[Author's note: The opening scene of this chapter contains explicit sex and is therefore not posted on this website. For the full version, please read this story on AO3 or on Twisting the Hellmouth.]

The smell of coffee rouses me from slumber. The bed is empty. I'm looking around the room when a hand pops up to my left, wearing a sock like a glove.

"Hey there."

I turn around to see a thick band of late morning sun laid across the mattress.

"Sorry." I scramble to my feet as quickly as my injuries allow, adjusting the curtains. Purple disco balls dance behind my eyeballs as my sight adjusts.

"Thanks." Lumen peeks over the edge of the bed with a sigh of relief. She crawls back up and stretches out with a luxurious purr, gloriously nude.

I slide back in and pull her close. She wraps around me like a child's security blanket, her cheek upon my chest.

"Deb and Faith are back." It comes out slightly muffled as she says this into my pectoral muscle. "They brought breakfast."

"Oh?" I lean down and kiss the top of her head. She turns to examine me, with an air of mild suspicion.

"I guess they filled up a grocery bag at the continental buffet." Lumen settles back in, fingers running through the sparse hair over my stomach. "You should get out there before it's all gone."

"You too," I say. Lumen gives me a funny look.

"What for?"

"They stayed at the Yeev." I use the local name for it. "I've been there. They have chocolate croissants."

Lumen just stares at me.

"Oh." Now I remember. "Right."

"It's okay." Lumen's reassurance is a little too immediate. She hesitates, unsure how to proceed.

"So." I wonder if I've been reduced to monosyllables. "They..."

"Faith stuck her head in here about twenty minutes ago." Lumen frowns in recollection. "She was pretty cool about it. But I thought your sister was going to come running in here with a stake."

"Oh."

"And not medium rare." She buries her face in my chest, inhaling deeply of my scent.

My attempt at encouragement can't help sounding slightly hesitant. "Ready to face the world?"

Everyone else is sitting around the coffee table when we come out of the bedroom. Astor looks up from her plate, a smear of jam at the corner of her mouth. Dana's apparently been trying to get Harrison to eat butter straight from her finger. My sister is on the other couch, her face flushing scarlet as Faith sits up from reclining with her head in Deb's lap.

Lumen stares back at the circle of people, increasingly fidgety. As usual, I'm unsure of what social nuance I'm failing to observe. Finally Faith shakes her head with a subtle grin.

"All the people I ever knew slept with vampires?" Faith snags a piece of bacon and leans back into Deb. "Chicks."

Deb looks momentarily startled, then disgruntled as she shifts position to get more comfortable.

"Slayers?" I ask. I'm pretty sure I know the answer. Astor is sending suspicious glares at Lumen from the far end of the couch. Dana remains stationed between them, acting as a shield to keep the peace.

Faith polishes off her bacon in two bites. "What gave it away?"

My sister looks further appalled. "You mean you -"

"No!" Faith laughs, unable to conceal a small touch of embarrassment.

"Really?" Deb doesn't seem convinced.

"No." Faith sounds more serious as she turns, meeting Deb's gaze. She grins bashfully up at my sister. "Almost."

"Fuck a duck with a pigeon's ass." Deb shakes her head before reaching out to encircle Faith with both arms. She rests her chin on the Slayer's shoulder, wearing a look of intense and furious internal calculation.

"Just saying - never saw a couple swing the other way." Faith raises her glass of OJ in a toast as she offers me a respectful nod. "Might be a first."

I'm still waiting for a scuffle to break out as the dishes are cleared away. Or worse yet, a conversation. Oddly, it's the second least verbal of our group who breaks the ice.

"She was right." Dana says this with Harrison hanging on her outstretched arm. She smiles down at him, encouraging his further efforts. "It won't be easy."

I realize she's not talking about Harrison. Or to him. I'm still figuring it out when I notice Lumen, sitting with her knees drawn up, looking at the trio of Slayers like a bird cornered by a pack of wildcats.

"The soul makes all the difference." Dana looks over at Lumen, and her weary eyes carry the weight of millennia. "So we've always been told."

Lumen frowns and sits up a little straighter. "And what does that mean?"

"Literally good and evil," Faith says. "But then some stuck up pain in the ass -"

"With impeccable taste in shoes," Dana shoots back. Harrison laughs and keeps trying to pull himself up.

"Had to go and change the rules," Faith concludes. "One vamp boyfriend with a soul wasn't enough. Except the second? She had to start boning him before he put on the white hat. And I don't mean the little foil packet."

"You make it sound all sordid." Dana pouts. She looks like she wants to fold her arms, but doesn't want to send my son flying across the room. I appreciate her restraint.

"You really wanna go there?" Faith cocks an eyebrow, with a mostly subtle sideward glance toward Astor.

