A whole 87k words, 26 chapters, and now you get **sexual content** which means now I change the rating. Jeez. If you're not interested in sex, you can skip this chapter. There's no real plot that you're missing, just fluff because I hurt you, my readers, a lot and I need to treat you nicely.

Soul was on the porch, elbows digging into his knees as his eyes traced along the driveway and woods. Clamorous laughter was drifting out from the house and it did bring at least a modicum of calm to him. It was enough that he had been right: they had been smart and were all safe for now. Everything he loved was under this roof and tonight there was only happiness and maybe something more than that.

"Kind of hard to ditch a party when there's under ten members," Black Star grumbled through the screen door.

"It's winding down anyway," Soul motioned him closer and Black Star obliged, letting the door clap behind him as he took a seat next to Soul on the stoop. "Shelley was half asleep at the table last time I checked."

"Full asleep now," Black Star laughed. "She was happy, that's what matters."

"Another good memory in the books." Soul held out a fist and Black Star finished the pound.

"And next year…" Black Star let that trickle off with a sigh.

"It's going to work," Soul nudged him.

"Of course it's going to fucking work," Black Star spit. "Anything I do, I do it right. This bitch is dead and she doesn't even know it. Just… feels weird. You looked forward to out and I…" he offered a crumpling of his shoulders as his head shook. "You ever think about me being the boss?"

"You mean you're not out just setting your own rules?" Soul tilted his head. "How's that not the same fucking thing?"

"Hear me out, Medusa goes, I take the number one spot, everyone follows me."

Soul grimaced, "But the number one spot of what? You make your own gang, piss off the same people, toy with the cops?"

"Maybe it's not so much a gang," Black Star moved his inquisitive eyes Soul's way. "Neighborhood watch sounds lame as hell but maybe instead of just getting out, we get rid of all this shit. Not just Medusa, but burn it all down."

"Be the heroes of the whole fucking town?" Soul's laugh was only half incredulous especially as Black Star's face looked less full of questions and more passionately sure. "Man, if it wasn't you, I would call the asylum right now but… I don't know. If that's the way you want to go, it sounds better than Medusa's second-hand man for the rest of your life."

"And if it was legal, straight, you'd help?" Black Star raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, when I'm not busy being…" he sighed. What, project lead? You think Death won't notice your absence this week? Or Eibon? What are you leaving Maka to do?

"Mr. Albarn," Black Star finished with a laugh.

"A house husband?" Soul chuckled. "I don't know, after all of this, maybe that sounds fucking fantastic."

"Holy shit, Mr. Domestic over here." Black Star tousled Soul's hair before leaving the arm to wrap around his shoulder. "So, you get your action over at the house?"

"Don't kiss and tell," Soul struggled with the arm that tightened around him, Black Star's skull knocking against his.

"Meaning no, you dweeb. What the fuck." Black Star ended their embrace with a shove, sending Soul into the railing. "Then I may as well throw out the condoms I bought you that are in with the extra clothes in the trunk, huh? I got Maka some extra clothes, too, but tell her Kim picked them out. I don't need her getting her literal panties in a bunch because I went through her drawers."

Condoms, Soul gulped as if this was junior year in high school and his first fumbling in the back of a car.

Black Star read his mind, "Don't need you two having a Shelley right away. And whatever you fucking do, don't cry after, OK?"

"Cry?" Soul balked, "I'm not gonna fucking cry!"

"Really?" Black Star narrowed his eyes at him. "When's the last time sex wasn't a point a to point b process for you, dude? When was the last time you actually loved a chick you were about to bone?" He let that one rhetorically drift for just a second before continuing. "And while I'm pretty sure the last time I saw you cry was when Mosquito stabbed you, I'm going to bet she's seen some fucking tears."

"Why's that?" Soul was honestly curious since Black Star was right, the last time he'd publicly cried was after he was sure his guts were about to pop out a hole in his back. And that was just pain, pure and simple. Not because I had real feelings about it one way or the other.

"Because tough, quiet guy Soul crumbles when he's in love," Black Star smirked.

Before Soul could even react the door was opening again and both men turned their heads to see Maka. "I think we're calling the party. Shelley's up in bed. You two want any more to eat or can we close up the kitchen?"

"I got the clean-up," Black Star eased to his feet. "You two should probably get some rest, head over to the other house." He offered Soul a sly wink to Soul before turning back to Maka. "Just make sure he gets his beauty rest."

