//

Within a span of a few days, Halloween came close. Which means Peter had to choose a costume...or...

Do you wear a costume on a date that's on Halloween? Probably not.

Peter was in his room, eating popcorn while watching the movie Ghost starring Patrick Swayze.

The moment that his character and Whoopie Goldberg's character were going to the bank began until Vivien called for him downstairs, announcing they were carving pumpkins.

Peter turned off the movie and went downstairs and began to carve pumpkins with his parents as well as two fashionable men he later learned as Chad and Patrick.

Peter was very focused on carving his pumpkin, he didn't notice Patrick was eyeing him and Ben like pieces of meat he wanted to devour.

"This is actually kind of fun. I never got to do this when I was a kid," Ben stated.

"Why not?" Chad asked.

He didn't get an answer as Vivien spoke, "So this is what you guys do for a living. That is amazing to me. And wonderful, you know. I think style is so important."

"It's everything," Chad stated to which Patrick scoffed at.

Peter sensed the tension between the two and spoke up, "I completely agree with you." This earned Chad's attention. "Because it is always fresh and is a little ode to creativity and novelty. It gives a hint of personality." He cleared his throat. "And it brings wanted attention."

Chad smiled at the sentence...almost as if he knew but turned to Vivien and Ben. "It's so great that I get to help you guys have the best Halloween ever. I love Halloween. So does Patrick because the bars are just awash in twinks with six packs in revealing outfits. Isn't that right, Pat? The Abby, The O Bar, Rage. That's where he was last year instead of helping me with the trick-or-treaters."

"Have another drink, dear," Patrick told him as Chad drank his wine. "Crafting brings out his inner George and Martha."

"So, in addition to Halloween night and making everything look inviting, which I get, do you guys have any other suggestions for what we might do to the house to make it sell faster?" Vivien asked.

"Actually, yes," Chad answered, gazing out the window. "That gazebo's got to go. The lattice is wrong."

"I agree," Peter and Patrick said simultaneously but Peter cast his gaze down once he Ben glanced his way.

"Oh, no, we just put it in," Vivien answered.

"Did you put that gazebo in yourself, Ben?" Chad questioned.

"Yes," Ben answered.

"Well, let's get through tomorrow night, and then we can tear it down, and put in an..." Chad trailed off.

"How about an organic cutting garden?" Peter suggested.

Chad turned to the boy with a smile. "I love that idea. Vivien, your son has a very keen eye for detail. You should be proud."

Ben suddenly hissed in pain as he cut himself with a carving knife by accident. "Ow. shit..."

Patrick gently grabbed Ben's wrist, looking the wound over. "Let me see."

"Dad, are you okay?" Peter asked, standing up, putting his carving knife down.

"I think I'm gonna need stitches," Ben stated.

"No. No, it's okay. I can fix this up."

"Pat's an EMT," Chad spoke.

"Oh, I thought you were a fluffer," Vivien said.

Chad chuckled. "You're hilarious, Vivien. And I love the hair color. I can barely see any root."

"It's my natural color," Vivien replied.

"Where's your first-aid kit?" Patrick asked.

"Upstairs," Ben answered. "I'll show you where it's at."

"We also have some extra bandages in the cabinet," Vivien added, following them upstairs but both went in a different direction which left Chad and Peter alone.

Chad turned to Peter. "Peter, since it's just the two of us, you mind helping with these other decorations?" he asked as Vivien had printed bats out for them to cut and decorate.

"Sure," Peter answered as he grabbed the sheet of papers with two pairs of scissors, sitting back at the counter with Chad next to him.

He and Peter began to cut the bats together as Chad spoke, "Your dad seems very..."

"Weird?" Peter asked.

"Yes," Chad replied "Nervous. I don't know. It's just a feeling I get. Um...darkness."

"Yeah, there's a lot of bad history with my dad and this family," Peter answered. "A lot of secrets."

"Like you not coming out to them?" Chad questioned.

Peter's head shot up at the speed of light. "I-I'm sorry?" he asked in shock.

"It's just that all the descriptive detail you used earlier kind of gave it away. Plus, my gaydar is never off even around the closet cases."

Peter didn't try to deny it but he scrunched his face in his own frustration but asked, "How did you know? Were there any signs?"

"A fair few that only observers would notice," Chad answered. Peter waited for him to continue. "One: you dress like an American Apparel mannequin." Peter looked down at his clothes in question. "Two: for someone who probably doesn't go to a nail salon, your fingertips are manicured perfectly. And if I had to guess, you probably watch Desperate Housewives with Vivien."

Peter could only mouth a 'wow'. "That was really good. Only my sister could tell by the type of music I listen to."

"Here's some advice, Peter," Chad stated. "You may be a closeted homo but when you get a boyfriend, make sure they're loyal to you and they love you."

