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“There is a child in every one of us who is still a trick-or-treater looking for a brightly-lit porch.”
– Robert Brault
The Underworld had always been a very gloomy place. But ever since Ladybug had married Chat Noir, let’s just say that a woman’s touch is almost always guaranteed to work wonders – even in the realm of the god of death and destruction. The Underworld was still sunless and mostly depressing, of course, but the gardens now burst with brightly colored blooms alongside the pomegranate trees and jeweled plants. Chat Noir’s palace’s color scheme was still black, bronze, and green, but the colors were less foreboding, friendlier.
Thousands of years have passed since we last met Chat Noir and Ladybug. In the past few millennia, the gods had distanced themselves from the mortals, choosing instead to stay within their own realms and leaving the mortals to their own devices. There were some times when the gods couldn’t help but interfere just a tad , but as a general rule the mortals were left alone.
The only god that could stay among the mortals was Viperion, because one, he could restrain himself from interference, and two, he was one of the few that could pass for a mortal for long stretches of time. The others were not so gifted.
Viperion still visited the Underworld a fair bit. He knew, however, that Chat Noir and Ladybug were still as nauseatingly in love with each other as always, so he gave them plenty of time to themselves. Besides, though it had taken a while, he had an inkling that he might be able to find love with Ryuko. But he also knew that he was always welcome in the Underworld. And today he had some exciting news for them.
When he arrived, as he could have expected, he found the god of destruction and the goddess of creation in the palace kitchen, baking something. Baking was a pastime that Ladybug had picked up in her early years, and she and Chat Noir loved to bake pastries together – especially since the hobby allowed them to knead dough while standing in a very, ah, comfortable position.
Viperion walked in on just that in time to see Chat Noir press a kiss to the spot right beneath his Lady’s ear. She twitched and giggled in surprise. “Chat, what if someone were to walk in right now?”
Chat Noir just grinned and held her even closer. “Whoever they are, they’d just know that I’m as smitten by my bugaboo as ever and I have ways of showing my feelings. I honestly don’t think that anyone would be remotely surprised if they were to see this.”
Ladybug laugh-sighed and leaned into him. “I love you.”
He kissed her jaw. “I love you, too.”
Viperion cleared his throat and the lovebirds jumped, Ladybug almost knocking over a measuring cup of something. The god of music and prophecy chuckled to himself as Ladybug instantly went scarlet. Chat Noir just laughed and looked back at Ladybug. “What do you know, darling, someone did walk in on this. And he looks fine to me.”
Viperion waved a hand. “I’m used to you two by now.”
Chat Noir walked over and the two gods exchanged a friendly handshake. “So what brings you here, Snake?” he asked. “I would’ve thought that you’d be with Ryuko – I’ve been hearing some… rumors .”
“Chat,” Ladybug scolded.
“No, it’s alright,” Viperion laughed. “You are well informed, Chat Noir. I am, as a matter of fact, going to see Ryuko after this. But I needed to come visit the two of you and tell you about something interesting that I found.”
“Oh?” Ladybug raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”
“As you know, I’ve spent a while away from the mortals, but when I returned recently I found that they have a new holiday. They call it All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween. Apparently some of them believe that on the night of October thirty-first, the spirits of the dead can return to the land of the living.”
Chat Noir looked confused. “So, it’s a celebration of… death?”
Viperion shrugged. “Well, some people take it too far, turning it into a holiday of terror. But there is a very cute aspect of it – carving pumpkins, dressing up in costumes, and children going around and getting candy from all the houses in the area they live in.”
Ladybug brightened. “That sounds fun. But what are you suggesting, Viperion?”
“I just thought that you two might like to celebrate it. You haven’t posed as mortals in ages. I figured it could be fun for you.”
Chat Noir chuckled dryly. “I suppose that a mortal custom that views death in a somewhat positive light would be very refreshing.” Then he grinned mischievously. “And, of course, the candy sounds great.”
“It’s for the kids,” Viperion reminded him.
Chat Noir waved a hand. “Whatever. I’ll sneak some when there aren’t any kids around.”
Ladybug laughed. “What do you say, Chat?”
“I say let’s do it!”
Viperion smiled. “Wonderful. I hope you have a good time. Let me know how it goes.”
Chat Noir winked. “Oh, it’ll be absolutely smashing, I’m sure of it. After all, I’ll be with my lady, and that guarantees a good time no matter the circumstances.”
