Joseph took one look at the long line and immediately wanted to walk out. He was beyond exhausted at this point. The church had been getting calls from all over the town claiming someone they knew was possessed. This was most likely just the infection spreading, but that didn't stop Damien from dragging him to each and every person that called on them. He had no idea what had gotten into the Priest. Damien used to hate the town but he seemed more, forgiving? No, that wasn't it. But whatever change Damien had gone through was seriously starting to freak Joseph out.

Nevertheless, the pop tarts last night had not been worth the work Damien gave him.

He had been standing for less than five seconds before he casted his gaze around the shop and his heart nearly stopped.

"Susan?" He said as his eyes pinned themselves on her. She was a beautiful haunting melody, the rare sunlight casting down from the heavens above rightly only further her beauty as she glowed in it. And when he stared at her, couldn't help but never looking away.

Then he realized whom she was speaking with.

Dresden.

Carsden very own bad boy turned God-man was talking with his girlfriend, in a overly friendly manner by the looks of it. He clenched his jaw and barely noticed as Damien joined him in line.

"Susan updated her Facebook relationship status to; It's complicated. "He muttered to Joseph, but didn't look up from his cellphone screen.

Joseph paused in his hate. "She what?" He turned to look at Damien with wide eyes.

"Joseph, are you deaf?" Damien asked him quite seriously.

"No." Joseph muttered back in confusion with a furrowed brow.

"Then you heard exactly what i said five seconds ago."

Joseph simply gave Damien a look. "What the heck are you doing spying on my girlfriend with Facebook for anyway?" He asked, the line was moving faster and they were soon in the middle.

"I'm friends with her, duh. There's no spying. " Damien replied easily.

"Oh wow, I'm having a very hard time believing Susie actually accepted a friend request from you." No matter how upset he was to see Susan and her former flame together. He couldn't help but laugh at the look that came over Damien's face at his words.

"And why is that, Jonathan?" Damien slipped his phone back in his robe. He looked at Joseph with the same glare he used on Latherna's boyfriends. "I'll have you know, i have seven friends on this application."

"Wow, Damien, that's like half the world." Joseph replied sarcastically, meanwhile he wondering exactly what favour of doughnut Latherna asked them to get. Hmm, chocolate? That was always a safe bet.

There was a small ping from Damien's pocket and Joseph glanced back at him. "Make that eight, looks like Darwin finally accepted our great bond."

"Damien," Joseph deadpanned. "You got problems man."

"I got ninety nine problems, yes. But my girlfriend talking to her high school sweetheart ain't one of them. "Damien said with a raised brow.

Joseph faked offensive and place a hand over his chest dramatically. "That's cold, that's real cold, Damien." But even as he joked about it, he couldn't help the sting of betrayal that sing through his veins as he watched Susan and Dresden chat like two girls from gossip girl.

They lapsed into silence.

Frustrated with jealousy, Joseph didn't pay any attention to the futile line till he came to the end. Where he was greeted with a beaming but obviously fake smile on Kathy May's lips.

"What can i get for you, Father?" She asked, stressing the word father with venom.

Joseph felt his own face matched hers. It probably wasn't wise of him to buy and eat at the same bakery/coffee shop his ex girlfriend owned, but he couldn't deny that she baked heaven. Besides, he had always felt drawn to little shop.

"Mom? Can I go upstairs to the Pit of Sin now?" The soft voice of her son Jeremy asked from behind the counter.

"No." Kathy answered but the boy was already rushing upstairs.

Joseph couldn't help the amusement that came over his face as he watched the boy leave. "You're honestly going to let him go up there?" He asked her, remembering the gambling ring and all the other underhanded dealings that happened on the third floor of Kathy's second business.

"Your order Father." Kathy asked with finality. But Joseph didn't hear, his eyes had flickered back to the table Susan sat at, her hand now grasped by Dresden.

Kathy simply sighed when she noticed where his attention had gone. "You know i told you about that girl ten years ago and I'm telling you about her today. She is a snake."

Joseph didn't reply. His mind occupied imagining what Dresden and Susan could be doing if they weren't in public. Yes, Kathy had warned him long ago, but warnings were meaningless to the heart.

Abruptly, he strolled off in direction of the table. He could feel Damien's and Kathy's gaze following him but he couldn't care less. He was too busy trying to hide his raging emotions.

"Susan." He called out half way there but she didn't look up, in fact she didn't even notice him. Her eyes were on Dresden, as was her mind apparently.

Susan was completely engrossed with Dresden.

Eyes bright.
Smile warm.
Hands gripped.

Joseph hesitated just in front of them. Their focus were on each other, they didn't see him yet. He could still back away and confront her later. It would be the less dramatic and public that way.

But he couldn't turn back.

He swore to himself to stop avoiding conflict after his grandmother Amelia died because he didn't to face the fact she was completely in love with Damien. If only he had stopped laughing long enough to tell Latherna it wasn't anything serious, perhaps she wouldn't have poisoned her.

But, besides that. He was mad. He didn't want to turn back, he wanted to shout, to scream and let his feelings show. But he couldn't, he had been taught to embrace emotionless behaviour. And instead of yelling, punching or even changing his Facebook status to match Susan's, he simply stopped in front of the table with a calm yet sharp smile on his face.

"Ah, I see you two are busy." He remarked casually, his gaze fixated on their intertwined hands.

Susan flinched at the sound of his voice and immediately looked up at him with wide eyes. She looked like a shoplifter who didn't realize the store had cameras. "Joseph." She stumbled out his name with a pale face.

Dresden also looked up at him. But not with the fear of being caught flirting, but a flash of anger. He didn't seem to keen to see Joseph and the feeling was certainly mutual.

Joseph eyed Susan with a bit of hurt before he turned a frosty glare towards Dresden. "Susan," her name still rang with that same trusting tone in his voice. "I don't hear anything from you after we-after our-" He hesitated, not wanting to tell Dresden about Susan's pregnancy. "After our talk," he said finally. "And now I see you with him?"

Susan immediately slipped her hand out of Dresden's. "We were just talking." She told him, swallowing back her nerves and replacing the slightly guilty look on her face with one that believed her own lie.

Dresden looked massively uncomfortable and cleared his throat as the tension thickened. Joseph turned his gaze away from him and focused on Susan.

"Something i wish you'd do with me." He couldn't help the bitter cold comment but he did try to hide it with a laugh.

Susan sighed warily. All the brightness she had when talking with Dresden faded. "What do you want, Joseph? You want to talk? Alright, let's talk." She couldn't quite keep the annoyance out her voice.

