Soul didn't have the agonizing moment of his hand hovering over the knob because Reggie had skipped up the stairs and thrown the door open in his excitement. He was up in a flash, voice echoing joyful calls of "Papa, papa" as Soul stood paralyzed in the foyer. There should have been the clattering of heels, the sharp war cry from his mother as she barrelled down the hall at the first sign of him, but other than Reggie's receding bliss, the house was quiet.

He tried to kickstart his feet, his heart, his will to live but none of it listened, leaving him immobile and useless on the marble floor. I'm a coward. The word latched sickly onto his heart. A greedy bastard of a coward. 'Cause all I wanted last night, all the things I thought- all of it's not fair to 'er. Even if I did finally tell 'er the truth- I touched 'er. I woulda kissed 'er if it wasn't for Reggie. It's all for Reggie. The little beast of selfishness wrapped itself around his heart.

"Uncle?" Reggie called from the top of the stairs.

"Yeah?" Soul weakly warbled back.

"Papa's not here. He left me a note- do you want me to check if he left you one too?"

'Course he's gone. Not that I was gonna try, but… wouldn't it be nice to have him stand up for me for once? "Yeah, go on and check. Meet me in the livin' room." He waited for the receding footsteps before starting towards his promised location. There was bustling around the house, but it was all an echo of the various hired help his mother employed; the maid quickly shuffled past him as he entered while the gardener wandered outside the window of the living room. Soul settled on the couch, letting his head drop to his hands as he tried to weigh his wants.

Instead of heels, it was Reggie's soft pitter-patter along with the ruffle of paper. "Papa left you one too! It's bigger and folded."

The paper was suddenly under Soul's nose just in time for him to snort a laugh. "Alright, mine first or yours?"

"Mine!" Reggie chimed.

Soul lifted his head, looking at the simple sheet Wes had left for his son. "Reginald," Soul started in a perfect imitation of his brother's smooth baritone. "I hope you had fun last night. Maka sent me photos and you looked fantastic. Next year, let's all go together. I'll be gone for a week, so please hold onto your stories until then. Much love, Papa."

Reggie beamed. "Do you think he means that? Next year will we all go together?"

Soul barely resisted the urge to crumple the paper. Sure. You, Maka, and Wes can go. I'll be married. The bitterness of that barely settled before he whispered, "Anythin' could happen, Reggie. But it'd be nice, wouldn't it? You and your papa for Halloween."

"And you and Ms. Albarn- and Nana Rung, Kilik, Kea, and Lana!" Reggie listed each name with glee. "Maybe Mr. Star- and we could bring the baby, Shelley! She'd be old enough by then, wouldn't she?"

He allowed a chuckle to eke from his throat. "What a party… Don't think you'll get Mr. Star to dress up, and if you're bringin' the baby, you'll get 'er mama too, I bet." Soul let the movie play over his mind, a motley crew of a family. For a second, his arm was around Maka again, her body and heart close to his. "That'd be nice, Reggie. I'm gonna read my note quiet-like. Why don't you see if you can get a snack from the kitchen? Grab me an apple if there's some."

Reggie nodded dutifully, his smile still telling the tale of his plans for next year as he scampered off from Soul's view.

Wes had folded Soul's note, a sticker seal keeping the crease tamped down. Soul broke it with his thumb before unfolding the paper.

Soul-

Even in her anger, Mother could be persuaded to continue her plans to join Father in Paris. They'll be there for the week. Her express wish was for you to fix your mistake by the time they return. Supposedly, your fate will be decided then by Father's hand. She wasn't exactly forthcoming, but I'll assume the threat is Clara or nothing at all.

There are things that Mother should not and cannot take from you. Don't let her take this. Don't repeat my mistakes in the name of selflessness. You took a stand last night, and I encourage you to continue.

Love,

Wes

Soul crushed the letter in his palm as his heart pulled in infinite directions.

[You are formally invited over]

Maka stared at the screen, trying to decide how she could possibly be reading this wrong. [To your house?] She double-checked the name again, seeing Soul blaring at the top but still not necessarily believing her eyes.

[Yup]

She attempted to call but it was immediately declined.

