here is next chapter. i can't tell when i'll post the next one cause i haven't been able to write since my little sister left... :( i only had like half of the next chap done before learning this bad news and i'm trying my best to write more but so far i couldn't. i'm sorry and i'll try not to make you wait too long... but anyway i know that the only people reviewing (except monkeywand and natiblue but i hope you'll understand too) understand. for the people that read and don't review i hope you'll understand too.

anyway i hope you'll enjoy this chap thanks to the ones that keep reading since the begining and to all the others too. do i even need to say it? ;) please review

Chapter 26

Mel took a deep breath. 'So... it looks like I was right for the first part of my feeling but... what about the second part...' Mel thought. She looked up at Jim who seemed to be thinking the same as he hold her hand tighter, sweetly caressing it with his thumb.

'So you must be Timothy's mom.' Jim said nicely, breaking the awkward silent.-The woman nodded- 'This is Melinda, my wife, and I'm Jim.'

'And you must be Lily.' Mel said slowly, looking intensely at the little girl. 'You look a lot like your brother.'

Mel knelt down to look at her in the eyes, smiling, but Lily went to hide behind her mother. After a few seconds she shyly looked at Mel and Jim still half-hidden. The three adults weren't feeling much more secured, there was a weird feeling between them, like they were all trying to read what the others wanted.

'That's weird... ' the woman said frowning her eyebrows.

'What?' Mel asked getting up.

'Well... It's just that... you really don't seem crazy.' the woman said to Mel. 'No more than you seem violent.' she added looking at Jim.

Jim felt Mel started to get tense, so he took her hand and squeezed it gently.

'And how should we take this?' Jim asked a bit harshly.

Both Mel and him feared that Timothy's mom would feel the same than her husband, and Jim won't let anyone else from this family hurt Mel.

'Oh, I'm sorry, don't get me wrong. It's just that with my husband's description I was kind of expecting something else than a protective man and his apparently very sweet wife, the woman said sympathetically.'

Mel relaxes a bit, she had a good feeling about this woman, and Timothy would be so happy to know that her sister and her mom were there.

'I'm sorry but you didn't told us your name.' Mel realized.

'Aren't you supposed to have talked to my son?' the woman asked cautiously.

Mel could feel that she wasn't really comfortable.

'I did, and he talked a lot about you but he only calls you 'Mom' so I never got your name.' Mel explained.

'Yeah, that makes sense. My name is Katie.' she said smiling shyly.

She hold her hand and Mel, then Jim shook it.

After an other awkward silence Mel decided she had to say it.

'I have to admit that I had a feeling you'd come but can I ask why you did? I mean you probably have your reasons but... does it have something to do with Timothy?' Mel asked, trying to stay optimist without hoping too much at the same time.

'It has everything to do with Timothy.' Katie started. 'Is there somewhere we can go to talk more quietly?' she asked.

'Sure, let's go at our cabin, it's right there.' Mel proposed showing her the cabin that can be seen not far from where they were.

'Oh, I don't want to bother you.' Katie said quickly.

'It's ok really.' Mel said smiling. 'Plus I really need to sit down.'

Jim immediately looked at her, worried.

'It's ok, I'm just tired.' Mel reassured him.

'I have to say we really are too.' the woman admitted. 'We traveled all night and Lily had decided she won't sleep in the plane so ...'

'Let's go then, our cabin is the nearest place we can go.' Jim decided.

A few minutes later they arrived at Mel and Jim's cabin. Lily was in her mom's arms, proving that she was pretty tired.

When they entered Mel sat down in the middle of the couch, Katie sat down next to her, taking her daughter on her lap.

'Who wants something to drink?' Jim asked.

Him and Mel looked at Katie to wait for have her answer first.

'A tea would be great.' she said, thinking more and more why on earth her husband could have said all those things about Mel and Jim.

'Honey?' Jim asked sweetly.

'Hot chocolate, please.' Mel answered smiling at him.

'Me too!' suddenly said Lily getting up from her mom's lap.

Mel and Jim laughed at the little girl candidness.

