"You've said that, yeah. You've said that every day since we moved in here."

Scott adjusts the framed photo on the mantle; it doesn't look right. He's not sure why, but it looks wrong. He'll ask Theo about it later.

"It doesn't make any sense. There's a few issues with the plumbing, but it's perfect besides that."

"Please don't come up with a conspiracy theory about our house. It's a nice house. It doesn't deserve that."

"I'm pretty sure it's sabotage. Did you know it's gone through three owners in the past month? And before that, there was a death."

"There wasn't a death. Was there?"

"I can't wait to figure this out. Hey, pass me the screwdriver."

He passes the screwdriver.

"I don't think they could hide that. Not that it matters, it's still an amazing deal- I should get going, I'm supposed to be at the hospital by now."

"Go ahead, save a life, leave the mystery to me."

"That's the plan, yeah. Love you."

Ty gets back to the task at hand: trying to fix the towel rack. Apparently, when your plumbing is possessed by the Devil, it can do some serious damage.

The plumbing gives an almighty groan, before the kitchen faucet erupts.

Pretty much as expected. He calls the plumber.

The plumber has no idea what's going on, and apologizes profusely. He probably needs to make a second trip.

Ty thanks him anyway, and puts out some towels.

Scott comes home by the time he's done call everyone he can possibly call.

"...again?"

"I'm telling you, it's some kind of family curse. Ask your mom if she angered any water spirits."

Scott doesn't do that. Scott continues with his rotation, attempts to cook (and mostly fails), and on Friday, he invites his boyfriend over for dinner.

"Scotty, you know how I feel about that guy."

"Ty, 'that guy' is my boyfriend. My mom likes him, my dad hates him: I think I'm doing something right."

"He's creepy. Whatever you guys have going on isn't good for you."

"Kink-shaming doesn't go well with apple, I knew I should've bought pumpkin."

"I'll play nice if I get to choose the dessert next time."

"I'm glad your priorities are all in order."

He sets the table, and waits anxiously by the door.

The door shudders, and then the deadlock snaps shut.

...

Scott tries to unlock the door to their new (great, definitely not haunted) house.

His boyfriend, meanwhile, arrives right on time and knocks politely.

The door rattled again, and there’s a sound like someone saying “Scott” from very far away. 

"Ty, did you say something?"

"No, want me to? I've got plenty to say."

"We just agreed you were being nice tonight. What do you think it is?"

"I don't know, Scott, maybe it's your conscience, telling you to dump him."

"Argh!" Yells the pipes.

"...so do we call an exorcist?"

"Um, hello? Screaming ghost person? Do you exist?"

There is no reply, just the rattle of something in the basement.

"Ty, keep trying the door."

He goes to the basement.

"Wait, I don't get to investigate? Seriously?"

He follows Scott.

Muttering can be heard the closer they get. “...fucking door- and the pipe...just trying...leave.”

...where did he put the baseball bat? It's probably in the living room.

He attempts to locate the muttering stranger apparently living in his basement.

There’s a dirty, blonde, annoyed looking woman, standing in the corner of the room, glaring at it. 

"You're seeing this. Right?"

"Hello?"

"...fucking pipes and plumbing and doors and WHY CAN I NOT JUST SPEAK TO THEM. Why am I STUCK down here, unable to help or...anything or-"

Theo knocks more insistently.

"It's a wreck. This isn't just a plumber, this is an electrician, a plumber, a mechanic, and a realtor."

"I'll get the door, hold on."

"We should get a medium."

He shrugs agreement and heads back to the door.

"I just need to tell them I'm here. That I care. And then they can help-"

The house gives an almighty groan.

Yeah no, Scott is opening the front door to his own house.

"Hear that? We're getting a medium, so you can open the door now!"

"...medium? What?" Anders spins around, her eyes wild, though they focus on the two boys in front of her.

Her gaze darkens. "If it isn't the Bobbsey twins!"

Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to have heard that.

"Okay, so that's a plan. Glad we settled that."

How important is this? If Scott's in danger-

He slams into the door with superhuman force.

"Ah!" Anders yells, and tumbles to the floor. The pipes rattle ominously.

There's really no need for this.

He unlocks the door.

"Scott!"

Hug.

Hug?

"I'm okay."

"Apparently we're haunted. The pipes agree with me."

"Should we pull out the Ouija board?"

"I think it's living in the basement."

"There is something going on...I kept hearing this voice..."

"Well, now I have to see it. Lead the way."

Scott leads the way.

"I was on time today. Hopefully he doesn't ding me for the ghost-related issues."

"I'm not sure even Ty can blame you for our house problems."

