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James stood outside the familiar door, Daisy Villa 102. Pumpkins and faux spiderwebs surrounded the door, various Halloween decals covered its surface ranging from skeletons to witches to even vampires. He had visited many times over the last few months or so, more frequently as of recent. Laura stood beside him, antsy as she rocked back and forth on her heels and pulled on her fathers arm.
“C’monnnnnn!! I wanna go trick or treating!” She stared up at James with a determined and slightly aggravated look in her blue eyes. Neither party were dressed up yet and it was still light out so really there was hardly a rush but James complied, besides he was excited to see Harry anyway.
“Okay, okay!” He chuckled before rapping his knuckles against the wooden door and waited patiently as Laura held onto his arm with eager excitement that nearly matched the beat of his own heart.
It didn’t take longer than a few seconds before James could hear the sound of footsteps approaching the door, the sound of the lock unlatching and suddenly it was opened, in front of him stood the ever handsome (and perhaps a bit dramatic) Harry Mason dressed in a simple yet well put together vampire costume, fake fangs, cape and all.
“Ahah-! James Sunderland and who is this? Laura Sunderland! Velcome velcome!” Harry was speaking in what James assumed was a very…mediocre Transylvanian accent but it was cute, he couldn’t help but let out a little laugh as Harry held out his arms showing off the red lining of his cape before he backed up and waved both members of the Sunderland household inside with a big cheesy grin on his face.
James rolled his eyes but a smile remained plastered on his scruffy pale face.
“You’re a cheeseball, Harry.” The blond man teased as he stepped past the other and into the apartment but not before leaning in to give the wannabe Dracula a kiss on the cheek, enticing a noise of disgust from Laura who had ran inside ahead of him and was hugging Heather dressed up in her ‘magical girl’ costume which Laura had so kindly explained to him after Heather got her into that Princess Heart cartoon.
James looked around the apartment, it was well decorated as he had expected from Harry. He wasn’t surprised that his boyfriend was the sort to go all out for the holidays, he has the personality for it. Lights projected purple, orange, and green hues, fake bats hang from ceiling and doorframes, fake candles were spread throughout and paper cut out skeletons posed in various ways as if they were dancing covered one of the living rooms walls. He spotted the coffee table in front of the couch where Heather and now Laura were sitting, it had been covered in trash bags and on it sat four imperfect pumpkins.
“Ah you know you love it!” Harry teased back as he shut and locked the door behind James before turning his attention back to the taller man now stood awkwardly, as usual, in his living room, smiling and nodding gently as his only response.
“Laura- your costume is in Heathers room if you want to go change!” Harry called out, and watched as the 11 year old practically jumped off the couch and scampered off down the hall, leaving Heather to continue setting up their pumpkin carving station.
“And you, my most handsome of guests, your costume is in my room. I laid it out on the bed for you. It’s nothing crazy but I think it’ll look nice.”
“Oh- Hare you didn’t have to. I really appreciate you making Laura’s but really it’s okay-“ James did his best to turn it down, his face becoming a light shade of pink as Harry’s arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
“James, I already made it don’t be silly. I liked making it, I did it for fun and because I thought it’d be cute to see you dressed up, not because I was forced to now go get changed.” Harry maneuvered himself around to give James a small peck on the cheek before unwrapping his arms from around the other man and giving him a slight nudge in the direction of his bedroom.
“I’m going to help Heather finish setting up the jack o'lantern stuff, should be ready when you two are done getting dressed up!”
James decided it best not to argue against it, holding his hands up in defeat before walking off.
He loved being in the Mason family apartment, it was so…cozy. It felt like a home, not just a shelter from the outside world like he and Laura’s own apartment had felt despite his best efforts, he knew she felt it too.
They both preferred their time spent in the Mason household and they were welcomed whenever they wanted. James was forever grateful for that.
There was a time Harry had taken Laura in while James was in the psychiatric hospital, something he had never really felt like he had thanked Harry enough for. Truthfully it was a difficult time for everyone involved. He was just glad Laura called Harry even if he was angry at the time he knew it had been for the best.
He turned the knob to Harry’s room. It felt and smelled as it always had. Cozy and comfortable, a safe haven when need be. There was the slightest smell of pumpkin in the air, which he quickly deduced was from a nearby candle flickering on the bedside table.
