[[A brief message to all!

Our (slow burn?) has reached the point of its ignition and there is something I just would like for readers who are here to know. Canonically, Alastor is a aromantic asexual male. In writing this fanfiction, it is my goal to respect this of his character while still placing him in…. unlikely scenarios. I, myself, am a romantic homosexual female. It is my hope that: in my portrayal here of Alastor's predicament within this fanfiction that it does not come across as distasteful or offensive to anyone who may strongly relate to or appreciate the established orientation of his character. I cannot fully empathize or understand the frustration some may have in regarding the perceptions that are made to this but, I still wish to be respectful. If something better can be done with the writing to reflect this, please, let me know. ]]

Knowing Alastor meant to see through to the end of his deal, Rosie coached him in ways he could help center and ground himself from the ever-strengthening connection he had forged with Adeline. She offered advice in: spending as much time in Hell and away from earth as he could; spending as little time in his human form as was possible; the best materials to fortify a protective pentagram, how to imbue it with the right incantations; and even offering him the pick of whichever smooth brimstone she had in her possession to aid in his hellish warding.

"You two have become intimate so things are going to be a little tricky." Rosie was telling him. "The more you distance yourself from your connection or the longer you are away from her; the stronger the influence will be once it touches you again. You are going to have to find the right balance in maintaining your connection with her without it consuming you entirely; avoiding her completely won't be the solution."

Alastor was feeling much better now and Rosie noted the change in him. While they talked and discussed how Alastor should proceed she noticed how he compulsively had started to straighten his jacket and bowtie; even pulling his monocle out to thoroughly clean the glass. He had fussed with his hair some and looked overall to be much more energetic and enthusiastic about everything than when she had first seen him entering her Emporium.

After giving him all the advice she had to offer; Rosie left him with one final warning before he departed.

"There is one more thing…and it's very important, Alastor. Something that is absolutely essential if you are to end up on the winning side of all of this, dear." Rosie told him seriously. "She cannot fall in love with you. Intimacy…sex…" Still smiling, Alastor was making a disgusted face at her but Rosie ignored him. "That sort of thing...It's nothing comparable to the hold she'd have on you if she actually and truly loved you. Do what you need to get this deal done and quickly. But, whatever you do…don't let her love you."

If anything was more maddening to Alastor than this new influence Adeline had on him, it was this: sheer, absolute boredom.

Following his visit with Rosie; Alastor began focusing his efforts in making various deals among other demons who were involved in the reaping that were currently within Hell. There weren't many; the majority being actually out and about earth now and utilizing the most out of the five-hellish years they had left in the collecting of souls. However, Alastor tracked down a small grouping and managed to find some entertainment in requiring – by volun-telling him, of course - that Husker "sling some hooch" for him whilst he collaborated, gambled, mingled and dealt with the variety. This whole affair was short-lived but profitable – though, only meagerly.

Done with that, Alastor decided it best not to draw attention to himself by spending too much time in Hell and began flitting back and forth from earth, seeking new prospects. As Rosie had warned, returning to earth after some time had sharpened the pull he had with Adeline. Upon his return he felt a nearly uncontrollable need to find her - to go to her - so that he could be with her immediately. He was not unprepared for it though and now saw it for what it truly was. It irritated him how he hadn't considered the possibility of it before.

Months had passed since he last had been with Adeline. He had hoped to find some way of stretching the amount of time he could be away from her to something much, much longer; years, decades even. But, even in Hell he could feel the strength of their bond growing. He was doing all that Rosie could advise him to, but it was only a very temporary solution.

By their connection; Alastor was able to check-in from time to time: touching her feelings, her emotions… He felt her sting of loss, her loneliness, her need to be with someone but then he also felt her hatred, her frustration and anger with the position she had placed herself in; with him. There certainly was no room for anything near to love within her current spectrum of moods.

With that though; he noted a growing…interest…a curiosity, a possibly growing passion for…something. He couldn't quite make it out; most likely because she hadn't sorted through it entirely herself. However, it was something rather…new. He disliked it. With him not knowing what it was or what it even could be; it made him curious, and he didn't care for that at all.

Finally, the day came when he found he had to go to her. The need to be with her…it had become so strong in him that he had already decided - when he felt her touch the ring.

It was December 31st, 2000 and less than an hour before midnight – before a new year. A tumultuous cold front had spilled into Louisiana, even touching New Orleans with its freezing temperatures. In a rare, but not unseen event, snow was falling, coating The Big Easy in a soft blanket of white.

Delicate, white snowflakes fell and drifted against the window of Adeline's apartment. She was curled into the covers of her bed within the darkness – crying. Alastor drifted to her from the shadows, standing at her bedside as the radio demon: dressed in his red pinstriped suit, bowtie and monocle; one hand resting on his microphone staff.

