Melinda and Jim have been home for three days. The kids are excited to have their Mama and Daddy back with them and they all had a lot of questions. "Where'd you go?" Aiden asked.
"I took Mama to a really nice hotel." Jim answered with a glance and grin at his wife.
"What you do?" Andy asked next. Danny was nodding along, wanting to know the same. Melinda smiled.
"We just had grown up time." The young mother explained.
"What kind of grown up time?" Aiden enquired. Melinda and Jim shared a look.
"I have an idea. Who wants to go swimming?" Jim asked excitedly, changing the subject.
"I do! I do!" The children cheered happily.
Two hours later the family of five pulled up to the YMCA parking lot after spending the morning preparing their bags. Jim took Andy and Danny into his arms and let Aiden walk holding Melinda's hand, while his wife's back housed their bag of towels and snacks. Once they got inside the building and paid for their day passes, Jim took the boys to the mens change room and Melinda took Andy to the womens so everyone could put on their suits and meet up by the pool doors when they were finished. Jim, Danny and Aiden got to the doors first and the brothers were being impatient.
"They're taking forever dad. Can we go in first?" Aiden complained.
"No bud." Jim said. "Women take a while to get ready, but you'll appreciate it when you're older." He finished wisely. Aiden sighed.
"Okay." The young boy pouted and then continued to wait like his father had told him to.
Another ten minutes had passed before Jim saw his wife and daughter emerge from the change room to meet them as per the plan. "Hi daddy!" Andy called to Jim.
"Andrea, my girl. Come here." He cooed to his toddler. Her wobbly legs carried her slowly to him and once she made it, Jim picked her up and kissed her floppy curls. "I love you baby girl." He smiled, eyes shining. "You ready to swim?" Jim asked, his voice laced with elation and joy. Little Andrea nodded her tiny head, her trademark brunette curls flopping into her ice blue eyes-his eyes. Jim laughed at the sight and walked her through the doors, Melinda and the boys following behind them. The family stood at the pools edge, while the twins were fitted with their water wings. Aiden hung his feet over the edge into the water, impatient once again to finally get in. Jim quickly glanced at his oldest, a thin smile appearing on his face when he saw the eight year old trying to have the patience of an adult. Jim relieved his son of the torture.
"Go ahead, Aid. Jump in." He said with a laugh when Aiden's cheer was heard in the space they occupied. Aiden made a small splash with his descent into the clear water and Melinda turned to Daniel.
"You ready monkey?" She teased lovingly. Danny clapped his chubby hands and nodded his head swiftly. Melinda scooped him into her arms, sat at the edge of the water and shifted her weight enough that her body would go into the clean water below her gently. Danny's giggle could be heard and it melted the parents hearts. Jim and Melinda loved to see their kids this carefree and happy. Jim turned to Andrea.
"You ready princess?" He checked with his youngest.
"Ya!" Andy said. "Throw me daddy!" The young girl happily demanded.
"Okay." Jim replied. He picked her up, walked to the edge and playfully swung her back and forth a few times before releasing her into the water. Jim dived into the water soon after, pulling back his wet hair when he resurfaced. The kids were chasing each other through the water, laughing the whole time at their impromptu game of water tag, when Melinda had an idea.
"Hey Danny, come here bud." She said from in between Jim's strong arms. Danny swam over to his parents and fast as his little arms and legs could carry him. "You're my monkey, right?" She lovingly asked her son. Danny nodded his head. "Do you want to play monkey in the middle?" Melinda questioned her youngest boy. When Danny's face lit up in joy, the others were called over to start the game. All that could be heard in that room was Danny's laughter filling the air.
Jim carried the fast asleep twins up to their beds once the family walked inside their home. Aiden was asked to shower and come get his parents when he was ready to be read his story.
"Mama, daddy I'm ready for my story." Aiden whispered when he found his parents on the living room sofa.
"Alright little man." Jim whispered back before getting up to follow the eight year old up the stairs to his bedroom.
30 Minutes Later
"He's out cold." Jim told his wife once he re-entered the living room.
"Mmm" Melinda mumbled distractedly. Jim made a move to sit beside her.
"Honey, what's wrong?" Jim's voice held concern. Melinda sighed, finding a fray on the loveseat they occupied that held her attention. Her eyes met his and those chocolate orbs of hers that he loved so much looked sad-sadder then he'd ever seen them. Melinda glanced back down to play with the fabric fray before voicing her worries.
"Daniel." She said, clearly terrified. Jim grabbed her hand, rubbing his thumb over her palm in silent support, urging her to continue. "It's just, he's different. I love him so much, but I've been noticing things about him that I don't understand." Melinda whispered this time, not wanting her fears to be true. Jim gave her a solid nod. He too had noticed differences with his son, but he hadn't had the time to really analyze them with his hectic work schedule.
"What are you thinking, Mel?" Jim questioned her softly. She looked at him then, her eyes more wide with fear then he'd ever seen them. No ghost had ever affected her this way, her mother's rejection didn't touch it and not even Andrea's death and Romano going after her soul could mirror that fear he saw. His death, he guessed, was the only real comparison.
"He's so quiet. Yes, he's a happy child, but he barely speaks. Danny should be where Andrea is with his development. I'm just scared." She confessed, her voice barely audible. Jim pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.
"I know baby, but we'll get answers. I'll schedule him an appointment and I'll be with you both every step of the way. I love you." Jim said to the terrified woman beside him.
"I love you too Jim." Melinda whispered and for the first time since he put Aiden to bed, Jim saw a ghost of a smile on her face. They be alright, he'd make sure of it.
AN: Alright, my lovelies. This chapter leaves you with a cliffhanger and I'm sorry for that. I was trying to figure out where to take this when a thought struck me. I'd realized I haven't been having Danny speak much through all this and a reason for that has presented itself. Hopefully ya'll are as excited to find out the mystery as I am to write it out.