To the basement and the terrifying plumbing situation.

Anders is bent over double in the corner, gasping. The door- opening it, forcing against her- that hurt. She didn't think things hurt after death.

"I actually know a little about plumbing. You guys get started upstairs."

"Oh? I didn't know that. Okay. See you in a few minutes?"

"Give me ten."

He gives Scott a quick peck on the cheek, and Scott vanishes upstairs.

"What's your problem? Are you still new to this?"

Anders pants heavily through the pain, almost certain that the voice is not speaking to her.

"Yeah, plumbing gremlin, I'm talking to you."

Anders’ head shoots up, meeting the eyes of the man in front of her. Her head still throbs, but the idea that she can be seen-

“You...you can see me?”

"I can see you. What do you want me to do about that?"

“I...I don’t know. I’ve been trying to get Scott and Ty’s attention. I- I don’t know what to do now someone knows I’m here.”

"How long have you been here? Is there some unfinished business you need me to help you with?"

“...yes. It’s about- agh! The house!” The pipes rattle. “It’s driving me mad. It keeps- I don’t know. It’s like, when you’re young and you can hear that high pitched beep.”

"Okay. I'm going to have dinner with my boyfriend. When we're done, I'll come back to help you. Questions, comments, concerns?"

Anders waves him away, already turning back to glare at the walls. 

So Theo goes upstairs to have dinner with his boyfriend.

"Did you make these? They're delicious."

"It's my grandmother's recipe. First, you-"

"Please don't recite the whole thing right now, that's terrible date conversation."

"Bringing your roommate along is also bad for dates, but apparently, I'm doing it anyway."

"Theo, could you pass the potatoes?"

"So, uh, how's the rotation going?"

Scott tells him how the rotation is going, and he tells him about how his mom's recent hospital visit went, and about Ty's terrible drinking habit-

"Slander. Vicious, unsubstantiated rumors."

Theo tells Scott about the project he just finished, and about his roommate's recent health kick, and:

"Have I ever told you about the time I talked a ghost out of haunting my classroom?"

"Oh, here it is. He's a New Age witch, that's what it was. See, Scotty?"

"See what? You predicted his secret flaw would be serial killing."

"-so, forget storytime. You have a ghost in your basement and I promised I'd help her."

"...okay, dessert can wait."

Theo leads his boyfriend and his annoying tag-along to the basement.

"Hello? Plumbing gremlin, are you still here?"

Anders materialises, and the pipes rattle as she does so. “I have a name, living boy.”

"You didn't actually introduce yourself. I'm Theo. You?"

“Anders. It’s nice to have someone else to say that too.”

"Anders. This is Scott and Ty, although I think you probably know them by now."

"Hello, Anders."

He faces the way Theo is facing, managing to look in her direction.

“Awww. That’s nice. Tell him it’s nice.”

Anders winces, and the house shakes sympathetically. “Sorry. Still trying to- stop it!”

"It can take a while to adjust. Just remember that you're safe here. Ghosts haunt places for a reason. This one meant something to you."

"So, ghosts are real. And you're some kind of ghost expert."

"Ty, I don't really need the skepticism right now. Table it."

“Tell him I’m really enjoying watching How to Get Away With Murder. When I can get out of the basement.”

"...she really enjoys watching How to Get Away With Murder, when she can get out of the basement."

"Okay, ghost who's stealing our cable. Why are you suddenly the ghost expert?"

"I've actually met one. Anders, do you remember how you died?"

"Are you supposed to start with that? Sorry, Anders, he's just trying to help."

Anders cups her face, smiling softly. “Gosh, he’s so sweet. I’ve come over all a flutter.”

Anders’ face falls. “I don’t remember. I’m trying. The house- I feel like I know it? But I just...every time I get close my head throbs.”

“...don’t think about it for a while. Some deaths are worse than others. Yours must have been bad. Let’s focus on getting you out of the basement. Think about what you loved about life.”

“I...” Anders trails off. Her face looks very far away. “Sunday morning. I’d take Lorie to swim practice. We’d be home by 11, and Lora would still be in bed. I’d climb in next to her, and she’d huff-“

All of a suddenly she’s gone, materia swirling where she was 

Theo heads upstairs.

"What's happening?"

"Is she going to be okay? Did it work?"

Anders is lying on a mattress, in a room that looks like hers used to, but is filled with unfamiliar things. Her body is curled over, as if around someone. 

Theo finds her, after checking the main floor.

He doesn't say anything right away.

Anders sees him walk in, and her body uncurls itself automatically. 

“This is Scott’s room, isn’t it?” She asks Theo. It hurts. 

