Xibalba examined himself in the mirror, muttering under his breath as he took a look at his reflection, glancing at his costume in embarrassment. It consisted of a black silk suit with matching pants, silver trimmings in the shapes of swirls and leaves, along with a long black cape with intricate patterns and silver swirls. His gloves were replaced with a pair of white gloves, and black boots. "What the hell…?" He had never liked masquerades for this reason. Too much glitz and glamour.

Epona giggled at his expression. "It's the only thing I could find so fast."

"Seriously? I'm supposed to wear this?"

"Don't forget you come from Europe, you have to wear a suitable attire, and you can't use your usual colors or anyone in there will recognize you, especially La Muerte."

"I'm scared, Epona…" he sighed, looking towards his window and crossing his arms. "What if she doesn't want to see me again? What if she doesn't let me see our child?"

"She is a kind woman, I'm certain she will forgive you eventually."

"That's the problem. I don't know if I will bear her rejection… I love her too much…"

"That's why you will hold on. If you truly love her, fight for her, earn her affection back little by little even if it seems impossible for the time being."

Xibalba sighed once more, and started to shape shift, his tar skin turning into flesh with tan complexion, with darker eyelids and hazel eyes. His moustache and beard shrank a bit, and changed into a midnight color, while dark hair grew on his skull, it was partially combed though he had a few loose strands, while his wings retreated into his back, disappearing for the time being. Epona smiled.

"You look handsome."

"Thanks. I hope La Muerte will think the same." Xibalba grabbed the raven-themed mask and put it on. It would be enough to diminish the chances of being recognized, not to mention it matched with his attire.

"By the way, have you thought of what you will be giving her as a present?"

Xibalba remained silent, thinking. He had an idea of what he was going to give to her as a birthday present. It meant very much to him, and it was not very extravagant. He knew she didn't like those things.

"I have something in mind."


La Muerte sighed as the latest attempt to win her favor retreated back to the crowd after presenting with a large carriage filled with flowers brought from all over the region, adorned with sparkles and jewels. Sol glanced at one of the servants and gave him a nod; the servant cleared his throat.

"And at last, Lord Itzlacol, God of Fire, one of the most recent Gods of War!"

La Muerte, and the rest of the guests glanced at the regal figure approaching. Unlike with most guests, suddenly this one's servants immediately rushed forward and unrolled a red velvet carpet for the god to walk on as trumpeters blew into their instruments, signaling the arrival of the entity. La Muerte rolled her eyes internally; with one look she could tell he was very superficial.

The god in question had every reason to be so vain, though. He was very handsome, and many of the single goddesses in the pantheon sighed dreamily whenever they saw him. His facial features were perfectly drawn, and his amber eyes showed a great confidence and pride of himself, something which La Muerte disliked. His long red hair was curly and perfectly combed, as well as tied into a ponytail, with a short matching beard growing on his chin. He wore a beautiful, and almost glowing lion-themed robe made of the best silk in the region, colored red and gold with a little white. His body frame was muscular and strong, and he strode down the red carpet with a great elegance, La Muerte wondered if he had rehearsed it. As the god named Itzlacol was finally before the thrones, he gave King Sol a deep bow. "It is the greatest honor to have been invited to your daughter's birthday, Your Highness."

Sol smiled and nodded. "How could I have not invited the most good-looking and wealthiest god in our region." He was exxagerating, he knew the Kings were far more powerful and rich than he was, but they did not mind this time.

Itzlacol's attention turned to La Muerte as she stood up from her throne and walked forward, allowing him to take her hand and plant his lips on the back of it. He gave her a warm smile, but yet she couldn't help but feel a shiver of displeasure run down her spine. She had never liked Itzlacol, even though he had already tried to court her endless times.

