Our house is located in an isolated part of town, so it's a bit of a walk before we reach any houses we can trick-or-treat at. I start to walk down the sidewalk with the kids, waiting for Tessa to catch up. When she does, I notice she looks a bit upset. "Tess? Are you alright?"

"Mmm-hmm," she lies.

"You forget I know you better than anyone. What's wrong, baby?"

"Nothing." She sniffles.

"Are you upset because I teased you about your costume?"

"No. I'm used to you being a jerk."

"Oh, well, good," I joke and she elbows me. "Ouch." I chuckle. "Tell me what's wrong, Tess," I gently demand.

"I know it's silly, but these are actually happy tears. Seeing you with our beautiful children, just laughing and smiling and playing, was everything I could have ever hoped for. I'm so lucky to have you and the kids."

"And to think, I had to pester you into marrying me at all. You're welcome." I smile and Tessa playfully rolls her eyes at me.

"Mama? Candy?" Auden asks politely.

"Soon, baby. We're almost at the first house."

As we finally reach the busier part of town, we see rows of houses decorated with all sorts of spooky decorations. The kids' eyes light up as they look at all the giant cobwebs and spiders hanging from trees, the ghosts that light up as they shake back and forth and some extra creepy looking scarecrows.

A group of kids walk by us and the fact that their parents stare at us before snickering after they pass by isn't lost on me.

"I knew this would happen," I grumble.

"What?" Tessa asks cluelessly.

"Those two," I begin to say as I gesture with my head, "were laughing at us."

"So?"

"So, it pisses me off."

"Hardin! Watch your language," she scolds.

"Well, it does."

"Remember, you're doing this for your children."

"Yeah, I know... But they get to look adorable and I get to look like a giant purple loser."

"How do you think I feel? I get to be married to a giant purple loser." Tessa begins to giggle.

"You're one to talk, Swamp Thing."

"Shhh! We're at our first house. Try to pretend to have fun, will you?"

"Mama?" Auden looks like he's feeling a little shy.

"It's okay, baby, go with your sister," Tessa encourages him.

We watch as Emery runs up the sidewalk to the already open door, where a group of kids is shouting, "Trick or treat!" and Auden runs behind her. He looks incredibly adorable as he tries to keep up in his little red Teletubby costume while swinging his treat bag back and forth.

The kids run back toward us, ready to go to the next house.

"Dada! Look!" Auden shouts excitedly as he shows me his single piece of candy in the bottom of his treat bag.

"Is that for me?" I ask and pretend to reach into the bag to take it.

"No!" He giggles and then runs to the next house with Emery.

"I was only joking, but that did give me an idea."

"What's that?" Tessa asks as we follow behind the kids.

"I think I'll take fifty percent of the candy as payment for tonight."

"Hardin!" Tessa swats at me.

"I think that's a fair price, once you factor in pain and suffering."

"Gosh! You're so dramatic sometimes."

"That's why you love me, my little avocado."

"Avocado? Because I'm green? Ha-ha."

"And round." I smile.

"Well, what does that make you, then?"

"Isn't it obvious? An eggplant." I wiggle my eyebrows and chuckle at my sexual innuendo.

"Hardin!" Tessa shrieks and I see a glimpse of the same sweet, innocent girl I fell in love with all those years ago.

"Mama!" Auden shouts as he runs toward us and shows Tessa his two pieces of candy.

"Are you having fun, baby?" Tessa asks and Auden nods with a gigantic smile on his face. "How about you, Em?"

"Yes, Mom! Thanks again for dressing up for me!"

"You're welcome, sweetie, but I want you to hold your brother's hand as we walk."

Emery grabs onto her brother's hand and they continue to walk in front of us down the sidewalk.

As I'm watching them, I realize something. "You know, Tess, we could have just bought them a mustard and ketchup costume."

"What?" She laughs.

"They look like a bottle of mustard and ketchup walking together."

"Be nice!" She swats at me. "They look adorable."

"Yes, our adorable little condiments."

