"We made good time." Talbot exited the car, shivering into his coat as John followed suit. "And look, the motel's still standing."

"How are the people who own it?"

"Can't say I've had conversations with them past beyond I said when I paid for my rooms but they seem like a happy couple."

"Is…" John turned toward the office, noting Tom working alone behind the counter. "How's his wife? Is she still sick?"

"I don't know anything about that." Talbot pointed, "But if you want to get us a room key, or two, then you can ask him yourself."

John nodded, walking the distance from the car and the office with his hands buried in his pockets. He shivered violently as he came through the door, stomping his shoes on the mat, and knocked his knuckles on the counter. "Two rooms, if you've got them, or a single room with two beds."

Tom looked up, almost jumping when he saw John there. "Mr. Bates… It's… It's amazing to see you here."

"Thank you." John put on a smile. "How's your wife? Last I knew she…"

"Her treatments are going well but…" Tom shrugged, "It's all up in the air. We're not sure how it'll all go but we're hoping."

"I hope so too." John took the two keys Tom handed him.

"I… I know a little about… About what you've done for Sybil."

"It was my pleasure." John put up a hand before Tom could say anything else. "And it's what I could do."

"But you barely know us." Tom shook his head, "Even if you were feeling generous, Mr. Bates, it doesn't explain why you picked us."

"Technically speaking, I picked this town." John shrugged, playing with the keys in his hand. "I… I wanted to do something for this town after all it did for me."

"Drive you away, you mean?"

"No." John shook his head. "I found myself here after being lost for a very long time. And places like that… They're rare. Despite everything that happened here or since, this town was worth it. Worth it to find myself again. And if I could repay that, even in a small way, I wanted to give everything I could back to that effort."

"We're… We're not deserving of your generosity."

"Maybe it's not about deserve."

"How'd you mean?"

"I didn't deserve how this town changed me but it did it anyway. So perhaps all we can do is pass on what we didn't deserve to someone else who doesn't believe they deserve it either." John held up the keys, using them to nod a salute. "Thank you for these. You'll be paid by the end of the week."

"The first night, for you and your friend, is on the house." Tom raised his pen to mimic John's salute. "And we're pleased to have you."

"Pleased to be back." John bundled into his coat again, trading a key to Talbot for his bag. "Two rooms. They're right next to one another and they have a conjoined door. I hope that's not a problem for you."

"Should it be a problem?"

"I just wanted to make sure it wasn't."

"Unless you plan on having nighttime company then I don't mind." Talbot examined the key before taking the stairs to reach their rooms. "And I'm going to guess you've got plans to go see your lady friend so if you're asking to use the car-"

"It's your car, Henry, and I don't drive well in the snow. And since I won't be treating you like my chauffer…" John shrugged, "I drive better with clearer weather."

"If you want to borrow the car," Talbot dug out the keys and handed them to John. "Just treat it carefully. I do need it so I can drive to work."

John took the keys, "I promise, I won't leave without telling you and there'll be breakfast in it for you."

"Breakfast should be for the women we sleep with the night after we sleep with them. Not for your friends."

"Then I'll get you lunch in a very platonic way." John unlocked the door to his room. "And I'll see you later."

"Just don't bring her back to you room please. These places aren't meant for wooing women. They're function over fashion and given how long you've been away, I believe your lady deserves fashion over function."

"Thank you for the advice." John opened his door. "And I wouldn't bring her back here because you're in the next room."

"That's the only thing stopping you?"

"Location is nothing if it's with the right person."

"All the same," Talbot went into his room, leaning out to shake his head. "This isn't the place to bring her."

John walked into his room and groaned.

"That's no way to greet your friends." Aph pouted from the table.

"I wouldn't call you that." John shut the door and locked it before turning to the three gods before him. "What do you want?"

"We're here to congratulate you." Aph stood, stretching out. "I miss having your easel in here though. It was definitely a mood setter."

"I didn't come here to paint this time."

