Hey there everyone! It's that wonderful holiday season! So happy Hannaka, Happy Kwanza, Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas, along with any other holidays around this time of the year! That's right, I'm covering all my bases. No one is getting excluded!

This is a chapter I have actually been looking forward to! It's time to dive into Moxxie's and Millie's romance!

Thank you once again CynicalGenre for co-writing this chapter with me!

Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 19: It's a Love Story

Wrath Ring, Moxxie, Age 20

After breaking up with George, more or less, Moxxie did his best to focus on his music career. Sadly, due to the abuse that he had received, it had dulled the excitement that he had for it. But even so, he still felt like the fans that he did have deserved to experience how he really was. He had several new songs that he wrote. He was more than eager to get them out there. The new tour, his last tour if he was truthful, was just what he needed. He would've love to stay in the music industry, but George's influence had soured it.

But being on stage, it took away all his fears and doubts for the mean time. He did his best to not focus on the pain and hurt that George caused. But that was the past. Now he was embracing his future. Once the tour was over, he made went to head to his hotel room when he paused a vision of beauty. A beautiful female imp with long black hair pulled in a ponytail, wearing a blue blouse and jeans was standing a good ways away from him.

Did she attend his concert? Or was she just meeting a friend of hers? He wanted nothing more than to go up and talk to her. But he couldn't! He wasn't that bold! As he was thinking of a way to introduce himself, he was surprised to see her coming towards him. Oh crumbs! She was coming over!

"Howdy there!" Her voice sweet yet alluring thanks to that Southern drawl. "Moxxie, right?"

"Uh yeah, Moxxie!" He mentally slapped himself at that response. "You know me?"

"Reckon I should, it is your concert after all," She giggled. "Ya were amazing up there!"

"Oh, thanks," Moxxie felt his cheeks heat up. "It was nothing, the band helped with everything."

"They didn't perform that killer solo."

She cocked a hip and gave a sultry smile. Satan help me, she was too much!

"I…I didn't get your name." He asked.

"Millie," She held out her hand which he took. Despite how small her hands where, she had a strong handshake.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Millie."

"Miss? Well aren't ya the gentleman. Most imps I know don't know manners if it slapped them across the face," Millie joked. "But just Millie is fine."

"Yo Moxxie!" Both imps jumped as one of the band hands, poked his head from down the hall. "Quit flirting with the groupies and pick up your last paycheck from the boss! If you don't, Axel will claim it!"

"Yeah, I'll be there!" Moxxie shouted back.

Once he was gone, he turned back to the female imp who smile was a bit dampen.

"Guess duty calls," She stated, her body turned to leave. "I should get going too. Today's my last night before heading back home to Last Gultch in Wrath. It was nice to meet ya, Moxxie."

Moxxie felt his heart clench as she watched the beautiful imp walk away. No. Not again! He promised himself to stay focus on his music career! Now was not the time to fall in love again! Especially with how fresh his break up with George was. It hasn't even been a month since they broke up. To pick up someone that early…wouldn't it be sleazy?

And plus she was way out of his league!

No way she would go out with him!

But…

"Hey! Millie!"

Millie had reach the end of the hall before she stopped and turned back. She looked back in shock. "Uh yeah?"

"There's…a really nice restaurant next to this hotel. Do you mind if I treat you?" Moxxie offered. "You can tell me more about your home in Wrath."

'Yep, just kill me now,' Moxxie thought.

But instead of rejection, Millie gifted him a heart stopping smile as she answered back.

"I'd love that! Let me just get my bag and we can head out. Oh wait! Come with me! My rooms at the end of the hall!"

In a blink of an eye, Millie was in front of Moxxie and dragging him towards her room. Moxxie felt his heart beat rapidly as the female imp locked her fingers with his and lead him down the hall, talking excitedly about her home, family and her time at the concert.

For the first time, Moxxie actually had a good feeling about this.

Millie was completely blown away at what she was doing. She was going on a date, with an actual professional musician! She heard the rumors about his break-up with his boyfriend, or well ex-boyfriend now. No one knew the real details of what happened, though whatever it was, she could tell from his performance on stage, that he looked a lot more comfortable compared to the other videos of his concerts. As they talked, she was very surprised at what he was sharing.

