So. Mom.

They're on the Oregon Coast to escape the heat. And maybe talk a little bit about Nolan. Luckily Sunshine's already talked to Kat, so she's a little less upset than she was before.

Also, they definitely were not the only ones with the idea to come to the beach. The shore looks like a fucking colony. "Those are not ants, those are people," Sunshine quips as she drags the camera across the view.

Kat laughs. "I've never, ever seen the beach this crazy. Worth the drive, huh?"

Sunshine makes a face. "I dunno."

"It's beautiful."

"Except it's hot."

Kat smirks at the camera, talking in a baby voice. "The sand's burning her little feet cause she's a wuss."

"It is," she complains.

Kat smiles. "But we talked. About Nolan."

Sunshine sticks her tongue out.

"And why she met with him. And how it went. Which hopefully you all saw." She looks at her daughter. "Kinda crazy. So, okay, just to— make sure I understand, maybe you can help me out if I'm wrong— is he saying that everything was because he didn't take his meds?"

Sunshine pushes her lips back into a neutral smile.

"Is that...?"

She nods. "Yeah."

"Why did he not take his meds?" Kat asks in disbelief, shaking her head. "What was that about?"

"I don't know."

"I just think, it's like, what is the point if you have meds and you don't take 'em...?"

"You don't take 'em? I don't know."

"That's a bad idea," Kat says, looking at the camera, "for any of you out there that are thinking of doing something similar, we're gonna call it pulling a Nolan—"

"Pulling a Nolan?"

"—so don't do it, take your meds if you're supposed to, don't cause grief on the people that care about you — not that we care about Nolan, we're not saying that—"

Sunshine quickly shakes her head. "No, we don't."

"—but, yeah, so I don't know, uh, she told me a little bit about the voting thing. I guess I should probably just start watching the videos? A little bit more?"

Sunshine nods enthusiastically. Yep, good idea, Mom.

"And I think it's gonna be interesting to see— if Nolan really gets to stay in your life, what that means? Y'know?"

Sunshine nods again, this time less enthusiastic.

"And— it doesn't mean you have to take their advice, of course."

"Yeah, I know," she mumbles.

"I also love," Kat continues, smiling like she just saw two cats cuddling, "that Nolan called it 'our channel', that was funny. Like, oh! It's a Nolan and Sunshine channel!"

"No, it's... just a Sunshine channel—"

"You better rename it!"

"—and nothing else."

Kat laughs.

Yeah. It's definitely staying as her channel.

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So. This isn't weird at all.

She called Nolan to tell him that the majority of her subscribers voted for them to reunite and stay in contact, and he was so excited he immediately gave Sunshine an address.

No idea whose it is, but whatever. She follows it anyway. Bodyguard comes along, too.

When Sunshine arrives at the strange house, Nolan (wearing a white shirt for once?) leads her to the door. Wind chimes rattle next to them, sun beaming down on the ground.

"Okay," Nolan says, turning, smiling. "This is the place. Please don't be too weird."

"Yeah, I'm the weird one."

Nolan opens the door and pokes his head inside. "Mom?" he calls.

I'm sorry. WHAT?

"Yeah, I'm back here!" a woman calls back.

Sunshine steps in after Nolan into a living room. A pug mutt quickly greets them, jumping up and scrabbling its paws over Nolan's jeans. Sunshine looks around the house, really wondering why the hell she's meeting Nolan's mom.

Still. Doggie!

"Mom," Nolan says, patting the pug's head. "I had a very long conversation with Mr. Lazar about our dog."

"Ohhhh," his mother coos, walking out from the hallway. She smiles sweetly at Sunshine and goes up to Nolan, hugging him tightly.

"If it happens again," Nolan continues through a smile, hugging back, even if he's probably two feet taller than his mother, "he's gonna call the police."

Uh. Okay.

Nolan's mother is wearing a black top with white flowers on it and blue jeans. She has red hair, which is quite surprising, and Sunshine sees very little resemblance between the two. "So...?" His mother motions toward Sunshine, tilting her head.

