#yatesbert week

[amtrak12]

Pst, @erin-gilberts since some people are giving out fic snippets to trick-or-treaters....

I've also dug up a scene from my ancient idea for a Yatesbert Amnesia AU. I wasn't sure what I still had on it, and um... turns out I have a lot more than I remember???? This document was labeled "Chapter 19" and apparently my working fic title was "Pretend Truths".

It's a first draft and comes with all first draft caveats. The premise was Abby and Erin have just moved into a fancy condo together with that sweet, sweet government money, but then a bust goes wrong and a ghost steals a couple of years of Abby's memories so she no longer remembers anything about their reunion or the movie events. She takes one look at Erin's clingy concern and the condo they share and assumes they're dating now. They're not. But Erin... goes with it! Because the alternative is Abby being mad at her all over again about being abandoned and Erin would prefer not to face that again. Fake dating! :) What could go wrong?

(Feelings. Feelings could go wrong. Or at least make things super complicated!)

I couldn't begin to tell you what plot points led to this scene, but it's primarily a conversation between Abby and her younger brother OC I gave her. *shrug* I thought maybe you'd enjoy reading it :)

(@ you and anyone else who sees this: Please feel free to steal anything you see here because I highly, highly doubt I'll ever go back and finish this story, and if I did, our takes would be different anyway. So have at it!)

1600 words behind the cut:

Abby didn’t mind her old, worn out bed at her old, worn out apartment that night. In fact, she hardly slept at all that night. Her mind kept replaying moments from the date: Erin’s blush when Abby flirted with her, the feel of Erin in her arms as they danced, the disappointment in Erin’s voice when Abby insisted she had to leave.

The heated way Erin kissed her.

Never had she imagined Erin kissing her like that. This week had been one remarkable, never in her wildest dreams, moment after another, but making out with Erin topped the cake. Took the cake. It was the icing and the candles and the birthday kid nabbing the biggest piece all rolled into one.

With a cherry on top.

The next morning, Abby beat everyone to the lab except for Kevin. Though, Kevin didn’t really count. He was still sound asleep on a cot behind his desk. (They should really hire a proper night shift security guard at some point.)

It was nearly eight. Her brother would be up and ready for the day. Abby moved to a room upstairs where she wouldn’t wake Sleeping Beauty and called her brother.

Ethan answered after a single ring. “Hey, you’re alive!”

Abby frowned. “Who said I was dead?”

“You know how telephones work: you tell one person you’re in the hospital, they tell someone else you were in the morgue.”

Abby hummed. “Mom’s still pissed I let a ghost steal my memories, huh?”

“She ranted to me for thirty minutes the other day.”

“Sorry.”

“Nah, it’s fine. It’s my fault for being the favorite child.”

Abby laughed. “You are so not the favorite child.”

“No, you forgot it. They made it official with a ceremony last year.”

“Ah, that would be a good one. But the joke’s on you. My memory is already coming back.”

“Really? Because I heard you forgot my child’s name.”

“I did not forget Reyla’s name,” Abby sidestepped.

Ethan tsked. “That’s the second child.”

“I remembered Lanie after Dad said it.” Abby snapped her fingers. “Oh, and her middle name’s Kyla! Ha!”

“Nicely done! You had to read back through a lot of emails to find that.”

“I remembered it on my own, thank you very much.” Abby frowned. “Though, I should have read back through my emails. Those have to be a goldmine for jogging my memory.”

“So what did you read to remember things? Just your journals?”

“Yeah, and talked to Holtzmann. Erin helped with things too.” A happy rush filled her chest as she spoke her girlfriend’s name.

“So not all of your memories are back yet?” Ethan asked.

“I have enough,” Abby insisted. “Anyway, I’m calling to make sure you’re still flying in with Mom and Dad for our book signing.”

“Hell yeah. I’m not missing your first signing.”

Abby grinned. “Good. So what time are you guys arriving tomorrow?”

“We’re leaving on the first flight, so I think we’re due in around nine. I don’t know. I’m just chilling this weekend and letting Mom and Dad be the adults.”

“The kids wearing you out?”

“No, this month has been rough for work.”

