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Chapter Text

It's 25th October 2024 and Alison and Mike are clearing out the attic in hopes of making more space for storage. 

"How many more boxes have we got to go through?" Mike complained 

"We're about half way done so just this side left to clear" she pointed to the right side of the attic 

"Not much then" he huffed sarcastically 

"Come on we're nearly there!" she wrapped her arms around her husband "We can probably sell some of this stuff and get a bit of money for our hard work. And we've got that bottle of Chardonnay waiting for us to open once we're done"

"Fine. But if I do my back in then it's your fault" 

"Just think of the money as motivation. And all of this lovely empty attic space we'll have" she smiled at him

Mike sat down with a large wooden chest that he'd found in the corner of the room. He tried to blow the dust off but it blew back into his face causing him to cough. He unbuckled the lid and lifted it. Inside were a few mouldy old dresses, a half eaten teddy bear and a pile of brown letters tied up with a worn red ribbon. 

Mike picked up the letters and dusted them with his fingers to reveal a name neatly etched on the top letter.

"Ali you better take a look at this" 

"What is it?" she asked intriguingly as she trudged over to where he was and sat down next to him.

"I found these in this chest" he held the letters out to her "they were with some weird dresses and a manky old bear" 

Alison gently took the letters from his hands and read the name sprawled on them. "Oh my God Mike" 

"What? Are they anything special or just rubbish because if they're rubbish I'll chuck them out with the other stuff"

"No! Don't you recognise the name?" 

"Wait that's one of the Ghosts right?"

"Yeah it is. What do I do? Do I give it to them? What if it's something terrible and it hurts them? Or what if it's a revelation and they move on?"

"I'm sure it'll be fine. You know what let's take a break from this for a bit and you can think it through alright?" 

"Yeah ok that sounds good" 

They both stood up from where they were sat and made their way downstairs, leaving the letter and contents of the chest behind.

~~~

Downstairs in the common room the Ghosts were getting involved with one of Pat's clubs. They were discussing what activity they would do today if they could.

"So Robin misses chasing bears. What about you Lady B?"

"Well I suppose I miss needlework. I hadn't touched it in years before I passed but I always enjoyed it when I was younger."

"Oh excellent! What about you Kitty?" 

"I miss hide and seek!"

"But you can still play it now?" 

"Oh yes! But I miss playing with my Sister. I was always the best at hide and seek with her" 

The Ghosts made a sort of groaning noise, any mention of her Sister always has that affect as they knew how horrible she was. Kitty however was still oblivious.

"Lovely! And Cap?"

"Hmm I do miss Cricket. We used to play here out on the lawn on hot days. The Button House XI played brilliant matches and we always won. I was best as a batsman and my Lieutenant was a wonderful bowler, he could bowl someone out in seconds..." he was staring into space whilst recalling these memories.

No one had ever heard him talk this much about his past life as they knew how horrible it could be for him.

They tended to not focus on the past anyway as most of them had traumatic lives and it was best to forget them.

"Right! And last but not least Mary!"

Silence. He still hadn't got used to the fact that Mary had left two years ago. Everyone looked down at their laps in remembrance.

"Oh. Right that concludes what activity I would do today if I could. Does anyone have a topic they would like to do for the next club?"

~~~

Meanwhile Alison and Mike were sat in the kitchen on their phones relaxing with cups of tea. 

"It's been really quiet today, I hope all the Ghosts are ok" 

"They better not be up to something! I'm not having anymore of my stuff being hidden" 

"They're fine, I told Julian not to do that anymore" 

Alison's phone started to ring "Give me a sec, I'll take this" she accepted "Hello? Yeah speaking. Oh hello! Of course that sounds lovely. Sure, we're available all day. Yeah 1pm sounds great! Alright, we'll be ready. Please invite as many people as you want. Yeah, ah great. It's been lovely to speak to you. See you then! Take care, bye" 

"Everything ok?" asked Mike, clearly confused by what he heard from his wife's replies.

"Yeah! It was Carol Butcher, Pat the Ghosts wife."

"Yeah I know him, what did she want?"

"It's the 40th anniversary of Pat's death on Sunday and she would like to hold a little remembrance event for him. She's inviting family and friends"

"40 years? Wow! That's really nice though"

"Yeah it is, I better tell him the news then" 

"Yeah, I'll head back upstairs so come up when you're done"

"Yep"

Alison walked out of the kitchen along the corridors towards the common room where the Ghosts had just finished their club for today. They had all decided that the next club was going to be Captain teaching them the rules of cricket.

She stood in the doorway and the Ghosts simultaneously turned to face her.

"Hey sorry to interrupt but could I just speak to you for a minute Pat" 

Everyone looked horrified, it was extremely rare for Alison to speak to someone in private.

"Don't worry he's not done anything wrong" she turned back around in the doorway and stood in the corridor waiting for Pat. He materialised a second later.

"Is everything ok Alison?"

"Yeah. You remember what day it is on Sunday right?" 

"Of course. It's my death day"

"Yeah and this year it's a special anniversary so your family have decided to hold a little celebration here for you!" 

"Really? Carol's coming?" 

"Yes she is and hopefully the rest of your family too" 

"Even Morris?"

"Probably even Morris" 

"Oh well that's great news thank you Alison!"

"No worries! Now you better go and tell the others before they all fall through the wall trying to listen. I'll be upstairs if any of you need me" 

Pat smiled at her and walked back through the door to greet the other Ghosts who were eager to hear the latest gossip.

Chapter Text

The Ghosts were crowded around the window in the common room waiting patiently for Pat's relatives to turn up. 

Each Ghost was secretly jealous that Pat got to see his family every year and the fact that his family were still alive. 

He deserved to have such a loving family though because he was such a caring person himself.

Oh wouldn't death be so much better if it wasn't used as a way to bump off your family members. 

Thomas was in a strange mood because it had been the 200th anniversary of his death a few weeks ago and he hadn't got this much of a celebration for his.

Of course there wasn't family left to come and visit him, well except for the family he lived with, so he didn't get the opportunity of celebration but rather mourning his death for the 200th time.

His death day was just an ordinary day really except he had drowned himself extra deep in the lake for one whole week this time and cursed Francis at any given opportunity. 

The Ghosts all ignored it though as it was usual behaviour. Pat on the other hand had a much nicer death day ahead of him for a change.

Alison and Mike had just finished cleaning in time for the first car to make it's way up the pebbled drive.

Pat automatically ran outside to greet the red car, eager to see who occupied it. 

Alison briefly ordered the Ghosts "Remember everyone that today is Pat's day so please don't be selfish and ruin it" and then she followed Pat outside.

The Ghosts especially Robin and Julian had a history of ruining any event that happened at Button House which usually resulted in Alison and Mike embarrassing themselves and loosing out on money.

The passenger door opened up to reveal an older lady with a walking stick accompanied by an older man in the driver's seat.

It was Carol and Morris. She was here.

Pat could barely contain his excitement when he spotted his wife that he let out a "Carol!" which startled Alison so much that she struggled to hide her jumpiness from her guests.

"Hello! It's lovely to see you again, come inside and I'll get you some drinks" she ushered them inside just in time for a silver car to pull onto the driveway.

Pat ran up to that car and out stepped a young man, a woman and a little boy of six years old who came running out.

It was Daley, his wife and their son Pat who had grown significantly in the last year.

His son was so grown up now, an adult himself with his own family. Pat would've been a grandad. 

Just as Alison came out to greet them, a final blue car pulled up which contained a ginger man and some other men that Pat hadn't seen in a long long time.

It was Keith and some of the other scouts. My god they were all so grown up now.

Alison again rushed out and took them all inside and Pat followed.

He felt a rush of emotions, he was overjoyed that all of his family and old scouts had come to pay their respects but he was so heartbroken that they were here for him who had been dead for 40 years. 

It was horrible for Pat to witness all the generations growing up and having families of their own whilst he was stuck here. 

So many memories that he had missed out on, memories that we would never get back.

But he was reassured by the fact that they were all there for him because they loved him. 

No one at Button House could say that their families visited them every year.

And that made him feel extremely special.

~~~

Everyone had taken their seats in the ballroom for the small service that was taking place.

To Alison and Mike it seemed like a funeral was happening but the family had insisted on having this ceremony of remembrance for him.

Carol was the one stood at the front instead of a vicar and she was leading the whole event.

The guests were sat in rows that the Captain had helped to organise and the Ghosts were crowded around behind them.

Pat was really suffering from the emotions today but did his best to keep a brave face for his family.

Carol started to talk "Thank you everyone for gathering here today to mark 40 years since the passing of my ex-husband Pat Butcher"

Ex husband? Pat couldn't believe what he was hearing. They hadn't had a divorce or anything and just because he had died and she had remarried didn't give her the right to call him an ex. 

Pat was furious and because emotions were running high today he burst out "Ex? I'm not your ex? We're still married Carol" 

His eyes were starting to well up so Kitty ran over to him to comfort him just as he always did to her.

"There there Pat it's ok" she said placing her arm on his shoulder "I'm sure she didn't mean it"

Carol continued "Pat was such an amazing man and I still can't believe that he has been gone for so long. He truly touched all of our hearts and I hope that wherever he may be, he knows how much we all love him and how thankful we are to have known him when he was alive.Thank you"

Carol returned to her seat and Pat's son Daley stood up to say a few words 

"My Dad was truly a hero of mine. He always used to play with me and we had fun trying new activities together. I lost him at a young age and it hurt me a lot, I'll never forget when I found out that he had passed. I will cherish those memories I made with him forever and I hope that he is up there somewhere watching down on us all. I hope he can see how far we have all come and how I now have a wonderful family of my own. So Dad I want to thank you for all the advice you gave me and for everything that you ever did for me. I miss you so much"

Alison was stood at the side watching all of their speeches and she took a few glances at Pat to see how he was coping.

It was bad enough for her having to watch so she couldn't imagine how he was feeling.

Pat was close to tears for the first time in many years and the next speaker didn't help at all.

Morris stood up to say some words to Pat. Morris who stole his wife when he was alive and who married her when he was dead. 

"I'd like to say a few words to my best friend Pat..." he said 

That was it. Pat had had enough and he stormed out shouting "Oh go away Morris!" 

Despite Morris and Carol being married for just under 40 years, Pat still hated him for stealing his wife.

It was very strange for all of the Ghosts to see Pat so ruled by his emotions.

The most notable time they had seen this was at the wedding when Keith was present and he had unknowingly annoyed Pat.

Alison wasn't present for that fight so this was the first time she had seen angry Pat and the worst thing was that she couldn't do anything about it.

Normally she would run to help him but doing this in front of all of his family and friends would make her seem insane so she had to stand and pretend that everything was fine.

She totally couldn't see the ghost of the man they were all mourning.

Imagine trying to tell Carol that her dead husband was here watching her and that she could speak to him.

~~~

It was a few hours later and Pat was standing in his usual thinking spot which was next to the remnants of the tree that he had died at. 

It was just a stump now but it provided enough memories of his past life and strangely seemed a comfort object to him like he was attached to it.

After quite a few minutes of silent thinking he was interrupted by a breath behind him so he turned around expecting to see one of the Ghosts but was greeted by a tired looking Carol.

She had aged so much since Pat saw her last year, her eyes had developed darker circles, her hair was even more grey and her face was covered in more wrinkles.

If only Pat could've grown old alongside her like he had promised.

She moved to touch the tree stump which required Pat to jump out of the way and she stood staring at it probably replaying some memories in her head.

Just as Pat was enjoying the comfortable silence, she began to talk.

"Pat love, I don't know if you can hear me but I would like to say a few words to you. I miss you and I love you. Not a day goes by where I don't think of you. You were my first husband and father of Daley and I love you for that. I am still heartbroken 40 years later that you left me that day and I just wish that you can see us all together now. I came here today Pat not just to celebrate you but to tell you some news. I'm moving away back up North with Morris so I won't be able to visit you for a while. So I suppose I came to say goodbye to you. I'd just like to say I'm sorry for everything I did and I'm sorry for cheating on you with Morris. I should've been more patient with you but he was always there for me when you weren't. I hope that you're happy where you are and that you're doing fine without me. Take care love I hope to see you again one day. I'm off now, goodbye Pat" 

She had finally gotten everything off her chest, all those words that she was never able to say to him. 

40 years of heartbreak.

And she still thought that he would never hear them except there he was just a stupid Ghost stuck in the world of the living listening to his wife's regrets.

The pain of loss was visible in Carol's eyes, it had taken such a toll on her.

It wasn't possible for Ghosts to cry real tears but if it was Pat's eyes would be streaming. 

"I forgive you and I'm sorry too Carol for everything that I did" 

He meant this from the bottom of his heart, he never realised at the time that he had driven his wife into the arms of his best friend. He had set them up together. 

He didn't know that she felt unloved with him, he didn't know that he was doing anything wrong until it was too late and he was dead.

Carol turned and walked back to the house with Pat walking directly beside her just like old times when they'd walk home from dates together or when they'd walk along the beach together on holiday.

~~~

They both made it back to house and Carol was about to leave for the final time with Morris. All of the other guests had gone earlier leaving only Alison, Mike and the Ghosts standing in front of the house with Carol and Morris.

Morris had sat down in the car because he was too old to be left standing for long periods of time so Carol was left to say goodbye on his behalf.

"Thank you so much for letting our memorial happen today. It's done us all a world of good"

"You're very welcome, if you ever want to come back again we're always open to you."

"Thank you but I don't think I'll be back for a while, we're moving back up North." 

"Oh that's lovely, I hope you both have a wonderful time up there" 

"Thank you, we best be off then." Carol opened the car door and got inside rolling the window down.

"Yeah, remember we're always here if you need us!" chimed Mike 

"Yeah exactly, take care both of you."

"You too, goodbye!" 

"Bye!" shouted Morris from inside the car as he turned on the engine and started to drive away

"Goodbye!" Alison and Mike said together

The Ghosts all waved simultaneously at the car and the Captain gave a little salute

"Goodbye Carol" that was the last time that Pat would see his wife.

It was finally his time to forget about the past and focus on his future at Button House.

When the car was out of sight down the drive Pat turned around to face Alison and Mike.

"Thank you for letting today happen, it's been really insightful."

"Aw your welcome Pat. Anytime" 

Suddenly a huge burst of light filled the house blinding anyone who dared to look at it.

"Oh my god!" Alison exclaimed, she knew what was happening.

The Ghosts all gasped and stood together in shock looking at the light.

The last time anyone had moved on was Mary a few years ago when she was brave enough to accept her death.

She was such a vital member of the house and they still hasn't properly accepted her passing.

No one was ready to say goodbye to Pat but it was finally his time to leave. He deserved it after everything he had been through and for being such a great friend to everyone.

~~~

"I suppose this is it then everyone. I'm moving on!"

He sounded tearful but relieved at those words. As much as he loved being at Button House with all of his fellow Ghosts, there wasn't anything here for him now.

"Thank you everyone for being my new family. Alison thank you for bringing us all together and for helping me with my family. Thank Mike for being great too, it's been fun trying to speak to him."

Tears started to form in Alison's eyes, she hadn't seen a Ghost move on before and she certainly didn't expect the first one to be Pat. 

Mike was stood next to her entirely confused at why his wife was crying but he put his arm around her which caused a sob to erupt from her.

"What's happening Ali? What's wrong?"

"It's Pat, he's moving on" she managed through sobs

Pat turned to each Ghost in the line and said a few words to them all. They were all stood with watery eyes, even Lady B. They had become attached to Pat in different ways these past 40 years and nearly all of them had seen his whole time spent as a Ghost.

The first person Pat turned to in the line was the Captain. 

"Cap I want to thank you for being my best friend. I know we've not always seen eye to eye, I mean literally because I'm much smaller than you, but in the time I have known you I have seen you change so much into the amazing person you are now. Take care mate"

They managed a little smile at eachother.

For the first time in years the Captain was speechless. Pat considered him a friend. Not only a friend but his best friend. He couldn't remember ever having a best friend before. And he said he'd changed. In what way? And he called him amazing. 

Next was Lady B.

"Now Lady B I know we've had struggles but I want to thank you for helping me to be morally correct and for being like my mum. You've always been on time to every club which has been great! I hope you find the happiness you deserve"

Thomas was next.

"Thomas mate thank you for being a great friend and for your awesome insights into personal matters. I've really enjoyed our time on Button FM together and I hope you can find someone else to takeover from me"

Kitty was standing impatiently next to him.

"Kitty..."

"I'll miss you!" she interrupted

"I'll miss you too Kitty. You've been a great person to get to know and I'll miss hearing your happy voice. Thank you for letting me dance with you, it was a great experience and I'll never forget the dance."

"Can I hug you?" she pleaded 

"Sure! Can't remember the last time I hugged someone"

They hugged which made them both feel so much calmer. Both being Ghosts meant that they didn't go through eachother and we're instead solid objects. Pat wondered why he hadn't hugged people more often if it felt that nice.

"That's so much nicer than hugging Alison" Kitty laughed 

Pat managed a sad smile and turned to face Robin who was next.

"Robin it's been lovely sharing the house with you. I always enjoyed hearing you talk about the moon and I must admit the eclipse was my favourite part. I hope you get to move on soon because you really deserve it mate." 

And finally was Julian 

"Julian last time I said I didn't trust ya but I've changed my mind now. Thank you for helping me and for being my friend in the short time I've known you. I'll miss your jokes and your insight into politics."

He managed a small laugh.

Pat stood facing all of the Ghosts and Alison and Mike to take in his family one last time. 

"Thank you for making me feel so welcome. I'll miss you all so much. Don't forget me!" 

He turned around and started to walk forwards towards the light. As he was centimeters from being engulfed by it, he turned around one final time and said "Goodbye everyone" 

At that the Ghosts and Alison all echoed him saying goodbye with a few saying "Goodbye Patrick" and the Captain raised his hand towards his head in a salute to his friend.

Pat inched closer towards the light and was submerged by it. Then it disappeared leaving no traces of the scout behind apart from the rotten tree stump. 

The Ghosts all stood painfully for a few minutes before making their way back inside.

