Disclaimer: I do not own Beetlejuice or related characters, he belongs to Tim Burton. I do not own Beetlegeuse. I don't own Betelgeuse? I don't own any of the weird spellings for his name. I also have no ownership of Jim Beam. Just trying to cover everything.

Betelgeuse?

Written By: Melanie Ray

Chapter Twenty Four: Three, Two, Huh?

Awkward, Lydia thought as she held BG in her arms. Beetlejuice had been Benny off and on over the week, but the change between who he was seemed to change somewhere between six and forty-two hours. It wasn't easy to make time to hang out with Benny or BJ, considering she never knew which one would be there.

They worked out a small system of 3,2, and huh so far. When she said something Beetlejuice didn't understand, he'd hold up a 2. When he understood everything fine, he'd hold up a 3, signaling he was Benny and BJ.

And he usually just said 'huh?' if he was Benny and didn't understand. Well, Lydia had talked with BJ/Benny on the phone earlier, asking him to go to the movies. Beetlejuice insisted she liven up her decision time by having some fun too. Good ol' Beej. He never made sense.

The only problem is, he was Benny when he arrived at the theatres. Pure, one hundred percent Benny with no memory of his neitherworld afterlife. It usually wasn't so bad. Benny was fine, but she had a terrible feeling when he walked up to her, pushing a comb through his white hair, things wouldn't be smooth.

Benny never cared about his hair too awful much. It didn't get as wild as BJ's, but he didn't pull out a comb to take care of it. Error number one. "Hey, Benny." Lydia waved slightly, trying to be nice.

However, it was as she feared. "Kath." He shoved his comb in his pocket. "Yeah, uh, my hair went white again. Funny, huh?" He tried to smooth his hair down. "Keeps standing up too. Sorry about that, didn't want to embarrass you on the first date." He snorted softly. "Was waiting for the second. So! What did you want to see?"

Okay. "Uh, date?" Unfortunately, Beetlejuice had been absolutely right about the mind plugging what it wanted to for the different three forms. Apparently, Benny's plugged in her phone call to BJ as a date for him.

"Yeah. Saturday night, 7:00, show." He chuckled. "Come on, don't tease."

Before Lydia could try and say something, a few guys about their ages came up toward him.

"Benny," one of them said softly as they looked toward Lydia. "That's the Kathleen girl, isn't it?"

"Yo. Don't start." Benny was practically glaring at them. He wrapped his arm around Lydia. "Just beat it."

Lydia didn't know what to make of the tension.

"Yeah, yeah. Just don't get too attached to that girl," one of them said ."Of course, I hear she's easy for a good time."

Oh.Duh. Of course.Lydia looked toward BG. Because I have him, I'm 'easy', and not to be trusted. For just a little while, hanging around BJ more often, she had felt more normal again. Even enough to go out for a night of fun. But, she forgot. She was Kathleen Smith, a nineteen-year-old with, not only a baby, but a strange amount of money and a nice house for someone so young. Most of them had assumed her parents had given her a good amount of money to leave them be or something. That's what she thought, until another new piece was heard.

"Fine, Benny, do what you wish," one of the guys uttered. "Just don't let her sugar daddy find out."

Sugar daddy?Honestly, she didn't think people could think worse of her! So now, some thought it was her parents putting her up, but others thought . . . others thought . . .

"That's it," Benny yelled at them, grabbing the first nearest guy. "Stop talking about Kath that way." He pulled his fist back. "You know I'm not joking!"

A fist fight? Lydia looked toward the ground, remembering that other thing about Benny. He wasn't violent around her, but he could be. He knew his way around a fight. Because he doesn't have juice, he's reduced to it.

All her decisions came crashing back down on her again. Her family and friends were in the neitherworld still, because she wouldn't make that decision. Beetlejuice was stuck between forms without his juice, because she wouldn't make that decision.

"Don't pick on Thomas," one of the other guys warned him. "We're just helping you see straight. She's pretty but she's got a whole lot of baggage. We just think maybe someone's getting tired of that baggage, and she's fishing around for a new daddy!"

Benny didn't even respond as he let go of Thomas, but punched the other one in the gut.

Lydia tried to hide her face, feeling guilt wind up in her. Is that what BJ would become if I took away his juice, just for us to be near each other?She didn't fear Benny, but that kind of life wasn't going to lead to positive things.

Benny grabbed her hand quickly, and Lydia held BG tightly as the moviegoers yelled at them. Would they get arrested for being involved in a fight in a public place?

"Sorry, Kath. That was a bad first date," Benny said as he dusted himself off and stopped running after a few blocks. "Sorry about those guys. They just don't understand stuff."

"They were . . . trying to warn you though," Lydia said softly. "Were those your enemies that you just did that to?" She already knew the answer, but she wanted to see what he said.

Nothing. "Screw 'em."

"They were your friends, weren't they?"

