Chapter 13

Silver smirked as she watched Claude walking around, interacting with her family members. She took a sip of the coffee she had brewed for herself as she watched her two teenage cousins chatting with him, blushing and giggling as he responded to them. Claude had made a rather favorable impression on all of the women in her family. Her older sister had asked if he had any friends or siblings she needed to meet, and ever her two young nieces were taken with him. They would run up to him and offer him sweets, their blue eyes sparkling happily as he accepted the candy and stuffed it into the pockets of his tailcoat. The girls were only 5 and 6 years old, so it was adorable to watch them sharing their sweets, which they usually hoarded, with the demon.

Claude smirked as he noticed Silver's eyes on him and walked over to her. The family was gathered in the back yard for a family get-together. Silver's father and older brother were at the grill making burgers and hotdogs while everyone else relaxed.

"You seem really popular with the ladies." Silver remarked, gesturing at Claude's pockets.

The demon chuckled and pulled a piece of candy from his pocket, unwrapping it and popping it into his mouth.

"I can't help that I'm so charming. Your father, step-father, and brothers seem to find me agreeable as well." he said with a smile.

"Your powers of charm work on men as well. I had best be careful I don't lose you to anyone." Silver teased.

"Don't worry, love. I am yours and yours alone."

A loud squeal of approval interrupted them before Silver could reply, and they turned to see Silver's younger sister grinning and giving them a thumbs-up before wandering off to find their cousins. Silver chuckled and took Claude's hand, leading him to the swinging chair that rested in the back corner of the yard. They sat down and observed the events going on with the rest of the family in quiet peace.

"I think this mission was a success." Silver said after a few minutes.

"Judging by how many calories of candy I have in my pockets right now, I agree." Claude replied with a chuckle.

"Did they give you any chocolate?"

"Now, now, my lady. You shouldn't eat dessert before lunch. You'll spoil your appetite." Claude teased, popping another piece of candy into his mouth.

"Then why are you eating, hypocrite?" Silver shot at him playfully.

"Because it's my candy, so I can. Besides, human food does nothing for me, so it doesn't really matter what I eat."

Silver was about to give another cheeky reply, probably a diabetes joke of some sort, when her young nieces ran up to them. They both held several pieces of candy in their small hands, and Silver could only wonder who they were stealing all of this from. They shyly held the sweets out to Claude, who grinned and took them.

"Thank you, little ones. That's very nice of you." he said with a smile as their mother, Silver's older sister, approached.

Silver's sister smiled at them and shooed the children away with a warning to leave the candy alone before giving Claude a sly smile.

"It's nice to see that you're so naturally fatherly, Claude. That's good for when you and Silver have your own kids." she said with a wink.

Silver's face went a deep shade of red, and Claude nearly choked on the piece of candy he had been eating.

"Ah, erm...heh, thank you. That's very kind of you." Claude replied, clearly struggling to suppress his embarrassment.

"Sure thing. Hang on to this one, sis. He'll be "fun"." Silver's sister winked again and walked away, leaving an awkward silence in her wake.

After a moment, Claude chuckled awkwardly and looked over at his master.

"I've never thought to ask you, my lady, but...what is your opinion of children?" he asked carefully.

"I don't really know...I'm not the motherly type. I'm not very patient, and that's important. It's not like I'm going to live long enough for it to matter anyway." Silver waved her hand dismissively, but it was clear that the question flustered her.

"You wanted to be a psychologist as well a an author, right? You would need a PhD for that...that's at least 11 more years of college. You would be done at age 28." Claude said slowly.

"Yeah, so?"

"I propose an amendment to the contract. I will help you reach that goal as well."

Silver blinked at him, her eyes going wide.

"Why? You would delay eating my soul 11 years!" she exclaimed.

Claude sighed and took off his glasses to polish them with his sleeve, sliding them back onto his nose.

"If I could break this contract, I would do it. Not to leave you, but to protect you. I do not want to end the life of the person who has made such a dramatic change in me. I will make this amendment, and in the time it gives us I will find a way to save you." Claude declared with a determined glint in his golden eyes.

"Claude..." Silver smiled at him and hugged him, and he returned the gesture quickly.

"Don't worry, Silver. I won't fail at this. Salt to sugar...day into night...and silver into gold...that's what makes your lover."

I finally found a good place to shove Claude's awkward little catchphrase. About freaking time! Allons-y!

~Silver