The walk was quiet for a while. Despite John's suggestion of a walk and talk, it had been a lot of walk and no talk at all.

Verosika wasn't exactly interested in initiating a conversation she was admittedly scared to have, but she knew John well enough to know that he'd begin speaking when he was ready.

And that time, it seemed, was now.

"So… what happened?" John finally asked, all traces of amusement gone from his face as he turned to Verosika with a serious expression. "Was it something I did?"

"No." Verosika's voice was barely above a whisper as she shook her head, unable to meet John's gaze in shame. "It wasn't your fault at all."

John continued to look at Verosika for a moment, before a frustrated sigh escaped him as he looked away from her, instead taking in the large parking lot of Lu Lu World. "Then what was it?"

"I was horny." To this day, Verosika wished there was another explanation for it. That she'd had a good reason, or at least a better one. But there was no man that seduced her, no drug in her drink… there was nothing but her own desires to blame. "I wish I could say there's more to it… but there isn't."

John let puff of air push its way out of his nose, nostrils flared as he nodded his head. He clearly wasn't happy with that response, but he held himself in check quite well compared to what Verosika had expected.

"So… you went to the bar… did you get drunk?"

"Yeah." No point in even trying to lie about that, Verosika figured. "And someone decided to pull a prank. Porn came up on one of the TVs."

"Hah!" Despite his frustration, John couldn't hold the laugh that escaped him when he heard that. "I imagine Shay wasn't happy with that?"

Verosika couldn't help but to smile at that. "When the bartender couldn't unplug the TV, Shay threw a wrench at it."

"Yeah, that sounds like him." John nodded his head with a small chuckle. His smile slowly faded, however, and he returned to the topic at hand. "So… after everything happened… you found some lucky guy, right?"

"Yeah." Verosika confirmed the events, a look of shame crossing her face once more as she remembered them. She could recall, in perfect detail, how she'd flirted with some hellhound and had invited him to a hotel next door. "And then… and then I called you."

"Yeah." John remembered that particular conversation all too well as he once again favored the view of the parking lot, an unreadable expression on his face. "I uh… I ended up running into Nea at the bar."

"Is that when you two…"

"Yeah."

Well, that explained a few things, actually.

"She wasn't looking for a relationship at the time, and I was honestly just desperate for something to make the pain go away." Verosika knew John. She knew he wasn't telling her this to make her feel guilty, it was just an explanation.

It didn't change that fact that it did make her feel more guilt.

"So uh… you became a big pop star, huh?" John asked, glancing down at Verosika with a small grin as he let his knuckles playfully brush against her arm. "Told you that you could make it big with that voice."

Verosika let a small laugh escape her at that, finally bringing her gaze to meet John's own as she did so. "I don't think this is what you meant though."

"No." John's smile faded as he agreed with her words. "Not really."

It wasn't exactly a secret that Verosika and her crew were more than willing to make someone's night, and she wasn't about to pretend John was stupid.

That… may have been a bad joke.

"Sorry."

John didn't reply immediately, sucking in a deep breath through flared nostrils as he shook his head.

"Let me… let me ask you something, alright?" John finally said, looking over at Verosika, his lips tight in frustration. "Did I… was I ever actually important to you?"

Verosika really wished she could be shocked by the question. Honestly, she wished it wasn't even a question at all.

But it was, of course it was. Why wouldn't John think that when she'd given him every reason to? She'd cheated on him, threw away a year of good memories, a life she could've had with a great man… because she was horny.

In his eyes, why would he be anymore important than the numerous men she'd fucked since then?

But the truth… it wasn't what he was probably expecting.

"You were the most important man in my life." Verosika began, bringing her own gaze up to look forward, unable to meet John's eyes as she spoke. "You gave me so much, did so much, and you never asked for anything in return… sure, I thought you were the problem at first, but I'm not stupid enough to still think that's the case." She held nothing back as she spoke, rubbing her arm out of habit.

John didn't say anything, merely glancing at her and waiting for her to continue.

After a few moments, Verosika took a deep breath and continued.

"You want me to be honest? I miss you more every day."

John continued to simply look at her for a few moments, before a sigh escaped him as he too averted his gaze. "Well, I'll admit that for a long time, there was a part of me that hated you." Typical John, always blunt. "But after a while… it wasn't as easy. I hated you, but I missed you so much."

