All Good Things
by
Owlcroft
A/N: (If anyone wants background to the events herein, several stories are referenced, including 'Blue Diamond','Inheritance' 'Rational Equation', and "Beetlejuice: The Next Generation'.)
Lydia and Beetlejuice had planned this party for months. Lydia's 70th birthday was the same year as their 50th anniversary and they'd invited almost everyone they knew – most of their relatives, of course, and many, many friends.
Looking over the crowd of people in the Fetchhaven back-yard, Lydia took her husband's arm and smiled at him. "What a family," she said in a soft voice. "Who would have thought, all those years ago –"
"Fifty-eight years," Beetlejuice reminded her. "You were twelve. So young and so beautiful, even then."
Grandma Deetz waved at them from under the creeping willow tree and they waved back as she lifted an overflowing wine glass to them.
…..
Years and years before, Charles had approached his son-in-law and begged him to get Grandma Deetz admitted to the Neitherworld. "She would love it there and it's where we're going to settle – later, of course." He smiled hopefully.
So Beetlejuice visited the old troublemaker (as he called her) in her assisted-living condo and explained as well as he could about the Neitherworld. "The family doesn't want to lose you, and we all think you'd like it there. Would you possibly consider it? I can take you there on a visit, so you can see what it's like. 'Course, you've got a lot of years left –"
"Sonny," she cackled feebly, "my heart's failing. I've got another few months maybe. If you've got a way to get me to this place of yours, let's go see what's shaking there. You know I've never been able to turn down an adventure." She tried to give his ribs a nudge and he cooperated by leaning into her elbow.
Naturally, she loved the Neitherworld and they thought she was the cat's pajamas, robe, and slippers.
When the time came that Grandma's heart finally did fail, Beetlejuice knew and immediately juiced himself and his wife to the ICU, invisibly of course. Lydia's father was there, holding his mother's hand, whispering to her that everything was going to be fine.
Grandma Deetz fought her passing, as any obstinate old gal would, but when the nurse finally turned away for a moment to adjust her IV drip, Beetlejuice made himself and Lydia visible to her and gave her a big wink. She managed a weak half-smile, then closed her eyes, sighed just a little, and one of the machines made a beeping noise.
Charles was hustled out into the hallway and several minutes later, a doctor arrived to express his condolences and point him toward the grief counselor's office. Charles thanked him sincerely and strolled over to the now empty waiting room.
Beetlejuice appeared to him at once and said, "She's fine, she's great. Lyds is there with her and she says she hasn't felt so young in years. That because she hasn't been so young in years!"
Grandma was enchanted by the new world she'd been admitted to, and began immediately to make new friends and have new adventures. She found a comfortable apartment not far from the Juice household, Fetchhaven, and settled in.
Lydia arrived back home weak with laughter one afternoon after a lunch with Grandma and her new 'coven'. "I can see why they're called 'witches' – they're just like me!" had chortled Grandma.
After deliberating for a few years, she embarked on her dearest vocation and the Juice family stood and waved as her small plane took off for the Groan Canyon, carrying three passengers, two of which had decided to use parachutes when they jumped. The other was paying extra for the hard landing and looking forward to it extremely.
"She's so happy here, Beej." Lydia stood arm in arm with her husband, waving at the plane.
He waved as well, then looked at her. "Yep. Fits right in."
ooooo
"It's so wonderful that you were able to bring so many of my family here. My darlingest Beej, I have never thanked you enough for that. Or for giving me our children, and so, of course, our grandchildren, too."
"Seems to me you did most of the work. I had the fun part." That called for another kiss, but then his face grew somber. "Took too long for us to have Trix, though. I remember how . . ."
"Don't," she told him. "That's the past. And here," she waved a hand at the throng, "is our future."
…..
Beetlejuice looked down at his first grandchild, holding him tenderly in his arms, unaware of the tears creeping down his face. His wife reached over and gently wiped them away, smiling mistily at the babe and his grandfather.