[Can't talk out loud. Trying to surprise Reg]

Regardless of the confusion, a joyous smile blossomed across her face. [What do you mean? And how am I allowed to come over?]

[Mom=France w/ dad. Wes's playing somewhere. House empty except for me and Reg who is currently pouting]

Maka wanted to convince her heart not to sink, but it still took a shallow swoop towards her stomach. It's not like I want to see his mom anyway, but… maybe it'd be nice to not be anathema for once. [Pouting?]

[Let me have my fun. Told him we had a guest coming over. He had to dress nice. He thinks it's his gparents so he's pouting. I think it should be you]

She snorted a laugh. [Do I have to dress nice?]

[Up to you just come over]

[When?]

[Now's just fine]

Soul answered the door in an utterly absurd headband, basketball shorts, and a t-shirt that moths had already had their share of.

Maka's hands instantly settled to her hips, cinching the dress closer to her waist. "I thought you were dressing nice!"

Soul snickered as he opened the door the rest of the way. "I said Reggie was dressin' nice."

"If you're not, how did he not see through your ploy?" Maka started to raise her voice but Soul pressed a silencing finger to his lips right in the middle of his mile-wide smirk.

"Keep it down, he still thinks it's his grandparents. He's hidin' in his room." Soul waved her towards the stairs and they started to climb. "Can't wear what I want unless Mama's not around."

"Oh, your mother dresses you?" Maka snapped back quickly as she went about straightening her dress, fussing with any errant thread or hair even though it was obviously not fitting.

Soul let out a mocking laugh. "Nah, jus' never hear the end of it if I don't dress half presentable. Anyway, your gentleman awaits…" Soul swept a hand towards Reggie's door, knocking it open in the process. "Hey, Reggie, your guest is here."

Maka entered, seeing the little black head of hair still begrudgingly focused on the window.

"Aren't you gonna say 'hello'?" Soul's grin hit the furthest it could reach.

"Hello," Reggie said glumly to the pane. Before Maka could even open her mouth, Soul rushed past her and scooped Reggie up from his seat. The boy let out a whine, but as soon as Soul swept him towards her, his face instantly erupted into joy. "Ms. Albarn!"

"That's a better greetin', Reggie," Soul laughed as he swooped him to the ground.

Even though Maka had smiles and hellos for Reggie accompanied by quick hugs that brought him close, she couldn't tear her eyes away from Soul. He's happy. His face, his movements, all of him seems… free. "Thank you for having me over," Maka murmured to Reggie.

"I didn't know!" Reggie squealed joyfully. "I- I have so much to show you, Ms. Albarn! Come on! Come on!" He was already pulling her along, starting for the hallway.

"Is that alright?" She shot over her shoulder to Soul who was starting a slow amble after them.

"Guests get the tour." Soul let that come with an amiable shrug as he followed the pair into the hallway.

Reggie had endless items to point to, presenting commentary on everything from the carpet to almost unidentifiable scuffs in the molding. There was a story for every step, and Maka listened to each pleasant bit, letting Reggie paint a day in the life of an Evans boy. They had just finished the house, coming out on the terrace for yet another tale when Soul paused at the doorway. "Reggie, make sure to show 'er the roses."

"You're not coming with us?" Maka glanced around the garden as if looking for a surprise of her own but finding nothing but sweet stillness.

"Gotta start dinner." Soul finished the comment with a shooing gesture before instantly starting back into the house, the glass door clicking shut.

"Soul's cooking?" Maka offered the question to her only option, watching as Reggie struggled to stop his story long enough to answer.

"When Granmama's not at home, Uncle cooks." Reggie delivered this with all the air of Evans's knowledge. "It's not as good as our cook, but…" He rolled his little shoulders.

Free, drifted over her mind again.

"Wait one minute, right here!" Reggie motioned for her to stay before rushing over to an ornate-looking bench. He lifted the seat, uncovering storage that he rummaged through as Maka half watched.