"Feliz cumpleaños, princesa La Muerte." Itzlacol spoke with an almost seductive tone. "I've taken the bother of bringing you not one, but various presents as a token of my appreciation." He stood aside, and a few of his servants came forward with a beautiful dress of the color of the sun with sparkles of golden and red. "A dress designed in France, Italy and New York, sewn by the Himalayan Tribes and fire-resistant." Another came forward with a beautiful diamond necklace on a case. "A necklace with diamonds obtained from the best mines in the world." A last one brought forward a beautiful cream-colored horse, the most beautiful the guests had ever seen. "And my best horse, an Arabian thoroughbred mare which I believe would be suitable for such a lady as yourself."

Another horse. Great, we'll need bigger stables. That's what she wanted to say.

"Thanks, My Lord, I appreciate your gifts." She said instead, curtsying politely.

Itzlacol smiled in return, and with a wave of his hand sent his servants to leave the presents on the correspondent table. But as King Sol was about to announce the part was going to begin, suddenly a maid rushed forward towards his throne, panting. "Your highness, sorry to interrupt you, but we have one more guest."

"One? I thought all had arrived." Sol replied gently.

"He says he had a problem with his carriage, and had to come on horseback."

"I see… Very well, let him in."

Nodding, the maid rushed to towards the doors, crossing them momentarily. La Muerte stared at the scene curiously, wondering what was going on. Another guest running late? That was strange… A few seconds later, a Remembered came through the door, and coughed to call all present people's attention. "May I have your attention, please? I have the pleasure to present His Illustrious Count Osvaldo of Aragón."

La Muerte watched as the doors opened and a figure strode in elegantly, with a posture she recognized form European pantheons; was this individual from Europe? How come her father had invited a foreign God, if he did not think highly of them? Aimé realized what was going on, and let out a relieved sighed to call her father's attention. "I'm glad he made it."

Sol gave his younger daughter a confused look. "You invited him?"

"Well, you said you wanted someone from noble lineage, and I thought of him. He's a gentleman and would be a perfect candidate for my big sister."

"May I know from where do you know him?"

"Remember when I spent a couple of years in Spain?"

Sol connected the dots and smiled. "Ah, I see." He turned to the stranger as he approached.

The Count named Osvaldo made a reverence none of the other guests recognized. "My King, I am honored that you would receive me at your daughter's birthday." La Muerte blinked. There was something about his voice…

"Hmm, the Royal Greeting of the Spanish Court, I have not seen it in years." King Sol commented.

"My father was very strict in matters of etiquette."

"I see. And who is your father."

"Count Bartolo of Aragón."

"I have heard of Count Bartolo, but I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure of meeting him."

"He sent me over to inspect the family's terrains, but when Miss Aimé invited me to her sister's birthday, there was no way I could refuse."

Sol nodded, and motioned to La Muerte. "Allow me to present you to my daughter, La Muerte."

Xibalba had been very nervous when he first came in, thinking any of the other gods would recognize him, but thankfully no one found him familiar, even though they did give him suspicious glances. But when La Muerte stood up from the throne and came forward to meet him, his heart skipped a beat, and he was dazed by how beautiful she looked tonight, he could say even more beautiful than the magical night they danced on top of the cathedral in Venice. It had only been a month ever since he drove him away, but to him it had felt like an eternity, he stared at her like he had not seen her in years. It took him all his common sense to regain his composure.

"Notice me." He pleaded in his head. "See through the mask, penetrate the disguise, recognize me, mi amorShow that you know who I am, and then you may do as you please. Banish me, slap me, hold me close and repeat that you love me once more, but don't ignore me. Anything, as long as you show that the time we spent together meant as much to you as it did to me…"

La Muerte had a feeling about this man. A feeling of déja vu when she felt his hazel eyes looking at her with such tenderness and adoration and reminded her of… La Muerte quickly shook the thought out of her head; maybe she was just imagining things. She smiled and curtsied politely at the count, who responded with a chivalrous reverence.

