Belldandy sat at the table and watched Ren working in the kitchen silently. Apparently, Ren did not hum or sing as she and Keiichi did when they were working, but then again Ren was strange in many different ways. He still acted as if he was complete stranger in their home and that he was not invited, even though they did set him up in his own room and helped to provide him his own essentials. Perhaps it was she and Keiichi that made him act so strangely. Skuld was still scared of him and did her best to stay away from him. Urd, on the other hand, got along great with him and she often found him talking with Urd in private about different things. Then again, perhaps she was just imagining things and that this was all in her head.

After all, he was standing there in the kitchen preparing dinner for herself and Keiichi. The day that she and Keiichi had shared was so spectacular. She woke up next to Keiichi with his arms draped around her. His body was so warm and welcoming to her that she felt as if she was back in Heaven and that everything that she needed was there before her. When they both finally woke up, they made breakfast together in the kitchen. Telling each other about their dreams and talking about what they were going to do that day with their time together. It was so perfect and she knew that it would only get better as it did.

They left the house and traveled downtown to the carnival that was in town and spent the day playing games and riding the many different rides there. Keiichi was even brave enough to steal a kiss from her cheek when they were walking together. After they had a quick lunch, they traveled to the aquarium, then the museum, and then finally some shopping downtown. It had all been so magical to her that she wished she could live it all again the next day. Perhaps after dinner Keiichi will be kind enough to walk with her in the moonlight and perhaps when they go to bed he would be kind enough to give her a kiss.

:clink: Belldandy looked up to see Ren smiling down at her with his green eyes as he placed a cup of tea before her. "Sorry to bother you, but I thought that you might enjoy some tea with me while I wait for the roast to finish cooking."

"Arigato, Ren. I'm sorry I didn't hear you standing there."

"That's okay. You looked so happy there for a moment that I did not want to interrupt you from your dreams. It must have been a real magical one to produce such a smile and blush on your face."

"It was. I was thinking about the day that Keiichi and I had. Oh, Ren I wish that you could have been there to see it. Keiichi is such a good man to me. I hope that you find a love like Keiichi and I have someday."

"I did. I have you, Keiichi, Urd, and even Skuld. You four are all the love that I need right now in my life, if that makes any sense to you. I have also been meaning to talk to you about something that has been on my mind for a while. I really have to know what it is that you think about me. I mean I don't want to be a bother to you and Keiichi and you already have a full house here and there is also Keiichi's little sister who pops in now and then. Do you really want another person bothering you and Keiichi when you both barely have enough time for each other?"

Belldandy looked down at her cup of tea and stopped to think about how best to approach his question. "Ren, I have to know what you think of me before I decide how to answer your question."

"I believe that you are a Goddess that was sent down from Heaven to answer a call you heard coming from Keiichi's heart. While down here, you found your own heart longing for Keiichi like his longed for you. Now the two of you are in love and you both are just trying to make the best of the situation that you currently have. I mean you have both of your sister's living here with you and they are pushing and pulling you both apart at the same time. Keiichi told me a few of his stories about all the things that have happened to both of you with those two around. Now to make things worse, or better, you now have a stranger that you just barely met living with you. I can understand why you have been acting strangely since I got here and I do not blame you, it is just that you need to understand that I really am here for a reason and I want to help you both out the best that I can. In a way, you both remind me of a friend I had once who was in the same situation. The difference is that I was not there for them when they needed me the most. I hope to fix that situation with you both and at the same time correct my mistakes of the past for the better."

"That means a lot to me Ren that you can say that. It is just that I really have been having some strange feelings for you lately and I need to know how you feel about me and what I am supposed to do about them. I know that I love Keiichi and I want to be with him for the rest of my life, but what am I supposed to do with you?"

Ren blinked his eyes a few times before he started laughing aloud. "Gomennasai, Belldandy. Gomennasai. You feel for me the same way that you would feel for a wounded animal that you find on the streets. The thing is that that is what I really am. I am just a wounded animal that stumbled into your home asking to be nursed back into health. In a way, it is your Goddess instincts within your heart. The love that you feel for me is very different from the love you feel for Keiichi. I know that you would never act towards me the same way that you do with Keiichi. What I mean to say is that I appreciate all that you have done for me, but I do not wish for you to continue cleaning my wounds and doing things for me. I honestly believe that Keiichi is getting a little jealous of all that you are doing for me."

