Pals, you have no idea how happy I am to offer you this weekend update. I will also gift you with an update to 1lonelysoul soon, even though I said I wouldn't, and perhaps maybe another AU in the near future. I, of course, don't really have time for any of this, but I'm making it work. Just keep praying that school continues as uneventful as it did this week. Much love to all my readers!

It was a sauna, literally, and Soul sat with his pants rolled up and his feet soaking in the warmth. This would almost be enjoyable if it weren't for the wolfish glare that was making Soul's hackles stand up. Mira had ensured him that the collar she'd fitted to Free was blessed and would keep him weakened and drained to the point he was no more vicious than a child. It should comfort him, but Soul couldn't keep the idea from resounding in his head: Just what will it take to get that collar off him, and how long until Medusa figures it out?

Except the blond hadn't shown her face for the past week, nor had there been any wisps of Eruka. In fact, it had been eerily quiet and with each relaxing day, another inch of terror was gripping him as he created violent scenarios after bloody scenes of Black Star and Maka in various stages of death. Not to mention a hint of the dreams had come back, even with Stein's potions to tide him and each day assured him how much Maka was a part of keeping him tethered together.

As the ice melted, Free had slowly begun to transform back to a man, his face contorted in a sickly grin. "How long do you think it'll take before I'm out?"

"Long enough for us to talk," Soul tried on a shrug and found he could produce at least a modicum of that usual apathy.

Free cracked his neck, testing the cling of the collar. "So you think I'm a dog or something?"

"I think you're dangerous," Soul offered truthfully before closing it with a sigh. "But I wanted to ask you about a couple of things you said."

He sucked his teeth as he rolled his eyes, "And why would I be talking to you?"

"Technically," Soul let a small smirk pull at the corner of his mouth, "I saved you." It was a gamble, one he'd rehearsed carefully in the dark. Medusa must have freed him and that's hopefully where his loyalty lies, not in the person but the act. "The summer doesn't even get that river bed warm enough to melt a thing so you would have forever remained an ice cube without my help."

An amused snort aided the grin that broke across his cheeks. "You know, I was told you were kind of a sullen guy, not all that funny."

Soul raised his eyebrows while his smirk held strong. "Medusa tell you that? Kind of hard for a guy to be entertaining when he's being poisoned by a witch."

Another laugh and the corners of his eyes were wrinkling under the pressure of his smile. "You are funny. So maybe, just maybe you get an answer. One."

As he kicked his legs, he swirled the options in his brain like the water around his feet. One toss of the dice had won him a question, so Soul settled on chance again. "What'll it take for you to side with me instead of Medusa?"

"Side? We have teams?" he chuckled back.

"You said you don't serve," Soul shook his head solemnly. "So I don't expect you to, but killing my wife, my child, isn't an option I can leave on the table."

The amusement faded away as Free's eyebrows furrowed. "A kid?"

Soul couldn't stop some of the rage seething from between his teeth, "That girl you tossed like a ragdoll is pregnant."

A low, long whistle broke his lips before he clucked his tongue a few times. "That's not my style."

"But it was," Soul pressed back. "You hurt her and part of me isn't going to forget that, but I'm willing to work with you as long as you tell me the truth."

Free tested that thought as he worked his lower lip. "About?"

"You mean I get more than one question?" Soul let that signature smirk come back.

A sharp laugh left his throat, "Sure. A few more. Consider it payback for the girl."

"Maka," Soul corrected. "And you said you know her mother."

"A cold-hearted bitch," Free muttered.

"Agreed," Soul shot quickly before sighing.

Free was chuckling freely now as the ice was starting to flake from his shoulders. "You've met her?"

"Don't have to," Soul shook his head. "Guess I should have said I don't forget about anyone hurting Maka. Family included. But she loves her mother, no matter how absent she's been." He paused from the diatribe he was about to start in terms of his mother-in-law's other flaws to tilt his head and raise an eyebrow. "You want to speed this up?"

"Speed what up?"

Soul motioned towards the lower half that was still fairly tightly encased in ice. "The thaw."

That wolfish grin was back but Soul didn't exactly feel the same malice in it. "You'd risk it?"

"That collar is supposed to keep you on the gentle side," Soul paused before he sucked at his teeth. "But I'd be a fool if I thought it would last forever. You're going to do what you want either way, Free. Might as well just get it over with." He eased his legs out of the water and walked behind the column of ice. "Get ready for a swim." It was easy since they hadn't removed him from the wheeled platform and as soon as the first wheel hit the lip of the pool the rest of Free tipped in.

It wasn't instantaneous by any means but the solidity of the ice started to waver in the warmer water. "So what'll I have to do to get the collar off?" Free was starting to wiggle his shoulders as the warm water leaked between his arms and the ice.

"Still don't know if I can trust you at your word." Soul let a little of that sullenness warble at the edge of his words. "But I'd love to say just promise me you won't side with Medusa ever again."

With his hands now unrestrained, Free offered his open palms innocently at Soul. "Look, if I knew she was pregnant-"

"So you'll just murder my wife once she has her baby?" Soul offered without patience.

