HOA

Look! It's a miracle! I updated twice in twelve hours! I'm so proud of myself right now!

How'd you like the last chapter? Ready for the next one? Good.

Cause now we really start getting into things. *slightly evil grin*

Oh and Amelia Claw, is this soon enough for ya? ;)

London,
July 31st, 11:30am

My brain itched, and I wished that I knew how to make it stop. But that was the thing I couldn't remember.

Just like I couldn't remember practically anything. Don't get me wrong, I've had a week to get used to this sense of… not knowing something. Or a lot of things. It was a constant feeling that never really went away, even if I preferred to just ignore it most of the time.

But this, this was different.

This was an actual itch in the back of my mind. It felt important, and at times I swore I would get a flicker of something but it was like it was a thought that I couldn't really think about unless it was triggered.

The frustrating thing was, that I didn't even know what I was trying to trigger! The itch started not long after I left Madam Bones' office, and I was so distracted by it, so frustrated, that I just ended up wondering around in circles in downtown London for a while.

The other thing was that I had a feeling that whatever I was forgetting I didn't always forget! It would come and go, and right now it was gone. I was aware that it was gone, and it was SO INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING THAT I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE HELL I HAD FORGOTTEN!

Well, I suppose that that was the definition of forgetting something.

But it had caused me to want to tear my hair out for hours so eventually I decided that I needed something to distract me.

Or at least to try and distract me.

Sssoooo, I ended up buying even more music. You probably don't want to know how much money I spent on CDs. I know I don't. In fact, I didn't even look at the total for the dozens of CDs I had purchased. I had just swiped my card, collected my bags – shrunk them when no one was looking – and continued to try and block out the itch with random music.

Having to change the CDs every time I hit the end of one was slightly annoying…oh how I wished that I was ten years in the future…. I missed downloads! And decent MP3 players!

But the music wasn't helping the itch!

At all!

I rubbed my eyes tiredly as I pulled my headphones off my head and popped out the disk that had just ended. Ruffling through my backpack for a case that looked interesting – and trying and failing to ignore the .itch – I pulled out a curious looking blue CD case. It was decorated simply with a photo of stars and a comet, and I tilted my head in curiosity.

Sure, I remembered grabbing this off the shelf – I had bought almost everything so I didn't really grab it for a reason – but I had never heard of the band De Musica or the album Tu Hermana. The Cloak nudged me, trying to tell me something about the CD. But I shrugged it off. Come on. It wasn't like it was anything special.

Popping the CD in I put the headphones back over my ears, swung my backpack over my shoulder, tucked my hands in my pockets, and continued down the London street.

My eyes widened as the first few soft notes began to play.

I knew this song.

Why did I know this song?

Well you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

All of the sudden, the strange feeling in my gut that I knew this song was shoved aside.

The itch!

The itch wasn't as bad!

A grin suddenly stretched across my face as a laugh burst from my lips. Merlin's Ears this was actually working!

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Only hate the road when you're missing home

Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go

I ignored the weird looks I was getting from the London pedestrians – something I was really good at now – as I twirled around in happiness. The awful, constant, flipping itch was gone! Or at least, faded enough where I could ignore it!

As the next set of lyrics came on, I found myself singing along. I still didn't know how I knew the song, but I found that I REALLY REALLY DIDN'T CARE!

"Staring at the bottom of your glass, hoping one day you'll make a dream last. But dreams come slow and they go so fast…."

Someone bumped into me and glared, but I found that I didn't care. I simply smiled at him and twirled happily once more as I continued to sing.

"You see her when you close your eyes; maybe one day you'll understand why, everything you touch surely dies…"

I just found my new favorite Album. Too bad it didn't have ACDC on it.

The Roof of a Random Building, London
1:28pm

My legs swung over the edge of the roof, invisibly I might add, as I munched away at a rather large sub sandwich. The De Musica disk was STILL playing – I briefly wondered if the disk was enchanted or something to fit so many songs – but dismissed it. The itch was still gone, and I wanted it to stay like that.

I hummed along to the song currently playing, swallowing just in time to sing the chorus.

"Losing him was blue like I'd never known. Missing him was dark grey all alone. Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met…"

My breath hitched as suddenly the itch came back full force. Correction, now it was even fucking worse!

GOD DAMN IT!