Her eyes were still trailing back to the house, trying not to envision Granmama suddenly exploding from the doors, railing about a common whore in her garden. Why does it bother me so much? I told him- talking is nothing new. I don't need a place here since I'm used to being left out, looked down on and-

"Ms. Albarn!" Reggie had the biggest grin she'd ever seen, just barely bypassing the beauty of the blossom he now held in his hand. After placing the stem between her fingers carefully so as not to inflict any thorny wounds, Reggie trotted back to the bench to leave his snippers behind.

"It's beautiful, Reggie," Maka cooed when he returned as she twirled the stem in her fingers.

"You like it?" He asked hopefully as he held out his hand to her.

Maka closed his little hand in hers. "I love it, Reggie. I love this whole evening so far! But maybe we should find your uncle now…"

Reggie nodded as he tugged her along, starting the journey back to the house and up to the veranda. They sauntered through a deserted living room but as Reggie moved her to the hallway she could hear a rhythmic tapping. As they rounded the corner into the kitchen, Soul was there perched on the island, his heels ticking one at a time against the side as he swung his legs.

It was no longer a disintegrating t-shirt but a crisp navy suit jacket covering his shoulders. His head lazily turned over his shoulder, sharp teeth glinting out of his smirk. "Ah, you do what I said, Reggie?"

Reggie hummed out a happy affirmative.

"You changed…" Maka tried to make it sound like an accusation.

"Well, the two'a you were makin' me look like a fool," he chuckled as he slid off the counter. "Speakin' of- c'mere Reggie, you made a mess'a yourself." Soul scooped him off the floor and positioned him in the spot he'd just left open on the counter. Soul motioned to Reggie's neck, drawing the boy's fingers to straighten the little bowtie that had at some point moved out of place. While he fixed himself, Soul played with Reggie's hair, whispering softly, "You ask 'er what you wanted to yet?"

"Uncle," Reggie complained as he shot a bashful look at Maka.

"Alright," Soul chuckled. "You go on and get the table ready, then." He moved him back down to the floor, Reggie offering Maka a smile before disappearing through the door.

"What is he asking me?" Maka grinned as she watched Reggie go.

"Dunno." Soul's answer was soft but still loud in her ear, and as Maka turned she realized it was because of his closeness, standing in her space as he'd never had a problem with it before. "He's keepin' some sorta secret." He shrugged as his hand came to her elbow, scooting her to the side as Maka realized his real objective: the oven behind her. He tapped on the light before crouching in front of the door to peep inside. "He'll tell you when he gets the nerve, whenever that'll be."

"You have no idea? Really?" Maka eased back against the island, giving Soul space to continue peering into the oven.

"Million possibilities," Soul chuckled as he finally tore his attention from his work. "Hey, you want a drink? I seem to 'member you sayin' you actually did drink."

"Uh," Maka pulled on the vowel as she stared down at him.

"No peer pressure." Soul raised innocent hands. "Jus' bein' a good host."

"Are you?"

Soul was grinning up at her, biting off a laugh. "A good host? Dunno about that either."

"No, I mean- are you drinking?" Maka's eyes searched the countertops for his signature glass.

"Nah." He stood slowly but still held on to the distance between them. "Bourbon's usually a good crutch when the comp'ny isn't the best or I ain't feelin' my best, but… I like this jus' fine sober."

"Does that mean if I say yes I'm not enjoying the company or feeling so great?" She curled interested eyebrows at him.

"Nah," he echoed again. "Doesn't seem to be your problem, Maka."

Her eyes went more white than green for a moment. "Did you just-"

"I gave up," he interrupted with a soft laugh as he displayed innocent hands. "That OK?"

Her fingers dug into the quartz, trying to leech the cool. "Does that mean Reggie can call me…"

"Maka," he finished for her, testing out the name again on his tongue. "Sure. Whatever he'd like."

There wasn't much she could summon, her mind and body suddenly disjointed as the only words she could manage were: "Thank you…"

He laughed again, and while she should have found it insufferable it just forced a few extra beats of her heart. "Nothin' to thank me for. Normally I think you'd wanna hit me for bein' so stubborn." Soul threatened a step forward but Maka remained frozen. "So that drink: yes or no? No beer, but there's some white open in the fridge or-"

"That's fine," she murmured quickly.

