So there's been a lot of time between now and my last update, and for that I'm sorry. To tell the truth, it wasn't even because I was super busy- I just wasn't feeling it. Something very bad happened to me recently, and I'll spare you the details at the moment anyway- for those of you that care I'll talk about it at the bottom so there's not a ton of word-vomit up here. For now, I'll skip to the relevant bits.

-Why was Issei conflicted about killing Vali? A: Issei, at his core, is not a bad person. He doesn't like to cause pain, and he doesn't want to fight. He just wants to live with Raynare. He is not a killer, and to callously take the life of someone you've already beaten, even if they could be a threat later- it's not something he could easily do. He could do it, but he wouldn't ever feel right about it, and it would likely haunt him forever. Not only that, but he wasn't certain the White Dragon wouldn't just reincarnate into someone else who was even more a problem. "The Devil you know," right? Anyway, it was natural for him to be conflicted, is what I'm getting at. It's not nearly as easy to take a life as some of you seem to think it is.

-...there was only one relevant bit.

Also, shout-out to people who compliment my writing skills when you review. It's always great to see a review about your plot or characters or whatever, but people talking about my writing style and stuff really tickles me. Anyway, thanks.

Like I said, sorry about the super long chapter wait again. I'll try to update sooner, but as I'll explain down below, I'm not in a great place right now. Anyway, read and review.

Issei opened his eyes to the sound of several people chatting, and while that was a sound he knew, it certainly wasn't one he was used to hearing first thing in the morning. He felt for Raynare, only to realize he was currently her little spoon.

"Kalawarner, Azazel, Lisa Lisa, and your mom. Other than Kala, they've been here for like an hour." Raynare mumbled, aware he'd awoken. She'd been awake for quite a while, but if she got up she'd have to interact with the gaggle of people outside, and groups were never her forte.

The light shining in through their window alerted Issei to the fact that it was sometime before noon, and a cursory glance towards their alarm clock revealed it was almost eleven, far too late for school. Issei untangled himself from Raynare and sat up, coming to terms with the fact that his long-dead mother was in the other room chatting with God, a high level fallen Angel, and Raynare's best friend. It sounded like a bad joke.

But, joke or not, he wanted to talk to Elsa very badly, not having gotten a chance the night before.

"G'morning, Ray. You haven't talked to any of them yet?" Issei smiled down at his angel, who was still curled up in bed with an annoyed look.

"Nope. Too loud. Ughh~, come back over here." Raynare said, frowning at the sudden lack of warmth in her arms. Issei laughed and pet her head. Even after all this time together, it never failed to amaze him that the tough-as-nails former assassin Raynare was a total cuddlebug.

"Not this time. I'm gonna take a quick shower. You coming?" Issei asked, taking off the school shirt he'd been on since yesterday.

Raynare sighed, then sat up on her knees. She was stark naked, which shocked precisely nobody. "That depends on you, darling~." She crooned with a smirk.

Issei blushed violently, but didn't say anything as she followed him into the bathroom.

In the living room the four people gathered were discussing this and that and everything else. Kalawarner had no idea who the blonde angel was or how she was related to Lisa Lisa (who she'd only known as Raynare's older friend thus far) but Azazel was buddy-buddy with her and that was enough for the junior fallen.

The four of them were playing Smash Bros on Issei's big TV, with Azazel being absolutely dumbfounded at how much better Lisa Lisa was than him. He knew she was God, but it was still embarrassing to lose to an old lady at a video game.

Lisa Lisa was Palutena, Elsa was Pit, Azazel was Dark Pit, and Kalawarner was Bayonetta. It was a standard three stock match, and the only one with three stocks left was Lisa Lisa. She'd gone almost entirely unscathed the whole game, while Kala and Elsa were already knocked out. Azazel opposed her with only one life left.

"How the hell did you get this good?!" Azazel roared out in determination, finally launching Lisa Lisa's first life off the stage.

"I'm good at everything, and watch your mouth."

"Isn't pride a sin?!"

Lisa Lisa (somewhat ironically) mercilessly launched his last life, winning the game.

Azazel hung his head in shame, and both the angel girls were relieved the one-sided slaughter was over.

All of a sudden, Lisa Lisa sighed. "Would it kill them to show a little restraint?" She snapped her fingers, and nothing visibly changed for a couple seconds. Azazel and Elsa looked on in curiosity, while Kalawarner didn't really know what just happened.

After a moment, Raynare's shriek filled the penthouse, making Lisa Lisa chuckle darkly. Not five minutes later, an absolutely ferocious Risen Angel stomped grouchily out of the master bedroom. She was dressed lazily in pajamas, and looked as gloomy as could be.

"Freezing cold water, really?" Raynare growled towards Lisa Lisa as she approached the kitchen. The old woman laughed in response, waving a greeting.

