Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Scratch sighed, clutching his cone of ice cream tightly as the sea breeze playfully ruffled his hair. He walked over to his partner, her dark curls silhouetted against the sunset. He came to lean on the metal railing beside her, and she turned to face him, giving him a small smile before turning back to the colours painting the sky. The sunset reminded him of something, some game he’d played on his phone.  

He took a small bite of his ice cream, ignoring the usual flood of memories that enveloped him; it wasn't anything he hadn't seen before.

He kept track of all the new ones, adding them to a small scrapbook where he drew out what he saw. He had gotten oddly attached to scrapbooking, keeping one for his travel pictures and one for his memories. Scrapbooking felt important. He had signed both books as ‘Scratch’, something only Adia called him, one of the only things worth remembering about his old life; but it felt like there was more to it. Like there was another reason it was important. He took a while to remember. 

It had started small, a book on turtles in the library feeling oddly important, the word ‘enhappify’, a video game that felt like it needed three other people playing, some song that made him think of high school dances and heartbreak. He remembered seeing a teenage couple on his travels, feeling oddly nostalgic about young love, which had made no sense to him since he had never experienced it for himself. 

Then the flashes had started. Sometimes there was a long haired girl, donning an oversized green sweater and an unsteady smile, sometimes it was an older couple, clearly still growing together and so very in love, sometimes it was a young boy, pulling pranks and making phone calls to strangers. But the most common one, was Molly. 

He didn't recognise her, not at first. She had seemed vaguely familiar, and as the flashes continued, he remembered their brief meeting at the bus stop, then he remembered seeing her around Brighton, in the newspaper, on TV, but there was something missing. It had been nearly a year since he had left his hometown, and it took him all that time to remember his other best friend. 

He had cried, the day he remembered her name. Tears of grief, tears of longing, tears of joy and relief. He missed her dearly, but how would he contact her? He had never learned her number (or if he did, he couldn't remember it) and he couldn't even remember her last name yet. Just the flashes. Always the flashes. 

He sighed aloud again, turning to his partner “Hey Adia?” he started softly, watching the draining sunlight flicker across her face as she looked to him “Do you ever feel like you’ve lived separate lives? And you start to miss your old one?”.

Adia smiled at him, wrinkles and smile lines prominent across her face “Sometimes” she admitted “My childhood was a whole other life from this one. And I miss it sometimes, you know? That stability, that safety, you don’t get it out here in the world. I don’t regret my decision, but it’s okay to miss something you once had”.

Scratch hummed noncommittally, smiling weakly. “Why?” she asked “Do you miss Brighton?”.

“Kind of” he sighed “More like, I miss an old friend”.

Adia’s brow furrowed “I thought I was your only friend? You told me you never talked to anyone after I left”.

“I didn’t” Scratch admitted “It’s a long story”. His partner fully turned to him, leaning her back against the cool metal, the sun colouring the sky behind her, casting her face in shadow “We’ve got time”, she said softly, no judgement or pressure clouding her tone. 

Scratch smiled again, brighter this time, a new light in his eyes “Well, it all started a few years after you started travelling…”.

A week later, they were on a flight to Brighton. To Molly. 

Chapter Text

Brighton was different than he remembered, the sun seemed warmer, the air seemed cleaner. Maybe it was because now he remembered Molly, or maybe because they had installed those wind turbines and were helping the environment. He had helped with that, hadn't he? The memories were blurry but he could vaguely remember something about climate change and ice cream.  

They stopped at the local inn, surprisingly devoid of raccoons. Since Scratch had sold his house when he left, they didn't have anywhere else to stay. “Your rooms will be ready tonight” the lady at the desk promised, he couldn't remember her name. “Thank you,” Adia said gracefully. “We were actually here looking for someone, do you think you could help us?”. 

The woman smiled “Sure!” she responded cheerily “Brighton’s a small town, chances are I know who you're talking about. What’s their name?”.

“Molly” Scratch replied instantly “Molly McGee”, her full name coming to mind suddenly. Adia looked at him strangely, having never heard it from him before, and there was a flash of… recognition? 

