Gadalik rode in the back of the carriage beside his mother as his father steered their horses onto the trail leading away from their home. The teen watched as they passed the baring orange and red trees on either side of them, and the flurry of matching leaves stirred from the hooves and wheels.

Living so far from town had worried Gale since a new addition to their family was due any day; he wanted them close to a hospital to be extra sure that his wife would get there in time for delivery.

Everything had progressed normally but Glacia seemed more restless as of late, and her husband even more so given the fatal circumstances of his own birth. Gadalik hoped his parents would find time to relax, for their anxiety was contagious.

They arrived in a neighborhood decorated with ghosts made out of sheets, skeletons, and jack-o'-lanterns, despite it being just the beginning of October. They kept going until they reached the hotel nearest to the hospital and went in.

Gadalik's ghost sense activated on its own: a feeling of dread and misery overcoming him. He had always hated being in or around hospitals solely because of how many have died there, whose spirits still lingered. It didn't help that he got hurt so often. This location wasn't nearly as haunted as others he's been to, at least. They picked a good one.

"You alright, bud?" the darker skinned man asked his son, noticing the spook's sudden tension.

They're scared enough as it is… If they knew about the ghosts, that would only exacerbate things. "I'm fine," he lied, and tried desperately to focus on his immediate surroundings and deactivate his sense.

It didn't work.

It's probably because I'm so worried about my parents. When I'm this on-edge, my ghost sense activates on instinct, as if to protect myself. He sighed, wishing he had brought the nullifier with him as they unpacked into a rather spacious room with two beds. Usually Gadalik would have a separate room, but they all decided it was best to stick together. At least, that was before the teen had lost the ability to control his ghost sense; he paced the room, becoming stir-crazy. I need to get away from the spirits… I don't know how much longer I can tolerate them.

"Gadalik? What's gotten into you?" the purple-haired woman asked, concerned for her son. She had lied down on one of the beds, although periodically she tensed with discomfort, herself.

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The spook stopped and took a breath. "I-I think I need some air," he stammered. "Please excuse me." He turned around before he could see the worry on his parents' faces and quickly left the room. I hate leaving them, especially when my sibling is so close to being here… But I need to calm down, for their sake, too. He walked half a block away and sat on a bench, intentionally breathing slowly. When he had relaxed enough, he managed to deactivate his sense.

He stayed on the bench for a little while longer, watching the passersby before leaning back to look at the sky. I still don't know if I'll get used to a baby being around. My parents spent eight months preparing for it, but… He remembered his father admit that he could never be ready for marriage or fatherhood. Gadalik couldn't help but respect him for pushing through it all.

The teen returned to the hotel room, thankful that his sense remained deactivated. He greeted his mother who was still on the bed, then looked around for Gale, finding him in the kitchen area. Gadalik took a seat on the second bed. "How are things?"

"My back hurts and I have cramps, but that's nothing new," Glacia reported.

"And Dad?"

"I think he's more worried about the delivery than I am. And I'm the one who's having it," she laughed.

"Are you scared…?"

The woman froze. "A bit," she confessed. "But this little one will be worth the wait and pain."

He was surprised but glad that his mother was so calm about the situation.

Gale set the table up and his family took their seats.

Gadalik noticed his father wasn't eating, instead staring absently at the plate. He leaned closer to Gale and murmured, "Are you okay?"

"I'm too nervous to eat," the mohawked man replied. "All I can think about is the way I lost my mother…"

"That wasn't your fault…"

"Yeah... And nobody blamed me for it, either. But I can't shake the thought of losing Glacia the same way…or our child."

"I know how much your mom's death must have impacted you," Gadalik said. "But as bad as it was, it isn't likely to happen in this case. Come on… You'll feel better with some food in you."

Gale sighed with defeat. "Alright."

The three of them ate lunch together, and afterward, Glacia went to the bathroom and the spook sat back against the pillows, reflecting on the past year.

Gadalik's thoughts couldn't help drifting to his ex-girlfriend. During their meeting eleven months ago, she had bullied him out of jealousy of his magic. He never once thought that they would become a couple after that.

"I don't know what we are anymore," she had told him during their breakup.

I know…that we never were more than just friends, he realized, even if she wanted to be, and even if we called ourselves a couple. But I still lost a friend, and it hurts…

That's when he remembered his other friend's confession to him. He had felt bad turning her down, but he had good reason to. What do they see in me? he wondered.

"Gale!" Glacia called from the bathroom, her voice rose higher than usual from panic. "I think…it's time…"