Simone wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his shoulder. She felt happy. “I’m happy too.” She pulled him down and pet his hair. “I don’t know what I would do without you either…” Probably panic.

–

Simone was meeting with the officials in the family room. It was restored now with the darker colors that they preferred. She had tea ready for them, “I’m sorry about the wait we’re still waiting for the house to be restored before we hire house help.”

“That’s fine Mrs. Terrowin. We’re just checking in and making sure that the spirits kept their end of the deal,” the noblemen were nervously looking around the house for the spirits that were now protecting the Terrowin estate. “We couldn’t believe our eyes when they attacked us.”

Simone looked concerned, “Are you alright? My goodness, that sounds so terrible.” She sipped her tea as she blew on it.

“It was horrific. The windows blew in and shattered through our mansions and all of our lights lit up black. EVEN THE STOVES.” The men were in a panic. “We were warned by the pirate ghosts to undo the taxes so when Mr. Talon contacted us we did it immediately.”

“That is so horrific… I am glad that the spirits approve of us buying this island though. I was really worried about it.” Simone let a sigh of relief leave her mouth. “My health isn’t always so great you see. That’s why my husband purchased this land for us.”

There was an hour of discussion between them all before Simone saw the noblemen to the door. “Come again please!” She watched their carriages go towards the docks before she closed the doors. There was a smirk on her face as leaned against the doors. “I didn’t think it would work~” She sang a bit.

Lewis, of course, had heard everything despite not being a part of the conversation. One of the more useful things that they had learned they could do with their resonance. As long as they were within a few feet of each other, they could almost share senses entirely. It was hard to pull off, but with practice it could even go long distances.

As Simone closed the door and started singing aloud about how well her ‘plan’ went, Lewis was at the left stairwell, leaning against the bannister with his arms crossed. “Angry spirits? Black flame?” There was a hint of a smile as he spoke. “I’m surprised they didn’t see a dark omen, a black bird of sorts…” The assassin walked up to Simone. “I’d hate for my wife in ailing health to be disturbed by such evil things.”

He got closer, his eyes locked with hers. “Please do be careful. I’d hate to have to kill half a town to make a point…” His eyes flickered azure. “Although…for you I’d do just about anything…” Lewis wrapped his arms around her and gave her a quick kiss. “You know…we haven’t done this room yet…” It was obvious what he was hinting.

“Of course, that is…if my sickly wife has the energy of course.”

Simone smirked up at Lewis now who had finally figured out what she had done. “I thought it was perfect.” She moved from the door to meet him. “Your poor ailing wife isn’t scared of superstitions~” She cooed softly towards him. She was an omen at this point she was sure. People were scared whenever they saw her bird form, as they should be.

She kissed him back and nibbled his bottom lip. “You don’t have to kill half the town yet~ They bought it for the time beginning. I was just going to burn one of their houses down if they didn’t do it.”

His suggestion made her grin a bit as she cupped his face and kissed him, “Your sickly wife always has the energy for that.” He picked her up and set her down on one of the new tables in the foyer. “Always~ As long as you do.” Her own eyes were azure and she felt the connection with him. They could make the resonance as strong as they wanted.

As they were done she kissed him softly. They had managed to end up in the family room on one of the couches for comfort and cuddling. She kissed his fingers. “I didn’t want to spoil the surprise. I was sure you would find out if it worked. See I can be devious~” She teased him. "And dangerous too."

As they cuddled in the family room, Lewis smirked at her devious nature. “It’s only natural that I be with someone so devious. It only makes me love you more…” Their resonance was strong right now, and that caused a wicked grin to spread across his face. “Round two?”

They spent the rest of the afternoon running about the lower floors, avoiding Kalina during her breaks. When it was time for dinner, they settled down and made a meal for all of them to sit down in the main dining hall. The meal didn’t last too long as the hungry couple had burned plenty of calories through the day, and near the end, Lewis was leaning back in his chair, stuffed. “We need to…hire people already. I’m not going to be able to keep up with the dishes that we have when this place gets busy…none of us will.”

He looked to Simone, who had finished her meal as well. “Well? What’s on the list for tomorrow then? Another trip to Benin?” Lewis turned to Kalina. “What supplied are needed? We’ve got the boat ready for transportation. Just tell us what you need and we can run to town to get it. Or…” he glanced at Simone. “Would it be a problem for my sickly wife to appear in public?”

