AN: Hey all, so I have some good news. This chapter is NOT the last one. One of the reviewers asked if I would consider writing an epilogue for this story so that it can be wrapped up and I thought about it and decided that after this chapter, YES, I will write an epilogue of sorts.

Apart from that, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 21:

Quinn started to stir as she felt something soft under her. She realised that it was her bed...wait, when did she get into her bed? And what was that odd feeling on her scalp? Claws? ... why were there claws stroking her hair? Wait...was there something sitting on the bed next to her?

"Oh Quinn, you silly little girl," the deep voice said with a laugh, "Did you really think your protective charms and spells would keep me out?"

It felt sinister to Quinn as she opened her eyes and screamed at the demon that was sitting on her bed next to her.

"Oh god my ears, jeez, Quinn, I'm sorry, stop screaming," the demon tried to say only to have Judy burst through the door and gape.

"Stoic?" Judy said in surprise.

"Hello, and surprise?" the demon said sheepishly, his armour clinking every so often as he moved.

"Stoic you horrible human demon being," Quinn yelled as she slapped the demon on his shoulder and then realised whose name she had said, "Wait? Stoic?"

"Hello," he said as he waved, "I couldn't resist you were just freaking out a bit too much and I thought it'd be funny to scare you a bit as a prank, guess it backfired,"

"YOU THINK? For a demon who's supposed to be thousands of years old and supposedly wise, you sure came up with the most dumbass idea for a prank to pull on people who've just been through hell, granted five months ago but still, PLUS you decide it's hilarious to stroke my hair, as I'm sleeping, AFTER I pass out, yeah good job Mr Creepy,"

"It's been five months?" Stoic as he changed to human form back in his suit and tie.

"YES,"

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry I scared you, jeez, can you please stop yelling at me?"

"Fine," Quinn said as she crossed her arms and huffed, "You're really back?"

"Yep, have to say I'm really surprised, but I'm happy I'm back," Stoic said with a smile.

"How?" Judy asked, "And one moment,"

Judy chucked some Holy Water into Stoic's face as he made a face with his eyes closed, "So, do you believe that it's me?" he asked as he opened his eyes.

"One second," she said as she threw another holy object at him which he caught, "Yep, I'm happy, oh wait,"

She then ran out of the room, grabbed her camera, came back and took his photo and viewed the image, "And NOW, I'm happy," she said.

"A picture?" he asked.

"Yes, this is a special camera, it catches the negative and the bad energies, if you were one you'd show up a different way on this camera's footage as opposed to just a normal picture,"

"Cool, so, what's been happening?"

"How about you tell us how you're here? I mean you're dead,"

"Well, I was, but something weird happened, I was somehow back on that heavenly plane but I was badly hurt, I think they put me in some facility to recuperate and heal as they pieced me back together, apparently the big boss said that he was willing to give me one more chance for what I've done for his creation, so yeah, I only just woke up again not too long ago so I've missed out on what's been happening, plus time does tend to run differently there,"

"So you're back to help humanity again?"

"Yep, until I die or it's judgement day,"

"What about your family?"

"They're good and safe, I got to see Rachel, my Rachel, and our daughter again for a while before I came back here, so yeah, they're safe and they're happy, but they know I have a job to do back here on Earth so here I am,"

Quinn just gave Stoic a sad smile, "No need for demon to human bonding right?"

"Well, I've already bonded with someone as part of the condition for me being back, so we're good, AND now that I'm back, Mike's stuck with me as his hard-ass trainer," Stoic said.

"How does this "bonding" work again?"

"It's just someone that I'm stuck with to make sure I'm anchored to this place and don't stray, that's all, and they can use me if and when they see fit, but most of the time I'll have my free will, they can't use me for personal gain and blah, blah, blah, oh and they will age a bit slower than the usual human, but otherwise no biggie, oh and no, I'm not tattooed onto their skin or have to be near them twenty-four seven, it's more of a spiritual bond and all that, it's a bit hard to explain,"

"Aha, basically it's a contract stating in order for you to be here someone has to be your handler and you have to do stuff as asked with certain conditions,"

"Oh, that wasn't so hard then,"

"Yes, anyway do we know said person?"

