It took time, but during the next months Lydia began to feel better and better. Bea's cooking and lots of rest made her feel like a new woman. She started to get out of bed and help around the house while the baby settled in, growing big and strong.
"Beej?" She whispered. It was the middle of the night and the baby's soft kicking was keeping her awake.
"Yeah Babes?" He asked drowsy from sleep.
"Do you still think I look pretty?" She asked turning her face to him. He opened his eyes and looked at her.
"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my entire life." He said and ran his fingers down her cheek. Now that she had been eating and resting her face had filled back out to it's normal size before she had gone away. She had almost a glow to her and he wasn't afraid she was going to collapse. Those first few months the pains in her back were so severe that she would cry just getting sitting up in bed. After a few weeks of staying at his parents she only had a slight twinge in her back from the weight she carried in the front and her morning sickness had completely disappeared. She looked healthy and he loved the way she was able to bounce back.
Lydia took his hand and kissed his palm before she leaned in to kiss his mouth. She laid back down and closed her eyes. The baby was due in two weeks and she was more than ready to stop being pregnant. She felt a shiver of fear run up her spine about labor, but she pushed it away. She didn't want to think about that until she had to. She laid a hand on her stomach and felt the baby push softly against it. She smiled and fell into a soft sleep, her hand still on the top of her stomach.
"Let me help you with those Mrs. Juice." Lydia said clearing the rest of the plates from breakfast.
"Don't be silly Lydia dear, I can handle that and please call me Bea, how many times must I tell you?" She said patting Lydia on the cheek.
"Sorry, I just can't seem to help it Mrs...Bea." She said when Bea gave her a stern look. She smiled.
"There's a good girl. Why don't you go for a walk dear, it's a nice day outside, not too hot and that will give you some good exercise to stretch out your muscles." Bea said. Truth was, Lydia felt so guilty about her first few weeks at the house not being able to do anything that she'd been on Bea's heels ever since trying to make up for it. Bea had tried to tell her that it wasn't necessary, but Lydia seemed determined to earn her keep. Lydia sighed and nodded walking out of the kitchen. Bea watched her leave and just shook her head returning to her dishes.
Lydia walked out of the large farmhouse and looked out into the barren land. It was a nice day outside and she could use the fresh air. Beetlejuice was with his father playing cards. She managed to slip away before he joined her for a walk. She wanted to have a little time to herself to just think. Not that she didn't want Beetlejuice there, but during the last few weeks he had been increasingly attentive to her. She walked away from the house and felt the cool late May breeze on her face. She did love it in the Neitherworld, hadn't even thought about what was going on with anyone else. She thought about Meghan for a split second and felt guilty. She hadn't written to her once since she'd left the college. She made a mental note to write her a letter to let her know what was going on. Lydia felt a sharp pain in her stomach that made her stop and take a few deep breaths. She waited for a few minutes before she began to walk again and felt the sharp pain again. This time it was enough for her to gasp and lean over holding her stomach. Somewhere in her mind she knew that this was labor. She turned to look at the farmhouse, it seemed so far away. She slowly turned to start walking back to the farmhouse.
"Hey Ma, where's Lyds?" Beetlejuice asked when his father took the pot for the fifth time in a row while they played poker.
"I sent her out on a walk Junior. She's been gone a while now." Bea said looking at the clock. Beetlejuice felt his stomach drop as he rushed outside. He saw a figure out in the distance and popped out of sight.
Lydia was shuffling along groaning with the small sharp pains every few minutes. She didn't have a watch so she wasn't sure how far apart they were. She was nearly knocked off her feet when Beetlejuice popped in right next to her.
"Are you okay Babes? You should have told me you were out for a walk, I would have joined you." He said.
"Beej, I...I think I'm in labor." She said and then paled.
"What? You're two weeks away, it must be false labor pains." He said reaching for her. She just stared at him in horror.
"Not anymore, my water just broke." She whispered. Beetlejuice didn't think he was more scared in his entire afterlife. He lifted her up and felt her shiver with another pain.
"Don't worry Babes, it'll be okay." He said and flew back to the house.
"MA, POPS!" Beetlejuice yelled holding Lydia in his arms.
"What is it Junior?" Bea asked when she and Gnat rushed into the entry way.
"Lyds is in labor." He said and as if on cue Lydia groaned and held her stomach. Beetlejuice carried her up to the bedroom and laid her down on the bed.
