Ages:

Jim - 82
Melinda - 78
Ned - 56
Katie - 53
Aaron - 49
Scott - 48
Mackenzie - 43
Lana - 35
Emma - 32
Emily - 18
David - 15

A/N: I only added the core family member's ages and those who were actually mentioned because at this point there are so many people and kids lol Enjoy xx Mariah

After his eighty-second birthday, Jim got weaker, Melinda noticed.

He had difficulty with the smallest things, like climbing the stairs. He didn't bake as much anymore. Spent most of his time sitting in his chair near the fire. After years of relatively busy days, most ghosts went to her children now.

It wasn't until Melinda started having nightmares again when she started to get worried. Jim was dying in all of her dreams, but waking didn't give her the relief it used to because as soon as she was back in the present, she realized this time it was really true.

It was happening. He was actually dying.

Lana had been the only one who got him to listen. Their daughter, the one to tell her father that his cancer had spread to his brain. Stage four, Land had whispered. She had told her mother that he didn't have much time left.

Jim noticed too, of course. He noticed him whispering his name in her sleep. He tried to wake her and when he succeeded he tell her it was going to be okay. But it wasn't. She imagined her life without him. Even though she was seventy-seven and probably wouldn't live that much longer, it still terrified her.

It terrified her to death.

One night, Melinda woke from a dream where Jim and she were just sitting on the porch swing when he'd dropped dead on her shoulder.

She laid awake that entire night staring at the ceiling and listening to his heart. She pressed her ear against his chest to make sure it was still beating. She thought about her dream and the idea began to form in her head. Her tears had stained his shirt and she'd held him so tight to her.

When he woke the next day, she noticed he had more trouble breathing evenly. It could be a matter of days, hours even, maybe. She hoped not.

"Mel..." He whispered, his hand slowly touching her cheek.

She was sitting beside him on the couch, reading, her glasses her nose. "What?" She asked softly.

"It's gonna happen soon," he breathed softly and she closed her book. "I just... I just want you to know how much I love you and how happy you have always made me. I want to thank you for loving me."

"Jim," she sighed and took her reading glasses off. "Don't you dare start to say goodbye! You're not going anywhere."

"I don't want to think about it either, but it'll be okay. We'll be together again one day," he reassured her, kissing her forehead. "You've always told me that."

"That doesn't mean I want you to go," she whispered, her tears spilling down her cheeks as she looked up at him. "I can't imagine living without you, Jim."

That, of course, he trusted was true, but it was inevitable anyway. So she told him again that she could not live without him.

But all good things come to an end and the end was coming. She asked him what he would've done if it were reversed. If I was the one dying, would he want to live? He thought about it quite a while and she'd started to read again, but then finally shook his head.

"I don't want to live in a world without my Melinda Gordon in it," he whispered, closing the book and kissing her just the same way he always had.

Melinda called their children and let them know to make their way home over the next few days.

They'd all still come home for family dinners every once and a while, but not as much as they used to. Mackenzie and Scott came first, with their children. Then Aaron's family and Lana's family too. Katie, Ned, and their family came and Mackenzie tagged along. Emma and her husband came last.

The was one more time after that. In the summer and the entire family had been at the cabin just like they always had.

Jim spent time with them all. Melinda hadn't seen him so energetic in the past few years. He laughed more than ever and was even able to chase around the little ones. She had sat with him on the porch, holding his hand and watching the sunset.

"Wanna give it one more go here?" He chuckled and she burst out laughing, shaking her head at him.

Her husband, ever the comedian. It had been months since they'd last been intimate, but she couldn't imagine a better way to say goodbye to the cabin with him.

"What?" He laughed with her. "I'm just saying. This place has seen quite a lot." He would never back down from a challenge, even now.

"Oh come on you old fart. I could never say no to you," she stood slowly and he leaned into her as he stood, kissing her and his hands ever roaming over her body like they always had. "I bet the kids would get a laugh out of it if they hear."

Jim got weaker after they'd returned home and the days until the end were slimming down. Melinda knew that. Even the grandkids started to ask if grandpa was going to be okay and they didn't know how to explain to such young souls that their grandfather was in his last few weeks.

About a week later, Jim woke up, and somehow, he knew this was going to be his last day. He had more difficulty breathing. He was in pain and could see in Melinda's eyes that she knew it too.

"Don't cry," he whispered.

"I'm not," she lied and tried to hold them in, but Melinda had never good at that. Her tears flowed freely as she laid with him in bed.

His fingers traced over her skin, enjoying the feel of it as long as he could. "Melinda," he sighed, rubbing her back slowly.

"Never stop saying my name," she whispered, closing her eyes.

"I won't," he whispered into her hair, his hand running through her dark gray hair. "I love you so much, Melinda."

