(SPOILER ALERT if you haven't yet watched "Ghostbusters: Afterlife." This is my take on what a certain character may have been thinking during other scenes at the end of the movie. If you HAVE watched this awesome, all-the-feels movie, hope you like it.)

No Regrets

It was finally over. Leaving his old friends and colleagues all those years ago, stealing all the traps and packs and other 'busting equipment, moving to a crumbling old farmhouse in the literal middle of nowhere that his research pointed to as Gozer's ground zero...all his work and builds and studying to prevent the Sumerian destructor god from returning more powerful than ever in 2021…it was done. Not even his death would get in the way of saving the world again, not when it came to his family – blood-related or otherwise.

The ghost of Egon Spengler watched on as his young granddaughter ran to the dirt field to check on the traps. He remembered his own first trapping…that gluttonous green Class 5 FRV at the Sedgewick Hotel. All of his and Ray's theories had held true in practice. Egon felt even more relief that his trap field for Gozer DID truly work after all.

"I thought you might turn up."

Honestly, Venkman, I wasn't quite so sure myself. This "crossing over" is all still fairly new to me.

"I'm sorry…I didn't believe you."

Egon turned to face his best friend as he apologized, then gave a soft smile and subtle nod.

Then Winston spoke up. "I should'a called. I miss ya, my friend." Egon gave a slight shrug and looked away for a moment.

It's all right, Winston. Your monetary assistance for all those years was invaluable.

All four Ghostbusters watched the aftermath of the battle: Callie running from the porch to check on her daughter, Trevor dashing from Ecto-1 to pull Lucky out of the carbonized remains of the terror dogs, wondering why there was so much white goo splattered on the car's windows…

Peter walked over to his fallen colleague, his eyes focused on Callie and Phoebe. "So...you're a grandfather, huh?" Egon couldn't help the sad smile and downcast eyes in response. Peter continued on, looking at his friend steadily in the eyes. "It's OK, Spengs. You had your reasons. But, you know, you should be proud of them, of ALL of them. I mean, carrying on the family tradition of saving the world and all…"

I'm beyond proud, Peter. No words can describe how proud I am of them.

Peter offered his hand to Egon, which he firmly clasped in his own ghostly hand, then clapped Peter's shoulder with his other one.

Venkman let go of his ethereal friend, cleared his throat, and then said "Well, I'd better go introduce myself to them, being a founding member and everything." To which Egon rolled his eyes at. Peter looked at him one last time, saying "See you on the other side, Egon." Then he walked over to where Phoebe was being fiercely hugged by her mother.

Then Ray came up to Egon.

"Oh Spengie, I…I don't know what to say, I…you were my, my BEST of friends and I…"

Ray couldn't go on, not with the tears starting to roll down his careworn face, and choking up with years of sadness and frustration welling up inside him.

Egon knew what to do. He leant towards Ray, to lift his chin with his index finger, getting him to look Egon right in his ghostly eyes. He then grasped his old friend by the shoulders with both hands, firmly. Once Ray was a little calmer, Egon pointed to himself with his right hand, then slid his right fingers along the palm of his left hand, then pointed at Ray.

Ray's eyes went wide and he gasped.

"You forgive me?"

Egon smiled and nodded.

Ray laughed then grabbed his old buddy into a bear hug for the first time in their long history.

You came through in the end, Ray. That's all that matters. Egon closed his eyes and sighed happily.

They parted from each other, and then Ray started to sniff the air. "Say, listen, do you smell burning marshmallow? I should check that out, you know, just in case." Egon just shook his head, still smiling. "Nice working with you, Doctor Spengler."

Ray headed over to Ecto-1 to find the source of the now slightly-cloying sweet smell that the prairie winds were wafting all around the dirt field.

Egon turned slightly as Winston then approached him.

"Your grandson's the one that patched up old Ecto, yeah?" Egon nodded in response. "Smart kid, that one. Then again, I really shouldn't be surprised; runs in the family and all that."

Egon gave a slight shrug and smirk at that. He couldn't help it.