"Beej, don't leave me." Lydia said grabbing onto his sleeve.
"Don't worry Babes, I won't leave you." He said giving her a kiss on her forehead. She laid back down and yelled as another contraction took over.
"How far apart are they Junior?" His mother asked holding a large basin of hot water and several towels.
"I don't know Ma, a couple of minutes I guess." He said. She just nodded and went to take care of Lydia. Beetlejuice looked at his mother, she was so calm like she knew exactly what was going on.
"Why don't you go out and wait with your father Junior." She said gently. Beetlejuice just shook his head.
"I have to be there for Lyds, she needs me Ma." He said and she nodded. He reached to grab Lydia's hand and she squeezed it so hard she was crushing his bones together.
"She's so close, Lydia why didn't you tell me you've been having labor pains all day?" Bea asked. Lydia lifted her head off of the pillow. Her hair was already plastered to her head with sweat.
"I didn't know until about an hour ago. I just thought it was more cramps." She said. "They weren't bothering me." Bea sighed and nodded. She could understand that Lydia didn't know. This was a whole new experience for her.
Lydia felt like it was days of torture. She was out of breath and whimpering as she looked up at Beetlejuice.
"I can't do it anymore Beej, it hurts so much." Her voice was laced with so much pain he flinched hearing her.
"It's just a little bit longer Lydia, you're so close." Bea said. She had worked up her own sweat through the hours. Lydia had been doing hard labor for the past ten hours and they were all exhausted.
"Babes, you can make it, I know you can." Beetlejuice said lifting her hand and kissing it. She shook her head then another contraction took over and she screamed.
"Push Lydia, you have to push." Bea commanded. Lydia did her best, but she was wearing out.
"I can't, I just want to die." She felt so weak, the pain fully taking her over. Beetlejuice gripped her hand tighter.
"Babes, you have to hang on." He said. She looked at him and nodded.
"One more good push should do it Lydia." Bea said. Lydia pushed harder than she ever thought she could and then collapsed. Beetlejuice heard a cry and looked up to see his mother holding up his baby.
"It's a girl." She said happily. Beetlejuice smiled as he saw his daughter wail. He looked at Lydia who had her eyes closed.
"Lyds, we have a daughter." He said kissing her on her sweaty forehead. She forced her eyes open to look at him.
"I'm dying Beej, I'm sorry." She whispered and closed her eyes again.
"No, Babes...Lydia you can't. I need you, I can't make it without you." He felt like someone kicked him in the stomach. He dropped to his knees, tears pouring out of him and down his face. "You can't die Lydia. It's not your time to die yet. I can feel it." He said against her chest.
Lydia heard a voice from far away, but she couldn't hear what they were saying. She felt so weak and ready to give up, but that voice kept getting stronger and stronger. She forced her eyes open. Everything was fuzzy, but she could make out the outline of Beetlejuice. She felt herself smile and reach out to him.
Beetlejuice wanted to shout he was so happy she opened her eyes. She was going to live, he felt her heartbeat getting stronger as she looked at him. He thought he'd lost her. He didn't want his daughter to grow up living with two dead parents. Bea held up their daughter and gave her to Lydia. Lydia took her child in her arms and cradled her.
"She's so beautiful Beej. What should we name her?" She asked weakly.
"How about Breana." Beetlejuice said looking at his daughter. She had a swirl of jet black hair on the top of her head.
"Mmm that's beautiful, what does it mean?"
"It means noble and strong, just like her mother." He said giving Lydia a kiss. She smiled and wanted to fall asleep. He slowly picked up his daughter and held her. "She looks just like her mother." He said as he held her. Lydia smiled and closed her eyes. "I wish my father, even Delia were here." She said before she fell asleep. Beetlejuice held his daughter until she fell asleep. He snapped his fingers and conjured up a bassinet for her. He walked down the stairs where his parents were.
"How is Lydia doing?" Bea asked when she saw her son.
"She's doing good, she's sleeping, so is Breana." He said smiling like the proud papa he was. He saw the relief visible on his parent's faces.
"Breana, that's a pretty name, suits her." Bea said and Gnat nodded in agreement.
"I'm going out for a little bit, make sure that they're okay. I'll be back soon." He said and headed for the door.
"Where are you going son?" Gnat asked.
"To see if I can get a few people over here." He said over his shoulder and walked out.