I closed my eyes tightly, ignoring the food clutched in my balled fists, as I tried to focus on the song. Singing even louder, as if that would actually help.

"But loving him was red. Ooohhh, red. Burning red…"

Suddenly, my headphones where slid off my head, and a deep smooth voice echoed in my ears, instantly soothing the damned itch.

"You know love; you are an awfully hard person to find. Even when your tattered Soul shines brighter than everything else in this Cor forsaken Shadow Dimension."

My head whipped around, my body quickly following. My eyes widened and I found that I didn't even care as my sub fell and landed on some poor fellows head. Suddenly, as I caught sight of the black clad figure in front of me, everything clicked back into place. I finally remembered what the hell the itch had been bugging me about. I finally remembered who I been forgetting on and off for a week.

"Mortem!" I squealed …cough exclaimed before launching myself at him. His strong arms caught me instantly, although he stumbled – which felt weird for some reason – and all of the sudden, the universe felt better than it had since I had woken up.

For just a moment, everything felt perfect. My mind at ease and my Soul happy. Everything was just right.

"Hello, Aequivalere." He whispered in my hair, a mixture of relief and happiness coloring his voice.

We stayed like that for a moment, both content to just hold the other in our arms. But eventually, I pulled back and looked up at my Bonded. He pulled back too, just far enough for us both to get a good look at the other's face. My eyes widened instantly, before narrowing. My brain and Soul maybe completely scrambled and shredded at the moment. But I just knew that there was something different with Mortem.

He must've noticed my expression – of course he did, he's your Bonded – a part of my whispered, because his eyebrows knitted together and he looked at me in concern.

"What?" He asked, worry also tinging his voice.

I hesitated for a moment before saying slowly, "You look different."

And he did. Where his skin had been an unearthly grey before, it was now just alabaster. Sure, it was still incredibly pale, but it wasn't anything super striking. His hair fell about the same way, messy and to his shoulders, but the black color seemed paler, less like never-ending darkness and more like cheap ink. Black jeans hung from his hips, grey dress shoes adorned his feet, and his chest was covered by a charcoal Tshirt with a white skull wrapped in red barbwire on the front.

But it wasn't the normal human clothes, or even the slight color changes, that really stood out to me, that really made Mortem look different. It was the fact that when my eyes were locked with his, they weren't the familiar, dazzling, mystical silver looking back.

Mortem was gazing worryingly at me with grey eyes, a soft grey, a grey that was trying to be silver, and failing.

He flinched and turned away from me at the comment. His gaze locking on the roof we stood on, and my eyes widened as I spotted the blush making its way up his cheeks.

Ok something was definitely different.

Something I just couldn't put my finger on…

The Cloak nudged my magic, and suddenly I became aware of another change. I was still pressed up against Mortem's chest, and I suddenly realized that I could feel the beat of Mortem's heart through our clothes, and that his hands, which were gripping my hips rather hard, were warm.

My mouth dropped open just a touch as I tried to process everything that my mind and the Cloak were telling me. Mortem couldn't be…he could be human!

Could he?

"OW!" Mortem yelled, leaping away from me, rubbing his arm where I had pinched him. The look in his grey, human eyes was part betrayal and part humiliation. My heart clenched and I quickly wrapped him back up into a hug, quick to kiss the spot on his arm that I had pinched.

I could practically feel him rolling his eyes, but knew that this really wasn't the time for sassy remarks. I could control myself. Sometimes.

"You're human." I stated softly, even though I already had all the confirmation that I needed. My Soul was shattered, I wasn't stupid.

"I am." He said softly, as if it pained him to admit. My heart clenched for him again, I couldn't believe that he had done something like this! Why would he do something like this!? I didn't even know Immortals could become human… they weren't like me. They hadn't started out Mortal.

My mind suddenly flashed back to what Infinitas had said when I woke up. For Mortem to be here at all, especially as a human… he must've locked away all his powers. The shadow universe was too unstable for a fully powered Immortal to be running around.

I shuttered. I knew what it was like to have part of yourself ripped away, hidden away, to have yourself torn to pieces.

A brief memory of pain flashed through my mind and I shivered, clenching my eyes shut as tears started to build. No, no… he couldn't have had. Not for me. No one deserves to go through that. No one…

"Shh," Mortem whispered into my ear, as his arms wrapped tighter around my shoulders. "Shhh, its ok. Father is the one who turned me human, stripping the majority of my powers away. He's less than pleased with the current situation, and besides, Mother convinced him once she saw how determined I was."

