Disclaimer: I do not own Beetlejuice or related characters, he belongs to Tim Burton. I do not own Beetlegeuse. I don't own Betelgeuse? I don't own any of the weird spellings for his name.

Betelgeuse?

Written By: Melanie Ray

Chapter Twenty Five: No More Pretending

Vernie went back to check on the Roadhouse again, but he doubted Beetlejuice was gone. He didn't even bother knocking, just looking in the window. The WDP's had a similar spell cast on him so he couldn't leave, but it probably wasn't necessary. He was following Lydia's wishes.

He wasn't the greatest guy who ever lived. There were plenty of people Vernie felt more compassion for, but for some reason. Ah, he couldn't shake it. As annoying as it had been, he couldn't help feeling . . . something . . .

For the little demon tortured by him daily. Out of hell, that thing had no chance against BJ. Taking his full juice back, he made sure that little tricky devil got everything he deserved. He demanded the roadhouse be cleaned from top to bottom, just to make it dirty again. He used it as a footstool. He punted it. He even caught him using it as a chair.

He was putting every ounce of his frustration into the little vermin. Okay, it was from hell. Yes, it was trying to take everything over, which is why they agreed to let him have the little thing for now. It helped keep him in control again, to have something to push his frustrations out on. Plus, no one had to babysit it while they went through legal procedures.

But honestly, that little demon was no different than any other hell demon that had somehow gained information he shouldn't have. Speaking of which, maybe today was the day he should take it back to hell to be dealt with by its creator. The papers were all in order now, it's just no one really wanted to mess with BJ right now.

He was bad when he was up in everyone's faces, but when he stayed away . . . stayed away, and was only seen in the dark confines of his home. It felt eerie.

He sighed and knocked on the door. As expected, the little demon answered it. "You ready to go back?"

"No!" It shouted. "Just let me stay here and get pummeled by Beetlejuice," He chuckled. "Just desserts?"

Yeah, of course it would say that. Beetlejuice couldn't dish the kind of punishment that things boss would do.

"It'll never have enough."

Yes, that was that eerie feeling. Vernie looked around the corner. No lights were on at all. Only one open window, so that the WDP could look in on him, and he wouldn't have to answer the door. He wasn't looking Vernie in the face, he was just a dark silhouette by a wall. "It's time to send it back, Beetlejuice."

"You said it once. Don't say it twice. Oh yeah, I forgot. Doesn't matter." At another time, Vernie knew he'd probably say that statement with happiness. Instead, he just continued to stare at the ground. A beetle ran across his foot, and he didn't even flinch to get it. "You decide about it yet?"

Ah, Benny's part of the soul. The split reincarnation. "He wouldn't retain any memories, and he would stay far away from Lydia Deetz."

Beetlejuice didn't answer.

"The neitherworld doesn't believe you should fracture yourself again. You could rebutt against it though, it is your right considering you are still technically alive."

"Nah."

Yeah, Vernie had a feeling he would say that. The fight in Beetlejuice, it wasn't as strong as it used to be. "You could punish him for a hundred years, and it still won't do what his master would do in hell for him."

"Hm. Can I get photos?" The words portrayed a joke, but they were just words with no substance. No emotion was put into it.

"W-wait!" the little demon jumped up and down. "I'm not ready yet. Background checking, yeah. Missing culprits. The WDP ruse guy, you said you never found him. Too many strings!"

"You're still involved. We don't have to wait to deal with you."

"B-but what if I told you how I knew about the whole thing? Extension?"

Ah. The demon was finally willing to talk.

"Who. Cares." Beetlejuice finally turned his head. Chilling. His eyes actually glowed green in darkness.

"I do," Vernie said as he looked at the demon. The more information he had about how this little demon got that info, the better the chances he wouldn't slip through the system. Overturning another world into hell wasn't light, but he'd seen some big stuff others wouldn't believe had slipped through the cracks.

