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JJ's mouth trembled. “I’m sorry, Max.”

“It’s okay. I know. We’re okay,” Max smiled. JJ smiled too. Daddy stroked JJ's hair once.

"Good boy."

JJ closed his eyes for just a second and leaned into the touch. Everything was okay.

A little later, Daddy looked down at me again.

"You ready to have that off yet?"

I thought about it. Then nodded. Daddy carefully unbuckled the paci-gag and pulled it free. My jaw felt a little strange after being quiet for so long, and I licked my lips. Daddy kissed my forehead.

"Better?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Because I heard they're about to start trick-or-treating."

My eyes widened. "Really? Can I go?"

"You can."

I actually felt myself light up. Max was sitting there next to Dominic. "What about Max?"

Max laughed. "I'm absolutely going."

"What about JJ and Sawyer?" I asked. JJ looked hopeful despite clearly trying not to. Daddy considered him.

"JJ is still sitting out the organized activities tonight." JJ's shoulders slumped. "But," Daddy continued, "there's nothing stopping his brother from bringing him back some candy."

JJ's head snapped up. "Really?"

"I'll get you a whole bag, bro!" I exclaimed. JJ's expression softened immediately. Then I looked at Sawyer. "You too."

Sawyer frowned. "I'm not being punished, but I'm not trick-or-treating. I'm twelve, not five."

"Okay, but I’m still bringing you a bag! You like candy!” I said, excited. I climbed out of Daddy's lap and immediately went for the little pumpkin bags stacked near the entrance.

I grabbed three. One for me. One for JJ. One for Sawyer whether he liked it or not. Max joined me with a little bag decorated with a black cat, and we headed toward the main room hand in hand.

A line of Littles was already forming. Lucy was still in her kitten costume, bouncing from foot to foot with excitement. Henry was dressed as a vampire and talking animatedly to someone I didn't know. A bunch of other Littles and Middles were gathering too, costumes everywhere, bags ready.

Gustav was at the front organizing everything with a clipboard in his hand, which was already funny by itself, but even funnier because he was dressed as a mummy, strips of white fabric wrapped around his body. Even on Halloween, Gustav apparently couldn't stop managing things.

"All right, everybody!" he announced. "We're going table to table. Each table has someone handing out candy. Be polite, say trick or treat, don't steal from the bowls, and if I catch anybody going through the line twice, I'm telling your Doms."

A chorus of offended noises went up. Gustav smiled. The line started moving. The first table was Elizabeth's. Lucy was already hovering around her even though she was supposed to be trick-or-treating with the rest of us. Elizabeth had a huge bowl full of colorful gummies.

"Trick or treat!" Max and I said together. Elizabeth laughed and dropped a handful into each of our bags.

"You two look adorable."

"Thank you!" I said. Her eyes went to the extra bags hanging from my wrist.

"Planning ahead?"

"They're for my brothers."