Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The hardest thing to say is goodbye. Especially when the people you’re saying goodbye to are the people who raised you. They’re the people who taught you how to tie your shoes, and how to read, and how to ride a bike. They’re the people who are basically family, even if you don’t share an ounce of blood. Saying goodbye was the last thing Sage wanted to do, but when her father told her to do something, she did it.

“You’re all packed? Your phones charged? You packed extra shoes right? You never know when you need another pair-”

“Yes Ray. I packed shoes.” She laughed and he smiled, pulling her into a hug. She held on, memories racing through her head. Like when they would always get ice cream after school on fridays, or how they would always stay up late watching movies, even on school nights. She tried to be strong, for them, but this was harder than she thought. Her heart was telling her to stay in New York. To stay with the people who actually cared. Who actually loved her.

She told her heart to shut up.

“She’ll be fine, right kid?”

Sage turned to Peter and nodded as he finished zipping up Alex’s backpack. He looked at her, his eyes showing the pain the rest of his features hid. He was good at that. That’s how she learned how to hide her emotions. Years of studying him. Alex turned around and hugged him, and Peter had to bend down to his level to wrap his arms around the small boy.

“You’ll be okay. I promise.” Peter spoke softly. That was a talent of his too, and it made Sage want to cry. Different. So different from her father. Then again, her dad was always different from her father. For one, he always listened. She didn’t know if it was because he had Oscar, so he knew kids talked a lot, or if he was just genuinely that patient, but it meant a lot to her. Another thing was his smile. Her father never smiled much anymore, but Peter never stopped. He was always cracking jokes, and then laughing at them. Serious situations were rarely serious, except this one.

He stood up slowly, Sage didn’t want to think it was cause of his age, and walked to her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head in his shoulder as he clung to her like she was already gone.

“I don’t know if I can do this.” She whispered, so quietly you almost couldn’t hear it. He could though, and he shook his head, refusing to let go.

“You can. I know you can.”

“How? How do you know? How can you be so sure?” She asked, slowly and painfully pulling out of his arms. She looked up at him with tear filled eyes and he gently placed his hand on her cheek.

“Because I raised you and you’re my daughter.” He smiled and kissed her forehead.

It was something they all liked to believe. They all pretended that Peter and Dana had adopted her when she was young, and then Alex when he was born. She wished they had. It would have been easier that way, instead of her actual parents who had been so careless with their toddler they didn’t even know when she was wandering through New York City by herself. They had been so absentminded they didn’t even know she was missing. Thank god she was found by Peter, and not someone else.

She nodded and pulled away, turning to Winston who had his hand on Alex’s shoulder. She took a deep breath and sighed. He smiled and nodded. He wasn’t much of a huger, and she knew that, so she smiled back and looked away. She looked around her, the last ten years of her life flashing before her eyes.

Three year old Sage running down the hall with Ray chasing after her. Peter showing her all the old traps and teaching her how to use them. Winston teaching her where all the petals are in the car, and what does what. Oscar showing her how to sneak out at night, even though he’s almost two decades older than her. Walking down the hallway in Dana’s high heels. Listening to Peter’s bedtime stories about his ghostbusting days. Pretending to understand when Ray rambled about science. Racing Alex to the car after school and turning the radio all the way up. Shoving cake in Winston's face on her seventh birthday. Dana helping her get ready for her first middle school dance, and coming home crying because it was awful. Doing homework at the dinner table.

She grew up here. Her entire childhood was in this very building, the faint remembrance of the greatest years of her life made it even harder to let go. The car horn scared her out of her thoughts as she said one last goodbye. She shouldered her backpack and grabbed her little brother’s hand, dragging her feet to the door and not daring to turn around. She didn’t want to see the guys' haunted faces as their kids walked away. She sighed one last time before climbing into the car and leaning her head against the cold window.

The car drove off and the building disappeared. Her tears fell silently.

Chapter Text

-six months later-

Christmas time in Summerville was nothing like Christmas in New York, and for many reasons. One, it was extremely cold and rainy, and though it did rain in New York, rain there was sprinkles compared to Oklahoma rain. Also, summerville was boring. There was no giant tree, no ice skating, and no bright toy stores. What used to be Sage’s favorite time of the year became a harsh reminder of how much she missed home. She hated the god forsaken place, but she hated being at her house more, so she spent her days walking the empty streets, exploring the tedious town, and trying to make the best of her miserable life. She hummed to herself, looking down at her phone, as she was currently on a facetime call with Ray while he attempted to decorate for the season.