"Not anymore, not if they don't accept this." Benny turned toward her and touched one of her hands holding BG. "Kath, I . . . you know, I didn't plan on feeling this way with ya," he said gently. "I planned on making some money off of you, and maybe getting a free movie and some meals in here and there. But." His voice was strained. "I don't care if you have a kid, or who the dad is, or if that other guy you used to talk about like me is what you really wanted or not or something or whatever or I don't care!" He put both his hands on hers. "We were meant to be. When I'm away from you . . . it's so hard to bear. I can't explain it."

Well, Benny was BJ. Of course, she knew that feeling. She felt it all the time. "Um." Lydia swallowed. "Benny? How often do you fight?"

"Well." He shrugged his shoulders. "Does it matter?"

"We kind of had to throw ourselves out of a movie theatre, Benny." She looked down toward BG. "I'm not looking to make you into a dad or anything, but you know, I really shouldn't-"

"What, just 'cause of a small scuffle?" Benny groaned. "Come on, that was nothing. I couldn't just let them get away with talking about you like that. What kind of boyfriend would I be to let that happen?" He pounded one fist into another. "I'd never hurt you or BG, and I don't hurt people who don't mess with me. But . . . I tend to have a personality that pisses people off. Hell, I'd get beat up all the time if I didn't fight back, Lyd." He blinked. "Lyd?"

Uh oh. What a time. This is awkward enough right now! Please be just BJ, please be just BJ."Number?"

BJ backed away slowly. "He doesn't . . . he's just getting confused between best friends forever and other things."

Yep, number three. Lydia watched as BJ was shaking his hand. "I bet that hurts."

"Forget it." BJ stopped shaking his hand. "Guess we can't see a show. Probably had lousy shows, but this town doesn't have much. No mini-golf, no bowling, no nothing. Maybe we could grab a pizza?"

"BG."

"BG what?"

"How attached are you to him?"

That was a weird answer. Ooh, my freaking Benny side! I don't get to hold the whole picture when I'm just him, but I know that question's not good. It's got to be because of that fight."What do you mean how attached, Lyd?"

She adjusted BG with one hand and rubbed her mouth gently with her other hand before holding BG tighter. "As Benny, you're more used to him. As BJ, you kind of stay away from him. When you're balanced, you're more like . . . not hating him."

What was she getting at?

"Do you want to hold him at all?"

"Uh, yeah I can. No big deal."

"No, I don't mean 'can'. Do you want to hold your child, BJ?"

His child. Lydia never said it like that. "Do I want to hold him? Not really."

"Yeah." Lydia pulled BG closer back to her. "I mean, he's not bad. You're okay with him, but, I mean . . . it's not like you're that close to him."

Okay, what? "Why are you even pulling up this daddy stuff?" he had to ask. This didn't make any sense.

"Are you his friend or father?" Lydia held BG's pacifier tightly, probably to make sure he didn't launch it at him. "Do you think you'll ever see him more as something than a friend?"

"I don't like what you're saying. Why are you asking this, Babe?"

"Just answer."

"I don't know!" BJ whined. "He's, friend, I guess! I don't know, he's a baby!"

"Yeah." Her voice was soft, but sounded cautious. "He would be a friend. He wouldn't even be a best friend, so it's not like . . . well, you told me yourself. You really haven't bonded with him, so . . ."

Where were all the pauses coming from?

"Beej. I made a decision." Lydia looked straight at him. "You need to stay in the neitherworld, forever."

Neitherworld. Neitherworld? "What?"

"Without your juice, you'll have to stand up for yourself like Benny," Lydia said. "I don't want that for you."

"Lyd? You want me . . . gone?"

"All of the decisions were hard."

"No it's not!" Beetlejuice rubbed his face. "I'll get rid of my juice!"

"To be human, with no magic?"

"I already was as Benny."

"And he fights. And, I love your personality BJ, but it doesn't make for a good future here in my time. You're blunt, but you don't back down. Fighting won't get you anywhere good in the living world, and without juice, that's what you will do."

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it! "Babe, just stop! Think about it for a second?"

"I mean." She was clearly trying to hide her eyes welling up by looking downward. "The only real thing bad about it is BG. But, you said it yourself. He's just maybe a friend, if even. If I separate us all now, he won't even know you probably. And, you won't super miss him."

That was it. That was it, that's why she was asking all those stupid questions about fatherhood. BJ grabbed his head. "No, I'd miss my kid way too much to live with myself."

"Too late," she whispered. "It's not your fault, BJ. I don't blame you. In fact, this helps make it a little easier."

"Easier? You're throwing me out to the neitherworld, forever!" BJ yelled at her. "For what? So I keep my juice, so I don't get into fights? Are you out of your mind?!"

"You can't just think short term, BJ. As Benny, what are you going to be in the future if you keep this up?"

Okay. Damn. "I promise I won't fight."

"How can you say that? What if someone says something like they did in the movies? Would you just ignore it and walk it off?"

Heck no he wouldn't do that! "Sure." She read through his lie though.

"You don't want surgery to be an option. I can't let you part with your juice, just for me. It's wrong and it's selfish, BJ."

