*Till the end of Eternity*

Maka's P.O.V

I could hear the bird's morning song, as warmth spread all over me. I could feel the Sun's rays bathe me as I laid there at Goddesses-knows-where. I slowly opened my eyes one by one as I took my time to take in my surroundings. It was my room. I was back in my room.

Was it.. all just a bad dream?

I thought to myself. I glanced down to check myself. No wounds, bruises or scars.

It was all just a bad dream then.

I told myself. I pushed the covers off me and hopped off my bed. My legs felt jelly a bit but I was able to pull myself after a short moment. I strode around my room, nothing changed, it was just like how I remembered it.

Then, the battle with Hellric? with Madness? all of it were part of a dream? even Soul's death? That reminds me.. Soul!

I thought to myself and bolted right out of the door and dashed downstairs. It was empty. No one was there. I searched and searched for someone but not a soul was there. I am alone.

Where's Mama? Papa? Blair?

I asked myself and turned left and right, hoping I'd see even a tiny glimpse of them, but unfortunately, none.

"Where.. are they?" I croaked my voice a little raspy.

I tried the living room once more but it was void of life. I am the only one in here. I felt my knees go weak as I can't find anyone. Light sobs filled the room I am in and not a single sound joined in till the sound of the door creaking surprised me. I got up to my feet rather quickly and ran to meet who came in and there, I saw their surprised faces. Mama looked just like she was as I last remembered her, Blair, Black Star, Tsubaki, Liz, Patty, and Kid was the same too, but Papa.. He has grown rather old; too old that he had to be in a wheel chair since he can no longer support himself. They all stared at me, tears pooling in the corner of their eyes. No one said a word. Silence enveloped us in its arms.

"Ma..Maka?" Papa said in a ragged and raspy voice. I turned to him and slowly bobbed my head up and down.

"Maka Dear!" Mama exclaimed and dashed towards me to have me in her arms. Sobs racked her body as her hold on me tightened.

"Maka Dearest! I thought.. I thought I would never see your pretty emerald eyes again!" She said.

"What's wrong? I just had my rest, aren't you over-reacting a little, Mama?" I said with a soft giggle. I turned to the gang who stood by the door, frozen like statue.

"Guys? What's wrong? I'm not a ghost or something, you know?" I told them. They snapped out of it and released their suppressed tears, even Black Star and Kid cried.

"Maka!" They all called my name and rushed to my side, engulfing me in a crushing bear hug.

"We were beginning to lose faith!" Tsubaki said.

"We thought you'd never wake up!" Liz added.

"I was so scared you'd leave us, Maka-chan." Patty whined.

"What's wrong? I just slept a full night and maybe day and you treat it as if I've slept a whole decade!" I said jokingly. They broke the hug, surprised by my words and stopped crying. They all gave me an 'Are you kidding?' look, which only perplexed me.

"Wha-What's wrong? Why are you making weird faces?" I asked, but even as I asked, I felt like I dreaded the answer that was about to come.

"Maka Angel, you don't remember what happened?" Papa asked. I turned to him again and shook my head.

"Goddesses, Dear, you don't remember having a battle with Hellric?" Mama asked me this time. I froze momentarily as it dawned on me; the events that I thought were just a mere nightmare were nothing but reality. I felt my heart hammered through my ribs as I thought about what I last remembered.

"Soul.. Where is he? Is he fine? or did he..?" I trailed off. I didn't want to think about it. I hated how I slipped off Shinigami's hold on my neck but he didn't. Unshed tears burned the back of my eyes as some pooled on its corner and blurred my vision.

"He's gone." Kid answered after a moment of silence. That was the only trigger I needed to shed the tears that were threatening to fall. I fell on the floor and hid my face in my palms.

This wasn't fair. He died. I should have died too. Why? Why let me live if I'll have to suffer knowing Soul could never be with me again? Is that what I get for ending Hellric's reign of terror? Is that what I get for freeing countless demons under his tyranny? I shouldn't have done it, if it meant I'd lose Soul.

