DISCLAIMER: I do not own the song Take Me To Church, Hozier does, and I did not come up with the joke Reddox uses. However, the story and the characters are mine. Also, I didn't include the repeat in the chorus.

The lyrics are in italics and are underlined.

"My lover's got humor, she's the giggle at the funeral"

Reddox held my hand tightly as we stared at the little screen, watching the two forming babies as they moved a little. The crushing reality of being pregnant hit all at once, and I was terrified. I could lie about the father, but what would I do if they started showing fire abilities and traits? I looked to Reddox for some form of comfort, anything. Plus, we were both supposed to be getting married to some rando woman our parents chose. Yeah no, thank you.

After a moment he met my eyes, small beads of water in his. "Congratulations, you are having twins," the doctor spoke with a warm smile before continuing. "You're about 5 months along, meaning that abortion is not an option." I looked to the doctor with a soft smile despite the intense fear which ran rampant through my body.

"Knows everybody's disapproval, I should've worshipped her sooner"

He cleaned off the gel and we checked out soon after, making an appointment to come in in a month. Reddox and I didn't speak until we got into our small apartment. "What are we going to do? My family will kill us, kill our babies when they find out!" My voice wavered as warm tears fell from my eyes.

"We can't let them find out, so you need to write to them and alert them that you won't be back for a while and that you were stuck where you are, and I'll do the same..." He pursed his lips "We'll have to be more careful about going outside too."

"If the heavens ever did speak, she's the last true mouthpiece"

He knelt before me, gently lifting my shirt and gently rubbing his hands over my protruding stomach, careful not to scratch me with his claws. He kissed my stomach, pressing a careful ear to it. "I can hear their heartbeats, almost in sync," I smiled down at my lover. I think we'll be okay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Every Sunday's getting more bleak, a fresh poison each week"

That morning was normal, Reddox's arm wrapped around my now very pregnant belly as we slept. I was due in a few weeks, and I was sure that once I had the kids we'd be safe. I mean yeah they wouldn't approve of them, but who would kill babies?

I felt Reddox shift, and I looked back to see him sleepily smile at me. "Good morning love," If only this moment could last forever. "I'll go make us some breakfast, you can just chill in bed." I gave him my thanks, and with that, he was off to the kitchen.

Because of our apartment size, I could watch him from the bed since the only walls were around the bathroom. So I did. He was graceful, and admittingly I loved the way his back muscles moved.

"'We were born sick,' you heard them say it"

The crushing weight of our situation hit me and I couldn't stop the tears from falling. I didn't regret getting pregnant, but I knew the consequences of our actions were going to follow soon. What would they do to us? To the kids? No, I will not let them hurt my babies!

"My church offers no absolutes, she tells me 'worship in the bedroom'"

"Eden? What's wrong baby?" Reddox's warm arms wrapped themselves around me after he got onto our bed. "What if they find us Reddox? What if even after I give birth they decide to..." I couldn't even speak it, it was an awful possibility.

"I don't think they could, I mean to kill children? An awful crime." He was right, but that didn't mean I didn't think they'd be able to do it. Children between two different elements were strictly forbidden in all kingdoms except the air kingdom and some earth kingdom cities.

"What if we move to the air kingdom? We'll be safe there. We can raise the kids there Reddox, no more fear." I pleaded with him as I grabbed his hand. Neither of us really wanted to leave our families most likely for good, but it wasn't just our safety we had to look out for, it was our kids.

Reddox breathed, biting his lip as he thought about it. Slowly, he nodded. "We'll leave tonight, I'll go to the market and get us some food for the trip and a horse so you don't have to walk." I gave him a soft smile, the fear would be over soon.

"The only heaven I'll be sent to, is when I'm alone with you"

Reddox got off the bed and grabbed the plates of food he had made but wouldn't let me feed myself. I playfully rolled my eyes at him. "You don't need to baby me just because I'm pregnant, silly" But he wouldn't budge on it.

