HERE IT IS! The *last* one :o( awwww! I will miss this little series, but it was fun! I hope you enjoyed celebrating Halloween with the Bransons from the "suzy universe"! Thank you to everyone for reading and following and a special thank you to those that reviewed and shared their thoughts! This chapter is dedicated to ALL OF YOU! And so without further ado...

October 31—"Cauldron"

"She's finally asleep," Tom announced to his wife as he entered the living room where Sybil was sitting, a giant plastic cauldron filled with candy on her lap.

Sybil turned her head and gave her husband a tired smile. She was utterly exhausted after a day of waking extra early and being at the hospital from five until mid-afternoon, then coming home to help Suzy and Aidan get into their costumes, as well as getting into her own at Suzy's assistance. Even Tom dressed up, cape, fake fangs, and all! They went to Margaret's, had their pictures taken, then hit the streets, tricking-or-treating up and down every road Suzy could find. They returned to Margaret's for supper, and then a few of Suzy's cousins came over, and they played games until everyone started yawning. Suzy fell asleep on the drive back to the flat, but much to her parents disappointment, was wide awake upon return, and begged Tom to finish reading The Halloween Tree before going to bed.

"Long day…" Tom said with a sigh as he eased himself down on the couch next to Sybil.

"And night," Sybil groaned, rolling her stiff shoulders, before popping another piece of chocolate into her mouth. The candy was Suzy's, but she collected so much (and a good amount for Aidan as well) she said that it was "ok" if her parents wanted to have some.

"Very generous of our daughter to allow us to have some of her loot," Tom chuckled, helping himself to a piece as well. He noticed Sybil's groan as she rolled her shoulders, and turned on the couch to put his hands on her back, rubbing the stiff muscles and smiling as he heard her groans turn to pleasured moans. "Easy, love, you're giving me ideas…" he whispered.

"Not tonight," Sybil sighed. "I'm afraid I'll fall asleep as soon as my body hits the mattress."

"What about the wall?" Tom teased, laughing at the look she threw him over her shoulder.

Sybil couldn't help but smile at her husband's cheeky humor, and reached around to pat his knee. "When you come home tomorrow from taking Suzy to school…I'll make it up to you," she purred.

"Oh, that's right, you don't have to go into work tomorrow…" he playfully growled, leaning in and nipping at her neck. He had taken the fangs out, but he still played the part.

"Mmmm…no, and a nice lay in will be heavenly after today," she sighed, relaxing against him.

"In more ways than one," Tom vowed against her neck, before easing her body even further against his chest, his arms enfolding her and holding her close. "But it was a good day, yeah?"

Sybil smiled and nodded her head. "It was," she murmured. "A very good day, and a very good month."

"Halloween was a success?"

Sybil laughed but again nodded her head. "Our first Halloween as a married couple," she reflected.

"And Aidan's first as well," Tom added. "Think he'll have a hang of it next year? Will he be able to walk and keep up with Suzy?"

"I don't know if anyone can keep up with Suzy," Sybil groaned. "But he'll certainly try."

"Especially if he's anything like his big sister," Tom chuckled.

They both smiled and allowed the quiet of the evening to sink in around them. It would be a new month tomorrow, and Halloween and all the preparation that went into it would become a memory until another year. There were already signs of the upcoming Christmas holidays in the stores, and Tom and Sybil could already imagine Suzy begging that they get a Christmas tree and decorate it before it was even December. Life with their "little Miss Suzy" would never be a dull one.

But for now, they would focus on the present, on the fun that was had that day with the children, and the days leading up to it, from apple orchard visits, to Halloween pranks, to going to the costume shop (multiple times), to watching It's the Great Pumpkin. Tom would even concede that those times he chaperoned Suzy's class were fun ones as well. All in all, October had been a lovely month, and the Bransons knew that was because they were building memories and starting traditions unique to their own little family.

"Sybil?" Tom whispered, noticing how her breathing seemed to even. Had she fallen asleep?

She stirred at the sound of his voice. "Hmmm?"

He chuckled and kissed the top of her head. "Come on, love…let's get you to bed. You'll be much more comfortable there than on the couch."

"Mmmm…I'm not so sure about that," she sighed, turning and snuggling her head into his chest. It wasn't the mattress that brought her comfort, but the arms of her husband.

Tom smiled and eased her up, taking the cauldron full of candy and setting it aside. Without another word, he scooped Sybil up as if she were as light as a feather, and quietly carried her towards their bedroom, her head nestled on his shoulder, her arms entwined around his neck.

"Happy Halloween, love," he whispered into her hair.

She smiled and closed her eyes, snuggling even deeper. "Mmmmm…Happy Halloween," she sleepily murmured back.

THE END
Happy Halloween!