AN: And here we are with our next chapter. I honestly was surprised how fast I made this. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Helluva Boss

After getting what he needed back home, Thaniel went to the balcony Mannus had told him about earlier to wait for Loona to come over. Thankfully, there was nobody around, and he spent the time waiting by looking up at the ethereal night sky of Purgatory while trying to gather his courage. For years, Thaniel had played this scenario in his head over and over again multiple times. How he would come face to face with Loona again and tell her that he orphaned her and apologize for it. He didn't expect her to forgive him for it. Even if things had been better between demons and angels, there was still a lot of bitter hatred for the past exterminations. It didn't matter if the reason for them was now known to the public; it didn't erase the fact that their loved ones were gone for good.

A part of Thaniel still wondered if doing this now was the right move. His son's best friend and Loona's stepsister were getting married. It was supposed to be a time of celebration, but here he was about to drop a bombshell on it all.

If only I didn't react like I did. Closing his eyes, Thaniel shook his head. Don't dwell on it any further, Thaniel. What's done is done. You must face your sins at last.

Upon hearing the sound of the door nearby opening, Thaniel turned around and saw Loona standing before him. She was also apparently just as tense. Her eyes were narrowed, her arms crossed, and she almost looked poised to strike or flee should something happen in the next few minutes. Thaniel did his best to relax to make her feel less threatened. He took a moment to, once again, see how much she had grown into a fine woman. A far cry from the little puppy he held in his hand for a short moment that felt like a lifetime ago. He could tell just by gazing at her eyes she had been through some tough spots. It was Hell, so it was to be expected. But it still hurt knowing that the innocent and curious eyes she held as a young one were now replaced with that of an adult.

Not for the first time, he wondered what fate would have been if he had raised her like he wished if it was allowed. Or if he dared to go against the law. Would she have been just as happy? Or would prejudiced angels have made her life a living nightmare? Would she feel like she belonged among them, or would Loona wish to reconnect to her roots only to feel like an outcast?

The what if's didn't matter. What mattered was that everything worked out in the end.

She's alive and healthy. The Lord really did hear me, Thaniel thought to himself. Regardless of what happens, I will be happy for her.

"So are you going to stare at me like a stick of meat, or are you going to address why you wanted to speak to me alone and explain your deal with me?" Loona asked in a harsh tone, but Thaniel didn't mind. From her point of view (and the others), it made it look like he had some kind of issue with her.

"Sorry, I just wanted to see how far you've come," Thaniel said, which only made Loona look more confused. "You've grown up so much. But I need to ask this. Just this one question and I will answer everything. Are you happy?"

Loona's eyes widened, and then all was quiet for a while. Finally, she unfolded her arms and said, "Yeah? Why wouldn't I be? I have a great family. A boyfriend who actually treats me better than any other guy I've had. And I'm seeing my sister, my best friend, marry the guy of her dreams. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because that's the only thing I have prayed for you for all these years since I last saw you," Thaniel said as he closed his eyes. "The fact that you are standing before me, alive and well, is enough to finally let me sigh in relief after all this time."

"Huh? What the fuck are you talking about?" Loona asked.

"...You don't remember me, but I can't blame you. You were a baby. A newborn. I doubt you remember much that day," Thaniel said as he stepped forward, and, to Loona's credit, she stood there wide-eyed but unafraid. "It's still a day I remember well. The deaths I caused, the judgments I delivered, meeting you, your parents, and Blitzo."

"W-What?" Loona gasped as realization began to kick in at long last. Her eyes went wide with shock, and her jaw dropped slightly. Even her tail froze while her ears pointed upward.

"But meeting you...changed me...in ways even now I'm still feeling...but finally, I can say this." He closed his eyes and bowed his head. "I am...so sorry, Loona. I am so sorry I killed your parents."

And just like that, the burden was finally lifted. The words Thaniel had wanted to say for so long were out. There was a long silence as he slowly opened his eyes and gazed at Loona.

Unsurprisingly, she was standing still as the words slowly echoed in her head. There was a trembling from her limbs or furry appendices here and there, but for the most part, she was silent and unmoving. In a split second, her entire world had changed, and her mind blank from the revelation that the one who made her an orphan was at last standing before her. Thaniel didn't say anything or do anything else. He knew that she needed to make the next move. Whatever it was.

Eventually, after so much time had passed, a few tears dripped down Loona's eyes, and she lowered her head. Her fist shook with rage, and Thaniel prepared himself for the first blow. It came moments later. A fast right hook across his jaw that did nothing to damage him. If it were anyone who wasn't as powerful of an angel as he was, Thaniel was sure it would have broken the mouth. Loona, fury in her teary eyes, hit him again. And again. And again.

And again.

Blow by blow. Punch by punch. All aimed at his head, and he did nothing to stop her. She needed to get it out. All the rage from what had to have been from years of wondering, hating, fearing, and so forth. He didn't mind. It was not because it caused him no harm but because he knew he deserved her rage.