He looked his thanks at her then whispered, "I think my heart might explode."
Chazz glanced at him, smiling, then went back to cosseting his wife, attempting to explain exactly how much he loved her. Suzy smiled back at him tiredly, then watched her in-laws adore her firstborn son.
"We're naming him Sandfly," she said softly. "Sandy for short." Her mother-in-law threw her a grateful, loving look, then took her grandson in her arms as Beetlejuice blew his nose and pretended he was calm.
"His birth certificate in the other world will show Alexander," explained Sandy's new father. "We figured on maintaining the family tradition with names in this world, though." He held his wife gently and kissed her slate blue hair. "If we ever have a daughter –"
"Oh, Chazz," Suzy closed her eyes and moaned. "Already?"
They all laughed gently, but Chazz went on. "We're going to name a little girl Cricket."
"Oh, that would be perfect!" said Lydia, carefully handing Sandy to his mother. "And Sandy's perfect, and we love you all so much!"
ooooo
"I'm not surprised that Grandma fits in so well here." Lydia watched her grandmother telling Monster and Monstress about her latest adventure – sailing solo down the Vile River. "But Father . . . well, you remember his first day here? He was ecstatic when he realized nothing hurt any more!"
Beetlejuice snorted a laugh. "I remember him jumping up and down and then grabbing Deels to dance with him. In the front yard! The neighbors figured out right away that he fit right in with them."
…..
Lydia's father held out moving to the Neitherworld until his death. It was peaceful – his son-in-law ensured that – and his wife was there in front of their new home when he arrived. Delia was beginning to feel her years and knew that she'd also soon be a permanent resident of the world to which Beetlejuice had introduced them. They'd already moved there and sold the family home in Peaceful Pines. Delia, of course, had been spending a great deal of time in the Neitherworld since her studio opened many years before.
Charles was able to attend his own funeral, heavily disguised by his son-in-law. "Gosh," he said sotto voce, "I didn't know I was such a swell guy."
Beetlejuice laughed at him, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "Don't believe everything you hear at these shindigs, Chuck. Although," he considered, "in your case . . ." and grinned. His father-in-law grinned back at him.
Lydia tossed them a warning glance from her seat in the front pew. Delia hadn't noticed since she had thrown her heart and soul into her grieving-widow performance. As usual, she was over-acting. As usual, everyone expected it.
Charles and Delia had found the perfect place to live in the Neitherworld, a little closer to Sandy and his family than to Lydia, but also near Delia's gallery, which still took up a great deal of her time. A lot of their time was also spent playing with and baby-sitting the grandkids. Chazz and Suzy had somehow produced two children who both had sandy hair with faint blue undertones and the most exquisite turquoise eyes. The grandparents doted on them but managed not to spoil them too much.
Charles found a congenial country club and made many friends. He still played canasta twice a week and was now able to resume his golf game. "I never felt better in my life!" was his constant joke. He still said it at least once a week, and Beetlejuice always laughed with him as everyone else covered their eyes and moaned in protest.
ooooo
Lydia looked at her daughter, talking animatedly to Ginger and Jacques, and sighed just a little. "I always had the suspicion that no man she ever met could live up to her father," murmured Beatie's mother to Trix's father. "I've never spoken to her about it – it's her life after all – but maybe she was a little too demanding."
"I liked Mike," said Beetlejuice with a frown. "It's such a shame that didn't work out. Rick, now – she was on the rebound when she married him, wasn't she? And she made a mistake."
"Yes," sighed Lydia, "but mistakes are how we learn. And she is happier now, single, than she ever was married."
…..
Beatie met and married her first husband while they were both in college. It was a storybook romance, and both families were thrilled. Beatie's parents were less thrilled when she informed them that she'd decided to remain with her husband when they eventually died.
