When I had woke up from my nap, I went downstairs to find so many people were still here. Uriah and Nellie was cooking, Victurus, Rafael, and Dante were all playing card and laughing. Saya was reading. Uncle Carter was cleaning his gun. I was wondering where my mom was until I realized the porch light was on so I walked over to the door and opened it. She was sitting on the porch swing staring off across from her at nothing.

                I walked out and over next to her. I sat down and she looked at me, forcing a smile. I took her hand, "She's alright mom, and they’re not harming her or anything."

                "I don't know what I'm going to do when she decides to start training and leaves me. I'll be all alone." she said lowly.

                "No you won’t." I said. "I'm going to be here. It seems like I have another journey to go on instead of riddance the world of Demons. I can't leave you, I'll need my mom to help me take care of the baby."

                "You'll want to move out one day." she said.

                "I won't go far." I said.

                "I know." she said, forcing a smile. "I just feel like everything is falling apart. Our lives use to be so--less complicated."

                "After all this is over, it will go back to normal." I said. "And there'll be a baby in the house, you love babies."

                "I know and I am excited." she said. "Aracelia though is going to have a cow."

                "My baby, she can't do anything about that." I said. "So uh, how have you've been sleeping?"

                "Huh?" she asked but I shrugged. "Fine. Why?"

                "Oh, just asking. You look like you need some more. Everyone is doing fine, even the prefect host needs some rest." I said as I put my arm around hers and lifted her up. It was about seven thirty but she had dark circles under her eyes telling me she hasn't been sleeping and that worried me.

                I was going over towards the door when someone called me, "Nevaeh?" I heard Lori voice and I turned my head to see indeed it was Lori. My eyes widen a little and my mom nodded before taking her arm out and going inside. Lori looked the same when I left. Her red hair was long and vibrant, skin tan from her job as a lifeguard at the local swimming pool, and healthy as ever since Aracelia had given her blood. Lori was stunning, poster child for health. "Hey, I didn't know you got back from New York. How was it? See any school that caught your interest?"

                "Oh, uh, no. I just got back though." I said. "Sorry I haven't called, so much has been happening."

                Lori looked behind me, "Mom having a party?"

                "Yeah, sort of." I said. "It's a little crowded, but if you want to come in you can."

                "I can't, I actually have to go my boyfriend house." she said.

                "Boyfriend?" I asked, chuckling. "Who is he?"

                "Remember Jackson Lloyd?" she asked and I nodded. Jackson was on the football team in high school. Handsome boy. "Well we started to both work at the pool and started hanging out. And now, we're a couple."

                "Awe, that's great news." I said.

                "Yeah." she nodded. She hesitated when she looked like she wants to say something, "I heard Maria moved to Los Angeles, still won't talk to me."

                "We just grown apart, she's totally different." I said and she nodded. "You look great though."

                "So do you." she said. "I seen Nick at the store. Look the same as he left."

                "I've seen him to." I said.

                I opened my mouth but the screen door open, "Hey, food done." I heard Dante. "I'm close to winning, so make me a plate."

                I turned around, "Excuse me? Do I look like your servant?"

                "It looks like I'm about to beat Victurus ass, I'm about to make history by doing that." he said and he looked behind me. "Who's your friend?"

                "Dante, this is Lori. A friend of mine from school. Lori, this is Dante, ignore him." I said.

                "Awe, Nevaeh, I really thought we had something special." Dante sarcastically said and I glared at him, putting my hand on his face and pushed him back into the house and closed the screen door.

                "Who is that?" Lori asked, chuckling. "And where can I get one?"

                "Hey, watch it. He's becoming a priest." I said, chuckling with her.

                Her eyes widen, "Him? Liar."

                "Seriously. Even, did you quickly forget about Jackson?" I asked.

                "I can look." she giggled. "But really? He doesn't seem very.  . . Like a priest."

                "I know. He's family friend though." I said.

                "Oh." she said. "Well I thought since your back we coul—"

                She was cut off when a car driving quickly drove up the street. I put myself in front of Lori when we faced the car stopping in front of my house and my back stiffen just in case I had to fight. It’s not like I wanted to do this in front of her, but anything could be coming out of that car. I couldn’t see who was in it since it was dark out. It was a black car and all I could see inside was blue light around the stereo.

                “Who is that?” Lori asked.