Joseph closed his eyes and for a second, he wished he could back in time, to when they were happy and live those memories. Or were they always like this and he just didn't notice? It's not like they had been even dating that long, maybe a years, perhaps two? He made a mental reminder to never tell Susan that he didn't remember how long they had been together. He shuddered at the thought of that argument.

"Relationship drama," He heard Dresden mutter and sent him another glaring gaze. It wasn't that he didn't like Dresden, he did, he and Gwyneth had been making bets of how long it would take for him and Latherna to get married behind Damien's back. But now he was starting to see Dresden in a different light. He was starting to see him as a threat.

Joseph took his mind away from his troubled thoughts and turned his attention to the problems at hand. "What's the point? You saw what happened last time." He said, shaking his head and pocketing his hands.

A glint of green danced in Susan's eyes as she stood up to face him. That should been his first warning to run, the hell out. But instead, he stood blankly as she crossed her arms. "That's because, every time we talk, it's always Erin. Erin did this, Erin did that. Erin is better than you-what the fuck Joseph?! Is everything about your oh so beloved niece now?"

Joseph merely stared at her for a moment. He couldn't recall ever willingly bringing up Latherna, it was sort of a turn off to bring up the fact that your date was the same age as your kind of niece. He definitely couldn't remember ever saying that Latherna was better than Susan, did it look like he had a death wish?

An abrupt but loud chowing sound bought his attention back to Dresden. The man had been watching them with an intrigued but exhausted face. Looking like he rather be enjoying his doughnuts in peace then following the next episode of his and Susan's love life.

Joseph tried to calm his temper. He glanced around the shop and saw Damien and Kathy eyeing him. He gave them a look and they quickly acted like they were busy. "Let's not fight now." He said to Susan with exhaustion in his tone. He wasn't at all fully healed from his battle and this stress wasn't helping at all. "Latte is someone I care about, eventually you are just going to have to accept that."

He noticed how out of the corner of his eye Dresden seemed to glare at him with an edge. He gave a confused stare back, wondering exactly what he had done. He shifted away slightly, dude got issues. He thought.

But that was the least of his problems. Susan seemed to visibly diminish as her eyes turned teary. "You think I wasn't there? Did you think that I wasn't there that damned day that bitch of a woman came home from college? Do you think I didn't hear what you said when she cried?" She asked her voice cracking with bitter sadness.

Dresden immediately began tense. He looked at Susan with a mixture of shock and anger. "You called her...a ...Susan. You of all people!"

Clearly Dresden didn't know Susan as well as Joseph had thought. He couldn't help feeling a satisfied happiness at that.

Susan simply glanced at his anger in a dismissive manner. "Not now, you have no idea what your lover has done behind your back." She stated and Joseph mentally face palmed. Dresden wasn't someone you wanted to upset with troubling news- unless you wanted to meet Darling, his monstrous alter ego.

He'd been lying if he said he couldn't remember what Susan was talking about. He did in fact recall Latherna coming home after college then learning that he and Susan had got together while she was away.

"I will ask this once; What the fudge happened while I was gone!?" Latherna voice thundered even in his memories.

He remembered thinking that Latherna's Grandmother had been wrong when she taught him about the cowardice. They really were situations where running away was a good option.

But he didn't run. He wished did, dreamed he could, but he didn't.
He folded his arms and stared back at with a confidence he didn't feel. "That is none of your business." He said in his best parental tone.

It had no effect on her. It never had, she simply scowled at him with the stare of a woman whose cat bought her back a dead mouse as a gift." I died trying learn from that dammed college for you guys, and now I return to you fucking my sister?" She really was holding nothing back and Joseph suffocated on air.

"She's- she's not your sister." He said barely keeping himself from passing out of the sheer horror of having this conversation." Also, you weren't suppose to come back." He mumbled the last part. It was true, Gwyneth had foreseen a troubling future for Latherna if she stayed in Carsden. It was so worth Damien bribing those teachers so she could get into a good college. He just didn't expect her not to love the freedom of living on her own.

"Not supposed to come back?" She screeched but Joseph could sense the pain underlying her anger. "oh I see, I see the point, I have been a burden all my life to you guys so you decided to send me off. If I were such a burden, then you could have ended my life anytime! It would have been a kinder fate."

What?

Wha-

Oh the girl was delicious, had she been taking drugs? He couldn't barely help himself from shaking her shoulders."Lat, you know that's not true! We sent you because we thought you'd have a better shot a great future. Carsden is dead, nothing good ever happens in this town. When are you finally going accept that Damien, Gwyneth and I actually care about you?" He said all of this perfectly calmly. But on the inside he was burning. How could she even think like that?

"Then if you cared, you wouldn't have sent me away! Do you think I wanted it? do you think I wanted higher education?" She asked him, he could see tears of frustration and hurt building in her eyes."Did you guys even ask me what I wanted?"

Joseph closed his eyes. She was too young to understand. Or maybe he was just old to comprehend her anymore. Still, he couldn't let her think she was unwanted. "Would you ask your kid what she wanted? You don't get the things you want in life, you make them happen by yourself. Damien and I were just trying and apparently failing to be good parents." He stared at the ground. Looked like he wasn't any better at being a parent than his own parents. "But apparently we never were."

Yes, he knew it was wrong to use the parental guilt trip but he was hoping that would get through to her. But all his words did was make these worse and he began to wish he never spoke at all.

Latherna wiped away her tears with her sleeve. She looked at him with a face filled with emotion. "Look at me and see what has changed. You guys meant more to me than my own family that I never wanted to leave. I never wanted to move out, all I wanted was to graduate high school and finally live a normal life." She said her tone thick with choked up emotions. "Now look at me, I tried, I desperately tried to survive away from you guys but I couldn't. The city ate at me and I don't even know who I am anymore."

And he did look. He looked at Latherna, really looked at her and saw the change.
It wasn't a big, more subtle but it was there. Her now short hair, her more rugged clothes, the fading but existing dark circles under her eyes.

He felt like he had been punched.

He was now near tears himself. Crying was not something he did, in fact, he couldn't remember crying since he was four. He choked down his tears, now wasn't the time for them. "We did that..Lat...I." he took a moment to steady his shaking voice." I know it was hard for you, beyond that it seems, but Damien and I really thought we were saving you. I guess we were just fools Lat, I'm- I'm sorry." He swallowed back his thoughts of regrets. There was nothing he could do about it now but make it up to her. And right now, he owned her an apology.

"I'm sorry. "He repeated, feeling like he had those words to her too many times in this lifetime. "For failing to protect you like we promised. I'm sorry our choice made you suffer. I'm sorry we failed you on so many levels after you placed such faith and trust in us." He stared at ground, unable to meet her eyes.