"Okay, well, my boss has his device that allows him to see into possible futures. It's how he decides who to mess with and curse. I was there when Beetlejuice died." The demon gestured toward the former ghost with the most. "At that time, I saw three possible futures pass through the seer." He twiddled his thumbs. "No one's supposed to gaze at it, but I saw the third option. I knew no one would have ever expected it. After that, just a few missing errors here and there. Then, I just waited."

"What were those futures?"

"I don't care." Beetlejuice sunk deeper onto the floor, flinging some trash toward a window. "Just take the little imp."

"Not yet. I want to know." Vernie stared at the little demon. "What futures?"

"One was the outcome everyone knows now," the little demon said. "The other two were Beetlejuice reincarnated as Benny Fernake, and one where Beetlejuice was never reincarnated."

"Details. What about Benny Fernake?"

"When he was 16, his mother moved to Lydia Deetz' town. They got married at 20 and had a safe child that would do me no good at 23."

Huh. Beetlejuice still ended up with Lydia. "The second?"

"Don't I get a say in my own place?" Beetlejuice covered his ears. "I don't want to hear this. Just take it and get out."

"The second?" Vernie insisted. He was getting really curious now.

"When Lydia walked home one night at the age of 20, she was violently attacked and killed. The act was so gruesome to her mind that she refused to enter into anywhere. It happens though, so the neitherworld did what it always does. She was placed in a small limbo dimension to spend eternity as a lifeless meaningless soul. The only other one there was Beetlejuice who had become too much for the neitherworld, but not enough for hell."

Whoah. Vernie looked toward Beetlejuice who lifted his head. Even he had become interested.

The demon was almost smiling. "They found their instant connection and their love was so strong, they both pulled each other out of the darkness of that void. See? I'm helpful! I could give away all my master's secrets if you just don't take me to it!"

"Twenty?" That wouldn't happen still, would it? Probably not. The circumstances were probably completely different now. Still. This demon was dropping some . . . interesting facts. "Well. It seems in all three instances, you ended up with Lydia Deetz, Mister Beetlejuice. In every one, it was more than a friend."

"Shut up."

"Just an observation." Vernie grabbed the demon's hand. "We'll see what happens."

"Where at?" Beetlejuice finally stood up and moved from the corner. His glowing green eyes were softening as he approached into the light.

"Restrain him more!"

"We are putting all we can into it! We need back up!"

Vernie watched, but neither he nor Donny really wanted to gang up on Beetlejuice. For one, he was currently unstable. For two, the town Lydia had her tragic end in, had been the exact same name of the town she lived in now. For three, she turned twenty not long ago at all.

As hurt as he had been by her loss, he was hell-bent to get back to her. With not only his juice intact, his adrenaline was beyond scope. As strong as the WDP were, they were physically tryingto restrain him.

"Get his brother to hold his juice again!"

Donny drummed his fingers together, looking at Vernie. Vernie wasn't moving either. It shouldn't be this way. He couldn't restrain his brother. He should have been with Lydia. He should have been with his son. He was . . . he didn't deserve it. Yes. Yes, he had to do it. He looked back at Vernie

"Maybe we should figure out something else," Vernie interrupted. "If the information was true-"

"Really, trust a demon? The demon clearly did this on purpose," one of the WDP holding Beetlejuice said.

Vernie sighed. "There are some questions that need answered, but until then, there is a chance Lydia Deetz is in danger." He looked over toward Donny. Beetlejuice may not get along with his brother well, but Donny cared deeply for him. And even though Donny was an incredibly so 'nice it was beyond annoying' guy, he was going to do something few in the neitherworld would do. Something that was not only illegal, but risky. If he went through with it. If.

He had talked about it before. For some time, actually. It started with more 'what if' questions, but Vernie could tell. It was coming.

"She could be in trouble!" Beetlejuice yelled at his brother. He was stuck on his knees with the WDP practically on his back. But no matter what, they couldn't keep it up forever. He wouldn't give up. He refused to give up.

"I think you should stop that."

Right on cue. Vernie looked back toward Donny. He knew his partner would play dirty to get the upper hand. If he was going to do it . . .

Beetlejuice stopped his struggling as he saw BG's fragile head being held by the WDP. He wasn't just holding him. He could snap his neck. End BG's life force, before he even spent a year in the living world.