They'd lost their leader, the most energetic and fun Ghost that the house had ever seen. 

It was always tough when someone moved on because it reminded everyone else of what they were waiting for.

"I suppose food club is cancelled tonight" huffed Lady B as she followed the silent crowd inside.

"He's gone" whispered Alison 

"Hey it's ok, he's in a better place now where he doesn't need to suffer with that arrow anymore" replied Mike 

"Yeah. I hope the rest of them are ok, it's tough enough losing a friend let alone being stuck here when he's living out their dream." she wiped the remaining tears from her face and walked inside leaning on Mike's shoulder.

"Thanks Mike, it must be so weird for you." 

Chapter Text

No one could sleep that night. Well no one apart from Mike. Each Ghost spent every waking minute plagued by images of the light surrounding Pat. It's was a good thing that Ghosts didn't need sleep. But it was a bad thing that Alison did need it.

They'd all lost the most ambitious Ghost and without Pat the energy had been even lower than usual. Things would never be as lively as they used to be.

The truth is that Alison was terrified. This was the second time that she has witnessed anyone be 'sucked off ' as Mary had called it. Millions of questions still pounded in her mind.

What if the rest of them stayed here for eternity? What if it was impossible for the others to move on? What if they spent the rest of their deaths being miserable? What if they all disspeared tomorrow?

Pat was easy to help because he had only died 40 years ago but what about people like Robin who was thousands of years old?

She wouldn't be able to cope with mass depression from the Ghosts for the rest of her life. There had to be a way to help. But they're dead and she's very much alive. What could she do?

Her dreams that night represented her worst fears. One of them had her and Mike upstairs when she heard screams. By the time she had made it downstairs, she caught the final Ghost walking into the light. Then it shut and everyone was gone. She was left alone in an empty house and she didn't even get to say goodbye.

As much as the Ghosts annoyed her sometimes, she loved having the company. She felt special that she had her own little group of dead people that only she could see. They were always there to help her when she needed it. They even managed to alert her of the burglars and helped her identify 'Lucy' as a fraud. She couldn't stand the thought of losing them.

When she woke up, Mike was sat next to her on his phone and she spoke to him straight away. Because eventhough he had never seen the Ghosts, he was always the best at offering advice.

"Mike I don't know what to do. I had the most horrible dream that all of the Ghosts had moved on without telling me. I don't want that to happen."

"Ali, relax, that can't happen. At least I don't think so. I know that losing Pat is really hard for all of you but he's at peace now. Wouldn't it be great if all of the Ghosts got the same?"

"They deserve it, they really do but I can't imagine living without them. They're like family Mike."

"I know. But you have to think about them. Especially the caveman who's been here for like thousands of years. He deserves to finally be at peace. And the others have been here long enough too, they deserve to move on and forget about the past. Plus I'm sure they'd be thankful to get out of this place, it would drive me insane being in here for that long."

"What do I do?" Alison was getting upset

"You helped Pat move on right? So I think you can help the others. Maybe talk to them and see if they know what they need to do to move on?"

"You're right, I've gotta think about them for a change. I need to repay them for all of their help recently."

"Yeah! You see, you've got it in you. You can do this!"

"Thanks Mike" she truly meant it, she didn't know what she would do without him.

They smiled at eachother and quickly kissed before Alison jumped out of bed and ran downstairs.

"Everyone we have a meeting in the common room now!" she shouted

~~~

Within a few minutes, all of the Ghosts were sat on the sofas and stood around looking solemn. It was normally Pat's job to hold the meetings.

"I've been thinking a lot and I know how much losing Pat has hurt us all. He was a great guy and he got the happy ending he deserved. And I wish the same for all of you. So that's why I want to help all of you move on together."

The Ghosts all shot confused looks at Alison.

"You all deserve a better afterlife and I want you to get the happiness you all deserve because, well, that's what families are willing to do for eachother." She managed a weak smile around the room. "Can you all have a think about what you need to do to move on and I will do my best to make that happen. Is that ok with everyone?"

There was a chorus of "Yes Alison" and a few "Thank you"

"Right, I'll see you all back down here at 2 then"

Everyone filed out of the back door and just as Alison was heading upstairs she was pulled aside by the Captain.

"Alison may I talk with you?" he asked politely

"Yeah, of course Cap. How can I help?"

"Well I will need a lot of time to think later and I er require a book from the library to help please."

"Sure! What one is it?" they walked through to the library.

"I believe that it is called 'Etiquette and the Language of Flowers'"

"Oh I didn't know you were into flowers."

"I'm not. I'm just interested in that specific book."

"Sure, let me get it down for you. Where is it?"

"Just on the shelf to the right, third from the top, tenth book from the left" he pointed with his swagger stick.

"Here we are" she picked it off the shelf and blew the dust off the cover. It was a thick green leatherbound book titled in bold golden letters. "Where would you like me to put it down?"

"On this table should be perfect, thank you" he pointed in front of him.

"Any specific page you want it open on?" she asked eagerly, she still had no idea why he wanted to read this book.

"Do you mind flicking through slowly for me?"

"Sure" she gently turned the yellowing pages in front of him allowing him to get a good look at each flower.

They reached a double spread of pages titled 'Jerponica' and 'Jerusalem Oak' when a small metal object caught the light of the sun.

"What is that?" asked the Captain, half expecting Alison to already have an answer.

Alison left the book open on the table and picked up the object. It was a rusted key on a long loop of old string.

"It's a key!" exclaimed Alison, new finds always excited her especially as there were still so many mysteries in the house. "Any ideas where this leads?" 

The Captain hesitated for a minute, he was still rather confused at what had happened. Why had he found a key of all things in that book? He could only think of one place where a key would be required and that was his old office desk.

So he said to Alison "It could be for my old desk."

"Oh great! Is that still in your old office?"

"No, I'm afraid they moved it when they renovated it into Fanny's bedroom. They needed to make space for her bed."

"Ah I see. Do you think it's still in the house?"

"I think so, yes." the Captain had recalled seeing it some years ago but with all the recent chaos he had forgotten exactly where it was.

"What do you say we go and find it?"

"Jolly good! I'll search the West wing and you stick to the East wing."

They set off eagerly in opposite directions hoping to find the answers that were hidden inside his missing desk.

~~~

Half an hour later they crossed paths on the landing above the main staircase.

"Any luck Captain?"

"No I'm afraid not" it was hopeless searching this massive house.

"Do you think the key could lead to anywhere else?"

"I don't think so."

"Well who do you think put the key there? Did the book belong to anyone?" Alison needed answers, his secretive nature meant that the Captain had revealed absolutely nothing to her as usual.

"It was my second in command's favourite book. He loved learning all about the flowers that are here in the garden. He always said that Honeysuckle was his favourite." The Captain let out a gentle smile as thoughts of his Lieutenant swirled through his mind.

"So there's a chance that he could've put the key there." Alison interrupted

"Yes, well I suppose so."

"Awesome! Did he have a desk?"

"Yes in his bedroom" it was so hard to get properly detailed answers out of the Captain. 

"Perfect! What room is that?"

Well, um it happens to be my current room." Alison chose to ignore the gentle blush that was forming on his cheeks. 

"Off we go then."

They made their way along the corridor together until they reached the Captain's room.

"Here we are" said the Captain as they stepped inside.

Alison spotted the desk in the corner of the room and she suddenly felt increasingly nervous for him.

"Right, you know we don't have to do this if you're not comfortable." 

"No! I would like to please Alison."

She moved the key towards the lock and... it didn't fit?

"Bally hell!" exclaimed the Captain rather too loudly. "Try the other way."

So Alison turned the key and put it in the other way. Click. It opened. She pulled the drawer open to reveal it's unknown contents.

Inside was a neatly stacked pile of black and white photographs, the top one had the Captain and another man laughing together in their uniform. He looked so content.

Next to that was a dark blue bulging notebook and behind that a worn old letter.

The Captain audibly gasped from beside Alison, nearly scaring her to death.

She took this as a cue to talk. "Would you like me to take them out for you?"

"Yes please" came the almost breathless response.

Alison took the photos and spread them across the desk. Most of them included that other man with all of them displaying the Captain. Sometimes he was the only person in the picture.

"Who is that man Captain?" Alison couldn't help but ask eventhough she was sure that she knew the answer.

"That is my Lieutenant William Havers. He was wonderful."

Alison certainly caught onto him referring to the Lieutenant as 'my'.

"There's a letter here" she gently picked it up and placed it in front of the photos on top of the desk.

It was an A5 sized brown envelope that was fairly worn. On the front in neat cursive writing was written the name 'Teddy'.

"Do you know who Teddy is?" Alison asked despite the painfully obvious look on his face. He couldn't stop staring at that letter.

The Captain weighed up his options. If he told Alison then he would reveal one of his biggest secrets and would have to deal with torment from the other Ghosts. But if he didn't then he might never have the chance to read it. So he did the next best thing and stared at Alison blankly.

"It's you, isn't it?" he slowly nodded his head not daring to make further eye contact.

"Do you want me to open it? I won't read it or anything. I could just leave it open on the desk for you to read if you want?"

"I can't. I'm not ready." It was evident that the Captain was petrified for the first time since his death.

That letter could contain anything. What if it revealed Havers' darkest secrets? He'd clearly hidden it away for no one to find it. But the key was in plain sight. And why leave the letter here if he didn't want it to be found? Why not burn it?

"That's fine Cap, just take your time. I'll leave it here sealed and when you're ready just call me."

"Thank you" he managed an awkward nod and Alison made her way out of the room leaving him dangerously alone with his thoughts.

~~~

The Captain was sat at the foot of his bed for hours going through the possible words that could be contained in that letter. Perhaps it is best to keep it private, he had thought. But he could feel the words searing through the page, calling out for him to open that damned envelope and read them.

Maybe one peek? He couldn't stand the tension any longer; it had been there hidden away for nearly 80 whole years right in front of him and now he finally had a chance to read it. He felt drawn to it sitting suspiciously on the edge of the desk. 

How he longed to touch the paper, to feel William's writing softly swirl under his wrinkled old fingers. He leaned forward to trace the letters of his name with his finger. To feel the gentle curve of his Lieutenant's writing once more. To be connected to him again.

He knew that it was impossible but he longed to touch it. To grip the paper instead of passing straight through it. And when he edged his hand closer and focused on William, he was surprised to feel his hand slightly brush the corner of the envelope.

Shock set in. No that wasn't possible, he must've imagined it. Just his overpowered brain playing tricks on him again. He tried once more in an attempt to re-live that sensation. And he focused hard on the paper.

Watching eagerly, his gently wrinkled palm landed firmly on top of the envelope. Why was he touching it? That had never happened before. So he grabbed at the letter and managed to lift it off the desk. He had finally discovered his power!

They all knew that only some of the Ghosts possessed powers in death but he thought himself unfortunate enough to have missed out. This can't have been a recent development so for all of these years he had this power but never known it.

The first thing anyone would do after discovering their power would be to try it out on everything. First up were the photographs of him and Havers that were originally in the drawer. He lowered his hand towards the one on the far right of them both in their cricket outfits and lifted it off the desk in one go. He panicked and dropped it straight back down as he ran towards his bed.

Could he move his pillow? He hated having it that flat against the mattress and preferred it a little more upright so that he could see more of the room when he lay down. So he hovered his hand over the pillow and lowered it on top.

It unexpectedly went straight through. Damnit. He clearly couldn't touch everything so he spent the next few hours scrambling around his room attempting to pick up and touch as much as possible. Most of the attempts failed but there were a few items that he could hold.

Havers' notebook, the letter and the photographs all from that drawer in his former Lieutenant's desk. Somehow that was the only place so far where his power worked and he had no idea why.

Finally after picking up and dropping the letter several times, the Captain managed to somehow build up enough confidence to open it. He rested on the edge of his bed staring down at the folded piece of paper that had emerged from the envelope. There was no going back now.

Once Teddy had finished reading the letter, he was on the verge of tears for the first time in many years. His hand automatically flew to his jacket pocket where he had kept a similar letter all of those years ago. Despite it having been buried long ago when he was alive and eventually blown up a few years ago, he still felt the familiar burn where it was supposed to sit inside that pocket. 

The Captain had realised how foolish he truly was. Havers had left to protect them both. He had left to save him. Because he loved him. And it had taken him 80 blasted years to work it out. The feelings were requited for all of those years and neither of them knew. But it was far too late because Havers had died in North Africa in 1942 and they were never going to see eachother again.

A horrible pain crept through his chest that he hadn't felt since he died. So he lay down on his bed just in time for the clock to strike 1400 hours. It was time for Alison's meeting.

Chapter Text

It was exactly 2pm and Alison was seated on a chair in the downstairs common room. Lady B, The Captain and Julian were always the first to every meeting.

Always the first. Pat used to say that.

They were followed one minute later by Robin and Thomas, shortly followed by Kitty carrying Humphrey's head. His body of course was nowhere to be found.

Everyone was sat or stood awkwardly watching Alison stood in front of them and waiting for her to break the silence.

"So," she began "I hope you've all had enough time to think. I've been helping Cap this morning but I've also been thinking of how I can help."

"oooh helping Cap with what?" interrupted the politician "Has he finally decided to tell you that he's..."

"Julian! Shut up" Alison gave him the look of 'I will find a way to kill you again if you don't stop' which promptly quietened him.

"Actually Cap" she continued "whilst we're on that topic that Julian rudely brought up, was there something that you'd like to tell us? You have mentioned a lot that there's something but you haven't told us yet." 

Alison gave him a reassuring look. They all knew what his secrets were, especially Alison who had seen him so lost earlier with the letter. She knew that something had happened between him and his Lieutenant during the war- the drawer that they had opened earlier gave that away.

And the letter. She knew that he hadn't opened it yet but what if that could help?

Knowing full well that he wouldn't reveal anything, she attempted a reassuring nod to let him know that he's safe and that it's ok to reveal things. 

He just sat there staring at the ground and fiddling with the his swagger stick. Twisting it around, picking at the stitching, running his fingers along the seams.

Just as Alison was giving up hope of him speaking, he let out a series of noises from his throat followed by "Well um, um I, I um" 

He couldn't make up any excuses this time and stuttering certainly didn't help.

Alison tried to edge him on by adding "What about the letter?" 

With that, The Captain's head shot up. His eyes pierced through her soul giving her the shivers. If looks could kill then she'd be deader than the next ghost. A series of murmurs began from the other Ghosts which set him off into a panic.

All eyes were set on him. Tearing away at his façade, gnawing at the glass walls he had built around his secrets. Scratching the centre of his brain trying to force the words out. Talking was dangerous. Keep it under your helmet. The safe buried in his head was about to be cracked. 

Another few noises blurted from The Captain's mouth as he ran through the nearest table sending Mike's paperwork flying. Oh lord not paper too. He raced up the stairs and disappeared down the hall towards his bedroom.

The Ghosts were silenced.

"How'd he do that?" growled Robin

The gossip was no longer about The Captain's letter but now on his new power. The Captain, The Captain, they always talked about The Captain. 

Once the chatter had died down, Alison carried on from her earlier point, not wanting to keep the topic on The Captain as she knew how it affected him.

"Right, so let's forget about that for now and uh I'll talk to him later. Anyway tell me what you need to do to move on." 

"Oh dearest Alison you must understand that it's not that simple. We do not know how to move on. We know secrets and have seen things that not another soul has. But we're yet to find the cause of our misery spent being locked up as a spirit." Thomas concluded 

"We're Ghosts because of how we died!" commented Kitty 

"We died horrifically and rather unexpectedly" added Fanny

"And you stay how you die" said Thomas 

"So you have like unfinished business or something? That's how it works in films right?" Murmurs were thrown around. "You died unexpectedly without doing something important or with regrets. Like Julian you regret leaving your daughter." Alison looked at him

"I guess so" he replied 

"So what my regret? Me die thousand years ago, no fix mistakes now."

"Yeah Robin you're a tough one but I'm sure we can get the others sorted whilst we work yours out. Ok so let's start with you Humphrey."

"I don't know, you already know about my death."

"Oh yeah, we do. Could it be to do with your Wife?"

"I regret keeping her here with me, stuck with a life like this. She deserved more than me. You shouldn't be forced into marriage." Humphrey knew exactly what he needed to do but he couldn't admit it. He died stupidly, not as nobly as he had made out. "I'll think about it." 

"Lady B?"

"Hmmm? Oh well I s'pose it's about my family. I only saw my Husband when I died, I do not know what became of my Children or Grandchildren. Only Heather" 

"I can probably do some research for you, it'll be nice to look into our family tree" said Alison

"Yes, quite" replied Fanny 

"Um Kitty do you know?"

"I'm not sure. I don't really know how I died like everyone else does" 

"We can definitely have a look" Alison smiled gently 

"And uh Julian?"

"As you said, I wished to spend more time with my Daughter, And I think I need to apologise to my wife" 

"I can find their contact details, try and speak to them" offered Alison 

"How the hell will you do that eh? They'll think you're a weirdo trying to profit off false information" 

"I'll have to convince them somehow" 

"You're going to tell them that you can see Ghosts? And the one of their dead Husband and Father. Here's your old man, oh and by the way he's dead and I can see him." Julian frowned at Alison

"Well I'll try" she replied 

"Good luck with that" he chuckled

"Well Julian I'll leave it then and you can stay here alone for the rest of your life when everyone else has moved on"

"Oh no it's fine you can try"

"Thanks" she smiled sarcastically "So finally Thomas?"

"To find true love but oh have I found it. It's you Alison, all you. Just tell me you love me and all will be well."

Alison rolled her eyes, she'd been through this a hundred times. "Thomas it's not me. I don't love you, I have a husband." 

"Divorce him."

"I'm not going to divorce Mike! Just please think what else do you need to do? What about Isabelle?"

"She loved me and I loved her." 

"Right! So do you know what happened to her?"

"She married Francis and moved out, had children, lived without me" he was looking Alison dead in the eyes.

"And do you still love her?"

"I don't know! It was 200 years ago! Blasted world, nothing can be simple. Spare me this pain!" He wailed walking through the wall after having yet another spontaneous outburst.

"Ok then...so where do we start? Fanny will probably be easiest."

"There's a book in the library. It should have our family tree in it and it should be up to date" said Lady B

"Off to the library we go then. The rest of you can just carry on thinking." Together her and Fanny walked towards the library with Alison trying to get away as soon as possible to stop any more Ghosts storming off.