Ethan had the Yates tendency for science and technology careers in a different direction and had become a social worker. Abby could only imagine what Ethan meant by ‘rough’.

“Well, I will make sure to have a fun, low key weekend planned for you when you get here. I’ll even keep ghosts away if you want.”

“I don’t want,” Ethan said. “If a ghost shows up while I’m visiting you, you better believe I’m getting in the car with you to go find it.”

Abby laughed at his enthusiasm. “Okay, you win. You are the best of us kids.”

“Duh.”

“Hey, um.” Abby bit her lip.

“What’s up?”

Her parents hadn’t known she was dating Erin, and she didn’t remember ever telling Ethan. But she was figuring out forgotten memories felt differently than events that had simply never happened, and telling Ethan about dating Erin felt like it had never happened.

“I want to tell you something. I don’t know how much it will come up this weekend -- we haven’t talked about to handle you guys coming in, yet.”

“What’s going on?” Ethan said, concern slipping into his voice.

“Nothing bad. Just something I haven’t told Mom and Dad, yet.”

“You found a way to open your own portal to the other side without releasing doom and gloom upon the rest of the world.”

“No.” Abby forced herself not to get distracted by how awesome that idea sounded. “Erin and I are dating.”

Silence.

Abby waited.

“What?” Ethan finally answered.

“I’m dating Erin. She’s my girlfriend.” Abby couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she said it.

“Holy shit.”

Abby laughed. “Yeah, that’s fitting.”

“Wait, when did this happen?” Ethan asked. “Is this before or after the amnesia?”

“Before, technically,” Abby said. “But we’ve only been dating a couple of weeks.”

“What do you mean by technically?”

“I mean, I don’t remember all of it yet, but Erin said it’s been two weeks.”

“Wait, this is real life, right? You haven’t suddenly teamed up with Holtzmann in our lifelong blood feud and are trying to prank me?”

“You and Holtzmann do not have a blood feud.” Abby rolled her eyes.

“Uh, she’s trying to steal a family title that’s been rightfully mine since birth. That’s a blood feud.”

“I definitely do not remember meeting you in the hospital at the ripe old age of ten and thinking ‘yep, that’s my best man.’”

“Everyone already knew it wouldn’t be Steph or Mike by then. They suck.”

“This has nothing to do with your prank war with Holtzmann,” Abby said. “And why would she prank you with my relationship with Erin, anyway?”

“Who knows. I’ve just learned to be suspicious when she’s involved.”

“She’s not involved. It’s just me and Erin. We’re dating. That’s all I wanted to tell you.”

“Huh.”

Abby gave him a moment to process this.

When he still hadn’t spoken after three moments, Abby prompted him. “What are you thinking?”

“Honestly? I’m kind of bummed I wasn’t involved somehow in this big revelation.” “That’s your reaction?”

“Well, yeah. I’ve known both of you my entire life -- or practically my whole life in Erin’s case. By the way, you should remind Holtz of this, because if you’re dating Erin then that just strengthens my claim to best man.”

Abby was absolutely not discussing the possibility of her and Erin getting married someday in the future. That definitely felt like it would jynx things.

“How would you have been involved in my romantic relationship with Erin? You’re my little brother. That’s weird.”

“I wouldn’t be involved in the romance part of it,” Ethan said. “I’d be the precocious kid who schemes to get the two love interests together.”

“You’re thirty-three and this isn’t a movie.”

Ethan gave a melodramatic sigh. “Erin would get it. ...Right? She does still like romcoms, doesn’t she? I have a clear memory of her gushing nonstop about Tom Hanks one Thanksgiving. Which in retrospect, she’s not wrong about. Tom Hanks is very crush-worthy.”

A smile toyed at Abby’s lips -- not because her girlfriend and her brother both had a crush on the same male celebrity, because gross. No, Abby smiled because Ethan was right. He had bore witness to her entire relationship with Erin.

“Ha, I just pulled the Lovers card for you,” Ethan said.

It took Abby a moment to realize what Lovers card he was talking about. “You pulled a Tarot card for me?”

“I’m doing a whole spread for you. Don’t you want to know what’s hiding behind this amnesia veil?”

