A/N: y'know, I haven't mentioned up 'til now, but clearly I don't own anything but the obvious OC's. I just take the owned characters out to play on occasion. Hopefully the people who own them, one of which I know is Tim Burton, don't mind and don't plan on legal action. I really can't afford that.
"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?!" Crowe held onto Beetlejuice's tie, pulling them nose to nose. "What? I don't think I did anything wrong. I'm not the one committing a-dul-te-ry," Beetlejuice drew the word out, making it mocking. He slipped from her grasp, and smoothed his tie down.
"Adultery?" Crowe made it a question. "Yeah, that flirting thing you were doing with the scarecrow back there. We're getting married Babes. As in you only make eyes like that at me. Not him," Beej glared down at her. "Excuse me, we aren't married yet Beej. I can make eyes at whoever I want to. You can't stop me," she crossed her arms, returning his glare. "I think we sorta proved that I can just now. Otherwise we wouldn't be here would we?" now he was grinning triumphantly. "Yeah, about that. You ever do anything like that again, uninvited, and I'll castrate you in the most painful way I can think of." "Castrate? Like, what, fix, like a dog at the vets?" Crowe nodded solemnly. A small squeak sounded from his throat. And it was true it was petty, but Crowe couldn't help being pleased at his discomfort.
Crowe waited while the song faded from one and crept up into the next before speaking again. Didn't need to be heard talking to herself. Once the song had built up into a crescendo of fast guitars and heavy drums, all intermingled with the harshly melodic voice of the lead singer, she continued her argument. "We were just starting to get along well too Beej! I was thinking we would at least become friends. Now you've gone and messed it up," she pouted. Not the fake pout she used when she wanted something, a real one, one that showed she was actually upset. "So we aren't do I care?" Beej snorted disdainfully, and regretted it a second later. But he was angry at her for yelling at him, and the boy for thinking he could hit on Babes with him right there. The thought that the boy couldn't see him didn't cross his mind. And he was only angry about the boy strictly because Crowe had been promised to him. Not because maybe he sort of did want to be her friend at least. He had been lonely without Lyds and she was like but unlike Lyds. He did like her; she took whatever he dished out and returned it with just as much vigor and sarcasm. It was entertaining, and maybe a little attractive.
The look Crowe gave Beetlejuice made him duck his head apologetically. But it was too little too late. "So you don't care if we're friends huh? Fine, you can go back to the Neitherworld. And stay there. I don't care how long, and how much you want out. You can get eaten by sandworms for all I care," she said viciously. She meant for her words to hurt, thus they were sharpened to a point and aimed straight at him, piercing him. "But…uh…Babes…how're you gonna get home?" Beej chanced using his pet name for her, hoping it wouldn't piss her off more. Luckily, she had wrapped her anger around herself, and wasn't paying attention to silly little things like pet names. "I'll ask Nate for a ride home. And don't even say anything about me hating to be in cars. I know that. But if it's a choice between you and the car, I choose the screaming metal death trap. Beetlejuice," she started.
"Babes, wait…"
"Beetlejuice…"
"I didn't…"
"Beetlejuice!"
"Mean it!"
He disappeared, and Crowe stormed out of the changing room back to work. Nate watched her from the small table he'd been sitting at as she tied on her apron, hands fumbling with the strings, near violently tossing her braids over her shoulders. She glared at the cash register as if it had offended her, and her hands were jammed into her pockets, her foot tapping nervously. "You all right?" he asked hesitantly. "Well, I talked to my dad," she started, almost forgetting what she'd told him. "He's fine. But my friend, BJ, gave me a call. He was supposed to come up for the week to hang out…now he's not. Third time he'd done this. Came up with some stupid story…it's just aggravating," she tucked her bangs behind her ears and twirled one of her braids around her finger. Lying was easy, she discovered, as long as she didn't look directly at Nate, if she played the part of dejected friend well.