Dana snorts and goes back to cooing at Harrison, interjecting the occasional exclamation of awe regarding his gymnastic prowess. Deb looks alternately irritated and perplexed as she sits with Faith's head in her lap, silently watching the proceedings.

"Just give me the bottom line." Lumen looks around the room, her troubled gaze falling in turn upon each Slayer. "I'm a big girl."

"Well - lemme ask you." Faith sits up, hands clasped in front of her with her elbows on her knees. Her demeanor is not exactly businesslike. More like a guidance counselor, or a life coach.

"When the chips were down." Faith looks at her natural enemy dead on. "Why?"

"I -" Lumen stops. I can see the river of emotions that run through her face as she tries to calculate her trajectory through the conversational minefield.

"I guess..." Lumen shakes her head, her frustration apparent. She looks down at her hand, flexing the fingers, forming a brief fist.

My heart is beating faster as she turns to me.

"I chose you over Darla." Lumen lays it all out for me like a done deal. Naked and afraid. That first part is a metaphor. They tell me I'm getting better at those.

Faith waits for more, finally offering a tiny shrug. "And now?"

"Now." Lumen laughs, sounding shaky as she looks over at the living room window and its tightly drawn curtain. A few tiny ribbons of solar death are still able to leak through.

"Now? I have power." Lumen doesn't look powerful as she looks again around the circle of Slayers. She looks scared to death. And ready to fight for her undead life.

She meets their gaze of judgement, head held high. "Why shouldn't I use it?"

"Very Nietzche." Faith nods, as if in acknowledgment of a particularly good point. "But if you're interested? There's more than one way to get back that soul."

"What good did a soul ever do me?" Lumen gives Faith a wary look. It's the sort of look one gives the barking mad who are likely to start barking any moment.

"You might be surprised." Faith looks like she could expound further. I find myself opening my mouth.

"You could do worse than to have a Code."

Everyone turns to look at me. Except Harrison, who continues to tug on Dana's shirtsleeve.

"It's not a guarantee," I point out. It always feels awkward being the center of attention.

"Nothing in life is," Faith chimes in. "But if you're trying to do the right thing. If you want to -"

Lumen absorbs this for a moment. She looks like she's coming to a decision.

"I want to help you, Dexter." Lumen's voice is gentle as her gaze meets mine. "But I don't need you any more."

"Do you need to help him?" Faith shrugs. "Maybe that's enough."

"I do," Astor says. She clears her throat as the room's attention shifts to her. "I mean - I need him. We all do," she concludes, looking just a little angry.

Lumen mulls this over for less time than I would have predicted. She still has that suspicious look about her. "So if I live according to your Code -"

"I won't slay you." Faith glances at her fellow Slayers to either side. Dana raises her right and gives a solemn nod. Astor allows herself a tiny smirk, but doesn't hesitate to mimic the peaceful gesture.

I opt for the cautious approach. "Do we still get to snuggle?"

Lumen looks at me like I'm wearing a pink and purple dunce cap. With bells on.

"Why the fuck would we not?"

I give her a weak smile. "Language."

Deb shakes her head, resigned to life in the loony bin.

Dana picks up Harrison, walking over to place him on my lap. She leaves her hands on his shoulders, staring deep into my eyes.

"Remember." Her eyes slide over toward Faith, sitting on the couch. "She doesn't know everything."

"Screw you." Faith's reply sounds automatic.

Dana rolls her eyes, smiles and shakes her head. "Your secret is safe with me."

"What the fuck's that supposed to mean?" Irritation blossoms in Faith's tone. "He got a blowup sheep or some shit?"

Deb snickers. I glance her way, seeing her quickly wipe the grin from her face.

"You have a dirty mind." Dana smirks and leans down to give Harrison a kiss. I'm not expecting her to plant one on my cheek as well. She gives me a huge smile as she pulls away, standing tall to address the room in general.

"I'd love to stay." Her fond gaze at Astor bears a more than minor tinge of regret. "But there's no place like home."

Faith blinks. "That mean you're actually coming back?"

Dana looks at Faith with infinite love. "I'll never leave you."

A snort from Faith. "That's what I was afraid of."

Dana leans over to punch her in the arm. Faith reaches out to put her in a headlock, sliding off Deb's lap and pulling Dana down to the floor. The two of them tussle a moment, jockeying for position as Deb looks on.

"Thought it was the other way around." Dana grins up at Faith, absolutely fearless. Faith growls and pulls her in for a hug.

Deb appears to be taking this well enough. By the look on her face, she knows the relationship is less eros than agape. But it still hurts when your partner decides someone else is more important.

"Hey - this ain't the end." Faith lets go of Dana and clambers to her feet. She takes Deb by the hand, adopting a tone of supplication. "You know I can't stay. But -"

Deb's face is unreadable as she looks up. Faith takes a deep breath.

"But I want to be able to come back." Faith searches my sister's face for a clue. "Without causing too much trouble."

