Part 2 Lydia
****
Lydia held Astrid's hand as they made their way through the tunnel that would take them back to the land of the living.
It had been a long night, but she had thankfully gotten Astrid back, it had been a shock to see Richard but at the same time it had been wonderful, he was alright and it truly felt like a chapter had been closed.
"You don't have to do it you know." Astrid's voice broke the silence.
"Do what?" Lydia asked.
"Get married to Rory."
Shit! Lydia had forgotten about him with everything going on.
Yes, she did care about him and loved him, not like Richard of course, but she did feel love for him.
But she had met him when they were both at a low point in their lives.
"I promised I would marry him..."
"He proposed during Grandpa's memorial service, he basically pressured you into saying yes, if he loves you he'd be willing to wait."
When did my kid have more common sense than me? Lydia thought to herself.
Delia was right, I do need to find myself again.
"You're right Astrid, I'll call it off at the church, then I can work on myself again, and repair things between us."
"It's going great so far." Astrid said and grinned, Lydia grinned back and they embraced.
***
Soon they came to an entrance and came out into a cemetery.
"Lydia!" It was the voice of Father Damian. They had been sent to the church.
Lydia took Astrid's hand and together they went into the church, Rory looked relieved to see her.
"Where's your dress?" He asked.
She looked around and saw no one she recognized, Rory always was obsessed with image and advertising her brand so to speak.
The wedding was looking more like a business meeting, an arrangement. Almost like us, she thought.
"Rory, I can't marry you."
"Yeah, considering she already agreed to marry me."
She turned to see Beetlejuice at alter with Delia standing next to him.
****
Everything quickly became a blur, Beetlejuice reminding her of the contract and Astrid's gasp at telling her she could call him dad. And finding out Rory's true motives for being with her. The punching glove Beetlejuice gave her was so satisfying.
She looked down at herself and found herself wearing that same red, wedding dress from their first wedding ceremony three decades ago.
How were they floating?
He helped you save Astrid.
He cares about you in his own way.
He's forcing me to marry him!
He just wants to return to the mortal world, if he wanted to hurt you he could've done it so many times. He's always kept his word to you.
Then Father Damien was in front of them.
***
Suddenly the doors burst open and a tall, and very grey skinned colored, woman came in, long dark hair and a black dress, and staples all over her.
She looked at Beetlejuice, "I've come for you my love.' She purred.
He looked sickened and started rambling, trying to get himself out of the situation.
Then everyone, including him seemed to freeze in place but Lydia could still move.
Delores turned to her, "So, you're the wench he stole my ring for."
"He said you meant nothing to him." What was wrong with her? Trying to piss off somebody who had lots of power.
Fury came to her face, "First, I'll deal with you, and then my wayward husband. I shall make him watch as I get rid of my rival."
Lydia cried out as the woman closed the gap between them quickly and her hands went around Lydia's throat.
She couldn't breathe! And the Delores opened her mouth...
"No!" It seemed like another wind burst through the church as Beetlejuice's cry rang out.
Delores let go of her and turned to Beetlejuice just as he used his powers to move Lydia out of the way and he pounced on Delores.
He looked over to Astrid, "It's close to you! page 80!"
Astrid quickly grabbed a book off the floor.
Beetlejuice and Delores kept using their powers on each other, which kept knocking them away from each other more than anything else.
"I got it!" Astrid yelled, "Move away quick!"
Beetlejuice moved away from Delores as a sandworm burst into the church, then Rory was standing next to Delores somehow while Beetlejuice was acting like a bull fighter.
Delores and Rory were quickly grabbed and the sandworm disappeared back into its world, the entrance quickly sealed by Beetlejuice.
He looked over at Astrid, "You did great kid, you take after mom." A sheepish look came over his face, "I'm sure dad played a large part also."
Astrid managed a sincere grin.
Beetlejuice approached Lydia carefully, "You alright babes?"
Lydia nodded, the events of this night and exhaustion catching up to her, along with shock.
"Lydia Dietz, will you marry me? Without a contract, on your own free will? I promise after a year if you want to be free..." Pain came to his voice and he briefly closed his eyes. "I'll let you go."
"But...I did sign a contract." She whispered sadly, "How can it be null..."
"It's not legal..." Astrid's voice broke in. She showed them the section she had somehow found.
The contract vanished in a poof of smoke.
Lydia looked at the man who had been part of her life for so long. "Yes, I will marry you on a trail bases."
Beetlejuice let out a whoop of delight. "We lost Father Damian." But he snapped his fingers and the same priest creature from thirty years ago appeared.
"Ugh, not you two again."
Just then Wolf Jackson burst in with some officers.
"Relax, Delores is gone, but you're welcome to stay for the wedding."
Jackson considered, "There's still the matter of you bringing a living into the afterlife...but I suppose we can wait a bit."
Wolf smiled at Delia kindly, "Also, I can let you have this last family occasion."
Lydia felt devastation, "Those snakes had actual venom didn't they?"
"Yes, and I'm counting on all of you to get a refund."
"Shall we?" Beetlejuice asked softly.
Lydia came and stood next to him.
She was about to help break a curse that would help him return to the world of the living. She was about to marry a ghost slash demon.
She had no idea what the next few months would bring but as Beetlejuice slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her cheek she knew it definitely wouldn't be dull.