All hail the mighty Vatican!

For they command all who pray to God!

Lavi walked back with Allen when the sun shone bright enough to light their way, following the hyperactive black lamb as they made their way down the hills. The church was practically in tears when they saw their patron saint coming home. Lavi had expected them to shower Allen with confetti or covering their path with palm leaves as worship, but the laity really knew Allen well. They went to their knees and -instead of praising and thanking Him- begged the Lord to "please don't give us another heart attack!"

"Another?" Lavi turned to the blushing Allen who tried to calm the crying humans.

"It's a long story," Allen laughed the thought away, making his way towards the church.

Father Bak smiled easily when he saw how close Lavi and Allen was, their different coloured wings touching each other most probably out of assurance and comfort-seeking. Remembering all those past memories concerning Allen's abrupt disappearances and shamed returns back when Allen was still younger, Father Bak crossed his arms around his church robes. He greeted the returned angel with the opening line that everyone knew all so well by now, "So, the prodigal son returns,"

Knowing where this was going, Allen bowed dramatically as he could. But he was acutely aware that his left wing was still injured as he proclaimed in act, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son,"

Lavi didn't know why everyone around them was laughing. Allen sounded so solemn and pitiful while Father Bak looked like he was about to kick Allen into tomorrow. The moment was tensed with quietness, until the people's laugh died into giggles.

Then, Father Bak rushed down to Allen to hug the angel with open arms. He kissed Allen lovingly in the cheeks, a brilliant smile painted his handsome face that would make women swoon, and "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!"

The crowd of people started to burst out into laughter and cheers simultaneously, the colour of the Church of Saint Allen Walker slowly returning into its glorious pristine as if the very building itself was celebrating the return of its patron saint.

"What was that all about? What just happened, Allen?" Lavi enquired curiously as they made their way to Allen's bedroom.

The angel explained patiently as he wore a dreamy smile, "When I Fell from Heaven and Father Bak took me in; I was a bit of a rowdy angel… I kept running away from the church because I wanted to know more about Father's creations, to see more of earth… But I would always return here whenever I felt lonely or hungry and Father Bak would always welcome me like a real son… My first times here on Earth was more or less like the remake of the story 'The Prodigal Son' in the bible,"

Lavi snubbed at the atrocious story as he pointed out, "you didn't run away this time; in fact, I think it was Bak who sent you out in the first place. You didn't have to bow down and say those lines to him,"

"Yeah.. But-"Allen shrugged his shoulders, "It's for memory's sake. Those were happy times for us all. I'm sure you have happy memories too that makes you want to relive them!"

Lavi gently ushered the injured angel into the bedroom, saying wistfully as he stated the truth, "Allen, the only happy memories I got in the span of my entire life? Started the moment I met you,"

After the return of the Saint Allen Walker, the church began to recover itself in terms of mood and atmosphere. The candles were lit in thanks for the angel's safe return and prayers were held during masses as per usual. Allen's aura was now back to normal; peppermint chocolate with a hint of writing ink now, courtesy of being with the Demon Lord for most of the time. Alas, all is still unwell in Allen's case.

During one of those nice bright mornings, Lenalee and Kanda were on their way to bring Lavi a message from Komui. They purposely waited till the twelfth hour of the day to avoid burning their eyes at the sleeping duo. It was getting irksome for the other demons (and sometimes unlucky humans who screamed murder when they saw their sleeping patron saint being 'defiled' by an equally-asleep demon) to walk in on them still lying on their bed in immodest/modest positions. No matter where Lavi was during the days or time, the insufferable Demon Lord would find his way to Allen's bedroom without fail at night.

"Lavi's staying awfully close to Allen nowadays," Lenalee mused out loud as they walked along the pretty corridors filled with handmade tapestries, "I think it's really sweet that they're back together,"

Her companion only rolled his eyes in exasperation, but didn't say a word even when they were nearly reaching to their destination. I think the reason that the stupid usagi is hovering over beansprout more often now is because-

A loud thump came from inside Allen's bedroom before an angered voice said, "C'mere, Allen! I need to check it!"

"NO!" Allen's musical voice cried out, "It's too painful, Lavi.. Please leave me be,"

"I need to do this for your own good, Allen!" Lavi spoke quickly. A series of loud crashes echoed the empty corridor, alerting the outside demons to full attack mode.

Fearing the worst, Lenalee shouted in panic as she banged open the door within seconds, "ALLEN!"

Kanda paced inside, holding the stunned demon mage as they came about the strange picture that trumped the sleeping scenes. Both Allen and Lavi were on the bed with the Demon Lord hovering above the lying angel. Allen's face was teary and as red as a rose while Lavi's hands were crushing on Allen's messed up wings. Lavi's signature headband was nowhere to be seen, so his red-flaming hair was showing its wild bedside style while his muscular legs were pinning Allen's own lithe ones to the bed. Both were panting hard like they were running a marathon, a thin cover of sweat very visible to anyone else. Both looked like they were caught doing something dirty. Kanda sensed a headache coming.

