AN: Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorryyyy! I haven't forgotten about you. I just lost my muse, but I think it's back! I want you guys to know, I intend to finish this story.

Thank you so much for all your comments. I don't simply read them, I devour them, inhale them even. Maybe I'm being a little overdramatic… the bottom line is your reviews matter greatly to me. 3 Much love! Here comes the next chapter! Finally Meliodas and Elizabeth meet!

Chapter 13

Elizabeth flew weary of her surroundings, wishing to avoid another surprise attack on her way to Heaven's Theater. Her mind was filled with images of Mael's face as their conversation came to a bitter end. He looked crushed by her words, but she had to tell him the truth. It would've been worse if she'd given him any hope. They would never be a couple. Elizabeth only had eyes for one demon, who at that moment stood waiting for her. She wasn't close enough to see him yet, but she just knew he was there. It was like she could sense that his energy was getting closer. There was no way to explain it. Yet somehow she knew he could sense her as well.

When she arrived, she threw herself into his waiting arms.

"Meliodas!"

"Woah! Woah! Elizabeth, calm down!" He said as he melted in her arms.

"Sorry!"

Meliodas couldn't help thinking how cute she looked all flustered. So he went with the usual move to break the tension: fondling her breasts.

"Gyaah!"

"Well Elizabeth what can you expect when you come on to me like that?"

"I- I didn't! Meliodas you're misinterpreting me! I only just-"

"Jumped into my waiting arms? Gave me the look."

"What look?"

"The look that says you want it."

"Want it…OH! IT! Ah! No! Nonono."

"Well… now I'm hurt…"Meliodas appeared to melt into a puddle.

"Ah! Meliodas! No! I mean not no! But not yes either! I didn't give you the look. Which doesn't mean there isn't a desire- NOT A DESIRE! I mean a general wanting- CARING a general caring towards you. No no I-umm I was thinking about us- we- it… Not it, it. I mean it as in what we have. Not that I assume we have anything, I mean a kiss is just that, a kiss. But not that it didn't mean anything to me! What I- umm… I'm trying to tell you that I… well… Mael was talking and then he said! So I realized! No no, let me start over. The meadow! Yes ah! But first Ludociel!"

Meliodas finally shut her up with a kiss, holding on to her upper arm to keep her arms from flailing about as they where while she ranted about god knows what. Her hands immediately reached out to hold on to him for the duration of the kiss.

"Elizabeth, relax! I was just teasing you. Ni shi shi!"

"Oh…" Once she finally relaxed, she had a chance to really look at Meliodas. He wore his usual carefree grin and rosy cheeks, but something was off. Elizabeth knew him too well. She could see right through the chinks in his carefully placed armor. "Meliodas… is everything okay?"

"Hm? Course it is!"

Elizabeth looked at him with scrutiny, throwing Meliodas off his game. He opted to distract her by activating his darkness to sprout some wings.

"Well come on Elizabeth! I told you I had something to show you. We haven't got all day. You can keep giving me the look somewhere with less… public."

"Oh, yes! The surprise! I can't wait to see it!"

She hurried after him, beating her wings towards the east. In a blink of an eye Meliodas was right there in front of her. By the time she came to a complete halt, they were nose to nose. He held a serious… even dangerous look on his face as his hand came up to caress her face.

"This surprise is for you and you alone. No bystanders for this part."

"Meliodas… what do you- of course I wont' tell anyone about this if that's what you're worried about…"

Meliodas's hand slipped from her cheek towards her neck. He wasn't pressing on it, but he wasn't holding it gently either. Elizabeth's pulse skyrocketed and her eyes must've been close to popping out of their sockets by how large they'd gotten. His mouth turned into a devious smirk, as his eyes flickered between holding her gaze and staring at her plump lips.

"Are you scared Elizabeth?" He asked, probably referring to her raised heartbeat under his hand.

"M-m" She denied, "excited."

Meliodas half groaned half purred and his hold on her tightened the tiniest bit.

"T-to see the surprise." Elizabeth added.

Meliodas chuckled darkly at her innocence. "Then let's go."

