Souls That Need Each Other

Chapter 8: Explanations and Black Coffee

By: Kichara

I feel all loveded! Especially from Wanda! Thank yoo! See, I've been having issues with my stories, partially because I don't have a computer with the Internet, and partially because the only thing I've been doing besides working is making my cosplay costumes. But fear not, I haven't forgotten about this story, or you guys! Cuz I luv you all like big polka dotted fish that do the can can! Cuz they're cooooool.....

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Nicky's clear eyes suddenly grew brighter as she took in the young woman standing on her front porch, a jolt passing through her and a memory triggering in her mind at the sight of the other girl.

* * *

"Dad? Who's this?" Nicky held out a photo, held in a very simple frame that she'd found in his sock drawer while putting away the laundry.

Beetlejuice, who'd been sprawled out on the floor of the living room, looking through their movie collection and trying to pick out one for them to watch, sat up and took the picture from her in surprise. It was a simple photo, featuring only a girl about the age of sixteen in it, dressed all in black, with a pair of melancholy chestnut eyes. "This is, uh..." He faltered, obviously trying to sort out his words. Nicky sat down next to him, placing her hands on her knees and watching him patiently. "Well, y'see... remember that whole thing about the Maitland's that I told you about?" She nodded, eyes flashing in recognition. "Well, I kinda didn't mention someone in there. Her name was Lydia, and she was... well, let's just say that I've never met someone, much less a living someone, who was that twisted."

He smiled, a laugh filtering through his words as he continued. "She intrigued me to no end, but I wasn't exactly too..." He trailed off, searching for the right word.

"Civilized?" Nicky put in helpfully, knowing her father and his past and present habits all too well.

He smirked, almost seeming to blush. "Yeah, that sounds about right. So I tried getting hitched with her, so I could get out of the Netherworld, but that kind of back fired." His eyes roamed over the picture, then to the ceiling thoughtfully before he continued. "Y'know, I guess before I knew you, I was a real ass." He admitted.

"Who says you're not one now?" She teased, wrapping her arms around him in a huge hug and then resumed her former position next to him. "So what about her?"

"Well, last I knew, she and her pain-in-the-ass parents and the Maitlands were eventfully sharing their house together. I sort of wish... things could have gone different, you know that? She probably would've been--- I dunno--- a good friend--- or something like that." His eyes drifted down to the picture in his hands and unbidden, an almost tender smile crossed his face. Nicky only watched in wondering silence, her own smile, filled with fondness and love for the person sitting next to her. He was always truthful with her whenever she wanted to know something about himself, even if it took some time for him to figure out how to tell her about it. And he always seemed to learn things about himself at the same time while talking to her.

* * * * *

It was her eyes. Lydia's clear brown eyes pushed Nicky into moving closer, her fingertips lightly resting on the other girl's cheek, and it was almost as if a light electric shock ran through her as sensations and clips of memories began flooding through her, flashes of her father and this woman in front of her at a younger age, the anger and surprisingly, the curiosity that had coursed through her at that time, and now, the unhidden wonder about him that had brought her to that doorstep.

"Lydia?"

Lydia stepped back in response, an inaudible gasp leaving her as she took the step. "How do you know my name?"

Nicky smiled, her eyes flitting as she then noticed for the first time that Juno, Barbara and Adam were walking up the lawn towards them. "I could tell. Your eyes were the first clue." She said simply, passing the young woman a wink, then diverted her attention to the three adults walking up to them.

"Good morning, Nicky. This is..." Juno gestured to Lydia, but Nicky cut her off.

"Lydia." The young ghost filled in matter-of-factly, grinning at their shocked faces.

"How did you know---?" Adam's question trailed off as he tried to figure out how Nicky could possibly know Lydia's name. From the lawn, all he'd seen happen was Nicky stepping forward to touch Lydia's face, and then her face had softened as she spoke a single word.

"I can see things, like emotions or clips of events that had happened in the past through objects, and sometimes even people, if the feelings are strong enough at the moment. Dad says it's a gift." She added with a shrug. At that moment, Hildi, Jack and Logan came tromping into view. They saw Nicky, her face returning to it's usual brightness, and the three grinned almost simultaneously.

"Good morrow!" Logan said almost jokingly, running up with the other two close behind, grabbing up her lithe body in a huge hug.

She laughed, returning the hug whole-heartily. "Good morrow, love. C'mon, come inside. We've gotta get things figured out, right?" He set her back on her boots and she led the small group back inside, Lydia trailing at the back. She paused for a moment before entering the house, looking up at the doorway with a thoughtful frown, then followed after Barbara.

*~*~*~*

Nicky carefully carried the large pot of coffee into the living room, where everyone had managed to sit themselves in, and she set it down on the low coffee table, going back to the kitchen and then returning with an armful of mugs, placing them around the pot. She took a spot on the floor at the table's end and poured herself a cup full, taking a deep gulp from it before saying anything.

"So...I just wanted to know, Miss Lydia... How'd you get here, anyway?" Her eyes fixed on the young woman sitting on the couch between Adam and Barbara.

The intense emerald orbs almost made her jump and Lydia cleared her throat, composing herself. "You know, just Lydia's fine. And I...died. Obviously." She added with a shrug. "And when I got to...that place where you go when you die, I asked the reception to see Juno. Actually, it was more of a threat." She smirked. "So they brought me to her office, and then she got there, and told me a lot more than I was expecting to hear. And..." She trailed off, studying the carpet intently.