-because Lavi feels responsible for Allen's wing.

"LAVI!" Lenalee exploded.

After throwing Lavi into a pit of crocodile-infested river (the damn demon just won't die!), Allen sat all of them down in his bedroom again. Lenalee checked Allen's broken wing properly, this time receiving no resistance.

"I don't know what's worse; seeing you asleep in Lavi's arms or catching you struggling in his hands in general," Lenalee sighed in annoyance.

Lavi sat down behind Allen as he slung a lazy arm round Allen's waist, "I told you: I was just trying to check Allen's wings. I wasn't gonna do anything that Allen wouldn't like!" A glaring stare from Lenalee made Lavi pout. So the proud Demon Lord left the bedroom with a childish stomp.

Kanda looked over Lenalee's shoulders as he spoke to Allen while pocking around the appendage, "why can't you just heal it?" the "like you did to me" was left unspoken, but Kanda knew that Allen got the hidden message as clearly as morning dew.

"I can heal other people just perfectly; but the downside is that I cannot heal myself just as fast or efficient. It's one of those angel things," Allen described his handicap as thoroughly as possible; "it's to prevent us from using our power for our personal gain. Besides, Father gave us power to protect His creations, not ourselves,"

"You're so busy protecting people," Lenalee murmured as she looked at the poor angel. One white wing was folded just nicely, but the other was hanging out like a sore thumb. Miranda had healed it as much as she could when the duo came back. Lenalee proposed wearing a splint to support his wing, but Allen had rejected the offer politely by saying that his wing will heal faster when it was free of restrictions. Lenalee had come by once in a while to check on the wing herself. It was fortunate that Allen was healing steadily. But no matter how many times Lenalee kept checking and looking after him, Allen still looked like a literal broken angel. It was quite a pitiful sight, "who's protecting you?"

Allen's silver tongue had no answer for that; his face looked as if the thought of somebody protecting him instead of the other way around had never occurred before. Before Allen could chew on the topic further, a friendly knock on the open door stole his attention.

"Yo!" Lavi carried a tray of food to Allen, "I got us a snack!"

"No mitarashi dango?" Allen whined, looking at the pathetic display of fried omelette and two baozi. The whining angel got a hit on his head by his best friend.

"You need energy, not more junk food. If you wanna get your to heal faster, then do as I say, shortcake,"

Allen was in a very good mood when he stood behind the processional line, waiting for the afternoon mass to begin. The altar boys bowed in greeting, relieved expressions clear on their young faces. Allen made sure to give them their well-deserved blessings before arranging them in order. He laughed when the boys joked about how dirty their white cassocks would become no matter how hard they tried to keep them clean. He kept his smile up when the sisters came to give their daily prayers. He talked wisely to the clergy who had missed their debates while he straightened his mass robes. The church spared no joyful feelings; they were deeply pleased that Saint Allen Walker was back in his top form (Minus the obvious broken wing. The humans were quite distraught about that).

"Welcome back, Allen," Father Bak greeted first as he walked towards the waiting angel. Allen gave his usual kisses on both cheeks, feeling Father Bak doing the same. The Head Priest adjusted Allen's rose-red shoulder guards before placing his hands on top of them, suddenly adopting a serious face, "Allen… There's something I need to tell you,"

Allen's dazzling aura simmered to a cooler one as Allen drop his smile entirely, "What's wrong, Bak Chang?" The angel using the human's full name to reflect his situation.

"The Vatican," Father Bak said, "they're coming.. Somebody sent word to them about Lavi and the Black Order. They're coming, Allen," The church bells started to ring, its powerful rings sounded very ominous at the moment. However, they didn't have time to think because the processional music was coming up and the mass was starting.

For the first time since the Falling, Saint Allen Walker felt his breath being stolen away.

Meanwhile, Lavi was relaxing under the one of the oak trees that stood stoically in the church's courtyard. There was nobody around and peace reigned over the area, since everybody was attending the afternoon mass in their best outfits. It was Allen's first mass after his return, so Lavi had decided to give the angel the spotlight for now before he stole Allen away from all the human attention.

A tinkling laugh made Lavi blearily open his eyes. There were a couple of children standing in front of him; their young faces struck familiarity in Lavi's mind. These were some of the children that were playing with Timothy and himself. Then, he remembered that he had fallen into depression and wrath when he had the miscommunication with Allen. It was obvious by the children's hesitance that they were present during the mass fight or one of Lavi's bad days where his wings were sharp enough to cut falling raindrops. To see a Demon Lord form at such an immature age must've scared them through and through; After all, a demon is the source of every child's nightmares. They were the monsters underneath their beds, their moving shadows and haunting illusions.

