What's Not to Love - a Beetlelands Soulmate AU

It's Not the Same

Lydia pulled away from Barbara at the sound of her dad calling up to her. Although the teenager knew exactly what it was he needed her for, she had, for a while, decided against going downstairs for now. Barbara noticed a variety of different expressions flashing across Lydia's face, her reaching out, putting a hand on the latter's shoulder, and giving her a confused look.

Lydia looked up at the ghost she now considered to be a sort of motherlike figure to her, the same expression appearing on her face.

Both of the females stayed that way for at least a little while longer, until Lydia heard her dad calling up to her a second time (that one louder than the first). This time, Lydia stood up and began to make her way over to her bedroom door. But before she reached a hand out and pulled it open to leave, she turned and refocused her attention onto Barbara.

"Barb?"

"Yeah?" the female ghost replied, cocking her head to the side.

"Do you mind if I come upstairs to the attic later? I have an idea as to what you, Adam, and Betelgeuse can do to get my dad and Delia to see you guys. It might not work, but we can still give it a try. Right?"

Barbara nodded, giving the teenager a thumbs up as the latter exited her bedroom. Then she teleported herself back up to the attic to rejoin her husband and Betelgeuse.

Lydia quietly made her way downstairs, glancing down at the green soul marks on her arms as she did so. So much so that she didn't take much notice of where she was going until her father caught her. Seemingly on his way up the stairs to fetch her and talk to her, he helped her the rest of the way down the stairs and she followed him into the kitchen.

She sat herself down at the kitchen table, in a chair that was facing her dad and Delia.

And, for the most part, Lydia, like she normally did, did not look thrilled in the slightest to be there. Things fell silent between the living, a silence eventually broken by Charles when he cleared his throat.

"Lydia-"

"What!" she snapped, standing up and slamming her hands on the table. "Is this about you deciding to marry Delia and forget about mom?! Is this about you refusing to believe that the house is haunted?!"

"No, it's..." he was cut off by a loud grumble from his daughter, who, again, slammed her hands on the table. "Lydia, sit down so we can talk."

"I don't wanna talk!" Lydia spat under her breath, folding her arms and scowling.

"Lydia, sit down!" her dad repeated, a bit louder and more stern than the previous time.

She refused, turning and exiting the kitchen, stomping her way upstairs, slamming her door closed with a loud bang that reverberated around the house. A rather loud bang that alerted the Maitlands to the fact that something was wrong. In an instant, the two ghosts teleported into Lydia's bedroom and sat down on either side of her.

Barbara, just as concerned, put a hand on the teenager's shoulder. "Lydia, whatever it was your dad needed you for... what happened?"

"I don't wanna talk about it..." Lydia mumbled under her breath, curling in on herself.

"Lydia, c'mon," Barbara urged, sounding worried.

For a while, Lydia said nothing except for a series of inaudible noises. And, as minutes passed by, the Maitlands grew increasingly more and more worried. They could tell that something did happen, but, with Lydia staying quiet, how exactly were they both going to help her out? Adam and Barbara looked at one another, having a silent conversation. Then they turned their attention back to Lydia.

"Want to talk about it like we're a sort of family? Would that help?" Adam asked, hoping that would work. And it did. Lydia lifted her head, looking up at Adam.

"Did Barbara tell you what I told her?"

"Yeah," Adam confirmed with a simple nod. "And I agree with her. If you feel as though we're more parental towards you, then it can be that way. Okay?"

"Okay," Lydia replied. "Thanks, Adam."

He smiled, saying nothing in response, him and Barbara each ruffling the now much calmer teenager's short black hair. One after the other. Barbara after Adam.