"Yeah. It is. Whose room was it?"

Scott observes one half of the conversation from the door.

“...mine. And Lora’s.” Anders trails off, rolling over to look out the window. “We liked the light in here.”

"You must miss her a lot."

“I hear her voice sometimes. Like she’s still here. I don’t know if it’s me pretending she is or not.”

Anders sighs, propping herself up on one arm. “I do. So much.”

"Miss who?"

"Lora, her...Lora."

"Um. Our landlord Lora?"

“Landlord?” Anders is upright in a shot. “She’s- she’s still living here? In Boston?” She launches off the bed, running straight to Scott. She goes to grab him, hands going straight through him. 

“What’s her last name? Your landlord? Theo! Ask him!”

"Don't hurt him or I exorcise you. Scott, what's her last name?"

"Lora Hawke, our landlord. I'm sorry."

He definitely doesn't take Theo's hand, because that might make the ghost even sadder. 

“I won’t, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to- I just...I thought she would’ve moved back with her parents!” 

Anders smile is huge. “Ask him if Lora has a daughter. Ask how old she is!”

“Does she have a daughter?”

“We haven’t talked much, I’m sorry. She seemed sad about...well, I didn’t want to pry, it’s her life. I can try to talk to her if that would help.”

"Yes! Yes, please. I need to see her, I thought I was imagining her voice. I need to know she's okay. And that Lorie is doing well."

“Anders, she’s not going to know you’re here. It won’t be like you’re imagining it. She might come if we call her out of the blue, but she won’t be expecting you.”

Anders smile falls, but she doesn't seem surprised at the knowledge. "I know. I know it'll be one-sided and it'd be better for her if she didn't know. But I just- I just want to see her. Even if she can't see me."

“I’ll try to set something up. Do you know when would be a good time for her? Maybe that’s too different now, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t know. Does she work anymore? Has she changed hobbies? Does she-“

The house rumbles, and Anders sighs. “This happens when I get close to something, all of a sudden I-“ 

She cuts herself off and clenches her teeth through the sudden headache. “I have to- I’ve got to-“ She disappears again, reappearing in the basement. 

"I'll go talk to her. You set up a meeting."

"Theo, we should talk."

"Later."

He goes to the basement.

Scott calls their landlord.

Lora picks up quickly. “What’s wrong? Can it wait until after school drop off?”

"It's not a big deal. I was just hoping you could come over tomorrow."

“If it’s not a big deal, why am I coming over?”

"I might be underplaying it a little? We didn't break anything."

There’s a sigh from her end. “Fine. I’ll be there after 8.30 tomorrow. Will you be home, or can I have more than a vague description of the none-big deal?”

"We found something of yours."

“Cryptic. See you tomorrow.” Lora hangs up. 

"Anders, did you hear that?"

"...she couldn't hear everything Lora said, no."

"I don't know how it works! She's coming tomorrow."

Anders mutters in her corner in the basement, hands clenched by her sides. The pipes rattle ominously. 

"Okay, so after I tell Anders what's going on, then can you explain to me everything that happened tonight?"

"Sure."

"Okay."

He goes to the basement to bother Anders.

Ty interrupts his descent.

"Hey, what was that? Why wasn't I allowed in on the secret ghost council."

"Can we talk tomorrow."

"Wow, okay. Breakup incoming?"

"I'm going to talk to a ghost. Go to bed."

"Fine."

He goes.

Scott goes to talk to a ghost.

"She's coming tomorrow."

The pipes rumble and Anders’ hands fly to her head. Her eyes clench as her head throbs. She barely hears Scott, but the words work their way through the pain and she spins, staring at him in shock. 

“...tomorrow?” Her voice is shocked. 

"Yeah. Tomorrow."

He really doesn't know how to explain the pipes to Lora.

“Thank you, Scott.”

She realises that he can’t hear her, and instead focuses on the pipes. Thinking hard enough makes them groan, and it almost sounds like “Scott”. 

Well. Close enough. 

"...cool. Um, I'm going to go to bed soon, and Theo is going home. I won't be able to talk to you until he comes over. Will you be okay until then?"

Anders focuses as hard as she can, eyes glaring at the pipes. They manage to moan out "yes" before Anders collapses to the floor, trying to catch breath she hasn't had in...well. Since she's been dead.

"Can you affect things besides the pipes? We could make some kind of signaling system...I guess Theo will be back tomorrow and we can talk then. Good night, Anders."

He goes upstairs, leaving her alone in the basement.

Scott and Theo talk.

Theo goes home.

Lora knocks three times on the door the next morning.

Scott answers.