"It is my pleasure to be present in such an extravagant party, milady." Osvaldo smiled, planting a kiss on the back of her hand in a way that sent shivers down her spine.

King sol noted that the newcomer had brought no servants carrying any sort of gift. "Your excellency, I do not mean to be rude, but I see you have brought no present for my daughter…"

"Oh, no, Your Highness, I did bring a present for the festejada." Osvaldo smiled, and with a wave of his hand summoned a small, long white box with a red ribbon, which he held out to La Muerte with a hand. "I'm afraid it is not as expensive or luxurious as all other presents you have received, but I do hope it's of your liking."

La Muerte grabbed the box gently, and removed the lid. The content inside the box made her gasp in utter surprise, and she was flooded with memories…

It was a rose. But not any kind of rose, this rose was of a beautiful purple-blue color, with a black ribbon wrapped around its thornless stem. She picked it up from the box and twirled the stem in the fingers, examining the flower. It was truly beautiful, and there were even a few drops of dew on the petals. Most maidens present gasped in surprise and others whispered in envy, roses of that color were very hard to find. The rest of La Muerte's suitors snickered, unimpressed by the flower's extraordinary and unusual coloration; a simple rose? That was all? If this was all he had no ofer then he was no threat.

Until they saw the expression on La Muerte's face.

"Thank you very much, your Excellency…" she said, smelling the rose and feeling the pleasant aroma, much more better than that of common roses. "I am very grateful."

"It is my pleasure, milady." With another reverence, the Count strode down the steps and was lost amongst the multitude.

La Muerte returned to the throne, holding the rose and staring at it. She was intrigued, where had he obtained such a rose? There was only one place she had seen roses this color and with such a fragrant aroma, and it had been where she never thought she'd find them. She recalled the garden at the top of Xibalba's castle, there was a particular section filled with roses of this exact color which emanated this floral smell tenfold. He had told her he could watch them as much as she liked, but asked her not to pluck any; those roses had been his mother's favorites, they meant very much to him and cared for those flowers with great affection.

"You seem to be interested in that stranger, dear daughter…" Sol chuckled.

"Don't get your hopes up, Father." La Muerte replied, though she still held the blue rose in her hands. "I don't even know him."

"You could get to know him a little better… or Lord Itzlacol."

"I don't have any sort of interest for Itzlacol."

"Mija, if you'd give him a chance-"

"No, I don't want anything with someone with such an attitude towards women."

Soon the party begun. The best musicians brought by Sol (Beethoven, Vivaldi, Bach and Paganini) from the Famous Musicians quarter in the city started to play their best symphonies and compositions. The hall was filled with chattering from guests, some dancing already with their pairs, others went directly to the buffet table to serve and stuff themselves. La Muerte declined most of her suitors' ask for a dance, she was not in the mood for dancing right now. But her father was not helping, when Itzlacol came forward and asked her for a dance he had answered for her.

Sighing irritatedly, La Muerte had no other choice but to head over to the dance floor with Itzlacol, shivering uncomfortably as he placed his hand on her abdomen, and waltzed with her, surrounded by other couples. Thankfully, she hadn't had any symptoms of the pregnancy, and if she was lucky she would hang on until the end of the party.

"You surely look beautiful tonight, dear La Muerte." Itzlacol complimented.

"Thanks." La Muerte responded curtly, hoping someone would soon claim her for a dance.

"It has been a while ever since I saw you. I do not mean to intrude, but I hear your husband was not a good man."

"For a while he looked like he was. I don't want to talk about it."

"What that Lord Xibalba did was unconceivable. If I had such a wonderful woman as you by my side, I'd treat her like the queen she is and fill her with appreciation and love."

"Your wife will be very fortunate, then."

"Indeed she will." Itzlacol was interrupted when he felt a tapping on hi shoulder.

Xibalba boiled with rage when he saw another man daring to dance with his wife. He wanted to go ahead and punch that bastard in the face, but he was not Xibalba tonight, he was a complete stranger to everyone. Instead, he walked towards them as they danced and tapped Itzlacol's shoulder. The god looked at him, irritated. "Can I help you?"

