SCRATCH IS BACK BABY! But just because he remembered Molly doesn't mean it's the end yet. We got a few more chapters for them to deal with everything his remembering entails.

Also my Molly plush arrived the day AFTER the Death Day! She was supposed to come the day of but the mail was delayed. She and my Scratch plush are reunited too! Also shoutout to Jackie_Gremlin_Ghost on AO3 whose comment on the previous chapter inspired me to add the 'ragweed season' excuse late in this chapter.


It felt like a miracle. Todd Mortenson finally remembered his time as Scratch, and his best friend Molly McGee. Molly had pinched herself to quadruple check that she was still in reality. She might have pinched too hard if the mark left on her arm was any indication. Yup. It's all real. Thank COB!

The friends walked back home, laughing and talking as if no time had passed since they parted. "So all that stuff we did yesterday was you trying to recreate our old adventures!" Scratch gleefully realized. The very specific scenarios and coincidences were making so much more sense with context! He couldn't believe he rediscovered Molly's hatred of street magic the same way all over again! And why she wanted to cheat at softball!

"Yeah, it did not go according to plan." Molly admitted.

Scratch couldn't help but laugh. "Oh man, that is such a classic Molly scheme! I guess I derailed some of the parts, huh? You wanted to do the soda heist, and hide the dead spider, right?"

"Totally, though we honestly did not have another Surly Sids. I'm starting to see a lot more holes in the scheme." His laughter had infected her too, allowing her to see the humor in yesterday's failures. "But I am really sorry about how the comet recreation went down."

"Eh, don't be. I remember now that I really did take you to see that comet. I WAS THE BALLOON!" That memory alone added a LOT of context to the previous night.

Molly smiled nostalgically. "It's a really great memory for the three of us."

Scratch stopped. "Three of us?" He tilted his head.

"Yeah, Libby was there too."

"She was?"

The two friends simultaneously realized what Scratch had said and what it implied. Molly faced him and could tell he was worried. "Scratch, do you remember the Ghost Friends? We had our own theme song!"

He smashed his hands against his skull, trying to force his memories to clear up. That sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it in any solid memory. "I can't remember that!" Desperately he tried to bring up any ghost memory besides the ones with Molly. Scratch's face was turning red from the strain he was putting on his taco-loving brain. It was no use, no matter how hard he tried, the rest of his wraith memories failed to resurface. "UGH, I keep trying, but I can only remember the stuff I did with you!"

Molly had come to the same conclusion, the hug only returned the memories of her. "Scratch, Scratch! It's OK-"

The man slid his hand down his saddened face. "No I-I know I'm supposed to remember everyone! I should remember Libby and Darryl, and your parents-I can't even remember the ghost world apart from the times I brought you there!" How could he still screw things up?! Why weren't all his memories back?!

Scratch couldn't self-loathe before Molly held onto his arm. "Hey, you don't have to worry about that! I'm sure it'll all come back. You might just need to take it step by step." Her words got Scratch to stop panicking and realize she was right. It took time to remember Molly but he did. The rest would follow. Maybe some funnel cake would speed things up? "We'll all help you Scratch. But first we need to let the family know what happened."

"Right." Scratch agreed. "By the way, did you know I would rent a room at your house when you put the listing up?" He had found it all on his own, so he couldn't be sure it was part of the scheme.

"I really hoped you would. You have no idea how excited I was that you actually booked it." It was such a small chance, one little hope. Todd took the bait of hope and allowed them to have another chance. They wouldn't have known they'd get the outcome they wanted, and there was still a way to go before Scratch could confidently say that everything was right again.

Stepping up to the front porch, the duo mentally prepared for how to explain Scratch's memory being partially back. Should they blurt it out? Gradually lead up to it during dinner? Neither were certain how to do it, so they just opened the front door-

And were greeted by the McGee's, Libby and the Chen siblings waiting for them with confetti and a banner. "WELCOME BACK SCRATCH!" They and the banner said.

Molly and Scratch were shocked, enough for the former to drop the bag of dollar store stuff they'd bought last chapter. The banner was one Molly made for this outcome, and the confetti was from her personal supply, but how in the world- "But-but-HOW?!" The girl was flabbergasted, alongside her best friend gaping in shock. "How did you already know about Scratch and have time to get the banner up?!"

To answer, everyone stepped aside to reveal June in the back. The girl was innocently sipping out of a juicebox. "I was hacking into security feeds out of boredom and saw your hug on one of the monitors." She shrugged then went back to drinking her juice.

While that explained a little, Libby stepped up to clarify further. "June ordered a 'code blue' immediately, and we all rushed over. We only barely got the banner up in time."

"Also, we could only find the one party horn." Pete added, giving the horn a little toot.

