(𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭) To Each Their Own

                                    

                                          
"Betelgeuse-?" Barbara chose to speak up, trailing off before she could think of anything else to say. The words just couldn't come to her.
                          
The demon turned his head in her direction, then focused back on looking at and studying his fingers - which he had been doing for a while now. As if he could say that it was likely distracting him (which he knew it wasn't, but still). His hair had since gone back to its usual shade of green, but the Maitlands took immediate notice of the little bit of light pink that was peeking through it. Or at least trying to peek through it. They both still could see it clearly though, and they noted the unsure, nervous look on his face. 
                          
When it became clear to her and Adam that the demon was not paying attention to either her or to Adam, Barbara lightly tapped him on the shoulder. 
                          
"Betelgeuse?" 
                          
His eyes widened in surprise at the sudden touch and his head snapped up, the color of his hair now becoming a full on shade of pink that seemed to be mixing in with a little bit of blue and a little bit of purple. Which the Maitlands both took as a sign that Betelgeuse seemed confused. Scared. Like he wasn't expecting that. Barbara, who had had a hand extended out just in case, quickly retracted it and gave the demon a sort of mixed curious, inquisitive, and especially worried look.
                          
"I-..." he suddenly sputtered out, sounding a little nervous. 
                          
His eyes darting around the room before focusing again on Barbara, who now had her hands folded in her lap. Her gaze was focused on Betelgeuse, a warm look within it. Her smile was soft and she didn't seem to be that angry at him unlike how she and the others were earlier that day. And a brief wave of relief seemed to wash over Betelgeuse as he eventually calmed down. 
                          
He turned his attention away from Barbara as he closed his eyes for a brief second. Opening them again, he focused once more on Barbara - who was yet again giving him an inquisitive look, her head tilted to the side like a curious puppy. 
                          
"I take it that means you're okay?" Her voice was soft, warm even.
                          
"I-..." he started, then stopped when the right words didn't seem to want to come to him. "Is- was it a mistake? Was you and Adam summoning me a mistake?" 
                          
Barbara recoiled, looking to be a little taken aback by that question. She hadn't anticipated on Betelgeuse even asking something like that. It seemed that his hair had taken on a shade of sky blue, which was indicated in that he was now hanging his head, his eyes closed and a sorrowful, upset, and lonely look on his face.
                          
"What? No! It's not! At least not now it isn't!"
                          
"You're just saying that, you know," Betelgeuse said, his tone of voice filled to the brim with remorse. "You still think that you and Adam summoning me was a mistake. You, Sexy, and the Deetzes are all still angry at me for what I did and don't want me around here. I know when I'm not wanted anywhere so I should just leave you guys all alone and just go back to the Netherworld where I belong. Go ahead. Go and say my name three times again and banish me back to the Netherworld." 
                          
Barbara peered around Betelgeuse and gave Adam a concerned look, one which the male ghost returned. Barbara, turning her attention back to Betelgeuse, took the demon's hand in hers and caused him to open his eyes and look down at her in surprise. His uncertain look was met with another warm smile from Barbara, and that made his hair turn a shade of rosy pink this time. However, his gaze flicked from Barbara and down at the attic floor. 
                          
"Betelgeuse, look at me. Listen." Barbara frowned slightly when the demon would not turn his attention back to her, then rested a hand on his back. That seemed to grab the demon's attention. He looked at her, but the uncertain look remained. 
                          
"What are you waiting for?" he inquired, still sounding remorseful. "Go ahead and send me back to the Netherworld. Just say my name two more times and I'll be out of your hair."
                          
"Beej, no!" Barbara said, tone of voice stern. "I'm not going to do that!"
                          
"Then I'll just have Lydia go right ahead and do it." Before the demon could even do as much as teleport away to find the aforementioned teenager, Barbara placed her other hand on top of his shoulder and gave him a stern, but calming look. Again, he looked at her. 
                          
"She's not doing that either. And neither is Adam or Charles or Delia. And if you ask me to do it again, then my answer's going to remain 'no'."
                          
He huffed and looked away from her, his hair color becoming half blue and half green. 
                          
When the demon went silent and chose not to say as much, Barbara chose the time to continue, "Look, Betelgeuse, it's fine. Everything's okay. It's all good. We forgave you for your past actions. We're not mad at you anymore. We promise you." 
                          
His response? "You sure don't sound like you've forgiven me. Deep down inside, you're still furious at me." 
                          
Barbara struggled to come up with a response, having a feeling that this conversation was going to go nowhere. After a while, Adam, his voice a bit worried, instead chose to be the one to speak up, 
                          
"Why do you think we're still angry at you?" 
                          
"Because you are," the demon replied. "That's it."
                          
Adam, now unsure of a response of his own, bit his lip as he and Barbara again exchanged worried glances. The demon's hair color reverted back to a complete shade of blue as he again focused his attention away from the Maitlands. Closing his eyes, he was waiting for either ghost to go through with banishing him back to the Netherworld. But when nothing seemed to happen, he again opened his eyes and glanced from Adam to Barbara, noting the calm, soft looks on their faces. 
                          
"What are you two waiting for? Go ahead and banish me." 
                          
"Beej, we've been over this," Barbara replied in a calm, soft tone of voice, her and Adam each taking one of the demon's hands in theirs and looking up at him. "We're not going to do that. End of discussion." 
                          
Again, he looked from one ghost to the other and sighed. Maybe they were right. Maybe he should let them give him a chance and banish him to the Netherworld if he does anything he shouldn't. It seemed to be fair. His hair became its usual shade of green again as he relaxed slightly, seeming and feeling a bit calmer. 
                          
"You okay now?" Barbara asked after a while, hoping that their previous conversation was nothing but over. 
                          
Betelgeuse wanting them to banish him back to the Netherworld and forget about him was the least of their worries. It didn't matter now. He was here for now and they could hopefully work things out, the six of them, as a family. It was only a matter of time. And they all hoped he really was changed, which, as evidenced by just how remorseful he sounded throughout their conversation, was a possibility. 
                          
Betelgeuse tensed slightly, then slowly started to nod in response to her question. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks."