"Family is a gift that lasts forever"

~☠️~🌹~☠️~

It was thirty minutes later when Emily was able to piece herself together enough to leave the Wilsons' house. As she was heading down the stairs, she could feel almost lighter in a way as she gripped the memories that she had created with the people she loved and held close to her in many ways. Not noticing the ghost that was staring at her, as she passed them, only two gave her a second glance as the leader hit their shoulders. 

"It's time, boys," Luke said as he started to walk up the stairs, not caring if the other two were following him. Alex and Reggie, after giving who they believe is the little girl they never got to watch grow-up walk around the corner, and finally follow him up. 

"Hey, Care, I'm gonna get ready to head out," Emily said as she stood to the side of the TV, the two teens were watching. "I just wanted to leave my number here so that if you need anything or just need to talk, you can message me." 

After hearing her godmother's voice, Carrie couldn't help but turn towards her with a sad look as she got up off the couch. "Do you really have to go so soon?" 

The teen asked, as she walked towards Em, not afraid to show a look of hurt that adorned her pale face, as she worried this might be the last time she sees her aunt again. "I finally get to see you after so long, and you're just leaving like that?" 

A sigh left the older woman as she gently placed the box down, giving the blonde boy a look, causing Nick to just nod before leaving the room to let the two woman to talk. Emily, without any hesitation, grabbed Carrie's hand and led her to the couch, giving herself a second to really look at her goddaughter. While pushing a stray hair away from her face, she finally noticed how much she had aged, starting to look so much like her father, in the best way possible. 

"Carrie, I know that I haven't been the best aunt to you in the last year, and that was mainly your father and my fault." Grabbing her hand and giving a squeeze before continuing, "But, even though I'm not going to be showing up as I did years ago, almost every single day, I want you to know that I am always here for you. You're my goddaughter, meaning that in my eyes, until my last breath, you will always be another daughter to me." 

No longer able to hold her tears in, Carrie pulled her honorary aunt in for a hug, sobbing into her shoulder, missing the motherly love she hadn't received in what felt so long. "I love you, Auntie Em!" 

"I love you, too," Emily said, stroking the back of the girl's head with affection, not letting her go to solidify what she said. 

~☠️~🌹~☠️~

Meanwhile, outside the Wilson residence, Julie and Flynn were scared of what might be happening at the house with three angry ghosts left alone to do whatever they wanted to their ex-band member. Not realizing the familiar vehicle parked outside the residence, they looked over the fence and into the side window, hoping to catch anything that might seem supernatural. 

Julie was quick to give Flynn the all-clear sign as they both went down the stairs and through the driveway, getting closer to the front door, hoping no one would catch the two as they failed to be discreet. After reaching the door, Flynn quickly rang the doorbell, earning a look from Julie. "Really?"

"What?" Flynn whispered, "How else are we supposed to get in? I'm not sneaking through an open window and getting charged for breaking in."

Hearing her friend, and not wanting to admit that she was right, Julie just rolled her eyes as she leaned over towards the side window to see if anyone was coming, before quickly standing straight and insinuating to her friend to act normal as they waited for someone to open the door.

"Hey!" Both of them greeted Carrie as she opened the door, who quickly wiped her eyes when she noticed it was the two girls she was not expecting to be at her front door.

"What are you two doing here, and how'd you get over the security gate?" Carrie asked, causing Julie to release an exaggerated breath as she looked at the Wilson girl. 

"Teamwork!" Letting out a breathy laugh, to act like what she said was funny. "Do you have a Band-Aid? The barbed wire was new." 

Rolling her eyes, Carrie put her hands on her hips and looked at the two. "What do you want?"

"Uh... just thought you should know that Julie's band is playing at the dance tonight," Flynn said, trying to help, as Julie quickly agreed with her friend. 

"You guys are acting weirder than usual." 

"Probably because we're thirsty," Julie exclaimed, with Flynn backing her up, before she came up with an idea to be let into the house. "Can we come in for a glass of water?"

Carrie, who was still feeling emotional from earlier, let out an exaggerated sigh as she couldn't deny her two old friends from at least getting a glass of water. "Fine, if it'll make you leave faster."

As she moved to the side to allow the girls in, both Julie and Flynn were trying to hold their shock in, not only for being allowed back into the mansion they used to visit, but also from the girl who would have normally slammed the door in their faces. Yet, that thought was quickly destroyed when Carrie snapped at them to not break anything, before leaving the two as she walked into the living room. When the coast was clear, the two of them quickly made their way further into the house as they searched for the members of the band. 

"Where are you?" Julie whispered to herself, as she still had no luck finding them. 

"I'm right here." Nick's voice rang as he watched the two girls from the couch, causing them to slowly turn around and see him. Realizing how awkward that might have sounded, both of the girls let out a nervous chuckle.

"Nick!" Julie said, pointing towards the blonde as she looked to Flynn in a panic. "Look, Flynn, it's Nick."

The boy let out a chuckle watching as the girl continued to rant out weird names for him, as Flynn just stared at her friend in horror, and as Julie finally registered what she was saying. "Make it stop."

