AN: We have Lydia! This chapter changed from what was planned. Kitty wasn't supposed to be asleep, and originally, Lydia didn't remember Beej. But they changed it on me. Oh, well. I still like how it turned out, and I hope you like it, too. Thanks to Crow-kun, Eris-chan, Calm-Waters-chan, and Animekitty47-chan for their reviews! MWAH!!

Chapter 15: Love has given me a reason to say goodbye

I guess the exhaustion finally caught up ta her, since Kitty slept the entire night. She needed it. She wasn't used ta bein' scared, so she didn't know how ta deal with it.

Part of me didn't wanna leave her, but she had made it clear what she wanted . . . and I did wanna see my babes again.

I had just gotten back from Nights' place, the box with Kitty's gift sittin' on the bed next ta her.

I wanted ta go, and I didn't wanna leave. So I stood there, debatin' if I should wake her up.

She needed her sleep.

After watchin' Kitty sleep fer a few more minutes, I made my decision. I'd let her sleep. And I'd come back after I saw Lydia. She'd like ta hear about it.

Concentratin' on Lyds, I jumped through the void that Kitty hated so much and went to my babes.

I rematerialized in a . . . dark room. Shoulda seen that one comin'.

And there was my babes, hangin' up some photos to dry. Then she stopped, and looked at me over her shoulder.

"Beej?" It was surprised. Which was understandable.

"Hey, babes." Damn, she looked good fer bein' nearly forty years old. Then I realized, physically, she was older than me. I was thirty-five when I died. It was only five years, but still. Bit of a . . . shocker, that. "Wait, you . . . remember?" As far as I knew, part of the deal was she wouldn't keep her memories.

She pushed a loose strand of black hair out of her face with the back of her hand and laughed. "Yeah, you're not exactly someone to forget. I think Juno was keeping a watch on me, so when she found out . . ."

"What."

Lyds turned around and leaned her back against the counter. "I can't say your name just as much as you can't. I tried to get back in touch with you, but . . ." She shrugged.

"I kept watch through the mirror, but after twenty years, I kinda . . . gave up."

"Yeah. That was about the same time I did."

There was an awkward silence before Lyds broke it. "So, what are you doing here, Beej?"

I shoved my hands in my pockets, rocked back on my heels. "I love you, Lyds." Like that was supposed to fix everythin'.

"Even after all this time?"

"Of course! I told ya I would always love ya!" What the fuck?! Damn broads not wantin' me ta love 'em.

"Oh, Beej," she said, smilin' sadly. "I have a family."

I blinked a few times, trying' ta process what she said. "What?"

"I'm married. And I have two kids."

"But . . ." No. She was supposed to be mine! Damnit, the Ghost with the Most was jealous of some fuckin' breather!

"Since I hypothetically love you, I want you to be happy. If I truly love you. Therefore, I will never be jealous," Kitty said.

I was silent fer a minute. "I don't get it."

"Okay. I love you, right? That means I want you to be happy. Following me so far? Good. Now, let's say you've met this girl. She's totally awesome, and you think she's the one for you--"

"Wait, do I know ya love me?"

"Ummm, would it help you to understand if you don't know?"

"Probably."

"Okay, then, you don't know. Alright. So yeah, you meet this girl, and she's totally all that and a bag chips. Normally, chicks would get jealous, right? Well, I think jealousy is one hell of an ugly monster, and it makes me ugly too. If I get jealous, I see that as me loving myself more than I love you. So, back to you and the new girl. I can see that she makes you happy. And since I truly love you, all I want is you to be happy. If that means I'm out of the picture. Then, so be it."

I looked towards the floor, processin' what she said. Then my eyes flicked back to hers, and I asked,"Will you still love me?"

Kitty smiled softly. "I will always love you."

As I remembered Kitty tellin' me why she would never be jealous, my anger slipped away. Then I asked quietly, "Are ya happy?"

"Very," Lyds said, just as quietly.

"That's . . . that's good. I'm glad," I said, rubbin' the back of my neck. I still loved her . . . and I guess I always would. But she was happy without me.

"Wow," she said, eyes wide in shock.

"What," I growled.

"I never expected you to give up like that. I mean, you managed to get back in touch with me, and you're just going to let it go? Because I'm happy?"

"Look, Lyds, I love you. I ain't gonna deny that. But since I love you, I want ya ta be . . . happy. Even if that means I ain't the one who does it."

She paused. "And how did you figure that out?"

"Figure what out?"

"This whole thing about you wanting me to be happy."

"Oh. I met this girl a year ago." I grinned. "You'd like her."

Lydia smiled. "Probably. What's her name?"

"I call her Kitty, but her name's Kylie. But technically it's Kyleen. She's twenty."

"And you love her."

The fact it wasn't a question wasn't lost on me. "Yeah," I said slowly. "But she doesn't want ta be with me."

"Because you told her about me."

"It mighta slipped out," I mumbled. That say seemed to cause all kinds of trouble fer us.

"Does she love you?"

"Yeah."

"Then go back to her. I have a life, Beej. And unfortunately, it doesn't involve you. Her life does."

"So, what, make her my babes?"

"Yes." She grinned. "I'd love to meet her."

I grinned back, imaginin' said meeting. It'd definitely be interestin'. "Heh, I'll see what I can do."

Now, I had to go back to my babes. If I was lucky, she'd still be asleep.

AN: Holy crap there was a lot of dialogue in this one. But I've been told that was my strength, so I guess it makes sense. Next chapter is the end of Stars! And if it wasn't for all of you loving Kitty, it would have never happened. I don't think I can ever thank you enough.