I looked up at him with wide eyes. That didn't make things better! Why would he even do something like that?!

Mortem chuckled weakly, looking at me sadly. "Have some faith in Father's abilities. Besides, do you really believe that I would allow you to run off by yourself?"

His lips quirked upwards into the beginnings of a smile, and I half choked on a chuckle. Mortem was trying to lighten the situation. That was normally my job.

"I can take care of myself." I protested halfheartedly, my chest still heaving and my heart fluttering at the thought of what Mortem had to have gone through to be here.

"Normally, I wouldn't disagree." He sighed, tucking my head beneath his chin. I closed my eyes, and the Cloak helped me push the dark shattered memories filled with pain away. I basked in Mortem's warmth.

It was new, but I was starting to like it. Especially the human heartbeat dancing away beneath my ear.

"There you go." He whispered, and I suddenly realized that my shields must really suck or I was just failing to sense the Bond, if he was able to hear my thoughts so well.

"I always want to hear you." Mortem practically ordered – though who he was ordering I had no idea – and confusion flooded my mind. When hadn't he been able to?

Mortem flinched, and I marveled at the human action before he simply hugged me tighter.

"Not something you need to worry about." He stated sternly and I sighed, knowing that I wouldn't get anymore answers out of him about it.

Finally allowing myself to relax, content knowing that my Bonded was alright, I snuggled in even closer. Mortem chuckled, lifting one arm to run his fingers through my hair.

I hummed in happiness. I still couldn't believe Mortem was actually here! I wasn't alone! I wouldn't have to do everything myself…

Cor, I just felt more like myself in his arms.

I also didn't want to let go. I didn't want this to be some trick, or even just a dream.

"Oh," Mortem said warmly. "I wouldn't worry about that. I doubt even you would dream me human."

Ok, I had to give him that one.

"Fair enough." I grinned into his chest.

Mortem then pulled back and lifted my face by the chin. His eyes were practically burning with emotion as he said, "I'm not going anywhere."

He then pulled me back into a hug. "And neither are you."

His voice was filled with determination and in that moment, that single moment, I knew that everything was going to be alright.

(AN: I was so tempted to end it there…but I decided I should be nice and give you a longer chapter!)

"So," I said slowly a few hours later as I leaned against Mortem's side on top of a different building. My legs were once again hanging over the side, but this time they were joined by Mortem's and we were both holding ice creams that I had bought us.

I still couldn't believe that Mortem was actually here. I might've been slightly high on happiness at the moment, but I didn't care. I also doubted Mortem did either, since his eyes had had a constant shine to them for hours now, and a smile kept randomly dancing across his lips.

It was slightly odd how open and human he was acting, but at the same time, it was what I needed right now.

"Is my Soul simply too shattered for the Bond right now… is it broken? Or damaged? What's going to happen when we get my Soul all back together? Will it just reappear or are we going to have to do a whole new Bonding ceremony – not that I'd mind, at all, but…"

Mortem's finger suddenly appeared on my lips and I smiled weakly at him as I realized that I had been rambling and not allowing him time to answer any of my questions.

"Are you going to let me speak?" He asked, and I quickly nodded yes. I could feel my face burning and almost wanted to hide. I was probably as red as a stupid firetruck right now. I took a large bite out of my ice cream cone so that I wouldn't have to look at him.

"Oh, don't do that." Mortem sighed sadly at me, and my eyes widened as I snuck a peak up at him. "I like it when you blush."

Of course that just made me blush harder. Yay, I was now acting like some stupid hormonal teenager in front of the man-being-person-thingy I had been married to for… probably millennia? I didn't actually know. But it'd been a very long time!

"Really? A man-being-person-thingy?" He echoed, sounding incredibly amused. I couldn't help but freeze. Oh my god I hadn't meant for him to hear that.

Stupid, screwed up, random brain!

He just chuckled, kissing the top of my head before finally answering my questions.

"The Bond's not broken, strained to hell right now, but not broken. In fact, that's why I can hear you so well without trying. My end is still working how it's supposed to…"

"Your end?" I interrupted, smiling sheepishly at Mortem as he gave me a pointed look for interrupting him. "Sorry."

