(Alrighty, we are on Chapter Six!! We're almost done! YAY! Heehee.)
"Great timing, as always." He grumbled.
Juno glared at him spitefully.
"You really shouldn't be talking Beetlejuice, you're in enough shit as it is! Do you realize how much paper work you are causing me?!"
Beetlejuice shrugged, blowing it off as he always did.
"June-bug, chill. No harm done."
"BULLSHIT!" She bellowed.
Beetlejuice stared ad her in shock. Juno threw down her cigarette and pointed at Lydia.
"You took this poor girl HOSTAGE! HOSTAGE, BEETLEJUICE! We gave you a warning after pulling that smart-ass stunt three years ago! After we LET YOU GO, you PULL THIS! She has a FAMILY, Beetlejuice! She is ALIVE! What the Hell is wrong with you?!"
Juno looked at the frightened girl with a sympathetic look.
"And now you're lying to her to get what you want, again." She hissed, looking back at him.
"You've always been a great liar. But playing with her emotions? That is just SICK!"
Lydia pulled away from Beetlejuice and stared up at him, eyes wide.
"Were you lying…just now?" She whispered, hurt and pain obvious in her voice.
Beetlejuice shook his head frantically.
"NO! Of course not! How-why would I lie about that?" He said bitterly. "I'm a ghost not a monster!"
He looked at Juno.
"The kid and I had a deal, Juno, and she didn't hold up her end of it. That's why I took her here in the first place. I wasn't going to hurt her but now I-"
"That is NOT in the code and you damn well know it!" She hissed.
"Screw your code." Spat Beetlejuice, reaching for Lydia.
Juno saw him reach for her. She looked over at Lydia and sighed sadly.
"Honey, I'm so sorry."
And with a snap of her fingers Lydia disappeared, landing on her own bed in the Maitland homestead.
Beetlejuice's eyes widened as he stared in horror up at Juno.
"WHAT DID YOU DO WITH HER? GIVE HER BACK!"
Juno shook her head.
"I've done all I can for you Beetlejuice. But the council won't hear it anymore. One, you will never see or hear from that girl again. Two, you know why? The council has voted to exorcise you! And while you die I want you to think about how you have screwed up and scarred that poor girl's life!"
Fire burned in Beetlejuice's eyes. Forget getting out of this place, in one fell swoop Juno had taken away his chances of ever being happy or ever being loved.
"Bring her back!" He cried out, his voice cracking despite his efforts.
Without Lydia he suddenly didn't care what happened to him. He didn't care if Juno shattered him into a thousand shards and fed them to the sandworms (Ugh, Sandworms…) He didn't care if he was exorcised, or banished, or anything. All he knew, all he cared about at that moment was that Lydia was gone.
Juno stared sadly at the fuming boy who had never known she was his great grandmother.
"I'm sorry." Was all she said before snapping her fingers again, transferring them to her office where the council waited.
Lydia looked around her room, shocked that she was back. Closing her eyes tightly she clutched at her heart. It ached so badly. She wanted Beetlejuice…but he was always just using her. He could never love. He was dead.
'Necropheliac.' The synical part of her snickered.
Lydia frowned at the thought then her mind wandered back to Juno and Beetlejuice. What was she going to do to him? She sounded like she was really angry…suddenly she remembered one word Juno had hissed.
Exorsism.
Lydia jumped off the bed.
NO!
Beetlejuice may be a manipulative cur but she still loved him and she couldn't let him die again! Tears burning her eyes she ran to the attic.
"ADAM! BARBARA! I NEED YOUR HELP!"
Beetlejuice looked around at the walls of his holding cell, the tiny barred window letting enough light to see by, but not much more. He'd been placed in solitary confinement, something about inflicting his company on the other inmates being cruel and unusual. In the mood he was currently in, that was probably a good idea. He boiled over with anger, the rage being the only thing keeping him from slipping into a depression. He wanted to…well he didn't really know. He wanted to hurt Juno for breaking him away from Lydia--even more so for apparently making Lydia think that he was just using her when he himself had just realized how untrue that truly was. But at the same time, he knew that Juno was just doing her job, and he knew that hurting her would just be cruel and achieve nothing, something he really wasn't interested in.