The desk lady seemed to recognise it too, eyes brightening up “Oh! Yes, Molly’s a sweet girl, here’s her address,” she said, writing it down onto a scrap of paper, handing it to Adia, whose eyes widened at the familiar location. “Can I ask why you’re looking for her?”.

Scratch smiled, bright and hopeful “To say thank you”. 

The house hadn't changed, the curtains were different and the lawn was a little unkempt, but it was still there. It was still home. Adia looked around in wonder, “What were the chances,” she said softly “That two of your best friends lived in the same house?”. 

Scratch’s grin widened “One in a million, I guess. I’m just lucky that way”. He took her hand gently as they set off towards the front door, the two friends stopping in front of the familiar wood. He raised a trembling hand, taking a shaky breath, as he rang the doorbell. 

The door creaked open softly, a gasp was heard from inside, as a girl stood there on the threshold. 

The girl’s eyes widened, eyebrows shooting up. “Scr- I mean! Mister Todd, what are you doing here?”. 

“I was in the area” he replied airily, fingers sticking lazily in his short pockets in a familiar motion “It’s nice to see you again, Libby”. 

Chapter Text

Libby spluttered out a response, expression still laced with shock “You- you know my name?” she exclaimed “How?”.

“I remember you” he said simply, grinning at how flustered his friend seemed “Your love of turtles, that book your writing, that one time at Andrea’s slumber party when you-”.

“Okay!” Libby interrupted loudly, cheeks now painted red “I get it, you remember me, but… how?” she asked, voice tapering off. 

Scratch’s smile softened, arms held out for a hug “Because you all gave me a reason to live” he answered gently, honestly “And never in a million years could I forget that”. 

Libby jolted forward to hug him, wrapping their arms around each other. Tears crept unbidden into Scratch’s eyes as he held her tighter. It was so different from when he was a wraith. His limbs were solid now, wrapping snugly around her smaller frame, it felt precious, fragile, incredible. He felt an almost paternal instinct take hold of him, wanting to protect the small child in his arms. His friend. 

Libby pulled away first, slowly, like she didn't want to let go. She raised the sleeves of her familiar sweater to wipe at her eyes “It’s funny” she said thickly “Even as a person, it still feels like hugging a marshmallow”.  

“Libby?” a voice called from inside “Who was at the door?”. Pete rounded the corner, eyes going wide as he caught sight of the duo at the entrance. The mug held loosely in his hand dropped to the floor, rolling away silently. “Scratch?” he whispered softly, hopefully. Scratch nodded, eyes welling up with more tears as Pete raced to hug him too. Sharon raced to join them too, he hadn't even seen her come in. These people, these people were family to him. And in their arms he was finally home. 

Pete turned to look up, yelling towards the staircase “Darryl! Molly! Look who’s here!”.

The group downstairs were still grinning, Pete loosely holding Todd’s hand. Adia who had stayed mostly silent throughout his reunions, had struck up a conversation with Libby; apparently the kids had stayed up to date on Adia’s ClikClok updates as a way of hopefully keeping an eye on Scratch, and Libby had become quite a fan. Scratch’s heart warmed as his friends, old and new, interacted so comfortably.

Darryl was the first to come down, eyes trained lazily on his phone, looking up to see who was at the door. His eyes widened in a familiar expression of shock, face lighting up with a grin “Scratch!” he yelled joyously running forward and flying into awaiting arms. Scratch laughed as he held the small boy, Darryl had never felt so young until this moment, and he felt weirdly like a parent, holding onto their kid. “It’s good to see you again buddy” he whispered joyously, instinctually pressing a quick kiss to his hair, Darryl just tightened his grip on him in response. 

He pulled away like Libby did, slowly and wiping away tears. “How are you here?” he asked “Did you remember everything?”.

“I’ll explain it all when everyone gets here” he promised “We’re just waiting on-”.

“Hello?” A voice called from upstairs, interrupting him and stealing all the air from his lungs “Sorry, I’m coming down now! Got caught up with cleaning a little”. Her voice was slowly getting louder as she got closer, careless rambles filling the air. “Do you know how hard it is to clean a triangular roof because man that is not fun to dust by yourself without a ladder! I had to climb on my bed just to-”. Her voice cut off as she reached the last step. Staring straight at her best friend. 