"I'm grateful." Her voice broke through the void of silence they had seemed to have fallen in. He glanced up at her, and saw her shoulders shaking with sobs. "More grateful than you think. I am glad to have learned new things, to have got an experience I otherwise would have never got. But sometimes, I wish that you and Damien would have let me stay here. Send me to community college instead."

His vision blurred with tears that he would never let fall. He suddenly felt reminisce as he recalled upon fonder times. "We can't fix our past mistakes, only make the future brighter and learn for them." He said this more for his sake than hers as he swallowed back regrets.

Suddenly he pulled her into a hug, trying to ignore his own tears and said something he had been wanting to say for some time now. "No matter what happens, I want you to know. Lat, you are the daughter I never had." He knew this was true to both Gwyneth and Damien too.

She sniffled and soon he felt her sobs ease up. "You guys mean more to me than anyone else in my blood family. "she mumbled against him.

Joseph blinked, for a moment he wished Damien were there to hear her words. He pulled back from her and held her at arms length."Lat, to me. You are my blood family. You are the only relative I love, so don't be mad. I had no idea what happened with Susan was going to happen. But-but if you really have an issue with it. I'll break it off." He felt a bitter taste in his mouth but he had to said to this. Latherna meant more to him than a hook-up.

"Joseph," she whispered in surprise. She seemed to battle over her emotions for an eternal moment.

Finally, she asked. "Do you love her? Do you think she'll make you happy?"

An flow of emotions washed over Joseph as he thought her words over in his head.

"I just want to know, if she does, I am in no position to say anything against this relationship. I love both of you and I only want what is best." She looked him straight in the eye as she said this. And Joseph knew she meant every word.

But to say he was shocked would an understatement. It wasn't just that she basically giving him her approval but also that she bought up that dreaded word.

Love.

When he thought of Susan. That word didn't immediately come to mind. But was okay, no one loved someone truly in a day. It took time, no matter what people said about love at first sight. It's attraction that draws you to someone not love. That's what he believed, that's what he had been taught.

"I don't know the answer to that question yet Lat," He admitted truthfully, the look on his face one of a man who's search history had been discovered. "But I'd like to find out."

Latherna sighed. For a moment she looked to be in pain as she thought it all over. Finally, after smiling a smile that made you question if it were a smile at all, she said, "If so, then, I suppose I'll consent. "it looked as though even saying the words made her ill.

Joseph stared for a considerable moment.

He could address this, make sure she truly okay with it.

Or..

He could thank his lucky stars she even said yes at all.

Being the man that he was,
He pulled her into another hug with a beaming smile on his face." I don't know what I did to deserve you." He muttered, wondering how long he could walk on ice before falling into the depths of the freezing ocean.

"Neither do I," she had replied in his embrace.

Yes, he would definitely be falling into voids of ice one day.

But at least day wasn't that day.

It was more likely today.

It suddenly made sense why he saw Susan later that night and she insisted on moving onwards in their relationship. She had stayed the night that night, their first night, all because she had somehow heard his conversation with Latherna. He felt as if something dear to him had been robbed, thenceforth he'd be sure at least lock the damn door before having a conversation like that.

All the while he had been contemplating his next words to Susan over in his head. Everything he thought up sounded fake even to him. Finally he decided that the truth may hurt but it was the least he could give her.

"Susan, we just started out back then. What did you expect me to do? I didn't even know you back then," They were a hook-up, plain and simple. There was no rules back then. But now that weren't, and he'd be lying if he said this kind of relationship didn't hurt more. He had to make her see, it wasn't just her who was hurt by their past mistakes.

He lowered his voice and added, "I'm not sure if I even know you now."

The words felt like melting lava on his tongue. But he couldn't deny the truth in them. His mother may been a cruel woman but she taught him that. To value the truth.

But right now, the truth was he was unsure, unable, and simply unwilling to let go of her. He knew he loved her, there were people you loved and people you hate and it was all a fine line till breaks.

He glanced over to Dresden. The man was clearly disoriented by the information Susan fed him like poison. Damien had warned him about Darling, and he really didn't what his favourite doughnut shop being destroyed because of this. He gave Dresden his best intimidating performance with no actual heart in the act.

"What are you even still doing here?" He asked with no real heat." Just take your damn doughnuts and go to your car," Please do, I happen to love this shop and would hate to be mind fucked today, He thought. Darling had control over the mind apparently. And no matter how cool he thought that power was, he was no mood to ever actual experience Darling dancing around in his head.

Dresden's eyes just got wider as he stared down at the table looking ill. His face turned pale and he ran a hand over his hair in astonishment of Susan's truthful lies. It was clear Joseph words didn't even crack his attention as he sank back into his seat and threw his head into his hands.

"Still, it hurt."

Susan's betrayed tone bounced at him full force as he tore his gaze back to her. She was always be the picture of beauty to him. But then, as he looked at her, really felt her. He saw her sickness, her jealousy and greed. It was a assault on his senses, he didn't want to feel that because he felt her grief, loneliness and longing for a better life. He didn't want her to feel like that. You never want to know the person you care about are in pain and there's nothing you can do about it.

He looked down at the polished ground at his feet. He disconnected himself from her, feeling like he had been reading her diary. He chanted up this new feeling of guilt over using his powers on her on the fact she didn't know about it. He was pretty sure she would hate him doing that, though something had gotten his attention when he had. Not only had he felt Susan, he also felt the evils of the monster Mother inflicted upon her.

The one that steadily watching from within his bounds inside her. The snake that slathered within the confines of her being now. It had taken a lot from him not to just ran into the unlived forest when he felt it. He wanted so bad for her to be rid of this curse, and the only thing stopped him from racing out and demanding the Mistress Of Monsters leave his girlfriend alone, was the other little being he felt.

A pure little light inside her. One filled with unknowing but excited emotions. A radiant feel of singing song that so happily rendered him speechless with its sweetness. He stilled immediately.

Because he had realized, just then.

That he had for the first time, connected with his child.

A girl.

"But even now, I still know that you love her more than me." Susan's words rung him back to the present. That sounded echoing after his realization. Maybe that was because the world seemed like much better place now. Everything he knew felt refreshed, revived and down right fucking beautiful in that moment.

"She is a traitor. You have no idea of all the things she has done." Susan's bitterness awoke him to the fact that everything was still the same.

But it wasn't.

Not for him anymore. He knew then that it didn't matter, none of this nonsense did. All that mattered was the tiny little being inside Susan that was waiting patiently to be born.

And she would be born into a good life. He would make dearly sure of that. He wondered idly if this was how Damien felt about Latherna, if this was how true parental responsibility and love felt like. He smiled just an inch before he remembered the hell Latherna put Damien through with her lovers and rebellious actions.

