#Alex and reggie would be crying too

[revolutionsingingintherainnn]

The first time julie says a Spanish endearment to luke, he blushes and gets flustered, and keeps repeating it in his head. When he’s alone, he writes it down in the last page of his notebook. And every new Spanish endearment that Julie calls him, it goes in his list. During Ray and Luke’s bonding time, he would ask ray the meanings of these endearments, and ray would just get hit by the fact that his daughter was crazy in love with this boy, and he’s never seen luke be so excited about something when he wasn’t on stage.

A few months later, luke writes a song for julie, using the Spanish endearment, and tells her that he may not know another language, but he knows the intimacy and love in the endearments are almost as much as his love for her.

Julie would not be the only one crying when he sings the song to her.

[ki-irke]

Julie and the phantoms

Reader x luke Patterson

Reader is Luke’s girlfriend in the 90’s and was with them when he past away and years later when he’s a ghost he goes to vist her and she can see him

Love

Paring: Luke Patterson x reader

Summary: Luke goes to see his love for the first time after he past away, and it may be the last, but he doesn't expect them to stay together for much longer.

A/N: Ik it's not probably what you had in mind, it was a fun one and too cute to not make!

Words: 613

"I'm going to see y/n," Luke said, looking at Alex.

"You sure? She could have family now, you know?" He asked, raising his eyebrows and carefully watching the brown-haired boy.

"Yeah. I just want to see her when I get the chance."

"Okay," Alex said, nodding his head. But Luke stayed for the next few hours. The thought of you being happy with someone else who wasn't him broke his heart. But he knows that this may be the last time he sees you.

So, while Julie was at school and Alex and Reggie were busy with each other, Luke teleported to where your house used to be.

The house still looked the same. The black fence was overgrown with some kind of ivy, which made it difficult to see the yard. Luke walked forward, putting his feet on the slices of wood that formed the path to the big, white house. He had always thought this place was magical, and seeing it still look the same after all these years made him believe it more. When he was about to walk into the house, the door opened. A tall, dark-haired man with a dog on a leash came out. Lukes' heart stopped for a second. Is this your boyfriend? Or even husband? After the man came a smiling woman. SHe leaned against the doorframe. The man turned around to send her a kiss and walked out of the yard. Before the woman could step back into the house, Luke invited himself inside.

Inside, there were small changes to a more modern one, but it still looked the same. The brown-haired boy eyed the woman carefully, who was now pulling a lighter out of a drawer. She was looking almost like the young you. He gave up looking around the house and simply followed the woman upstairs. The woman was like you. But something about her was different. Maybe it's the age, Luke thought. The women looked at white doors with pastel hearts on them. You didn't remove it after all these years? The woman took a deep breath and went inside.The first thing that caught Luke's attention was the large number of photos, candles, and flowers. What was happening?

"I'm sorry, y/n, that I couldn't save you," the woman said, tears streaming down her face. "All of this is my fault. Mum was right," she added, lighting every candle. Luke didn't know what was happening. You couldn't be dead. I mean, if you would, he could meet you. But who was the woman? Because it surely wasn't your mom. Maybe it's about your daughter?

And then the young girl walked slowly past him.

He didn't see her. But he immediately knew that it was you. You sat beside the woman, putting your head on her shoulder. But the woman continued crying.

"Y/N, if you're listening to me, I'm sorry." you blew out one of the candles near your family photo, which made the woman smile through her tears.

"It's okay, y/s/n. I wanted to protect you," you said, standing up but holding a hand on the woman's head. "She does this every time she's alone," you said softly, turning around to face Luke. It wasn't something funny, but it made him smile.

"Why are you smiling?" you laughed, moving closer to him.

"I thought you were still alive. That you have a new family," he said, but his smile soon dropped. "Did you–?" he asked, but you didn't let him finish.

"God, no. It was an accident, but it's a long story," Luke chuckled, hugging you.

"Well, we have plenty of time, love," he answered, lowering his head to kiss you slowly.

[narcissusbrokenmirror]

I am ever so happy for the Julie Sees Pattersons And Luke Crying On His Birthday And Comes Back To The Band but uhh never sat right with me that neither Luke or Reggie or Alex had to actually make up for her.

like yeah Julie saw Luke in a vulnerable moment and got to understand how being a band meant for him. But Luke didn't saw her getting booed and laughed in front of her school, after overcoming her fear and blockage that came from her grief, especially after Luke being the one to motivate her to it.

my girl deserved more than a Luke Has Feelings Too scene. Which. I love. Don't miss the point here. But I needed to see, not only Julie being open to forgive him and play the gig he played, but also Luke taking the moment to realize his dismissal and his relevance on Julie's relationship with music.

A relationship that used to be based on her mom being there to walk with her, but her mom is not there anymore and Julie needs to walk by herself, and if she doesn't have to do it alone, as her band doesn't, or at least, wouldn't want her to have to do it, they have to walk with her. And that means walking the steps that are important for her. A school dance might not be big as a open mic night to managers and industry hotshots, but it was the step where Julie was left at, she gotta complete it.

In spirit of that, i wanted Luke to hustle his way into making up for her, maybe try to insanely communicate with Flynn through haunting her or writing chicken scratch creepy notes, but get her somehow to help him set up a gig for them at the school, bc Flynn would most definitely do it for Julie, and have it be the moment Julie lost at their expense. Not that Julie shouldn't have played the open mic night, not what i mean, But this should've happened too.

plus i really needed that fire ep 5 julie outfit t use!!!!

[chickwiththepurpleguitar]

Hey, could you please do a fanfic where the guys are in the garage and Alex is thinking about ghosts and that they should be able to float or something but luke is not really paying attention and then they suddenly get into a friend teasing figth something at the loft and luke falls down and proves Alex's hypothesis true please?

sorry this took so long, anon! I had a lot of fun with it :)

“Please be careful!” Alex calls without looking away from the drumstick he’s trying to balance on his nose.

From up in the loft, where he and Reggie are inevitably in the middle of doing something stupid and dangerous, Luke shouts back, “You’re not allowed to have opinions if you’re not gonna help!”

The drumstick falls, clattering onto the floor too far for Alex to reach it, so he gives up and sits up on the couch with a sigh. Sure enough, Luke has one leg looped over the loft railing while Reggie stands poised with a basketball.

So much for plausible deniability.

“What. Are you doofuses. Doing.”

“No opinions!” Luke says again, and holds tight to the railing while he steps his other foot over. “All right, Reggie, you ready?”

“Ready!”

“Julie’s gonna kill you if you die,” Alex says helpfully.

“Shut up, bro!” Luke bends his knees. “Okay, man. Three, two, one. Go!”

Reggie throws the ball as Luke jumps off the railing. Before Alex can so much as cry out, Luke disappears with a whoosh of displaced air, and Reggie poofs out after him a second later.

There’s a series of sounds from out on the driveway—the double whoosh of ghosts poofing in, the clang thud of a basketball hitting the rim and then asphalt, and then Luke and Reggie’s twin cries of disappointment.

Alex rolls his eyes. They’ve gotta get hobbies.

A moment later, Luke and Reggie phase through the studio doors, basketball in hand.

Alex smirks. Luke looks no worse for wear from his experiment, just pouty and determined. “Did you dunk it?”

“No,” Luke says grumpily. He gestures Reggie toward the loft. “Come on, let’s try again.”

“Alex could probably do it!” Reggie points out.

Alex laughs. “He’s calling you short.”

Luke glares at both of them. “I’m gonna do it. I just need to keep trying.”

They climb back up to the loft. Alex leans forward in his seat, clapping his hands together to watch the impending disaster.

The second try, Luke poofs out too early and Alex catches the basketball as Luke’s cursing rings through the studio doors.

The third try, Reggie follows Luke out to the driveway without actually throwing the basketball, leaving him standing on the driveway with it while Luke has nothing to dunk.

The fourth through ninth tries, everything goes totally as planned, Luke is just bad at shooting hoops.

As Luke’s clambering over the loft railing for the tenth time, Alex muses, “You know this would be way easier if you could float.”

Reggie cuts his gaze to Alex. “Like Caleb?”

All three of them shudder. “Like… stereotypical ghosts,” Alex corrects. “Then you wouldn’t have to time the poofing right, you could just levitate and dunk it.”

Luke glares at him over his shoulder, feet braced between the bars of the loft. “That defeats the purpose, Alex. If I wanted to take the easy way out, I’d just learn how to dunk.”

“Oh, yeah, cause that’s super likely and possible.”

“The point—” Luke insists, speaking over him, “—is not to make the basket. It’s to do something awesome. And floating, like some kind of creepy magician, is not awesome.”

He punctuates his words with a dramatic waving of both hands, losing his grip on the loft railing entirely. Reggie cries out. Alex lunges to his feet, ready to catch Luke as he falls.

But he doesn’t fall. As Alex watches in wide-eyed wonder, Luke stands firmly in mid-air, an inch or two from the edge of the loft.

“Holy…” Alex mutters.

“Wow!” Reggie says, dropping the basketball in shock. “Luke, you’re floating!”

“I’m floating!” Luke stares down at himself. “This is so cool!”

“Let’s go dunk the basketball!”

“Screw the basketball, we gotta go show Julie!”

Luke and Reggie poof out, leaving Alex to shake his head in amusement. “Ghosts.”

--

Taglist:

@wr0temyway0ut

@phantomwriter95

@littlepetbee

@secondhand-sunlight

@ddaxnggirl

@trustworthytoast

@interestinglittlerelationship

[missjoolee]

Always Come Take Me Down

The barest hint of a snore coming from where Julie's head is resting against his thigh is what alerts Luke that she's asleep and no longer working on lyrics. He'd been so in his own head, humming melodies and jotting them down, that it was more an afterthought sort of processing of the fact that she had been quiet for a bit now. He knows it happened, but couldn't say when. What is he supposed to do? Leave her be? Wake her up? If it were Alex or Reggie, he'd let them sleep if they had just come from home, but definitely would wake them up with a wet willy. That's not an option this time! Not when it's the girl you most definitely have feelings for. Feelings that are complicated by the fact you are dead and couldn't even touch until a few weeks ago. Oh god, he's starting to sweat. Can ghosts even sweat?