"Don't go killing people, Kid. I just got home from going around the world and I find that you're already killing me?" a cheerful, soft baritone joked. I froze as his mesmerizing voice filled my ears. I slowly removed my hands off my face and looked up.

"Hey Princess! Good Morning, You slept too long." he said with that most adorable toothy grin of his.

"S-Soul? I-Is that really you? Am I not dreaming? Please tell me I am not seeing things." I asked weakly.

"Your exclusive Prince, dear sleeping beauty." He said and strode close to me. He handed his hand out and I hesitated to take it.

"It's fine Maka. You don't have to be afraid anymore, because this time, I don't plan on letting you go again." He said, accompanied it with his cool and sweet smile. I almost melted as I felt his now warm hands take mine. He immediately engulfed me in a hug and shivered slightly.

"It's good to have those cute emerald orbs glimmer again." he said and tightened the hug.

"I can't believe it.. You are really here.. You're here.." I said between my sobs.

"Yeah I am.. and I don't plan to leave you again.. not again will I have to suffer in the bitter coldness without your touch.. I lo-" he was cut as I crashed my lips with his. He froze for a second and responded with the kiss by deepening it. I pulled away to breathe and gazed at those pretty pair of crimson orbs, which never failed to entrance me.

"I love you, Soul. I really do." I said when I leaned my forehead against his.

"I love you more, Maka. I love you more than I could ever imagine, my princess."

"How long was I asleep anyway? How come Father looks.. so old and you guys are still the same? even Mama." I asked them.

"Dearest.. you were asleep for the past 5 decades and a week." Mama said softly, trying to get the details through my head slowly that it might not get overloaded with lots of new info impending to be dropped at me. I nodded slowly to tell them I was processing it fine.

"And as you already are aware, I am still a Demon given that your Mother, Emeraude, gave me this body to keep you safe and pose as your Mother in her stead." She said gently again. I nodded in understanding.

"As for us, you do remember we are demons before we ventured into the human's realm." Kid said like a matter of fact, which is really.

"So, Papa is the only human here?" I asked as the realization dawned on me.

"Yes, My Angel." Papa answered in his raspy voice before he coughed several times. This alarmed me and so I rushed to him and rubbed his back soothingly.

"Thanks, My Angel."

"No Biggies." I said with a soft smile as he shot me the same.

"Papa.." I started. He looked up at me and squeezed my hand that remained on his shoulders when he noticed my worried face.

"I'm fine, My Angel.. I'm fine.. No need to worry, so smile my little angel. Smile for me, Okay?"

"I will, so stay strong too Papa." I said and placed a kiss on his balding head and hugged him as tightly as I'm allowed to.

"Hey, by the way.. Does anybody know what happened after I used that spell and collapsed?" I asked after I released Papa from my hold.

Really, This is what I get for being knocked out of it for the past 50 years. I don't have a single clue as to what happened around me!

"Why do you ask, Dearest?" Mama asked.

"Well, ever since I woke up, I've been having this feeling that something's been missing but I can't point it out." I said as I held my chest. Mama looked thoughtful for a moment as the rest of the gang tried to figure what was it I was trying to figure out.

"Ah!" Soul's voice caught all of our attention. He grinned widely, which was so new to me that it stirred the long-asleep butterflies in my stomach, as he strode close to the door.

"Maybe it should be SOMEONE's been missing and that HE is the one you're trying to find." Soul said emphasizing some words as he slowly opened the door and revealed a pair of jet black orbs staring at my emerald ones as I did the same. Like us, he hadn't changed in all those years I'd been asleep except, of course, him appearing in front of me in person and not just in my own space- the meadow- a space we shared and used when we meet. Mixed emotions were swirling inside of me.

"I.. Ho-How.. Uhh.. Whe-When.. Argggh.. Damn this." I cursed softly as I pressed my temples with my index finger.

"It's a long story so I'll save it for later when we settle ourselves." He said with his usual cool smirk. I smirked back at him before I launched at his open arms.

"I missed you Maka." he whispered in my ear.

"I missed you too, you silly half. You've got a lot of explaining to do as to why you left me all alone this past 5 decades in that endless pit of sleep." I said and jabbed him softly, earning a chuckle from him.

