Anyway, this story's probably just another run-of-the-mill, Captain Gregg-coming-back-to-life kind of stories, but this one's mine and was written according to the dictates of my inner muse (I've had her all these years and I don't even know her name yet!). I hope you'll enjoy this! (Btw, I've been on a Phineas and Ferb kick lately, so the next two chapters will probably have quotes from them).

A special thank you to my faithful regular, whom I usually just call Luna-chan! Love ya!


"Ferb, I know what we're gonna do today!" – Phineas, Phineas and Ferb


Chapter 2: Gold Water
Maybe it was woman's intuition, maybe it was writer's intuition, or maybe it was a combination of the two, but somehow, when Carolyn Muir got up the next morning, she knew something had changed. It puzzled her; nothing was different that she could see. The house was the same, the children were sleeping in because it was a Saturday, Martha was downstairs cooking breakfast and talking to Scruffy, Captain Gregg was…

Wait, where was Captain Gregg? He hadn't wished her good morning with his disembodied voice. He hadn't popped up next to the telescope. He hadn't done or said anything.

Wrapping up in a shawl, Carolyn opened the French doors and walked onto the balcony. She saw someone standing on the beach. Who was it? She took a peek through the telescope and looked surprised; it was Captain Gregg! What was he doing down there so early and all alone? Granted, he did like to have some alone time once in a while, but she was pretty sure he didn't spend those moments just standing and doing nothing, which was precisely what he was doing now. Absolutely nothing.

It seemed strange to be concerned for a ghost, but Carolyn was. She pulled on her coat and boots and left the house, making excuses to Martha on her way out. She jogged down to the beach just as the first rim of the sun started climbing up out of the water to turn the surface into gold. As she got closer, she could see he was holding his hands halfway up but not looking at them. He was looking out to sea, silent and unmoving.

"Well, this is an interesting turn-around," she smiled, trying a humorous approach, "Normally you're the one who comes to me!"

He didn't answer. She stopped smiling.

"Captain?" she asked, "Are you all right?"

Nothing. She moved to stand in front of him and saw something she'd never seen before: A ghost with a spooked face. He looked at her and she could see sunlight in his eyes, which were dark underneath. That looked unnatural.

"What's wrong?" she asked seriously. He stared at her for a minute.

"Show me your hand," he finally said softly. She looked confused but held up her hand between them. She was further confused to see Captain Gregg move his own hand towards hers. Why did he bother? He was a ghost! She sighed inwardly as she waited for his hand to pass through hers…

And gasped outwardly when it didn't.

She was so shocked she couldn't move any more than the captain did! His hand was warm and firm against hers; she stared at them for a while then looked at him again. Her heart began to race.

"You're crying," she said in further surprise. A single tear was slipping down his face with the tiniest sheen of sunrise inside it. He blinked and smiled a bit at her expression.

"So are you," he replied a bit breathlessly. She chuckled through her own tears but when Daniel laced their fingers together so that they were really holding hands, she gripped his hand back and stared again in disbelief.

"I don't understand," she said, "What happened?"

"I wish I knew," he shook his head.

"What were you doing last night?" she asked.

"Nothing unusual," he explained as he lowered their hands without letting go, "I was up on the Widow's Walk making my rounds and all of a sudden I began to feel again. I managed to use the last of my power to come here."

"Incredible," she mused, "It seems like a miracle!"

"I agree," he said, "I hardly know what to make of all this. I stayed here all night trying to make heads or tails…but I haven't the foggiest. I can scarcely believe something like this could happen!"

"How do you feel, physically?" she asked. With his free hand he touched his chest.

"Strange," he said, "but normal for…for a mortal." He looked at her again with that "bedroom eyes" look she was familiar with. She knew what he was thinking and when he quietly said "Permit me," she nodded and walked with his gentle pull into his embrace.

This was more than either of them had ever dreamed: A mortal woman and a ghost, kept apart so long by their states of being, now stood in each other's arms with the light of the rising sun outlining them in gold. The sun had a much happier task today than the moon had last night. Daniel watched it dance on the water and felt as if he'd found the most priceless treasure ever created and he silently praised God for this insane yet beautiful moment of serendipity.

Carolyn was no less grateful and amazed; she closed her eyes and rejoiced in this moment. How many times had she danced with him? How many times had he held her? Plenty…but only in her dreams. That was perhaps what amazed her the most, that this was no dream. The arms she had secretly longed for were finally around her, and they were stronger in real life. She had no more of an explanation for this than he did, and she wasn't sure how long he'd even be this way, but she'd make good use of whatever time they had.

