This was actually the very first fic idea I ever had for this fandom, it's been sitting in my notes for moths now. A flashback to Kitty's childhood and the ghosts watching over her, particularly Mary and Robin

Fandom: Ghosts

Day 26 prompt: Flashback

"Will you play with me, Eleanor?"

"Oh, do say yes," Mary smiled encouragingly, her hands clasped together, "Plays with your sister, young miss."

Robin grunted beside her, "She no say yes. She never say yes."

"I rather doubt she will, sorry to say, Mary," Annie agreed.

Of course, neither of the living children before them heard a single word they said. The two daughters of the current master of the house were outside. The older girl, Eleanor, sat on a stone wall with a book in hand while the younger, Kitty, stood looking at her, hopeful. The ghosts watched as Eleanor turned away to roll her eyes, then flashed Kitty a fake smile. One she easily believed.

"I'd love to! What about hide-and-seek? You are especially good at it, aren't you, Kitty?"

As expected, Kitty didn't once suspect her sister of lying. She never did. Mary, Annie and Robin had no choice but to watch, helpless, as the little girl's smile grew.

"Yes!" she clapped her hands, happily swaying back and forth.

Eleanor placed her book in her lap, holding her place with one finger, "I will count first, you go find somewhere to hide."

With a quick nod, Kitty picked up her skirts and ran off as Eleanor loudly began to count, but as soon as her younger sister was out of earshot, she jumped to her feet and made her way back inside, returning to her book as she went.

"Oh!" Mary gasped, staring after her, "What a wicked child!" she turned to her fellow ghosts, pointing at Eleanor, "She'll be tempted aways by the devils himself, that one, sooner than play with her own sister!"

Robin shrugged, "What you expect, eh? Bigger girl never want to be around little one."

Mary stared at him in silence for a moment, then turned back towards where Kitty had disappeared. She paused, thinking, then put on a determined face and marched over to the wall where Eleanor had been sitting, "Well, if she won't, I will."

Annie started after her, "But, Mary, she can't see you!"

"No matters. Better 'n playing alone," she said and Annie sighed, realising there was no stopping her now. Mary sat down and covered her eyes with her hands, "Right, now... One, two, three... four..."

"... Five, Mary."

"Five. Thank you, Annie."

"Oh, oh! Me too!" Robin shouted and also covered his eyes, counting along a second behind her. Annie just shook her head and smiled, and sat down to observe.

They eventually reached ten and set off to find Kitty, and soon came across her standing behind a hedge, giggling to herself. "Found you!" they both cried out but Kitty didn't respond. She kept waiting.

And waiting.

They couldn't really continue the game like this when one side couldn't see the other, and after a little while, Kitty stepped out of her hiding place.

"... Eleanor? Are you there?"

Nothing. Mary felt her heart break at the sound of her voice, and the now hurt look on her face. Minutes passed, and no-one came. Kitty found a slightly more visible spot and sat down, looking around for any sign of her sister. Mary followed and sat beside her, as did Robin.

Kitty's eyes soon landed on something and for a few seconds, Mary could have sworn she was looking directly at her.

"... Hello."

Mary froze, "Um... H-Hello...?"

"My name's Kitty. What's yours?"

"My name...? Why, it's Mary, miss."

"I shall call you Florence."

Mary frowned, "Florence?"

Robin tapped her shoulder and gestured at something behind her, "She mean stone lady. There."

Mary turned to see the statue of a woman and, for some reason, felt herself deflate. What was she so sad about? She knew Kitty wouldn't actually be able to talk to her. She might be a child, but she was certainly too old to still see ghosts.

Then she spoke again, after looking at the statue as though she had been listening to it, "It's very nice to meet you as well, Florence."

"Oh, yes, 'tis nice to meet you, Miss Kitty," Mary said with a small nod.

"No," Robin shook his head, "She talk to stone lady, not you."

"Shh," Mary held a finger to her lips, "I know. But I want to speaks with her anyways," she looked back at Kitty with a warm smile, "I can be Florence for now."