Chapter Two: Nightmares

Lydia jumped back so fast that she almost toppled off the edge of the bed, and it was only his quick hands that saved her, and even at that he nearly went over the edge himself. She tugged herself away from him and stood shakily. "Not in a million years, Beetlejuice! That's… that's…" She sputtered, at a loss.

He was glad to fill in for her. "Deliciously intimate? Incredibly thrilling? A once in a lifetime chance?

"Disgusting! Yuck! No way!" She tugged off her jacket and threw it in the corner with as much violence as one could throw a coat with, and then began unbuttoning her shirt as she walked toward the closet. Since she couldn't send him back, she had gotten accustomed to changing in front of him At first it had bothered her, but she got wise to the fact that even if he wasn't watching, he was watching. She hoped he would get bored, but it hadn't happened yet. He still stared at her with keen interest; whether she was changing her shoes or her shorts, it didn't matter.

"Disgusting? Hey, now, that hurts my feelings, Lyds. No need to get nasty." He crossed both arms over his chest and stared sulkily at the ceiling. She rolled her eyes at him.

"Beej, I went through the whole possession thing with your ex-girlfriend, remember? It was awful. I was stuffed in a little corner of my own mind, and I couldn't move or speak or scream. It was horrible." Her fingers fumbled on the buttons, and she realized she was shaking. Deep breath. It had truly been one of the worst moments of her life, being trapped inside her own body with Clara at the wheel. She still had frequent nightmares about it. In fact, she had woken more than once to Beetlejuice's calming, rocking embrace, and she never regretted his presence after those nightmares. He noticed her silence, and sat up, ready to go to her, but she turned to him and attempted a weak smile.

"Lyds," he began gruffly, and then chewed at his bottom lip pensively. "What Clara did was rape. It was a violation, without permission or decency. I hope you know I would never…" He fell silent, on new and treacherous ground with her. He was her court jester, somedays, and occasionally her protector. But counselor? Definitely not his thing.

She saved him from having to say anything else with a soft hand on his wild blond head. "I know. I just… I can't do that." She sat calmly next to him and steadied herself, and finished unbuttoning her shirt, but for once he wasn't watching.

"It wouldn't be like that, Lydia. In fact, you can kick me out at any time. But I would never shove you in a corner. I'd want you with me." It seemed to be dangerous confession day. She turned to look at him, and his jade eyes were focused intently on his boots. Her hand found his, and she squeezed.

"So how would I kick you out?" He peered up at her in surprise, and covered her hand with his other. She was the one staring intently at his boots now.

"Just say the word." His voice was gentle and low, just a vibration against her ear. He was still hanging on to her hand, and she swallowed, feeling just like she had right before he had kissed her that very first time, except that he had surprised her then, and now her heart was thundering in her breast, and her mouth was dry.

"What's the word?" Her voice trembled, just a little.

"Floccinaucinihilipilification."

Her eyes widened. "What?" Beetlejuice burst into giggles and fell back on the bed. Lydia, surprised into incredulous laughter, took a swing at his thigh, and her hand felt a satisfactorily solid impact. He just laughed harder.

"Oh, Lyds! You should have seen your face!" His voice was choked out with maniacal cackles, and Lydia threw herself over him, pummeling whatever she could reach, as tears of laughter poured down his cheeks. He gripped her arms to fend off her fists, and she tugged them out of his grasp, only then realizing that her shirt was open. She flounced off the bed and huffed over to the closet, pulled out the first t-shirt she could lay her hands on, and changed into it. He was still wheezing on the bed when she turned back around, unable to keep her face stern.

"Beej, you're terrible." She fell against him, her ribs aching until she couldn't suppress the giggles anymore.

"You love me. Admit it." His voice held no depth at all, but she knew better than to believe that he was just joking around. Beetlejuice never joked with either love or food.

"When you admit I'm always right." He grinned at her, and she smiled back at him. Suddenly, her fears of a few minutes seemed to loom less. Which is certainly what he had intended. But for now, she would let him get away with it.