“And on that nauseating note, I take my leave.” Viperion bowed and the other two gods laughed. “I’ll see you later,” Viperion said, and with that he left.
~ ~ ~
Adrien was certain that only his wife could be cleaning out the innards of a pumpkin, her clothes covered with an old and grubby apron, and still look like a goddess. Sticky orange tendrils curled around her arms up to her elbows, and her fingers were slick as she yanked out the pulp and seeds. Her hair was coming loose from the twist she had pinned it into at the nape of her neck. Yet she was as gorgeous as ever.
Marinette suddenly looked up and found him staring at her. A blush crept up her neck and he grinned. “Goodness, Adrien, what are you thinking about?” she asked.
“You,” he replied. “You're beautiful, milady.”
Her face turned even redder. “Flirt.”
“That doesn't mean I'm a liar, bugaboo. And I think I have the right to flirt with my wife.”
Viperion’s advice had led Ladybug and Chat Noir to assume the mortal personas of Marinette and Adrien Agreste, recently married couple and newly living in the United States of America. They conveniently found a modest home in a suburban neighborhood, and then started making preparations for Halloween.
Those living nearby were thrilled at the prospect of new neighbors, but Marinette and Adrien were quick to assure them that they wouldn’t be there for very long. Still, the others in the area were very welcoming, and the two gods disguised as mortals were enjoying themselves immensely.
Marinette bent down and peered into the pumpkin. “I’m seriously debating just giving up on this thing and using the you-know-what .”
Adrien scoffed. “Come on, milady. It can’t be that bad.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?” Then quick as a flash she had picked up a handful of the pumpkin goop and thrown it at him.
Adrien burst out laughing and tried unsuccessfully to clean off the orange stickiness. “Point well made, sweetheart,” he said, still laughing.
“Not that bad, indeed,” Marinette muttered as she dove once more into the pumpkin, drawing out two more handfuls of seeds and orange stringiness and flinging them into a nearby bowl. Then she looked up at him again, her eyes sparkling with suppressed mirth. “All you had to do was find those pumpkin carving tools.”
“And that, I will have you know,” Adrien said, drawing himself up in mock defensiveness, “was a most arduous task.” Then he relaxed and smiled. “Would you like some help?”
She chuckled. “Yes, please.”
She stepped back and he came closer to the pumpkin, peering in. “Looks like you’re almost done.”
Marinette nodded. “It’s really just the stuff that’s growing from the bottom now.”
“I’m on it,” Adrien said, and with that he got to work.
Marinette smiled fondly and kissed him gently on the tip of his nose. “Thank you, love.”
While Adrien finished clearing out the pumpkin, Marinette cleaned off her hands and arms.
“What do you think the jack-o-lantern should look like?” she asked.
“Very friendly,” Adrien replied as he continued to yank out the pumpkin’s insides. “Give it a nice big smile and very happy eyes. Make it the happiest pumpkin in the neighborhood.”
Marinette laughed and started drawing. As Adrien finally finished cleaning out the pumpkin, she held up the paper. “How’s this?”
Adrien grinned. “Perfect. I’ll go wash up while you draw the face on Jack, here.”
“You named the pumpkin?”
“Of course.”
Marinette laughed again and grabbed a marker, with which she drew the face she’d designed on the pumpkin. Then Adrien used a long, sharp knife to cut out the shapes she’d drawn. Finally they cleaned out the inside of the shapes and wiped off the excess ink from the marker. They put a battery-powered candle inside, put the top back on, and turned off the lights.
The candle flickered cheerfully, lighting up the pumpkin’s smile and eyes crinkled with happiness.
Marinette smiled and hugged her husband. “I think we succeeded – he’s the happiest pumpkin in the neighborhood.
“Fabulous.” Adrien kissed the top of her head.
Marinette looked up at the clock. “Oh, it’s nearly 5:30. I’d better get started on those dinner recipes that Leah gave me.”
Leah and her husband Jonathon were Adrien and Marinette’s next door neighbors, and had been all too happy to share their own Halloween traditions with them. So, the next hour and a half consisted of Marinette being something of a blur in the kitchen, with Adrien helping out wherever he could.
Leah’s suggestions for their Halloween meal consisted of pigs-in-a-blanket (she had laughingly had to explain that concept to a horrified Marinette) with the dough wrapped like mummy wrappings around the hot dogs, bell peppers carved like jack-o-lanterns, and bright red punch. For dessert, there were chocolate cupcakes topped with chocolate-covered ice cream cones decorated to look like witches’ hats. Adrien and Marinette heartily enjoyed the cute food and spent their dinner engaging in their usual witty and laughter-filled conversation.