Peter recognized his sad tone and stated, "You and Pat are having problems."

"Yeah," Chad spoke. "He can't keep his dick in his pants."

"You caught him cheating?" Peter asked.

"Yes. I'm a sneak and a snoop."

"How?"

"It's easy," Chad answered. "Cell phone records. You can delete a text, but you can't erase the bill."

"Oh," was all Peter said. "I'm sorry."

Chad only sighed. "Just take my advice, okay? I like you and it would just be awful if you had your heart-broken."

Peter smiled in response. "Thanks."

Peter would eventually learn heartbreak. Not from cheating but from lies and on-going pain.

He didn't know that yet.

***

Later that day, Peter entered Violet's room. "Hey," he greeted. "I need to borrow-"

"Let me guess, my mint gum...again?" Violet questioned.

Peter nodded. "Yes but I also need to borrow your lip balm," he answered.

"What? Tate finds your dry ass lips unattractive?" Violet taunted with a small smile.

Peter huffed but had a small smile. "If I actually answer that question, can I use the fucking chapstick?"

"Maybe."

"Then, yes," Peter answered. "I lick my lips often and I don't want him to stop kissing me because my lips are disgusting."

Violet chuckled. "They're both on my desk."

He mumbled, "Thanks." Peter walked over, grabbing two pieces of gum, putting it in his pocket before walking over to Violet's mirror, inspecting his hair while he slowly spread the lip balm along the surface of his mouth.

"Date tonight?" Violet asked, standing up beside him.

"Yeah, the same place the last few times," Peter answered. "Just so you know-"

"Yeah, I know. Basically a sock on the door," she finished. "Don't worry."

"Good. Thanks, Vi," Peter replied, dropping the chapstick in his pocket as he walked backward to exit the room.

A hand shot out from under Violet's bed, grabbing Peter's ankle which made him jump and fall back on his butt as Violet yelped in fear.

Adelaide from next door crawled out, smiling, "Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat," she sang, standing up.

"Addy," Violet scolded as Peter held a hand to his chest in shock, still heaving.

"I want to be a pretty girl for Halloween."

"You want what?" Violet questioned.

"Make me a pretty girl like you, Violet," Addy replied before pointing to Peter. "And I want you to help too."

Peter sat up slightly. "Yeah," he answered, standing up. "Sure, okay..." He pulled out Violet's desk chair. "Just no more scary stuff, okay?" he asked.

"Okay," she happily agreed, plopping into a chair.

Violet grabbed her make up while Peter grabbed a hairbrush from Violet's dresser.

Peter worked on Addy's hair as Violet worked on Addy's makeup.

"I'm actually not very good at this," Violet stated to Addy.

"I don't care. I'll like it," Addy replied as Peter removed her hairband and brushed through her hair softly.

"How old are you, Addy?" Violet asked.

"A lady never reveals her age," Addy replied which made Violet smile.

Addy glanced back at the Harmon boy. "Peter, is Tate your boyfriend?"

Peter stopped brushing her hair, looking to Violet who just shrugged. "Wait. You know Tate?" Peter asked Addy.

"I talk to him when he comes here for his head shrinking," Addy answered. "He likes you, I can tell. He thinks you're smart and cute."

"Oh yeah?" Peter asked with a small laugh to which Addy responded with a small 'yep'. He was glad she was another person who didn't judge who he was. "But to answer your question...I think so. I really like Tate too."

Addy only nodded as she asked them both, "Are you guys virgins?"

"Yes," the twins answered simultaneously.

"Aren't you?" Violet asked her, applying her blush.

"Hell no," Addy answered with complete confidence.

Peter softly brushed her hair out of her face. "Addy, it's not that we don't like your company here but you can't keep breaking into our house," he told her.

"But I like it here. My friends are here," Addy replied.

Peter and Violet share confused looks as Addy looked in the mirror.

"Uh, Addy. What's that supposed to-" Peter tried to ask.

"Wow!" Addy nearly exclaimed as she grinned. "Violet, Peter, I'm beautiful!"

***

As time rolled around to 12 AM, it was still dark outside but it meant one thing. It was officially Halloween.

Peter stood outside the basement door, shoving a piece of gum in his mouth before pulling the door open, entering.

He descended down the stairs as he called into the darkness. "Hey, Tate. Are you down here?" His shoes reached the bottom step, he turned past the steps and called out once more, "Come out, come out wherever you are."

Once he turned around to look for Tate more, Peter gasped in fear as a 5'9" figure in a black faceless rubber suit stood in front of him before shoving its hand over Peter's mouth to prevent him from screaming and pushed him back into a wall nearby.

The person in the suit started to laugh which Peter recognized who it belonged to.

Peter shoved Tate back. "You fucking asshole. That wasn't funny," he replied.

Tate unzipped and removed the mask, grinning at Peter. "I scared you."