Issei followed out of the bedroom a couple moments after, a blush on his face. "S-sorry I took so long…" He knew Lisa Lisa knew.

Nobody other than Lisa Lisa realized they were in the middle of getting busy in the shower, so reactions were all a little confused.

Issei stopped cold once he saw his mother on the couch. He'd known she'd be there, but nothing prepared him for coming face-to-face with her like this. The night before, he'd been too distracted by the all-encompassing threat of Vali to worry about anything else, but now, all that was on his mind was his mother.

"Hi, kiddo. How have you been?" Elsa asked, smiling brightly. She stood up off the couch and walked towards him, arms wide for a hug. Issei gladly returned it, not really caring that all eyes in the room were on them.

"So...what's going on in here? Does nobody care about doors anymore?" Issei asked, turning away from his mother and addressing the gathering of people in his house. He really didn't care, of course.

"Kalawarner let us in. Very kind of her." Lisa Lisa explained, nodding to the bluenette.

"Oh right. Kala, this is the new God." Raynare said, looking up from digging around in their fridge to gesture towards Lisa Lisa.

"...Huh?" Kalawarner went wide-eyed. She didn't believe it at first, but began to put the pieces together after a moment of stunned silence. After she finally connected the dots, her first thought was 'I just played Smash Bros with God?'

The conversation continued unfettered. Kalawarner was left freaking out on her own in the corner.

"So, how'd the rest of the peace council go?" Issei sat down with his mom, next to Azazel. Raynare stood on the side of their bar towards the kitchen, while Kalawaner left her seat to go stand on the other side opposite Raynare.

"Perfectly. Anonymous declaration of peace on all sides. Kuoh academy was rebuilt as a symbol of unification, so don't think you'll get to skimp out on school for too much longer. Although, I'm sure the Sitri devil would let you...I think she's taken a liking to you." Azazel had a massive smirk on his face.

"Taken a liking...was Sona even there?" Issei asked, looking at Raynare. She shrugged. They'd both been far to focused on other things to notice whether or not one devil had been present.

"Regardless of whether she was or not, the video of your fight with Vali has been leaked onto the Underworld's version of youtube, so you're making a splash all over the place right now. You're leaving quite an impression with the weaker members of society, what with your 'I can't stand bullies' line and all that. Everyone's talking about the Red Dragon and his fetching Risen Angel companion. You're very popular right now, is what I'm getting at."

"...Great. It's happening again. Between that stupid video of me singing and now this, I'm going to be famous before I garduate highschool." Coming from anyone else, that may have been a good thing, but Issei looked as downtrodden as he could possibly get. He didn't really want to be famous, especially not for beating Vali. He just wanted a quiet life with Raynare.

"Oh, right. I forgot to tell you a while back. I uploaded that video too. As in, I uploaded both, but I never told you about the first one." Azazel winked at Issei, the latter turning to look at him with a glare.

"So it's your fault I got hounded for weeks every time I went outside? Gee, thanks."

"Well after this one, Raynare's going to have her work cut out for her, keeping all your supernatural fans away from you. They're a little more determined than humans, one might say." Azazel snickered, pleased with himself for having made Issei a celebrity yet again.

"Stop antagonizing him, Ziz." Elsa pinched Azazel's' cheek, making the older man wince and cry uncle.

"I think it's her you'll have to worry about…" Azazel murmured, peeking at Raynare, whose eyes were aflame at the mere prospect of someone else trying to come onto Issei.

"Okay, so, recap...we're all at peace, Lisa Lisa is God, I'm famous again, and there's a big group of terrorists running around under the radar? Great." Issei sighed, annoyed. As if three factions hadn't been enough of a headache, the Chaos Brigade was now a thing to worry about.

"You're forgetting to see the forest for the trees, darling. You have a beautiful fiance, you defeated the greatest threat to your happiness, you've got a baby on the way and a wedding coming up, your mother is alive, and we've got wonderful weather today." Lisa Lisa lifted Issei's spirits with every word out of her mouth, befitting her status as God.

"Speaking of which, have you picked out a dress? A venue? A minister? There's a lot of work to be done, kids." Elsa looked at Raynare, who just smirked.

"You wanna see the dress?"

Elsa was up in an instant. She was a strict woman when she needed to be- she didn't get her doctorate by playing around, after all- but she retained a youthful vigor and excitability, and her soon to be daughter-in-law's wedding dress was most certainly a point of interest. Raynare, Elsa, and Kalawarner all fled to the latter's bedroom.

"Guess she's got a nice one picked out already, huh?" Azazel asked Issei, who shrugged.

"I guess so. She kept talking about how great it was, but wouldn't show it to me. I didn't peg Raynare for being one to go along with that kind of tradition, but if she's happy, I'm happy."

"A good outlook to have." Lisa Lisa nodded in approval.