He died a little inside.

Abruptly, a sharp edge of darkness glared at him. He blinked in surprise and glanced at Dresden where it seemed to be coming from. The man gazed at him with contentment but shock was arched into his facial expression.

Joseph gazed right back at him. He wondered what kind of thoughts were running through Dresden's mind to make him look at him like that. Then he decided he was better of not knowing.

He turned his attention back to Susan. He couldn't let her taint Latherna's name in Dresden's mind. Even if just to prevent Darling introduction into this conversation. "Sue, I know what exactly what she has done. I'm not exactly innocent, none of us are. Just-just stop changing the topic to Latherna, you always do this." He stated it was remarkably true that she did. He reflected upon their earlier conversations and the regards of them. He realized that Latherna's name had come up in almost all of them. Even at awkward times when her name should never been said at all.

"You-" Susan struggled with her words for a second. She seemed as though she couldn't understand his perception of the woman at all. He visibly see her battling over whether this argument needed to happened now. Finally she looked as though she decided it wasn't worth it. "Fine." She agreed stubbornly.

All this seemed to be too much for Dresden. He looked shaken and neglected in his enjoyment that Joseph was sure he had been experiencing before he walked up to the table. Joseph felt a stab of guilt as he watched Dresden picked up his last doughnut and stormed out. He knew they had probably ruined his day and perhaps even unleashed Darling on a unknowing person.

Oh well, he thought as he took the seat next to Susan, at least i got a chair now.

But not even moments after Dresden's disappearance, Latherna stepped through the door. He wondered if this was game to fate or Dresden and her had planned this beforehand.

Of course, she immediately saw them and walked over.

He decided right then and there to do more praying and maybe give an offering to the lord later. He was clearly cursed that day.

"Susan? What are you doing here?" She asked in surprise and it became clear to Joseph that Susan was supposed to be back at the manor. "Damn, I should have closed the portal when I left." She sheepishly added.

Susan simply glared at Latherna like she had stolen her tickets to the My Chemical Romance Reunion. "What are you doing here?" She spat and Joseph felt like slamming his head against the table.

He finally gotten her to agree to quit talking about Latherna and now-

He actually did it.
He slammed his head against the table earning himself odd looks and stares from all. He flicked them all off and turned to Latherna with a blank stare."Lat, you have awful timing."

He glanced around for Damien and saw that he had taken a seat a few tables away from them. Damien waved at him when he noticed his stare and Joseph face palmed when he realized Damien had been playing Pokémon Go.

He would never understand Damien's obsession with games. But for a man is supposed to be scary and old, he definitely didn't live up to expectations.

"I asked Joseph to get me some doughnuts because my sugar is dropping dramatically." Latherna looked between them confusedly. Then her eyes widened as she picked up on the tension. "oh." She mumbled, now looking awkwardly at them.

Joseph glanced over at Susan and saw she was physically resisting the curse words on her tongue that were apparently itching to be said. Well, he'd have to give her points for that later. At least she wasn't saying them.

Joseph simply gestured to Damien's table where the man sat now building what looked like the Death Star with Legos and Kathy's son. "He bought them." Though he wondered why Damien stuck around instead of going to give Latherna the doughnuts earlier.

He's weird. Any and all of Damien's actions were explained away with that thought.

Latherna shrugged. "Well," She took one glance at Susan who was shooting her death glares and visibly paled. "I'll leave now, sorry," She excused herself and hurried off to the staircase.

Joseph quietly winced as he saw that in her rush, she nearly tripped. She stumbled to her feet and grabbed the railing to stead her standing. He looked over to Damien's table and realized that Damien had seen this too and was now abandoning the Lego's and hurrying after her.

He couldn't stare after her for too long though. Because he began to feel an impending doom and he reluctantly turned back to see Susan giving him a dissatisfied look.

"So? You buy her doughnuts now? Since when have you ever done that for me?"

Joseph swallowed nervously and paled. Truth be told he had just wanted a break from the church. But now, with Susan looking at him like he had bought Latherna a wedding ring, he was beginning to realize that maybe the shop was cursed.

"Uh," He temporarily lost the ability to speak as her gaze intensified ten fold. A lie quickly made itself known to his mind and he ran with it. "Well, she asked Damien and I would never give up a chance to here." He tried to act casual and casted his arm out over the back his chair.

He nearly fall over but it was worth because Susan seemed satisfied with his answer and rolled her eyes at his antics. "I have no idea how you raised her,"She muttered under her breath but there was no heat in her reply. It looked to him that she seemed to be filling the silence with the only thing she could. She actually looked awkward and unsure of what to discuss. Joseph found this irresistibly adorable and had to fight off a grin.

That was, till he too, realized he had no idea what to say now.

Heck it, he thought as he began talking about Latherna and how when she came to the church he didn't have a say in the matter. Not that he even cared at the time. But he made sure to get cross the point that he haven't exactly chosen the role of uncle/awesome person to Latherna. It had chosen him and he never regretted it.

"I see," Susan said, a look of fleeting longing came over her face before it was replaced with her usual cool gaze.

He would give anything, anything to read her thoughts in that moment. But then he realized that sounded a lot like Edward Cullen's thought process and shuddered. No, Susan's thoughts were better left alone, for both their sakes.

"The baby." He spoke up suddenly, his eyes flicking to hers. "What are we going to do?"

It was true already that he cared almost instantly for the child after what had just happened. But this was Susan's choice too, he wanted to hear her say in the matter to understand where she stood on the subject.

Perhaps she would be as joyful as him. That thought filled him with empty hopefulness because he knew without even having to hear her say, it that she dreaded the child.

And then he came to thought that this was his punishment. His torment for falling in love with a girl younger than his thirty eight years. The joy of being a parent would be lost on her and she would never accept her own child. Tolerate it, maybe, but there would be no love in that connection between them. No warm hugs or sweet bedtime songs would be given to his daughter by her mother.

In that moment he felt like throwing himself off a bridge.

It was his fault.

He was a terrible person. He knew that, hell everyone at the church was a terrible person. It's what had bonded them through hard and difficult times. But if his daughter had to bear the burden of his sins because he pissed off some god of fate than he wished he never joined. He have would rather died alone than let that happen.

He self hate was cut off by Susan as she shrugged at his question calmly. Making it seem would he was being ridiculously over thoughtful on the matter. Which, he had to admit, he was.

"I didn't want it to begin with," she admitted and Joseph took in a breath sharply. Hoping against fate that her next words weren't 'And i still don't.'

