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America had an open invitation to pop by whenever and did she take it to the extreme sometimes portaling in multiple times a day? Did she sometimes pop in to avoid chores around Kamar-Taj or once just to ask Stephen if she had sprained her ankle, which she hadn't and it turned out to be another attempt to get out of chores.
So a star shaped hole appearing at the top of the stairs didn't cause concern for Stephen. America walked through and she was about to do her usual greeting which was yelling for Stephen until he appeared when she noticed that her usual stomping grounds had changed. The real cobwebs had been replaced with fake ones. On desks and top of bookshelves had plastic creatures like bats, miniature ghosts and what looks like a werewolf paw. She thought back to the room before the makeover and realized the werewolf paw may have always been there.
"Hello, America. Do you like the decorations?" The former Sorcerer Supreme asked gluing plastic spiders to a cobweb.
America nodded. "STRANGE THIS-" Her compliments were halted by the doctor. "Walk! Don't run and hold the banister." She stopped her sprint down the stairs and made it a point to not say a single word as she followed Stephen's instructions.
Once, by the bearded man she erupted with words. "THIS IS AMAZING DID YOU DO THIS ALL BY YOURSELF?" As she talked she looked around taking in the view from her new perspective.
Strange laughed as he put down the glue and the plastic spiders he pointed his newly empty hands beyond where America was standing. His hand moved making a circle, a fiery ring appeared Wong dressed in his usual attire but with a matching sweater over it. "You really couldn't wait two minutes for me to grab cutlery." The current Sorcerer Supreme held a brown paper bag in one hand.
Stephen didn't get a chance to respond as America jumped at the chance to give Wong a hug. "Oh! America it's so nice to see- wait you're not skipping any lessons or chores are you?"
Her face donned an appalled expression. His face replied with a 'don't lie' expression. She rolled her eyes and said "No! I came to grab some food, maybe watch something that isn't a crime drama."
Wong would've defended his television shows but America continued talking "But when I came here, I saw all the decorations and if they look this good I can't wait to see how you guys celebrate Halloween!" Wong and Strange shared glances. America being in the middle of them noticed. "What is it."
"America, we decorate the house because it's fun but that's all we really do. Sorry to burst your bubble kid." Stephen explained.
The super-powered child's face dropped. "It's my first Halloween!" Stephen and Wong obviously didn't believe that. "In this universe…" she added nonchalantly. "We can go on a spooky hayride! Or visit a haunted house!"
Stephen's hands lifted in the air motioning America to look around. She was not amused. "A fake one! With people scaring you." Stephen rolled his eyes. "We could go trick or treating or-" America obviously had more to list but Stephen wasn't in the mood to hear it. "America, name one thing you haven't done in any universe and we'll do that."
America beamed with joy then she began thinking. Her mind rifled through her memories of things she's done to celebrate Halloween. When she had an idea of something they could do she announced "I have never carved pumpkins!"
Giving a faint smile hiding his failing patience, Stephen nodded. "Great, some freshly carved pumpkins coming up!" His hands straight out to do magic.
Wong wanted to eat his food but he wasn't against the idea of carving pumpkins. If they were going to do this they would do it the right way. "Strange, perhaps we should take the more traditional approach like going to a pumpkin patch." America nodded in agreement. Stephen sighed.
He was defeated but he would still go along with the plan. "America, go put on something warm. I don't want you getting sick." She looked at him with a deadpan expression but made a portal back to Kamar-Taj. Once, America had crossed into the portal Stephen looked at Wong.
"It'll be fun Stephen." Wong told him, hoping it would ease somehow. Stephen still was apprehensive and did not want to be involved. Another star shaped portal reappeared. America came out of it still wearing jeans however had the new addition of a sweater matched Wong's under usual denim star jacket.
"Where to?" America asked her fist raised ready to open a portal.
"I'll handle that!" Wong declared before walking over to the table where the glue and spiders were. He placed the brown bag and gave a meaningful look before waking back. Stephen shared similar feelings about leaving the food. Wong opened a portal, America jumped through seeing rows and rows or pumpkins. Strange gestured for Wong to enter "Sorcerer Supremes first." He joked. Wong took him on the offer and walked through. Strange followed Wong once he was through the portal closed.
"If this whole venture was supposed to be the 'traditional approach' why did we use a portal to get here?" Stephen brought up thinking he had pointed out Wong's hypocrisy.
Wong didn't have anything to rebuttal with however, America did. "We are taking the traditional approach to picking our own pumpkins and then carving them ourselves." Wong nodded at the comment. She wasn't done, she added,"Also, do you have money to get us a cab to wherever we are?"
"Let's go find our pumpkins." Was all Strange said.
