#@lilvicsart

[inevitablemoment]

Finally, I've gotten immortalized Cathleen and Egon in the same image, thanks to the fabulous @lilvicsart!

The storyteller and the mad scientist sharing a flirty moment before they have to get up. Set a little before the events of the first movie. I might write a little drabble based on this picture.

[stormagedoom]

🐓✨🦜

Collab with my dear friend @lilvicsart

[edd0ff]

gift for lily\liliana

and

for you

@lilvicsart

[nadja-antipaxos]

ALL MY PICTURES OF YOU - MASTERLIST

Title: All My Pictures of You

Fandom: Ghostsbusters (1984, 1989, 2021)

Pairing: Egon Spengler x OFC

Summary: After the destruction of Gozer, Callie Spengler decides to read her parents' journals to understand their doomed romance in their own words.

Rating: Teen

Warnings: some swearing, brief ghost violence, and mentions of sex, but nothing explicit, pregnancy, brief mention of infertility, eventual character death cause it's in the movie

Word Count: 8,829

Story graphic made by me with a polaroid template from pinkpaanik

Part One: If only I’d thought of the right words, I wouldn’t be breaking apart

Part Two: If only I’d thought of the right words, I could have held onto your heart

Status: Complete

AO3

Artwork by the amazing @lilvicsart​

[squishyproductions]

Working on the elaborate evil curl mustache. Thanks for the tag @lizardish​ !

@lilvicsart  @whistlepunkz

I think I'm gonna start a Picrew chain, because this one is just adorable!

Tags: @oh-shit-i-spilled-my-genderfluid @izzyreallyluvsu @happy-little-doorbell @clownerama @ceaseless-rambler and whoever else wants to!

[eebydeebyderby]

Got It Down

Hello! This short fic is inspired by this comic by lilvicsart. Go check their stuff out! Really cute content.

Word count: 1085

No content warnings

“Hi, Winston!”

Winston was idly standing near the staircase to the basement, sipping a can of club soda and reading a fashion magazine borrowed from Janine’s desk. He lifted his head and flashed you a warm smile. “Hey, girlie. How was the call?”

You trotted up to him, freshly showered after a particularly nasty call with Ray, who was still scrubbing himself of ectoplasm. “Ray got slimed.”

“Hey, that’s great!”

Peter stomped up the basement stairs in a huff, scowling. “He kicked me out!” he exclaimed.

Winston nodded his head in sympathy and shut the magazine. “Ouch. Did you try to swipe his last Twinkie?”

“No. I wouldn’t be speaking to you if that happened. I’d be a red stain on the wall. My entrails would be hanging out of his mouth. You know that. No, he’s just really into his research at the moment and wants to be alone. Doesn’t want anyone to go see him.”

“Bummer, Venkman.” You patted his shoulder. “I’m gonna go see him.”

“YN, honey,” Winston said gently, “last time someone interrupted Egon’s research, he bit their spleen out. It was a huge mess. Took us three days to clean it up. You should come with us to go grab something to eat instead and leave him be.”

You scoffed. “Well, boys, with this newfound knowledge of Egon’s cannibalistic tendencies when he gets really into his research, I’m still going to see him.”

“If you survive, would you like us to bring you back something to eat?” Winston asked. “The usual?”

“Yeah, that’d be nice. Thanks.”

“You’re gonna die,” Peter said solemnly as you approached the staircase leading to the lab. “We’ll leave the food at the coroner’s office for you.”

You shot a devilish smile at Peter before descending the staircase. Egon came into view, seated at his desk with his back turned to you. “Hello!” you called out.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Egon said pleasantly, not budging from his microscope as you drew closer. “Need something?”

“Winston says you ripped someone’s spleen out with your teeth.”

He shrugged. “It’s a nonessential organ.”

You took the seat next to him. “I like you.”

“I like you, too. Is this your way of communicating that you want some attention?”

“Yeah.”

“This documentation is time-sensitive. I'm going to be here for a few more hours.” He must have sensed your disappointment, because he quickly added, “I exiled Peter for the evening but you’re welcome company.”

Peter poked his head into the lab, having been listening in to see if Egon would let you stay. “Hey!” he whined. “How come YN gets to stay and I d—?”

“Out,” Egon said sharply, his eyes still glued to his microscope. You stuck your tongue out at Peter, who huffed and stormed back up the stairs, but you knew it was theatrics more than actual feelings. “Xiaolongbao and a side of ginger sauce, Pete!” he called out. “Thank you!”

“Bite me, Spengler!”

You scooted your chair closer to Egon. If he noticed, he didn’t show it, remaining completely preoccupied with whatever fungus he was currently studying.

He scribbled some notes on the notepad beside him, still looking intently at the fungal spores, and set the pencil down on top of it. Egon being able to write without looking was nothing new. He had his routine down pat: adjust the microscope, write notes, adjust, write, adjust, write, repeat, never once needing to look away from his spores. He put down the pencil again and pulled his hand away to switch the slide out.

You silently moved the pencil away and laid your hand over the paper, palm up, trap set. You only had to wait a moment for him to reach for his pencil and inadvertently grab your hand.

He jumped a bit with the unexpected contact and finally looked up from his microscope, directly at you, stony-faced, but you easily saw through his façade. He gave no resistance as your fingers intertwined with his. You smirked wickedly and winked at him, causing his cheeks to flush scarlet. He forced his gaze back to his microscope. He was completely flustered, but did his best to regain his composure. There was no effort nor desire to pull away from you—quite the contrary.

You pressed the back of his hand to your cheek, relishing his touch.

“Could you write down ‘cordyceps militaris, control two, seventeen microns, seventy-six hours after harvest’ for me?” he asked, slightly adjusting the focus with his free hand to get a better look at his spores.

“Of course,” you said brightly, quickly jotting down the notes.

“Average growth rate within one point three standard deviations of the mean, p-level of less than zero point zero three.”

“Got it down.”

He pulled his hand from yours to switch to another slide. The disappointment on your face melted away when he finished changing slides and offered you his hand directly this time, his eyes still entirely on his microscope. He wiggled his fingers and cleared his throat, almost impatient for you to resume contact. Your fingers once again intertwined with his. “Cordyceps militaris, experimental three, thirty-six microns, seventy-six hours after harvest and seventy-five hours after exposure.” He absentmindedly rubbed small circles on your hand with the pad of his thumb as he talked. “Average growth rate more than six point four standard deviations above the mean, p-level of less than zero point zero three. Abnormal fluorescent green coloration.”

“Got it down.”

He once again released your hand to switch out another slide.

“I’m, um, I’m not bothering you, am I?”

“No.”

"Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“You aren't just humoring me? Because Winston and Peter were saying tha—"

To your surprise, he turned away from the microscope entirely and pulled you into a tight hug, cradling your head gently against his chest. “I love you,” he muttered, his powerful voice resounding deep in your chest. “Please don’t ever think your presence is less than wanted here.” He planted a kiss on your forehead and withdrew, once again returning his attention to the microscope without missing a beat, leaving you reeling from his sudden burst of affection.

He cleared his throat, snapping you from your stupor. His hand was up, fingers wiggling as he glanced expectantly at you from his microscope. You slipped your hand into his and he turned back to his fungus. A contented hum rumbled in the back of his throat. “Cordyceps militaris, control three, sixteen point eight microns, seventy-six hours after harvest.”

“Got it down.”

[fandomlovingfreak]

Look what one of my internet friendos commissioned for me 😭

I love the fan artists in this fandom & vibe hard with @lilvicsart ‘s style so much so it’s an honor & a privilege to have a commissioned piece by them❤️🥰

Thank you so much ❤️

[inevitablemoment]

That picture shown in 22x17 had the right idea but how about it's Sam and at their wedding instead?

An illustration set in the very far future of my friend marissaiswholocked1011 and @maguloser's fic In Silent Screams, In Wildest Dreams, I Never Dreamed Of This. It's a Samlan surprise baby fic and it's going to be a wild ride.

Art by the lovely @lilvicsart

[inevitablemoment]

Seeing as today marks twenty-six years since Frank and Lucy got married in my post-canon fic series Altered Perceptions, I commissioned the lovely @lilvicsart to draw one of Frank and Lucy's wedding pictures. This was taken at their hidden hill in between the ceremony and the reception.

[inevitablemoment]

Psst... want to hear the whole soundtrack to Frank and Lucy's special day twenty-six years ago? Listen to it on Spotify here.

Art by @lilvicsart

[inevitablemoment]

This is a lovely illustration by the equally lovely @lilvicsart of my fic, Bundle of Hope, in which Frank and Lucy welcome their oldest child, Julia Hope Bannister. It's probably the first ever Lunnister fan art on this website (at least of what I've seen so far, since it's all Dammers, Dammers, Dammers), but I swear that it won't be the last. I just need to be better at saving my money.

[inevitablemoment]

Get To Know Me

1) Spell your name in songs

End Duet/Transformation - Susan Egan & Terrence Mann

Love Story (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift

Love Led Us Here - John Berry & Helen Darling

At the Beginning - Richard Marx & Donna Lewis

2) Why did you choose your URL?

"Inevitable" comes from the song of the same name from The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals, and "Moment" is a reference to the song, "At this Moment" by Billy Vera and the Beaters, the anthem of one of my OTPs, Alex and Ellen from Family Ties.

3) What is your middle name?

Grace. But if I ever use it for an OC, I'm not trying to self-insert. It's just a very common name. My mom baby-sat two girls from different families for about eleven years, and their middle names were Grace, as well.

4) If you could be any mythical creature, what would you be?

I don't know... I'd say mermaid, but

5) Favorite color?

Teal or pastel yellow, but I also love sage green or a good pale blue. And, obviously pink, but teal is like my top favorite color.

6) Song you love right now?

It's a tie between "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx, "Evermore" by Josh Groban, "In Whatever Time We Have" from Children of Eden, plus any Taylor Swift song.

7) Top four fandoms?

Michael J. Fox films and TV shows (particularly Family Ties, The Frighteners, Bright Lights Big City, and Spin City)

Ghostbusters

Literally any musical

The Hatchetfield universe

8) Tag nine people

@ariel-seagull-wings

@knickynoo

@maguloser

@lilvicsart

@daryfromthefuture

@bg-sparrow

@lesbiankarolinanovotney

@arsonyte

@canadianhottmess

[nadja-antipaxos]

ALL MY PICTURES OF YOU - PART TWO

previously - part one || masterlist

Title: If only I’d thought of the right words, I could have held onto your heart

Rating: Teen

Warnings:   some swearing and mentions of sex, but nothing explicit, pregnancy, brief mention of infertility, eventual character death cause it's in the movie

Note: I had planned this out forever ago and finally got around to it. I had to dream up who Callie's mom was. I absolutely adore Jade and wouldn't mind exploring more of her with Egon, even in an AU setting (where he doesn’t leave) but I want to see if there's interest. Please leave kudos and comments if you enjoy it. Thank you so much. Art by @lilvicsart​ send her all the commissions.

Word Count: 2,625

Phoebe leads her family, the Ghostbusters, and Gary down to the outhouse via fire pole. The sight of it causes Ray to burst into laughter which causes Phoebe to stare at her shrugging mother.  Inside joke?

Phoebe shows them a table with a film reel next to a projector. She hooks it up and it starts playing.

Jade sat on a stool. Her short legs dangled off the sides not even touching the ground.  She laughed as the camera focused on her. Her brown hair was long in a French braid and she had on a light wash pair of overalls decorated in paint splatters.

“This is serious.” A deep voice said off-camera.

“Sorry. Sorry. Serious. Right. Okay. I’m Jade Margolis-Spengler. I am 29 years old. Mother of one. Wife of one, I hope. I’m an artist and I’m getting my Ph.D. in Art History at Columbia. I, um.” Jade put her hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. There was a heavy sigh off camera.

“Stay there. I need to get something.” Footsteps faded and Jade hopped off the stool. She looked into the camera and smiled.

“I’m so sorry. You’ll probably get rid of this, but I just wanna say you’re so smart and I love you so much and I love our family. You make me so happy I can’t help myself. I never thought I’d be domestic. You gave me everything I didn’t know I needed, Egon.” She blew a kiss. “Okay, bye.”

She got back on the stool and the footsteps sounded again.

“You ready?”

“Mhmm.”

“Jadie, this is a serious experiment. I need your honest reaction and testimony.”

“I’m as serious as a heart attack, babe.” Her big brown eyes lock on him.

“Don’t look at me. Look at the camera.”

“Sorry.”

The footage fades until the projector screen is white again. Callie wipes her eyes. She’s never seen her parents together. She let go of all of those memories. It was easier to remember him as no one. But god, he made her so happy.

“Grandma looked so young.” Trevor comments.

“And beautiful,” Gary adds. “Not to make it weird. She was just very fetching. The smile and the eyes—”

“Yeah, Jade was beautiful. So full of joy.” Winston cuts him off. “Whenever I think of her, she looks like that.”

“Where did you find that, Pheebs?” Callie turns to her daughter.

“On this workbench. But I think there’s more stuff in this.” She takes her mother’s hand and guides her over to a cabinet. She opens it to reveal a safe. “Don’t know the code though.”

“Hmm.” Callie kneels down and punches in the one date that comes to mind. It springs open.

“How did you know?”

“Grandma’s birthday.”

There are two leather-bound journals and tin cans with film reels. Winston steps over and picks up the safe to bring back to the table.

“Jade got him that camera for experiments, but they used it for everything.” He sets it down.

