(Now we are on Chapter Five! YAY!)

Before she knew it they had been "juiced" back to the Roadhouse, where Beetlejuice laid her down on her bed. He mentally noted as he did so that she looked beautiful in her dress, tattered as it was. Still in a daze and half asleep, Lydia thought that she was falling when he set her down. Crying out his name she began to thrash around, frightened.

Hearing her call out his name sent shivered of happiness through his spine. Wearing his almost-human, clean form, Beetlejuice knelt down over top of her, holding her close again. For the first time he could remember, he was warm, truly warm and he felt almost…alive.

Lydia was jerked awake by the drop in temperature and she gasped in surprise when she saw a figure very close to her. She blushed madly.

"Beej?"

He smiled at her, reassuring her. Lydia smiled back.

"Thank you, for coming to my rescue." She said genuinely. "Even if it IS only because you need me alive to get out of here." She accidentally mumbled her thoughts aloud.

"I did only want out of here…but now…I don't know. You've made me…different." He smiled dreamily at her. "I'm not so sure that's all I want any more." He whispered the last part.

Lydia cocked her head, frowning slightly. She began to worry that it was because he realized that he may have to marry her and that disgusted him now.

"Beej…do you find me repulsive now? Do you not want to marry me?" She asked, again speaking aloud without meaning to. She looked away. "I know I promised to find an alternative and that I have so far failed…"

Lydia sighed, slipping off of the bed so she was standing on her own two feet. The strap of her dress slipped farther down her shoulder.

"I'm gonna go take a walk." She said as she headed for the door.

"Lydia, please, don't go." Beetlejuice begged, his voice small and light as she sat up off the bed, longing in his eyes.

Lydia looked back at him, shocked at hearing her full name. She smiled.

"I told you I wasn't going to leave you, Beej. Don't worry, I'll keep my promise. I'll be back." She said, not understanding that wasn't what he was talking about.

Something else stirred inside him, something different from what he felt earlier, but closely related. Not really understanding why himself, he stood up off the bed and walked over to Lydia.

"No, Lydia. I mean don't leave me now."

Lydia looked up at him, her eyes wavering, her body and soul becoming drunk with the feel and the smell of him so close to her.

Beetlejuice looked back at the girl-no, the woman, for she was no longer a girl-he had known so long ago. She had grown up so much since he had last seen her. He fought a smile. Though she covered herself in dark and depressing things, they only served to make the bright flame of her personality palatable, like a dark shade might keep a lamp from beeing too blinding to someone who wasn't used to the light. Her dark exterior merely made her comfortable to be around for Beetlejuice. But it was her brightness, her flame, her vivacity, how she made him, who had been dead for so long, feel so alive that drew him to her like a moth to a flame.

Beetlejuice sighed to himself, looking her over once again, taking in the curves of her small body, the way her lips made a slight pout that hinted at a delectable softness. The way her hair framed her pale face, highlighting her ivory skin and the wonderful depths of her eyes.

For the first time in a long, long time he truly regretted being dead, even if when he was with Lydia he didn't fel like he was. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. What was happening to him? Sure, Lydia was a nice girl but she'd never really want to be caught up with a worthless slob like him. She could do so much better. Besides, he assured himself, anything he felt for hercouldnt be reciprocated. She still thought he was a truly self-centered monster. He smiled at Lydia, the expression genuine even though it played like a mask to hide his inner doubt and turmoil. He was dead, he reminded himself, and beyond the loves and lusts of the living. In fact, he thought, he was above those things. He was Beetlejuice, the Ghost with the Most! After all, hadn't he just kicked some ghostly butt?

He didn't need Lydia.

He didn't need anyone.

The smile faded away, as he tried to believe this.

Did he?

Lydia stared up at Beetlejuice, her soul reaching out for him, wanting something…but she wasn't sure what exactly. She did know she wanted to be his friend so badly (yet something inside of her whispered she wanted more) but she was so afraid. He only had her around for his own needs. He was only nice to her because he needed her to free him. Lydia reached up and without thinking began to caress the strands of hair that hung in his face. They were so soft. How could something so dead feel so alive and soft? Her heart ached.