His eyes soon moved back to the bed on which Harry had laid out his costume. It took him a moment to figure out what it was but the collar and ears gave it away, it was a handmade werewolf costume complete with faux blond fur that matched his hair near exact as if Harry had it perfectly memorized. Something about that made James’ stomach fill with butterflies, the author knew him so well.
Slipping off his usual green jacket and setting it aside he began to undress, doing his best not to haphazardly throw everything on the floor he instead set them in a semi folded pile - on the floor.
Stripped in nothing but his boxers and socks he was quick to slip on the provided white undershirt which had some of the faux fur glued onto various spots. He didn’t much care to look at his own body so he made quick work of getting dressed, the undershirt was followed by a green plaid patterned top with ripped sleeves and claw marks in the stomach region that allowed some of the fake fur to poke through. Then followed the jeans, they weren’t as detailed but still looked quite scruffy and dirty. He slipped his boots back on and picked up the ears attached to a headband. He found them cute, a bit embarrassing but cute. He carefully put them on, trying to hide the band with his hair.
Lastly was the collar. It was a simple red one made of what James assumed was fake leather, he was a bit hesitant about it but he didn’t want to disappoint Harry so, he wrapped it around his neck and fastened it. It was a bit uncomfortable, taking a few moments to adjust it so it was a bit looser he let out a soft sigh. As seemingly against the costume as he was he really didn’t mind it one bit, the fact Harry took the time to make it for him at all made him feel…special. He felt warm inside at the mere idea that Harry had thought of him. Which wasn’t exactly unexpected from Harry, he was so thoughtful. James never really felt like he deserved it but he appreciated it nonetheless.
Leaving the bedroom he took one last deep inhale of its comforting air.
Harry’s eyes practically immediately lit up at the sight of his boyfriend dressed in his costume.
“Look at you! Such a big tough werewolf, it suits you.” There was a hint of teasing in his voice but it was purely out of love as he approached James, cupping his face with soft hands.
“You look great.”
James blushed, he had always been easy to turn red, it was one of Harry’s favorite things about him. He loved to try whatever he could to see just how flushed he could make James’ usually pale complexion become.
“Buuut you are missing one little thing!”
To James’ disappointment Harry’s hands left his face as he turned back to the couch and pulled out a belt.
“I was just finishing this up for you. Can’t be a werewolf without a tail can you?” He grinned and handed the belt over. James held it in his hands, eyes darting from Harry’s face to the accessory. It was a simple black belt, nothing fancy but there was a fluffy tail made of the same faux fur attached to the back.
“I’m gonna see if Laura needs help with her costume.” Heather was quick to interrupt and excuse herself, clearly not wanting to be in the room for any potential lovey dovey talk she ran off, both men found it amusing before turning back to one another.
“Hare…I dunno…” He didn’t want to disappoint Harry but he already felt awkward enough in the ears as is.
“I just…I don’t really dress up much usually or anything, this is a lot.” He tried to explain without sounding ungrateful. There was a hint of disappointment on Harry's face but it soon turned back into his usual smile.
“Ah that’s fine, James. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to.” A small part of Harry felt bad for even pushing James to wear the costume in the first place but he knew sometimes James really did need a little shove to get out of his shell, he only did it out of love.
Nothing but affection shone in Harry Mason's soft brown eyes as he gazed up at his lover who was quick to give in.
James let out a soft sigh, a small smile cracking at the edge of his lips as he nodded.
“Alright. I’ll wear it. You’re not making me uncomfortable, I'm just…you know…me.” He didn't need to say it; he was anxious he was an overthinker, it was something he couldn’t help. Yet at times Harry soothed his mind, made it easier to stop overthinking even if it was only briefly. God how he loved that man.
“Besides you stopped doing that accent I think it’s only fair to repay you.” He joked and scrunched up his face as Harry gasped in feigned offense. James wrapped the belt around his waist, making sure the tail was in place as he buckled it.
“Perfect!” Harry exclaimed with clasped hands, he was admittedly rather pleased that James decided to go ahead and wear it after all he had spent longer than he intended on it, his fingers still hurt from all the pin pricks. He reached around and gave it a small bounce with his hand.
“Now you look like a tried and true werewolf! C’mon we got everything set up for pumpkin carving.” Harry grabbed James’ hand and led him to the couch to sit. “Figured the girls could sit on the floor, us old men get the couch.” He joked as he fell onto the couch with a quiet ‘oof’, followed by James who had to hold his tail to the side as he sat.