"You can understand that." She knew she was causing them great pain, but forged ahead. "The life we have now, together – I don't want that to end, but when it does, I still want to be with him. You know I love the Neitherworld, and both of you," she paused while they both nodded sadly, arms around each other, "but Mike is my husband. Mom, you decided to come here when you die because of Pop, didn't you?"
Lydia nodded again, tearfully. Beetlejuice didn't, or couldn't, speak. They'd been been afraid of this decision and hoped for a different one.
"But Mike's family has taken me into their hearts and I know he'll want to go where they go, and I have to go where he does." Beatie looked at them imploringly.
Her parents understood and accepted the situation, with great heartache, but then Beatie had unexpectedly separated from and divorced Mike.
"It's a good thing we put off telling him about you, about the Neitherworld." Lydia shook her head, trying to understand what had gone wrong with a marriage that had seemed solid and loving.
"Yeah," Beetlejuice sighed. "I guess that's the silver lining to the whole thing. Dearest," he held her close, "it all makes me so very sad."
She sniffed a little, swiped at a damp eye, and held him tighter. "Me, too. I really thought . . ."
It was a great sorrow to the whole family; they'd grown very close to Mike. Beatie's second marriage had lasted only two years and neither Lydia or Beetlejuice really got fond of Rick. When that marriage dissolved, Beatie announced that she had decided to remain single and would after all be joining her family in the Neitherworld.
"You don't know, can't know, what that means to us," Beetlejuice murmured to his daughter as he hugged her. "Here . . . your Mama," and he passed her to Lydia and mopped at his eyes.
Lydia hugged and kissed her daughter, saying, "You don't have to decide now, honey. And you know you can always change your mind."
Beetlejuice looked alarmed at that but Beatie shook her head emphatically. "Nope. I think I'm just not cut out to be married – I like my independence too much – so I've made my decisions and I'll stand by them. Besides," she took each of them by an arm and drew them close, "why wouldn't I want to be in a place that I love with the people I love?"
They had to agree with that, especially since it was the choice they'd always hoped she would make.
ooooo
"It's hard to remember now the problems Donny and Ravyn had early on. What a terrible situation that was. I felt so bad for both of them. But," Lydia smiled at her oldest niece, "it all turned out just fine. Midge is really gorgeous, isn't she? With those big eyes and the family ears?"
Beetlejuice felt that deserved a kiss, so he gratefully bestowed one. "She's nearly as gorgeous as our kids. We have the most beautiful children and grandchildren in either world," he told her. "All because of you."
…..
Donny and his wife Ravyn had been happily married for many years after a rocky start. When Midge had been given to Lydia as a infant, with the words 'Tell Beetlejuice Midge is his. Never trust a ghost!', it had not led to a disaster but to an ultimatum from Donny's family – one which he'd reluctantly passed on to the mother of his child. At long last, Ravyn decided to finally commit to him and be a family with their daughter, and it was a decision which delighted Bea and Nat Juice and relieved Lydia and Beetlejuice.
Midge had been raised in a loving home, with several aunts and uncles to help look after her. Uncle Victor and Aunt Lucy were the only hold-outs, deeply disappointed that their favorite nephew had gotten himself into such a deplorable situation. Absolutely no one in the Juice family missed them at the usual family get-togethers; Beetlejuice and Lydia were positively delighted with their absence although they never said so to anyone else. Midge had grown up a happy, well-adjusted child with none of her father's annoying habits of steadfast cheerfulness. She had, however, become a well-known prankster, taking after her favorite uncle in that regard, although she never reached his level of notoriety. For which everyone was extremely grateful.
ooooo
Now, Ravyn was telling all the grandparents the latest story about Midge's children. They'd also inherited their uncle's talent for getting into trouble, it seemed, and for being able to get themselves out of it. Midge herself was trying to teach her cousin Sandy how to do the Charleston while her younger sister, Katy, short for Katydid, was laughing and countering her instructions with directions of her own.
