I was enjoying myself with Stanley, we listened to music and talked about things other than death. It was a nice change.

We get a lot of whistles and raised eyebrows when we walk in the house holding hands.

"Oooo you guys in love?" Kaige sings, smiling. I give her a playful glare and she smirks.

"Yeah, but does she know how old you are?" Dreagon asks, "this right here could be considered weird," he says gesturing between the two of us.

I turn to Stanley, "how old are you?"

He shrugs, "age is just a number right?"

I shake my head, "no age is a word. And it's a word you're not telling me."

"I died when I was nineteen, five years ago."

"That makes you, twenty four, right? I died at eighteen four years ago, so I'm twenty three…" Then I gasp, "Holy crap I'm twenty three?! Where did the time go?!"

Everyone laughs but I don't find it very funny. The Counsel took away three years of my life away from my friends. And from my eternal afterlife.

"Point is, it's not weird that we're together," Stanley says, pecking my lips softly.

Kaige grimaces, "It's weird for some of us, keep the PDA to a minimum, please."

I laugh and see Beyond out of the corner of the room. "Beyond, are you alright?" I ask, bringing everyone's attention to him.

He nods sheepishly, "I just wanted to say sorry for Light controlling me. I thought I could help Rowan, but he tricked me. I shouldn't have believed him."

"No catch, no crosses?" I ask and he nods his head. "How's Rowan doing?"

He shakes his head and frowns, "go see for yourself."

I head down the hall, knocking twice before entering her room.

She's pale, like sick pale with sunken eyes and her bones are starting to become prominent. She weakly turns her head and smiles at me, while she holds Dark in her arms. I give a tiny smile back.

"How are you feeling?"I ask sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Tired," she replies.

"I'm sorry."

She shakes her head. "I'd do anything for my baby. I'd even die for him."

Well that's where this whole road is headed.

She places her hand on top of mine, "I want Dark to live. Don't try to find a way to save us both, and don't do me any favors. It must be my time. You've guided me as far as you're allowed to. It's time I go on my own."

"Rowan, you can have another child. One with a guy that loves you and isn't using you."

"Rebel, as stupid as it may sound, I do love Light. And I can't explain why I do, and why I don't care if he uses me. I just feel like he is the only one I can ever truly be happy with," she says, looking down at Dark.

"Even after everything he put you through?"

She nods, "He's the reason Dark was born. My baby is the light of my life. No pun intended. I think that when you have kids, you'll understand this urge to protect them. They're a part of you, and you can see yourself in them. You just want them to live the life you weren't able to."

I look down and she laughs, "I know about you and Stanley. I saw it coming. I think he'll treat you right."

I can feel myself blushing. "I guess," is all I can say.

"You guess you love him? Is that it?" Rowan says smiling, then coughing. I frown. "Rowan, what would make you happy? I mean if this wasn't happening."

She thinks for a moment, "I'd like to be able to raise Dark, happily and safely, and always be there to protect him. I'd love to spend every moment possible that I can with him. I didn't have my parents and it's been great having my dad around. But hard on us both because I think we both realize that we can't have the same relationship that we could have had when I was younger. I know that Dark's father won't be in the picture, but I have to admit, it would be nice for him to have at least one parent."

I nod, "He's a beautiful little baby, and I've seen him get stronger every day," I say. "And I think you deserve to be happy, with your baby."

She smiles, "thank you, Rebel. For everything."

I politely step out of the room, only to be cornered by Beyond. "Can I talk to you? We can go in here," he says taking my hand and pulling me into an empty room. He shuts the door and spins around.

"Look, I want Rowan to live."

I shake my head, "Beyond, letting Dark live is what's going to make her happy."

"No! She's my baby girl, she can't die."

"She wants her son to have the best life possible. I don't have kids, but I will take her word for it that when you have children, you want to protect them. And that's how you feel about Rowan, isn't it?"

"Yes!" he exclaims, "Rowan can always have another baby! I don't know why she'd give up her life to save his."

"The same reason why you would give up your life for me or Rowan."

He runs his fingers through his unruly hair. "I want the best for her."

"Did you ever consider maybe this is the best thing for her?"