"So you were raised in Pride, this whole time, even though you were born in Wrath?"

Moxxie nodded. He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yea. To be honest, I've only visited Wrath during my concerts. But I never got to experience it, if you know what I mean. My uh... parents weren't very big on traveling."

Millie nodded. Her own family was the same, mostly due because the farm had a lot responsibilities that they couldn't ignore. Though they did do a few fun things like go to an amusement park when they had the money or go to the movies. She couldn't imagine what it was like not to be in Wrath. She loved her family, and the farm was the only home that she had known.

"What's Last Gutch like? You said that was the town you were from."

The female imp was taken aback a bit. Not many people were interested in the town that she was from. Especially not those from the other rings.

"Oh, Last Gulch isn't anythin' special. Jus' a small farm community. The only fun thing that we have is the Harvest Moon festival. What was yer home like?"

"O-Oh uh... I was raise in Pentagram city my entire life. My parents are..." He paused, still not willing or able to lie very well. "I'm adopted. My bio-parents died when I was baby during an Extermination. My mom and her friends helped raised me. They're... pretty well established in the... upper class, I guess you can say. Uh... my mom has this really popular jazz club that I use to help at."

Millie couldn't believe what she was hearing. No wonder he was so different! He was raised along the Sinners in Pride!

"….What was yer homelife like?"

"Oh, we'll my parents were a bit…strict growing up. They were always worried about me getting lost or being taken."

"No wonder, the Ring is full of nasty Sinners and Overlords and most of the royals live there. Not to mention the yearly Extermination. It's a pretty harsh place for an imp to make a living despite all the glamor it's got."

"Yeah…" Moxxie rubbed his head nervously. "My parents had a similar mindset so I was homeschool most of my life. They're the ones that taught me how to play and encourage me to go into the music career when I was older."

"So you're parents were teachers?" Millie asked, trying to picture her date being taught by two older imps.

"Uh, no…" Moxxie tried to look for a way to explain it. "Well, my mother was kind of like a teacher, you can say she held the brains of the family. But she owned and run her own dress shop."

"Oh!" Millie smiled.

An imp running their own business in Pride! What an accomplishment!

"And my dad…well he and mom helped a lot with my musical talent. And hunting."

"Hunting!" Millie eyes gleamed at that info. "What kind of hunting?"

Moxxie paused in panic. How exactly can he describe hunting with Alastor without bringing or lying about the… 'targets?'

"Dad is a bit of a gun nut so he would take me to the city for target practice or the nearby forest areas for hunting game."

"So you're a gunman and a musician? That's amazing!" Millie beamed. "Also a bit surprised that there are animals you can hunt in Pride. I didn't think there'd be any wildlife there."

'Well…sinners are technically animals….kind of….sort of…'

"So you've been living on your own since leaving home?" Millie's question snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Yeah. I kind of want to establish myself instead of relying on my parents," answered Moxxie. "That I don't want to be living with them forever."

"Oh I hear ya!"

Millie could still hear her folks constant nagging about her leaving the ranch and her family behind.

Don't get her wrong, she loves her ma and pa and siblings dearly, but she didn't want to live all her life on the ranch! She wanted to see all of Hell! Travel the Rings! Find a career she wanted to do that didn't involve killing pigs and growing crops.

"What about you? What do you want to do?" Moxxie asked.

"I…I'm honestly not sure. I love the ranch but I don't want to spend the rest of my life there," Millie pursed her lips in thought. "I'm hoping to go to each Ring and see what kind of life or businesses they have and maybe work from there."

Moxxie gave a small shy smile.

"I get what you're saying. I love playing music, but... I think it's kinda obvious that my music career is kind of coming to its end. I would love to stay in Wrath and learn about my roots. I'd probably just end up going back to work for my mom. But I still want to experience what Hell has to offer as well."

The female imp had stars in her eyes. He had the same dream that she did! Not only that, he was so sweet, kind, and gentle in how he spoke and acted. She knew that most people in Hell were out-right assholes. But not this guy! He was something special. He was unique! If they went their seperate ways, they might never meet again!