~~~

"Here we go" said Alison as she placed a large brown book onto the library desk next to the Captain's still open book of flowers from earlier. She sat down and opened the first page where dozens of names stared up at her.

She started to flick through the pages with Lady B watching over her shoulder. Several names stood out to her on the many pages.

Bone, Higham, Button

This book could be very useful in helping the others. They finally reached the page and Fanny yelled "Stop!" to alert Alison of the correct page which scared the living daylights out of her.

Alison started to read from the top.

"Henry Button's child was Richard Button who had George Button who married Stephanie." 

Lady B was silenced for the first time ever.

"George and Stephanie's children were John and Harriet Button. John married Sophia aged 20 and they had three children called Edward, Reginald and Phoebe." Alison looked up at Fanny who was staring at the book blankly.

"Reginald had a daughter Heather with his first wife Dianne, Heather never had children. He also had a daughter Rachel with his second wife Jacquelyn, Rachel married Harry Brown and had a son Paul." 

Alison stopped reading. Her maiden name was Brown. "My Dad was Paul, Paul Brown." She told Fanny. That was her connection to the Buttons, through her Great Grandad's second Wife.

She carried on reading after getting no reply from Lady B. "Phoebe had two children who passed away during the First World War when they were young. And Edward..."

She was cut off mid sentence.

"Edward never married" finished the Captain who had materialised through the bookcase in front of Alison.

"How do you know that?" Fanny was concerned and Alison was staring at him in anticipation.

"Because...I'm Edward. Captain Edward Button at your service Ma'am" he saluted "otherwise known as Teddy."

Fanny was completely shocked. For 80 years her Grandson had been there with her and she didn't know. She couldn't even recognise her own family. She was estranged from her Grandchildren but surely she would recognise Button blood even if she had only met him twice as a child.

"You- you are my..."

"Grandson, yes I'm afraid so" he solemnly smiled

"No way! Captain you're a Button?" exclaimed Alison 

"That I am."

"We're related? You're like my Great, Great Uncle! God this family tree is weird."

"I had no idea Captain." whispered Fanny, taking in his every feature "Tell me, why did you keep it from me for so long?"

"I-I was- afraid. Afraid that I would be a disappointment to you. To the Button family name."

"Edward...I could never be disappointed in you. You fought for the country and you have been an asset to Button House. Thank you Captain."

The Captain was choked, for once he had a family member who cared. And it was the least expected person ever.

"Captain, please tell me about our family. What can you remember?" Lady B asked 

"After your...death and when George left, your son who is my father, John took the house. John left it to his children; me, Reginald and Phoebe after his death in 1918 during the war. Phoebe's children also died during the war when a bomb landed on the house they were living in. Phoebe was safe and well but we- um... stopped communicating in the mid 1930s. The same happened with my Brother Reginald but he passed in 1940 whilst fighting, I remember receiving the telegram."

The Captain looked upset talking about his family, it had been so long since he'd even thought about them but they had meant so much to him before everything went wrong.

"During the Second World War, Reginald's oldest Daughter Heather owned the house but she moved out to let us use it as the base. It was a coincidence that I was stationed here as I had not communicated with her or Reginald in several years. Heather was lovely, we had a mutual understanding and she had also strayed quite a bit from her Father due to his beliefs. So she was the only family that I had left and I was her only family.'

This was the first time that anyone had seen Fanny visibly upset, she had been told the whole history of her family in the space of a few minutes so it was expected. She thought that they had all forgotten about her but her own Grandson had remembered her for all of these years and had even been her friend.

"Thank you Captain" she finally whispered "My little Edward look how grown up you are! I remember when you were just a babe." Slowly she moved forward and wrapped her arms around him stiffly.

The Captain wasn't used to being hugged and he couldn't even remember the last time that it had happened. But here he was, being hugged by his best friend and his Grandmother. No one had ever seen Fanny's lighter side so this sudden display of sentimentality was rather shocking. She seemed like the type of person who would never hug anyone EVER. 

Alison was sat in silence watching their touching reunion and she took the chance to ask the important question.

"Lady B do you feel any... different?"

She hesitated for a minute. "No... nothing has changed. I s'pose that I have other unfinished business. Anyways much to do." She huffed as she made her way towards the door before turning around quickly. 

She looked fondly towards the two people in the room and added "Thank you for everything, Captain" 

Just before he had the chance to speak, his Grandmother had disappeared through the doorway. The Captain's eyes stayed fixed on the empty doorway. 

This was the validation that he needed. He was being thanked for being himself? Maybe he hadn't let down the family after all.

~~~

Meanwhile Fanny was sat upstairs in her room alone questioning her entire life and death. She had such a big family and yet she knew nothing of them due to family feuds. And for 80 years she couldn't even recognise her own Grandson, he was right there under her nose the whole time. She had watched him in life and death and was none the wiser as to his true identity.

The question that plagued her most of all was why she was still here. She needed to find out about her family and she had. The only thing she could think of that was left to do was to find out about George. But that could wait, today was supposed to be a day to celebrate found family not to mourn those that were lost.

And so she'd be stuck here even longer until she was ready to find out the fate of her awful Husband.

But now she had more important things to do with to helping her Grandson so George would have to wait.

Chapter Text

Alison was sat downstairs on her computer with a list of politicians names opened up. Julian briskly walked past headed for the chess table.

"Julian I need your help. What's your Daughter's name?"

"Rachel. Rachel Fawcett MP. Unless she's married. Why do you want to know?"

"I thought if I could try and contact her then I could relay your words to her and help you with your unfinished business. But now she's an MP she's probably gonna think I'm some weird anti-green party protester." 

"Well if you really want to help me then just try and find her details. We can worry about convincing her afterwards. Even if you have to lie to get them, just say you're the product of some affair I had with your mother or something." 

"That's gross" 

"That's the only way she'll believe you trust me" he shrugged. 

"Fine." She searched Google 'Rachel Fawcett MP contact' and after half an hour of opening sketchy websites she finally found an email. There was a high chance that it was a fake but she might as well try it. 

Julian was very excited and helped Alison to compose the email in the most professional and least weird way possible.

'Dear Miss Rachel Fawcett MP' she started 'I understand that this email will be rather shocking for you but I feel the need to contact you about this matter. I believe that I am your half sister...'

"Ha sounds familiar" Julian snorted 

Alison tutted and carried on typing 'and unfortunately a product of one of your Father Julian Fawcett's affairs. I apologise for waiting so long to contact you but I was...' 

"Can I say adopted?" asked Alison 

"Well you've already told enough lies and we need to make it as much of a sob story as possible so yeah one more can't hurt."

"True" she continued.

'I was adopted and I have only just found my birth Mother recently but she sadly passed just three weeks ago. It has taken me a while to properly accept that I have lost her again so quickly after just finding her.'

"I feel like that's too much."

"No! I mean I'd believe it if you were my daughter telling me this story. I had so many affairs that it's impossible to recall names or dates so you should be fine" answered Julian 

"And are you proud of that?"

"What? No" he snorted "Of course not. It was fun at the time but uh not now."

"Mmmh" she replied before she continued typing.

'I would really appreciate if you could contact me when you receive this. My number is 07634 269081 if you would prefer to call instead. I'm not asking for money or anything, I would just like a chance to find out about my Dad and hopefully meet you, my Sister. I hope to hear from you soon. Kind regards, Alison Cooper'

"Done! What do you think?" she moved her screen to face Julian.

His eyes skimmed the page as he took in the words that could convince his Daughter to come back to him.

"It's...great." 

"Are you sure? It doesn't sound too much like a lie does it?"

"No it's fine, us politicians are experts at lying so she'll believe it."

"Awesome! Well I better send it off then."

"Wait what about a kiss?"

"Excuse me?"

"No not me, at the end of the email. Although..."

"For god's sake Julian please don't start too I've had enough of it with Thomas. And I know she is your Daughter but I don't actually know her so no a kiss is weird."

"But..."

"No. And don't try to add one yourself like you did to Mike that time."

"Fine" he huffed and she sent the email.

Now it was a waiting game.

Julian stood up to leave but Alison needed him to do a favour for her first.

"Oh wait before you go can you let the others know that I'd like to meet you all at 2 in the orchard."

"Fine. What's the reason?"

"We haven't done anything for Pat yet like we did for Mary. I think it's only right that we give him fair treatment."

"Sure yeah, I'll tell them."

"Thanks Julian" 

~~~

It was now 2pm and Alison was gathered in the orchard with the rest of the Ghosts. They were stood next to the old well which had become known as their typical gathering spot. It had started to gain significance as a mourning spot instead now. Everyone had arrived promptly on time and were stood in a semicircle in complete silence. It was like Mary's memorial all over again.

"Hey everyone. Thanks for coming. So I know these past few days have been horrible for all of us and have affected you all in many different ways, it seems that this time everyone has opted for the silence instead. Now I know we did this for Mary and I thought that it would be a good idea to do one for Pat too."

She looked around the group and all faces were watching her and looking drained of happiness.

"I can't do the same sort of memorial that we did for Mary so I've decided to go for a different approach. I have a flower here..." she picked up a yellow Daisy that was laid on the side of the well. "I thought that I could plant a flower in memory of each Ghost that goes...as, well, I'm hoping to help the rest of you move on too." 

"That's a lovely idea Alison, well done" commented Lady Button 

"Thanks Fanny" Alison managed to drag her face into a tiny smile.

"I'll plant it over here underneath Mary's tree. Think of it as a grave of sorts I suppose, you can come and pay your respects here anytime." She walked through a gap in the Ghosts' semicircle and dug a small hole with her fingers in the dirt under the tree. She placed the Daisy into the hole and filled it back up with the dirt. 

"Goodbye Pat. We miss you, I hope you're at peace." She whispered to the flower.

A voice sounded from behind her "You don't need to worry Alison, he is in the second layer with Mary and Annie now..."

Alison smiled at her, bless her she had an admirable understanding of these sorts of things and she always knew how to make the situation less painful.

"He'll be with Wizard Larson and the unicorns soon after his three months are finished." 

Thomas and Robin gave her the most confused look and The Captain just nodded at her reassuringly.

Even if her concept of the afterlife was näive, it meant that she had nothing to be scared of and she had a positive view of where her friends went which couldn't hurt. At least it kept her happy.

"Yeah..." Alison answered "Has anyone else got anything to say?" 

"Is food club still happening at 1900 hours?" asked Cap

"Um no probably not. Unless one of you wants to take over?" 

"No thank you Alison, it... wouldn't be the same" he sounded choked.

"Of course" she nodded gently.

"I will say a prayer for Pat just as I did for Mary. It shall be strange without his poor attempts at jokes" added Lady B 

"And I shall compose a poem. It shall be a magnificent piece, the best of the century. It will be about the looming fear of moving on unfulfilled and having to replace those who have gone. I will of course also need a new co-host of Button FM but not someone who will take my spotlight."

A series of huffs came from the other Ghosts 

"Uh Alison? Has Rachel replied yet?"

"No Julian. Just be patient ok. And now is probably not the time." 

She turned to face the rest of the Ghosts "Do you guys have anything to do today?"

"Uhhhh... nothing" replied Robin 

"Well I suppose I can...now that's cancelled I can...I don't know." The Captain's voice was on the verge of breaking and his eyes welled up. It was very rare to see him let out his emotions but everyone had to do it now and again even if he was the most repressed Ghost. But he had just lost a close friend so to him it was on the edge of acceptable.

"It's ok Cap, It's ok to feel lost. Take this time to think and focus on yourself. Perhaps you can go for a run?" 

"Yes. I think I shall. Thank you" he ran off through the garden into the house. 

"Right the rest of you just do whatever and I'll be around if you need me. Julian I'll find you if anything happens."

"Thank you" the Ghosts all answered together and started the walk towards the house. 

It was going to be a very long day for all of them.

~~~

The next day Alison woke up nice and early in time for The Captain's morning run. The Ghosts had started to get back into a routine as they couldn't mourn forever. And now that most of them were on the verge of moving on themselves they wanted to make the most out of the remainder of their death. 

So Cap continued running everyday to clear his head, Thomas continued dancing to the radio, Julian and Robin played many more rounds of chess and the others continued reading their books.

It was still strange for Alison to turn the pages of one less book, Mary hadn't managed to finish her alphabet book before she moved on which was quite heartbreaking so it was no longer sat next to Humphrey's and Kitty's.

Once Alison had completed her daily rounds of the house she had eaten breakfast in the kitchen with Mike and was sat with an open computer.

No new emails.

So once she had gotten dressed she set out helping another Ghost figure out how to move on. Next was Kitty which would be extremely tough for both of them. 

Just as she was about to find Kitty her phone rang. And unknown number appeared but she picked it up just in case someone wanted to book an event. 

"Hello, Alison Cooper speaking. Oh Rachel hello! Yeah, yes I am. Oh that would be lovely! Yeah, his about you come here? I live in a manor house in the country. Yeah of course. Button House. Excellent, I look forward to meeting you! Bye, bye." She placed her phone down and jumped around.

"Julian! Julian!" she shouted "Julian! Rachel is coming here! And she's bringing her Mum!"

"What?" Julian ran towards her through the chess table. "Margot and Rachel are coming here? Oh dear God."

"Are you ok? I thought you'd be happy."

"I am, I just didn't expect it to work."

"Yeah well me neither. I guess I'l have to figure out a way to tell them the truth and hope I don't get killed."

"When are they coming?"

"Today at 3"

"Today? I'm not prepared!" 

"What do you need to prepare for?" Alison shouted after him as he ran through the wall.

She had five hours to prepare so she might as well tidy the place up a bit, Kitty could wait another day. She did have an MP visiting and she had to convince her that she wasn't mad so she had to make a good impression with the house.

As Alison was walking towards the cabinet at the back of the common room a familiar deep voice sounded from behind her.

"Me not want Julian to go."

Alison spun around coming face to face with the caveman.

"Oh Robin why not?"

"Me no have friend. To play chess. To laugh."

"Aww I'm sure someone else can play once he goes."

"No. No one good like Julian."

"Well Robin if you don't want to leave Julian then we'll have to find a way for you to join him. So that you can move on too."

"How?" He had no idea how he could move on.

"Well I don't know yet. We'll  have to work it out together."

"Oh ok"

"Is that ok Robin?"

"Yeah think so."

"Well you better get thinking then. Oh and I think you should spend more time with Julian before he goes."

Robin nodded and ran back towards the library where he disappeared through the wall.

Bless him, he was the oldest Ghost and had been through so many ghostly friends over the years but he had never been as close to them as he was with Julian. And now he had to watch yet another one be sucked off. Alison just hoped that Robin wouldn't ruin it for him.

~~~

Five hours later there was a knock at the door. Alison ran to the door followed by Julian and Robin who she nearly walked into when she stepped backwards to open the door.

"Hi, I'm Alison!" She greeted the three guests at the door. There stood a young woman with shirt blonde hair, an older woman with long greying brown hair and an man dressed in a suit. "Come in!" She added as she signalled to the next room. Everyone wandered through to the common room.

"Here, take a seat while I grab some drinks for us. Coffee?" she asked

Rachel nodded "Yes please"

Alison ran out of the room smiling at Julian who stood opposite the sofa staring into the souls of his family. Margot... she was so old and that must be his Daughter next to her. She's done well for herself considering that she grew up without him. And that man... well he must be a security guard. You can't have politicians visiting large country houses alone in the middle of nowhere. Julian took a seat on the sofa opposite his family and next to Robin just as Alison wandered in with a tray holding four mugs.

She handed them out to which they all willingly took a cup apart from the security guard. She'd left sugar and milk on the table for them to add if they wanted. Alison took her mug and sat on the sofa next to the two ghosts.

She looked at Rachel and Margot. Rachel was focusing on her mug whilst Margot was staring directly ahead and not blinking. She looked like she'd seen a ghost.

"So..." Rachel started "You are the product of my Father's love affair with who?"

"Oh a woman he met once at a night club." Alison was already off to a strong start with the lies.

"Right" Rachel looked unsure whether she believed Alison but her Father participated in many activities so it was most likely real. "Is this some sort of joke?" 

"I'm sorry...?" even Alison was confused now.

"Well I recognise this place as being my Father's place of death. I've seen it multiple times in the newspapers that Mother kept from his death. So how did you come to own it?" she blown Alison's cover already 

"I- Uh I- Well when my- No I'm sorry. I am so sorry but I have been lying to you." Rachel looked terrified and the security guard took a step forward. "I- I'm not your half sister. I know my parents and they weren't Julian"

"Then why am I here? What do you want from me?" Alison knew that Rachel thought she was a rival journalist looking for gossip.

"Um this is going to sound very weird but your Father is...here. He died here and he's been a ghost ever since" Alison was well aware of how stupid she sounded.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Ghosts don't exist."

"I'm so sorry but they do I promise!"

Rachel stood up and headed towards the door.

"No wait please!" Alison begged for her to come back, she needed to give Julian answers.

Margot was still sat on the sofa in silence but suddenly stood up and shouted "Rachel!" She turned around to face her mother. "Rachel he's here. I can see him. Hello... Julian" she turned to face him.

Julian was stood open mouthed in complete shock alongside Alison.

Rachel was becoming annoyed "Please not this again Mother. You can't see ghosts, stop embarrassing yourself. Let's go."

"No Rachel. I told you I can see them. And it seems I'm not the only one" she glared at Alison.

Rachel was silenced again

"W-well uh no um yeah?" Alison stuttered whilst trying to think of a reasonable explanation.

Margot looked at their security guard and stared "Tyson can you go and sit in the car please?" to which he obeyed.

It was best to not have him here especially as this would make her seem like a complete weirdo to him.

