Going back downstairs was awkward. All the Septiceyes were seated around the living room and kitchen. All seemed to hold their breath when Darkiplier came into view behind Sean. It was almost a little funny to see them so scared of him. Dark lingered on the stairs, resting his arms on the banister, while Sean entered the living room. Hugging himself, he told them all clearly. "So... I think we should clear some things up. There has been a lot of misinformation and... Dark isn't... Well, he's a demon... but he's..." Sean struggled to find the words to describe him. Resulting in Dark chuckling down to him. "Doing great." Glancing over his shoulder, Sean muttered up to Dark bashfully. "Shut up." Dark's smile filled him with confidence though. It even made a few Septiceyes chuckle softly amongst themselves. That was good, right? Sean took a breath to start again, but Marvin cut in to say gently. "I already talked to them about it." Sean exhaled in relief, then blurted out to him. "Marvin, I'm so sorry for all that has happened. This isn't... This isn't how I wanted to meet all of you. I... I hope we can work something out. I know Darkiplier can be... temperamental. But he doesn't treat me poorly. He just gets..."

From the conch, Jackie-boy finished off for him with a smirk. "Murderous toward others around you? Ya. We noticed." Sean blushed, glancing up to Dark, who didn't confirm or deny the statement. Clearing his throat, Sean told them nervously. "I'm gonna marry him and... if you wanna come to the realm of Pride to witness it. I'd be ok with that." Dark snorted, drawing Sean's attention back to him. Giving him a devilish grin, Dark reminded him under his breath in a smug deep voice. "You're inviting them to watch you get fucked by me? I mean... I'm all for rubbing my victory in my enemies face but... I wasn't expecting that from you." Sean paled and quickly rushed out to the others. "You don't have to stay for that part! But... marriage usually has... some family involved." The Septiceyes shared a wide-eyed look with each other. While Dark chuckled out to himself. "Not sure you want your mother there to be honest. Seeing her son splayed out just might-" Turning around, Sean pleaded aloud desperately. "Dark! Don't! I... I really don't want to imagine that!" Dark shrugged to himself, honestly admitting. "I can see the appeal in it. You went from being her innocent boy to my-" Sean pointed a finger at him, blurting out shakily. "Dark! Please. For my sanity. Stop." Dark chuckled and Sean blushed as he saw Dark's shadow on the wall start wagging a long tail like a playful cat about to pounce.

He hoped none of the other Septiceyes could see his shadow from where they sat, because it was giving away exactly what Dark was thinking. Right down to the horns that grew out on its shadowy head as Dark's devilish grin widened. Pointing at him, Sean's voice cracked a bit when he told him. "Dark. Don't even think about it. That's... I'm not into that." Dark's grin didn't vanish when he shrugged out simply. "I can tell. But just imagine what that would do to someone's pride. I can't believe I didn't think of that. I'm gonna test that on a vessel when I get back. What a punishment that is, huh?" Sean blushed harder and turned away from him, covering his reddened face. While trying to collect himself, Marvin told him coolly. "I'm still against this. I don't think it's wise to bind yourself to a being like him. It's dangerous. It could... do things to you." Dropping his hands from his face, he blurted out honestly. "Yes. I know. I'm not as... conservative as I was. I feel more... free to say and do things with him. Maybe it's bad or maybe it's good... Maybe it's neither. But... he makes me feel safe and... I don't feel alone with him around." Shrugging, he told the other Septiceyes brutally honest. "Yes. I was scared of him at the start. Yes, he manipulated me into pushing my girlfriend away. I know it looks really bad. But... I was always in love with Mark and depressed that I couldn't have him."

Turning a bit to look up at Dark's guilt-ridden eyes and saddened features, Sean expressed with a warm smile for Dark's benefit now. "Mark didn't love me... because Dark did. Anti can't love Dark... because I do. We're a mess... and I love it. If I had to choose between a normal life and this... I'd choose this every time. Dark's rough around the edges, sure. He doesn't handle jealousy AT ALL. His temper can be a little out of control... but he's never hurt me, and he's never not been there when I need him. He fights for me... and that's all I could ask from him." Dark's shadowy tail wagged a lot slower now and his horns shrank to the cutest knobs on his shadowy head. While Dark lowered his chin down onto his crossed arms and purred softly with big black eyes. When Sean turned to face Marvin, he told him with a small smile. "You don't have to see what I see in him. But... he makes me happy. Isn't that what you want for us all? To be happy and safe, Marvin?" Marvin glanced around the room, before shifting on his feet and announcing clearly. "I'll put it to a vote then. Who thinks he should be allowed to marry this... demon king. Raise your hand." When no one moved a muscle, Sean's heart sank.