"Hey, pop the trunk," Soul managed to squeeze out of his throat, the idea still making his palms break out into a sweat.

"Oh, yeah," he chimed playfully before reaching into his pocket, clicking the fob until the trunk clicked open. "See you two for breakfast."

"Good night," Maka was the only one to murmur it as the boys split, Black Star back into the house as Soul walked down off the porch and to the car. "What's in the trunk?"

"Kim packed us some extra clothes," Soul threw the protective lie over his shoulder.

"Great!" Maka trotted after him, meeting him at the back of the car.

Soul felt blessed by the fact the trove was split into two duffles, hopefully saving Maka from diving in and finding the stash. Stop thinking she doesn't want you. She sees those, she'll probably be happy, glad at least that you're prepared to… He paused at the bags to turn his head to her, reaching an arm out and grabbing her at the nape of the neck to bring her close enough to plant a tender kiss on her lips. "I love you, got that?"

Maka laughed, "That sounded a lot more sure this time."

"And I keep getting surer every minute." His smirk lit her cheeks on fire but he missed it as he turned back to the bags and grabbed them before starting the walk towards the cottage.

Maka shut the trunk, barely recovering from words that made her stomach loop like a rollercoaster. She caught up with him to get the door, letting him in first before closing it behind her. Regardless of the emptiness outside, she locked it behind them. She followed him up the stairs and waited for him to throw the bags on the ground next to the bed before slipping her arms around his waist. Maka was careful not to irritate his stitches, her hands instead drifting up to his chest which rewarded her with a contented sigh from his lips. "Lay down with me?"

"Should we…?" He ran his hands along her arms. "Get ready for bed first, huh?"

Her forehead pressed against his back for a moment before she released him. "Make sure you brush your teeth. Twice! You ate so much cake that your teeth are going to rot out of your head." She added a push at the end, encouraging his chuckles as he moved back out of the bedroom.

Maka watched him go, letting her arms settle around her waist. It did matter, everything he was about to say to her, she knew that, but she couldn't help but want to pretend for a little while. They were in love. Finally, fabulously, completely, and that was everything she could ever ask for, but every time she tried to let it take over her mind it came with that one, not so soft caveat: you're living on borrowed time. This could be the first and last time you sleep with him. You might just have everything you want, but it could be only one night's worth and then it's gone. That was a step too far and Maka shook the words from her head, forcing herself into action.

She bent down over the duffles, unzipping the first and finding Soul's clothes on top. Unzipping bag number two thankfully revealed the contents of her drawers. The choices weren't exactly the ones she would have made, mostly just the cutest outfits she had rather than functional, but she was actually relieved to find at least one of her nightgowns. Really, she was better off calling them oversized t-shirts, but they were long enough to not require shorts, a definite upgrade in comfort. Maka threw off her clothes from the day, leaving them in a neat pile at the foot of the bed.

There was a distinctive wave of apprehension that took her, forcing her to rush in throwing the nightgown over her head. All talk, Maka, that's what you are. That cute little 'don't you want me' but then you're still worried that maybe when he gets there, he won't. There's been a lot of waiting, anticipating, and what if it's not-

Soul surprised her with a soft touch of his hand to her waist. "Bathroom's free if you want it."

"Sure."

It was Soul's turn to watch her leave, his mind running through the prepared lines. He knew he wanted to lay it out straight, no-frills but he wondered how to override that protective urge that was spurring his mind to shut parts away. After stripping down to his boxers, he crumpled into the bed with an exhausted sigh and rolled onto his back to watch the door. When she finally came drifting back he tried to let his eyes be the only thing processing, easing up and down her frame as she moved closer to the bed.

"What are you looking at?" she grinned playfully.

Soul slipped into a smile while she sat on the bed. "Showing off your legs again."

Maka turned to him while she started the process of braiding her hair for bed. "I'm not showing off," she echoed the past.

"Don't do that," he perched quickly on an elbow so he could reach her, swatting her hands out of her hair.

"Why?" She blinked at him and the innocence of it made his smile grow to a smirk.

"Come here." The swat had turned into a grip on her hand that offered a tug of encouragement and Maka fell back on the bed next to him. He was still propped on his elbow, staring down at her as his fingers quickly went to work in her hair, smoothing strands away from her face. Maka turned on her side, giving him the ability to sink his fingers to the scalp, massaging softly with each caress.

"That's a good reason," she murmured as she let her eyes close, trying to concentrate on the tingle that started at her head and shot like electricity to her middle.