'Lily!' her mother said looking at her daughter, frowning her eyebrows.

'Oh, it's ok. I should have asked her before anyway.' Jim said smiling.

'Thanks.' the woman said smiling at him. 'But Lily?'

'Please?' the little girl said a bit embarrassed.

'Sure.' Jim replied nicely. 'Hey, do you want to come help me prepare it?' he asked her, figuring it might be easier that way for Mel and Katie to start talking about Timothy.

Lily looked at her mother with an interrogating look. As Katie nodded, the girl smiled and shyly walked towards Jim.

Mel and Katie smiled tenderly at the sight of Jim carrying her and putting her on a chair so she could be high enough to help him.

Mel then looked back at Katie, waiting to see if she would start talking by herself.

'I don't really know where to start...' Katie finally said after a moment.

'Why don't you start by what made you change your mind?' Mel said cautiously. 'Timothy told me Vince and you argued about the fact you didn't wanted to come here when he said he wanted to.'

Mel saw Katie trying to take in what she just said.

'Well... you answered by asking the question.' Katie said slowly. 'You talk to my son.'

It was a mix of a statement, a question, a something she didn't really understood but was obviously trying too. 'Is it real? I mean how does it work?' she asked Mel.

'It's a gift I have.' Mel started to explain. 'I can see spirits, earthbound spirits. Your son came to me for help.'

She stopped, letting Katie time to think about it. The woman was wondering something but wasn't sure how to ask it, fearing she would sound silly.

'Can... Is it possible that Lily sees him too?' Katie finally asked awkwardly, looking at her daughter who was laughing with Jim while putting the teabag in the hot water.

'Lily sees her brother' Mel said warmly.

Katie seemed strangely relieved by that.

'I couldn't understand.' she started to explain. 'Lily never had imaginary friends. Of course I thought it was from the shock of loosing her brother. I would never have imagined this...' she said shaking her head sadly. 'When I think I, well we, went mad at her because of it. I feel so bad.'

'Hey, how could you know?' Mel said trying to comfort her by putting a hand on her shoulder.

At this moment, Lily and Jim came back, Jim holding at tray. He put the drink in front of everyone and then sat down at Mel's side.

'You don't want anything?' Mel asked seeing that Jim hadn't prepared anything for him.

'No, I'm good.' he answered smiling.

As Lily seemed very busy carefully turning her spoon in her little hot chocolate, her mother felt free to keep talking.

'I've stopped thinking about it after a while since she seemed to be over it' she said looking her daughter.

'Yeah, well it's because he kind of stopped visiting her.' Mel explained. 'He realized every time he came she would start talking to him or interact with him and you and your husband would end up being upset at her. So if I understood well, he kept coming but was cautious that she won't see him or he came when she was alone so you wouldn't notice her change of behavior.'

Katie smiled. She was proud of her son.

'I have to tell you that he seems very smart for a boy his age.' Mel said as if she was reading Katie's mind.

'He is' she said smiling proudly. 'But he came back lately? Timothy I mean' Katie asked.

As it was the first time his brother name was said since she was back, Lily reacted.

'Timothy? Where is he?' she asked happily.

'He's not here at the moment, Lily.' Mel said softly.

'Oh...' the little girl said sadly.

'But I believe you now, sweetie. I believe that he came to see you.' Katie said taking her daughter on her lap, facing her. 'I'm so sorry I got mad at you. I was wrong and you didn't deserved it.' she added hugging Lily.

'It's ok Mommy' she said while getting back on her her hot chocolate.

Mel took her own in her arms and started drinking. Before getting back on their talk, she waited for Katie to finish handle the teabag.

'He did came lately. Because one day he came to see Lily and he noticed she seemed very sad, so he came back more often than he used to for the past months to check on her.'

Katie seemed to realize a lot, as she kept frowning her eyebrows and twisting her fingers.

'Is everything ok?' Mel asked noticing it.

