"DAD!" "Captain, come quickly!" Daniel looked toward the stairs at the sound of the two children echoed from upstairs. "Excuse me," he said to Emily, and stepping into the hallway, he disappeared to find them.

"And that's another thing," Emily grumbled to Martha, "That man has the quietest footsteps. How in the world can someone that tall be as incredibly silent as he goes from place to place? I know my eyes have problems, but my ears are just fine, and I didn't hear a single footstep up those creaky stairs." Martha turned back to the stove to hide a knowing smile, and neither of them heard Geoffrey's burst of delighted laughter. 'Now that is something the spectral fraternity never considered, I imagine,' he murmured to himself, 'but as to why the mother-in-law sees him differently, now that's something concerning' he commented as he disappeared from the kitchen.

"What's the matter," Daniel said, looking at the two as he appeared in front of them. Candi had tears in her eyes, and the shock on Jonathan's face gave him deep concern. "It's Scruffy," Jonathan said, pointing to the basket that had stayed by the entrance to his room. Even after the second bedroom was built, the dog stayed with his young master, and their bond had continued to grow over the years. "He tried to get up, and then just collapsed," Jonathan said with a strained voice. "Dad," Candi offered, "it's like he wanted to move, but it's too hard, he can't!"

Bending down, Daniel saw that the normally energetic dog was barely moving, faintly wagging his stump of a tail in greeting. Picking him up in his arms, he stood with a solemn look on his face, "I think we all understand what's happening, let's take him into your mother. I think we should all be together for this."

Candi moved ahead, knocking on the master cabin door, "Mom, Mom can we come in?" Carolyn opened the door and in a glance, took in the situation. Daniel led the way, and perched on the end of their bed, Candi and Jonathan on either side. Stretching out her hand, Carolyn scratched the dog behind one ear, "So, having a tough day Scruffy?" She looked up into her husband's eyes, and with a barely noticeable nod, he let her know that the dog's time was short.

"Jonathan, can you let Martha know she should come up here too?" Eyes wide, he backed out of the door and hurried down stairs. Even now, as she looked at him, approaching 17 years, just over 6 foot and looking so much like a man, Carolyn could still see the small blond boy inside him, the excited child who had picked the wire haired terrier from all other dogs, that day at the pound so long ago.

"Such things always come in threes, I wonder what will happen after this," Daniel said, still holding Scruffy on his lap, and petting him softly. "Shouldn't we take him to the vet?" Candi asked, wiping another tear away. Carolyn wrapped her arms around her eldest, "Honey, he's a very old dog, probably 13 or so years now. That's a long time, and you know the vet said we should expect this – he's just closing down. If I were to guess, he just wants to say goodbye to us all. I think he would want to be here, not in some veterinary office, don't you?"

Martha came quickly into the room, and plopped down by the Captain. She reached out to her curly haired friend. "So Scruffy, you getting ready to move on?" She looked up with her blue eyes filled with tears, "You always wanted to be first. Guess you had to make sure you could say goodbye before Candi headed out to college." Looking up at the two children, "He loved you both so much, of course he would make sure to say his own goodbyes." Sobbing, Candi squatted by the Captain's feet, and rested her head on his knees. She put her face close to the dog's muzzle. "Bye Scruffy, you have been such a wonderful dog. Thank you." Turning up to Daniel, she paused, "Dad? Is there a place on the other side for dogs?"

Stroking her hair, he looked down at the sad young woman, and then over at the rest of the family settled close to him. "M'dear, I can only hope that is so. As you know, I never made that crossing. Even in my more ghostly world, before I became part of your lives, I never saw any animal spirits. We should ask Geoffrey when he comes by next."

"But if you could stay here, and not cross over, couldn't Scruffy do the same?" Jonathan asked with hope in his eyes, as he knelt down by his sister. "Jonathan, my lad," he said kindly, "the natural order is for the living to complete their work and pass over. My situation, or rather our situation is, as you already know, most unusual. I think we should celebrate Scruffy's life and trust we'll see him again in due time, don't you think he should be allowed his rest?"

Nodding, Jonathan put his face close to his friend, "Scruffy, I'll always love you boy," and gave him a kiss on his warm nose. With that, Scruffy opened his eyes and gave Jonathan a small lick in return. Trying to control his sobs, Jonathan buried his face in Scruffy's fur. The small dog partially opened his eyes and looked at the family gathered close around. Giving Jonathan one last gentle lick he settled down on the Captain's lap, and went quite still.

In that silent moment, they realized both that the small dog had breathed his last, and that Emily was standing quietly at the bedroom door.

Looking up, Carolyn saw the peculiar expression on her mother's face and the shock on Daniel's as well. "Mom is everything all right?" she asked, getting up to lead her mother to a chair. "I suspect it is," she said, nodding toward Daniel. Calmly, Emily continued, "Brad always told me I was imagining things when I said there was something unusual about your life, and your new husband. Seems as if I was right all along. So who wants to begin?"