The pen in Julie's hand shifts as her grip relaxes and he realizes something he can do. Reaching over, trying his best not to jostle her, he grabs the notebook that is still propped up against the makeshift easel that is her legs. Gently prying it from under hand, he sets it on the arm of the couch on his other side. Julie shuffles for a second, her head moving into a more comfortable position. Suddenly, all of Luke's panic dissipates. How can he feel anything but lucky? He lightly brushes his fingers across her forehead, trailing along one of the many curls that currently frames her face. It reminds him of the phone cord from the kitchen phone back home. The 90s version of home. It was one of the many things not still there that he'd had to get used to when he'd started visiting his parents. How do people do it? Make phone calls without the cord to entangle their fingers in. Memories of calling all the clubs (both music and book) he could think of while winding the spiral cord around an index finger just barely too tight so that it started cutting of circulation. The realization that more loops fit around it now that he's had a growth spurt.

Shaking off the memories, his eyes focus back on the studio. Looking down, he finds that he's wrapped one of Julie's curls around his finger like the phone cord. It's softer than the weird plastic, but not as smooth. He slowly unwinds his finger, marveling that he can even do that. They still don't know what happened that night that allowed them to touch. But he was given a third chance. He'd told Julie that he'd only had one real regret in life. How he'd left things with his mom. And he hadn't lied that night, that he still had no regrets in this life. Afterlife. Whatever. It all feels the same at this point whenever he's with her. But he does know he wants to do better by her than he had at the beginning of their friendship. He wants her to know he'll always choose her. He won't bail on her and cause her to cry again. It's just not an option.

A melody drifts through his head with those thoughts and he can't help but quietly hum along as he fiddles with the ends of her hair. He was nine when the song originally came out. It wasn't exactly his scene, even at nine, but you couldn't just escape a top 40 hit in the 80s. It was everywhere. At the grocery store with his mom, on the radio, at the arcade, the bowling alley, and Reggie's house before his parents started fighting. But the more he hums, the more Luke realizes how apt the lyrics are. Everything he wants to tell Julie, promise her. It's all there in the lyrics of this song that feels only seven years old but is actually... crap. Thirty-three years old. Is this really their life?

The lyrics slip out of him in a soft lullaby as he continues gently brushing her hair away from her temples.

"We're no strangers to love You know the rules and so do I"

He pauses at the next lines. Asking for a full commitment in their current state is probably too much, even if he does think he could give her better than any other guy. Her friend Nick pops into his head. He's been coming by a lot since the Orpheum. No, that's not the point right now. The point is communicating how he feels about her. He skips those lines.

"I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling Gotta make you understand"

Here he puts all his intent into the words, pledging them to her. Never again will he be the reason she feels alone and abandoned.

"Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you"

Slender fingers latch onto his and Julie lets out a deep, content, sigh. Her eyes peek open and look up at him and he can't help the smile that shines down on her.

Her own voice is low and quiet with sleep when she asks, "Did you just rickroll me?"

Luke's smile turns to confusion.

"What's a rickroll?"

[innytoes]

Eff this, I should be at Build-a-Bear / Kayla and anyone

Okay but I was coming up for the plot of this and my brain rolled in your other prompt of 'I don't think pancakes are going to fix this. I think I need ice cream too. / Flynn ship of choice, romantic or platonic'

"Come join us at our summer job, Kayla, it will be fun, Kayla!" Kayla mocked as she flopped down on the too-hard mattress of her tiny bed in the Counselor's Cabin. "I just spent half an hour holding back a girl's hair while she puked because she ate two bags of sour gummy worms on a dare."

"Flynn had to break up a fight about who would be allowed to date Harry Styles once they made it big and they did not take it well when Flynn pointed out he was a thirty year old man and they were twelve," Julie said. She was equally flopped on her bed, but in the opposite direction, staring at the ceiling like she was regretting her life choices. "And a fourteen year old just nearly made me cry after I confiscated her vape."

"Fourteen year olds are vicious," Kayla agreed.

Sure, this 'pop star' camp was a pretty sweet gig. The environment was beautiful, they got to do what they loved, and they had copious amounts of free time when they handed the kids off to the boys - Willie and Reggie for more traditional camp stuff like horseback riding and archery, Alex for ballet where Kayla taught modern and hiphop dance, and Luke for songwriting.

Even though half the time Kayla stuck around at dance, Julie joined the songwriting workshops, and Flynn was always down to judge whatever weird games Willie or Reggie came up with for the kids.

And the kids were usually okay. Except for tonight. Maybe it was a full moon or something.

"Reggie just texted me that he and Luke had to put out a fire in one of the boys' cabins," Flynn reported. "And Willie heard something about them wanting to sneak out tonight and try and raid the girl's cabin, so he and Alex are driving into town to get some werewolf masks and gloves to patrol tonight."

"That'll be fun," Kayla said sagely. It would be a disaster, but that was a Willie and Alex problem.

"Why did we think this was a good idea again?" Flynn complained.

"The money," Kayla said.

"Looks good on college applications," Julie pointed out.

"Eff that, I should be at the club," Flynn whined.

"I should be at Build-A-Bear," Kayla sighed. Not as a summer job, mind you. She lasted like three days into her trial period before she accidentally exploded one of the bears by overfilling it and made a small child cry.

"Build-a-bear?" Julie asked, intrigued.

"It's my happy place," Kayla said. "You get to pick out something cute and soft and then see it come to life and dress it up in cute outfits and then you have something to hug." She stopped, realizing how uncool she sounded.

"Aw, now I want to go to Build-a-Bear," Julie whined.

"As soon as we have a day off, we're going, all three of us," Flynn declared. "But until then, let's raid the kitchen."

"Late night pancakes?" Kayla perked up. Julie's chocolate chip pancakes were legendary.

"I don't think pancakes are going to fix this," Flynn said. "I think I need ice cream too."

They were still halfway through a pint of the Good Stuff, hidden away behind some bags of peas in the big freezer, when the shrieks from near the boy's cabin started.

"We're going to need more ice cream," Julie groaned, as she looked out the window and saw lights coming on in all the cabins.

[zerolostwalks]

"I'm so alone, all the time." for the rarepair of your choice. Yes I will regret this and cry. <3

CW: Brief moment of suicide ideation

If Bobby could muster any descriptor for the kind of day it was, he would have to go with noisy. 

The roar of traffic, some angry muttering from the business man walking in front of him. The convenience store across the street playing their music way too loud. The distant clamor of some random construction project. 

Noisy was good. Noisy kept him out of his head. Noisy made it easier to pretend. 

Rose had told him he couldn’t keep avoiding like that. She was probably right. Today was not a good day to be facing down all of his demons though. 

Call him a coward. 

Slowly he walked the streets. Not really paying attention to where he was going. Eyes focused on the pavement in front of him. Ray wouldn’t be too happy about that, probably gently chide about looking where he was going. Some vague teasing about not wandering into traffic.

Bobby snorted at the idea. A car could hit him right now for all Bobby cared. He almost wished it would. What was left for him here?

He stopped where he was. Finally noticed the way his feet and legs ached. More importantly how silence had descended on the world around him. 

Cautiously he glanced up and sharply inhaled, seeing where his mindless wandering had led him. 

Technically, it was home. Lola still lived here. Insistently called to practically beg him to come visit her. Ray and Rose took most of those calls now, god, he was such a coward.

He knew exactly when the last time he was here. Done his best to burn it into his memory. Loading their instruments into the back of his van. Alex barking out threats if anyone so much as breathed on his drums wrong. Reggie laughing as he ran around trying to make sure they had every cable accounted for. Luke distractedly reworking their set list again.

Except. . .that wasn’t the last time. 

No, the last time he was here, Rose was in the passenger seat next to him. Whispering reassurances as he sat frozen, white knuckled grip tight on the steering wheel, unable to make himself look at the garage. Equally unable to pull himself out of his seat as his brother and Ray quickly moved the instruments back into the studio. 

Bobby took a shaky steadying breath as he forced his leaden feet to move. Inch by inch closer to the garage. Closer to the echoes of laughter, to what remained of the golden memories he clung to. To the doors, their cold metal handle now in his grasp. 

He couldn’t do it. 

All these months later and he still couldn’t face them. Couldn’t face them at their own funerals. Not at their graves. Not even here, all the fond memories no forever tainted with a grief and longing ache he’d never be able to soothe.

He collapsed onto the ground, barely registering the burn of a scraped knee. Eyes overwhelmed and drowning under the onslaught of tears he tried so hard to keep locked away. 

“I-I miss you. God, I miss you all so much.” His voice was rough, from the combination of crying and disuse. “I keep hoping I’ll wake up and this will all have just been one awful nightmare. That you’ll be upset that I overslept again and almost missed our big break.

But you’re gone. Every time I open my eyes you're not there and I’m alone. I’m so alone, all the time.”

A gentle hand landing on his shoulder startled him. He turned to see Rose crouching down beside him, her own eyes bright and brimming with tears. She didn’t say a word, only kept her hand resting on his shoulder, the other one gripping his arm tight. Let him take all the time he needed to compose himself. Waited for him to decide what it was he wanted to do, and kept any thoughts she may have had on the matter to herself as she helped him back to her and Ray’s place.

[1mnobodywhoareyou]

WIPpet (WIP snippet)

AH! Tagged by @jmrothwell and @sovvannight (THANK YOU OMG!)

It's from my Bex verse because that's where the muse is living rn... For those who don't know: alive, in-their-30s, moderately successful Sunset Curve QPR with Willexie as parents.

The door banging open jolts Alex out of his thoughts and he faintly registers a child crying before he jumps up from the couch to meet his family as they come into the apartment.

Bex is clinging to Willie, wailing as tears stream down her face.

“What did you do?! I told you something like this would happen!” Alex exclaims and Willie cuts off his spiraling. 

“Alex, I love you. But I need you to chill. Bex is fine,” they move around Alex and toward the bathroom, holding Bex close and attempting to comfort her by cooing platitudes at her.

Alex is about to follow after them when Reggie grabs him by the shoulder and redirects him into the kitchen.

“What happened?” Alex asks, panic still lacing his voice.

“Bex did great!” Reggie assures him, “She didn’t fall off the board once. But she tripped and fell in the parking lot when we got back home. That’s all.”

Alex breathes out a sigh of relief and Reggie continues, jumping up to sit on the counter as he does so, “We just pulled her around on the board until she got bored. She’s too small to actually propel herself. I know you can’t help but worry.” He reaches out and pulls Alex toward him, letting him stand between Reggie’s legs, “It’s why we love you. But you don’t have to. Willie showed her some tricks too and she loved it.”

Alex wraps his arms around Reggie. “Thanks,” he mumbles into Reggie’s chest. “I’m sorry for being so neurotic.”