"Yes, my end. I've actually been able to peak in on you on and off since I arrived here. Not that it's been easy, mind you. Adjusting to this body and its power levels have been… frustrating. I had kept hoping that one day you'd reply to me, or notice the fact that I was trying to talk to you.

"My assumption is that the shattering of your Soul put the Bond under such strain that it shut down on your end to keep itself from tearing. Thank Father." Mortem muttered the thanks under his breath, but I still heard him. I knew that I should know why he was so thankful that the Bond hadn't broken… but it was one of those things that I just didn't know.

Cor this was maddening.

"So, the Bond's dead on my end til my Soul's fixed?" I asked sadly. It would be really nice to be able to feel and talk to Mortem. Now that I knew what was supposed to be there, my mind felt really empty without him.

"Not…necessarily." Mortem admitted slowly, thoughtfully. I looked up at him in surprise as he chewed on his lip in thought.

Well, that was definitely a new tick.

"I can try and see if I can jumpstart your end of the Bond, but I can't promise anything." His grey eyes then locked with mine. "I also can't promise it won't hurt."

I took a deep breath, my mind already made up. I wanted this, this one little piece of normality, of myself, back.

"Do it." I told him, fully confident in his abilities.

He smiled at me softly, before leaning forward and bringing his hands up to my temples.

I felt him slid into my mind, as this was different than the access he already had. I had a feeling that if either of us had been at full power, physical contact wouldn't have been necessary for him to do this, but then again, if we had been at full power none of this would be necessary…

My mind suddenly shifted, and I wondered where Mortem's ice cream went.

"Is now really the time?" Mortem asked me in amusement, as he paused in his search for my end of the Bond.

I shrugged, mentally and physically. My mind was really screwy at the moment. Or at least, I think it is.

"Not my fault."

"I know." He sighed, and resumed his search.

In what seemed like a moment, but could've been hours or seconds, Mortem spoke again, pausing at a specific place in my mind.

"This…is probably going to hurt." His voice flooded my mind. Something was tugged on, then something else shattered, and suddenly, my mind exploded.

I didn't scream, or at least, I didn't think I did. But pain flooded through my as I felt the Bond surge into existence in my mind once again, clinging to whatever was left of my mind and Soul. The pain was then beat back, as suddenly Mortem's cool, dark presence flooded my mind in a way that was all too familiar, even if it hadn't been until then.

His emotions followed him, as the Bond surged once again and I felt him in every inch of my being. Cor. Worry and fear tore into me, and I felt like I was being smashed against rocks by never ending waves. His anger swiftly followed, and I learned that his fury was different, and it burned. He was furious at Fati for what she had done, angry at the other Immortals – Mother and Father specifically – for not stepping in and doing something about her before, and the loathing aimed at Father – for a reason that was blocked to me – was staggering and confusing. But the self-loathing that crashed against me burned the worst. Mortem blamed himself for what happened, for not being there to help me, for not stopping Fati…

And just as suddenly as the wave had appeared, it vanished.

I blinked slowly as my mind spun, trying to recuperate from the sudden change that had been forced upon it. I could feel Mortem in the corner of my mind, and I knew before my vision even cleared that he was staring at me in worrying, hoping that he hadn't hurt me even worse.

"I'm alright," I tried to sooth my Bonded, but the words came out a touch slurred, and considering the fact that Mortem could also feel how jumbled my mind was, I wasn't surprised at the wave of disbelief I felt from his end of the Bond.

But it was also the truth, I realized as my mind settled even more.

Just being with Mortem had made me feel more like myself, but now, with the Bond back in place and his presence in my mind reestablished, I knew that I was more like myself.

Examining my mind to the best of my current abilities, I realized that the Cloak had fully merged with my Core and Soul, like the Hallows had after my First Life.

I blinked as I realized that I had just thought that thought and smiled up at Mortem.

"Thank you," I said, and sent him the biggest wave of gratitude that I could. He chuckled, his relief washing over the Bond as he swept me up into a hug, knocking my ice cream out of my hands.

"Hey!" My exclamation was muffled, since my face was crushed against his chest. "I was still eating that!"

"I'll get you another one." Mortem said with a roll of his eyes.

I pouted but let it go. Hopefully the cone hadn't landed on anyone like my sandwich had.

I suddenly had an idea, but I was quick to push it away before it drifted towards the Bond. Thankfully, now this meant that Mortem wouldn't hear every thought that I had.