Confused, Lydia pulled her hand away and looked down at her feet. WHY did her heart ache at even the mention of his name? Why did she feel the need to be with him Whu did she WANT him to LIKE her?! Lydia closed her eyes, clenching them tightly shut. Why did it hurt so badly to be with him and know he couldn't be hers? Whatever THAT was supposed to mean.

The poltergeist didn't realize just how much he had turned her whole world topsy turvy since the very first day she had met him, begging him to help…begging for a friend. She chuckled inwardly. Instead of a friend she got a fiancee…

Lydia looked back up into his eyes, those cursed emerald eyes that floored her every time she looked into them. Even back then they had floored her, causing her cheeks to get more color than was necessary. Why did she feel like this? She couldn't lo-

Her eyes widened suddenly and she pushed against his chest so she could jump out of his arms.

Oh Lord…she couldn't!

As she saw his eyebrow cock at her almost broke down.

She did…

Falling to the ground she covered her face with her hands and sobbed into them. She had fallen in love with Beetlejuice!

At the sight of Lydia falling to the ground, a thousand conflicting emotions swirled through Beetlejuice's mind. He first felt outright worry and fear. What was wrong? His heart cried, wanting to take away whatever pained her, wanting her to be happy. He felt ashamed, for he figured whatever it was, it was probably his fault.

He also felt angry and confused, because he was powerless to do anything to comfort her. Comforting people wasn't what Beetlejuice did. He made people have breakdowns, but now he wanted to help someone snap out of one, he was at a loss on what to do.

Suddenly he too dropped to his knees, doing what felt natural, even though his mind screamed at him to just leave her alone, to not get involved in whatever it was. Whatever was upsetting her couldn't possivly affect HIM could it? He didn't need her to be happy to get him out of here, just alive.

Shame in his eyes both for the way his mind fought him, and the fact that it did so at all, he asked softly.

"Lydia, what's wrong toots? You're too pretty to be this sad."

Lydia looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears widened slightly as her hands came down to rest at her throat.

"Y-you think I'm pretty?" She whispered. "No one thinks I'm pretty."

"Oh come on now Lyd. You must have all the guys tripping over themselves just looking at you." He laughed wholeheartedly then added. "You broads really do worry about the silliest things. A guy would have to be bent to think you weren't pretty."

Lydia blinked.

"Beej. Why do you think I was so desperate to die and get into the Netherworld when I first met you? No one likes me, Beej I get picked on constantly! Not ONCE has a guy tried talking to me let alone flirt with me!" She scoffed. "Heck, I'm nineteen and I havent even been kissed yet!"

Beyond himself at the invitation, and without any conscious decision to do so, Beetlejuice leaned over, knocking Ldia softly onto her back, his arms wrapped around her so he could hold her back and her head as he urgently and hungrily kissed her, fire exploding from the touch of her lips upon his.

Lydia brought so many first into Beetlejuice's life. Tonight marked the first time he'd truly felt alive in so long he couldn't remember. The liquid fire that poured through him at her touch was so strong, so overwhelming that its electric power fried his brain and made his hairs stand on end. It was so stron that he thought he'd faint at the pleasure of it.

Lydia stiffened at the sheer shock of it all. Was Beetlejuice kissing her?? Her breath hitched as she felt him press further into her, as if begging for a response. Yup, he was definatly kissing her. Overwelmed with happiness and shock, Lydia immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling the, strangely enough, warm skin there. Her heart felt thick and heavy as if it were smiling. She was kissing the one she loved.

Her first kiss.

Scared and innocent, she slowly kissed him back, opening her mouth slightly and moving her lips afainst his. Her face flushed. She prayed she was doing this right as her hand sifted through that wonderfully soft blonde hair.