Reggie lets out a light chuckle, “It’s who you are. And I’m not who you owe an apology to.”

Reggie nods out into the hall and lets Alex untangle himself from him with another sigh. Reggie jumps down from where he’d been sitting and follows Alex to the bathroom. They get there just as Willie is planting a kiss to Bex’s scraped up knee, the damp cloth they’d used to clean her up abandoned on the counter beside them.

---

if you see this and want to play, consider yourself tagged!

[thedeathdeelers]

Hmmm, wanna write something of Comfort on a Bad Day? Absolutely no pressure, hope this strikes your fancy!

carlos didn’t know how to help.

he remembers feeling just as helpless when he used to see and hear his sister trying to cry as quietly as possible in her room, thinking neither he nor their dad could hear her. he had eventually figured out a way to comfort her without making her feel uncomfortable, but it had taken him some time to figure out how.

but as he now stands on the other side of the garage doors, listening to reggie’s sniffles coming from the studio, he can feel his heart clench all over again.

he hated seeing his family in pain.

they had all been through so much, and yet pain and grief still chased after them, refusing to let them go.

carlos sinks to the ground, pulling his knees up to his chest and rests his head against them.

what could he possibly do or give reggie that could help him? could carlos even make a difference?

maybe he should ask his dad?

he shakes his head.

no. he didn’t want their dad to worry — reggie hid himself in the studio for a reason, just like julie used to in her room.

he needs to figure this out on his own.

he rolls his head to the side, eyes scanning the garden as his brain goes into overdrive:

what does reggie like? what makes him feel better?

music? no, too loud, too obvious.

food? ….no that would make things worse actually, waaaay worse.

should he tell alex and luke? julie, maybe? nope. reggie probably didn’t want his sister and the guys to know either.

what would he want if he was feeling down? he knew he and reggie agreed on quite a lot of things so maybe…

but what helped him? what did he use-

carlos stands up so suddenly at the realisation, he nearly topples backwards into the garage doors. he stands there for a moment, waiting to get his bearings, and then races back into the house, not stopping until he’s in his room.

he desperately searches for what he needs, pulling open every drawer and cupboard door, throwing things around and searching under every piece of furniture in his room.

he’s gotta find it, he’s gotta find it, he’s got-

gotcha!

carlos stretches his arm out as far as it can go under the bed, fingers wiggling in desperate hope as he struggles to grasp the object he really really needs.

he closes his eyes and reaches a little further and- yes! he can feel the soft material at the edge of his fingertips. his eyes snap open as he pushes just a little further, and HA!

fingers wrapping securely around the worn thing, carlos gently pulls it towards him before springing up and sprinting back out to the studio.

stopping right outside the studio to catch his breath, carlos checks on the object in his hands one more time before slowly easing the garage door open.

he first pops his head open, eyes scanning the space, then inches forward when he spots reggie sat at the foot of the couch.

slowly making his way over to reggie, feet shuffling against the carpeted floor so as to not startle reggie, carlos starts to doubt his decision to walk in and disturb reggie

what if reggie doesn’t want carlos here? what if he just wanted to spend the day by himself, without being interrupted by annoying younger brothers?

carlos stops in his tracks at that thought, rethinking this entire thing. he looks down at what’s in his hands and hesitates; what if this doesn’t even help him?

but before he can start backing out, the sniffling suddenly stops. looking up, he finds reggie looking at him, a strained smile on his face.

“hey carlos! what’s up? you good buddy?”

carlos’ heart clenches at the sound of reggie’s voice, at his attempt at seeming fine. it doesn’t escape him when reggie tries to subtly wipe at his nose with the sleeve of his flannel.

“i uh-,” he starts, kicking at the carpet under his feet. “i just wanted to-”

“oh! what’s that you got there? an old friend?”

carlos stares blankly at reggie for a second, before blinking himself out of the daze and follows reggie’s gaze to his hands.

“oh! oh yeah i wanted to uh, i wanted to show you something.”

at reggie’s nod, carlos slowly makes his way over to reggie and settles down next to him.

“this is osito. mom got it for me before i was born and he’s been with me ever since.” carlos fiddles with the old bear’s arms, the soft worn material bringing its own sense of comfort.

“and hey! the little dude has the same flannel as me! we match!” reggie’s grin comes a little more naturally this time, but it still doesn’t fully reach his eyes.

“yeah, mom stitched it up for me when i was sick one year. apparently i was crying worried he might get sick without a jacket on and well…mom was always good with this kind of stuff.” carlos stops for a second, taking a deep breath when he starts feeling little chocked up.

not cool dude! you’re here to make reggie feel better, not worse!

shaking his head to clear his mind, carlos looks up at reggie, and is startled to find him looking at him with a small genuine smile on his face.

“i, um,” clearing his throat, carlos looks away and stares at the coffee table in front of them. “osito helped me get through some stuff, and….his soft jacket always helped me calm down i just. i just wanted to uh. to let you know that uh. that…you’re welcome to use it whenever you…might need it.” when he hears reggie sighing next to him, carlos rushes to add- “not that you know! not that i think you’d want a kid’s toy or i just-”

“carlos,” reggie gently places a hand on his shoulder, successfully cutting off his panicked rambling. “i think if he helped you out, he must be a very special guy.” reggie leans down and bumps his shoulder against his. “thank you, little dude. really.”

his small smile grows a little brighter, and carlos feels like he can breathe a little easier.

he nods once, clearing his throat again before answering.

“yeah, of course. it’s what the- it’s what the man of the house does you know just…normal stuff….” he’s not sure what he’s saying anymore, and he can’t seem to stop, but reggie is looking at him with a lighter look in his eyes and carlos feels like maybe he’s succeeded in helping another sibling feel just a little bit better.

and that’s all that matters.

[wolfiemcwolferson]

You’re taking prompts you say? Well…

Single Dad AU with…you guessed it…Galex. Pretty please 🥺?

!!!! Okay, I’ve been having a think over these and I’m going to be working on them.

Alex grew up with pretty strong ideas about what circumstances he would need to find himself in to become a parent.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, considering), life does not work like that.

“Yeah,” he breathes through the tightness in his chest, “it’s just me.”

The school secretary means well. Of course she does. They always do. They look at the parent page with half the information blank and they say something like do you want to call your wife or did you see this half? And Alex always has to hold his tongue. Always has to keep himself from biting back at them in front of Reggie.

This one has asked all startled, “it’s just you then?”

Rude. Shouldn’t you be a sensitive person if you work with children? Shouldn’t there be training on handling sensitive subjects??

Alex gives her a tight nod, collecting his half of the paperwork and he guides Reg out, one hand on his tiny shoulder.

“Dad,” Reg says as soon as they’re out of the building. “Can I say a dirty word?”

Alex feels like crying a bit.

“Ah, well. Thank you for asking, but no. I don’t think now is the appropriate time for you to say a dirty word.” And then he thinks about it. “And where have you been hearing dirty words?”

“Uncle Charles.” Reg shrugs his one shoulder and looks up at Alex and Alex has the desire to pick him up, hold him close to his chest.

He knows it’s hard on him, another new school. Another new town. New piano teacher and new footie team and new grocery store and Alex wishes this wasn’t their life. Hopes this is the last move they have to make for awhile.

Because this job doesn’t have an end date and the house they’re in has Alex’s name on the agreement - not his previous company.

It’s less money. But it’s stable. It’s stability for Reg when he’s not had much stability in his life.

“I’ll have to talk to Uncle Charles about what is appropriate.”

Reg, never one to let things go, shakes his head, “you called Uncle Lando a cunt on the phone -“

“Hey!” Alex hisses, “Mate, we talked about -“

“Maybe we should both not say naughty words.”

Alex has been bested by a six year old.

Again.

“You’re right.” Alex confirms, leading Reg towards their car. “Now, come on. We’ve got to go and get your new uniform bits.”

“You said I wouldn’t have to wear a tie.”

Alex doesn’t answer him. He also doesn’t want to wear a tie, but.

.

They’re home with two bags in tow and Alex is considering calling out for take away.

Alex is mostly unpacked but he hasn’t had a chance to make to the grocery store for a proper shop. They have tea and some eggs and some peanut butter, but nothing to do an actual meal with.

And Alex is just too exhausted to cook anyway.

It’s hard raising a child without help from family or another adult and with friends who love you a lot but half of them are race car drivers and half of them work for race car drivers.

It’s a lot to do on his own and they eat take out more than they should.

Reg never seems to mind.

“I’m going to get these put away in your room,” Alex tells Reg, “and then dinner.” Adding “and no TV” as an afterthought.

Even though it’s automatic. He hasn’t had tv all day and 30 minutes of -

He’s halfway up the stairs when the doorbell sounds and Alex curses, setting the bags on the steps because he can hear Reg sprinting for the door.

Which is…Alex’s fault for not instilling enough fear in him about the outside world or by leaving him with too many different people or something, but he’s not quick enough to catch him before the door is thrown open and he skids around the corner to find Reg standing in the doorway while the prettiest man Alex has ever seen stands in front of him looking startled.

“Hello.” Reg says, “I’d shake your hand but you have something. I’m Reg.”

“Erm.” Pretty Boy says, “I brought you and your parents dinner. As a welcome to the neighborhood gesture. I’m George.”

Alex walks up behind Reg, finally making eye contact with George, trying to smile at him.

“Oh, no.” Reg chirps, “it’s just me and my dad. You should come in and have dinner with us. My Uncles are all in the US for their job so we’re bored.”

George says erm again, and Alex takes pity on him.

“You don’t have to. Come in, I mean. If you have somewhere to be, but it is just us. And we’d like to get to know our neighbors. I’m Alex, by the way.”

George teeters back and forth, looks from Alex down to Reg - Alex knows he’s beaming at George and he knows no one can resist him.

“Well alright,” he swallows, “I live next door and it’d be nice if you all liked me so you don’t complain when my cat jumps over the garden wall.”

Reg gasps. “You’ve got a cat?”

Alex watches George’s face soften and he steps back so George can step in, but George’s attention is completely on Reg. “I do. Would you like to see some pictures after we get set up for dinner?”

Alex takes the dish from George who barely has a second before Reg has a hold of his hand? Pulling him through the kitchen.

George only looks back right before they turn the corner and he’s beaming at Alex without frustration or worry.

Alex thinks it’ll be good for them. To have a neighbor they get along with.

[ginervacade]

Paramedic AU no one asked for

Here’s chapter one, and I did go ahead and make it PeterPatterLina.

