Hold on, I still want you

1

Julie Molina was certain of three things. One, her phantoms were -- aside from still being dead -- perfectly okay. Two, Caleb's curse was gone. Three, she could hug and hold her phantoms.

Actually, it was four things, the fourth being that she was incredibly exhausted.

Though very reluctantly, Alex was the first to let go of Julie. Reggie clung to Julie's arm like some sort of human-shaped snake and Luke seemed unwilling to lift his face out of Julie's shoulder.

Like Alex, they were afraid that if they let go of Julie, they may never be able to hold her again but unlike Alex, they were ignoring of Julie's very human need to sleep.

"Guys," Alex tried, attempting to peel Reggie away. "Guys, come on, Julie needs to go to bed."

"Julie can go to bed here," Reggie said, trying to squeeze in between Julie and Luke.

Alex sighed. "Reg, come on, you know that's not a good idea."

"He's right," Julie murmured, "Carlos is waiting up for me."

"Carlos can sleep here too," Reggie said, somehow making Luke laugh.

Julie had heard Luke laugh before. She thought it was a beautiful sound. It was pure mirth when he laughed. Julie had seen Luke laugh before. His whole face scrunched up in unfiltered joy and he looked like he was at his happiest. But Julie had never felt Luke laugh before. She'd never been able to feel his laugh travelling through his body and feel how his shoulders shook with the effort to keep it quiet before.

Julie thought Luke's laughter was the most wonderful feeling in the world. Part of her wanted to give in and sleep in the garage, if only to stay holding on to Luke and make him laugh again. The logical part of her remained in control, though, and told her to tear herself away from Reggie and Luke.

She gratefully accepted Alex's help and gave him a quick hug to thank him.

"I'll see you in the morning, okay?"

"Okay," they all sighed together, a little more than upset at not hugging their Julie anymore.

Julie held on to the door for a moment. "I know I already said it again, but thank you, guys."

They gave her warm and bright smiles as she reached for the light and flipped the switch. Even in the darkness, she could see how they beamed at her. She really did love her boys.

~~||~~

"So," Carlos said, pacing the length of the couch where Julie was seated in the middle. "These phantoms . . . what exactly are they?"

"Something tells me you already know," Julie said slowly, watching her little brother pace and think.

"Yeah, but I wanna hear you say it. That way I don't think I'm crazy."

Julie sighed and Carlos stopped in front of her. "Okay. They're ghosts. Actual ghosts. But not the kind you have to protect me from. They're good and nice and sweet and funny and safe. How did you figure it out anyway?"

"Found this in an old box from the garage," Carlos said when his eyes had shrunk back to normal size, handing Julie a folded piece of paper.