But still, the thought was tempting.
Lydia thought he was still only using her.
The thought tore through his heart, through his soul really, seeing as that's all his current form was wrought of.
He hated that thought, hated it more than Juno, more then the feeling of lonliness and fear he currently felt. He wouldn't mind being exorcised quite so much but he hated the idea that he might be gone forever, and in his passing he would only be remembered by the person he loved as a manipulative self-centered jerk.
Lydia pushed open the attic door to see Adam bent over, working on his miniature model and Barbara reading a book on the dusty couch. Barb jumped up at the sight of Lydia, who had tears streaming down her pale cheeks.
"LYDIA!" Barb cried as she wrapped the girl in a hug. "I'm so glad you are ok! We thought he'd never let you go!"
Lydia hugged Barb tighter, shaking her head.
"No! That's not it! He never hurt me, Barb!"
Adam had come over at this point and stared at both his wife and the girl they both considered to be a daughter.
Confused, Barbara let Lydia to the couch.
"Honey, what's going on?"
Lydia wiped her eyes and began to explain her adventure to both ghosts. Barbara looked over at her husband sadly. Their poor little girl had fallen in love, it was clear before she even said anything.
"Oh Lydia, honey." Barb said soothingly as she moved the bangs from Lydia's face. "He was conniving you…just like he did three years ago…"
Lydia stiffened.
"I-I know…but I cant help it! I don't know how or why it happened…but I love him, Barb! And they're going to exorcise him! I cant let that happen! You have to help me!"
Adam sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Lydia. He cant be let loose. This is for the best, you have to understand. Sweetie, he will just cause harm to the living…he IS a bio exorcist."
Lydia clutched on to Barb as if she were a lifeline, shaking her head.
"NO! I cant Adam! PLEASE, help me!"
Barbara looked up at Adam, begging with him.
"Adam…we cant do this to her…"
Adam grumbled as he began to pace.
"Fine, let's go."
Beetlejuice paced back and forth inside his cell, knowing he should rest so he'd have a clear mind to face the oncoming trial with, but he couldn't bring himself to cal down enough to do so.
He was scared of the trial, really, he didn't want to be exprcised, especially with Lydia thinking so poorly of him, and he didn't have any faith in his ability to talk his way out of this one…he knew the judge hated him. It was rigged from the start.
He sighed. He wished Lydia was here so he could have a final chance to explain things and to at least apologize and say goodbye.
Two burly looking ghosts threw Beetlejuice onto the floor in front of Juno and another ghost who wore a judge's outfit.
"Keh, I bet that gets all the ladies." Beetlejuice sneered at the judge.
Juno glared at him.
"Beetlejuice! You're not helping your case any!"
"Well, I'm sure I'm going to get a fair conviction here anyway, June Bug." He leered angrily at the judge, and at the jury which oddly seemed to be composed entirely of ghosts who hated Beetlejuice the most.
Juno sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Beetlejuice, please. Let's just get this over with, shall we?"
She looked up at the judge.
"Proceed."
Suddenly Beetlejuice threw a pair of rotting boxers at the judge before he could hit his gavel to begin the proceedings.
"BEETLEJUICE! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" The indignant judiciary decried, pushing the rotting undergarments away from him with the handle of the gavel, disgust apparent on his face.
"Well, I figured you'd want my briefs before we got started with this." Beetlejuice snickered, obviously pleased with himself.
At this the jury began to murmur angrily amongst themselves, discussing what a disgusting character Beetlejuice was, and what a nicer place this would be without him. The judge banged his gavel loudly on the desk.
"Order! Order in the court!"
Not one to miss an opportunity for a bad pun, Beetlejuice slid up to the bench, a McDonald's outfit suddenly replacing the Judge's robes and a speaker box appearing out of nowhere.
"Yes, I'll have a double cheesebooger and some fries! Oh and a coke, but no ice." Beetlejuice said into the speaker.
He turned to Juno and said. "You want something' toots? You look like you enjoy a good meal."
Juno grumbled, there was no saving her great grandson. Even though he knew what he was up against he was still goofing off! Sighing, she snapped her fingers and Beetlejuice was forced down to his knees, his hands being tied behind his back by a magical rope.