“How about we get some breakfast and see what’s on these?” Callie suggests.

After they eat, they come back down and gather around the screen.

“Jade, Jade. How does it feel to have successfully procreated with a Spengbot?” Peter asked. She had a pink sundress on and looked very pregnant. She was so petite she looked like a doll that swallowed a planet.

“Fuck off, Peter.” She rolled her eyes.

Peter kept the camera on her and Egon came into view with a bag of chips. The second he sat down on the couch, she got into his lap. He handed her the open bag.

“Exactly what I wanted.” She kissed him on the cheek.

“Venkman, leave my wife alone and stop asking her stupid questions.” Egon glared at him.

“Then he wouldn’t be able to talk at all.” Jade stuck her tongue out.

“I normally can’t stand that kind of slander. You get a pass because you’re pregnant.” Peter warned.

“Lucky me.” She sighed.

Egon did not pay him any attention. His focus was on Jade as she settled her back into his chest. His hand rested on her large stomach.

“How are you feeling?” His hand was on her wrist.

“Fine.” She munched on another chip.

“Your pulse is a little quick. You okay?” He looked down at her.

“I’m in the arms of a handsome man. I think if it wasn’t I’d be dead.” She raised her eyebrows.

“Okay, this is disgusting.” Peter covered the camera with his hand. “Ever since you got together it’s just all about you.”

“I stand by that,” Peter comments in the present day.

The rest of the film reels were of Callie. Egon and Callie fast asleep with her in his arms. Jade brushing her hair. Callie crawling around. They were like a real family. Callie can see why he took those with him when he left.

After the expansive trip down memory lane, they spend the rest of the day with the Ghostbusters in Summerville. The town’s a little wrecked, but nowhere near as bad as it could’ve been. Callie waits until everyone has gone to sleep before cracking open her father’s journals. His handwriting was sharp, thin, and in all capital letters as opposed to her mother’s beautiful cursive. He was definitely a scientist through and through.

-Venkman and Dana went to her new apartment for a party. Stayed in the lab instead. No new developments.

-New client: Jade Margolis. Shorter than average at 5’2” and 110lbs. Slight hourglass shape with a curve to the hips. Brunette with large dark eyes. Husky voice. Artist. Claims ghost in the studio. Smokes, constantly. Not very safe considering the flammable nature of paint. Does not seem too scared by the idea of ghosts except for the tarp incident. Claims to have seen stranger things on the subway, but that might be a joke. Wants things fixed ASAP. Venkman knows her as a friend of Dana’s.

-Definitely a presence of poltergeist in the studio. Ray continues to research and I observe. Presence tried to knock the client off her ladder. Intervened before injury could occur. The client's perfume smells floral and has very soft skin. My pulse quickened probably due to the adrenaline of the situation.

-Client agrees to be used as bait to lure out a malevolent presence. Turned angry and choked her, but was apprehended before extreme harm could be caused. She’s more upset about the price than her injuries.

-Client agrees to be used as bait to lure out a malevolent presence. Turned angry and choked her, but was apprehended before extreme harm could be caused. She’s more upset about the price than her injuries.

-My pulse seems to quicken when she’s around despite the normal circumstances of her paying for our services. Insists I call her Jade. I look over her injuries and give her some topical ointment. She’s intrigued by the number of fungi in my lab and suggests we test out psychedelic effects. I’ve always thought of trying it but never knew how to broach the subject with the guys. The mushroom tea is not very strong, but something about her causes my heartbeat to pick up. I feel my skin get hot when she gets closer. She has such large eyes. I tell her this because they are captivating. She wants to go to dinner with me.

-I tell the guys about what happened and how she makes me feel. They say it’s normal and that I’m attracted to her. It’d be foolish not to be.

-Dinner was nice. I felt we were at an impasse since I do not study art and she does not know much about science. She says we can teach each other. I like that.  Her optimism is very natural.

-Even though dinner was over, I did not want her to leave. We go for a walk and I see other couples kissing and holding hands. I usually don’t like too much physical contact due to germs. She did not make any move indicating she wanted any affection.  An idiotic bike messenger nearly mowed her down. I was able to guide her out of harm’s way, but I was livid. It did not lead to a physical altercation with the messenger and she was okay.

-I do ask if I can hold her hand. Mine is much larger than hers and seems to make hers disappear. Her skin is very soft. Her father is a dentist (which explains her perfectly straight teeth) and her mother is a teacher. They have some money on her mother’s side which is how she has been able to continue her studies without having a full time career.

-I walk her home to a modest apartment. I have the urge to call her as soon as I make it back to the firehouse.

-Jade Margolis fascinates me. When I am not working, I find myself wanting to spend all my time with her. Venkman says this is quite normal. I kiss her on the second date and it’s something I’d like to do over and over. She is led by whatever brings her joy. She loves to laugh and even asked if she could try out the fire pole. She was not scared at all despite her small frame. The other day, she showed Janine how to do some stretches on the floor. I had no idea she was so flexible. I ran straight into the wall. Jade never wants to bother me in the lab, so she has come up with creative ways of getting my attention. Her favorite is to tickle the back of my ear with her paintbrush. It’s her favorite because it is effective and it makes me smile.

- My green sweater is missing. I don’t remember leaving it anywhere, but I will be on the look out for it. Update: Found the sweater at Jade’s apartment. It does not fit but I found her sleeping in it.

-Likes: banana cream pie, hydrangea, thrift stores, cooking

-Dislikes: scrambled eggs, coffee (without copious amounts of milk and sugar), math, coconuts

-Healthy sexual appetite. See separate log for copulation techniques. Very vocal and communicative.

-I told her I loved her. She feels the same. This led to a vigorous bout of lovemaking.

-Finished making the ring and plan to propose next week

-She agreed to marry me and did not let me finish my list of pros before she accepted.

-The wedding was at the courthouse with little fuss. Her mother threw a reception that was far more expensive than either of us would have liked.  Jade looked beautiful. See the photo below.

-No surprise, excessive sexual relations with little protection have led to conception. Jade is 8 weeks pregnant.

-I am much more nervous about this than she is, so I don’t want to worry her.

-Jade wants to name the child (a girl) Calliope. We agreed on Callie.

-Callie Spengler is born. There is nothing I will not do for her.

-Ghostbusters have stopped working together after numerous lawsuits, but we all remain in touch. Jade spends her time with her Ph.D., Callie, and me.

-Had to intervene because a drunk man at the bar was complaining about the Ghostbusters and Jade was going to attack him. I picked her up and threw her over my shoulder before she could cause him any harm. She continued to threaten the man who was much larger than her over my shoulder. I carried her all the way home and hid my smile. Pent-up energy was put to good use in the bedroom.  I feel extraordinarily lucky to have such a passionate partner.

-Jade cut her hair. Thought I wouldn’t like it. See the photo below:

-Mood slime. See other log.

