Adam and Barbara had one regret from when they were alive. Never having kids. They'd tried, and they'd conceived, but a miscarriage ripped that from them. They'd been too scared to try again and just when they thought they were nearly ready, death came, and they thought they'd never get to experience parenthood. But when young Lydia Deetz came into their lives, they had a glimmer of hope. The poor girl had lost her mother, and a father who ignored her and just wanted love and to be listened too. The Maitlands could do that for her, and in the process could experience what being parents could be like. After the whole Beetlejuice fiasco, life for the Maitlands settled down. They were still dead, but they had a family who they loved and cared about. Lydia saw the Maitlands as her second set of parents and would go to them for anything she needed. But at night, Barbara would let her happy personality go and she would allow herself to be sad.
"Honey?" asked Adam, walking into the attic late one night. Barbara had gone upstairs early that night because she just wasn't herself and could tell the Deetz were noticing. Adam knew why she felt so sad, but didn't mention anything, just hugged her extra tightly and made sure she knew that he was there. Most of the day Barbara just stayed by Adam's side, gripping his hand tightly. "Are you okay?" asked Adam. Barbara looked up to him and smiled weakly. Adam walked over to her and sat next to her.
"Hi" she said quietly, and Adam could hear the tears in her voice.
"Oh honey" Adam wrapped his arms around her, and she curled her legs up to her chest. Adam shifted backwards on the bed and held her close. She kicked her boots off and wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his chest by his neck. Adam kissed her head and held her close, knowing perfectly well why she was sad but didn't mention it because it made her even more sad.
"I'm sorry" whispered Barbara after a long silence "I just..." Adam gently shushed her, and she looked at him with a small smile. Adam smiled and kissed her nose.
"Early night?" asked Adam. Barbara nodded and Adam flicked his hand turning out the lights. It was moments like this he was grateful for ghost powers, so he didn't have to disturb his wife. Barbara fell asleep his chest pretty much straight away and Adam hugged her closer, making sure she was okay. She seemed to be having a nice dream because she was smiling. He smiled and settled down too, hugging Barbara close. Little did he know, his wife was having a dream that was both happy and sad.
Barbara hugged her 3-year-old daughter close. Zoe Maitland was her favourite person in the world, besides her husband of course. Zoe had brought the couple so much joy in the 3 years she'd been in the world, and every day she just seemed to become more amazing.
"Mama?" a small voice broke through her thoughts and Barbara looked down at her daughter. 2 big brown eyes looked back at her. Zoe was a miniature version of Adam. Brown hair, brown eyes, nose, lips. But Zoe was just like Barbara in personality. She had the most caring soul ever. "Mama!" came a slightly more annoyed voice and Barbara shook herself out of her thoughts.
"Sorry honey" she said, "what's up?"
"Where's dada?" she asked. Barbara thought for a second. Adam had mentioned dropping into town to go to the shops but that was half an hour ago, he should be back by now. "Mama?"
"Let's go look" said Barbara. Zoe wrapped her little arms around Barbara's neck and giggled all the way down the stairs. Downstairs Barbara saw all the bags of shopping in the kitchen and sighed, Adam never put it away he just got stuff out of the bags when he needed it. "Zo Zo, I think dada's out in the garage"
"Let's go!" said Zoe, kicking her legs and leaning towards the backdoor. Barbara smiled and put her down. Zoe grabbed Barbara's hand and led her outside. Barbara followed and watched her daughters slightly curly hair bounce behind her. They reached the garage door and Barbara could hear a power tool on.
"Zoe, come here" she stopped her daughter from barging in and picked her up.
"Mama" said Zoe in a frustrated "I... I want to see Dada"
"You will pumpkin" said Barbara, brushing her hair off her forehead "we just can't surprise him while he's using the loud tool, remember?" Zoe nodded and Barbara smiled. "Good girl" she kissed her daughter forehead and Zoe smiled at her. "Now, what do you want to do for the rest of the day because dada will have to work"
"Cookies!" said Zoe
"Baking?" asked Barbara "You have the best ideas sweetheart" Zoe smiled, and Barbara's heart melted. Her daughter truly did have the best smile ever. Barbara kissed her on the nose and poked her head into the garage. Adam spotted her and turned the tool off.
"Hi honey" he said, taking his safety glasses off "What's up?"
"Someone wanted to see their dada" said Barbara. She gently put Zoe on the ground and the young girl ran over to Adam. He knelt down and picked her up, ticking her sides slightly. Barbara walked over to them and kissed Adam on the cheek, laying her head on his shoulder.
"What's wrong mama?" asked Zoe, tilting her head in concern at her mother.
"Nothing honey" laughed Barbara "I'm just happy"
"Oh okay" Zoe smiled and kissed both her parents on the cheeks "I'm happy too"
"I'm glad you're happy cupcake" said Adam. Zoe smiled and laid her head on his other shoulder, looking at her mother until she fell asleep. Barbara watched her daughter sleep and looked at Adam. Adam looked back at her and kissed her gently. Barbara smiled and kissed him back, both of them happy with their daughter.
Adam woke up to Barbara hugging him with tears streaming down her face. He looked at her and she smiled back, wiping the tears away. Adam was about to ask what was wrong, but she just shook her head, smiling more. He reached his hand out and gently wiped the rest of her tears away.
"What's up?" asked Adam, laying back down and opening his arms out to Barbara. She crawled over to him and curled up to him. Adam kissed her forehead and put his head on top of hers. Barbara knew this was Adam silently telling her she could take her time and that he'd listen. She grabbed his hand and intwined hers with his, studying the size difference.
"I had a dream" she said after a long time
"What about?" asked Adam
"We were alive" said Barbara, now studying his nails. It was something she used to do with her dad. She always asked to paint his nails but never got around to it. "and we had... a daughter" she got a little choked up and Adam rubbed his cheek against the top of her head, comforting her. A tear slipped down Barbara's face and Adam kissed it away.
"What was she like?" asked Adam gently
"Her name was Zoe" started Barbara, turning so she was curled right up against him. He slipped his arm around her and hugged her tightly "She was 3 years old and a copy of you. Big brown eyes, brown slightly curly hair... and the cutest smile ever" she reached a hand up and ran a hand through her husband's short hair. "We were together and went to go find you. You were in the garage making something, so I waited until you'd stopped using the power tools and let her go see you. Then she fell asleep on your shoulder"
"Are you okay?" asked Adam, knowing stuff like this sometimes upset Barbara more than she let on. "Like really okay?"
"Yeah" said Barbara "I mean it, I kind of liked it. I'm sad we'll never get that but it was nice to experience it in a dream. For now, I'm focusing on the happiness the dream brought me"
"That's what the tears were?" asked Adam "Happy?"
"Happy and sad" said Barbara "but it's fine. I'm fine" Adam nodded and kissed her head. She rested her head against his chest and the 2 of them sat in comfortable silence until they heard 2 sets of heavy footsteps coming up the attic stairs. "Here come our 2 children" whispered Barbara and Adam laughed lightly, kissing her head as the attic door burst open and Lydia and Beetlejuice burst in, both yelling.