The rows of pumpkins seemed endless. They had so much variety it was hard to choose. They had pumpkins that were severely bruised to pumpkins that were seemingly perfect but with small blemishes that took it out of the running. The three of them kept looking. Even though he was against the idea at the beginning Stephen was committed to finding an adequate pumpkin. Wong and Strange were deep in concentration so when America exclaimed "Look!" They both rushed over to her.
She pointed to a sign that read. 'Free Scary Hayrides here!' Strange had thoughts "I thought we were only doing activities you've never done before."
America looked slightly deflated. "Well she's never been on a hayride in this universe" Wong supplied. America smiled at Wong. Wong gave a glance at Stephen which he took as 'just get on the hayride'.
Oh things Stephen does for the people he cares about. "We can get our pumpkins after." America looked at him shocked that she didn't have to bully him into this. "Look, there's nobody else in line, it'll just be us." He urged them both to hurry.
Wong and Stephen chose to sit next to each other giving America free reign on the other side of the cart. The hayride was quite boring in fact America had gotten so swept up in all of the Halloween vibes she forgot the universe she did go on a hayride in she hated it. The hayride had the occasional bumps in the road causing Wong and Stephen to bump into each other not they minded.
Wong noticed that the ride was almost over as he could see where they started. He mourned the twenty minutes of his life that he wouldn't get back. In the last five minutes on the hayride something caught Wong's eye. The Sorcerer Supreme nudged Stephen and pointed at a scarecrow. "Look, it's you." The scarecrow had a hay beard and looked like he was supposed to be the scarecrow dad with his scarecrow family. America had a nice laugh at the comparison.
Stephen took no offense to Wong's comment in fact he glanced at the hayride driver making sure he wasn't looking. Thankfully, he wasn't Stephen began waving his hands around. Wong and America were confused but the scarecrow family had been changed. The one that Wong had pointed out that looked similar to Strange had the new addition of a cape. Besides the Stephen scarecrow was the obviously Wong scarecrow dressed in clothes similar to what Wong was currently wearing. The last change was the child scarecrow now had a bob haircut made of hay and a star on its chest.
"Funny, you say that I think the other scarecrows share a shocking resemblance with you two." Stephen told both of them in a smug manner. While Wong didn't approve of using magic like that he did appreciate the new scarecrows. America automatically thought it was awesome when she realized one of the scarecrows was supposed to be her.
The ending of the hayride made them all much happier than the whole hayride itself. "Time to pick our pumpkins for real this time!" Wong declared. They all slightly drifted apart but they all remained with ear shot when looking for pumpkins.
America was first to find the pumpkin she would carve. She carried it with one arm. It was a bit smaller than the other pumpkins but it had no blemishes on it. Next was Wong he also carried his with one arm but it was twice the size of America's pumpkin. It had some bruises on its skin but Wong was sure the carving would get rid of them. Last but not least Stephen found a pumpkin he wanted within seconds but then another one caught his eye so while the others kept looking Stephen had a debate on which pumpkin he should get. Both looked like straight from a picture.
"Stephen, just pick one." Stephen ignored America's complaint. After some time passed in which America and Wong were able to talk about dinner, Wong's recent run ins with the legal system and sharing about their favorite candies Stephen picked his pumpkin. When it came time to pay it became a game of sharing glances with each other. America wasn't paying no one expected her to so it came down to Wong and Stephen. "Well Sorcerer Supremes do take care of all duties" The doctor remarked. He wasn't thrilled but Wong did pay for the pumpkins.
They returned home this time Stephen graciously made the portal. He also took some time to find the least magical table for them to carve the pumpkins on. When he found one which was ironically was near some of the most magical artifacts.
Stephen took out the insides of all the pumpkins because he knew it would be more efficient. America let him as she didn't want to touch pumpkin guts and Wong took a bit of delight in watching Stephen grab the insides of the pumpkins. Once, Stephen was done the tools needed magically appeared Wong and America allowed Stephen to summon the tools as neither wanted to get up and look for something to use.
They each had their own process for the carving. Wong and Stephen both used pencils to sketch the design, while America grabbed a tool and started carving. They had a comfortable silence as they carved their pumpkins. America finished pretty quickly so she used the remainder of the clean up edges and appreciated that both Stephen and Wong agreed to participate in this just for her.
Again, Stephen was last to finish. Wong had split the food he had gotten with America. Neither of them showed their pumpkin design; they were both waiting for Stephen to finish. "OK! Finally done! We show on the count of three."
"One"
"Two"
"Three!"
They all revealed their pumpkins at the same time. Wong's design was a classic happy expression. America's design was a star surrounded with a bunch of tiny stars. Stephen's design was a very detailed image of the scarecrows from the pumpkin patch. They shared compliments on their design, Stephen suggested they put them on the steps of the house. Wong rummaged around for normal non magical candles and placed them inside each of their pumpkins. They enjoyed the sight of their finished pumpkins on the steps before going inside and sharing Stephen's food much to his chagrin.