Author's Note: Just an interim fluff chapter in an effort to entertain my loyal readers and let you know I am still continuing this fic. Hope you like it!

When Denji walked back into her apartment, Mari was sitting on the couch spacing out. She stared blankly at the envelope she held in her hand. She looked sad, so sad. Her mouth was turned down into a severe frown. Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears.

Even when he approached her, she did not move; just kept staring at the envelope and holding back tears. Sitting down beside her seemed to break her out of whatever trance had taken hold of her. She inhaled deeply, sniffling lightly. She forced a smile to her lips when she turned her face to look at him. The moment her eyes met his the stiff smile softened, became more sincere. He loved that he could have such an affect on her. His heart fluttered in his chest, carefree and full of the wonderful feelings he had for her.

"What is that?" Denji asked, his eyes sliding down to the envelope still clutched in her fingers before going back to her beautiful almost colorless blue eyes.

"It's my resignation letter," she replied, tossing the envelope onto the table. She leaned her head onto the back of the couch, gazing at the ceiling while releasing a long exhale as if she had been holding her breath. "It's really makes me sad having to give up on my dream."

"But you're not giving up. You're simply having to go somewhere else to continue your dream, that's all," he said, easing a little closer to her. He cupped her jaw turning her face so she would look at him. "You're not one to give up easily. It's one of the things I like about you."

Mari smiled. She moved to sit on his lap, straddling his thighs while facing him. Running her fingers through his messy but soft and miraculously tangle free hair, a gentle smile remained on her lips.

"Do you know what I like about you?" she asked, gingerly touching the ends of some particularly wild hairs sticking straight up from his head and still damp from his shower.

"Uh uh. Tell me," he requested, placing his fingers on her waist with his palms resting on her hips.

"I love how sweet you are. How thoughtful. Kind." Her hands covered his that touched her lightly but held her firmly. "You're so gentle yet strong."

Denji's hands slid around her waist until his arms encompassed her. He pulled her forward, pressing her into his chest. Mari's arms slipped around his neck, squeezing hard and further compressing her breasts against his chest and his neck. She heard him sigh then felt the muscles of his legs engaging against her inner thighs. Suddenly he stood up which caused her squeal with surprise but also delight because he held her tightly and so very close.

Her legs went around his waist to further secure her position, clinging to him when he began to walk toward her bedroom. She nuzzled into his neck, pressing a light kiss under his jaw. A giggle escaped her when his fingers dug into her sides as he clinched them tighter around her.

"So strong," she whispered in his ear. "Your love makes me weak, Denji. I couldn't have stopped myself from falling for you and I tried...oh I tried."

Denji leaned forward slowly to sit her on the bed being extra careful not to lose his balance and topple over on top of her. He stood in front of her between her legs that hung over the side of the bed. Her eyes appeared huge as she sat looking up at him and blinking with silent questioning.

"Why?" he asked, touching her cheek that was still incredibly round and soft with her own youthfulness. Her eyes held an openness and innocence he was glad the monsters in her life had not been able to steal away from her.

"Why what?" she inquired playing dumb on purpose.

When he raised an eyebrow indicating he was being serious and now was not the time for bullshit, pink coloration spread across her cheeks and she bit her lower lip while looking down with a sheepish grin.

"I was afraid. For so many reasons," she admitted, placing her hands on his hips clad in drab grey sweatpants.

She pressed her cheek against his flat almost concave belly. The muscles were taut under the softness of his white t-shirt. When his hand rested lightly on the top of her head, his long and powerful fingers pushing into her scalp through her curls, she closed her eyes and concentrated on the wonderful sensation of his massaging fingers.

"And those reasons are?" he pressed her tenderly in a low voice.

"I didn't want to drag you into my drama firstly." She pressed her forehead into his belly, staring down at their feet. She brushed her toes across the tips of his.

"Your drama?"

"Well, think about how we first met."

"Oh, yeah. I would have ripped off that guy's arm and beat him to death with it if he had laid a hand on you," he said, stroking her head.

"And there is the whole thing with Mr. Sato and his loyal guard dog, Hideki."

"Don't worry about them. I'll protect you," Denji promised, sliding his hand under her chin to pull her face up so he could see her. "Besides, I have plenty of drama of my own. Part of that drama is why you're having to quit your job. And your next reason for not wanting to fall in love with me?"

