There wasn't really anything for me to respond. I had yet to give much thought to any plans for the future. All I knew to be absolute was that I wanted to be with Devin, so everything else would just have to be handled when we crossed it.

My boyfriend, did have an answer for the ghost, no matter how inappropriate it may have been, "Probably fuck like rabbits, eat some food, do a little shopping," both the girl and I were staring at this point, "Maybe pull a prank on an unsuspecting person or two."

My chest started to shake with contented chuckles. Fiona seemed equally amused because she shook her head and with one final grin, continued on her way. Once she had vanished, I turned my attention to the man stepping toward the driver's side of the car.

"What about no pranks does your brain not get?" although I laughed with the words, I took a forceful stance with each arm on either side of his shoulders, claws resting on the vehicle I was all but pinning him to.

"You say that now, but you'll get bored," he smirked, calling my playful bluff, "Let's not waste any time. I still have to go to work tomorrow."

For the rest of the day, I listened to a lot of chattering from Devin about how he'd been contemplating enrolling in trade school of some sort. He said he had always thought owning a business would suit him well and the idea of it made him feel accomplished. Apparently, he had already learned that many small businessmen began by working as an apprentice and climbing the ladder from there.

"And," he had said, "Now I don't have to worry about missing time with my spouse, because you can be with me anywhere without it causing any problem."

"That's very true. Though to be honest, I was afraid that never being able to have someone others can see and interact with might weigh on you. It's certainly strange. Everyone will think you're all alone."

"Who gives a shit?" he squeezed me tightly, "Relationships aren't about what others can see or judge. You're here. I can feel you; I can kiss you. That's all I need."

The next day, I followed him to work. Initially, I didn't dress and simply prepared for a day by myself. His earlier comments replayed in my mind, however, and I realized I wasn't ready to be separated again, even if just for a short while. Not an hour after he left, I hopped out of bed and flew through the apartment window.

Despite my physical senses being dulled in this form, the moment I was inside the store, I could smell it. Flooded with that old familiar stench of rotting cardboard, neglected pest problems, and all-around depressing atmosphere, I almost wanted to kidnap my love from the place. Nonetheless, I found where he was working with some old boxes in the storehouse and...he was singing. Not loud and a bit off-key, but it was lovely.

"Couldn't stay away?" he interrupted his song to greet me.

"Never."

Our days went in and out much the same as this. He did wind up in a mechanics class, which meant there was more need for less company. Even when we were together, I allowed him extra time for recuperation or study. It was sometime during all this when my own thoughts ventured to what I should personally be working on.

For the longest, I had needed to work on sobering and regaining some semblance of control over my life. Then, it had turned over into making things right with Tyler which had ended with having to fix more mistakes by eradicating McGraff's threat. It seemed I had come full circle. Content with my abilities and my relationship, and having corrected what wrongs I could, I understood that the only thing left was to survive. I had to protect and love Devin with the vigor I had been incapable of before.

That's not to say I never considered my past, how it could have been different, or how I might still improve on it, but generally speaking, I focused solely on the present. Over the years, our bond grew stronger as we learned more about each other and embraced our flaws. We had our share of problems, but we never gave up. It was a solemn night indeed, when I asked Devin to marry me.

"Are you alright?" I whispered, having walked by the bathroom's closed door to hear sniffling.

Rather than knock or wait for an answer, I sauntered straight through the wood. Inside, the man quickly rubbed a towel across his face and threw it to the side of the sink, "Just washing up," he cleared his throat and grinned weakly.

"Was it what your sister said?"

He hesitated, "It's stupid. I mean, I know they're just ignorant. I have someone; someone wonderful."

As he slipped his hands into mine, I recalled the dinner we had recently returned from. Of course, the others couldn't see me, but I'd been seated by my boyfriend the entire time. We were celebrating the first successful year of Mavin Automotive with his second in command, her wife, and then his sister and her boyfriend. Sheila had offhandedly commented on how all her brother needed now was a man and he'd have everything.

She obviously didn't mean it rudely. In fact, she had been talking about how proud she was of him and how far he'd come. Hell, even Derrick agreed with her and offered a toast to the man who had attacked him in his own home so long ago. I was proud of Devin too. For those reasons, yes, and also for keeping his cool with the touchy topic instead of getting angry and snapping.

"I don't know if man is the correct term, but," still holding onto him, I slid to kneel on the floor. Slowly letting go, I brought into view a small box and flipped the top open, "I would be eternally grateful if you were to take me as your husband."

Although positive he had no inkling of the proposal beforehand, I think the shock on his face was mostly only to due with not knowing how I'd acquired the ring. It wasn't anything fancy, just a simple golden band with the phrase To Hell and Back for You engraved. Considering my nearly ethereal body, however, I had to explain the difficulty I went through to get it. 

The annoying part was getting the money for it legally. In a certain manner, Devin had paid for it unknowingly as I had practiced writing and copying his signature in order to make checks out to Ames in small increments that he wouldn't notice. She had been the one who actually purchased the gift.

There was no ceremony. Devin talked to his manager to leave her in charge for a couple of weeks so we could go on vacation. Hawaii was wonderful. My husband even splurged on private tents, spas, and other services where he and I could interact without fear of appearances. Actually, I think I was more concerned with him looking like a loon and destroying his image than he was. 

It was during this honeymoon when I realized I hadn't worried about Tyler in quite some time. Even in that moment, my heart didn't ache for his misfortune. I knew it was very much a possibility that we would meet again and if that encounter occurred and if we recognized each other, I hoped he could forgive me. As it stood, however, I couldn't stress indefinitely over a situation I was helpless to change.

