the ghost of christmas love

nini

HEYYY HOPE UR DOING GREAT!!!

ENJOY!!!

ricky and i are teleported back to the past. we're at his childhood home again and the family is eating dinner at the table.

"how old am i?", he asks.

i let out a breath, bracing for the reaction, "7..."

he licks his lips and nods. i hear him let out a small puff of air and he shakes his head.

"i really don't wanna watch this i—"

"ricky you have to...", i breath out.

he looks up and we watch the family picking at their meal.

"hey kids we have to tell you something.", his dad says.

"so...you know how mommy and daddy don't always get along?", he starts, both kids nodding, "well..."

"because of this...we're getting divorced. you two will take turns with us throughout the week.", his mom finishes.

i look over at ricky and he runs his hands over his face, turning away. i watch him, feeling bad about having to take him through some of the worst times in his life.

we're transported back into his apartment and he lets out a breath. i can tell he isn't the happiest anymore.

"they literally did that the day before christmas eve.", he scoffs, "i still don't get it."

i face him and suck in a breath, "they had their reasons...they wanted you two to have a christmas free of fighting."

"i would've rather had fighting than the kind of christmas it ended up being.", ricky tells me, "it was horrible...the worst christmas ever."

"tell me about it.", i say, both of us sitting on his couch.

"don't you already know?", ricky asks me and just stare at him.

"it's all part of the process dumbo...talk.", i quietly laugh.

he sucks in a breath, his face showing his brain gathering thoughts.

"that year...we spent half of the day with mom, half of the day with dad. neither of them had decorations, they were both so upset without each other...they couldn't function. i think that's when my love for christmas started fading...because i experienced the joy and spirit less and less."

i frown at him, "i'm sorry...but hey it looks like you're making progress already. can i suggest something?"

he shrugs and nods, "go ahead."

"i think...you have bad memories attached to the holidays and you need to start finding good ones.", i say and i see his mind processing it.

"but how do i even do that?", he complains.

"are you doing anything tomorrow?", i ask and he shakes his head, "okay be ready at 10am."

he nods with confusion on his face and i feel excitement rushing through my veins. he can see my giddy smile on my face and i chuckle.

"i'm not gonna lie...i'm a tad concerned.", he jokes.

i roll my eyes, "don't be...well—maybe be a little."

he laughs and then i stand up, noticing it was getting late. he stands up too and the silence in the room grows awkward.

"i should probably go.", i say, "you still have that bell right?"

he pats his pocket and i hear the faint jingle. i smile at it.

"night ricky."

"night."

i close my eyes and snap my fingers together. i head through the white mist and exit out the golden doors. as per usual, it's quite hectic. everyone is always running around everywhere to try and get their jobs done.

i walk down the stairs and over to haven. she smiles when she sees me and hugs me tightly.

"hey how's it going?", i ask.

she smiles and nods, "good!"

"i have a question for you...", i say.

she looks at me intrigued and i crouch down so i'm eye level with her.

"do you want to help me find decorations? i'm decorating a tree and apartment tomorrow and i need all the decor i can get."

she grins widely and nods her head with excitement. she grabs my hand and starts dragging me towards the storage rooms.

we walk upstairs and turn down a hallway. we open the large doors and inside holds boxes for days. they're all clear and labeled though so it should be easy to find what i need.

"alright just...find anything!", i laugh.