"Uh, this is my friend Sunshine," Nolan points at her, then to Bodyguard, "and her sidekick Tootall."

Sunshine forces herself not to roll her eyes.

"Yeah," his mom says, looking taken aback by the sight of Bodyguard, "you are tall. Right, um." She laughs and steps forward to her. "Sunshine, um, gosh— okay, I knew he was gonna bring you over to meet me—"

She nods.

"—but he didn't say now and I— you know, I can make, I can make some cookies really fast, if you want!"

Nolan shakes his head.

"I'm fine," Sunshine giggles politely. "Really."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, no, it's fine."

She motions toward the kitchen and twists her hand. "Cut up some carrot sticks, or..."

"Oh, no." Sunshine smiles.

"Mom," Nolan says, looking in the fridge, "did you eat all the Chinese? Like, all of it?"

His mother sighs. "How embarrassing is that?"

The pug squeaks its toy at the woman's feet.

"Okay, Morty," she says, taking the toy. "Okay. Wow! Hi."

"Hi," Sunshine smiles.

"I just wasn't expecting to meet you." His mom smiles. In the background, Nolan grabs a glass cup and fills it with water. She leans down and pets the pug. "This is Morty."

"I love him!" Sunshine says with a genuine smile. So cute! Nolan never mentioned he had a dog.

"I'm, uh, I'm Marcie."

"Sunshine."

Marcie gives a little side hug. "So— so please, can I get you some water?"

"No, I'm fine," Sunshine nods, "really, I'm... good."

"Okay..."

Nolan walks over, glass in hand. "You don't like water?"

"No, I just don't want any, I'm not parched or anything..."

He grins and Marcie fake punches Nolan's shoulder. "She doesn't have to. But if you change your mind, let me know. Uh, come in." She laughs.

"Sorry about the camera," Nolan says, leaning against the wall as they walk over to the couch. "They... like it, a lot."

"Well, it's okay," Marcie says, "I just woulda liked to have had a little notice, but..."

Nolan clears his throat. "It's more fun if you don't, so."

Sunshine points at Nolan. "That was your fault. Um. So," she picks up a picture that shows little Nolan and his mom hugging, "you were a kid at one time, here?"

Nolan grunts from the other side of the room, sipping his water.

Marcie laughs. "He was, it's hard to believe."

"There will be more of this later!" Sunshine mouths to the camera in a whisper, smirking, because she just loves embarrassing the hell out of Nolan.

"Look at him now," Sunshine says.

"Shut up," Nolan calls back, placing his glass down and throwing himself on the couch, hugging an orange pillow to his chest.

Marcie laughs once more. "Well, yeah, please, sit down, sit down."

Sunshine relents and drops down next to Nolan. "Sure."

"Um, gosh, it is just—" Marcie sits down across from them, "it's cool to meet you! I hope you like dogs, cause he's probably—" She motions toward the couch.

"Oh, yes," Sunshine says.

"Morty. Morty," Nolan says in the dog voice. The pug jumps up and Sunshine pets it, completely falling in love with this cute little puppy.

"Okay, well, y'know." Marcie makes a vague gesture. "Um, this is probably kind of awkward, but..."

Nolan leans his head back, laughing in embarrassment. "Oh, Mom, noooo. No way!" He drops his smile. "You've known her for five seconds, Mom."

"Shhh shh shh, you don't know what I'm gonna say."

Sunshine pets Morty, anticipating whatever is coming next.

Marcie sighs. "I just know that, um, that he really put you through—"

Nolan leans forward and sips his drink, definitely trying to hide his mortification at the subject.

"—a lot, and we've talked about it, and, uh, he's my kid so he's stuck with me, but I appreciate the fact that you gave him the chances that you did—"

Nolan looks at Sunshine as they exchange a glance and does some weird face, extending his arms, eyes wide like he's begging for forgiveness. He looks like a preteen Christian Bale with less angst. Sunshine giggles.