"What? You think that Keiichi is jealous of everything that I'm doing for you."

"I'm sure that if you go and confront him right now while he's in the bath, you'll see what I'm talking about. In addition, it would be a good idea for you to make the first move. Keiichi is a good guy and is looking out for you the best that he can, but he does not have it in him to put the 'moves' on you like you wish he would. Your better off getting him in a situation where he can't back out of and is finally forced to get over his fear and do what he needs to do."

Belldandy sat there for a few minutes in silence pondering what Ren had just told her. Perhaps he was right and that she loved him differently than she did Keiichi. After all it was in her Goddess nature to feel love and sympathy for those who were in distress and Ren met those requirements most definitely. Yet, she felt that she had to hear what Keiichi thought about what Ren had just told her.

As Belldandy left the room to talk to Keiichi, Urd walked in through the opposite door. "I just heard everything. What is going on with Belldandy? Why is she asking you about her feelings for you? You are not going to try and put the moves on her are you?"

"No. Like I told her, it's her Goddess instincts within her heart that call out my name. I did come into your home with my own sword through my heart, or what remained of my heart. I can't allow her to be confused by her Goddess instincts and mistake them for actual real love. I need to make sure that she and Keiichi move in the right direction in their relationship so that they may someday have a child like the All Mighty wishes them to. I'm also going to have to ask that you watch over my progress and make sure that I don't make mistakes that allow my demon to get stronger than it already is."

"What does that mean exactly?"

"If I allow my demon to take a greater hold on me, then Belldandy's child might not ever receive an egg and my clan will cease to exist and the powers that I have gained will die with me. However, if I am careful in everything that I do and allow my angel to grow stronger, then I will be allowed into Paradise, their child will become a world famous exorcist, and the demons plan for taking over the earth will be stopped this time."

Urd felt a tic growing on the side of her temple. "BAKA, YOU HAD BETTER BE GOOD OR ELSE I'LL BLOW YOU TO SMITHERINS! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME!?"

"Ha...Ha...Hai." Ren had never felt so scared before of any demon, but then again he was talking about her sisters' unborn child's future. He might act the same way if it was Ryuu's child that they were talking about. At least he knew he would have Urd's support in helping him in maintaining a good balance that would not allow his demon to take control.

Meanwhile, Belldandy stopped outside of the bath door. "Keiichi, do you mind if I come in? I really need to talk to you right now."

"Um…sure."

Belldandy opened the door and then closed it behind her. She sat down by the edge of the bath and picked up the scrubber so that she might scrub Keiichi's back while she discussed a few things with him. He was a little nervous at first, but after a few minutes he finally calmed down and settled back into her so that she might clean his back better.

"Keiichi, do you think that Ren is a stray dog that we took in from the streets?"

Keiichi thought for a few seconds about what she was saying before he finally answered her question. "I don't think that he's really a stray dog, but a wounded soul that was looking for refuge. After all he was wounded pretty badly when he first arrived at the temple. Now that he's better, I'm glad that he's doing his best to help us out around the house and try to find somewhere else to live. I'll admit that I'll be sad to see him leave when the time comes, but it was nice to have him around. It was almost like being back at the dorms with the senpai, but he doesn't take advantage of me like they did sometimes. What do you think about him?"

"The only reason that I said that was because that was what he called himself, a stray dog from the streets. I prefer to think that he really is a human and not some dog that came from the streets, but there's something in my heart that keeps calling out to him. I couldn't figure it out for sometime and I almost mistook it for the same love I felt for Celestine, but after confronting him I realize that it is just the Goddess within me wanting to relieve him from the pain that he is suffering from. Keiichi are you okay?"

Belldandy pulled Keiichi back into her chest and wrapped her arms around him. His body had tensed up when she mentioned her heart calling out for Ren. Keiichi had taken her explanation the wrong way and she felt his anger and jealousy radiating from his body. Could it really be true that Keiichi was jealous of Ren?

"Do you love him?"

Belldandy gasped at the fact that Keiichi would have ever asked her that question. "Of course I don't love him the way that I love you Keiichi. I just worry about him because he's a lost soul in the need of a Goddesses love. I love Keiichi for the kind and loving man that he is and the way that he treats me and loves me. I could never love another man the way that I love you Keiichi."

His body finally relaxed in her arms. "Oh Belldandy I love you too." He turned within the water to look Belldandy in the eyes. "I would never love any other woman the way that I love you."

