Just Another Day

Syndal laid in her bed, her arms and legs wrapped around a large pillow as she slept. It was how she usually slept after Brian died. Perhaps she thought that the pillow was him, but nevertheless, that was the only was Syndal could sleep. It was around midnight and the window was open, blowing Syndal's dark hair back with every gust of wind. The village below made no noise and it was peaceful.

Until the cry of Carson woke Syndal up.

"I'm coming baby!" Syndal cried as she threw the covers back and rushed to Carson's room. Her bare feet hit the ground with loud thumps as she jogged toward him. It was cold and Sydnal only had on Brian's tee shirt. Yes. She had kept all his clothes.

Entering the nursery, Syndal smiled when she found an almost smirking Carson. "You know, you can't keep waking mummy up just so you can weasel your way into sleeping with me." Syndal scolded.

"Yes I can," Carson said confidently, outstretching his arms.

Sighing, Syndal picked him up with a smile. "You have your mummy whipped." She stated in an exasperated tone. Turning to walk back to her room, Syndal let out a shriek when she saw a figure in the doorway.

Brian just stood there- er, floated there- and watched his wife sleep. She was so cute when she slept, even though he knew she'd been crying again. He hated seeing Syndal cry. He hated seeing her sad in general.

If he hadn't been so stupid and kept his cool under pressure, maybe they wouldn't be in this mess. Maybe he would still be alive, maybe the Dark Lord would already be defeated. But no.

He had to be an idiot and try to defend his family.

He heard his son's cry and went back toward the door. He chuckled, knowing what Carson was up to. He'd done that a lot as a kid.

Moonlight trickled into the window and he could see himself, iridescent, silver.

Brian's eyes widened as Syndal shrieked. "Honestly Sandal, keep screaming like that and you'll wake the neighbors.... Like that one time we- never mind, kid's in here. A guy can't visit his family without having someone scream bloody murder?"

Syndal stared and stared and stared. She must've been dreaming. Brian could not be standing there. There was no way in hell that he was standing there. Sure, he was transparent and silver, but there was no way. Brian could not be there. He couldn't.

"What are you doing there?" Syndal asked, feeling tears stream down her face. "You can't be there. It's impossible. Why? WHY?" Syndal cried, holding a concerned looking Carson.

"Mummy," Carson whispered, holding onto her hair. "It's just daddy."

Syndal let out a sob. It couldn't be him.

Brian cocked his head. "I'm here. It's me. I- You- Listen. I'm here. I wasn't ready to die. It was just too soon. That bastard killed me and I wasn't ready." He shook his head. "I'm sorry I scared you."

Smiling at Carson, he said, "Hey buddy. Daddy missed you a lot, you know."

Carson practically smirked when he smiled. He definitely got that from Brian. "I know Daddy. I missed you."

Brian floated over to his wife and whispered, "I'm sorry, okay? I never wanted this to happen, any of this." He tried to place his hand on her shoulder, but it just went through. He pulled away quickly and muttered about forgetting what happened whenever he tried to touch something.

Syndal stared at Brian, feeling like she had just discovered he was dead yesterday. She had tried to move on. But, him appearing like this wasn't helping. But, oh God did Syndal relish this moment. It was her husband. Everything was the same about him. Except for the fact that she could see through him. But, it was him. "I-I missed you so much." Syndal chocked out, unable to speak clearly through her tears. "I never wanted you to go."

When he approached her, Syndal sucked in her breath. She wanted to embrace him- to kiss him, but she knew she couldn't. His hand going through her shoulder was proof of that. Syndal couldn't breathe, she was so shaken and heartbroken that she felt her chest tighten. "I love you," She whispered.

God he hated seeing Syndal like this. It made Brian feel even worse. Had he made the right decision by staying on Earth? Or had he just made it worse for everyone? What would it be like, watching his wife and son die before his eyes when it was their time? He would have to stay here. Forever.

It was a depressing thought, really.

"I missed you too." He chuckled softly. "Believe me, I didn't want to go either. But it was the Killing Curse. And unless you're Harry Potter, there's no chance of survival."

