Thanks to everyone who waited patiently for me to get this story finished! It's been fun but I'm glad it's wrapped up. I hope you have enjoyed the ride!

-oOo-

Chapter 24 - Epilogue

At five o'clock the next evening Stephanie was standing on the front porch of her parents' house with her Grandmother, preparing for the invasion of trick-or-treaters. Halloween was Grandma Mazur's favorite day. Knowing that handing out candy took precedence, for once her mother had made sandwiches and finger foods instead of a sit-down dinner. There was hot cider and hot chocolate and of course a variety of cookies, so there was no shortage of food.

Grandma was in her element and excited, dressed in a black sweater and black knit pants, sitting in the corner chair with the spider legs arranged around her. Her gray curls were freshly tinted purple and she was wearing blue eye shadow and deep red lipstick. A big orange bowl of candy was balanced on her knobby knees and secured by hands sporting long glow-in-the-dark plastic nails.

Stephanie smiled fondly at her grandmother, glad she could be here for her. When she and Ranger had arrived thirty minutes ago Grandma had already been dressed and raring to go and fussing at Steph to hurry up and change.

The butterfly costume from, um, probably middle school of course didn't fit anymore, but Ella had produced a replacement that Stephanie now wore. Instead of a butterfly she was a winged flower fairy. Grandma loved it, and secretly Stephanie did, too. She wondered if Ella had made it.

The costume was a lot higher quality than most she'd ever had. The base of the costume was a semi-sheer nude-colored Lycra bodysuit, with fluttery silk 'flower petals' and 'leaves' sewn in strategic places to make a fairy-type dress. The large lightweight wings fit into a frame on a harness worn under the costume and looked as if they grew out of her back. There was glitter and shimmer and crystals everywhere - on the costume, on the large delicate wings of sheer gauze, and even in her hair, makeup, and nail polish. She felt a little silly at first, then decided it was not really any different than being dressed as Catwoman and just relaxed to have fun.

The Plum house was undeniably the hit of the 'Burg. The bats that seem to fly up when someone climbed up the steps startled screeches from both kids and parents. One of the merry men had rigged the witches to stir the cauldron, and the dry ice inside was making clouds of sufficiently creepy fog. Spooky sounds and creepy music played over the speakers hidden in the trees and under the porch eaves.

Ranger had come with Stephanie all dressed in his usual black but with his hair down. He was lurking around and seemed able to appear and disappear at will, startling Ellen but Grandma and the kids he sometimes spooked loved it. Sometimes Steph wouldn't see him but would hear his voice or feel a hidden caress. The first unseen touch made her jump but after that she'd just smile. She thought he was having fun, too.

About half the guys from RangeMan had come by to check out the decorations, see how things were going, bum a piece of candy or a cup of cider and hang out to watch the kids for a bit. Grandma was having a blast.

Even Ellen seemed to be enjoying herself. She'd been kept busy filling the candy bowls, supplying food and drinks, and answering the phone. At least tonight most of the calls were complimentary; Steph was enjoying the change of pace.

But as popular as the Plum house decorations were, there was even more talk among the parents about the television coverage from the Resort Casino's costume party the night before. The appearance by Catwoman and the big silvery cat had made the news, the nighttime talk shows, and had been repeated on several morning entertainment shows. It seemed like every parent that came by had to chat with Grandma about it.

Stephanie just leaned against the porch rail and smiled. Her smile grew when she felt Ranger's hands on her waist as he stepped closer to press a kiss against the back of her neck.

Yes, playing with the big cat had been fun...

But playing with Ranger afterwards had been better!

~The End!~

Thanks for reading!