Chapter Six: Man to Man

After eating their meal, the two friends had spent the remainder of the evening watching scary movies, and talking. Just like any other average night they spent together. Then they had called it a night, and gone to bed.

It was now the early hours of the morning, and Beetlejuice was wide awake. He held onto a sleeping Lydia, who was comfortably oblivious to her friends' wakefulness.

The truth was the Ghost with the Most was scared. And for the first time in his afterlife he was being forced to face that fear; this time he didn't have a choice. If he failed to be strong, the girl sleeping next to him would pay the price. Beetlejuice felt sick just thinking about it. And he shuddered violently.

Lydia sighed heavily as BJ moved, and she turned over in the large coffin bed facing him, a smile spreading across her full pink lips.

Even though Beetlejuice was worried, he couldn't help but smile as well. At least one of us is having a knock out dream.

He stayed awake, and eventually the sun began to rise in the Neitherworld; bringing a beautiful pink light into the small room. Lydia looked a glow with the newly found light, and the Ghost thought how stunning she looked.

Beetlejuice carefully untangled himself from her, cautious not to wake her up in the process. And looking back at her once more, he went outside.

Doomie was still asleep, his engine gunning now and again, as he snored. Beetlejuice slide into the driver's seat, "Doomster time to wake up."

Doomie opened his eyes and yawned, and was about to honk when Beetlejuice stopped him by putting a zipper over his large hooded mouth.

"SHUSH! Lydia is still asleep!" He whispered roughly snapping his fingers, to relieve poor Doomie of the zipper. "Don't make a peep!"

Doomie blushed, but did as he was told. But he made a small purr as a way of apology. And Beetlejuice nodded to him.

"It's all right Doomie. I just don't want Lydia to know I've left. I need to be back by the time she wakes up. So let's get going."

Doomie drove away from the roadhouse and started towards town, but Beetlejuice took the wheel, and turned onto a different road. Doomie beeped in confusion, and snuffed at his driver, wondering where they were headed. And more importantly, who they were going to visit at this hour of the morning.

Beetlejuice hesitantly knocked on the door that stood in front of him, wishing he hadn't come. And wondering what on earth had possessed him, to do something so desperate.

The door was a dark green with little flecks of a lighter green mixed in. It made BJ gag. Only one person in the Neitherworld had a door like this. And he was Beetlejuices' absolute opposite in every way.

The door creaked open slowly and a bedraggled Donny stuck his head out. "Beetlejuice?" He asked, his eyes slightly popping out of his head.

"What are you doing here?"

Beetlejuice glared at him, "Are you gonna let me in?"

Donny stepped aside a large grin arising on his tired face. "Sure! Come on in Brother!"

The Ghost with the Most cringed when he called him 'brother' but made no comment. He brushed past him, entering the immaculately clean house. Beetlejuice scrunched up his nose in disgust.

"How can you stand this! There's no garbage, or smelly socks! YUCK!"

"What? Oh you don't like it?" Donny asked a look of disappointment crossing his happy face.

"It's clean!" Beetlejuice said in revulsion.

"Mother always said that cleanliness was next to godliness."

Beetlejuice rolled his eyes, annoyed, and sat in the nearest chair. "Never mind. I didn't come here for perfection tips. We can argue later."

Donny looked hurt for a moment before he sat down across from his older brother, and asked. "What's going on Beetlejuice? It must have been pressing for you to come to me. What's wrong?"

Beetlejuice looked at Donny and said the hardest thing he had ever had to say.

"I need help."

"With what?" Donny asked kindly.

"I don't know what to do." Beetlejuice laughed without humor, his eyes no longer holding his usual spark.

"It's Lydia." For once he said her full name.

Donny frowned slightly. "I hear you two are getting hitched this afternoon. Did something bad happen?"

"It's a forced marriage Donny!" BJ spat, complete anger bursting into his tone; making Donny jump of his seat.

"Lyds agreed to it to save me! And now she's stuck here in the world of the dead forever, with me as her husband." Beetlejuice paused for a moment before he whispered.

"I've damned her." He moaned into his hands, "I can't make her happy Donny. She deserves so much more than I can give her. I can't be the man she needs."

Donny listened quietly as his brother broke into despair, and then he answered him calmly. Giving him the best advice he could think of.

"Have you told Miss Lydia what you just told me?"

Beetlejuice shook his head.

"Beetlejuice; if she agreed to this marriage, then she must have feelings for you. Otherwise you wouldn't be here talking to me. Would you?"

"But. . . . –"Beetlejuice protested.

"No buts. It's been obvious for years that you two love each other. You need to tell her."

"Even though I do have feelings for her, that doesn't change anything."

"Tell her how you feel. You might be surprised. Telling her everything you've told me might make all the difference in the world."

Beetlejuice sighed, "I don't know how."

Donny smiled at him encouragingly. "Propose to her."

"But were already engaged?"

"I'm sure she would like to be asked. And usually proposing marriage is a sign of everlasting love and devotion. It says that you love her enough to ask her, to be your wife."

For the first time since he had arrived Beetlejuice smiled. He stood up, no longer troubled. His face no longer solemn. He was back to his old self; the Top Prankster of the Neitherworld. Beetlejuice was back.

"Thanks Donny." Beetlejuice said patting his little brother on the back.

"You sure are welcome Beetlejuice! I'm glad to help in any way that I can."

Beetlejuice walked back to the green door, getting ready to leave. Donny followed him out onto the porch. The sun was high in the sky now. And it was going to be a sunny day, even though it was Halloween. Donny took in a breath of the crisp air, and let it enter his lungs slowly. Today was going to be perfect.

As Beetlejuice hopped into Doomie he called back.

"Don't you dare think this means were friends Donny. Nothing has changed between us. And it never will. "

Donny nodded to him, and The Ghost with the Most drove off, to return to Lydia before she woke up. Donny went back inside, smiling to himself.

"Everything has changed brother. You have a heart now."

And then he went off to get ready for Beetlejuice's wedding that would take place in a couple of hours.

I'm so sorry guys. I don't know maybe it's just me, but I feel that I lost BJs' essence in this chapter. If you think so too, I apologize with all my heart. And beg for your forgiveness. Sorry!But I was just dying to write the next chapter. Cause I wanted the too Juice bros. to come to terms, at least for a moment. And I personally think that conversation changed everything. ;D

On another note tell me what you thought. And I also apologize for any grammar or punctuation errors. Thanks guys for reading this! Deepest Regards, Lyn.