"Would ya like ta come home with me ta Long Gulch?"

She winced at the sudden offer. Shit! Was that too forward? She didn't want to come off as desperate!

"Really?"

She looked back at him. She could see the stars in his eyes at the opportunity. His tail was even wagging! Oh wow adorable!

"I would love to come! Though uh... I wouldn't want to intrude on your family's home. I'd be more than glad to get a room in a hotel or motel nearby."

He was so considerate and respectable! Most guys wouldn't even bother to go such an extra length! She flashed a grateful smile.

"I'll call my parents and let my ride know. Be sure to meet me in the Lobby at 9am tomorrow!"

"I look forward to it."

Moxxie didn't want to the date to end, but he knew that it had to end. After saying their goodbyes for the night, he got to work packing. He couldn't wait to learn about what being a Wrath Imp was like, and to spend more time with Millie and get to know her family!

Moxxie was amazed at the little farm that was in front of him. Sure, while most Hellions wouldn't see it as something special, it was for the Pride-raised Imp. The hot volcanic landscape fascinated him. As did seeing all the animals that were on the farm. Millie made quick work of introducing him to her parents and siblings. For him, this was an exciting thing to experience! As he was looking around the farm, Millie was busy talking to her family.

"Is he your new boyfriend?" Sallie May asked. "He's kinda scrawny."

"He was raised in Pride." Millie explained, mostly ignoring her newly transitioned sister, focused on her parents. "But he's interested in learning about his Wrathian roots. I figured we could help show him!"

Joe and Lin looked out the window where their guest was playing with a baby piglet through the fence. He may of has Wrath genetics, but it was obvious that he was not raised in the Ring. What kind of Wrath imps didn't bother to teach their child about thier culture? Though they were doubtful if he really could.

~Whatever you do, I'll do it too

Show me everything and tell me how~

Moxxie eagerly did his best to help out on the farm. After all, it was the least that he could do. Millie and her family was so kind to let him hang around. It would be rude if he didn't. He could imagine is parents admonishing him for not doing his part. Though farm life was certainly harder than he expected. He was mostly helping out with feeding the hogs and other small tasks.

He even did his best to help with the vegetable and fruit gardening. While he didn't have much experience with raising fruits and vegetables, he did have some knowledge when tending his mother's and his father's personal gardens. Out of all the work that he did, he perfered gardening over handling the pigs. It was hard at first to hear the grown swines being slaughtered. But that was life. Especially here in Hell.

~It all means something

And yet nothing to me~

He did his best to try wrangle a hog that was scheduled to be dinner for the night. As he jumped on the hog, he was meet with the pig squealling and taking off running. With him being dragged by it. He cried out at the sudden speed. Unaware that Millie's siblings were laughing at him.

"Seems like the city-boy doesn't know how to kill a pig!" Sallie May snorted.

"With how weak he is, I'm betting he's never slaughteredd anything in his life!" Butch sniggered.

Millie glared at her siblings.

"Shut the fuck up! He's doin' his best!"

"More like his worst!"

Millie was about to retort, when Moxxie was sent flying out of the pin. Into her arms. A blush appeared on her face at the strange landing. Looking at the Pride-raised imp, he too, was blushing at the intimate position that they were in.

"Uh... Th-thanks for... catching me." He told her.

"Not a problem." She replied, then caught sight of her siblings making kissy faces at her. She quickly sat Moxxie down. "Actually Moxxie, how 'bout I show you around Wrath?"

His eyes lit up at what she was suggesting.

"Really?"

"Oh yea! The suns should be setting soon, and believe me, the sunsets are breath-taking!"

~I can see there's so much to learn~

She quickly grabbed Moxxie's hand and pulled him towards the truck. She slid in, as Moxxie got into the passanger side. Millie flipped off her siblings as they uselessly chased after the family truck as she and Moxxie drove away in. The Wrath's sun was setting and she wanted to take Moxxie out into the center of the plains. Despite its harsh and unforgiving nature, Wrath had one of the most beautiful sunsets in all the Rings.

She's at least had to give Moxxie a chance to see it!

