A/N: Hey, I know it's been a while, but thank you so much to all the people who've sent reviews or messages encouraging me to continue writing - you're awesome! I hope you all enjoy this chapter :)

"Hey, delivery boy – I got an order here for you," yells Pete from behind the counter, as I step out of the rain and into the busy pizzeria.

Water still dripping from my blonde curls, I turn to face the short man, and resist the urge to roll my eyes. I've worked at "Pete's Pizza Parlour" for just over a year now, and my boss still doesn't know my name. One of the many perks to being undead, I think, as I grab the pizza and its delivery address. Keeping a low profile.

The doorbell rings as I leave, an irritating, high-pitched sound that usually would have me longing for the day's end. Today, however, I'm grinning like a lunatic. There's only one delivery until the end of my shift, meaning I'm only one delivery away from seeing Kaylee. I smile at the thought.

Five years had been and gone since the "Avari-torturing-Kaylee-while-I-almost-end-my-afte rlife" incident and the two of us are still going strong. At first I'd been wary, afraid that maybe my definition of forever wouldn't match up to hers. However, ten years seems like a pretty good indication of commitment to me; it's a big milestone in any relationship, eternal or not, and Kaylee had an entire dinner planned out just for today.

I, on the other hand, am still working on my anniversary gift - and by working, I mean I have no damn clue what to get her. Seriously, what do you get your 27 year old, undead girlfriend who's saved your ass more times than you can count? Nothing from the mall, that's for sure.

Grabbing my "delivery" bike, I turn towards the dark alleyway beside Pete's Pizza Parlour, away from the prying eyes of possible onlookers. This would be the perfect scenario for the opening of a slasher film, I think as I edge just past the dumpsters where the leftovers are discarded. Well, it would be perfect, apart from the fact that I'm not a cheerleader, this isn't some cliché horror movie, and oddly enough, death doesn't tend to bother the already dead.

I can feel the pizza's warmth seeping through the delivery bag, and behind me there's a feral howl. Familiar amber eyes shine through the darkness like headlights.

"Sabby," I say, greeting the scrawny black alley-cat as she slinks around my legs and towards the bag at my side. She begins sniffing at it eagerly. Nice try, I think, pulling the bag out of the cat's reach.

I'd named the cat after Sabine, the feisty mara affiliated with my baby brother, Nash. The similarities between the two are uncanny, both dark haired and vicious, with an annoying tendency to hiss at you if you stand too close to their food. She meows pitifully at the closed zip.

"I'm sorry, Sabby, but this pizza isn't mine to give," I explain, dropping the bike, and kneeling to pat the cat. Big round eyes stare up at me, their depth rivalling Kaylee's, and I feel myself melting like a love struck teen. I'm a reaper, goddammit! I kill for a living - who would have guessed that look was my kryptonite?

I sigh in defeat and draw out the pizza in question. "If I get fired for this, I hope you're happy," I warn, as I tear the crusts off the edges of the dough. Maybe I could convince the customer they'd ordered a pizza without crusts?

Sabby climbs up my leg and snatches the dough pieces. Then, before I can even close the box, she scurries off back into the darkness. I stare after her in disbelief. "You're welcome!" I shout, zipping the pizza back into its bag.

Checking that the bike is well-hidden, I blink out of the alley and into Kaylee's kitchen. Well, our kitchen - damn, it's hard buying a house at seventeen. Harmony and Brendon were kind enough to put it under their name, considering real estate agents are pretty reluctant in selling houses to dead couples, but we've still managed to pay the mortgage each month with what little we earn. The reaper gig doesn't pay the bills, and delivering pizzas isn't exactly a stable source of income, but Kaylee's job as head extractor does come with certain perks.

"Kay," I call out, surprised to find no-one home. A bright pink post-it note catches my eye, and I struggle to read the rushed script. "Tod, try not to burn the house down. I'll be back in a bit. Love, Kay. xox"

I try not to feel too disappointed by the lack of Kaylee, and decide to put my remaining minutes of "delivery time" to good use. Across the hall awaits the master bedroom, my personal favourite for reasons that should be obvious. I open the drawer on my side of the bed and pull out a small, velvet box.