"Alright." Soul went about his hosting, starting in the cabinets for a glass and then moving about with slow ease. Maka watched him, the languid movements bringing him to and fro until he was back to her, a delicate, expensive-looking glass in his hand half-filled with liquid hued with a sunshine glow. "If you want more, lemme know, but go on and take it into the dinin' room. Dinner's jus' 'bout ready."

He didn't allow her much room to answer, just tapping at her elbow again to get her on the move. Maka acquiesced, bringing herself, her rose, and her glass into the hallway to pause. In the quiet, she listened to the murmur of her heart, the way her pulse thrummed in her veins, and finally the sound of her name echoing in his voice. While hers was not necessarily the most normal name, hearing it from anyone else had never really urged much of a reaction from her unless you counted the annoyance that sprung from those special tones her father could create.

Except Soul. Soul had said it- easily, in fact- and without any sputtering hesitation.

Is this just him doing what he wants? Being free- being himself? Maka took in a long draft of wine and then forced a slow exhale.

Charming. That was the best description for the evening and not in that debutante ball type of way. This wasn't Lenora's version of grace and glamour but Soul's: an easy evening where laughter filled the dinner table and conversation about everything and nothing at all reigned.

Soul had even made persistent use of her name. Reggie had balked the first time but had immediately latched onto it the second, making 'Maka' ring consistently across the dinner table. It was soon becoming more dreamlike than walking.

Though the help of the chef was refused, clean-up was still left for the help as Soul scooted the two of them into the living room. "Gotta entertain your guest, Reggie. What do you suggest?" He murmured playfully as they walked down the echoing hallway.

"We could read stories?" This was said with sparkling hopefulness that Soul instantly dashed.

"Borin'," he grunted.

"It's not," Maka shot over her shoulder.

"For the two bookworms, maybe not…" He rustled Reggie's hair as he returned Maka's glare. They turned into the living room, a grand area with couches enough for a cotillion.

"Oh, a piano!" Maka moved over to the grand, shining black surface.

"Uncle plays!" Reggie chirped as he moved to the bench, sitting down to pretend play over the lid closed on the keys.

"Played," Soul corrected as he hovered behind his nephew, hands threatening to grab him by the armpits and spin him off the seat.

"Why past tense?" Her interest was gleaming over the inner workings of the piano, hammers waiting to make strings sing, but Soul was still in her periphery. That face again. Maka barely bit down a sigh. Just words, not touches, and he still looks like someone's removing a fingernail.

He let out a trembling breath as he scooped Reggie, tossing him back to his feet behind the bench. "No time to practice." Since Viv died. The words terrifyingly twittered on his tongue. Almost said that part, spat it out like it was nothin'.

"You have nothing but time," Maka giggled, but it twittered off weakly as she watched his features melt into nothing as he took a seat at the piano. You're hiding something. Another piece of your pain.

He uncovered the keys slowly, brushing fingertips over the ivory as he sighed. "Seems like it, don't it…" Life came to fingers, easing along the keys in a slow but steady tune. Goosebumps rose on her skin with each reverberation of sound. Reggie buzzed around her but Maka couldn't move, especially as one song just led into the next. Abruptly, as if the air sapped from the entire room, the sound stopped as Soul turned a pained grin to her. "Not exactly dancin' music, is it?"

"No, but it's beautiful, Soul…"

"It's sleepy music," Reggie complained.

"Yeah," Soul chuckled as he reached for the boy, stealing him from fidgeting around Maka's legs. "So, movie and then bed? What do you think?"

"Two movies?" Reggie tried putting on a convincing face, one that might have swayed Soul if he didn't have his dignity to save in front of Maka.

"One," Soul muttered back. "Go pick. Meet you in the study."

Reggie stood for one more challenging moment, eyes locked with his uncle who refused to budge before scampering off.

"You watch movies in the study?" Maka took a moment to look around the living room, finding no form of entertainment actually housed in the most common place for it.

"Ah, Dad's the only one with a TV. Mama's against the stuff for the most part." Soul shrugged as he took her elbow, gently coaxing her into the hallway again. "And since I bet you're wonderin', I keep a stash'a movies under my bed. Mostly kid stuff for Reggie."