"That's better. This kid isn't a threat anymore, but you are. If it has to be sacrificed to make you behave, you can bet we'll do it," Vernie's partner threatened him. "At any time."

"Take him back to Lyd. Now," Beetlejuice said. "I'll quit, just take him back."

"Ooh?" Vernie's partner actually chuckled slightly. "It looks like the big bad former ghost with the most has more of a soft spot for his blood than he let on. If you are good, then we'll see. In the meantime, it's our job to watch over Lydia Deetz if anything bad is going to happen."

Donny slowly looked toward Vernie. This was it. He hadn't done it so many times when he should have. Vernie was a good enough friend that he knew he wouldn't interrupt. But, this was it. Now or never. "Can I see, BG?"

"Donny is his Uncle," Vernie covered for him. "I think Beetlejuice will cooperate better if he knows his son is in safer hands. Not someone who's ready to break his neck."

Vernie's partner didn't seem to care as he trotted over and gave Donny his nephew. "Here."

"Okay." Donny held BG tightly, looking toward BJ. This was it. "This is for your own good, Brother." He moved closer toward him. "He's part of the family. Have you touched him much?"

Beetlejuice watched almost every move his brother made. He didn't understand what Donny was doing, but he knew his brother better than those WDP's. Donny would never even hurt a fly, but he was acting strange. Okay. Stay calm. He must have some kind of plan. BG's safer with him than anyone else in this room. Besides me. And Lydia's not an option. Although, if they stole him from her.She'd be crushed. Stay calm. Stay calm. Donny, you better have a miracle up your sleeve!

"He can bond with it as much as he wants when it's passed on," another WDP disagreed with the action. "Keep him away."

Before they could stop him though, Donny aimed to run at his brother, having all three of them touch at the same time. One second. Just one.

Beetlejuice found himself being pushed backwards, but in his arms, he felt something. He looked down and saw BG.

"Restrain Beetlejuice!"

"That was stupid," A WDP pointed his finger at Beetlejuice. "Keep BG away from him."

What? Beetlejuice looked down at himself. He wore his brother's geeky outfit, not his. He glanced toward the WDP, Vernie, who seemed to be watching him carefully too.

"He knows the consequences. We do not risk the innocent to do our job, unless it warrants it. His mother will be worried." Vernie almost seemed to wink at him. "Donny, go take him back home."

Beetlejuice looked toward him and then back to 'himself.' The Beetlejuice being restrained on the ground. He just tried to hide a smile. Donny.

That was risky! Donny switched body forms with him. As a ghost, that was hard enough, but they were technically both alive. He could have killed his living body in that exchange. Not only that, they couldn't switch back without the same risk. Donny wasn't just holding Beetlejuice's juice anymore. It was his, and vice versa.

"Fine!" Donny tried to match Beetlejuice's gritty voice. "Just take it back already!" He tried to make a strained growl. "Just take it. Now."

"BG!" Lydia cried out, searching from room to room. No, it wasn't possible. Why would they take him now? She had just left long enough to get him some food, and then, when she turned around. Gone. She wanted to believe it was his own magic, and looked all around, but it was clear by now. Someone took him. But why? What harm could he do? "BG!"

"I-It's okay, Lydia."

Lydia felt her heart's dangerous rush still as she moved toward the figure holding him. "BG!" She grabbed him from Donny. "You took him?"

"Protection."

Donny was oddly quiet after that word. He'd never hurt BG, so she had to believe him. Lydia snuggled so close with him. "It's okay. I won't lose you, I won't ever lose you." She kissed him on the top of his head. "I've already lost so much, I can't lose you too." She looked back toward Donny. Something was odd about him. "Thank you, for whatever you had to do this time." He didn't respond, just watched her.

She took a deep breath and held him so close. In the meantime, Donny looked around her home.

"A little . . . dark in here."

"Humans don't always need light." Lydia just rocked BG.

"It's . . . this dark at my brother's too."

"Don't." Lydia squinted her eyes and turned. "Don't tell me about him."

"Not curious about how he's been?"

