That night was like any other. Nothing he did even prepared him for meeting the Devil a second time.

They had eaten dinner at home after Will had cooked while Nico helped Bianca with her homework at the kitchen table. The dark skinned girl kept close to her adoptive father but let him do the work, only moving her pencil to write down what he said to be the answer.

"You're only getting away with this because it's chemistry." Nico reminded her, scratching away at the paper-long problem he was currently doing. "I know you struggle with it."

"And she's having one of her headaches so I don't want her to do it." Will added. "But make sure she understands it."

"Aye aye, captain." Nico looked back to Bianca, waving his hand in her face. "Are you paying attention, Bi?"

She snapped out of her daydream and wiped some drool off her chin. "Hm?"

"Dreaming about that boy from school again?" Will brought three plates over, setting them in front of the other two. "Put the chemistry away. Food time."

"You don't need to tell me twice." Bianca threw the papers in her bookbag before tossing it on a spare chair. "Want me to get the drinks?"

"Yeah, thanks." Will sat by Nico and grabbed his hand. "Are you okay?"

Nico nodded, having been watching Bianca poor them glasses of milk. "Do you think that boy is going to hurt her?"

Will shook his head. "Nope."

"How can you be so sure?" Nico accused. "He seems like that type."

"Because I already threatened him to no end." Will smiled innocently. "So we won't have to worry about that."

"You, sir, are my husband for a reason." Nico kissed his cheek but dropped the topic, Bianca back at the table. "Let's eat."

Dinner went fine. They talked lightly and kept up a steady string of conversation. The food was good and eventually, they finished. Bianca went to bed soon after, having to get in the shower and pamper herself for her boyfriend. That left Nico, who watched Will do the dishes in silence.

It wasn't a bad silence. If anything, it was peaceful. Nico sipped from his glass of milk still and Will whistled under his breath. When he was finished, they went to bed knowing that everything was locked and they were all safe and everything was going to be alright.

Before bed, Nico prayed the rosary as he did every night, still scared of death now that he knew the Devil had his soul. But he wasn't scared of living. He had Will and Bianca. He had a family.

That night, however, everything changed.

Nico awoke when the room was dark and the house was silent. He wasn't sure what time it was, but everything seemed disoriented. Before he could close his eyes again, he heard the steady beating of a heartbeat vibrate throughout the room. Will didn't stir, nor did he hear any indication that Bianca also heard it.

The red eyes came with it. The haunting pairs scattered around the room, the same ones that watched him dance with Will for the first time. Immediately, he knew that this wasn't a dream or hazy illusion.

It was the one that had his soul.

"What do you want?" Nico's voice was steady even though he was nervous as hell. "Is...this isn't my death...it can't be."

The eyes blinked rapidly before disappearing, leaving him alone in the room.

"Hello?!" Nico looked around in the darkness, not even having the time to take pleasure in the fact that he could feel his legs. "What is this?! What do you want from me?!"

Will didn't stir no matter how loud he yelled. Even though he should have been relieved, he felt ten times worse. "Hello?!"

"Nico, Nico, Nico," the dull voice brought everything to complete silence. "It's been awhile. How's life?"

"Leave. Me. Alone." Nico ground out through clenched teeth, not able to see the speaker but knowing exactly who it was. "You already have my soul. Leave me my life."

"Yes, I have your soul. What a dark soul it is." the voice seemed to seep out of the walls, floor, and ceiling. "Do you want it back?"

"I...what?" Nico blinked a couple times, completely taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

"One favor and it's yours again." the Devil had a cruel laugh. "Take it or leave it, Nico. Nico, Nico, will you end up with me in Hell or with your husband in Heaven?"

"Depends on what you want me to do," Nico admitted, his body starting to feel jittery.

"Sorry, kid, can't do that. Just say yes or no. It's as simple as that." the laugh came again, filled with all the anguish of the world. "Yes or no, your soul or no? Simple question, really. Simple answer."

Nico looked over at Will, who slept like an angel. His blond hair fell into his peaceful face and his chest rose and fell with his soft breathing. He was Nico's life-everything he did was to please Will. Everything...

Just as he had done as a teenager when he had given his soul. Now he would do the opposite for the same reasons.

"Alright, Lucifer, how does this work?"

For the devil was one of many words and many tongues, for he convinced one that had turned away to do his work again.