AN: Takes place directly after Chapel.

SwordStitcher-As if I need the reminder. Hey, you got me out of it, so it wasn't that bad. Sometimes I have to wonder about that. I could have left you there to suffer alone. I made you up! I gifted you with my presence. YOU WERE IMAGINARY! That got boring.


Looking at him, with a claw mark streaking across his throat and his clothes sticky with blood, she wonders if she's gone too far. Maybe there are other ways to go about this.

But are there? The Devil is strong, he will not leave simply on an old woman's say-so. And given the boy's…precarious position, someone has to look after him.

"Granny."

He flings his arms around her waist, sobbing into her skirt. She rubs his head and hopes they won't have to do this again.

"Come along, child." she says softly. "There's no need for tears."

To his credit, he pulls himself together by the time they go back to the house. She doesn't tuck him in-he's far too old for such nonsense-but she does peek in later, after he's asleep. He looks younger than seven and she wonders again if this was too much.

No matter. It was for his own good. If she didn't love him, she wouldn't bother.

Too old or not, she goes in and fusses with his blanket, tucking it in a little further and smoothing it down. There. Much better.

"Good night, child." she whispers. She leaves the room, leaving the door open a crack-he's scared of the dark, always has been-and walks on down the hall.

It really was for his own good.

THE END