"Be a little selfish," he insisted. "Lyd, I want to stay. Take the juice, just take it."

"And I'd move back with my family, with BG, and you'd be here with your mom?"

"Of course not. I don't need a mom, I barely visit mine in the neitherworld."

"So you'd leave, and find a place near my family? How? How would you afford it?" Lydia asked. "I don't think mom and dad would be keen to let you stay."

Not more logic. Not now."I'd figure it out." His voice was getting strained. He felt himself losing the battle with Lydia. She wasn't choosing it to get away from him. She was choosing it for him, because everything she said was right. He couldn't stay near her easily. He'd have no choice but to find a way to work just to rent something and eat to survive in the world if he left his mom.

The world he left when he was alive, it was different centuries ago. Much different. As it stood now, he put no emphasis in college or really his learning. His grades were low. He hadn't thought much of the future as even Benny, but with a . . . family? "That's a horrible decision, Lyd. Just tell me if you're trying to get rid of me. If I'm being too annoying for you in your new perfect life, just come out and say it."

"Get my family and friends. Get your juice back. It's time I went home, BJ. It's time you go home too." He watched her try to swallow. "We had a fun time. We were really the best of friends, Beej'. You're irreplaceable, but we're just . . . we're just friends. Friends come and go, and . . . I guess this is . . . where you go." She could barely manage to say the words.

And there's no way Beetlejuice could manage the actions to do what she said. "No way, forget it." He crossed his arms stubbornly. "Make me. I'll keep everyone down there for centuries if I have to. You're my only real friend, Lyd, and I won't lose you for anything."

"You said the decision was mine."

"Well, you made the wrong one."

"Can I get a word in?"

Lydia and BJ both looked to their left and saw a WDP standing with a little . . . scrawny . . . demon.

"Vernie," Lydia remarked.

"Yeah, of course. Throw me away, but you learned a WDP's real name."

"It's not like that."

"Then what is it like?"

"Ahem?" Vernie held up the demon toward them and dangled it. "The source of your problem has been found."

"So no decision needed?" BJ asked, still staring at the scrawny demon. That?Thatwas the cause of all his grief?

"Not quite. The neitherworld and hell news spreads fast," Vernie said. "A neitherworld reporter overheard Donny and Juno talking. Tricky things, get as small as bugs to get dishes on news. Now everyone knows what they have to do to be the ones to create a new hell now. We went from just one to many knowing. One demon is horrid, but the press is so much worse. It never turns out well. So, no, it's far from over."

"Then . . ."

"Don't do it, Lydia Deetz." BJ said her full name. He meant it, she better not. She couldn't! Not to them. All those years. All those memories. Without Lydia . . . it didn't matter whether he was in hell or not. Anywhere without her was hell.

"Donny knows where my family and friends are at, Vernie. Get them back." She couldn't look at him as she said it. "Make sure Beetlejuice never comes back to the living world somehow."

No. No. No. "Don't." Beetlejuice gritted his teeth at the WDP as he tried to grab his arm. "Don't touch me, Vernie, if you know what's good for you." He grabbed the little demon roughly by its devilish horns. "Lydia." But, he knew it was of no use. She wasn't going to change her mind. She didn't even give it a second thought for the request to the WDP. He gripped the little thing's horns even harder. "You'll regret getting rid of this ghost with the most." Gaw, he could barely get it out. No, he couldn't break down.

It was her decision. If he had juice, like before, he could do what he needed to. He could zap himself a life right next to her. But . . . without juice. I'd figured it out, Lyd. This isn't going to make me happy. Don't you get that?

All that time. All that energy to try to get back to her. "Lydia!" He tried desperately one more time. But, more WDP's came back and it was over.

It was over.

After he was gone, Lydia did her best not to crumble. "Friend. My best friend. I'm sorry." She tried to stay positive. "He would ruin his life. He was Benny and him, and in this world? It's not for him. It's never been for him. Even as Benny . . ." He had such strong feelings. Almost as strong as hers. Maybe. Not again, and not now.

She looked down at BG. He looked so much like him. Maybe with his help, she'd one day learn to accept the decision she had to make? "Y . . . y-you're going to meet your grandparents soon. A-aren't you happy?"

BG kept his eyes closed, only opening them a little, to have them droop again.

"You'll be good. Y-you'll grow up strong." She began to walk away. "We'll be fine. You've spend most of your life away from him, so, it'll be okay. And he really never thought much of you anyway." As she heard BG's cries, she suddenly remembered.

He understood everything he heard. His comprehension skills. She looked down at him. He knewshe sent his father away. "I'm sorry." Her tears were welling up. "You don't understand this, you just don't." She continued to walk. "Surgeries weren't an option. He had to go, or I had to take away what made him, him. It wasn't fair or right. It would be so selfish of me, just to have him here as a friend." She held him closer. "He did like you, I'm sorry I said that. I'm just . . ."

BG cooed quietly, but said nothing else.