He kissed her, his tongue probing her mouth beseechingly and she answered, sliding hers along his. The kiss was slow and repentant but quickly grew into a heated frenzy that made her touch his face just like she always had. She ran her hands through his thinning hair, sighing as she pulled away.

She looked up at him, her eyes still the same youthful brown they'd always been. "You fought so hard Jim," she whispered, looking up at him. "I don't know what I'll do the day I can't just look up at your eyes."

"Hey," he whispered, holding her close. "I love you and you'll see them again."

"Just promise me you won't enjoy it over there?" She sighed and he chuckled, kissing her forehead.

"I won't. Not really. Not until you're with me," he whispered, rubbing her back as much as he could. "But hey, Delia and Andrea are waiting for me. My mom, dad, and brother too.

"There's also our grandson too," Melinda added, smiling at him.

Charlie.

It had been so long since he'd thought about that little guy. Katie hadn't mentioned him in over a decade. At least not to him.

"I think I'm gonna take a nap," he coughed, trying to clear his throat. He'd closed his eyes, relaxing into the bed. "Wake me in an hour."

"Okay," she said, looking up at him. "Jim?"

"Yeah, Mel?" He whispered, opening his eyes to look at her.

"I love you," she said, like it was the first time, tears pricking the corners of her eyes.

He smiled, moving his hand up from her back to run his hand through her hair. "I'll never stop loving you," he said and pressed a weak kiss to her forehead.

When Melinda woke again, she rubbed Jim's side and pressed a kiss to his cheek. She'd settled back into him for another moment or two before she moved to sit up. Jim hadn't moved though, not that that was out of the ordinary.

"Jim," she whispered, nudging him.

He hadn't stirred and she sat up, looking at him. He was still, slightly paler than usual, and his lips appeared slightly blue. She pressed her ear to his chest warily and was afraid of what she found.

Silence.

No. It couldn't be.

He was just sleeping.

"Jim," she tried again and pressed her ear to his chest, still hearing nothing, and her eyes filled with tears. "Jim... please wake up."

"It's even more beautiful than I ever thought it would be," his voice echoed through the room and she found his spirit near the window.

"Jim, no. You can't go," she whispered, tears pricking her eyes. Melinda moved out of the bed as quickly as she could. "Not yet."

"I have to Mel, even if I love you. You know that," he whispered, his smile growing as he looked at the window. "There's no pain and I can breathe again. I can move like I used to. Mel, god, I wish I didn't have to go..."

"I know. You deserve to be at peace, Jim. Go," she said, grabbing her robe and tying it around her. "If it will make you happy and you are at peace, I will learn to live without you for however long it is. I know that I will see you again." He appeared behind her. His hand touching her face, like a warm breeze on a summer morning. "I love you, Jim."

"I'll love you always," he whispered to her. "I'll still be here even when I crossover. Watching over you and our children, and our grandchildren, and our great-grandkids too."

Melinda looked up at him as she turned around, seeing him one last time. He looked so young like he had when Katie and Aaron were small. "You should go see someone and say goodbye."

"I said goodbye to everyone," he said. "I'm ready."

"You know who I'm talking about Jim and what day it is today. It will hurt her if you don't go see her," she said and shook her head, looking up at him. "I love you, Jim." She said one last time, almost feeling his lips on hers as he leaned in one last time.

"I will go see her," he whispered in her ear, his lips brushing across her forehead like a feather as he disappeared. "I love you too Melinda."

Jim arrived with a breeze, one that made the wind chimes on the back patio chime.

Katie sat with her daughter Emily drinking lemonade in the backyard. They'd been there for a while, talking about little things.

"Happy Birthday, mom," Emily smiled at her, being eighteen she was moving out soon and had been spending as much time with her mother as she could.

"Thanks, Emmy," Katie smiled at her, taking a sip of her lemonade. "When do you think your dad and Dave will be back?"

"I dunno. They take forever to the store," Emily giggled, looking over the yard as the wind blew in again. The chimes spun around, making cheerful noise. The eighteen-year-old could feel the presence of someone familiar and warm. Who was it? Emily didn't like to think of the possibilities. "Do you feel that mom?"

"Hmmm?" Katie asked and spun her straw around the glass, looking around. She could feel something too, but it was faint. The wind came in again and she smelled her father's cologne, which calmed her besides the fact that it was obvious what it meant. "Oh no."

The house phone rang and Emily could see the look in her mother's eyes, taking that as her cue to leave. The young woman had taken her glass of lemonade as she slipped inside and Katie felt her father's hand on her shoulder.

"Daddy," she whispered, looking over and up at him. "You didn't have to come."

"Yes, I did." He appeared in the chair beside her, smiling. "It's your birthday, Katiebug."

"You look so young," she smiled, wishing she could hug him. She closed her eyes, breathing in the smell of his cologne. "Is mom okay?"

"No, but she's as good as she can be." Jim wished he could feel her hand, that it wasn't the light feather-like moving his fingertips over her palm. All he wanted to do was hold his daughter's hand one last time. "Are you going to be okay?"

