(OMG! IT'S THE LAST CHAPTER! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!!! Thank you to everyone who reviewed and kept up with the story Suzuka13, Aisyy, and darkbangle! You guys are so sweet!)

There was no denying it this time, he decided. He could feel the blood coursing through his veins, could feel the air upon his skin, and not in the feathery, ethereal way he'd become accustomed to, but in full, marvelous detail. He could feel the weight of his flesh, his bones, finally once again controlled by the laws of nature and of gravity.

Suddenly his chest started to burn in pain and before he knew it he reflexively took a huge gasp of air. That's right, he needed to breathe again! The air felt glorious in his lungs. The wonder of it all reminding him of how he felt when Lydia had kissed him before.

Lydia!

He needed to find her! Beetlejuice tried to jump up, but instead of springing to the sky like he normally would have, he sprung up…and over, back onto the ground in a tangle of limbs. He'd have to take things slow until he got used to this living thing again.

Lydia cried into her pillow, which was soaking wet as it is. She missed him so badly. Why had they taken him from her?! They could have worked things out! Or they at least could have tried!

A knock came upon her door.

"Lydia, honey, you have to come out. You have been in there for days! You need to get back to school, love, or you'll fall behind. And it would be good for you…" Came Barbara's concerned voice.

Lydia shook her head.

"NO!" Came her muffled cry.

Barbara sighed and looked over at her husband and Lydia's father, who shared the same sad expression. Lydia was broken, she was no longer the strong-willed, independent, stubborn girl. Her heart had been ripped from her and they didn't know how to make her feel better, to bring her back.

Finally managing to pick himself up from the ground, Beetlejuice staggered off down the road. All this seemed so familiar he thought, but at the same time it was like he was seeing the town for the first time. Cars zoomed past him, some honking their horns loudly (to which Beetlejuice had some unrepeatable replies), some merely swerving around the odd man in the road.

Lydia wiped her dry, sticky face. She still wanted to cry so badly but she could no longer produce tears. She had lost some weight in the past couple of days due to lack of eating. She hadn't been hungry. All she wanted was Beetlejuice. But she needed to get out of this cursed room. Sliding open her window, she shimmied down the drain pipe so no one would know she had left. Besides, she was just going for a walk, it wasn't like she was gonna disappear…again.

Lydia was freezing, she hadn't even bothered to grab a jacket to cover herself. She was only covered in a small tank top and her underwear which resembled boxers. However, at the moment she didn't care. She never had cared what people thought of her, not really anyway. Why start now when she felt so low as it is? Rubbing her arms, trying to provide some warmth against the October weather, her breath coming out in small puffs of smoke. She wasn't even watching where she was going any more. She was just wandering aimlessly, thinking about the good times she had started to share with Beetlejuice.

Beetlejuice walked through the woods, muttering to himself to stop from thinking about how frigging cold it was. He was wearing a leather jacket and leggings, under which he had wool underlings (the clothes he had been wearing when he died those hundreds of years earlier). The woolen garmets had once kept him warm against the harshest winters the America's could muster, yet this cold was biting and the chill was such that he knew if he didn't get to the Maitland's homestead before nightfall, he'd have to start a fire or freeze to death because he had no money and no way of renting a room for the night.

Lydia continued to walk through the park, her skin now taking on a bluish hue, her teeth chattering and her lips quivering. She knew she should go back but she couldn't seem to control her body anymore, it just kept walking. In the distance she saw a young man coming down the path. She sighed. Great. She had hoped she wouldn't see ANYONE. She needed to be alone. Hanging her head so her hair covered her face, she continued to walk.

Beetlejuice looked ahead, seeing a girl with black hair, her head hung and holding herself against the cold (why she was out in the cold dressed like that he couldn't imagine) walking toward him. He frowned, thinking to himself that she looked oddly familiar. He didn't really like to talk to random girls, especially with what had happened the last time, but he felt impelled to help this lady. She was going to freeze to death out here dressed like that!

"Hey!" He yelled, trying to be heard through the slight fog that was forming from the spitting rain and cold. "You allright there toots?"

Lydia turned her head, trying to avoid eye contact.

"Fine." She mumbled as she tried to brush past him.

"Fine my foot!" He said, looking at her. "You look like a freshly plucked chicken with all those goosebumps. It would be criminal of me to leave you out here like this. Where do you live?" He said, concern on his face despite his inclination to leave this girl to her own devices.