When they had finished eating, they changed into their costumes. Being gods certainly had its perks; a simple jaunt through time had gotten them genuine and stunning costumes.
“It was certainly very nice of Antony and Cleopatra to lend us some of their clothes,” Marinette said, adjusting the gold headdress.
“I’ll never forget the looks on their faces when we showed up,” Adrien laughed. “It took a fair amount of time to convince them that we were Osiris and Isis, but once they came around, they were most accommodating.” He twisted around, trying to see the straps of his breastplate that he’d been attempting to lace in the back. “Could you give me a hand, my queen?”
Marinette laughed a little and obligingly adjusted his work. “You’ve never needed armor before, have you?”
“Perks of never fighting a war.” Adrien shifted the position in which the armor was resting on his shoulders. “Ryuko, on the other hand, wears armor for fun . I’ve never understood it.”
“I don’t think Viperion minds, though,” Marinette said with a grin.
Adrien chuckled and pulled her flush against him. “You’re going to be planning their wedding as soon as we get home, aren’t you?”
She shook her head as she linked her hands behind his neck. “Dearest, I’ve been planning this for centuries .”
He laughed and leaned down to kiss her. The result was a display of passion that Antony and Cleopatra would have been proud of.
Finally, Marinette pulled away, red-faced and gasping. Adrien let out a yearning moan and reached for her again, but she stopped him with a finger to his lips.
“Later,” she said, still out of breath. “The neighborhood party will be starting soon, and I still have to do my make-up.”
Adrien sighed heavily and collapsed dramatically into a nearby obliging chair. “Fine, I’ll just feast my eyes on my gorgeous wife.”
Marinette tapped him on the nose. “Just wait for after the party, and after you’re out of that armor.”
He grinned wickedly. “I shall wait with bated breath.”
“You’ll suffocate, then,” Marinette replied drily. He laughed and she quickly embraced him before sitting at her vanity and starting on her make-up.
A while later, Adrien and Marinette left their house, Marinette carrying a big bowl full of small candies and Adrien with two camping chairs slung over his shoulders.
Leah and Jonathon were walking down the sidewalk, laden in much the same way, and Leah squealed at the sight of them. She ran over and hugged Marinette tightly. “Oh my gosh ! Your costumes are adorable ! Where on earth did you get them?”
Adrien held a finger to his lips. “That’s our little secret, Leah. Let’s just say we know some people.”
Jonathan laughed and shifted the straps of the camping chair bags where they hung on his right shoulder. Slung onto his left shoulder was an ax. “They’re certainly more elaborate than our costumes, sweetie.”
Marinette looked at them curiously. “What are you two supposed to be, by the way?”
Leah laughed and posed with her arms lifted above her head. “Can’t you tell?”
Leah was dressed in brown leggings, brown knee-high boots, and a textured red, yellow, and orange top. Her dirty blonde hair fell in waves over her shoulders and on her head was a crown of different colored leaves.
Jonathan had on a red flannel shirt and brown pants with suspenders. On his head was a plaid cap, and on his feet were heavy black boots.
Adrien’s mouth twisted in confusion. “You’ve stumped me, guys.”
Suddenly Marinette laughed and clapped her hands in delight. “You’re a lumberjack and a tree!”
Leah grinned as Adrien burst out laughing. “Genius, right? It was Jonathon’s idea.”
“She wanted to do a couples’ costume,” Jonathon explained, “but she couldn’t find one she really liked and we were running out of time. This idea just came to me out of nowhere, and I figured it would work, since we already had pretty much everything we needed on hand. Everything else was easily obtained.”
“I am so glad I didn’t think of Antony and Cleopatra, though,” Leah said. “You two are pulling it off far better than Jonathon and I ever could.”
Marinette squeezed her hand. “Well, you are the prettiest tree I have ever seen, and I should know – I’ve seen quite a few in my time.”
Leah laughed. “Thank you.”
Jonathan gestured ahead of them. “Well, shall we get going? The party can’t start without us, after all.”
Chatting merrily, the four of them continued up the sidewalk until they reached a nearby cul-de-sac where a large group of the neighbors in the area had planned to gather for a Halloween party.
