((By the way, the song in the first chapter(or was it the second) was 'Forever and For Always' by Shania Twain))

A couple notes...

My time skip symbols don't seem to be showing up, and for some reason, when I upload my files words end up missing. (yes I've checked that they're there in the actual file). I refuse to fix errors that aren't mine, so I apologise for that. Also, I would like more reviews, and preferably something more than just 'update soon'. I simply need an idea or two on how to make the characters better, or some such thing. Thank you for your time.

Chapter 3

"AKRA!!!"

Demmi and Acheron backed away quickly, and Demmi was tense once again. She leapt up and hurried to the door with Acheron hot on her tail. When she opened it she was hugged by Noctos. Irenus's son was about 5,000 years old, roughly five in human years, though he was brighter than most demons his age, and had been taught very well. He was about five foot seven and had his fathers eyes and hair color. It was when he smiled that you saw his mother.

"Noctos, are you alright?"

The demon shook his head into Demmi's shoulder.

"Did you have the dream again?"

A nod.

"Okay, we'll fix that. Oh by the way I want you to meet the newest member of the family." Demmi turned to Ash. "Acheron. this is Noctos, Irenus's son. They live with Maria in those rooms I showed you."

The frightened demon looked towords the new man and smiled, but his face was tear stained. "N-nice to meet you."

Acheron smiled despite himself and summoned Simi. "It's nice to meet you too, kiddo."

They proceeded with introductions and before they knew it, Demmi had replaced the floor of her room with a soft matress. The other two demons filed in. Demmi turned to Acheron to explain. "You see, Noctos has nightmares about his parents and I disapearing. When that happens we all have a sleep over in here to show him we aren't going anywhere. You and Simi could stay, if you wanted. After all you are part of the family now."

Acheron was going to say that Simi could stay, but he had to go--Demmi could feel it--, but he paused at a tap on his shoulder. "You are going to stay aren't you Akri?"

Demmi watched as Ash looked at Noctos and his face softened. Her heart soared when he nodded. It was still the same old Acheron, her Acheron, who stood before her. Just older, and a little battered. The demon family curled up together along with Simi who was rapidly begining to like her new family. Demmi took Ash by the hand and had him lay down with his head resting on her stomach.

"Sleep tight, Acheron."

Demmi slept better than she had for a long time that night. She dreamed not of death and mourning and pain, but of the happy times she'd spent with Acheron by the shore. The times he'd picked up the servants children and twirled them around. And of the times they'd stayed up all night talking and he'd carried a sleeping her up the stairs near dawn. She half expected to be woken by his happy voice, calling her Agape. But, she realized as she woke to utter silence, she wouldn't hear that ever again.

'Stop that,' she admonished herself, 'Look what you've got here! Irenus and Maria treat you like a younger sister, Noctos is practically your nephew and you got two new family members right here where they belong. So be happy, be satisfied.'

With those thoughts she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The morning came rather abruptly when Noctos tripped over Ash and landed on Demmi. "Sorry Akra, but Daddy's making pancakes cause we have new peoples!"

Ash was smileing and laughing as Simi tackled him and tickled him. Then she ran off with Noctos shouting out behind her, "Noctos likes babrbeque on his pancakes too, Akri!"

Demmi laughed too. "I like this. I like this a lot. Noctos has never had another demon to play around with before now."

Ash smiled. "Perhaps they'll fall in love ehh?"

Demmi could feel herself smile widely at the thought and before she could help herself the words were past her lips. "Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Acheron looked at his newfound friend. She looked childish with that grin on her face.

'A real smile' he realized, 'Thats a real smile.'

Still, there was something sad in that smile. Something a little resigned.

She pulled him into the kitchen where she insisted he sit down, and buzzed around helping Ireneus, and then Maria, and then chasing the two younger demons around.

Most of the day was spent that way, just acting like a family with them. It was beyond his understanding. No one, NO ONE, had ever acceptd him so quickly. Even Ryssa had been aprehensive for a year or two while he was a child. But these people looked at him as if it was the most natural thing ing the world that Noctos began to call him his Akri. Like it was normal to have a slave sitting with them.

Then again, maybe it was. Did Demmi think of herself as a slave too? No, she was too rebelious, to carefree for that. So what was that little space in the back of her eyes? That emotion that seemed so familer. The answer was simple really, but he didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to believe she hated herself. What with all the kindness she'd shown him, there wasn't anyrhing there to hate.

The demons all retreated to their rooms at midnight, and Demmi let out a yawn of her own. Ash walked her to the door to her rooms.

"Ash, thanks for staying last night. I doubt you'll ever know how much it means to Noctos. He called you Akri...It was that important to him."

"I understand how a kid needs to feel like he's not alone."

That broght tears to her eyes, he noticed. She reached up and touched his cheek gently, brushing her fingers across his cheek. He saw her eyes and he knew she had no idea how much that simple, innocent touch made him burn. "I know you do. So do I."

The flames in her emerald eyes danced and seemed to burn him as well. He wasn't aware of what he was doing until their lips touched. Usually, he thought, there was a moment's surprise, hesitation, at the beginning of a kiss like this. But Demmi's hand's fluttered abit then landed on his shoulders as she kissed back. There was no hesitation, but neither was there a rush. She just let him kiss her there, pinned against her door. The hunger was there, but she didn't pull at his hair or his clothes. He, on the other hand, was loosing his self control.

He broke away from her lips and trailed his kisses to her neck, groaning."Tell me to stop, Demmi, and I will."

She let out a little moan and pulled him closer, gently. "I only want you to stop if you find you don't want to do this."

Did he? Did he want to sleep with this beautiful woman? The one who'd shown him nothing but kindness, sheltered him when he was human, been sad to loose a friend when he left? The woman who had wept when he'd died. Yes, yes he did.

Was it a good idea? Probably not.

Did he care? No.

So he reached behind her and opened the door to her rooms, then picked her up and carried her down the hall and to her bedroom. More specifically, the bed. His mouth joined hers once again as her tongue came out to meet his. He meant to take it slow, but the fire was slowly consumeing him, he wanted more. He got it when he tugged loose Demmi's top and went to explore the new territory.

He began to sweat as he smelled her, tasted her and the sounds she was makeing weren't helping. He groaned and in an instant their clothes were gone.

Suddenly, just as he was about to find paradise, there was a golden flash in the room and he parley had time to pull the sheet over them. Hermes stood there, his eyes wide for a moment, before he slapped his hand over his eyes. "GROSS! HERE'S YOUR MESSAGE!"

He tossed the golden envelope onto the bed near them and then flashed away. He and Demmi looked at the message together.

'You and Acheron must wed before two years has passed, or there shall be another executian. --Zeus."