"No, I guess you didn't." Os pulled at the cuffs of his suit as he stood, running his hands over it to smooth the beautifully embroidered jacket. "But you're not really making progress on the purpose for which you did come here."

"If you've got something to say about how I drive in the snow-"

"Heavens no. I'm not interested in your romantic life." Os shuddered and pointed at Aph. "She's the one who wants you twisting and rolling in sheets."

"Okay, just to be fair, I am not trying to make anyone roll in any sheets. The location is nothing to the purpose of uniting people in the bounds of-"

"Please stop. Both of you, please stop." John held up a hand, tossing his keys onto the bed for grabbing the bridge of his nose between his eyes. Pinching there for a moment gave him enough pain to focus his thoughts before he put his hands together, almost as if to pray to the three gods before him, before he opened his eyes to look at them. "I'm here to meet Anna's needs. Whatever else this town needs is…"

"Not your issue?" Aph dropped herself to the corner of John's bed, lacing her fingers together. "I understand it."

"Do you?"

"Of course I do."

"I don't think you do." John turned to Kali before facing the others. "As grateful as I am for what you did for me, when Tohil invaded my mind, I think there's more to why you saved me. More for your agenda, not mine."

"And you don't want to help our cause any longer?" Kali adjusted her sari. "Because it got difficult?"

"I never said it was because it got difficult. And even if that was the reason, I've spent far too much time struggling to try and find myself. And even if that wasn't the case, you all saw what Tohil showed me."

"It may surprise you to know," Kali moved off the wall, moving closer to John. "That you're not the first person he's tortured like that. Or the first person who suffered under his hand."

"Trying to tell me that I need to do this because I'm not the only person suffering isn't the best way to commiserate with my pain." John shook his head, "Or convince me that I should help you."

"He's not wrong." Aph held up a finger, "Trying to strong arm him into helping us by saying that others have it worse is, at the very least, manipulating him and, at the most, horrible."

"Don't think I don't realize that you're trying to manipulate me on your end too." John leveled a finger at Aph. "I know how you operate and the three of you are severely lacking in empathy."

"That's harsh." Os tugged on his cuffs again. "But not entirely uncalled for. Seeing as the only one of us attempting to become human is Aph, the rest of us are… We struggle with our humanity a little so our empathy is also a lacking."

"That's not a resounding bridge of trust."

"Oh no, I think we burned those bridges a long time ago." Os paced the room before slipping a hand into his pocket, using the other to scratch at his temple. "But what we've shown you, what we've told you, is about more than just you. It's about more than just the romantic liaison that Aph wants you to have with Ms. Smith."

"I know." John pointed out the window. "It's also about this town burning to the ground. And about stopping Tohil. And about being big enough to take out a literal god. All those things that are far beyond what I can do."

"You're acting like you're doing this alone." Kail scoffed, "Which is rather unfortunate and a lie. I could almost say it was a personal affront because I feel like we've made it clear that we're here for you but if you're not seeing that…"

"I can't feel like you're here for me when you're working your own agenda."

"Not to be rude, but you're hardly the largest worry that we're dealing with at this moment." Os shrugged, "But I can understand your concerns."

"So then why are the three of you here?" John eyed them as they moved into a group. "What do you want from me?"

"To help us get to the endgame John." Aph put her forefinger and thumb close together. "We're so close."

"You don't even have Tohil on the backfoot."

"No, but we can push him toward the endzone." Aph paused, "Sorry, you don't understand American football."

"Why would that matter?"

"Because there's the endzone and when you-"

"It doesn't matter. I just..." John closed his hand, curling his fingers into his palm. "I just want to know that you're not manipulating me again to get what you want That you're not playing the same game all over again."

"Then we'll be straightforward." Aph put her hands together. "We need you to overthrow the drug operation and help kick Bricker and his ilk out of here."

"My bringing in Talbot to do just that isn't enough?"

"Given that they've just dug in and decided to wait out the winter means no." Aph shrugged, "It's not like you couldn't instigate something. Shot to the arm or whatever for this town so they feel like taking it back."

"I've never been one for urban warfare and I don't plan on fighting for this town street by street."