“How’s Alex adjusting?” He asked from behind his tree. It really fit in his small book shop, with the red ornaments and white lights. Sage sighed and crossed the empty street, walking down the open pavement and into the back roads.

“He’s… He…” She sighed again. “He just wants to be home. We both do. Ray, it’s awful here.” She muttered, kicking rocks.

“It can’t be that horrible.” He chuckled as he strung his lights. Sage shook her head and scuffed her feet.

“It’s so bad.” She looked down at the dirt road ahead of her and shivered, pulling her jacket tighter. Thank god she remembered it because it had to be below freezing. “It’s so bad…”

“You know what, it’ll get better. I promise you. It will get better and you’ll think, ‘Man, what was I even talking about?! I love it here!’ and then you’ll want to stay forever. Trust me. I promise you’ll find something to stay for. Or… someone.” He wiggled his eyebrows and Sage laughed, rolling her eyes.

“Ray… I telling you… there is no one in this stupid town. Everyone here is either a pedophile or an old ass weirdo!” she sighed, “It’s just… it’s hard. It’s so hard!” She yelled into the abis, and birds scattered from trees at the sudden loud noise. Ray chuckled and grabbed the phone, filling the screen with his face.

“Look at me, Sage Morgan Parker. Look at me.” He said sternly and Sage looked at him, smiling at his wrinkles and white hair. He was getting so old. She really didn’t want to think about it, but somehow her thoughts always led her there. He was almost 70…

She told her brain to stop as Ray continued.

“You are the bravest woman I know, and you can do hard things. I believe in you. More than you can possibly know.” His brown eyes were always comforting, but they were never the same over the phone. She could feel her heartbeat in her throat and she wanted to throw up.

“I just wish we could come home for Christmas.” She looked up at the dark clouds and knew it was going to rain. She didn’t care.

“I know. I wish you guys could come home too, but you know it’s not gonna work this year. Maybe next christmas.” Sage laughed dryly and rolled her eyes. Ray sighed. “I’m sorry. I really wish… I really wish you were home. I hate being so far away.” He paused and the silence was loud. “But hey, at least you won’t have to hear Peter attempt to sing Silent Night this year.” Sage laughed and shook her head.

“He said he would send me a recording.” Ray laughed and her smile grew. “He’s horrible, so I’m not really looking forward to that… aw shit I think it's gonna rain soon. I need to head home.” She sighed as the clouds got heavier and the sky got darker.

“Language.” Ray scolded, shaking his head. “Call you tomorrow?” She looked down at him and nodded.

“Yep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Bye Ray.”

“Bye Sage. Be safe.”

“No promises.”

The rain started slowly, but before long it was pouring and Sage was screwed. She was in the middle of a dirt road, nearly an hour from her house, with only a small jacket to keep her warm in the freezing rain. She had two options. Either walk back home where she could change into dry clothes and warm up, or keep walking in the downpour without any idea where she was actually going. She chuckled and threw her phone in her bag, zipping up her jacket, and continuing on through the mud.

Chapter Text

Egon Spengler hated rain. It was loud. It was cold. And it was annoying. He hated it because it made his farm muddy and it made his house flood. Rain was stupid and rain was harsh and rain was infuriating. Rain brought back good memories, and rain brought back bad ones.

It always rained in Summerville.

Egon Spengler used to love rain. He loved the smell. He loved the sound. He loved the way it would bounce off his skin so effortlessly. He would spend hours just laying in the downpour and thinking, or driving and listening to it as it tapped against his car. Rain used to be his favorite thing. But he screwed up and moved away. And rain was never the same.

-

Sage started to regret her decision very quickly. The rain got heavier and soon she couldn’t even see where she was going. It was a guessing game. She picked up her pace and started to run, trying her hardest to see anything, and splashing through mud. The sky got darker, the clouds grew, and the thunder roared.

She was screwed with nowhere to go, and nothing to stop the rain from freezing her to death. As it slashed onto the ground and turned the mud to ice, running became a dangerous act, but walking was too risky. So she kept running, taking turn after turn, dodging trees and street signs, stopping only briefly to catch her breath before running again.