Scratch was moved that they would do this, but it made the bad news all the more bad. "You guys I… I-"

The youngest of the McGee family wasted no time running up to his bruncle. "This is the best! You finally remember being a ghost and all of us! I-um-" Darryl's excitement turned bashful. "I missed you a lot."

Way to unintentionally make Scratch feel even more guilty. Performing the arm-scratch where his nickname came from, the man couldn't hide his sadness. Molly held his back and gave him her support. "Everyone, this is really amazing and I do not deserve this. Not because I'm not worth it, but because I haven't completely remembered yet. It's just the memories of Molly that are back so far. I… still don't remember the rest of you any further back than the past two and a half days. I'm sorry."

Scratch's admission sucked the joy out of the room, the group deflated like an old balloon. Pete used the party horn to make a sad horn noise.

Darryl was sad, it wasn't all fixed with a single hug. "So you don't remember our Scratch-and-Darryl shenanigans?" His bruncle sadly shook his head, unable to look the kid in the eyes. Darryl's lip quivered. "That really makes me feel-" from behind his back, Darryl took out the old Obnoxitron and made it play a fart noise.

The somber tone broke at the fake fart, both Darryl and Scratch laughed harder than they should have. "Aw man, that thing will always be hilarious-" Scratch's laughter abruptly ceased and he gasped. He felt it. Just like how it was with Molly's hug, he felt a rush of memories montage before his eyes.

Him and Darryl laughing at the Obnoxitron outside the retirement home, pulling pranks at the school with Wraith Darryl, invading the dreamscape with Darryl in a scheme to get a Nintari-

"DARRYL!" Scratch grabbed the teen by the shoulders and shook him, much like he did with his sister maybe twenty minutes ago. "I REMEMBER YOU! I remember you for real now! It all came rushing back like a bowl of spicy chili in a newly cleaned bathroom!"

Narrowing his eyes in suspicion, Darryl spoke to Scratch in a low whisper. "How did I get the sea lions to leave you alone?" If Scratch truly remembered him, he'd know about their darkest secret shenan.

Scratch, gravely serious and unable to hide his haunted stare, answered Darryl's test in an equally low whisper. "You threw the leftover anchovy pizza into the bay. The last one only let go when you banged the rocks together."

That answer was correct. Darryl was less likely to hug compared to his sister, but he was too ecstatic and hugged his newly re-found family tight. "You DO remember me!" Scratch returned the hug, while everyone else watched in amazement. One moment he'd been so upset about not remembering Darryl, then they laughed and Scratch's memories of him reappeared. It would be unbelievable if the group hadn't just witnessed it.

Ollie snapped his fingers, realizing the probable cause. "That's it! All your wraith memories are buried in your subconscious! Once Molly unlocked the initial memories, it opened the floodgates for the rest of them!"

Molly caught on to what her boyfriend was saying and her smile widened. "Me and Scratch hugging was something special to us! And laughing at juvenile stuff was how he and Darryl bonded! I bet we can trigger more of Scratch's memories with meaningful, personal gestures!"

That sounded like it could work, and although Scratch was feeling renewed hope, he still needed to complain. "We gotta do it one by one?! Can't we figure out a way to make me remember everything all at once?"

The younger of the Chen siblings approached and gave her analysis. "I've studied enough ghost phenomena to say that can't be possible. How long do you think you were a wraith for?"

"I'm not sure, I think close to a decade." That sounded about right. Though it added some gloom to the room that he'd spent such a long time before meeting the McGee's. A long time when he was alone and miserable.

"You were a wraith for almost ten years, and then you spent the past year back as a human. That leaves a big gap for your brain to catch up on. It is going to take time and work to recall everything that you forgot, but it is highly probable that you can recover all of it… or at least eighty-five percent of it." June knew her stuff, her diagnosis was the most accurate any former wraith could receive. If she said it was 'highly probable', then those were the odds.

Scratch looked to Molly and Darryl for confirmation. He still didn't remember how much of a ghost expert June was after all. They nodded, that was the unbridled truth. "I'm not psyched that it'll take work, but I'll do whatever I need to do." These were his friends and family. Low self-esteem be darned, he deserved to remember them!

"That's the spirit, Scratch!" Molly cheered.

"Not a spirit anymore. I am flesh and blood all over!" Scratch oddly bragged.

Sharon saw an opportunity to salvage the impromptu welcome party they'd thought they'd be holding. "Instead of a reunion party, we'll turn this into a remembering party! We can figure out what sort of connection each of us has that'll trigger Todd's-er Scratch's memories!" Sharon's slip up brought a good question. "By the way, what name should we call you now?"

"Scratch." The man answered with zero hesitation. "I am not a fan of my legal name and I prefer my nickname over it any day. Feels like it's a better fit for me."

