AN: I liked how this chapter turned out. To be honest, it isn't at all like I had originally planned. There was to be a whole lotta yellin', and a bit of an argument between Beej and Nights. But I liked how I showed their relationship in this version. Also, Seren didn't even exist in the original. Thanks to Dark Angel Erissa, Animekitty47, and Yenattirb for their reviews! Kisses for you!

Stupid sonuva--*realizes there are people reading this*O_o" Umm, the uploader wasn't working, so I had to copy and paste . . .

Chapter 2: Choices

Juno had come to expect several things from the two blondes. However, the last thing she expected from them was to find them in her office right after the two people they cared to most about were kidnapped. So the case worker thought she was hallucinating when she heard Beetlejuice's voice say, "If ya don't sit still, I'm gonna cut all yer hair off!" Juno stood in front of her door, her hand resting on the knob, and not entirely sure she wanted to go in. But the Powers That Be needed some files, and said files were in the filing cabinet in her office. Juno opened the door, and saw Nightshade stand up, but Beetlejuice, who had her hair in his hands, yanked her back down to the chair. They were back in their normal outfits.

"Sit, damnit!" he growled, and pulled at he hair until she had her head tilted back to look at him standing behind her. "I swear I'll cut it off, and then ya won't havta worry about it."

"I hate you, Beetlejuice."

"Yeah. Love you, too, Nightshade."

Juno stared at them as she made her way to her desk. When she sat down, Beetlejuice stopped pulling and continued braiding. Nightshade simply glared at nothing.

"What exactly are you doing here?" Juno asked when neither of them offered anything.

"We," Beetlejuice answered, "have no idea who took them. Therefore, we ain't got a fuckin' clue where they are."

"The only thing we know," said Nightshade, "is it was the organist, the preacher, and two of the bridesmaids. And we're certain they were poltergeists, but we've never met them."

"And how am I supposed to help?"

"Everythin' is written down someplace. Ya got files and contracts fer everythin'! Ain't ya got a list of all the 'geists or somethin'?"

"Yes, we do, Beetle."

He waited for her to continue. "Well?" he prompted.

"That information is classified."

Beetlejuice had gotten to the end of Nightshade's braid and wrapped her scrunchie around it. "Classified for whom?"

"The offer is still on the table," Juno said.

"No," they both answered in unison.

"It's the only way you're going to be able to have access to that information. There are currently four-hundred-thirty-two poltergeists living in the City, two-hundred-sixty-seven living outside the City, and seventy-four in the Livingrealm. Do you honestly think you have time to track them all down?"

"That's extortion," Nightshade growled.

"No, Miss Nights," said a new voice.

Nightshade and Beetlejuice turned to look at the other ghost. He was one of the higher Powers. His pale skin a stark contrast from his black hair and long robes. His grey eyes passed over Nights' body. "It seems you have not fully recovered from your depression, my dear."

"Yeah, well, some things never go away," she muttered. Nights didn't like to think about those five years. And she was reminded of them whenever she looked in a mirror. The dark circles around her eyes had never faded, and she was still trying to get rid of the moss. "And it is extortion."

"No, it isn't. Juno is merely presenting the facts. Are you going to sign the contract or not?"

"Not," the blondes answered.

"Are you telling me you are not even going to consider it?"

"Seren, I told you they're stubborn," Juno told the member of the Powers.

"Indeed you have, Juno, but I honestly did not think it was to this extent."

"Look, bub," Beetlejuice said. "We like being poltergeists. We don't wanna give that up."

"Mr Juice, we have never given any indication to the removal of your status."

The blondes blinked.

"What?" Nights asked.

"You do not have to give that up," Seren repeated.

"Oh. Um, in that case . . . um, B?"

"We ain't gonna go to all the meetings." Then he added, lamely, "I guess."

"So, where's the contract?"

Juno moved some files on her desk until she found it. When she had told them it was still on the table, it really was still on the table. She slid it to the edge so they could sign it. Nights picked up a pen, and touched it against the paper to sign her name, but Beetlejuice smacked her in the back of the head.

"What the hell was that for?!" she yelled, turning in the chair to glare at him.

"Did I teach ya nothin'?! What's a contract?"

"A legally binding document."

"Exactly. Dontcha think ya outta read it before ya sign it?"

Nightshade blinked before turning back to the desk and picking up the paper. Before she could read past the first sentence, Beetlejuice snatched it and skimmed through it.

"We're legally responsible for our actions," he muttered. "That ain't new. When summoned, we have to attend. That ain't new, either. If called upon to perform any duties, we must comply unless there is an acceptable reason for not doing so. When ain't that the case? As members of the Powers That Be we will not use our higher societal positions for personal gain. This includes, but not limited to, monetary wealth, vengeance, and selfish desires." Beetlejuice looked up from the paper to Juno. "Ain't trackin' them down violatin' that last bit?"

"I have not the faintest idea what you are referring to, Mr Juice," Seren said. "Do you Juno?"

"Nope," she replied with a smile.

The blondes grinned and Beetlejuice slapped the contract down on the desk. "Sign away, Miss Nights!"

"Aye aye, Cap'n Juice!" After Nights signed on her line, Beetle took the pen from her and signed on his.

"Alright, we've signed. Where's the list?"

Juno rolled her chair to the filing cabinet, and pulled a map out of one of the drawers. She rolled back to the desk and spread the map out. It took up the entire desk.

"Wow," Nights said.

"Is that of the entire city?" Beetlejuice asked, leaning on the back of Nights chair so he could get a look at the map.

"Watch it, fat boy. Yer gonna tip me over," Nightshade warned him.

"Yeah, well, cow tippin's fun. Thought you'd know that seein' as you spent so much time in Texas."

Since Nights couldn't come up with anything to counter him calling her a cow, she just shut up, and took a closer look at the map. It was a map of the City. Why they hadn't actually named the biggest city in the Neitherworld, she had no idea. Maybe now since she and Beej were members of the Powers That Be, they could fix that little issue.

But that would be for another day. Right now, they needed to find Lydia and Derrick.

There were red x's all over the map, marking where the Gates were located.

Nightshade tilted her head back to look at Beetlejuice.

"What?" he asked.

"Ya think they'd stay together?"

"Dunno. That's why we're lookin'." He scanned the map, looking at the x's. "Here," he said and tapped a cluster of four marks. "It's the only place were all the Gates are together."

"Then let's go!" Nights shot out of the chair, and nearly tripped over the other one in her mad dash to get to the door. Since Beetlejuice didn't have anything in his way, he made it out first.

Juno massaged her temple. "We're going to regret this later."

Seren shrugged and slid into the chair Nights had vacated.

Nightshade had run back to the door, and poked her head around the frame. "Thanks!" she said and smiled brightly before disappearing.

"Perhaps," Seren said in response to Juno. "Perhaps not."

AN: Wee! Chappie finished! Erg, I gotta think of how to stretch this story out. I'm gonna shoot for three more chapters. But I'm sure there'll be a sequel!