"Thank you! Come again!" Melinda said as her last customer walked out of her store. She smiled and sighed. It has been a long day for her. Long year actually. From her father, to Jim dying, to her best friend leaving her, it was rough. She was grateful for Delia, Ned, and Eli though. They were there for her and it helped that she had Eli to help her out to some degree with ghosts. But it wasn't same. Melinda smiled fondly as she thought about her friend, Professor Rick Payne. Rick was a quirky, loud, flirty, somewhat scatterbrained, and a distracted man who taught the Occult at the local university. But what most people didn't know was that Rick also happened to kind, caring, funny, sweet, and could be really sensitive at times. He left a year ago to the day to go on a sabbatical in the Himalayas. Melinda smiled sadly as she recalled their final goodbye.

"You care about me. That's why you were so angry, you don't want me to go." He said softly.

"Of course I care." She said her voice breaking.

"A lot. You care about me a lot." He said with his voice cracking with emotion. Melinda felt tears prick her eyes.

"What do you want me to say? That you're one of my best friends? And that even though I understand why you have to go it still hurts that to know that you pick an old pile of artifacts over me!" She explained with a sob escaping her. Rick smiled sadly and faltered with his words for a moment.

"Y-yeah something like that would be nice." He admitted. The tears escaped her and she smiled while pointing to them.

"Happy!" She pointed out. He smiled at her sadly.

"Can I have a hug for the road? A big, squeezy, chesty, one?" He asked with a small smile.

"Don't be an idiot!" She said dryly. He grinned.

"I know! I pushed it I know-" But she stopped him by pulling him in for a tight hug.

"Don't be an idiot, be safe!" She whispered in his ear. She felt him squeeze her gently and then pull away. She wiped her face and met his eyes as he spoke.

"Hey, I'm coming back here and I'm coming back safe and sound. I promise you that." He said smiling at her with admiration. He lowered his head to meet her eyes and she let out a laugh despite herself. He gave her one last weak smile and then they parted ways.

Melinda blinked as she felt her cheeks were wet. She felt her face and realized she was crying.

"Melinda you ok?" She heard Delia ask. She looked to see her best friend with worry written all over her face. Melinda smiled and wiped her face.

"Y-Yeah I'm ok." She said. Delia went up to her and pulled her into a hug. Melinda smiled and hugged her friend.

"Who were you thinking about?" Delia asked as they pulled away. Melinda laughed.

"Out of all people in the world... Rick Payne is on my mind." She admitted. Delia smiled at her and let out a chuckle.

"The nutty professer?" She teased. Melinda laughed and nodded.

"He left exactly one year ago today and I-I miss him Delia. I really do." She said with her smile turning sad. Delia smiled and rubbed her back.

"We miss those who we love and care about Mel. Haven't you guys kept in contact?" Delia asked. Melinda nodded.

"I got a letter last month. He said he was enjoying his time there and he's learned so much." She said. Delia smiled.

"Well it sounds like to me he might be getting homesick himself." She said. Melinda smiled at the thought that maybe he himself would be missing home too. Maybe he was missing her just as much as she was missing him.

"I'd like to think that." She said softly. Delia smiled at her.

"You want to get dinner?" She asked. Melinda grinned.

"That sounds amazing!" She said. Delia smiled and the two women left.

Rick walked out of the airport and sighed. The Seattle air was warm and he smiled. He was home after his year long sabbatical in the Himalayas. He missed the warmth of city. He looked at his watch. It would be late by the time he got back to Grandview. He missed his home, his student's but most of all, he missed her: Melinda Gordon. His best friend who saw ghosts and he happened to fall in love with. He couldn't help himself. Melinda was an amazing woman. She was smart, kind, quirky in a cute sort of way and very beautiful. She was the other reason why he left. Melinda was married to Jim and Rick would never want to get in the way of her happiness. She was that important to him. Having her friendship was more important than trying to pursue his romantic feelings. He sighed and grabbed his luggage. He hopped into his taxi and waited for the drive. As the taxi drove away Rick reached into his pocket. He pulled out his old phone and looked through his contacts. He stopped when he saw her name. He wondered if it was still the same? Should her call her or text her letting her know that he had come back? He frowned and sighed. By the time he would get back in town it be late and she needed her sleep. Then he started to wonder about her. Did she still have her store? Were her and Delia still best friends? Did they still run her antique store in town? How was her ghost situation? How was Jim? Did they figure out their children situation? Too many questions and not enough answers. He sighed and look out the car window. After three and half hours later he passed welcome sign to Grandview. He felt his heart beat slightly increase. He looked around town and saw that nothing had changed. He grinned when he saw the antique store. He sighed and soon they pulled up to his old house. He paid his fair and grabbed his luggage. He walked up the door and looked under the doormat to grab the key his sister left him. He unlocked the door and entered his home.

"It's good to be home." He said to himself.