Finally, the Easter holidays are here! (Well, for me at least!) But that means a have a little more time for writing. I've recently finished the first chapter of a NEW book that will be out on the same day that this one finishes! If you're wondering, I think this book has about 5 chapters left. We still need to say goodbye to Dorinto :')

- Sian

Morlen had waited in his car for fifteen minutes until Nikki Pecan left. After she was gone, Morlen scurried back into the Willow's house. He stomped to Alfie's office, closed the door, and sat on the couch. The silence was nice, and there was plenty to look at in the small office. There was something about the room that heightened Morlen's senses. He wanted to close his eyes, but he didn't want to sleep. He wanted to let his mind drift, but not into his dreams.

As Morlen closed his eyes, his lids felt heavier. He was exhausted, but his mind had been too switched on to relax. Alfie's office was the perfect place to calm down. It had the same feeling as Connor's shop. He felt safe, like the stresses of the outside world would never touch him.

It didn't take Morlen long before his head drooped to the left, but he still wasn't sleeping, he was drifting.

Upstairs in Alfie's room, the door was still locked, and the boys were lying together on the bed, sweaty, out of breath, and completely in love. After a while of lying together, the comedic values started brewing in Alfie's head, and he smirked.

Koda was already watching him, and he frowned when Alfie looked like he was holding back a laugh.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to sit down again," Alfie said, watching Koda shake his head.

"Worth it?" he asked, moving a finger up and down Alfie's sternum. His skin was hot against the tip.

Alfie nodded and wrapped an arm around Koda's neck and pulled himself up. "Not to be dramatic or anything, but I think this is the best day of my life."

Koda laughed and buried his head into Alfie's hair. It smelt faintly of lavender. "I can't believe we've just taken that step."

"On Halloween too."

Koda reached over and checked the date on his watch. "I wonder how many Grim Reapers will knock on your door tonight."

"They can knock, but we won't answer."

"You don't give sweets to the kids?" Koda chuckled.

"Ma used to give them fruit to make sure they didn't come back."

"That's just wrong," Koda said and wrapped arms around Alfie's torso and pulled him out of bed.

"It's cold!" Alfie complained, but Koda dragged him into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

Koda left his hand under the water. The moment it turned warm, he would push Alfie under it. As he waited, his eyes examined Alfie as the medium leaned against the sink with crossed arms. Koda tilted his head and watched Alfie's eyes shy away. The excitement was still fresh in the air like a burst of confetti.

Koda turned his attention back to the water as Alfie started to sense something. He could feel the energy of a Medium he didn't know. "Weird," he mumbled when Koda opened the glass door.

"What's weird?" Koda asked after pulling Alfie closer and dunking him under the water.

Alfie shoved Koda away so that he could move hair from his eyes. "I feel someone," he said, and Koda stared, waiting for him to explain. "I feel a Medium. Do you think that your dad is still here?"

Koda shrugged. "Maybe it's Connor?"

"It's not."

The boys showered quickly, and Alfie frowned the entire time. When they were done with the water and started dressing, the feeling of another energy mellowed. Alfie tried to get dressed so fast; he kept putting his foot through the rip on his jeans.

"Slow down," Koda chuckled, but Alfie was distracted; he didn't listen to anyone when he had his mind set on something.

As Alfie pulled his t-shirt over his head, he hurried out of his room with Koda jogging behind him, trying to zip up his jeans. They rushed to Alfie's office, and Alfie practically kicked the door open. The door didn't swing very far against the carpet, but it opened wide enough for it to startle Morlen and for Alfie to see him drop one of his larger crystals.

There was a moment of silence. Koda and Morlen connected their gaze and Koda looked of pitiful, knowing his dad was in trouble.

"My Rose Quartz!" Alfie rushed over and picked up his crystal like it was made of candy floss.

"Sorry, you-"

"No!" Alfie snapped, pointing his finger to shut Morlen up. "You never touch my crystals!"

"But-"

"Never!" Alfie gently placed the crystal back on the shelf. "Even if you were drawn to it. These are-" Alfie stopped and turned to face Koda's dad. "Were you drawn to it?"

Morlen scratched the back of his head and shrugged.

Alfie looked back to his Rose Quartz. It was a stone of the heart and was good for healing and comfort. Sometimes, the crystal chose the human. "Don't touch it again. If you do, I'll chop your fingers off."

Morlen glared at Koda who looked rather smug.

"Now sit," Alfie said, pointing at the seats.

"I'm going home." Morlen tried to stomp past the medium, but he grabbed his forearm. Morlen felt the many rings on Alfie's fingers pressing into his skin.

"No, you said you'd talk about your mediumship," Alfie said, and Morlen yanked his arm away and threw himself into the seat with a scowl. "Shall I wait until your tantrum is over or..."

Koda scoffed, and Morlen gave him a look that made his son clamp his mouth shut.