“I haven’t done this in years.” James was nearly overwhelmed by how much Harry had set out for the four of them. Pumpkins and all sorts of tools in varying shades of bright orange along with stencils and fake candles.
“Laura usually makes them at school, usually with paint instead of actually carving them though.” He explained, eyes remaining focused on the coffee table ahead as his hands fidgeted in his lap.
Harry’s eyes however remained trained on James’ face as he spoke. It hadn’t been all that long since they last saw each other but those 130 miles between them felt like far too much distance, it was unfair. That of course didn’t matter right now, they were together and they were going to have a fun Halloween, so he was determined.
Finally, the sound of Heather's door alerted both men to look up as the 15 year old walked back into the room followed closely by her shadow who was now dressed up in a matching pink and white costume, a huge smile on her face.
“Look James! We match!” Laura was excited, grabbing onto Heather's gloved arm to show her adoptive father just how well they matched, a matching grin showed on the freckled face of the teen.
“Thank you Mr. Mason!” She let go of Heather and approached the couch, scooting between James and the table in order to give Harry a hug.
Harry looked over at James and gave him a shrug, the blond in return gave a playful roll of the eyes.
“Of course sweetheart! I’m glad you like it now c’mon these pumpkins aren’t going to carve themselves!” Harry leaned a bit forward as Laura finally unlatched herself from him and made her way around the coffee table to be back next to Heather who was setting up some pillows for them to both sit on.
He was a bit nervous about the 11 year old working with sharp objects but he knew his daughter would help her well enough.
“There’s some sharpies if you guys want to freehand or you could use the stencils but don’t forget to gut em first.”
“I knooow dad.” Heather had already begun, plunging a kitchen knife into her pumpkin and beginning to carve a hole around the stem. “I got the trash bags over here, do I need to start Laura’s?” She asked, tilting her head over to look at James.
“Oh, yeah that’s probably for the best. Just be careful.” James replied with a curt nod. He was still getting used to being spoken to for any form of guidance especially by someone else’s child, even when it regarded his own.
“You guys should probably take your gloves off Harry worked hard on those. Probably not a good grip either.”
“Psssh nahh.” Heather replied, before setting the knife down and doing just that, removing the red gloves, which admittedly did get a laugh out of James. She was funny much like her father, they had a similar sense of humor though he had a feeling that wasn’t exactly something she would be all too pleased to hear.
James and Harry both watched as the girls got along well, Laura only speaking up against Heather briefly to say she was doing it wrong but quickly growing quiet again as she realized no, she in fact was doing it correctly.
James glanced over to Harry, his eyes resting peacefully on his profile. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was, really. The fact that Harry was such…just a wonderful man really and not only that but Laura seemed to like him too. He had been so relieved that she took to Heather so quickly, she talked about her often. He knew they liked hanging out even if Heather was 4 years older than her it didn’t seem to bother the teen too much
They acted like sisters.
“So James, what are you thinking for your pumpkin?” Harry spoke as he reached over to grab the second kitchen knife and the pumpkin that had been set out for James. The blond gave him a bit of an uneasy look but didn’t say anything in protest as Harry cut into the pumpkin.
Harry did feel a bit bad for taking it from him and not even asking but it felt a bit more comfortable for him this way, he wasn’t a fan of James using knives though he trusted him, it was a touchy subject.
“Oh um…I don’t know…” James wrapped the fake tail around to his side, fidgeting with it mindlessly in his right hand.
He, however, was partially lying. He had an idea for exactly what he wanted to carve.
“Well-“
“YUCK!” Laura’s exclamation of disgust distracted both men for a moment as they turned their attention back to the girls.
“C’mon you have to scoop the guts out, that's the best part! Dad uses em to make pumpkin pie sometimes.” Heather explained and tried to force Laura’s hand into the carved open pumpkin.
“Don’t be a chicken-“
“Heather.” A stern yet still gentle voice from Harry put an immediate stop to that, the teenager's eyes rolled in their sockets and she let go of the younger girl's arm.
James let out a small chuckle. The girls did get along most of the time but this wasn’t the first time Heather had done something like this and likely wouldn’t be the last. In a way it was nice, they treated each other like most kids would.