What an arrogance. "If you don't mind, I'd like to dance with the cumpleañera. If she doesn't mind, that is."

La Muerte was actually grateful that he had come to 'rescue' her. "I don't mind, your Excellency."

"You don't have to be so formal, milady. You may call me Osvaldo."

La Muerte headed over to the Count, while Itzlacol returned to the honor guest table, muttering something under his breath. As headed over to the dance floor once again, she couldn't help but shiver when he held her by the waist an grabbed her hand in such a tender way, the way he was looking at her as they danced, it reminded her of… she shook the thought out of her head again.

Xibalba felt his heart accelerating its pulse when he held her hand and danced with her once again, when he was close to her after weeks of being way from her light and warmth, he wanted to reveal himself to her so badly, tell her that he lover her and wanted her back, but…he needed to talk with her alone, he had to find a way to lure her to a private place. He noticed she was a bit stiff, and there was a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Is something wrong, milady?" he inquired gently.

"N-No… It's nothing…" La Muerte replied, lowering her gaze.

"I do not mean to intrude, milady, but I've heard from some of the others that you are… married…"

"I am…"

"And yet you have many suitors around here."

"It was all my father's idea. I don't really like the idea of hanging out with other men while I'm still a married woman… even though the man I have to call my husband actually deserves it."

Xibalba felt hurt at her words, but he knew she had every right to think like that right now. "He doesn't sound pleasant."

"He deceived me in the cruelest way…" La Muerte tried her best not to cry. "He made me think he truly cared for me… but it was all a lie. I had grown to…" she couldn't take it anymore. "I-I'm sorry… I… I can't…"

Xibalba watched as out of sudden she released herself of his hold and picked up her skirts as she rushed out of the ballroom. He waited a few seconds before going after her to make sure she didn't know he was following her yet. He followed her through the halls towards the balcony that led into the castle grounds. La Muerte stopped just at the railing and rested her hands on it, and then she started to sob. No matter what she did, she couldn't stop thinking about Xibalba. She wanted to hate him for toying with her, but a great part of her knew she still loved him, though she hated herself for it.

Xibalba was just at the doorway, watching her form the shadows. He felt so horrible in seeing his beloved in such emotional pain. And he was responsible for it; it filled his soul with regret and sorrow. Xibalba couldn't help it anymore, and used his Soul Gaze to see what was going on through her head; momentarily his pupils became red and skull-shaped, and rotated forward to read La Muerte's thoughts. He saw memories of him and the times they spent together, the fondest she had of him, and yet he also saw conflict. "She's thinking of meshe still loves me…" he still had a chance to mend things up, to win back her heart so they could be a family, the three of them.

La Muerte heard footsteps behind her, and had the feeling of who had come after her. Thankfully it was not Itzlacol.

"Milady, are you alright?" Osvaldo approached, walking next to her.

La Muerte had to look away in order to hide her tears from the visitor. "I-It's okay, I… I just…"

Osvaldo took a napkin out of his pocket and handed it over to her. "Here."

She felt obligated to accept the napkin from him, and wiped her tears with it. "G-Gracias…"

"I'm sorry if I said something inappropriate, milady. I did not mean to bring you back unpleasant memories…"

"It's not that, but…"

"I understand if you don't want to talk about it…"

"Don't worry, Osvaldo, I just needed a moment of peace…"

Osvaldo smiled, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I understand." He glanced over at the gardens, very green, colorful and full of life. He saw a maze below them, just like the one in his castle, but this one was alive. It was a perfect place to talk with her. "Say… would you like to play a little game?"

"A game?" La Muerte turned to him, intrigued.

"A small round of hide-and-seek in the maze. Who knows? It might clear your head a bit…"

"I'm not sure, Father must be looking for me-"

"I insist, right now the least thing you need is being surrounded by men who don' respect your decisions."