"So...up for another round?" Azazel asked, picking up his discarded game controller.

Issei noticed what was on the television screen. "Were you guys playing Smash? Seriously?"

"Mhmm. Azazel lost pitifully. I do hope you'll put up a better fight, dearest." Lisa Lisa had an uncharacteristic glint in her eyes as she offered Issei a challenge. She picked up and handed to him one of the girls' left behind controllers. "After all, to suffer is to become closer to God."

Ten minutes later, Elsa, Raynare, and Kalawarner all came back to see Issei and Azazel hanging their heads in defeat while Lisa Lisa cackled away.

"Welcome back!" Issei practically yelled in relief, tired of having been made a punching bag by Lisa Lisa's unholy gaming skills. He stood up and nearly ran to Raynare and Elsa.

"Well, I'm impressed by the dress, and that ring, oh wow that ring, but...there's still a lot of work to be done. I hope you've truly prepared for the situation you've put yourself in, Issei." Elsa tousled his hair, like she did when he was a child.

To Issei, it felt a little unreal. This whole time, having his long-deceased mother suddenly reappear was almost like a dream come true. But, when she reached out and touched his hair, it sent a feeling through him unlike anything he'd felt in quite a while. He didn't really know what it was or how to react, but it was pleasant. He felt truly at ease. Somewhere he'd connected the dots that he'd visited her way back when he'd almost died instead of just dreaming, so the runion wasn't nearly as sappy as one might think. They'd already met, so there was no need for that sort of thing.

"Why don't we all share a meal, to celebrate?" Lisa Lisa asked, putting down the controller.

"Celebrate what? They aren't married yet." Kalawarner replied, not really understanding the point.

"To celebrate what a wonderful family this has become, of course!" Lisa Lisa retorted, smiling.

Her words rocked Issei's world. He hadn't really registered it. For the majority of his life, the only thing he'd ever wanted was a family, a real one. All he'd been focused on is how rough the past few months had been, but now he realized he'd slowly built up a real family and hadn't even noticed it.

Raynare, his child's mother and wife-to-be.

Kalawarner, his snarky but reliable older sister.

Azazel, his crazy uncle.

Elsa, his long-lost mother.

Lisa Lisa, his kind and doting grandma.

Not to mention all the friends he'd made, as well as a kid on the way.

A happy tear slipped down his cheek, and he didn't even notice. Elsa was quick to react, wiping it away with a thumb before anyone else even saw. She flashed him a radiant smile befitting an Angel, letting him know he was in good hands now.

"Yeah," Issei nodded in agreement, "a meal would be great."

"Wonderful! Issei, Elsa, if you two would be so kind as to help me cook..." Lisa Lisa opened a normal-size cabinet and pulled out an entire three course meal's worth of ingredients in a wicker basket (which Issei was entirely sure hadn't been there before) and placed it on the countertop. "...Then I'll take care of the rest."

An hour later

"Wow...that was great." Issei leaned back on the couch, resting his head on Raynare's shoulder. They'd had a meal centered in bread and fish, with ingredients created almost entirely from Lisa Lisa's heavenly power. All of them were seated around the TV in the living room. Elsa and Raynare sat on either side of Issei, Kalawarner sat in a recliner, and Azazel and Lisa Lisa both sat on a two-person loveseat.

"Seconded. One might even call it heavenly." The entire room minus Lisa Lisa groaned at Azazel's pun. God however, being quite the jokester herself, found it more than funny. She cackled like mad, and after a moment, everyone else was laughing too.

"So what was the important thing you had to talk about?"

It had been on Issei's mind for a minute now. Two of the most powerful and important figures on the planet were inside his house, so it stood to reason that they must have a reason other than visiting. Not to mention, Azazel had mentioned it the night before in the aftermath of Issei's bout with Vali.

"Well, if I'm being honest? Nothing, really. Just summing up the events of that piss-poor excuse of a peace council and hanging out, not often that I get to see some of my favorite kids and an old friend. That an issue?" Azazel crossed his arms and cracked open one eye, staring at Issei.

"Not at all. Just making sure there wasn't some super pressing issue we needed to worry about."

"I wouldn't let him trouble you with it if there were anyway, darling. You keep your head turned towards your own future, and let everyone else take care of the rest." Lisa Lisa, without even trying, always managed to drop solid advice. Issei appreciated it.

"You know...have you announced your engagement?" Elsa asked, already two steps ahead. She was formulating a plan in her mind.

"...Announced? Not really, not formally. Do we have to?" Issei asked. Raynare facepalmed.

"Of course! But I'm glad you haven't. Let's make it a party!" Elsa exclaimed, now excited.

Issei and Raynare were both dismayed. Neither liked the idea of a bustling party, both preferring the company of the quality few over a blank many.