The author let out a sigh and shook his head as he continued to cut a hole in James’ pumpkin.
“Fill up that bowl over there with some of the guts, I’ll see what’s good to use for pie later. We’ll have more than enough.” Harry tilted his head towards a large glass mixing bowl on the table.
“Put the rest in the trash bags and please, girls, James, don’t make a mess.” He teased and nudged James with his elbow.
“No promises!” Laura responded after accepting a half hearted apology from Heather.
The young girl seemed to quickly get over it, putting her small hand into the pumpkin and beginning to pull out the goopy and cold innards.
James had to look away, it was almost visceral.
“Here ya go honey.” Harry caught James’ attention again pushing the now opened gourd his way.
James gave a meek smile as he took it in his hands briefly before setting it back on the table. The stem and the surrounding bit of rind had been removed and sat aside leaving James to stare into the quite frankly disgusting insides. Laura was right, yuck!
“I was thinking of trying to make it look like your face, Hare but it’s kinda gross…” James scrunched up his nose. He hadn’t done pumpkin carving since he was child and suddenly he remembered exactly why that was.
“The pumpkin I mean.” The clarification was said with a glint in his green eyes that indicated mischief.
Harry turned to him wide eyed with a look of genuine surprise.
“Oh hush - You were going to carve my face into it?” He couldn't help but feel his heart pitter patter in his chest.
“Oh James, that's so sweet..” James really was quite the sweetheart, even if he was less affectionate with his words typically, he much preferred showing his affection physically.
James gave a shrug.
“I thought it’d be nice to try…what about you?” James tilted his head slightly to the side with the question before finally taking the plunge and digging his hand into the pumpkin, cringing and grimacing as he dug around in the gourd's guts. He scooped out a few handfuls, dropping them into the glass mixing bowl as Harry had previously directed.
“What were you thinking of making yours into?” James furthered the question as the author began to gut his own pumpkin.
“Hmm…maybe it could be fun if we made each other? Have a little competition. The girls can decide who did a better job.” Harry suggested and handed some of his pumpkins innards to James as he was much closer to the bowl, the blond wasn’t particularly pleased to be handed the mush but he didn’t complain.
James did like that idea, though he already knew who would likely win the little competition he’d take the loss if it meant making Harry happy, besides it seemed fun anyway.
James put away the pumpkin guts Harry had handed to him before electing to move the now nearly full bowl to the middle of the coffee table so he wouldn’t have to handle more of it than he needed too.
“I like that idea. What do you guys think?” James asked the girls sitting across from them who had begun to draw on their pumpkins with sharpie.
“Sure.” Heather shrugged, seeming indifferent and much too focused on her own jack o’ lantern to care too much.
Laura however seemed a bit more enthusiastic at the idea.
“Ooh yeah!! You guys should make each other. I bet James is gonna lose.” The younger girl sat up on her knees waiting for a response from her father who just sighed and shook his head, though he couldn’t help but let out the smallest laugh. She wasn’t wrong, he probably would.
“I’m makin‘ mine into a real scary monster.” Laura explained and turned her pumpkin around to show both fathers its orange surface covered in scratchy sharpie marks.
Neither could fully tell what it was other than the vague shapes of what they could assume were two - maybe three - eyes, a nose and a mouth.
“Ooh, very nice, Laura. Make sure Heather helps you with cutting out the shapes, alright?” Harry just wanted to make sure the girl wouldn’t get a bit too bold trying to carve out the fairly nonsensical lines.
Harry grabbed one of the markers and held his pumpkin in his lap, careful not to make a mess with any leftover guts that may be stuck to it as he started at his best attempt to draw James on the round and bumpy orange surface. It wasn’t easy and Harry never was much of an artist, well he was, just more so with words on paper.
James did the same, turning the soon to be jack o’ lantern to the side so Harry wouldn’t be able to get a sneak peek.
The blond looked up every now and then to get a good look at Harry’s face, examining with focused green eyes. Every now and then he’d catch Harry looking back at him, doing the same, with a smile that always managed to fill James’ stomach with butterflies.
Once he finished drawing up what he thought wasn’t a half bad rendition of Harry’s face he picked up the knife, he could feel the other man’s brown eyes focused on his hand. There was a tension ringing in the air, broken as the author rested a hand on James’ back and rubbed it slowly. James could tell it was more so for Harry’s comfort than his own but it did give him a sense of safety.