“Hmm, that’s a good reminder. We should add Tarot cards to the list of paranormal tools and events to reinvestigate. Just because Erin and I didn’t find any proof of psychic abilities in Tarot readers in college, doesn’t mean psychic communication with entities or forces is impossible. A ghost did interfere with my memories.”

“I’m not sure what the connection there is, but I focused on the question “What has Abby forgotten about her relationship with Erin” and so far the cards are saying exactly what we already know. You have amnesia which makes you feel a little conflicted and uncertain in your relationship.”

“I’m not conflicted!” Abby said. “At least, not anymore.”

“That might be what the Six of Swords of saying at the Heart of the Matter,” Ethan said. “You’re moving forward in the relationship and things are becoming more stable.”

“That’s true.”

“I’m flipping over the hidden influences now.”

Ethan immediately followed this with a hum, though he didn’t explain it. Silence for a few moments as Abby presumed he was flipping over cards. Then, Ethan let out a sharp, “Oh.”

“What is it?” Abby asked.

“Uh….” Ethan trailed off. He cleared his throat. “Um, no it seems fine. You’ve got The World in the physical realm. Your memories are returning. Eight of Coins in the mental realm, so whatever work you’ve put into your relationship with Erin is paying off. The psychoenergetic realm shows the Three of Elixirs which is a happy celebration. You just caught the ghost who blocked your memory which I know isn’t ‘hidden’ by any means, but may have had hidden consequences. Then, there’s Temperance in the Emotional Realm. Consciously you’ve been conflicted about your relationship, but subconsciously you know the truth. It’s a reminder to listen to yourself.”

“Okay, so what was that ‘oh’ for?” Abby asked.

“Um, well… there’s a Seven of Blades as the hidden influence of the Heart of the Matter,” Ethan said. “A deceit of some kind. When paired with the Three of Elixirs, it may mean the ghost you caught isn’t actually the ghost you were looking for. Or the ghost tricked you and you didn’t catch anything.”

“No, we definitely caught something,” Abby said. “And it was definitely the ghost… at least, I think it was.”

She thought for a moment. 

“I’ll double check at the lab tomorrow.”

[jojoroxye]

Regrets and Longing

[gb-week]

Yatesbert Event Starts Soon!

Just a mere seven days left until Yatesbert Week starts! Are you guys getting pumped about these two ghost wives? No? Well maybe a sneak peek at next week's schedule will help ;)

Sunday, August 13 -- Kick-off announcement, Day 1 prompt "Soulmate", read and review challenge begins, first discussion question

Monday, August 14 -- Day 2 prompt "Professional Conference", favorite scene poll opens

Tuesday, August 15 -- Day 3  prompt "Stuck in an Elevator", favorite relationship trope poll opens

Wednesday, August 16 -- Day 4 prompt "First Date", playlist q&a

Thursday, August 17 -- Day 5 prompt "The X-Files"

Friday, August 18 -- Day 6 prompt "Michigan", second discussion question

Saturday, August 19 -- Day 7 prompt "Creator's Choice", poll results, fic recommendations, read and review challenge ends

Sunday, August 20 -- official wrap-up and thank you, Toltzmnn Week dates revealed

You ought to recognize prompts and discussion questions from GB Week, but polls?? challenges?? Yep, you read that right. We're premiering some shiny new activities for these ship celebration weeks! So tune in starting August 13 and give them a spin while showing your support for Yatesbert. :)

And remember we’re using the tag Yatesbert Week for this event. Be sure to use it in your first five tags so we can see your posts!

Hope to see you guys out there!

[thegirlsinthefirehouse]

Dream Come True

Summary:  Erin and Abby get to a part of something they'd never imagine ever happening. Rating: G Words: 529 “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” grumbled Erin. “It’s Vancouver and it’s like 65 degrees!” She shivered under her light jacket.

“This is actually comfortable Erin. You’d be sweating through your plaid back in New York,” said Abby. “And how much longer do we have to be able to go see The X-Files filming and be a part of it? It won’t be long till the Internet will be tired of it again.”