~It's all so close and yet so far

There's something bigger out there~

"Ta-Da!" Millie exclaimed as she jumped out of the truck and throwing her arms in the air.

Moxxie's eyes wider at the wonder in front of him. Millie wasn't joking about her Ring's sunset. They really were magnificent. The Ring's multiple suns had set just on the horizon, giving the landscape a hellish afterglow as if it was all on fire. Even the clouds above were tinted in such a glow that they looked like crackling fire.

Millie took great pleasure in the awe in Moxxie's eyes.

~I want to know, can you show me

I want to know about these strangers like me

Tell me more, please show me

Something's familiar about these strangers like me~

Millie grabbed Moxxie's hand and pulled him towards a crack in one of the mountains.

"Come on! It may be pretty but the sunburn is Hell if ya don't got any protection!"

The two slipped into the cracks but it turn into another sense of awe for Moxxie as Millie lead him into a cavern in the center. Above was a hole in the roof that casted the sunset's unholy glow into the waters below, against the stalagmites and the jagged walls. The darkness flowed with splashes of orange, red and yellow.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Millie smiled. "This is my special hideout. My siblings and folks don't know about it so I come here when I want to get away."

"You're just full of surprises," Moxxie looked at her fondly.

Millie blushed. Every time he complimented her, her heart fluttered. How could this one imp make her so easily flustered?

"And I still have plenty to show you! Come on!"

~Every gesture, every move she make

Ooo these emotions I never knew~

Moxxie struggled to keep up as Millie gracefully, without issue, hopped from stone to stone across the waters of the cavern. True be told, he had seen some shadows under the water that gave him pause, but he doubt that Millie would have taken if she thought it was dangerous. After a bit, he made it to the other end where Millie stood.

One of the holes in the cavern's room created a spot light above her, casting her in a heavenly orange glow. Moxxie couldn't help but stare. She really is one of the most beautiful demons he's ever seen.

~Of some other world far beyond this place

Beyond the trees, above the clouds

I see before me a new horizon~

After some time, the two made it to where a secret hidden grove was deep in the cave, with a small opening back to the outside world. The view was simply breath-taking. The two of them were sitting on the ledge in the safety of the shade. The sky becoming beautiful shades of pink, orange and yellow. Several birds flew through the skies, possibly on their way back to their nests for the night.

Millie couldn't help but watch as he took in the sight. She looked backed out on the scenery before them, reflecting on her feelings. The muscian made her feel special. Beautiful, even. He was always complimenting her. Encouraging her. Defending her. Something that only her family did on rare occasions. The way that he looked and treated her made her feel like she was one of Hell's royalty.

~I want to know, can you show me

I want to know about these strangers like me

Tell me more, please show me

Something's familiar about these strangers like me~

Moxxie blushed as he rubbed the back of his neck. As he looked back out at the landscape, he noticed several of the shadows excitedly move around. Realizing what to do, and wanting Millie to see his side of his lifestyle, he knew what he had to do.

"Hey Millie. Close your eyes, I got something special I want to surprise you with."

The female imp giggled as she did so. Once her eyes was closed, Moxxie pulled out the hidden voodoo amulet from under his shirt. He took a hold of it, and with what little magic he had, the amulet started to glow. Once they were in the In-Between, he nudged her to look.

"You can open your eyes now."

~Come with me now to see my world

Where there's beauty beyond your dreams~

The moment Millie opened her eyes, she was amazed by what she was seeing. Surrounding her was magical land of shadow creatures and flora. Shadow-butterflies danced in the air, as the different sillhoutes of animals took notice of the two imps. The shadow of a fox-like creature came up to Millie, who cooed at it. She got down on her knees to pet the creature.

Moxxie gave a fond smile. The shadow fauna made their way towards her, embracing how friendly she was. The male imp couldn't help but feel more affection for her. She made him so happy. Knowing that the Shadows trusted her, meant that he could trust her as well. He wasn't sure if she did feel the same thing that he did. But he knew that he didn't want to be with anyone else.

~Can you feel the things I feel

Right now, with you?