Harry watched for a few moments as James began to use the knife before he decided he could turn his attention back to his own pumpkin, picking up a secondary kitchen knife and plunging it into one of the lines that made up an approximation of James’ face on the orange rind.
He carved out bits and pieces of the pumpkin, tossing them in a trash bag every now and then holding it at a distance to check if it looked right.
“Hey- don’t look! It's not done yet!” He protested as James tried to catch a glimpse, the other man chuckled and covered his eyes with his hand before turning his attention back to his own work.
The girls had finished theirs before either father and were now engrossed in whatever game Heather had loaded up in her gameboy again, waiting for their parents to be done so they could show off their creations.
Finally, Harry decided he was done, looking over to James. He wasn’t sure that he would win this little contest after all, he did try but his artistic skills were much more honed in on writing and he felt as though that were clear. He just hoped James wouldn’t take offense to his attempted recreation of his handsome face.
“Ready?”
He asked, tilting his head slightly to James. The girls immediately stopped playing their game and turned back to look at both men, excited to see and to judge.
“Oh- yeah yeah I think so.” James gave a small nod of confirmation, his bangs falling into his eyes which Harry would normally brush aside but James appreciated the fact he didn’t just this once, knowing his hands were still a bit gross.
“I uh. I don’t know if mine is any good but I tried-“
“I’m sure it’s wonderful, James. I can show mine first if you want?” Harry's voice was characteristically warm.
“Oh sure.” James gave a meek smile, admittedly it would make him feel much less nervous for Harry to reveal his first.
Harry gave a closed eyed smile.
“Alright girls now don’t be too harsh alright-“ Harry waited for both Laura and Heather to collect themselves and focus in.
He held up the pumpkin, giving it a bit of a unsure look before turning it around.
James leaned forward to get a good look at it as did the girls.
His face felt warm at the sight. It wasn’t done by a professional artist that was for sure but James could tell Harry made it with love. James wasn’t a fan of looking at himself but he couldn’t help but stare at every line Harry had carved into the gourd.
It was a rather cartoony attempt at recreating his face, his nose was as sharp as James assumed Harry could make it. His face made up of semi straight lines, making him a bit more angular than he really was. His shaggy hair was a mess of lines, triangular bangs covering his forehead and topped off with the fake ears he was currently wearing. Overall it could be described as ‘cute.’ James was enamored with - or more so enamored with the amount of care Harry put into it.
“Wow…” James wasn’t sure what else to say. He felt a bit embarrassed but he couldn’t quite place why.
Laura let out a giggle, nodding and making the pom poms on the end of the antennas of her costume bob back and forth amusingly.
“That looks just like him!”
Though James knew it was most likely meant to be a dig at him he couldn’t help but agree.
“Pfft - it’s not that bad.” It was clear Heather was doing her best not to burst out into laughter; a smile on her face indicated it was difficult.
“I love it, Harry.” James sounded genuine, soothing some of Harry’s initial worries. The author let out a small chuckle and sat the jack o’ lantern back down on the coffee table.
“I like that you included the ears.” James held a hand up and mimicked an ear alongside the set of fake ones set atop his head.
“I did something similar - I mean but with your fangs.”
James gulped, he was a bit nervous to show his, he stared at it for a few moments before taking a deep breath and turning the pumpkin around.
He chewed the inside of his cheek as he awaited the group's reactions.
Harry’s eyes widened, he was shocked at how well James had done. It was far from perfect but the shapes and lines carved into the pumpkin made a face he couldn’t help but feel was at least semi accurate. A beak-like nose curved as best as James likely could make it, small triangles forming fangs underneath a curved line smile, his hair a bit angular but clearly intended to mimic his usual slicked back style. His eyes weren’t very detailed but they had a narrowed look as if he were trying to depict a mischievous expression, likely the same one Harry had made upon opening the front door.
Harry beamed and took the pumpkin out of James’ hands to get a better look. Giving a small nod of apology to James for taking the pumpkin so quickly without asking.
“Oh James I love it!” He held it up next to his face for the girls to judge, trying to mimic the expression, James let out a soft chuckle, covering his mouth with one hand.
“I think you win - look at this, it's perfect!” Harry placed the jack o' lantern back down on the table.
