When we returned back home, nothing was out of the ordinary... It was as if we hadn't even left to bring with. It was the exact same day, yet it felt as though a billion years were ripped out of my life book.

I thanked everyone for all that they had done for me before I began to feel lightheaded. Time travel through the wormhole continuum sure was exhausting. Masky carried me home as I couldn't really use my legs properly. They were all wobbly from everything that had happened.

"I can't believe I'll get to live a smoother life," I smiled, "That and I finally have some closure."

"Care to enlighten me?" my boyfriend questioned with a small chuckle. I tossuled his hair slightly and took a deep breath.

"My life will be much smoother without a demon terrorist fucking up my life; I still have you rascals to deal with." I chortled. Masky stopped walking and threatened to throw me off.

"I'm just kidding!" I exclaimed and pleaded him to finish taking me home.

"Yeah, I know how you feel though. It's the same for me too."

I smiled against the top of his head and ran my hands down to his chest. I could faintly feel his heartbeat through his shirt as he was walking on the shitty, bumpy, haphazard forest floor.

"That and my supposed father's soul explained his intentions... I think I can now move on. I won't accept Ethan as my father, but I can at least view him as an equal father figure." I explained. Masky merely nodded. He didn't have to say much, really. Having him here was all a response I really needed.

I pat his shoulder and he stopped walking. I slipped off his back and held his hand as we walked together. I could tell he was questioning as to why I hopped off, but I shrugged it and tossed a wink at him. We walked in silence for quite some time before I could see my porch lights on in the distance. It was sight for sore eyes, to be honest. I would glance every so often up to my boyfriend to catch his expression. He was always so deep in thought, but I refused to say anything... I was curious as to why he looked so distraught though.

We were by the back door on the porch when I was ready to go through the door, but he seemed hesitant. I was really worried and finally snapped under the pretenses of anxiety.

"Is there something on your mind?" I inquired. He himself didn't say anything, but his eyes, oh, those beautiful blue eyes were so dull and tired. I realized he needed sleep, "Do you wanna stay with me for a little while longer?"

He nodded lethargically and so I led him in. I locked the door and dragged him up to my room. Inside, he rested his head on mine and enveloped me in his usual warm embraces. God, I loved the way the heat of his body just warmed me up. I snuck my cold hands under his shirt and onto his bare back. He let out an amused chuckle before letting me go. With his right hand, he lifted my chin and kissed my lips softly. I removed my hands from his back and snaked them up to cup his cheeks. Once we were able to stop making out, we rested our foreheads pressed together. I looked up at him as I slowly pulled away and took off my jacket. And kicked off my shoes. He did the same and draped his jacket over the desk chair. I slid under my blanket and he looked hesitant like before. I opened my arms and coaxed him to follow after. He finally did and we cuddled, balled up under my blankets.

Before long, we were knocked out and didn't wake till the next morning...

When I woke up, it was just me in my bed. I glanced about and Masky's jacket and shoes where nowhere to be seen. I sighed heavily and begrudgingly rolled out of bed. The clock on my nightstand read 09 : 17 in red letters. I groaned for waking up so early and sauntered over to the bathroom across the hall.

Everything that had happened felt like such a dream, yet the bruising, the soreness, and the pain were very much real. I did by business and looked at myself in the mirror as I washed my hands. My eyes were sunken in and I looked like death, to be honest. After that, I washed my face and brushed my teeth, but that was about it. I didn't even want to go downstairs to eat; I just wanted to crawl back into bed and rest up some more. When I dove back into my bed, I turned on the TV and drowned out the neighborhood outside.

Somehow, I dozed off and when I woke up again, Masky was asleep on the edge of my bed. I tried to move as slowly as possible, but even at my slightest movement, he'd stirred. A small smile cracked through his bleary facade and he reached his hands out to hold mine.

"I went out earlier and got you some food and made your favorite dessert." he said as he ran his thumb over the ring he gifted me for Christmas, "Just lemme know when you're hungry."

My heart fluttered and I resisted the urge to squeal. My God, he was just so perfect.

"Let's go eat right now. I bet you're starving." I said as I pat his hand gently.

"Oh yeah? How much?"

I playfully punched his shoulder and stared him dead in the eyes, "I'm betting all my love on this. Why? Because I know you."

He chuckled and rolled his eyes, "You caught me. Now, let's go!"

My boyfriend tugged on my arms as I got out of bed and walked me downstairs. Along the kitchen countertop were potted flowers so they wouldn't die as fast as the cut ones. Laid out on the table were two plates of my favorite food wrapped in saran wrap and three candles; a white one for peace and healing, an orange one for joy and celebration, and a red one for passion and survival. A smile of my very own cracked its way through and I couldn't contain my gratefulness at the romantic gesture. When Masky took a moment to capture my expression, he saw me crying.

"Oh no! What did I do?" he questioned, frowning at the tears which streamed down my cheeks. I giggled through the tears and hugged him.

"Absolutely nothing. I'm just emotional."

He hugged me and kissed the top of my head again, "We better get started on the food before it gets any colder."

I wiped my eyes and pecked at his lips before running off to my food. After our lunch, Masky begged me to take a shower and get dressed into outerwear. I was curious as to why he wanted me to do this so badly, but I humored him and did so anyways.

It took me a little over an hour, but I got myself cleaned up and ready pretty quickly. When I was ready, however, I couldn't find Masky anywhere. The front door's doorbell rang and I cautiously went to check. Just outside the window was my boyfriend. He'd left in the time I was in the bathroom to change his clothes. I opened the door, stifling a giggle.

"Care to accompany me on a date?" he asked me suavely as he held out a hand.

"I would love to." I bowed, placing my hand in his, "But I need to go get my coat. It's still January."

He waited patiently for me on the porch as I ran upstairs to snatch my coat, house keys, and phone. I pocketed them all and flew down the stairs. I rejoined Masky and we strolled about the town, passing the alleyway where we'd first met. We chatted and make jokes all the while we walked.

"Are you going to want a hot chocolate or tea?" I asked over my shoulder as I opened the door. We'd just circled around the town square and picked up a pack of gum. When I didn't get a response, I turned around to see my boyfriend knelt down on one knee.

"I'm closer to where I started; chasing after you. I'm falling even more in love with you... letting go of all I've held onto. I'm standing here until you make me move. I'm hanging by a moment here with you." he recited the lyrics to "Hanging by a Moment" by Lifehouse, "Forgetting all I'm lacking, completely incomplete. I'll take your invitation: you take all of me. Now I'm falling even more in love with you; letting go of all I've held onto. I'm standing here until you make me move. I'm hanging by a moment here with you."

I watched in both excitement and amusement as Masky pulled out a small box from his pocket.

"I'm livin' for the only thing I know: I'm running here and I'm not quite sure where to go. And down I know I'd like to be in tune; just hanging by a moment here with you. [ ] [ ], would you make me the happiest man on this planet and do me the honors of marrying me?" he requested.

I got down on my knees and smiled, "There's nothing else to lose. There's nothing left to fly. There is nothing in the world that can change my mind: there is nothing else... So yes, I will marry you."

Masky practically dropped the box as he kissed me repeatedly. I embosomed him and we held onto one another tenderly for the next few minutes before he picked the box back up and plucked the ring from its little cubby.

He handed me the ring and I inspected it. On the inside of the ring were the words "Patience. Perseverance. Peace." written in cursive.