"—and I think he's worth it—" Marcy laughs. "Stop, with that face!"

Morty climbs on Nolan's legs and stumbles.

"Thanks, Morty, for breaking the tension. But, uhm, really, it really means a lot to me." Marcie nods.

"Yeah," Sunshine laughs, looking at Nolan, "no problem."

She scoots up further. "Also, I, um." Nolan looks at his mom then rolls his eyes. "I know this is kind of, a, a little weird," Marcy giggles, "I, uh—"

Nolan gives his mother a look.

She gives one back. "I— I'll handle it."

He dramatically shakes his hand into a fist. "I'm going to run away from home and join the circus! Ah. Okay."

Sunshine watches the two, trying to keep her giggles in.

"He didn't tell you, I'm assuming," Marcie grins.

"What?" Sunshine laughs.

"Okay, well, um, here's the deal. I am— people say psychic, but I'm really more of a clairvoyant, um—"

Sunshine looks at Nolan, smiling like an idiot. He shrugs uselessly. "You failed to mention this?"

"Oh, yeah," he says sarcastically, "it's the first thing I tell people, golly, gee."

"He's selective with it." Marcie smiles. "And I normally don't say much to people cause I don't like to freak 'em out, but if I get a really strong hit on somebody I feel like I should show them."

Nolan drops his shaking head into his hands, looking like he wants the ground to swallow him whole.

"And I really see you guys," Marcie continues, "really developing your friendship, and—"

Nolan inclines his head forward and squints at her like she's speaking in a foreign tongue.

"—actually taking it to a different level—"

He groans and drops his head back, probably thinking 'Kill me.'

"—um, I'm just getting this huge huge amount of energy, uh—"

Sunshine looks at the camera, raising her brows. Interesting.

"—coming toward me," Marcie closes her eyes and reopens them, "telling me you guys need to work together."

Nolan scratches his chin as Morty sits on his lap. "Um, I think there's some pictures of me when I was five and naked in the cupboard, you should show her those next."

"Oh, don't worry, I will," Marcie says. "Seriously, though."

"Um, working, together—? Like, like a job?" Sunshine asks. "Cause I don't really like jobs."

"Who does." Marcie smiles. "No, I mean, I really mean it. Think about it, think about it, I'm sorry, I know it's kinda— but just think about it."

She giggles. "Okay, I— I will."

Nolan looks at Sunshine. "I'm sorry you were just verbally molested by my mother."

"Oh, brother," Marcie swats a hand and rolls her eyes.

Sunshine laughs.

She really is glad to have Nolan as her friend again.

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It's the day after meeting Nolan's adorable dog — and his mom — and this all feels really right.

Marcie was awesome, for one. She made a fruit and veggie tray. Who does that? Awesome people. She's kinda like a little house wife. And a clairvoyant. How did he forget to mention that? So weird.

Anyway, his mom did get her thinking. Marcie talked about them working together, and that's kind of what Sunshine and Nolan are best at. Working together, like a little fake Scooby gang. She's Daphne, and he can be.... Scooby.

It's just kind of getting her thinking. There are always so many people who ask her to investigate their house, so... maybe it could be super duper fun.

So.

Little gears turning.

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Three days later, and Sunshine's been thinking about what she wants to do next, more adventuriness, y'know. She thinks it would be cool, though, to investigate other haunted places. Start a little Scooby gang, take Nolan, right? Maybe they could take his dog along?

Anywho, Sunshine's been looking into houses people have told her are haunted, and she's really liking going into their histories. Because maybe she misses that with their old house, just a little bit.

For the first house, the owners are currently in Egypt, so it's not like she can talk to them as of now, but they feel a spirit in the house. That's about all she knows.

The next house has a male homeowner that feels that there is a female presence — no bothering him of any kind, y'know, pestering — but he wants to know more about this ghost of his, so, also interesting.

