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Howl wasn't exactly happy to be in a pumpkin patch. It was cold, and wet, and dirty. Yuck. At least he wasn't wearing a suit today, no. His father had made sure he was dressed for the occassion, jeans, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and a jacket over it. He felt extremely uncomfortable, which made him cranky. He didn't want to be here. His father hadn't been able to find the perfect pumpkin for him, so he'd been dragged, with much kicking, screaming and sliming.

Devin on the other hand, had come quite happily. He was holding Zee's hand, a bright smile plastered on his face. "Yay, pumpkinth again!" He cried. He would have been running through the patch by now, if Zee hadn't been holding onto him. Speaking of pumpkins...

There were pumpkins of all sizes. Big ones, little ones, inbetween ones--even tiny ones that could have fit in the palm of someone's hand. Besides pumpkins, there was also a prank shop where you could buy all sorts of Halloween supplies. Toys, candy, decorations. They even had the glow in the dark spider webs. Baskets of apples were arranged at the enterance. A cornmaze could be seen in the distance. 'Haunted Cornmaze, guarenteed to scare!' boasted a large sign.

Alome was hovering near her father's shoulders, leading him around to try to find the perfect pumpkin. To her, the perfect one was just big enough to feel heavy in her little arms. She looked and looked, but couldn't find a pumpkin that fit her. She didn't mind though, she was having so much fun!

Before too long, she spotted a head of blond hair that she recognized! "HOWL!!" she called out, flying over to him and hugging him tightly. "Hai Howl!! You go look for pumpkin toos?" He gaze traveled to Devin and she waived. "Hai Devi~ You look weally koot today."

Maru smiled at Howl's greeting. "Hello Howl!" She said happily. She looked around and spotted Zee. "Hey Zee, how are you? Looking for a pumpkin to carve?" She asked walking over to him.

Natty hugged Howl back. "I good Howl. How you? You find a niwce pumpkin? Daddy's gonna hewp me carve one!" She said smiling at Howl.

Luke watched Natty and Howl hug. He was starting to get used to them hugging, just as long as there was no kissing. He moved to follow Maru, stopping to pat Howl on the head gently. "Love you too Howl." He said smiling. Then he headed over to Zee to say hello.

Howl smiled at Natty, before taking her hand. "I good, my Daddy gonna carve me a pumpkin too. And Devi, too! You meet Devi yet? He my little brudder." He pointed to the navy blue skinned toddler. "Come thee," and he could secretly introduce her to Alome, too! Maybe they would be friends. He hoped so, they were both very pretty. "Natty, come meet Alome. Thee my friend."

And with that, Howl led Natty over to Lome and Devin. "Thith my brudder, Devi," he introduced with a smile. "Thith Lome. Thee nice. Thee be your friend." He hoped so, anyway. After all, it wouldn't be any fun if they weren't. "Lome, thith Natty. Natty my friend too." Well, at least he didn't mention girlfriend.

Devin looked at Alome, and frowned slightly. "I gettin' beth pumpkin. I got one, he my pet. Hith name Pumpky." He gave a nod and a smile. "Daddy wath gonna carve Pumpky, but I no let him. Tho we get another one."

"Two," Zee said, looking to Maru with a smile. "Devin won't let me carve the one I got for him a few days back, he's named it and everything." He rolled his eyes good naturedly. "Hi Luke, hi Noel. How are you?" He looked to Luke with another one of his smiles. "I haven't seen you since the Halloween party, and we didn't get a chance to talk."

Alome nodded. "I sure you get the best pumpkin ebber!" She nodded, patting Devin's head before turning to Howl and Natalie. "It's good to meet you too." She smiled, curtsying and letting out a soft giggle. She hadn't really met many of the other child in dept, but did recognize her.

Noel tilted his head. "Oh, Um.. Hello there. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Alome's dad. Her Father is at home right now, so I apologize you couldn't meet him as well."

Maru tilted her head slightly, confused. But she decided it would be politer to just ask Thali later. "Oh, that's too bad. We'll have to meet him some other time!" Maru smiled as Devin wraped his arms around her legs. "Hey there Devin! Remember I'm auntie, not mommy kay?"

Maru smiled. "Sounds good Zee." She said. Luke laughed. "I know what you mean. Natty sure makes things interesting in our house." He moved towards Zee whispering in his ear. "Between you and me I think Maru wants another baby."

Natty looked toward the cornmaze hesitantly. "Otay we go find pumkins 'gether. We find best ones here!" She looked at Howl. "You pwotect us fwom spookies?" She asked.

Devin frowned slightly. Why did Mommy insist on being called Auntie anyway? He decided to humor her. "Kay, Auntie," he said cheerfully. Then he looked to Noel, releasing his legs. He'd made another mistake! This man was like Uncle Matthias! "Oh... I thorry," he apologized, backing away.

Zee nodded at Maru, before turning and grinning at Luke. "Maru and Thali are a lot alike. When Thali first adopted Joshua, she couldn't wait to adopt another child. That's how Vincent came along--I think Samantha and Reiya were honestly unexpected until she realized why she was having cravings though. My advice to you, as a friend, is to... Well. Don't try to stop her if she gets the urge to adopt. Women get awfully mean when they're told they can't have another baby. I think Ben's still got the scars. Thali attacked him with a plastic butter knife. Funniest thing I've ever seen," he chuckled. Of course, he was making this up. In reality, it was a half-truth. Thali had pestered Ben with a plastic butter knife, while she'd been pregnant.

"We find beth oneth," Howl agreed with a nod and a smile. He took Natalie's hand, and almost instinctively (knowing Howl, it was an instinct), gave it a reassuring squeeze. "It okay. I no let Thpookieth get you, kay? I withard. I thcare them!" Hey, she was his girlfriend. It was his duty to protect her, even if he was scared. "Ath long ath you protect me back," he added quickly. He looked to Alome, and smiled. " 'Lome protect uth!"

Noel smiled and patted Devin's head. "It's alright, sweetie. I don't mind. Even my husband thought I was a girl when we first met."

Alome looked away from Howl and Natty, marching bravely to the pumpkins. She wasn't afraid of any monsters or anything. She was determined to protect her friends. Once she arrived at the pumpkins, she picked up a perfectly round one. "oooh!! Pretty!!"