Loona continued her assault for a few more minutes before finally slamming her fists into his chest and taking a deep breath. Thaniel slowly raised his hands, almost ready to hug her, but he stopped himself. He wouldn't touch her unless Loona let him. Something that Thaniel was sure was off the table as a possibility for now.

Taking a few deep breaths, Loona wiped her eyes with her furry arm while glaring hatefully at Thaniel. Her eyes were redder than previously, and the tear marks around them made him wince. "You killed them..."

"I did," Thaniel whispered with shame. "Not on purpose, but it doesn't change that they died because of me."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!" Loona demanded.

"They were never meant to die," Thaniel said, which made Loona go silent again. "Exterminators...we only go after those who have committed too many sins and actions worthy of death. The worst of the worst. Murderers, rapists, child molesters, those who break the rules of interfering in the human world, and so forth."

"So what? My parents were like that?!" Loona asked furiously.

"No, they merely got caught in the crossfire," Thaniel sighed as she shook his head. "I was in a bar. I was shooting other Hellhounds judged for extermination due to their sins. I used a higher caliber with armor-piercing effect to kill them, but the bullets went through the wall...and your parents were right there behind it."

"A-Are you saying...," Loona whispered in disbelief.

"It was an accident...a complete accident, but one that I take full responsibility for," Thaniel answered with a heavy sigh. "When I learned what I had done, I was horrified. Guilt-ridden. Even more so when I saw you in your mother's arms, crying and hugging your mother who died protecting you from my mistake."

"S-She did?" Loona mumbled while looking almost ready to fall to her knees.

"She did," Thaniel answered with a nod. "She shielded you with her body and took all the blows. Her determination to keep you safe saved you from joining them in death. Your father was looking at you and was at peace. Happy that you were safe at least. Your mother was similar but clearly worried about you even in your final moments."

He slowly touched Loona's shoulder, and she didn't react. She did tremble, but the knowledge that her parents had loved her kept her from lashing out. "They were good people. Your father, Relron Garugo, was a bodyguard. Your mother, Rachel Garugo, stayed home to nurse you. They didn't deserve their fate, and I stole them from you, and for that, I will never forgive myself for what I have done because it was wrong. What I did to you, even unintentionally, was wrong. I'm sorry, Loona. I am so sorry I did this to you."

"...That's their names?" Loona began to whimper as her eyes got teary-eyed again. Holding a paw to her heart, she was trying to steady herself. "You aren't fucking with me now, right?! Those are their names?!"

Thaniel slowly pulled out the two pictures of those he murdered. The ones he kept all his life and handed them over to Loona. The Hellhound's eyes widened as she slowly took them with her trembling hands and gazed upon the faces that were her parents for the first time in her entire life. Loona had a combination of both her parent's fur. She inherited her mother's bushy tail and her father's facial expression save for her nose, which was all her mom's. Loona stared at them for a long time. Seeing the parents she had never known and yet constantly wondered what they were like, even as an adult.

"Yes, and you are Loona Garugo. That was the name they gave you. Their loving daughter. Loona Garugo."

And finally, she couldn't hold back and wailed. As if a dam burst from the pressure, the waterworks came out, and she held the pictures close to her heart. Thaniel couldn't stop himself this time. He wrapped his arms and wings around Loona and let her sob on his chest. She made no move to push him away or hurt him. Instead, she rested her head on his suit and sobbed into it. It didn't take long for Thaneil to start crying silently too.

He couldn't imagine what she was going through. How long had she waited to learn about her parents all her life, even small bits, to finally get it now? To know that she had been loved. To hear her parents' real names. Her real last name? Thaniel, once again, cursed himself for hurting her like this. Even if he lived to see the end of time, he would never forgive himself for killing two innocent parents and depriving a child of her family.

Loona continued to sob on his chest for some time until she finally managed to gather herself and slowly distance herself from Thaniel. She stared at the photos silently before taking a deep breath and asking. "Why are you telling me this? All of this? Why? You could have kept it from me."

"Why would I do that?" Thaniel asked.

"I...I don't know...you can't expect me to not hate you for this," Loona growled, looking downward.

"Because you deserve to know," Thaniel sighed as he rubbed the back of his head. "Loona, please believe me when I say that I, to this very day, feel guilty about what I had done. I hated myself for killing your parents to the point that I quit the Exterminators. I went to therapy for four years to overcome my guilt. I even wanted to adopt you when I held you."

The Hellhound's head zipped up in shock. "You what?"

"I didn't know what to do with you as I held you in my arms," Thaniel replied. "I couldn't just leave you there; there was no way I was putting you in an orphanage based on what I had learned about them. And your people would reject you because of some superstitious nonsense."

"Yeah, when I learned about that bullshit..." Loona grumbled.