Warning ⚠️: mentions of car accident

Reggie jumped out as soon as Alex stopped the ambulance, running right over to the site of the accident, Luke right behind him. Luke hurried to the older man standing outside his car while Reggie rushed to the beautiful young woman standing with her young son beside the other vehicle. She looked relatively unharmed but the boy had several shards of glass in his arm.

“ Hi there, I’m Reggie,” he offered his hand for the woman to shake, “ I’m a paramedic, and we’re gonna get you and this little guy here all fixed up.”

“ I’m Julie. Thank you.”She shook his hand, voice weak and frightened.

“ Nice to meet you Julie, though I wish it were under better circumstances. I promise you I’m gonna do everything in my power to make sure you’re both gonna be ok.” Then he bent down to her little boy. “ Hi there buddy, what’s your name?”

“ Sebastian,” the little boy replied shyly.

“ Hi Sebastian, my name is Reggie and I’m here to help you. It looks like you’ve got some glass in your arm. If you and your Mama can come over with me to my ambulance we’ll get you all fixed up, ok buddy?”

Sebastian nodded and Reggie flashed him a reassuring smile.

“ Perfect. Can I pick you up? I promise I’ll be careful of that arm.”

When the little boy nodded again he scooped him gently into his arms and lead Julie over to the ambulance.

“ You’re being super brave little guy, you’re not even crying! You must be really strong.”

He continued talking to Sebastian as he carried him, and Julie was impressed by how good he was at keeping him distracted.

Luke met them at the ambulance. “ Mr. Jenkins is going to be just fine ma’am. Can I go ahead and get you checked out?”

“ I’m really ok.” Julie replied, nervously watching Reggie and her son.

“ I’m glad to hear that ma’am but it’s standard procedure that we check you over to make sure of that, though if you would rather wait until we get done with your son first that would be ok.”

“ Yes please, thank you.”

“ Of course ma’am, and my name is Luke. I promise that you are both in good hands.”

“ Ok Sebastian, my friend Luke here,” Luke interjected a hello with a little wave and a bright, reassuring smile to match Reggie’s, “ is gonna help me get all the glass out of your arm, ok?” When the little boy agreed Reggie continued.

“ Awesome, so I’m gonna need you to be really brave for me. Let your mama hold that hand, and give me your other one, ok? Great, so I need you to keep your eyes on me, cause if you try to watch Luke it might get kinda scary. I promise you that he’s gonna be really gentle, all he’s gonna do is get the glass out and get your arm bandaged up. You ready to get started?” Sebastian looked wide eyed at his mom for a moment and Julie smiled at him. “ You can trust these nice guys sweet boy, they’re trained to help people, it’s gonna be alright carino.”

“ Ok.”

“ Alright that’s perfect buddy. If it starts to hurt you can squeeze my hand really really tight, as tight as you need, but try to keep that arm really still for me alright? That’s perfect.” Reggie nodded to Luke. “ Hey Sebastian I really like your Star Wars shirt! Is Han Solo your favorite character?”

“ No, I like Obi Wan Kenobi.”

“ Oh yeah? He’s super awesome, and really brave! Is he how you learned to be so brave?”

“ Yeah, I like his lightsaber.”

“ Ooo yeah, I do too. What color would you want your lightsaber?”

“ I want a green one.”

“ Me too little dude. Try and keep that arm real still for me. You can squeeze my hand as tight as you need buddy, it’s ok. You’re doing so good. You too mama.” Reggie smiled at Julie, lifting his other hand to brush a tear off of Sebastian’s face.

“ Sorry,” Sebastian said, a few more tears falling.

“ Oh sweet boy it’s ok to cry. We’re just almost done and you’ve done amazing! Let’s talk about Star Wars some more ok? Who’s your favorite droid?”

“R2-D2,” the little boy sniffled, as Luke wrapped the bandage around his arm.

“ R2’s my favorite too. And we’re all done, you did really really good! I think you would make a great Jedi Sebastian, can I get a high five? Yeah, there we go. I’m gonna give you a real quick checkup while Luke does the same for your Mama. Can you give her a big hug so that she can be brave too?”

Julie couldn’t help the smile on her face, she mouthed a thank you to Reggie who simply nodded at her, flashing a crooked smile that sat just right on his freckled face in a way that made her blush, noticing the way his green eyes sparkled. She smiled at Luke, noting that he was just as cute, though trying to ignore the way his rolled up sleeves showed off his strong arms. Luke asked her questions to make sure her cognitive function was in order, “ What’s your name ma’am?”

“ Julie Molina.”

“ A beautiful name for a beautiful lady. My name is Luke by the way.”

“ So I’ve heard,” she giggled, blush increasing.

He used a light to make sure her pupils dilated properly, checked her pulse, and made sure she could move normally, and once he was sure she was ok, flashed her a smile that almost rivaled the one from Reggie. Almost, not quite, she thought. “ Looks like you’re good to go. Is there anyone you need us to call? Your husband maybe?”

“No, it’s just us. My dad is on his way here. Thank you.”

“ Of course Julie. Hopefully if I see you again, it will be under better circumstances. Try and have a better evening, alright?”

She smiled back at him, shaking his hand. She turned to Sebastian who was holding an inflated glove with a smiley face and giggling with Reggie.

“ You ready to go, Amorcito?” She ruffled his hair, “ Papi is here,” she pointed toward Ray.

“ Yeah! Look mommy, Reggie made me a smiley balloon!”

“ Oh that’s so cool! Go show Papi.” She giggled, pushing the boy toward Ray who waved at her, smiling as his Grandson ran into his arms.

“ Thank you again, you were really great with him.”

“ Absolutely ma’am, this is my job after all. He really was brave, and Star Wars is easy to talk about.” Reggie shrugged good-naturedly, shooting her the same smile. “ You’re raising a good kid.”

“Thank you, that means a lot.”

“ Have a better evening Julie. Go be with your family.”

Julie nodded at him, then walked to her father and her son.

Reggie and Luke jumped back into the ambulance, letting Alex know they were good to go. They were both too distracted to notice Alex’s knowing smile, the dazed look in Luke’s eyes, or the pink tint of Reggie’s cheeks.

[all-for-geek]

Unfinished Business - Love, Family, and Possession Chapter 8 - Talking to a Memory

Chapter 7

Chapter 9

Fandom: Julie and the Phantoms

Word Count: 3,658

Summary: Julie discovers that her life is now on a ticking clock, and Reggie gets a blast from the past.

Song Used in Chapter

Julie paced across the studio. This wasn’t happening. This could not happen. There was no way that Nick was possessed. She couldn’t have the same curse that the guys had. She couldn’t be…she couldn’t be…

Julie chucked the bracelet Nick, no, Caleb, had given her across the room. The purple energy it had been emitting lingered on her skin before seeping down into her body. She wanted to scream. She wanted to disappear back into that apathetic state she had thrived in after her mom died. She wanted to crumble into a ball and cry. That last one felt so tempting. 

The 5 others in the room stared at Julie. Alex and Reggie weren’t sure of what to do. This was beyond anything they were prepared for. A simple hug or “Everything is going to be okay” wasn’t going to fix this.

Luke stalked in the back corner of the garage, his hands balled into fists. He wanted nothing more than to stand next to Julie, being her shoulder to cry on, but emotions had never been his strong point. If he saw her now, her look of helplessness, of desperation, he would crumble, and that would just make things worse.

Alice had followed them from the auditions. She wasn’t sure why. Unlike the 3 other ghosts, she was invisible to the other lifers. She had no living connections to cling to. She hadn’t for a long time, but she knew the look in Julie’s eyes all too well. She had seen it so many times before. She wanted nothing more than to poof out, but some stubborn part of her forced her to stay.

It was Flynn who made the first move. She stomped over to her best friend and grabbed her by the shoulders. There was a fury in her eyes, but it was not directed at Julie. It was directed that this messed up situation and the ghost that put her into it. That dude was real lucky that Flynn couldn’t see him. But that wasn't what was important right now. Her friend was in trouble.

She pulled Julie into a tight hug. 

“It’s gonna be okay,” she whispered, although she was still loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. “You beat this stupid curse before. You’ll do it again.”

Luke’s ears perked up. “Wait, yeah! We just gotta do what we did before!” He ran over to Julie and joined Flynn in hugging her. Alex and Reggie weren’t far behind.

Julie could feel the love her friends had for her flooding her system. The power she felt was enough to crumble her to her knees if Flynn was keeping her upright. It felt just like that night after the Orpheum. 

The warmth and light faded as the four pulled away. She stood there, unsure. That had felt good. It felt right. She smiled as she-

Julie doubled over in pain as a purple jolt of energy coursed through her body.

“No no no no no,” Luke muttered. He rushed to Julie’s side, helping her stand back upright.

“I don’t get it. Why did it work?” Reggie asked.

“Because she is still alive,” Alice explained. The three boys turned to her, but the girls remained where they were. Alice sighed as she repeated herself through the makeshift switchboard.

“Caleb’s curses work by sticking his power to your very soul. It’s why they are so hard to break. A ghost is nothing but a soul, so when their Anchor forms a strong enough connection, it is easy enough for them to reach in and erase it. Lifers…they have more in the way. The physical form guards the soul against harm, but it also means it can’t be accessed as easily. It will take more than a group hug to break it.”

“And how do you know so much about Caleb and his curses,” Alex asked, not hiding the skepticism in his voice. It earned him a slap on the shoulder from Reggie, but he couldn’t shake the fact that she seemed to know everything.

Alice turned to face the switchboard again, biting her cheek as she regained her composure. “Caleb has been treating the ghosts of this city like his pawns for decades. I don’t like people who enjoy putting others down. Me and a small group of others at the Roxy have been working to find ways to break Caleb’s hold on people.”

“Okay, so how do we help Julie then,” Luke said, rising to his feet. He didn’t care what kind of past Alice might or might not have. If she could help save Julie, that was all he cared about.

“You have to reach into her soul,” she answered. The others waited as Alice took her hands off of the lights.

“And…how do we do that?” Luke prompted.

“Each soul is different. The person who truly knows the answer to that is Julie.”

Julie could feel her breath constricting. This was too much. She was dying. She was going to die soon if she couldn’t reach her soul. She didn’t even know what that meant! Why was this happening! Just as everything was starting to turn around, something always had to show up to remind Julie how cruel the world could be. 

She ran out of the room, tears welling in her eyes. Flynn followed close behind her.