He smiled at her sadly. "I love you too. I'll be here. Just know that. Now let's get this kid to sleep."

Brian watched as his wife put Carson to bed. He didn't want her to be sad anymore. Hadn't she already had enough of that?

Seeing Brian chuckle, Syndal forced herself to stop crying. He was trying to make it better for her, like he always did. And, she would try to make it better for herself after all. And, Brian was actually here. Her husband was in front of her, albeit a bit... ashen looking, but he was still there.

"Goddammit Brain, why aren't you Harry Potter?" Syndal demanded, chuckling through a voice that was coated with tears.

Hearing his promise that he'll be there, Syndal nodded. She felt a shiver go down her spine when she heard Brian say I love you. Syndal couldn't count the times she replayed him saying that over in her head just so she wouldn't forget the tone of his voice when he did. Now, she heard it after he should've been long gone. It was a miracle.

Putting Carson in his bed and kissing his forehead, Syndal walked out into the hall before turning to face a floating Brian. "I wish I could hug you." Syndal murmured, her voice finally back to normal, but her eyes still puffy and her face still red.

He took in what was left of his wife. Syndal looked so different than the last time he saw her. Then again, that was before he was, well, dead. She looked thinner and less full of life, though he supposed that it was to be expected. She was still beautiful, and would be no matter what, even when she was old and grey.

Brian still looked forward to watching Carson grow up, anyway.

"Brian Potter just doesn't have the same ring to it, Sandal," reaching out to wipe her tears away, apologizing when he failed to, yet again.

"I wish you could too. I wish I could be here for you two, completely. I wish I never had to leave, even if it was for a short while. I never wanted this. I never wanted you to be sad or for our son to live without a dad who can be there for him and help him out and play with him." He sighed. "You're beautiful, you know. Even when you're all blotchy and teary-eyed." He gave her a half smile.

Syndal let out a small whimper when she felt the coldness rushed through her when he attempted to wipe her tears away. How she wished he could hold her and make all her problems go away. She missed him more than he could ever imagine. "I wish it did though," She murmured, forcing herself to wipe her own tears away.

"There are so many things I wish you could do," Syndal stated, feeling more tears brim in the corners of her eyes. "Why couldn't you stay with us?" Syndal asked to no one in particular. "Why?" She sobbed out. It wasn't fair. Brian and Syndal had done nothing to anyone. Why did they get their life turned upside down. "God, and you're still horrible with compliment." Syndal replied, looking at him.

He chuckled again. "So instead of being a ghost, I'd have a cool scar and be a fleshy. No big deal," he said, stretching. "Oh no, the ghostly customs and words are taking hold of me!" Brian loved being overly dramatic about these types of things. It would always make Syndal feel better. He just hoped it'd work this time too.

"I wish I could just have my life back again. That we could start over and have more of a family. Just one more kid, who I could watch and actually help grow up. A little girl, maybe. Oh, I'd treat our little girl like a princess. I- I'm making this even worse, aren't I?" he asked.

"It wasn't as though I really had a choice. It was either move on and not see you for a very long time or stay, but as a ghost. I wasn't ready to die, I wasn't ready to let you and Carson go. This is my best option for now." He could try to comfort her, but that would result in cold and numbness. "I blew it. I blew my cover and I got killed, plain and simple. Acerbant threatened you, Carson, Morgan, my parents, everyone I held dear, just to make sure I was who I said I was. I messed up and attacked him, and for that I was killed. If I'd just kept my peace and- ugh. You don't want to hear this.

"Oh well. Can't blame me for trying now can you?"

Syndal cringed, "Yeah, but that would mean I still would be able to kiss you and yeah, I'll just stop there." Syndal replied, blushing ever so slightly. Brian was making her feel better, like he always did. Syndal felt like she was happy for the first time in a long time. Just seeing Brian made her feel better.

Hearing him ponder what could've been made Syndal's heart clench. "Much worse," She replied, staring at him. "Though, a little girl would be nice. Perhaps she'd be a spoiled brat like Carson. Then we wouldn't want her." Syndal said with a chuckle. "You can still watch Carson grow up, right? And he sees you, so you can help him grow up."

