She could remember it far too well. Far too well for something that most people would consider a nightmare. Thoughts raced through her head, but her mind settled on an age old addage her mother had once uttered. "Married in red, better off dead." Oh, cruel irony! She was trapped within a horrible contraption of red satin, lace and chiffon. A blood red veil covered her face obscuring her features from her 'husband'. He smiled, exposing teeth crawling with beetles. His white-blonde hair fanned out from his scalp. It stood on end, making him look like the rising sun. His touch was clamy on her hand as she waited for the alien like priest to deliver those six damning words. He opened his mouth and drew in a deep breath.

"You may now-"

A crack echoed throughout the house. Beetlejuice knew what was coming and pushed Lydia out of the way. She could have sworn he said "Save yourself." A large black-and-white banded sandworm crashed though the house, swallowing him whole. As Barbara landed lightly on her feet next to her, Lydia couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for him. He hadn't done anything terrible, well killing-terrible at least. Besides, in a rather twisted way he was funny. If he wasn't such a perv all the time. The preist sighed, looking at her. "Miss Deetz I will expect you and your family to be present for the remaining portion of the ceremony in three days time.

Barbara and Adam immediately went forward, screaming excuses. "For God's sake, she's SIXTEEN!" "He just got eaten!" The priest silenced them with a glance. "In the Afterlife when the bride a groom consent to be wed there is no backing out. Even if the groom is eaten. Ghosts regenerate, it only takes three days." Chales came foward, gesturing to the interior of the house. "Well if you hadn't noticed this is hardly the Afterlife." A cloud of sickly sweet tobacco smoke burst from out of nowhere. Juno stood there tapping ash from her cigarette. Adam turned to her. "Juno can't you do anything?"

Juno shook her gray hair. "In the Afterlife, and in this world the husband's customs are honored. She has no choice. Even though I hate to see her go to him, more importantly having him in your world. You have three days." Adam started forward but Lydia waved her hand, Beetlejuice's ring still upon it. "Just stop you guys, obviously it's no good trying to fight this. I have to marry him." "Don't talk like that Lydia! We won't let them do this! Right Charles?" Delia looked over at her husband. He suddenly seemed more alert. "Oh! Right, of course! Lydia, you will not marry that, ummmmm, man?"

Juno rolled her eyes at the pathetic mortals. "She will unless you all want to become piles of ectoplasmic goo." With a snap of her fingers Juno vanished, taking the priest with her. The three days passed in a daze, Lydia could hardly figure out what her life was going to be like. Would she live in the Afterlife or in the world of the living. The night before the wedding she sat in her bed, hugging her knees. A knock sounded, Delia's voice ringing out. "Lydia, honey, can I talk to you?" Rather eluctantly she got up and unlocked the door.

It swung inward revealing the leering face of Betelguse. "Suprise! Come on now darling, just a little kiss for you hubby dear?" She hurled the door shut, then yelled for the Maitlands. They appeared about the same time Beetlejuice came in though the door. "Oh no it's him, it's Bee-" A sheet of duct tape covered Adam's mouth. Barbara tried to finish his effort but he caused her lips to be stitched shut. "Can't a guy just try to talk to his fiancee? So, Lyds, looking forward to the big day tomorrow?" Lydia backed up toward her bed. BJ followed. "N-n-no." he knees hit the back of the bed, but she'd rather fall on her bed than whatever he wanted to do. Her torso hit the black satin comforter, she tried to scramble away but Betelguse but on arm on either side of her their faces only a few inches apart.

His black and white suit was even more obnoxious than he was, the smell of mold and decay coming off of him was terrible. Lydia scooted backward, her whole body on the bed quickly followed by him. He grabbed her shoulders, causing her to stop. His touch sent chills through her, not only because of his clamy sking but it sent little rivulets of electricity though her. "Now Babe, just one kiss to hold me over?"

His lips came down, headed for hers but she turned her head to the side and felt him graze her cheek. he tried again and it was repeated on her other cheek. But then he moved to fast for her to avoi it and he succeded in capturing her lips, caressing them. Her heart fluttered, barely audblie to her but extremely so for him. Lydia gave into her feelings and arched her body to his. Beetlejuice's hand ran down her waist, grabbing her buttock just a little. That jerked her back to reality. She slapped him and rolled out from under him. He flopped over onto his back, his hands folded behind his head. "Oooo, Lyds I could get used to this." He snapped his fingers and dissappeared. Lydia looked at her empty bed and reluctantly got back into it, his stench still prevailed but when she sniffed it it didn't smell completely awful. It just smelled, well, manly.

Hopefully she could get used to that.