Trouble Lies Ahead

Disclaimer: See prologue

A/N: It's been a long time since i posted anything, and i apologise. This might be a bit iffy, i've had writers block for several weeks now, and i've re written this chapter at least four times. Not long now though, another couple of chapters and i MIGHT write an epilogue...see how i feel. Anyway, read and review!

Chapter Eight: Here In Heaven

He had been right, there was always tomorrow and that's what Lydia kept telling herself as the weeks went on. There was always tomorrow when she had one week left of her holiday before she had to return to college. One week to enjoy her time with Beetlejuice, to try and bond with her family and sort out her relationship with the Maitland's before she nearly demolished that. It was hard, trying not to think of what was to come, the lonliness, the silence and the amount of work she would have to get into as she returned to college. The workload never seemed to slow down or get smaller, always on her toes, Lydia dreaded going back.

She had tried to finish the work she had taken along with her, it had soon long been forgotten as Beetlejuice had turned up. Every minute of her spare time was spent with him, trying to enjoy the time they had together, both knew that soon Lydia wouldn't have enough time to spend with him. He had promised her that he would do everything possible to try and be with her, even if it meant breaking a few rules or two. Lydia had laughed at that, when did he NOT break any rules?

Sitting on her bed, Lydia watched her television flicker from channel to channel, Beetlejuice flicking his fingers and tutting each time some corny cop show or mildly funny comedy came onto the screen. Over the past two weeks he had used Lydia's bedroom as a second home, if he wasn't sitting with her watching television or talking, they were in bed sleeping or participating in wicked games. Lydia noticed that it was the first time she had been comfortable enough with a person to be herself. She back peddled for a moment, he wasn't a person, he was a poltergeist, but he had been a person. It didn't really matter the technicality of things, what mattered was she trusted him with her life and she knew he wouldn't hurt her intentionally.

Lydia sighed and curled into his side, watching the colours on tv melding into one another as she tried not to fall asleep, Beetlejuice put a protective arm around her and continued his channel surfing. This was all new to him, so many channels, so many programmes and so much rubbish. A black and white movie caught his attention, as he watched it Lydia was left snoozing at his side. Every now and then a small smile would pass over Lydia's sleeping face, Beetlejuice watched her sleep. The most simple things in life...screw that, the afterlife had an amazing effect on him now. He didn't think that one person could change his whole attitude on people, living or dead, life and the afterlife. Sometime soon he'd have to thank her for that. He placed a small kiss on her lips and continued to watch his black and white movie.

It was sometime later that Lydia roused from her sleep, to find Beetlejuice in the same position watching credits roll down the television screen. Yawning, she sat up and ruffled his wild hair, his shocked look making her laugh.

"Hey! What was THAT for?"

Lydia kissed his pearly cheek and shrugged. "It was an urge.."

A wicked smile passed over his face as he lunged at Lydia, pinning her to her bed and kissing her roughly. He pulled back and watched as her flushed face became even redder. "What was THAT for, Beej?"

Kissing her slightly swollen lips softly he pulled back and sat back in his original position. "I just got an urge to kiss ya, is all.."

"Brat."

Beetlejuice grinned and began channel surfing all over again. "You know it, babe."

Lydia's heart sank. It was these kind of things that she'd really miss, the small minute things that shouldn't really make an impact on her. Drinking in every moment with Beetlejuice was a hard task, but she'd try and remember days like these when she was at college, depressed with the workload and tired of writing and drawing all day. She knew it would be the small moments like these that would pull her together and get her back on the road again.

"What's the long look for, Lyds?"

Lydia tried her hardest to smile, it only resulted in her frown deepening. Should she try and voice her doubts and feelings on what was to come after this week was up? Lydia didn't think Beetlejuice would be able to handle an actual adult conversation, true, he could be serious when he wanted to be, scary without even trying to but sometimes she just needed him to act as if everything in the world wouldn't come together somehow. He was an optimist, nothing could ever go wrong around him...or so he thought.

"It's...nothing."

Beetlejuice continued to stare at her. His jade eyes seemingly seeing right through her. "Lydia, if - "

Lydia interupted him. "Beej, really...it's nothing. I was just lost in thought."

