Alastor quickly approached the front door and stuck the key into the lock. As soon as the unlocked door opened Carrie came running toward him with a face full of fright.

"Daddy!" She called. "Daddy! Daddy!"

She threw herself on to his waist and he quickly took her into his arms.

"What's the matter Princess? What's the matter?" He asked while lightly patting her shoulder.

"Daddy, Mommy's sick." The girl replied.

"Sick?"

"Carrie I didn't say Mom was sick." Aaron said entering the room. "I said that I thought maybe she wasn't feeling well."

"What are you talking about Aaron?" Alastor asked his son.

"I saw Mom on the floor in your room. She was holding her head and crying. She said she was fine but I think she was lying."

"I see."

"Daddy what's wrong with Mommy?" Carrie asked. "Does she need a doctor?"

"Now don't you worry about a thing Carrie. I'll take care of Mommy." He kissed her head assuringly and put her down. He then whispered into Aaron's ear. "Watch your sister and stay out of our room until I say otherwise, okay?"

"Okay but Dad what's going on?" Aaron whispered. "Mom's not really sick is she?"

"I don't know yet but until I do, I don't want to upset your sister unless I don't have to. Do you understand?"

"Yes Dad."

With that said Alastor went upstairs to the bedroom he shared with his wife. She was in their personal bathroom washing her face.

"Charlie dear?" He said softly.

"Oh Alastor I'm so glad you're home." She sighed in relief.

"Sweetheart what's wrong? You sounded terribly afraid over the phone and Aaron just told me he saw you on the floor crying."

"I honestly don't know what's wrong. I...I think I might be losing my mind."

"What do you mean?"

"Earlier today after I had finished cleaning the kitchen I went to do the laundry but when I came back I found that the dishes had been taken out of the cupboard when I know I put them in there. Still I put them back and left but later I not only found them out again but the chairs had been staked up on the table. Next thing I know someone calls me on the phone but there's no one answered. All I heard was this deep breathing. Am I going crazy?"

"Of course not my darling." He said embracing her. "Your father's death has put a lot of stress and emotion on you. I think you're just tired."

"I suppose. Oh Al I feel so silly. Making you leave work early over such a ridiculous thing."

"Oh no I'm glad you called me. From now on I'm not leaving you alone until your grieving subsides. I'm taking that week off."

"But you could be fired."

"No Bill has agreed to cover for me."

"Oh he's always been a very good friend to you. We'll have to find a special way to thank him."

"I couldn't agree more."

"I'll make him one of my apple pies. Oh that reminds me, I better get started on dinner. The kids must be starving by now."

"Let me cook dinner."

"No I think cooking is just what I need to take my mind off of a few things."

"Then at least let me help you."

"Alright."

The couple decided to make jambalaya for dinner that night. Alastor was cutting up the vegetables and Charlie was stirring the broth when the doorbell rang. Charlie left the broth to sit while she answered the door.

It was Lana Barlow, Geoffrey's wife. She was an attractive woman but by no means beautiful. Her hair was dyed a cheap orange color, she wore too much make-up, and her clothes were either too tight or too open. She was also a notorious gossip and constantly craved attention. A real nuisance. But Charlie being the kind-hearted woman she was always tried to see the best in Lana and act friendly toward her.

"Good afternoon Lana." Charlie greeted smiling.

"Hello Charlie. I heard about what happened to your father and I feel simply awful. So does Geoffrey which is why he wanted me to bring this over."

In her hands she held a loaf of banana bread that was wrapped up in plastic.

"Oh thank you Lana." Charlie said accepting the bread. "That's very sweet of you and Geoffrey. Thank him for me please."

"I will."

"Would you like to join us for dinner?"

"No thanks I've already eaten. But I was wondering if maybe your husband could do me a favor? I think one of the pipes in our kitchen sink is leaking. Do you think he'd mind coming over and taking a look?"

"I'll ask but I'm sure he doesn't."

He actually did. Alastor did not like Lana. He did not like her at all. He found her to not only be annoying but also vulgar, rude, hideous, and a prefect example of how women should not behave. But for his wife's sake he would act as a gentleman and assist Lana.

"My hero." She said when he came over.

"Just direct me over to the sink if you please." He requested.

"Wait would you like a drink first?"

"No thank you."

She led him over to the sink. He opened up the doors and looked inside to check the pipes. None of them seemed to be leaking.

"Mrs. Barlow I don't think there's anything wrong with the pipes. Seems to me that they're in perfect condition."

"Well that's probably because you're looking at them from the wrong angle." She began unbotton her top a little. "Here let me show you."

She kneeled right beside him, real close-like.