"So I thought...maybe I could take you in? Raise you? Or maybe give you to a family of Winged Wolves. Those are former Hellhounds who redeemed themselves. I didn't care if you were a demon or if it would be considered controversial. I would have treated you as my daughter. My wife would have done the same thing. You and Mannus could have been siblings."

"Okay, that would have been weird," Loona chuckled.

"But such things were not allowed, and I was being ordered to return to Heaven because they learned of what I had done to your parents," Thaniel continued before shaking his head. "And then I saw him. Blitzo."

"The 'o' is silent."

"...Right," Thaniel said before continuing. "At first, I was going to exterminate him because of his past sins, but then I saw something I never thought I would see. He was ready to fight me, but it wasn't for my survival. It was yours."

"Me?" Loona asked.

"You were a demon baby being held by an angel known for killing demons while standing over the corpses of your parents. Blitz must have thought I was going to kill you because he looked ready to fight me to save you," Thaniel chuckled and shook his head. "I couldn't believe it. Here was this imp assassin, selfish and a ruiner of lives, yet he was willing to risk his life to save you. He knew he couldn't beat me. He knew he could easily die at my hands. And yet he looked ready to take me down with everything he had. It was then that, I believe, God answered my prayers and sent him to me...so that I could give him to you. And from the looks of it, my choice was correct."

"...Dad and I had a few issues, but I'm happy it was him who raised me," Loona admitted as she smiled. "I didn't take it well that I was adopted at first, but soon I saw him as my Dad regardless. There was a time when I hated him for adopting me for some stupid reason, but I moved on. Now? I couldn't really imagine anyone else raising me."

Loona, for the first time since they met, gave Thaniel a smile. "Thank you. For giving me to him. I...I guess I am grateful for that."

"You're welcome," Thaniel answered with a nod.

"...So what happens now?" Loona asked as she moved her hair back and wiped her eyes.

"Whatever you want," Thaniel answered with a shrug. "You can hate me forever and never want to see me again. I will respect whatever choice you wish to make."

Loona was silent for a while before closing her eyes while being deep in thought. Thaniel prepared himself for whatever it was as Loona soon opened her eyes and glared at him. "I can't forgive you for killing my parents."

Thaniel sighed as he nodded his head in understanding.

"...But I don't hate you."

He then perked up upon hearing this as Loona looked to her side. "Maybe it's because Collin and Nate have been rubbing off on me, but...I believe you when you say you feel sorry for what you did. You also gave me the best father I could have ever had, which, in turn, gave me the best family I ever could have. You gave me my parents' names and faces, which I've wanted for so long. I just..."

Gripping her hands, Loona sighed. "I'm still angry for what you did, but I'm less angry because I know my parents died loving me because of you. Even if you were the one that ended them? You coming here, confessing, and giving me the information I've wanted to know for so long is...Well, I guess it's ballsy. I'll give you that."

"Not the word I would use, but okay," Thaniel shrugged.

"I always used to worry they were so horrible or didn't love me or a hundred other scenarios," Loona admitted as she looked up at the sky. "I have never thought about it as much as I got older, but it feels like...closure."

"I know," Thaniel replied with a small smile. "It's the same for me. I've spent years worrying about you, praying that you were safe, and hoping I could see you again so I could tell you the truth."

"Well, I guess fate works in mysterious ways," Loona said as she looked back at him with a smile. She put the photos of her parents away and sighed. "So, thank you. And maybe one day I might forgive you, but that won't be for a long time."

"I understand."

"Well, enough of this moppy bullshit. Let's get back to the party before everyone worries," Loona said as she turned around and walked back towards the door with Thaniel behind her.

The two of them got inside, and it didn't take long to find everyone waiting for them in the hallway, including a new person whom Theniel had never seen before. Upon seeing it was a purple sheep cherub, Theniel realized that it was Loona's boyfriend, Collin. When they appeared, he and Blitzo were the first to run up (fly in the cherub's case) toward Loona's side.

"Loonie! Are you okay! He didn't hurt you, did he?!" Blitzo asked worriedly while checking every part of his daughter's body until she pushed him off his feet.

"Relax, Dad," Loona replied, rolling her eyes. "We just talked. That's all."

"No offense but you were in there for awhile, and there was some screaming," Stolas replied as he looked at the angel with narrowed eyes. "What did you talk about?"

Thaniel was about to answer when Loona waved her hand. "It's not important. I'll tell you after the wedding. I promise. All you need to know is that Mannus's Dad and I are cool. Let's head back to the party."

"You sure you're okay?" Collin asked but soon got a kiss on the lips from the Hellhound.

"I'm fine, babe. Let's just get something to drink. I need it," Loona replied, which didn't seem to calm down her boyfriend's concern, but he gave in and followed. The others did so as well. Many looked at Thaniel with confusion or hostility but soon returned to the party.

Hilla walked over to Thaniel and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"...Honestly? Yeah. I think I am." Thaniel smiled and felt truly at peace for the first time in a long time.