But he knew it was too much to wish for. Susan would never be the kind of person would loved little kids and played with puppies in the park. To be frank, neither was he. But he guessed raising Latherna had given him a soft spot for children. And it was more than a soft spot when it was your own child. It was a connection, a bond, a spark. He didn't know how to describe it because there was no real way to describe it.

You either felt it, or you didn't.
And he knew, Susan didn't feel it.

"Honestly, if Lat didn't steal my credit card and forced me into that portal, this child would have been gone." She continued, confirming his thoughts and filing him a sadness he haven't felt in a while.

He loved her. He did, but what kind if choices was she giving him? This was basically a choice between a crumbling relationship and his child's life. A life he would never known about if Latherna hadn't spoken up. A life was in constant danger if it's mother acted this way.

Some small childish part of himself thought this was very unfair.
Unfair to be given both then have one hate the other. It was his punishment but this was a lesson he rather learn any other way.

"Why?" The broken part of him asked without permission from the rest. The word so clearly dripping with pain was repeated. "Why? Why Susan? Why do you hate our child?" He inquired darkly. "And don't give me that crap about your mother. My family was much worse than that. But even i can find in myself to put aside my past and see our future."

Susan gave him a look you would give someone who asked a overly complex question that required only a very simple explanation.

"Because I don't want to be a fucking mom?"

Joseph knew he wasn't angry at her. No, he couldn't be. Because he knew was like that from beginning and had accepted it long ago. But even though the anger was at himself than her. He made the mistake many people make and unintentionally directed it at her.

"Then what do you want to be!? Because I want to be a father, I wanted to love another part of you, a part we both made but apparently you can't even stand the thought." He killed off his rage filled tone. There was a place for anger and it wasn't in this conversation. He calmed himself somewhat and continued, "I'm starting to think you really shouldn't be a mother."

"Raising kids is hard." She stated frankly and he was glad she seemed to be truthful with her feelings. "With my personality, I might end up having Lat babysit the entire time. I just don't think I'm exactly going to be a decent mother-figure. Knowing my childhood, it isn't the best idea to have me raise it."

So that was it then. Joseph was filled with an empty feeling he didn't know. One he didn't want his daughter experience. He lowered his gaze and tried to focus on the present and be positive.

She hasn't felt the baby like me. Maybe when she's born Susan will-

"I see." He simply said as if she hadn't said heartbreak inducing words." I think I should be the one raising this child."

He expected no argument from her and that's what he got.

That.

And-

"Good idea, you don't want me anywhere near the bastard."

The table wasn't hard enough to hit his head against.

He would say he felt anger but to be honest he didn't even feel that. But that didn't mean he was just going to sat there let her insult their child.

"Don't," He basically pleaded, his voice cracking. "Just don't Susan." He squeezed his eyes shut and steadied his breath. "Sometimes i feel like I'm breaking. I feel expressionless in a world of emotions, but you helped me fix that. "He opened his eyes and focused his gaze on her. "When I'm with you i don't feel like a rock, you make me act in ways i wouldn't- and fuck- i love that about you." He dropped his head and stared at the floor. "But, i realize that you are the thing breaking me. Your envious hatred towards Lat is toxic and it's killing us."

She let out a breath." Alright, alright. I admit, I am envious. "She replied with a stubborn look. "But I have good reason to be envious and you know that!"

Did she?

Joseph couldn't answer that. He wasn't jealous of anyone anymore. He had to the realization that everyone was screwed in one way or other. There was nothing to be envious of. "Okay maybe you do. But you two are supposed to be friend, i get that she has magic and anyone would be envious of that but you are fine with me and I have magic too." He argued his point but it would he only a few seconds later that his brain would catch up with what was just said.

.
.
.

Strange. Susan looked suddenly very ill. She was all pale and blank looking-

Oh.

Ohhh.

Well crap.

He didn't remember ever telling Susan he was a Solsamnian like Latherna. But surely he had, there was no way she couldn't know.

Then.

Why was she looking like the world stopped spinning?

"I mean, if i had magic like Lat i-" He tried to backtrack but it knew it was too late.

Susan merely blinked at him. She opened her mouth but none of her usual sass came out, just stunned silence.

He was getting that warning sign that told him now was a good time to retreat. He eyed her warily as he stumbled to his feet." I-I think i should go get us some doughnuts-I mean ridiculous- us sitting here without- Yeah I'm to go-" when she didn't protest but just stared at him, he took that as a yes.

When he re-joined the now much shorter line, he was met with Kathy's now smug face. Clearly she had been keeping up with the drama of his love life.

"I told she was poison." Kathy May said as she handed him two takeaway cups of tea.

" And I told you I loved you. People lie" He gave her a rather cold look before he set off back to the table with the tea and doughnuts. He tried to ignore the feeling he got when Kathy's face was stuck with hurt surprise.

But he didn't have time to dwell on Kathy when Susan was still staring into space like she was intoxicated," He mumbled as he set a cup in front of her. "You alright?"

She took the cup into her hands but the blank expression never left her face." I-I-" even her voice was gone. It looked like Joseph had officially made her speechless.

To be frank, the silence was rather nice after all their arguing the last few days. He took a bite of his doughnut and sighed comfortably. "You know, this is nice, almost like we're back to normal." He said nonchalantly.

The fact that he was comfortably eating a doughnut and sipping tea while her brain was numb from his reveal, must have made something snapped inside her. She blinked away the blankness in her eyes slowly. "You're- you're a Solsamnian? Lik-like her?" She inquired, tone thick with disbelief.

He nearly choked but quickly grabbed a tissue and coughed into it. "Ye-yes, i thought you knew that."

Susan merely stared back at him." I- didn't, since when?"

"Um, birth?"

Noticing how she seemed to be slipping back into he blank state, he backtracked once more." I mean, yeah, it's not something I suddenly got yesterday."

Susan simply took another sip and looked rather faintly at him." I don't know if I should slam my head into the table right now or burn myself in a stake." She told him blandly, "The burning option sounds pleasant."

Joseph could feel his impending doom once more. "Well, you were flirting with Dresden." He spoke up, trying to get out of the hot seat. "My one secret is nothing to your many."

Susan nearly dropped her cup as a flush came over her cheeks." I wasn't flirting. "She gritted out, clenching her jaw.

But Joseph was having none of that.

"Oh, Dresden. I always knew you were amazing." He mimicked her voice in a overly girlish manner.

She groaned and covered half her face with her hand in embarrassment. "Please no, i do not sound like that." She choked out adorably.

Joseph laughed softly. "You do, be grateful i find it charming." He teased, but the smile on his face slowly started to fade. If there was ever a time to confront Kathy's lies or truths, it was now. He leaned forward till he was inches from her. "But, seriously, Did something happen between you and Dresden?" He asked, praying he was wrong and they were just innocent friends not lovers.