"Ehem." we heard someone clear their throat and caught both of our attention. Soul was standing beside us and casted his eyes downwards. I looked down too to see what made him clear his throat and found nothing there. As I raised my head up, I noticed his face colour a bit. I raised my brow at this.

Is Soul sick?

"Oh! Stop that. You do know Maka treats me like her brother." I heard Abyss say before he released me from his hug and chuckled. I turned from him to Soul and vice versa. Nothing was making sense at to what Abyss was saying. I suddenly felt a hand grab my arm and pulled me. I crashed to something hard but didn't feel pain, rather felt warmth spread through my back. Strong arms snaked around me as he kept me plastered against his broad and lean chest.

"I can't help it, not when I see my fiancée hugging other men right in front of Me." he announced.

Say what?!

I thought incredulously and somehow caught him off guard when I broke away from his hold on me.

"I-I'm sorry. I think I heard wrong. Co-Could you, please, say that again?" I asked and strained my ears to hear it clearly and correctly this time.

"What? The 'I can't help it if I find you hugging other men right in front of me' thing?" He asked.

"No, No, No! Repeat it all over again with the exact same words." I said, waving my hands in front of me as I did so.

"I can't help it, not when I find my fiancée hugging other men right in front of me?" He, rather than said, asked in an unsure tone as he raised his brows in confusion. Maka stopped and froze her heart, lung and brain all stopped functioning at the same time. The long slumber she had done nothing to help her not be bothered by her unsettling butterflies. Even after 5 decades, he still had that effect on her that she somehow had come to love having every minute.

"Ho-How did this come to.. I-I mean.. Uhh.. I don't remember ever asked nor agreed to anything of that matter." I stated. They all paused and stared at me while Soul just visibly paled.

"Then Dear.." Mama started.

"That ring.." Tsubaki spoke.

"On your.." Patty pointed.

"Left ring finger.." Liz continued.

"Isn't that.." Papa asked.

"What you call.." Black Star crossed his arms.

"An Engagement Ring?" Kid finished for Black Star and they all raised their brows. I looked down to where they said laid a ring and found this thin silver ring with an emerald gem sitting on its center and gleamed beautifully under the sun's rays. Its beauty enraptured me right at the moment I laid my eyes on it and didn't notice my mouth agape and I fell silent.

"Ma-Maka, Look-" Soul tried to say something before I cut him off.

"It's beautiful. Who got this? I-It's pretty.. so pretty." I said and barely whispered the last.

"I-I got that for you.. I-I kn-know it was quite presumptuous of me to slip that ring on you without even asking but I really really really love you Maka and I'd do just anything for you, though it might be late.. I would want to ask, Will you be willing to spend Eternity with me?" He rushed out the words that I almost missed some words out but, Oh no, never his proposal. He knelt in front of me and kissed the back of my hand and gazed up to me with those adorable and enchanting eyes.

"Oh! Goddesses! Please stop that.." I said and looked away, trying to hide my blush to which he took the other way around.

"I.. I see. I-I'm sorry.. I knew.. I was pretty rash." he said weakly and looked down as he stood up to his feet.

"N-No.. I.."

"It's fine, Maka. I.. I was rash." he said and looked away, the hurt evident in his eyes.

"Wa-Wait." I tried to stop him but failed when he walked out the door without even turning back.

"I wanted to say 'I do'." I whispered as I stared long enough at the closed door.

"Oh! Dearest, I'm sure he just didn't get it right." Mama said as she laid a comforting and encouraging hand on my shoulder. I smiled in gratitude and dashed outside.

"Oh, I sure am not going to miss this." I heard Tsubaki say, following after me as several footsteps followed after her. I turned back and saw the whole gang wearing wide grins.

"Guys!" I exclaimed.

"We wouldn't miss this for the world!" Liz exclaimed, followed after by Patty's giggling.

"Of course! Your God will personally see to it that you and headstrong boy will make up." Black Star exclaimed as he put his thumb up.

"I strongly disagree about this.." We heard Kid say. All of us gave him disapproving and surprised looks.

