honestly, shear procrastination. I had it written for the past couple months. But there was no rush as this final chapter of the series didn't seem to get much love. And this last instalment is in different format. Meaning, my usual one. Thank you for reading.

"You have passed. Congratulations Mr. Spears," said the exam administrator as he stamped the file. "Personally, I do not believe those who have prior knowledge of the afterlife of those who commit suicide, let alone the reputed offspring of a demon, should be allowed this second chance at redemption, but I do not have that kind of authority. Go get yourself some real spectacles.

Thomas thanked the man with a slight bow and headed to Spectacles He chose a pair similar to his father's but with touches of red to please his mother. She met him outside the department with a crushing hug, "I just knew you would do good. All A's! Just like me!" Leaving out the fact that she had only scored all a's in practical skills. "Your father may have only scored 'B's', but he was very proficient as well."

Despite his protests, she threw him a graduation party, inviting everyone he graduated with, plus some members of the association, though only a few showed up. Thomas didn't mind that, and his mother acted like she didn't. Since William's redemption, most tended to steer clear of Grell, almost as if they feared she was going to crack at anytime. In truth, Thomas believed she was barely holding it together. It was obvious by her overenthusiasm about everything he did. Even just being in the same room as her at times made her act overly bright and chipper. However, that was all it was, an act. When she was alone and thought he couldn't see, she was still and quiet. Awash with bereavement.

Thomas wondered at times if his decision had only delayed the inevitable. The branch supervisor was pressing him to have her committed or talk her into committing herself before she lost it and someone got hurt. The odds of her being allowed to live if the worst should happen were slim. However, he knew how terrified his mother was of being locked up. Though it was reported conditions had improved since she was last there he knew there would be no convincing her to return.

Grell busied herself after the party with the clean up. The dishes, the leftover hors d'oeuvres and other assorted party leftovers. Thomas had tried to help, but he was pushed into his father's favorite armchair, a cup of tea set on the table beside and a book placed in his lap. "You just relax, dear, I'll take care of everything." Thomas gave in with a sigh. It was best she keep busy anyway. However, he relocated to his favorite spot after selecting a book more suited to his tastes. He had just resettled when a fist struck the top of his head.

"You're still here, so I am assuming you passed." Thomas looked up to see his godfather towering above him.

"Gramps!" he exclaimed. "You're back!"

"For the time being..Didn't you learn anything living amongst us rejects?"

He glanced towards the kitchen and lowered his voice, "Mother…"

"Yes, I have heard. Your father loved your mother for well over a hundred years and she never was one of the most stable creatures."

"Do you think there is any chance that she'll be able to cope long enough to obtain redemption?" Thomas asked, though he suspected the answer.

Undertaker shook his head sadly. "No. In fact I am surprised she has managed to hold it together this long. While your actions were noble and no doubt mean a lot to your mother…I wish you had consulted with me first before doing something so stupid. It is only a matter of time, I am afraid, before she loses it completely."

"No, there has to be something-"

"Thomas," Undertaker sighed. "Your mother will hate me for saying this," he muttered, running his hand through his hair. "I saw what happened the first time your father was lost to your mother. I do believe this is the first time 'Jack' made his appearance. Reunited in the afterlife, your mother managed to get him back…this time, there is no getting him back. If she were to reach redemption, perhaps she would be able to be with him in whatever life awaits us…but there is no guarantee."

"So there is no hope for her then?"

"I wouldn't say there is no hope, but the outlook is bleak. Very bleak."

(x)

So many things, so many impersonal things for everyday use left behind. Things she did not know what to do with. Now that William was gone. His razor still sat next to the bathroom sink, along with his aftershave. She knew she should get rid of them, there was no point in keeping them, but the thought of throwing them away…she would be throwing bits of him away. She didn't want to forget.

His desk still sat untouched, except for the dust she kept from collecting. However, Thomas would be needing it now. She wouldn't be able to throw the things Thomas didn't require away, but she could pack them away in a box and put them away somewhere.

As Grell cleared away some papers from a drawer, she found a small wooden box shoved in the box. A box she did not recognize. "What is this?" She wondered as she pulled it out. Their anniversary had been coming up when he had been taken from her, could this be the gift he had been intending to give her? No, it was dated. The same year as the London bombings during the Great War. The same date as when she- when Jack…why did William have this?

She opened the box. In it was some documents folder and sealed in plastic. She could see the seal from the medical division along with the words: G. R. A. London Division.

Medical records?

Pulling them out, she found her name on them as well. It was a record of her stay in the hospital after she received the wound from William's scythe. She could not fathom why William would have held onto them.