This was the only sensation he wanted to give her, but the impossible nature of that made a hopeless sigh swell in his chest. "You have choices, Maka. A lot is going to happen and… I think you'll probably be able to guess my opinions but in the end, your part of the plan is up to you."

"Keep going." Her hand pressed into the bare skin of his chest, measuring each movement of his heart.

"Black Star's going to pretend to find us at Marie's. Lure Medusa in and kill her there. It's at least me, Kilik, Kim, Black Star, and Stein against whoever Medusa chooses to bring. Marie and Shelley are staying here and you could either stay here with them or be there to spring the trap." The gentle glide of his hand stopped, digging firmly into her hair to tilt her head. "Look at me, please." Maka obliged and those bright green orbs tore into him. "If you're there, you're going to see me kill people. There's no way around it and I won't stop even if you beg, you cry, anything because it's what I'll have to do to keep you, keep everyone safe." I'll be a monster.

While he had expected fear there, Maka's eyes were only clouded with concentration. "If Medusa comes in and doesn't see me, won't she know it's a trap?"

A second's worth of wonder was settling in his chest, the idea that this was no girl next door with innocent eyes fluttering up at him. If anything, he was positive she'd hold her own against anyone in the pit. "Well, at that point, you'd assume she'd be too far in to back out."

"But she'll come into the room and see you and know," Maka shook her head. "If I'm there her guard is down from start to finish. Wouldn't that give you more power at the moment?"

"Yeah, but-"

"I'm directly in harm's way," Maka just stopped herself from rolling her eyes. Don't make fun of his fear because it's real. You're talking about being in a room during a murder. "But lulling her into a false sense of security means we strike first. That could mean everything, couldn't it?"

Soul sighed helplessly, "Definitely could."

"Then I'm going to be there." There should have been a wave of fear, she knew that, but instead it was as if she was stealing his protectiveness through her fingers. "I want to give you every chance you can to win."

"You…" another sigh broke his lips before he leaned down and pressed them to hers. His hand went back to drifting through her tresses, creating a brilliant ache in his chest.

It was just about to choke him when she pulled away. "I know you hate that idea and I'm sorry."

The laugh trembled out of his throat weakly. "I think I'm going to hate just about everything other than fucking forgetting the rest of the world exists and staying like this."

Maka gifted him with a laugh as her fingers flexed against his skin. "We'll have time like that after."

"All I want to do is beg you to promise that," the honesty made his throat feel raw but he couldn't stop the stream. "Because I… I'll promise, I'll swear that if we finish this, I'll do whatever I can just to make a home for us. It can be here, the city, I don't care, I'll make it happen. Just, it has to be with you, Maka. Please."

"I wasn't planning on it ending another way," Maka whispered with a smile.

"Please," he begged again, not necessarily to her but to the universe, a final wish before he captured her mouth again. The desperation felt so alien to him since even though it was worse than the night that everything almost came to ruin it wasn't urging him anxiously forward. Instead, it was slowing him, making his fingers prolong each caress long enough for him to memorize each second of contact with her skin.

Lingering was too weak a word for the way Soul played with her lips, testing each nerve ending until they tingled. His hand ran down her arm to move to the dip in her side, following the curve down to her leg. With a firm grip on her thigh, he pulled her leg to drape over his side, Maka already feeling him achingly hard against her. She pressed her hips against his, creating friction that teased a moan from his mouth into hers.

His fingers were on the move again, raking up her thigh to disappear under the fabric of her oversized shirt to tempt at the lacey edge of her panties. His hand slipped under the hem to cup her ass, bringing her grinding into him again. That firm hand kept her there as he broke between her lips, his tongue exploring the sweetness of her mouth. It was everything he imagined, the dreamy scenarios of that before bed peck but a thousand times more as her hand dug into his hair to urge him on.

Again, this was a purposefully delayed drift, cataloging the tastes, the sounds, the touches before his hand slipped out of that soft, silky material to travel along the hem, following the curve to the inside of her legs. When he pulled away he was overwhelmed by the weak moan that left her lips, the way she chased after him to bring them back. "Is this OK?"

It was her turn to beg and all Maka could do was flex her leg around his hip and murmur breathlessly, "Please."

As their lips met again, he hooked a finger under her panties, pulling the fabric aside but it was him who felt teased, the wetness that greeted his pointer eliciting another groan from his mouth. He followed it to the source, plunging his finger inside her, leaving it slick and ready to rub over her clit. As he started the slow circles she broke from his kiss, a panting moan leaving her lips. Soul took the opportunity to kiss along her neck, latching lips and then teeth against the tender skin.