"New friend huh? Where's he from?" Nate put a teasing quality into his voice, obviously determined to cheer her up. "Not what you think," she grinned, letting him try to make her feel better. "We hardly get to see each other, we used to be close. His mom and mine were friends a long time ago. I sort of miss him I guess. Anyway, could you…d'you think you could give me a ride home? My dad's at a photo shoot, and I don't drive really," she gave a cute little silly me grin, looking up through her lashes, thinking that this whole flirting thing was easier than she'd thought. "Of course I can. No worries there Crowe. Just point me in the right direction and I'll getcha there," Nate answered, tossing his head to get his hair out of his eyes. Crowe watched it like it was in slow-mo, how his hair fell in soft shaggy waves, a few strands still drifting about his face. Her hands nearly ached to brush them from his face, and she forced them into a fist to resist. She would not embarrass herself like that. But she was starting to get the feeling that this was more than a simple little high school crush. Not even when she'd had a crush on Dwayne had she felt such a longing to spend all her time with him, as she did with Nate. It frightened and exhilarated her all at once, and she couldn't decide if she liked the feeling or not.
Beetlejuice paced around the Living-Dead Room in his house, hands jammed into his pockets, brow furrowed. She didn't mean it. She wouldn't keep him here, or feed him to sandworms. Not even Lydia had done something like that. She hadn't been cruel. Damn it, he hadn't meant to hurt her feelings! But as was often the case, he didn't think before he talked. And now he was stuck here, and bored, and lonely. He'd had far too much of that since Lydia had…since she was gone. Sighing angrily, he tossed himself on the couch and stared at the ceiling, clinging to the hope that Crowe was as soft hearted as Lyds and would forgive him soon.
He was drifting off to sleep when all too familiar and most unwelcome tapping sounded from above. "Hey Beetlejuice!" "Oh…hey Ginger," he rolled over, facing away from her into the room. He so did not want this right now. Not on top of everything else. If he didn't find a way to fix things with Crowe and at least be her first and only friend, marriage to her would not be fun. "What's the matter?" the spider asked, dropping to the floor to look at him, a frown on her face. He debated whether to tell her or not. But then again, she was a girl, albeit one of the arachnid variety, with eight legs, and could maybe give him a bit of insight. Who else could he talk to anyway? Even if he didn't care much for her.
"You could say…I'm having Babes trouble," he said grudgingly. "You mean girl trouble? You gotta girlfriend Beetlejuice?" Ginger smiled up at him. "Fiancée actually," he sat up, getting into telling the story now. "Who is it?" Ginger hopped up on the couch.
"Lydia's daughter."
"Lydia's daughter?!" Ginger's voice screeched against Beetlejuice's ears, making him grit his teeth. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, how did this happen anyway?" "What 'appened?" Jacques peered around the corner, a dumbbell in his bony hand. "Beetlejuice is getting married!" Ginger answered before the ghost in question could answer himself. "Truly Be-atlejoose? Why did you not tell us? You should throw a bachelor party," Jacques strolled into the room and sat down in the recliner. "Yeah! Jacques could throw the bachelor party, and I could throw the bachelorette party. But you gotta bring her here first. Introduce us," Ginger urged, nudging at Beej with three of her legs.
Beej sighed, sliding a hand through his dingy hair. "I would but…I sorta screwed up. I was getting to that before you interrupted. And for the record, no, I'm not exactly sure of this. But if you'll let me talk, I'll tell you what's up." "'Kay. Go ahead," Ginger settled in, as did Jacques. "So, you know how Lyds got married, had a kid, that sort of thing, and was helping some ghosts cross over, deal with being dead, whatever. Well, when…when she…d-died," he gulped audibly, forcing himself to say it. Forcing himself to accept it. But oh it was hard. "When she died, her patients I guess you could say weren't really happy 'bout it. And they pitched a fit of epic proportions. Ollie, or as I call him 'Pops' called me in and struck a deal. I keep the ghosts out and Crowe, that's his daughter, marries me. And we were doing pretty good, getting to be friends I think, when I went and tore it all up. And…maybe I feel a little bad. I didn't mean to hurt her feelings. It's 'cause she looks just like Lyds!" he wailed and tugged at his blonde locks.
