Repercussions Chapter 4

Lydia and Betelgeuse sat in silence, neither one knew what to say. Finally, she turned

to face him. He looked at her with pain in his eyes. "Lyds," he began. Lydia put a finger

to his lips. "Beej," she said, "This doesn't change anything…not for me, but if you can't…." her protest was silenced by his lips slanting over hers. She leaned into the kiss. When he pulled away, he saw the tears in her eyes. "Lydia," he said, "I don't care who you were, who you are is good enough for me." Lydia wrapped her arms around him. "I love you, Beej," she whispered, "but what is Juno going to do?" Betelgeuse frowned. "I have no idea, Lyds," he replied, "but we gotta face the music sometimes." Lydia sighed. "Might as well get it over with," she replied. Betelgeuse looked down at her. "Dontcha wanna hear the rest of the story?" he asked. Lydia looked him in the eye. "Beej," she said, "when you're ready, I'll listen." Betelgeuse grinned. "Thanks Lyds," he said softly, "now let's go see Junebug."

Juno was behind her desk, smoking another cigarette, when Betelgeuse and Lydia popped in. She immediately noticed the entwined hands of the couple. "United front, huh?" she asked. Betelgeuse stepped forward. "We're gettin married, Junes," he said matter of factly, "you can't change it." Juno sighed. "Just sit down, you two," she said forcefully, as two chairs appeared behind them. The couple sat, still holding hands. Juno took a long drag on her cigarette. "Did I say anything about trying to stop you?" she asked. Betelgeuse gave her a skeptical look. "So…you're not gonna try to talk us out of it?" he asked. Juno raised an eyebrow. "Would it do any good?" she asked. Betelgeuse ," thought for a minute before he answered. "What's your game, Junes?" he asked. Juno regarded the pair. "Apparently, everyone has misjudged just exactly how strong the bond is between you two," she said, "and I've known you long enough to know that the more I protest, the more determined you will be. I'm not an idiot, you know." Lydia narrowed her eyes. "So, what," she said, "you're just going to give us your blessing?" Juno exhaled a thick grey puff of smoke. "I didn't say that either," she replied, "I'm not the only person opposed to this, you still have to tell your parents…" Lydia paled, slightly. "And…" Juno continued, "Barbara and Adam." A wicked grin spread across her face. Betelgeuse slammed his fist down on the desk, startling both women. "That's low, Junes," he said, "not really like you to be passive-aggressive. Sounds like a cop out to me." Juno shrugged, "Think what you want, Geuse," she replied with a sardonic grin, "but I know for a fact, that there is no way in hell you two will ever get married."

"We'll see about that," Betelgeuse said. Juno laughed out loud. "So," she said, turning her eyes on Lydia, "go on home, tell Mommy and Daddy, and the Maitlands, then let's see how far your wedding plans go." Lydia placed both hands on the desk, and leaned toward the woman. "I will marry him," she said, "with or without my parents, the Maitlands….or you." She stood abruptly. Betelgeuse grinned at the ferocity of her conviction. He grabbed her hand and led her toward the door. He stopped at the threshold, and shot Juno a death glare. "See you at the church, Junebug," he said with a grin. Juno chuckled. "One more thing, Geuse," she said, "don't think you can do whatever you want. Until you marry that girl, if you do, you won't be able to manifest on the outside. Not even in miniature." Betelgeuse frowned for a split second, then laughed out loud. "I don't need to manifest, Junebug," he replied, "I'm still the ghost with the most." With that, he and Lydia were gone.

Lydia stepped out of Juno's office, and found herself in her bedroom. She looked around frantically for Betelgeuse. "Beej?" she questioned. "Right behind ya, babes," came the reply. She whirled around to find him behind the glass of her mirror. She sat in front of the trapped ghost, pressing her fingers to his image. "They're gonna disown me, Beej," she said softly. "Lyds," he said, "Lydia, look at me." She lifted her gaze to his. "Do you wanna marry me?" he asked pointedly. "Yes," she replied, without hesitation, "I do." Betelgeuse smiled at her. "Then we'll figure this out," he said. Lydia smiled as well. "Ok," she said, "let's go." With a puff of smoke, he vanished from the mirror. Lydia once again looked around. "Right here, babes," his voice said in her ear. Lydia sighed, and went to face her family.

"Hello?" Lydia called out, "anybody home?" Footsteps could be heard racing toward the door. Betelgeuse had juiced her to the front door. "LYDIA!" came a frantic screech from her stepmother. "Pumpkin?" her father yelled from behind Delia. In moments, Lydia was accosted from all sides. There were hugs and tears and screaming fits, followed by more hugs and more tears. Barbara and Adam had appeared after the first scream. "Lydia, honey, where have you been?" Barbara asked. "Are you alright?" Adam asked. "Are you hurt? What happened?" came the question from her father. Delia, as usual, was out of her element in the sympathy department. "Are you trying to kill your father?" she asked. Lydia rolled her eyes and wriggled out of the death grip of the hysterical adults. "I'm fine," she said, finally, "it's a long story." Barbara snapped her fingers and a chair appeared behind Lydia. She had been practicing with her use of magic. "Okay, honey," she said, "tell us everything." Lydia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She half expected to smell brimstone, considering all the hell that was about to break loose. She steeled herself against the rising panic, and began to speak. All eyes were on her, and she began to shake a bit. She felt an invisible hand on her shoulder, silently encouraging her. Bolstered by the show of affection, she took another deep breath, and blurted out the news…."I'm getting married." she practically screamed. Everyone stared at her like she was from another planet. Her father looked like her might faint. "You're what?" Delia screamed, "what…when….who?" It all came out in a garbled rush. Lydia sighed. They were really going to freak out when they found out who she was marrying.

After what seemed like hours, everyone fell silent. Barbara broke the uncomfortable silence first. "Lydia honey," she said, " what do you mean, you're getting married? Where have you been? What happened? I don't understand." Lydia put her hand over Barbara's. Delia stomped over to her. "You are obviously trying to kill your father." she said, in true Delia fashion, "you disappear for three months and then mysteriously reappear and tell us that you're getting married?" Lydia looked at her stepmother in confusion. "Three months?" she asked. "Yes, three months!" Delia practically screamed, "I guess you were having so much fun with your mystery man, that you forgot that you had a family at home worried sick about you…" Lydia blushed violently. "It is a man, isn't it?" Delia asked. "Delia!" Barbara snapped. She turned her attention back to Lydia. "Lydia," she said softly, "just tell us what happened. From the beginning." Lydia took a deep breath. "I don't know where to start," she said. "Well," said Barbara, "why don't you start by telling us who your fiance is." Lydia's face went a shade paler. "Um," she stammered, "that's the hard part." Her father knelt in front of her. "Come on, Pumpkin," he said, gently, "you can tell us." Lydia's lip trembled slightly. "I…..I can't," she said softly. She felt a slight squeeze on her shoulder and relaxed a bit. "Lydia," Adam said, "why can't you tell us?" Lydia looked up at the ghost, and felt tears begin to sting her eyes. "Because," she said, "I'm afraid that it will kill you all over again." Adam looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Oh, come on Lydia, it can't be that bad," Barbara offered. *You have no idea,* Lydia thought. "C'mon Lyds," said a deep voice in her ear, "you gotta tell em." Lydia exhaled and gripped the sides of her chair. "Okay," she said finally, "It's Betelgeuse. I'm marrying Betelgeuse." Barbara gasped, Adam's jaw literally hit the floor, Delia screamed, and as expected, her father fainted. "Well," Lydia said, "that went better than expected." From her office, Juno laughed hysterically. There was no way those two would be getting married.