Sorry for missing the Thursday update - I just needed a little mental health break. But I'm back now and aiming to get back into my posting schedule again

That being said, thank you so much Joyleaf for commenting on the last chapter - a bright spot in my otherwise pretty crappy week :)

Anyway, time for Luke to get some love!

(Because he freaking deserves it)

(Honestly, they all do)

The afterlife sucks sometimes

"Hey, whatcha writing?"

Luke snapped the notebook closed as Julie entered the studio, sending her what he hoped was a convincing grin.

"Just… just messing around with some song ideas."

Truth be told, he hadn't actually been writing. Well, he had been writing to start with, but then his mind had made a run for it right into the abyss - which was kinda a problem when the song was meant to be happy and the only words that came out were sad ones.

So he'd given up. Just for a little while until he managed to pull himself together.

… At least, that had been the plan.

Man, how long had he been sitting there, just staring out into the air?

"Uh huh," Julie said, crossing her arms, "Now tell me what's wrong."

So much for a convincing grin. Luke sighed as Julie sat down beside him, fixing him with that stare that made you spill your guts out no matter if you wanted to or not. Seriously, it was impossible not to, which was annoying because he was supposed to be the spooky one of the two!

He leaned back on the couch, eyes trained on the floating chairs on the ceiling. "I was thinking. A-about my parents." His leg started bouncing of its own accord as he struggled to keep his voice under control. "How I've been dead for twenty-five years and… despite e-everything, they celebrated - celebrate - my birthday every year. Every freaking year."

It took a moment before he realised what he'd said, but when he did he immediately cursed himself (and Julie's tell-me-everything powers). Why did he have to mention the birthday thing? Would Julie connect the dots? Man, if he'd ruined the surprise now after all the planning he and the guys had done so far…

But there was only compassion in her eyes as she leaned forward to wrap him in a hug. The simple action speaking louder than any words she could have said.

Luke sunk into the touch, her hair tickling lightly, soothingly against his face as he nestled against her shoulder. Despite himself, the knot in his chest loosened slightly - there was just something about actually being able to have physical contact with her that did that. He didn't think he'd ever stop being amazed by it. By how real it made him feel.

A familiar whooshing sound made them finally let go of each other.

"Guess what?" Reggie said, grinning that goofy grin of his. "Apparently ducks can see ghosts."

Julie raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yup! They chased Alex all around the park. He was terrified."

"I was not-" Luke felt the corners of his mouth quirk up as Alex's voice rose in pitch like it always did when he was embarrassed. Seeing that none of them were buying his lie however, he snapped, "There were five of them, okay? Big ones!" He pointed an accusatory finger at Reggie. "And you were the one who insisted on feeding them!"

"How was I supposed to know they were that hungry?"

As the two of them flopped down next to them on the couch, Reggie still animatedly relaying everything that had happened (his arm casually, comfortingly coming around Luke's shoulders), Alex caught Luke's gaze. The message in his blue eyes was clear. You okay?

Luke studied him for a moment, before giving a discreet nod. I'm okay.

And it might not be the entire truth, might not completely correspond with the pressure still remaining in his chest, but with Julie and Alex and Reggie surrounding him, brushing against him, simply being there with him…

He knew he would be.