Talking about names caused Molly to realize there was still someone who needed to be here. "Speaking of names-Scratch, how do you spell the name 'Jeff'?"

Though confused by such a random question, Scratch obliged. "Uh… I think I would spell it G-E-O-F-F."

Right on cue, a portal appeared and Geoff came floating out. "You got it right! Thanks, Scratch!" Seconds ticked by, then Geoff's eyes bugged out, and he squished his hands against Scratch's face. "OH MY GOSH SCRATCH! YOU REMEMBER ME!", and

It was upon the squishing of his cheeks that the memories reawakened for Scratch-

Getting hugged by Geoff after dealing with Howlin' Harriet, attending Geoff's anniversary party, watching Geoff mix ingredients together like he was performing a serious surgery-

Scratch gasped once again, he was probably going to be doing that a lot tonight, wasn't he? "GEOFF! I know you! You're my best ghost friend!" Too late did he register what left his mouth and realize what he admitted. He resigned himself to what was sure to follow. "Oh boy, here it comes."

"BEST. GHOST. FRIEND?!" Geoff was in joy overload and hugged his best friend as tightly as he could, all the while weeping from the overwhelming happiness fixing the hole Scratch had left behind in his heart. "THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER! You know, aside from marrying Jeff, and the day I met Jeff, and the day I met you, and the day-"

"Yeah, yeah we get it Geoff." Scratch tried to pretend he was annoyed, though a performer at heart, he could not hide his genuine grin and reciprocation of the hug. "It's good to see ya, too-" He stopped. Scratch realized the hug wasn't all ectoplasm, there was some wooly material attached to the ghost. Pulling himself from Geoff, he discovered the source to be a tacky holiday sweater with a snowman on it. "Geoffrey, WHY are you wearing a Christmas sweater on July 7th?"

Geoff heartily chuckled. "Oh this? I've still got glitter stuck to my ectoplasm from last night. Jeff said this would keep it from making too much of a mess."

Upon closer inspection, there was plenty of glitter stuck to his hands and face too. "From last night…" There was no way Geoff would miss a scheme to bring his best buddy back, he had to be somewhere in Molly's scheme. For him to be covered in glitter… Scratch's mind hadn't been paying too much attention to the fake comet the kids made, but the light trail it left behind did seem to glow green… "The fake comet! That was you!?"

"Uh huh!" Geoff nodded proudly. "Made a pretty good one, didn't I? I was supposed to reprise my role as Lincoln too!"

"Right, I did try to pass you off as Lincoln…" Scratch reconnected the ghost to the already recovered memory of helping Molly. It was like the fragments of his ghost afterlife had expanded, like it was an incomplete jigsaw puzzle that had gotten a few more pieces in the right places. More of his experiences in the Ghost World cleared up as well, as far back as meeting Geoff and being a miserable loner… yikes. "Molly, Darryl and Geoff are back in, that leaves the rest of you!"

Molly wrapped an arm around Scratch and cheered excitedly. "Let's unclog your mind pipes!"

OXOXOXOX

Sharon was the first to come up with a memory trigger. She left the room before everyone could find a seat and came back with a canvas under her arm. "You've helped all of us out many times, Scratch, and one of those times you helped me find my inspiration by total accident." She turned the canvas around to reveal the painting. Various expressions of wonder and awe were given to the masterpiece by her company:

"That's beautiful, Mrs. McGee!" Libby clapped.

"One of your best, honey!" Pete praised.

"Can I make some counterfeits for cash?" Darryl raised his hand.

Scratch got up close. Did he really inspire such a work of art? Had he been a muse? "You painted this! It belongs in a museum or hotel lobby! I'm not just saying that cause I apparently was the inspiration behind it… I mean that is a big selling point... take note of that, Darryl."

"Look right here-" Sharon pointed out a particular spot. "Do you know what made that bit of paint?"

The rounded shape, the smudge in the colors, that wasn't painted by a brush. Scratch realized what made that mark and gasped-

Playing Mega City against Sharon, posing in a bowl of fruit while Sharon was trying to paint, sitting in the car with Sharon and picking out throw pillows on her phone-

"Sharon, you did it! I know you again!" Scratch happily announced the new batch of memories that had returned. He remembered how hard she worked for the family, how fierce and terrifying she could be when angered, and how warm and loving she was to her adopted ghost.

"Yes!" Sharon fist pumped in triumph. "I knew that would work!"

"I also remember that it was my butt that was the muse for your painting!" Scratch laughed, unable to resist saying what he said next. "How 'a-muse-ing' is that!?" The pun elicited only groans, boo's, and a disappointed stare from Sharon.

"Please do not make any more puns involving my art." Sharon told him flatly and firmly.

Scratch remembered her for barely a minute, and she was already reminding him why she was the one in charge. "You know I can't make that promise."