Her hair had gotten longer, he noticed. It was styled differently too, in a proper ponytail. She still had her signature style, torn denim jacket with patches on it over a black and white shirt. Her old shoes replaced by even flashier red ones. But the look in her eyes as they filled with tears was the same. One of love, one of friendship.

Scratch smiled for the millionth time that day, matching tears streaking across his face “Hey Moll” he greeted, “I’m back”.

Chapter Text

Molly’s hugs were just like he remembered, and yet so, so different. He laid his head atop hers, in a way he had never been able to do before. Her arms barely reached around him; where his used to wrap in tight circles around her, now they were a protective and gentle hold. He held her as she cried, like he had done so many times in the past, and she held on just as steady. His shirt was now soaked with tears from everyone but he couldn't bring himself to care as he embraced his forever friend. 

Unlike the others, when Scratch pulled away, Molly kept her grip on him, laying a hand gently atop his, like if she let go, he would disappear. He knew the feeling. “How is this possible?” she asked weakly, uselessly attempting to wipe away her never-ending flow of tears. 

“I’ll explain everything” he promised “Come on”. They settled in the living room, like they had done countless times before. Adia was introduced to the family, and then Scratch began his tale. He started with his first life, as Todd, as nothing more than a monkey in a suit. He explained about his soul leaving his body. Then he started to tell the tale of his time as a wraith. More and more memories flooded back as he told the stories, the McGees filling in any gaps in his recollection. Adia gasped and laughed and teared up at everything they told her, and the McGees and Libby were no better, eyes filling with tears at every opportunity. 

They were halfway through a story of howlin' Harriet when Molly suddenly gasped “Oh!” she exclaimed “We need to tell Geoff!”. 

Adia frowned “Who?”.

Scratch grinned “You’re right” he said joyfully “My pal Geoff, spelled J-e-f-”. With a familiar swoosh, a portal opened up on the living room floor, glowing an ominous blue and black as a voice emanated from it. “Actually that’s a common misconception” said the ghost slowly rising out of the portal, finger raised pointedly and eyes closed in a serious expression “It’s actually spelled G-e-o-f-f! You know that Scratch”. After a beat, the ghost’s eyes snapped open, staring wide-eyed at the human he hadn't seen in ages “Wait- Scratch!?” he yelled, swooping in to hug him “Oh my gosh! Best friend! It’s been so long! I’ve missed you! Jeff misses you even if he won’t say it! Sharkie misses you!” he blubbered, arms coiling around his friend in a familiar motion. Scratch had never felt ectoplasm on human flesh before; it did feel like a marshmallow.

“I missed you too buddy” he said, placing a hand gently on his back. 

Geoff eagerly joined in on the story time. They explained the battle with the chairman, their run in with the ghost council, the time the McGees were forced to move. At some point, the doorbell rang again, and Molly returned from answering it with her hand in Ollie’s and flowers loosely held in the other one, it didn't take a genius to figure out where she’d gotten them from. Ollie hugged him too, Scratch was going to need to change his shirt after all the tears. 

They didn’t finish until it was late into the night, the family lounging around after a big dinner. Libby and Ollie had gone back home (not without tight goodbye hugs), and Adia had left to the inn, requesting him to join her when he was done. Scratch was sitting upstairs in the familiar attic, chatting with his best friend. Their dynamic hadn't changed a bit, even if they had both grown as people, Molly still grabbed his hand and dragged him upstairs, Scratch still complained about it (“Molly I have old bones now! I can’t just climb up ladders that fast!”), they still laughed, they still joked. It was like nothing had changed. 

It was nearing midnight when Scratch decided it was time to leave, they all had to get their sleep and it was late. “Hey, Scratch?” Molly asked quietly, gripping the door “Are you going to stay here? In Brighton?”, her voice was a mere whisper, nearly lost in the night air.

Scratch smiled gently, laying an arm around her shoulder “We’ll be here for a whole week” he promised “And we’ll visit from time to time, but we’re going to keep travelling for now, Adia and I, we’ve still got more of the world to see; but, maybe someday, we can come settle down here, when we’re ready”. 