Free frowned, "I see your point."

"Exactly," Soul sighed. "What is it to you, anyway? Her mother has done shit for her for over ten years. You want to get back at her, you're not doing any good going after Maka. It's obvious she doesn't give a damn."

"Huh," Free started fiddling with his lip again in thought as he stretched out his arms. "Either you're lying to me or you don't know."

Now it was Soul's turn to be frozen, the ice gripping at his heart. "What don't I know?"

"Yaara was, maybe is here," Free raised an eyebrow playfully. "And don't think that's something that Medusa told me. I can smell that bitch all over this place. Here, the town, around the castle yards."

His head shook slowly in disbelief, "That bitch." Soul's hands clenched into fists as he dug his knuckles into the tops of his thighs. "Even if she was here, it doesn't mean she's doing it for her daughter. If she really loved her, she wouldn't be hiding in the fucking shadows."

"You sure that wife of yours hasn't been meeting with her?" Free waited to see Soul blanch, to see some kind of horror come to his face as he realized his wife had betrayed him in some way. That was the normal reaction, what he had expected, but instead, he only saw more fire.

"Maka would tell me," Soul said without an ounce of doubt.

Free let out a swift snort. At this point he could move his legs, thick ice cubes sitting at his ankles but still allowing him to inch forward. As he got within range to grasp the prince he watched the younger man's face again, waiting for a hint of fear or distrust. All he could do was let out another sharp laugh. "So what's the plan, prince?"

"You have a choice," Soul offered calmly. "You can go to the dungeon or… if you promise to be cool, maybe we can test run you walking around the palace. Supervised and collared, of course."

An amused smirk broke across his lips. "I can definitely be cool."

Even with everything weighing on her, Maka momentarily felt it lift as she saw Stein standing in the roadway, an unperturbed smile on his face. "You made it."

"A little bumpy, but…" Black Star gave an amiable shrug as he watched Maka quickly dismount and rush for Stein's arms. The conversation over the campfire came back to him quickly, that idea of love and the navigation of it as he watched Stein, a man who most would see as insanely cruel, cradle Maka like a doting father.

To make it worse he heard Stein whisper softly, "Are you alright?" before smoothing the blond hair on Maka's head.

Maka shook off the question as she pulled back from him. "Did Liz pass you?"

Stein nodded carefully in reply. "No problems there."

"Good." Maka hesitated, her teeth working into her lip before she locked eyes with him. "Do you see them?"

"Just fine," Stein answered back quickly. "You can make both of them out?"

"Mostly," Maka smiled as she touched a hand to her stomach. "I… can't tell if they're boys or girls or… if there's anything wrong."

"There's not," Stein delivered back firmly. "They'll be two, fine, healthy babies."

Maka risked a glance at Black Star who was still in the saddle. His smile was somehow telling her I told you so even if he hadn't.

"I have a few things for you." Stein broke her attention as he turned to his horse that he'd tied to a nearby tree. He was shuffling through his saddlebag as Maka came to his side, her hands open and waiting. "A long letter from Marie, as well as a few gifts from her-"

"She didn't have to," Maka said with a sweet sigh.

Stein's only reply to that was a roll of his eyes as he deposited the goods in Maka's hands. "There are extra supplies that should get you to Spirit's without issue. I'll ask that you to give him this letter from me, as well." He'd commented on Marie's being large but this was less a letter and more a manifesto, many pages sealed together.

"You think he can read this much?" Maka laughed with a mocking raise of her eyebrows.

After he deposited the letter on top of the stack he let his hand fall on her head. "I know it will be hard but perhaps-"

"No," Maka cut him off. "I will be nice, civil-"

"I'll keep her from killing him," Black Star cut in flatly.

"My thanks," Stein chuckled.

With a huff, Maka turned away from Stein, slipping from his grasp to deposit all the goods at her own horse. "Ten weeks with him," she grumbled.

"You better be talking about your father," Black Star grinned.

Maka shot him a glare before turning back to Stein. "Are you sure you can't come with me and we'll let Black Star go back to his beloved?"

Stein only gave a commiserative smile before he looked up at Black Star. "Don't ride too hard, but for Soul's sake keep the pace."

Black Star rolled his eyes, the push already old and stale in his head. "That's the plan."

"Stein…" Maka was back at his side, worrying a piece of paper between her fingers. "I know you're going to tell me you can't, but can you give this to him? I…" she lowered her voice almost to nothing, "... I just want to be the one to tell him about the babies. I didn't even sign it, I swear, I just…" Those green eyes pleaded up at him as the words trailed off weakly from her lips.

It hit Black Star again with such force as he watched Stein lean closer with a sad smile, one hand tapping under her chin while the other took the letter. "If it's safe, I will. If not… perhaps that's another surprise that'll await our prince." In the strangest motion yet, he watched as Stein engulfed her in his arms again, a hug that was much more desperate than before. And while watching Stein be human was definitely intriguing and maybe a little heartwarming, Black Star's attention was immediately pulled away.