Maka giggled, "Not the usual DVDs a guy hides under his bed?"

Soul gave her a sour grin. "Not really my forte…"

Her teasing abated as she tucked her elbow into his grip. "So you've actually done zero work in searching for a bride?"

A dry, breathy laugh left him. "Not an ounce. Not that… not that it ain't what I want, it's jus' the way Mama pushes… I tol' you, I have things that I want."

"When you were fourteen. What do you want now?"

He froze in the doorway, head only half peeking over his shoulder. "You mean for a marriage?"

"For your life," Maka urged back with a short laugh. "It can't still be the desert and a motorcycle, and right now you're not going to school, you hang around here all day-"

"Sure makin' me sound like a real winner," Soul grumbled.

"I don't mean it that way," she huffed as she moved closer, filling the other side of the doorframe and leaving him nowhere to look but her. "If you didn't have to worry-" Maka bit that down for a moment, testing the moment for a change in his face. When nothing came, she sunk her toe a little deeper into the water. "If you didn't have to think about your family, just for a second, what would you want? Because right now, without your mom you seem different- free."

Soul choked on that for a moment as his brow furrowed. "They expect me to take over Dad's business."

"OK, expect," Maka shot back the word with extra derision. "Again, what do you want?"

"Wouldn't mind it, I guess," he sighed.

"Want," she snapped tiredly.

Soul crossed his arms over his chest and produced the best smirk he could manage. "Maybe I jus' wanna be a house-husband who cooks, cleans, and takes care'a the kids."

"I could see that." Maka's quick answer and smile made him flush along the collar. She hadn't noticed since she had turned merrily on her heels on the conclusion, moving into the study to plop with prim satisfaction on the couch. Her devious eyes turned to Soul, finding him glaring at her from the doorway.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he tried to make it bitter but a laugh ruined the entirety of his facade.

"Come on, you take care of Reggie-"

He produced a huff.

"And you cooked tonight-"

"Take that as a compliment," he muttered.

"It is. Though you didn't clean, so maybe-"

"Hush," he grumbled.

Maka let her smile linger for just one second more before it dimmed as her chin eased into her palm, elbow resting on the arm of the couch. "You should think about it some more."

"Tol' you." Soul shrugged weakly. "With Wes jus' 'bout dead to 'em, I'm it. I'm the heir to the Evans throne. And with Reggie… I jus' don't know."

"What about Wes, though?" Maka added thoughtfully. "He's not dead and he stays here with your family, so I assume it's not like they disowned him. You said the Wes before would have-"

"Before Viv." The rest was stuck in his throat.

"You always stop there," she murmured. "That's what it is, isn't it? Everything just stops there."

Soul stared, his hand opening and closing at his side for a few desperate pulses before he could force the words. "No. Jus'… it's hard. It wasn't jus' some bump in the road, and no matter what I say about Mama- or Dad for that matter- it did somethin' to all of us. Jus' their way is always to forget, always sweep it under the rug and I think Wes got swept with it. So he's here, sure, but Mama treats him like a ghost. Don't even think Dad knows or cares if Wes is still here. Dad checks on me, makes sure I haven't lost my mind, tells me I'll be King someday, and then jus' goes back to his jet-settin' or whatever the fuck he does."

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

"Nah," he paused to shake his head slowly. "You said no expectations, right? So if… if that's the truth, then…" A swallow rattled down his throat. "Like I said, I don't mind bein' the next to run the business, but I'd do it my way. Money is one thing but I don't wanna be my dad. I want… I do want time for Reggie and for whatever else, that kinda family stuff. So I'll do what I hafta do, but I ain't rulin' anything. It'll come second to the people that I love. That's what I want. Don't give a fuck about money, but bein' loved…" He sighed bitterly. "Then again, I'm cursed, so all'a that's jus' a nice thing to say."

"That just makes me want to ask you again." Maka leveled a thoughtful frown at him. "Do you really think you're cursed?"

"Same answer," Soul replied with a shrug.

