Chapter 1

"You're going over there dressed like that?" said Delia Deetz, eyeing her daughter with keen, suspicious eyes.

"Ugh, Mom! I like this outfit." Lydia groaned, smoothing out the black lace that lay over the ruby satin of her dress. Her hair was pulled up into an elaborate (yet still slightly messy) updo that framed her face. She had even paid particular attention to her makeup.

It was Lydia's 16th birthday and she was attending a sleepover at Prudence's house with Bertha. Well, that wasn't entirely true. But that was what Delia thought. In fact, Lydia was spending her birthday in the Neitherworld. The dress she wore now was for the party – and happened to be an early present from Ginger.

"All right, all right… well, be good and don't stay up too late. You girls have fun." And with that, Delia slipped back into her art studio to finish her latest piece for the gallery.

Lydia made a show of leaving before she crept back to her room. Dimming the lights and pulling the curtains closed with a flourish, she turned towards the table in the middle of the floor. Excitement began bubbling up inside of her. Stifling a giggle, she began to chant:

"Though I know I should be wary… Still I venture someplace scary; Ghostly haunting I turn loose… Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!" And with that, the candles flickered and died. The room around Lydia fell away as she heard the shrill laughter of the one who she knew best.

Everything blurred together as she felt the sensation of being caught in a strong wind. Through the looking glass, she thought giddily. The dust settled and the road house foyer swam into view. Beetlejuice was floating up towards the ceiling, hanging bats from the rafters.

"Ahem" Lydia swished her dress around her coquettishly.

"Hey babes!" He called down, without even glancing towards her. "I've just been hanging around here waiting for ya." With that, he was suddenly swinging above her from a noose, eyes closed and striped tongue lolling to the side.

Lydia, who had been impatiently waiting for his comments on her dress, laughed in spite of herself. As Lydia grew older, Beetlejuice's jokes grew more macabre (and sometimes downright dirty.)

"AHEM." Lydia tapped her foot and waited for his attention. Beetlejuice dropped from the ceiling in front of her.

"Whassa matter, Lyds? Got a frog in your th—" Beetlejuice stopped speaking mid-pun to look her over. Lydia laughed and spun around to show him the entire outfit.

"Ginger made it. Can you believe it?" She grinned at her friend, whose jaw had literally dropped. (To the floor, no less.)

"Homina homina homina! You look fantastic babes. Annnd… happy birthday." Beetlejuice produced a black and white striped box to her from inside his jacket.

"Beej! You didn't have to get me a present… after all, you're the one throwing my birthday party" she said, taking the box from him with gloved hands. She studied the package curiously, rattling it gently beside her ear.

"C'mon, open it. I'm dying to see your reaction." Beetlejuice fell to the floor, a gravestone above his head and a lily popping to life between his hands.

"Okay, okay." Lydia laughed. She opened the box, pulling out an ornate key of some sort on a chain. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to have a skull at the top with two garnets glittering in the eye sockets.

"I get it. It's a skeleton key. I… wow, Beetlejuice, this is beautiful" said Lydia as went to hook it around her neck. Beetlejuice was suddenly behind her, taking the ends of the chain and clasping it for her.

"I figured since you're practically an adult now, Lyds, you might need to come and go as you please without having to summon me. That's what this is for – it's a key to the roadhouse. Not only will you be able to get in the front door from the Neitherworld, but it'll bring you here from your world as well." Beetlejuice grinned proudly at her, knowing that he had chosen a truly wonderful gift.

Lydia was a little speechless. For their last anniversary, he had given her a heart shaped box of beetles… but this was something he had genuinely picked out just for her. Touched, Lydia began to furiously blink away threatening tears.

"Awww, babes, what's with the… water works?" said Beetlejuice, who had turned into a giant striped faucet.

"Thank you, BJ. It's perfect, I couldn't have thought of a better gift myself." With that, she threw her arms around the no-longer-faucet-shaped ghost with enthusiasm. Beetlejuice hugged her back tightly.

This embrace seemed to linger… all of their touches as of late seemed to last a little too long. Lydia couldn't seem to put her finger on what exactly had changed between them, but she knew that something was definitely different. Not bad… just different.

They pulled away from each other, but not completely. They both seemed surprised to find themselves looking each other in the eye, their faces a few inches apart…

"Lydia!"

The voice coming from the doorway startled them both into jumping backwards, away from one another.

Ginger danced into the room with them, pretending that she hadn't noticed this tender moment between the two.

"You look RAVISHING Lydia! It fits you perfectly! Satin gloves… what a nice touch, I wish I had thought of that" said the spider.

"Ginger here wouldn't let me help with the cake at all. What is pumpkin cake without any beetles at all?" complained Beetlejuice as he turned to hang another streamer. Lydia mouthed a 'thank you' at Ginger while Beetlejuice's back was turned.

"Ah, Lydia! Tres magnifique!" Jacques had just entered the room carrying what Lydia could only guess to be speakers, since they were just large boxes with huge mouths on them.

"Merci beaucoup, Jacques!" said Lydia with a small curtsey.