Susan glanced around, as if looking for anyone who was eavesdropping.
That was pretty everyone in the shop at this point but they all pretended to be doing something as when she glanced at them." I was in high school and that was a long time ago," She finally revealed. But then her eyes widened as she realized just what she had revealed and to whom she her."Uh shiz."

Joseph's casual pose instantly broke. He swore his heart froze and his mind numbed. All this time he had been defending Susan's honour against Kathy and now this? He was finding out it was all true to begin with? He mumbled some words in shock that he didn't even hear.

"Please, tell me you two only dated." He pleaded to her.

She eyed him wearily as she slumped her face against the table. "Well, Do you really want the whole story? I swear, I know that Lat was the one who told everyone." She mumbled against the surface of the table and didn't rest her head.

An odd desire to kick Dresden in the nuts popped into his mind. He drunk the rest of the hot tea and enjoyed the feeling of his throat burning, before nodding at her to continue.

"Well, let's just say that I had my romantic phase, "She said with surprising clearness considering how her face was still flat against the wood. "For once I'll be truthful with this one, Lat did set it up that night. Stuff happened. High school pregnancy happened, we emptied Lat's account, and done."

High..school... pregnancy ?

He stared at Susan.

Then something else clicked.

Latherna.

"Wait, Lat set that up?"

There was a loud cracking from the staircase and Joseph and Susan turned in unison to see Latherna coming down.

Perfect.

Bloody.

Timing.

He glared at her first from the moment their eyes met. The sting of betrayal was burning at his veins. Why didn't she even warn him? His eyes got narrower but she just shook her head nervously at him.

Had she heard what they were talking about? Is that how she knew to come down at that exact moment? He groaned and tried to focus himself again.

"Lat,"He started blankly as turned his gaze between them. "Sue," He did a second of calming his breathing before he exploded.

"Just what the ever loving fuck happened in your high school!?"

"A lot of things," Was the reply in unison from the women.

"Jinx." Latherna playfully remarked to Susan. Obviously she didn't sense the impending danger of Joseph's emotional state.

The atmosphere seemed to drop. People were eating their doughnuts happily before now had a sickening feeling like they had just been caught looking through their mother's purse.

"How many?"

The quiet but rage filled voice of Jonathan Joseph Rev'Gogmir Roviènoür was heard by all in the shop. It was if mere sound had blended it's rules for him.

Susan busy watching as people quickly and increasingly left the doughnut shop. "What?" She asked him distractedly.

Suddenly, he stood to his feet.

"How many pregnancies, Sue? How many!?" He demanded.

Abruptly, Joseph was aware of Damien coming down the stairs. Probably wondering why people were cowering and one man was crying underneath a table.

"Whoa, calm down," Latherna intervened, looking sharply at him as Susan shot her pleading looks. "That was in the past, can't we forget it?" She asked nervously and shot Susan looks of her own.

Joseph clenched his fits and angrily gestured to Damien to come over. Because really, if there was ever a time he needed Damien it was now. But he also needed to know that Damien didn't know about this. That he wasn't lying to him like the rest.

"Did you know about this?" He immediately asked as soon Damien was within range.

"About what?" he answered confusedly, his hair was sparkling with glitter and Joseph had to remind himself to ask Damien later exactly what he had been doing in the Pit Of Sin.

But right now-

"The pregnancies she had back in high school!" He all but screamed. Joseph didn't know he was playing the pronoun game when he said 'she' and not Susan.

Damien's jaw went sack. He dropped his coffee-a latte- to the ground in shock and rage. "THE WHAT!?"

If people in the shop weren't cowering before, they certainly were now. Especially the three men from Latherna's and Susan's high school year who all but ran into the bathroom for protection.

Joseph glared when he noticed Susan had tugged at Latherna's sleeve was whispering promptly for them to leave.

Latherna's shook her head at Susan and nervously turned to him. "So, I started it." she admitted with guilt. "Don't take it out on Susan." She pleaded but Joseph's glare just intensified.

Damien looked close to either passing out or murdering the shop. "What is even happening right now!?" He shouted, shooting Latherna looks that promised hell and basically meant we-will-have-a-long-talk about-this-young-lady.

Joseph bit his tongue as his eyes flashed. "You two, Go!" He may have said lowly but there was no doubt each of them heard. "Susan and i are trying to have a discussion here. Leave."

Both women stood quietly for a second.

"Lat, don't go. "Susan begged with puppy dog eyes aimed at her friend who simply shrugged.

"He'll kill me if I stay," He heard Latherna whisper back. Well, he wouldn't kill her. He doubled he even could, No, he would more likely just damage the shop.

He felt the flaming gaze of Kathy May burn into him.

Maybe not the shop.

But still, it hurt him Susan was trying to run away. He aimed his stare solely at her. "Susan, you say every day how much you hate her! Yet, you would rather go with her then have a adult conversation about this with me? "His eyes flashed and thunderous clouds flashed dramatically outside.

It would have been cooler, He would think later, if that damn fly didn't laid on his face in that exact moment.

Latherna smiled weakly at Susan. She gave a apologetic look at her before she hurried upstairs again, this time more careful not to trip.

"God curse you! What happened to us?!"Susan shouted at her retreating figure which only shouted sorry back before disappearing.

Joseph sighed and dropped back into his seat. Now maybe, they could talk without interruptions. He cleared his throat and gestured for Susan to sit back down as well.

A cough, then; "I suppose, i should go as well?"

Joseph lowered the cup of cold tea away from his lips. He slowly glanced behind him to see Damien standing there holding a bowl of popcorn.

"Damien, do you remember all those years ago at that Christmas party when i caught you in the bathroom with-" Joseph didn't need to finish because Damien was already rushing up the stairs.

That was good because Joseph really did not want to recount that memory. He focused his attention back on Susan who was fiddling nervously with her pendant.

"Let's talk." He suggested but didn't really suggest. This was a conversation they were going to have no matter what.

"Sure," she softly replied.

A moment passed before Joseph decided to the question that had been nagging at him for awhile now.

"Are you still in love with Dresden?" He asked this calmly but he was anything but calm. He wasn't even sure he wanted a answer to that question. But he knew he needed to ask, even just to stop him from wondering about it constantly when he was with her.

Susan lifted her gaze and stared him in the eye. "No, I'm done, it's obvious he's obsessed with Erin."

That answer didn't at all ease his worries and concerns. In fact she might as well have said that she was only with him because Dresden was devoted to Latherna. He nearly cracked the cup in his hand."So if he wasn't--you would...?"

