Chapter Two

Beetlejuice stood frozen in place as if he hadn't registered that everyone had left. Lydia gently took his hand and lead him out of the large double doors, into the chilly autumn night. Beetlejuice didn't talk; he just stared ahead absently, looking confused.

To Lydia's surprise Doomie was parked right outside waiting for them. She didn't know how he had gotten there but she was relieved to see him.

Lydia helped Beetlejuice into the passenger side, and then walked over to the driver's side. She hoped in, buckling her seatbelt. Doomie beeped a greeting and they were off.

As they reached the roadhouse Beetlejuice finally regained some of his composure. "Why?" He muttered under his breath.

As the car stopped Beetlejuice got out and slowly walked up the porch steps without another word to either Lydia or Doomie.

Doomie honked sadly and made a choking noise.

Lydia got out, and walked around to the front of the car. She stroked Doomie's hood kindly. Crooning a tune she knew would calm him. Doomie closed his eyes and swayed slowly back and forth.

It was a ritual between them. Every night Lydia was at the roadhouse, she would sing to him. And Doomie never tired of listening to her. Her voice was soft and sweet, she was a natural singer.

Once she had finished their nightly song, Lydia sat down next to Doomie, "Don't worry about Beej." Lydia said smiling sadly, "He just had the shock of his afterlife. He just needs some time to get used to the idea. . ."

Doomie looked at her puzzled. He nudged her, prompting her to finish what she had been saying.

"Well. . . Me and Beetlejuice are. . . well. . . We're getting married.

Doomie perked up, his already huge eyes bugging out of their sockets. "Yeah, I can't believe it either. In two days I'll be Mrs. Beetlejuice." Lydia said unbelievingly.

Doomie smiled and blasted his horn triumphantly. The sound echoed throughout the neighborhood. Doomie blushed as Lydia's eyes wrinkled at the corners. Lydia held her breath waiting. Her suspicions turned out correct, when not a minute later The Monster Across the Street poked his head out of his window.

"What in tar-hooties! Stop that racket! It's four thirty in the dad-gum mornin'!"

"Sorry Mr. Monster. We'll be quiet." Lydia called back.

He scowled at her. "You do that little ma'am. "Cause some of us are a sleepin'." And with that he slammed his window.

"Jerk." Lydia mumbled. Then she smiled at Doomie.

"Well even if he is a jerk he was right about one thing. It is 4:30. You need to get to sleep sweetie. We've both got a big day ahead of us."

Doomie yawned and turned off his headlights.

"That's my boy." Lydia kissed him, and patted his hood one last time before she turned and started up the porch steps, and into the roadhouse.

The roadhouse was as messy as ever. All kinds of junk littered the floor, walls, and ceiling. And the smell was almost overpowering. But Lydia was used to it, so instead of running out of the house in terror she walked past and over all the clutter towards the living room.

Beetlejuice was sitting on his decrepit old couch, his head resting in his hands. His back heaved in an unsteady pattern; he was crying.

Lydia walked over to the couch and sat down next to him, and hesitantly started rubbing his back; trying to console him. "It's all my fault Lyds!" He sobbed. "I got you into this mess."

Lydia sat still trying not to think as Beetlejuice continued, "I've put you in danger Babes. Now if either of us puts a toe out of line you'll be chucked into prison." He wailed even louder than he had before. His whole body shook, tears streaming down his face. "I'm so sorry Lyds. I'm sorry for everything."

Lydia didn't speak. She didn't trust her voice just yet. So she sat rubbing Beetlejuice's back and listened to him cry.

After thirty minutes of crying, Beetlejuice looked up at Lydia, his eyes red from crying. "Lyds?" Beetlejuice said warily. She looked up at him. "Yes?"

"Are you mad at me Babes?" He asked looking at her dismally.

Lydia didn't have to ask to know what he referred to. "That depends Beej. Did you do it?"

He answered without hesitation, "No."

She looked deep into his eyes. And knew that he was telling her the truth. "Then who did all those terrible things?"

He shrugged, "I don't know babes. But someone is trying to set me up."

"They succeeded." Lydia put her hand to her temple, massaging it roughly.

"You believe me? Don't you babes?" He asked hopefully.

"Yes," Lydia smiled at him. "But the jury didn't Beej."

Beetlejuice clenched his jaw. "I would never do that babes."

"I know. But the jury found you guilty, so we have to pay a price."

"But it's not your price to pay babes. It never was."

Lydia didn't reply.

"Lyds," Beetlejuice asked tenderly. "Why did you do it?"

She pondered his question for a moment before answering. She only had one answer.

"I love you Beej." She said quietly.

Beetlejuice looked at her in bewilderment. His eyes bulging.

Lydia placed her pointer finger over his lips, to stop him from talking. "Beej; I didn't mean it like that, and you know it." She took her finger away from his lips and continued.

"You are my best friend. I don't want to lose you." Lydia looked into Beetlejuice's large eyes, holding him with her stare. "I would rather marry you, than lose you."

Beetlejuice's head drooped extremely low on his chest. "But you'll be stuck with me for the rest of eternity."

Lydia smiled and reached over with her small hand and gingerly lifted his head up so that their eyes met once more. To Beetlejuice's surprise Lydia's eyes were lively. There was a gleam to them that he had never seen before.

"Beej. You're the only one I could spend eternity with." Beetlejuice smiled wistfully, "Do you mean it babes?"

"Absolutely." Lydia said, and she brought his face closer to hers, and kissed his cheek.

Beetlejuice blushed a bright pink, and started to cough. (Though he sort of wanted her to do it again.) Lydia blushed a little too before she stood up and looked at her wristwatch. "It's 5 o'clock. We had better head to bed." She looked back at Beetlejuice. "Can I stay the night Beej?"

Beetlejuice was still bright pink. He stared at her longingly before he snapped out of it and answered. "Sure babes."

Lydia started walking towards BJ's bedroom. She heard Beetlejuice get up and follow her. "Lyds, I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep."

Lydia walked up the stairs and down the hallway. "We both need to try. We're going to need as much sleep as we can get."

Beetlejuice shook his head, but didn't argue. "Alright babes."

Lydia walked over to the bed and pulled back the covers. Beetlejuice snapped his red tipped fingers and both his clothes and Lydia's changed into pj's. His were the usual grimy ones with pictures of beetles covering them. And Lydia's were her silky black ones that buttoned down the front.

They were her favorite pajamas. "Thanks BJ."

Beetlejuice smiled at her. He knew they were her favorite pajamas. They were his favorite too. He enjoyed the way she looked in them. "Don't mention it Lyds."

"Goodnight Beetlejuice."

"Goodnight Babes."

They both crawled into Beetlejuice's king sized coffin, and pulled the covers up over themselves. They laid there in silence. Until Lydia had an idea; Beetlejuice loved bad puns, almost as much as he loved a good prank. They were irresistible to him. So she started to sing in a hushed tone.

"Go to sleep my baby, keep. Sleep until the dawn. Rest my love for what storms may come we will match in stride."

By the time she had said, 'rest my love.' Beetlejuice was out cold, and snoring up a storm. His own juicing powers had put him to sleep. Lydia smiled to herself and closed her eyes; letting her thoughts drift until she too was asleep.