La Muerte thought for a moment. He had a good point there, and besides, she needed a break form all of this. "Okay." Osvaldo smiled at her. For some reason his smile made her feel safe, and again she found it familiar.

"Count to twenty, while I'll go hide in the maze. If you find me I'll give you a surprise."

"What kind of surprise?"

"You'll see."

La Muerte covered her eyes with her hands. "One, two, three…" she heard Osvaldo teleporting away towards the maze, and continued to count for a while. "…eighteen, nineteen, twenty." She lowered her hands, and found herself alone. Once again lifting her skirts, La Muerte walked down the marble steps leading down unto the garden, and headed into the maze. She had played here ever since her childhood, she knew it like the back of her hand, finding Osvaldo would be a piece of cake. Soon she walked into the center of the maze, where the water of the crystalline fountain calmly ran.

"Osvaldo?" La Muerte called out for the Count, looking around.

No reply. She thought she heard something moving in the darkness, but she couldn't see anything.

"Osvaldo, this isn't funny."

Xibalba stared at her from the shadows as she looked around for Osvaldo. He wanted to go ahead and reveal himself, but he was afraid. He had longed and yet feared for this moment, he was afraid to face her, afraid of her rejecting him and refusing him to be part of their child's life. But he gathered every bit of courage in his body, and spoke. "La Muerte."

The goddess froze when she heard a very familiar voice coming fro the darkness. No, it couldn't be. She had to be hallucinating, maybe she missed him so much she was hearing things; but she caught a green glow in the corner of her eye, and warily turned around, taking her hands to her abdomen instinctively, even though the baby was still in development and ran no real danger. When she turned around, a figure in black walked out of the shadows.

Xibalba stepped out of the darkness, his glamour gone, back to his true self.

La Muerte was frozen in shock. It couldn't be…! Xibalba and Osvaldo were the same person?! It made sense, though… the blue rose, the way he had looked at her, the way he held her when they danced, the familiarity of his voice. But… But…! Her consciousness started to slip away.

Xibalba barely had time to react as La Muerte fainted; he caught her in his arms just as she collapsed. "La Muerte!" as he held her in his arms once more, he recalled all the times he had carried her. He felt her familiar floral aroma overwhelm him once again, he saw the lines of her face and her cherry-flavored lips, he was tempted to kiss her, he died to taste those beautiful lips once again like he had on that night they had became one… Which reminded him… He placed his hand on top of her abdomen, where the fruit of their love was flourishing… he could imagine a tiny heartbeat inside her, his child, his baby… A while later Xibalba lifted his hand to stroke his wife's cheek with his thumb, feeling the warmth of her skin.

Now he guessed he'd have to wait.


La Muerte had no idea of how much time passed when she started to regain her consciousness, but the memories of what had happened just before everything faded to black struck her like the ocean waves crashing against the coastal rocks. She shifted and her vision started to clear, finding herself back at the center of the maze in the garden, and sitting next to her was….

"You're awake."

Him.

La Muerte was momentarily confused. "What…?" was she imagining things?

"You fainted." Xibalba said softly, glancing down at her with worry.

Then came the anger and indignation. "YOU?!"

"It would seem so…"

La Muerte immediately went back to her feet and stepped away from the tar god, glaring at him with all the hatred she could muster. "HOW DID YOU GET IN HERE?!"

"It's a talent I always possessed, my dear…" Xibalba said calmly, getting on his feet as well. "Besides, I thought your daddy had invited all available gods from the pantheon."

"Why did you come in the first place?!" she snapped, stepping back when he took a step forward. "What do you want?!"

"I must talk to you!"

"For WHAT?! So you can humiliate me again?! Forget it!" La Muerte tried to leave, but suddenly vines grew in the entrances, blocking all possible exits. She had forgotten Xibalba always had tricks up his sleeves.