But the girl laughed as she came closer, pulling her little brother along by the chubby hand. Without hesitation, she rubbed her hands onto Lavi's soft wings. Lavi was taken by surprise, but made sure that he didn't sharpen them out of instinct. The brother waddled onto Lavi's lap, grinning at the Demon Lord with a toothless smile.

"Aren't you afraid of me?" Lavi patted the brother's head.

The girl gazed in awe as Lavi moved his wings in a dramatic motion. Then, she smiled innocently, "Huh? You're not a bad man. You're not scary!"

Lavi felt comforted by that fact, though he did not know why. Ignoring that train of thought, he allowed the girl to play with his black wings as he held onto the baby brother securely. The children had no weapons nor do they have any experience in combat, so Lavi's demonic self immediately categorised them as younglings. So as they were only younglings in his mind, Lavi had the natural tendency to leave them to their own curious desires until somebody threw an obstacle in the way.

"Hey, look what I found! A demon playing with little children? Well, that won't do!"

The gravelly voice of unknown origin made Lavi jumped out in surprise. A sudden shriek from the girl made Lavi turn around to see a green vine crawling to the girl and her brother. With the swiftness of lightning, Lavi's sharpened wing sliced the flora into pieces. He stood before the frightened children in a protective stance with a pissed off tone, "Leave the children alone, you asshole! Come out and fight me like a man!"

"If you say so," the shadows melted to reveal four humans wearing black uniforms with silver linings. But Lavi knew that these nonchalant-looking humans were more than they showed. They had weapons that Lavi has never seen before. But from the stench of demon blood and smoking scent, he knew that those battle arms were designed to kill demons. He backed off slowly, reaching back to ensure that the children were still behind him.

"What're you doing with the children, demon?" one old man said, stepping forward calmly as though he owned the place. Allen! I have to get him!

"Heh.. Wouldn't you like to know-"he quickly turned and pushed the children away, "RUN!"

The instant that Lavi shouted, the five hunters sprang into action. Two went the children's way, but Lavi's feather attack stopped their advance. He smoothly unsheathed his hammer, but still unwilling to summon his armour. He had to know their attacks and weaknesses first. "BRING IT!"

The two who were running after the children tried to advance again, but Lavi attacked them straight on. He swung his hammer and dodged an attack from two enormous blades that Lavi has never encountered before. He artfully cut the arm of another man, but he didn't see the fast whip that entangled around his wrist. He pulled on it, but the whip magically tightened as it burned through Lavi's skin. But Lavi gave only an irritated growl as he tore apart the whip easily.

"Who are you, demon?!" The woman asked serenely, shock that her whip had just disintegrated into nothingness.

The woman's voice sounded similar to Lulubell's own, but this female demon hunter didn't have the natural melodious tune that all angels were born with to enhance their charm. This human sounded more like she had been through battles and wars gruesome enough to scar her natural voice permanently. She was definitely a fighter. So for that reason and that reason alone, Lavi proclaimed, "I am Demon Lord Lavi of the Black Order clan! Who're you?"

A gunshot from above the nearby rooftops pierced the sky. The fifth fighter, a gunner, lazily said as he blew the smoke away from his gun's muzzle, "We're the Vatican,"

Lavi wanted to rip his throat out for such a cowardly attack, but felt his arm turning numb. The bullet was digging into his left shoulder, the magic effect taking place almost instantaneously. His demonic powers were fleeting, trying to divide between Lavi's fight and healing the wound. Lavi growled in frustration. He was also worried of the children, who were hiding behind one of the stoned pillars looking so very horrified. He didn't want to scar them any further, nor could he stay here and continue the worthless fight. Paternal intuition took over as Lavi sprinted from the courtyard, leading the Vatican away from the children.

"You can't run forever, demon!" the booming voice taunted, their footsteps edging ever closer.

I don't have to. As long as they were away from the defenceless children, he could fight with all his might without worry. But there was also this accursed bullet wound to figure out. The bullet was lodged in deep into his body, the paralysing effect spreading through his veins every time he took a step. Soon, Lavi felt like he was trudging through mud, his upper body feeling the numbing pain. And would you look at that, I think it's poisoned too… Lavi panted as he kept running, one destination screaming in his mind.

"Come back, demon!" the fighters were coming closer, catching up to Lavi in tremendous timing. Lavi's chest started tightening in short breaths and his head started to swim in panic.

"There's no help you can call! Give it up, demon!"

No… There is one- Lavi gathered the remains of his tattered strength and pushed forward, gritting his teeth as he climbed the steps in agonising pain and agony. He felt the Vatican almost at his back, their blades and gun aimed right at them to send their final blow that could end Lavi's life. Lavi couldn't feel anything by then; everything in his body gave way as he burst open the church doors with the last of his spirit.