We finish going to all the houses on the block and are just about to go to the next set of houses, when Tessa takes out her phone and begins taking photos and videos of Emery and Auden as they walk in front of us holding hands. I can see the bright smile on her face and notice her eyes look a little watery. I love watching my beautiful girl as she looks at our children with so much love and happiness. I immediately take out my phone and start snapping photos of her.

"Hardin, are you watching them? Aren't they sweet? Look how good Emery is with Auden. Hardin? Are you watching?" she asks, never taking her eyes off them.

"Actually, I'm watching you, baby." I smile while I take a few more photos.

Tessa turns to look at me. "Hardin! Are you taking photos of me?"

I nod and continue to wave the phone in her face.

"Stop it!" She giggles and tries to block me.

I suddenly have a flash back to all the times I tried to sneak a few dozen photos of my sweet, beautiful girl without her knowing, hoping to find a way to cherish her beautiful smile and laugh forever.

"You better stop it. Don't make me turn into The Grinch!" she squeals. "Stop!"

Emery suddenly stops in front of us. "You guys are embarrassing us."

"We're embarrassing you, little one? I seem to remember this costume was your idea."

"Not that... You guys acting all in love. It's embarrassing and icky!"

"Well, you're really going to hate this, Daughter." I pull Tessa toward me, despite our big bellies keeping us apart, and kiss her.

"Ewww!" Emery yells as she crinkles her nose.

Auden looks up at his sister before repeating, "Ewww!"

"Okay!" Tessa laughs as I pull away. "You keep your lips to yourself for the rest of the night, mister," she warns as pokes me in the chest. "And you two start walking to the next house."

"You know I love it when you act all bossy, baby." I chuckle and she playfully rolls her eyes at me.

Several more houses, a couple more snickers from strangers and a lot of screaming, excited children later, it's finally time to go home.

Emery and Auden run through the door and quickly empty their treat bags onto the floor before starting to count their candy.

"I get half!" I declare as I walk up behind them.

"Dad!" Emery shouts in protest.

I bend down and start to reach for a piece of candy.

"Mom! Make him stop!"

"Hardin, leave the kids to their candy."

"Tattletale," I say jokingly.

Auden comes up to me and hands me a miniature chocolate bar. "I love you, Dada."

I pick him up in my arms before taking the tiny chocolate bar, which looks giant in his small hands. "Thank you, little man." I kiss his chubby, rosy cheek before putting him back down.

"Okay kids, it's time for bed!" Tessa announces.

"But, Mom..." Emery pouts.

"It's late and you still have school tomorrow. Go brush your teeth and change into your pyjamas."

"Fine..." Emery groans.

"I'll tuck Auden into bed, Tess."

"Thank you." Tessa smiles, but I can tell she's exhausted.

"Come on, buddy." I reach for his hand and pull him with me to the bathroom, so I can get him ready for bed.

After brushing his teeth and washing his chocolate covered hands, I walk him to his bedroom. "Okay, little man, time to put on your pyjamas." I notice Auden's Superman costume is still lying on his bed and I remember how Tessa said he was upset he never got to wear it tonight. "How about, just for tonight, you can sleep in your Superman costume?"

"Superman! Superman!" He begins to jump up and down, then run around his room like he's flying.

"I'll take that as a yes." I chuckle. I help him into his costume, and he looks so fucking adorable that I have to take out my phone and take a few photos. He looks up at my phone and gives a big smile, with his eyes closed and his cheeks popping out like an adorable little chipmunk. "Okay, hop in." I pull back the covers and Auden jumps into bed before I finish tucking him in. "Did you have fun tonight?" I ask and he nods. "Can Daddy tell you a secret?" I whisper and he nods again. "I did, too. I love you, buddy." I kiss his forehead.

"Love you, Dada."

I turn on his night light before closing the door part way.

On the way to our bedroom, I stop at Emery's bedroom to say goodnight, but when I look in on her, she's already fast asleep, so I quietly back out and continue to walk to our bedroom, smiling to myself because I'm one lucky son of a bitch.