#marlian

Even if no one in Julian's blood family had been a Ghostbuster, he had proven himself to be worthy of the job. Sure, he might have only gotten this job because he was dating the youngest daughter of one of the founding Busters and his main ambition was music, but he was still proud that he had the honor of wearing that uniform.

After thirteen years of separation and their reunion in Summerville after Marie's father died, he was proud to answer each call with her.

And he could be completely forgiven if most of his attention wasn't on the spook, but on Marie, at the moment.

He had been shocked when she told him that she was pregnant right after they had defeated Garraka. Not because he didn't want children, though; he had always hoped that one day, he would be a father. Even back in eighth grade, when it all began, the two of them talked about how they wanted to get married and have kids together.

Their original plan when he decided to join her and her family in the city to reopen the Ghostbusters' business was that they would date for a few years. Then, if he still wished, he would propose. His Nanny Hazel's tanzanite and platinum ring never strayed from his person, should a perfect opportunity arise.

But when she had told him, not caring that they were in full view of the television cameras and reporters and Roberta Peck melting down, the shock was very quickly replaced with pure joy.

In addition to their room at the firehouse, they had moved into an apartment of their own together nearby at a building that Winston's company owned after the events of Thanksgiving 2021. There had been a spare room that functioned as a multi-purpose room-- Marie's lab, Julian's music room, whatever it needed to be. Now, it was their baby's nursery.

They had found out that they were having a boy when she was in her eighteenth week. A name hadn't been chosen yet, but they both knew that they wanted to honor Egon.

Callie had managed to sell the majority of Trevor and Phoebe's baby stuff (including the maternity clothes she had worn) without finding out in a cruel twist of fate that she was pregnant again, but she still held onto a few sentimental items that she gave to Marie as gifts. Trevor and Phoebe were excited, even if a part of Phoebe that was still very much a child might have felt a sliver of jealousy towards her unborn cousin. And Cathleen, of course, was thrilled about another grandchild.

Of course, it was all bittersweet with Marie's dad's notable absence.

As for his family, well...

The only ones who had ever shown the Spenglers true kindness was his father, his sister Raquel, and his grandmother. His brothers, the older Graham and the younger Blake, had been prone to go along with the other kids who bullied Marie. And his mother...

Well, considering how well he remembered his mother partook in the gossip surrounding the "Dirt Farmer" and the "Wicked Witch of Summerville's" family, it didn't surprise him how she had reacted after he announced his reconciliation with Marie Spengler (or the "Freak," as she had been called by their classmates) and his intention to move to New York City with her. Any interactions that he had with his mother since were curt yet civil, if she could say nothing at all.

What did surprise him was how quickly his mother had boarded the next plane to New York when he called her to tell her about Marie's pregnancy. At first, he had been hopeful-- maybe a little too optimistic-- that she would learn to see Marie for who she truly was.

But he had been wrong.

At least now, the two of them could get through the last trimester without any personal stress. But considering a few small issues that Marie had, Cathleen had gotten Winston to invoke his power and put Marie on what was the Ghostbusters equivalent of desk duty last month. But she had been insistent on coming on this call when Phoebe brought up the possibility that Ariadne was responsible.

Phoebe's hunch had been correct, seeing as this ghost was able to deflect the proton streams easily. The ghost lifted its arm to dodge the stream from Marie's proton pack, and it hit the stone ceiling. Julian saw the cracks beginning to form in the stone, the first small pebble hitting the floor.

"MARIE, WATCH OUT!"

Suddenly, he leapt towards her to try to shield her as that half of the building began to collapse around the two of them.

"MARIE!" he heard Callie's voice cry out.