Deb wrestles with herself before allowing a reluctant admission. "Can't say you'd be unwelcome."

"Good." Faith looks just a little startled. Then smiles, relieved. "Good."

"I have something I want to do," Dana interjects. Faith shakes her head.

"Don't worry, pipsqueak. We got a few days yet." The Slayer lets go of my sister's hand as she looks over at me, then at Lumen.

"If I were you two? I'd hang up the stakes and holsters." Faith puts her index finger to her lips, blowing smoke from an imaginary barrel. "At least try to live a normal life."

Lumen rolls her eyes. "You're no more normal than I am."

"Beg to differ." Faith's smirk is more friendly than combative. "But I take your point."

Lumen scowls at the possible implied threat.

"And as for him - he's still young." Faith nods at Harrison, sitting on my knee. "Come next year, he probably won't remember any of this."

I say nothing. Lumen looks back and forth between the two of us, her mistrust more than clear.

"And as long as I'm handing out advice?" Faith looks at me, nodding to indicate Lumen. "I'm bettin' she's gonna want more than snuggles."

I remember what she was saying about the vampire with Batista's name. "Is that a problem?"

Faith's eyebrow reaches lecherous elevation. "You tell me."

"It's not a problem." Now I sound irritated. Faith chuckles.

"Glad to hear it. Just remember you're dealing with some serious supernatural stamina." Faith shakes her head. "And I'd hate to say that with a lisp."

Dana holds up a shopping bag, dangling it as if to secure Faith's attention. "Don't forget."

"Yeah," Faith smirks. "Don't forget you're older than me."

"Screw you." Dana gives her a toothy grin.

"So if you like stunning intellectual debate -" Faith turns to Astor with an expectant look. "Come with us? Meet more Slayers?"

Astor looks delighted at the prospect. Among other things.

"I -" Astor sighs. "I want to stay with Dexter."

Faith nods. "It's cool."

"And my brothers," Astor adds. "But - maybe next year?" She rushes on, worried yet hopeful. "Maybe - after I graduate?"

"Dude, it's okay. It's not the bad old days anymore." Faith reaches over to squeeze Astor's knee. "You can live your own life."

Astor merely nods, playing it cool. Faith nods back as Dana hands her the shopping bag.

"So I was gonna get you a leather jacket. But..." Faith holds out her hands like a set of scales; one rising as the other falls, then in reverse. "It'd probably make you look too much like a badass. And then every other badass - or wanna be - is gonna decide to show the world, hey. You ain't so bad."

Astor nods again, trying to hide her disappointment.

"Besides," Faith continues. "You know what they say."

Astor puzzles for a moment. "What's that?"

"You become what you pretend to be." Faith reaches into the bag. "So I got you these."

"Wow." Lumen sounds suitably impressed. "I'd say that deserves a handwritten thank you."

Astor's eyes sparkle like diamonds at the sight of a pair of black Doc Marten platform boots. She holds up her prize in her uninjured hand, turning them this way and that, admiring from all angles.

"Near mint," Faith says. "Just broken in."

"Wow." Astor's voice is reverent with awe. Faith grins, looking back at Dana.

"So what's that one more thing?" Faith snaps her fingers. "Seaquarium?"

"That too." Dana looks over at Astor; the gray in her eyes once more the stormiest of seas. "Actually?"

Astor sits up straighter under the intensity of her gaze. Dana smiles, and it's the saddest I've ever seen.

"I'd like you to do me a favor."

Orlando is more crowded than Miami this time of year. Still, it's easy to find an empty picnic bench at the park. I sit under a tree a few feet away, feeling the hole in my belly itch as it heals.

"This is my friend Dana." Astor's attitude is solemn, almost formal. "The one I told you about."

Cody stares up at the dark Amazon that towers over him. Dana's wearing her usual unremarkable uniform of blue jeans and a flannel shirt. Her long, tousled hair tumbles down to obscure a good deal of her face, her dark eyes staring out at the world as if from inside a cave.

"Hi," Cody manages. His nervousness doesn't decrease as she kneels before him, eye to crazy eye. "Astor said...you lost your brother?"

Dana nods. "And my folks."

Cody gulps, trying to contain his fidgeting. Despite the obvious intimidation, his natural sense of chivalry appears to be goading him into action.

"So I said you could be her brother, too." Astor stands next to Cody, her hand on his shoulder. "If you want."

Cody's eyes are enormous as he responds with a silent nod. Dana reaches out as if to hug him, then hesitates.

"Don't want to scare you."

"It's okay." Cody grinds the toe of his sneaker into the grass. I can't tell at this distance, but I'm pretty sure he's blushing.

"Thank you." Dana takes him in her arms and holds him close. Astor looks ready to open the floodgates.

Dana pulls away, with a look of grave import.

