12 Years Later

Violet found Tate out on the front porch, perched like a grungy gargoyle on the low wall that fenced it in. He was looking at the yard but she could tell from his broody expression that he wasn't really seeing it. She came over to him and draped an arm over his middle.

"Want to come watch a Halloween show?"

His expression eased when he looked at her. "Which show?"

"Sleepy Hollow?" she offered. She knew it was one of his favorites and they hadn't watched it yet this year. The television broadcasts had ended two years ago but they still had DVDs.

He was staring off across the yard again. At his mother's house. There was a lot of activity over there. Several people were coming and going. The evening hour made it almost seem like a potluck supper but they weren't dressed for socializing. They were anonymous in their hooded sweatshirts and scarves.

"I saw Michael."

Violet knew that was a touchy issue with him so she gave him a squeeze. "How'd that go?"

Tate made a face and twitched a one-shouldered shrug. "Okay, I guess. He's older than me now."

She gave him another squeeze because his tone said he needed one. "You knew that would happen." She tipped her head, trying to catch his eye again. "You did know that."

His lips tightened briefly and he glanced her way but that's all the more eye contact he'd allow before he was staring at the bustling house again. "It's just... weird. I mean. It was one thing when he didn't want to do trick-or-treat anymore—"

"Tate, the neighbors all left," Violet reminded. "There wasn't any place to trick-or-treat at."

"There were still neighborhoods outside this one," he flared and batted away an annoying tear that leaked down his nose. "He just didn't want to anymore."

She peeled herself off of his middle so she could light a cigarette. Once she had it lit, she crowded into the alcove with him, pushing her legs under his. "Do you still want to?"

Tate didn't answer immediately. He wasn't even sure. Halloween had never been an easy time for him but trick-or-treat with Michael had made it better than it had been. "I guess not," he said eventually. He reached for her cigarette and stole it briefly for a puff. "I knew he'd grow up. You know? I just didn't think about how he'd stop being a kid, too."

"He's not like us," Violet said.

"No," Tate agreed. He handed the cigarette back. "He's not like anybody. That's why all those people want to talk to him."

"You can go over there, too," she responded. She tapped the ash off the cigarette he'd hot-boxed. "Do you want to? I'll go with you."

Tate considered it, then shook his head. "He's busy. If I go over there now, Constance will just get on my ass."

Violet's brows knit. "About what?"

He shrugged. "I d'know. She'll find something."

"Well," said Violet, refusing to let the matter go. "Just because he's too old for trick-or-treat doesn't mean you can't go do something else together on Halloween."

The messy-haired boy was unconvinced but willing to listen. "Like what?"

Violet's initial impulse was to say 'anything' but the reality was more limited. Sure, they could go where they wished but there weren't a lot of options left out there worth going to in range. "Well. I'm sure we could find a party somewhere."

"If we ditch Chad's Halloween party for someone else's party..." Tate didn't even want to think about what the enraged socialite might do.

"Isn't your deal with them over at the end of this year?" Violet sucked a last drag off the cigarette and crushed it out on the brick pillar she leaned against.

Tate tipped his head and his brows beetled under his unkempt fringe. Then they disappeared, hopping high as he finished the math. "Wow. Yeah. I guess so."

He hadn't thought about the deal in years. The arrangement had become so much a part of his existence, he hadn't given consideration to what might come after. He wondered if Chad and Patrick had.

"Hey," Violet said, nudging him playfully. He was getting that serious look again. "It's not like they can kick you out."

He quirked a little smile. "Not worried about that, nope." He slid off the ledge and stretched big, then offered her a hand up. "Which Sleepy Hollow is it?"

She took his hand. It took her a moment to catch up to the sudden subject change but she smiled when she did. "Live action."

"Cool," Tate smiled. He liked the gore in the old film. But. "Do you want to watch the cartoon one after?"

Violet slipped an arm around his waist as they went inside. "Sure."

...

Author's Note:

I haven't been watching Cult so I don't know what sort of uniforms they might have (if any) but I figured Michael's devotees would be made up of all walks of life, so the easiest to get uniform would be the hoodie. Anonymity and practicality.

Hope you're having a great Octoberween!

EDIT: Season 1.75 is officially started. Find Episode 1 listed on my Profile under the name American Horror Story - Season 1-75 E1 - Murder House: Armageddon