"Listen," Daniel whispered, "Do you hear it?" He gently moved her head right over his heart; its healthy rhythm brought tears back to her closed eyes.

"Yes," she sighed, "It's beautiful."

"It's yours," he whispered. She smiled.

"We should get you inside," she said as she pulled back slightly, "Can you walk?"

"But of course I can walk," he scoffed, "I may have forgotten some things about mortality, but I certainly remember how to…"

He stumbled and Carolyn quickly braced him up.

"One step at a time, Captain," she smiled, "You need to get your land legs back!"

"Rubbish," he muttered, but did as she said. That was a downside to mortality: He was completely helpless. He kept an arm around Mrs. Muir as she baby-stepped him towards Gull Cottage and wondered what the rest of the family would think.


Candy and Jonathan Muir flanked the sides of the doorway to the living room, where their beloved captain had just been deposited on the couch by their mother.

"Jonathan," Candy asked quietly, "How'd she do that?"

"I don't know," he shook his head, "He's never needed help before."

"I thought you said ghosts can't touch people," she looked at him.

"That's what he told me," he nodded at the captain, "Maybe something happened."

"What could happen to a ghost?" she said curiously. He just shrugged and watched.

"Children," their mother gently called, "Would you both come in, please?"

They obeyed and sat in the big chair across from the sofa, where Mrs. Muir sat next to Captain Gregg. He was sitting up straight, but Jonathan thought he looked like he was leaning on the arm a little, like he was tired but didn't want to show it.

"Candy, Jonathan," the mom started, "I'm sure you noticed how I…how Captain Gregg entered the house just now."

"Yes, ma'am," they chorused seriously.

"We're not sure what happened," she continued, "but it appears that…for now, at least…Captain Gregg…" She hesitated and shared a glance with him. "Captain Gregg…has come back to life."

She could feel the weight of the words as she said them and she saw different reactions in her children's eyes. Candy showed the more obvious shock that would soon turn to joy; Jonathan was quiet and confused and couldn't believe it. He got up and walked over to the captain, who scooted forward to face him.

Jonathan had always had a special bond with Captain Gregg. He was the first Muir to not only see him and talk with him, but to show him courtesy as well. Since then, the captain had been a constant presence in his life. He had become a friend and confidant to the young boy, a role model, even. As sad as it was to say, he had even almost replaced his father. Jonathan had been little more than a toddler when Mr. Muir had died, and now here was someone who, to him, at least, exemplified everything of what it was to be a man. Never in his young life had Jonathan ever imagined that something like this could happen. But then, he heard that most miracles didn't make sense and though this certainly didn't make sense, it was the greatest miracle he could think of.

Jonathan broke into a happy smile and threw his arms around the captain's neck. After a moment's hesitation, Daniel slowly wrapped his strong arms around the small boy. The look on the man's face as he held his little shipmate was synonymous with that of a father home from sea meeting his son for the first time. Carolyn captured this precious image in her mind's eye and stored it in the treasure chest of her heart. Candy joined in and that did it for their poor mother. She turned her face away and quietly left the room so the happy moment wouldn't be spoiled by her crying. It was too beautiful and her heart was too full; she had to let it out.

Martha followed her out to the front porch.

"Mrs. Muir, what's wrong?" she asked, gently touching her back.

"Have you ever seen anything so beautiful it overwhelms you?" said Mrs. Muir.

"You mean the captain?" Martha looked back and took a peek in the living room. She came back with her own expression of realization. "He's really alive, isn't he?"

"Yes, Martha," Carolyn nodded, "He really is…which means we have a few things to figure out."

"Like living arrangements?" Martha guessed.

"Yes, that," Carolyn nodded, "and I also want to find out how this happened and why."

"I'm curious, too," Martha said as they turned to walk back inside, "but why bother?" Carolyn turned back.

"If we can find out how Captain Gregg came back to life, Martha," she said, "we'll probably find out how much time we have with him."


Author's Review:
Yeah right, honey. Good luck with that! LOL

You know, this may be the first story I've ever written that didn't have references to other things! Normally I thrive on reference jokes! (probably 'cause I'm a creative leech) Oh, well. Review, please, and stay tuned for the exciting (sort of) conclusion!