"I don't really think so," she said and Joseph could tell she was being truthful." I love you, I really do, I'm just. Confused, bitter."

"I see," was his reply. He wanted to say so much more but didn't know how anymore. If he were being honest, he'd say he felt like he was stuck between heaven and hell and only crawling through to his light. That light was Susan but right now all she did was burn him.

He wanted nothing more than to go back to the way they were. But that was a dream now, they come too far to go back. But that didn't mean they couldn't restart. "Is anything you want to ask me? Now is the time, all cards on the table, no lies."

"Do you hate me?" She asked him immediately.

Joseph blinked.

"Do you hate me for my envy and do you hate me for hating you?"

He paused, pondering the question. But even as he did, he knew he didn't hate her. Maybe resented her a bit , but hate? It was a strong word that he only ever used playful at others.

"Loving someone, means accepting their flaws, I'm not innocent nor perfect, I'm not even close. But when were together, I feel like I am." He repiled truthfully," I don't hate you Susan, i love you." He smiled weakly at her. He knew quite well she may not feel exactly the same but it didn't matter. Because you didn't get to choose who you fell in love with, only how you loved them.

Susan looked intensely thoughtful at his statement. "Thanks," She muttered distractedly, caught up in her world of thoughts.

"Thanks?" He repeated, raising a brow at her with dry stare. Sure she had said she loved him earlier but it would still be nice to hear now." I tell you I love you and I get, thanks?" He mumbled with grumpiness.

Susan laughed softly at his dramatics." I love you too."

Joseph scoffed and turn turned his chin upwards. "Thanks." He replied teasingly with a smirk.

"Alright, player, we're even now," she teased back playfully.

Surprisingly, there wasn't much drama after that and the rest of the day went quite nicely. Joseph was starting to think maybe he wasn't cursed at all.

Oh how wrong he was.

×××××××××

The night's cold air kissed her skin as she clicked the lock shut with the turn of her key. Kathy May sighed into the night's endless reign. Happy she had the sense to send Jeremy home with Matthew earlier.

She was had just about slipped her keys into her bag, when she heard the whisper of footsteps behind her. She didn't turn around immediately. But she could feel it. The eyes of a hungry creature preying on her.

She swallowed, she didn't want to turn around. She had a feeling it would be her last act on earth. Tears started dripping down her face before she could stop them.

"Kathy?" It inquired," I think you know why I'm here."

Kathy blinked through her tears. No, no it couldn't have been time already. No.

Without thinking, she did turn and was instantly slashed at with a resounding gust.

The pain ripped through her as the blade did. She held her abdomen instinctively as her eyes widened in shock and recounted her thirty seven years on earth.

The blood over took her and soon she was falling freely, only to be captured by the very one who pushed her off the edge.

"You remember our deal ten years ago?" It asked the barely still living woman.

She didn't answer. She couldn't do anything but let her tears cry.

"I let the boy live in peace for nine years. But you know i need my end fulfilled now. Where is he? Where is the Solsamnian spawn ?" It demanded. "Lord have mercy on your soul if you do not speak now."

Kathy simply shook her head." I-I woul-would ner-never give my so-son to yo-" she didn't finish, a slap made her head hit against the wall behind her.

"We made a deal, the boy lives if he becomes mine. Your life for his." It spat, "You go back on your word now? Very well, i wanted to kill that disgusting seed since the moment i learned of it's existence!"

Kathy simply raised her shaking head and levelled her dying gaze against his."Yo-You can't ge-get to Jeremy. You never could."

She expected another hit, perhaps the finishing bow. But she didn't expect a cold smile to light the man's face up. He moved closer to her, too close. His hand gently lifted her face in his palm.

"I've been wondering for years now. Why i let you two live in the first place." He said with a thoughtful expression." I suppose I thought the boy would be useful in helping me achieve my goal." His grip tightened and twisted around her face. "Now i see it clearly, you out lived your usefulness the moment you were born." He bought out a sliver dagger as shining as the moon behind him.

She had the time to close her eyes one last time before he dragged the dagger across her throat and licked the blade clean.

Burning.

Blood.

Overwhelming pain.

She was choking on her own death.

"Goodbye Miss May." He threw her against the wall one last time, smashing her head against the brickwork.

Her last sight was his walking away silhouette.

_________________________________________

OMAKE: A Conversation With Gwyneth

Day 3: Night.

Gwyneth Laurent was not an oblivious person. And didn't take an exact genius to figure out something was wrong with their resident creepy priest.

Him sulking and moping about the place, was kind of a giveaway. In fact, the whole afternoon, he had been acting as if he found out The Kardashians were ending. Gwyneth didn't want to overthink it, but the fact that he had been praying to Jesus kind of concerned all of the congregation.

And now, she stood outside his bedroom with the oddest feeling that if she knocked, their relationship would never be the same.

She placed her hand against the door and tapped softly. She was hesitant to do this because she knew it wouldn't last. Days ago, she had foreseen her own death and knew that deepening their relationship would only end with him in pain.

It wasn't the first time in her life that she wished Lucifer haven't cursed her with this ability. All she ever saw pain, hardship and troubles. There was never any joy, happiness, or hope, these were God's gifts. Something she couldn't possess.

She frowned when she realized he wasn't going to open the door.

Well, she also wasn't the kind of person to walk away.

"Father Damien, open the door. I foresaw Bertha hiding in your closet, and let's just say that she wasn't exactly, dressed for the occasion." She barely held giggles in as she heard him literally running to the door.

"Wha-what? Is she in there now?" He looked ill with horror.

She pursed her lips before bursting into laughter and pushing passed him into the room. "That's what you get for ignoring me." She said lightly and glanced around the familiar space. She had spent many a night in this room, she wondered idly why she didn't possess a key to it yet.

Well, you can't take keys to the grave. She thought, as her laughter died and he shut the door behind her.

"That was cruel trickery," Damien said as she seated herself on his bed. "And i wasn't ignoring you, i just didn't hear."

Gwyneth put a finger against her chin as she mocked being thoughtful." Ah yes, hearing problems eh? That happens with the elderly i suppose."

Damien simply walked passed her and pulled opened the balcony doors and let in the night's chilly air. His shadow was casted over the room and he looked quite ominous as the wind picked up.

"Are you going to stand there like Batman all night, or are you going to tell me why you're acting like this?" Gwyneth inquired softly, "I haven't seen you like this since Amelia dragged you into that bathroom at that Christmas party."

She could see Damien's shoulders stiffen." I am acting like nothing, and i thought i told you not to bring that up. It never happened, never." He denied furiously but she could see him shuddering at the memory. He walked out onto the baloney and she followed moments after.