"Hey now Babe, I didn't know you were into the rough stuff." He said with a sarcastic leer.
"Mr. Beetlejuice!" The judge exclaimed. "You are making a mockery of this court. I will be forced to remove you from this room to be tried in-absentia if you continue with this, and since you have rejected our provided council and neglected to provide yourself with your own, your odds of winning this case are close to zero."
Beetlejuice laughed bitterly.
"Hey now, you morons were making a mockery of this court long before you hauled me here for this horse and pony show. This jury's rigged and your "provided council" couldn't argue the court security into letting him into the courtroom! I'm just havin' some fun before you burn my buns."
He then summoned in his illusionary "cheesebooger", it's buns clearly burnt, and took a bite of it, quickly spitting it back out.
"Hey! I wanted plain with only one pickle! See if I order from you nincompoops again!"
The judge sneered at him in disgust before standing up.
"Fine Beetlejuice, if this is the way you want it to be, then so be it. I sentence you to exorcism!
Juno closed her eyes sadly.
Beetlejuice grumbled, fear gripping him for a moment.
Death for the dead…
Sighing he hung his head, his blonde bangs covering his eyes so no one could see his feelings . The two burly ghosts who had dragged him were approaching him and he stiffened, ready for their cold hands when the door suddenly burst open.
"WAIT!" Came a desperate cry that sounded all too familiar.
Lydia ran through the door into the room, her hair was up in a messy bun, much like when she had first met Beetlejuice.
Beetlejuice's eyes snapped open, locking on Lydia, hope welling in them as his heart swelled.
She'd come back for him! His spirits soared. Maybe she knew that he still loved her, that he wasn't using her, he dared to pray.
"Lydia…" He murmured under his breath, not wanting to draw any attention back to his condemned person, hoping beyond hope that she'd find a way to get him out of the hole he'd dug himself in.
Juno's eyes widened and everyone else in the room gasped at the sight of the small living girl running to stand in front of Beetlejuice, her arms spread out as if that would protect him.
"Please!" Lydia begged as she stared at Juno and the judge. "Please don't do this!"
Both Juno and the judge blinked in shock.
"What is the meaning of this kid, and how did you know about this place?!" The judge snapped.
Lydia placed a hand on her chest.
"I'm the girl you are punishing him for!"
The judge sat back in his chair.
"Then you most of all should want this cur out of here."
Lydia shook her head.
"NO! Not once did he do anything to hurt me! Please, I'm begging you! Just let him go!"
The judge raised an eyebrow at her before glaring behind her at Beetlejuice.
"Did you pocess this child?"
Lydia moved so she was blocking his view, another attempt to protect him.
"No! I am of sound mind and body! Now LET HIM GO!"
The judge was in shock. What was wrong with this girl? Why was she PROTECTING the evil creature behind her?
"If you are not processed then why in the two worlds would you PROTECT this bastard?" He hissed, thoroughly confused.
Lydia hung her head, a tear traveling down her cheek.
"Because …because I love him…" She whispered, barely audible.
The tear splashed onto the cold floor before her.
Beetlejuice's heart soared, and he jumped up to his feet, trying to reach Lydia but he was suddenly jerked back to his knees by his retraints.
Lydia spun around to look at Beetlejuice for the first time.
"You are a lying, conniving jerk…" She whispered to him as she stepped closer to him. "And I know all of this was part of your master plan."
She kneeled down in front of him, his eyes were wide and staring at her in shock. She seemed to be in a trance of her own, forgetting everyone around her but Beetlejuice.
"And yet…I can't seem to stop loving you." She whispered as she took his face into her hands and pulled her mouth down on top of his, trying to prove in that kiss that he had her heart.
Beetlejuice melted into her kiss. SHE STILL LOVED HIM!! Something inside his chest fluttered a bit as liquid fire coursed through his long-dead veins.
Juno looked surprised as Beetlejuice somehow ripped free of his restraints and wrapped his arms around the small girl in front of him, holding her close to him.
Reluctantly he pulled away and whispered into her ear.