"I was born sick, but I love it"

Reluctantly, I let him feed me. He was always so careful with me, especially after we had found out I was pregnant. You'd never have guessed by looking at him, a muscly fire sprite with powerful control over fire. But behind that all, he was a kind soul. In truth, there's no one I'd rather be in this situation with.

"Command me to be well"

"How do you make a tissue dance?" I blinked at him, raising my eyebrow. His grin only widened, mischief written all over his face. "You put a little boogie in it" I smacked his shoulder playfully, him faking a wince as I laughed. "You're not even officially a dad and you're already making dad jokes" He nodded, giving me a goofy smile.

"Amen."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I truly believed that you know. I truly thought we could make it work, but when Reddox's family spotted him getting groceries two months later, my world fell apart at the seams.

I had been home reading a book, when both of our families broke down the door, dragging a fighting Reddox not far behind. With a nod from my father, two of my siblings grabbed me and yanked me up and out of the door. "I'm sorry, I had to" our apartment owner mouthed to me. I looked away, betrayal running through my veins.

"Take me to church, I'll worship at the shrine of your lies"

We were both dragged through the alleys of the town, not wanting others to intervene. I did my best to scream for help, but I was quickly gagged. We were dragged into the woods on what felt like a neverending trail which opened into a clearing.

I was shoved to the ground, the gag being ripped off of me. "Reddox!" I screamed, trying to make my way towards him but my back was stepped on by someone heavy, my father. "What were you thinking Eden? Having children with a fire sprite?! Did we not raise you right?!" I sobbed into the cold dry soil, my stomach hurting from the pressure. When I gave no response he yanked my head up by my hair.

"I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife"

I could clearly see the clearing now, multiple members of our families holding lit torches as they circled us. This has to be a nightmare, I've got to wake up now... C'mon Eden wake up! But there was no waking up because I was already awake.

"I really thought you had potential, Eden. But we just can't let you give birth to those kids." And with that, I felt a swift kick to my stomach. "No!" Reddox screamed as he fought harder against the water sprites holding him down, forcing him to only be able to watch. The torches all got stronger as he fought, a sign of his power.

"Offer me that deathless death"

Not long after I felt more kicks by multiple people, calling me various slurs. My babies, please don't let them take my babies. Please. I begged to the sky, praying someone would answer me. But nobody did.

At one point someone cracked one of my antlers and broke multiple ribs, but compared to what they were doing to my kids I didn't care. It hurt so bad but I could barely feel the physical pain, it was all mental. My own family is doing this. My own family!

"Oh good God, let me give you my life"

I wasn't sure exactly what happened because my eyes were closed, but the sound of fire roaring was quickly followed by me being picked up and air rushing past us. I opened my eyes slowly, surprised to see it was Reddox carrying me.

He was running faster than I had ever seen him, but where were we going? The town was the other way? At least I think so. "Red-Reddox, what?" I murmured. I felt so tired. "It'll be okay Eden," He choked back a sob "It'll be okay." Despite my sleepiness, I couldn't help but feel that he was trying to convince himself, not me.

"If I'm a pagan of the good times, my lover's the sunlight"

Even though he was distraught, he still looked handsome. I studied his face as best as I could, noticing that there were more lines making him look more tired. But he didn't stop for a moment, likely because the mob followed us closely.

"To keep the goddess on my side, she demands a sacrifice"

We made it to the edge of the land, a tall cliff stopping us from moving further. I looked over the side, seeing jagged rocks below as the waves crashed.

"What you got in the stable? We've a lot of starving faithful"

Reddox looked at me, exasperated. "I was so close Eden, I'm so sorry. I was in the middle of buying a horse when they found me. Eden, I'm so so sorry I couldn't protect you" I shook my head, softly smiling at him. "You did your best, and that's all I can ever ask for, Reddox."

"That looks tasty, that looks plenty"

Reddox and I faced the angry crowd which stood between us and the woods. All of their eyes burned with hatred, and for what? For loving someone despite them being a sprite of a different element? "Please, you don't have to do this! You'll never hear from us again, just let us go," He begged, his voice cracking "please."