Everyone was in costume, from the adults engaged in cheerful conversation, standing in tight-knit groups to the young children running around brandishing various accessories. Adrien, Marinette, Leah, and Jonathon joined in the fun, and they all very much enjoyed the next few hours.
Candy was handed out, many games were played, and a few animated Halloween-themed children’s shows were projected onto a large screen. People raved over Adrien and Marinette’s costumes and lamented that they would be moving away soon.
As he’d asserted that he would, Adrien did manage to sneak a few pieces of candy under Marinette’s nose. When she started to notice, she gave him a fiery glare and swatted at his hands whenever they came anywhere near the bowl. She also started giving the trick-or-treating kids more and more candy each so that there would be less opportunity for him to take some.
“And don’t you give me that ‘pleading kitten’ look,” she said sharply as he tried to employ that very expression. “We have candy at home.”
“We certainly do,” Adrien said, giving her a significant look.
Marinette went scarlet. “Adrien!”
He grinned. “I love you.”
She moaned and buried her face in her hands in embarrassment. “After all this time… You can still make me blush so easily.”
Adrien reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry, bugaboo. It’s just that you’re so cute when you’re flustered. I can’t help it.”
“You just wait until later tonight, mister,” she muttered darkly.
Adrien’s heart skipped a beat, recognizing the teasing glint in her eyes.
She cleared her throat. “Now, let’s keep this G rated for the sake of the children present.”
The rest of the evening passed smoothly, and at the conclusion of the party, Adrien and Marinette walked home with Leah and Jonathon.
“I’m so sad that you guys are moving,” Leah said, clutching at Marinette’s arm. “Can’t you stay a little bit longer? You could celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with us! The holiday season has only just begun!”
“Leah, we told you from the get-go that we wouldn’t be staying long,” Marinette said with a laugh, hugging her friend tightly.
Leah looked at her pleadingly. “Well, will you at least come back and visit sometime?”
“Of course,” Adrien said. “Nothing could keep us away.”
They reached Adrien and Marinette’s house a few moments later. Jonathan clasped Adrien’s hand and gave Marinette a quick hug. Leah hugged them both tightly.
“Keep in touch,” Leah said.
“We will,” Marinette promised.
“Take care, guys,” Adrien said.
“You, too,” Jonathan replied. He and his wife waved as they walked away.
Marinette leaned against Adrien for a moment and he put his arm around her. “I’m going to miss them,” she sighed.
“Well, we can always come visit them, and besides–” (Adrien lowered his voice to a whisper) “–those two are going to Elysium for sure. Once their time comes, we’ll be able to party with them for eternity.”
Marinette laughed. “Very true.”
“Shall we go in?” Adrien asked, green eyes twinkling merrily. “I believe that earlier you were saying something about later tonight…”
His wife grinned teasingly. “Oh, that’s right, I did…” she mused as she turned and started walking up the driveway. “Well, I changed my mind.”
“What?”
“No candy for you,” Marinette said breezily as she opened the front door and walked inside.
Adrien pouted. “You promised, milady.”
Marinette laughed and pulled him inside, closing the door behind them.
~ ~ ~
“You have to come with us next time,” Ladybug said.
Viperion smiled. “I would love that.”
“As would I,” Ryuko said with her characteristic candor. “But I’ve always had trouble fitting in with mortals.”
“No matter,” Chat Noir said. “They’ll love you anyway.”
“So, Viperion,” Ladybug went on, “would you mind explaining the concept of Thanksgiving to us?”
He laughed. “I would love to.”
“When is it, by the way?” Chat Noir asked.
Viperion checked the mortal calendar. “Less than a month. And then Christmas is about a month after that.”
“Sounds like fun,” Ryuko said.
“It will be,” Chat Noir said. “After all, my bugaboo will be there, so–”
“Oh, not this again,” Ryuko moaned. She stood up and tugged Viperion to his feet. “Let’s go. We’ll be back later and you two can do… whatever it is.” Ladybug blushed. Viperion laughed and waved as the war goddess pulled him out.
Ladybug folded her arms and grinned triumphantly. “I just knew those two would work out. They’re good for each other.”
Chat Noir pulled her into an embrace. “Just like us, right?”
“Mhm.” Ladybug leaned into him and closed her eyes. He kissed the top of her head. “Chat?”
“Yes, my darling?”
She opened her bluebell eyes and looked up at him. “Happy Hallows’ Eve.”
He grinned and hugged her tighter. “And to you, sweetheart.”