"Yes, you do," Stoic smiled as he looked at Quinn, "And I think it's time you got to meet her,"

Quinn wondered what he meant as Stoic moved a bit to the side and waved his hand, almost like he was casting a spell. Judy went and stood behind Quinn and placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders. They both knew that he was opening a door, but being a demon or was he now regarded as an angel? Either way, being who he was they trusted his ability and his skill to not allow other beings into their house.

A heavenly light glow accompanied the door that opened as a young woman walked out of it with a big smile. Quinn felt her breath disappear as she froze at who was standing in front of her.

"It can't be?" Quinn said for the second time that night as she moved away from her mother and towards the figure.

"You can't get rid of me that easily Quinn Fabray," the young woman said.

"Rachel?" Quinn said, surprised as she saw a sixteen year old Rachel stand in front of her.

"The one and only," Rachel said.

"I, you, how?"

"Long story short, Stoic was asked to save me before I hit the flames, guess time runs differently on the heavenly planes or other dimensions, anyway, I was being healed as the poison was being pulled out of me and burnt and then my body had to heal and my powers be fine tuned, took a bit of time but yeah, how long was I gone?"

Quinn didn't quite answer her as she pulled Rachel into a big hug and held her so tight that it felt and looked like she was never going to let the smaller brunette go.

"Five months, but you're back for real right?" Quinn muffled through the brunette's hair.

Rachel just nodded her head as Quinn smiled and held her even tighter.

"Quinn, breathing," Rachel said.

"Not letting you go, EVER," Quinn said.

Judy just smiled as she decided to call Maribel and Jenny to tell them what was happening before calling LeRoy.

"Rachel quite a lot has happened since you, since you, you," Quinn started but couldn't finish.

"Died," Rachel finished for her.

"Yes, and I,"

"This can wait until morning Quinn," Rachel said as she looked at Stoic, "Perhaps you and I should retire somewhere for the night?"

"You can stay with us," Judy said, "For as long as you need, your house isn't there anymore,"

"Ah, so Stoic, shall we retire for the night?"

"Hmmm, no," Stoic said, "Teens and hormones, you've been gone a while, I think I'll just hang out on the roof and keep watch, you know, just in case,"

"Or you can come with me downstairs and have some tea and we can chat about living arrangements and I can tell you what's been happening recently," Judy said.

"Sounds good to me,"

"And girls, just this once I'm allowing free reign,"

"Mom!" Quinn said as she looked at her mother.

"Don't tell me that you weren't thinking about it," Judy said raising her eyebrow.

"I may have been thinking about it but it doesn't mean I'm going to do it, Rachel and I just aren't there yet,"

"Okay, okay, but you two can catch up, Rachel also needs to know about what's been happening with her fathers and her home,"

"I already know about that," Rachel said.

"You do?" Quinn said in surprise.

"Psychic, plus I was filled in while I was healing so I wouldn't falter when I got back, I am shocked but I'm happy for Dad, LeRoy that is, Hiram on the other hand..."

"I'm sorry,"

"It's not your fault Quinn, he is who he is and he'll pay for what he did, for now, I think I'd like to rest, I, um, don't have pajamas,"

"I got that sorted," Stoic said as he somehow magicked a bag into his possession and gave it to Rachel, "Some stuff for you, right, Judy, tea? As for you two, try to keep it down,"

As the two grown ups left, Quinn was left a bit red faced at what they were proposing the two girls were going to get up to as Rachel just laughed at her expression.

"Not funny," Quinn murmured as she looked down.

"Oh Quinn, it's very funny," Rachel laughed as Quinn glared at her.

"Welcome back Rachel," Quinn finally said with a smile.

As the girls were getting ready for school the next morning, and having Judy and Stoic tease them to no end about their make out session.

"It was not even that bad, god," Quinn said in annoyance as she did a face palm.

"It was so good," Rachel said with a grin.

"Humans," Stoic said sticking his tongue out and pretending to be sick.

"Says the demon,"

"Angel now thank you,"

"Whatever, says the angel who did the same seeing his wife in the heavenly realms,"

"We just made out, so what,"

"I take that statement and apply it to Quinn and I, so shush,"

The now newly reinstated angel clamped his mouth shut in annoyance as Judy laughed at them.