"Now come and take a seat. Let's find out why we are actually here" added Margot 

"Yes Mother." Rachel reluctantly sat down next to her.

~~~

The conversation had been flowing for around half an hour and it that time Alison had explained why she had brought them to the house in the first place. She'd mentioned Mary and Pat's passing and how she came to see the Ghosts in the first place.

Margot and Rachel were of course confused at the fact that ghosts can move on and were annoyed that Julian had been here all this time without them knowing. But they were happy to try and help him.

"So how can you actually see ghosts?" asked Alison 

"Quite recently I suffered from a heart attack. I technically died for a few minutes but they managed to bring me back to life. Even since then I have been able to see ghosts."

"Oh I'm sorry. Please stop me if I'm being nosey but is there a history of heart attacks in your family? I know he's not actually related to you but Julian died the same way didn't he."

"Oh no I don't think there is, just all the alcohol I used to drink to keep myself company when Julian was out clubbing. It never did me any good and I'm lucky it didn't finish me off."

"Mmmh. Well I suppose you better get talking to Julian then. Get this all sorted for him."

Margot nodded and locked eyes with Julian meanwhile Rachel was looking at the empty sofa next to Alison trying to work out what on earth was happening and Robin was keeping a close eye on her.

"Julian..." she almost whispered.

"Margot..." he replied mimicking her tone.

"Before I start could you...put your legs down please. I just caught a glimpse of... something and I don't want that to put me off the conversation."

"Oh...yep" he uncrossed his legs and forced them towards the floor.

"Can I ask why you're not wearing- actually no don't answer that."

Julian couldn't help but smile. She still had her sense of humour that would occasionally make an appearance.

"So you've been here all these years? Since you died?'

"Yep I have."

"What's it like being...dead?" Margot was treading carefully as she had no idea how to speak to a ghost properly. 

"Well you know it's ok. It's been nice not having to work and I've made some friends I spose." 

"Oh that's nice."

"How's Rachel? What was it like looking after her? I hope she knew how great her old man was."

"She's doing well, all grown up and an MP now" She looked over and smiled at Rachel who was completely oblivious but figured that they were talking about her. "It was really tough having to raise her by myself for her whole life."

"Woah woah I was there for a few years."

Alison and Robin were just sat in silence observing the heated arguement. It was best to not get involved especially if getting all of this off his chest would help him to move on.

"Really? You think going out partying and running away from your problems was helping to raise her? I did it all by myself and you helped with nothing." 

"I did! I er paid for her."

"You think your money helped? Why would I want to live off the easily earned money of my stupid husband who couldn't care less about me and my baby."

"She was my Daughter too!"

"Yes she was. But when you went she became Harold's Daughter instead. And he gave her a proper life with a proper father who was there to care for her."

"Who the hell is Harold?"

"Well when you were off having affairs left right and centre I had an affair of my own. He was always there helping me with Rachel and offering support when you weren't there. He was a wonderful Husband, better than you could be."

"How dare you? I tried my best to juggle work and being married. It's not my fault that the conferences took priority over you at the time."

"Conferences or parties?"

Julian closed his mouth. She'd caught him out and he'd fallen headfirst into her trap. 

"Margot. I am so sorry."

"Sorry is not good enough Julian. I need answers. Why did you leave me alone with our baby whilst you were getting drunk and having multiple affairs. This isn't the first time someone has contacted Rachel saying that she's their Sister."

"Oh I'm not-" Alison interrupted

"No we know you're not." Rachel spoke out for the first time. "Dad if you are there somewhere please just tell me why you left us alone."

"I...I couldn't deal with it. Rachel just kept crying all the time and it was driving me up the wall. I didn't think my acts would be able to create a... child. I wasn't ready to be a parent. I regret it a lot, I even get nightmares about leaving you both after my death. I just wasn't ready to commit to raising a child, I was so used to partying and staying out late. My lifestyle wasn't suited to a baby, I thought it would be easy but if course it wasn't. But I wouldn't give Rachel up ever, I don't regret having her. The few small moments I spent with her were some of the happiest of my life."

Julian had started to tear up. He had never fully accepted his true feelings towards his Daughter. He didn't hate her of course not but he just wasn't ready for the committments of being a Father. He still loved her though, he thought about her everyday and nothing could ever change that.

Robin placed a hand on Julian's arm in an attempt to comfort him.

"Julian I never knew that you weren't ready. I thought we'd had it all planned out. What about me. Why did you leave me?" 

Julian let out a large sigh. "I love you Margot, I always have and I didn't mean to leave you. It was too much for me and I couldn't take it which was selfish. I wanted the excitement of different partners and the riskiness of affairs. I didn't want to be trapped at home with a newborn baby. I hate myself for it Margot. Spending all these years as a ghost has made me realise how precious life is and how I wasted it. I missed so much of Rachel's life all because of my selfishness."

"No one's perfect Julian. I just hope you understand how damaging that was to us."

"I do. I am so sorry to you both and I mean it. I wish I could go back and change it. Do things right for once." 

"It's too late now I'm afraid. But Julian even though you messed up all of those years ago I can see that you've changed. I can see how much death has softened you and with that I will forgive you for everything. There's no point in holding a grudge against a ghost anyway."

"You forgive me? After everything I did to you?"

"Yes. I'm a believer in second chances and eventhough you technically can't have one, I would like you to have a peaceful afterlife."

"Thank you Margot. I am so sorry for everything. Take care of Rachel for me as you have done for all of this time. I hope she can forgive me too." 

"Rachel, can you forgive your Father for leaving us when you were a baby? He's already apologised and explained his reasons."

"I- I don't know. He left us alone and I never knew my real Father." Rachel looked exhausted "But I suppose if he didn't go then you wouldn't have met Harold and you wouldn't have been happy. I probably wouldn't be an MP because it was his death that inspired me to be like him. I hope I've made him proud."

"You have Rachel you have. Following in your old man's footsteps even after he died eh. I believe you'll make a great Prime Minister one day."

"He says that you have and he knows you'll make a great PM." 

"Thank you Dad, I forgive you." 

Everyone smiled including Julian.

He stood up and a light filled the room which was seen by everyone apart from Rachel.

"Guys!" Alison shouted to get the attention of the other ghosts dotted throughout the house "He's going! Julian's going!"

A swarm of Ghosts came flooding into the common room eager to say their goodbyes.

"This is it then." Julian looked unusually sad.

"I'll miss you lot especially you Robin. I hope you find someone else to play chess with." He looked over at the caveman and gave him a sad smile. "Thank you all for being here through my afterlife and well making each day more interesting I suppose. Thank you Margot and Rachel for helping me, goodbye. And thank you Alison for everything, say bye to Mike for me."

"Julian? It's been nice to speak to you. I hope to see you again soon." Margot's eyes streamed as she said goodbye to him.

Despite the pain he had put her through, they were still once married and had meant a lot to eachother.

"Goodbye Julian." Robin quickly said

And with that Julian walked into the light and waved. Then he disappeared leaving an awestruck Margot staring at the spot he was just sat at.

She started to cry and Rachel pulled her into a hug.

"He's gone" she sobbed 

Alison sat in silence with the rest of the Ghosts. She still wasn't used to them moving on and now that was another one gone. The house was starting to empty itself. 

Robin wiped a tear from his left eye and Alison's eyes started to water.

"Can you all do me a favour and come with me to the orchard. I think it'll help."

~~~

The remaining Ghosts along with Margot and Rachel were all gathered in a small circle by the same mourning tree. 

The two flowers that had been planted for Mary and Pat bloomed brightly in the dirt.

She started to explain the situation to her new guests.

"As you know, recently we have had a departure which has spurred me into helping the rest of the Ghosts to move on. This tree was used as a memorial for a Ghost we lost a few years ago, Mary, and now we use it in memorial for all of those that move on."

She bent down to dig a small hole for Julian's flower.

Alison had picked a blue Orchid for him which was a strange choice but she thought that the colour suited him quite well.

"This flower is Mary's, this one is Pat's...and this one..." she planted the blue flower "is Julian's."

Margot let out a sob upon hearing his name again.

Robin bent down next to Alison and pretended to pat the dirt around Julian's flower.

Alison stood up and turned to the Ghosts "I know how you all feel after losing yet another Ghost but we all have to power through it. You are all getting your turn so please use this time to think about Mary, Pat and Julian and how they impacted the house. You will see them again very soon I promise you."

She looked around at each of them as they faced the ever-growing memorial bed.

The pain of losing a loved one was visible in all of their eyes and she hated the effect it had on them all.

Losing one was bad enough but now they had lost two of the most energetic Ghosts in such a short period of time.

"Please just spend your remaining time wisely."

"He's with Mary and Pat now. And he'll be on his way to meet Wizard Larson soon."

Kitty still hadn't understood that what Pat told her about the afterlife was completely made up but it was comforting to the other Ghosts to think that perhaps the afterlife was like that.

And it meant that Kitty wasn't upset which was always good especially when it took hours to stop her crying.

"Yeah..." Alison sighed. All of this loss really took it's toll on her.

"I shall of course say another prayer in memorial." Lady Button commented 

"And I-I shall- I- " The Captain's voice cut off. He was staring at the blue flower, he was staring so hard that his eyes could see the entire inner anatomy of the flower.

It was really tough on him. He'd lost so many friends throughout his life and now he had to repeat the same horror in death.

He went to outstrech his arm in hopes of finding Julian's there to give him a brief pat on the back for reassurance but he just grabbed empty space.

Rachel began to talk "Thank you Alison. For helping my Dad and just for everything."

"I'm very glad that I was able to reunite you both with him."

Alison looked at Margot who was stood leaning against Rachel with tears silently streaming down her face.

When a loved one dies you expect to never see them again but Margot had the extremely rare opportunity to see him for one final time and to help him find peace.

Sometimes being able to see ghosts had it's perks.

"Right we best get going now. Thank you Alison so much."

"I'm happy to help. Take care both of you."

"Bye thank you Alison" Margot added

The pair wandered through the garden gate out along the front lawn of Button House and towards their far which was parked on the gravel.

The remaining Fawcett's had left Button House.

Chapter Text

The inhabitants of Button House had slept quietly that night. The house was becoming emptier which meant that there would be less distractions and more peace.

No clubs and no shenanigans. The two youngest Ghosts had gone leaving the older ones behind all alone and rather bored without the knowledge and fun touches of the modern.

The Captain had lost two of his closest friends, Robin had lost his best friend, Kitty had now gone two years without one of her best friends and had lost another one. Everyone was suffering from loss.

Now there were only six Ghosts left. The family was shrinking.

Alison had dedicated a day to each Ghost depending on who was easiest to help first. Now that the two modern ones had moved on, it would be much harder for her to help but she had to try her best.

She thought that had hit a brick wall with where to go next but had received a strange dream that night that gave her some idea. She remembered the attic and darkness as well as Kitty laughing. 

It made absolutely no sense to her but it had been lingering constantly in her mind. She knew that Kitty was next on her list so she figured that she was the best place to start.

Alison walked along the upstairs landing towards the ballroom but was intercepted just before the door by Thomas. 

"My dearest Alison, how are you this fine day?"

"Oh God Thomas. I'm fine. You seem strangely happy today?" she replied

"Oh I am making the most of my numbered days by gazing at you all the long day so that I shall commit your beautiful face to memory."

Thomas had become extremely clingy and had been following Alison everywhere which of course was really irritating especially as he still had no sense of boundaries. She'd even had to yell at him to get out of the bathroom the other day when she was getting ready to shower.

Alison had been feeling quite sick recently and ghosts can somehow sense that so Thomas had made sure to be by her side all the time 'in sickness and in health' as he had called it.

Alison just huffed at him, she would be somewhat relieved when he moves on but she will probably miss him in a weird way.

"Your hair looks magnificent today, like a large flake of chocolate..." he started

"Thomas stop" Alison held her hand to her mouth as she felt her stomach churn "just go away while I talk to Kitty." 

"Fine. I shall bid you adieu for now my love but I shall be back afterwards with my newest work."

Alison ignored him and headed into the ballroom. Hopefully he could learn to stop pining over her and finally move on. It would be strange not being endlessly followed though. 

She finally reached the ballroom and saw Kitty sitting alone fiddling with her hands and looking down at her skirts.

"Hey Kitty!" Alison wandered over and sat next to her on the sofa. "How are you?"

"I'm fine thank you." Kitty responded trying her best to sound convincing. 

"Are you sure? It's ok to not be ok you know?" 

"Yes. I miss my friends."

"Of course, we all miss them but it must be extra hard for you."

"It is. Do you think they really go to the second layer?"

"I'm not sure, no one really knows what happens. If Ghosts are real then anything can be possible in the afterlife." this made Kitty frown slightly.

"Oh. So will I get to see Pat, Mary and Julian again? Well I don't really mind about seeing Julian again because he scared me but I want to see Mary and Pat." 

"I'm sure you will. Which is why I'm here actually. I'd like to help you move on next."

"Really? Oh!" She had cheered up.

"Are you ok with that?"

"Yes I think I have spent enough time as a Ghost. I shall like to see my Father and Eleanor again."

Bless her, she wanted to see them again despite everything that she was put through in life thought Alison.

"Great! So do you know where to start?"

"Well I suppose I'm not too sure how I died. Everyone else is easy to guess but I don't know mine. When I was first a Ghost I was...trapped but then I accidentally freed myself. I was never too sure how I became dead in the first place. I remember Father and Eleanor were upset but they never said that I had... died."

Kitty was becoming confused and upset. She had blocked this part of her life out of her head so she didn't have to think about it which meant that finally accepting it was hard.

"How did you know that you had passed?" Alison had to be extremely careful with her questions due to Kitty's naïvety.

"Well I saw everyone else and they told me. Then I tried to speak to Eleanor but she couldn't see me so I knew that they were telling the truth."

"Did you ever... see your body Kitty?" she was trying to approach this as delicately as possible.

"No I didn't. That's why I didn't believe them."

Some details of Kitty's death were starting to add up.

"Do you remember what happened before you died?" It was best to get an account of the events leading up to it if she wanted to try and work out cause of death.

"I was playing hide and seek with my sister. She was always very bad at finding me and she took a very long time. Some days I would be waiting for hours for her to find me and I would give up. I can't remember what happened that day but... she never found me because I woke up as a ghost."

"Kitty I am so sorry." This was one of those moments when Alison wished she could hug the Ghosts. "You mentioned earlier that they never said that you had died. Did they know that you had?"

The pieces were slotting into place. Kitty had mentioned years ago that she was so good at hiding that she was never found. She once had to eat her purse because she was so hungry from hiding all day and night. Alison had just brushed it off then but what if it had made sense? She knew that Kitty's sister was evil but did she end up killing her?

~~~

Mike was clearing the rest of the attic alongside Alison and Kitty who were sitting on the floor together. Alison had just remembered something that her and Mike had found recently whilst they were tidying up there. They had come across a chest with a letter in it addressed to Kitty but Alison had forgotten all about it until now.

They were sat side by side on the floor, Alison had the letter in her hand. She hoped that this would answer some of the questions that they both had.

"Would you like me to read it aloud for you?" Alison asked

"Yes please Alison" so she began reading.

14th September 1778

Dearest Kitty,

Although you will not receive this letter, I am required to write to you. I miss you awfully dear sister and I would like for you to return home. Father and I are devastated at the news of your disappearance. We hope that you are safe wherever you may be resting and that they have you returned home soon. 

I apologise deeply for any harm that I may have caused you with my jealous actions and I promise to do better for you. Please forgive me Kitty and return so that you may play hide and seek with me once more.

Your loving sister,

Eleanor 

Alison could tell by the look on Kitty's face that she was confused.

"I never went missing, I only ever left the house accompanied. I don't understand. Why is she saying this?"

Alison looked at the date on the top. She caught a glimpse of Mike walking past behind the letter attempting to drag a large box along the floor whilst looking very confused.

"Kitty when is your death day?"

"Around 9th September 1778. Why?"

"This letter is dated 14th September 1778. That's five days after your death. They thought you were missing but you... you had died. Here."

Kitty's face dropped and she stared painfully at Alison.

"They thought I had run away or had been kidnapped. But I was dead and they never knew. They never found me."

"Kitty..." A huge crash interrupted her.

"Mike!" Alison and Kitty jumped up and ran towards the wall that Mike was laying through the middle of.

"What happened? Are you ok?"

"Yeah yeah I'm fine, just tripped over a stupid box."

Mike had tripped over a box that was in the way and had crashed into a painting that had broken and revealed a large hole behind it in the wall. Mike had gone straight through the canvas and ended up through the hole in the wall.

He let Alison grab his hand and pull him up back through the wall and the canvas. Once he was out and had dusted himself off she leant forward and peered through the hole he had made in the painting.

"Mike there's something through here." She tried lifting the photo frame out of the way but it was way too heavy. "Can you help me with this?" They lifted the painting by the frame and carried it across the room which revealed a large hole in the wall.

It seemed that behind the wall was a tiny room barely big enough for two people but it was so dark that she couldn't see anything. 

"What's there? Any treasure or some priceless artefacts?" Mike asked

"Uh I can't see, can you pass my phone?" He handed it to her from the floor and she turned the flashlight on. She shone the light around and it hit something in the corner of the room.

"Oh my fu-" She gasped and nearly fell over whilst quickly backing out of the hole back into the main attic. She sat down on the floor and didn't dare to look Kitty in the eyes.

"What is it Alison?" Kitty asked

"What? What's in there?" he placed a hand on her shoulder.

She managed to gaze up at Kitty and whispered "Kitty I am so so sorry" as several tears ran down her face.

{ Content warning starts now } 

Kitty was still confused as to why Alison was apologising so she decided to take a look for herself.

She walked through the wall and came face to face with... a full skeleton wearing a familiar pink and purple dress that was rotting and two remnants of feathers laying on the skirts. 

Kitty let out the loudest scream imaginable and ran backwards through the wall towards Alison.

She stared emotionless at the devestated Alison on the floor.

"Alison please don't cry. It's alright I'm here and I'm safe."

From behind them a huddle of Ghosts appeared.

"What happened? I heard Katherine scream" asked the Captain rather concerned.

"She- I- fo- found" Alison couldn't speak and Mike was still very worried about what was wrong.

Mike stood up and looked through the hole as he was bored of waiting for an answer. He then backed  out promptly screaming and looking traumatised.

"There- there's a skeleton in- in our attic? And I thought the basement was bad enough. Oh- oh no no it's one of the Ghosts isn't it?" he looked open mouthed at Alison waiting for a response.

"It's Kitty" she managed to answer through the tears.

"Oh my god that's the one who's like your best friend right? Oh my god we have a body in our attic? That's illegal we're gonna get arrested. Nah they're gonna think something weird is happening if we keep having to report dead bodies. We're not murderers I promise" Mike was panicking just as any normal person would do but it really wasn't helping.

"What on earth?" Lady Button was of course very concerned for the wellbeing of everyone. 

"Your body is... in there?" asked Thomas

"Now I know how I died I suppose."

The remaining Ghosts stared at her in shock. This was certainly the most horrific experience they had ever had and yet she didn't seem too phased by it. 

{ End of content warning }

"How you die then?" Robin asked.

Kitty's death had been the biggest mystery to the Ghosts because none of them had been there to experience it.

Robin had been distracted outside by a family of ducks he had found in the lake. Humphrey was somewhere in the house and Mary was busy talking with Annie. They were so used to Kitty playing hide and seek that those fateful days seems ordinary.

"I'm not sure. I don't know how long I was in there but I was very hungry and I didn't have anything to eat. Father was away for the week and I was playing hide and seek with Ellie. I remember being trapped in the room because the painting was too heavy to move and I wasn't able to get out so I called for her but she never came. I think I fell asleep and when I woke up I was a ghost. And then I found everyone else downstairs. I had forgotten about being up here."

"I remember your sister left you for ages and when you didn't come back downstairs she looked for you everywhere but never found you. When your Father came back they were convinced that you had been kidnapped or run away because he couldn't find you either." Humphrey's head had added from Thomas' arms.

They'd all vowed to not leave Humphrey out anymore especially as they wanted to help him move on too. He was also especially good at remembering details about the Ghosts' deaths.

"You said your Father went away for a week Katherine. All that time you were left up here without food or water so you... I think you died from starvation. I'm very sorry." The Captain had solved the mystery. He liked to think of himself as a modern day Sherlock Holmes.

Kitty took a minute to process the information and looked over at Alison who was still sitting on the floor in tears. 

"I think you are right Captain" replied Kitty

"So it wasn't your sister's fault?" asked Thomas

"No she would never do that. It was not her fault that I was stuck in the wall. I should have chosen a different hiding spot."

"But she still left you up there whilst she had all the fun downstairs. She tricked you into playing even if she didn't mean for it to kill you." Pointed out Lady Button "She wasn't as nice as you would like to remember."

"Remember your Mother bust was moved that day and you broke it. She move it on purpose to get you in trouble. She no want you to go to ball." This was supposed to be information that was hidden from Kitty but clearly Robin thought it was best to tell her.

"Oh. She... didn't like me did she?" Kitty's eyes were watering 

"I'm afraid dearest Kitty that she was jealous of you. You were better than her which is why she got you into trouble so often. I do believe though that she didn't mean for you to die." Thomas responded

"That's alright, I forgive her. May I have a hug please?" She walked automatically over to the Captain and looked up at him eagerly.

"Um yes of course hmm" he very awkwardly placed his arms around her as she grabbed hold of him. It made him feel warm inside. He had been chosen out of everyone to get a hug.

"Thank you" she smiled gently at him and he nodded back.