"Hey. Come in."

He leads her inside.

Lora follows him in, narrowing her eyes as the pipes groan. "They still doing that?"

"Yeah. Do you want some breakfast?"

“I’d rather get this over with.” She looks around for a moment, before a look of reluctant apology comes across her face. “No. Thanks.”

Great. Hopefully Theo gets here before she leaves. He nervously plays with his phone as he leads Lora downstairs.

“...well. If you’re about to murder me in my own basement, be warned. I plan on being a vengeful ghost.”

"Um. We already have one of those, actually. A ghost."

Lora is silent, though her eyebrow is very concerned. "So, at first it's something I've left behind. Now it's a ghost. Why have you called me here, Scott?"

"Anders, can you- do something?"

(Theo lets himself in.)

Anders immediately pounces on Theo. "THEO SHE IS HERE WHAT DO I DO?!"

"I don't have a solid plan here. I brought a Ouija Board in case you can touch that, but I'm not sure we can get her to sit that long. Let's go."

He heads to the basement.

Anders follows him, but is no less worried than before.

Lora watches the newcomer walk in, clearly unimpressed.

He puts the Ouija board down.

"I think it's strong emotion that does it. But we could also start with you telling me something only you would know."

"He's talking to Anders. I can't see her, but Theo can."

As soon as the name leaves Scott's mouth, Lora's entire demeanour changes. "Where did you hear that name?" She asks, in a voice like ice.

"No, no, no, no, Lora! He's trying to help! Don't- Theo, please, she's always been quick to anger, just- what do I need to say? Tell me what do to?" Anders' eyes don't leave her wife's.

"Say something only she would know-anything."

"She told us, she's right here. I know this is strange, but she's really here."

"I...I don't know, I don't know what would convince her! There- there is so much I could say...I-" 

The pipes groan loudly, and the planchett on the ouija board shifts towards the 'L'. "Loooorraaaaa."

"How the fuck do you know about her? Did...did you google me?"

Lora jumps as the pipes groan her name. "What- okay, what the fuck. What. The fuck- are the pipes...talking to me?"

“That’s the ghost. She said her name was Anders, and that she wanted to talk to Lora.”

“Lora, is there something that only Anders would know? Something that would convince you this is really happening?”

Anders stands in front of her wife, tears streaming down her face. "Lo, it's me. It's me, I swear. Please."

Lora shoots Theo and Scott one last furious look, ready to just storm out of there, back home, so she can look up the legality of kicking someone out of her house when- 
A little bit of raised hair. Where the tattoo used to be...

"What did I used to have tattooed on my shoulder?"

Anders hand ghosts over the spot. "...she got it removed? Oh...Oh, Lo." She sounds devastated.

"Anders, focus. Your wife is standing right in front of you and all you have to do to be with her is think about her. Remember her. What was her tattoo?"

“...a cat. A ginger tabby and a big dog, curled around each other. It was supposed to be us. It- she got it done a year into our relationship. A sure thing, she called us.”

Anders’ hand reaches out to grab Lora’s, and her hands phase straight through.

"A tabby cat and a dog, curled up around each other. They represented you and her."

Lora gives Theo a long look. There's a battle in her head- she wants to believe Anders is still here somehow, but...god would that make her crazy? Hanging around, talking to the air, in the hope that one day the air talked back? She moved on. She...had, hadn't she?

"You might've seen an old photo of me. Or...something. What's my brother's middle name? Ask...ask Anders that."

Anders can see Lora start to believe and her heart soars. "It's Brocklemeier. Because your mum had a great uncle that she admired, but you called him Broccoli the day you found out, because you are mean and a terrible tease," Anders says, voice hiccuping on sobs.

"Brocklemeier, but you called him Broccoli, because you are mean and a terrible tease."

Lora's heart drops to her toes. Her throat closes up and she looks around frantically, trying to find her- she's right here, isn't she? 

"Anders? Baby, are you here? Why are you still here?" Lora says, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm here. I'm here, love, I'm right in front of you," Anders says, hands phasing through every time she tries to touch her. 

"If you want to talk about how this works, we can. If you want to go home and think, you can. But you can't see her. Neither can Scott. I'm different, for reasons we can get into. It's your call, Lora. All of this is for your comfort, and Anders'."

"But why is she still here? Why hasn't she moved on? Is there a way to- to help her?" All the while, Lora's eyes are looking around the room, looking for Anders despite what Theo said.

"I can tell you everything you need to know about ghosts. Do you want me to?"

"Yes. I need to know how to help her. I won't have the love of my life stuck in the house she was murdered in."

"Murdered?" 