Over on the arm of the couch, Darryl was reminded of something and snickered. "By the way Scratch-" He barely restrained himself into keeping a straight face. "Did Molly tell you the name of her scheme?"

Recognition flashed across his sister's face. "Darryl, don't you dar-"

"Operation BUTTS!" Darryl blurted out. He and Scratch erupted into hysterics, cracking up way too much over something so dumb. Geoff laughed too, less because of the name and more because Scratch was laughing. Sharon might have also bitten her lip to keep herself from joining in.

Molly, the one responsible for the unfortunate acronym, defended her honor. "It stands for 'Besties. United. Through. Timeless. Shenanigans.'! I didn't mean to-there wasn't any time to make a better one! I was sleep-deprived!"

The laughter provided cover for Libby to slip away unnoticed. By the time everyone noticed her absence, they could hear sounds coming from upstairs and figured it was her. Molly's phone buzzed, and it was Libby calling. "Libs, where'd you go?… Oh! It's in the holiday scrapbook! Page eleven."

"Guess it's Libby's turn next." Scratch commented, curious to find out what she was planning for him. He only had to wait another minute or two for the turtleneck-clad girl to return to the family room carrying a small box.

"Sorry for the wait, I had to put this together." Libby lifted the box, an unremarkable box other than the opening on top.

June tilted her head. "Is that a suggestion box?"

"It's called a miracle box. It's a Stein-Torres Hanukkah tradition where we write what our miracle was this year and put it inside. We take turns picking them out and reading them aloud." Libby explained to all who had not been there during the Hanukkah at her book store. The McGee's recognized what memory she was trying to trigger and nudged Scratch to approach Libby and the box.

Libby held out the miracle box to Scratch. "Go on, read the paper inside." She encouraged him.

Reaching into the box, there was only one slip of paper for Scratch to grab. It felt strangely smooth to touch. Taking it out revealed that the paper was laminated. To preserve its contents for the foreseeable future. "Let's see what we got here… 'I used to haunt a house. Now I-" Scratch felt a twang of emotions hit his chest, he understood what this was. This was his handwriting. His miracle. "… Now I haunt a home.' I wrote this." A faint memory of books and fried foods came to mind, but not yet clear enough to place. "I'm… I was there at Hanukkah, right? I remember dreidels and not getting a latke-WAIT! I ate too many latkes!"

Libby couldn't help the light giggle from escaping her throat. In hindsight, the food alone was probably a real solidifier of their friendship. "Oh yeah, you ate a LOT that night. And we played games and hung out for hours. When we did the miracle box you tried to stop us from reading that paper-which, by the way, Molly saved and put in one of her scrapbooks."

"It's a keeper." Molly knew her preservation of memories through scrapbooking would come in handy someday.

"My mom dropped in to tell us her miracle too. It's the same every year…"

A flash of recognition shined in Scratch's eyes. "Oh yeah, she called you her miracle-" Another flash of recognition, this one was much, much bigger-

He and Libby saving Molly from the turnip slicer, the two of them hunting down a scoop for the school paper, Libby gifting him her basket on Purim-

"Libby, you GENIUS! I got my memories of you back!" Libby had been there to see the comet! She loved turtles, couldn't sing, has an apocalypse bunker and owns a pop-up book on paranormal stuff! She gave him her mishloach manot on Purim, she made peace with the Story Sprite, she wrote her own book, and most importantly, she was one of his closest friends!

Pleased that her idea had been a success, Libby could truly welcome back her old friend. "I had a hunch Hannukah would work. You were practically begging me to invite you over the next year."

"I wasn't 'practically' begging, I was actually begging! I held the vowel in 'please' for thirty seconds!" Scratch corrected her. She did invite him over again the following year, but there wasn't anything interesting enough to fill an eleven-minute story. His search for Molly's Christmas gift, on the other hand…

Scratch couldn't reminisce any further since Libby was now hugging him. "I've really missed you, Scratch." She sincerely told him.

"You too, Libs, even if I didn't know it."

No one knew how to follow up after Libby, so conversation and drinks were had while the rest of the crew racked their brains over reaching Scratch's brain. Ollie was pacing in circles. What did he need to do for his memory trigger? "I could goo blast him to the wall-no, that's not a happy memory. Maybe the robe-Ugh, also a bad idea! I can get him to yell at me for messing up everything… WHY IS IT SO HARD TO COME UP WITH GOOD IDEAS TONIGHT?!"

Darryl stepped into the center of Ollie's pacing circle, though Ollie didn't seem to notice. "Relax, you're overthinking this. I got him back with a fart noise, and I wasn't even trying."

Ollie's pacing came to a halt. "You're right! I need to keep it simple, yet meaningful." Going overboard with plans was Molly's thing… and his when a canister was involved. No grand gesture was necessary to toggle Scratch's memories off him back on.