Another house she heard about from a friend of a friend of her hairdresser's cousin is being sold because something — they said a ghost, but something more sinister — is living there, taking over the whole house kind of thing. She has dealt with two demons, so. Why not take on another?

So, yeah. Sunshine looked at all of the houses but some of her addresses were wrong and she ended up at a Starbucks. Probably not haunted.

She just thinks it's a cool idea. Maybe Nolan will have some strong feelings about it, too.

Overall, she's had a long, fun day.

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Someone's calling.

Sunshine's sitting in her car, talking to the camera, when her phone starts ringing. She raises a brow and answers, putting it on speaker.

"Sunshine?"

"Yeah! Hey," she says, recognizing the voice.

"Hi, it's Marcie, Nolan's mom."

"Oh." Sunshine smiles. "Hi." What's this? More psychic info?

"Hi, honey, I know this is kind of sudden, but do you have any free time today? I mean, it can be any time, I'm home all day."

"Uhm— yeah? I do, yeah."

"Would you be willing to stop by the house just for a few minutes? It'll just take a second."

Sunshine doesn't know what this is about, but it can't hurt, can it? "Um, yeah! No, that's fine."

"Okay," Marcie says, "that would be great. Um, I'll— you know what? I'll make a little fruit and veggie tray."

"Okay, yeah," Sunshine replies, because damn, she loves them.

"That'd be awesome. All right, thank you so much, honey."

"Yeah, no problem."

"See ya soon."

"Okay, bye."

"Buh bye."

Sunshine hangs up and can't stop smiling as she looks at the camera, a sort of incredulous look on her face. "That was Nolan's mom." She laughs. "How did she even get my phone number?"

Looks like she's stopping by Marcie's house. C'mon. She can't say no to that fruit and veggie tray. It's golden.

She manages to get Bodyguard to tag along and makes it to the house about an hour later. Sunshine squints as she looks up at Bodyguard. "I'm so sorry we have to do this again." She steps forward and knocks on the black door.

A dog barks and Sunshine smiles. "Morty." The door finally opens and Nolan looks out at her. "Any time now."

He squints and then smiles. "Sunshine!"

"You don't have to make that face."

Nolan looks up at Bodyguard. "Sasquatch!" His expression drops when he looks back at Sunshine. "What are you doing here?"

"Your— mom called me?"

"She's here because I called her here," Marcie says from the kitchen. She crosses Nolan's side and smiles. Sunshine waves.

"Mooooom..." Nolan says in a sing-song voice. He has this look on his face that's a mix between weirded out and surprised. "Where did you get their nuuuumbberrr? You're super weiiiird."

"Come in," Marcie huffs, motioning for them to come inside. Nolan widens the door and raises a brow at the ordeal. "Um, thanks for coming."

"Yeah," Sunshine nods. "No problem."

Nolan has a very fake smile as he looks at his mother.

She looks back, grinning. "You should really listen to your mother."

He inclines his head forward, continuing to fake smile.

"If you listen to your mother," Marcie continues, "and did what your mother asked, I wouldn't have had to call her myself. I'm just sayin'."

Nolan nods and puts his hand on his hips, then turns and walks into the kitchen, making a sound of disbelief.

"Anyway," she says, facing Sunshine, "hi."

"Hi." Sunshine smiles. "How are you?"

"I'm good." In the kitchen Nolan crosses his arms and leans on the counter. Marcie looks over Sunshine's shoulder at her son. "Do I need to ground you? Do we still do that? Grounding?"

He shakes his head and doesn't respond.

"Oh, silent treatment. Okay. Anyway, please, come and sit down." Marcie leads Sunshine to the couch. "I just needed to see you."

"No, yeah, that's fine." Sunshine looks back at Nolan and raises a brow, then seats herself on the couch.

Marcie joins next to her. Nolan walks into the living room and sits down, arms on his knees as he watches both women. "Remember when I talked to you, when I first met you, that if I get a big strong hit from something, that I feel like I need to show that."