".. but I don't want to see Maka sad." he groaned and said through gritted teeth. I smiled at his words and looked ahead.

I must find Soul. I must.

I have been running for hours already. My surroundings have changed a lot, new stores and houses were built on places I never saw before. I stopped in front of what once was my school before the major changes was made.

"Whoa.. Shibusen changed... a lot." I said in admiration. They stopped by my side and smiled as they looked at the building too.

"You could say that again." Black Star said.

"Well, in the 50 years that you spent sleeping, a lot has changed." Kid informed me again.

"I can see that." I said before we all laughed and went back to searching Soul. After another hour of mindless searching, we all agreed to split up and search. I was walking down the road I'd usually take when I go to school and admired the new trees along the way and somehow ended up at the fence near the canal.

"Hahaha, This was where I first fell for Soul, watching his graceful figure do one of my usual stunts so effortlessly and coolly." I said and reminisced the time back then. I decided I'd walk back home to start over my search from a different direction. I hang my head as my words rang in my head.

I must've said it wrongly. I just wanted to say to stop giving me the look, the butterflies weren't stopping and as much as I wanted them to be there permanently, I was afraid and embarrassed he'd hear my heart be so wildly.

I thought depressingly as I slowly walked back my place.

"Excuse me, are you, by any chance, a student of Shibusen?" a baritone voice suddenly got in between my thoughts. I looked up to be greeted again by those tantalizing crimson eyes.

"SOUL!" I exclaimed and dashed to his open arms.

"Hey! You, Lady, haven't answered me yet." He said with mirth coating his words.

"Yes Mister, What question would you like answered then?" I teased him and arched a brow.

"errr.. both?"

"Yes to both." I said before pulling him closer and crashed his lips on mine. He instantly responded my kiss before his tongue lingered on my lips asking for entrance. I smiled at his greediness for a kiss but then again, that's what I want after all. I opened it a bit and he shoved his tongue in, intertwining so perfectly with my own.

"I love you so much Maka." He said when we pulled away for air.

"I, too, love you Soul." I confessed back.

"I hope you two spend eternity happily." I heard a soft gentle voice say behind Soul.

"Hey boy! I tell you, if you ever make my little Angel cry, I'll rip you to shreds! If it's the last I'd—umpp." He was cut when Mama placed her hands over his mouth.

"I swear on my life that I'd never make this beloved sweet devil cry. You have my word... Father." Soul said as he looked at me with love in his eyes before he bowed in front of Papa.

"I swear, as soon as I take my eyes off these two, they'd really start making out." Kid huffed annoyed and irritated. We turned and saw him together with the gang. I flushed red as his words got me thinking since when we're they there and from when they busted us.

"I suppose we'll hear wedding bells soon." Liz joked.

"Oooh~ I can't wait to see little Makas and Souls giggling and chasing each other." Patty joined, garnering a blush from both of us.

"I'd really want to be the maid of honour Maka-chan." Tsubaki said dreamily.

"And I, Man, certainly need to be your Best man!" Black Star said and slapped Soul on his back.

"Thank you guys, you really are the best." Soul and I both said.

"Oh, you two lovebirds have gone through a lot. It's high time you receive your reward and live peacefully till eternity." Tsubaki said sweetly.

"And rebuild the kingdom starting from scratch." Soul inserted.

"Yeah, I don't know a lot about ruling and all but with you, Soul. I'm ready to face hardships and go through them together." I said lovingly before I initiated another kiss.

I mean it. Ruling the kingdom may be hard but I know Soul will always be there for me, just like how you, Father, was there for Mother all the time, right? I made my choice Mother, Father. Soul and I will rule and rebuild Elmer and Hellion together, not because I am their princess and Soul's their prince but because I love this Red-Eyed Demon who was meant for me since I was born.


FIN

Thanks a lot my dear readers for reading all the way and supporting Red-Eyed Demon (RED) I love you a lot! Thanks again. So, I'll see you when I write another fanfic about Soul and Maka, okay? Thanks again. You all are the best :*

With all due thanks,

Halloween Godspell