"Didn't Scratch teach you curses?" Darryl recalled his bruncle bragging about how awesome a mentor he was.

"That's it!" Ollie beamed. He knew what to do. "Wow, you're on a roll with the good ideas today, Darryl."

"All my ideas are good ideas." Darryl tried to act cool, as if his schemes didn't often go off the rails. Ollie stared him down, clearly disagreeing with the previous statement. There would be time later to go over all of Darryl's bad ideas. The good ideas he'd had took priority.

Over by the kitchen doorway, Scratch had entered a conversation with Sharon and Molly. The latter's attention was diverted once she noticed her boyfriend coming over, silently sending her a nod and a grin to signal that it was his turn to retrieve his bond with Scratch. Molly returned his gesture and tapped Scratch's arm, quieting the words coming from his mouth. "Ollie's gonna take a try."

Scratch handed Molly his cup of beverage. "Hold my soda." He entrusted his liquid blend of caffeine and chemicals to his best friend.

Molly saluted and accepted the cup-only to fumble her grab and almost drop it, a little splashed onto her socks. "Darn it lefty! We've been over this!" She shouted at her left hand.

"Alright, Ollie-" Scratch approached the young teen, interested to see what he had in store for him. "What'cha come up with?"

Ollie cleared his throat, trying to ignore the pang of embarrassment that could follow if this was a bust. He prayed for this to work and that Darryl's suggestion wouldn't make him look like a fool in front of everyone. Inhaling deeply, Ollie spoke loud and commanding. "I CURSE YOU SCRATCH! TO RETURN YOUR MEMORIES WITH ZERO CATCH! TIMES WE'VE SHARED THE GOOD AND BAD, RESTORE THE FRIENDSHIP WE ONCE HAD!" Ollie gestured and waved his arms as he pretended to cast a curse. As a human it was nowhere near as impressive without the shapeshifting and echoing voice.

All eyes were on Ollie and Scratch. Every second that ticked by left the engoodifier more and more anxious. Did it work? Could Scratch remember him? The former ghost's expression didn't indicate that it did, though he did seem to be judging him. "That curse was 'okay' but it could use some work." And here comes Scratch's curse critique. "The rhyming scheme was too basic, you can be more creative with your wording. The structure is also incredibly simple. Rhyme A then Rhyme A, Rhyme B then Rhyme B, switch it up so it goes 'A-B-A-B'! You can't do much about the presentation unless your a ghost, but COME ON I thought I taught you better than that-"

Ollie capturing and interrogating him on Halloween, Ollie tearfully hugging him in the video store, him teaching Wraith Ollie how to cast curses-

Scratch's gasp was all Ollie needed to hear to know his fake curse had been a success. The confirmation was cemented by Scratch saying: "Swoopy Hair! Your amateur curse worked!" His friendship with the boy was clear again! Ollie Chen had started out as a Ghost Hunter before having a change of heart and joining their side! He was annoyingly chipper and environmentally conscious, the best player at Turnip Ball even if he had no idea what the game was, he's ridiculously organized and LIKED doing paperwork! Scratch hadn't liked him when they met, but the kid changed and managed to win him over, becoming a friend and helper to ghosts of all kinds, and his friend too!

The boy teared up, and his lips quivered into a wobbly smile. "I'm so happy you're back!" Ollie threw his arms around the man, unashamedly crying onto his hawaiian-shirt. "It hasn't been the same without you!"

"Eesh, Ollie you're making it weird!" Scratch fondly rolled his eyes, clearly not meaning what he said. He was happy to remember him too.

Out of all who were watching, Darryl was the single soul looking confused rather than touched. At least until a lightbulb lit up in his brain. "Oh… Scratch taught him THAT kind of cursing. I thought he taught him the same stuff he taught me." Darryl had learned from Scratch the most appropriate curse words for any situation and usage, and trained him to not accidentally say a bad word in front of the rest of the fam. His eloquence and vocabulary blossomed.

Unfortunately, Darryl DID accidentally say his realization a little too loud and got the attention of Molly and his parents. Sharon shook her head. "Honestly, I figured as much. As long as you keep that language away from our ears."

Molly offered her mother a consolation. "At least I've never cursed."

OXOXOXOX

Pete decided to go next. He'd crafted an elaborate dance routine that not only incorporated his skating skills, but symbolized the nature of his and Scratch's relationship. It was an abstract expression of familial love and trust, of the cherished time they spent together.

The routine had been going on for eleven minutes now. And Scratch still couldn't remember him.

"Pete, I think you should try something else." Sharon suggested. It was becoming increasingly painful to watch her husband continue to dance on loop.

"Have some faith, Sharon!" Pete intensely performed the hustle. "Fifth time's the charm! Why should I give up now?!"