Ginger laid a consoling hand on Beetlejuice's arm. "It's alright Beetlejuice. Lydia always forgave you. Crowe will too," she said optimistically. "No she won't. She isn't like Lyds that much. She's cynical and has this temper on her, and she's sarcastic and she doesn't take anything I dish out, or she does and just gives it back. And she let me sleep on her bed, even though I just met her yesterday." Jacques and Ginger both gave him near identical surprised looks. "Not like that. Not even I'm that lucky. Nah, I was a dog. Like, literally, four legs and a tail. She said if I stayed like that I could sleep at the foot of her bed."
Jacques made a sound like a whip cracking, and snickered. "Ha ha, really funny bone head. I'm not whipped," Beetlejuice insisted. "Of course not," Ginger said, humoring him. "So what'd you do to wind up sent back here anyway?" "Uhh…well, see, she was flirting with some kid at her work, and I was hiding as a snake on her wrist. I thought it would be fun to liven things up, and sort of…crept up her pants leg. And then, well, she was yelling at me, and said we were almost friends until I did that, and I said I didn't care. So she sent me here and is getting a ride home with him. And I just figured out, she's gonna tell her dad and he's gonna be even more pissed than her. He liked that I could get her to talk, even if it was arguing," Beej hung his head. "What do you mean Be-atlejoose?" Jacques asked. "I mean Crowe doesn't really talk. I guess she didn't talk much since the accident. She was there. And I'm the first one she talked to. 'Til now," Beej answered.
"You really feel bad, don'tcha Beetlejuice," Ginger asked. "Ah, Ginger, it is like with Lydia. She was ze only one Be-atlejoose listened to, she who brought out ze best in him. Crowe is like Lydia in appearance, which ensnares him, and she is like him in personality, which he finds entertaining. He will be as he was with Lydia, nearly inseparable from his best friend," Jacques said dramatically. "You think?" Ginger said. "Y'know, I'm right here," Beetlejuice added sourly. "Oui, I think so. Look at him, he doesn't know it, but soon he shall be as devoted to Lydia's daughter as he was to Lydia." "So romantic," Ginger sighed, eyelids fluttering. Beetlejuice gagged next to them. "What are you waiting for then?" Ginger asked suddenly. "What?" "Go and apologize, and bring her here. Now!" "What? Why?" "You will feel better Be-atlejoose. And 'ow do you know she is not as regretful as you? Maybe she is just better at hiding it?" Jacques suggested. "You two aren't gonna leave me alone until I do are ya?" Beej asked. "Nope," Ginger said cheerfully. "No, we do not plan on such," Jacques added. "Great. Just great," he grumbled, hating the triumphant grins his neighbors wore.
Crowe released the hold she had on the side of the door of Nate's car, her hand cramped. "You ok?" he chuckled. "I don't do well in cars. It's nothing personal. Thanks for the ride," she grinned weakly. "No problemo. See you at work," Nate waved as he drove off. Crowe slowly walked the path up to her house, unlocking it. it was silent inside, almost too silent. A tiny little part of her had wished for Beetlejuice to greet her, yammering in her ear about nothing and everything all at once. Or maybe bound up as a dog, demanding to be taken for a walk. But it was only a tiny little part. She tossed her keys on the table and slid out of her shoes. She helped herself to a few cookies and plopped onto the couch. All she wanted to do was watch some mindless entertainment. Which is exactly what she got.