                The door opened and I held my arms up, my hands balling into a fist. It was Hadrian though and my eyes widen. He came around the car and over to me, “Turns out today is my lucky day—what is it?” he asked when I gave him a hard look and waved my hands for him to go away.

                I groaned and ran my hands threw my hair when Lori stepped aside. I bit my lower lip when they looked at each other and the air turned awkward. I couldn’t look at Lori when she turned her head to look at me. I looked down at my converse and wished I could just turn back time.

                “What is going on?” she asked me. “Why is—why is Hadrian Falco doing here?” she coldly asked.

                I hesitated before looking up at her, “I can explain.”

                “Please do.”, she said as looked at me coldly.

                I opened my mouth to explain but the words froze in my mouth. I couldn’t think of any explanation without pissing her off more or telling her the truth which is something I’m not allowed to do. I can’t revel the truth to her, it’s an unwritten rule in this world.

                “What does it look like?” Hadrian asked as he walked up next to me. He kissed the side of my head and I pushed him away, giving him a hard look. He shrugged, “What is the problem? You look a little pale, Uccellina. You went to the doctors, right? How is Azariah?”

                “Stop it.” I hissed at him coldly before turning to Lori with an apologetic look, “Lori, I can’t explain but you need to understand it’s not like how you think.”

                “Do you remember what happened to me?” she asked, scoffing. “I almost apparently killed myself because of him.”

                “Dramatic, huh?” Hadrian asked and I gave him a look shut up. He is only making this ten times worse, I don’t understand why he is being an asshole.

                “I thought you were my friend, Nevaeh.” she said.

                “Damn this is annoying.” Hadrian sighed heavily. “Look Lori, I’m sorry how the ways ended with us but I love Nevaeh. Has she told you she’s pregnant yet?”

                “Hadrian!” I exclaimed as I glared at him. “Why? Why are you being this way?”

                “Sorry I’m still not the perfect guy.”, he said as he turned and walked into the house. My mouth fell a little as I turned to Lori but she glared at me before turning and quickly walked away. I scoffed, only because I was angry with Hadrian. This was his fault. Lori didn’t need to know our business and he just made me lose the last friend I have from my normal life. I turned and walked over to the door, ready to yell at Hadrian ear till he bleed.

                I didn’t expect to walk in and find Hadrian pinned to the wall, stopping a knife from being plunged into his chest by Victurus. Hadrian was struggling to hold back Victurus wrist. Shit, I forgot all about an Angel was in the house.

                “Stop it!” I yelled and Victurus turned his cold glare from Hadrian to me. “Let go of him.”

                “Excuse me?” he asked. “Do you know what this guy is? He is a Demon, Nevaeh.”

                “I know.” I said as I walked over to them and Hadrian gave me a look for me to help. “I guess Aracelia should have warned you but this jerk here isn’t on Senka side.”

                “I do not understand.” Victurus said.

                “I’m her boyfriend.” Hadrian said.

                I saw Victurus eyes widen and I reacted quickly when I saw him push the knife down further towards Hadrian. I grabbed his wrist and twisted Victurus arm back, bring my foot up and kicked him away. He glared at me, but I went in front of Hadrian, “Don’t. Listen! All of you.” I said when everyone came into the living room. “Hadrian isn’t with Senka, he’s on our side. Hard to believe, but it’s true. Dante, Uncle Carter, tell em.”

                “It is.” Uncle Carter said. “Hadrian is different.”

                I gave Dante a looked when he just awkwardly turned his head away and I cleared my throat. He sighed heavily, “Fine . . . it is true. He is on our side, he has done allot of things his kind wouldn’t forgive.”

                Rafael glared at me, “Your mother knows about this?”

                I nodded, “Yes, she does. Call her and ask her. You can’t kill Hadrian.” Victurus turned and grabbed Raphael hand, speaking to him in Spanish as they walked towards hallways, “Wait, where you going?”

                “They’re leaving.” Dante said and my eyes widen.

                “No, you can’t—“I started when I ran over towards them but Victurus turned and I found a knife being held at my throat. I held my chin up and control my breathing, “Victurus, please.”

                “Padre, no.” Rafael said, putting his hand on Victurus hand. He spoke to him in Spanish, Victurus never taking his hands off him. “We . . . stay.” Rafael said. “I no going away, no mas—hiding.” he said in broken English.