The order from Black Star's lips came next, not any of the amusement from the teasing before even tainting the edges. "Maka, get on your horse." The tone thankfully had both on the move, Stein hoisting Maka up in the saddle.

"Someone's coming." Maka urged her horse next to Black Star's.

"And we're going," Black Star shot right back. "You got this, Stein?"

"Absolutely." Stein grinned as he pulled his sword from its sheath.

Maka's heart was already clattering in her chest as she looked down at him. "Someone once told me that you should protect only one thing: your own life." She tried to offer it as firmly as possible but still felt the trembling disturb the last few words. All she got in reply was Stein's amused smile as Black Star grabbed her reins and urged her horse along with his.

Stein was tempted to watch them go but his eyes were hard-pressed towards the edge of the forest, watching as the lithe blond slowly materialized through the trees. "Ah, physician. Nice to see you."

"If you don't mind, I don't exactly have time for you," Medusa kept a bemused grin even with cold words.

"Oh, no," Stein answered with a chuckle, "I'm your opponent now."

Medusa gave a disappointed sigh as the dark lines slithered off her arms, breaking into the air like arrows in Stein's direction. He instantly pushed forward, watching the trajectory and pressing just between the deadly black spikes to arrive in front of her. Stein was close enough now for his fist to meet flesh, the hard strike of his palm slapping against her sternum and forcing her a few steps back. "Foolish to not use your sword," Medusa chuckled as her feet planted firmly on the ground.

Stein's grin was reaching manic proportions. "Foolish of you to think that's the most powerful weapon I have."

Medusa tried to take a step but her legs refused to move. In a swift moment, she dropped her eyes to see the gossamer threads that looped into her skin from the ground.

"I haven't gotten good enough where I can do it without touching someone, but…" Stein paused for a joyful laugh. "Once we've made contact, my soul sewing can easily take hold." He barely waited for the end of the sentence before he was throwing another strike, sending her flying back into the trees, tiny threads grasping and holding her up. Stein was ready to inflict the third when his feet moved without him, propelling him back and away from her. The earth was scorched black in the shape of an arrow and it wasn't until he was thrown that Medusa could laugh again.

"You think your measly little threads can hold me?" Another vector appeared underneath her and the strings ripped out of her skin, her body quickly propelled forward and then around him, catching Stein by surprise. Her kick connected with his back, knocking him forward and off-balance just in time for the second wave of thin, black arrows to swarm in the air and come down to focus on his back. The blood shot from Stein's mouth as he tumbled into the road, barely able to right himself on his knees. "I don't want to kill you."

Stein lifted his head and mirrored the wicked grin she had on her face. "You seemed pretty intent on it just now. And what about the children?"

"You take a lot of interest in them for not being your own." Medusa eased back on her heels with a whistle. "I thought I heard you were a mad man."

"Mad, but still a man." Stein launched forward but only to find Medusa gone, sent sideways with a vector that brought her to his side, her nails like daggers stabbing into his side and provoking another splatter of blood. He was quick to turn and send a fist connecting to her stomach, his fingers grasping in tightly to the material to keep her to him rather than send her flying.

It was then that the sickly arrows started to appear over her head and dive for his. With every last ounce of his strength, Stein did what he did best, stitched. It was every last bit of her, all that his mind could imagine tied up tightly. Her lungs squeezed, her eyes remained motionless on him, even those tiny arrows which he realized were some strange amplifications of her soul stayed in place, just hovering maliciously at his neck, ready to slice as soon as his strength waned.

"How long can you hold this?" Medusa gritted through her trapped teeth.

Stein let a sick smile grace his lips. "Long enough."

"For what?" As much amusement as she could manage leaked through her unmoving lips. "To give that girl a little more time? Your precious pretend daughter?"

"No," Stein murmured. "Just long enough for the Madness to hit." With all of him weakened there was no keeping it at bay, the insane surge overwhelming him as the maniacal laugh started to burst from his lips. His blood was splattering with each tremble of his chest but it didn't matter, none of it did, because now there was nothing to stop him. The stitches held tight as his sword arm finally had the power to move. It was a swift, easy glide just under her ribcage, that beautiful symphony of loosened guts hitting his ears as her body slid in two.

The vectors, the arrows, all of it fizzled away as Stein fell to his knees, the sick laughter surrounding him. He could swear he heard Medusa join in as well though it might have just been the chorus in his head, those echoing voices that Soul knew well. While the Madness was certainly not done, Stein's body had no way of giving in to it, the pooling blood proving to be overwhelming. Stein plopped onto his side in the dust, a few more chuckles exited his lips before he managed to get to his back. "I did it," he crowed joyously but it was no more than a whisper.

It was just as his eyes started to lose focus and his mind was barely able to resurface from the Madness when the blond hair cascaded around him. Sure he was dead, that his mind was producing one last vision that was supposed to ease him to the beyond, Stein whispered, "Ah, Marie. I'm glad… just don't name our son after me, alright? Promise me that."