The trip there helped Meliodas' demon settle down and he was soon back to his cheery teasing self.

"Meliodas, can you at least give me a hint as to where we're going?" Elizabeth had been trying to drag more information out of him regarding the surprise he'd promised her.

"Sure! We're going to meet Merlin."

"Merlin…?"

"I told you about her!"

"Her?"

"Yeah! The girl I rescued from Belialuin and brought over as a pupil for Gowther."

"OH! Well you never mentioned her name."

"Didn't I? Well that reaction from you sure made it worth it."

"Wh- what reaction."

"Don't' worry Elizabeth. Jealousy suits you."

"HUH?!"

"Yep. You look cute. I on the other hand become a murderous monster towards anything coming between us."

Elizabeth could've sworn she saw regret on his eyes, but she lost her chance to find out what that look was about when he announced: "We're here!"

They'd been flying over a vast string of water for the last minute and were now heading towards a cliff overseeing the lake. A shadow could be distinguished on the very edge of it, signaling them over with a raised hand. Meliodas waved back, then landed with a "Yo, Merlin! Thank you for waiting. I'd like you to meet someone, this is Elizabeth."

Merlin held a very serious expression, but she really was a young child, whose top of her head barely reached Meliodas' waist. She had gorgeous slick black hair and hazelnut eyes. According to Elizabeth's calculations, the girl should be around 10 years old. To have gone through all she'd been through at such a tender age… it broke her heart.

"Merlin… it's so good to meet you." The child seemed confused and frustrated, so Elizabeth tried to keep her voice as soft as possible to not scare her. "I'm Elizabeth."

"You're from the goddess clan…"

"Yes."

"Then why are you with him? He's a demon."

Elizabeth blushed profusely, "well I'm…"

"Ah… you're together."

"T-together?"

"What is your relationship with this woman, Meliodas?"

"Sate, sate, sate Merlin. You sure have many questions." He said as he ruffled her hair. "Elizabeth here is someone you can trust completely. I'd ensure my life to her without a doubt or a moment's hesitation. Now, you're young, so you may not know this, but you don't meet many people like her."

"So what you're saying is… she's one of the good ones."

"Mmm… yup!"

Merlin seemed to give it some thought. When she'd made her decision she took a step towards Elizabeth and reached out with her hand, "pleasure to meet you, Elizabeth-san." On the outside, Merlin was calmed, collected. Her eyes held the wisdom and rigidity of someone beyond her years, but Elizabeth could see a glint of child-like wonder in her eyes.

Elizabeth was overwhelmed with emotion at the simple gesture of an extended hand. It seemed so formal and distant, yet at the same time it meant an invitation to engage contact and initiate a relationship. It was a sign that after Merlin gave it much thought, she'd decided Elizabeth could be trusted. A handshake would not suffice. Elizabeth had to express how much she cared for the youngling. Even though they'd only just met, Elizabeth was too much of an empath. She'd worried about Merlin ever since Meliodas told her about her situation.

Ignoring the outstretched hand, Elizabeth placed her arms around the girl in a loving embrace. Merlin couldn't remember the last time she'd been hugged. Perhaps before her father lost all sense, and even then it was only in scarce occasions. She felt a warmth she'd long forgotten or maybe she'd never really felt that way before. Maybe no one had hugged her with such tenderness.

"Merlin… I can only begin to imagine what you've been through. Meliodas has told me how he came to know you. Being chased by your own people… the same one who treated you with such inhumanity. You're a beautiful, talented, amazing young girl; who should be given all the love in the world and not be treated as a soldier or some experimental rabbit. Now I know you don't know me, but if you'll allow me, I'll give you my never-ending love. I'll be your friend or even your family."

Merlin could no longer form words. No one had voiced the demons that haunted her at night. Even Meliodas and Gowther had an unspoken agreement to act as if they hadn't met the way they'd met. She held on to Elizabeth for dear life as she wailed uncontrollably for the first time since her father's death. She hadn't just put a tough front for others, she'd formed a dam to contain all the emotional baggage she carried for years, and now the dam had been broken. There was no more pretending, no more 'tough act'.