Then from the kitchen, Robbie lifted his hand into the air and a few others followed his lead. Marvin didn't have to count. The majority approved. Getting to his feet, Jackie-boy told Marvin with a smirk. "He's got a lot of Anti in him. I know you can see it, Marvin. It's his choice. Let him make it. If it fails... Well... What is family for, if not to catch you when you fall?" Sean almost teared up, while Marvin nodded and told him. "Fine. You have our blessing. Marry him." Rushing up to him, Sean couldn't stop himself from hugging Marvin. Causing Marvin to tense up, but eventually relaxing to hug him back. When Sean stepped back though, Marvin told him seriously. "But in all honesty, Sean... We'll skip the wedding. I don't really want to see you two... That's your thing." Sean blushed, turning to ask Dark softly. "Anyway, we can do two weddings? One for... family and the other for demon tradition?" Dark rolled his eyes but told him softly. "We have to do the demon one first. It's already scheduled. But... it would give you time to prepare the families and coordinate the one for them. If you want." Inching closer to the railing, Sean teased up. "You'll wear a nice suit? You'll meet my mother? My siblings? You'll... help them understand all of... this? Somehow?" Dark's smile made Sean's heart skip a beat when he nodded.

Sean wanted to run up the steps and hug him too, but Dark straightened up and told him coolly. "We should go. We still have to finish the tour and... get ready." Biting his lip, Sean asked aloud. "But we don't have to convince the other lords to witness us anymore. Khaos said-" Dark raised a hand to stop him, answering sweetly. "I know. But we still have to drive through there to get to my realm. Raise a little hell just to spite them. You know... demon stuff. So?" Sean nodded, and Dark walked down the steps to take his hand. Pulling him close to his side, Dark asked Marvin seriously. "Mind sending us back? Verine is probably losing his fucking mind." Waving his hand, Marvin opened the portal for them, telling Sean with a smile. "We'll be in touch. Sean... good luck." Sean smiled at him, then let Dark walk him through the portal that closed behind them. On the other side, Gossip's realm was nothing but ashes. Nothing remained of the souls and buildings. Not a single demon of hers was left alive. All that remained was the tour bus. Standing outside the bus, Verine was yelling to Natemare. "What do you mean, you can't find them! They have to sleep sometime! Tell them to get back here!" Natemare tossed up his hands, snapping back. "You saw what he did here! You think I want to go into his dream right now?! Fuck you!"

From the bus door, Anti chuckled out to them. "Guys. Guys! Look." Both turned around and Verine exhaled out thankfully. "Oh, thank fuck! Cutting it close guys! You realize we have to be in Pride in like six hours. We've got two more realms to go! I hope you can negotiate fast by sucking dick or something cause-" An overwhelming feeling crushed Sean, until he had to rush over and hug Verine. Verine tensed, his attention going to Dark as he nervously asked. "What's happening...? What did I do?" Dark chuckled to himself, gesturing for Natemare and Anti to clear out. Verine watched the others go, before stammering out. "Dark... whatever I did. Let me explain! I... I... Give me a hint?" Backing up from Verine, Sean took his wrists, his eyes tearing up on their own when he whispered to him. "I'm so sorry..." Verine's eyes widened with fear, prompting Sean to add quickly. "Your boys don't know... do they? That you can hear them? Your kids..." Any fear Verine had vanished, and his wings and tail slowly fell to the ground weakly. Like holding them up suddenly became too much to bear. In a mousey voice, Verine looked to Dark and asked cautiously. "Then you know...? About what I did?" Dark nodded, coolly stating aloud. "I was going to incinerate you... but I know why you did it. You got my attention Verine. I'm finally willing to listen."

Sean glanced between them confused but stayed quiet as Verine told Dark with tears running down his cheeks now. "I can't take it anymore, Dark... I know you and the others don't care about starting a family... but I do! I can't count how many times I have heard their first word... how many times I have held them in my arms... and watched her kill them in front of me! TO PUNISH ME FOR LOVING THEM!" The heartbreak in Verine's voice stung Sean so deeply that his own tears began to fall. Verine pulled his hands from Sean's, stepping to face Dark and dragging his tail and wings over the ground, as he told him in a broken voice. "She said that I was designed to lust... not to love. Their pleas for me to save them haunt me, Dark. I wanted to stop trying to make them... but I couldn't let the boys know... You wouldn't help me then... but I'm begging you to now. Now that you finally understand!" Verine dropped to his knees, his hands puffing into the ashes at Dark's feet, when he strained out. "Incinerate me if you want... but I've done nothing you wouldn't have done for Sean! She's tortured my family far longer than she's obsessed over Sean! I can't bare it anymore, Dark! I won't watch her take another! I won't hold another of my boys as they mourn! My heart won't take it! Please... I know what I did to Sean was wrong... but you... You all think I'm..."