Lydia stopped and sighed, her head slightly lifting.

"I just need to be alone, ok?" She asked, her voice tight as she tried to hold back tears.

"No one needs to be alone." Said Beetlejuice, approaching her and putting his hands on her shoulders to keep her from running away from him. He still didn't know who this was, but he knew that he didn't want to start off his second chance at life by being completely the same self-centered jerk he'd been before. Besides, he knew Lydia would never let him hear the end of it if something were to happen to this girl and he had been able to prevent it.

"C'mon, let me at least walk you home. You can be alone there."

Lydia began to feel the bitter wind and she hissed softly, kneeling down to the ground and curled up into a fetal position, trying to preserve what body heat she had left. Grumbling and hating the fact that she was showing her weakened state, Lydia made herself stand up and she turned around, heading back where she came from.

"I-I can do it." She whispered almost unheard, her body shaking violently.

Suddenly from behind her, she felt two stranger's arms wrap around her, wrapping her in his jacket.

"Not without some help, you wont. Come on, don't make me do anything drastic here toots."

Lydia stiffened if that was even possible at this point. He smelled…tears came to her eyes, he smelled just like him. Why was life torturing her like this?? Without thinking she leaned against him slightly, wishing it was him.

"What's your name?" Came his soft voice.

Lydia shook her head. What was she doing? She was ready to give herself up to a stranger just because he smelled and felt like the one she loved?? Closing her eyes tightly she spun around to face him, shrugging off the jacket and trying to hand it to him.

"Look, I'm sorry. I can get home on my own. Thank you though."

With that she tried to run down the path.

Beetlejuice stood there for a moment in shock, his jacket in his hand. She looked just like…

"Lydia?" He asked in a hopeful voice.

Lydia stopped dead in her tracts, her back to him. Slowly she turned to face him, her eyes wide with a little fear.

"H-how do you know my name?" She shook.

Beetlejuice walked briskly up to her, a grin on his face. He wrapped his jacket once more around her quivering shoulders and said:
"Maybe this will answer your question."

With that he wrapped his arms around her, his hand resting on the small of her back and pulled her body to him, his other hand behind her head and his lips descending onto hers. Lydia's eyes widened in shock but she couldn't stop the warm feeling of liquid fire burning within her at the kiss. She closed her eyes tightly as she pushed the boy off of her. She covered her mouth in shock and horror. This boy she had never met before had just kissed her and she had LIKED it!! She choked, feeling terrible at the realization that she had betrayed Beetlejuice…again.

"YOU JERK!" She shouted as she backed away from him, still staring at him wide eyed.
He was extremely attractive, that was for sure. He looked so oddly familiar with his thick, blonde hair and green eyes…but she couldn't place it. Her heart sunk suddenly. He had blonde hair and green eyes…just like Beetlejuice. Curse fate.
"Lydia!" The boy said. "You have always called me a jerk and you are more than welcome to continue to do so but can you do so inside where we're not freazing to death??"
Lydia continued to back up, fear in her eyes.
"Wh-what are you talking about? I don't even know you!"
Suddenly she tripped over an unearthed root and fell backwards. Beetlejuice cackled slightly at her as he held out his hand.
"Of course you do, babes. What? Don't recognize me cuz I'm alive?" He grinned.

Lydia blinked, her lips parting slightly. Her heart was pounding in her chest so harshly she thought it would break free. She cocked her head, studying him. It couldn't be! They exorcized him! He was gone!
Words were beyond her. She had no idea what to say or do. She desperately WANTED this boy to be Beetlejuice but it was so far beyond impossible! Without thinking she lifted her hand to place into his, being drawn in by his eyes.
"I…" Lydia hung her head. "This is impossible. I'm hallucinating now…"
She knew she should pull away from this stranger but she wanted to be near him, he reminded her of HIM. Guilt tore through her, she couldn't betray him! She couldn't!
Beetlejuice, seeing the pain and confusion in her eyes, pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her again, holding her close to him. He hoped that his warmth would take away her pain and confusion as well as keep her warm.
He was liking this whole being warm and alive thing.
Lydia blushed. She felt so safe in his arms…they were so warm and inviting. Lydia tried to push away. Another reason this couldn't be Beetlejuice. BJ was DEAD, he was COLD.