'Yeah, it's just... It all makes sense now.' Katie said in a kind of relieved voice. 'A few days ago my husband called me. I could say he was very upset, what he was telling was very confusing and I didn't get everything but I did catch him talking about someone -you I guess- who told him crazy stuff about Timothy. I thought maybe he had drink or was just very emotional from being back here so I didn't really thought about it, but later I noticed that Lily had this strange behavior again and even though she didn't say anything I could tell she was acting as if her 'friend' was here, and the idea started to settle in my head'

Katie paused a few seconds, trying to make everything clear in her head, before going on.

'After a moment I decided to call Vince back and told him to explain me more clearly what had happened with you, I asked him if he had any details or so. He asked me why and when I told him maybe we should consider that what what you said was true, he went very mad.'

'So you already believed it?' Jim asked surprised.

Even if most of the time he wasn't with Mel when she was dealing with spirit's families, he knew it happened more like it did with Vince than what Katie was describing. Jim looked at Mel who seemed very surprised too.

'Back then I was only thinking about it. But the last year has been so hard for everyone that I needed, and still need, to hold on something. I need to believe in this 'cause I hope it'll help me, us, in some way.' Katie explained.

'It usually does.' Mel said hopeful. 'And I really think I can help you and your son.'

Katie smiled back at Mel, feeling that she could trust her.

'What made you sure?' Mel asked. 'You said you were only 'thinking about it', what made you believe in it?'

'Well two days ago, Vince called again. He was a mess when he told me about his visit here, and even though he sounded a bit guilty of the way he acted -I'm so sorry about that by the way' Katie said obviously ashamed by her husband behavior. 'He's been pretty rude with both of you, if I understood well-'

'Don't worry about that.' Mel said honestly. 'I'm used to people reacting like this. Plus...' she added, looking at Jim.

'Yeah... I haven't been very nice with him either.' he said a bit embarrassed.

They all smiled slightly before Katie kept going with her story.

'So like I said, he was a bit ashamed but he clearly said you were 'talking crap', to use his words, and that I shouldn't talk about you ever again. Then I noticed he sounded weird so I asked him what was going on and he told me that strange things were happening while we were talking. When he described what it was I knew it was Timothy, I was sure about it. The couch's pillow thing, the hat. I remembered that one day Lily was wearing hers but since her dad wouldn't bring her in the forest like he used to, I asked her why she was wearing it and she told me-'

'Timothy told me to. He said if I wanted, I could take it even if Daddy don't take me to play any more' Lily explained still focused on her chocolate.

'Right.' Katie said smiling, stroking her daughter's hair. 'So when I hang up, I changed my schedule so that I could take some days off work and I went to see Lily to tell her we were going to go see Daddy, and I was so glad 'cause she was so happy suddenly when she had been looking pretty sad lately.'

Mel smiled, thinking that everything made sense for her too now. All she knew from Timothy about his mom and Lily, what had happened last time they talked with Vince when he said Mel had managed to mess with his wife, everything was clear now.

Katie saw Mel had a huge smile on her face.

'What?' Katie asked smiling suspiciously.

'Oh, I was just thinking about all you just said and how well it fits all Timothy told me and what your husband reproached me, that's all. I understand everything now.' Mel said smiling.

'Well I'm not sure I do... I still wonder... So Timothy's still here?' -Mel nodded- 'Is this normal? I mean, is he always going to stay here? Or does the heaven exists or something like it?' Katie asked, again a bit afraid to sound silly.

'No, it's not normal. It happens often but spirits aren't meant to stay here, they're supposed to 'go into the Light', cross over.' Mel tried to explain.

It was never easy to say but with Katie she didn't felt embarrassed since she was so comprehensive and curious about it.

'So... what do we have to do? Help him go into the Light? How?' Katie added as Mel had nodded again.

'Timothy has obviously a lot of things on his mind keeping him here, my 'job' is to help him figure them out and work them out, with your help. I think it has a lot, if not everything to do with you, his family, and especially a few things about his sister. I heard him saying things that bothered him and I think he really needs to talk to all of you to find peace.' Mel told her.

'Ok... sounds strangely easy. I guess it's not as simple as it seems' Katie said.

'No... but I do think the harder part has been done here.'

Mel meant it. Of course there was still a lot of work to do but she felt like meeting Timothy's mother and talking with her the way they did was a huge step after all the troubles she and Timothy faced.

They stood silent a few minutes when Katie suddenly started to act weird.

'I can't believe I haven't asked this before.' she said quickly before adding: 'Is he here?'

Mel smiled.

'No, I would told you right away if he was, so would have Lily, I think.' Mel added.

'Yeah, I guess you're right. Actually that makes me think: you said you had a gift to see spirits but how comes Lily can see her brother?' Katie asked curiously.

'Well, you weren't that wrong about imaginary friends.' Mel said, laughing a bit. 'Most kids can see spirits, so it turns out these friends are only imaginary ones for grown-ups.'

'Ohh...' it was all Katie could say at the moment.

A few minutes later that had all finished their drinks so Katie got up.

'Ok, I'm not going to bother you any longer.' she said while picking up Lily who was now half-asleep on the couch. 'Do we like settle a date to do this thing or...?' she asked, uncomfortable.

'I'm afraid it'll depend on Timothy, I have no idea where he is at the moment and he's the only one choosing what he wants to do, so we'll have to wait till he shows up again.' Mel explained.

'Which leaves me time to explain all this to Vince.' Katie said.

Mel and Jim looked at each other, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

'I'm sorry but your husband made it very clear he never wanted to deal with us again.' Jim pointed.

'I know, but don't worry about that. I'll handle him.' Katie said confidently. 'Just let me know when there is anything new, please.'

'Sure.' Mel said warmly.

After reminding them her cabin number and saying goodbye, Katie left still carrying Lily in her arms.

After closing the door, Mel and Jim stood silent for a few minutes, taking in all just happened.

'I can't believe it.' finally said Mel happily.

'Well you had a pretty good feeling and turns out you were right.' Jim simply said. 'The good unexpected part is that she's amazingly understanding and very nice.'

'Yeah, it's crazy! She believed in me even without knowing me! That's must be a first time.' Mel said pretty excited.

'I'm very happy for you. How does it feel?' Jim asked taking Mel in his arms.

'Great! It's amazing.'

She hold tight on Jim, enjoying how good she felt.

'Oh my god! Timothy's going to be so happy! I can't wait to talk to him!' Mel said happily.

But that last part lasted longer that expected since the day went by, calmly: lunch, a quick resting nap, followed by a walk in the forest lead by a botanist from the camp's team to discover all the secrets hidden by the nature. Diner, during which Mel ate a lot seeing how hungry she was since she had been sick after lunch ('The usual symptom, Jim' she had to remind him.), but she felt fine other than that. Bedtime. But...

'I was so hoping to see him today...' Mel said sadly. 'I thought he would have went at his home to see Lily as he said, to find that she and his mom weren't there anymore and that he'll try to know where Lily was and that by thinking of her it would lead him to her like it did when he was trapped with Gabriel but-'

'Hey, honey calm down. It's only been a day since they're here. Maybe he's just having fun somewhere, being with friends or I don't know, do whatever a ghost his age can do.' Jim said trying to comfort her.

Mel was sat cross legged on the bed, her head down. Jim went at her side and wrapped her in his arms.

'I hope you're right.' Mel said putting her hands on Jim's.

'Let's sleep, I doubt he'll come now.' Jim said.

Mel knew he was right, and she felt a bit better having him around her. She turned to face him.

'Thank you.' she said before kissing him. A long and tender kiss.

They went under the cover and both tried to fall asleep, hugging each other.

But as Jim went to sleep a few minutes later, Mel was still awake long after, turning everything in her head trying to find an explanation. For the past days, weeks even it looked like Timothy went to see her sister very often to check on her and when they last talked he said he was leaving to go see her. So Mel couldn't help but think what if he gave up seeing that he couldn't be helped? What if seeing Lily happy after her mom told her they were joining her dad made him think she didn't needed him anymore? Was he gone for good?

She hoped not, it would be so bad now that she had a chance to help him, she knew she'd felt like she had failed if she couldn't help him, this little boy deserved so much to be at peace. Mel hoped it wasn't too late.