"Don't ever leave me again Lydia. I love you, I love you so much. I don't know how-I don't care, but please, even if they do exorcise me, I want you to know that you have my soul. As long as you love me and remember me fondly, that's all I need."
Somehow, in the hushed silence of the room, his voice carried to the ears of everyone present.
Lydia's eyes widened as she looked into his emerald pools.
"You really love me?" She whispered, brushing the bangs from his face.
In response Beetlejuice closed his eyes and leaned in, holding her close to him as he put all of his soul into the kiss, his passion burning through him.
He marveled to himself, at how warm and how soft she was. For a woman as skinny and lithe as Lydia was, he would have expected her to be more bony, not his warm pillow-like softness that enveloped him, beckoning him to relax, to revel, marvel and exult in his joy. He had never felt as at home, as right as he did in Lydia's arms.
Lydia thrust her hands into his hair, pulling him closer to her, her whole body flushed and on fire.
Beetlejuice and Lydia by now overwhelmed and blinded by the passion they felt for each other, had completely forgotten everything but the relief they felt, and the love they felt.
Fire continued to burn it's way through Beetlejuice's body and, for the first time in centuries, he felt a stirring below, felt a need, felt Lydia so willing, so close to him. Grumbling, he gripped her shoulders and pulled away slightly. She was smiling up at him worridly.
The judge banged his gavel.
"KID! DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU ARE DOING!"
Lydia stood up and faced the judge once more.
"Yes. Look, I…he wont kill anyone! He WOULDN'T! I know he wouldn't!"
Beetlejuice grumbled slightly. There went his reputation…of course…that had been shot the second he had reached out for Lydia in front of everyone.
Juno stared at the two, especially the way her great grandson watched protectively over the small goth girl, the love he held in his eyes…it was nothing fake. For once, Beetlejuice was telling the truth, and all it had taken was a human girl who had once outwitted him. Slowly, Juno walked over to Lydia.
"Darling, you need to go now…"
Lydia blinked.
"What? NO! I-" Lydia was interrupted by the snap of Juno's fingers, which sent her back to her own world.
"LYDIA!" Beetlejuice shouted as he wrapped his arms around the puff of smoke that had just been her miliseconds earlier.
Juno stared at Beetlejuice solemly. Beetlejuice closed his eyes, his whole body shaking so hard that he had to try to force himself to remain kneeling and motionless which his as his muscles groaned in protest.
Juno looked up at the judge.
"Larry," She sighed. "He isn't lying this time. By God, that gril actually made him fall in love. You remember what that feels like, don't you?'
The judge glared at both broken poltergeist and the elder woman.
"Yes bit I lost what I loved and this insnt about-"
"Larry, you're making these two lose what they love. Just let them go.:
"NO! I will not have him causing chaos in my Neitherworld anymore!"
Juno grinned triumphantly.
"Then he wont stay here."
The judge raised an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about, Juno?"
Juno stepped up to the judge to whisper in his ear so Beetlejuice couldn't hear.
The judge's eyes widened.
"Are you nuts old hag??"
Juno shook her head and whispered some more.
The judge smirked at Beetlejuice.
Beetlejuice swallowed, tears still flowing, but he managed to look up, his eyes still glassy and red to look at the judge.
Dared he hope?
"Alright Beetlejuice. I don't want to EVER see you set foot here again! You hear me? I don't want you back in my Neitherworld for at least another sixty years!"
Beetlejuice blinked, how the heck was he supposed to manage that one? HE WAS DEAD! HE LIVED HERE! Even when he was exorcised he'd still be HERE.
Juno walked up to him, smiling.
"Get a life." She grumbled, though obviously teasing him for the first time in ages.
At her words Beetlejuice felt a tremendous pain sore through his body, doubling him over. Air rushed to his lungs, a large weight in his chest throbbing with life. Wincing he looked at his hands, which were gaining a pinkish hue. He looked at Juno in shock. She grinned at him and in a flash he was gone, landing on the harsh cement of the sidewalk.
He looked at his body and marveled at it. He was alive!
(HE'S BAAACK!!!!! Beejers is alive! EGAD! lol, Hope you liked this chapter! There's probably about one or two more after this, i havent decided how much.)