-Bad news from the doctor. More children will not be possible. Jade is sad, but it doesn’t matter to me. Callie is all we need.

-Discouraging findings about Gozer. Will continue to research.

-Ghostbusters continue to be in business, but something far more pressing is coming.

-I won’t let anything happen to Jade or Callie. I can’t. I love them too much.

-Jade had an anxiety attack. She’s suffering and so is Callie. I can’t continue to hurt them, but the research has to be done. I can’t stay. She will never understand. I love her. I love Callie. I know she will never believe that.

-Oklahoma is dry and flat. Jade mailed the divorce papers. Janine passes along the photos she gets from Jade. Callie will need braces soon. They moved to Chicago.

-Jade got a job at the Art Institute of Chicago and teaches at Columbia College and DePaul. There are many articles about her support of gay students. Callie is involved in ballet. Does not seem to be interested in science. She is getting tall.

-Jade received an award for her teaching. The first of many I am certain.

-Callie graduated high school and will be going to college in Ohio.

-Callie had a baby. A boy. His name is Trevor. Jade included a photo when she sent Janine a Christmas card. She looked very happy.

-It does not look like Callie married, but she had another child. A daughter named Phoebe. They spend a lot of time with Jade.  She loves being a grandmother.

-Jade’s parents have died. She told Janine she put some money away for Trevor and Phoebe’s education. Their father seems to have left but nothing breaks Jade.

-I called her house but didn’t know what to say. I just wanted to hear her. She cussed me out and hung up.

-See below.

“Beloved professor, artist, and LGBT advocate, Jade Margolis, dies at 62 from bus accident”

Twitter has been filled with posts about Dr. Margolis and the love she has given the city and students of Chicago. Known for her series exploring her bisexuality and fierce support of LGBT students. She was the curator at the Art Institute while teaching at Columbia College and DePaul University. Talented photographer, she has published two books, and had a gallery in Fulton Market.   She is survived by her daughter and two grandchildren. Will be buried in Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, family requests donations to the ACLU.

- I drove to Chicago to see her gravesite. Doesn’t seem real. Feels like part of me is missing. I’ve heard of people experiencing phantom limbs after amputation. When she was alive, I missed her, but I knew she was safe. I tried to reach out, but she never seemed the type to linger. There is no reason why she would appear in the farmhouse, but I want her to.  I wish I could see her again. I want her to peer over my shoulder and ask what I’m working on. I want her to know why I did all this. Why I gave her and Callie up for this lonely life. When I die, I hope I see her again. I don’t care about heaven or hell. I just want to see her. I wanna see Jadie again.

“I hope you did, Dad.” Callie closes the journal.

Fast asleep in her room, Phoebe sees her grandma with her short dark hair streaked with grey and her cat eye glasses. She has a purple shawl around her. She watches her daughter hugging her father. Then she turns and catches Phoebe’s eye. She blows her a kiss and Phoebe catches it. Egon moves back from Callie and Jade nudges him in the ribs with her elbow before taking his hand. Phoebe can’t hear what they’re saying, but her grandfather laughs. They disappear into the night sky walking hand in hand.

[nadja-antipaxos]

ALL MY PICTURES OF YOU - PART ONE

previously - masterlist || next -  part two

Title: If only I’d thought of the right words, I wouldn’t be breaking apart

Rating: Teen

Warnings:   some swearing and mentions of sex, but nothing explicit, pregnancy, brief mention of infertility, eventual character death cause it's in the movie

Note: I had planned this out forever ago and finally got around to it. I had to dream up who Callie's mom was. I absolutely adore Jade and wouldn't mind exploring more of her with Egon, even in an AU setting (where he doesn’t leave) but I want to see if there's interest. Please leave kudos and comments if you enjoy it. Thank you so much. Art by @lilvicsart​ send her all the commissions.

Word Count: 6,640

Exhausted, everyone shuffles into the house. Podcast and Lucky are picked up by their parents who were overwhelmed by the sudden ghosts in town. Gary stays but sits next to Phoebe, so he’s not crowding her mother. Callie finds some hot chocolate mix and booze to dole out in an age-appropriate fashion for this little Ghostbusters reunion. It’s when they’re all sitting at the table that Callie actually really looks at them.

“You look familiar.” She takes a sip and tries to remember where she could’ve seen them. Her childhood memories are too fuzzy. She spent such a long time trying to forget her father she forgot everyone who wasn’t her mother.

“We were at your mother’s—Jade’s funeral,” Winston explains.

Callie remembers talking to him. He gave her a card and some flowers. He was very kind on the worst day of her life.

“I didn’t stay long—couldn’t.” Ray sighs.

“My wife, Dana, talked to you. Tall, redhead. Gorgeous.” Peter can’t help but smile.

“Oh. Yeah. She said she was friends with my mom in New York.” Callie takes another sip.

“We all were.” Winston nods. “We loved Jade.”

“So, you knew—Egon��when he was with my mom?” She raises her eyebrows.

“Know ‘em? We were witnesses at the courthouse.” Ray laughs.

“No big wedding?” Callie asks.

“Your grandmother—Jade’s mom—wanted one. It wasn’t really their style. They settled for that reception at the Waldorf.”

“That was a fun night.” Winston grins.

“Nobody made Spengs smile like Jadie.” Ray looks at his mug.

“Nobody but Jade.”  Peter corrects with a raised eyebrow.

“He smiled!” Ray pipes up, defensive.

“Barely.” Peter rolls his eyes.

“Remember when that photographer woke Callie up in her stroller?”  Winston skillfully changes the subject.

“Yeah, Jade nearly got arrested for destroying that camera.” Peter snorts.

“That sounds like Grandma” Phoebe nods with a small smile.

“Definitely.” Trevor grins. “She told me the best way to deal with a bully was to break their nose.”

“She was a special lady. “ Ray sighs.

“She sure was.” Winston looks from the kids to his former Ghostbusters. “Remember when she attacked Walter Peck with that hair clip?”

“Shouldn’t have called Egon a ‘bug-eyed nut’.” Ray raises his eyebrows.

“Tiniest woman I knew that could kick everyone’s ass.” Peter smiles.

Trevor and Phoebe nod in agreement. It had been 3 years and they still missed her terribly even more than their dad because she never meant to leave.

“Why couldn’t he tell her the truth? She was always willing to listen. Hell, when I found out I was having Trevor, the first thing she said was ‘This would’ve never happened if you’d been gay.’ He should’ve said something.” She tries to hide the anger in her voice. If her mom had known the stakes. If he had taken the time to explain it. Things could’ve been so different. Winston’s large black hand over her small white one pulls her from her thoughts. His eyes stare into hers.

“Because your mama would’ve gone after Gozer with her bare hands. I think he’d rather she hate him than keep her and lose her.”

“I wish she knew why he did it. To save everyone.” Callie bites her lip.

