"I'm coming! Who the hell names their kid Ashton?" Todd said to Téa as she tied the cape onto his shoulders.

"I don't know Todd. I kinda like it... Ashton Manning...hmmm what do you think?" Téa asked, finishing her ghoulish make-up.

"I don't like it. I also think that this is stupid, and you look funny."

"You're just jealous, because I'm Mrs. Dracula, and I get to wear the dress and heels," she teased as she fixed his costume.

"I don't understand why we have to dress up too. It's ridiculous for adults to look like idiots if they don't already. Ya know?" he said as he looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He was surprised that he had one. Everyone always called him the Prince of Darkness. Why shouldn't he play the part for this holiday? He hated to admit it, but this was his favorite holiday.

"Daddy!!" Starr screamed from the living room.

"We're coming!!!" Todd bellowed back.

"Here, bite down on this," Téa replied as she handed him a fake blood capsule.

"What is it?" Todd looked at it and at his ghoulishly beautiful wife with a puzzled expression.

"It's a part of the overall illusion my dear Dracula."

"Huh?"

"It's just a fake blood capsule. it's nothing horrible. I promise. It just adds to the look." She tried again to push it on him.

"Whatever," he said as he bit down on it. Téa giggled as she watched him. Fake blood bubbles started dripping from his mouth, and into his goatee. "What?" he asked trying not to swallow the gunk he had in his mouth.

"Nothing, you just look really sexy with that blood oozing and dripping from your lips. Here are your fangs, can't forget them."

"Would you like me to bite you?" he asked moving extremely close to her neck. So close in fact, she could feel his hot hungry breath on her flesh.

"Uh...Actually that would be great...another time. Starr is waiting for us," she replied stepping into the bedroom.

"Oh yeah. Whatever possessed my sister and niece to have a stupid Halloween party?"

"Todd, I think it is very nice. Viki is having a haunted house for the children courtesy of Joey and Kelly; and a grand ball for the adults. Besides I volunteered us to help."

"Oh well geez, thanks honey. I really appreciate that. You ready Shorty?" he asked an anxious Starr.

"Of course I am Daddy. I've been waiting on you. You're slow, and you complain about Tee."

"Oh you do, do you?" Téa grinned at him.

"I do not," he said defensively.

"Yes you do Daddy. I hear you all the time."

"You're out numbered, Manning, face it."

"Whatever! Lets go," he said walking out the door.

"Well, here we are, can we leave now?" Todd asked as he turned off the car, and unbuckled his seat belt.

"No way Daddy! You and Tee have to go have fun at Aunt Viki's grown up party while we have fun at Kelly and Joey's," Starr exclaimed excitedly, looking at her friends.

"Out of the mouths of babes." Téa laughed and got out of her car. "Come on Manning." She helped Starr and her friends out of the back seat of her silver Eclipse. The three little girls ran to the door.

"Shorty wait for us," Todd yelled to Starr. Todd and Téa caught up to them just as Starr rang the doorbell to the Carriage house.

"Wow Starr your family can sure be cool," Ashton said.

"Good evening." The girls screamed and ran to Todd and Téa. Kelly, dressed as a pumpkin, came to the door.

"Oh wow. We have an astronaut, a Pooh bear, ad a little witch, and look here, Mr. and Mrs. Dracula."

"Stuff it Cramer. Who is this clown?" He pointed toward Joey.

"It's me Uncle Todd." Joey peeked through his cape.

"Well, you two idiots keep a close eye on my kid and her little friends."

"Sure thing, come on girls." Kelly smiled and ushered the girls in.

"Listen Joe, if Shorty needs me, or anything at all, you page Delgado. We are gonna be up at the house. She needs anything you better tell me."

"Todd, relax. She'll be fine." Téa placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him.

"She better be. Lets go." He turned and headed back to the car. "Now can we go home, and come back to get Starr and her friends later?" Todd asked.

"No, we have to go to Viki's party. Besides Blair is picking Starr and her friends up after the party. Remember, Starr is spending the weekend with Blair."

"Oh yeah, I forgot."

Téa rang Viki's doorbell. Haunted sounds blared through the doors. "Hello and welcome to Llanfair. You're guaranteed a night of ghoulish pleasure, but it is up to you to make it out alive. Ha Ha Ha!"

"Whatever you Phantom of the Opera reject."

"Well, hello to you to Todd. Hi Téa."

"Hi Ben. Nice costume."

"Same to you. Too bad Todd didn't dress up."