"No, because the best thing for her is to live long and happily."

"Beyond, that's the best thing for you, not her. I don't think she would be truly happy if her baby didn't make it. She'd blame herself and become depressed."

Beyond has tears in his eyes but wipes them off, "I can see her numbers." He whispers softly. "And I only have another day with her."

I take in a deep breath, "then you should be in there with your daughter, and not in here talking to me."

He nods, and sadly makes his way back in to her room.

I run my fingers through my blue hair and sigh. Rowan told me to change my look and I never realized how much it stuck.

I head back into the living room and slump on the couch next to Matt. "She's only got another day, guys. I need options and I need them now."

Matt pats my head, "you'll make the right decision."

"Who do you guys think should live and who should die?"

Kaige speaks up, "well personally I don't want to see either of them die."

Everyone nods their heads in agreement.

"You guys think I do? I've been through this frontwards and back. There is no alternative to this situation. Balance needs to be restored and one of them has to die. And it doesn't help that I have Beyond telling me to keep Rowan and Rowan telling me to let her go."

Mello comes and flops on the other side of me, squishing me into Matt's side. "Sorry, kiddo."

"Me too," I say. And I hear the doorbell ring. Ugh now who the hell is it. Someone from my past coming to put their nose into stuff it shouldn't be in.

Near shuffles over to answer the door. An old man in a white cloak with white hair and a gold chain stands peering in. "Hello," he waves.

"Hi," we all wave back in unison.

"Do any of you know a Rowan Birthday?"

"Who needs to know?" Kaige asks, and he looks confused.

"I do," he says frowning.

"Well who are you?" Dreagon asks.

"Oh! I'm a reaper. Just one of them, sent to inform all persons involved that her soul will be collected in twenty three hours, fifty six minutes and forty nine point, zero eight seconds."

"Wow," is all I can say.

"Spot on, are we?" I ask standing up and walking over to him.

"Spot on what?" he asks looking around, "Did I track in mud? My apologies."

"No problem, you're very formal and polite," I note. He gives me a smile.

"Yes, I suppose I am."

"Since when do reapers inform others about the upcoming death?" Stanley asks.

"Well it's policy for special cases. Rowan is a very special case. She's tipping the balance and we were aware that she has many supernatural friends, we found it convenient to inform you all."

"And how is The Counsel taking the news about this case?" Kaige wonders.

"My lady, they are taking it mighty well I believe. I can't say for sure why though, I hardly ever meet with them, but they seem to have already gained control of limbo."

"Really," I say, "Do you mind if I meet with them again?"

"Of course not, I'm sure they won't mind! Come with me," and he holds out a long white sleeve which I graciously take.

We blink into limbo and it's returned to its original, bright colorful self. Light wasn't kidding when he said he'd lay low. He must expect I keep my end of the bargain.

I'm lead to The Counsel, whose members are buzzing with exciting talk.

The reaper hands me off and disappears. I clear my throat to gather everyone's attention. "Hi, hello um I was hoping to ask you some questions."

Caspian spots me and rolls his eyes, "yes, what is it, Alexandria?"

"I want to know why you were all so, ok and prepared with Rowan's baby coming?"

Caspian shrugs, "We always like to be prepared for things."

"But how could you not panic when all hell broke loose?"

"We just didn't," he says shrugging again.

"Because you knew about it before hand. You're all working with Morpheus aren't you? He told you about everything that would happen and you knew things would go back to normal. Morpheus isn't one to trust. He does things that will benefit himself."

"Well those words hurt, hurt, hurt, my dear." A voice cackles from behind me.

Morpheus stands in his gold sparkly curtains. "Did I ever tell you to thank your friend for my sight?" he asks gesturing to his eyes.

"You're up to something, and I don't know what it is." I say crossing my arms.

"Well I hope, hope, hope you find what you're searching for, my dear," he says.

"Don't worry, I will."

"Oh, and I do hope your little Rowan has a nice final day."

And I blink out before I go forward on the urge to strangle him.


Sorry I haven't updated! I've been busy with school work. Bleck, nobody likes that. But I do like reviews so comment and thank you all! I hope you enjoyed.