I wasn't sure if I was gonna post this chapter or the next one first, but this was the one I felt the most motivated to edit today so it's the one you're getting :)

Just... Reggie deserves the world, okay?

A broken vase

Julie was lying on her bed, scribbling down some killer lyrics she'd thought of on the way home from school, when she heard the crash downstairs.

A sigh escaped her lips. Was Carlos playing floorball inside again? Or had the boys accidentally scared Tía for the fifteenth time? But no, Tía had pilates right now (thankfully, she'd believed the story about Julie practicing a new dance routine that day in the backyard and dropped the demon thing). Then what?

Oh dios, what if Carlos and the boys were playing floorball inside?

As Julie had discovered much to her annoyance (and secret amusement), the brain cell count tended to drop significantly when her brother and bandmates hung out. Like that one time she'd found them trying to skate off the house roof into an inflatable pool they'd found who knows where.

And that it'd actually been Alex of all people who came up with the idea (wanting to impress Willie, no doubt)...

Well, at least the boys had had enough common sense to see if the stunt was "lifer safe" before letting Carlos try - otherwise she would've had to figure out how to kill ghosts.

Either way, whether they were up to something again or not, she should head down and see what was going on. And so, dropping her note book, she shuffled off the bed and marched down the hall.

Oh boy, if either of them so much as sent a floorball flying her way...

The scolding words died on her tongue immediately however as she entered the lounge room to see the vase smashed to pieces on the floor... and the terrified-looking ghost standing above it.

"Reggie?"

His eyes snapped to her. "I'm sorry," he breathed, "I didn't mean to, I-I wasn't looking where I was going and I thought I was gonna phase through it but I- but I didn't and now it's broken and JulieI'msosorry-"

"Reg, calm down, it's okay," Julie tried to say but Reggie didn't hear her, only kept apologizing and- mierda, were those tears gathering in his eyes?

But… it was just a vase…?

As Julie got ready to approach him, two things happened at once: Luke and Alex poofed into the living room, their smiles quickly dampening at the sight of their distraught band mate, and her dad appeared in the kitchen doorway with a concerned, "What happened?"

Julie shared a look with Luke and Alex, who quickly understood and moved over to Reggie, before she made a beeline for her dad (ignoring the scared "Julie, no!" Reggie called after her).

"Is everything alright, mija?" dad asked as she pulled him further into the kitchen.

"Reggie broke a vase," she said without digression, "and he's really upset about it so whatever you do, don't yell at him."

A frown creased his brow. "Why would I yell at him for that?"

"I don't know, I just… just wanted to make sure you didn't. He doesn't do well with yelling. Or stern dad voices," she added after a moment's thought, "so don't do that either."

Seeing the seriousness in her gaze, dad nodded. "Okay. No yelling and no stern dad voice."

And well, that was definitely reassuring, but… "Promise?"

"Promise," he said, holding his hand out for emphasis. Julie felt the last of the tension leave her shoulders as she wrapped her index finger around his. "Help me talk to him?"

"Sure."

By the time the two of them came back out into the living room, Alex and Luke had maneuvered Reggie over to the couch, sitting on either side of him like bodyguards. Under normal circumstances Julie would've found it ridiculous and adorable, but seeing the wary look in Reggie's eye as she guided her dad to stand in front of them she understood their stance completely. Heck, if it hadn't been her dad, she definitely would've joined them.

"Reggie," her dad began, "At least, I hope I'm talking to you." Julie nodded as he glanced at her. "Anyway, I just want you to know I'm not mad about the vase, alright? Accidents happen and that's perfectly okay. And as long as you're not hurt, no harm done."

There was an obvious leap in logic there, Reggie being a ghost and all, but seeing how shocked (and touched) Reggie was by the words she refrained to comment on it.

"If I could see you and touch you," Ray continued, "I would give you a hug, but as I can't, maybe Julie…?"

A smile blossomed across her face as he looked at her again. This was exactly why he was the best dad ever. "Yes, she can."

"Thanks," he said, mirroring her expression. "I'll go get the dustpan." He started back towards the kitchen, only stopping briefly to send a last "No harm done, okay?" over his shoulder.

The moment he disappeared from view, Julie didn't hesitate to move forward and wrap her arms around Reggie's neck. It was a little awkward, her standing up and him sitting down, but she didn't care - Reggie was getting a damn hug and that was that.

The same sentiment seemed to be shared by Luke and Alex, who crowded in on each side, practically squishing him between the three of them.

Reggie squirmed a little. "Come on, guys," he mumbled - embarrassed by his reaction earlier no doubt. "This- this isn't necessary. I… it was just a vase."

"Exactly, Reg," Luke said, voice soft in that way it only was when one of the other three were upset. "Just a vase."

"Now shut up and let us hug you," Alex added.

A small laugh escaped Julie's lips as she nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Dad's orders, remember?"

Reggie murmured something inaudible before finally relaxing. Tentatively reaching out to return the embrace. Letting himself be comforted in the cocoon of his bandmates. To which Julie only smiled, pulling him (and the others in turn) closer.

:::

Ray stood in the kitchen doorway, dustpan in hand, watching his daughter hug the air. He shook his head fondly. This was definitely going to take some time to get used to.