After being together for ten years, the prospect of marriage had come up more than once, with Kaylee shooting it down every single time. "I just don't get what the big deal is," she'd said at Nash's wedding, her hair pinned and curled to perfection. For a fear-sucking creature of the night, Sabine really took her big day seriously, and had checked herself to see that Kaylee was fit for the altar. Which she was, believe me, though I'd much rather preferred seeing that bridesmaid dress on the floor. "Weddings are just so big, and costly - I mean, what's the use of some piece of paper saying we're together? We're sort of stuck with each other for eternity anyway."

I'd smiled. "Oh I don't know... watching you walk towards me in white does have a certain appeal."

Rolling her eyes, she'd said, "Didn't know you were such a softie - might have to rethink my plans for later. Save myself for the wedding night and all."

"We both know that ship's sailed," I'd said, grabbing hold of her waist. Things had progressed from there but, needless to say, Sabine's maid of honour was anything but honourable.

I take the sapphire ring out if its box and remember Aiden's words. "This was the ring I gave Kaylee's mother the night I proposed," he'd said, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It's hardly a family heirloom - I'd bought it half price when I was still working minimum wage - but I know Darby would want Kaylee to have something to remember her by. Give it to her when the time is right." He'd then left promptly, claiming he had somewhere to be. We both knew he was just finding somewhere to cry.

Damn, being soul-bound is tough.

A loud ringing breaks my thoughts, and I take out my phone."Delivery time" it reads. I turn off the alarm and pocket the ring, an idea already forming in my mind.

"Room 23, The Plaza Hotel," I read, trying to decipher Pete's messy scrawl. Without hesitation I blink to the address, invisible to non-reapers. Holy shit, this place is fancy, I think as I stand outside the room. There are marble fountains at each end of the corridor, and the faint smell of champagne wafting through the door. Did this guy seriously order a pepperoni pizza? I feel bad about taking off the crusts now.

I knock on the door, two sharp taps, and wait. The door swings open. "One large pepperon-" I begin, before being pulled inside by slender hands. The door shuts behind me, and I quickly take in my surroundings. Candles, a cooked meal, and - I knew it! - champagne. My cap's fallen off, and the look of surprise on my face must be pretty funny if my girlfriend's grin is anything to go by.

"Kaylee?" I ask, my eyes roaming from her flushed face to her slim waist, accentuated by the sinfully-tight dress she's decided to tease me with. There are white dustings of flour across the sides of the red fabric, and I laugh. That's my girl.

Noticing the flour smudges, Kaylee groans. "Em is going to kill me..."

I drop the delivery bag and pull her closer. "Not if she kills me first. Which she will, if she ever finds out what plans I have for that dress." I raise my eyebrows at her suggestively, and this time it's her turn to laugh.

It's a nice laugh too - not spectacular in any way, but just so Kaylee... I love that laugh.

Looping her arms around my neck, she begins to tug gently at my hair. "God, I've missed you," she says, and I swoop down for a kiss. Her mouth slides seamlessly against mine, in a way that only ten years of experience can achieve, and I lift her up in my arms. She wraps her legs around my waist effortlessly, as if second nature to her. I move forward, carrying her towards what I assume is the bedroom, and she squirms.

"Tod..." Her lips move from mine, and I groan.

"Kaylee..." I reply as she shimmies back to her feet, smiling coyly.

"Dinner first."

Taking her wrist I pull her closer and plant a soft kiss on her lips. "Can't we just skip straight to dessert?" I ask, tilting her chin up and kissing her again.

She just laughs."Patience, reaper."

Damn, this woman would be the death of me… if I weren't already dead, that is. Pouting, I follow her to the carefully laid-out table, taking time to admire her handiwork. This wasn't some last minute meal, that's for sure. Everything's been thought out, right down to the colour of the flowers, which are the same deep shade as her dress.