"No, La Muerte, I have not tome here to humiliate you…" there was regret in Xibalba's voice when he spoke. "Not even close…"

Having no other choice, La Muerte turned to look at him with tears of anger gathering in her eyes. "Then what do you want?!"

"Actually, I just wanted to ask you something..."

"What?!"

Xibalba decided to try and indirectly ask her what he wanted to know. "How have you been feeling the last few days? Did anything in particular happen? I mean, well, you are acting a bit weird… I have seen you mad before and you never reacted this way."

"What is it to you?! I don't have to give you any explanations! And in case you forgot, I have every single right to be mad at you!" La Muerte hissed.

"I know that and I'm sorry for it!" Xibalba snapped back, hurt at her words. "But I DO need you to tell me one thing!" He'd go straight to the point. "Is it true what my brother told me?"

La Muerte froze. Zipacna! Damn it she should have known that croc head would go tell Xibalba of what transpired between them. But maybe she was misunderstanding things and he had told her another thing. "Speak at once or get out of my sight!"

He narrowed his eyes. "Is it true that you're pregnant?" he asked, all humor gone from his voice, speaking with great seriousness.

She was speechless. He knew. She wanted to deny it, but her love for her unborn child prevented her from denying the little one. She remained silent in shock and dread, especially when she felt Xibalba's anxious expression unto her.

"Is it?" Xibalba stepped forward, cornering her against the maze wall. His anxiety got the better of him, and he grabbed La Muerte by the shoulders, glaring into her sun-colored eyes in despair. "ANSWER ME!"

"I AM!"

Silence. Xibalba was staring down at his wife, hurt and bewildered. She was expecting a child, and she hadn't wanted him to know… she was going to deny him the right to meet the baby, their baby. The hurt turned to anger once again.

"And you still think you are the only one who has the right to be angry?!" his grip on her shoulders tightened. "Why didn't you tell me as soon as you found out?!"

La Muerte released herself of his grasp and stepped back before he could grab her again. "Why would I have to?!" she yelled at him, and placed her hands on her abdomen. "This child is mine! You rejected it the moment you threw me away like a trash bag!"

The tears were making their way to Xibalba's eyes as he retorted. "I had the right to know! I'm his FATHER! And that is not true! I know you wouldn't have ran into another man's arms that easily!"

"Why not?! You did the same thing with me!" it hurt La Muerte to remember it. His words, the cruel look on his face, the way he had discarded her. "You only used me, and when you had what you wanted you discarded me just like that! Didn't you say so yourself?!"

He could not bear it anymore. He could not contain his tears of hurt anymore. Aggressively, he slipped the glove off his left hand and held it out, showing his wedding band still on his finger. "YOU SEE THIS?! DO YOU SEE IT?!" he roared in frustration. "I know I told you those awful things, but did you ever wonder if I actually meant it?!" he barely managed to calm down, slipping his hand into the glove once more. "Ever since you left thinks changed and settled… Facts of my past came to light. Facts that changed me forever…"

La Muerte couldn't lie. She was surprised and even one could say moved that despite everything he still kept his wedding band, but it merely lasted two or three seconds. "Do you think I'm stupid?" La Muerte narrowed her eyes, trying to sound as unmoved as possible. "You think I'm going to fall for your little act all over again? No, Xibalba, I won't make that mistake again."

Her words stabbed at his heart. He was certain he'd die of heartbreak if she continued with her seemingly impenetrable barrier. "La Muerte… I know what I did was very wrong… It was the stupidest thing I've ever done-"

"I doubt it."

"I'm very sorry for it… There is no day I don't regret those words."

La Muerte turned her back on him, crossing her arms as another barrier. "Save your lies and your crocodile tears for someone who actually believes them."