                Victurus hesitated, but put the knife down, “We should all talk I guess.”

+

                After talking with Victurus for a while, it was hard to get him to agree to stay. It took Uncle Carter and Dante help to convince him he could trust Hadrian who stayed quiet the whole time. We also agreed it would be better if Hadrian stays away from the house as much as possible unless it’s to talk about finding Senka.

                I threw my body down on the hotel bed and turned to Hadrian, “What is wrong with you?”

                “I’m surviving on criminal.” he said as he took his shirt off. “Sorry if I’m a little moody.”

                “Moody? You’re being an jerk.” I said as I crossed my arms over my chest. “No, you’re being an ass. You shouldn’t have spoken to Lori like that, now she’ll never talk to me again.”

                He walked up to me, “I only care about your feelings, not anyone else” he said.

                “And how do you think I feel!” I yelled at him as my arm flew up in the air a little. “I only came here because I know Victurus would believe you wouldn’t hurt me, but I really wish I could have stayed home.” I said as I started to turn but he grabbed my arm and turned me back around, giving me a hard look.

                “Is that how you feel, huh?” he asked. “I know I’m not perfect, sorry if that doesn’t meet your standards.”

                “I don’t have standards, I just have people I also care about other than just you.” I said and he snorted. “Is this what not feeding on good souls does to you? I don’t want you to continue doing that. Come on, let’s just get it over with.” I said when I straighten my back.

                He scoffed and turned away, “Not going to happen.” he said as he walked over to the hotel balcony and opened it.

                “Then stop with the attitudes.” I said. “Sorry if your day isn’t going as you want, but I don’t want to be fighting with you so cut it off.”

                He turned, his lips pressed together tightly, “I am trying to do everything to make you happy, but why isn’t that enough for you? It was either me or Lori. You know you can’t have us both. I didn’t want to be hidden away from everyone you know anymore.”

                “This is more than about Lori.” I yelled back. “This is about you acting like a stubborn child in a toy store who’s having a tantrum.”

                “Sorry I’m not some suburb boyfriend! I’m not a normal guy you want me to be!” he said. “I’m as stressed as you are!”

                “I never said you had to be anything else.” I said. “I never said you had to change.”

                “It sure feels like I have to.” he said. My eyebrows furrowed together as I looked at him, “First it was you that came into my life and now Azariah, something I will never regret. But I feel like now I have to change my whole life for you to be happy. In over a thousand years, it’s have only ever been me. I don’t know how to be a father, which is a lot of pressure Nevaeh.”

                I scoffed, fighting back the tears, “You need to grow up, Hadrian.” I said as I turned and spread the covers of the bed out. I kicked off my shoes and got in, “You saw Armando?”

                “Senka in Mexico, a state called Nayarit.” he said. I nodded and brought the covers up to my chin, looking at the wall across from me. I felt Hadrian sit on the other side of the bed, “I . . . I spoke without thoughts. I shouldn’t have threw all of that on you.”

                “You’re not ready, I understand.” I said lowly.

                “I’m scared.” he said. “I haven’t been scared for such a long, long time.”

                “Is this your way of trying to get me to forgive you?” I asked. “Because I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I want to go to bed.”

                “You haven’t even ate.” he said.

                “Stop that. If I was hungry, I would have ate.” I said. “Just . . . leave me alone.”

                “I’m not myself.” he said. “Even if I—breathe from you it’ll just be the same in two weeks. Me acting like a monster to you. This is what I’m talking about. I’m not . . . I’m the plague for you. The person you love shouldn’t have to want to kill you.”

                “If I didn’t want to be with you, Hadrian, I would have gotten rid of you.” I said and he chuckled humorlessly. “I don’t think of you as a plague or anything bad. There are times I even forgot about you being a Demon.”

                “I wish I could forget.” he said.

                “You’re being too self-conscious about yourself.” I said. “I’m not asking you to be the perfect boyfriend or father, just to be a good one. Lori was a part of my old life and you ruined it.” I said and he didn’t respond. “But I guess you’re right, I can’t have both of you. I can’t keep hiding you from everyone.”

                “I could talk to her, if you want me to.” he said.