There was a knock on the sliding glass door as Ned came out with a bag from the pharmacy. "Hey," her husband smiled at her. "Emmy said the birthday girl was out here." He chuckled as he pulled a square of dark chocolate out for her and sat down next to her, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Oh, are you with someone?" She looked from Ned to her father who sat in the opposite chair. "I can go if they're still here."

"Tell him," Jim said, nodding with a sigh.

"My dad's here," she whispered, twirling the straw around her glass. She didn't pick her eyes up from it, just staring ahead. It was the most she could do to not burst into tears right now. "He says hi."

"Is he inside? Is your mom here too?" Ned asked, looking confused. He'd gone back to sitting and looking at her, sighing. "I didn't see the car out front."

"Ned, he's here," she repeated, a tear rolling down her cheek as she looked at her husband. Katie's lip quivered and her face blushed red she breathed in shakily. She was barely holding it together, he could tell now. She was holding it together for her father, for the man who was probably sitting beside her.

"Katie," he closed his eyes, trying to hold his own tears back. Ned wasn't the type to cry in front of anyone. Katie had been the only person in his life to see him cry, besides his mother. He opened his eyes again, a tear rolling down his cheek as he held onto her hand. "Don't tell me if it isn't true."

"Why would I? My dad's dead," she said as though it was as simple as the weather forecast. "On today of all days dad?"

"I knew it was going to be today when I woke up. I wish it wasn't," Jim said. "Your mom did too."

The door opened again and a blonde stepped out, bouncing blonde hair and a pep in her step. "Katie! I have the biggest and best news ever." Emma grinned, coming to the table. It had taken her a moment to realize who was beside her. "Dad."

"Emmagirl," Jim appeared before her instead of walking and Emma dropped her purse at her feet in shock. "Don't cry, sweet girl. I'm at peace. There's no more pain."

"Daddy, no, oh... no, Daddy," Emma said and closed her eyes, feeling Katie hug her as she cried, her tears staining her shirt. "No. He can't go yet." She shook her head as she looked up at Jim. "I'm pregnant."

Her father's smile grew and he looked down at her stomach, feeling the energy of his grandchild and looking into her eyes. The same blue as his. "I know," he said in awe and wished he could hug her as he hovered his hand on her stomach, feeling the strong heartbeat. "I'll be watching over all of you. I won't miss a thing." He leaned into Katie and whispered into her ear. "And I want you to Ned thank you."

"Ned," she called out. Her husband rose his head from his phone, where he was bottling his emotions currently, and looked at her. "He wants to talk to you." Ned walked to Katie, looking to where Jim most likely was. "Go on," she whispered. "He wants to thank you for being the best second son he never got."

"Jim, thank you for everything." He looked at Katie, knowing that if it wasn't for Jim in so many ways, he wouldn't be married to this woman.

"He says you have to fill in for him. Be there for everyone, no matter what. He says you should go see Tim more. He's lonely without your mom." Katie said, eyeing him. Her dad wasn't the only one telling him about Tim.

"Now, bug, have your mom call Rick," Jim said, turning toward the light with his mother. "He could use some company and you know, your mother would never admit it but she's always loved that old professor a little." He smiled, whispering in her ear this time. "And if it will make her happy, tell her she should call him."

"I will when she's ready," she whispered. "I promise, dad."

"Katiebug, my first baby. You were the one to change everything for your mom and me," Jim smiled, looking over his shoulder at the light. "I love you and I love you too Emma girl. I gotta go now."

"Jim. It's time," his mother appeared beside him, looking at Katie and Emma. "They'll be okay. They are headstrong, independent women like their mother."

"I know," Jim sighed, smiling at her. He'd hugged his mother, taking advantage of not seeing Faith in so long. It had been so long since he'd said goodbye to her through Melinda. The light appeared and so did someone else. It was a little person, one that ran to him and he picked the boy up. He didn't have to guess who that was.

"Grandpa! I've been waiting to meet and play chess with you! You know, great-grandpa says I remind him of you. I am the only other person who can beat him." The boy grinned, looking over at Katie. He knew she couldn't see him, but he waved anyway. "Hi, mama. Don't be sad about grandpa. I'll keep him company."

"Oh, Katiebug," Jim set the boy down, smiling at him. He looked like his little girl, more than either of her sons had. The same brown eyes and goofy smile. "Charlie is here and he is so beautifully you. He has your goofy smile." His hand caressed her cheek. "The same smile as your mother."

Katie nodded, closing her eyes as she felt the usual ghostly tug on her hand. The small warmth of a little hand in hers. She usually only felt it on his birthday. "Go, daddy. Please. Before we ask you to stay," she laughed, smiling at him. "We love you and we'll see you again."

And with that, their father was gone and quickly as he'd arrived.