"And you were curious about my Dad. Although curious is a rather damp word in comparism to what brought you here. However, it's too early and I'm lacking a good night's sleep, so you'll have to forgive my shortage of a decent adjective." Her eyes almost seemed to glitter with a quiet laughter as they watched Lydia's surprised one's.

"Because you read my mind?" Lydia said after a long moment of thought.

The ghost laughed, waving a hand at the other girl. "Geez, it's not mind-reading! I'm not THAT good! Your emotions were just very strong at the time, that's all." She added in a softer tone, smiling down into her coffee mug. Lydia blinked in surprise again and she found herself studying the carpet with renewed interest as she thought the words over.

Adam leaned forward, taking one of the empty cups off the table and filling it with coffee. He sipped it, grimacing slightly. "Black?" He narrowed an eyebrow at the offending cup.

"Course. That's the only way to drink it!" Nicky answered cheerfully, finishing off her mug and pouring herself another, as Adam set his full cup back down. "Now, Juno, what do you know about what's supposed to happen?" Her tone lowered, becoming serious.

"The hearing's tomorrow morning at eight. I'll be speaking on behalf of your father, naturally, especially since the members of the courthouse were going to more than happy to supply him with one of their lawyers." Her lips set in a grim line. "I can just imagine how one-sided THAT would be. Other than that, I wasn't able to find out much else. I'll see if I can rustle up anything else before tomorrow morning that will help us. Anyone here that wants to act as his defense is more than welcome and I'll make sure to make a note of it."

"Well, obviously I'll be on it." Nicky said matter-of-factly, taking a long drought from her cup.

"And us too!" Logan said, motioning to himself, along with Hildi and Jack, who were all sitting around the coffee table with Nicky.

"Yeah, of course. I feel like we haven't been much of a help, but we wanna support you two as much as possible, even if it's only by us being there." Hildi said sincerely, smiling at her fellow band member.

"Believe me, that's all the help I need." Nicky smiled, reaching over and giving Hildi's hand a gentle squeeze.

"Adam and I are going to be on the defense too, Nicky. I've been so touched by all this, I really have." Barbara said with a gentle smile.

The young woman returned the warm smile, content.

"I want to do it too." Lydia's low voice caught everyone's attention and they turned to her, eyes wide. She looked away, avoiding all eye contact as Barbara opened her mouth to ask her something.

Adam rested his hand on his wife's hand and gently tightened his fingers, a silent gesture that the two often used to simple say, "Don't worry about it.", with no words.

"Well then, that settles that." Nicky's smile became a little warmer. "Anyone want any coffee?" The room simultaneously declined. "Wussies." She muttered, picking up the pot and carrying it back to the kitchen.

"Well, if we're all done, then I need to get going." Juno said, standing up. "I'll need to start contact all my sources to find out what I can about tomorrow that's going to help."

"Aww, you're leaving already?" Nicky said, coming back into the room.

The older ghost nodded. "That's right. I'll talk to you soon."

"Thank you. And Juno---" The ghost stopped, almost to the door. "Don't stay a stranger after this, okay?"

Her lips parted slightly in surprise, and then she nodded, allowing herself a smile. "I'll remember that. Goodbye." She walked out, closing the door behind her.

"Well, I guess that means we should be on our way too." Adam said, getting up.

"Hey, no way! You guys have to stay. After all, it's not like you have any reason to go, and I really wanna get to know you two. And you Lydia." The young ghost added, favoring said person with her warm smile.

"Are you sure? Because I really don't want to intrude..."

"Psh, intruding..." Nicky waved off the idea with one slender hand. "I want to get to know you, like I said. It's nothing more simple than that. Will you guys be hanging around today, too?" She asked of her bandmates.

"Course, nothing like hanging out at the Roadhouse, right?" Logan grinned, using the nickname they'd given the loved domicile.

"We're cleaning." Nicky chirped. Logan winced, but flashed her his grin again.

"Well then, we're gonna have fun cleanin' like no other!" He countered with a faked enthusiasm, which got the others laughing.

"Hey, I can't think of anything else I'd like to be doing." Jack commented, picking up the mugs off the table and heading into the kitchen with them.

"Hey Nicky, whaddaya want me to do?" Hildi asked, getting up.

"Here, help me get out the vacuum, and then I'll figure out what next." Nicky said from a little closet tucked away in a corner of the room. Together, the two girls wrestled out an ancient vacuum cleaner from the tiny closet, setting it down on the floor.

"Have you ever thought about getting a new one?" Hildi asked, narrowing her eyes at the huge piece of machinery, rubbing the numbness away from her arm.

"Why? This one works." The other girl responded.

"Yeah, but the damned thing weighs about 50 pounds." Logan put in.

She smirked at him. "So we need a big strong man to handle it? Why THANK YOU for offering, Logan. Make sure you get under the table." Nicky said with a fierce grin as she marched past him into the kitchen.

"Erg..." The ghost grunted, walking over to the vacuum beast and glaring at it whole heartily.

Nicky was cleaning out the sink when Barbara came into the kitchen, looking around.

"Anything I can do to help?" The older ghost wondered.

"Mmm... you wanna sweep up the floor?" The other responded with a one-armed shrug and a smile. "And of course, you gotta talk to me."

"I think I can manage that." Barbara smiled back.

Outside, Lydia had wandered into the backyard, and was now walking slowly through the mini junkyard, taking it all in. She found a couch and sat down on it, looking up at the orange sky thoughtfully, trying to figure out her jumble of thoughts.

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Whew, that was really hard to finish! And I shall spare all of you with my prattle, just tell me what you thought about it, and all that good stuff.

Much love and Squirrels,

Kichara