Simone was in for the whole run of it as she played dodge Kalina all day with him. “We can do it. There is a load of people ready to be hired now that the island is safe,” Simone hadn’t found any spirits with Rhenakos but that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any forever. Not that she couldn’t handle it if they did show up. “Definitely not, it’s hard right now maintaining everything with just the three of us here.”

Simone gave him a smirk and shook her head, “I said I am sickly sometimes so I can appear with my husband.” She shook her head at him and giggled.

Kalina mulled it over, “I can make a list for you and give it to you by the end of the day.”

Simone pushed herself up unexpectedly, “You finished the thing?”

“I did.”

“Come with me please,” she grabbed Lewis and pulled on him. “I have a surprise to show you.” She took them upstairs to where their room was but she cut to the bedroom off to the right. “Are you ready?”

She opened the door to a room done in a nightscape. There were crystals hanging from the ceiling and the light made them look like stars. The walls looked an awful lot like the forest that they had been in together. That special place just before their beginning.

The crib was made out of dark mahogany and looked to be crafted with a lot of care. The stuffed animals from the fair were all around the room. There was a rocking chair and a bookshelf with many books. It was almost perfect. She wrapped herself around Lewis and smiled at him. “What do you think? For when we find a baby.”

The whole room had a very unique feel to it. It was made with love and adoration for what was to come, a baby who was innocent to the world. Lewis was feeling something, but words couldn’t describe it. Growing up on the streets of Hoja Mesto had robbed him of this kind of upbringing, and in a way, he was sad about that. It had done so much irreparable damage that in every way, it made him the fucked up mess that he was today.

And yet, without that life he would have never met Simone. He would have never met Lord Riath, and Akira, and Xeik, and even Danwe. The people who had lead him to this very point had all, in their own way, supported his rise to this point. Even his ‘friends’, Rhenakos, Dae, and even Elrand…all of them had helped.

And now I can help another child to avoid the life I have… It was a twisted thing, knowing just how tortured but lucky he was. At least, though, he felt as though they were on the right path.

“It’s amazing,” he said finally, his voice shaky. “I…I’m scared though.” This was something different than he was used to. A raw emotion that was so much he could barely handle it. “I’m happy…and scared. It’s amazing…I just hope…” I hope that we can be enough…

Simone watched his reaction and held a gentle smile as he took it all in. She could tell that it hit him hard. The phoenix wrapped her arms around him and kissed his shoulder. “We’re both scared,” she whispered to him as she put her forehead against his shoulder. “It’s brand new for both of us. Isn’t it?”

For her, it was a bit different. He had never done this before but Simone… She closed her eyes and kissed his shoulder again. “I’m scared of losing everything again. Scared that maybe I won’t be enough this time around. Everything still doesn’t feel wholly real to me and yet… I’m here and you’re here.” She took a breath and held it before lifting her face and putting her chin on his shoulder the best she could.

“Suppose that makes us mortal, doesn’t it?” There was a chuckle from her but it was so light you could have missed it. “We’ll give it our all just like we always have… We’ll have to.” She turned him around and cupped his face softly so she could look into his hazel eyes.

“I think and believe that everything will fall into place as long as we work together. We can do anything no matter what the world throws at us~” There was a gentle reassuring smile before she pushed herself up on her toes and kissed her lips.

“We’re together until the end of times~” She took his hands and laced his fingers in hers. “We’re going to make mistakes and that’s okay… We just have to learn from them and make sure that we have each others’ backs no matter what. It’s okay to be scared as long as we do all those things.” She thought she sounded silly but feeling her heartbeat with his she couldn’t help it. “I trust you unconditionally for all times~ and nothing can sway me nor break me to change that. I’ll never lead you astray and I’ll always be honest with you even if you don’t want to hear what I have to say. I promise that to you. If I am the only one you can be open with or reveal yourself too… I’ll be that person no matter what. As long as I am here with you.” Simone put her forehead to Lewis’s and closed her eyes.

“So don’t hide things from me, okay? If you need to talk just find me as I’m never far from you nor your heart. That way we can overcome anything in our way.”