His lips were so close to hers. It seemed that she would have to make the first move if she wanted to express to Keiichi how much she really loved him. "Keiichi…" she moved in closer to him and slowly closed her eyes. 'Love me, Keiichi the way that I want you to. Love me the way that I love you.'

"KEIICHI!"

Keiichi flew backwards and away from Belldandy's arms as Skuld came up out of the bath water. Their job in Heaven was done and Urd had left Skuld behind to find her own way back. Naturally Skuld always chose this portal because it was the easiest to access and the quickest way into the home and she knew that she could sneak up on Keiichi easier in case he was looking for her.

"Keiichi, I'll kill you for making my sister clean your back like that. And how dare you think that you could put the moves on her while I was away. Your dead, Keiichi!"

As Skuld pulled her mallet out of its sling and took a swing towards Keiichi, she found that her swing was being hindered by someone stronger than she was. As she opened her eyes and turned to look at who was stopping her she was surprised by who she saw.

"Skuld, I think that perhaps we should give Belldandy and Keiichi the opportunity to be alone a little longer. Besides you can tell me about your adventures in Heaven while I make you a big banana split sundae with chocolate sprinkles and three cherries on top."

"Oh, okay Ren."

Skuld really wanted to smash Keiichi's head in for trying to kiss her big sis, but who could say no to a banana split sundae with cherries on top. Ren slowly let his grip on her mallet go as Skuld floated down to the ground. As she placed her mallet back into her sling she went and gave Belldandy a welcome back hug. "Promise me you'll spend some time with me tonight, Onee-san."

"I will, Skuld."

Ren lead Skuld out of the bathroom and closed the door on the couple without turning around to face them. Urd must have had told Ren that Skuld was coming back through this portal and he had acted without hesitation knowing what Skuld would do if she caught Keiichi and Belldandy here together.

As Belldandy started to get to her feet she felt Keiichi's hand on hers. She turned to look back at him and saw so much love for her in his eyes. "You almost forgot something, my love."
Keiichi gently pulled Belldandy's face towards his with his other free hand. Their lips met in an electrical embrace that sent shivers down Belldandy's spine. 'So this is how it feels to be truly loved by your soul mate.'

"I love you, Keiichi," Belldandy stated with what little breath she had left as their lips parted. Instead of answering her with words, Keiichi answered her with another passionate kiss that made Belldandy fall back down to her knees.

As their lips parted, their bodies stayed close together. Keiichi finally whispered in Belldandy's ear, "I hope you had a lovely date with me."

"I did, but we still have to have some of that delicious dinner that Ren has prepared for us."

"Your right," Keiichi stated as he got out of the bath and started to get dressed with Belldandy's help. They had made a step in the right direction and both knew that their relationship would never be the same again.

Hild closed her eyes at the love scene in the bath. "Great, their getting further than I thought they would. It has something to do with that new guy within their home, but I still haven't seen him yet. There's something familiar about his aura, but for some reason I can never seem to find him or read him."

It seemed that a few days ago a new person showed up in her daughters' home that she shared with Belldandy and Keiichi. Along with this new stranger came new protection spells that she thought had died with a certain exorcist, but still there were these protective spells that hindered her from viewing into the house the way that she used to. They were set to block her from viewing them from her own home, forcing her to travel all the way to their home and watching them like some kind of voyeur through the trees. Yet during these past few days, she had yet to see this new guys face. There seemed to be a shadow that covered his presence from her and Hild knew that she would have to take care of this little situation as soon as she could find him.

As Hild watched the house hoping to catch a glimpse of this new guy, Skuld came bouncing out towards her robot that kept guard of the house and of Belldandy when she wasn't there. She listened to Skuld tell her robot about her trip to Heaven and how Belldandy and Keiichi were on some date that she just found out about. The part that really caught Hilds attention was when Skuld mentioned how angry she was that Keiichi was stealing Belldandy away from her more and more everyday that passed.

"It looks like I found a way to break Keiichi and Belldandy up for good. Oh, Skuld I'll be able to help you get your precious sister back the way that you want her and I'll be able to get Keiichi the way that I want him. The only thing is that you wont' know what happened to you," Hild said with a smile as she looked down at an unsuspecting Skuld. The Lord of Demons had a new plan on taking over the earth and it all starts with a child's jealousy.