"Take care of each other."

I see him wiping away his own tears as she walks toward me, leaving him behind. Doing his best to be a big boy; not entirely sure of what's going on.

"Hey." Astor gets his attention as Dana sits down beside me. Cody turns, eager for a distraction.

"Yeah?"

"I've got good news." Astor pauses, her next words cautious. "But it kind of comes from sad. So I want to tell you. But I don't want to make you more sad."

Cody struggles to process this, and finally nods. Putting on a stiff upper lip.

Astor doesn't start where I expected. "There was a fire at Dexter's apartment."

"Oh." Cody's eyes go big again. "That's bad."

"And the people he sold Mom's house to?" Astor continues. "They found out about Mom."

Cody swallows.

"So they decided they didn't want it." Astor pauses, waiting for a reaction.

Cody looks and sounds less than sure. "Is that bad?"

"Funny how that works out." Astor looks over at me. "Dexter was just thinking his apartment was getting kind of crowded."

Cody frowns, confused. "Who else is there?"

"It's his new girlfriend." Astor rolls her eyes. "I know. I met her last year. I didn't like her."

Cody appears slightly taken aback. Still, he waits for her to continue.

"But then I did." Astor sighs. "And I still didn't like her. At the same time."

Cody giggles. "That's weird."

"Tell me about it." Astor gives me another look. "And then I mostly liked her. And I kind of thought you would too. And then..."

She reaches into her pocket.

"I still think you're going to like her."

Astor puts her hands on her brother's shoulders and tips his head forward. Metal glints in the sun as she loops a chain around his neck. As she leans back, I see the shape of a cross.

"But don't ever take this off."

"Okay." Cody seems almost afraid to ask. "Does this mean we can live in the old house?"

"If you want." Astor doesn't look away. "If it would make you more happy than sad."

I'm sensing Cody wants to give his sister the world's biggest hug. Naturally, the only reason he doesn't is to keep up the facade of a big strong guy who's overjoyed beyond all measure.

"Yes please." Cody's voice has a little wobble as he stands up straight and puffs out his chest.

"We just have to get your room fixed up again." Astor smiles and ruffles his hair. "I'll be back at the end of the month. Then we can finish moving in."

Cody gazes up at his big sister. The eagerness in his eyes is outweighed only by something I haven't seen since his mother died.

Hope.

"And we can go out on the boat?"

It's been a long day.

Longer. The last few months in the life of Dexter Morgan have been a whirlwind like never before. A nightmare and a dream come true. Sometimes all at once.

But I caught a quick nap after we got back from Orlando. Recharged my batteries just enough to make a difference.

The night air over the Atlantic is brisk and refreshing. The Slice of Life cuts through the water, gently rocking up and over each new swell. Astor stands next to me, peering all around, trying to get her bearings.

"Is this it?" She looks up at me, back out over the waves.

"Gulf Stream." I cut the engine as we cross the final marker. Stars shine overhead, a mirror of the ocean below.

Ever since my original dumping grounds were discovered, I've used this place to dispose of my detritus. Until now, with only one other person at my side. Dozens of diabolical deplorables, divided in nice neat packages.

Lumen's hair is ruffled by the wind. She sits in the passenger chair with Harrison on her lap, watching as Astor solemnly presents me with a wooden box.

I don my brand new pair of gloves. It's the work of a few seconds to wipe down each slide with a cloth. There are quite a few of them, but I'm in no hurry. The sun won't rise for hours.

The current opens its jaws. One by one, my trophies vanish. I hold up Jordan and his gang for Lumen to see before they join the rest.

Astor takes a step back, the empty slide box in her hand. Then she skips forward, hurling it with all her might. A very long time passes until we hear a faint splash.

I tap the starter and the engine rumbles to life. Astor stands at the prow like a figurehead, her hair wild and wind-tossed. Lumen leans her head on my shoulder, arms wrapped around me as Harrison gently snores into her chest, secure in his brand new tactical baby carrier. I paid extra for the custom pattern blood spatter.

My appetite for destruction will always be part of me. But the demon world beckons, ripe for plucking. And the Dark Passenger is finally laid to rest. Along with all the spectres of the past.

Harry. Brian.

If you could see me now.

Lumen's kiss is soft against my neck, lingering long enough to make a point. "Can I have a real Bloody Mary for breakfast?"

I pretend to think it over. "Why not?"

Astor sticks out her tongue, making a disgusted face.

The dead may see me, depending. Or they may rest in peace, forever unaware. But the living?

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like. For everything inside me that's denied and unknown, to be revealed.

Now I know.

My survival no longer depends on secrecy. And I no longer need to hide the truth of who I am. Not from the ones I think I love.

Now - perhaps for the first time ever - Dexter is free.

To be the captain of his destiny.

And this is only the beginning.

August 1, 2019 - July 4, 2020