Moving
by
Owlcroft

A/N: This story references events from 'Photo Finish'.

"I've been thinking, Beej." Lydia moved a gentle hand across her swollen abdomen. "It's just a thought now, and I haven't decided myself, but maybe it's something we should talk about." She looked across the parlor at him, making sure he was paying attention. When he glanced up at her, she continued. "Since the baby's going to be born in the human world, and go to school there, I'm wondering if we should move back there. Find a place near my parents, maybe."

Beetlejuice dropped his crossword and said at once, "No!"

"But, sweetheart, let me explain why. I'm not saying we ought to, but I have been thinking about it." She shifted slightly on the small sofa, trying to get more comfortable.

"No!" he said again. After a moment, he blinked twice then rose and floated over to her, settling at her feet. "No," he said again in a quiet voice. "You're happier here." He held up a placatory hand. "I know you're thinking about the baby, but I'm thinking about you – what's best for you. And I know you've never been happier than right now. My very dearest . . ." he rested both his hands on her knees, "we both know you wouldn't be that happy in your old world. You never were. And what would we do about the shop? Sure, you're a real success in that world, too –"

"We're a success in that world because of your fabrics, sweetheart. That's what gave us a start over there."

"But," he took a breath, frowned an instant, then looked directly at her. "Last time I told you 'no', it turned out really bad. I know you remember what happened and you know it isn't easy for me to say no to you, especially because it makes me remember that. But I have to sometimes, to protect you if nothing else. And right now, you're thinking about our child first. Which is probably what you should do. But I think about you first. I will always think what's best for you first."

Lydia looked her love at him and ran her hand through his hair. "I know," she said softly. "But have you ever even thought about bringing our child up in the other world?"

Beetlejuice shook his head, then changed it to a nod with a shrug. "A little. A few months ago. But I know you wouldn't be as happy there, as comfortable, as . . ." He thought about it for a moment. "As at home as you are here."

"You're probably right." She sighed and shifted again and he joined her on the sofa, putting his arm behind her to take some of her weight onto his shoulder. "I do want our child to have friends here, not just the ones he makes in school, but I'm finding myself going over all the possibilities for him – not just where we live, but what schools are best, and birthday parties, and . . . oh, everything!" She rested her head on his shoulder. "My mind won't quit sometimes, thinking about him, making plans, trying to figure everything out ahead of time."

"I know." He rubbed his face against her hair. "Natural, I guess, for you to worry about stuff like that. But would you really want to move back?"

"No, of course not." Lydia tilted her head to look up at him. "I love it here, you were right about that. Maybe it's just my crazy hormones at work," she sighed again.

They were both quiet for a moment before Beetlejuice spoke softly. "If you really wanted to move there, you know I would."

"I know. And you know I really don't. Beej darling, forget I ever said anything about it. I'm pregnant and sometimes I say weird things. Thank goodness," she wriggled again, trying to ease her position, "I won't be able to use that excuse after another couple of weeks."

"I can juice you another pillow if you think it would help," he offered.

"No, I think I'm okay for a while now." She took his right hand in her left and squeezed it gently. "I'm not sure . . . thinking about what happened that first time you told me no about something – I don't think I thanked you enough for that."

Her husband was silent, but gave her hand a return squeeze.

"I'm very sure I didn't apologize enough."

"You did," he whispered in a gruff voice. "And you didn't need to thank me at all."

"For saving my life? Darling Beej!" She looked at him in surprise. "It all happened so fast, but I don't think I was ever more scared in my life when I turned around and saw . . ." She shook her head and hid her face against his shoulder again.

He put his other arm around her and held her close. "That Sandworm almost . . . you were so close . . . if I hadn't somehow known where you were –"

"I know," she muttered against his shirt. "And it would have had Doomie, too, and it was all my fault." She jerked her head up suddenly. "Wait. What happens when a Sandworm – well, if it had gotten me, I would have died, wouldn't I? Not just been sent back to the human world?" she asked, still looking slightly frightened at the memory.

"We," Beetlejuice said in a low voice, "don't come back. We're gone. Nobody has ever come back from that. You," he shook his head as if to throw the idea from him, "a human – you would've . . . you wouldn't exist any more. We think that's what happens to us. Just . . . oblivion. So we sort of think of it as a permanent answer. A sort of suicide."

She bit her lip and looked at the floor. "And that's why you were so afraid for me." It then occurred to her that he'd said, more than once, that he would 'find a Sandworm' if she distanced herself from him or found someone she loved in her world. "You would never . . . not now!" She clutched at his jacket. "You wouldn't now – you wouldn't do that. You know you would never have to, don't you?"

He tightened his embrace a little. "'Course not. Never." He dropped a kiss on her hair. "You're worrying about something that will never happen, my sweeting. Must be those raging hormones again, huh?" He gave her a quick smile.

Lydia smiled back and shook her head in self-deprecation. "Must be." She relaxed again, head tucked under her husband's chin. "I'd say just ignore me at this point, but there's something important I have to say. About you telling me no sometimes. I do understand how you feel, but you know that I want you to tell me when you disagree with anything or don't believe it's the right thing to do. Say no when that happens. Please? I want you to say no when that happens. You do understand, don't you?"

"No," he said simply.

She pulled back to look at him in astonishment, grinned at him and chuckled. "But you do agree to be honest with me and tell me what you really think?"

"No." He was trying hard not to respond to her grin.

"And you will tell me honestly what you think about moving to the human world, because we always tell each other the truth and we do that because we love each other so much, right?" She eyed him impishly.

"Um," he hesitated, thinking, then finally gave up and laughed with her.