Alex stared at the space where Julie had stood. She was not the only one getting overwhelmed. He could feel the panic starting to set in. He needed to get his jitters out. He was of no use to any of them like this. He poofed away. No one needed to ask to know where he had gone.

Carlos ran into the garage, his eyes bright and happy. Luke couldn’t help but feel jealous of the kid. He had no idea what was going on.

Carlos quickly checked the studio for his sister before racing over to the lightboard and setting down his open laptop.

“Reggie, are you there?” the boy whispered.

Reggie struggled to make it over the switchboard. He really didn’t have the energy to talk to anyone. He just wanted to curl up in a ball and go to bed. But this was Carlos. Reggie always had time for Carlos.

“Yeah, little dude, I’m here,” he answered.

Carlos’ face beamed brighter. “I found your brother!”

Reggie froze. Nothing could have prepared him for those words. Nothing had even

hinted that those words were a possibility! If he had a heartbeat, it probably would have stopped.

“What?”

“It took longer than I thought it would,” Carlos continued, unaware of how much of a bombshell he just dropped, “He doesn’t have much social media, not even a Twitter, can you believe it, but I found him! Stephen Peters! He even still lives in the area.”

Carlos turns his laptop around to show a picture of a family of four out on the beach. The children’s faces were obscured, but the couple could be seen clear as day lounging on the sand. She was smiling at the man like there was nobody else in the world. And the man…he was so much older than he should be. Stevie was a little kid, but now…he was old enough to be their dad. He was a dad. His smile had not changed since the last time Reggie saw it.

“Reggie?” The ghost hadn’t been aware of how long he had been sitting there until Carlos spoke. He looked around. Had Luke’s hand been on his shoulder the whole time?

“Yeah…yeah that’s cool,” Reggie muttered, struggling with the lights.

“So now you can go and see him!” Carlos exclaimed.

Reggie couldn’t begin to process what was happening. See his brother again? Sure, he wanted to…more than anything…but what about- 

He stared at the empty doorway where Julie had run off through.

The hand on his shoulder squeezed. “Dude, you gotta go,” Luke exclaimed.

“But…I can’t just leave Julie.”

“Bro, you’re not leaving her,” Luke reassured. “Flynn’s in there with her right now, and I’ll be there too. Julie’s in good hands.”

But that was the problem. He couldn’t go to see Stevie alone. He couldn’t. He would get to the door, stand there awkwardly, poof back, and call himself a big chicken afterward. He needed someone to be there with him. To give him that extra push. Alex had already gone to see Willie, and Luke couldn’t leave. He would if Reggie asked, he knows that, but Luke needs to be here with Julie. He couldn’t just-

“I’ll go with you,” Alice piped up.

Reggie whipped his head around to face her. Had he been talking out loud that whole time? Or was he just that easy to read?

“Oh, okay you sure?” Reggie asked. He didn’t mind Alice going, really, he didn’t, but she had done so much for them over the past couple days. He couldn’t help but wonder why.

“Yeah,” she replied nonchalantly. “What else am I going to do with my afternoon?”

Reggie looked back to look as if asking for permission. His friend rolled his eyes playfully.

“Dude, everything is going to be fine,” Luke said, “Julie is in good hands up there with Flynn.”

“Yeah…besides, Flynn isn’t the only one who can look after her.” Reggie’s signature smile returned for a moment as Luke’s cheeks flushed. He gave the ghost a wink before he and Alice poofed off.

Stevie had managed to get a nice place for himself out in the suburbs of LA. It looked like a house out of a sitcom right down to the white picket fence. They had a big yard littered with toys where the two children, a boy and a girl, were running around playing.

Stevie’s kids. The thought hit Reggie again like a freight train. These were Stevie’s kids. Little Stevie who was barely tall enough to reach the pedals on Dad’s old car. He had kids. Reggie had a niece and nephew. Stevie had-

A firm squeeze on his shoulder pulled Reggie out of his spiral. He turned to Alice who was giving him a comforting smile. Reggie smiled back. The softer expression looked good on her. They both quickly turned back to the kids just in time to see the boy trip and fall in a mud pile. 

The girl laughed at him which earned her a playful “Shut up!” in response. The call summoned their father out to see what all the fuss was about. Stevie was taller than him. He had a beard! Alice’s hand was back on his shoulder.

Stevie smiled, a smile that Reggie remembered like it was yesterday, at the boy. Like this wasn’t the first time that this had happened. 

“Reggie…” he called out.

Reggie the son apologized to his dad while Reggie the ghost choked back a sob. Stevie helped little Reggie to his feet, seemingly not worried about the mud getting caked on his own clothes, and the three walked back into the house. Reggie remained staring at the door.

“Do you…uh…” Alice trailed off, her nonchalant demeanor cracking. She vaguely gestured toward the door.

Reggie nodded before poofing inside. He was really glad that someone came with him.

The inside of the house was littered with pictures of the family that lived there. All of them from various trips or outings, the four smiling brightly every time. Reggie thought of the pictures he had of his own family. He hoped that these ones weren't as loaded with memories as his were.

Stevie was standing at the bottom of the stairwell talking and laughing with a woman (Stevie’s wife, oh god Reggie had a sister-in-law) standing at the top. Stevie pawned the poor mud-caked boy to his mother before heading farther down the hall. 

After a pitstop in the bathroom to wash the worst of the mud off, Stevie entered into a massive bedroom. It was big enough for two people to comfortably use (which made sense because Stevie had a wife). He went rummaging through his closest, probably looking for new, less muddy clothes to put on. 

Stevie suddenly paused as he reached the back of his closest. A fond smile crept on his face. He slowly, carefully, pulled out an old, beaten leather jacket. It couldn’t have been Stevie’s. It was too small for him. It was…

Reggie had never put too much thought into what happened to the clothes that he died in. He guessed that it made sense that his parents would want him in something nicer than his sweat-soaked regular clothes. They always wanted him in something nicer. And if anyone could have ended up with his jacket, he would have wanted it to be Stevie. Still, the image was almost too surreal.

Stevie held his brother’s jacket tenderly in his hands. As if it would crumble to dust if he held it the wrong way. His tender smile remained as he pulled an old CD out of the jacket pocket. It was 25 years old at this point. With how much he played it, it was a miracle that the thing still functioned. But it was one of his most prized possessions. He kept a CD player around just for it.

Reggie recognized the intro as soon as it started. It was a demo that he had never gotten the chance to show the guys. His first, and only, foray into writing anything that wasn’t country. The song he had written for his brother for when the shouting had gotten too loud.

As the first verse began, all of the memories came flooding back.

I still see the moonlight on your skin

Those eyes staring back at me

Those scared eyes. Of a boy who didn’t know any better. Who just wanted Mommy and Daddy to stop fighting.

I still hear your voice sing in the wind

Consumed by the melody

The nights when the two would sneak out. Before Sunset Curve. When they would stroll the Hollywood streets sneaking into any music club they could. Reggie’s friends joined when they could.

I still feel your heartbeat skip I'm reaching, wishing

Wishing they had gotten more time together. Wishing that for one moment Stevie could see him. That he could tell his little brother that everything was alright.

Stevie starts to sing along, his eyes closed.

I'm talking to a memory

Calling can you hear me?

Reggie sits on the bed with his brother, drumming the beat on his fingers.

Haunted by the moments of what we used to be

I know it's not reality but I can't help believing

You're be haunted by me

Reggie stares at his brother. He no longer sees the man that he became, but the little brother that he always knew.

And you're talking to a memory

Oh, oh, woah

Oh, oh, woah, oh

I'm talking to a

Oh, oh, woah

Oh, oh, woah, oh

I’m talking to a memory

Out of my body looking for you

The time that Reggie almost ran away. He had started packing his bag and everything before Stevie came walking in.

All over the world but haven't left the room

He couldn’t just leave him there.

Stuck inside these four walls

But in this vision we can have it all

Teaching his brother how to play bass. The quieter tones were calming, and it could always be cranked up if needed.

Got nowhere to go so I'm going nowhere

No no no Stevie couldn’t cry. If he cried, then Reggie would cry, and then-

The world is empty when you're not there

Reggie harmonized with his brother, tears in his eyes.

Take me back, back to the night when we danced through the Hollywood lights

Oh, oh

Ours is a story I won't forget

Reggie would never forget his brother. Not if he roamed this Earth for a hundred years.

Oh, oh

No moments wasted, no regrets

Stevie had one though. That his brother couldn’t be here to share this amazing life with him. He hoped that, wherever he was, Reggie was happy.

Oh, woah, oh

The chapters we wrote are written in our hearts

The ending came to soon but

It made us who we are

Stevie couldn’t tell, but he was singing face to face with brother. Reggie couldn’t have been prouder of the man he became.

Can we talk about our memories?

The ones where you can reach me

Reggie stopped singing as he stared at his brother. Stevie stared at the closest where the jacket was hanging.

Lost in every moment, we could just be you and me

Alice stared from the doorway, shifting uncomfortably as she watched the extremely personal scene play out. She had always been glad that she never had a sibling, but maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad.

I know it's in the past but I can't help believing

We'll be haunting each others dreams

Through our favorite little memories

“Stephen! Dinner’s ready!” a feminine voice called from downstairs. Reggie and Stevie both turned towards the sound, awoken from their trance. Stevie wipes the tears rolling down his face away and carefully puts the CD back into the leather jacket before heading downstairs. Reggie follows him wordlessly.

Stevie sat down next to his wife at the dinner table. The woman eyed him worriedly before he gave her a reassuring smile. The kids, the boy now in a clean shirt, run over, and the four start digging into their meal. 

It was the scene Reggie had always dreamed of when he and Stevie were kids. The four sitting down, chatting and joking about the day they had. The kids excitedly explained what happened at school. Reggie kept glancing at Stevie and his wife. They were so…happy. Reggie never dreamed that his own parents could look at each other that way. Even before things started getting bad. 

Reggie smiles as he poofs away. Alice, who had been standing in the doorway admiring the scene herself, notices his sudden absence. She rushes out of the house desperately hoping that he didn’t just leave her to see that sappy, saccharine, envious scene alone. She caught herself sighing when she looked up to see him on the roof.

Alice poofed up to join him. Reggie turned and acknowledged her for the first time since they entered the house. He hastily wiped the tears from his eyes.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I…” Reggie trailed off. How did he explain that he kinda, maybe, completely forgot that she was there.

“It’s okay,” Alice responded. She sat down next to him, taking in the sun slowly setting. “You doin’ alright?”

