The trees were in bloom and a gentle breeze swept through the ethereal plane known as The Hunter's Dream. It was quiet, as it had always been. But despite what one would think, it was not desolate.

It's guardian stood before a grave standing opposite the workshop, which remained separate from the others. His grave. The grave of the person he had been before he moved past it all. Became something more then human. How long had it been since then, he wondered? Years? Decades? Centuries? But he also knew that it didn't really matter, seeing as his mortal form had died long ago.

As he was lost in thought, he felt a pair of hands come to rest on his shoulders and a gentle kiss being planted on the top of his head.

"Welcome home, Zoran."

He smiled when he heard that all too familiar voice. Her voice.

As he matured, he did not remember a thing from his past life; yet the memories themselves remained. Buried deep within his mind just waiting to be brought back to the light. It was clear to him now that she had spent just as much time to get him to remember who he had been as to instill in him the being that he would be. And it all started when she had addressed him by name.

Zoran. The name his father had given him.

After that, the memories seemed to cascade on him. The battles he fought. The people he lost. And above else, a bond. One that he had forged when it seemed like the darkness would crush his very spirit. He remembered every detail vividly now, especially the time when he had lost her for good.

Though he did not turn just yet, he warmly greeted his companion within this sanctuary. His domain.

"Hello, Maria."

It felt so good to be able to say those words again. It wasn't her body, but then again, neither was his. This was simply the form he chose to take, one that resembled his appearance in his past life. But despite progressing beyond humanity, he by some miracle retained the ability to feel emotion. And right now, he felt a fulfilment unlike any other.

"Did you do it?" She inquired as she lightly traced her thumbs across his shoulders.

"Yes." He answered, the memory still fresh in his mind.

"And what did you end up saying to her?" She continued her inquiry.

"Thank you, Olena. For saving my life that day...and every day since."

And he had meant it. The moment that Maria handed him the pouch earlier that day, he knew exactly what he needed to do. The time had come to finally fulfill his promise to her. He had spent an untold amount of time making his way to the reaches of the Caucasus Mountains, where he scattered Olena's ashes to the wind and allowed it to carry her in the direction of their home, where she would finally be reunited with their mother and father. It was... beautiful.

And before he did so, he made her another promise. He remembered hearing that the Great Ones were sympathetic in nature and that they would answer when called upon. But he had pledged to be a different kind of God, one that would answer the prayers of those who were too afraid to utter them; those who needed his aid the most. He had no interest in furthering the ambitions of madmen, in using humans for his own ends or in seeking offspring. And he knew that he couldn't alter history as it unfolded, for even he did not possess that kind of power.

But he could come to someone in their time of need. And to give them a chance to add a few more pages to their story could mean they would completely change another's.

And as it was, he had everything he could've ever wanted already.

"What would you like to do now?" She politely asked and, on most days, he'd have to think long and hard to answer.

With every visit to the Waking World, he brought back something to add to their little home. He had brought back food and drink that they would cook and indulge in together. Seeds of various species of flower, including her cherished lumenflowers, which now bloomed in a garden behind the workshop. Books he picked out to continue the expansion of Gehrman's already vast collection. Parts and tools they would use to construct a new piece of furniture.

But today, he had brought something special.

He finally turned towards her and found that she was wearing the recreation of her old garb that he and his loyal messengers had willed into existence for her. She had claimed she found the clothes tailored for her vassal to be rather…dainty, though they both agreed that they didn't suit her. He couldn't quite restore her to flesh and blood, but this was a satisfactory compromise.

She was there in spirit and for him, that was enough.

Without saying a word, he reached into the pouch he carried and took out what it was he had collected for her. And hearing her gasp in surprise made the whole thing better then he could've imagined. In his hand, he held the music box he had gifted her once upon a time, the one he had left at her grave in the waking world before he journeyed into the Dream for the final time. She accepted it with shaking hands and slowly opened up the hatch to reveal the small ornament that still remained inside, and after staring at it for a couple moments, she turned her gaze back to him; an evident joy in her expression.

"You remembered…" She stated in a soft voice, prompting him to softly smile back.

"Off course. How could I forget?"

This had been the item that had truly cemented their bond in their past lives, the one he had used to convey his love for her. And now that the memory had been restored, he wished to recreate that scene.

"Would you care to dance?" He said as he offered her his hand.

It looked as if she was about to cry, but despite that, her smile was wide as she accepted his hand and let him lead her to the gated garden away from the workshop. As they stood in the middle of the vast flowery field, Maria tried to hand him back the box to start it up. But he held up his hand, stopping her offering.

"Would you care to do the honours?" He asked, leaving her looking at him in mild surprise.

She complied soon after, winding up the music box and allowing it to shift back to life. It was rather distorted at first, but soon, they were listening to it's gentle, soothing song; a song that had reminded them of their humanity when they had thought it lost. Their song.

Eventually breaking out of their entrancement, Maria placed the box into her inner coat pocket and soon, the two of them were holding each-other just like they did that day.

They eased into their dance and this time, there was no stiffness. No awkward movements. Instead, they moved as one, with each motion complementing the other. And through it all, they were smiling. The last time they did this, they were in a barren, dilapidated clocktower; preparing to engage in combat for the final time. They truly thought they would never see each-other again and why wouldn't they? Fate had been a cruel mistress to them both for as long as they could remember and willing it so they would find love in someone they would inevitably loose was as cruel a joke as any.

Yet, against all odds, they had found each-other again. And again, it had been under the most unexpected circumstances. A Dream and a Nightmare colliding. A misfired bullet. An offer of aid from one he had considered little more then his next query.