"Yes," she urged helplessly as her fingers tensed into his shoulder. Her nails were digging into skin as she moved her hips in time with his fingers. "Faster, please," she was breathless against his ear and the breath hitched in her throat as he followed orders, adding pressure and speed to his fingers. "Soul," the air forced in her throat again as she felt that inescapable wave, the mindless ecstasy dragging her under and making everything but the scream of her body fade into the background.

Soul had pulled away just in time to watch the bliss cross her face, the frantic way her green eyes rolled back as breathless iterations of his name left her lips. He slowed but kept the soft motions until her eyes finally focused on him, her hips trembling with each stroke. "Still alright?" he murmured as he nuzzled against her cheek, planting a soft kiss there.

Maka took a few more quivering breathes before smiling, "Maybe I just want to stay like this too."

"After," he whispered back, hoping to keep reality at bay for at least a little longer.

As if she read it from his skin, Maka's hands came back to life, pressing him back against the bed so she could shift her weight on top of him. He was eager to have both hands, to let them explore again and took no time before slipping her shirt over her head. Even with the new, wonderful distraction of her breasts, Soul could barely concentrate as she moved her hips, rubbing him just perfectly through his boxers. One hand cupped her breast, playing at the nipple before she tapped at his chest. "Hold that thought."

"Wait?" he almost squeaked as he lost the delicious friction when she struggled to disengage and stand.

Maka couldn't stop a short snort of a laugh as she watched the helpless confusion on his face. "Just for a condom."

"You…?" He was far from thinking of the stash that Black Star had left for him as he propped himself up on his elbows in the bed.

"Told Kilik I forgot something and had him stay with Shelley in the car," Maka answered with another short laugh as she bent to grab her purse, fishing out the box to toss at him. "But I think he was a little suspicious when I came back with nothing in my hands."

Soul just let the box thud uselessly against his chest as he sat the rest of the way up in the bed. He fiddled with the box, taking out the wrappers and separating one. "Even before we talked?"

"I told you, you weren't the only one wanting, Soul." To punctuate that, Maka threw off her panties, adding them to the growing pile of clothes on the ground. "Plus, just because we have them doesn't mean we have to, but… this was definitely a want to." She stole the condom from his fingertips. "Lose the boxers."

Fuck, she's ordering me around and it's… he almost groaned as he forced the last of his clothing over as his need was edging towards dire. But soon her hands were on him, sliding the latex down his shaft leaving him with absolutely no control over the gruff rattling that came from his chest. His hand came back to her the healthy curve just above her thighs and he flexed his fingers into the flesh, a melodious gasp followed by a laugh leaving her lips. "Too rough?" he murmured but felt helpless against the urge to do it again.

"Just surprised," she shook her head with a smile. "Go ahead." Maka waited for him, this time enjoying the obvious need in those fingers as he allowed himself another grab. Soul used the momentum to pull her back onto the bed, Maka throwing her legs around him without hesitation.

With one hand on her hip and the other pressing himself against her opening, Soul took a breath's time to stare into her eyes. "Stay with me, OK?"

"You don't have to ask," Maka murmured back as she brought her lips to his and lowered her hips.

Soul's hand moved instantly out of her way, coming to brace her other hip as she brought him to his depth. "Oh, Maka," he trembled out against her lips as she started a slow climb back up. He let her set a less urgent pace, teasing him into breathless moans against her neck. One hand drifted up her side, clutching desperately at her breast as his fingertips pinched the nipple. He was hungry for her skin again, breaking the kiss and nibbling along her neck and collarbone. "Just stay," dissolved into a groan as her hands met the wall, giving herself the steadying she needed to pick up the pace. "Please, Maka," he murmured.

"It's alright," she whispered back. "First but definitely not last." She kissed at his temple as his fingers gripped tighter into the flesh of her hip, urging her faster. He sucked in a breath before letting it out as a guttural groan, his lips pressing the sound against her chest as he slowed her hips. The euphoria left him frozen, the muscles pleasantly tight in his legs as she rode out the last surges of his climax. Her hands fell from the wall, one drifting along his back while the other slipped through his hair, pulling his head closer so her lips could kiss at his hairline again. "I love you."

"I love you." Without hesitation, he proved Black Star right, letting tears that weren't so much bitter as joyful with the ache of love touch his cheeks.