[IC] LYDIA

[Metronome]

Barbara frowned. "Well...maybe try being less mean to everyone?" She didn't know. She was a wholesome cinnamon roll without a mean bone in her body.

[Beetlejuice96]

"I've tried, Barbara! I even tried helping Lawrence with his money problems by talking with the life sized Ken doll but...it didn't work out..." She sighed, curling up into a ball.

[Metronome]

Barbara had heard the commotion when the police came to put Lawrence under house arrest. Something told her Lydia did more than "talk" to the repo guy.

"Hun, I know you were trying to help, but do you think you might have said or done something that could have gotten him in worse trouble?" She paused. "You can't just threaten people to get what you want. It doesn't always work like that."

[Beetlejuice96]

"Always worked in the past." Lydia mumbled, shutting down more. The usual bright gleam in her eyes had dimmed as she avoided eye contact with them. "It's just...after all this time I finally get a friend only to fuck it up."

[Metronome]

"Lawrence is having a really tough time right now, but I'm sure he'll overcome it. And I'm sure he could forgive you if you give him some time." Barbara didn't know for sure. Hell, she barely knew the guy.

[Beetlejuice96]

"Yeah right." Lydia grumbled before floating up through the ceiling to be left alone on the roof. "Can anything else go wrong today?!" She shouted towards the dark, clouded heavens. A thunderclap responded followed by a heavy downpour that had her soaking wet in seconds. "Great! Fan-fucking-tastc!" She exclaimed.

[Metronome]

Barbara slowly ghosted through the wall of Lawrence's bedroom. He was currently curled up on top of the comforter in the fetal position. He looked like a mess.

"Lawrence?" She said softly, floating over to him.

He turned to glare at her. "Guess you two will be getting what you wanted," he said coldly. Barbara cringed.

"We were being selfish trying to push you out," she said, "And we're sorry....and so is Lydia."

Lawrence scoffed. "All she wanted was to be set free. I did that, so I don't know why she's still hanging around."

"I think she's just lonely. Maybe she needs a friend?"

"Yeah, well, don't we all." He wasn't in the mood for motherly headshrink bullshit.

[Beetlejuice96]

After a while Lydia appeared back in the attic soaked to her evil demonic bone. She shook herself off like a dog, not caring who or what got wet.

[Metronome]

The Maitlands were in the attic again. When they saw Lydia, Adam stood. He looked nervous as he spoke. "Lydia! Er, we spoke to Lawrence, and he said he'd be willing to let all this be water under the bridge if...if you tell him how to un-summon you."

[Beetlejuice96]

"What?!" Lydia exclaimed, now dry as a mummy as her eyes flared in anger. "He wants to get rid of me?! After scaring people with him, after getting his mother off his back this is how he repays me?!"

[Metronome]

"He doesn't want to get rid of you," Barbara said quickly. "He said you can stay. But he believes, we all believe, it would be best to keep your powers to a minimal while you learn how to coexist with us. Just for now."

[Beetlejuice96]

Barbara's words fell on deaf ears. She couldn't believe this bullshit! They were just like her father wanting to keep her under control so she couldn't raise hell. Fine! Two can play at that game. She thought before grabbing the Handbook and flipping it to the right page and marking it. She knew these two labradoodles couldn't possibly have read it to know what she was up to.

"Here. Give this to him and tell him to read the page I marked. That's how I can be unsummoned." She said, lying right through her teeth.

[Metronome]

Barbara couldn't believe it had been that easy. She smiled. Maybe Lydia was more understanding than they have her credit for. She left, taking the book downstairs to Lawrence. Adam followed.

"Here," Barb handed the book over, "She said to read this out loud to un-summon her."

Lawrence took the book and looked the passage over. Could it be that easy? "Hands vermillion, start of five. Bright cotillion, raven's dive. Nightshade’s promise, spirits strive. To the living let now the dead come alive."

As he read the passage, Barbara began to lift off of the ground. She began to shrivel and falter. "Lawrence!" Adam yelled. Lawrence looked up and jumped back.

"Holy shit! What's going on?!"

[Beetlejuice96]

"Happy now, Lawrence?!" Lydia snapped as she appeared, looking more disheveled than before. "You really think I'd give you the only way to banish me? Do you think I'm stupid?! Here's a news flash, I'M NOT! Say goodbye to your precious little cinnamon roll labradoodles!"

[Metronome]

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Lawrence shouted at her immediately. "She's done literally nothing to you! Stop this shit!"

[Beetlejuice96]

"NO! All you want to do is get rid of me just like everyone else! I'm not going anywhere!" Lydia shouted. She clearly wasn't able to be reasoned with at the moment. Something needed to be done that would catch her off guard.

[Metronome]

"You're insane!" Lawrence accused. Barbara let out a shriek of pain. He had to do something! He couldn't let that poor, innocent labradoodle suffer his mistake. "What do you want? What will it take to make you stop this?!"

[Beetlejuice96]

There it was, one of the questions she wanted to hear. What she wanted. "Come to think of it...I want to be human. There's a catch though, I can only become human if a Breather marries me, get it?"

[Metronome]

Lawrence's jaw fell. "What?!" He and Adam both said in unison. Barbara let out another shrill cry. Lawrence looked up at her, biting his lip. "This is my fault," He said under his breath. He couldn't let poor Babs suffer because of him. Even if it meant getting hitched to some crazy ass demon woman.

"Fine, I'll do it," He said through gritted teeth.

"Lawrence," Adam said softly, looking at him with concern.

"I have to," Lawrence insisted. "I have to take responsibility for once in my life."

[Beetlejuice96]

"It's settled then." Lydia smirked as she snapped her fingers, ending the exorcism that held Barbara. She turned to the fireplace before lifting a claw gestured hand, turning it into a doorway where a skeleton in priest robes walked out. She then turned towards Lawrence, now wearing a crimson gothic wedding dress complete with a black lace veil.

"Ready when you are, living boy." She grinned, lipstick matching her dress.