Alfie flicked the kettle on and shut the door. "Alright," he said and sat on his chair, wrapping one arm around the backrest. He stared at Morlen for long enough to make him feel uncomfortable, but Alfie was trying to sense his energy. Though, it wasn't as strong as it was when he was in the shower. Maybe Morlen had drifted unintentionally. "Tell me your story."

Koda watched Alfie settle into his chair with eyes of wisdom staring intensely at his father. Alfie was an eccentric character, and it leaked from him in his office full of spiritual belongings.

Morlen picked at the nail on his thumb, refusing to let go of his frown. "I was probably about 4 when I started to see people other people couldn't see. To the people who raised me, they were my imaginary friends, until I said that I was talking to one of their deceased mothers. I guess that's when I believed that I was talking to the dead."

Alfie nodded along to his words. "I'm guessing they didn't take that well. Otherwise, you wouldn't have suppressed it for so long. Did you forget about?"

"It wasn't nice memories, and I thought there was something wrong with me. I didn't think that part of my life would come back."

Koda liked how his father was openly talking without giving one-word answers.

"There has never been anything wrong with you. Those who share the mediumship are chosen to make a difference. We help souls, and you can help them too," Alfie said with a smile. "Connor and I can help you."

Morlen looked down to his hands. "Thanks," he said, feeling rather exposed. Alfie had a way of making him feel okay to be singled out. He wasn't a freak. Those who raised him were wrong to beat his unique gift out of him.

"Obviously, we can't force you to start seeing ghosts right away. You've gotta find your spiritual side. Have you ever meditated?" As they talked, Alfie's mind kept opening the door to his relationship with Koda and what they shared less than an hour ago. He had often thought about the 'next step' in a relationship and what it would feel like, and how things might change after. Alfie knew it had brought himself and Koda closer, and that was all he could hope for after something so personal.

After a while of Alfie telling Morlen about what he should do to open himself up to the world, Tom entered the office to tell them that dinner was ready. Tom said that Morlen could have food too, and he shot out of the room quicker than Koda could roll his eyes.

When Koda followed Morlen, Tom moved in front of the door with narrowed eyes, trapping his son. He stared at Alfie and one eyebrow raised. "You know, you should really shut your window next time. You never know who's in the garden."

Alfie rapidly turned a deep shade of red. His lids forgot how to blink. "I don't... yeah, okay."

Tom patted his shoulder with a grin. "I'm not gonna pester you. As long as you were safe and wanted it, then great." Tom turned towards the kitchen and paused. "But I might have accidentally told your mother."

Tom hurried down the corridor, and Alfie wanted to melt into the wooden floor. He quickly followed his father to find his mother serving his boyfriend and Morlen food. There was an extra shine to her eyes, and he hoped with all of his might that she wouldn't embarrass him.

"I suppose that this can be a celebratory meal," Molly said happily and clasped her hands together, grinning at Alfie as he sat down.

"Celebrating what?" Morlen grumbled and shoved roast potatoes into his mouth.

Molly grinned wider at Alfie, and he glared back as a warning. "That the boys are being safe- I mean are safe." Molly sat down next to Tom, satisfied when Alfie sank into his chair, and everyone else looked mildly confused. "Also, happy Halloween."

Alfie and his mother had staring matches throughout the rest of dinner. Everyone else ate in comfortable silence. Morlen demolished his food within the first five minutes and declared that he had somewhere better to be and left. Koda didn't look surprised, and everyone else knew he was probably going home.

When they had eaten their food, Koda and Alfie washed and dried the dishes, but Molly hovered in the kitchen like she was debating whether to speak or not.

As Alfie washed the last dish, he turned towards her with a sigh. "Ask. I know it'll kill you if you don't."

"I'm sorry. I don't want to be that embarrassing mother but-"

"Too late," Alfie interrupted as Koda turned, knowing that Molly knew about their earlier activities. Alfie had text him when they were having dinner.

"Alright fine, I won't ask about it because it's obviously new and you're uneasy talking about sex with anyone other than each other. I get it, but just so you know Alfie and Koda, you can talk to me about this stuff any time," Molly said before forcing herself to leave the kitchen.

Alfie's eyes followed her until they caught another pair staring at him. Koda's hazel eyes were friendly and warm in colour.

"I like your mum. She's nice," Koda smiled, and Alfie's heart felt like it had burst all over his other organs.

"It should be illegal to be that sweet," Alfie mumbled.

Koda stepped closer, grabbed Alfie's waist, and pulled their hips together. "I have a question," Koda said and leaned down to gently peck Alfie on the lips.

"What?" Alfie asked, knowing he had to get used to Koda's subtle pokes of affection.

Koda's brows knitted together. His expression turned serious as he asked, "Do you think the Grim Reaper dresses up as the Grim Reaper for Halloween?"