It took a lot of practice to understand the nuances of my feeding habits. According to Spike, had I been one of the numerous other species, it wouldn't have been so troublesome. Much like a human feeling hunger and immediately the sensation of fullness upon eating, most demons grew weak and took in nourishment to instantly regain themselves. Since my 'food' was distributed in small, continuous servings as the souls in Limbo gradually gave off energy, the changes in my body were quite subtle.

This led me to overcompensating in the beginning. Devin equated me to a vampire going on regular pursuits to find victims; an analogy I didn't appreciate too much. Eventually, I realized this was unnecessary, for by the time one captured spirit would finish, I was still strong enough to find a new one. Largely, I needn't keep more than one or two at a time which made these 'hunts' superfluous.

What was frustrating was when I tried to take someone in, only to have killed or banished them. As mentioned to me prior, if there was nothing my memories could teach, they were no use to me. It occurred multiple times because I had neglected proper study to ensure I had something, no matter how little, to offer.

Then there were people like Emma. Headstrong and foolish, who refused to acknowledge any fault within themselves. It was often upsetting when creatures refused to open their minds and hearts, even though it destroyed them in the end. Damian and his girlfriend coincidentally met their fates on the same day.

I had watched the goth girl slowly become literally transparent, her endless struggle forcing her demise. One day, I visited my realm to call on her energy. Instead of her prison revealing to me, I felt a vast haze over the world where the last remnants of her essence were being absorbed.

"He seems to be done for as well," my stoic skeleton friend greeted me as he stared at Damian within his bubble.

Contrary to his fellow inmate, his being never lessened. Indeed, it seemed to strengthen. Weary, saddened, and uncertain he grew, yet his energy held and became most consistent. I could sense the wisps of ignorance wafting from him shrink until they no longer existed at all. It was then that the boy was released. I don't know to where, as what, or how long it would take his mind to remember, but he had progressed. His soul had made it through the trial.

"Usually when people get old, they have less of an appetite," I stated as the wrinkled man placed a heaping platter of buffet food on the table.

"Well," Devin's lips smacked as he talked in a dry, aged voice, "I'm eating for two."

The corners of my mouth curled as he slipped into the chair opposite me, "I don't think that's how this works." I reached a claw and stabbed a piece of coconut chicken, bringing it up to my face. Grimacing, I returned it.

"Dumb demon," a shaky hand took the food from me, "After sixty years, you should know you won't like it."

I sighed, glancing around the empty side room where we had situated ourselves in the Chinese restaurant, "I'll just have to sit back and enjoy the view then."

"Not much of a view for you," the senior grinned, head tilted as he eyed me, "But mine is astounding. You haven't aged a day. Sometimes I feel bad that you have to put up with a boring old shit like me."

I placed my claw on his hand, accidentally making him drop his fork, "You're as beautiful as the day we met. More beautiful, in fact. Time has proven the sincerity of your character and the power of your love."

With a laboring breath, his beam slowly faded and he went after his utensil, "Mark...what will happen when I die? What do I do?"

"What do you mean?" my vision narrowed critically while watching him wipe down that fork.

"I don't want to lose you. How do I make sure my soul doesn't wander away when the time comes?"

I paused. It was a subject we had only touched on before, always concluding with the vague 'we love each other and will always be together.' Gazing at the frail, elderly human in front of me, though, I knew it was time for deeper discussion. I knew he was afraid. He probably knew I was as well, but I'd never outwardly admit such a thing.

"You remember how McGraff was tethered to this world? Daytonsville specifically?"

"We can bind ourselves together?" he quickly surmised.

I nodded, "I'm sure I can guide your spirit through this human death either way, but I don't want to take chances. That's why I've been studying. I won't lose you; I can promise you that with insurmountable certainty."

Through the now loose folds of skin compiling his expression, I still saw the same youthful, lovingly playful smile, "I trust you. I always have."

"I know."

After a brief silence where he turned his attention toward his meal, he asked, "What's it like?"

"Not near as terrifying as people think," I thought back to my first death, the horror of seeing Devin so broken, "Not when you're being held by someone you love."

"And you'll be there to hold me?" a subtle sadness shone in his eyes.

"As always."

In my heart, I felt it was that day where Devin's last apprehension about death fleeted because not a month passed when he was admitted to the hospital. At such an age, he'd already been undergoing health problems, including some renal trouble. After our conversation and our binding ritual, however, his kidneys failed altogether. 

He wasn't a suitable patient to opt for surgery even if the doctors hadn't said it was too late for those measures anyway. The staff knew he was fading fast and believing he was alone, didn't want to leave his side. For the first couple of days, there was always a nurse in the room with him which was sweet. The closer he came to the end though, the more fervently he requested for them to leave and they eventually honored his wishes.

I sat on the edge of the mattress and stroked what little hair he had left, "How are you feeling?"

"Not as shitty as yesterday," his chest rose and fell haggardly, "And not as shitty as an hour ago. I'm feeling much better."

As I stared into his eyes, watching vacancy increase, I smiled, "You'll feel a hundred percent again soon."

Neither of us had to speak in better detail than that; we both knew it was time. Observing his being begin to expend its last stores of strength, I lowered to kiss his cold forehead, "Why don't you rest? I'll be here when you wake."

The man barely managed a tiny grin before his vision shut, body falling heavily into place on the bed. A long beeping sound emanated from the monitors he was attached to, alerting the hospital workers to rush in to check. Just like us, however, they knew it was over. Steering my attention away from the nurses fumbling with wires and protocol, I sensed an energy come to life above my lover's cadaver as a bright ball of light.

Wings and arms extended, I cradled the spirit within my power and allowed it to naturally tear itself from its past form. When it was prepared to go, I took it within me to harbor and nurture until the universe had decided upon the new body which my lover would inhabit in order to live out our next existence together.