There was another document. A death certificate. 'Annaliese Rose Spears. September 8, 1915' were the words written on it.

Her hand slowly raised to cover her mouth as she began to realize what these documents were saying. Grell reread the records.

Pregnant? She had been…and William had kept it a secret all this time. She was…

(x)

"I think I understand my father's decision," Thomas spoke as he and his godfather headed home for the day. Undertaker had disclosed the information that he was not a half-demon in anyway, but full reaper…well, mostly full reaper and in fact, William's son. "Frankly, I am more surprised my mother managed to keep t a secret all these years."

"Yes, well, despite her reputation ,your mother does know how to keep a secret. How is she by the way?"

"I don't think she has been sleeping well these past few days. I think she may be getting worse. She's been less talkative too, more distant. It chafes me that I am unable to do anything. I can't stand this…" Undertaker gave him a comforting pat on his shoulder.

The two entered the home Thomas shared with his mother. "I'm home," he announced. "We have company."

Grell appeared in the hallway and stared for a moment, then smiled. "Did you have a nice day at work, darling?" As she went over and embraced him. She giggled as he returned the hug and ran her fingers through his hair.

Thomas cleared his throat and removed her hands from his person. That felt awkward. "I hope you do not mind, I brought the godfather home for dinner."

Grell seemed to pay him no mind as she wrapped her arms around Thomas' neck and drew closer. "What's the matter, darling? Have I been a bad girl again? Huh, Will?"

Thomas extricated himself once more, this time keeping a firm grip on her wrists. "No, mother," he began, but was interrupted by Undertaker.

"I am afraid you have the wrong man, milady. Your darling William has gone on holiday, remember? This is Thomas."

"Thomas?" she looked at him curiously. "My baby's name." Grell placed her hands on her stomach. Her smile faded and her brows knit together. "Gone, gone, gone, gone," she began to mutter to herself. Fearing Jack's eminent arrival, Thomas dashed up the stairs to fetch her medication. She must have forgotten to take them.

Undertaker gazed at her sadly. It broke his heart to see her like this. Her mind so broken. Nor could he feel but a tinge of guilt for his role in it. She was broken when he found her and instead of putting her to rest, he extended her life by allowing her to become a reaper. Now a horrible decision was before him.

There was a small chance the Board would order for her to be placed in the asylum. However, considering the last time she had been brought before the council, it would be a far worse thing. Would they take pity on her? Or would they send her to hell? Not that there was a difference to Grell. She hated the asylum. Even if conditions there had improved, he knew she would not want to go back there.

He took her coat off the rack and draped it around her shoulders. "Come with me, dearie," he said gently. Wrapping an arm around her, he led her outside. Once there, he phased to his old shop. It sat abandoned as no one had been interested in the place.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"I'm taking you to William," he answered, he hoped as he led her to the basement area. He place still faintly smelled of embalming fluids.

"But I can't meet William dressed like this," she said.

His scythe materialized in his hand. With a calculated stroke, he plunged it into her vital organs. "Forgive me, my rose," he whispered as he caught her now empty shell and laid her on the exam table. Applying all his skills, he prepared her burial. Cleaning up one of his best coffins that was still in good shape, he placed her gently inside. He wished he had some roses to place with her, but he did not have time to search for any. He tucked his glasses in one of her pockets. "Again, I offer my apologies and that I am unable to give you the burial on deserve. I also regret having to leave you here in this dreary place alone, but it won't be for long. They will find you soon. And after me. Farewell, my rose," he said as he placed a kiss on her forehead. "Sleep well." He phased as far away as he could and headed down the road for France.

Epilogue

Grell's body was interred at the local cemetery owned by the reapers. There were not many headstones as death was uncommon among them. Thomas stayed a long while, wishing she could have been laid to rest next to her husband. He was surprised by how many did show up for the funeral. And although many offered their condolences, he felt just as many were relieved to have her gone.

He was still standing thee when a reaper with two toned hair wearing a before and fancy shoes car running to the grave site. "S-senpai…" he gasped, almost inaudibly. "It's true then…the old geezer"

Thomas nodded. "They have yet to find him…I'm angry. I understand why he did it, I think, but still…" He took a bath and told Ronald what happened.

"How is Rosalind taking it?" Ronald asked, after taking a moment to take the information in.

"I've not told her yet. I don't think she will even care. She and mother have not been on good terms for years. In fact I haven't spoken with her since father passed…Uncle Ronnie, am I a fool?"

Ronald looked down at Grell's grave and placed a hand on the tombstone. "Aren't we all?" he replied somberly. "Goodbye old man. Goodbye, friend."