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ben-the-hyena · 9 months

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Ok so HOW did Emily and the Hatbox Ghost adopt Baby Boo in my own fanon contuinity !

He came in the afterlives of the happy haunts around the late 1990's. Yet another sad Mother's Day for the couple who were hurting themselves but couldn't help but stare sadly sitting on a bench at all the other ghosts, adults or children, giving gifts to their mothers if they were lucky to be haunted together in the Mansion (Victor to May, Little Leota to Madame Leota, the Ghost Host, Master Gracey and Constance to Abigaile Patecleaver, the Tightrope Girl to April-December, the Duelists to Aunt Lucrecia etc). They are empty and depressed, watching others have what they think the never will. Hattie tells Emily she shouldn't hurt herself and go back to the attic, but since it was when Hattie was still banished in the graveyard she doesn't want to leave him handle this alone, in sadness together

In the end of the night as the sun rises, most ghosts go back to sleep, she in the attic and he in his grave. Most of the day is quiet when somebody knocks at the door. The ghosts closest to it who heard it open the door expecting a mortal to scare away, but stop in their track seeing sitting there is a cooing baby boy who tries to reach with a letter sticking out of his diaper. Urgent meeting in the middle of the day, Master Gracey and Ghost Host discuss where he can come from, Madame Leota tries to locate and ask the Other Side if they know, the Tightrope girl reads the letter "I've been trying for 15 months, I thought I could try with parenthood, I can't do it anymore, name him or not, keep him or not, I don't care" which saddens a bit the atmosphere, other curious ghosts such as Emily surround and listen and debate such as wondering why would someone abandon their baby there while mortals know this house is officially abandonned, therefore conclude it must have been someone traveling from another state or region to abandon him as far as possible and unaware of the mansion's history. As everybody starts discussing what to do with him and how to manage to discreetly leave him at a mortal house or an orphanage, Emily picks him up to look at him "well poor you, left out just like that". Baby looks at her and opens his arms "mama !" INSTANT LOVE, THESE WORDS PIECE HER HEART. As the Ghost Host concludes they will have to investigate and sends away the werecat lady who can turn into a human to see by herself where safe he could be left, he says someone will have to take care of him in the meantime. Emily immediately offers herself, which is allowed

She happily runs outside to the Hatbox Ghost who is trying and failing yet again to sneak in. "Look, honey ! Can we keep him ?" "WE WHAT !?!?!" and he falls from the tree he was climbing. She explains him the whole situation and that she felt an instant connection and offered herself to keep him in the meantime, and that it could be as close as they could get to experience parenthood at last ! Hatbox Ghost is really not sure, it's a mortal baby and it's sudden, and not theirs anyway and only meant to be temporary so what's the use, but she insists so much he accepts reluctantly. Oh but right, they need to feed him if he needs to live, she eagerly leaves him with him as she says she will "borrow" food and supplies from mortal shops, and drags 3 or 4 other beating heart brides with her whether they like it or not "I WAS PLAYING A GAME-". So he awkwardly finds himself with that baby. He glares at him uninterested as fuck and teies to speak to him like an adult "Well. Here we are. Don't get too attached because she got, or that will make both of us upset." And he tries to convince others to keep him for him but none want, all fearing to hurt such fragile life they forgot how to handle. As he gets annoyed, he starts smelling something horrible. Just pooped his diaper. OH DAMMIT... and he can't just leave him like that or he will cry. With what can he change him !? He awkwardly knocks at the door and met first with disdain, he explains the situation which is "smelly" understood. He is given powder and towels and with a pin and a white drape that sure won't be used like a drape anymore make him an old fashioned style of diaper (the best he can at least). "There. Clean. Ugh that's a part of mortality I didn't miss". When suddenly baby opens his arms and goes "dada !" HIS HEART MELTS INSTANTLY. As Emily and the brides return with supplies, he finally shares her enthusiasm. That's a sign. They are finally given a chance ! He needs clothes, she got him pretty much a lot. But once in the attic he rather choose a big old turtleneck sweater the Corpse Bride liked to wear to be cozy out of her wedding dress. "Hey it's mine-" EMILY GLARES "Ok it's his" and Emily sews it back is struggling to build a baby bed outside that willxhave to be brought inside by another since he's banished, but they just keep gushing about him to all the brides' confusion and the worry of Master Gracey who knows they got attached too fast

