Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!

Chapter One

Right after the events at the end of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice was on the floor of his office, face down and contemplating getting up, or wasting away right on the spot. When he had blown up in the living world, he had popped back in his office, falling from the ceiling and landing hard onto his stomach and face. He let out a long breath and banged his forehead on the floor a few times. Again, his attempt to marry Lydia had failed, and part of him felt something he hadn't felt in so long, something so distant that it was almost unfamiliar to him. Was it sorrow? Longing? Loss? His dead heart seemed to quiver in his chest as he tried to make sense of it. The first time he tried to marry Lydia, he was looking for a way out. A way back to the living. She was pretty, and sure she was a teenager, but at his time before death during the 14 century, it wasn't exactly uncommon for girls even younger than her to be wed. For him though, she was a means to an end. An easy target. It was always that, at least it was supposed to be.

The other part of him was happy because he no longer lurked and watched from afar. He got to talk to her again, got to hold her hand and dance with her. He got to see her in that beautiful red dress. She looked so sexy in red. He wished she wore it more often.

He was also so proud of her. She had gotten a bit of her old self back. She had forgotten that teenage girl from so long ago, and became weak and unsure of herself, a door mat for that ass hat. But now, she had saved her daughter and repaired their relationship, and hopefully got to talk with her dead husband and settle some things if Beetlejuice was able to stall long enough. She had punched that douchebag in the face and stood up to the big Juice himself. She had confidence as she said his name with a big grin, banishing him back to the nether, and this time, he didn't try and stop her. He was just ecstatic she found her old self again, and happy she finally was able to see that jackass for who he was. Beetlejuice could never let her marry him. That was for sure. And they had made such a good team back there. All three of them. That daughter of hers was alright in his book. 

Yep, they were meant to be, but only if she would see that. Beetlejuice sighed and began to get up when he noticed something broken on the floor next to his desk. Crawling over to it, he picked up the broken frame of Lydia's picture, its glass shattered. He looked at the young girl in the photo, telling himself he ought to get a new one for his wallet. Taking it out of what was left of the frame, he stood, folded it up, and slid it into his coat pocket.

Looking around, it took him a moment to realize he was alone. Where had his helpers gone to? Where was Bob? "Told him to do one thing."

Lydia woke from her nightmare, sweaty and hot. She struggled to catch her breath and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Looking around her room in a panic, she tried to see if her dream was just that. When no sign of Beetlejuice came, she let out a breath of relief and swung her legs off the bed, standing up and going into her kitchen. She needed some water, and when she drank it, it refreshed her mouth and cooled her down. It felt good, and she focused on it, trying to clear her head.

"You okay mom?"

Lydia spun around in fright, before realizing her daughter was standing there in her pajamas, looking concerned.

"Yes." Lydia let out a little laugh of relief. "Just needed some water."

"Oh. You sure?"

"Yeah." Said Lydia, trying to smile and shake it off.

"You know you can talk to me, right?" said Astrid, walking up to her mother. Her dark eyes scanned hers, as if trying to catch something Lydia wouldn't tell her. "Please. I know I haven't been great at listening, but I am now."

"I'm fine really. Just a bad dream is all."

"About Bee – him?" asked Astrid, catching herself.

"Yeah. It was really disturbing."