The TV flickered over Crowe's face, but instead of Punk'd, Beetlejuice grinned at her from the screen. "Hey Babes!" "What are you doing here? Get out of my TV! Now!" Crowe ordered coldly. "Wait a sec Babes, here me out," he protested. "No," she got up and turned off the TV. Instead, she decided to go up to her room and do some work on her Halloween costume. She was going to be Sally the ragdoll from Nightmare Before Christmas. She wasn't buying her costume either. She was making it by hand herself. It was actually looking very nice. She was proud of it. She turned up her radio, but even so, she could still here Beetlejuice as he appeared in the mirror in her bathroom. "Babes, c'mon, I got something to say!" he yelled. Crowe tried valiantly to ignore him, but the third time she stabbed herself with the sewing needle, she threw it down and stormed into the bathroom. Beej was a dog once more, howling dejectedly and pawing at the glass.
"Do you mind? I'm trying to sew in there," she snapped. "Sew what?" he answered, and laughed at his own bad pun. Crowe rose at him, displeasure evident on her face. "If you must know, I'm making my Halloween costume. I'm going trick-or-treating," she said haughtily. "Little old to be doing that ain'tcha Babes?" Beej asked, changing back to himself. "You're never too old to dress up and score free candy. Now what do you want?" "I…wanted…to…to apologize," he answered grudgingly. "Is that so?" Crowe snorted in disbelief. "It's true! I really did…do." "Why should I accept it?" she asked, arms crossed over her stomach. "Well, if you accept my apology, I can show you something really interesting," Beetlejuice smirked. Much against her will, Crowe found her curiosity winning against her anger.
"It's nothing…pervy is it?" she asked slowly. "Nothing that's gonna make me worried for my virtue…I mean, more worried than I am already, agreeing to marry you." Beetlejuice chuckled darkly. Crowe could read him about as well as Lyds had been able to. "Not on the first date Babes. I can be a nice gentleman when I want," he said. "Hah! I'll believe it when I see it," Crowe said sarcastically. "Oh yeah, watch this," Beej's face screwed up in concentration as he juiced himself to appear as a fine upper crust gentleman, complete with top hat and monocle. She giggled at him, "Just 'cause you look like one doesn't mean you are one. You couldn't stay like that if you wanted to, and you don't want to. All right, I'll bite. What do you want to show me?" "You gotta come here. To the Neitherworld." "How do I do that?" "Say the words." "Words? What words?" Beetlejuice sighed, trying to contain his annoyance and remember he was here to apologize, not fight once more. "Now, c'mon Babes, I know your dad told you the words to get to the Neitherworld." "Oh! Yeah, he did. My bad," Crowe cleared her throat and began.
"Though I know I should be wary, still I venture someplace scary. Ghostly hauntings I turn loose, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!"
A wild torrential wind whipped around Crowe, and she watched in fascination as her room expanded and turned into something that resembled more a castle or dungeon than her room. She certainly hoped it wasn't permanent as she looked up at the tattered bits of cloth hanging from wooden beams laden with bats. A staircase set into the wall wound upwards until it reached a door, which was the only way in or out. "Babes! You made it!" Beetlejuice stormed out of the door and raced down the stairs. "Am I in the Neitherworld now?" she asked. "Little slow on the uptake, aren'tcha? Does this look like your place?" "No but I thought I'd ask. I could just leave if you're gonna be mean," Crowe said sulkily. "Ok, ok, point taken, let's go," Beetlejuice grabbed her hand and tugged her up the steps.
Now, normally, Crowe would've focused on the steps and the tower, would've been really interested. However, at the time all she could think of was how surprisingly soft his hand was, and strong as it wrapped around hers, only a tiny bit bigger than hers. It was cold, but not uncomfortably so. She held on as he all but flew up the steps, her feet literally in the air behind her. "Beej, Beej, slow down! I don't like this! Please!" She yelped. He stopped abruptly and she crashed into him, gasping for breath. "So, my neighbors wanna meet you, but I got something better to show you first," he explained, hovering in the air a few inches off the ground. "What is it?" Crowe asked, trying to get her breath back. "You'll see. But trust me, you're gonna like it," he said, and landed with his boots on the ground. "Well, can we walk? I want to get a look around if that's not too much to ask," Crowe said, dusting herself off. "Sure, anything you want Babes," Beetlejuice offered her his arm. After a second hesitation, she took it, and let him lead the way up a winding path.