"Whatever let's you sleep at night. "Gwyneth allowed gently as she leaned over the railing and stared down. "But there is something wrong and right now you're lying to me, which violates the first vow you said to me on our wedding day." She lifted her head and gave him a pointed look.

"You remember the vow i said to you but not all the lies you've said to me." Damien returned her gaze as he lit a cigarette and blew out the smoke in a cloud. "Typical, a woman's logic."

"Typical, a wife's logic." She countered easily and frowned at the smoke. She hated it when he did that. It tasted horrible.

"It is remarkable," Damien said, unusually stoic as he stared up at the night's sky. "How i become your husband when it's convenient for you, but the title is easily forgotten when you don't need it."

Gwyneth immediately lost her joking tone. "It's forgotten because you never let me use it." She said softly. "For Heaven's sake you had Lucas marry us. Though i appreciate the gesture on his part and i knew it isn't real, I'll never forgive you for letting that man know about us and not the people who actually care." She was gazing downwards at the pool below them. She would never say it, but she was hurt by the act even if he thought he was doing it for her.

Damien let a breathy laugh rung in the quietness. "No one likes that man. But he's a friend of my father's so i felt it was right." He said, his voice rough from the smoke. "He's a nice man once you get to know him."

Gwyneth blinked at Damien. She couldn't believe he would be fooled so easily. "Do you want he asked of me on my first day here?" She inquired, not waiting for his answer before continuing. "He asked me to preform activities from my pervious occupation. He asked me to do sexual orientated favours." She said lowly, wishing dearly she could kill him.

Damien simply raised the cigarette to his lips again," So that's how he ended up in the hospital with those stab wounds. Poor him. "He said casually.

Gwyneth gave him a dissatisfied look. "Wow, you seem so affected by this, my lord, you're practically fuming to take his head off." She said sarcastically, "Nice to know i matter so much, Damien."

Damien levelled her with a serious gaze." I've seen my father and him do much worse things, it's no wonder Dionysus turned out as fucked as he was." He muttered darkly, "And trust me, if he done anything worse than talk he would be dead. BButI know you, i have faith you can handle yourself and you don't me need to run in to save you."

Gwyneth resisted a smile. "Oh I don't, but it's nice to know you care." She said with a smirk. She lying if she said his words didn't please her. "But that doesn't change the fact that you're ashamed of me. Your beautiful and innocent bride." Gwyneth promptly leaned over the railing and pretended to be falling dramatically.

Damien huffed and eyed her wearily. "You are the furthest thing from innocent. Innocence is here and you're that tiny dot in the distance." He said and pointed the burning tip of his cigarette at a spot of light so far away it looked like a star. "And i am anything but ashamed of you. It was in your best interest that no one knew, after all this was a marriage of convenience. So you wouldn't be deported." He stated calmly.

Gwyneth laughed lightly as the wind blew her hair out and it fanned around her like a cape. "You think i only used you to gain citizenship." She accused him teasingly. "Well yes I did," she immediately admitted, there was no use in glossing over facts. "But stop changing the subject; why are you upset?"

Damien glanced at her with a smile tugging at his lips." I did not change the subject, you did."

Gwyneth narrowed her eyes playfully at him. "Don't play the blame game with me Damien, you will lose." She said matter-of-factly.

Damien sighed, it felt like an eternity to Gwyneth before he spoke. "Latte is pregnant." He said blankly.

Gwyneth gasped, and in her excitement and shock, she accidentally leaned backwards on the rails too much and started to fall.

Weightlessness took her. But she only a second to think of her death before Damien had reached out and pulled her back and she was in his embrace.

Breathing heavily, she realized he was staring at her intensely with an odd look on his face. She hesitantly pulled away, she was only making it worse for him when she died. "Thank you," She said, "But I completely expected to gain wings and fly away like the angel I am." She added with a wink and glanced down underneath them to his cigarette being swallowed by the pool.

Damien sent her a dark look." Angel you may be, you're also at least sixty percent devil. Your place on the ground with me." He muttered the last part. "Sometimes i think you and Latherna spend time thinking of ways on how to give me a heart attack." He proclaimed tiredly.

"Don't be dramatic, Damien." Gwyneth said with a click of her fingers. "We haven't done that in years, but now i know why you're upset. Is she really with child?" Her eyes seemed to sparkled with glee.

"Yes," Damien muttered glumly. "And apparently she wants me to marry her off too."

Gwyneth actually let out a squeal of excitement. "Dresden? Tell me it's Dresden, oh I know it is. Joseph owns me so much money!" She looked more pleased about winning the bet than anything else. "You said yes, right?" She narrowed her eyes suspiciously when he didn't immediately answer. "Damien, I swear to-"

"I couldn't! She's too young!" Damien declared and Gwyneth face palmed.

"Dearest, she's twenty seven." Gwyneth said dryly. "Are you waiting for her to hit our age before arranging a marriage?" She raised her brow at him.

"'Course not," Damien barely mumbled. "I'm waiting for her to say she wants to join the church and become a nun." He gave Gwyneth a hard stare when she burst into laughter at his words. "It could happen!" He protested weakly.

"You will be rotting in hell waiting for that to happen." She stated frankly.

"But, you're saying it could happen? "Damien looked at her hopefully.

"No," She rolled her eyes," I am saying you will be dead before that happens."

Damien sighed and started to climb over the rails. Gwyneth gave him a puzzled look and held his hand back. "What are you doing?"

"Being dead so it can happen." He replied with all seriousness.

Gwyneth immediately pushed him back away from the railing. "You are a fool." She said but with a fondness. "Come on, let's find something to distract you from your misery."

"I doubt that's possible." He said dully, checking his watch.

"Ha! You've never been distracted by me." She stated with pride, "Trust me, you'll forget." She added with wink as she pulled him back into the bathroom and shut the baloney doors close.

"But I've always been distracted by you, ever since we met, Miss Laurent." He replied easily, as she lead him to the bed.

××××

"I forgot it was Wednesday." Damien said ten minutes later as they sat cross legged on the bed with a pack of cards in front of them.

"Wednesday poker nights," Gwyneth said with a slow growing grin." Are the best."

××× ××× ××××
Day 9

Damien laid the flowers carefully over the freshly dig up ground and stepped back. He read the last words he had ordered to be written on the bottom of the tombstone in tiny letters.

My endearing wife.

Everything I love

Becomes everything I lose.

A/N : This chapter, my lord. I think I've killed readers with this chapter. It certainly killed me, i hate writing romance because frankly i can't but hopefully it hasn't made you dig your eyes out.

Word Count: 11610