Peter scoffed, trying to brush it off. "No, you didn't." Peter finally recognized the suit from the attack. "Where'd you get this? My dad threw it out a while ago."

Tate shrugged. "Finders keepers," he replied before leaning forward to press his lips to Peter's in deep, three-second kiss who kissed in the same way but Tate pulled back to look over Peter's expression. "Really? I didn't scare you?"

"No," Peter lied.

"I bet I can."

Peter only nodded. "Okay but take off that suit first."

Tate chuckled. "That desperate to get my clothes off?" he joked.

Peter only rolled his eyes, his cheeks slowly tinting to a rosy red color that he tried to ignore. "Fine. Don't take it off if you don't have any clothes under there," he replied.

"Okay, fine. I do," Tate replied, beginning to remove the suit as Peter sat on the stairs. Once Tate removed the suit, leaving him in some jeans and a black shirt, he sat down on the basement floor and struck a match to light a red candle near an ouija board. "You have to put your fingers on the other side," Tate told Peter.

"I don't believe in that shit," Peter stated but stood up and sat across from Tate anyway.

"Charles is gonna answer all your questions. He used to live here," Tate replied.

Peter hummed. "Is Charles going to tell me what happened to those assholes that tried to kill family? I mean I know what you did to that girl who had me but..."

"You know I did it to protect you, right?" Tate stated.

"I know that. I just meant the others," Peter replied.

"I had some help," Tate answered.

Peter didn't ask any further questions about the situation but questioned, "What's in this basement? I know you didn't hurt Leah but if I'm not crazy, what left those scratches on her face?"

"What I'm about to tell you might scare you...to death," Tate said in a haunting tone.

Peter chuckled. "I think I can handle it."

Tate began to tell the story. "Dr. Charles Montgomery built this house. And here in this basement is where he worked. Charles was a doctor to the stars, but he was also a drug addict, and his wife Nora wasn't gonna let that get in the way of her lifestyle. So she set up a little secret side business; he would take care of girls who didn't want to be in trouble anymore. This went on and on until one day, one girl couldn't keep the secret to herself, and she told her boyfriend what happened. The boyfriend wanted revenge, so he kidnapped Charles' and Nora's baby. Terrified, the Doctor and his wife waited for the ransom demands. Driven insane by grief, the doctor used all his experience and surgical skills to try and cheat death. But what he created was ungodly, and monstrous. And even after their tragic end, that 'thing' remained, down here, to this day."

Peter wanted to believe it to be true because that had to be what scared Leah but it just wasn't logical.

"Oh my God..." Peter spoke. "You're so hot when you tell a scary story. You should tell me more." He stood up. "It's fine. Forget I ever asked. But one other thing." He turned back to Tate. "Is tomorrow a real date? Out of this basement?"

"Yes," Tate answered, standing up as well, lightly grabbing Peter's wrist. "Tomorrow night. We'll go out."

Peter smiled happily, pecking Tate's lips.

Peter and Tate's head shot up as they heard footsteps upstairs.

"Your father agreed to see me again, but I'm not supposed to be here," Tate replied, anxiously.

Peter interlocked his fingers with Tate's, pulling him upstairs. "Come on, I'll be your lookout."

***

The next night, it was Halloween. Violet went out (much to Peter's shock) while Peter was at home and waited for Tate.

He sat on his bed, volume very loudly on his iPod, reading an Avengers comic.

He removed his headphones as he heard the doorbell and repeated knocking.

"Violet," Peter called, exiting the room. "You don't have to ring the doorbell..."

He trailed off as he went downstairs and heard a man, yelling, "Goddamn it, Ben, I want my money! I'm not leaving here till I have my thousand dollars!" Peter slowly approached the door as the knocking and doorbell ringing continued. He looked through the peephole to see a man in a suit with a half-burnt face standing there. "Hello! Ben Harmon! Ben Harmon! I am not leaving here till I have thousand dollars. Screw you! You owe me!"

Peter backed away, grabbing the home phone and dialing Ben's phone number which rang multiple times as he backed away from the door more.

"Hello?" Ben spoke.

"Dad, there's some freaky dude at the door screaming about money," Peter spoke, trying to keep his voice low. "I think he might be one of your patients. Should I call the cops?"

"No!" Ben nearly yelled. "No. Just...just keep the door closed. Is it locked?"

Peter kept backing away towards the kitchen. "Yeah," he answered. "What should I do?"

"We're on our way home right now," Ben spoke. "Peter, just...just keep the door locked and if you need to grab a knife from the kitchen."

"Okay," Peter answered, hanging up the phone.

Peter heard the man laughing, "I know you're in there. Is that your daughter? Or your son? Peter? Right?"

Peter kept backing away towards the rubber man standing in the doorway who only stared but didn't move...

***