"Because it's obviously not working." Sharon raised an eyebrow.

The hustle slowed down as Pete processed how his audience was viewing him. Or not viewing him, Sharon and Geoff were the only ones still giving Pete their attention. Scratch was trying to, but the temptation of distractions was eating away at his will. Most of the kids had given into the temptation of looking at their phones, except for Libby who was skimming through her pop-up book. Pete finally stopped dancing and turned the music off. "Come on Scratch, you can't tell me that dance did nothing to remind you of me! Be completely honest!"

"Which one? I can't do both!" Scratch blurted out. He winced at his own tone and honesty… huh, guess he was being completely honest. And technically he didn't TELL Pete the dance didn't work… Wow, Scratch actually could do both!

Pete's eyes watered, upset that the past eleven minutes were for nought, he let out a whiny wail. "Scra-aatch!" That tone of voice resonated with Scratch, reminding him-

Feeding Pete a cracker and then clicking a button, taking care of Pete when he was injured, shopping with Pete for period stuff and tricking him into buying a ton of snacks-

"WOAH! That did it! The whining my name did it!" Scratch was astounded that his memories of Pete returned with the tone he'd heard while helping him recover.

While not the most heartfelt way for him to be remembered, Pete was too darn relieved to care. "Oh, thank cob! You finally remember me! Let me just say from the bottom of my heart how much I've-"

Whatever Pete wanted to tell Scratch would have to wait. The front door opened with a kick and another person entered the house, Grandma Nin. "I am so sorry I am late! I had to make a huge batch of all my best Thai snacks to welcome Scratch back!" Despite her size, Nin was effortlessly carrying six boxes of food that towered over her.

The intoxicating smell of Thai food floated into Scratch's nose. He took one whiff and it all clicked-

Hugging Nin when she arrived, protecting Nin from the dangers of walking in the house, carrying her water balloons during Songkran-

"GRANDMA NIN!" Scratch was overjoyed to remember his favorite old lady and adopted grandmother (his current age be darned), he immediately moved to try and hug her, but the boxes of food made it a little awkward to get to her. "Oh-here just-a little to the-almost-" Scratch's struggle not to mess with the food got Ollie and Molly to run over and grab the boxes from Nin.

With her hands free, Nin gave Scratch a hug. "It's good to see you again, Scratch. I've missed having you around." She moved her head back to look up at him. "Though it will take some getting used to, now that you are taller than me."

Scratch chuckled, the height difference between him and everyone finally settled in. "I can't fly, but I can still help you reach the top shelves."

This was a heartwarming moment, to all except Pete. "Seriously?! It took you seven seconds to remember Grandma Nin?! She didn't even do anything!"

"Hush Peter." His mother-in-law silenced him. "You are interrupting a sentimental moment!"

Nin's snacks were passed around, filling everyone's stomachs up instead of having a proper dinner. As the group ate and caught Nin up on the situation, there was one member of the Ghost Friends who had not managed to stir Scratch's memories of her yet: June. The thirteen-year-old girl munched on some of the less spicy food while going over her data. She'd purposely waited for everyone else's memories to be triggered before attempting hers. That way she could analyze the triggers and come up with exactly what Scratch would need to remember her. "Yo June, come up with anything yet?" Darryl asked her with a mouthful of food.

"I believe I have." June answered, pushing her glasses up by the center. "After observing all of you, I've come up with a hypothesis that I'm ready to test."

Scratch swallowed his sixth dumpling and was about to reach for another, until he noticed the sudden and close presence of the youngest Chen beside him. "Woah! Didn't see you there." How did she pop out of nowhere like that? She wasn't sitting there five seconds ago! "What'cha got for me, June?" Her abrupt appearance could only mean it was her turn to stir his memories.

"I apologize in advance for invading your personal space." June politely warned her older friend.

"For doing what now-" Scratch barely got his sentence out before feeling a finger poke around his eye. "What the-" June continued to poke at the sagging flesh under his eyes. "June!" As if the poking wasn't invasive enough, she started pulling at his cheeks. "I'm not a ghost anymore! You can't stretch me like you used to-"

June stretching him out when they first met, June explaining how Junior was created while he took notes, June accidentally setting off his carob allergies during an experiment-

Scratch blinked a few times before addressing the young girl he'd just remembered. "OK, that might have worked, but it was still rude."

"I did apologize in advance." June reminded him.

"You did." Scratch nodded. Any irritation faded into genuine joy to remember such a young and curious girl. "Glad to really remember you, June." He ruffled her hair, a little payback for her antics. "How's your science stuff been going?"

Shaking off the messing of her hair, June was happy to divulge her latest discoveries. "I've made some new tech, most of it is still in the prototype stage, but I'll show you tomorrow if you'd like. My research on ghosts has also made strong headway. Last week I learned how to drop my pulse to zero for twenty seconds."