Cue a montage of the ghost couple feeding him making faces, helping him walk since he's at that age, vainly trying to make him speak "say mommy !" "Mama" "close enough", the Hatbox Ghost playing "Where's daddy" with his head disappeared from his shoulders which intrigue the baby then his head in his hatbox goes "there he is !" cues baby laughter, him waking up in the night and Emily rocking him and gently lulling him back to sleep (it helps not to have to sleep anymore), the Hatbox Ghost carrying him in a sling as he shows him the graves and telling him what they say, they play with him with toys and plushies, they try to get frisky but remember he is next to them so they stop etc. They even decide to name him, Thomas Alistair Pace. All under the concerned looks of Madame Leota and the Ghost Host who know that from the moment they gave him a name, this is gonna be hard

And indeed. After a week or 2, in the garden, the couple are playing cops and bandits with him, Emily trying to look for them with a watergun "where are these bandits at ?" And Hattie and Thomas still in his sling hidden behind a tree both wearing these cliché bandit black masks on, Hattie gently hushing at him who is giggling. She finds them "ah-ha !" "Oh nooo, the beautiful policewoman caught us, son ! I hope she is single !" and cues laughters and gushes about what a cute little bandit he is. When what they feared arrive, the werecat returns "good news ! I found a legal way to put him away in a loving home, I finally found the closest local orphanage and they are interested to see him !" The Ghost Host takes it as good news and announces it happily to the couple. Who are mortified. "Now, give him to the werecat girl". Emily immediately goes defensive holding him against her "no ! He's ours !" Which makes things uneasy around. Little Leota tries to reason her, he's a mortal, he will grow up, he needs to be with other mortals not ghosts, but she and Hattie don't want. He is THEIR son. Just like the Ghost Host fears. He and Little Leota try to reason them. He will have mortal needs ! Baths, food and water all the time ! Anything that won't kill them could kill him ! But they insist they will be careful and were so far. But now he firmly orders. Hand over the baby. They sigh and accept, Emily offering to just change him in the attic first which is accepted, and she feigns hugging the Ghost Host for comfort and to thank him (I remind people he is her uncle in my fanon)

The Ghost Host waits in the hall, and it takes a lot of time. He gets impatient. When suddenly, he sees Emily running down the stairs with a buggy with the still bandit-masked baby in it and runs through the door and the Hatbox Ghost who was waiting right outside slams it shut. "Wh- EMILY ! RANDALL PACE ! COME HERE BOTH OF YOU IMMEDIATELY !" Ghosts may be able to pass through walls, they need to use the door of a house only to go in and out, so he tries to open it... it's locked ! Emily had pickpocketed him out of the key to the mansion and discreetly left it to Hattie who closed it behind them, put it around Thomas' neck so it will be easier to find it, and run away. Ghost Host is furious soon joined by Master Gracey and others who all try to demolish the door until a knight armor comes and straight up cuts it in 2 with his axe. A ghost patrol now to find the runaway family !

Hatbox Ghost and Emily are wandering around in the night, trying to find a way to hide and if needed haunt forever there far away from the mansion that first wanted them apart and now wants to take their child away. They won't let it happen ! They took the bare minimum in the compartment of the buggy, and try to find for a new place all while hidind and trying to keep Thomas quiet whenever they spot a ghost (and any mortal walking there is horrified, the town is infested in spirits !)