“Maybe she knows now,”  Gary speaks up. She had almost forgotten he was there.

“Did she know about this charming fixer-upper?” Peter asks, looking around the cluttered farmhouse.

“Yeah. I remember she got a bill once and forwarded it to him. I was so mad she knew where he was and didn’t give him a piece of her mind.”

“What did she say?” Ray asks.

“She wasn’t gonna chase after someone who left. She had other ways to spend her time.”

“You were always her number one priority.” Ray looks into her eyes and Callie notices they’re different colors. It’s charming. “Until your kids came along. She sent me a Christmas card every year.”

Callie laughs. Her mom always chose the silliest photo for Christmas. The idea of dressing in the same outfit and posing creeped her out. She’d rather send one out where they were all piled on the couch. She was unabashedly authentic like that.

The dusty old farmhouse has enough room for everyone who isn’t a Spengler to stay the night. They’re exhausted enough and Callie doesn’t even want to look up the drive from New York City to Summerville. She tries to sleep. She does. She closes her eyes. She takes deep breaths. She stares at the ceiling. Finally, she gets up. She pads down the stairs to the living room and finds a box labeled “Mom’s”.

Her mom was so organized she had all of her journals labeled by year. Callie grabs the ones from ’84-90 and ’90-93.  She couldn’t bear to read these after she died, but now, in the middle of the night after seeing the ghost form of her dad, she needs her mom too.

Dear Diary,

Dana wants to set me up with one of Peter’s friends. Those guys that got fired for being nuts and then saved the city from a giant marshmallow man. Ghostbusters.  Yes, this is a sentence I am writing truthfully in the year 1984.  She promises he’s nothing like Peter who is hilarious but I would never have the patience for him as a partner. I heard enough about Venkman at school and we’re not even in the same field.

Dana throws the party in her new building. She couldn’t stay in the old one after the whole portal to the supernatural thing. I’m polite to Peter because he’s always been nice to me and until he hurts my dear friend, we’re on good terms. I meet Ray Stantz. I meet Winston Zeddemore. Both pleasant and charming and taken. Ray is seeing someone and Winston has a wife, Annie, who is gorgeous.

One Ghostbuster. Two Ghostbuster. Three Ghostbuster. No four.

The party is fun. To stand out from the boring housewarming gifts, I give Dana a fire extinguisher and the painting she’s been eyeing at the studio. She offers to pay and I refuse because at least I know it’s going to someone who enjoys it. The party ends as it began with only three Ghostbusters. Whatever. I’m sure Egon Spengler is probably weird and I have shit to do.

Dear Diary,

I cannot believe I am writing these words: there is a ghost in my art studio. It started with paint cans getting knocked over.  Then tarps went missing. Paintbrushes would reappear on light fixtures. One night I swear I heard something playing Harry Belafonte on the paint cans. Okay, so I have an invisible guest. For what I’m paying for this space, I can be welcoming. Until it tried to push an easel onto me and then smother me with a tarp. Not fucking cool.

Peter arrives with the mysterious Egon Spengler who runs tests on the studio and all my supplies.  I do not know how he is friends with a walking pickup line like Peter. This guy is all business. He only talks to me when he needs to ask a question or give me directions for his tests. It’s a fucking shame because he has the deep baritone of a phone sex operator. Like Peter, he’s a foot taller than me and has to bend down or have me sit. He has dark eyes hidden behind rounded glasses. His hair is dark brown and perfectly coiffed. It looks thick and soft even with whatever product is in it. Okay, maybe Dana knows me after all because I’m intrigued.

He concludes that the space is in indeed full of ghost energy and I follow willingly back to their firehouse turned office and let him hook me up to all sorts of equipment I’m pretty sure he made himself. He studies—actually studies—my face when he asks questions. I’ve never been studied before. He says he’s going to research the history behind the studio with Ray and that they would like to do an overnight to observe. I agree under the condition that I stay with them. Dana’s beau or not, it’s my studio and I’m not leaving it alone to brief acquaintances.

It’s just me and Dr. Spengler.  And the man is a professional. Ray is researching my building. Peter? I don’t even know anymore.  Winston has the night off. So I go about my routine. I’ve been working on this big canvas lately, so I get on my ladder. Done this so many times. It’s a good ladder. It’s stable. I’m fine. Out of nowhere, it starts to wobble. I hear it crash to the floor but I’m not with it. I look down and see two big hands holding my waist. Egon has me in his arms off the ground. He moves like a cat. I didn’t even hear him. He clears his throat and sets me back down. I say thank you because I’m polite and glad I didn’t smash my face into the floor. He nods.

Ray comes barging back in with all sorts of information about how my studio used to be a famous cathouse. That’s his word. I could’ve done with whorehouse, but he’s being historical. The man who owned it hated women (big shocker) and Ray believes my presence is causing him to act up. I guess he can’t handle an independent woman.  Spengler asks me what I was doing when I was attacked by the tarp. I was on the phone with the landlord arguing about fixing a drafty window. He thinks that because I was standing up for myself against a man, it angered this asshole ghost.

They enlist Peter to stage an argument with me. It feels silly at first but then Peter mentions the ERA and we have an actual argument. He’s all for it but he doesn’t know why it has to be an amendment. I’m pulled back by my hair and Ray shouts that he can see the ghost in whatever visor he has on. I feel a hold around my throat and I’m not a fan of this. I’m clawing at whatever I can and suddenly I’m let go. I land on the floor but get to brace myself a little. I see this grey, translucent figure with a very dark mustache being lassoed between Ray and Spengler’s…ghost guns? They pull it into something they call a trap and lots of smoke fills my studio. The ladder is singed and they’ve scorched some of the tarps, but it’s better than being choked.  Ray sprays it down with the fire extinguisher before any paint catches on fire.

To my surprise, Spengler comes to check on me first. He helps me up and inspects the bruises on my throat. He frowns and suggests I go back to the firehouse for him to take a proper look at me. I agree.  He delicately applies a salve on my throat keeping those dark eyes on me to gauge my reaction. It makes me feel bad that I nearly spit water in his face when he tells me the bill will be $2000. I argue him down to $1500 and we settle on $1750 since I was indeed attacked for the sake of bait.

I ask about paying tomorrow because I’m exhausted and it’s 2 am. Ray offers his bed because apparently there are rooms upstairs for sleeping. I try to convince him to let me go home, but Spengler suggests I stay in case there are any complications from ghost choking. I camp out on a couch they have upstairs and drift off to sleep. I don’t remember anyone placing a pillow under my head or a blanket on me, but I’m grateful when I wake up and realize it.