"ALLEN!"

Lavi sensed more than heard the attack being initiated, but he had no strength to defend himself against them. Falling down onto the ground when his legs gave up the fight, he closed his eye as he surrendered to the bullet wound. A gunshot banged the echoic church hall, stopping everything and everyone.

After what felt like an eternity, the bullet drop daintily onto the tiled ground, hard wings proved impassable to mere weapons.

"Excuse me," an angelic voice called out in magnificence beside Lavi's ear. The Demon Lord gasped like he was underwater for a long period of time. Refreshingly cool aura that could replenish and heal any wound on earth washed away Lavi's injuries like it was nothing, the alluring scent that belonged to one angel only filtered Lavi's sense of smell. He slowly opened his eye to see a beautiful sight.

Allen was holding his head in his chest as the angel was kneeling down on both feet, his precious mass clothes covering the floor below in whites and golden lines. The angel had his white wings covering them both, looking as if they were sheltered by a thick, feathery cloak instead. A mesmerising Allen stared straight at the shock Vatican with a seraphic smile,

"I'm sorry; but this lost black sheep belongs to me,"

Tada! Allen saves the day! And looking beautiful at the same time!

Also, my lovely Cutiepie120048 asked me some questions that are quite intriguing. They're all about angels (who doesn't love 'em?), so I'm bringing in Saint Lulubell to answer them ^^

Now, Lulubell said that angels were made from the "flesh and blood of God Himself". Which means that angels are probably the purest form of innocence and love, untainted of sin and dark magic.

The Vatican are "particularly aggravating humans with nothing else to do but showing off their magical abilities" -According to Lulubell. They're the council who controls the entire religious order on Earth. Their duties cover making strategies against the onslaught of demons, allowing the building of new churches or religious places and also (of course) organising their masses. The Vatican are humans who are granted the power or exorcising demons and other evil spirits, similar to the angels' powers. Nevertheless, the angels begrudgingly work together with the Vatican here on Earth (they're not used to taking orders from someone other than their Father in Heaven, you see). So, the answer to your question is a definite no, the Vatican do not worship Malcolm. (But Lulubell and some other angels are waiting for that to happen so that they can have an excuse to kick their human butts into Heaven!)

Lulubell has to think deep for this next one, her eyes are fogging up. She doesn't quite remember if any one of her angelic brethren was tortured before... If they were tortured and their wings were ripped off, then you can bet that the other angelic brethren will stop at nothing to get their vengeance. Yes, they may be all pure and loving angels, but that doesn't mean people can push them around. Angelic brethren adores each other in their own way; to hear that one of your brothers/sisters have their wings ripped off is an absolute sacrilege against them, the Creation and Father Himself. Lulubell doesn't want to talk about that anymore, so we have to move on. Sorry about that!

Yes, all angels have their own churches to go home to. Their own church is their own personal home to take care of. It's where angels recuperate most of the time. Hey, let's go back to history: Back in the Church of Saint Lulubell, she allows even the prostitutes and beggars to enter the church grounds to pray. Contrary to her cold face, Lulubell is actually quite empathetic when it comes to these kinds of people. She claims that "even they need Father's guidance in times of need". This act of openness is frowned upon by upper-class people, but Saint Allen and the other younger angels solemnly followed their elder sister's example and thus, all churches are presently welcoming everyone from all categories! All thanks to Saint Lulubell! Go her!

Lulubell says that angels cannot directly lie. But they can weave words and beat around the bush more confusingly than the quickest silver-tongued person. Let's say we ask Saint Wisely whether it was he who accidentally broke the entire bookshelf (because hey, who else has that kind of power?!). Instead of denying it and saying, "No, it wasn't me!", the bookworm angel might speak in his usually calm demeanor, "The bookshelf is too old and cannot handle another book. We need to buy a newer one... Buy a bigger one while we're at it!" See the difference?

Also, frankly speaking, Lulubell has never seen any of her brethren outrightedly lying and turning into stone. It's just that it was their Father in Heaven who told them that when they were younger, and now they have the natural instinct to not lie. Though, you can imagine the comical scenes in heaven whenever one of the baby angels accidentally dropping something and the entire Heaven hearing it and instantly knowing who the culprit was and after a moment silence, someone will be shouting in their immature voices, "IT WASN'T ME!" or "FAAATHER, JASDERO'S PULLING MY HAIR!"

Well, that's all the Q & A for now. Thank you very much for your lovely questions, Cuiepie120048! If any of you have other questions, I'll do my best to answer them to the best of my abilities (if they don't give out any spoilers haha) Again, I do hope you're enjoying this story, I'm getting into the zone for this haha I would also want to thank you guys for giving me such beautiful motivation in the form of reviews and opinions, you guys are awesome beings! Have a great day! =D