Grell held onto William's arm as they made their way to the final resting grounds for fallen reapers. She held her discharge papers tightly in her hand. Eric and Alan waited for them with expressions saddened and quiet.
The small group of people gathered around the room as the brought Ronald's ashes in a small urn. Alan leaned on his lover's arm crying silently. Eric patted his head having his own eyes water.
Grell stood still having William's arm around her. The make-up she had was ruined as streams of tears mixed with black mascara ran down to her chin. William stayed with his usual stoic face holding her tightly.
The one reaper holding the urn placed it into its own glass case with his name written in golden font. The mausoleum was rather small as hardly any reapers died by the hands of other supernatural beings.
Eric grabbed his lover by the waist turning to the others. Grell cried harder in silence moving towards the case. She put her arms around it kissing the plate of his name.
She felt the cold glass pressed against her cheek. Alan hugged her tightly petting the top of her head. Eric and William stood by letting them mourn. After almost an hour of crying and saying their goodbyes to their underling, they backed away.
"Are you two gonna stay here a little longer? I'm gonna take Alan home so he can feel better."
William nodded looking at the smaller reaper in his arm.
"Now that Grell has been discharged, I'm going to make sure she gets home safely."
Grell shocked by the use of her. She felt her heart thumping in her chest. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they said their goodbyes.
They walked into her home hearing the gentle meows of her beloved Cleo. She smiled brightly picking her off of the cat tree. She cleaned her smeared side of her face with her sleeve, holding her tightly.
"Hello there my sweet darling! Did you miss me that much?"
She started kissing face and the top of her head. Cleo held still enjoying the attention as sat down with her mother's arms around her.
"Thank you so much for taking care of her."
"It's nothing really. She's been rather sweet."
"Of course she is. She's a true blue, royal princess."
She kissed her more having Cleo getting annoyed with her. The tiny paws trying to push her away. She giggled letting her out of her arms.
"I think after all that's happened, I could go for some wine."
He hung up their coats giving a slight frown.
"You're still on medication. It would be unwise to have any."
She pouted crossing her arms sadly.
"Why is it that I get turned turned down for things like this?"
"For the betterment of your health. Would you like me to make you anything to eat?"
She shook her head getting out of her seat.
"A nice hot bath and sleep sounds much more appealing. Thank you though."
She moved to her bedroom with a slight limp in her walk. William frowned following close behind her.
"Allow me to assist you Grell. You need to relax yourself when getting in the bath."
She glanced at over her shoulder. A faint grin dissappeared as she gasped covering her mouth dramatically.
"Naughty, naughty boy! Wanting to see a lady in such a state is so lewd..."
"I'm only trying to be of help. I'm not here to ogle. Please Grell."
She giggled moving to her room trying to bend down. He stopped her opening thr drawers for her.
"I'll get your clothes. Just tell me what you need."
She pouted looking at the neatly folded sleep clothes. She pointed at a set of silk set next to him and a set of lace panties.
"Those. I want to feel better than I did getting stuck in that terrible robe."
He sighed grabbing them gingerly. He handed them to her going to set the bath.
"How do you like your water?"
"Normally, I'd like to have it hot. However, I could really go for something lukewarm."
She stood at the door way looking down at him. He tested the water letting it rise. He moved away giving her the opportunity to get undressed.
"Are you sure you don't need me to help you?"
She shook her head moving close to the tub.
"I think I can manage...unless you really want to see me naked..."
"Enjoy your bath Sutcliffe."
He left her alone going back to the living room. Cleo sat across from him. Her eyes fixed on him, unblinking. He groaned looking away from her.
"No need to worry, I'm only here to help."
He noticed the photos on the wall for the first time since he entered. It had multiple photos of her cat and her friends. He stopped at a photo of her and Ronald with a kitten Cleo. He heard the splashing of the water knowing she was in the tub.
He wanted to remove the photo from its place. He stopped himself knowing she would was to have it up. He knew he had to remind himself to be soft and kind while she was healing.
He walked to the door pressing his ear against to see if he could hear her still up. He heard the faint sounds of sniffling and whimpers.
'No wonder she wanted the bath. She wanted to not cry in front of me anymore.'
He listened in hearing the weeping and the sounds of her pain drilling into his heart. He hated knowing she was in such pain.
"Oh Ronnie..."
He moved away from the door looking back going into the kitchen. He grabbed what he could making a mental list for a good dinner between them, regardless of her protest. Cleo followed him into the kitchen meowing lightly. He turned attention to her.
"I'm guessing you're hungry too."
He grabbed a chicken breast letting it cook alone as he cubed the potatoes. Once he finished he placed them into a pot to boil. He heard the sounds of Grell struggling. He ran to the door tapping on it.
"Do you need my assistance?"
"I'm fine William. I'm just trying to get into my panties."
His face became a dark red moving away from the door.
"Just call if you require my help."
He muttered under his breath moving back to the food. Cleo was in the counter staring at the chicken intensely.
"Don't you dare. Get off the counter."
She meowed loudly getting back onto the ground. He groaned making sure to flip it.
"Why are you talking down to my princess?"
He turned around seeing her owner combing through her hair. He sighed fixing his glasses.
"She was on the counter trying to get to the chicken. I'm making dinner for us too."
"William...that's so sweet of you. You really didn't have to do that. I told you a bath and sleep was just fine."
"I'm fully aware. I know you could use a home cooked meal instead of those hospital dishes."
She smiled leaning against the frame of the entrance. She finished combing out her hair staring at her baby. Cleo meowed at her, pawing in the air for her. She picked her up, placing the comb down, kissing her ears.
"Don't do that. Especially before a meal."
She frowned cuddling the Persian in her arms.
"How rude. She's my baby. It's like asking a mother to not her child. I've done it many times."
She placed her into the cat tree heading back to the kitchen. She moved to his side grabbing the piece for Cleo. He stared at focusing on the food.
"Dinner will be ready soon. If you want...you can have a single glass of wine. I don't want to hear that you feel terrible from the meditation because of it."
"Oh Will, you're a darling. Thank you."
She smiled heading into the living room. She grabbed a bottle of Bordeaux from her wine rack running back.
"Do be careful Grell. The last thing we need is to send you back to the hospital."
She reached for her corkscrew looking over her shoulder.
"No need to worry my dear William. I've opened a bottle on worse occasions."
She grabbed what she needed setting up the table for them. He brought out the plates of food setting a pillow for her to sit on. She cooed moving closer to the chair.
"You're such a dear Will. How have I survived without you?"
"I sometimes wonder that myself."
She frowned sitting down next to him. He served them both making sure Cleo was feed as well. The dinner continued rather well with pleasant conversation and catching up.
When they finished the meal, he helped her with dishes keeping an eye on her. She made sure to watch herself making the air still welcoming.
He was grabbing his things, ready to go when she grabbed his hand. He turned his attention to her looking confused.
"What's wrong?"
"Please stay Will. All this is still too much for me to be by myself. I could really use the company."
"Are you sure I won't be intruding?"
She shook her head, holding his hand tightly.
"You're would be no bother at all."
She laced their fingers, dragging him to her room. He groaned lightly not wanting to make a scene. She pushed him onto the bed laying her head down on his chest. She cuddled with him having the pain in her chest finally give out.
"Are you okay Grell?"
He touched her cheek feeling the wet trail of tears as she trembled. She cried silently holding onto him. He brushed her hair letting her have the time she need to mourn. His fingers going through the long locks. He held still letting her drift off to sleep.