Chazz and Suzy nudged each other when they noticed their son's attempts at the dance. He was laughing hard enough to make his awkward moves even more outlandish than before. Their daughter, Cricket, was imitating her brother's moves with a mocking grin, until he broke away, grabbed her and pulled her to dance right next to him. Midge went for the Littlest Monster from Across Town and dragged him into the line of dancers. One after another of the guests joined in, until nearly everyone was doing what they fondly imagined to be the Charleston.
Beetlejuice turned to Lydia and extended a hand. "Should we show them how it's supposed to be done?"
She laughed and pulled him to stand next to her in front of their guests and they Charlestoned like no one ever had before. When everyone was breathless, Beetlejuice changed the music to the twist and he and his wife left the dance floor to others while they went to check on their oldest friends.
"Hey, Ginge, you not dancing?" The ghost eyed the spider with some concern. "Everything okay?"
Ginger threw a doting look back at the skeleton standing behind her, beaming with pride. "Oh, yeah, honey. I'm fine."
Lydia added her concern. "But you, not dancing? I thought you'd be leading the way."
Jacques put a tender hand on his wife's carapace. "She is merely resting, as zey say in ze show biz."
Ginger laughed at that, patting her husband's hand. "Actually you two are the first we were going to tell anyway. In a coupla months, we're going to have octuplets." She squeezed Jacques' hand gently.
Beetlejuice's jaw dropped in amazement. "Really?! How did the two of you ever –"
"Congratulations!" interrupted Lydia hastily. "That's wonderful news," and she hugged the small spider carefully, then the larger skeleton with real affection.
Ginger offered her two front legs to Beetlejuice, who obliged, then extended a hand to his other old housemate. "Yeah, it's great! Congrats, you guys!"
"Now do not tell anyone zat we are expecting," said an anxious Jacques. "Zey would make ze fuss and ma preciéuse épouse needs rest and peace." He twirled his mustache with aplomb and no small amount of smugness.
The human and ghost pair offered more good wishes then had to wend their way to the back porch to supervise the next stage of events.
"How? That's what you wanted to ask, wasn't it?" Lydia looked back over her shoulder to the happy pair off to the side. "I can't even imagine."
"Me, neither." Beetlejuice thought about it, then frowned and shrugged. "Took them even longer than it took us."
"Well, we found our own form of magic in our love, my darlingest Beej." She snaked an arm around his waist. "I guess they found theirs, too, somehow."
He gave her an adoring, devoted smile. "It was your magic. Okay, okay," he added hastily when she gave him a mild version of The Look. "It was both of us, the feelings we have make a special magic that just can't be explained." The Look disappeared to be replaced with a cherishing smile and a squeeze of the arm.
A selection of food had appeared on the long tables to the side of the yard and people were now beginning to perch wherever they could find a seat to enjoy the various offerings. And to sip a few libations as well, mostly fizzy, and some quite alcoholic.
Looking out at everyone from the back porch, Lydia sighed happily. "Oh, Beej, what a life we've had. The children and grandchildren and maybe someday great-great-great grandchildren."
"I don't know if they'll be all that great, my dearest. They'll be okay," he said grudgingly, then couldn't help but hoot with laughter at her expression. "It is amazing, though, when you think about it." Beetlejuice pulled her a little closer and leaned his blond head against her silver-streaked one.
Lydia sighed happily and wrapped him in an embrace. "So many years. So many memories, and so much fun we had."
"Hey, we still have fun!"
"Yes, we do. And we always will. Beej, my darlingest sweetheart, how happy you've made me."
He smiled at her and traced her lower lip with a gentle finger. "I think we ought to go join everybody else before I get sappy."
"There's plenty of time; the party's just getting started."
"Ah, but later," he murmured, "when we're through dancing and laughing and –"
"Later," she grinned at him. "This celebration is wonderful, but all good things come to –"
"They don't come to an end." He grinned back. "All good things come to those who wait."
A/N: No, I'm not writing Lydia's death scene. Unless a lot of people really, really want to read it.