Molly nodded slowly, seemingly satisfied with that answer. She darted towards him, wrapping him in a tight hug “I love you” she whispered. 

Scratch felt his eyes well up with tears again “I love you too”, he muttered, holding her close. 

“The dream team, right? You and me?” she asked, voice muffled against his shirt. 

He nodded, pressing a kiss to her hair before laying his head atop hers “For all eternity” he promised. 

Chapter Text

After arguably the best week of Scratch’s life, he found himself at a familiar bus stop, waiting to leave for the airport. “Nin said to remind you to call” Sharon was saying “And send us a postcard now and then! Call us when you have reception, or at least update your Spacebook page, you know I check that, we just want to make sure you’re okay”.

Scratch held up a hand, still smiling “Sharon, trust me, I’m going to call you so much you’ll get sick of me”. 

She rolled her eyes good naturedly “We could never get sick of you Scratch, but, thank you”. 

Pete was still talking to Adia, discussing their plans for travelling. They were going to Egypt next, he promised Darryl a picture of the pyramids (for totally legal reasons, he promised). 

He turned to the group of kids beside him “Libby, keep working on that book, I wanna see it in bookstores around the world when you’re done” he said encouragingly, giving her a quick hug. She smiled brightly “You bet! Adia told me so many cool stories and places that I’m going to try adding to it!”.

“Just don’t go too overboard” he warned “simplicity is good, like… chocolate covered strawberries”. 

Libby just smiled and nodded again, fiddling with the sleeves of her sweater. 

Libby had changed a lot since he had last seen her. She was more open, more sociable. She seemed less nervous, and capable of taking charge. When he asked her about it, she explained that while he was gone, she had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. They hadn’t wanted to try meds, since it was something known as ‘high functioning’, and had instead started researching ways to cope, and to manage it. She had breathing exercises, stress toys, and an entire powerpoint presentation that she had made him sit through explaining different mental health issues (depression felt uncomfortably familiar). She said she was going to try incorporating some into her book.   

Next, he turned to Ollie “You be good to Molly, alright?” he said sternly, laughing when Ollie actually tensed up. “Nah, I’m kidding” he said breezily, laying a hand on his shoulder to cut out Ollie’s stuttered response “But, seriously. You all better stay together, okay? As partners or friends, what you have is good, all of you, and you should hold onto the memories”. 

Ollie hugged him in response, whispering a muffled “Thank you”. 

Ollie had confided in him that he felt lost. All his life, he had dedicated it to ghost hunting, and then when that ship had sunk, had dedicated it to ghost helping. Always something someone else asked of him, never his own decision. The only thing he could turn to was his love of the environment, and he had started volunteering at clean-ups, started incorporating more recycling options, Molly was helping of course, but Ollie had finally started to take control of his own life in small ways, Scratch was proud of him. 

“Good luck on finding yourself kid” he muttered, patting him on the back “There's no rush, and I believe in you”. 

Finally, he turned to Molly. 

“I’m going to see you again, right?” she blurted before he could say anything “This isn’t goodbye”.

Scratch smiled sadly, opening his arms for a hug which she immediately accepted. “Of course it’s not goodbye. You and me, forever friends, right?”.

Molly sniffled “But what if you choke on a croissant in Paris?” she asked meekly.

Scratch laughed “Well, then I’ll come back and live with you as a ghost, for real this time”.

She looked up at him, dark eyes wide “You promise?”.

“I promise” he nodded “You and me for all eternity kid”. 

“You better be there when the blazing snowball comet comes back” Libby warned from beside them “Dead or alive, it’s tradition now”. 

Scratch ruffled her hair playfully “You got it kid, Adia and I will probably be settled into Brighton by then. Or dead. Who knows? Either way, we’ll be there”.

“Oh, and Ollie?” he said turning to the young boy and gesturing pointedly at Molly “you better invite me to the wedding”. Everyone laughed again as the young couple went bright red. He was going to miss this, but he knew he couldn't stay out forever. He had a world to see. 

He turned to Adia, “You ready?” he asked, as the bus rattled to a stop before them.

She smiled, taking his hand “On to new adventures,” she promised as they boarded, waving goodbye to their family.