Adeline's body shook with a sob.

"I'm sorry.." She whispered; pulling the covers into her.

"Don't be." He said softly, only a hint of radio static filtering into his voice. "I'm here, dearest Adeline."

Hearing her name; spoken aloud, sent waves of emotion crashing into her. Trembling, she curled tighter into herself; unable to find respite from her intense, aching sadness.

The next thing she knew; he was sliding underneath the covers beside her. Dressed in only his black boxers, he pulled her naked body into him; holding her tightly. Her radio had been moved so that it was placed at her bedside table; playing a softer, slower variation to a melody of a jazz song she had heard before. There; with her in the night – snow falling from the heavens outside – Alastor sang to her:

"Won't you stop and take

A little time out with me

Just take five

Stop your busy day

And take the time out

To see if I'm alive…

Though I'm going out of my way

Just so I can pass by each day

Not a single word do we say

It's a pantomime and not a play

Still, I know our eyes often meet

I feel tingles down to my feet

When you smile, that's much too discreet

Sends me on my way

Wouldn't it be better

Not to be so polite

You could offer a light

Start a little conversation now

It's alright, just take five

Just take five"

- "Take Five" – Dave Brubeck (1961)

Even after he knew she was well and fully asleep; he stayed; holding her to him, singing.

Hours later; Adeline stirred. Alastor laid beside her; listening to the tones coming from the radio. Feeling her awake now, he leaned over; pressing his lips to her forehead.

It was very early morning; the snow had stopped falling but the window was covered in an intricate artwork of frosted patterns.

Adeline shifted and her lips found his.

Her body pressed to his, Alastor kissed her; clawed fingers tracing patterns against her face and winding into her long, brown hair. Adeline melted into him; his touch setting fire to her skin. Parting her lips, her tongue met his and he groaned softly at the contact. She ran her hands across his bare chest; sliding across his ribs and finding his shoulders. He pulled her tighter to him and she tightened her hold; her nails biting into his scarred skin across his back. He tilted his head; having to give more space to his growing antlers. He and Adeline both spent some time there, lying on their sides; their bodies becoming reacquainted.

This need that they shared; it wasn't like anything Alastor had ever known. He felt the need to be with her, to have her, to be inside her so intensely that if it were a lust for blood; he'd have a mess of gore stretched behind him for miles. How could he be this hungry for her and not have already lost himself entirely?

His erection had found its peak and he awkwardly pulled his boxers down and slid them off entirely; still holding Adeline. As soon as he was fully naked; she pressed herself back into him – parting her thighs so that his swollen sex was rubbing against hers. She moved her hips; slowly sliding herself along his length; up and down. He could feel her readiness for him; her wetness gliding across firm muscle. Grinding herself firmly against him; she reached down and guided him into her; sighing with his entrance.

He deepened their kiss; pressing himself harder – deeper into her. She moaned softly and he slowly began moving so that he was tortuously penetrating her with purposeful intention. He felt her flush with heat against him; and as his agonizingly slow thrusts continued; she stopped kissing him, pressing her face into his chest and panting from the building stimulation. He clenched his teeth; not yet ready but oh, so close…

He felt her jerk against him; her thighs tightening. He had began panting with her, his long tongue actually lolling from his mouth now. His pace never quickened; but his thrusting became more pronounced with each pass; driving himself deeper and deeper. She whimpered against him; trembling and on the brink of her own release. He drove into her again and gasping; she bit into the skin of his chest; holding him between her teeth as she came undone all around him. It sent him over the edge; his momentum shuddering as he emptied himself inside her.

They laid there, unmoving and panting in the dark. Moments passed and they stayed how they were; feeling the wash of chemicals. Alastor went to move; meaning to slide himself out when Adeline began to move her hips against him; resetting the slow pace he had kept for them when they started. He was surprised to find that with not much more of that; they were both ready for more.

They shifted positions; him lying on his back and Adeline straddling his waist. She lifted herself; sliding along his recovering length and pressing herself back down. His claws dug carefully into her skin as he steadied her; working his pelvis so that he matched the movement of his hips with hers. Excruciatingly, she met his set pace well. He arched his back; bucking his hips – desperate for a faster tempo. Instead; she took care in rising herself higher; and setting herself lower…very nearly sliding herself off of him entirely before settling herself fully onto his root – again and again.

Growling; he gasped, throwing his head back – overwhelmed by his overstimulation. His tall, branching antlers caught the wall; gouging deep marks across the surface. His eyes were flaring a bright green.