Sean saw Verine's boys stepping quickly from the van to see what was happening. The distress in Verine's voice was carrying loudly in the empty realm. Sean stepped closer, fearing the boys might see Dark do something to Verine, but Dark held up a hand to stop Sean from approaching them. Kneeling in the ashes, Dark grabbed Verine's chin and lifted his head up to look at him. Verine looked so vulnerable and defeated. His eyes closing as he awaited Dark to kill him. Russell started to run for Verine, but two of the boys grabbed him to stop him. For a moment, there was silence, then Dark pulled Verine into a hug. Verine's whole body trembled uncontrollably, but Dark held him firmly against him. His voice was deep and powerful when he said close to Verine's pointed ear. "I'm sorry I turned you away, little brother. I'm sorry it took me so long to understand what you feel. But I promise you now... I won't let her take another from you. From US. If I have to break every wall down in the nine realms, I will. For too long she has divided us. Used us as her toy soldiers. It's time for a new world order." Dark released Verine and he sat back on his heels, murmuring out to Dark. "What are you saying?" Dark pressed a finger to his lips but told Verine in a deep menacing voice. "This marriage is just the start of things to come, Verine. The Dominion has never stood united. I might just change that."

Ruffling Verine's hair, Dark got up and told him in a deep commanding voice. "The next time she comes for your family. Summon me. I know why she's killing them, and it ends now. Get up, Verine. Don't let your boys see you on your knees like this." Verine's wings slowly curled back up off the ground, before he rose stiffly to his feet. Once he was up on his feet, Dark placed a hand on his shoulder and told him with a devilish smirk. "Shake off the shackles she's got you thinking you have, Verine. You're stronger than she made you. You can do everything SHE can. Lust is a powerful influence. And I'm told that nothing is stronger than the will to love. Stop groveling, brother. And help me bite back." Verine flicked his tongue across his fangs, his eyes glinting gold, when he snarled back. "Are you serious?" Dark nodded, causing Verine to straighten up with pride. As Verine started to walk away though, Dark grabbed his shoulder and growled into his ear in warning. "You ever do that again to Sean without him knowing and I'll snap your limbs off and shove them up your ass, Verine. I'm not even close to kidding." Verine smirked, purring back in a stronger voice. "Understood... brother."

Verine started to walk to the van, when Russell shoved the boys off his arms and ran into Verine's arms. Hugging him tightly and mumbling something in his ear that made Verine try to calm him down. Pressing a hand to his stomach, he wondered if Russell was just as emotional as he felt right now. Was that a side effect of being pregnant? Wiping his tears away, he tried to calm himself, when Dark approached asking softly. "Are you alright?" Nodding, Sean sniffled out. "Ya... I don't know what happened. I just felt so..." Dark moved closer, sliding a hand down Sean's belly to his pelvis. It made him inhale and blush that Dark was doing it for the others to see. At least, until he noticed Verine was discreetly doing the same to Russell as he held him. Against his ear, Dark whispered to him. "The baby sensed Verine's pain... Something I never picked up on. It's amazing... It's already so strong. I don't think Verine can sense how strong these hybrids without vessels are. They are born... complete. Both light and dark within them." Sean's hands dropped to his belly as his stomach growled loudly, upon saying. "Are you telling me... these babies won't need to look for a vessel? They are... whole right from the start?" Dark nodded, whispering into his ear discreetly. "Raw untapped demon power in the body of a stubborn determined human? Ya. A demon that can't be controlled by controlling the vessel it was torn from. They are perfect."

Sean gawked at Dark, mumbling out softly. "Holy shit. It would bring a whole new generation of demon into the realms." Dark grinned at him, purring over his lips. "You wanna raise a little hell with me, baby?" Sean swatted Dark's chest but pulled him in for a long kiss. In the middle of their kiss, his stomach growled again and this time it hurt. Forcing him to break the kiss with a groan. It was like severe hunger pains tensing up his stomach. Dark kissed his forehead, chuckling out. "I think it's hungry. Come on. I think Verine has something." Sean took a deep breath, muttering aloud. "Easy. Fuck. I heard you the first time..." Dark chuckled, taking his hand and calling out to Verine. "Verine? Can you help, Sean? He's... hungry." Verine stopped kissing Russell to flash Dark a wicked grin before answering. "Sure. Follow me. I'll show ya what to do." To Be Continued...