"Right over here." She outstretched her arm to point to the other side of the pipe and to make her cleavage more visible to him. "Do you see anything interesting?"

"No I don't think so." He sat up quickly. "Don't see any leaks or cracks. Your pipes are fine."

"Hold on what's the hurry?"

"I'd like to get back to my wife before she worries. You understand of course, you're a wife. You worry about your husband don't you?"

"Not really. In fact I don't think I've ever worried about him once in my life."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"He's not really anything impressive. Not like you."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I mean look at your body. Who are you trying to impress?"

"My wife."

"Oh no." She chuckled while stalking over to him in a seductive manner. "No that entire package is for everyone. Something to share. Share and share alike."

Her arms were already around his neck and at the exact moment she pounced he swiftly moved out of her grasp, causing her to fall to the floor.

"Sorry Mrs. Barlow but the only person I share my body with is the one who's ring matches mine." He said holding up his hand which sported his wedding band.

"How dare you treat me like that?" She snapped.

"Easy you're a lousy human being." He said brushing dust off of himself. "I'll be leaving now."

"Wait! Alastor you're not seriously turning me down are you?" She said picking herself back up.

"Well Lana I know that with your history it's very unlikely for any man to say no but there's got to be a first for everything."

"Alastor you are a very impressive man. You deserve better than Charlie."

"And I suppose you believe that you're the better offer?"

"You know she's not right for you. She's never really given you what you wanted. I heard about how she ruined your internship by getting pregnant. The stupid, selfish cow should have gotten an abortion so you could live your dream. Not force you into fatherhood."

"You shut your mouth!" He replied in a voice so angry that it startled her into falling down again. "If you were a man I'd crack your skull for that! My wife is a perfect angel in a human body and you're a whore of Beelzebub if I ever saw one! Don't you ever say anything cross about Charlie in my presence again or I'll tell the whole neighborhood what you really are and every housewife here will crucify you!"

He stomped out of the house and slammed the door. He didn't calm down until he stood at the front door of his house. He inhaled and exhaled a few breaths to cease his anger then entered the household where helped put the finishing touches on dinner, dined with his family, listened to a radio show with Aaron, tucked the children into bed, and retired to his own room for the evening. Charlie was already there wearing her cream colored nightgown and brushing out her blonde hair.

He stood in the doorway of the room and just took a moment to admire the loveliness of his angel. It might have been considered strange to some but ever since he first laid eyes on her as a nine year old boy he had never been able to see beauty in any other female. Not even when he developed hormones. Other women could shamelessly throw themselves at him if they wanted to but they would be wasting their time because he wouldn't even blink an eye at anyone besides Charlie. His classmates from high school and a few of his co-workers had said that it wasn't normal for a man to limit himself to desiring only one woman but Alastor's mother used to say that

"Bring normal is vastly overrated."

And he couldn't agree more. No one in that town would ever really consider him normal because of the circumstances involving his birth and father, so why should he act normal one hundred percent of the time? Although he never could understand what Charlie ever saw in him. She was beautiful, smart, creative, compassionate, came from a well to do family, from his view she was perfect and he was just some poor, scrawny man with a screwed up head. What did he ever do to deserve her?

Charlie felt his adoring gaze on her and she turned around from the window to face him. The way she saw him staring and smiling at her always brought a rosy color to her cheeks.

"What is it?" She asked him.

"Nothing." He replied. "Just thinking."

"About what?"

"About how lucky I am."

"Oh? And what makes you so lucky?"

"It's that I have you."

She approached him and put her arms around him gently. He returned the hold.

"Do you really mean that?" She asked.

"You know I do. You know I'd never lie to you."

"Oh Alastor. I love you so much. But sometimes I..."

Panic briefly entered his system.

"Sometimes I...I worry that I'm only making things harder for you. That maybe...Maybe you would have a better life if I hadn't-"

"A better life?" He interrupted. "Without you I would have had no life."

His fingers slowly slid up on to her back and began to undo the laces of her night gown. When the garment hit the floor and she became exposed she was briefly fearful that age had probably changed her negatively so she moved to hide herself. But his gentle hold to keep her in place reassured her that he still saw her as the loveliest woman God had ever made. In turn she softly raked her nails up his torso and slowly removed his shirt. Soon a firm chest met with a tender breast, kisses and caresses were passionately shared between the two, when their bodies finally joined together they whispered repeatedly into each other's ears,

"I love you."

Known each other for seventeen years and they still loved no other except their first friend. Married for nine years and they still desired only the body and touches of their spouse. Nothing had changed and nothing would change. Not even when they were old, grey, and their looks had faded. Til the end of all he would only make love to her. Til the end of all she would only give herself to him. Til the end of all they would only have each other.