It had been a week, but now Neal and BB were back in New York. Slightly richer and tanner. Neal was smiling to himself; it was starting to be the best time of year, in his opinion. Autumn in New York.

He sat down at his kitchen table, looking idly out the window, but as soon as his eyes processed the change of light, they also processed Something out there. It was big and ugly; it looked like a zombie cut and folded in half; it was shorter but wider. Neal may or may not have yelped loudly on seeing the thing.

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	folleconnasse 2011-10-30 02:50 am UTC (link)
	BB had been upstairs unpacking, humming contentedly to herself. The last of her toiletries was put away, and she stretched as she walked toward the stairs. But that noise - Neal was in trouble. With a flash she ran down the stairs, silent, grabbing a kitchen knife as she moved toward him. "What is it?" (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-30 02:54 am UTC (link)
	He kept his cool for the moment, even though he was sure he hadn't been hallucinating. "Saw something outside," Neal managed, looking out the back window. "It looked like a short zombie. Some weird ... thing. It didn't look like it had eyes." Please let her not laugh at him. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-30 02:55 am UTC (link)
	"Halloween's in a few days," she muttered under her breath. "Of course it's starting early. Neal, baby, where do you keep your service revolver?" (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-30 02:56 am UTC (link)
	"In my desk." Neal furrowed his brow. "Might have a rifle somewhere, though. That thing's real?" If it was real, did it really respond to bullets? Monsters never did in movies. But this wasn't a fucking movie, was it! (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-30 02:58 am UTC (link)
	"Let's look. I'm going to go grab the sword I use when I train with Sir Auron. Don't get by any windows, okay? That thing's real. This happens every year. We're going to the cabin." She moved toward a hallway closet, pulling it open and taking out a sword that was bigger than she was. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-30 03:01 am UTC (link)
	Neal's eyes went faintly wider. "If I have a rifle, it's in the loft. It has skylights." Was that safe? "And what do you meant it happens every year?" (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-30 03:04 am UTC (link)
	"There's no time to look. Grab your go bag, I have stuff already there." She cracked her neck, grabbing her stompy boots and lacing them up. "Every Halloween, we get something hinky. Monsters, one time Mom said the candy made people change sexes, but usually monsters." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-30 03:08 am UTC (link)
	This was moving too fast for him; he had to stop a second. "All my stuff's dirty - " Neal cut himself off; if "the cabin" meant her house in Sweden, he could do laundry there. "Monsters? In New York?" he said instead. Freakin' monsters. Something jangled in his brain. "BB, let me get a hold of Peter. Peter and El have to get somewhere safe -" (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-30 03:15 am UTC (link)
	"Call him on the way, we'll go pick him up. You drive." She moved toward the door, looking out the peephole and waiting for him to follow. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-30 03:19 am UTC (link)
	Neal grabbed his bag, glad he hadn't unpacked it yet, feeling a twinge of frustration that he couldn't just stay home. He headed out when she did, watching her, letting his instincts take over on when to move and how quick to move. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-30 03:22 am UTC (link)
	She motioned him toward the car, knowing he had his keys with him. Fortunately, the darkspawn weren't very stealthy, and she instinctively moved toward the three that pushed toward Neal, cutting them clean through. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-30 03:31 am UTC (link)
	Neal only saw one of them, and tossed himself forward as hard as he could, landing against the car door as he fumbled for the keys. He got it unlocked and practically yelped. "BB, get in here!" (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-30 03:40 am UTC (link)
	She was beheading a fourth, the long sword giving her momentum to hack through another. Backing slowly toward the car, she eventually climbed into the passenger seat, waiting for him to gun it. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-30 03:43 am UTC (link)
	Neal knew he'd gone white, and he did indeed gun it, vaulting out into the street going hell-for-leather. Thankfully, they made it across to Soho without encountering any more beasties. As soon as they'd awkwardly parked at the curb, Neal sprinted up to the door and hammered. "Peter! Elizabeth?" (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-30 03:47 am UTC (link)
	BB stood point as he banged on the door, glad that there wasn't anything she could see, right away. She waited, figuring she'd stay at the door, making sure the path to the car was clear. Peter would have his gun. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-30 03:50 am UTC (link)
	Neal hadn't expected Elizabeth to throw herself into his arms when she opened the door. She'd been crying; Peter was still at work, and she'd seen something; yes, she was fine, so was Satch, but where was Peter? "Get in the car," Neal said, helping her out the door while whistling for Satchmo. "BB's got somewhere safe for people; we'll get you guys. We'll go get Peter." (Reply to this)

folleconnasse 2011-10-30 03:55 am UTC (link)

BB smiled when she saw El. She motioned her toward the car, but blinked hard when she saw a police car all but barreling down the street with Peter in the passenger's side. He launched out a moment later, running to El and looking at BB. He'd started to open his mouth, but BB pointed at the car. Her voice was all gravel and seriousness as she pointed. "Get in, Neal and I will explain on the way." She looked toward Neal and Satch, shoulders square. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-30 04:00 am UTC (link)
	Neal didn't say anything until their friends were in the car, Satchmo on Peter's lap. "Apparently, according to BB, this happens every year on Halloween. Crazy ... monsters and stuff. Yes, Peter, it's real, I saw one with my own eyes and so did Elizabeth. You didn't happen to grab my gun from my desk, did you?" (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-30 04:06 am UTC (link)
	Peter nodded, reaching into his jacket. The dog had his nose pressed to the glass, apparently a little sad that he didn't get to stick his head out the window. BB apologized to El about her sword taking up so much room. "Mom's house, Neal." She sighed, chewing on a knuckle before she took out her cell phone to see if her mother was even there. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-30 04:18 am UTC (link)
	Neal nodded, shutting up and driving. He didn't like it at all; it made him uncomfortable that he was going to the safe place when the woman he cared about would probably be out there risking her life. Peter would probably tell him to quit it, but never let it be said that Neal didn't have chivalrous impulses. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-30 04:20 am UTC (link)
	She chatted with her mom for a moment before smiling awkwardly. "Well, my whole family's there except my Daddy, he's at Guildhall, but you'll get to meet everyone else. Neal, will you tap the portkey?" (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-30 04:22 am UTC (link)
	"Way ahead of you." Neal drove up to the street sign and stretched, touching it and feeling the entire car jerk forward. When the dust cleared, they were driving down a two-lane road in Sweden. Neal remembered it well. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-30 04:25 am UTC (link)
	BB smiled, already breathing easier. "Mom hasn't made the moat yet with Soren, so we can park in the garage." "The ... moat." Peter blinked. BB just nodded. "Every year." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-30 04:54 am UTC (link)
	"You know BB's family is unusual." Neal already felt weary. "The house is just up the road, though, so you might see some flashes going off. If you need to hold Satch or something." He'd seen what BB's little brothers could do; he could only imagine what Lulu was capable of. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-30 04:58 am UTC (link)
	Peter did hold onto Satch, and BB nodded to Neal that he could just pull into the driveway. Lulu came out of the house to wave at them. There still weren't many monsters around, and she was soon flanked by a taller blond man that was obviously her son. (Reply to this)

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