"I can't do this…" She whispered, trying to keep her gaze down. "I have…I had someone else."
Suddenly she was at arm's length, emerald eyes boring into hers.
"Who? Who else?" Asked a frantic Beetlejuice, not knowing that she still did not understand who he was and that she was talking about him.
Lydia looked up at the boy.
"Someone I loved very much and…someone else took him away from me." She choked, gripping his shirt tightly, needing to be comforted, needing to be warm.
"They took him!" She sobbed.
"What? Lyds, you never told me you had a boyfriend before me!" Said Beetlejuice, flabbergasted.
Lydia blinked, clearly confused.
"I NEVER WENT OUT WITH YOU!" She snapped, pulling away from him, becoming cold once more.
This boy MUST have her confused with someone else! She was sure she had never seen him before in her life!
Honestly hurt this time, Beetlejuice just stood there before he said in a small voice.
"I guess that's true, Lyds. But I never really got a chance to, I mean I don't even know what you kids do on dates now-a-days. I haven't been alive in centuries."
Lydia began to feel funny. He was beginning to act too much like Beetlejuice…it was starting to freak her out!!! A small shred of hope, and feeling quite stupid, went through her as she cocked her head, her brows furrowed in a way that usually made Beetlejuice blush.
"B-Beej?" She asked softly, heart beating fast.
"Yeah Lyds?" He replied sadly.
Lydia squeaked as she jumped backwards, eyes wide once more.

"Wh-what??! IT'S YOU!! HOW???!!!" She was breathing heavily now.
'I think I have finally lost it…' She thought to herself.
When he just starred at her, Lydia grabbed his wrist and drug him all the way back to her house. Ok, serious talking was going to ensue. She needed answers NOW.

Lydia snuck up to her room with Beetlejuice in tow. Once she was inside she ran to her bathroom and started the water.
"Wait here." She ordered. "I need to warm up…you can talk to me through the door."
With that she ran back into the bathroom and Beetlejuice heard the water splash slightly as she entered the tub.
Beetlejuice, always having had a problem with choosing between the rules were and what he wanted to do, was true to his form and did what he wanted to do…he opened the door to Lydia's bathroom and strolled boldly through.

Lydia eeped at the sight of Beetlejuice. She wanted to scream at him to get out but she knew her parents would come rushing in. Her face bright red, she slid further into the bubbles, making sure she was covered.
"Get out!" She hissed, her face looking quite red.
Beetlejuice shut the door behind him, mischief evident in the gleeful expression he wore as he sat down, taking in the sight of Lydia bathing.
"Naw, I'm good right here, Lyds." He grinned with a slight pause. "Though actually now that you mention it, I haven't taken a real bath in such a long time and that tub looks pretty big.
His eyes sparkled.
Her eyes widened, her mouth dropping open slightly.
Yup, that was definitely Beetlejuice.

She sighed before smiling.
"So…how? Why? I thought they had exorcized you! I was so worried!" She cried out all at once without thinking.
Beetlejuice blinked before smiling.
"I honestly don't know babes…one minute I'm doomed, the next you show up…and everything is alright." His smile grew. "Kinda seems to be how it is lately…"
Lydia blushed.

Beetlejuice smiled before walking out to her bedroom, giving her some privacy. Anxious and not wanting to be away from him anymore, Lydia jumped out of the bathtub, threw on her robe and rushed into her room.
"Oh…so…how long?" She dared to ask.

Beetlejuice stretched nonchalantly.
"Until death do us part, Dear Lyds." He teased.
Lydia laughed.
"That was unofficial, Beej!"

Beetlejuice suddenly got down on one knee and took her hand, staring up at her.
"Wanna try again?"

Lydia blinked.
"Are you…are you being serious?"

Beetlejuice nodded, a little nervous now.
Lydia grinned happily before jumping into his arms, wrapping her own around his neck.
"YES! Wait…what are you going to be called now?" She asked curiously. "I can't call you Beetlejuice."

Beetlejuice nuzzled her cheek.
"You can still call me BJ. My name used to be and will be Blake Johnson."
Lydia giggled.
"Clever Beej, real clever."

From the doorway, Adam and Barbara smiled happily at the two lovers. It had taken years of pain and confusion…but the two most unlikely people had finally found their way to each other.

(TADA!!!!!!! YAY! Hope you liked! I plan on writing a cartoon-based fanfic sometime soon, so heads up on that! YAY FOR THE FLUFF! Heehee)