Erin couldn’t understand how Abby could happily be walking through the streets drinking a frozen hot chocolate. They had gone on a tour of the city, finding old filming locations for the show from the first run. It had been fun, reminiscing about the places they had seen on the show, but mostly the memories of what they were doing at the time. They both couldn’t remember what episode had been on when they had gotten caught by a library assistant making out in the basement media room because everywhere else on campus with a TV had been taken. He had been surprised for a moment, laughed, gave them a thumbs up, and quickly shut the door. Erin had been appalled, but at least the guy had been quiet about it. They hadn’t been exactly vocal about their relationship, but they hadn’t been quiet about it either. It had been a weird time for the both of them.

“You have a point, but if we don’t get to the set soon, we may not get a chance to see things before they actually do start filming and we have to be in hair and makeup.” The thought thrilled Erin to the core. They had been invited personally by Vince Gilligan to the set after meeting him in New York by chance at a fundraiser. He had been impressed with their work and had invited them for a small role in an episode. Abby had rolled her eyes when they got the script and found out they were going to be amateur ghost hunters. Holtzmann and Patty thought the whole thing was hilarious. But, The X-Files was their show, and to even think they’d be a part of it was mind boggling.

“At least we’re going to be married ghost hunters?” Erin had offered that night when they were reading over the script again in their apartment. Abby had scoffed at that, but Erin grinned when she noticed the slight pink in her wife’s cheeks. This literally was a dream come true for them, even if it was something they had never considered being an option.

“You’re right,” sighed Abby. “As always.”

“Mmhmm,” smiled Erin. “At least on set there will be heaters.”

“You hope,” teased Abby as she took Erin’s hand.

“Please,” said Erin. “Have you ever paid attention to Gillian Anderson? She’s so tiny. I’m sure they have heated blankets for her to curl up in between takes.”

The snort that came out of Abby’s nose made Erin laugh. She smiled happily at her lover as Abby pulled up the GPS on her phone to direct them to the area where they were going to be filming. They both couldn’t wait.

[michonnes]

ghostbusters appreciation week:

7. secondary ship | abby yates/erin gilbert (yatesbert)

[myloveholtzy]

Ghostbusters Appreciation Week

Day 2: Primary/Most Explored Ship

[ao3feed-ghostbusters]

by softmccarthy

Abby and Erin ever since they went from being best friends to also girlfriends. They decide they want to make love together for the first time and Erin ends up scared because this is the first time she's going to have had consensual sex since Phil assaulted her.Abby reassures Erin that she's not Phil and promises she'll take care of her and treat and love her so much better then Phil did

Words: 1624, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Ghostbusters (2016)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Rape/Non-Con

Categories: F/F

Characters: Abby Yates, Erin Gilbert, Phil Hudson

Relationships: Erin Gilbert/Abby Yates, Erin Gilbert & Abby Yates, Erin Gilbert/Phil Hudson, Erin Gilbert & Phil Hudson

Additional Tags: Sleepy Cuddles, Attempted Sex, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Fluff and Angst, Romantic Fluff, Yatesbert Week, Protective Abby Yates, Consensual Sex, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Erin Gilbert has PTSD, Friendship/Love

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3eLQLjy

[miasswier]

incorrect ghostbusters (x) feat. Useless Lesbian Abby™ 

[mckittenkat]

Polybusters & @help-mywife posts 2/?

[actualsunshinepattytolan]

FINAL REMINDER!

Character appreciation weeks for Abby Yates and Patty Tolan start next Sunday, February 25th! All Abby and Patty centric works welcomed, whether they be headcanons, gifsets, fanfic, favorite lines, you name it, we want it. Any Abby or Patty ship goes, any platonic relationship goes. Let’s just celebrate our love for the two most important and horrifically underappreciated members of the Ghostbusters \0/

Feel free to tag @actualsunshinepattytolan and/or @abbygreates in your posts so we know to reblog it. We’ll also be checking the Ghostbusters Appreciation Week tag and the character tags.

For more details and a list of theme suggestions if you need the inspiration, check here.

[hanyeri]

ghostbusters appreciation week: day six

primary ship → abby yates and erin gilbert (yatesbert)

[amtrak12]

Yatesbert Lyrics (Abby Yates/Erin Gilbert) -- Ghostbusters 2016

[cassiopeiasara]

Yatesbert and 32, pretty please?