"Thousands of comedians are out of work and here you are trying to be one." Todd glared at Ben. Téa grabbed Todd's hand and drug him away from Ben and into the den. "Okay Téa we've made our appearance. Can we go?" He looked at her. He already knew the answer to that question.

"Todd, no we can't leave. Suck it up Manning. If you give this thing half a chance you might have some fun." Téa gave him one of her infamous looks. The 'this would really make me happy look.' Téa knew that he couldn't ignore those looks, but he was determined that he was going to practice saying no to those looks. "Wow, all of Llanview must be here," Téa thought out loud as she scanned the room. Todd looked around for Viki, he didn't see her.

"Uncle Todd? Téa?" Jessica asked as she approached the two caped figures from behind. Will followed closely behind.

"Jess, you are supposed to dress up for Halloween." Todd looked at her seriously.

"So are you." They smiled at each other.

"Wow, Jess, you and Will look great. Cinderella and Prince Charming, right?" Téa smiled.

"Right." Will smiled back. "Ya know, for once Todd is right."

"I am?"

"He is?"

"Yes. Everyone already knows that you two are Cinderella and Prince Charming. So you see, you didn't dress up." Téa smiled at her niece, then at Todd.

"Where's Viki Jess?" Todd asked.

"You bellowed dear brother?" Todd turned around to see Viki standing behind him dressed as a witch.

"Wow sis, you are starting to look like Blair." Viki and Téa both playfully punched him. Everyone laughed at his remark.

"Nice look little brother. I am glad that you could make it," Viki said, addressing Todd and then her sister-in-law.

"Well sis let's get this thing started. I want to hurry and get home." Todd smirked.

"Yeah, I know Todd, you have to get back to your coffin before dawn." Viki said as Téa and Jessica giggled.

"That was a good one mom."

"Viki, I think Todd's pessimism is beginning to rub off on you." Téa smiled. Todd just glared at them. Todd and Téa mingled with Sam, Jessica, and Will, while Viki went around checking on all of her guests. As the evening wore on, Téa convinced Todd to dance. She was utterly impressed with his dancing skills. They were having a good time. Téa knew that Todd was enjoying himself after he "accidentally" tripped while they were dancing and bumped Asa into Viki's cauldron of dry ice. It Max, Bo, and Will to pull him out. The gleam in his eyes was one that she would never forget.

From then on, the night passed by all to quickly. Viki had decided that she was going to give prizes out to her guest for their costumes. Everyone present voted throughout the evening. Todd and Téa won hands down for the most original costumes. No one believed that Todd had dressed up. Their prize was a weekend getaway to the Bayberry Inn. Téa thought that it was interesting that everyone had chosen them, but Todd just growled and grumbled about it as usual.

Everyone started leaving at around 11:00 p. m. Todd and Téa had stayed to help Viki, Ben, Jessica, and Will clean up. They had gotten a lot accomplished in a half an hour. Everyone was tired and agreed to finish cleaning up the next morning. Starr had paged Téa at 10:00 p. m. to let them know that she was leaving for her weekend with Blair. Todd and Téa said their good-byes and headed home.

As they entered their home, Todd saw the clock turn to 12:00 a. m. He grabbed Téa around the waist; and pulled her into him, her back against his chest. He tilted her head, and moved her hair away exposing her neck. "Todd, what are you doing?" She asked giggling.

"I must eat. You are my victim Delgado," he said as he licked his lips and inched closer to her neck. She could feel his hot breath, it excited her immensely. He saw the muscles in her neck tighten. "Relax Téa...it won't hurt a bit...I promise," he said as he opened his mouth wide and bit her neck lightly. Moans escaped from her. They urged him on. Ghoul make-up on or not, he nibbled and sucked on her neck. Téa's moans increased as she turned into him. She untied his cape and started unbuttoning his clothes. Todd continued his attack on her neck. He was like an animal marking his territory. He helped Téa out of her costume as he moved them into the bedroom, and into the shower. He managed to turn on the water. He hated all of the make-up that covered their faces. he wanted rid of it so that he could see his wife's gorgeous face. he loved to see her naked body covered in water droplets. As the water beat down upon them, they covered each others body in a sudsy lather. They washed each other's hair, stopping often to share a passion filled kiss. Todd couldn't fight his needs any longer. "Téa I need you...now," he said as he pulled her hard against him.

"Me too Querido." He took her then. They climaxed together. Steaming water beat down on their tired, passion filled bodies. After a small silence to let their bodies regain normalcy, Todd finally managed a few words.

"Happy Halloween Delgado...I love you."

© Copyright by April 1999