In the morning, I’m able to go back to my apartment to shower, eat, and write a check. Thankfully, I have many tasteful scarves to cover my neck. When I come back, I hand the payment to Janine (their very cute secretary with killer fashion sense). I ask if they’re all out and she tells me Spengler’s in his lab. Of course, I want to see him again but I’m not gonna invade his space. I’m at the door when he comes up from the basement and asks how I’m feeling. He’s definitely not the social one but he’s trying. His concern seems genuine and I can’t help but think about how quickly he picked me up from that ladder. He asks about my neck and I show him. He beckons me down into the basement to give me some of that salve he made.

Now that I’m no longer a client and just a curious acquaintance, I actually take a look around. He has a workbench and soldering equipment. There are all sorts of junk food. Cheese Its. Twinkies. Crunch bars. Microscopes. No acid or bubbling formulas. I don’t see any reanimated corpses but I do see an alarming amount of mushrooms and other fungi. I wanna put this man in a jar and study him. He explains his hobby and all I can think to ask is if he’s ever gotten high on any of them. He hasn’t, but he doesn’t seem opposed or offended that I asked. I can’t help myself and suggest it. He decides to make it into a tea and away we go.

I’ve tried mushrooms before and these aren’t very strong. No fun trips or hallucinations. I’d give anything to know how much he regrets letting me talk him into this. Instead, he jots down some notes in his book, asks me how I feel, and writes down my answer too.

He just keeps those dark eyes on me and comments on how large my eyes are. I don’t know what that means. I know I have big brown eyes. But they’re just there. He isn’t being mean. I can tell. He’s just observing. He holds in his breath and looks me over again and says clear as day: They’re captivating.

I take the leap and ask him if he wants to go to dinner with me this week. He suggests Thursday. HOUSTON, WE HAVE A DATE!

Dear Diary,

This man is something else.  I pick one of my simplest blue dresses because I have no idea what we’re doing. He takes me to a nice, but not a too nice place for dinner. We make modest conversation.  I can tell he’s nervous and doesn’t do this dating thing often. I throw him a bone and tell him I haven’t been on a real date since I finished my master’s program. With the Ph.D. program looming ahead, I don’t see much of social life. He tells me that he had a brief thing with Janine, the lovely receptionist, but he might’ve been a little too quiet for someone as bold as her. They work better as friends. I just don’t date. I’ve always loved art more than any person.  He apologizes because he doesn’t know much about art and I don’t know much about…ghosts? I make a deal that I can tell him if he tells me and then we’ll both know. A strong eyebrow quirks at that and I think that means he likes it. His eyes light up over the dessert menu and I smile because someone has a sweet tooth.

My usual radar is off. It’s broken around him and that’s kind of exhilarating. He asks me to take a walk with him and begins to explain the different haunted spots in the city. He’s much smarter than me in the traditional sense. My mom would’ve loved it if I was good at math and science. He gets very focused on a certain topic and honestly, I could listen to him all night. I feel a little like Sally in Peanuts trailing after Linus. I’ve never felt so affected by someone. I don’t even notice the bike messenger, but for the second time he picks me up out of harm’s way. To my surprise, he curses at the bike messenger who stops. Spengler straightens up and when the guy realizes how tall he is, he mumbles an apology and leaves. HA! Spengler checks me over and I’m absolutely fine. His big warm hands are on my shoulders and I know I’m smiling like an idiot up at him. He’s staring right back. I wonder if I should ask if I can kiss him, but I don’t. It’s a first for me. Instead, he tells me I have perfect teeth and raises his eyebrows when I tell him it’s because my dad is a dentist. He asks if he can hold my hand as he walks me home. I’m a goner.

Dear Diary,

Can you like someone too much? I really am Sally running after Linus. I swear little cartoon hearts could float around me every time he talks. What the hell is this feeling? I just adore being around him. He asked me to call him that when we talked after the date. He kissed me on our second date at a museum. I could’ve melted into the floor. I swear an orchestra was playing. The first kiss was very sweet. Picture perfect.

I, Jade Margolis, have never felt this way in my entire life. All the other times it was just sex. I can’t stop thinking about him. His nose. His eyes. His neck. His giant brilliant brain. His hands. Not only is he smart but he’s funny too. Not in the way Peter is funny. Egon is very dry. Yes, he’s Egon now. We don’t get many formal dates because we’re both adults and people have ghost problems at any hour of the night. Instead, we just kind of fit into each other’s busy schedules. We get dinner while working. I often bring my coursework over to the firehouse to work on in his lab. The fact I have a free pass is a big deal according to Janine and Winston. He does not like people in there especially when he’s working and he’s always working. But now if he can hear me talking from down there and I don’t greet him after ten minutes, he will get impatient and march up the stairs.

Sometimes, we catch a movie. Other times, he just wants to listen to me talk about my art history classes. It’s like I’m Dorothy in technicolor and didn’t even know I was in black and white before. THIS MAN!! I feel like a schoolgirl. The man keeps insane hours so I’ve fallen asleep in that lab. I told him I was going to start heading back earlier and the next day there was a couch. A comfortable and simple couch. Just for me to be with him. Now, I wake up with his lab coat draped over me. It smells just like him.

I know he’s weird and strange but I adore it because I’m not normal either. I mean, I knitted myself a skeleton sweater that I will wear all year round. He complimented my craftsmanship and accuracy.

I have never wanted to fuck someone so badly in my entire life. I’m dying to know if sex with such a meticulous scientist is going to be super clinical. Will he name my anatomy as he licks it?

“Jesus, Mom.” Callie puts down the journal and grimaces. Her mom had never talked like that to her. She really hopes she isn’t about to be scarred for life as she turns the page to the next passage.

Dear Diary,

The universe is against me having sex with Egon Spengler. And I have tried. We’ve made out dozens of times and he is an amazing kisser. He must take mental notes because each time gets better. I swear he knows how good he is cause I felt him smirking. My mad scientist. We only rounded two bases and god, I want a home run.  Every time something happens. Someone needs his help. Something breaks. They have a call. I swear there are ER doctors getting more action than we are.

Tonight, he had me pinned on one of the work tables when that fucking alarm went off. He ignored it and kept kissing me senseless. Peter called his name at the top of the stairs. He actually growled when Peter threatened to come down there.  At least he’s as sexually frustrated as I am.

Callie sighs. It isn’t as bad as she thought. She just hopes there’s no details.

Dear Diary or Should I Say Playgirl,

I am ruined. This man has ruined me. I was up late studying when he came to my apartment. He had finished a bust and wanted to see me. No, he said he needed to see me. He was still in that jumpsuit when he kissed me. He picked me up like I was nothing and carried me to my bedroom. It was fantastic. Absolutely fucking fantastic.

Sometimes I wake up and he’s touching my back. Drawing constellations. Solving equations. He says it relaxes him when his mind is running wild. That’s how he first told me he loves me. He wrote it in between my shoulder blades and then whispered it into my neck. He thought I was asleep. I have never been more awake. How is this real?

When I told him that morning I loved him too he looked shocked.  He moved closer to me so that our noses touched. I said it again and he kissed me. He held me in his arms and told me he loved me. He loves me!! I love you, Egon Spengler.