“There has to be something…” She thought aloud, gritting her teeth as her eyes searched the fields around her. “I’m not turning around.” She cried, huffing frozen breaths and pausing, her arms wrapped tightly around her torso for warmth. “I’m not going home. There has to be-”

Through the downpour of rain and snow, Sage saw just what she had been looking for. At the very top of a long hill was a farmhouse, dark and tall in the distance. She smiled and shivered, forging on. The roads were entirely ice now, and she felt heavy with cold, being weighed down by her rain soaked clothes. Every step was slow and every breath was short. She could only focus on where she was going. So lost in the thought of a warm house, or dry clothes, or a blanket, or anything, she didn’t notice her feet slip until she was falling.

-

Alex Parker hated Christmas break. He knew that was a weird thing for kids his age, but break meant no school, and no school meant home. And Alex hated being home.

His house was old and scary and when his parents were home it was loud. He didn’t think he’d ever adjust, and honestly, being in the new house made him miss his old one even more. This house was always cold and dull. There were no Christmas decorations like in New York, and even if there were, it wouldn’t cheer him up. This Christmas was going to suck and there was nothing Alex could do about it.

-

Sage’s back hit the ground first, her head following not long after, and she desperately sunk her nails into the mud in pain and fear of falling more. She laid, dazed and numb, waiting for the energy to get up and continue on, but it was cold and she was tired. The rain wasn’t going to stop anytime soon, so why should she keep going? Why should she waste all that energy for nothing? For all she knew there was no one in that stupid house on the hill and she all she was doing was walking straight to her death. Why? Her phone buzzed and, with a heavy sigh, she slowly reached into her bag and grabbed it.

Ray- Just making sure you got home safely :)

A new wave of ache hit her and she closed her eyes tightly, cold tears trailing down her cheeks. Ray was checking up on her. He was making sure she made it home. Somehow that thought made everything hurt more. What the hell was she doing?! She sighed one last time and stood up, stumbling and wincing in pain. Her left arm was hot and sticky with blood, and her head felt light. She shouldered her backpack again, gritting her teeth, and walked up the hill to the unknown farmhouse.

-

It seemed like days before the door opened. It was slow and cautious, but it opened.

“Can I help you?” A seemingly old man asked, squinting to see through the rain. Sage didn’t know what to say, merely wiping tears and blood from her face.

“Um… I… Can I come in? It’s really cold and I think I hit my head…”

The man paused slightly to think about it before opening the door wider and grabbing her bag. She thanked him and was instantly hit with warmth. Walking in she noticed the fire in the fireplace, the kettle on the stove, the candles lit around the house, and the many blankets shoved in the corner of the couch. The man followed and placed her bag on the table, pulling a chair out for her to sit on.

“I’ll go get some towels and dry clothes. Don’t… touch anything.” And he was gone. She laid her head on the back of the chair, taking small breaths and closing her eyes. Her entire left arm was throbbing and she could feel the blood dripping slowly down her arm and onto the nice man’s floor.

“Shit.” She muttered, sitting up slowly and pulling her arm into her lap. She looked up slightly when she heard the man stumbling down the stairs, his arms full of towels and bandages, and she smiled softly, grabbing her phone from her bag and typing one single word.

Safe :)

Chapter Text

“What’s your name kid?” She looked up when he spoke, her eyes leaving his careful hands as they finished wrapping her arm.

“Sage.” He waited, his eyebrows raised. “Parker. Sage Parker.” She finished, looking back at her arm. He nodded and leaned forward, cutting off the wrap and tying it. Her arm fell into her lap once he let go, and she pulled it close to her body.

“How old are you?” He gently slid his glasses up his nose and stood, grabbing the rest of the bandages.

“Why’s it matter?” She snarked, looking up. He scoffed.

“Cause I need to know how old the child is that I picked up off my porch. What are you even doing all the way out here? Where are your parents?”

Sage sighed and looked away. She knew it was a stupid stupid stupid thing that she did and she regreted it the moment it started raining. She was being reckless. She looked up again when he cleared his voice, eyebrows raised and eyes wide.

“My birthday was in october.”

“Which birthday?”

“12th.”

“Fucking shit.”

-

The phone rang for a long time. Sage really didn’t think they would pick up, but finally, on the last ring, a rough voice asked:

“Hello?” The man shot her a look and she sighed, her hands folded in her lap and her leg bouncing.