She sat up straight, eyes burning at him. "Do you think it matters to me?"

At that, a laugh almost escaped him as Blake came blaring back to his mind: "Fuck your curse, man."

He could almost hear the words coming from her as well, a quick, delighted grin on her face. Before he could offer the answer, a little arm swung around his legs, the other depositing a DVD against his stomach. "This one, Uncle!"

"Great, one I've only watched a million times," Soul teased as he snatched the case away. "You seen this one?" He flashed the cover at her and Maka shook her head. "Ah, a classic. Get the tissues ready, you'll need 'em." That amused him all the way to the player as he snickered while the FBI warning popped onto the screen. The opening titles began to play and he moved back towards the sofa, biting down a petty bit of jealousy at finding Reggie already cuddled up against her. "Plenty'a room on that couch," Soul grumbled.

"He's fine," Maka chided right back as Reggie took this as an excuse to scoot closer, his head falling back against her chest.

Soul sat with a huff, strangely stuck straight-backed and uncomfortable with the arrangement. Last time I held 'er hand. That brought a flutter to his ribcage and made him eye the pair, noticing Maka's arms comfortably wrapped around Reggie. Probably get a tongue-lashin' for it anyway. Better to let 'im-

Maka's hand was suddenly patting behind him, touching the top of the couch as her fingers just swept the base of his neck. He turned his eyes to her and she mouthed, "Can I?"

He nodded even though he couldn't necessarily wrap his head around what he was agreeing to. In a second, she clued him in, the pads of her fingers dangerously playing with the soft hairs at the base of his neck. At first, Soul was sure that his shoulders would wiggle out of control with a chill as the lightness of the touch threatened to tickle him. Except he remained still, and she rewarded him by no longer toying but carefully running through the strands in a dedicated pattern.

Catching her eyes was impossible then, that bold green solely focused on the screen as she cradled an already drooping Reggie against her chest, but Soul saw the knowing smile on her lips and traced the line of it. Maybe you don't hafta ask much anymore, Maka. I really appreciate that you do, but… every time it's more than fine. Every time I jus' want… He leaned his head back on the next sweep of her hand, moving her fingers up his scalp as a satisfied grunt escaped from his throat.

She snickered.

"What?" he let a sly smile come to his face as she finally turned to see it.

Reggie was suddenly snapping his head sharply towards Soul, a finger coming to his lips as he shushed him.

Soul's eyebrows shot up as he let out a low whisper. "Sorry for in'erruptin'…"

"Reggie," Maka scolded softly.

"S'alright," Soul muttered. "Jus'... go back to what you were doin'... please."

"Well, since you said 'please'..." She fell immediately back to her task, a soft little hum leaving her at the start.

He melted into her touch, letting the movie drift by without interruption as her connection to him never faltered or lost purpose. Somewhere close to the end, Reggie had drifted off, allowing for Soul to finally turn his eyes to Maka again and catch her lovingly clearing the bangs from Reggie's sleeping face. "He needs a haircut…" Soul murmured none of the words he wanted.

Maka hummed out a soft affirmative. "Still looked awful handsome in his little outfit. He was very excited tonight. Guess it tired him out."

"Yeah, good change'a pace for 'im." Soul slowly sat up, rubbing a hand over his own face to offer a bit more wakefulness. Instead, it was her soft hand drifting down his spine that made his body shudder back to life. "I'll, uh, put 'im to bed, I guess and you can… well, I dunno if you've got somethin' else to do- I know I sprung this on you last minute."

She shook her head with a sure smile. "How about I put him to bed and maybe you can, um…" Maka's eyes searched around the room before landing on the side table. "… refill my wine glass."

"You mean, you'll stay for a bit?"

"No one's kicking me out, right?" Maka raised her eyebrows suggestively.

"Well no," Soul echoed as he slid a hand to the back of his neck. "Jus' sayin' that you might have somethin' else to do."

"Spending time with you is something to do, Soul." That came as a firm correction that made his heart anything but unshakeable, letting it melt to his shoes as he watched her stand and scoop Reggie into her arms.

"Maka?" Reggie was struggling to come back to consciousness as she eased him into his bed.