Take my hand~

He went and took her hand, pulling her attention away from the Shadows. She gave him a curious look. It was when he pulled her up and close to him that she realized that he was going to dance with her. She flashed him a smile as she followed his lead. As the two danced, Millie couldn't help but fall even more in love with this imp. He had opened her eyes to a world that she never knew existed. A magical land that only the two of them knew about it.

It was all so romantic. With a final twirl, Millie's eyes locked onto his. Unable to resist any further, she kissed him. A wave of pleasure and the spark of fireworks ignited in her. This man was everything that she wanted. No. Needed. And there was no one that was going to tell her any different.

~There's a world I need to know~

"Out of the question!" Joe bellowed at his daughter.

Millie huffed, hands on her hip. In her arms was another bouquet of flowers that Moxxie had sent her. Unaware that it was actual a group of shadows that followed the small male imp. Said shadows were watching the female imp and her family. They had been leaving gifts for her. Flowers, jewelry, anything and everything that they could their paws on, to shower her with appreciation on how much that she made Moxxie happy.

She was back at the family farm. She and Moxxie had spent more time together. They even shared an apartment now. Moxxie doing an occassional gig at a club, with them both doing some freelance assassination jobs. Even after all the time and years that they were spending together, and the fact that they were dating, it still didn't resonate with her parents that she wanted to spend her life with him!

"But I love him! Moxxie is sweet, and caring, and nothin' like the other imps here in Wrath! I want ta marry him!"

"He's too weak! He can't even properly kill a hog!"

"I don't care about how strong he is!" Millie defended her boyfriend. "All that matters is that he loves me! And whether you like it or not, we'll be together, no matter what you say!"

Without another word, she stormed out of the farmhouse, heading back to where her sweet, thoughtful and loving boyfriend was.

I want to know, can you show me

I want to know about these strangers like me

Tell me more, please show me~

Moxxie was currently shopping for an engagement ring. He had been saving up for a while. He had went to a jeweler that his mother had always loved going to and purchasing from when he was a child. After some conversations on what ring he was specifically looking for, he settled on two different gemstones entwined together. A Moonstone and Blue Topaz.

For the band, he went with black, to compliment his wife's skintone and the jewels that he picked. He wanted to go with something more unique than the standard silverband. Once he bought the ring, he safetly stuck in his coat pocket. He couldn't wait to surprise her. And he knew just where he wanted to do it.

~Something's familiar about these strangers like me

I want to know~

Once Millie had rejoined him, he whisked her away from the same hidden cavern that she first took him to when he first met her family. It was the best location that he could pick for him to purpose to her. Once they were in the place where they watched the sunset so many times before, he spun her around to face him.

"Millie, when we first met, I couldn't believe on how a girl like you could make me so happy. Especially when I had just come out of a very dark place. Every moment we spent together fills me with such joy."

"Oh Moxxie." Millie blushed. "You make happy too."

"There's been something I wanted to ask you for a while now."

He reached into his pocket, getting down on one knee. Millie gasped, covering her hands with her mouth. She couldn't believe it. Was Moxxie really going to purpose to her!? Once the box was opened, her eyes widen at the beautiful ring that was presented to her.

"Would you, Mildred Amara MacQuoid, continue making me the happiest imp in Hell, and continue to be my partner in both life, afterlife, and business, and marry me?"

Tears started to form in the female imp's eyes. Unable to contain her joy, she threw herself on him, hugging him as tight as she could. Their tails entwining.

"Yes! Yes! A million times yes!"

Once the ring was slide onto her finger, she deeply kissed him. Then peppered more kisses all over his face. This was more than the start of their love story. This was a continuation for many more years to come. And they both couldn't have been happier.

It is done! We finally get to see how Moxxie and Millie met and fall in love!

I'm not exactly the best at writing romance, so I really appreciate Cynical for helping me bust out this chapter!

Strangers Like Me was written and performed by Phil Collins. I do NOT own any rights to this song. It was only used for narrative purposes.

I really would like someone to make an animatic/animation of Strangers Like Me for Moxxie and Millie from this chapter. And I'm willing to pay them for it! I'm not kidding! If any of you lovely readers know how to make animatics/animations contact me on Twitter and let me know! I'd be happy to pay you for your hardwork!

So with that being said, thank you all for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter! Happy Holidays!