I force my eyes to focus on the food, to not steal another wistful glance at the dress in question. My eyes suck.

"Damn Tod, I could always just take the dress off and put that on the table instead," she says, before realizing how much that prospect would appeal to me. I smirk.

"Later." Turning back to the pasta dishes, my stomach rumbles eagerly. "This looks great, Kay," I say, and it does. For a guy who doesn't need to eat, I sure could get used to this.

She smiles. "Seriously, it's the least I could do considering all the times you've cooked for me," she replies, sitting herself down in the chair I hold out for her.

Laughing, I pull out the seat opposite to hers, and reply, "Half cooked pizza doesn't count."

Kaylee rolls her eyes, and purses her lips, as if hiding another smile. Her eyes are a beaming blue, her cheeks a rosy red, and I suddenly decide to give her my gift before I back out of it.

I clear my throat and reach into the pocket of my uniform. Her eyes flicker to my hands, and then widen at the box between them.

"Tod..." she starts, her voice soft. "You know how I feel about-"

"Just hear me out," I say, handing the box over. She looks at me quizzically, a question forming on her lips, but instead her hands roam over the velvet surface. I sit up in my seat and send her a reassuring smile.

"Open it."

Kaylee does as I ask, and when she takes out the ring, she's smiling back at me.

"My answer's not changing, Tod. Marriage just isn't practical for us…" She notices the apprehensive look on my face, and adds, "It sure is beautiful though."

I take her hands in mine across the table."You're a perfect match then," I say, raising her fingers to my lips. She laughs, and as I lower them I add, "Besides, marriage wasn't what I had in mind."

She raises an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Really," I say, my expression earnest. "The ring was your mother's, Kay."

Her eyes widen, and she suddenly looks at the ring with a new fascination. When she looks back up at me, there are tears in eyes.

"Aiden?" she asks, her voice breaking.

I nod. "He asked me give it you, when the time was right. A few months before..." I trail off, not wanting to haunt our anniversary with her father's death. Too late.

Great job, Tod. Making your girlfriend cry on your ten-year anniversary. Just great.

I pull her up out of her seat and into my arms, silently cursing myself.

"Shhh, Kay, don't worry. It's alright. His soul's with your mom's now, remember?" I bring her face up so that her eyes meet mine."Nothing's worse than missing half your soul. Believe me."

She quickly wipes away her tears with the palms of her hands, and laughs shakily. "I'm sorry... God, I'm a mess," she says, and I pull her closer, my chin resting upon the crown of her head.

"Then we'll be messes together," I reply, stroking her hair soothingly.

Pulling away for a moment, I grab the ring from the table and turn to face my mess of a girlfriend.

On one knee, I look up at her. Her hands are hiding her smile, and she's cry-laughing again, only this time the expression is genuine.

"Do you, Kaylee Cavanaugh, promise to look after your half of my soul for as long as you live?"

She nods slowly, as if savouring the moment. "Of course, I do."

The teensiest shred of doubt washes away, and my grin is involuntary. "I was hoping you'd say that."

I slide the ring onto her finger, and admire it with her. "Almost as beautiful as you," I say after a moment, and it is. The sapphire shines demurely from its silver band.

"Sweet talker" she teases, bringing me down for a kiss. Her mouth is warm, but she's always warm, like a candle that never burns out. My ball of fire, I think, but this time I'm not afraid to get burned.

"I promise too, you know," I murmur against her lips, not quite sure she understands.

"Hmm?" she asks, only half listening.

I pull apart to look her in the eyes, hoping she can read the sincerity in mine.

"I promise to look after my half of your soul," I explain, raising her palms towards my racing heart. "As long as my heart beats for you, I promise to keep your soul safe."

Kaylee's eyes search mine, blue irises twisting in… mirth? She laughs.

"I was hoping you'd say that."