"You three are hilarious, now, we need a back story and..." Judy began saying as the door bell rang.

"I'll get it," Quinn said as she opened the door and Brittany zoomed in followed by Santana who was walking slowly behind her.

"Judy took her and Stoic's picture right?" Santana asked Quinn as the blonde shut the door.

"Of course, I did," Judy said as she glared at Santana, "And yes they're both perfectly safe and back,"

"Sorry, I was just checking can't be too sure with that world,"

"A-ha,"

"Rachel, Rachel, RACHEL!" Brittany said happily as she hugged the smaller brunette tight, "I missed you, you're big again, and I missed you,"

"Um, okay, thank you Brittany," Rachel said as she hugged Brittany back.

"Welcome back Tiny, it's good to see you again," Santana said, "You have to tell us on the way to school what happened and how,"

"I will,"

"Yeah, so, now everything's back to normal," Brittany stated.

"No, it won't go back to normal," Quinn said.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why won't it go back to normal?"

"Because, it, it just won't,"

"Okay,"

"What Q means to say is that we won't be treating Rachel like a pariah anymore," Santana said.

"San, we wouldn't do that to her anyway, she doesn't eat meat,"

Santana raised an eyebrow.

"You said we treat her like a pariah, I mean, don't they eat meat and all that?"

"Oh, gotcha, no, pariah is a social outcast, like a loser, someone no one wants around, you're thinking of a piranha,"

"Oh, oops,"

Rachel just gave them a small chuckle before looking at Quinn who closed the distance between them and kissed her.

"Freaking finally," Santana muttered as Brittany jumped up and down excitedly and clapped her hands.

"They were kissing like crazy last night, I thought I had to get a bucket of cold water on them," Stoic teased.

"SHUT UP STOIC!" Rachel and Quinn yelled at the laughing angel.

-page break-

It was decided that Rachel would just make up the story that she and her parents were at a get away to try and mend the families relationship, but because it didn't work out the Berry men divorced and Rachel needed time alone to adjust with her Dad LeRoy in another city. It wasn't the best story they could come up with but it worked for now.

"Does your Dad know that you're back?" Santana asked as she drove the four of them to school.

"Yes, he knows, he's ecstatic so he's coming here the moment he can get time off work to see me, he's going to have a hell of a time to explain why his daughter is miraculously back but I'm sure he'll be able to do it," Rachel answered.

"He was the better father you know,"

"I know,"

"You know I'll be honest, I do regret not hitting Hiram in his stupid face or speaking my mind but when does anyone ever do what they think they'll do when they get to confront a situation they'd been thinking of,"

"He will get what he deserves Santana, no one ever truly gets away with what they've done, especially if it's bad,"

The Latina just nodded her head at that.

Once they arrived at school, the attempts at inaudible gasps made it quite annoying as the four went to the school office. After about an hour of talking, Rachel was able to leave the office with a new schedule and so life of course eventually went on.

Most people who encountered Rachel believed her story that she was away trying to get over the family break up, but the only people who knew the truth were Mr Schuester and the New Directions. Who were incredibly happy that she was back in their lives again.

"Guys, I just wanna say, welcome back Rachel, it's good to see you," Mr Schuester said as he look at Rachel, who smiled back at him and nodded her head, "And now that she's back, shall we get back to planning Sectionals?"

Everyone groaned but nodded their heads anyway.

"So, solos, since Rachel's back I think she should take it even though we had Mercedes and Santana written down as our potential solo singers, and of course Sam and Quinn as our duet," Mr Schuester started.

Rachel raised her hand.

"She's baaack," Mercedes said as she rolled her eyes, but smiled anyway.

"Yes Rachel," Mr Schuester said.

"I still think we should let either Mercedes or Santana have the solo,"

Everyone looked at her, but she ignored it and continued, "And, Quinn and Sam won the Duets competition a while back so wouldn't it be fair to say they do the duet?" Rachel said, "I was thinking of something like 'Time of My Life' for them both, that could be the starting song, then we either have a song with Mercedes singing something from Whitney, or we have Santana sing Valerie with Mike and Brittany doing the main Choreography," she finished.