32. “I think I’m in love with you and I’m terrified.”

You sent me this so long ago but I finally had an idea so I hope you don’t mind the extreme lateness.  (Also on ao3)

She realizes it in one of those stupid kind of romcom moments Erin always swoons over.

She sits on a stool close to their shared whiteboard while Erin erases half an equation and almost trips over her own feet before correcting herself. Abby almost laughs but then it happens. Erin scrunches up her face before her eyes alight with an idea and Abby feels the realization hit her like a ton of bricks.

I love you almost passes her lips but they stick in her throat and her chest tightens with a fear she hasn't known in twenty years. She's tried to tell herself it wasn't inevitable, that they'd grown and changed and just because Erin jumped into a portal, it didn't mean anything.

Except.

Except Erin always chooses the space next to her at movie night. Erin always brings her a snack when she’s cranky. Erin always smiles in that same slightly slanted way she did when they were kids. That smile that always felt like everything about Abby delighted her.

All of these things she's tried to ignore along with the extra skip in her heart any time Erin walks into a room lead her to this stupid moment where she can't stop thinking of ways to kiss Erin.

Fuck

Erin whips her head around. "What?"

Shit, she'd said it out loud. This is a problem.

Abby shrugs. "Nothing."

Erin narrows her eyebrows and considers a moment, a sure sign she doesn't accept Abby's dismissal. She opens her mouth to say something else but is interrupted by the sound of rushed steps down the stairs.

Abby’s never been so happy to see Holtz covered in wires and a devious expression that lets her know they’ll have to give Jennifer Lynch a call soon to renegotiate their insurance.

She misses the confused look Erin throws her as she follows Holtz up to her lab.

****

She tries to avoid Erin after that. Abby is good at hiding things like the hurt she feels any time someone called her names because of her research. She’s especially good at hiding how alone she felt before she met Holtz and how it makes her ache not to have more peers that give her credit.

The one thing she’s always been bad at hiding? The way she feels about Erin. Because these feelings, the ones she hoped she’d buried when she burnt the friendship bracelets they made in high school, resurface with a vengeance. Because now she doesn’t have to wonder what it might be like to spend all her days with Erin chasing ghosts. Now she knows and nothing has ever terrified her more.

So she skips out on their lunches, instead encouraging Erin to go out with Patty or Kevin when he can remember lunch is a break allotted in a workplace. She uses Holtz like a buffer during brainstorming sessions. (A tactic that only works half the time because Holtz has the attention span of a gnat and is too busy flirting with Patty when she’s not actively working.) She runs out of any room she hears Erin coming into and it works until movie night.

Movie Night is something she can’t avoid because they’re still a team and rapport is important. Moreover, she can’t avoid it because it’s her turn to pick the movie. They all settle in their usual spaces and Erin looks up at her like they’re sixteen again and no one is sitting with her at lunch.  It makes Abby’s heart ache and reminds her that in all this avoiding, she misses Erin. 

So she sighs and sits next to her, trying the whole movie not to think about how nice it feels to sit with their thighs pressed together, how beautiful Erin's profile looks alight with the movie. She tries not to think of that smell that’s so uniquely Erin, a mix of dry erase markers, pens, paper and whatever frilly scent she’s into at the moment. (It’s some sort of citrus blend this month).

When it’s over and Patty turns on the lights, Abby bolts out of her seat. She heads up to the roof just wanting space and to not think about how being in love with Erin Gilbert is like some weird destiny that follows her no matter how many years it’s been. More than that, she tries to quell the thoughts that tell her how much Erin is unlikely to feel the same.

She has no idea how long she’s out there before soft footsteps sound behind her. She sighs knowing exactly who they belong to because her mind doesn’t think it enough to memorize every detail about her best friend from the way she holds a pen to the chirp in her voice when she’s nervous, she apparently knows the distinct cadence of her walk too.

“Hey,” Erin says softly. Abby turns and Erin swings her arms slowly before she crosses them over her stomach.

Abby pushes up her glasses and replies, “Hey.”

