Lana pulled off the car and stepped outside, fumbling with the house key. It had been a stressful day for the journalist, and she sure was glad to isolate herself from the world for the day.

Stepping inside the house, she immediately noticed the difference in the atmosphere. The floor had been swept, the dust on the entry table had been cleaned off, and there were actual living flowers in the kitchen. The brunette blinked confusedly at the flower vase.

"How was your day, darling?"

Mary cheerfully walked to her lover, her front covered by an apron.

The older woman sighed. "Could've been better."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Lana," the blonde offered her an apologetic smile.

Lana only nodded in response; it was a sweet, caring comment, which the brunette wasn't so familiar with. The only occasions the devil showed such sweet expressions were when she was mocking Lana. The brunette would normally sneer at the mockery, but this one was sincere. And Lana didn't know how to response.

"I see you cleaned the house," the journalist changed the subject. "And the flowers…They are pretty."

Mary smiled proudly like a child. "I wanted us to have a romantic night. Candles, homemade dinner, flowers…" she giggled to conceal her bashfulness. "I know you've been busy, and I wanted to do something to make you relax for a moment."

She took Lana's hands and gave them a squeeze. It flattered Lana's heart yet again. Under the disguise of a warrior, the brunette had always been a princess who liked cheesy romance. The devil was all about sensuality; their idea of romantic nights almost solely existed in the bedroom.

For a hot second, Lana thought she could love the person in front of her. It might take some time, but there was a chance she could fall in love with the woman.

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The dinner consisted of fancy French dishes that Lana had never heard of. The fact that the nun made them was quite impressive. For the five years of their relationship and living together, the brunette had only seen Mary cook once or maybe twice. The devil had always found a way to somehow get cooked meals for both of them. It was endearing to imagine that the blonde had gone through the trouble, even if it meant she'd had to bury herself in cook books up to her ears.

"I think red wine goes well with this, but do you prefer white?" the nun asked.

"No, red is fine," Lana smiled in her chair as the blonde poured her a glass. The brown eyes scanned the table, and noticed there was only one glass. "Aren't you going to drink?"

Mary shook her head softly. "No, Sister Jude always said that alcohol leads to sins."

The brunette looked at the other with her mouth agape, failing to hide her disbelief in her eyes. She genuinely hoped the blonde was joking; but the hope was swept away when the nun closed her eyes and started to pray in her seat.

"Dear Lord, thank you for this food. Bless it to our use and us to your service. And make us ever mindful of the needs of others. Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen."

The pair of blue eyes innocently looked at the older woman, and Mary proceeded to eat as if nothing had happened.

On the opposite side of the table, Lana awkwardly chewed on the meat without so much enthusiasm. The food must have been great I her brain was working properly. But as though her tongue and brain were disconnected, the food in her mouth remained tasteless.

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Lana spread her limbs on the bed as she listened to the sound of water echoing from the bathroom. The blonde was taking a shower, and the journalist saw it as a good opportunity to spread her wings.

The dinner was charming, but also suffocating at the same time. It reminded her of the numerous blind dates that she'd had before Wendy. It was awkward, nothing to talk about now that the nun and the journalist shared so little in common.

A sigh escaped from her mouth. Her body tensed when she heard the bathroom door open, and the brunette curled up to make room for the other. The blonde crawled up on the bed and planted a soft kiss on the cheek of Lana, who was on her side facing the wall. The plump lips moved to Lana's neck, kissing as if handling a china.

It sent shivers to Lana's spine, not because of excitement, but for a different reason. If she was looking at the blonde, she could tell it was Mary who was kissing down her neck. But with her eyes fixed on the wall, the gentle kisses were the only thing Lana's brain registered. It made her feel like a stranger was making out with her.

"Not tonight, Mary," the older woman wiggled her shoulders to get away from the nun's lips. "I'm tired. I need sleep."

Mary pulled away immediately. "Ok, sleep tight, love," she whispered, lying down completely to be a big spoon. "Goodnight, Lana. I love you."

The brown eyes stared into space. The brunette could feel the other woman waiting for a reply.

"Goodnight, Mary."

She couldn't utter the latter phrase back. Her heart ached, and Lana cursed her inability to lie through her teeth.

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Lana woke up shaking from a nightmare. The alarm indicated it was still fairly early in the morning. The sun was barely touching the world outside the window. She felt gross; even after years, Briarcliff still gave her nightmares.

Cautious not to disturb the sleeping blonde, she sneaked into the bathroom and begun to undress. The cold water helped to get rid of the unpleasant feelings off her skin. Stepping out of the shower, she wrapped a bath towel around her petite body.

The material made her shoulders and collarbones visible, and Lana faltered when she looked in the mirror. The hickeys and bite marks the devil had left on her skin a few days ago were fading away. Some were almost completely healed, and some were bright yellow. Her body had never looked so 'blank.' The devil had always made sure the brunette had some marks to remind them of their love making. Now there were disappearing.

Lana traced her fingers on a yellow bruise in her collarbone, and applied some pressure; but it didn't hurt anymore. Her body would have no trace of the devil in a couple days.


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