A thousand and eight questions filled Crowe's mind as they walked, and she wasted no time in asking as many as she could. Beetlejuice answered as truthfully as he could, or as honestly as he felt like. Until she asked again and again where they were going, slipping it in among her questions in hopes of tripping him up and getting him to tell her. But he was for once too clever for her and never let it slip until they reached the large black building.
"Lydia's Bootique? What's this?" Crowe asked, walking up to the door. "Your mom's old clothes store. She and her friends designed the clothes and I helped sell'em. Until she got too old, and sort of forgot," he trailed off softly. "Can we go in?" she asked, hoping to distract them both from the rather sad direction their thoughts were taking. "Yeah, sure, here I got it," he jerked open the door, sending up a cloud of dust. Crowe let out a high pitched sneeze, her eyes watering. "What?" she asked, her voice thick from her stuffed up nose. "Cute sneeze Babes," was all he said, still smirking. "Shut up and let me in." "Bossy thing aren't you?" "Maybe it's just you? You ever think of that?" "Huh. No, I guess not. But still…" "But nothing Beej, let's go in."
The clothes, despite being layered thickly in dust were still gorgeous. Crowe loved the original designs, and traced her hand across a cloak lying on the counter. Her mom had made it, made it with her own two hands. She balled it in her hand and clutched it to her chest, trying to picture her mom in her school uniform, stitching this together painstakingly, knowing it would all be worth it in the end. "Babes?" "Hmm? Oh, sorry, got caught up there. She made all these?" "Yeah…here," Beetlejuice aimed his hand at the cloak and the dust cleared, leaving it brighter than before, now revealed as being a bright green traced in black and silver. Upon closer inspection the black and silver were shown to trace out a spider web pattern similar to that on the red shawl. Beej took it and draped it over her shoulders, deciding it looked great with her hazel eyes. And as a show of how much he really meant his apology, he told her. She actually blushed. "Thanks Beej. Can I keep it then?" Crowe asked hopefully. "Well…I don't know…" "Please? Pretty, pretty please?" she stuck out her lower lip and gave him big eyes, batting her eye lashes. Beetlejuice growled, but not like he was mad. He had hated when Lyds had done that to him, and now he was getting it again. "All right. But I hate when chicks use that against me." "Use what Beej?" Crowe said innocently. "That whole bat your eye lashes, pouting cooing thing. Gets to me," he muttered. "Did I do that?" "Yeah, you did. But the cloak looks good, so it doesn't matter. You can come down here and check the clothes out anytime you want, just to let you know," he added. "Thanks. I might do that." "Well, I'd like if you came and visited me sometimes. If I'm here. Now, you wanna meet my neighbors?" "Lead the way."
"BJ's Roadhouse? You live here?" Crowe tilted her head back, surveying the house from a distance. "Yeah. You got a problem with it?" "No, I love it. honestly. It's one of the coolest houses I've seen here. So where are your neighbors?" "Inside. They sort of live with me, we all pay rent, that sort of thing." "Coolness. Oh, Beej, who's puppy is that?" Crowe looked to the little red dog across the street that had an odd shaped tail and two little curved horns on his head. "That's Poopsie, the Monster Across the Street's dog," Beetlejuice answered, voice thick with scorn and disgust. "Hey little guy," Crowe crouched down and let the dog sniff her hand. Poopsie sniffed her hand and licked her, yapping and snuffling her, begging to be pet. However, he started to growl when Beetlejuice came near. "He doesn't seem to like you," Crowe observed. "The feeling's mutual," Beej stuck his tongue out at the dog. "Beetlejuice! Leave my dawg alone!" a thick Western accented voice roared from inside the house.