Yeah. He could. Brian could be in their lives. He could live with them and be there for everything. He was a ghost. Ghosts could travel and be there for them. Syndal suddenly had a million ideas, all of which made her feel better.

"Brian, please don't do this to yourself. We can't change the past. And, if karma doesn't slap Acerbant, I will." Syndal said fiercely. "You are still here, though not in the way we planned. I still love you and Carson still loves you. You're part of this family Brian. Even after you're gone."

Brian smirked slightly. "And yeah what? Go on," he urged her. "Come on now, don't be shy. Carson's asleep and I'm all ears." His smirk grew larger. "You know you can tell your husband anything, even if he is a ghost," he teased Syndal.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it worse than it already is. Yeah. I'd spoil her rotten. That little girl would be my world. Don't get me wrong, I love Carson so, so much, but I've always wanted a daughter, deep deep down inside." He nodded. "I can, I guess." He smiled at her. "I'm not the only one that can cheer somebody up."

He sighed. "I'm not doing anything. I'm just telling you what happened. You should know." Brian shook his head at Syndal. "No. I was never gone. I just- I love you both so much, I couldn't bear to see you hurt. I'm never gone. I'm here, in this place. As a ghost. That should be pretty fun..." he trailed off, leaving her to draw her own conclusions.

Syndal scowled, "God, you're such a pervert Brian! Honestly, even when you were alive. It was sex this, sex that, let's try having sex here, you look sexy tonight Syndal, I don't know we'll get caught if we have sex now!" Sydnal whisper-yelled, before laughing. God, it felt good to laugh. It felt good be around Brian again. God, it felt amazing.

"You're such a good dad. Carson talks about you all the time, he keeps asking when you'll come back home. I suppose you are back home. God, I've missed you." Syndal knew that it wouldn't work, but she hugged him anyway. Of course, it felt silly because she was hugging air, but in her mind and from what she could see, she was hugging him. "Please don't leave. Stay with us." Syndal pleaded.

Syndal nodded, "It's the past. Let's just keep it in the past, for my sake." Syndal stated, running a hand through her hair. "Good. Stay around and we won't be hurt." She replied firmly. Blushing hotly, Syndal scowled. "Now, I don't want any pervy ghostie business going on, got it?" Syndal warned.

Brian struggled to keep his laughter from escaping him. Syndal was right, of course, but it didn't mean he couldn't have a laugh about it. "You're the one who said it, not me," he said, letting out a laugh, though trying to keep quiet. It was hard work.

"He knows that I'm... dead, doesn't he?" he asked his wife, looking at her with sad eyes. "I really, really missed you. I spent a long time in limbo, just thinking about what I was going to do." Syndal tried to hug him.

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, or tried to, at least, and felt...warmth. There was just a radiating warmth and it felt nice.

"I swear, I'll never leave you," he whispered.

"Okay, I suppose I can live with that," Brian replied, smiling crookedly at her, a hand running through his hair.

He laughed, almost loud enough to wake someone up. "You're the one who concluded that, not me. Alright, alright. I swear by all that is good, nothing of the sort will happen, Mrs Halsey."

Syndal pouted, "But you know that you've probably said those things multiple times before. When we were on our honeymoon for sure." Syndal said, enjoying the sound of Brian's laugh. She missed it. And, it caused her to laugh a laugh that wasn't hallow anymore.

"Yes, I've told him. Though, when I did, he was still very convinced that you'd come back. Maybe the kid's a seer or something." Syndal joked, crossing her arms over her chest. "Good. I would hope that you would miss your young and grieving wife." Syndal replied, looking up at him with sad blue eyes.

Hearing his promise, Syndal smiled softly. "Thank you," She whispered back.

"Suppose you can? No, you will."

Blushing hotly, Syndal laughed. "God, you're still annoying." She whisper-yelled, walking into their room, knowing he would follow. "I love when you call me Mrs. Halsey. It sounds so domestic. Though, everyone knows I wear the pants in our relationship." Syndal smiled and sat on the bed.