A/N: Insert usual disclaimer stuff here. This is the sequel to Penance and Pursuit of Merit.

Again, I went back and chopped this fic up into chapters. If you want to read the thing straight through, with no chapter divisions, just head on over to my site, vejiitasei.com. Because I chopped it up, some of the chapter transitions may be strange. Sorry about that.

Reviews are always welcome and encouraged!

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Gourry sat by the fire in one of the overstuffed chairs, chin in his hand. Ever since Lina had left him the first time he had grown more accustomed to mulling things over, and this was one of the occasions on which he found it necessary to think things out. He knew that he had to do the right thing. It was the only way things could work out for that little girl, and Gourry thought that she was the most important person in the whole awful mess. Who knew how things would end up, anyway. Still, his heart was racing with nerves. Lina had been gone for two weeks, and he hadn't heard a peep out of Xellos. It was very difficult to not know if his love would ever come back to him.

She's on her way, a smooth voice said out of the shadows, and Gourry turned to see an unearthly glinting of eyes.


I imagine she'll be here within the next five minutes, was all the Monster would reply.

Gourry sighed and stood, facing the other man. Did you love her?

Monsters cannot love.

I mean, when you were human.

I don't know. I don't know what love is. Perhaps I did.

Would you have taken care of her and protected her for the rest of her days, even from herself?

Of course I would have. Things were different once I became human.

Gourry took a deep breath and forced himself not to close his eyes. He knew what had to be done. He knew what the right thing to do was. Would you still?

Xellos frowned slightly. She is the mother of my child. What do you think?

Let's go meet Lina, Gourry said quickly, walking hastily out the front door and into the night, his heart pounding inside his chest. He heard Xellos' boots striking the stones behind him, and soon they stood in the path, watching the hills beneath the moon. Gourry said, seeing a small figure appear in the road some distance away, but when he turned to address Xellos directly, the man was nowhere to be seen.

It must have only been a few minutes, but to Gourry it seemed like an eternity, watching her walk down the lane. When she was a few hundred feet away she broke into a run, flinging herself into his arms and burying her head against his chest. she breathed, and he crushed her to him, mashing his lips to the crown of her head.

I'm so happy you're all right, he murmured into her hair.

I'll never leave you again, she whispered. I love you and I want to be with you.

I know, he said, voice thick with tears. It seemed to him that his whole body trembled. Xellos? Are you there?

the Monster replied, and stepped out of the shadows.