"Be careful with how you talk about her death. Some things can be triggering that you wouldn't expect. From the sound of it, Anders doesn't remember how she died."

He looks at Anders.

"Is there something you want to say to Lora?"

"Lora, do you want something to eat? You might need it, if you're staying."

Anders is staring at the corner of the basement. She can feel something pulling her there, but- 

Lora is here. And knows she is here. She stays, and shakes her head, like she's clearing it. "I wanna hear this too, Theo."

"Don't worry about food or whatever, just tell me. Or, if there's a way I can talk to her- just, what do you know?"

"When someone dies with unresolved issues, they linger on as ghosts. There are a few exceptions. Vampires don't."

"Vampires? You're not serious," Lora starts, full of scepticism, but remembers that her dead wife is standing next to her, and shuts her mouth. "Right. Ghosts, vampires."

She looks around the room, still hoping to see Anders. "What's keeping her here?"

"You."

Lora falls silent, eyes closed. Her breathing is heavy.

"What do I need to do?" She asks finally.

"Every ghost has the opportunity to move on. If they resolve what's keeping them stuck here, they find their door. A ghost's door will call out to them as soon as it appears, and it never shows up very far. She'll know when it happens. But if a ghost chooses to stay here, and commits to this world, then they can give up on moving on. We need to give Anders what she needs, and give both of you some closure."

"She's not staying. There's no way. I'd rather burn the fucking house down," Lora says firmly, though she does give Scott a semblance of an apologetic look.

"What do you need, Anders? Why are you still here?" Lora says, not sure where to direct her voice. 

"...I don't know. I thought it was just seeing you, but...I just wanted to be able to talk to you. And for you to see me. Just once more. And Lorie too. I miss you both so much."

"She just wants to talk to you, and to see Lorie again. Another thing about ghosts is that early on, they're stuck in the same place. To leave, Anders, you'd have to get more attached to this world. Are you sure that's what you want?"

"What do you mean, more attached? I thought...I thought once I saw them it would be time? I..."

"It might be. Or you might be trying to find more reasons to stay. If you're stuck here, then there's something here that you need to figure out first. How exactly did you die?"

Lora turns a steely gaze on Theo. "How necessary is it you know that?"

"It's necessary that Anders knows that. I can leave the room if you can live without an interpreter that long."

"I- It's personal. I don't like talking about it. Anders didn't either."

"But I don't remember. And Theo can help. Theo, tell her it's okay."

"Anders says 'Theo can help. Theo, tell her it's okay.'"

"I'm going to make some coffee."

He goes upstairs, with a brief glance to a spot to the left of Anders.

"I'd take a cup. Thanks, Scott."

Lora takes a deep breath. "We were wanting a kid. We were happy to adopt, or use a donor, but we wanted someone that was ours. Anders found a solution. I don't know how, but somehow we managed to have a child that was both of us. Anders was a doctor, so I assumed she found a way to combine us somehow. But then someone was coming after her. She packed us up, Lorie was only two, and then Anders went back to get something out of the basement. She...she never came back out."

"...a witch. It was a witch. She said there would be a cost but...I didn't think it would be my life. I tried to get Lora and Mallorie away as quick as possible."

Anders looks down. "I wasn't fast enough."

Theo nods.

”We can try to get you out of here. Once you take care of the witch, and you know Lorie is safe with your wife, you’ll be ready.”

"Are...you sure? Will they really be safe?"

"What do you mean Lorie? Is Lorie in danger?" Lora's voice is furious.

"Anders needs to see that you're both okay and that you don't need her. Worrying about Lorie isn't going to help."

"She hasn't seen the girl Lorie's grown up into, she's got every right to be worried about her."

Lora digs through her bag, tugging out her purse. She opens it, revealing a picture of a young girl, about ten, smiling happily. She's the spitting image of Lora, though with Anders' deep gold eyes. 

"Is that..?" Anders peers closer at the photo, her heart swelling. "Look at her! Look at my little girl! Oh, she's beautiful. She'll be ten this year, right?"

"She'll be ten this year, right?"

"Yes. And more beautiful every year. I would do anything to protect her. So would Anders."

"Anything," Anders agrees.

Theo sighs.

"Okay. Lora, tell me what you think should happen next. Do you want to see if we can get Anders to follow you?"

Lora searches about the room, trying to catch some sign of Anders. "Do you think you can, baby?"

"I don't know. I've never tried. It's like...it's like the house is trying to tell me something, but I'm not tuned into the right frequency."

Anders casts a gaze upstairs. "Sometimes I can appear in the boys' rooms, but...but only when I think about Lora. And Lorie."