In desperation, Xibalba abruptly took a quick stepped and managed to grab her arm. "You may think those things were not true, but… do you believe this?" his hold slipped to her hand and he placed it on her abdomen, where their child was growing. "The love that I have for you lives in your womb… it's there, La Muerte. And most of all." He lifted her hand and took it to his chest, his eyes pleading and tender. "My heart never belonged to another woman, and it never will… My heart belongs only to you."

The wall she had put around her feelings started to crack, but La Muerte refused to grow soft on him. She had to be firm. She scowled and took her hand back from his. "Don't you dare use my child as an excuse!" She was weeping now, the tears were rolling down her cheeks like waterfalls. "I told you that I loved you and you didn't care! You just threw me away! I pleaded! I begged you! And you just turned away from me!"

"You don't know why I did it! I did it out of love for you! Because I thought you deserved something better than me!"

"Maybe I do, after all!"

Those words nearly did it. "Be careful what you wish for, La Muerte…"

La Muerte turned away from him. "My father was right about you all along and I didn't want to believe him…" she glared at her husband once again. "I don't want my child to become like you!"

This time there was no reply. Xibalba stared at his wife, heartbroken. If she was saying this to get back at him for what he had told her, it was working, he didn't know if he'd resist any more rejections and scorns from her. He remembered Zipacna's words.

Be sincere this time.

"No… you know what? You are right."

That actually surprised La Muerte.

"He won't become like me only if you tell him the only wrong thing about his father."

"And what would that be?"

Xibalba looked down regretfully. "That I am desperately in love with you… That is the only thing that I did wrong, my sin…"

She knew it. "So you regret meeting me-"

Xibalba lifted his hand. "Let me finish." He said with a serious expression. "The only wrong thing about loving you is the fact that I wish you all the happiness in the world, even if it means to let you find this happiness in another person."

La Muerte was speechless. The fires of her anger started to extinguish despite her attempt to keep them lit, the wall was starting to crumble. Her heart screamed at her to go and embrace him, but she was doing her best not to. It could be a lie… Xibalba wiped his tears away and warily floated closer to his wife, grabbing her hands.

"La Muerte… at least think about letting me be there for my child… Let me be part of his life, love him… or her… the same way I love his mother."

La Muerte slid her hand off his hold, calmly and reluctantly this time. "H-How can I be certain that you're not just toying with my feelings again?! How can I forgive you when I don't trust you anymore-?" she was surprised when he shushed her by placing his finger on her lips.

"No…" he said softly, brushing her tears away with his thumb. "No more tricks. No more lies. Only truth." He smiled sadly. "Tell me whatever you want… But never doubt the fact that I love you, and I would do anything to see you happy, mi amor."

La Muerte didn't know what to say. There was a pleading, sad look in his eyes that tugged at her heart and compassion, it was almost as if she was seeing all the sadness of the world. Those eyes that both threatened and adored. "I…"

"La Muerte!"

The goddess turned her head around in the direction of the stairs on the other side of the maze when she heard Aimé calling out for her. Dammit, she had taken too long outside; surely her father must have sent Aimé to look for her. She had to go, if anyone found Xibalba here… She didn't know what her father was capable of doing to him for trespassing uninvited. Xibalba understood what she was thinking, and with a snap of his fingers made the vines blocking the exits disappear. But before La Muerte could run off, he pulled her close by the waist into a fierce but tender kiss. La Muerte was caught off guard, but before she could push him away he pulled back on his own.

"Just a reminder." He said, before he vanished in a streak of tar.

La Muerte stared at the spot he had been standing mere seconds ago as she lifted her fingers to touch her lips, her cheeks red. If she had been confused with her feelings before, now she was overwhelmed by the flurry of emotions. He had snuck into her birthday party, risking himself of being banished or punished by either her father or the Kings, just to tell her he had lied to her, that he loved her, that he wanted to raised the baby with her. She didn't know what she'd do about it.

Aimé's voice echoed in the wind once again. "La Muerte!"

Glancing back at the center of the garden once last time, La Muerte ran out of the maze.