"Did you just volunteringly volunteer to be swaying in the back?" Santana asked.

"Yeah, pretty much,"

"Why?"

"Because I felt like it,"

"But, you, I, wow,"

"You just made Santana unable to speak, you're a legend," Puck laughed as he leaned forward and gave Rachel a high five making a couple of the others laugh.

"However, I think all of us have to agree that you need to take either the solo or the duet because damn girl we missed you," Mercedes said as Rachel looked up at her in shock.

"It's true though," Finn said, "We missed you, we thought you were dead, the fact that you're alive is awesome and we want to hear you sing,"

"Um, I, um, okay?" Rachel said in an uncertain tone.

"She'll do it," Santana said as she got her voice back, "Won't you Tiny? Because if you don't, I'm going to set Brittany's pout on you,"

Brittany pouted at her in that moment.

Rachel leaned in to Quinn and whispered, "I have a very powerful demon slash angel at my disposal and I have massive psychic power but for some reason I'm not immune to the Brittany pout?"

"I don't think many people are," Quinn whispered back.

Rachel just smiled back.

As the next few months progressed, life wasn't always easy; the girls did have their fights and arguments; mainly about how to approach a case that was potentially dangerous. (Mike always stayed out of it for his sanity's sake).
Rachel and Quinn finally got together but they had hard times because most people tried to break them up because loser and winner don't mix. Quinn hated that pharse.

Thank god for the boys, especially Finn who'd literally pick up anyone who tried to mess with Rachel and carry them away and place them elsewhere in the school, quite a funny sight to watch actually. Puck would drag them away and if it was guy, he'd throw them in the dumpster. If it was a girl, Santana would step in and threaten them about going all Lima Heights.

One girl pushed her buttons and she was so terrified by the end of the experience that no one messed with Rachel and Quinn again...well, for at least another month or two anyway.

There was also schooling to worry about and Rachel had to catch up with the five months that she'd missed out on - but she did alright since of course Quinn placed a No Sex and No Making Out Policy when it was time to study - much to the brunette's mental and physical frustration.

LeRoy did come back and he wanted to take Rachel with him back to Atlanta which Rachel really, REALLY didn't want to do and after much deliberation he finally let her stay in Lima with Judy and Quinn. Of course he did get to meet Stoic to whom he said his thanks for saving his daughter with Stoic promising that he'd keep looking after the small brunette.

"Emails, Skype, phone contact, keep me posted about what you're doing, okay?" LeRoy said as he and Rachel were sitting in the Fabray lounge with Stoic, "And when it's time for college let me know so I can help pay for it somehow, oh, and I will visit as often as I can, okay, or maybe I can move back here,"

"Yes I promise that I'll keep in contact with you, and no you don't have to move back here, you have a great job in Atlanta that literally pays ten times more than what Lima ever did," Rachel said.

"That is true, still can't get recognised and married though but that's okay,"

"Have you met anyone?"

"Well, um,"

"You so have,"

"I'm not ready yet, some wounds go deep,"

"I understand,"

"You sure you don't want to come to Atlanta with me?"

"Um, well, I,"

"You like it here because you're comfortable here,"

"Yes,"

"Just do well in school, behave, and do not, for the love of God, dabble,"

"I don't really have a choice with my abilities but you know I won't dabble,"

"Good, and be safe, and listen to Judy,"

"I will,"

LeRoy looked at his daughter with a smile that hadn't graced his face in a very long time but a part of him was still worried, if Rachel was back, then what about Cain?

"Cain's dead if that's what you're worried about, he doesn't exist anymore," Rachel said comfortingly, "And any trace of him is gone,"

"Okay, good, now, college, I know you're a year away but you have to start planning," LeRoy said, "We need to make financial plans,"

"Not necessary," Stoic said as he looked at LeRoy, "I plan to pay for her tuition and rent, and Quinn's, and Santana's, and Mike's, and Brittany's, and Tina's,"

Rachel looked at him as did LeRoy, "Say what?" Rachel started.

"I'm a very wealthy man, I've lived for thousands of years, I have a lot of money that I rarely if ever use, I mean I had to do something with my life to pass the time and I knew with the world going as it was I'd need good money; and I have hobbies outside of kicking evil's ass," Stoic said with a shrug.