"It's bedtime, Reggie," she cooed softly. "You had a long day, didn't you?"

His little hand tangled into her sleeve, red eyes half-peeping open. "Can you talk to me?"

"What do you mean, Reggie?" Maka let him pull her in, collapsing onto the bed with her head on the pillow next to his.

"Talk, just talk," he murmured. "Or sing, like you did before."

"You remember that?" Maka smiled as she caressed the hair from his forehead. "I was sure you were asleep then too. I'm glad that you like it, Reggie. Maybe- well, I think it'd be nice if I could do it more often."

"I'd like that." A wide smile took his face even as his eyes started to drift back to closed. Suddenly, his lids flew open. "My question!"

Maka hid her laughter against the pillow for a moment before turning her attention back to his now sleepless eyes. "You want to ask it now? We could wait until tomorrow, or whenever really. Unless you think you'll forget?"

"I can't forget," Reggie sighed as his hands shimmied out from beneath the sheets where Maka had tucked him in so they could nervously work on the pilling over his stomach. "I wanted to ask for a while, but I'm not sure I should."

Maka stole away one of his hands, nestling the little fingers in hers. "Did you ask your uncle about it?"

Reggie's lip crinkled as he heaved another breath. "I think it might be a secret, but I don't want Uncle to tell me that because I want to ask you."

Maybe I'm hopeful that Soul has already trusted me with those. "Do you think it'll hurt your uncle to ask me?"

"I don't know…" Reggie's legs kicked for a moment before the first line of tears hit his cheek.

"Oh, Reggie, don't get upset…" Maka pulled up on her elbow, hovering over him so she could clear his face gently. "If it's making you this sad, I do want you to tell me. Please. And then I'll take care of the rest, OK? Whether it's a secret or not, what to say to your uncle, I'll do that part. You just tell me."

"I want to see Mama," he groaned out mournfully as the tears filled his eyes to the brim. "I hear her, I know I do, and she tells me good things but you can let me see her, can't you?"

The air froze in her lungs as Maka struggled to keep her fingers moving, shaking as she cleared away a few more tears.

"Because you know, don't you?" Reggie's accusation was soft but still stung her heart as it needled in. "You know when you talk she talks with you. So can't I see her too? Can't you do that?"

"Oh, Reggie…" Maka reached for him, gathering the boy into her arms just in time for him to tremble through the sobs. "I know you miss her…" Her whisper faltered through the start of her own tears. "You must miss her so much and I know because I miss my mama just like that." She tilted her chin, resting her lips softly on his forehead. "But sometimes, we can't see them, and I know that hurts. I wish… I wish I knew how to make it all better."

He whimpered as he dug into her warmth, clinging desperately to her as his little body rattled with sobs.

Maka held him close, giving him as much of it as she could.

Maka, can I kiss you? Soul shook his head in disgust as he frowned down at the keys. Hurtin' 'er is the last thing I want so askin'... askin' is what I hafta do. His head forlornly bobbed on his neck again. It's selfish. What good'll it do to kiss 'er when I can't promise 'er anythin'? What would I be doin' other than bein' with 'er in secret? And what'll that do other than jus' hurt 'er or Reggie, and I-

As soon as he heard the footsteps returning, Soul turned on the piano bench, fingers tensing into the fabric over his knees. "Maka-" he cut off at her name as soon as he saw her face. It looks like you've seen a ghost- the teasing wanted to roll from his tongue but the reality of it bit the words in two.

"We have to talk," Maka murmured.

"Sure…" Soul stood slowly, moving towards her in search of some kind of anchor, even with the fear of rejection making his fingers tremble as he reached.

She took the hand he offered her but stayed still at a distance. "Reggie asked me something…" Her brow furrowed as she sighed.