Erin bites her bottom lip and Abby curses her mind when all she can think of  is how adorable Erin looks. How so awkwardly, distinctly Erin the gesture is.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Abby shrugs. “What?”

“Did I do something to make you mad?”

“Why would you think that?” Abby does her best to look anywhere but in Erin’s eyes.

Erin tilts her head and drops her arms, sighing. “Because I feel like I haven’t seen you in two weeks, Abs. You keep disappearing on me and I’ve been over every conversation we’ve had trying to come up with some reason for why you’d do that.”

Abby thinks of pointing out how one time Erin left for twenty years and isn’t Abby allowed a disappearing act of her own? But it’s not fair and it’s more cruel than Abby feels.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. It’s not-” she pauses and pulls nervously at the end of her cardigan, “it’s not you, I just, I couldn’t-”

Erin knits her eyebrows and moves a little closer. “Couldn’t what?”

Abby takes a step back. “I found out something and I don’t know, I’m--” She stops and turns around hugging herself, hoping if she holds tightly enough, maybe she can keep the confession in. She stays like that for a moment before gentle hands make their way to her shoulders and give her a light squeeze.

“What is it, Abs?”

“I, uh, I think maybe, I might be a little inlovewithyou.” She mumbles the last bit but judging by the small gasp and the absence of hands on her shoulders, she’s sure Erin hears it.

Abby turns around quickly. “It doesn’t have to change anything and you can just…” Erin shifts from one foot to the other, wringing her hands and staring at Abby. 

Abby sighs.  “Just forget I said it.”

Erin startles at that. “Why?”

Abby knits her eyebrows. “Why what?”

“Why would I want to forget it?”

Abby shakes her head. “Because it’s stupid and you don’t--”

Erin moves closer and smiles, that slanted one Abby loves so much. “What if I did?”

Abby blinks a few times and clears her throat. “What?”

Erin cups Abby’s face and strokes her thumb along her cheek. “You think I jump in a portal for just anyone? Think I’d come back and glue myself to your side because I just miss having a best friend?”

“I don’t know, you could.”

Erin chuckles as she leans down and presses her lips against Abby’s. When they part, she still has Abby’s favorite smile. “I love you too.”

[gb-week]

Yatesbert Poll -- Favorite Scene

It’s polling time! First up:

Q) What is your favorite Yatesbert Scene?

Now, usually we’ll start you off with a list of scenes, but honestly the list for yatesbert is basically every scene in the movie ;) So this poll is entirely open-ended. Is your favorite moment when Erin rescued Abby from the portal? Is it the deleted break-up scene? Or is it one of their numerous smaller moments like “he is not going to say suck it” or “I love your fire!”?

Let us know with a reblog or reply! This poll is open all week. On Saturday, August 19, we’ll share the results :)

In case you missed it: headcanon chats are still open too! so come chime in with your faves (link is here)

[thegirlsinthefirehouse]

Ghost Girls

Summary: Erin and Abby realize they are soulmates in other ways besides their soul marks. For Yatesbert Week: “Soulmates” Rating: G, for now. Words: 1,849 ----- Erin had always been different, she knew that. 

She liked school and learning. She just had to have straight A’s when everyone else was goofing being a kid. The others in her class had friends while she did not. No one ever wanted to play with her. And most of the time her parents couldn’t be bothered to interact with her as they were both busy with work. But they always made sure she had plenty of toys and books. They were her friends and babysitters. What Erin really wanted, however, was a real friend. Someone to call her own. She looked down at her wrist. Everyone in the world had a soulmate, someone whose soul matched her own. She often wondered what Abby would be like. She hoped she would be a really nice person. Her bright blue signature on her arm definitely was interesting enough.

And Erin hoped Abby didn’t mind that she saw ghosts.

It had started with her neighbor Gretta. It had been the worst time of her life. And her parents not believing her made it worse. Everything went downhill from there. She started seeing ghosts everywhere. It had freaked her out at first because of how the old lady had treated her, but it hadn’t taken much to realize that most ghosts weren’t complete jerks. For the most part, they ignored her. It had been a refreshing change. It had helped her calm down a little bit, especially since her neighbor had completely gone.