“I…They all look so happy. It’s better than anything I could have hoped for.”

“I’m glad. For a lot of us, especially those who die young, seeing family again doesn’t always end well.”

Reggie turned to look at her. “Have you ever tried? Looking for your family?”

Alice’s face darkened. “My dad was the only family I ever really had, and we had a big falling out right before I died. Don’t really have any interest in re-connecting.”

“That sucks,” Reggie said, regretting it almost immediately. Of course it sucked! He wished Alex was here. He always knew what to say.

“It’s not so bad,” Alice said, “I’ve met a lot of amazing people through the Roxy. Some were there before me, some after. It’s like having a family all over again.”

“I get that,” Reggie added. He meant it. He felt the same way about his band. “Thanks for coming with me. You didn’t have to do that.”

Alice shrugged. “It was no biggie.” 

Alice smiled, and Reggie smiled back. There were a million words left unsaid between them, but neither one was willing to speak them. Not yet, anyway. Instead, they just watched as the sun set.

As the sun set for Julie, she felt herself drawn to the same place she always felt drawn to in times of distress. Her box of her mom’s old things. She sifts through the box full of outdated fashion. She smiles as the tears come falling down. This was all that she had left of her mom. All that she had to physically hold at least.

Another jolt of pain pulsed through her body. She collapsed onto the floor just in time for Flynn to round the corner. She took her place at her best friend’s side quickly pulling her into a hug.

“I can’t leave them with just a box,” Julie managed to get out between the tears. “We just started getting better. I can’t…I can’t do that to them.”

Luke was about to float into the room when he saw the scene playing out before him. He wanted nothing more than to be angry, but nothing could trump the aching feeling in his heart.

“Don’t you dare talk like that,” Flynn scolded. “You are not going anywhere. You read what that ghost lady said. We just gotta find a way to connect to your soul.”

“How are we gonna do that?” Julie cried. “We don’t even know where to start.”

“Music,” Luke muttered. It was less that he spoke, and more that the thought fell from his head and into his mouth. Julie looked up, barely hearing what he said herself.

“What?” she asked.

“You always say that music is a big part of you,” Luke explained, fiddling with the strings of his hoodie, “You even wrote a whole song about it.”

“Your mom,” Flynn added. She couldn’t hear the ramblings of the ghost behind her, but her words fit with his more perfectly than she could ever know. “She was such a big part of you. She still is.”

Julie sat there, wiping the tears from her eyes. She looked at her two friends with a smile before grabbing her notebook. 

“Thanks,” she said. “I think I have an idea.”

[chaoticrebels]

✩༺♥༻✩ ━ ❝ don't give me that look, you know I'm right! ❞

✪ 。゜ ⠀ ☆ 。゜ ⠀ ★ Answered » { Dean }

✦ —   * ⠀ / ⠀ 𝙁𝙄𝙇𝙀𝘿 𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍 ⠀﹕⠀ ❪ @wedohaveachoice ❫

There was a look of disbelief on his features, it's been twenty five years since they've last seen each other. And this was how they were spending the reunion, arguing who was right and who was wrong? Unbelievable. Okay, maybe eating those street dogs wasn't the smartest move to make, given it had lead to their death but it wasn't like they had any clue that would be rancid enough to kill them. They were teenage boys who clearly weren't using their heads, they just saw other eating them and assumed it would be okay. Honestly who knew one could die to food poisoning that fast? Certainly not them. So didn't they get punished enough? After all they died and were trapped in a black room listening to Alex cry for twenty five years, now they were trapped here on Earth, without a clue on how to cross over. Apparently not because Reggie had to deal with Dean, who sounded like an angry parent. Honestly, can he please catch a break? No? Okay, fuck you too God.

❝You may be right about somethings but this, oh, this you are completely wrong about.❞ Reggie huffed before pressing his lips together and turning his head towards Luke and Alex, watching them momentarily before looking back at Dean.

[vgilantee]

Not Sure If I Want To Let Go || JATP Reggie x Reader {part 2}

part 2 of this fic

words: 3.6k

a/n first and foremost i am so sorry it’s taken me so long. The first 2k words of this i had written up months ago, but i stared getting shifts again and my jatp fixation faded (and was quickly replaced by mcyt lmao). I have always been very bad at committing to things, but you’ve all waited over a year for this, and for that i appreciate you patience, and hope that you enjoy part 2. I probably won’t write for jatp again, mostly because of the cancellation news, but the show, the cast, and the fandom still hold a special place in my heart. also i hate the name now. but anyway, returning to my old fic formatting one last time :)

warnings: n/a

pronouns used: she/her

You gripped his hand tight and panicked. No, no, no, no, no. You felt a tug at your chest, but not the good kind, not like the one you felt when he told you he loved you or every time you heard him laugh. No. This one felt like someone had taken a handful of your hospital gown and was pulling you out of your body. You stared into Reggie’s eyes as you felt a wave of coolness run through your veins. Not breaking eye contact in fear of never seeing his beautiful eyes again, you wiggled your toes. His other hand came up and cupped your hand, and you did the same, the pair of you holding on to the other.

While your hands were held in place by Reggie, the rest of your body kept rising, toes towards the ceiling.

“Reggie?” Your voice was small and quivered with fear. You knew you had died, it was stupid to deny it, but you didn’t know what was next.

“It’ll be okay. I promise.” He had told you many times what had happened when he and the guys had died. They went to a black room where Alex cried, then they poofed into Julie’s garage 25 years later. “I’ll see you soon, okay?” You nodded as you started to cry, the look in his eyes so soft.

The tugging grew stronger as your body, your ghost, continued to be pulled upward, but your hands were still being held by Reggie.

“Promise?” You didn’t know if you had unfinished business, and neither did he, so it was going to be an empty promise. But you needed it, needed him.

“I promise.” Your grip started to slip, his hands sliding down your own. You didn’t want to lose him, you had barely found him. “I love you, okay? Don’t you forget that, no matter how long we’re apart.”

Reggie’s eyes started watering and you were barely holding onto each other’s fingers.

“I love you too, Reg. Please, wait for me.” Your grip had gone and the pull hadn’t slowed.

“I’ll wait for you until the end of everything.” Then his eyes were gone, you were above the room, quickly being pulled up. Above the hospital, above the city you grew up in. The black came suddenly, and you were dropped onto your stomach.

You could see your hands and your feet, but the rest of the room was black. You couldn’t tell where the floor stopped and the walls began. It was such a deep, rich black that your eyes hurt. So you squeezed them shut and let yourself cry. You quietly laughed as you cried, realising that you were doing exactly what Alex vehemently denied. But crying was all that you could do, so you sat, curled up into a ball and hugged your legs, sobbing into the void.

---

Experiencing nothing but the illusion of time passing left a lot of time to think. Your throat had become sore after a while, maybe an hour - but probably more - of sobbing, so the tears became silent streams. You thought about dying, how you got lucky, dying in your sleep. It was painless at the end of it all. That was the biggest relief, no longer aching every time you took a breath, no more stabbing pains as you laughed or spoke or experienced life. Life.

You thought about your parents. How were they dealing with the death of their child? While you had come to terms with your death numerous times in your short life, they had never let go of the hope that you would recover. Then there was Julie and Flynn. You hadn’t told them you were dying. Reggie would have told them you had died by now, probably told them that you had been dying for a little while. For them it was sudden, so they never had the opportunity to process it like you did.

How long had it been for them? Had they already been to your funeral? Or were they still planning it? You thought about what it was - or maybe would be - like. The tearful eulogies, soft laughter through tears as photos were shown and stories were told. The flowers that you placed around the room for the funeral itself, and the ones placed on your casket before it was lowered into its permanent home. Maybe it had been years. Maybe Julie and Flynn had graduated high school, and Julie and the Phantoms were huge. It could even be longer, maybe Flynn and Julie were married and had families of their own.

By the time you were contemplating the potential time you could return to, you were all cried out, lying on your back in the cold black room. At some point, you had noticed that your hospital gown was gone, replaced with the outfit you had worn the day before you died. You were grateful for this, not having to spend an eternity in a hospital gown. You had also noticed that you had started talking out loud. Which wasn’t a concern until you started talking to the air as though there was someone there to reply. The loneliness, the complete isolation, had finally gotten to you.

“And honestly, I just want to leave at this point. I want to go home, see my friends and family again. See Reggie again. But passing on and into whatever is instead of this, I would take that too.” Arms out, you spun in a slow circle as you spoke, looking up. You weren’t sure who you were talking to, if there even was anyone other than yourself to listen, but you hoped your begging for freedom from the void would be listened to. “Or at least give me a way to know how long I’ve been here. Please!”

At one point - you weren’t sure when or for how long - you stood, screaming until your throat was raw. The sound alternated between crying out the word please and just screaming. Finally, when you could almost taste blood from how raw your throat had become, you collapsed onto the ground.

You curled up again, knees to chest and arms around shins. You rested your chin on one of your knees and stared at a single spot in the distance.

As you stared, you imagined a door materialising. A dark oak door with a small stain-glass window at the top and a golden door handle. Then you imagined a doormat. A basic, tan doormat with a rubber edge and the word “home” painted on it in black. Your eyes started to burn as you fought the urge to blink. You knew it wasn’t real, and you knew that blinking may cause the illusion to disappear. The imaginary door handle turned and the door slowly pushed open, your eyes watering from the strain of holding them open. As the door opened, a barely-visible light seeped around the edges like a fluid. It didn’t behave like light, but instead appeared to be thick, oozing down the growing opening in the door onto the floor.

“I just want to go home.” It was almost pathetic how you were begging a door you imagined to let you go home, but you had run out of things to do, sanity slowly slipping away. Finally, you squeezed your eyes to get rid of the illusion. And the room grew dark again, the deep and drowning blackness that you had grown used to.

In the pitch black of the room, the faint flash of light was like a supernova, even behind your closed eyelids, and it caused your eyes to snap open. But you weren’t sure if you had imagined it or not.

“Y/N?” You let out a soft sob. Great, now you had auditory hallucinations to accompany the visual ones.

“No.” You pulled your knees tighter to your chest as you felt your heart break, the word leaving your lips in a defeated sigh. It was a cruel joke your mind was playing, making you think that Reggie was behind you, calling your name.

“What?” Soft footsteps echoed, and you squeezed your eyes closed again.

“No. I can’t. I can’t deal with hearing voices right now. Especially not Reggie’s.” Footsteps moved closer and stopped in front of you. You kept your eyes tight, trying to force away the hallucinations.

