. How you both bewitched and confounded him, but how you had him wrapped around your finger without even trying. How you seemed to occupy his every thought during the day and haunt his dreams at night. You were his perfect mix of devil and angel, his spooky little girl.
He still wasn't sure about the idea of dressing up, although he knew that you would probably win him over eventually, but he was now going to insure that this became part of your yearly ritual. Holding you in his arms and dancing with you to this song before scooping you up and carrying you off to your bedroom. So you could show him just how much of a little devil you could be for him, and so he could cherish you like the angel he knew you would always be in his eyes.
As the last verse started he pulled you into a series of passionate kisses. Letting his tongue dance with yours and feeling the fire between you grow. By the song's chorus he was starting to hoist you up, your legs wrapping around his waist and your hips starting to grind against him. Instead of stopping to turn off the music he simply opted to let it play as he carried you to your shared bed. Letting the lyrics imprint themselves over this moment and over the love you shared.
"Love is kind of crazy with a spooky little girl like you."