The monster that walked out was huge, hairy and had no visible eyes. He wore a cowboy hat and boots, and grabbed Beetlejuice by the collar, lifting him off the ground. "How many times do I have ta tell you to leave my Poopsie alone? I oughta-'' Crowe interrupted, clearing her throat. "Excuse me sir? Do you think you could set him down? He wasn't bothering your dog, at least not intentionally. I just wanted to pet him, he's really cute. I'm sorry I didn't ask," Crowe put on her best self deprecating, aw shucks smile and was extra sugary sweet polite. "Well shucks li'l lady. That's no problem. It's fine you wanting to pet my dog. But, why do you want him to be let down?" the monster asked. "Well, he's sorta my fiancée actually," Crowe admitted, making herself say it. "Another one? I'll never know how you do it Beetlejuice. For you girl, I'll let him go. You might wanna keep him on a shorter leash though." "Duly noted. Thank you Mr. Monster Across the Street."
Beetlejuice hit the ground hard, and Crowe helped him to his feet. "Thanks for the help Babes," he mumbled. "Well, I didn't want to see you squished in front of me." Beetlejuice looked up hopefully. "I'd hate to get your guts all over this nice new cloak." His face fell…literally. "Nice trick," Crowe picked his face up and put it upside down on his head. "Really funny Babes," he turned his head around so it was back to the way it was supposed to be. "I thought so. Hell, that was me going easy on you, especially after what you pulled earlier." "I said I was sorry!" "I'll need to hear it a few more times before I even think of forgiving you. But…there's a way you can make me think a little faster…" Beetlejuice wasn't sure he liked the smirk she was wearing. It reminded him too much of…someone…oh yeah. Himself. Heh.
"Faster! C'mon! Go faster!" Crowe yelled, laughing wildly and clinging to Beetlejuice's shoulders. "But Ba-abes! You're heavy! I can't go faster," Beetlejuice tightened his grip on the underside of Crowe's thighs and lifted her higher. She wrapped her legs further around his waist, kicking him slightly in the ribs. "Remind me again why I agreed to give you a piggyback ride?" "Because you want me to forgive you and this makes me happy?" Crowe answered. "This makes ya happy huh?" Crowe didn't need to see him to know that he was smirking and waggling his eyebrows, making a pitiful attempt at being seductive. She kicked him harder, aiming a little below the belt. "What?" "You're…incorrigible. And an ignoramus." "Hey no need for name calling Babes," Beej whined. "Do you even know what that means?" Crowe leaned against his back, noticing despite being greasy, his hair was rather soft. "Nope. I just know I don't like how it sounds. What's it mean?" "A moron basically. You smell funny. Really weird actually." "Aw, you know just how to sweet talk a guy," Beej said, laying on the sugary tone thickly. Crowe tugged sharply on his hair. "Ow! Babes!" "You deserved it…hey! Mind the hands buddy!"
Finally, when Beetlejuice's shirt was soaked through with sweat and he didn't think he could take another step they reached his house. Crowe slid from his back, smoothing down her shirt, which had ridden up. "I forgive you now Beetlejuice. Ok?" she pat him on the head, giggling as he nodded weakly and collapsed against the side of the house. "Never again Babes. Never ever," he gasped. "Aww, never ever?" Crowe leaned closer to him, batting her eyes. "Well, maybe I could be persuaded…hey, where ya going?" Crowe disappeared into his house, still laughing.
