A/N: Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed, you guys are great. We're getting close. I had a rampant burst of inspiration, and I'm on a roll. So, keep reading and reviewing.
Repercussions Chapter 12
Juno turned the book over and over in her hand. This thing had been nothing but trouble. She hadn't even known that the ancient spells in the thing actually worked, but apparently they did. So, if Lydia and Betelgeuse had used it to help them before, she knew that they would look to it for a way to get married. What she didn't know, was how. Knowing those two, it could be anything. She lit a cigarette and opened it again. She would just have to beat them to the punch. She had no idea what they would try. They seemed very determined to make this marriage happen, but she was just as determined to stop it. Betelgeuse set free in the living world would be a nightmare. And she knew, Lydia or no Lydia, he wouldn't be contained for long. He would get bored with the commitment thing and be back to his old tricks in no time. There was one thing that Juno knew about Betelgeuse… He hated being on any sort of short leash, and marriage was about as short as they got. No, she simply couldn't let it happen. No way in hell. She turned her attention back to the book. She would find a way to stop this. There had to be something here she could use.
Lydia, Betelgeuse and Isabel sat in silence for a while. They had all tried to come up with a solution to the problem, but so far had had no luck. Lydia and Isabel had run through a few different ideas, but Betelgeuse had remained uncharacteristically quiet.
"Beej," Lydia said.
"Huh, oh yeah babes, whatever you say…" he replied offhandedly. Lydia frowned.
"You're not even listening," she said tersely.
"Course I am, babes," he replied with a grin.
"Maybe we should continue this later," Isabel said.
"Yeah," Lydia replied, "it is getting late." Lydia and Isabel once again merged into one, and Lydia and Betelgeuse returned to her room; her to her bed and him to the mirror.
"There has to be something in the book," Lydia said. Betelgeuse lit a cigarette.
"Better get to lookin' then, babes," he said with a wink. Lydia sighed.
"And what are you going to do?" she asked.
"I'm here for moral support, Lyds." he replied.
"Gee, thanks," she muttered.
"Hey, it's not like I can just juice myself outta here, y'know," he said. Lydia huffed.
"I know, Beej," she said, "it's just so frustrating. Everyone is against us and you're stuck in there."
"Look Lyds, " he said, "it's been a long day. Why don't you get some sleep and we'll start fresh in the mornin'. " She smiled at him.
"That's a good idea, Beej," she replied, "I'm exhausted. Will you be here in the morning?"
"With bells on, babes," he said, "now get some sleep."
"Okay, " Lydia said, "goodnight Beej."
"Night, Lyds," he replied. He waited until she was sound asleep, then slipped quietly into her dreams. He needed to talk to Isabel. He had an idea, but it sounded crazy, even to him. He wanted to run it by Isabel before springing it on Lydia. It was going to be a hard sell, but it might be their only choice.
Betelgeuse skirted around the fringe of Lydia's dream. He didn't want her to see him, so he tried his best to stay out of sight. He knew that it would be easier to talk to Isabel while Lydia was asleep. His idea was definitely a long shot. He didn't really know if he could convince either of them, but he had to try. He finally made his way out of her dream and into her deep subconscious, where he knew Isabel would be.
"Izzy," he yelled, "Iz…." She stepped out of the shadows.
"Barrett, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I think I know a way that me an Lyds can get hitched," he said, "but you're gonna have to help me convince her." Isabel gave him a questioning look.
"Convince her of what?" she asked.
"To let me kill her…"
