Kaz let out a loud laugh as arms wrapped around him in a tight hug. He glanced over his shoulder at Wylan and the boy's very excessive costume.

He was dressed in a sharp black suit with a dark red tie and black dress shoes. His hair was styled up similarly to Kaz's and he was holding a cane in his hand. "Did I scare you?"

Kaz shook his head. "Nope."

Though he was under stress, he was kind of excited for Halloween. Who wouldn't be?

Then Wylan grabbed his ungloved hand and pulled him off of the stole. "Come on, Kaz. We have to go decorate. And you didn't even put on your costume yet!"

Wylan yanked Kaz over to the small closet and sat him on the bed. "You're wearing a costume."

Kaz sighed. "Fine, Wy."

The boy grinned and started searching through the closet until he let out a loud laugh. "You should be a demon!"

After Kaz pulled on an all black suit that literally made no difference to his normal attire, the two boys raced down the stairs to the ground level of the slat. It was decorated and the lighting was tinted and fancy. Carved pumpkins littered the perimeter of the building, along with various leaves and other random decorations, courtesy of Inej and Nina.

The Wraith jumped onto his shoulders from the second floor with a joyful laugh.

"'Nejy!" Kaz smiled, letting her slide down to the floor. His breath caught in his throat as he took in her beautiful costume. She was dressed in all black that outlined with her every curve and Kaz was fighting with his inner demon.

Inej looped their arms and Kaz grabbed Wylan's hand as they started off down the street. Nina and Jesper had headed off to another neighborhood to spook kids and then give them candy.

Kaz ruffled Wylan's curls back into their usual position. He took a deep breath, inhaling the luxurious scent of cinnamon and pumpkins.

Inej smiled at him and leaned up to kiss his cheek. It had been two years since the Ice Court robbery and Kaz was starting to settle down. He spent more time with Inej than he used to and he tried hard to fix his broken relationship with Jesper. Nina, who was usually overseas, had always written him letters, begging him to be safe, telling him about her rough days in the war.

Then there was Wylan. Wylan was Kaz's best friend, his biggest supporter, and his confidant. They helped each other and often, Kaz would stumble into the mansion covered in blood and dirt and Wylan wouldn't ask questions. He would simply tell the servants to draw a warm bath and then he would make Kaz tea and they would lay together in silence on one of the couches.

"I..." Kaz took a deep breath, calming his racing nerves. He wasn't afraid to tell Wylan and Inej how he felt, he was afraid to feel the way he did. Him being him, it wasn't safe to love someone else.

"I love you guys," he blurted, scanning their faces.

Inej smiled brightly, her cheeks a light pink. Wylan grinned and surprised Kaz with a tight embrace.

"We love you, too," Inej said softly.

After a few hugs, they all agreed to catch up to Jesper and Nina. They found the two chasing young children around with fake knives and burlap sacks.

Wylan rolled his eyes at his fiance and said quietly, "He's still my same Jes."

Inej was already racing towards Nina, a smile on her beautiful face.

Kaz nodded. "You're good for him."

Wylan faced Kaz with serious eyes. "I wonder about that sometimes."

Kaz took the boy's hand. "Jesper loves you. And you aren't the only one."

His gaze strayed to Inej, happy, carefree Inej.

Wylan just sighed and said, "Should we join in the fun?"

Kaz snorted and pulled the boy towards the rest of the Crows. "Why not?"

Together, they joined their friends and ended up giving the rest of their candy to the kids before stumbling back to the slat.

They were all giddy and high on laughter as they collapsed in a heap in Kaz's bedroom. Nina had abandoned them to go get some free waffles at a restaurant.

Inej laid her head in Kaz's lap and he stroked her hair.

Wylan was being squished underneath Jesper as the sharpshooter curled up and tried to sleep.

Kaz glanced at his friends and smiled. My family.

Inej closed her eyes and fell asleep, as did Jesper and Wylan. Kaz just sat there and watched, prepared to kill anybody who dared to even threaten the people that he loved.

"Goodnight, my beautiful crows."

Before Kaz closed his eyes to sleep, he noticed a shimmering face in the window. A very recognizable face.

"Go away, Jordie."

The boy did not leave. "Be careful with them, Kaz."

Kaz sighed through his nose. "Fair enough. I'm enjoying quality time with my family. Scat."

Jordie raised translucent eyebrows. "I'm your family."

Kaz lifted his chin. "Families stick together. They don't get overwhelmed with greed or fall into traps. You are not my family."

Jordie disappeared and Kaz looked at his crows again. "Families stick together."