                “No point, she is angry. She hates your gut, Hadrian.” I said. “We’re both completely different people. She’s has a boyfriend and a happy life. I’m here, people with my little dream invader and an ancient Demon wanting my blood. If the wrong people knew about her, she would be in danger to. I can’t put her in danger.”

                The blanket was pulled away from me and Hadrian put his hand on my arm, turning me back. I turned to face him leaning on one of his arms and I looked up at him, “I just want to give you everything a Mortal can give you. You deserve happiness.”

                “A Mortal can also make me unhappy. Everyone isn’t good in this world, but also every Demon isn’t bad I know.” I said.

                He stared at me for a moment, “Do you love me?”

                “Of course.” I said.

                He reached down and took a strain of my hair, “Marry me then.”

                My eyes widen as I stared up at him, waiting for him to saying he was joking. “Wh—huh?”

                “Ever heard of Justice of the Peace?” he asked. “No church ceremony, but we will still be married.”

                “Are you serious?” I asked.

                “I told you, I want to give you everything. I don’t want to waste any time we have, Nevaeh. For me, five, ten, fifteen, twenty years could pass by quickly.” he said and the more he spoke, the more serious I realized he was talking. My heart beat started racing in my chest and all my emotions built up as my eyes stung with tears. “Maybe God or whoever is high up there may not like it, but here, everyone will know we are married.”

                “This is crazy.” I said, making him laugh a little.

                “I never said I wasn’t.” he said. “And maybe this is crazy and I don’t know what I’m saying, but I want to do this. You only live once.” he said but I knew he was really saying that to me, not to himself. “Marry me, Nevaeh.” he said, grinning. “Be Mrs. Uccellino.”

                I chuckled with him as tears went down my face, “Oh God, Aracelia please don’t kill us both.”

                “Is that a yes?” he asked.

                I brought my hands up to my face and wiped away the hot tears going down my face, “I know I should really think about this, but I can’t think of any other answer but—“

                “Wait!” he said, confusing me as he got up and grabbed his bag. I sat up confused a little until he pulled out a box and he walked over to me, grabbing my legs to have them hanging off the bed. I chuckled as he kneeled in front of me and gave me a black box. I kept a straight face on my face as I took it though and it opened it. My mouth fell open a little when I saw a rose gold band diamond ring. My other hand came up to the necklace around my neck, touching the charm. “I’m going to try to keep this as traditional as possible. Nevaeh Ailsa Brownstone, will you marry?”

                “Are you sure you want me to be your wife?” I asked.

                “I wouldn’t want anyone else to be my wife.” he said. “I feel like I have known you forever, Nevaeh, even if it doesn’t seem like that for you.”

                I took a deep breath, “Yes.” I said as I breathed out. “I’ll take the crazy risk and marry you.”

                He chuckled as he took the box and took the ring out. He took my right hand and I giggled, taking my hand away and gave him my left hand, “Oh, right.” he said, kind of embarrassed but he slipped the ring on my forth ringer. “The Ancient Romans use to say this finger because that’s where the vein is that leads to your heart.” he said.

                “I like that.” I said.

                “Also,” he said as he took my hands and placed my fingers together. “Okay, bend your middle fingers together—perfect. Okay, separate your pinky fingers.” he said and I did as he said. “Now you’re index. Now you’re thumbs.” he instructed and the only two fingers together touching is my ring finger. “Now try separating your ring ringer without breaking you’re middle ringers apart.” He said and I tried.

                I couldn’t break my ringers apart without breaking my middle finger contact.

                “You can’t separate them, can you?” he asked and I shook my head. “Can’t separate from your life partner.” he said, making me smile widely.

                I separated my hands, “How’d you learn that?”

                “Eh, this girl in Scotland showed me once. I thought it was an interesting thing though.” he said.  He grinned up at me, “Like the ring?”

                “I love it, it’s beautiful. How’d you pay for it?” I asked.

                “I have my ways of having money. And it’s rude to ask how much gifts are.” he said, chuckling. “I saw it and thought of you though. Unique and beautiful.”

                I smiled and placed my hands on his face, kissing him, “I love it. You want to celebrate now, don’t you?” He nodded as he kissed me roughly on my mouth and stood up, making me laying on my back. I put my hands on his chest and pushed him away, “Well to bad, we have to wait until our wedding night.”

                “Huh?” he asked, sounding disappointed.

                I giggled and leaned up, kissing his cheek, “It’ll be special.”