"This is hungry work"

"Don't be foolish. Even if you left, people would find out and it would be shameful to the rest of the family." Reddox's father said, his tone rough as if speaking to a child. They came closer, forcing me and Reddox to move closer to the edge of a cliff. I looked behind me, a few feet is all that separated me from the jagged rocks below. My hands were clammy, but Reddox didn't bring it up. I don't think he noticed.

"No Masters or Kings when the ritual begins"

Reddox grabbed my head, making me look at him. There were tears in his eyes as he begged me. "Eden, promise me that no matter what you're going to continue to live your life. Please." I nodded, swallowing hard. "I promise." I expected him to promise me too but was surprised as he kissed me.

When we parted I noticed how close they were, I could feel the heat from the torches. Reddox pulled me to him before jumping from the cliff, wrapping his body around mine.

We fell in slow motion, the wind rushing past us. At that moment I prayed again. I prayed for Reddox, for me, for our unborn children. I prayed for our future. All of a sudden the wind was knocked from my lungs, and pain spread through my body. Before I could react, everything went dark.

"There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin"

I woke up on shore, a bit of pain still running through my body. I looked to the sky, it was still dark so I must have not been out too long. Wait, where's Reddox?! I searched for him all around, seeing his body not far from where I was laying. I scrambled to get up and get to him, but I could only crawl.

When I got to him I noticed his lips were blue and his chest wasn't moving. I put my ear to his mouth, not hearing any breathing. I panicked and started CPR as well as I could but nothing happened. He was gone and it was all my fault. Maybe if I had stayed away from him he'd still be alive. Eden, if he were here he'd be upset with you for thinking such a thing. He loves you.

I tried to use my water abilities, but I was too weak to do so. I would be damned if I just left him there, though, so I dragged him into the woods and used my hands to dig him a grave. It was makeshift and not the best, but it was the best I could offer.

I set him in it, grabbing the gold from his pocket, but before I covered him I laid cuddled into his side. I wished I could wake up from this nightmare, but there was no waking up. I was so tired, I just wanted to sleep but the promise I made to him ran through my head, and with a few final tears I decided to cover him up, managing to make some water come to us and onto his grave. Small roses and thick vines covered in large thorns sprouted from the ground, and I left them. With one final look at the place my lover now eternally rested, I vowed I'd come back for him one day with a fire sprite to help me cremate him.

"In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene, only then I am human. Only then I am clean"

I held my head in my hands, sobbing uncontrollably. The back-alley doctor had confirmed my fears, I miscarried. I had nothing left. I paid the doctor and left, walking as out of sight as I could. It was late, so most stores were closed but it was too big of a risk to go back to the apartment. I checked the shops still open, keeping an eye out for mine and Reddox's relatives.

Luckily, I was able to find a cloak and some food for my journey, along with a small dagger. I grabbed some hay for the horse I was planning on getting on my next stop and approached the stable, finding a large black draft horse for sale with dark green 'vines' as a part of his coat. His black mane stood out, he was beautiful. I decided he would be the one to take me far from this place.

"What's his name?" I asked the rancher. "He has none, we just refer to him as 'boy'." I nodded and paid for the horse along with basic tack. I rubbed his neck, cooing at him. "Your new name is Reddox. How does that sound?" He made a small noise and brought me closer with his snout. Well, it looks like he approves.

"Hey sir, do you know the way to the earth kingdom?" He eyed me and my goods warily but nodded anyway. "I'll grab you a map and compass for a few gold, how does that sound?" I beamed at him, handing him a few gold. He placed it in his pocket and walked into what I assumed to be his office, emerging a few minutes later and in that time I had gotten my stuff securely on Reddox.

"Do you need help getting up, sir?" The rancher asked. I nodded, and he lifted me up onto Reddox, handing me the map and compass. I thanked him and headed on my way. Even though I want to curl up and die, I promised. I thought as I pet Reddox's mane. At least I'm not alone.

"Amen"