Disclaimer: It saddens us to say that we do not own these characters….. Yet…. ;) (Mock says she wishes she owned the characters… Especially Rephaim ;D)

A/N: Hi y'alls! Stevie Rae here! OK, so that's a lie. It's actually Mock. ANYWAY, we're super excited to be writing this story, even if it is one of the hardest things either of us have written. First things first… Jenn, I know you for one are probably reading this right now. You, and anyone else who hasn't finished Destined, you should just stop reading now. This takes place right after Destined, so if you haven't read that, this is going to confuse the crap out of you, not to mention the spoilers. But if you're all caught up, read on, and we hope you enjoy! Don't forget to review!

Kitty's A/N: We really hope you enjoy this story. I know I'll have fun writing it with my best buddy Mock! So without further stalling here is you chapter!

~Mock, Kitty

Zoey

"Look!" Stevie Rae cried, pointing above the circle.

I looked up and there, hovering, was our Goddess. She was dressed in robes the color of night and wore a headdress decorated with stars. Her smile took in us all, and with the fragrance of flowers, her words drifted through the bus.

Hold to the memory of the healing that happened here this night.

You will need that strength and peace for the upcoming fight.

She addressed Kalona directly with a soft smile.

When we were in the Otherworld you asked me for forgiveness, she said to him. I gave you an answer then. Do you remember what I said?

Kalona nodded. "Yes. You said I may ask it of you if I am ever worthy of your forgiveness," he answered.

Nyx smiled kindly at him.

You may ask me again if you wish.

"Please forgive me my Goddess," he said without hesitation. By now everyone on the bus was silent and watched the exchange, mostly with apprehension. But in some faces, I saw hope.

You are worthy of the gift now. You have moved from your path of Darkness to the path of Light. Always remember your oath to my daughter Thanatos.

Everyone was still. Not one person moved a single muscle while we all processed this. "Thank you so much my Goddess!" Kalona finally exclaimed.

There will be a punishment for your past behaviors, Nyx warned him. Kalona nodded.

"I accept the consequences," he said firmly.

Step off of the bus, the Goddess ordered as she appeared on the ground right in front of the bus. Kalona was quick to step off of the bus and go to stand before her. She looked at him with a blank expression.

You shall lose your wings as punishment for your past actions, and you no longer can communicate with your sons. They will not know you as their father, except for Rephaim because he has chosen the path of Light as have you.

As she finished speaking, his wings seemed to retreat back into his body and he went rigid but didn't scream. I for one was completely grossed out by what was happening to him, and as I glanced around the bus I could tell the others were as well. Stark leaned in and whispered, "Is it just me or did that gross out anyone else?"

"It wasn't just you. I think everyone got grossed out," I whispered back. "I mean, that just looked nasty."

"Thank you Goddess," Kalona said when it was done with. He bowed respectfully to her with his hand fisted over his heart. Nyx smiled at him, then turned her face to the rest of us.

Then I wish you all, my children, to blessed be, she said before fading away.

Kalona got back onto the bus and Shaunee, Rephaim, and Stevie Rae rushed up to him. Those were the faces that had held the expressions of hope when Nyx was talking to Kalona. They were the ones that were happy. I tried to tell myself that I was happy for Kalona as well, happy that he was on our side now, and pledged to Thanatos.

But if I was being honest, all I could think was ah, hell.

Stevie Rae

Without thinking, Stevie Rae joined Rephaim and Shaunee to run up to Kalona when he got back on the bus. He seemed to be in a daze, his facial expression not quite in the moment as they approached him.

"Father," Rephaim began, sounding awestruck. Stevie Rae squeezed the hand she was holding to give him strength; she knew this was something he'd been waiting for. Kalona shook his head a little, as if clearing his mind. Then he got the most radiant smile on his face.

"At last I have been reconciled with Nyx," he said. "At last I have done something right and stepped back to her path of Light."

Thanatos swept up to him to touch his arm. "Indeed my Sword Master," she said. "Our Goddess has forgiven you for what you have done in your past and has given you a bright future. And, I assume, you will join our battle against the false High Priestess Neferet and her Consort, Darkness?" Kalona nodded.

"There is nothing I desire more than the downfall of the Tsi Sgili," he growled.

"Then let us get back to our House of Night. I sense we have a hard battle to complete there," Thanatos said, and then she took the same spot she had on the ride here, holding on to the rail.

Kalona turned his attention to Rephaim. Finally, Stevie Rae could see that Kalona really did love Rephaim. Pride for him swelled in her chest. Rephaim had been right all along. His daddy really did have the capability to love.

Kalona awkwardly put his hand on Rephaim's shoulder. "Thank you for helping me realize the path of Light again, my son. If you had not chosen Nyx's path first, I doubt I ever would have."

"Stevie Rae is the real person to thank," Rephaim said. "If she had not saved me, I too would never have known Nyx."

Kalona turned his gaze to her, such an intense stare that it made her uncomfortable. Suddenly, it reminded her of the way Rephaim used to stare at her when she would babble while healing him. Glancing at Rephaim, Stevie Rae also noticed how much he looked like his daddy. Their mouths, eye shape, and face structure were all the same.

"Thank you Red- I mean, Stevie Rae," Kalona said, snapping her face back towards him. "Thank you for saving my son and showing him the path of the Goddess."

"I-It wasn't a problem," Stevie Rae said, stammering. "Your son was worth saving." Rephaim smiled at her, taking her other hand. His touch made her relax. She nodded at Kalona, who gave a short nod in return, and then returned back to her seat with Rephaim.

As soon as they sat down, Stevie Rae threw her arms around his neck and started sobbing into his shoulder. He held her uncertainly.

"Stevie Rae, my love, what could possibly be the problem?" he asked, rubbing small circles in her back.

"I-I thought you were gonna die!" she cried. "Death had marked you, and if your daddy hadn't come you would've been taken from me! Oh, Goddess, don't you ever do that to me again!" Her voice broke and she put her head back into his shoulder, sobbing her heart out. Rephaim simply held her while she cried, waiting for her to calm down a bit before actually talking.

"Stevie Rae, I promise you I won't leave you," he said, smiling slightly. "Unless I die protecting you, I will stay by your side and love you, always." He kissed her softly, and wiped the tears from Stevie Rae's face. "Come, you're going to need your strength when we get back to the House of Night," he said. Stevie Rae nodded.

"You'll have my back, right?" she asked him.

"Always," he responded, kissing her again. And for the rest of the ride, Stevie Rae was content to lean into him, trying not to think of the shit storm that was heading their way…

A/N: HEHEHEHEHEHE! Mock is happy with this! So very happy… Fluff just makes my day. Hope y'all liked this, and we'll have more out soon! And I can promise that Stevie Rae is totally right about the shit storm that's coming up. And then a huge thanks to Kitty for doing such an awesome job with the beginning of this and making my life that much easier (she's doing Zoey's POV throughout the story, I'm doing Stevie Rae's, just so y'all know) There's also going to be much more FLUFF than that little bit there, because fluff just makes me so happy… Anyway, review people, review!

Kitty's A/N: Hahaha yes REVIEWs and fluff make us very happy! And happiness makes us write faster so we'll be sure to keep the fluff going and you be sure to keep the REVIEWs coming! Hope you enjoyed it! If so REVIEW if not, tell us what we could do to make it better with a REVIEW. And gosh Mock you did an awesome job with the chapter. I was all giddy and "AWWWW" When I read it :)

~Mock, Kitty