"Not what you're thinking. Is Shangri-La still in business?" Elsa glanced to Lisa Lisa, who nodded. She understood perfectly what her angel was getting at and liked the idea, but it was ultimately the couple's decision.

"They are…" Issei began to understand. "Are you saying we should throw an engagement party at Shangri-La?"

Raynare perked up. That wasn't a half-bad idea.

"Wouldn't it be fun?! It doesn't have to be huge or even planned, we can just call ahead and have a little get together!" Elsa was to the point of giddy excitement, and it seemed to be taking all her effort not to squeal.

Azazel chuckled. "Well kiddos, it's your call." Lisa Lisa nodded in agreement, also abuzz.

Issei glanced to Raynare. "What do you think?"

"I like it. I'm gonna get you wine drunk again."

Issei blanched.

Elsa did squeal this time. "That's the spirit!"

Several hours later

Issei had on a black-on-red three piece suit, lovingly staring at Raynare as she brushed her long hair in front of their bedroom mirror. Every once in a while, she'd glance at him in the corner of her eye, but he never once stopped looking at her with unbridled adoration.

"You lose something over here?" Raynare's pulse went up a little as he stared. Even after all this time, she wasn't so used to all the verbal affection. She absolutely loved it, she just wasn't an expert on handling it. Physical affection was where she excelled, and Issei always had the upper hand when it came to words. Melting her heart was second nature to him at this point.

"Only my heart."

She sighed, a faint blush spreading over her face. "You aren't even blinking, dork."

"I don't want to miss a single second."

A momentary pause in the brushing. "You know, this isn't that special. I'm just brushing my hair."

"Everything you do is special to me."

More blush.

"We're gonna be married soon, so you'll get to look all you want. It's not that special."

"And I can't wait to watch you every single time."

Raynare stopped brushing, looked up at the ceiling, and groaned. His last comment had broken her, and she was finally blushing entirely. She turned to Issei, who was still giving her puppy-love eyes, and leveled the hairbrush at him. "Look casanova, if you keep sweet talking me we're never gonna make it to our party."

"I can't help it. You're just so amazing."

"Shut up, loverboy. Come help me with my hair."

Issei got up from his place on the bed and moved behind his fiance, taking the hairbrush from over her shoulder. Kalawarner had taught him to braid to surprise Raynare, and ever since he'd almost become her own personal stylist.

Just a little while later, Raynare was sporting an expertly done double crown-braid. She too was dressed up for the party, wearing a black gown that perfectly complemented her hair and eyes, and she turned this way and that way inspecting herself in the mirror.

"Ready?"

"I think so."

"I hope this is going to be as fun as mom thinks it is."

"I actually thought about this earlier while she was talking about it, but...don't they think she's dead? Abdalla gave you his condolences and everything."

"...oh wow, I think you're right. Well, this is going to be interesting night."

Raynare sighed, then laughed. All of a sudden she grinned an evil grin, looking up into Issei's eyes.

"I'm gonna get you drunk~"

Issei laughed.

Okay, hope you all enjoyed. Just some light-hearted slice of life at the moment, and that's probably what most of the next few chapter will be too. Hope you're ready. Anyway, onto what I mentioned at the top.

Note: This is a sad story, and a text dump. There's nothing about the story itself after this point, so if you don't care about my personal life then just skip it. I understand.

So, some of you know this, but I haven't ever had a great relationship with my close family. As a kid and teen, my best friend and closest family member a lot of times was my own American Bulldog, Roxy. She was my favorite thing on the planet, not exaggerating. Just recently, I drove the nine hours home from my college (Texas Tech University) pretty much just to see her, since I couldn't take her with me. It's not an exaggeration to say I was there exclusively for my dog, not at all for the rest of my family. Anyway, the night before Thanksgiving, my mother ended up (inadvertently) causing a dogfight between Roxy and our other dog, Jake. (Not my dog at all.) This wasn't the first time this had happened, but it was the last time. Roxy had always been a complete sweetheart with any person ever, but was aggressive with other animals- she'd sent our other dogs to the vet numerous times, and to cut a long story short, my dad gave me the ultimatum that the next time she attacked another animal he'd put her down. I mean, I understood- as much as I loved her, she was dangerous to other animals. Not good, for sure. But see, the thing about this, is that my dad is only home half of the year with his job. (Fourteen on, fourteen off. Google it.)

He was not at home this time.

I've been able to break apart dogfights before (every time in fact) but this time, I just didn't. This time, I grabbed a rifle, and I ended my best friends' life myself. It tore me to shreds. I buried her the same night, underneath a tree where we used to play. I was essentially comatose for a while after, then I was hysteric, but now I'm alright-ish. I'm cutting this story short to avoid breaking anyone's hearts, but yeah. It wasn't easy on my mental state.

Anyway, I'm sure I've bored you enough with this morally questionable story. I just wanted everyone to know why I haven't been writing.

Don't forget to review.