Crossing Over

Reggie

Reggie stuck around for quite a while after Luke and Alex left. Partly because he wasn't ready to go just yet, but also because he was making up for lost time with the family he never got to have. He made himself at home in Julie's house, only ever returning to the studio when she did, or when he felt the need to be closer to Luke and Alex. He watched her wife cook dinner like he used to do with Ray. He had his own whiteboard which he used to communicate with her kids, learning about their lives and keeping up to date with all the latest slang. They made him a part of their family, even though Julie was the only one who could see him, and he was so incredibly grateful for that.

It's not until Julie's daughter left for college that Reggie realised how much time had passed. He still missed Luke and Alex. It still hurt. He often caught himself turning to talk to one of them, to share something with them, only to find that they weren't there. They hadn't been there for a really really long time.

He still talked about them all the time though, keeping them close to him.

He was sat on the couch with Julie one evening, music playing lightly in the background as they talked. They'd spent many an evening like this, swapping stories and laughing about the memories they'd shared.

"Hey, did I ever tell you about the time we tried to persuade Alex to dress up like—"

"Princess Leia for halloween?" Julie finished. "Yeah you did."

"Oh, okay," Reggie laughed. "What about when Luke broke his arm?"

"He couldn't play guitar for weeks and hated it," Julie confirmed, a fond smile seeping onto her face. "I think he told me that one first actually."

"Oh..."

He tried to think of another story, something he hadn't told Julie yet, but he couldn't come up with any. He'd told her everything. He'd shared their whole lives with her. There weren't any memories left.

He sat in silence for a long while, staring down at his hands as he fiddled with his fingers, until Julie nudged him with her foot.

"Reg?"

He looked up at her and took a deep breath. "What do you think happens when we cross over?"

Her eyebrows peaked in surprise and it took her a moment to think of an answer. "I'm not sure," she rested her head against the back of the couch, "but I hope it's somewhere peaceful."

Reggie nodded pensively. "Yeah..."

There was another long moment of silence and then, for the first time in a long time, Julie started talking about her mum.

"I like to think that my mum is out there somewhere, and that she's happy and at peace. Who knows, maybe Luke and Alex and Willie are there too."

"Yeah, that sounds nice."

"But in all honesty, I have no idea what's on the other side, and...and you know you're welcome to stay as long as you want, right?" Her eyes started to get misty then and as they looked at each other, the realisation settled.

"I know," Reggie said, "and you know how much I love being here, how much I love..." he ran his hands through his hair, fighting against the emotion.

Julie gave him a small smile, knowing what he was trying to say.

"But I miss them, Julie, I miss them so much, and if there's even the slightest chance that I might be able to see them again then I want to take it."

They both started to cry then and for a long time they comforted each other, talking about what was to come, and reminiscing together one last time.

When it was time, Julie walked Reggie to the front door (not that he needed to use it, it just felt right). She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. She hugged him tight, tighter than she did Luke and Alex, because she knew this was the last time she'd get to hug any of them. The last time she'd have a tether to them aside from her memories.

Reggie hugged her back just a tight. "Thank you so much, Julie, for everything you've done for us, and for letting me be a part of your family."

"You'll always be a part of my family, Reg. All three of you will."

When they pulled away, Julie smiled at him through tears. "Say hi to Luke and Alex for me?"

Reggie grinned, despite his own tears. "You know I will."

And then he was gone, for the very last time.