“It's really not that good, I like yours. I think it would look better with the candle in it than mine.” James felt hot with embarrassment as Harry praised his work.
“But I’m glad you like it…” James wasn’t sure how the girls would like it but at least Harry liked it, and he seemed genuine about it.
“Woah!” Laura seemed genuinely surprised, James could tell she really did not have much faith in his artistic abilities though to be fair to her, neither did he.
“How’d you do that?!”
James gave a small shrug.
“Guess I look at him enough that it wasn’t too hard.” James joked and Harry nudged him in the arm with his elbow.
“Sorry dad, I think James wins this one.” Heather giggled and rummaged around on the table finding some of the fake candles and handing them over to the adults before handing Laura one as well. She stuffed the light into hers before turning it around showing both parents her design, it was a fairly traditional Jack ‘o lantern with triangle eyes and nose, a jagged mouth with a bit of the rind sticking out resembling a tongue.
”See you just put it in there like that.” Heather explained to Laura who followed suit, turning hers around to show the men as well.
Laura’s jack o’ lantern seemed to resemble a spooky ghost though it looked like she changed her mind from something else before settling on it. It glowed nicely with the light.
“You two did so well, those are so cute!” Harry enthused brightly, a clear sense of pride in his voice.
“Let’s put 'em outside and then you two can go trick or treating while James and I clean up.” Harry stood, stretching and cracking his back. The girls stood, pumpkin in hand and ran over to the door.
James stayed seated but he watched, he was proud of Harry for allowing the girls to go out on their own. He knew he had been stressed about this the last couple of days, he brought it up every time they spoke on the phone.
“Hey, want yours out there too?” Harry walked behind the couch and put his hands on James’ shoulders, massaging them lightly.
Heather and Laura were already in the hallway arranging their jack o’ lanterns with some of the other decor.
“Oh, sure. Guess as long as it’s next to yours.” James looked up, giving a small chuckle, his fake ears wiggling slightly with his blond hair. James lifted it and handed it over, giving it one last look over.
“Maybe I’ll stack ‘em!” Harry joked with a wink as he took the pumpkin and turned away before James could respond.
Meeting the girls outside he sat James' creation down next to his own making sure they both faced nicely towards the rest of the hall. He couldn’t help but smile at the sight, he and James’ jack o’ lanterns sitting together next to those their daughters made.
They felt like a family, they had for some time now but something as…normal and domestic as this filled him with a sense of love he hadn’t felt quite this strongly in years.
“We’ll be back in a bit!” Heather’s voice pulled Harry back to reality, she was holding Laura’s hand they had already put their gloves back on and the younger girl was eager to get started, rocking back and forth on her heels.
“Alright alright, just be careful okay? Do you have your pepper spray?” Harry’s voice was quiet as he spoke, he didn’t want the neighbors to overhear.
He knew he was a bit too cautious but he just wanted to make sure his daughter was safe.
“Dad I don’t need it, we're just going around the building, not the neighborhood, we’ll be fine I promise.” Heather seemed dismissive of her fathers concerns which only worried him more but Harry did his best to not get too caught up on it, he wanted the girls to have fun.
“Okay, just stay close and don’t separate. If you see anything weird come home okay?” Harry sighed softly and watched as Heather nodded and waved him away.
Harry frowned softly as both girls turned away and began their trick or treating journey.
Harry wanted to go after them, to follow them, to keep them safe but he held himself back. His chest felt tight with worry, this must be how James felt most of the time.
He sighed and turned back to the door, giving one last look at the small families jack o’ lanterns. A small smile creeping at the corners of his mouth.
James was still sat on the couch, jumping slightly as Harry plopped down beside him with a ‘oof’.
“I thought I was the one who needed a bell.” The blond joked, repeating a phrase often used towards him. His smile faded to a frown as he noticed Harry seemed uneasy.
“Hare, they’ll be okay, I promise. How about a movie?” James wasn’t much of a movie watcher, but he figured it’d be a good distraction for Harry at the least.
“Sure, that’d be nice.” Harry let out a soft sigh, trying to relax as he leaned against James and dug the tv remote out from between the couch cushions.
“How about something spooky?”
“Sounds good to me.” James wrapped an arm around the older man, holding him close as he flipped the tv on.
It was a nice Halloween all things considered, maybe celebrating the holidays wouldn’t be too bad now that he and Laura had people to celebrate with.