Dear Diary or Should I Say Playgirl,

I am ruined. This man has ruined me. I was up late studying when he came to my apartment. He had finished a bust and wanted to see me. No, he said he needed to see me. He was still in that jumpsuit when he kissed me. He picked me up like I was nothing and carried me to my bedroom. It was fantastic. Absolutely fucking fantastic.

Sometimes I wake up and he’s touching my back. Drawing constellations. Solving equations. He says it relaxes him when his mind is running wild. That’s how he first told me he loves me. He wrote it in between my shoulder blades and then whispered it into my neck. He thought I was asleep. I have never been more awake. How is this real?

When I told him that morning I loved him too he looked shocked.  He moved closer to me so that our noses touched. I said it again and he kissed me. He held me in his arms and told me he loved me. He loves me!! I love you, Egon Spengler.

The entry has a polaroid photo taped at the bottom with “JM + ES = L-O-V-E” written under it. He’s hugging her pressing her back into his chest. She looks so small in his arms. His chin rests on her hair and she’s smiling up at him.  They look so happy.  The version she knew of her mom was loving but guarded. She only opened up to Callie, Trevor, and Phoebe. This woman was completely different.

There are sketches of him reading the newspaper in bed or peering into a microscope with the caption “My mad scientist has no idea why I stare at him all the time. How is he so smart and so dense?”

Dear Diary,

Let me say I think Louis Tully is a perfectly nice man. He was nice as he was Dana’s neighbor and he’s nice now as the Ghostbusters’ accountant. He invited us all over for a party. I saw it as an excuse to wear my new glittery silver dress. Egon didn’t say much when he saw it but this dress is for me anyway. I think my legs look great.

I’m more social than he is which is fine. We both have our strengths. But this one guy is really social. Like he won’t leave me alone social. I’m polite and friendly because I don’t know who he is to Louis. He keeps talking about snorkeling and how I have to try it. Any time I try to gesture to my boyfriend—he cuts me off. He will not let me talk. How is this supposed to seduce anyone? I’m nodding so much that my braid is coming undone. This guy actually reaches forward, fixes my hair, and keeps his hand on my face. I was stunned. Before I can yell at him though, Egon picks me up and plants one on me. The man who will never do anything but hold my hand in front of his friends is kissing me in front of everyone. And not a Disney kiss. My mad scientist used tongue. I’m in heaven.

He tells me we’re going home which is good because my legs have turned to jelly. He notices and swoops me up. My gallant hero carries me out of the party and I love every second of it. I ask him if he likes the dress and he just stares at me. Needless to say, I was extremely sore for the next few days. I found out from Ray that the entire time that guy was talking to me, Egon was fuming. Winston pointed out that I didn’t look very comfortable and touching my face was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Dear Diary,

I’m not surprised when Egon shows up at my apartment without any warning. It’s why he has a key. I am completely surprised when he bursts in, gets on one knee, and tells me his logical argument for marriage.

It will make it easier to buy property as a couple.

Co-habitation is not an issue because we’re always together and he spends most of his nights at my place.

I will no longer be bothered by over-eager men if I have a ring on my left ring finger. It will signal to others that I am spoken for and should prevent further awkward situations.

We balance each other out. Right brain. Left brain.

Most importantly: he loves me.

I can barely speak. He did not need to convince me, but the fact he wanted to is everything I love about him. The ring is a beautiful jade oval jewel with a gold halo of diamonds.  I recognize it immediately from the little shop in Soho we passed two weeks ago. I told him it was beautiful but I had no reason to buy it especially since it was just a jewel. Now, he’s soldered it into a ring.

Of course, I accept. The ring is so gorgeous. I can’t believe he made it for me. God, I love him.

Callie recognizes the ring. It’s one her mother kept in a jewelry box, but never wore. She let Callie grab it whenever she played dress-up with her makeup and shoes. She even wore it to prom because it matched her dress. She assumed that her grandmother bought it for her daughter’s namesake.  After she died, even when money got tight, she never wanted to sell it. She’s glad now that she didn’t. And he made it for her?

Dear Diary,

Jack and Jill went up the hill

Jack knocked up Jill

And a baby came tumbling after

Dear Diary,

My mad scientist has been so attentive these past nine months. He’s such a darling and yet when I feel that first contraction I nearly punch him. I am so scared I decide maybe I’ll raise our baby girl from inside my body for the rest of our lives. He says that isn’t possible and I remind him that none of his degrees are as an OBYGN. Fuck it hurt and I was promised drugs. I practically yell this at him and he assures me that the drugs are coming. He tries to encourage me but I beg him to let me punch him. I am not a big woman. Why did I think I could have his giant baby? He gives me a kiss and I just want him to let me kill him for just a second. The nurses think he is so sweet. Traitors. He’s the one who did this to me. Then the glorious drugs hit.

I am a fucking rockstar. I gave birth to a BABY! Those Ghostbusters got nothing on me.

I have to say if my Callie had not come out of my body, I would be very confused as to why she is blonde and blue-eyed. Both of her parents are Jewish. I mean, my mom is a Catholic, but that can’t do much, right? I would demand a refund, but she’s just so fucking cute we’re gonna keep her. And she glared at Peter in a way that lets me know she’s 100% mine.

Dear Diary,

Callie is the best four year old I’ve ever met. She cracks me up every day and she’s doing well in pre-school. She’s very smart—no surprise. Sometimes, I miss how wild our lives used to be with the Ghostbusters, but Egon seems to be enjoying his work back at Columbia. It does make it easier with my PhD program to have more normal hours from my mad scientist. I see the way some of his assistants look at him, so every once in a while I like to pop over with Callie to remind them that he’s taken by a certified smoke show. Not my words, Brian, one of the assistants asked Egon how he landed “such a smoke show” the first time I came by. Egon told him “Because the smoke show wanted me”. Damn right I did.

Dana tells me about some freaky thing that happened with Oscar on the street. I suggest she talk to Egon. Callie loves Oscar because he’s a living version of her dolls. I see Dana more now that she works at the museum. I was too busy to take the position and after I showed her the ropes, she was easy to vouch for.

Dear Diary,

Callie is the best four-year-old I’ve ever met. She cracks me up every day and she’s doing well in pre-school. She’s very smart—no surprise. Sometimes, I miss how wild our lives used to be with the Ghostbusters, but Egon seems to be enjoying his work back at Columbia. It does make it easier with my Ph.D. program to have more normal hours from my mad scientist. I see the way some of his assistants look at him, so every once in a while I like to pop over with Callie to remind them that he’s taken by a certified smoke show. Not my words, Brian, one of the assistants asked Egon how he landed “such a smoke show” the first time I came by. Egon told him “Because the smoke show wanted me”. Damn, right I did.