Feeling her return his kiss removed any hesitancey and doubt inside him. Blissfully surrendering to the lust-tinged love that enveloped him he pulled himself closer to her, his body now melding against hers, that he might more fully experience all the wonder she had to offer. Reflexively, he sent his tongue over her lips, seeking hers and being pleasantly surprised that her lips tasted wonderfully. When they met he was met with another explosion of emotional fire that, this one however centered in his stomach, which sent what felt like flaming butterflies tingling through his body.

Lydia's fingers clutched at his shoulders at the feel of his tongue against hers. It sent her body into a roaring fire. Tears wet the corners of her eyes. She loved him and she knew that eventually she would be sent back to her world. Even if she married him…he would never stay around. He wanted out so he could do his own thing. She would never see him.

But she needed him.

And she wanted him to be her first if not her only.

Pulling away slightly she whispered huskily into his ear.

"Show me why you're the ghost with the most…"

Hearing his catch phrase triggered something is the higher regions of Beetlejuice's brain. This part, though used to being ignored and ill-treated by Beetlejuice, was very insistent. So with a sigh and a painful twisting of self-will and control, Beetlejuice, with great regret, pulled himself slightly away from Lydia, love still boiling in his eyes, raging passion barely held in check.

"Alright Lyds."

He kissed her on the top of the head before standing up and pulling her to her feet with him. Once standingm he hugged her tightly, then stood, holding her hands at arms length.

Lydia stared up at him, hurt and feeling quite rejected.

He didn't want her either.

Lydia clenched her fists and looked away, trying to stop the tears that were threatening to fall.

"You're a sweet kid, Lyds, and you are the most amazing person I've ever met. I'd love nothing more than to…well, to give you what you asked for," Despite his bravado, he continued the blush that had started since he first kissed her, "But I…can't…"

Smiling to try and emphasize the fact that she should be happy too, he slid up next to her and kissed her again, as passionately as before, careful not to let himself get too into it, lest he lost his control and…well, he just shouldn't lose his control.

Not yet.

When he finally pulled away, his head spinning and love-drunk, he said, caring in his eyes.

"Lyds, don't ever, ever think I don't want to. Its just that, contrary to how I act most of the time, I have learned in my long death that the best things are worth waiting for.

Lydia refused to look at him, the tears wetting her fark eyelashes, shadows playing on her cheeks. She had embarrassed herself in front of him. She wanted to…and she…but he…

Lydia bit her lower lip.

She pulled away slightly before leaning in close to his ear.

"I love you." She whispered, her face turing an even darker shade of red and her embarrassment growing tenfold.

Before she could see his reaction she began fast walking for the door, needing to get out.

Beetlejuice felt life course through his veins, breathed into him by her words. He loved her too, he realized, and all the confusion and pain hed been in the past few days stemmed from his fighting that core, fundamental feeling.

He'd always loved her, admittedly or not, he suddenly realized as well, which was part of why he'd chosen her of all humans to wed him. The concept of having the marriage get him out of purgatory was merely a ruse to hide his feelings from himself. He felt ashamed, but at the same time he felt like a weight was lifted from his shoulders.

Reaching out to stop her, he hugged her close, pressing his lips firmly against hers and kissed her until she began to beat against his chest in protest. Only then did he release her enough to press his forehead against hers and whisper.

"Lydia, I love you too."

Lydia froze against him, her heart pounding against her chest so furiously she feared it would leave her body. She breathed him in. COULD he love? He had said he was glad that those feeling were gone. Shocked, she looked up into his eyes.

She still cursed those eyes…

"Wh-what did you say…?" She whispered so faintly he could barely hear her.

"I said…" He met her gaze, falling for a moment into the divine. "I said that I love you." He looked slightly confused for a moment, then continued.

"It's funny though, I didn't know I still could…"

"Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD." Said a voice they both knew and cringed to hear from behind them.

"But you always had a problem with that, didn't you Beetlejuice?"

Beetlejuice spun around and glared at his former co-worker…Juno.

(YAY! CONFESSIONS! But Uh oh, Juno has come to ruin the day! An ANGRY Juno, Run Beetlejuice Run…)