"I didn't think I deserved someone like you," Mari promised, taking his hand from her chin to press his palm against her cheek. "You really are an amazing man. Especially considering everything you've been through. You never let it make you angry or bitter or hateful. You're still so full of love. I'm so happy you love me."

Denji's cheeks blushed a crimson red that spread to his hairline and down his neck. He lowered himself to be face to face with her. His eyes shifted back and forth, taking in every inch of her lovely face while his fingers explored the baby soft skin of her rounded cheeks.

"Hey Denji," she whispered, placing her hands along his jaw.

"Hmmm? What?" he asked, his eyes connecting with hers.

"Do you see a future for us? Together?" Her eyes flickered down to his mouth, noting the slow smile that curled his lips before returning to his.

"Of course I do," he said, pressing a kiss to her lips. "I can't imagine a future without you."

"Oh," she gasped, tears of happiness making her eyes moist and shiny. "I feel the same way. I want to be with you...always."

"You couldn't get rid of me if you tried," he warned her, his smile broadening as his arms went around her waist.

"Mmmm," she hummed, her arms circling his neck when he lifted her and repositioned her on the bed with her head on the pillow. "I'm so glad to hear you say that."

Denji lay down beside her, his head on the same pillow with hers. They lay face to face, chest to chest. For a long moment they simply stared into each other's eyes without saying a word. Fingers stroked faces and necks and arms.

"There is one dream I haven't made come true with you yet," he said, his hand gliding over her forearm to grasp her elbow.

"Oh? And what's that?" She bit her lower lip in anticipation, her eyes dancing over his face.

"I want to hold you and talk to you until we both fall asleep."

"That sounds wonderful," Mari murmured, pulling the blanket from behind her to drape over their lower bodies. "Why don't we dream a new dream, together?"

"While we're still awake?" Denji questioned her, sliding his hand up to her shoulder.

"While we're still awake," she confirmed, placing her hand on his chest. She leaned forward, placing a kiss on his cheek. "The best dream is the one we dream together while still fully conscious."

"Who said that?" he inquired, dragging the backs of his fingers across her cheek and down her neck.

She shivered with excitement as goosebumps raised over her neck tingling from his loving touch. A smile so wide her lips parted to reveal her freshly brushed teeth graced her already glowing face.

"Your future wife."

A furrow formed between his eyes, his lips turning down into a frown of confusion. "My...what?"

"You heard me. One day," she began, sliding her hands over his chest as if smoothing out nonexistent wrinkles in his t-shirt. "After we've both graduated from college and gotten really good jobs, we can get married. We'll buy a house for me and you and Nayuta to live in. We'll have the dogs and the cat, maybe two cats. A bird maybe? Who knows. I want a big family. We'll have each other and lots of love."

"That's a given," he said, placing his hand on the back of her head to pull it forward to plant a kiss on her forehead. "I want you to have my babies."

"How many?"

"Two to start."

"To start?"

"Yeah. We'll decide how many more we feel like after that. We'll have a live in baby sitter after all."

Mari slapped his chest playfully. "That's not fair. Nayuta will have dreams of her own. She will be ready to start her life. Go to college. Find a boyfriend. Oooh, I can picture you walking her down the aisle!"

Denji squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head and undoubtedly tangling his previously tangle free as he rubbed his head against the pillow.

"Okay, wait, wait, wait...stop right there. I can't think about that yet. I can't bear the thought of her dating much less getting married."

"Okay, Dad," she sighed, smiling when he did not correct her. She sighed contentedly as he pulled her forward tucking her head under his chin while he held her securely with one arm hooked around her shoulders. "Do you really think that future is possible in this awful world we live in filled with Devils and terrible humans?"

Denji inhaled deeply, his rising chest pushing against her face and moving her head back slightly. "Yeah. I do. I'm Chainsaw Man. I'm a fucking hero. I'll continue to slay Devils and kill equally bad humans to keep everyone, especially the women I love, safe."

Mari put her arms around him, sliding one arm under his neck and draping the other over his waist to press her hand into the small of his back while pulling him close to her.

"You're my fucking hero, Chainsaw Man. And I love you with all of my heart."