"But you already have." Kali frowned, turning to the others. Os only shook his head, holding it as if it hurt from the level of John's ignorance, and Aph tried to mime something akin to 'never had the chance to tell him'. "It seems I'm the only one interested in actually telling you everything."

"But you haven't." John pointed at her. "You hate Tohil more than these two and yet you act cool as a cucumber."

"I'm Time, I honor that with patience." Kali folded her arms over her chest, her jaw firming. "And, in that regard, I do detest Tohil. He abuses Time and races many to their deaths. He steals Time from them and so yes, I detest him. More than these two because, in a way, they are cruelly served by him but he doesn't steal from them. He steals from me and I'll see that stopped."

"Through me?"

"You own half the town, John. You're in a position to force them out." Kali pointed at the other two. "They should've told you but I guess Time got away from them and so it was left to me."

John turned to Aph, "You had a chance to tell me this in Belfast."

"You were too busy self-recriminating and I didn't want to ruin your nice little tirade about how much I didn't do for you." Aph held up her hands, "So sue me, I decided to be a little selfish. I cover that area of Love too you know."

"Fine." John sat on the other edge of the bed, moving his things so they did not slide into the depression his bodyweight inevitably made in the mattress. "If I own half the town, how do I force out a drug kingpin and his collective of dutiful little servants? Because, in case none of you remember, before Tohil ambushed him in that motel last night, he took Bricker's face. That was just a few months ago. I know they all… Sold their souls, or however that works, to him."

"They did and we weren't really surprised by that. Greedy people usually claw for those things they think will get them what they want without having to work too hard for it." Os paced to stand in front of John. "But they didn't expect what you did. The properties you bought are sitting on the larger lodes of coal under this town. They can't mine it out without you knowing."

"Although they'll try." Aph raised her hand, "Despite the obvious lack of trust in this little circle… Or square, I guess, there are other things to consider."

"Rolling in sheets?"

"As I said before, Os, that's not strictly necessary for-"

"Back on point, please." John put up his hand, stopping the two from arguing. "I've no interest in discussing that since I can't do anything about it."

"How'd you mean?" Aph pointed to the keys on the bed. "Your friend generously provided the means to drive yourself to Anna's house so you can prostrate yourself at her literal door."

"I can't drive in snow."

"Are you serious?"

"Very." John studied each of their faces in sequence. "What?"

"You never learned to drive in snow?" Os stared at him. "Why wouldn't you learn how to drive in snow?"

"Because the last time I was in severe snow I was wearing a very thin coat and taking a mattock to the hard Japanese earth." John shifted, "I dno't like snow."

"Understandable." Kali clapped her hands together. "But, as if happens, I've got a favor owed me by someone and I think this'll accomplish two goals at once."

"Which two birds are we feeding with one scone?" Aph leaned back on the bed, her leather jacket creaking.

"First, I fulfill on an owed favor by speaking to the Spirit of Christmas." Kali shook out her arms, bangles jangling. "Second, we get John to see Anna."

"I didn't get her anything for Christmas."

"Oh ye of little faith."

"And even littler preparation." Os muttered, ducking as Aph hit him with the remote. "Ow. What was that for?"

"You ruined my line."

"He's the one who came all this way to make a grand gesture and forgot one of the most critical parts." Os reached into his pocket, pulling out a length of embroidered thread. It reflected jade and scarlet a moment before turning to a silver chain in his fingers. "Kali's not the only one owed favors."

"What'd you do to get Vulcan to give you that little gift?"

"I may've offered him something from the Nile that he needed." Os hushed Aph as he took the chain between his hands and pressed them together. A momentary gleam of gold almost blinded John before Os pulled his hands apart and presented John with a sliver chain holding a ring. "I believe this is the perfect gift to match your intentions."

John took it, swallowing. "What if she says no?"

"She's pregnant with your child, it'd be very unusual for her to refuse."

"Even after everything I did?"

The trio were silent a moment, Os and Kali looking at Aph, and the goddess of Love spoke. "Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is forgiveness. Trust in that."