Ollie, hearing that last part, spit out his food and shouted in alarm. "YOU DID WHAT?!"

Ignoring that June nearly gave her brother a heart attack, Scratch realized their ghost guest Geoff was nowhere to be seen. "Did Geoff leave already?"

In perfect time to answer Scratch's question, a ghost portal opened up and Geoff re-emerged from it. "Aww, did you miss me already?" He'd apparently heard Scratch, judging by the flattered and somewhat smug grin he had.

"No, I just thought it was weird of you to leave without saying goodbye!" Scratch corrected him.

"I had to make a quick trip back home, there's someone else who's been dying to see you." Geoff winked at the word 'dying'.

Yeah, Scratch saw what he did there. "Ghost pun aside, if it's Jeff he's not gonna hurt me or something for making you sad, is he?" From what he could recall of Geoff's afterlife partner, he had made it crystal clear that if he ever did anything to hurt Geoff he'd make him suffer. Leaving Geoff heartbroken without a goodbye was definitely considered hurting him. How was it that the one solid memory he had of Jeff currently was of him threatening his afterlife? Why'd he get that memory back?!

"Nah, Jeff won't do anything to you until you're in the Ghost World again." Oh Geoff, that was not as reassuring as you thought it was. Scratch felt a little unsafe. "And it's not Jeff, it's-"

Something blue flopped out of the portal, his eyes set on Scratch. He rejoiced and excitedly leaped onto him, making cute noises and cuddling his creator. Scratch realized the ecstatic ghost was actually a ghost SHARK, and not just any ghost shark, he was-

Changing Sharkie into his cute form, taking Sharkie along with him into a hexed chateau, teaching Sharkie to steal churro's for him-

Scratch loudly gasped (hopefully the last time he'd do that tonight) and hugged his ghost pet. "SHARKIE! Oh, Sharkie! Daddy's so sorry! I didn't mean to-" Sharkie didn't need an apology, he was too happy to see him again. The aquatic ghost cooed and affectionately licked Scratch's face. "Awww, who's a good ghost shark? It's you! Oh-hoho, watch the nails, I just had those painted."

Geoff's ectoplasmic heart swelled with joy for Scratch and Sharkie. "Me and Jeff took Sharkie in while you were away. He's been such a fun addition to our 'Dead and Breakfast', I think we got him pretty well-trained at not biting the guests."

"You took care of Sharkie?!" Scratch was pleasantly surprised.

"Of course! You made me his godfather." Geoff easily answered.

Appointing Geoff as his pet's godfather was the right choice. The moment Scratch remembered Sharkie he'd started worrying over his care. Sharkie was a shark. He couldn't understand why his creator had left him in the Ghost World and didn't come back. It couldn't be explained to him. Scratch hoped he could recognize the context from everyone else that his departure had been sudden. He'd been banking on the best case scenario where he wouldn't forget…

Thankfully, it seemed Sharkie was still the same lovable ghost shark he'd been when he'd left. He got distracted by the dollar store bag and the pool noodle sticking out of it. Sharkie pounced and grabbed the foam noodle in his teeth, trying to eat it. "NO SHARKIE! THAT'S NOT FOOD!" his creator and his godfather scrambled to keep their shark from swallowing the pool noodle.

They failed.

OXOXOXOX

"Alright Scratch, how's your old brain box doing?" Molly came up behind the couch and tapped her fingers on her bestie's head. His memories of everyone here had been retrieved. How much of his wraith memories did that make? Did they need to trigger anymore from other people like the Ghost Council or the Chen parents?

"Hmm." Scratch stuck out his tongue and pretended to knock on his skull. "There's still gaps to fill in. But I think I'm starting to remember on my own a little." He could remember Jeff a bit even though he hadn't seen him. He also remembered being in charge of the Ghost World for a while. There was a mean purple ghost lady, and many other ghosts whose faces were still blurry. Scratch recalled a little about that girl, Andrea too, tiny bits of her and Molly being friends.

Darryl plopped himself onto the cushion next to Scratch. "Hey, we're the important people. You remember us, which means you've got enough of your memory back!" The kid was one to get impatient and cut corners, he loved having Scratch back and couldn't wait to get on with the good stuff! "Which also means, IT'S TIME FOR CAKE!"

Scratch shot out of his seat, making Darryl fall over as he did. "WE HAVE CAKE!?"

The sudden outburst and reaction to food got everyone laughing, that was definitely the Scratch they knew. Pete wiped a single tear from his eye and also got up. "I made one yesterday, while you were out. Sharon, could you help me get it out?"