“What do you mean hearing voices?” You scoffed.

“I mean, I know I’m losing my mind, but I don’t want it to torture me by making me hear things as well as see things.” You flinched when you felt a hand cautiously rest on your shoulder, eyes flying open and locking on scuffed black shoes right in front of your own beat-up converse.

“I promise I’m real.” Your eyes flitted up and you saw him.

“Reggie.” You breathed out his name before all but launching yourself up and into his arms, face pressed into his neck as his arms wound around your waist. He fell onto his back as you started to cry.

“I promised I would see you again.” His words were mumbled into your neck before you suddenly pulled away, coming to a realisation.

“I can kiss you now.” The words were breathed out in excitement, and Reggie laughed as you felt a smile break out.

“Well? What are you waiting for?” You laughed as you pulled one hand from around his neck to place it on his cheek before leaning forward, pulling him in slightly with the other hand still on the back of his neck, and finally kissed him.

You both sighed when your lips connected, and he carefully sat up so he could comfortably pull you closer to him, leaving you to sit on his lap. With a final peck, you pulled back, just enough to rest your foreheads together.

“I love you.” You felt his breath against your lips as he whispered it to you. You gave him another quick peck and let out a giggle.

“I love you too. I’ve missed you so much and it feels like I’ve only been here for like a week.” Almost immediately, Reggie pulled back and broke eye contact. “Yeah, I figured I'd been here a while.”

“About that…” One hand moved from around your back so that he could rub the back of his neck.

“How long, Reggie?” You used one hand to lift his chin, forcing him to make eye contact. “Please, Reg.”

“Okay, so it hasn’t been as long as you’re probably thinking, but it has been… a bit.” You tilted your head to one side, silently telling him to just hurry up and tell you. “Y/N, it’s been three years.” Your hand dropped from his face and your eyes darted to stare off at a space over his shoulder. Almost immediately, the hand he had sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck moved to your cheek.

“I missed it.” Your voice was almost inaudible and sounded broken.

“Missed what?” You looked back at him and you saw there was a slight panic in amongst the confusion.

“My funeral.” It was a weird sentiment, being upset about missing one’s own funeral. But in your dark solitude, you had time to think at length about it. You had hoped you would be able to be there, holding Reggie’s hand as you cried, listening to the goodbye’s from those you loved and that loved you. They said goodbye and you never got to hear it. And it was likely the last time many of them would ever speak directly to you, or even about you at all. “I wanted to see it. Was it good?” In reply, Reggie simply hummed and gave a small nod, before pressing a soft kiss to your forehead.

“It was. Alex started crying too.” You let out a snort accidentally at the idea of Alex - also dead and far more likely to see you again - crying while your parents told stories of you as a child. “Gross. Ow!” You whacked him on the arm, and he rubbed the spot dramatically. “In all seriousness though, it was lovely and your parent’s made an effort to make it a celebration of your life I guess, rather than something about how you were… you know… dead.” The void grew quiet again, no breathing or heartbeat in your ears to break the silence, as you once again thought about your funeral. The silence was different though, from what you had grown used to in your time in the void, alone. This silence felt warm. When you were alone, the silence was cold, heavy and made you very aware of every feeling and thought. You were aware of the clothes against your skin, and a whisper sounded bellowing. And in that hyperaware silence, that week of nothing, your friends and family had lived since you had died. Now in the new silence, one where you were no longer alone, you had been told that it had been three years. Your friends had lived and grown three years. Flynn and Julie were in their sophomore year of college, studying for their futures and being brilliant, just as they always had. They were probably taller, maybe changed up their style just a little, but still very much them. You hoped they were still best friends, but you also knew that time changes people greatly and sometimes childhood friends drift.

“Do you know how I can leave here?” You hadn’t realised that you had started staring over his shoulder with tears pricling in your eyes until you looked back at Reggie and noticed the slight blur around the edges of his face. “I’m sick of it here.” You laughed through the wetness in your voice, pushing down the tears and the sadness that came from thinking too much about your friends.

“We can try poofing?” His phrasing makes you snort and he opened his mouth in feign insult. “What? That’s what it is!”

“It’s a stupid name is what it is.” You snort had devolved into a laugh, and Reggie smiled at the sound that echoed in the void. “And I don’t know how to do that, Reg.” He nodded, thumbs rubbing circles on your waist before using both hands to pat your sides. Reggie pushes you back slightly muttering the word “up.” You did as he says, standing up off of his lap and you offer your hands to help him up.

“Now what?” You tapped your foot in joked impatience.

“Now, you learn to po-” his words stop short as you reach forward to punch his arm “to teleport.”

---

Your hands and eyes hurt from the half hour of squeezing them tight, trying to teleport even just around the void.

“You can do this, I know you can.” You had tried thinking of your bedroom, thinking of your parents, thinking of your friends. Nothing was working. “Maybe you’re just being too specific? Just think of leaving?” Both you and Reggie knew that he was making it up on the spot, no idea how he teleported at all. On one of your dates, you had asked how he teleported, but he had said he didn’t know, describing it as it feeling the same as walking to somewhere you had been a hundred times before. Instinct, only needing to think of the destination, and suddenly he was there. But you were desperate to leave, so you were willing to try.

“Okay, thinking of leaving. Leaving…” The words were whispered, sounding more like breaths than words. You squeezed your fists tightly, nails biting at the skin on your palms, and you held your eyes tightly, tight enough to see swirls of white dots in your vision.

There was a heat in your hands, different from the pinch from your nails. It was like a burning cold, and you could have sworn you heard Reggie mutter something like “holy shit”. But you kept your eyes shut, kept your fists clenched, blocked out everything but the thought of leaving.

“I’ll meet you there.” You ignored his words again, but registered the smirk in his voice. The burn was new and you had a gut feeling that it was right, and you didn’t want to lose that.

Suddenly, a rush of cold, sudden and felt in your bones. Then you felt a drop and a pain in your tailbone. You heard a whoosh sound and… and… you heard cars and birds and the sound of feedback from an amp. No more silence. Your eyes flew open when you realised that you were out of the void, but had to squint from the brightness.

After the moment your eyes take to adjust to the light, you look around. Julie’s home studio. You were at the place you felt most at home, where you hung out with your friends and went on dates with your boyfriend, where you escaped the looks of concern from your parents who loved you but treated you like glass all because you were dying.

And there, sat behind the piano was Julie. Her hair was shorter, her face had slimmed out a little. She looked older, and she looked just as beautiful as she always had. There was a short flash, and you saw Reggie’s shoes again in your peripheral, but you didn’t stop staring at Julie. And she was looking at you. She could see you.

“Oh my god.” She tripped over her own feet as she raced over to you, dropping to her knees in front of you. Her hands were reached out, unsure of whether she should or even could touch you. “It’s… you’re here.”

“You’ve grown up, Julie.” She laughed, and you became aware that her eyes were watering and she was trying to fight tears. “You look good.” Julie laughed and a tear fell, and you held out a hand, to test whether she could touch you. Her hand hovered for a moment before lowering it, and her fingertips slipped through your hand. You saw heartbreak flash through her eyes and you let out a laugh that sounded almost like a sob. “It’s okay.” You looked around the room finally, and you saw Luke and Alex watching you and Julie. Reggie helped you to your feet before you turned to them with a smile. Just as you opened your mouth to greet them, you were almost tackled by the boys in a hug, only held up by Reggie’s hand on your back pushing you forward to counterbalance.

“How was the void?” Luke asked after he pulled away. “Still cold and quiet?” You nodded and sniffed, wiping the tears from your eyes. After Alex pulled away, you watched as Reggie punched him in the arm.

“There’s a puddle of your tears from when we were there ‘Lex.” Alex punched him back, using his other hand to wipe his own tears away.

“Ha ha.” Reggie swung his arm around your shoulders, pressing a kiss to your temple. The boys fall into banter while you and Julie watched on silently. You greedily took in the sounds and the light, happy to be free from the darkness and silence that had consumed you for so long.

“It’s good to see you.” Julie’s voice was quiet, and if you weren’t already looking at her, you probably would have missed it completely. You leaned into Reggie and smiled at her.

“I missed you too.” You followed her lead, talking quietly as to not disturb the bickering.

You jumped as the double doors slammed open, and you turned quickly to see Flynn. Like Julie her face had slimmed, but she had grown her hair out, tied back in a ponytail that was full of volume from her curls.

“Alright, Julie and I can only assume the phantoms are here too, we got news about the gig!” She dropped her arms then paused, looking at Julie for a moment, before tilting her head. “Girl, why are you crying?” Julie laughed and shook her head.

“It’s [Y/N], she’s ho- she’s back.” You shook your head when you noticed the correction, ignoring the way Flynn’s eyes when wide and she started stuttering.

“Home, Julie, I’m home.”

“She’s home.” Finally over her moment of shock, Flynn let out an excited squeal.

“Point at her right now or so help me, Julie!” You laughed as Julie quickly pointed at you and Flynn raced to stand next to her, staring through you.

“Tell her I’m sorry I missed her graduation outfit and gig.” Flynn let out a tearful laugh after Julie repeated your words.

“As if I don’t have photos and videos on hand, damn.” She reached into her back pocket while murmuring “like you don’t even know me.” Julie put her hand on Flynn’s shoulder, stopping her. “What?”

“How about we catch her up on everything slowly. Then you can show off your ‘fit?” You nodded, despite Flynn not being able to see you.

“You’re right, okay, fine.” Quickly, she turned, marching over to the ratty sofa before plopping down, patting the space beside her for Julie. You laughed and quickly followed, opting to sit on the coffee table in front of them. Reggie sat beside you, while Luke found his seat on the arm next to Julie, and Alex on the sofa next to Flynn.

Back and forth, Flynn and Julie took turns telling stories and updating you, laughing as they bickered over details. Reggie pulled your hand into his lap, running his fingers over your skin, his laugh mixing with Luke’s and Alex’s. You sat, listening, smiling and laughing. You were home. Though it was different now, and you would never age, it was still home.

---

taglist: @merceret @marinettepotterandplagg

[legolasghosty]

I would love to read that essay about Willie's responses to Alex's anxiety and how good it is if you want to write it and have time for it☆

They are very good for each other and that is a fact♡

Alright, this ended up taking a while to write, Idk, brain being weird. Sorry! But... I can always talk about Willex...

Okay, let's go chronologically and start at their first meeting.