Letting out a laugh, Flynn looked at the boy, "Hey! Glad you're here, Nicky-poo."

Earning a look from her friend for using one of the names she said earlier, Flynn just smiled at her and patted her on the back. "We wanted to tell you that Julie's band is playing at the dance."

"Oh yeah, no. I saw your post." 

"These girls bothering you, babe?" Carrie's voice rang interuptting Nick, as she stood behind the couch with two cups of water for the uninvited guest. 

Nick, noticing the situation, quickly tried to defuse it. "No, just telling us about the dance tonight."

"Right!" The Wilson girl said with a sarcastic cheer, "Julie and her hologram band are playing. How'd you learn how to do all that hologram stuff anyway?"

"The internet, it's not just full of makeup tips," Julie said after accepting the glass from the giggling girl, who, after hearing the jab, quickly turned towards with a look.

"Uh...what do you say, babe?" Nick quickly asked, trying to get his girlfriend's glare away from the girls, as he moved over for her to sit next to him. 

Carrie, after thinking over her answered begrundingly agreed to the idea, as she sat in her boyfriend's arms, and looked at both Julie and Flynn. "Let's check out the hologram show."

Grabbing his phone quickly, Nick looked away from Carrie, "Great, I'll make sure all my buddies are there." 

"Ooh! How exciting, that's a lot of people starting at you." 

Clearing her throat, Julie took what Carrie said to heart, as she realized tonight was her first real official girl with the band in front of so many classmates, and instead of getting ready like she wanted, she was in her enemy's house trying to find her missing members. 

Smiling as she enjoyed the unease she left Julie with, Carrie continued to speak. "You girls remember where the door is, right?" 

Julie looked at her and said, "Yeah!" As she tipped forward, spilling water onto the ground. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry!" 

Carrie just rolled her eyes, starting to get up to clean the girls' mess, when Julie quickly stopped her. "I know where the towels are, I'll get them." 

As Julie handed Flynn the water, she 'accidentally' bumped into her, causing the other girl to spill some water herself. 

"Oh... here I go!" Flynn chuckled, "Oh my gosh, can you imagine if this were cranberry juice? I don't know about you, but I've been a klutz my entire life." 

As Julie left to continue her search from earlier, Flynn kept talking to the couple to distract them from the girl, who was nowhere near where the towels were.

~☠️~🌹~☠️~

"LET! ME! OUT!" 

Was all Emily heard, as she was drying her face with a towel, causing her to look at the door, confused. She quickly exited the bathroom, and she briefly caught sight of her ex-friend as he quickly left for his helicopter in a rush. 

"Carrie, honey, do you know what that was all about?" She asked as she made her way into the room, but before she could expect an answer, she was shocked to see Flynn in the living room, sitting between the couple. "Oh! Flynn, what are you doing here?"

"Hi, Mrs. Molina, I didn't know you were here!" The girl loudly said, hoping to get her friend to realize the situation. "I was just showing Nick and Carrie here some photos, do you want to see them?"

"I think I'm good, sweetie. I was actually going to head out; I have to do something before picking Carlos up from a friend's house, but if you like a ride, I can drop you off?"

"No, thank you, I was actually-"

"You ready to go, Flynn?" Julie said interupting her friend, before realizing the new person in the room. "Mom!?"

Shocked to see her daughter at her old friend's house, took a second glance. "Julie, what are you doing here?" 

"I-I was..." 

"They were here to tell Carrie and me about the dance tonight, Mrs. Molina," Nick said, noticing the girl was having trouble talking with her mom. "She wanted to make sure we were going to make a show, and must not have realized you were here."

Nodding her head, after giving her daughter and her friend a look to see if what the boy was saying was true. "Oh, okay. Well, since you're both here, I'll drive you both home to get ready, since I believe we have overstayed our welcome. 

Emily looked at her goddaughter, who was already getting up and walking towards her, and hugged her, whispering into her ear. "Remember what I said, if you ever need me, you have my number, and I will be here for you, okay?"

"Okay." 

Giving the girl a quick kiss on the head, Emily looked at her daughter and friend while she grabbed the box of stuff from earlier. "Let's go, girls." 

So, I'm not going to make promises that I'm back to write this book, as I have made many promises to continue this book too many times. 

My reason for coming back, though, and publishing a new chapter was because I re-read this book and realized I gave up on something that I used to enjoy. This book was one of a kind, and I had so many ideas, but instead of taking the time to give you what you all wanted, I vanished just like the guys after eating the tainted hot dogs.

I want to get back into this book and finally finish what I started, giving Emily, Luke, and Julie the reunion they deserve, and the same for the reader who has waited for this story to continue. 

Updates will be posted late for my people who live in my time zone, since I tend to do my writing at 2 or 3 a.m., but I do hope to finish this book before the end of this year. 

So, if your readers who have been holding out for me to post a new chapter, thank you! I hope these next few chapters can live up to your expectations and still earn the love it once had years ago. 

-Mech-x4fan