After that the guests started to arrive. It seemed that everyone from the Neitherworld had been invited to Lydia's birthday party… The Monster Next Door came and brought Poopsie, the mayor came, and even Prince Vince was invited. (Much to Beetlejuice's dismay, seeing as the Prince trailed after Lydia for the majority of the night with a sappy look on his face.)

Lydia danced with everyone, even taking a moment to come outside and dance with Doomie before sneaking back in through the kitchen. Beetlejuice, who had been missing for the last hour or so, was found here with a bottle in his hand and a contemplative look on his face. He didn't even notice that Lydia had discovered him.

"Beej?" Lydia stepped towards him, suddenly wondering why she had a fluttery feeling in her stomach. After all, this was her best friend. No reason to feel shy at all… right?

"Babes! Did you escape from the party? What's wrong, was the Prince being a… pest?" Suddenly there was a termite holding the glassy black bottle. "I can do some exterminating if you'd like." The termite flickered back into Beetlejuice, dressed as the Orkin man.

"No, BJ, he's not bothering me too much" said Lydia, laughing. "I was just wondering when you were going to dance with me! But nooo, I find you in here drinking Dr. Leper soda and staring into space." With that, she snatched the bottle playfully, downing the last of it.

"Gah!" Beetlejuice wasn't quick enough to grab it back. Immediately Lydia realized the mistake and handed the bottle back to him, empty.

"I didn't know you even drank alcohol. I never asked, I guess. I mean, I suppose it makes sense, you are over 21…" She fell into giggles at her own little joke as Beetlejuice stared at her, startled. Then he, too, joined into her contagious laughter.

"Well, it is a party, I suppose. And Doomie will be the only one driving" said Beetlejuice, which made Lydia laugh even more. "C'mon birthday girl. I owe you a dance."

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"Well, Beetlejuice, you throw one hell of a party" sighed Lydia, slumping into the sofa. She watched a few bugs scatter from beneath. She was still glowing from knocking back Beetlejuice's drink.

"Everyone that was invited came. The entirety of the Neitherworld wanted to wish you a happy birthday, Lyds." Beetlejuice fell into the couch next to her. "Jacques and Ginger couldn't hang, they've gone to bed. Party poopers."

Lydia, sensing that he might turn into a very literal translation of party poop, shook her head at him to indicate that it wasn't necessary. As she was looking at him though, she began to notice something a little peculiar. No… a lot peculiar.

Suddenly she was very, very close to his face. Beetlejuice's next words (something about her being no fun for not letting him transform) caught in his throat.

"I… babes?" Beetlejuice stared at her, wide-eyed. Her eyes were trained on his hair.

"Why, Beetlejuice, I believe that you have brushed your hair! And your suit isn't nearly as dusty…" Lydia gawked at him.

"I… well, you know. Since there would be dancing. I thought you might… appreciate it. Being, you know, clean and all that junk. Oh, shut up." Beetlejuice scowled as Lydia, still tipsy, fell onto him in hysterical laughter. After a moment, though, he joined in with her.

Still snickering, she ran her hand lightly through his hair, watching the strands fall away from her fingers. But when she glanced towards his face again, she immediately fell sober. The way he was watching her was so intent… the fluttery feeling came back.

His own hand came up to timidly brush the satiny black strands from her eyes. Unconsciously, he leaned closer to her, his face about an inch away from her own. The fluttery feeling wasn't there anymore. Now it was a full grown bat beating its wings against her ribcage. She was sure that Beetlejuice could hear it…

She felt both of his hands press against either side of her face. Without another moment's thought, she closed the distance and her lips found his.

Then… everything blurred. There was a frenzy of movement as Lydia found her back pressed against the cushions, Beetlejuice on top of her. His hands twined into her hair, the intricate updo destroyed so that her curls fell wildly around her face. Her hands pressed against his chest beneath his jacket…

And then he was gone, being almost halfway across the room and leaving Lydia still lying on the couch, dazed.

"Lyds, I think you might need to go." Beetlejuice whispered, his own hair tousled and his suit disheveled.

"I… what? I'm… I'm sorry. Did I… do something wrong?" Lydia's voice was scarcely louder than his. Heat was beginning to bloom in her cheeks.

"No, of course not babes… but I think you need to go." Beetlejuice was staring at her, his eyes burning with an emotion that Lydia couldn't identify. She remained frozen, practically mortified with embarrassment.

"… Now, Lydia." His voice was louder this time, and stern enough to get Lydia off the couch and standing. She backed away from him, trying to fix the strap on her dress that had somehow been ripped during the ordeal. Tears glittered in her vision as she watched him stare her down with something like anger.

"I'm… I'm sorry. Home, home, home." The scene melted away and she was standing alone in her bedroom. Lydia turned over all of her mirrors before throwing herself onto the bed in a fit of despair.

Days turned to weeks. Lydia made no move to contact Beetlejuice.

Weeks turned to months. Beetlejuice never showed up in her room again.

Months turned to years…

Five years to be exact.