Chapter 4

A/N: Well, this is it folks, the accumulation and resolution of the past three chapters right here. Just wanted to send a shout-out to all you wonderful reviewers out there, for your encouragement, enthusiasm, and whatever else, as it all truly kept me writing and updating this piece. So thanks again, and enjoy.

It didn't take her long, however, to respond with the same, if not with even possibly more ardor, to him.

She'd been kissed before, she wouldn't lie, but there was being kissed, and then this – being kissed by him. And the two were in entirely different ballparks.

But just as quickly as it'd begun, it had ended, and the now obviously more closely- located ghoul jerked away as suddenly as she had from him not an hour prior.

And it had struck her.

What she had seen in his eyes had not been anger, but lust, insurmountable and uncontrollable passion of a completely consuming sort.

He loved her.

After all this time, he had come to learn to not just love, but apparently had been in love with her for some time. And if that kiss, that breathtakingly fiery connection that still left her lips tingling and her blood racing, had anything to say about it, that love had been burning in him, like time would a fine wine, slowly with each passing year growing more rich and refined than before.

And to think that that love was all for her taking or breaking brought tears to her eyes. For now she finally understood.

Her best friend, the one person she cared about most, had been living in his own personal hell for those lost months, torn in two between his own feelings and his just as powerful desire to be only and always the friend she needed, not the lover she wanted.

Staying away he must have thought was the only way, his only choice. Now it was her turn to show him that he didn't have to make that choice.

Because as twistingly morbid as it sounded, she too had fallen in love, without her ever realizing it, for a dead man, and a ghoul no less.

Her only problem was, however, was how to go about saying it without Beetlejuice at most-times-hidden morals popping up and leaving him to apologize for his apparently rash decision and leave for good?

"BJ?"

God, since when had her voice ever sounded so small? Not for years, that much was certain.

But the pin-stripped ghost continued to refuse to look at her, a sense of tables turned and déjà vu rushing over Lydia.

They really were a lot alike in that respect; the both knew how to perfectly ignore each other.

Taking a step towards him, however, Lydia then for the first time noticed the book to be found on the side of her bed were she'd found him standing.

She recognized it instantly. It had only been one of her favorite kid's books since forever after all.

Moving beside him, choosing to ignore how he tensed at her close proximity, Lydia carefully picked up the tome and held it in her hands, looking imploringly at his downcast face, hidden somewhat by his blonde hair.

"Did you read this BJ?"

A slight grin she noticed crossing his face, a great improvement of mood and a chance to hope more than anything to her, Beetlejuice finally raised his head to look at her.

"Cover to cover Babes," he smiled sheepishly.

The cat that swallowed the canary, Lydia thought, knowing a knowing smirk was making its way across her own features.

But just as fast as cheer had once again started to reign supreme on Beetlejuice's face, it was overthrown by a somber reality once more.

And again he broke from her gaze, his eyes again on the floor.

"It made me think Lydia, made me really think," he said softly.

"About time something did," she said back. Perhaps like most things in their past humor would help settle their situation. But, Lydia knew, the only way to settle anything now between them was to admit feelings that would be too hard to simply reveal.

Chuckling at her wise-ass retort all the same, Beetlejuice pushed onward.

"I can tell why you would like it so much too. Nursery magic and being Real, and all that jazz. But, what I really mean to say is-is…"

Again he stopped himself short. Either too afraid to say what he had to say or just plain afraid. And she had to admit, she was a little scared herself. They were walking into unknown territory, and Lydia knew she could only hope that his being there with her would be enough. But then, when had it never been anything but enough?

"BJ," she said it quietly, softly, tenderly, and it sent his eyes shooting up to meet hers, obviously curious as to her change of tone.

"BJ," she began again, "what just happened between us, please don't think that it's so completely one-sided. I've always known that what we have is special, unique, and to take it that one step further is only natural."

"But?"

Lydia smiled; leave it to Beetlejuice to think that there's a catch to everything. But then, with him, many times there was.

"But nothing, BJ. If what I'm feeling can even measure up to how you feel, I think 'we' do stand a shot."

He was gaping now, jaw to the floor, and the whole bit, and it took all she had not to laugh at the sight.

Recovering quickly, however, he suddenly had her by arms, his eyes penetrating hers, looking for any doubts over her decision.

"You're sure?" he asked, if only to further confirm what he saw in her gaze.

Managing to free her limbs from his grasp, Lydia neatly tucked them around his waist with a smile, the smile becoming a grin at his wide-eyed reaction.

Coming within inches of his face, his lips, however, she whispered her answer.

"Dead sure."

And sealed her confirmation with a kiss.