Erin really hoped that Abby wouldn’t run away from the fact that she saw ghosts. Soulmates wouldn’t do that, would they?

-----

It was one fall evening when Erin decided to go for a walk on her own. She was 9, and her parents didn’t mind if she walked up and down their street since it was well lit and there were lots of families around. She knew the twins would be at dinner, so she wouldn’t have to worry about them trying to badger her. Ever since the ghost incident, they had started to be like the other kids at school, so Erin tried to avoid them. At least it would save her parents some money. It was still fairly light outside, so no one had said much, except to put on a jacket. She grabbed her favorite gray coat and headed for the door.

Erin was enjoying the crisp fall breeze as she walked to the sidewalk. She looked up and down the street. On one end, there was a church with a fairly large graveyard. She really didn’t like to go past the place since the local ghosts had figured out she could see them and they never wanted to stop talking. Erin rubbed her wrist, frowning. It was like something was telling her to go that way although she really didn’t want to. She grimaced and pulled her jacket closer around and headed for it. Normally she’d ignore such impulses, but it wasn’t like she had much else to do. She had finished her homework and read through one of her library books.

Erin walked through the church parking lot and headed for the graveyard. She hesitated for a moment at the entrance. She was starting to see the form of spirits around a couple of the gravestones, but they didn’t seem to be interested in her. Instead, they seemed to be intent on a young girl her own age standing in the graveyard already. Normally it wouldn’t be that odd, except that her right hand was practically invisible.

And she was holding onto a ghost.

That... was different, thought Erin, panicking. This person was holding onto a ghost! She shouldn’t... she shouldn’t be here. It was bad enough that she could see ghosts, but someone had the ability to touch them. She didn’t need to be there at all. What if someone saw them together?

Erin felt stuck for a moment, the need to run filling her body. But it was only when it felt like a bolt of lightning went through her wrist that she made any noise or movement. And apparently, so had the other girl.

“Ow!” they both said aloud. The extra voice had appeared to have startled the other girl, whose back was to Erin. She let loose of the ghost, who grumbled under their breath and flew off. When she turned around to face Erin, it was like lightning hit her again. “Ow. H-- hi,” Erin finally managed to say, rubbing her wrist. What was that?

The other girl was shorter than she was, but had long dark brown hair that was tied up in a low ponytail that went down her back. She had bright blue glasses that matched her jean jacket. Inquisitive green eyes were peering out from underneath. She had a little more weight on her compared to Erin, who despite what she ate, never seemed to gain anything. Something was odd though. She had white streaks in her hair. Maybe it was some sort of fashion statement?

They stared at each other for a moment, not saying anything. Erin wasn’t sure what to make of this other girl.

“Your--your hand,” she stammered out, not even believing that anything was coming out of her mouth about ghosts. “You were holding a... ghost?”

“Oh,” said the other girl, surprised. “You can see that?” Erin nodded.

“You must be attuned to the paranormal,” said the brown haired girl. She fixed her gaze on Erin for a moment. “I guess I can trust you.” She gestured to herself.

“Long story short, I died about six months ago,” said the girl. “But I came back to life after they took me down to the morgue. Potassium poisoning. Word of advice: Never eat too many bananas.”

“And... that?” asked Erin, gesturing to the hand that was going back to looking a normal hand with skin.

“I’ve been able to do that ever since then,” said the girl with a grin. She went invisible for a second. It startled Erin that she seemed to disappear, although she could still see her.

“Neat huh?”

Erin wasn’t sure the word neat was the first thing that came to mind. But she had to admit, meeting someone who could not only see ghosts, but could interact with them...

The girl stuck out her hand. “My name’s Abby, by the way. Abby Yates.”

Erin nearly fell to the ground in surprise. “Ab--Abby?” said Erin. “No... it can’t be.”

“Can’t be... what?” said Abby, confused.

Erin’s heart started beating rapidly in her chest. This couldn’t be happening. She held up her wrist.

“My name is Erin. Erin Gilbert.” Abby gasped.

“No way!”

They both instinctively touched their wrists. Abby held hers out after a moment. Erin was surprised how well her name looked on Abby’s wrist even in the near darkness of the evening. She held out her own for Abby to see. Abby traced her name on Erin’s wrist.