And so their dance continued until the song came to an end and they halted their movements, their gaze never breaking. Despite the happiness and warmth he felt, there was an uncertainty, no matter how faint, festering at the back of his mind.

"Is this truly what you want, Maria?" He asked his partner as they stood in the fields.

"What do you mean?" She inquired, seeming unsure of what he was insinuating.

"When we agreed to end the Nightmare, I had thought I would finally put you to rest. To grant you the peace that you were denied for so long. So I guess I just wanted to know if…if you're truly content with this. Letting your soul be eternally bound once more."

Her hand cupped his cheek as she warmly smiled at him, before slowly moving downwards and placing it over the pendant that he wore on his collar. The one she had bestowed on him as a symbol of her love.

"I gave up trying to find peace long ago. Instead, it ended up finding me. And now that it has, I have no intention of letting it go."

Their lips met in a gentle kiss and through it all, Zoran was flushing with joy. There was no noticeable difference between her vassal's kiss and that of her own, yet it still felt so…unreal. He had thought that he had lost her forever and that he would never again hear her voice. Feel her touch. Tell her just how much she truly meant to him.

After their kiss was broken, the two stood in silence and simply reveled in its aftermath. After continuing this tender embrace from several moments, they came to a silent agreement and hand in hand, made their way back to the Workshop. Their home.

The hearth provided a welcoming warmth to the structure and the various books that had been accumulated over the years were now orderly arranged. But that was about all that remained of its former state.

The workspace where the two of them had once toiled away honing their weapons was now devoid of gems and arcane chemicals; instead being a place where the two of them kept their cutlery, tools and firewood. The storage area now served as a type of pantry where their food and drink were kept, including several of Zoran's favourite baked good. Stacks of paper were laid out on one of their tables, where Maria would sit and write down their collective memoirs in the hope that it would one day be the last addition to their ever-growing collection.

And most strikingly, the memory altar was gone. And in its place stood a bed, one that they had built themselves.

Closing the doors behind them, the two of them began to settle in; removing their more cumbersome clothing and extinguishing the various lanterns that were spread across the room. On most other days, they would be awake far longer: talking over tea, laughing and every once in a while, making love. But alas, they would not do anything like that this time. Tonight, they will find satisfaction in simplicity.

Zoran was now lying in bed, waiting for Maria to join him. She stood next to their former work-space, contemplating where to place their treasured keepsake. Looking over her shoulder, they shared a mutual smile just before she again wound up the box; setting it down and finally coming to bed.

With the covers draped over them, they nestled against each other and let the lullaby lull them into slumber. Neither of them really needed to sleep anymore, but they continued to do so out of custom; reminding themselves what it was like to be human. And it brought him happiness unlike any other to have a chance to hold her in his arms again.

As they lay, waiting for sleep to claim them, Zoran felt Maria softly trace her hand across his chest; along the spot the mark she had left on him was located. The other scars were gone now, all of them except this one. The only one he couldn't-and didn't want to- forget.

"It seems as if it were only yesterday…" She whispered as she continued her gentle gesture.

"Much can change in a single night. For better or worse." He placed a hand over her travelling one and in response, she lightly tightened her hold on him in acknowledgment. After lying in silence for a few moments, he broke it with a simple phrase.

"I love you…" And just as he was about to lose consciousness, he heard her say to him.

"I love you, too."

By the time the lullaby faded and silence again settled over the room, they were soundly sleeping; with nothing disturbing their rest. No guilty conscience. No torturous visions. No nightmares.

And just above where the music box rested, there hung a pair of weapons. An axe and a double-edged blade. A meeting of old and new. Of humble and lavish origins. Yet, both their edges had been dulled and had been in danger of never again reclaiming their former luster. But together, they seemed to shine like new; revealing the beauty beneath the crude and blood-soaked exterior.

The seemingly unending night; whose darkness had almost claimed them both, was finally over. And together they would remain, their union granting them the will to carry on.

And to strive towards a new beginning.

...

Author's Note: Hey guys.

I know I said I wouldn't change the ending, but after I published Chapter 6 a couple days ago, I had a sudden realization about something. This entire story I've been focusing on this idea of second-chances and moving past the horrible parts of life; that there's something better waiting for you at the end of it all. And I decided to end a story like this by... having the main character kill himself. After spending God knows how long trying to prevent that very thing from happening.

A bit tone-deaf, if I do say so myself.

So, I decided that what this ending needed was an overhaul. Yeah, I know they're still technically both dead, but I figured what better way to tie things up then giving them both a chance at a "new life". I floated an idea like this back when I was still on my first draft, but thought that the whole thing seemed like a tacked on "happily ever after" type affair. But after sitting on it for a while, I decided that everything that happened to them, maybe these two really do deserve something like that.

As for the original ending, I'll leave it up to you guys to decide what I'm going to do with it. Would you like me to preserve it somehow; maybe as a Scenario A and B for you to choose which ending you want to occur after the battle with the Moon Presence? Or do you actually like this one better?

In any case, this is the final draft. I've been working on this thing for almost half a year and think it's in the best state it's ever been. I apologize to my oldest readers who liked my original draft and had to put up with my constant changes, which I acknowledge came from my lack of prior planning before writing this. But despite all that, I am thankful that it's gotten this level of attention.

After I'm done with finals, I'll turn that one-shot I wrote a while back into a set of short stories describing a few of the stories Zoran and Maria told each-other, as well as a few original interactions I cut from the story. I love this world, I love it's characters and I love writing them, but I think I've spent more then enough time on this thing.

Thanks again for reading. Have a wonderful day.