"Ah, his question?" Soul tried on a grin but it dissolved in the face of Maka's tear-stained cheeks. "Guess it wasn't as cute as I assumed it'd be. I thought maybe he'd be beggin' you to marry him this time since he's still been askin' about that a lot-" his nerves urged the spill, "- not that I said much more about it…"

Maka cradled the remnants of a sweet sadness on her face. "I think I'd have an easier answer for that but this… Soul, I-'' she squeezed his fingers. "I know how much you're all still hurting- Wes, Reggie, and you, and I know there's no easy way-"

"No, there ain't-" the words rushed from his mouth, and without an ounce of control, he felt his hackles rise. "Did Reggie ask you somethin' 'bout Viv?" his voice was already going hoarse, his throat constricting at the very name.

"He asked me if he could see her…"

Viv's face over hers in the moonlight.

"But I know I have to ask you first, so-"

Soul broke his hold on her, arms coming back to cross his chest. "What good do you think that'd do? He doesn't even know what she looks like." Each word was a bitter bite on his tongue, and he watched them strike her just as acrid, her brow continuing to furrow.

"He seems to know," Maka tried to press back. "He seems to remember something about her, at least her voice-"

"'Cause he hears it when you speak, or that's what he thinks." His fingers tightened on his elbows as his nails started to bite into his skin.

"That's what he said…" Her fingers combed through her hair, dedicated thought drawing her eyes away from him to a point in the distance. "I've probably been channeling her without even knowing it. If she's speaking through me, I'm sure I could bring her forward again, let her use me-"

"Fine- for Reggie," Soul tossed dejectedly as his eyes roamed to his arms. "You can do that if he wants. Jus' get Blake to- to do whatever you need with that 'cause I…" I can't look at 'er. I can't hear 'er, see 'er. Have 'er look in my face and tell me I did all this.

"What about you, Soul?" The softness of her voice was trying to ease into the seams of his heart, but the poisonous cobwebs of his pain blocked it out.

"Whatever good you think it'll do me, it won't," he muttered.

She shook her head quickly, fingers reaching for him as she tried to get a grip on his arms. "It could help with everything! You could say whatever it is you need to say to her, and you could know what really happened, Soul. I'm sure she'd tell you-"

"It's for Reggie," he hissed.

"It can be for both of you," she pressed back but found him moving, turning from her as he made his way back to the piano. "What happened to her hurts you, Soul, and I could-"

"Fix me, huh?" he spat back bitterly as he let his hands dig into the black lacquer finish. "That's what you think you're doing, ain't it?"

"Knowing the truth- won't that do something?" Maka pressed as she took a step closer to him, trying to steal his view from the piano. "I told you before, Soul, you couldn't have hurt anyone, so I don't see how knowing the actual truth about Viv would do anything but heal you."

His voice came as a wild roar towards the keys, "But that's what you think. You think you can save me from whatever this is, but-" A disjointed jangle split the air as he brought his hands down hard on the keys. "There's nothin' she could say that would fix me. I am what I am. I'm a bastard. I'm a cowardly bastard and I-"

She grabbed for him, fingers just barely hooking his shirt. "Soul, stop, just-"

"No," he bellowed as he flinched away from her. "Whatever the hell you think I am, you're wrong. I'm not some prince waitin' for you to break the spell with your magic. You can show Reggie, give 'im some peace, but it ain't for me!" He turned just in time for her hands to reach for him. His only hope was to grab her wrists to halt their progress, keeping her warmth away from his heart.

She struggled against him, green eyes fiery as she urged, "If you just let me show her to you, Soul, to find out what happened to her-"

"I said it'll make no difference!" His breath hitched as he suddenly realized the tears were blurring his vision. "And if you can't understand that- if you can't listen and give this up, then you should get out."

"What?" Her arms went limp in his hold as her eyes grew wide.

"If you can't-" Accept me for what I am. A monster- a terrible, cursed monster who can't be saved. Nothin' Viv says, nothin' you show me changes that. I did what I did. There's no makin' me better. "If you can't realize- accept that seein' Viv isn't what I need to fix me, then get out. Get out now." I was stupid, so stupid to think this was a risk to take. I'll hurt 'er. I'll hurt 'im. Jus' like Viv. It's better to let 'er go now. "Leave," his voice urged in a gray area between a plea and an order.

"Do you really mean that?" Maka pressed as her arms stayed heavy and lifeless in his grip.

His only answer was dropping her touch and disappearing into the darkened hallways.