"Donny, we've been through this!" she shouted at him. "As long as he's safe. That's it." She shook her head. "He'll get over me."

"I don't think he will." Donny made a strange sound with his mouth as he sucked on his lip. "I think . . . you're his best friend. Bestest friend ever. Bestest bestest." He scratched. "Actually, the bestest friend in the world that would give up just about anything. So, maybe . . ." He stared at her strangely. "I think he may have even really . . . kind of . . . loved you."

"Don't . . ." She trailed off. When he tried to embrace her though, she moved away. "Just, go now Donny. Please, just, don't let anyone hurt any of my family. Especially him."

"I saw the demon that caused everything."

"So?" Couldn't he leave already? She was ready to just move back through her motions. Move back into her dark corners. She only came out to see her son which she tried to give light too. She fed him, bathed him, and took care of him. She was only going through the motions though, giving him what was necessary. Doing what was necessary. After that scare, she'd keep him even closer than before.

No one would take him. Nothing would happen to him. He was the only part of Beetlejuice she had left.

"The little scrawny demon guy. He said he knew because he saw the futures. In each future, uh . . . you were more than just best friends."

Why was he saying this? "And?"

"And . . . maybe uh . . . you're feeling more than a loss of friendship?"

Why would he even ask it? Why?! "Donny." Gaw. She tried to hide her face. "Why are you being so cruel? You already know how I feel! I've broken down and told you I don't know how many times how I felt!" She gestured out the door. "Just get out!"

"Tell me one more time."

Why? Why was he doing that? Did he think it was going to help heal her?

"He'd give up his juice. He would have found a way to make it work."

"It wouldn't have been the best. He . . . he doesn't deserve to just live a life trying to find a way to stay beside me. That's not a life."

"He thinks differently. Right now, he's living completely in the dark. He doesn't even know what to live for. Life or afterlife. Just, even existing in any form." Donny shuffled his feet. "You can tell, to him. It's a waste. Juice doesn't make him happy, it's you."

"I made my decision," Lydia reminded him as she wiped a tear away. "He'll always be inside my heart, forever. But, because I'm . . . I'm just a friend, I can't be in his the same way." She stepped backward. "He's centuries old, but he acts like he's young. He's ancient, but always new. Disgusting and creeepy, but so funny." She let out a small chuckle. "He's unique and . . . there will never be another one like him in the world. And I can't let his uniqueness just die."

"Yeah, for a friend. It's a lot to ask." Donny looked to the right of her, then down toward BG. "But, you know, h-he did an awful lot. So, I think . . . actually, I know." He took a deep breath. "Risking years of friendship for something more, it wouldn't be easy. But, I think, maybe you can be both?" He tried to give her his usual smile, but it didn't quite look right on him. "Why can't it be both?"

Lydia just adjusted BG, trying to figure out what he was saying.

BG spit out his pacifier. "Oh for gosh sake, he's pops!"

"What?" Both of them looked at BG.

BG put the pacifier back in his mouth, but his words couldn't be erased.

"He talked. Little stinker."

"What?" Lydia just stared at Donny. "Wait, what?"

Donny snapped his fingers, and Beetlejuice appeared in his old black and white outfit, with his longer white hair. He should have known the kid would give him away.

Lydia took a quick step back, her heart pounding hard in her ears. Donny was him. Donny was him? And-and she told him everything? But, how? He was supposed to be unable to come back. She pushed him away. Not harder, I don't want to push even harder.

Beetlejuice adjusted his tie before he spoke. "Calm down, Babe. I'm no danger anymore." He stuffed his hands in his suit. "I understand why you did what you did, but I wasn't happy down there." He looked toward her. Straight at her. "Come here." He held his arms out wide.

Why? Lydia actually felt nervous near her best friend. For the first time, there was something different between them. But, she listened to him. She trusted him. As he wrapped his arms around her this time, he whispered something new in her ear. Something that changed everything forever. "Even dead, you've always been inside my heart too."

Then, it was gone. The need to keep saying best friend. The need to break the hug and switch to friendly laughter. The pretending it was nothing more, vanished as he gently kissed her.