When he composed himself and managed to stroll inside appearing calm and cool, Beetlejuice found Crowe in the Living-Dead room chattering away with Ginger and Jacques, already introduced to one another. "Nice of you to wait for me Babes," he mumbled. "I was sort of…accosted by them and we started talking. Sorry I exhausted you like that," Crowe said sheepishly. "Ah don't worry about it Babes. Are you two happy now I introduced her to you?" "Oui. Now, will you let us throw bachelor and bachelorette parties?" Jacques asked. "I got nothing against it. Crowe?" "A bachelorette party in the Neitherworld, before I'm even twenty. Sounds interesting. I'm in. Are you planning it Ginger?" "Sure am," the spider answered proudly. "Will there be dead male dancers?" Crowe asked, trying to sound innocent. "Of course. What'sa bachelorette party without'em?" Ginger asked, laughing. Crowe too giggled behind her hands.
"Now wait just a second, isn't this sort of thing the kind of thing that started this whole…thing?" Beetlejuice's brows drew together in confusion. "Uhh…do you even know what you just said?" Crowe asked. "A little. The whole other guys thing starting this you being mad at me thing," Beej clarified. "Ah. I see. 'Cause of your crazy jealousy." "Right, 'cause of my crazy…oh no. I'm not that easy to trick." "Yeah you are." "Babes, don't start again." "Whatcha gonna do if I do start?" "You don't wanna know." "Yeah I think I do." "No you don't." "I do." "Better get used to saying those words Babes." "You're an ass." "Takes one to know one." *Slap!* "Ow! Babes, when're you gonna stop hittin' me?!" "When you stop being mean!" "Gonna be a long wait…ouch! Again with the hair pulling!"
Ginger and Jacques watched in amusement as the two argued and slapped at one another. Though truthfully it was more Crowe slapping him, and pulling his hair. "You seeing what I'm seeing Jacques?" Ginger whispered. "Oui. It's Lydia and Be-atlejoose almost all over again. Although perhaps eet is a bit more zan that. 'Oo knows?" "I know. Oh it's gonna be so romantic. Look at them!" the spider squealed, gaining everyone's attention. "Look at who?" "Nobody Crowe. Don't worry about it. Honest. Just go ahead beating up Beetlejuice," Ginger snickered at the look on Beej's face. Which got even funnier as Crowe shrugged and said "Ok then."
Only when Crowe started to nod off against the arm of the couch did anyone think to check the time. It was well past midnight. "Hey Babes, why don't ya just sleep here tonight?" Beetlejuice suggested tiredly. "Nuh-uh," Crowe mumbled, rubbing at her eyes, not caring that she smudged her eyeliner. "But Babes, it's so late. You're already almost asleep on the couch. Ginger and Jacques are going to bed, what's the harm in you sleeping here?" "Gotta…feed…Axl." Beej growled softly. That damned rat. "Fine. But this is the only time you'll get two piggy back rides in one day," he slung Crowe up onto his back, catching her as she slipped. "Crowe, you're gonna hafta hang on tighter. I can't…oh hell, Babes, c'mon work with me," he muttered. "Sorry Beej. I'm jus' sooo tired," Crowe yawned and twined her arms around his neck, using his shoulder as a pillow. "So'm I, but I'm still carrying you," he groaned, heading up the path to the door to her world. "'Cause you're a nice guy like that," Crowe answered quietly. Beetlejuice paused, and shook his head. "Don't know what you're talking about Babes." "Sure I do. My mom said you were a nice guy, really, really deep down. So you must be," she said firmly, like if her mom said it, it must be true and nothing could change her mind. "Yeah well, just don't spread it around. I've got a reputation to keep up."
Crowe lethargically sprinkled food into Axl's dish and gave him a good night pat on the head. Beetlejuice was curled up, very close to asleep, on her bed. She herself was too tired to care. She slid under the sheets, nudged him aside, put a few pillows between them and let sleep wrap like a warm blanket around her. She hadn't even bothered to change out of her jeans, shirt and cloak.
A/N: so ends another chapter. Was it good? Reviews let me know. I crave positive reinforcement and constructive criticism like BJ craves bugs. Which as we know is a lot. So, d'you think you could see your way to click the review button and feed me? Pretty please?