This story was requested by Summergirl1993 . Thank you for requesting a one-shot.

—————

October 31st, 2011

Scarlet walked down the dark streets of New York with her husband, and their six-year-old son leading the way, candy bucket in hand and costume worn proudly. She knew it was still like his first Halloween to him, and it was adorable. He always wanted to wear the same ghost costume.
"This reminds me of my last Halloween with my dad." Scarlet said, smiling fondly at the memory. "I didn't tell you about that yet, did I?"
Her husband shook his head. "I don't think you have." He answered. "Not yet, anyway."
Scarlet laughed faintly and shook her head. "One of the best nights of my life." She admitted. "I think I was eight, so it must have been back in 1991..."

October 31st, 1991

"So," Eric was saying, as he knelt down in front of his daughter in their kitchen. "When you get up to a house, what're you gonna say?"
Scarlet paused. She was dressed as a witch, with an overly large hat falling slightly over her face. "...Happy birthday!" She answered eagerly.
"Wh- No! You goofball." Eric laughed. "No, you say, trick-or-treat!"
"Yeah!" Scarlet nodded.
"There you go!" Her father clasped his hands together and stood up. "You ready to get some candy?"
"Uh-huh! Are you gonna want some of my candy when we get back?" She asked.
"Well, if you're offering." He grinned. "I'd love some."

Deep down in her heart, Scarlet knew her father was very ill. And that this would be her last Halloween with him. He'd only just gotten out of the hospital a few days ago, and still felt well enough to go out on such a cold night, something she just couldn't express her gratitude towards. These were very mature thoughts for an eight-year-old to have, but between her father's ill appearance, and her mother's poor job at keeping this a secret, there was no point in ignoring it.
But Eric never openly let Scarlet know how sick he really was. She was too young for that, although he had no idea she knew. Maybe he'd tell her what was going on as he lay dying in a hospital bed? Or maybe he'd never explain it and leave her wondering why her father was dead.
"Scarlet! You ready to hit the first house?" Eric said.
Scarlet looked to her father, and nodded quickly. "Mhmm!" She said. "Are you coming with me?"
"Nah, you're a big girl now, right?" He replied. "I'll watch you from here, m'kay?"
The girl nodded again and ran up the decorated walkway of the home. She received her candy, and went back to meet with her father, jumping into his arms in a hug.
Eric almost didn't manage to catch her and keep himself steady at the same time. "Hey, what's this about?" He laughed faintly.
"Dad?" Scarlet said. "You won't leave, will you?"
Her father blinked, bringing the girl back to look her in the face. "Of course I won't." He promised, before forcing a smile. "Now, where'd you get a goofy idea like that?"
"Well... I hear you and mum talking about you." She admitted. "'Bout how you're sick."
The man's eyes softened with pain, and empathy that Scarlet had to hear any of that. "Well, you don't have to worry about what your mom and I talk about anymore. Especially when it's dumb adult stuff like that." He said. "Okay?"
Scarlet paused, before nodding, and hugging her father again. "Okay." She responded.

2011

"I really miss those times with him." Scarlet admitted to her husband. "You already know... He passed away less than a month later. Poor guy... He just wanted the best for me. If I'd known that would be my last Halloween with him, Id've stayed out way longer than I did. This time of year was really special to us."
Her husband smiled, wrapping an arm around his wife's shoulders. "Y'know, you're a real special gal, Scarlet." He said. "A lot of it comes from your dad. You two had an amazing relationship."
Scarlet smiled fondly. "I guess we did." She sighed, looking to the man, then back to their son. "Looks like Paulie over there is starting to get tired. Should we wrap this up?"
Paulie. After Paul Caravello - Eric Carr himself. When Scarlet had the name suggested to her, she was over the moon.
"Yeah, I'll go get him." He replied, smiling back faintly. "And, y'know? I'm sure your dad's smiling down on you right now. You and his grandson."
Scarlet blinked, watching her husband walk ahead and scoop up their son as he came back down the walkway of a festive home. Eric definitely did have a watchful eye over her, she knew. Especially tonight; Because Halloween was always special to her.