~~~

"How do you feel Kitty?" Alison had calmed down and was now stood alongside the rest of the Ghosts facing Kitty.

"I feel different. I'm glad that I know the truth now. And I think that I am ready to go."

Just as she said that the light surrounded her. 

"Thank you everyone for being my other family. I'm going to see my real family now. And I get to see Pat, Mary and Julian again! I'll be watching you from up here." She turned to Alison "I love you Alison, I'll miss you. I can't wait to see you again. Goodbye everyone! See you soon"

"Goodbye Kitty" Alison managed to say

And she was gone. That was Ghost number four gone.

Alison broke down into tears again and Mike comforted her as she told him what had happened.

The Captain caught himself wiping a year away from his eye and he headed downstairs to the Orangery with the rest of the Ghosts.

When they arrived Alison took out a pink tulip.

"We are here in remembrance of Kitty. She was the sister I never had." Alison bent down and planted the tulip next to the other blossoming flowers.

"Goodbye Kitty" she whispered "I hope you are with your family again." She turned around and stood with the remaining Ghosts.

"It's going to be quiet without Kitty around" Thomas said

"I'm going to miss her" added the Captain looking at the sky.

"Well I'm glad that she found the truth" sighed Fanny. The same couldn't be said for her who just wanted to find out the truth about her husband.

"I'll miss her too. Now who's next?" asked Alison whilst wiping the tears from her face.

"I know what I need to do Alison. It can be me next." Humphrey piped up "I'll need all of you there though"

Chapter Text

The remaining few Ghosts were gathered around sombrely in the common room. As much as they all hated to admit it, losing the others was tough for them.

The Captain was feeling the loss of Kitty heavily and so was Thomas as he had become quite close with her recently.

As Kitty was the youngest Ghost in regards of age (at the time of death she was only 21), they didn't have a young soul to cheer the house up anymore and everyone was falling into a pit of existentialism caused by their looming fate.

Upon returning back to the common room, Thomas had placed Humphrey's head on the table. Alison and Thomas were sitting in front of his head with Fanny and Robin sitting opposite them. The Captain was stood next to Alison's chair.

Mike was currently doing the weekly shop in Tesco as he wasn't needed at the ghost meeting.

Humphrey had recently announced that he knew how he could move on so the Ghosts and Alison were waiting patiently for him to reveal his secrets.

"I'm not quite sure where to start..." Humphrey said

"It's ok Humphrey, take your time." Alison reassured him

"I've uh told you all a bit of a lie I'm afraid."

"What on earth are you talking about? Go on spit it out then!" snapped Fanny

She hated anyone lying because of the amount of lies that she had been told in her life. And because 'a lady doesn't lie and it's entirely improper for one to be involved in such deceitful behaviour.' Not that Humphrey is a lady...

"Remember when I told you how I died?" started Humphrey 

"Oh yeah bad men cut head off coz you broke rules" Answered Robin

"Well that's what I told you, but it didn't actually happen that way. I was never caught and executed by the guards, it was more of an... accident."

"Accident?" the Captain was interested.

"It's... embarrassing" Humphrey knew that he had to tell them but he didn't really want to.

"It ok. We all die stupid death, that why we here."

"Well yes I guess so... Do you want to know how I died?"

There was a series of 'yes' followed by a 'please' from the Captain.

"Here's goes nothing..."

~~~

The guards were banging on the door that Humphrey was holding shut. Sophie had just left after he had told her to live a better life without him. He realised that he had made a stupid decision so pulled a chest in front of the door and ran to look for a hiding place.

He was being pursued by the guards who had easily knocked the door down and were searching for any remaining traitors. Humphrey panicked and searched for a weapon but he didn't have any in this room for safety reasons.

He spotted two swords above the fireplace and tried to loosen them but failed as they were nailed down. He had no choice but to find somewhere to hide and being a large room with not much decoration, there were not many places available. 

The fireplace was the biggest place avaliable to hide so he heaved himself up to the first ledge inside.

"Uh don't tell me you got stuck in the chimney, you are not St Nicholas" tutted Fanny, interrupting the tale.

"Now what type of swords were they..." asked the Captain 

"Guys stop! Let Humphrey speak. Carry on"

The guards had finished checking the room and found nothing so they had left and moved onto the next room. Humphrey took this as an opportunity to escape so he jumped down and went to leave the fireplace.

As he bent down to exit the fireplace, he knocked it and the two swords had loosened. They fell onto his neck, beheading him in the process and leaving him to bleed onto the floor. He woke up in front of Robin as a shocked Ghost.

Silence. Everyone was in equal shock. Humphrey wasn't actually a hero. The whole documentary was fake and Humphrey had gone along with it. He had lied to them.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA" laughed Robin "Stupid death I told you!"

No one else found it funny though.

"You lied? I thought you'd been executed for treason but no you accidentally cut your own head off. I mean how does that even happen?" scoffed Thomas

"Humphrey, why did you lie to us?" asked Fanny who felt disgraced.

"Robin's right, it was a stupid death and I am embarrassed by it. I wasted my life because of a ridiculous mistake. I wanted you to think better of the useless head but I suppose I deserve the treatment I get."

"Oh Humphrey, it's ok, everyone died stupidly. I mean look at Pat with the arrow, Kitty trapped herself in the wall and Julian died in a sex scandal. It's part of who you are and you shouldn't be ashamed of it. Thank you for telling us the truth, you are so brave."

"Yes well done Humphrey" said the Captain 

"You feel different?" asked Robin

"No, I don't."

"Perhaps you need your other half to move on too?" suggested Thomas "I'll go and look for him."

"Thanks Thomas" smiled Alison

"My pleasure my dearest Alison" he replied, winking at her

Alison looked disgusted and half whispered "never do that again" 

~~~

Quite a while later Thomas turned up huffing and tugging Humphrey's body behind him. 

"I couldn't find him anywhere but here he is" he dragged the body over to the table "Ready Humphrey?" 

"As always" Thomas picked up the head and placed it onto the body.

"Thanking you kindly" Humphrey was glad to be back on his body. It felt like a rarity when they were together.

As soon as they were reunited, the light appeared and Humphrey started to fade away.

Just as he was about to completely disappear, his head fell off and landed back on the floor.

The body vanished leaving just the head.

"Oh for fu-" 

"Is..." the Captain interrupted Humphrey before he could continue "Perhaps there is something else you need to share? Something that only the head would be able to?" 

"Well, there is not much to say except that I wasn't in love with my wife as you are all aware."

"Were you in love with anyone else?" asked Alison, intrigued

"Oh yeah I was in a relationship with someone but I supposed it would be classed as cheating. But I wasn't really married to my wife if I wasn't in love with her. It was the same with her really, I think she had someone on the side and I was fine with that because we didn't love eachother. We just had to sort of deal with eachother."

The light appeared and took his head away before he could say anything else.

The remaining four Ghosts and Alison stared at the empty space whilst struggling to process what they had just heard.

"Well that was bally quick"

"Yeah... who's next?"

Chapter Text

It's now a few days later and Alison had been acting quite strangely recently. She has been quite secretive and has been caught whispering with Mike several times by different Ghosts. 

Her strange behaviour and the fact that they've hit a brick wall with the moving on plan has confused the ghosts and no amount of spying can help them work out what is going on.

The remaining four Ghosts called a meeting in the common room when Alison and Mike went out for a few hours. Alison had said that they were going shopping which was fairly believable so the Ghosts accepted it without asking any questions.

At least the Ghosts were finally getting some time alone to talk in private.

The four were stood downstairs together; their meetings were becoming emptier by the day.

"Right" started the Captain "we've all noticed that Alison had been acting strange recently. Any idea what has gotten into her?"

"We all leave and it hurt. She not got family anymore" answered Robin.

"Are you sure that's what ails her? Perhaps she has realised that she is no longer in love with Michael. Now she can finally be with me at long last!" shouted Thomas which was followed by a huff from the Captain.

"Thomas, she is still in love with Mike because they are married. You should've given up hope a long time ago, maybe that will let you move on." replied Fanny

"But I can never leave her!"

"Thorne that's enough, you are being completely irrational! I believe that Robin is correct. It's bound to hurt her more than it hurts us because we will certainly see eachother again soon but she has to spend the rest of her life without us. Just as we will have to wait sixty odd years to see her again." answered the Captain 

"Do you really 'spose that is what's wrong?" asked Fanny

"I'm sure of it. Which is why we must make the most of our last days with her." The Captain appeared optimistic although inside he believed that it was impossible for him to move on.

It would just be him, Alison and Michael left in the house. Until they moved out and left him completely alone.

"These days not be my last. There no way for me to go. I been here thousand years, it too late for me now" spoke Robin

"I can't move on without Alison. But there must be a way! Perhaps if I can accept that Alison doesn't... love me then I can leave. Robin you just be able to go too, we all have unfinished business have we not?" Thomas said

"He's correct, the remaining four of us have it tough but there is always a way. When Alison arrives home you can go first Thomas, then Fanny and then Robin. I will go last as no man shall be left behind on my watch." asserted the Captain 

"Thank you Captain, when do you think they shall be back?" Just as Fanny spoke, the car pulled up outside.

"Here we go!" shouted Robin excitedly

~~~

Alison walked in linking arms with Mike and was confronted by the Ghosts.

"Oh hi guys. I'm glad you're here actually because we have something to tell you." she tightened her grip on Mike's arm "You may have noticed that I've been slightly off recently and well, that's because we've been hiding some big news for quite a while. We think it's the right time to finally tell you"

"Well spit it out then!" Thomas demanded which shocked Alison

"Alright Thomas calm down. We would like to announce that um I'm... I'm pregnant" 

There was a collective gasp and everyone turned to watch Thomas' reaction. Alison waited with baited breath.

"Well that is wonderful news, congratulations Alison!" something clicked in Thomas when he finally answered.

"What are they saying?" asked Mike

"They're happy Mike!" she beamed at him

"Yes, congratulations Alison" replied the Captain

"Congrats but I don't see big deal about child, I had 30" stated Robin which gained a few strange looks

"Congratulations Alison and Mike, that is fantastic news. I am a very proud great, great, great, great, great aunt." smiled Lady Button 

"Thank you, all of you. I'm so glad that we got to share it with at least some of you. I know it's very early yet but we thought that we would share possible baby names now as time is limited. Do you wanna tell them Mike?"

"Yeah ok so if it's a boy it's George..." Mike started

Fanny gasped "No no no I will not allow your child to have such a retched name"

"Oh no sorry Fanny" interrupted Alison "that was an awful joke for us to play, I thought it would be funny but yeah no. Anyways, sorry Mike continue"

"So if it's a boy, he will be called Edward or William..." Alison looked at the Captain and saw how shocked he was.

"And if it's a girl, she will be called Isabelle or Mary." Mike finished and Alison looked at Thomas 

"They are beautiful names, after our Mary. Well done Alison" Fanny smiled at her.

"You- you would really name your son after me or William?" the Captain could not believe what he had just heard.

"Yes Captain, we would. You are both heroes and you deserve to be honoured, it's the least we could do" Alison felt a bit choked at his reaction.

The Captain felt like crying, he was so touched.

"Isabelle... you would name her after my Isabel?"

"Yes Thomas, it feels like a lovely tribute to her. I know how much she meant to you."

"Thank you Alison, so much. You are right, she means so much to me and I curse myself for forgetting that. I am so sorry Alison, for my awful behaviour towards you for all these years. I love you and that will never change but I know that your affections lay with your husband as they should. And mind should lay only with Isabel." 

Thomas walked over to the fireplace, removed the letter from his pocket and threw it into the fire. It started to burn.

"Because she did love me and I must never that as my destiny lies with her. Please forgive me for being so blind. I thank you for opening my eyes to this."

"I forgive you Thomas, I'm proud of you" Alison answered 

"Thank you Alison, I wish you endless happiness alongside Michael and I know that your child will grow into a family full of love even when we are not here."

"I will tell our child about you, about all of you. They deserve to know our family." Alison looked up at Mike and they smiled at eachother.

Alison turned to all of the Ghosts and they smiled.

"I'm ready to see Isabel again, my only true love" added Thomas.

The light appears and Thomas fades away. "Goodbye Alison, Mike and Baby Cooper. Goodbye Fanny, Captain and Robin. Thank you for everything"

The Captain saluted and Robin waved just as he disappeared.

The Ghosts were so used to it now that they were emotionless but they still felt bad for Alison. 

Alison let out a sob and leant into Mike, holding her stomach. It all happened so quickly but somehow the baby made him realise that he needed to move on from Alison as he had no chance with her. 

"This way to the orangery" she managed to say as it had become routine now to go to the orangery when someone moved on.

They all walked out into the garden and they watched as Alison placed down the flowers for Thomas and Humphrey. 

She leant down to plant a rose and a hyssop flower which seemed most fitting for each of their personalities.

The flower patch was filling up with only a couple of spaces left.

As she planted the rose she whispered "a rose for the greatest living poet whose love knows no bounds. May he live a peaceful afterlife."

Chapter Text

Fanny had been pondering over her husband for the past week as she knew that it was him who would affect her moving on.

She knew that she had to come to terms with her death and probably even forgive him which would be impossible given her disdain towards him and anyone who resembles him. 

After walking several laps around her room, that would have worn out the carpet had she not been a ghost, she decided that maybe Alison's advice of talking about one's emotions could help.

Due to the recent shortage of Ghosts, her best bet would be the Captain. He would certainly understand this situation better than Robin.

After a lot of hesitation and an hour or so running through the words in her head, Lady Button finally left her room and made her way towards the Captain's room next door.

She burst in and found him sitting on his bed reading a letter from his deceased Lieutenant and whom she presumed was his best friend during the war. Although he had not told her about the letter yet so Fanny had no idea what it was.

"Ah Captain" 

"Oh hello Fanny" he struggled to hide the letter "what can I do for you?" 

"I have... found myself in a... situation and I am unsure of what to do."

The Captain invited her to sit next to him on the bed.

"Well I hope that I can help although I may not be very knowledgeable on some things." he cleared his throat remembering the last time that Fanny needed help when she found herself having a conniption fit over Mike.

"It concerns my husband, George. I believe that I need to accept his behaviour and my death so that I can move on. But it is proving quite tough for me." She appeared uncomfortable talking about such a topic.

"I see... was your death an accident?" the Captain asked, genuinely curious to hear her talk about her death for once.

"Everybody at my funeral seemed to think that it was. But I say it was murder. The wretch couldn't admit that he did not love me so chucked me out of the window instead!"

"Don't you think that perhaps it was an accident?"

"An accident? He accidentally pushed me out of the window did he?" she was finally letting her anger bubble.

"No, I mean perhaps he panicked and pushed you out of the window. Maybe he thought that you would publicly disgrace him so he got rid of you before you could."

"I would never do such a thing. I would be horrified and would have divorced him but never would I let our reputation be damaged because of a such a disgusting act. Do you think I would have liked to be known as the Lady with the cheating homosexual husband?" 

"Steady on Fanny." He held out his swagger stick in defence.

"May I ask what disgusts you about his behaviour? Is it that he was having an affair or...the nature of it not being with a... woman" he finished the sentence with a few strange noises.

"Both. How could my husband engage in such innapropriate behaviour with two men under my roof?

"I understand the severity of the situation as you were his wife but perhaps his fancies did not lie with the female gender. If... he could not find... pleasure with females then he needed it with someone else I suppose. It wasn't yours or his fault Fanny, it was just how he was."

"If he was like that then why did he marry me?"

"In those times, as we both should know, being a... homosexual was wrong. He needed to marry to keep up with social standards and you needed to marry him for money if I am correct." 

"Yes. But even if he didn't love me, I fell in love with him." she seemed upset to have been so blind to the fact that her husband didn't love her back.

"That's quite alright, people are allowed to love who they want. He should have been with who he loved and you deserved better Fanny." 

"I suppose so" she couldn't bring herself to look up.

"Do you understand why he did this to you?"

"Yes I do. But how can I forgive him? He killed me all because he was a homosexual!"

"I know Fanny but he was scared and he made a bad decision, I'm sure of it. He was probably as scared as you were at that moment. It certainly was not easy being a homosexual, especially not in that era."

Fanny finally gained the confidence to look the Captain in the eye.

"I know you will find it tough to forgive him, but one cannot control where their emotions lie. He was left in a complicated situation and he did not mean to hurt you. He just wanted to fulfil his needs in the most careful way possible, do you see?"

"I do and it's my fault. If only that blasted woman hadn't have stolen my ticket for the Titanic then I would not have come home early and caught him. It must have been so awful for him being stuck in a loveless relationship with someone of the wrong gender. He deserved better; we both did."

"And not all homosexuals are like George. You do not have to group us all together and turn your pain onto everyone." He knew that he had messed up by saying 'us' but he hoped that she wouldn't notice.

"Thank you Edward for opening my eyes to this, I understand now. He did so well to look after me and provide children when we were married even though he didn't love me. How do you have such great advice on this?"

The Captain's face dropped.

"Well I- um- I- well I suppose that I have something to tell you Fanny."

"Go on..." she urged him on 

"I- I am- also a homosexual. I have been aware of this for quite some time." He didn't dare to look at her.

"Oh Captain! Edward, I am so proud of you!" 

"You are?" this was certainly not the reaction he was expecting. His grandmother was actually proud of him. Finally someone appreciated him.

"I am so proud. Thank you for helping me to understand. How did you know that you...oh." she glanced at the poorly hidden letter next to her grandson.

"Well-"

"Your friend from the war of course, he was a wonderful young man. You would do him so proud. I hope that you see him again one day, Edward." she placed a hand on his shoulder then got up and left.

Both the Captain and Fanny were so happy that they could burst at any moment. 

The Captain knew what this meant for Fanny so he ran after her.