Winston went on. "Don't worry, Egon. We'll look after all of them for you, I promise."

He then held out his hand, palm facing up. Egon gladly slapped his own hand down on top of Winston's in classic Ghostbusters' style.

After a moment, Winston gave a little cough and said "Although, now I think of it, I might just have to look over Ecto-1 myself, 'cause, well…"

Egon just shook his head again and smiled.

Before Winston walked over to check the banged-up Ectomobile, he gave Egon one last salute and said, "Good luck, my friend."

Standing aside, watching all the action going on around him, Egon could feel his spirit lifting, and not just figuratively. He knew how anchored ghosts could slowly break their earthly chains, if they chose to. Some were angry and vengeful enough to stay on the physical plane with no thought of going on to the other side. But Egon Spengler, he knew he didn't have to stay any longer. The Ghostbusters, both old and new, had stopped the world from ending. His daughter, grandson and granddaughter would be all right and be taken care of, and just maybe carry on his legacy.

There were just a few more things to do.

He walked over towards Lucky and Trevor, who naturally was a little hesitant, but Egon just fixed the collar on his old jumpsuit, and placed his hand gently on his grandson's shoulder.

You were brilliant, Trevor. Never forget that. Egon nodded at his now-grinning grandson.

He saw Trevor turn to look around, then looked for himself, and saw Phoebe slowly coming toward them.

Oh Phoebe, my brave and clever girl…

Egon knelt down to Phoebe's level, and couldn't help to brush one of her unruly Spengler curls away from her eyes. His granddaughter just looked at him with such awe and wonder…he smiled harder than he ever had in a long time. His eyes and smile said it all…

I am so, SO proud of you.

Then Egon saw something move in the corner of his eye. He turned and saw Callie looking on, her face caught somewhere between sorrowful and hopeful.

He slowly stood up and gazed at his daughter, wishing he could just SAY something…anything. So many years had gone by, had been lost. How could she ever forgive him….WHY would she ever forgive him?

He watched as she stepped a little closer, watching him intently, still not saying anything.

Egon could see the questions in her eyes now, those sad but beautiful eyes of the little girl he left behind so she could grow up in a world that wasn't in danger. He kept looking straight at her, raised one spectral eyebrow, hoping to convey to her all that he wanted to explain but couldn't.

Callie gave the slightest, little upturned smile, then, to Egon's surprise, ran into his arms and hugged him with all her might.

All Egon could do was close his eyes and pull his daughter in as close as he could, resting his head on hers.

Callie…you were my world, my heart, my reason for going on…I'm SO sorry I had to leave, but I'm SO glad you now know why. It was all for you, my sweet girl. Remember that, and remember me. I love you.

Though Callie kept holding on to her father as if for dear life, Egon could feel himself growing lighter, fainter, and knew it was time.

He closed his eyes tighter, preparing himself. He could go on to whatever afterlife awaited him, and best of all, he thought…with no regrets.

[Author's Notes: This was inspired by that final, EMOTIONAL scene at the end of Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

After some hard thinking after watching the movie 3 times, then looking at replays of the clips that somehow thankfully got onto YouTube…sure we see some of what happened when things calmed down, heard some great lines from all the characters to bring it all home, but I kept wondering…there's NO way Egon was just, like, STANDING there not doing anything but watching on in silence. So…what could've been going through his mind in those 2 or 3 minutes of screen time? This is my take on that idea.

Without going into any hard core debate about how canonical "Real Ghostbusters" is in regards the movie-verse, there's one episode where Egon uses ASL to get a ghost to "trap itself" as a way to keep it calm (it HATES any noise.) And Ray is able to translate what Egon signs. I think movie!Egon would also be fluent in American Sign Language, undoubted genius that he is. Hence how Egon says he forgives Ray in this story.

I'm just going with the whole "It was way easier and a better choice story-wise to NOT have Egon have any verbal dialogue" as the reason he doesn't speak in this. Who knows how ghosts really work, anyway?]