"You think…" John stopped himself, blinking toward the window. "Since you've already stopped the snow I guess I don't have many other excuses."

"I'm sure if you wanted more excuses you'd come up with them." Kali pulled John to his feet and handed him the car keys. "But I think you just need people to believe in you. To believe you'll succeed."

"And we do." Os opened his arms to John, "As much as you think we want to treat you as own tool or our monster, you're neither of those things."

"I'm not your friend."

"Gods no. Whatever would've given you that idea?" Os shuddered, "No, we think you're not the worst of the human population. And we think of you as an ally."

"But not friends?"

"Allies, my dear Mr. Bates, can be a good deal more effective." Os turned to Kali, extending a hand to her. "If you please my dear, I think Aph would like to take a few more words with John here and we'd just be interfering."

"Agreed." Kali took Os's hand, nodding at John. "Good luck, Mr. Bates. We wish you all the best. Sincerely."

"Thank you." John held up the ring on the chain, nodding at Os. "Sincerely."

They vanished and John turned to Aph. "Was there something you needed to tell me that you weren't going to tell me in front of them?"

"Nothing." Aph waved off where Kali and Os vanished. "They're just being annoying. Mostly because they think they're better than me."

"Are they?"

"Most days. But that's not really the point." Aph stood, "The point is, what we're dealing with a very delicate situation. Not just because you can't drive worth a damn in the snow but more importantly because your relationship with Anna, despite what the others believe, is important."

"As important as saving the town?"

"As important as saving your soul." Aph slipped the ring from John's hand and ran her finger in a circle next to the ring Os gave him so another one appeared. "And I intend on doing all I can to ensure that."

"Even to the point of burning down the town for it?"

"I'm the goddess of Love. My concern is on spreading Love. I hope it's the bigger Love that'll save the town but if I can't save the town, I don't mind making sure I can try my best to save the two of you." She folded the rings into John's palm. "Don't screw it up."

"Not again." John tightened his fingers around the rings, shaking his fist slightly. "I promise that."

"Don't tell me." Aph shoved at his shoulder, "Go get the girl and tell her."

"Right."

Tucking the rings into his pocket, John took the keys he needed and struggled back into his coat. It took longer than he expected, especially when he put the wrong arm in the wrong sleeve and tried to wear it inside out, but John managed it and got to the car. Whatever favor Kali pulled with whatever god or goddess she knew, left the veritable blizzard as nothing more than a memory of powder on the roads John managed as carefully as he could. So carefully he almost feared it would take him the whole day just to drive to Anna's house but he made it in less time than he thought.

Time enough, however, to make himself nervous.

His fingers curled and flexed on the steering wheel and he half-expected one of the gods to make an appearance and force him from the car or goad him into making the short walk from the driveway to Anna's front door. But none of them appeared and all it took was the press of the rings in his pocket to force himself from the vehicle, risking the walk slick with melting snow, to reach Anna's door. There he raised his fist, tightening his fingers around the rings as if that could give him even more strength, and rapped softly on the wood.

Whatever eternity passed in the moments before his knuckles leaving the door and Anna opening it was interminable. And at the same time not enough. Not enough time for him to fill his mouth with the words he wanted and needed to say to her. Words he might have used for when she stood before him.

But it was not enough.

Instead all John could do was hold the lintel of the door and go down on one knee. He held up the rings, the chain woven between his fingers, and met Anna's eyes. Twinges of fear, of hope, confusion, and finally a shade of joy crossed there. And that eternity proved long enough for John to know what to say.

"Anna Smith, will you marry me?"

"No."

John blinked, the rings slipping slightly as his grip on them relaxed in his surprise. He saved them from falling, barely saving himself in the same movement, and tried to hold tightly enough to the lintel of the doorway to stop himself tumbling face-first through Anna's door. "What?"