~~~

Fanny was downstairs when she came across Alison.

"Oh Alison, I have wonderful news! The Captain has made me realise that my George was not as bad as I made him seem."

"Aw that's good."

"I accept that he killed me in defence and I accept that he was a homosexual. He was a wonderful husband to put up with me for so long. A huge burden has been lifted, I feel so free!"

The light appeared just as Cap and Robin ran in.

"Goodbye Alison, thank you for everything. Please, you and Michael take care of the next Button blood for me. And you can be the Lady of the house, Lady Alison Button. Goodbye Robin, goodbye Edward my grandson."

The Captain saulted as per tradition and Fanny promptly faded then disappeared.

"Then there was two" Robin huffed

"Wow what on earth did you say to her Cap?" Alison asked, shocked.

Chapter Text

The remaining two Ghosts and Alison had just planted a Borage flower for Lady Button in the Orangery. 

Robin was dealing with yet another one of his Ghost friends moving on as they were slowly leaving him alone down on earth.

The Captain was of course evidently upset that his best friend and only trusted relative (other than Heather) had moved on but he was glad that he had helped her.

Alison had caught onto his failure to hide these emotions after he had hurriedly excused himself and ran off inside. After all, there is a limit to the extent that things can be hidden in such an open house.

She had decided to follow him, just to check that he was alright and was at least coping. He was found in the first place that she had checked, reading that all too familiar book of flowers in the library. 

He had become obsessed with this certain double spread where that mysterious key was found not too long ago. Perhaps he was pondering over why those particular pages were chosen as a key holder?

It could have a reason or it could be just a huge coincidence. But Alison couldn't ignore the instinct that she felt that told her the pages were of significance in some way. She just didn't know what way.

Little did she know that the Captain had the exact same feeling as her. And he would not stop staring at that book until it went away even if he would be stuck here for centuries.

He read the titles, Jerponica and Jerusalem Oak. What was so special about those flowers that they were chosen to house such secrets?

He felt himself unable to read further because what if it revealed secrets that he wished to not know.

The Captain's favourable silence was interrupted by Alison's presence. 

"Hi Cap..."

"Hello Alison." he slammed the book shut as if he was a child caught red handed. It turned out that there was some benefit to his new found powers after all. "Is there something I can do for you?"

Admittedly, he was slightly annoyed at such a poorly scheduled interruption of his time. She could at least have waited until he had finished reading the page.

"Um well I was just checking to see if you are alright? I know how tough this entire situation is for you and you know I'm always here." Of course she was talking about the situation of all of their friends moving on but maybe she was hinting at the situation of Cap's inner turmoil too.

"Thank you for the offer but I shan't be needing your help." he unexpectedly snapped at Alison, taking her by surprise. He soon caught on, "I'm sorry. I'm fine, just fine." 

The events of the past few weeks had expectedly taken its toll on him and all of the years of repressed emotions had built up to the verge of overflowing. He was experiencing the stages of grief all at once alongside his own confused private emotions so this would be expected to result in some tension.

"I understand Cap, it's ok." She smiled softly at him and her eyes caught Thomas' CD player sitting behind him on the shelf. "Sorry, do you mind if I put some music on? It'll cheer the place up a bit, you know, fill in the silence." she looked at him hesitantly hoping that it was not too large of an ask.

"Not at all. That would be rather... pleasant yes." He hoped that it was something old and not some of Michael's modern popular music.

He didn't understand how speaking too fast or screaming into the microphone was a popular form of entertainment in the musical industry these days. He much preferred the likes of Cole Porter and Vera Lynn who he found calming especially during the chaos of war.

He didn't need to be put on edge all of the time with some of that modern music blaring and scaring the living (well dead) daylights out of him. He preferred the calm and quiet, he had always liked gentle noise in times of work.

Alison had pressed the 'on' button and one of Thomas' old CDs by The Smiths had started playing.

The Captain did find some of these songs slightly depressing, I mean, where's the morale in being hit by a bus? especially a double decker which was bound to hurt. But he didn't mind them as much because he had gotten used to them as background noise so they helped him to focus easier on the current situation. 

Alison smiled at him once again and left the room as the first track started playing. Once he was certain that she was far away down the corridor, he reopened the pages of his sacred book.

"Jerponica" he read aloud "meaning love and devotion". Then the opposite page, "Jerusalem Oak meaning your love is reciprocated." 

His breathe hitched (not that Ghosts need to breathe) and the lyrics to the background music caught his ear. His eyes were torn away from the page at the sound of the three syllable word "William". 

'William, William it was really nothing'

 the music rang out behind him. 

'it was your life'

The Captain's world came crashing down under the weight of those beautiful words. This was the perfect summary of how he felt prior to this book being found. 

He never believed that his feelings were reciprocated but here it was in writing and shouting at him through song. "It was really nothing", well clearly it was something...

What if admitting this to the world could finally let him move on? He needed to seize this opportunity and tell someone. Alison was the best choice because Robin wouldn't understand and Mike couldn't hear him anyway.

Carpe Diem. Carry on.

But he couldn't exactly just off-load all of this private information onto Alison without warning. He would have to plan it and make sure that it flowed properly and straight to the point.

Like a... story of his life? Or a memoir perhaps. As long as it cut out the entirety of his childhood.

~~~

After spending what felt like a millennia of being caught up in his thoughts, the Captain realised that the song had ended. 

He jumped up which was unusual for a man of his age with poor joints and ran through the wall shouting for Alison.

It's not everyday that a Ghost shouts at you especially not the Captain so Alison came rushing down the stairs as fast as she could.

She caught up to him outside the library and was overrun with panic.

"Captain? Captain? What's wrong? Are you going?"

"What? No! It's just that I... uh... I..." Alison caught him stumbling over his words.

"It's alright, take your time"

"I apologise for my poor behaviour earlier and I have taken some time to think. I have decided that I need to tell you something... that I told Fanny. I think I'm ready to tell." he cleared his throat in true Captain style.

Alison held her breath "Actually, why don't we sit down and talk about this properly." They sat opposite the fireplace on the sofas in the common room.

"Right, go on Cap" she gave him that familiar look of approval that made him feel so safe.

"Well I-  uh- I've been thinking for- a while and well- when I say a while- I mean um about 80 years or so..."

"Captain, breathe. It's ok, take your time."

The harshness of the word Captain caused him to pause where he gulped down some breaths (eventhough ghosts had no reason to actually breathe) and felt his body relax.

"Well I have been keeping this a secret for a very long time and as I told Fanny I thought I might tell you as well and hopefully it will help me to progress..." He cursed himself for rambling and told himself to hurry up with it. "Well I'm... gay. I think that's how you say it."

Who knew that such a simple word could have endless pits of emotion hidden behind it. Who knew that just saying one word could completely change a person's life in an instant. 

The Captain felt a huge wave of relief wash over him. The fact that he was able to use such modern language so freely. How we was finally able to express himself.

A huge smile spread across Alison's face which reminded him somewhat of the Cheshire Cat from the copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland that he had found in the library in about 1942.

"Oh Captain! I am so proud of you!" She looked fit to burst. The Captain had only seen that look on the face of men who had received medals for their services so he presumed it was pride.

"You are so brave for telling me, and Fanny! It must've been so tough for you having to hide it for 80 years and even longer when you were alive. I can't even begin to understand how you felt. I'm just so glad that society has changed and that you are accepted now. I just wish it was that simple when you were alive."

"Me too Alison. It truly was terrible having to hide it for all this time. These feelings were illegal and I couldn't dare to face the consequences. Any actions that could be considered even slightly innapropriate had to be greatly avoided."

He stared into space thinking about the extent of the hardships that had to endure throughout his life. Suddenly realisation hit and he panicked.

"Forgive me Alison, I didn't mean to offload that much onto you. I'm sure you have much larger and more important issues of your own to worry about."

"No Cap, you are the most important thing for me to focus on at the moment. I would love to listen to more if you would like to carry on?"

The look of family love in her eyes told him to continue despite his instinct telling him to stop. But he didn't have to listen to that anymore because he was free and nothing could push him back into the cage of his bolted brain.

"Well I- I'm not sure where to start. I- well it was awful being trapped inside myself. There was no escape as to embrace freedom was to become a dead man. I constantly feared for my life and I knew that I had to surprise those ungodly feelings. I have always been that way, even in death where there are not any consequences, I always shut my feelings away. It wasn't until you and Michael arrived that I realised that I no longer had to hide in this modern world."

"Is there anything specific that convinced you to stop hiding yourself?"

"Well-" He couldn't bring himself to mention his recent discoveries, it was much too early year and he didn't want to scare her off. I mean what if she decided that she no longer wanted to hear about his private life?

"I suppose the wedding with the wonderful Sam and Claire. That is what enforced the realism into me. I saw the proof with my own eyes that we are accepted. I saw the reactions of the other Ghosts- even Fanny and it helped me an awful lot to see that they were alright with it. I don't know why I left it this long to tell you..."

"The wedding was lovely. But I believe there is something else Cap. What about the letter we found, and the key and the book?"

The Captain was stunned into silence. He didn't know if he was ready to bring this up.

"Oh... yes."

"It's ok to explore this and I know it will help a lot. It's best to get it out there now while we are here." she reassured him.

"Yes. I'm not entirely sure where to start."

"Wherever you feel comfortable. I won't force you but I think it will do you the world of good."

"I quite agree" it was finally time to mention that name that had haunted him for all these years. 

"Well, as you are aware, the key that we found belonged to my Lieutenant William Havers. The contents of the drawer it opened was also his. I must admit that I did not expect to see any of that when we opened it. The book that I have been reading and the home of the key was his favourite book. I read it not expecting to find anything other than memories but it unlocked a whole lot more than that."

He hadn't mentioned his Lieutenant properly like this in ages. The last time must have been when that awful decision of a bomb exploded. It felt... good to talk about him, it felt like he was a real person again, not just a figment of the Captain's memory.

"You've been studying that book quite carefully. Did you find anything?" Alison was curious.

"The uh key was between to pages." a series of Captain noises erupted "Jerponica and Jerusalem Oak. I will let you research them on your mobile."

He wasn't ready to say the meanings out loud again. Especially not when there were keen ears avaliable to listen this time.

Alison did as she was asked and googled the names where she found the exact meanings that Cap was faced with earlier. "He loved you." Alison whispered once she had read the definitions.

She felt overwhelmingly joyful that he had finally found reciprocated love because it was so obvious that the Captain loved him.

"Yes."

"The letter! That was from him as well, what did it say?" 

"It confirmed our suspicions, he told me that he... liked me... a lot." again more Captain noises. "And he couldn't tell me during the war as it was illegal of course so he buried his feelings in letters. Just as I buried mine."

"It all makes so much sense now Cap. The key, the letter, the diary, the photos we found too! Your Lieutenant had found his true love."

"And I suppose that... I had found mine... but I let him go." The world had come crashing down around him. The concept of time had become non-existent and everything slowed leaving him balancing on the verge of memory.

Alison was silenced, he had finally admitted it. 

The Captain took the silence as permission to talk so continued. "I... loved him too. And I never got to tell him. I really miss him." 

Admittedly, he had shocked himself with this revelation. It all sounded so different and seemed to lose the terror that he had placed on it. Saying it aloud made it seem so easy compared to how heavy it was in his head.

The floodgates we're slowly spilling as the memories of Havers haunted his mind. What if he told him he felt the same when their hands brushed? What if he told him when they were doing paperwork? What if he told him before he left? So many missed opportunities and he felt so guilty for leading William to believe that he didn't share those feelings.

"I'm so sorry. Does it make you feel any better knowing that he loved you too?" Alison tried to make the most out of such a tough situation. 

"Not quite. I understand his Thomas felt now, it's rather worse because it means that in a better world we could have been together."

"One day you will be able to be together, I promise. And until then, cherish the memories you have of him with love because he really loved you."

The Captain was edging further towards tears but managed to raise the corner of his mouth slightly into a half smile. Alison couldn't bare the silence and knew that he couldn't either so continued talking to distract his busy mind.

"I am very aware of how tough it was Captain and I send my deepest sympathy to you. And although I can't directly relate, I understand how you must feel. But that is in the past now and we can work towards the future. I have witnessed today just how far you have come and I know that the Ghosts will be so proud of you when they see you again. I know that this can't bring William back to life but when you move on I am sure that it will get better for you. We just have to work on that together.

The familial love was prominent, The Captain finally felt loved and appreciated. He felt like he had become a completely new man with these revelations.

"Thank you Alison, so much." He genuinely meant it, he was so lucky to have her in his life. He was so lucky to be able to talk to her openly about all of this.

"You are very welcome Edward." This elicited a gasp from the Captain. Fanny was the only person who had called him Edward up until now.

He liked having a name and he loved that he could finally be called it by his family. He truly felt like a completely new man with a new personality. 

His name was Edward and he was allowed to be a homosexual. He was allowed to be in love with his Lieutenant. He loved William Havers.

He should probably start being called Edward now although he must admit that he liked being called Cap and even Captain because it gave him authority.

~~~

"I don't understand!" Edward had become evidently frustrated.

"What do you mean?" asked Alison who was confused as to how the conversation had taken such a quick turn.

"I thought- I would move on. I've admitted it haven't I? That was the problem keeping me down here. I don't understand what I need to do!"

He truly didn't understand why he was still stuck down here when he had admitted his darkest secrets.

"Oh Cap, it's ok. There is so much more to you and your personality than just your sexuality. I know that it's a huge part of your life but I can see that you learning to appreciate yourself today was a massive step in the right direction. It will take a lot more work I'm afraid."

He let out a breathe and forced himself to pursue the  slow breathing techniques that he had been taught to use to calm himself down.

She was correct though. His sexuality did take up a large part of his life especially with William but that had been explored now and what else was left?

The Captain's eyes clouded over. He didn't understand why he was being tortured like this when he had already dealt with it for 80 years. 

Robin was clearly stuck down here because no one had any idea what his unfinished business was but Cap unknowingly had so much unsolved business that was keeping him down here.

He thought that he knew what it was but clearly he was wrong. So he would have to spend many more painful days recalling and overthinking his entire life in search of some unfinished business that he could sort out.

He would have to face the regret of missed opportunities and revel in the memories from his life.

He desperately wanted to move on but he just didn't know how. He just wanted the chance to see William and his friends again.

Chapter Text

Robin was leaning against the windowsill in the ballroom gazing outside at the sunset and simultaneously paying attention to the commotion downstairs.

Mike was trying to dust the furniture (its an old house and there were plenty of ghosts there to create the dust) but had knocked over that infamous suit if armour.

The house had been so quiet recently that even the slightest noise was welcomed to drown out the eerie silence. 

The house was supposed to be scary enough with Ghosts but somehow it was worse without them.

Robin heard footsteps ascending the stairs a while later and the ballroom door promptly opened to reveal Alison.

"Hey Robin, sorry about the noise. I was just looking for you actually."