The parents left to prepare the cake, and Nin followed to put away a box previously full of her cooking. Scratch was left with the kids and Geoff, the atmosphere was so light and joyful, everyone was laughing and joking around. It felt more familiar than anywhere else. Soon, Pete and Sharon returned with the cake and placed it on the living room table. Everyone gathered around, and Scratch felt Molly and Darryl stay close to his side.

Upon seeing the cake, chocolate-strawberry flavored with white icing on top that said 'Welcome Home Scratch!', the cake's main recipient felt water leaking from his eye-holes. "Scratch-" Molly looked up at him. "Are you crying?"

"No!" Scratch wiped his face to remove the evidence. "It's ragweed season!"

Molly said nothing, she simply hugged her friend. Darryl hugged him too, then Pete and Sharon. If there had been more room, everyone else would've joined the group hug too. Eh, they'll do a bigger hug later when they're outside or something. Scratch could no longer stretch his arms around everyone, but it didn't stop him from trying to. That cake had reaffirmed what he'd hoped was still true, and the hug cemented it. "It feels good to be home."

Sharon smiled. "Our family isn't complete without you, Scratch."

"Neither am I." Scratch's old-fifty-something heart swelled with the familial love he'd wanted for so long. The family he'd been yearning for, one who had loved him enough to let him go and welcomed him with open arms when he returned. Their love for him didn't change from a year ago, nor did him no longer being a ghost change anything. He felt accepted for who he was, no matter the form or if he remembered or not. But he was really glad he did remember.

Scratch felt Molly's grip tighten on him and she grinned. "You're stuck with us, cause you're a McGee!" Wherever he went, whatever he did, his family would be there to support and love him unconditionally.

Everyone had been distracted enough to not realize Sharkie was eyeing the cake. June realized what he was going to do and held him back. "Sorry to interrupt, but can ghost sharks eat cake?"

Geoff floated over and sternly godparented the aquatic ghost. "Sharkie no! We put you on a strict diet! You used up your sweets intake today with that gallon of pudding."

The family hug parted, and the cake was divided. Everyone got a slice except for Sharkie, who was grumpily fed carrot sticks by June… though Nin may have snuck him some frosting when no one was looking. While most of the group hung around the couches and caught up, some had stepped back to do their own thing.

Sitting on the staircase, Libby had her pop-up book out and a pencil in hand. Focusing diligently on her newest addition to the pages. "Libby?" Ollie's voice broke her concentration and caused her pencil to make a mark on the page. "Oops! Sorry!"

"Don't worry, that's why they put erasers on these." Libby easily erased the mark.

Ollie peered over and took a look at the book. "Are you adding another page again?"

"Not exactly. I'm adding on to my wraith page." Besides the pages already full of information that had come in the book, Libby had added several pages of her own observations and revelations. While the book had its own page on wraiths, she had written an extra page detailing the causes and effects of the form. Tonight enlightened her to the one last piece of information needed to tie it all together.

"The wraith page?" Ollie was really curious now.

Libby passed the book over to Ollie, letting him read her writing while she explained. "Yeah. We've learned how actions of love are the key to bringing back memories. Like how Todd remembered his time as a wraith from Molly's hug, or how the memory of your life was restored by Molly's kiss."

Being reminded of his own experience, Ollie's face blushed bright red. "I can definitely vouch for that." His eyes lowered and looked away, the bittersweetness of the end of his time as Chairman leaned more toward the 'sweetness' when it came to how he was saved. "It felt like I was lost in a haze, until Molly's love woke me up. Scratch had his own different circumstances for why he forgot, but Molly's love was what healed him too." His girlfriend was truly incredible, her golden joyful spirit overflowed with love she both gave and received.

"It definitely wasn't under any drastic circumstances, but Molly saved me too." Libby looked back on when she first met her best friend. "She was my first real friend. I was so lonely and stuck inside my shell before Molly came around. And her optimism is infectious, I didn't even know I COULD think positive when the sky was covered by dark clouds." Molly's friendship was the sun she needed, the sun that shined a light on the hidden courage Libby couldn't see past her anxiety.

Molly McGee was the brightest soul either of them had ever known, and not just because her wraith form was a rare golden hue. She had a knack for finding lonely kindred spirits and lighting up the world around her with her positivity and determination. Molly was a handful sometimes, and not even she was immune to negative emotions and sadness. That's exactly why Libby and Ollie had formed the 'Molly's Sanity Protection Duo', to lift Molly up when her spark dimmed. To catch her when she fell. Because they loved Molly as much as Molly loved all of them.

"Molly's like our candle on the water." Libby mused. "Leading us all out of the darkness with her light." She and Ollie warmly smiled and looked at their enhappifier and their newly returned friend. Molly and Scratch were laughing and hugging, the latter trying to lick frosting that was stuck to his nose. Surrounded by their friends and family, the two of them were right where they belonged.