Josh's Wonderful Life

By Isadora Quagmire

Disclaimer: "Wow. Like, none of it is, like, so totally mine!"

Yeah, sad but true. I don't even own the idea (if you couldn't tell, I ripped it off of the movie….but my style…; p)!

Spoilers: Up to and through Noel. That's it.

A/N: I do not have an obsession with the word 'wonderful.'

Chapter 2

"How'd you do that?" Josh asked, amazed.

"Hey, I'm dead. I can do anything I want."

"Really?"

"Yup, most anything," Joanie replied, "but death isn't wonderful. When you die, you lose the ability to comfort. Now Josh, the worst part is you have to watch everyone get hurt. By the way, that's what you're gonna see tonight, just to forewarn you."

"I'm sure no one would hurt if I was never born," Josh replied darkly.

Joanie laughed bitterly while snapping her fingers again to change the scenery. "You'll see, Josh. You'll see."

Josh studied the familiar scene around him. "Joanie, why did you take me to a graveyard?"

"Because I'm showing you how mom and dad's lives would be without you," she said, taking his hand and leading him along the beaten path. "I have to warn you, Josh, you may find it a little disturbing."

"Okay." He closed his eyes and grimaced, preparing for the worst. When he opened his eyes, he saw his mother kneeling beside two graves.

"Joanie," he whispered, "nothing's changed."

"Watch it for a minute, you idiot."

Josh made a face, then turned to watch his mother. She got up silently and placed stones on the two graves in front of her. As Josh walked forward to embrace her, Joanie stuck her arm out, stopping him.

"Josh," she whispered, "she doesn't know who you are."

"Of course she does, she's my mother!"

"You were never born! Don't you get that?"

"But -"

"Joshua!"

"Fine."

"Sometimes I wonder how you became a politician."

"Why?"

"Because you suck at arguing. Just watch," she said, pointing to their mother.

Josh watched her sob silently before falling to the ground. "Mom," he called.

"You can't interfere, Josh! This is life without you! You can't help her!"

"So I have to leave her to die?"

"Yes!"

"That's three family members I have to watch die! Do you know how painful that is?"

"No, but it was your wish, and I can't let you interfere!"

Josh bit his lip to keep himself from tearing up. "Fine. I wish I was born."

"Ah, Joshua, Josh, Josh."

"Alright, tell me whatever it is and stop channeling Donna."

"Always bring the conversation back to Donna, aren't you?"

Josh blushed. "Shove it," he said.

"Aw! Josh has a crush!"

"Joanie."

"Alright."

"What were you going to say," he asked with his eyes still on his mother's rigid body.

"Oh, yeah. Josh, I know you're wondering why there were two graves there."

"No. One was yours and the other was dad's."

"But you're not curious to as why I was dead, too?"

"No, you died in a fire watching – hey! I was never born! Why were there two graves?"

"Because I am clumsier than you thought. I can light things on fire all by myself," Joanie responded, smiling brightly.

"Time to see more."

"What about mom?"

"You don't have to worry about her, you were never born. Time to see more."

Joanie snapped her fingers before Josh could respond.