Dana tells me about some freaky thing that happened with Oscar on the street. I suggest she talk to Egon. Callie loves Oscar because he’s a living version of her dolls. I see Dana more now that she works at the museum. I was too busy to take the position and after I showed her the ropes, she was easy to vouch for.

Dear Diary,

The boys are back thanks to some weird emotional slime in the sewer and a lifted court order. I don’t know what any of it means. They’ve run all sorts of tests and Dana’s run right back to Peter. I hope they work it out this time. I never thought I’d be married before they were. I doubt it bothers Oscar because he’s far too little to know his parents are on and off.

Egie suggests an experiment involving this…slime and I think it’s the last time I’ll be involved in something like that. It was quite an experience but I think it’s too exhausting to happen all the time. Maybe for his birthday.

My, my, the Ghostbusters need my help.  Ray and Egie need some information regarding art. It has to do with that creepy old man painting at the museum. I dig up what I could since I can access archives they can’t and mark it off into different categories. Apparently, it’s exactly what they want and I’m rewarded with a very enthusiastic kiss right in front of Ray. Who says romance is dead in married life?

Dear Diary,

Callie saw her dad on the television riding the Statue of Liberty and would not stop screaming. That’s not a sentence I can really wrap my head around. Either way, on New Year’s Eve, I bring my child to the museum, insult useless government officials, and wait for my man to save the world. He does, no surprise but god, he comes out covered in that slime. It makes him quite handsy. Welcome to the 1990s.

Dear Diary,

As my Ph.D. program comes closer to the end, I’m wondering if we should give Callie a sibling. Egon’s not very close with his brother and I never had any siblings. It’s quite lonely being an only child and I don’t want that for Callie. His schedule is less hectic between Ghostbusting and his research at Columbia. I hate the idea of giving up my beloved cigarettes again, but if it means more little Spenglers, I think I can do it. It’s certainly fun to try.

I’m not even 30 so it shouldn’t be a problem, but my body has other plans. Egon says he’s perfectly happy with Callie and that if I really want another baby, we can adopt. That’s a little too much wishful thinking considering how his application will look. I love Callie and she’s all I need. I just wish I could’ve made that choice for myself. We let Callie sleep in our bed that night and I know I’m gonna be okay.

Dear Diary,

Something wicked this way comes. I’m not Janine. I’m not psychic, but something is going on with my mad scientist. He’s a little more mad than usual. He’s downright obsessed. And he won’t tell me what’s going on. He’s so withdrawn. It’s not like him at all. He loves to tell me about his research. I know he doesn’t sleep because he’s always having nightmares and he won’t let me comfort him. He just looks scared. I hate this. Of course, our relationship has its ups and downs but he knows deep down I’m here for him.  Callie asks me if Daddy’s upset and I know I have to confront him.

We’ve never had such a bad fight. I had to block the door in our bedroom to get him to talk to me after Callie went to sleep. He looked exhausted.  I didn’t recognize him. I was so angry and so desperate for answers I was gonna try anything. I didn’t care if he thought I was too stupid to understand. He’s my husband and this is hurting my family.

Finally, he saw how upset I was and tried to explain that something bad was going to happen. I told him that it already happened. My best friend and the love of my life has been shutting me out. He tried to say that all the big events like Dana and Gozer and Vigo—it was all connected to a larger end of the world. He said he had to stop it. He had to make sure I was safe. That Callie was safe. I just burst into tears. Was he losing it? What was I supposed to do? How was he going to stop it? What did that mean? I freaked out. He put his arms around me and held me until I calmed down. He brought me to bed and told me how much he loved me. How much he loved Callie. How he never thought he’d have this kind of life. That he would never stop loving me. He kissed my hair and rubbed my back and I felt safe again.

When I woke up, he was gone. He left a note. It was short:

Jadie, I know you’ll never understand and you’ll never forgive me, but I have to do this for you and Callie.

Forever yours,

Egon

He fucking left me. He left us. I broke every beaker and vial in that fucking lab and I still can’t say how bad this hurts. What am I going to tell Callie?

--

I got a job at the Art Institute in Chicago. My parents are there and can’t wait to see us. As much as I love my friends, I can’t stay here. This city just reminds me too much of him.  We all promise to stay in touch and I want to. I don’t have anything against them. They didn’t leave.

Callie wipes the tears from her eyes. She doesn’t have it in her to relive all her mom’s pain especially now when she knows the truth. Instead, she picks up her final journal.

Hello, old friend,

Been a while, huh? Yeah, life’ll do that to you.

I think if he was dead I would know. Not in some mystic sense. That was never my thing. Honestly, if you told me that all of the strange things that happened from 1984 to 1993 were because NYC had drugged the water I’d believe you. Or maybe we all had some great pot. I’d believe that over what really happened. It’d be a lot funnier.

I think someone would’ve called, right? I know Callie and I are still next of kin. Janine told me some rotting shack is left to me and Callie. Hey, Ma, he left me a house. I’d have to get out an ouija board to tell her that one.

I found my old journals. I was so young. Absolutely consumed with that man. Years earlier, they would’ve been firewood, but not now. I wonder if Ray is still angry. Egon called him once and Ray phoned me after.  He really hates him. I don’t think Winston could ever hate anyone. Venkman’s moved on. Dana told me right after he left she wished she hadn’t introduced us. She felt guilty. But she shouldn’t.  I gave it my all and it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have tried.

Callie asked me why I never remarried. As much as I’ve enjoyed my other lovers like Sam or Tatiana, it never was the same. I knew it was special when I had it. He was my lover and best friend. He knew me in a way no one else did. We just fit together. Left brain. Right brain. It didn’t work out as I wanted and even though his leaving felt like he ripped out my heart, I loved him utterly and completely. I’m not ashamed of that. And for a while, he loved me too.

I don’t regret it. I don’t know if I still love him, but I don’t hate him anymore.  Isn’t that funny? You’d think I’d know, but I don’t. Because of Callie. Because of Trevor. Because of  Phoebe (who reminds me so much of him sometimes I can’t breathe). The loves of my life. My beautiful band of freaks is led by Grandma Freak.

Callie closes the journal and puts it back in the box. She doesn’t even remember falling asleep.

“Mom, I found something.” It feels like a blink of an eye later when Phoebe walks into her room.

Phoebe’s face is bright and excited. It’s enough to pull Callie out of bed immediately.

[stormagedoom]

d a b

I miss those days cosplaying with friends :c 

Susie by LilvicsArt  Lancer by me

[stormagedoom]

Organizing a monster high beach-themed art collab, a bunch of artist from twitter participated and i'm so happy with the results 

Clawd by Lilvicsart Clawdeen by stormcloudsy Frankie by LitoAILM Cleo de Nile and Sirena von boo by BlairMagical Ghoulia yelps by  EShainon Rochelle goyle by Lanita_Yaz

Draculaura by me