Beetlejuice frowned, his unswept eyebrows making him seem angry. "Look, i don't understand why you open up at some things, and just close down at others. Why can't you tell me what yer thinkin', Lyds? Is it about college? Chuck and Delia?" Beetlejuice stayed silent for a moment, a mournful look spreading across his features. He half spoke half whispered "Me?"

Lydia rolled her eyes, it was just like her to meet and fall in love with the only insecure ghost in the neitherworld.

"All of the above actually."

"Huh?"

"Look, i think. It's what i do, Beej. And yes, sometimes i think too much. But i can't help think about what's going to happen after this week has finished. I'll be at college, you know that already,but do you understand what kind of commitment that is to me? The workload is furious, i never get time to myself, i'm either working or sleeping. Some days i have no time to eat, and in the back of my mind, i'm wondering where all this free time of mine is coming from to spend with you."

Beetlejuice sat for a moment totally gobsmacked. What was she trying to say?

"I don't get it...what you tryin to say here, Lyds? 'It was nice while it lasted, but i gotta live my life now'? I thought i was part of yer life now, obviously not."

Beetlejuice turned his back on Lydia and scowled at her bookcase. He meant nothing to her, just some fling. Let's see what it's like sleeping with a ghost and then i'll just bugger off back to college. He never thought she could be that harsh.

"Did i say that? Did i say anything at all that resembled anything like i was abandoning you? No." Lydia scooted over to where Beetlejuice sat, his back still to her. She grabbed his shoulders and turned him around. "This is weird...OK? Me, you. I'm not going to deny that, but was there anything normal about us in the first place?"

Lydia kissed his neck and tried to get him to relax. "Beej, i want to make this work. I want to be able to wake up in the morning and see you there next to me, domesticated...yes. But just something as simple as seeing you first thing in the morning would make the day seem liveable."

Beetlejuice slowly turned around and met Lydia halfway, their lips briefly touching. "I love you, you..the poltergeist. But when i start to think of college...everything seems so impossible."

"Don't think about college then, just think about us, Lyds." Beetlejuice whispered in her ear, caressing her neck.

"I..uh, Beej..it's hard...not to.."

Both met in a long kiss that spoke a thousand words, all their passion passing through their lips, and for that small moment, everything to Lydia seemed possible.

When morning came, Lydia opened her eyes and noticed a jade pair of eyes staring at her. Smiling, she stretched and yawned. So he had been listening to what she had said last night. "Morning."

Beetlejuice pulled Lydia into him and kissed her. "Mornin' babes."

Lydia snuggled into him, feeling his cold body warming as her body touched his. Lydia always wondered why it wasn't the other way around. Why didn't his body cool hers down? But then it hit her, the energy. He soaked hers up like a sponge, in itself igniting him.

"I would offer you some breakfast, Beej. But i think you eating Delia's cooking would probably kill you a second time."

Beetlejuice chuckled. "That ain't even possible, babe! I live on all sorts in the neitherworld. I don't wanna gross you out or anythin...so i won't go into, ya know...details."

Lydia swatted his arm. "When has THAT ever stopped you before?"

"It's bein' with you Lyds, it's doin' somethin' to me. Changin' me into this..i dunno..."

"Cuddly bear?" Lydia offered. Beetlejuice playfully glared at her and nipped her bottom lip.

"Yeah, somethin' like that..."

Lydia sat up and balanced herselfon the edge of her bed. "As much as i enjoy lying in bed conversing with my dead boyfriend, i think getting dressed would be a good idea."

"No way! That's a bad idea, jump back in here an we could have some fun." Beetlejuice wiggled his eyebrows playfully and gave Lydia his most dirty grin.

Lydia shook her head and pulled on her robe. "I think we've had enough fun to last us several years."

Beetlejuice folded his arms behind his head. "Pfft, speak for yerself, babe."

"Get dressed!"

"Need i remind ya, a click of my wonderful fingers an i'm dressed...you on the other hand..."

"I don't need to take the lazy way out, i enjoy dressing myself."

Beetlejuice stared at Lydia as she walked around her bedroom, gathering her clothes and underwear for the day. "Not as much as me undressin' you"

Lydia laughed. "Head, out of the gutter now!"

"Whatever you say, babes."

As the couple continued their playful banter, college was the furthest thing from Lydia's mind at that moment..

TBC...