"Okay, define wealthy,"

"Not many people know this because I keep a low profile for obvious reasons, but I'm more wealthy than the guy who owns the fruit for a computer company,"

"You're more wealthy than the Apple company? Okay, in the words of Noah, the hell? You never told me,"

"Wanted you to love me for a poor demon well angel now,"

"Would have loved you either way, I was three when we met,"

"Actually you were a baby,"

"Yeah, yeah,"

"You don't have to do that," LeRoy started, "I'm her father, I should do it,"

"But you don't have to, I'm offering, you've been a good man, granted there were some things you could have done but that is in the past now, I feel very much like a parent to Rachel too, so you should just take my offer," Stoic said as he looked at LeRoy as the other man nodded his head.

-page break-

Of course the others did find out about Stoic's intentions to help pay for their college tuition, to say they were ecstatic about that would have been a gross understatement. But he did make the conditions that he was not going to pay for them to lounge around, they had to work for their grades, they had to study, all that; which of course they agreed to.

"And I just realised something," Santana said.

"Yeah?" Stoic started.

"We're still doing all this ghost, demon, hunting, thing, you could totally fund us, equipment would be great, and books, plus we could go a bit more national,"

"Worry about local and college first, and about where you know you should be, but yes that's an idea we could think of,"

"Like TAPS, right?" Brittany said, "Oh, and you can be our Giles, except without the council being a pain in the ass,"

"He could so be our Giles," Santana said before saying, "And yes, like TAPS but without the cameras and all that crap because the last thing we need is for scientists to test our psychic skills, damn I like my privacy,"

"Says the girl who basically had sex with Brittany in a classroom," Quinn said deadpanned as she looked at Santana who blushed.

"The door was locked," Santana said almost quietly.

"Aha, I can still hear you know,"

"Was Brittany's hand fucking your cunt Santana?" Rachel asked as Santana nearly fell over from that statement and Brittany laughed, "You didn't think I'd forget my childhood experience of being babysat by the Unholy Trinity did you?"

"I, I, I, she, I, shut up," Santana said, "Enough about the hot stuff between me and Britts, focus,"

"Fun to tease you you know,"

"My powers have grown too you know,"

"Oh I know, but I can still kick your ass and you know it,"

"Shut up,"

"Did you like us as your babysitters?" Brittany asked, "Oh, oh, and were you serious about marrying Quinn?"

"Yes and yes," Rachel answered straightforwardly.

"Yay,"

Stoic just laughed at the group.

-page break-

Mike on the other time was having a harder time, being a shade wasn't easy, he had to learn more about the supernatural world and knowing what would be effective; and drinking blood on a daily basis still sucked for him - no vampire pun intended because he just drank stuff out of a blood bag; Stoic kept him training early in the morning and demanded that he keep his mind focused on studying.

"I don't care if you're going to Chicago to dance you still have to keep on top of your education, you need to know the theory as well as the practice, now get your ass back to training and stop whining," Stoic said.

"Yes Stoic," Mike said in annoyance.

"And if you're about to ask about Rachel and Santana training, then yes they are still training, true warriors are always prepared,"

"What about..."

"Tina, Quinn, and Brittany are also training, at least to keep fit and know what to do if necessary, none of the girls bar Santana on the odd occasion are complaining so stop whining,"

Mike just grumbled at that.

"Oh c'mon Mike, it's not that bad," Rachel said as she walked into the training room at the gym that Stoic had built on an old abandon property that he bought, "Besides, training is good fun, just think of it like you were dancing and practicing for that,"

"Fine, fine, fine," Mike said as he went back to the punching bags.

Life was good...well, until the next big bad demon came along but that could be another story best left for another time...or in your imaginations, however you see fit.

AN 2: Alrighty team, next chapter is the last.
And no, I do not plan to write another story with regards to the next big bad demon because I need to move on from this tale. This style of ending is actually inspired by Michael Ende and how he wrote 'The Neverending Story'; if you've never read that tale then I highly recommend you do, I loved that book as a kid.
Anyway, next and final chapter is in the works and will be an epilogue so I hope you'll enjoy it.

Until next time team.