Hopefully.

"So," I said slowly, pushing Mortem away just a bit. He looked like a kicked puppy, his eyes all wide and sad. I grinned at him, knowing that he'd enjoy this much better.

"Now I get to do this." I told him before cradling the sides of his face and pulling his lips to mine.

His surprise quickly turned to pleasure as he returned and even deepened the kiss. I sent him smug satisfaction through the Bond as I realized that he was having a much deeper reaction to me kissing him than felt familiar.

Mortem with hormones, I suddenly realized, might be rather interesting.

"Shut up." He said, sounding horribly embarrassed. I just laughed at him through the Bond, before brushing my mind up against his.

"I love you."

"I love you too," Mortem echoed back, breaking the kiss due to the fact that both of us now had to breathe …. Really? That was interesting to know… and leaned his forehead on mine.

"For now and all eternity."He continued.

"Forever and ever."I finished, simply because it felt like the right thing to say.

No, it had been the perfect thing to say, and this… this was definitely the best birthday present ever.

Mortem's POV

"I love you too," I whispered into my Bonded's mind as I tried to find myself amongst the rapid swirling of emotions that twisted inside of me. The power of the love I felt for E're was almost overpowering it was so intense, like a tsunami had sprung up inside of me and threatened to wash me away.

I had only felt my love this strongly once before, and that had been at our Bonding ceremony. In the single moment that our Soul's had been Bonded as one, a similar feeling had swept across us. And so, it seemed only fitting to echo those words from so long ago.

"For now and all eternity." I swore in our native tongue, even though I knew that she wouldn't understand. But it didn't matter. E're was mine, until the end of our lives…no, to the very end of Existence. For I wouldn't let Fati End her.

For if she did… I might just willingly vanish alongside her.

"Forever and ever." E're's shattered mind whispered back to me, echoing her own vows from so long before, and I could hardly contain my surprise. She could still Speak? That shouldn't be possible. Yet, E're had proven long ago that she constantly redefined the word impossible.

As I squeezed my eyes tightly, I could only hope that E're could do so one more time. For honestly, she would have to overcome the impossible to beat Fati's and Father's game; and that would be no easy thing. Fati was sure to tempt E're with everything she had ever wanted… normality, family, her world returned to her.

I was realistic. I knew just how tempting those things would be to her, especially in her current, shattered, almost nonexistent form.

Oh, the fury I felt towards Father, for making this his opportunity to make E're choose between Human and Immortal, almost rivaled my fury towards Fati.

But I would stand by her side, just as I had for millennia. No matter what happened, I would not abandon Aequivalere, I would not let her do this alone.

For I would rather die alongside her than experience the agony that was our Bond shattering ever again.

We would both die before I allowed myself to lose her. Because honestly, I doubted that I would survive it.

After all, a Bond had never broken before. No one knew if it was even possible to survive.

"You alright?" E're asked softly, her bright emerald eyes filled with worry as she stroked my face, bringing me out of my thoughts. I smiled softly at her, almost glad that the Bond was as weak as it was, so she couldn't hear my inner turmoil. It was bad enough that she could sense how wild, unstable and …human, my emotions were right now.

"Now I am." I told her honestly, taking a deep breath and rejoicing in the feeling of her in my arms, soothing the searing pain in my Soul that had only just begun to fade.

I brought her closer for another kiss, and let her presence wash over me.

No, I realized, I was wrong.

I would End Fati myself before I allowed Aequivalere to be taken from me again, Mother and Father's orders be damned.

I wasn't going to let anything happen to her.

So, who's as happy as I am? XD I am so thrilled with this chapter, even though it turned out a lot more morbid than intended. Mortem is back, E're is a bit more stable, and the ball is beginning to roll.

Not to mention E're and Mortem fluff! I love E're and Mortem fluff!

So, I only just realized – yes, laugh at me all you want Riala – that Mortem and E're have been given a ship name: Morte're. (You can thank the previously mentioned Riala). This is very weird, but awesome for me!

Judge me, I don't care. :P

Oh, the reason behind Let Her Go making an appearance in this chapter was because it came on my Pandora right as I was writing that scene, and it just seemed to fit. And yes, I did use Latin and Spanish. Sue me. At least I sorta know Spanish and didn't just use more crap from Google Translate. Right?

Let me know what you think of the chapter!
I love all of you guys!
Cp