Ophelia sat at an outdoor table, looking through the demons walking by to find her best friend. She was especially excited to meet with her today because apparently, Tilla had some special news to give her, which was ironic for her because Ophelia also had special news to give Tilla.

The moment she made out her imp friend, she stood up and waved to her, to which she responded with a wave back as she approached her. They had been setting up meets at this cafeteria in Pride for a year now, where they would occasionally talk about how their lives were going now that one was married to an Ars Goetia king and the other a ringmaster in a traveling circus.

The two sat down in their seats across from each other, talking about their days and whatnot. Then Ophelia remembered something she wanted to ask. "So, what's the special news?" She asked, leaning forward in excitement.

Tilla smirked, "Right, I almost forgot… I'M PREGNANT!"

Ophelia gasped, not just because of her announcement, but because it related to what she was about to tell Tilla. "No!" she replied.

"Oh yes, twins even! A boy and a girl!"

"What a weird fucking coincidence. I'm pregnant as well!"

"Holy shit! It can't be a coincidence, can it?"

"I don't know, but I'm so happy for you! Have you and Cash decided on a name yet?"

"Oh yeah, I made an agreement with him that I'd get to name the girl while he gets to name the boy. I named her Barbie, while he named the boy Blitzo."

Ophelia sighed. "Of course he would give him a name like that. Although, Blitzo Buckzo… feels like a tongue twister."

"Hey, that's my baby boy you're talking about!"

Ophelia giggled, "Of course, I meant no offense."

"And what about you? Whatcha naming yours?"

"Paimon already picked everything out for our boy. His name is going to be Stolas, and he'll be in charge of chronicling the stars when he comes of age."

"Damn, these royals don't fuck around, do they? What if Stolas wants to be like a doctor or something?"

"I doubt that will be the case. He'll be taught from a young age what it means to be Ars Goetia and the responsibility it entails."

"And what about you? What do you think about it?"

Ophelia put a hand on her womb. "Honestly, he could be named Stephan for all I care. I just know that I'm going to love this boy no matter what."

"Didn't take you for a traditional wife."

"And what's wrong with wanting to love your child?"

Tilla laughed, "Nothing, whatever makes you happy. In fact, I'm excited for kids too. I know for a fact I'll be a better parent than mine were. And it'll definitely give us something to talk about."

The two women smiled as they continued to talk about various topics.

5 Years Later

In that same chair, in that same table in Pride, Tilla lit a cigarette and put it in her mouth. "You were right about Cash," Tilla said before taking it out and puffing out smoke. "He's a prick."

"I don't want to say I told you so… but I told you so," Ophelia replied.

"Fuck you," Tilla said lightheartedly. "I never get to go out and do shit 'cause he has me taking care of the kids, and I love them don't get me wrong, but even I need a break from them. But when I tell him to watch them as I go out, he tells me not to leave 'cause apparently, I'm the one in charge of the kids. Fucking sexist prick assumed I'd be ok with living in the trailer all day raising our kids."

"And let me guess, you went out anyway."

Tilla smiled. "You know me so well. Oh boy, when I came back, he was pissed beyond hell. After all, how dare I get some time to myself and he has a turn with Blitzo and Barbie? He's grooming them to work for him, anyway. It'd be nice for him to see them as his son and daughter and not future circus acts."

"What did you do?"

"I told him to shut the fuck up and passed out on the couch."

"That's it?"

"He knows those two little ones love me. If he did anything to me, his little performers would hate his guts. Besides, I'd totally kick his ass."

"Oh, I don't doubt that for a second. I wish I could kick Paimon's ass."

"Ooooohhh, trouble in paradise, I see." Tilla leaned forward in her chair.

Ophelia scoffed. "More like another Hell. He was fine at first, but after I had Stolas, I was no longer of use to him. It's gotten to where almost every talk we have ends with an insult. I mean, forget separate beds. We sleep in separate rooms!"

"Shit, that bad, huh?'

"Yes."

Tilla took another huff of her cigarette. "Do you ever feel like… us leaving the camp was a mistake, or at least how we did it?"

"I-I don't know."

"Sometimes I think about what would've happened if I'd stayed behind. Would I have been happier with my mom who's in denial, or a husband who wants me to be a traditional wife?"

"Well, at least you had a choice."

"True. But there are two things I don't regret, Blitzo and Barbie. Those two are everything to me."

Ophelia nodded. "I feel the same with Stolas. Life with Paimon might be torture, but Stolas is the light of my life."

"That's one thing about having a shitty dad. The kids spend more time with the mom… assuming she's not shitty either. Satan, I hope I'm a good mom for those two."

"I'm sure you are."

Tilla gave a smile to her best friend. "Thanks, and I'm sure you're a great mom."

Ophelia smiled back.

5 More Years Later

"This is going to be the last time we talk to each other," Tilla said in a grim tone.

"What do you mean?" Ophelia replied.

The imp looked her dead in the eyes. "... I have Beelzelung."

A wave of sorrow and disbelief overtook Ophelia. Beelzelung is a rare disease among common hellborn demons. It's the slow process of parts of one's lungs shrinking till they almost look like a fly's mouth, hence the name. It goes on until the demon can no longer breathe. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, and fatigue, things that Tilla showed these past couple of months.

"No… no you can't," Ophelia said as she stood up from her chair.

"Just checked with the doctor last week."

"W-well, there has to be a way to help you! I could probably-"

"You of all people know there's no cure for this! It's rare and only affects lowly demons like me, so no one bothers to try and find one."

Ophelia's tears started pouring out. "How long do you have?"

"About a year or two, maybe."

"I… I just wish there was something I could do."

"There is. When I'm gone, just… just take care of my kids if you can."

Ophelia wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I will… I… I promise."

Looking at her best friend made Tilla cry as well, which was a surprise for her. She did lots of it when she got the diagnosis, but it seems that she had just enough for her. The imp stood up and gave Ophelia the biggest hug she could muster, which she returned instantly. For all they know, this would be their last one.