Finally, they get run after by Master Gracey and the Ghost Host, until they are trapped on top of a cliff, and none of them are ghost who can float or at least without turning into a little smoke/light that can't carry anything so they are stuck with the buggy, Emily holding him protectively against her again and Hatbox Ghost protective and fierce as shit standing before them facing the 2 owners of the Mansion ready to fuck them up with his cane if they approach, and warns them not to come closer or he'll fight for eternity if needed. Said owners try to reason them again, Thomas is mortal and deserves a normal life until living with the dead, it is not natural. Emily retorts nothing proves he would get adopted it well treated and could perhaps be left alone with no family and no love while they could give him that

So the 2 leaders insist that real love should be about letting him go, because how will they handle it when he will grow ? Even if they do manage to feed him and keep him clean education is not just about that. In order to keep the secret of ghosts he will have to live away from the living forever, growing up lonely without friends of his age growing at the same time as him with needs evolving like his own, society not even knowing he exists, and won't be able to do achieve whatever dream he has. They start to look concerned realizing they didn't think of that. The Masters of the house add to that that if they don't hide him and do register him to school or something, he would never be able to invite friends over, and it would be impossible for him to never be seen with his parents and nobody but him coming in and out of the mansion. A mansion that is known for being abandonned. Authorities could conclude he is a homeless orphan living in an abandonned house faking his life and take him away from them which would break his heart more than if he is taken now ! They look more concerned and guilty... And finally, they add that even if all is well, he could still be bullied and seen as weird because he would not be a normal kid. He would be way too familiar with death and magic which could make his socializing awkward and he could firmly believe ghosts exist and be mocked for that since most mortals don't believe in those, and he would be even more lonely than if he were locked in there. So really, the better is to let him go with mortals who could give him a better life

Emily and Hattie look at each other sadly, and agree. They can't do that. They love Thomas, so he deserves the best. They put him back in his buggy behind them on the edge and turn to Hosty and Gracey and apologize, and just... how much they were happy to finally feel like parents. The 2 bosses understand and try to be as gentle about it as they can, and tell them that perhaps they could always adopt a nany ghost. But they say now they knew Thomas, no baby would ever replace him. So, somber and holding each other's hand, tearfully, they accept to surrender him if it means giving him a chance at a life that could be normal, easier and better

But just at this moment they hear a shrill baby scream of fear behind them. They turn... horror, the wind had risen, and pushed the buggy slightly close enough to the edge to trip and fall ! The 4 ghosts horrified RUSH but see nothing but rocks and waves, it crashed underwater. Emily and the Hatbox Ghost shout "NOOO ! NOOOOOO !" and cry hard, their baby is dead. Emily falls on her knees face in her hands and the Hatbox Ghost angrily turns to the 2 other ghosts he usually fears shaking them by the collars "MY SON IS DEAD ! HE COULD HAVE A LIFE BUT HE IS DEAD ! HE'S ON THE OTHER SIDE NOW AND NONE OF US WILL EVER SEE HIM AGAIN BECAUSE OF BOTH OF YOU AND YOUR STUPID PROTOCOL !" but as nobody is watching down the cliff anymore, they all stop as they hear a little "boo !". They all spring up, and here is Thomas, blue and transparent, floating above the cliff. He turned into a ghost ! Babies usually are free of torments and unachieved businesses so don't turn into ghosts but he did ! Hattie and Emily gasp with the biggest emotional joy and rush to him, hugging him tightly as they sob, as he coos, forever wearing that little mask, that sweater and a ghost version of the key. The Ghost Host and Master Gracey turn to each other, baffled, but smile and shrug

Epilogue, the Mariner had dived back to retrieve both the keys (the Ghost Host now will hide in a safer place) and the little corpse that is now buried between his parents, and the Hatbox Ghost and Emily happily register papers to the ghost administration representative Madame Leota had summoned for the occasion (an OC I should design and name). Birth certificate with a date they picked corresponding to his age, death certificate, adoption papers with his name and ghost name if he has which they think of before opting for "Baby Boo" because it's cute and because it was his first word as a ghost, alright he is theirs. They rejoice, and so do the Ghost Host meaning there is a new happy haunt to add and is now ready to open himself to like him, like the other brides and most ghosts who are now happy for the attic couple who finally had what everybody knew they wanted for so long

#moi #haunted mansion #harbox ghost #emily #original bride #love is here #i ship it !#baby boo #adoption #parents and children #adoptive parents and adoptive children #family #feels

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