hey guys... ok so i couldn't stay without posting the next chap after the number of people who reviewed on my last chap... thanks you all so much btw :) but i meant what i said before so if i don't get enough reviews on the following chaps i will stop posting them 'cause i find it kinda sad that it's only when i say that i will stop posting that people starts to leave comment. anyway thanks again to the people who did review i hope you'll like this chap and that it's not too much confusing :p

as usual enjoy reading and please review!! i'm not asking it for my self estim or whatever but if i write it's for you first not for me so it helps me to know what you think if you like it or not what do you prefer,... so please :)

Chapter 22

(-Oh, no, this can't happen, Mel slowly whispered.)

-What does?, Jim asked in a sleepy voice.

-Oh, I'm sorry I woke you up! Don't worry it was... only a dream, Mel said trying to convince him as much as herself, just go back to sleep.

-You sure?, Jim asked really not convinced.

-Yeah...

Mel slowly put herself back in Jim's arms, who held her close. It didn't took him long to notice how stressed Mel was, she was shaking and her heart was beating very fast.

-Ok, Mel what's wrong?, he asked while sitting on the bed.

-What?, she said trying to act like she didn't know what he was talking about.

They sat on the bed so they were facing each other, they legs crossed. They could only see each other with the moon light but it was enough for Jim to see she seemed embarrassed.

-Come on, it wasn't just a dream. I can feel you shaking...

-Ok... no it wasn't just a dream, but I don't want to bother you with this, Mel confessed.

-Mel... you know you never bother me, I mean it, softly said Jim caressing her cheek.

-I know, Mel answered.

She put her hand on Jim's put she kept her head down. Mel knew she could tell him anything he would always listen and support her. But this... she was always afraid Jim would have enough of it one day.

After a few minutes where Jim saw that Mel needed to think, he gently lifted her head up to look her in the eyes.

-So what was it?, he finally asked.

Mel sighted and looked deeply in his eyes. She felt all his love and knew she could trust him. Jim took her hands in his.

-Well it was a dream, she started, but an usual one... -Jim shook his head to encourage her to go on- I was in some sort of playground I guess. There were kids playing and laughing. After a while I noticed a group of children that weren't playing, three of them were surrounding by the others. I went closer to them to try to understand what was happening.

The three kids in the middle where holding each other's hands, they sounded scared and it comforted them to know the two other were there. The group of children was composed of more or less fifteen people by the age of twelve maybe. The three kids in the middle were around 5, 7 and 10, the two older kids were each at one side of the younger one. The group surrounding them slowly started to get closer to them.

-We don't want you freaks here!, one of them suddenly screamed.

-Stop calling us freaks!, the older kid in the middle replied.

-That's what you are! You crazy people keep talking to yourselves and now you say it's because you can talk to ghosts!, let out an other kid.

-Yeah, you are nuts!, said another one.

-We aren't! It's the truth!, the second child in the middle replied.

The younger one started to cry, those kids were scaring him. But it didn't stopped them, they kept yelling at them, saying things more an more mean. Soon the three children were crying, it was too much to take, when suddenly they noticed a woman standing a bit further. The three of them immediately ran towards her.

-Mom!!

-That's only when I realized I was looking at our kids... and I was watching them burst in tears while running towards me. I couldn't comfort them... I was totally helpless...

Mel felt the tears starting to roll on her cheeks, she quickly tried to dry them. Jim stood silent, giving her time to regain control of her emotion.

-I know it is only a dream, but what if it's what is going to happen to our kids? What if they suffer as much as I did when I was little? What if people like Timothy's dad keep bothering them? And-

-Hey, Mel, calm down, softly said Jim. Like you said it was only a dream.

Jim gently dried more tears on Mel's cheeks.

-Yeah, but you know as well as I do that it is going to happen. No matter what, the other children will make fun of them and joke about them, like I was made fun of and still am, Mel couldn't help but add.

-Honey, I know but it'll be different. Without your grandma it was as if you were alone to face it, you always say that you mother were never there for you and that she even pushed you away most of the time. -Mel nodded- That will never happen with our kids. I promise you they will never be alone to face this or anything else. I know you still fear that I will get fed up about the whole ghost thing but I can assure I won't. I will always by with right here you to help them, even if I can't help a lot when it comes to ghosts.

It was always weird for Mel every time she had a proof of how well Jim knew her.

-You sure you'll be ok with the fact that our kids might be hurt because of me, Mel asked, she had to know again how Jim would really felt about this.

-Mel, it can't pretend I won't be pissed off if our kids are hurt by your gift, no one likes to see their children hurt but you can be sure I will never think it's your fault. The only persons I'll blame are the very people hurting them, but I will never blame you for it. I swear this is never going to change, explained Jim choosing carefully his words.

He really wanted to convince Mel that she hadn't had to feel guilty for her gift. For him it was something amazing, he had seen her change a lot of lives, comfort so many people and make such a difference for them.

-I just can't stop thinking about how bad I felt when I was in school, and after... It was awful, sadly said Mel.

-Hey come here, softly said Jim.

He slowly made her lie down on his chest, while he was himself leaned against the head of the bed, and hugged her.

-Remember what you used to say about the years you spent with your grandma trying to learn all the ghost stuff?, Jim asked while caressing Mel's hair.

-'Hard but awesome' I usually felt bad but she always managed to make me feel great about myself and my gift..., Mel slowly answered.

-So... that's 'just' what we will do with our kids. It'll be hard, I don't deny it. But we'll find a way to make them feel great no matter what.

Mel thought back of all the great times she had with her grandma. She missed her so much. Yeah, their children will be as supported as she was by her grandma. With Jim by her side she knew they could do it.

-Thank you so much Jim. Thanks for being so understanding and so supporting. I couldn't do any if this alone. Well the baby part I sure couldn't have done it without you, Mel said laughing a bit, but for the rest too. I can't tell you how much you help me get through the whole ghost thing contrary to what you can think.

Mel slightly pulled away from his embrace to look in his eyes.

-I love you so much, she said before kissing him.

-I love you, said Jim after the kiss.

They stood in each other's arms a while.

-Maybe we should go back to sleep, it's only... -Jim looked the time on the nightstand clock- 3am, he said.

-Good idea.

So they both lied down to try to fall back asleep.

After a few minutes they were both lost in thoughts and none of them were sleeping. The moon was making a soft light, so they could see each other's eyes opened.

-Mel?, Jim whispered.

-Jim?, she replied whispering too.

-In you dream... you said we had three kids?

-Yeah...

-Were they... were they boys or girls?, finally asked Jim.

-Why do you ask? It was just a dream, not a vision of the future, said Mel a bit surprised.

-Yeah, I know, I just... it's just curiosity, he said a bit embarrassed.

Mel smiled, she enjoyed a lot seeing Jim so sweet about the thought of their children.

-Ok. Hmm the older ones were a girl and a boy, I can't remember for the younger one, sorry.

-That's ok, Jim said with a huge smile, at least it's one of each.

-Jim... it was-

-Just a dream... I know. I just think it'd be great, that's all.

-It makes me realize: we never talked about the gender yet. Do you want to know before the birth?, Mel asked.

-I though about it too, but it's a though question... and I really don't know... you?

-I don't know either... I guess we'll wait then.

-Yeah.

With that last line they both became quiet again. After one last kiss Mel turned in the bed so her back would be against Jim's chest. She laid her head on his right arm while he put his left one around her, resting his hand on her stomach. Mel put her hand on top of Jim's. After only a few minutes they both finally drifted back to sleep.