Pausing, Adeline leaned forward; taking the base of one antler in one hand, she touched his face with the other. He panted; shaking as he leaned into her touch. His long ears were swept to the side in his frustration; tension consuming him. Keeping him inside; she leaned further down still and kissed him. Taking her time, she used his antler to tilt his head so that she had better access to his jawline and throat; she could hear the points of bone scraping against drywall. Following the line of jaw to his throat; she kissed and licked his sweating, hot skin; feeling the tension finally leaving his body; his shaking subsiding.

Slowly, she started moving her hips again; her pelvis working against him from a slightly different angle now. He huffed; tension building in him again. This time: she did a rotating movement with her hips, finally increasing their speed. He readily matched her; his tension now building into something much more satisfying.

When they came, they came together; their waves of ecstasy crashing into and against each other.

Later, the light of morning finally broke through the frost that coated the bedroom window and it found them both still in bed; Alastor very much asleep lying on his back with Adeline stretched out comfortably across him.

When Adeline awoke; she was in bed…alone.

Of course, he had left again. It was no surprise; she just….well, she didn't even know. And, if she couldn't sort out her own feelings then how could she ever expect him to.

Sighing, she started moving out of bed. A delicious soreness touched her aching body. She almost hated how good sex was with him. He was like a drug that she could never quit.

Leaving the bed, she pulled on her sweats and a loose T-shirt before heading to the kitchen. She hadn't fully realized that she could smell coffee before she saw him; comfortably sitting in her chair beside the window; gazing outside. He had dressed very casually with her this morning; wearing a loose pair of black sweat pants and no shirt. He had a cup of the coffee in his hand; she could see steam rippling from its rim. He sat; leaned over so that his head was propped by his other hand; eyes on New Orleans. One long ear; twitched at her approach, rotating itself toward her before he looked her way.

"I hope you haven't any plans on going out today." He told her in a cackling radio; looking back to the window. "New Orleans is in quite a hellish state this morning." He laughed. "Just look at that snow.."

"You-" She swallowed. "You're still here…?"

"Yes." He said, turning to look at her again. "I hope that's alright."

"It is." She said, too quickly. "I just-I just thought you had left. Again."

"Not this time, Adeline." He told her.

"That's-" She laughed lightly, suddenly surprised by how happy she felt. "I'm glad." She finished; going over to where he was sitting.

He watched her approach; then turned to look with her out the window. New Orleans was painted white; covered in a small blanket of light snow.

"Did it ever do this…before…when you were alive?" She asked him softly.

"Once…maybe twice." He mused. "When I was very young. I may have been quite sick at the time; I don't fully remember." He answered her honestly.

Despite her curiosity; she did not press him. Kissing him on the cheek, she turned and went to the kitchen for some coffee.

Returning, she found that her radio was back in its usual place and playing a rather lively jazz number. Alastor sipped at his coffee, watching her sit and curl herself into an arm of the sofa near to his chair.

"Will you need to go…hunting, later?" She asked him, not really wanting to talk about him leaving.

"Hmm…perhaps." He told her. "I'd really rather not. At least, not until the temperature rises. I detest the cold." He smirked.

"So…you're really not leaving. Not yet anyway?" She asked him, afraid at hopeful she was.

"No, not yet…" He told her. "I really don't have anywhere I need to be, really."

A touch of anger; a very brief, but vibrant flame of it ignited in her chest at how he continuously played his games with her. Coming and going; as he pleased. Toying with her emotions, her needs like they were all something merely to be entertained by…which - deep down - she knew that to be the utter truth of it. But, then…she found she needed his company so desperately that she couldn't be that angry; couldn't bring herself to be mad with him when all she wanted was to keep him close and enjoy every moment he was with her – knowing it would inevitably end.

Last night…she felt like her loneliness might actually drive her into insanity. And, when she had touched the ring, twisting it around her finger; she had wondered…what would she have done had he not come to find her? What's more, how much longer could she actually keep this up? She still wondered at the possible consequences to her having summoned him…if there were any.

She had become lost in her own thoughts and he simply watched her, saying nothing. She realized this after a moment; and sipped from her coffee; letting her train of thinking dissolve.

"So…" She said, feeling a little out of place here. "If you're not leaving…what do you want to do?" She asked.

"I thought I could make breakfast." He surprised her by saying. "I saw you had some things in the kitchen that I could use to whip something up…if you'd like."

"That actually sounds…kind of amazing. Thank you." Adeline told him.

"Of course." He told her, rather happily.

She realized then that he must actually enjoy cooking.

"I'd love to help you, if-" She wasn't sure why she was being so shy. "If you don't mind."

"Why, not at all." He told her, standing from his seat and walking to where she was at the sofa. "It would be my pleasure." He told her; offering her his hand.