First off, Willie doesn't ever judge Alex for asking a million questions. He's a bit surprised at first by Alex's question about what a lifer is, but he just answers it and clarifies that Alex hasn't been a ghost for long. And while he laughs a lot in both this scene and later scenes, it's never at Alex. Alex makes him laugh, but it's always very clear that he's never being mean or looking down on Alex. This continues later when they're on the bench, with Willie listening and not making Alex feel stupid for not understanding stuff, even if he does laugh about it a couple of times. He just explains things and asks questions when he doesn't get something. Good traits for the partner of someone with anxiety, especially Alex, who at this point has just left a situation where the million questions he has are sort of being brushed off by Luke and Reggie.

Second, and I could go on forever about this bit, we have the little bit where Alex mentions his 'minor afterlife crisis,' then immediately follows it up by teasing Willie about running him over. Willie laughs and accepts the joke, then returns to the afterlife crisis thing. To me, what Alex is doing here is sort of a cry for help that he's too scared to really make. He admits that something is wrong, but quickly follows it up with a lighthearted comment meant to distract Willie. Like, he wants to talk about it, but he also doesn't want to put his issues onto someone else, especially someone he just met. And it works for a second. Willie laughs and gets distracted by the jab. You can see the disappointment in Alex's eyes though. He wanted to talk to Willie about it, and while he was trying to distract him from the concerning comment, he's still a bit sad when it works. AND WILLIE NOTICES!!!! He notices, he backs up, and he lets Alex talk.

Alex is a bit surprised, because people don't usually pick up on what he's doing when he pulls stuff like that, but he dives right in, almost like he's afraid that Willie will take it back once he realizes Alex has things to say. But Willie just asks some clarifying questions and lets Alex blow off some steam. As someone who regularly uses this same tactic Alex does, it means so much when someone picks up on it. Cause like, Alex doesn't want to burden Willie, but he does want to talk about it, so Willie actively giving him an opening to talk means the world and is a prime example of Willie being so so good for Alex.

Willie really is good for Alex right from the getgo.

Moving on, we have the museum scene. All the Willex gold in this scene, but I'll just pick on a couple things. First off, Willie is pushing Alex out of his comfort zone in several ways during this bit, but he's always there to help Alex do whatever it is, and he isn't trying to get Alex to do things he really doesn't want. When he pulls him into the museum, when he gets him to move the bench, and when they scream, Willie is there to help Alex do all of it. He grabs Alex's hand to pull him through the door, helps him focus enough to lift the bench, and screams right along with Alex. He's pushing Alex to do new things, but he isn't just leaving him to try and figure them out on his own. So important in any good relationship, romantic or otherwise, and something I think Alex really needs, especially at that point in the show where there are still so many unknowns for him and his band.

And of course, gotta talk about the screaming, cause what Willex analysis would be complete without it. I'm gonna talk about their communication again because I love it so much, but Willie notes Alex saying he's anxious, remembers it, and makes a point to ask. Alex shares, Willie connects it to his drumming, and is like, "Wait, I have something kinda like that that I do, maybe it would help him." Again, he doesn't force Alex, but he helps him do it and let loose and stuff, and it's a really great moment for them! Sharing coping mechanisms, my beloved!

At this point in the show, we run into the club stuff, which makes things sad for a bit between Willex, so instead of thinking about that, we're gonna talk about how openly happy Willie always is to see Alex. Speaking from experience, anxiety really likes to try and convince you that people don't actually want you around, but Willie is always so freaking happy when Alex is around, and it's very obvious. He's noticeably more cheerful and relaxed when Alex is around, and even Alex can see it, which has got to be so good for Alex. The reason Alex is so freaked out when Willie starts avoiding him is that he could tell Willie liked being around him. And Willie knows it. He immediately tells Alex that he isn't the issue when they talk outside the garage. Because he loves being around Alex, and the only issue is Caleb, and while Willie knows he can't actually tell Alex that, he doesn't want him to go crazy trying to figure out what he did wrong. Willie being so obvious about loving to be around Alex is so important for them, and is probably really good for Alex's anxiety.

From there, we have the lovely, "Because I care about you, Alex!" bit. Both in that scene and in the scene between them at the Orpheum at the start of episode 8, Willie is being completely honest with Alex, which is so so important in any relationship, but especially so when one or multiple people involved have anxiety. Willie doesn't dance around what he thinks and wants to say, he just says it. And Willie's honesty gives Alex permission to be honest in response, with the "I would have still followed you," bit and stuff, as opposed to deflecting and hiding with sarcasm like he does at many other points in the show. Good communication between the boyfriends!!!

And finally, we have the last scene in front of the Orpheum and the hug. So much good stuff here, but I'll just talk about the hug and one other line. First off, the hug. Alex is the one who initiates it, but Willie immediately grabs him back and hangs on just as tight. Alex isn't nearly as touchy as his bandmates or Willie, but he trusts Willie enough to reach out for him, and Willie instantly confirms that the comfort is both allowed and appreciated. They both know that this is probably goodbye, but neither can stand to say it, so they just hang on for dear life until Alex forces himself to back away. Willie lets Alex hold him for as long as he wants, and doesn't try to pull away. Another edition of the 'Willie counteracts the anxiety that makes Alex assume people don't want him around' show.

The last thing Willie says is to tell Alex he'll see him around, which, even though they both know it's probably not true, is really sweet. Willie is just like, "Of course I'll see you again, and I'm gonna love it so much when do." So like, post Magical Hug of Destiny, I don't think Alex has any question in his mind that Willie wants to see him again. Which is so good, and honestly hard to get with anxiety screaming in your brain. Because Willie makes sure Alex knows that he cares and wants to be around him.

Anyways, in conclusion, Willie is good at communication and making sure Alex knows he wants him around, and is so so good for Alex's anxiety. I love them.

[missjoolee]

I love the Way you Make it Sound

It was 2 am when the phone rang out, guitar riffs rousing Julie from sleep. For a moment she is confused, not recognizing her surroundings, but as the seconds pass, she remembers settling in to sleep at this hotel in NYC. Her confusion morphs as she registers the ringtone. Why would Luke be calling her so late? They had spoken shortly before she went to sleep, and he was out with the guys. Picking up her phone she realizes it's a video call. So she sits up and flips on the lamp next to her bed as she swipes to answer. The call connects, and in the seconds before the video engages, she asks

"Luke, is everything alright?"

She wipes sleep from her eyes and catches a glimpse of the top of Luke's head as the camera begins bouncing around and then she sees Reggie, his cheeks rosy pink, looking away at something.

"Reggie, what is going on?" 

He doesn't react to her, but does begin to whoop at something off camera. Did they somehow butt dial her?

"REGGIE!" 

That gets his attention. His smile drops for a second.

"Oh no. Heeeeeeeey Julie!" He picks the phone up to properly look at it. At her. "Crap, you were definitely sleeping. I'm so sorry! We've been trying to keep him from calling you for the last half hour and now that he's up, I was hoping... Actually, I'm not surprised he called you for this."

"Reggie," an edge slips into her tone. "Is everything... Is <em>he</em> okay?"

A voice starts speaking over the sound system where the guys are at and she thinks she hears Luke's name.

"Yeah. Alex and I just forgot that drunk karaoke Luke is also a needy sap. Which, with you gone right now... He's very clingy." He winces, before sighing, "Well, since you are awake, might as well just let you watch."

And with that, the camera flips away, now showing a stage with several tables surrounding it. And right in the middle of the spotlight is Luke. She can hear the strum of a guitar before Luke begins singing. And Julie can tell from the tight quality of his voice, he's probably been crying somewhat recently.

There's something that I can't quite explain I'm so in love with you  (I love you, Julie) You'll never take that away And if I've said it a hundred times before Expect a thousand more You'll never take that away

(I miss yooou *sniffles*) 

Well expect me to be Calling you to see If you're OK when I'm not around Asking "if you love me"  (Here, Julie can see a giant smile overtake his face. Which makes a goofy grin break out on hers.) I love the way you make it sound Calling you to see Do I try too hard to make you smile? To make us smile 

I will keep calling you to see If you're sleeping, are you dreaming If you're dreaming, are you dreaming of me I can't believe you actually picked me

(Julie, I love you so much) I thought that the world had lost it's sway It's so hard sometimes Then I fell in love with you Then came you And you took that away It's not so difficult The world is not so difficult 

You take away the old Show me the new And I feel like I can fly when I stand next to you So while I'm on this phone A hundred miles from home I'll take the words you gave me and send them back to you

I only want to see If you're OK when I'm not around Asking "if you love me" I love the way you make it sound Calling you to see Do I try too hard to make you smile? To make us smile (Jules, I love you!)

As he goes back into the chorus, the camera flips back to Reggie. A smirk sitting comfortably on his face.

"Jules, I don't know if you missed it," his voice is raised to be heard over the music and the crowd around him, "but I think Luke might love you."

Julie joins him in giggling about all of Luke's interjections. Alex's head pokes into the frame. He waves at her but he has a drink in his hand so it's a gentle movement so he doesn't spill. 

"Hey, Julie," he manages right before the crowd around them burst into applause as the last notes of the song play out. 

One final "I love you, Julie!" rings out through the mic and laughter can be heard now that the back track is no longer competing to be heard. A moment later, Luke is bouncing up to the table and the camera waves all over the place before settling onto his bright smile. which only gets brighter once his gaze settles on her.

"JULIE!"

Julie can't help giggling again at the enthusiasm he laces into her name, "Hey, Luke. You killed it," she says fondly. 

"Anything for you, Jules." His eyes rove around the screen, like he's memorizing her face for the umpteenth time. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, babe." She covers her mouth as a yawn hits her suddenly. "But I need to go back to sleep. I'll call you when we are done with the shoot tomorrow, okay?"

His grumpy face fast replaces the smile at that. Looking all the more ridiculous in his inebriated state. "You promise?"

"I promise. I love you, Luke."

The bright smile is back in place. "And I love you."

With that, Julie hangs up and turns off the lamp. She snuggles into her pillows, her smile refusing to leave in spite of the ache from being separated, drifting back to sleep.

---------------

The next day a video of Luke's karaoke performance goes viral after a twitter user posts it with the caption “damn. find you a man that loves you this much. how do i become julie?” and then the band gets tagged in a retweet. 

When the media outlets took over the coverage and asked for a statement, the guitarist responded with, "I think I was pretty clear in the video. I love Julie Molina. Nothing more to it."

Alex and Reggie rolled their eyes at that. Julie smiled. They all know that, given the chance, Luke would go more into it. Just not to TMZ.