Back where it all began

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"You're destination is on your right"

A black car stopped infront of the old Victorian house and 2 children jumped out, happy to be free of their prison at last. The brown haired girl tapped her brother excitedly on the arm and they looked up at their new house. The young boy tapped his sister back and smirked at her. The two shared a look before running up the house's front path, racing each other to the front door. Lydia Deetz shook her head at them as she got out the car, breathing in the familiar fresh air of the country.

'Mum!' called out her daughter 'Can we have the key?'

'Come and get it darling' she called back. The girl sighed and ran to her mother, grabbing the key and running back to her brother. Lydia laughed at her 2 kids and walked round to the side of her car to gently wake up her youngest daughter, who was only 3 years old. 'Tori, baby, we're here' she said gently, stroking her soft cheek. Slowly, Victoria Jean Davey woke up and clutched her stuffed bunny rabbit to her chest.

'Hi mummy' she said sleepily, holding one of her small arms out to her mother, the other firmly holding onto the rabbit.

'Hi sweetheart, we're here' said Lydia, unbuckling her and picking her up 'Your sister and brother have already gone inside, shall we join them?' Victoria nodded sleepily and laid her head on her mothers shoulder, sticking one of the ears of her bunny in her mouth. As Lydia walked inside the front door, memories washed over her.

'Mum!' called out Alexandra Barbara Davey, running in from the kitchen, closely followed by her brother 'Mum, this house is huge, which rooms mine?'

'We'll decide after we unpack the car' said Lydia 'The moving van should be here tomorrow, so tonight we're all going to sleep in one room upstairs together in sleeping bags'

'Aww, mum, do I seriously have to sleep with her?' asked William Adam Davey, shoving his finger in his sisters face, who ducked away from it, reminding Lydia of when she'd first met Beetlejuice.

'Yes honey, its for one night' said Lydia. Will pouted at her 'Come help me unpack and we'll talk about it after' Will and Alex nodded, before running out to the car, playfully shoving each other around. Lydia set Victoria on the ground and offered her a hand. The 3 year old took it and followed her mother as she went to find the power box. 'Now Tori, your grandpa said it'd be easy and safe to turn this on, but if something happens to mummy, tell Lex and Will straight away, ok?'

'Ok mummy' said Victoria, plopping down on her butt and sucking happily on the rabbits ear as she watched her mother turn the electricity and water on. 'Mummy, Flopsy and me are hungry'

'Ok sweetie, we'll eat as soon as we unpack the car, ok?' Lydia picked Victoria up and put her on her hip. As she walked back through the main part of the house, she thought she saw movement on the stairs, but when she looked back, there was nothing.

'Mum, where do you want all this junk?' asked Alex, walking inside, lugging 2 huge suitcases behind her.

'Thanks Lex' said Lydia, laughing 'Just put them wherever, where's Will?'

'Trying to carry 3 bags cause he's so strong' Alex rolled her eyes and went to help her brother.

'I can help mummy!' said Victoria 'I am strong' 'Of course you are sweetie' said Lydia, kissing her lightly on the nose 'Lets go help your siblings'

That night, Lydia had all her children set up in different rooms. Despite their complaints, Will and Alex were asleep in Lydia's old bedroom and Victoria was sleeping with Lydia in the old guest bedroom that Lydia was planning to turn into her bedroom. 'Hey, Tori bear, I'm just going to check on your brother and sister ok? I'll be back soon but call out if you need anything' said Lydia, kissing her sleepy daughter on the head.

'Wait, before you go' Victoria held out her bunny toy 'Flopsy needs a kiss too' Lydia laughed and kissed the rabbit on the head. The small child snuggled into the sleeping bag and closed her eyes. Slowly, Lydia shut the door and silently walked through the halls, feeling like she was a teenager again.

She'd learned from all her night-time visits to the attic as a child where all the creaky floorboards were and she avoided them easily. She climbed the attic stairs fast and pressed her ear against the door. Silence. Adam and Barbara couldn't have left, she thought, debating whether or not to go inside, they're probably just reading or asleep. Slowly, she opened the attic door. It was dark, which was unusual since Adam and Barbara always had the light on. Lydia wandered through the room she'd spent so much time in as a child, and saw everything just as she remembered. The stacks of books Adam loved to read, the old pottery jugs that'd survived Lydia's tempers, old boxes full of stuff from their lives and a wardrobe that held old dresses.

Lydia had searched every inch of the attic for her ghost parents, but couldn't find them anywhere. They're gone, she thought, walking to the door and turning the light off. Sadly she walked downstairs and, instead of going to back to Victoria, walking down to the kitchen to get a drink of water, taking time to fully process the thought that the Maitlands were no longer in the attic. However, her thoughts were interrupted by a very familiar voice.

'Lydia?'

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