“So... they’re our signatures? That’s weird.”

“It makes sense?” said Erin. “A signature is almost like a fingerprint. They’re wholly original to the owner, although they can be duplicated quite easily. I read that.”

“You read too?”

“All the time,” answered Erin easily. “Not much else to do.” She looked around the graveyard. The ghosts were gathering closer. She frowned. They seemed to be whispering to each other. She wondered what they were talking about. It was getting darker and she didn’t need to be out this late. Plus, she had school tomorrow. But, this... Abby was her soulmate. She didn’t want to just leave her out here alone.

“So what do we do now?”

“Well, we’re like 10,” shrugged Abby.

“9, corrected Erin. She frowned. “Do you think we should tell... someone?”

“I think we have to,” said Abby. “They have to record it or something.” She grimaced. That explained the lightning feeling I was having in my arm.”

“You too?” said Erin.

“I think it happens when you meet your soulmate,” said Abby. She stared at Erin for a moment.

“I never thought I’d meet mine when I was a kid.”

“Me either,” said Erin. “This is weird. You’re my soulmate, you’ve seen a ghost, you can hold onto a ghost...”

“You can see them too.”

“And I think...” said Erin, biting her lip. “Don’t tell anyone... but I think I know what they’re thinking.” Abby’s eyes went wide.

“Whoa... really?”

Erin nodded.

“It’s like little flashes. Sometimes I can even see stuff from their past.”

“You probably have ESP, but it’s not developed yet,” said Abby, growing excited. Erin didn’t think her eyes could grow any wider as she seemed to be thinking, even muttering to herself before speaking to Erin with a grimace.

“I’d like to stay and talk with you, but I’ve got to get home. We just moved in, and I’m sure Mom would like for me to watch my baby brother while they unpack...”

“You have a brother?” asked Erin.

“His name is Austin.”

“I always wanted a brother,” said Erin. “I never got to have one though.”

“You can have mine,” scoffed Abby. “Although technically... he is sort of like your family now.”

“Sort of,” echoed Erin. “This is weird, isn’t it?”

“I guess?” said Abby. “I don’t think most people don’t meet their soulmates till what...”

“They have a car I think?” shrugged Erin. “I read a lot of stuff on soulmates, but it didn’t really make sense.”

“I haven’t read much,” said Abby. “Mom wants me to concentrate on school instead of... love stuff.”

“I could tell you,” said Erin, thinking. “I could come home with you.”

“Would you?” asked Abby. “It’d be so much better than watching my brother alone.”

“We can go by my house,” said Erin. “And tell them I’m going to your place.” She stopped for a moment. “Where is your house?”

Abby pointed about two streets over to the east.

“Okay,” said Erin. She grabbed for Abby’s hand. Abby looked weird for a moment but laughed as Erin started pulling her down the street. Neither one of them noticed the ghosts flying away quickly, scattering in all directions.

Once down the street, Erin opened the door to her home quickly.

“Mom, Dad?”

Erin’s Dad popped his head out of his home office.

“You need something sweetheart?”

“I made a friend,” said Erin, smiling. She pulled Abby out from behind her. “She just moved in a couple of streets over. Can I go to her house for a little bit?”

“Sure,” said Erin’s dad, surprised. “As long as it’ll be okay with her family.”

“It’ll be fine,” said Abby. “Come on Erin.”

“Have fun dear,” said Erin’s dad. “Be home before bedtime. You have school tomorrow.”

“Okay dad,” said Erin, smiling. She headed for the door.

“By the way, this is Abby and she’s my soulmate. Bye, I love you!”

“Wait, what?” said Erin’s mom, coming up at that time. But Erin shut the front door quickly behind her and Abby, the both of them giggling as they headed towards Abby’s house.

[queen-padme-archive]

Amtrak12

she takes no shit and I love it. she’s awesome at organizing fan weeks which is a skill I don't think I'll ever acquire. thinking about her makes me miss the ghostbusters 2016 fandom so much, cause in a lot of ways I think of her as the fandom mom. loves Erin gilbert more than anyone I've ever met tbh, and is probably the captain of yatesbert

@amtrak12