"I won't marry you if you came all this way to 'do right by me'." Anna put her hand over his on the door, lifting just behind his elbow to help John stand. His legs shook, right more than left as his injury exacerbated the nerves now coursing the dread fueled by his moment of adrenaline, but he held steady until her grip on him relaxed. "So if that's why you came to my door with… Those beautiful rings, then I'll say no. Because I don't want you doing a duty to me. I don't want your guilt or regret to fuel this decision."

"It's not that."

"Then I hope you'll forgive me if I argue that I don't think it's because you love me." Anna shook her head slowly, her arms crossing in front of her abdomen for a moment. "We've known each other for awhile but it's not long enough to say those feelings exist. Not after everything."

"What about because of everything?"

"Why are you here, John?"

"Because, when I called you, I was telling the truth." John tried to rest his weight more equally. "I left because I was scared. But… Well yesterday, when I was driving here, I had… It wasn't a revelation... It was more of a nightmare."

"A nightmare?"

John nodded, meeting Anna's eyes. "One where I saw you taken away from me. I saw you… I couldn't save you. I couldn't save you from what happened to you over and over again and I… I didn't want that to happen. I didn't want to abandon you. I didn't want to lose you because I was a coward. Because I was afraid that all I ever had to offer was two empty hands and the nightmares. I wanted to be braver than that. And I found the strength to be. To come here and beg your forgiveness."

"Not because of the baby?"

"I didn't call you because I knew you were pregnant. I came… I came as quickly as I did because you are but I…" John paused, "If I say I was going to come back anyway you'll think I'm lying and you've every right to think so."

"I did tell you that you should come back." Anna nodded toward the town, "Everyone's got something they want to-"

"I'm not here for them. Or any praise they'd think to heap on me."

"No?"

"No." John reached out a tentative hand and Anna allowed him to hold it. "I only wanted to come back for you. And I thought…"

He cleared his throat, "I thought you wanted me back too."

"I do." Anna's fingers tightened around his. "But I never had the chance to finish telling you, over the phone, why I wanted you back."

"Then tell me now?"

"Because…" Anna focused on his fingers, her thumb trailing over his knuckles. "I wanted you back because I realized, in all those months you were gone, that I didn't want to be alone anymore. No matter if all you brought with you were two empty hands and your nightmares."

"No matter?"

"No matter." Anna brought his hand to her mouth, pressing a delicate kiss to his folded fingers before she met his eyes. "Because I can fill your hands and we can fight off our nightmares together. Luggage is always easier to carry when you're sharing the load between the two."

"But you said no."

"Because I want you to ask me because you believe we can do this together." Anna gripped his hand tightly, drawing his focus to it. "Because I want you to believe that you fill my hands the way I fill yours. That we have the power to fight off the nightmares together. If you don't believe that then I don't want you to propose."

"Then I won't." John held up the chain again. "I'll only ask that you take the ring if you want it. If you want me. Because you're the only person I'll ever want."

Anna slipped her finger through the dangling piece, moving it from John's hand, and tugged on the other.

She led him through the house, discarding the clothing she thought necessary, until she shut them in her room. John gave over to her control, following her lead when she placed the other ring around her finger and carefully weaved the chain around her digits until they all sparkled in some way. Sparkled and shined in the light coming through the window.

The light that almost forced him to pause. Almost convinced him to stop as he remembered how he looked in the light. How she might remember and recoil.

But Anna quieted his fears with a kiss. A kiss she spun out until John struggled to recall why air was necessary. A kiss he wanted to continue until the rest of their clothes got in the way.

Shedding them like skin to the floor, they continued. John fell under Anna's thrall, his fingers brushing the barely burgeoning evidence of the life shifting inside her. He almost imagined he could feel it. Could almost touch the creation they made together through her skin.

Anna did not give him the time to. Not with her drugging kisses. Not with the way the metal, warmer than he expected on her fingers, running over his bare skin to trace his scars with care. Not with how she guided his fingers and hands where she wanted him. Not with the sounds she made. And certainly not with the way they moved and writhed together until they climaxed almost as one.

They curled together, Anna wrapped in his arms, and traced his skin again. They did not speak, their fingers talking for them. And eventually they slept.