"Hello." he replied rather bluntly.

She joined him at the window and a few seconds of silence followed until she started talking again.

"How are you?" she knew he wasn't alright at all especially after everything he had seen but she had to be nice.

"Ok I s'pose" he replied sombrely.

"Robin, I know you're not. It must be so incredibly tough for you to go through all of this. You deserve someone to listen to you. So I'm all ears."

He glared at her, unsure whether to reveal what was on his mind. After some hesitation he decided that he might as well tell her.

"Me not move on. Just stay here forever. Everyone go eventually. All finish business. But not me" his eyes were fixed onto the field beyond the window.

"Oh Robin. I promise you will move on eventually. I'll make sure of it" she gave him a reasurring nod. "Do you have any clue what your unfinished business is?"

"Uh maybe"

"Oh? Anything I can help with?" Alison certainly didn't expect Robin to have an idea.

"I been here millions of years. See so much. Forget everything, no acep-t it."

"Right, so do you want to talk about what you've seen?" Maybe they were getting somewhere.

"Dunno. Not worth it."

"Robin. As you said, you have been through SO much. You've been here throughout all of the lives of the other ghosts. You've seen mankind grow, you've seen the entire life of this house. That is so special. No one in the history of the universe has had this opportunity. You are so incredibly lucky and so very special. You've had such an impact on this world and everyone in it. I mean you even taught yourself how to speak! That's how incredible you are. You've transformed the lives of all of Button House's residents including me and Mike! I mean you literally saved him from death. That should be proof enough of how special you are."

"Not work. Again."

"Is there anything else? Something we missed maybe?"

"Stop. Stop making me think. We miss nothing! I never move on, not meant to. Everyone leave, you leave and I left alone here. Don't help, no point when nothing work." 

He stormed off unexpectedly leaving Alison shocked at his outburst. She understood how heartbreaking this could be.

~~~

Robin was doing his usual walk around the grounds to clear his head.

He came across the little cubby that brought back memories from when him and Julian had used it on the day Alison and Mike went camping. 

He missed being able to sit there and lean against Julian to keep warm even if Ghosts couldn't feel the cold. 

Every place in this garden reminded him of those who he has lost and it hurt.

Everything was about someone else. Memories of their lives and deaths. Just not his.

So he went to the only place in the entire plot of land that was his own. The ground that his fateful tree had stood all those millennia ago. 

And as he sat there, he thought about the history he had experienced.

He'd seen it all from his friends getting eaten by a bear to his other friend dying during sex.

As he looked around the garden, he thought about all of his long lost friends.

He had died here from a lightning strike. 

Godric had died over there when he drowned in the lake.

Clarence had died by falling down a hole.

The Plaguers and Jemima had obviously died from the plague.

Humphrey had died inside from accidental beheading.

Elizabeth was pushed down the stairs.

Mary was wrongly burnt at the stake just over there.

Annie had choked on bread.

Kitty had died from starvation and was locked away.

Thomas had died from being shot during a duel.

Lady Button had died from being pushed out the window.

The Captain had died from ______ well he didn't know yet.

Pat had died from being shot with an arrow.

And Julian had died from a heart attack.

He could name everything about his friends and yet he didn't care at all about himself.

Perhaps he shouldn't have snapped at Alison. She was only trying to help and she was as clueless as him.

If his friends could all move on despite their obscure lives then maybe he could too.

Life is so precious and can be over in an instance but he had just dismissed that.

Athough it was annoying having lived his long, he was incredibly lucky. Human life is supposed to be short but he has lived millions of lives in his time.

Despite living this long, he was never alone. He had met so many friends and had watched them suffer but then they eventually got their deserved ending.

Why would it be any different for him? 

If he had to live a thousand more lifetimes then so be it. He was destined to move on but only at the right time.

And he would quite like to see how Alison and Mike's lives end up as well as helping the Captain to move on too.

Perhaps he didn't have it that bad after all. He just had to be patient for a little while longer.

~~~

It was dark outside so Robin decided to commence his weekly star watching.

He would sit in front of the fountain and gaze upwards at the galaxy. Usually he would be alone but sometimes he would attract a few guests.

Today his train of thought was different from usual. He spent it thinking about how beautiful the earth is and how incredible the universe can be.

He thought about the beauty of the sunset and the beauty of the night sky.

Just as he was becoming lost in thought, a voice sounded behind him.

"Mind if I join you?"

"Course" he patted the ground next to him and heard a few cracks as the Captain sat beside him.

There was a few minutes of blissful silence as the remaining ghosts enjoyed eachothers company before the Captain spoke.

"What is it about the stars and the moon that you like so much? I know the others have asked but I never have." He was genuinely intrigued especially as Robin was always out here.

"They been here long as me. Everytime they always there.  Friends leave and I find them a star. They move up to the sky, they there watching us. Stars are my friends. Remind me of past."

"I see" he smiled solemnly to himself, thinking about everything Robin had lost.

"Everyone have something attached to them. Pat and Thomas tree, you book. I have Moonah. Every week since I die, I watch the Moonah and stars. They always there when people not."

It was true. They have been the only thing here as long as him.

Watching the sky at night is the only thing he would miss if he moved on.

Chapter Text

"You miss out last time. I give everyone star when they move on."

Robin moved his hand upwards to point out the many stars. He had to update them a lot since last time and he was just glad that so many stars existed.

Of course it hurt to think about all of his friends so by giving them stars he was able to shift his pain towards a physical object.

"You not know them but Clarence, Godric, Elizabeth and Annie." He pointed towards the left side of the sky and made his way over. "Then Mary has a twinkle." he half smiled at her star "Pat, Julian, Kitty, Humphrey, Thomas and Fanny." He said whilst pointing individually at each star near the right side of the sky.

It seemed like Robin had spent a long time carefully picking out the perfect stars. It was really lovely that he had linked something he found comfort in with the people he loved.

"And that one" he pointed at a particularly luminous one "is William." Robin laughed 

The Captain felt his heart explode. "William? You've never mentioned that name before."

Robin shifted his gaze to look at Cap. "I know how much your lef-ten-ant mean. I saw you sad so I gave him a star. So every time you saw star you remember him."

"You... did that for me?" he was about to burst into tears. He thought no one cared enough to make such a gesture.

"William was my friend. We not spoke but watch stars together. I sad when he left too." 

"I never knew you were so close with him. Thank you Robin, for not forgetting him even when I tried to."

"No problem. Never forget friends." that hit Edward right in the heart and he stared sadly at the star. 

To say he regretted trying to bury his past was an understatement. 

"I say Robin, when I go where will you put me?"

He didn't like to think about things like that usually but he hoped now that his time was coming to an end soon. It was painful being left behind.

"There" he pointed "next to him." 

~~~

The next day Alison was worried. She hadn't seen the Captain all day and she thought that maybe he had moved on during the night.

She had searched what felt like the entire house whilst calling his name. She came across Robin who said he hadn't seen him which panicked her even more.

It was unlike him to sleep in so she finally checked his bedroom. Nothing. 

Then she walked down the corridor to the last room left and called for him.

He finally replied. She opened the door in a hurry and found him inside his old office staring into space.

"Come" he'd shouted "Ah Alison, at ease. What can I do for you?" 

"Cap you had me so worried. I couldn't find you anywhere and thought you'd moved on!" she finally let her breath out.

"Oh no, unfortunately not yet. Although I do have an update on my situation actually."

"You do?" that was unexpected.

"It's my death. I haven't told anyone yet and well I probably should." he seemed hesitant.

"Oh yeah! Of course you should, as long as you are comfortable in sharing." she took a seat on Fanny's old bed.

The Captain paused and went through his planned conversation for the hundredth time.

"I was poisoned. By a member of my own regiment for being... gay." he almost whispered that final word like it was dangerous.

"Oh god I'm so sorry." she genuinely had no idea that the reason why he was so closeted was because of that.

"It's quite alright, it's taken me long enough to get over it." He didn't want to think about it too much so switched topics quickly. Now that his final secret had been revealed... "Has it done anything?"

"No, sorry Cap. You are so brave though for telling me. Thank you for trusting me with something so big for you" she smiled at him.

He broke the flat expression in his face and upturned his mouth slightly into a half smile. It felt good to talk, Alison was correct with that and he'd seen the positive consequences many a time.

"How about you spend the day with me? I'm doing nothing and I'd love to see what your routine is like." she asked hoping to spend more time with her relative before the inevitable.

"I'd love that" he smiled. No one was ever interested in what he wanted to do. 

~~~

They were seated in the library and Alison was speaking with him about his life. The focus was all on him today for the first time ever.

He briefly brought up his childhood which wasn't all sunshine and rainbows especially as his parents had disowned him when he was a teenager. That's when he had decided to join the military which was a welcomed distraction from his miserable life.

He spent the majority of his life in the military and was well prepared on the outbreak of world war two.

He seemed fairly well liked as a Captain at Button House minus a few troops but he did his job exactly how it was supposed to be done and was a stickler for the rules. 

"Your life is so fascinating Edward." She loved hearing more about her family's personal lives although they didn't offer much insight into her own. "It's been amazing listening to it all. If you wouldn't mind, I'd quite like to hear the story of your death. I'm sure it will do you good to talk about it." this was a risky move.

After some hesitation and a lot of overthinking he agreed to tell it.

"It was one year since the end of the war and we agreed to host a reunion here. All of my remaining old troops were invited and it was looking to be a very enjoyable event. I was seated here in my old office as I had gone up there to see if it remained the same when I received a knock at the door. It was my Lieutenant Johnson" 

"Johnson? I thought Havers was your Lieutenant"

"He was. Until 1940 and when he left Johnson took over." It was evident that he still couldn't acknowledge the fact that he left "He handed me some tea and I remember it was unusually sweet. I thought that the blasted man had added too much sugar. I remember rummaging through the drawers in here looking for something when I felt faint and  collapsed."

"He poisoned you." Alison was shocked.

"Yes. I overheard conversations when I was dead and it turned out that he had blackmailed Havers into leaving in 1940 so he could be the new Lieutenant. Once Havers was out the way, it was just me left and he found out about my attachments by reading my journal so had killed me. Strychnine poisoning it was. He found me and called for help whilst pretending that I had died from natural causes. The bastard." he seemed so done with the world and Alison certainly didn't blame him.

"I am so sorry, that's so horrible. I don't blame you for keeping it a secret. But I'm glad you know what happened." she was proud of him for trusting her, they had come a long way. 

"Me too, although I will never forgive him for what he did to us."

"You don't have to forgive him. Although the war is over and now that you've told me, you can move away from it. You dedicated your whole life to your duty and now you don't have to anymore." Alison was sure that she was getting somewhere.

"I suppose I have. My duty is finished and I saved my men from war. I did all I could and look where it got me. I feel... lighter now that I have confided in you." 

"I'm glad, see that means we are getting somewhere!"

~~~

They had spent all day together and it was getting dark outside again. Now that they had gotten through the Captain's entire life and he still hadn't moved on, Alison had one thing left to do.

"This is a weird request but if I was to write a factfile for you based on everything we have spoken about today, tell me exactly what I would put it in. Down to death dates and everything."

This was Alison's final hope at getting all of his life laid bare so they could find anything that needed to be addressed. 

"If you think it will help then yes of course." he was a bit confused as to why he needed to lay his life so bare but he would do anything at this point. 

"Um my name is Captain Edward Button and I died in 1946 from Strychnine poisoning." He looked at Alison who gave him a nod telling him to carry on. "Well I dedicated my life to the war. I... am gay and I love Lieutenant William Havers. He also loved me. I found and lost a new family in the afterlife and now its my turn to join them again..."

"Why is it not working Alison? What else is there for me to say? I've said everything that's worth something." he was frustrated at how long and draining this was.

"Alison thought for a minute and realised that the Captain never saw himself as anything special when in fact he was.

"What about the countless lives you saved Captain?"

"I wouldn't say countless... I was just doing my job for King and Country."

Her patience was wearing thin.

"You might as well try it" Anything that could remotely help was worth trying.

He huffed "Well I- um I saved countless lives. And I suppose that I... am a hero."

Something clicked in his head when he said that word. "Yes... I am a hero." 

With that final word the light appeared. It was worth it after all.

"Oh good lord! It's here, it worked! Thank you Alison so much for everything! Thank you. Say goodbye to Michael for me please"

He was always fond of Mike.

Alison was overwhelmed and stunned into silence, she had waited so long for this and now it was happening. 

He walked slowly towards the light and just before he disappeared completely he turned around.

"Goodbye Button House" he whispered and saluted before disappearing completely. 

Alison broke down into floods of tears. She had just lost her last remaining relative. It was the end of the Button line.

Outside, a shooting star flew by and caught Robin's eye.

He came rushing in "Alison! Has he gone? Alison!"

She looked up momentarily from her spot on the floor and whispered "yes". 

Chapter Text

It was a few days later and Alison felt strong enough to try and help Robin again today. She felt like she was getting close to helping him move on for good.

Alison was doing her rounds of the house when she saw several shadows outside the front window.

It was a quick blink and they're gone situation but she couldn't help but wonder what those shadows could have been.

There was only one ghost but he was in the library and Mike was upstairs. 

It couldn't have been the other ghosts checking in on her because otherwise it would have happened before.

So what on earth was it?

She brushed it off and was headed towards the kitchen when she remembered something or rather someone.

The plague ghosts.

They were aware that she was trying to get everyone to move on but she had completely forgotten about helping them.

She ran straight towards the basement door and opened it whilst making sure to turn the light on of course. Basements were scary enough without a dozen plague infected Ghosts down there.

She called out 'hello' a few times but no reply... perhaps they were mad that she had forgetten them? I mean they were easily forgotten being hidden away down there all the time and they never bothered her.

So she braved the basement and went all the way inside to where the plague pit originally sat opposite the boiler.

And it was empty.

Were they playing a trick on her? Had they snuck upstairs to enjoy the house without the other ghosts?

No. She realised what had happened.

The shadows she had briefly seen outside must have been them finally leaving the basement and enjoying the fresh air.

It must be weird to see the outside world after spending several hundred years inside four dark walls. 

Alison realised that they must have forgiven Mick fully this time and resolved their arguments. Then when that didn't work they decided to adventure outside the house to where their village would have stood.

That's when they all moved on together. Like one big family.

Alison was slightly upset that she hadn't been there with them but she was glad that they had worked it out themselves. 

If only the others could have done that.

So she left the basement in darkness once more and returned to the empty common room.

~~~

Robin was sat alone in the library thinking through his life for the hundredth time in these past few months.

He sat in silence and listened... there wasn't any noise outside. No shouting, no laughing, nothing.

He was the only ghost left and all of his friends had gone.

There was nothing to do. No food club, no chess, no film club, nothing. 

For the first time since his death, he was lonely.

He has always been there as the first face you saw when you died in these grounds.

He was the beacon of wisdom, he knew everything about being a ghost.

He had seen everything, he was the expert of human history.

There was no one left for him to save. No one to welcome, no one to look after. 

No one would die on these grounds for centuries.

No one would ever be here with him, he would never gain new friends and no one would be able to see him. 

He would only have the moon and eventually one day even that would leave him.

There was no point sitting here being sad about it so Robin eventually emerged from the library and caught Alison's eye.

"Hi" he said gruffly.

"Oh hey Robin." There was no point in asking how he is when the answer was obvious. "I've just had a thought actually and given the success rate of my recent thoughts, I think it could work."

"What that?" Robin didn't seem as enthusiastic as usual as he wandered over to her and took a seat next to his chess board.

"You are the last one left and the ghost who has lived here the longest. You've seen everyone die, become a ghost and move on. But now there is no one left to help so it's your time to go. It's time for the gatekeeper to leave his position and close the gates."

"It not that easy." He gazed at the chess board, his eyes were fixed on the pawn.

"Try it and we'll see. You've been here so long and it will be tough to leave just like it is moving house. Pretend like you are leaving and then it might be easier." 

He stood up and did a lap of the house. He looked into every room as if he would be seeing it for the last time. 

The voices of his friends echoed throughout the house. The house itself had a ghost, where the memories had been trapped in it's very foundations. 

If he focused hard enough, he could see their shadows dance.

He looked into the tv room, he'd watched a documentary about deer that time and learnt about the moon. 

He walked into Alison and Mike's bedroom, he'd sung a song with his friends in there to help cheer Alison up. 

He looked into the garden, he'd chased a squirrel there.

He walked into the ballroom, he'd played shopkeeper and doctors in there.

He walked into his bedroom, that's where him and Mary had.... no that's where he slept. 

He walked into the library last. That's where he'd done the Moonah Ston ritual every year.

Every room held a thousand memories, each one part of a thousand lifetimes. 

Finally he made it back to the ballroom and joined Alison next to the window. She was looking out at the stars.

He gazed at the Moonah one final time. Perhaps he would leave before it after all. 

"Moonah, it been so long but it time I leave" he whispered.

Alison slightly turned her head and smiled at him. It was a smile weighted with grief and pain.