“Hello, is this Mr.Parker?” He asked, his voice calm and quiet against the cold phone. Sage watched and waited.

“Yes. Who is this?” Mr. Parker said loudly. Sage shook slightly, hugging her torso. She hoped she could blame it on the cold.

“I- um- your daughter, Sage, is here. She got lost in the storm and I just wanted to let you know she was okay.” The other side was quiet for a while and Sage picked at her bandage with anxiety. The man looked at her and then turned back to the phone. “It’s still raining pretty hard. Would you like me to drive her home?” They both waited for an answer but there wasn’t one. Mr. Parker had hung up the phone. Sage chuckled lightly and he looked at her in shock.

“I told you it was a waste of time. I’ll walk. It’s fine.” She stood up, a tad too quickly, and her head spun, but she kept going. She had already slung her backpack over her shoulder and was headed to the door when he grabbed her arm.

“Stop. You’re not walking home in the goddamn ice. I’ll drive.”

“Please don’t.” she pleaded, looking up to meet his eyes. “It’ll just make them mad. I’m fine really. Thanks for everything.”

“Alright fine, I won’t drive you, but you’re not walking in that. I have an extra bedroom. You can stay overnight and in the morning if it’s not still pouring you can go home. Deal?” She nodded and he left to get it ready for her.

-

Alex: are you ok?

Sage: yeah. I’m sorry. It started raining. I’m ok. I’ll explain when I get home tomorrow.

Alex: tomorrow?

Sage: yeah bud. It’s bad outside. Are you ok?

Alex: yea. i went to eli’s house.

Sage: mom and dad fighting again?

Alex: yea. they were loud.

Sage closed her eyes and sighed, mentality kicking herself for leaving her little brother alone with them.

Sage: I’m so sorry. I won’t leave you with them again.

Alex: its ok. are you ok?

Sage: yeah. I’m staying at this old guys place. He… he seems familiar. I don’t know, I’m probably going crazy. I’ll be home tomorrow and then we can get some ice cream.

Alex: ok!

Sage: Ok :) get some sleep ok?

Alex: ok.

Sage: good night

Alex: good night

“Who are you texting?” Sage jumped, almost dropping her phone and he laughed.

“Jesus!” she sighed, steading herself on the wall. “I was just checking in on my brother. He’s staying at a friend's house.” She shoved her phone in her pocket.

“You have a brother?”

“Yeah. His name is alex.”

“How old is he?”

“Seven.”

Sage could see his mind working, wandering, and thinking. He seemed to remember the voice over the phone, rough and loud. He looked back to her when she yawned, shifting her wait to lean on the wall. He smiled.

“Here, follow me.” He grabbed her bag and she followed him, slowly and stumbling a bit. He waited for her, slowing his pace taking smaller steps. When they finally made it all the way up the stairs she collapsed on the bed and he chuckled, placing her backpack on the floor and grabbing a blanket.

“Wait.” she said, rolling on her side and looking up with tired eyes. “You never told me your name.” He sighed and walked to the door as she pulled the blanket closer and hummed. “If you don’t tell me I won’t be able to sleep.” She mused, raising an eyebrow. He chuckled and rolled his eyes.

“My name’s Egon Spengler. Now go to bed.”

She was asleep before he even turned the light out.

Chapter Text

When sage woke up the sun was shining and her phone was dead.

She yawned and shuffled out from under the covers, her arm feeling a million times better than the night before. She grabbed her things and made the bed before tiptoeing down the wooden stairs. The big house was bright and empty and before she knew it Sage found herself outside exploring the wide openness.

There was a lot of dirt.

Her shoes sloshed in the mud as her curiosity got the best of her and she walked through the acers towards the giant metal things in the back. They looked strange, like giant tubes with wires running through the ground and up the top. The hairs on the back of her neck stood as she got closer but the adrenaline was already pumping and there was no going back now.

The closer she got the more curious and soon her hand was reaching out, fingers twitching with anticipation.

Bad idea.

As soon as her hand brushed against the bright metal she could feel the energy race up every inch of her body. She screamed and jumped back, slipping on mud falling, yet again.

Her head hit the ground with a sharp thud and she closed her eyes quickly. Her ears were pounding and her body hurt. She sat up slowly and looked down at her shaky hands, eyes wide and heart racing.

Electricity danced between her shaking fingers and around her hands.

She screamed.