Sunshine nods.

She motions toward Nolan. "And he knows I don't just run up to people all over willy-nilly saying, 'I need to share this,' I don't do that."

"Yes you do," Nolan says. "You totally do. All the time."

Marcie shushes him. Sunshine giggles and Nolan wipes a hand down his face, embarrassed. "Anyway," she continues, "when I said I saw you guys really working together—"

"Morty, Morty," Nolan coos in his dog voice.

"—I mean I really see it so clearly, and it won't leave me alone. I'm, like, dreaming about it and stuff, and so I know this is a big deal."

"We get along so well, and everything," Nolan adds.

Sunshine makes a face. "Right."

Marcie goes on. "I also want to say, um, I have watched all the videos."

Sunshine and Nolan exchange a glance. "All of them?" Sunshine asks, blown away. "There's... a lot."

"Oh, I know. I've watched all of them and I just wanna say I really, really, really know now what..." Marcie motions toward Nolan. "He put you through."

His jaw hangs open and he smiles in bewilderment.

"It's okay, honey, it's not your fault. I'm just saying." Marcie nods.

"I'm sorry," Nolan keeps smiling, "did you miss the parts where I was in mortal danger, like, all the time?"

"That was, like, twice," Sunshine says. "Okay?"

"Anyway, anyway," Marcie breathes, "I just want to reiterate how much it means to me that you, uh, have given him another shot."

Nolan runs his hand through his hair and shifts in his spot, tucking his legs close to his chest, grinning with humiliation. "I can't handle this."

"Yeah," Sunshine laughs.

"Okay, moving on," Marcie says loudly, steering the subject, "moving on. Awkward."

Nolan hangs his head back.

"So, talking about you guys working together, I actually have—" She looks at her son. "What is it, is it a case? Is that what it is, a thing?"

"Uhhh..." Nolan makes a face.

"We use a thing that you have to— a case," Marcie nods.

"A case... we actually, we actually like to call it—"

He's cut off by Sunshine. "Okay, sure, call it a case."

"—yeah, okay," Nolan nods, scratching his nose.

"A job, a case," Marcie confirms.

"Yeah," Sunshine says.

"Yeah, yeah." Nolan rocks back and forth on the carpet.

Marcie crosses her hands. "A case that I need you guys to help me with. And it's kind of a big deal, actually, it's a friend of mine, um, and there is something in that house."

Nolan tilts his head. "I'm sorry, who is this?"

"Huh?"

"Who—" Nolan shakes his head. "Who?"

"Uhhh...." Marcie says.

Sunshine stares at him. "Just a friend of hers?"

"Somebody from work," Marcie says, "you don't need to know, at this point."

Nolan looks between both of them and makes a face, dropping his shoulders in defeat.

"I don't— I don't wanna spill the beans unless I know you guys are gonna work on it, for sure. Okay? That's the thing. She's embarrassed about it."

"I'm embarrassed about it," Nolan mutters, not looking at either of them.

Sunshine rolls her eyes.

"There's something in her house," Marcie resumes, "and it's, uhm, it's pretty powerful, I've felt it a number of times, and— I don't know what to do with it, but I think if you guys put your heads together you could figure it out. I don't know the next... step. Would you be willing to—" She laughs, "before I divulge any names, would you be willing to help?"

"How much are we getting paid?" Nolan asks.

"Oh my goodness," Sunshine says.

He raises his hand, clambering to his feet. "Fine! Yeah, let's do it, it'll be fun, okay."

"Nolan, seriously," Marcie tips her head as she looks up at him.

"I'm sorry." He offers his hands.

"I mean, I wouldn't ask you if I didn't mean it." She outstretches her arms and takes his hands in hers.

"Okay." He dips his head and turns on his heel.

Sunshine just laughs.

the video with sunshine meeting nolan's mom is absolutely hilarious i've never laughed so hard in my life. WATCH IT!

also basically three chapters out in one day. magical