But after all she had been through, she was still smiling. 

~~~

Robin and Alison had moved outside and were looking at the night sky together.

"Robin, I want you to know that me, Mike and the baby will be fine here without you. We will miss you of course but we will be safe."

He nods.

"I know the others won't be happy up there until you are all reunited. We'll be joining you in a few decades so don't worry about us. We'll see you soon."

Robin thought this through. Alison was a strong woman and had been the one helping him all this time so she could certainly help herself. She would be fine down here with her family, she didn't need him anymore.

He walked a few steps forward and turned to face Alison.

"I ready to go." He looked Alison in the eyes and smiled then turned his gaze towards the moon. 

Alison held her breath hoping it would work. 

He turned back around to face his beloved moon.

"Goodbye Moonah. Thank you"

All was silent for a minute. Nothing happened.

Then a brilliant light shine over him. His face lit up in a beaming smile and he walked towards it.

It was finally his turn.

"Goodbye!" he shouted as he disappeared.

Alison broke down in tears as the final ghost had departed leaving the house empty of spirits. 

Chapter Text

Alison woke up late the next day as her usual alarm of Fanny screaming didn't wake her up on time.

She had needed a rest to make up for the immense exhaustion she had been feeling as a result of her emotions recently.

She walked straight towards her bedroom window with her stopwatch as she did every day. She opened it and realised that there wasn't anyone there.

The Captain wasn't waiting for her by the front door ready for his morning run.

So she walked through to the ballroom ready to turn on the radio for Thomas but he wasn't there to dance to it.

Julian wasn't there to play on her computer and she didn't need to rent out the next few world cup games for Pat to watch.

She walked to the next room ready to turn the pages in Kitty's and Humphrey's books but they weren't there to read them.

She made her way to the television room and stood staring at the blank screen. Then she headed downstairs and turned on the lights expecting them to flicker which they didn't.

She made her way past the old grandfather clock, Pat's food club would start in two hours. She sat down on the sofa in the common room and took in the silence.

Her gaze moved over to the chess board with it's two empty seats and half played game.

Mike walked downstairs and sat with her on the sofa. "You Alright?" he said putting his arm around her.

Mike was the best husband she could ever ask for. Even though he couldn't see the ghosts, he knew how much they meant to her. He never dismissed her for being 'mad' or told her she was making things up.

He always listened to her.

"Yeah." she replied "never thought I would say it but I miss them all and their chaos."  

"I'm just sad that I never got to meet them."

"They were... truly great people. And they became like family to me" Mike cuddled up to her. "I just... I don't know how I'll cope with them all gone. I won't have anyone nagging me or driving me up the wall but I miss that. I miss their shouting, I miss hearing them talk to eachother, I miss bumping into them in the hall, I miss telling them to leave our room, I miss being scared that they'll creep up on me in the shower." She sobbed.

"I know Ali. If you want to we can leave too." he was up for doing anything that she wanted.

"I'm not jumping off the roof Mike." she rolled her eyes at him.

"No not like that.There's nothing here for us anymore and the whole hotel idea is out the window. Why don't we find a smaller place and we can use the money from the house to live in luxury." 

"I don't know. I don't know if I can leave. It's our family home and we've had so many memories here Mike I can't just get rid of it all like that." 

"I know and that's fine. We'll do whatever you want. Let's take it slow." He grabbed her hand in his.

"Mike, I've never had the chance to thank you for putting up with all of this. I know how tough it is that you couldn't see them but you always trusted me."

"Its what comes with being your husband, I believed you all the time and it would have been nice to see them but obviously it wasn't meant to be. I knew that you weren't lying anyway when I saw Julian move things."

Alison smiled at him through the tears.

"It's going to be tough but I know you can get through it and I'll be here all the way. Be strong for the baby yeah? And you can tell them all about their family. Come on, we have to plant the last few flowers." He jumped up and walked with her outside arm in arm until they reached Mary's tree.

There were dozens of flowers sitting underneath, all fully bloomed and full of life. They brought we needed colour to the garden. The flowers would be a constant reminder of the life that was once here.

They planted the final few next to them. The Captain's one which was a Rose, Robin's moonflower and several others to represent all of the plague people.

The flowerbed was finally full. 

~~~

She waited patiently all day by planning a scrapbook about the Ghosts with a few pages dedicated to each of them, their lives and afterlives.

She had re-read her list of ghosts so many times that it was now embedded into her head.

Robin, Prehistoric no idea on date 

Sir Humphrey Bone, 1546-1585

Mary Stuart, 15?? -1610 ish

Lady Katherine Faversham 1758-1779

Thomas Thorne, 1800-1824

Lady Stephanie Button, 1854-1914

Captain Edward Button, 1898-1946

Patrick Butcher, 1945-1984

Julian Fawcett MP, 1951-1993

Seeing these names on paper made her realise that the Ghosts had lived their own lives before being in this house.

Their lives should have ended when they died but Alison was lucky enough to have spent their afterlife with them.

And to everyone else they would just become names on paper whereas she actually knew them as people.

It was an awful situation to be in but she could'nt exactly tell everyone that she could see Ghosts.

Maybe she'd write a book about them so that they were never forgotten, so people could get to know them through literature. 

Or perhaps she could create a museum here at the house, she could do tours and make exhibitions about each ghost. There were plenty of history books in the house and now she knew a lot about each ghost so perhaps she could use that.

It would take a lot of thinking and she had a lot of time now.

~~~

As soon as it was dark outside, Alison dragged Mike out onto the drive. She stood there with him looking at the stars just like she had done years ago.

Robin didn't know it but she would watch him sometimes when he was stargazing, it was wonderful to see him finding comfort in nature.

She also watched Captain and Robin stargazing together the other night and it was truly a beautiful experience seeing them bond.

So she stood with Mike and pointed at each star and named them just like Robin had done.

"Those are Clarence, Godric, Elizabeth and Annie, I never got to meet them but they meant a lot to the Ghosts." she pointed individually at each star.

"Then there's Mary, the one with a twinkle." She felt the need to mention that because it's what Robin had done when he first picked her star.

"Then there is Humphrey, Kitty, Thomas, Fanny, Captain I mean Edward, Pat and Julian." She points at each star respectively whilst thinking about her long lost friends.

Mike leans closer to her and puts his arm around her back as he sees her becoming upset.

"And that one" she points finally at the moon "is Robin"

The End 

Chapter Text

No one truly knows what the afterlife may look like so each of the Ghosts were terrified as to what they may find there.

After Mary had moved on two years ago however, the fear became less horrifying and the Ghosts had learnt to accept that maybe the afterlife is a better place. Anywhere could be better than being stranded in a house for hundreds of years though.

~~~

Pat had just said goodbye to his ex-wife Carol and son Daley and had been the first of the current group to move on.

He had disappeared into the light and was faced with prompt darkness. Until his view was filled with another beaming light where he was faced with clouds and huge golden gates that were wide open for him.

Pat had no idea what this place was but he felt calm and free. The burden of being a Ghost was gone and he felt weightless.

The gate was open but what was behind it, he couldn't see. So he braved the instincts and walked forward through the gates to what he believed was the afterlife or the second layer.

Slowly, things came into perspective and Pat was faced with two people waiting for him.

It just so happens that in the afterlife when you have moved on, you are greeted by any family of friends who have passed before you. They spend their days watching you down below and are waiting eagerly for you to take a trip through the golden gates. 

The two people waiting for Pat was a Stuart and a Puritan.

"Mary? Oh my god it is you!" There stood Mary and her old friend Annie.

He of course had never met Annie because she had moved on shortly after Thomas had become a Ghost which was many years before Pat's existence but he was thrilled to meet her and to see Mary again.

But she looked different from how Pat remembered her. The soot covering her face had disappeared, leaving her radiant skin behind and her clothes looked like they had been freshly washed.

Upon seeing this, he instinctively felt for his own wound and found that the arrow was no longer there

"Is this... heaven?"

"Yes Patrick! We bese in the afterlife. Once receiving the blessed suckings off, we come here to lives for eternity. Annie and I've been waiting for ages for someone to come." She looked thrilled to see him again.

"You're Annie! It's lovely to meet you!" He smiled at his new friend

"You too, Mary told me all about you and I've seen you when I was watching Mary from up 'ere"

"You can see us from up here?" Pat obviously had no clue how the afterlife worked.

"Oh yes we watching you and waitings for the suckings off. You can sees them too" Mary pointed down.

The ground separated and a hole appeared below them all. Pat could see straight into Button House, he was watching the reactions from the Ghosts in real time.

"Don't be sad guys I'm ok!" Pat waved down

He heard Alison say that she wanted to help them all move on.

"Oh my god they're all coming up here! We'll be together again!" Pat couldn't contain his excitement at finally having his new family be at peace with him.

Mary was excited to see her family again and Annie was excited to see the new inhabitants that had joined once she had left; there were so many new faces as it had been an awfully long time.

~~~

Just as Pat was getting used to this new paradise, he was summoned to the golden gates with Mary and Annie.

Apparently that is what happens everytime someone close to you moves up to the afterlife so that you can greet them at the gates.

A blonde haired man in a dark blue suit and trousers walked through the gates.

"What's going on here? Are we having a mother's meeting?" he snarled.

"Oh hello Julian!" Pat greeted him cheerily despite him not being the most preferred ghost.

"So I got sucked off then? It's about time. Oh Mary you look less crispy. Who's that?" He pointed rudely at Annie

Mary gave him a death stare.

"I'm Annie and you look like a right idiot"

"Yeah dirty rat" Mary piped in, she was never too fond of Julian and having Annie here gave her the confidence to speak freely.

"Oh you're Annie? The one Mary kept going on about before she left." 

"Yeah and who are you?" she replied.

"Julian Fawcett, beloved MP" he sarcastically smiled.

"Beloved? Not even the cows could love you. I'm surprised you aren't in hell" Annie replied and everyone started giggling.

It looks like Julian finally met his match.

He gave Annie a sarcastic smile and then got distracted by the fact he was finally wearing trousers.

"Oh thank god! I can finally be taken seriously. Although it was fun having my-"

"Julian please! How about we move away from here now yeah?"

~~~

A little while later, Annie, Mary, Pat and Julian were all summoned to the gate. A lady and what looked like her parents were stood just in front of the main four ex-ghosts.

They were startled by flashes of purple around someone running and a high-pitched scream. 

"Mama? Papa? Eleanor?" Kitty stared at them in shock "Is it really you?"

"My goodness! Kitty it's you! You are finally with us!" Her sister replied 

They ran towards Kitty and hugged her.

"Oh my darling I am so sorry, forgive us all for how we have wronged you in life. I am so happy to have you safe with us again!" Her father cried 

She smiled and let go then walked past them to the others.

Kitty greeted them "Mary!" she gasped "You didn't leave!" 

"Oh no I stays right here watching" she smiled.

Kitty beamed 

"Annie! Is that you?"

"Hello again Katherine, it's good to see you." And she genuinely meant it.

"Is this the second layer?" Kitty remembered what Pat has said all those years ago.

Everyone gave Pat a stare in confusion.

"Um yes it is Kitty. This is where you go when you move on" he replied cautiously.

"Oh goodness you've been here all this time! When will Alison get here?" 

"Well Kitty love, we don't know because..."

"Alison's not dead" interrupted Julian

"Oh. Yes of course. Well I do hope the Captain gets here soon." 

"We hope so too" Pat smiled 

At least she had someone she cared about who could look after her.

~~~

Annie, Mary Pat, Julian and Kitty appeared at the gates again all together. A woman in a Tudor dress stood in front with her husband.

A body stumbled towards them.

"Oh you've got to be joking." Sophie said

"Where be the head?" Mary asked

"God knows, it was always laying around somewhere. Looks like the body left without it." Julian answered

"Humphrey?" Sophie ran over to his body with her new husband "Humphrey I am so sorry"

"You know the it was a person. Humphrey was a very nice man although we didn't see a lot of him" Pat interrupted 

Sophie and her husband held onto him and pulled him along to greet the others.

As they were trying to work out what to do with him, a head appeared on top. 

"Oh hello. Fancy seeing you here." Humphrey laughed 

"Humphrey? Oh you are whole again!" Sophie was ecstatic that she has a full husband again

"Sophie? It's been so long!" 

"Yes it has. This is my husband, John" she gestured to him.

"Hello John, lovely to meet you. I'm Humphrey, Sophie's old husband. I'm glad that she met you" they smiled at eachother.

Humphrey was so glad that Sophie got the life she deserved, just as he had asked her to all those centuries ago.

"Hello Humphrey, I'm glad to finally meet you" John replied as he shook his hand.

~~~

Annie, Mary, Pat, Julian, Kitty and Humphrey were summoned. A lady in a green dress stood in front of them.

Thomas stumbled through the gate and fell to the ground in tears.

"That was the hardest thing I have ever had to do" He subconsciously touched his wound only to find that it had vanished. His vest remained untouched and his sleeve unmarked. He stood up wiping his face. 

"It's gone?" 

"Thomas!" A woman screamed his name, it echoed from the day he died.

He looked up "Isabelle? My god it's you!" They ran at eachother and hugged.

"Thomas my love I heard everything that you said, I love you so much. I can't believe I let myself be tricked by your cousin"

"Isabelle, I was blinded but it has always been just you who I love" 

"Oh Thomas" they kiss and everyone cheered.

He finally got what he wanted.

Thomas walked over arm in arm with Isabelle to greet the others.

"Thomas? You actually made it" Julian said, slightly shocked that Thomas had managed to get over Alison.

"It was tough but Isabelle made me see the right way"

"I'm happy for ya mate" Pat patted Thomas on the shoulder 

"What did happen to Francis? Is he here?" He looked over at Isabelle.

"He is not deserving of this place although I am unaware of where he went" she replied, she had realised that Francis was a horrible person.

"May God rest his soul"

~~~

Annie, Mary, Pat, Julian, Kitty, Humphrey and Thomas were summoned once again.

"Well hello everyone!" she walked towards them.

"Fanny?"

"Yes it is me and I have seen the error of my ways" Everyone looked confused by this new woman that had arrived. Her face suddenly dropped "You don't think I'd change that easily do you? I have become a different person but my old self remains a large part of me don't you worry."

They all slowly laughed in fear of being shouted at.

"Well it's lovely to see you Fanny" Pat spoke

A woof echoed from behind the crowd and a little black and white dog ran through them.

"Dante?" she bent down to greet the dog "Oh Dante my dear you made it!"

"Woof woof!" he replied. He had finally been reunited with his owner after all this time.

Then a massive horse, falcon, cat and other dog came running at her.

"Montague, Bessie, Jasper, Jasmine you all made it! Oh my loves"

She stroked the Montague's back "It's been a long time, I knew you wouldn't forget me"

~~~

Annie, Mary, Pat, Julian, Kitty, Humphrey, Thomas and Fanny appeared.

A dark green shadow stood in front anxiously.

A salt and pepper haired man wandered through the gates "Good lord where am I?"

"Captain!" a male voice shouted at him.

He looked up shocked by that voice and was greeted by a flood of people which overwhelmed him slightly. 

"Havers? My god!" 

Havers ran up to him and hugged him without a second thought. No one cared for ranks or standards anymore especially now they weren't in the army.

Tears flooded from their eyes as they embraced.

"I've been waiting for you for so long and you finally made it" Havers sobbed 

"I can't believe I'm here" they let go of eachother "I um read your letter and found out everything."

"I know. I heard everything Teddy. I've waited 80 years to say it but I love you" he gazed at his lover longingly.

"I love you too William" They smiled and kissed and everyone cheered. Then they walked hand in hand over to the others.

"Hello everyone, it's lovely to see you all again. Thank you for being there when I needed you all despite my initial grumpiness. I'm glad you all made it." Edward was so pleased that he had made it alongside his family.

"Captain!!" Kitty ran at him into a hug.

"Hello again Katherine" he smiled.

"William, this is my family" he gestured to everyone "well most of them."

"Hello everyone, it's a pleasure to meet you all. And I do hope that the Captain's family shall soon become my own."

~~~

This time everyone was summoned to the gate.

Annie, Mary, Pat, Julian, Kitty, Mama, Papa, Eleanor, Humphrey, Sophie, John, Thomas, Isabelle, Fanny and her zoo, Captain and Havers appeared.

A few familiar faces joined them- Elizabeth, Clarence and Godric who had all moved on centuries ago.

Several cavemen and women were also cattered amongst the crowd.

The anxious wait was filled with chatter, everyone was so excited.

Until a bright light stopped them and they all fell silent.

Robin ran through the gate and stood in front of them in his pristine furs.

"Hello" he was slightly overwhelmed by the huge amount of people in front of him.

"RO" The cavepeople all shouted at him as they ran to squash him in a crowded hug.

"Heh I made it" he patted a few of them on the back.

The crowd seemed to part for him so that one man was left standing alone in anticipation.

Robin left the group and wandered towards the man.

"Julian."

The blonde man's eyes started to tear up 

"Robin! You made it!"

"You ever doubt I would"

They ran up to eachother and hugged tightly.

"I'm so proud of you Robin. I've never told you that" 

It was a slightly out of character thing for Julian to say but it was proof that he had changed and how much he cared for Robin.

"I miss you very much" he replied

They continued hugging as a few stray tears dripped down their faces.

When they finally let go Julian spoke.

"Everyone's here now" he gestured to the crowd

And everyone and their families looked at eachother. Everyone was together again at last and for the first time. There were smiles all round as the Ghosts began speaking to eachother and their families.

The Captain approached Kitty and her family "Hello Mr, Mrs and Miss Faversham. I've had the pleasure of knowing your daughter for 80 or so years now and I must say she is the kindest soul I have ever met. She is like a child to me and I greatly trust her. She kept me company for all that time. You should be very proud of her." He patted her on the shoulder.

~~~

Robin approached Mary and Annie "Hi Mary, Hi Annie. Long time no see eh." he smiled 

Fanny approached the Captain and Havers. "You made it Edward. You have done our family so very proud. And William, it is lovely to meet you. I look forward to spending time with you both up here and to give you my blessing."

Kitty and her family approached Pat 

"Pat! This is my family, they all like you very much! They said you were a good influence to me and a wonderful friend. I agree!"

Thomas and family approached Humphrey and friends. "It's nice to see you whole again Humphrey. I wonder now if we can be better acquainted?"

Clarence, Elizabeth and Godric approached Robin. "It's been a long time Robin, we're glad you finally made it to where you belong."

~~~

A few months later...

Finally the original nine Ghosts stood together in front of the golden gate. Robin, a full Humphrey, Mary, Kitty, Thomas, Fanny, Captain, Pat and Julian.

They looked through the clouds down to the desolate Button House where they saw Alison and Mike leaning over a cot from which cries emerged.

"Hello Mary and Edward Cooper. Welcome to your new house" Alison spoke whilst her and Mike picked up their two new babies.

It had been their home for centuries and now it was finally becoming home to a new generation who would undoubtedly continue their legacy. 

~~~

60 years later, two shooting stars flew through the sky alongside the full moon. All of the stars were out tonight and Button House was silenced once more.

"Welcome home Alison and Mike"