I'm Home

After school snacks and chats

"Mum!" yelled Alex, running out of the school gates with Will trailing behind her

"Hey sweetheart" said Lydia "How was today?"

"I made friends" said Alex. Lydia smiled "Their names are Ava and Izzy, they've both lived here their whole lives and they seem really nice"

"Thats so good sweetie" said Lydia, she turned to look at her son "How was today for you?"

"Good" shrugged Will "I met a guy called Matt, he seems cool but I dunno. Can we go home? Beej promised me he'd hang out with me"

"Sure" said Lydia, knowing it was best to not pry at why her son had lost all his energy and enthusiasm. "If I remember correctly, Barb and Vicky baked some cupcakes today, so they're waiting for you"

"Ooh" Alex got excited and started walking off, dragging her mother and brother behind her.

"I don't like cupcakes" muttered Will

"They also made chocolate biscuits" said Lydia "I know you like them because they're the same type Delia makes"

"Ok" mumbled Will, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets and dragging his feet along the floor. Lydia wondered what'd gotten into him and came to the conclusion that he was tired and just needed food. They reached the car and drove home. When they got home, they were greeted by the smell of freshly baked food and Beetlejuice chewing on paper.

"You're still eating paper?" asked Lydia

"What?" asked Beetlejuice, swallowing a mouthful and going to take another bite, "tastes good"

"No" said Lydia, taking it from his hand "You're setting a bad example, stop ok? You can do it in your own time or in the Netherworld but not around the kids, got it?"

"Yes Lyd" said Beetlejuice, he got up "you sound like Babs"

"I hope that was meant as a compliment Beej" said Barbara as she emerged from the kitchen, bringing the smell of freshly baked goods with her. "Oh you guys are home, come on in, I made cupcakes, chocolates biscuits and banana bread"

"Yum" exclaimed Alex and she raced into the kitchen, followed by her brother and Beetlejuice. 

"Where's Tori?" asked Lydia "and Adam?"

"Oh I think they're up in the attic" said Barbara "Want me to go get them?"

"Sure" said Lydia. Barbara walked off upstairs, calling to Lydia to eat food. She walked into the kitchen and found both her children munching on the snacks. "You like?"

"Yeah" said Alex, she was shoving a cupcake in her mouth. "These are good"

"Uh huh" said Will, shoving a whole cupcake and a slice of banana bread in his mouth "'s 'eal 'ood" 

"Will, swallow before speaking" said Lydia with a laugh, grabbing a piece of banana bread and taking a bite "God I missed Barbara's cooking" 

"I said" gasped Will, after swallowing down his massive mouthful "It's real good"

"Thanks" said Barbara, walking into the kitchen, followed by Adam and Victoria 

"These taste just like Grans" said Alex, taking a bite of a chocolate biscuit 

"Talking about your dads mum?" asked Barbara, going over to Adam and taking his hand

"Yeah" said Will

"Thats because I got that recipe from my mum" said Barbara "well actually, I got it from my grandma and wasn't interested in it so I gave the recipe to my mum and then once I got older I got into baking and got it back from her"

"Oh wow" said Lydia "I had no idea it was a family recipe, I guess Liam'll have to learn it"

"Or you" said Barbara "You're part of the family"

"Does Adam know it?" asked Lydia

"Yes I do" said the male ghost proudly. Lydia laughed and put the rest of the banana bread in her mouth. Then she went over to the table and sat down. Victoria climbed onto her lap and laid her head on her mother's shoulder. Lydia smiled and wrapped her arms around the small child. Alex and Will each took a handful of food and joined their mother at the table, munching on their snacks. 

"How was school guys?" asked Barbara, bringing the plates over to the table and then sitting down at the end.

"Good" shrugged Alex "I made a few friends, we hung out. I can't wait until the school play though, I really wanna audition"

"Thats really good" said Barbara "Will, how about you?"

"School was ok, I made friends with this guy called Matt and he seems cool. I do really wanna join the basketball team though, that seems cool" 

"Oh I remember going to a few games" said Barbara "It was really fun, wasn't it honey?" she nudged her husband in the ribs.

"Uh huh... fun is one word for it" said Adam "loud is another"

"He's not one for sports" giggled Barbara "I was though, I actually played basketball for a while but quit to focus on theatre"

"I was looking into the drama program for Lex" said Lydia "Is it good?"

"Oh its amazing" said Barbara "Gives you so many opportunities and its also really fun. A really supportive environment too" she looked at Alex, who looked up from her third cupcake "You interested in drama?"

"I like performing" shrugged Alex "Netballs more my thing though, I hope I can make the team"

"I'm sure you will" said Lydia "You're really good"

"What about me?" asked Victoria 

"You can stay my little baby forever" said Lydia, squeezing her tightly "Don't grow up"

"Mama, stop" said Victoria, squirming away. 

"What about me?" came a voice from the ceiling and everyone jumped and looked up to see Beetlejuice floating above them. 

"You can float?" asked Will "No way"

"Beej get down" said Barbara and Lydia in sync

"Jeez, I got two mums now?" he asked, floating onto the floor "and to answer your question, mini Lyd the second, yes I can float or levitate" 

"This guy just gets cooler and cooler" said Will 

"Adam and Babs can too" said Beetlejuice

"No way" Wills mouth dropped open "I wanna be a ghost, you get to float"

"You are not becoming a ghost" said Lydia

"Yes please don't" said Alex "and if you do, please do it far away from me so you can't haunt me forever"

"Lydia, maybe we can do the thing we used to do to you" said Barbara, looking at the two amazed older children.

"Why not" shrugged Lydia "Will, Alex, Tori please come out to the living room, we have something to show you"