Verosika couldn't help but to be surprised at his admission, her gaze snapping to him in shock. He'd… he really had missed her?

"For a while, I was hurt, didn't want to admit it." John couldn't stop the soft smile from coming onto his face, even as he refused to make eye contact, simply keeping his gaze to the ground. "But at this point… well hell, I love you, Verosika. I think it's too late for me to even try and change that." He admitted as he finally met her gaze.

"What about Nea?" Even knowing that Nea was now with someone else, that the shark wasn't currently dating John… well, the two had a child together, and it wasn't easy for Verosika to simply assume that there was nothing there.

"Of course I love her too." John admitted freely, smile falling away into a frown as he once again decided to gaze out into the parking lot. "There was a time where we'd thought about a relationship when we realized that we'd fallen for each other… but we figured it best to maintain our agreement." He explained with a saddened sigh. "Besides, she's the mother of my child. No matter who either of us are with, we'll always love each other too."

That… made Verosika feel better. And it wasn't exactly a too much of a shock to find out they both loved each other.

But that was just the way John worked. If he loved someone, he loved them. Whether he was with them or not depended on a variety of other factors.

"So… where do we go from here?" Verosika asked as she too turned to look out at the parking lot. She wasn't stupid enough to think that this magically fixed everything. But… they were talking, and that was a good sign.

"I don't know." John admitted, shaking his head as his gaze once again fell to the ground. "I'm really am happy to see you again… but it's been two years. I ain't quite ready to just jump back into a relationship with you."

"John, I count myself lucky that you're even talking to me." Verosika admitted with a saddened expression, looking up at him as she spoke. "A relationship could stay a pipe dream in my head as long as I at least have you around. I miss my boyfriend… but I miss my best friend too."

John let a chuckle escape him at that, looking up as he shook his head like he was ready to say something, before his gaze fell back down in another chuckle.

"Rose… you could've had your best friend back a lot sooner. All you had to do was come home." John's hand came up and wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her into his side with a smile on his face.

Verosika Mayday didn't cry. Verosika Mayday didn't cry.

So why were her eyes wet? Why did her chest feel like it was shaking?

Why was she crying?

"Shit, that wasn't the plan." John replied, sounding almost guilty as Versoika brought her hands to her eyes, trying to wipe away the tears that were already escaping while she attempted to hide the fact that she was sniffling. She felt his hand disappear from her shoulder as she gritted her teeth.

Verosika Mayday didn't fucking cry.

But Rose Mayday did, and at this point, Verosika was trying to decipher if they were one in the same.

A large thumb was suddenly pressed against her cheek, calloused skin gently wiping away flowing tears as her hands were gently pushed out of the way, before she was staring at John's smiling face through her tears.

"My bad, I didn't think that'd make you cry." John's apology was honest, his expression earnest as he brushed her tears away with a reassuring smile. "But I mean it, Rose. Just because we aren't dating doesn't mean we can't be best buds again."

"D-Do you really mean that?" Verosika would've cursed herself for her stutter any other time, but right now, all she was more focused on John's words. It was clear that wiping her tears away would be a lost cause for now, so she was trying to focus on the man himself.

John simply smiled, and offered a small nod. "Of course I do."

Verosika could only stare at him for a moment, stupefied. She could hardly believe his words, and yet, she had no reason to do just that. John was as honest as they come, and he wasn't one to dance around the truth. It was just his nature. Even when he'd try, he gave up rather quickly.

It was like a part of her wanted to believe that he was lying, though. It wasn't true, why would it be? She'd broken his heart, torn it to shreds, and now he wants to be friends?

But it'd been two years… and if there's one thing Verosika knew, it was that the truth would always be more important to her.

Especially when the truth was far more preferable to the scenarios her mind wanted to create.

A choked, high pitched noise escaped her, and it took her a moment to process that it was the onset of a sobbing fit. The next thing Verosika knew, she found herself being gently pulled closer to John, and raised her arms to wrap around his neck as she tucked her face into his shoulder.

His shirt was soiled almost instantly as she stopped trying to stifle the tears, allowing John's broad shoulder to muffle her sobs as she openly wept. Should anyone have been nearby, Verosika's image would've more than likely suffered.

But in the moment, her image meant nothing to her. Her emotions took hold, and she could do nothing more than let it all out as John hugged her.

A part of her hoped that he'd never let go.

His hold was as comforting as ever, large arms wrapping around her in a deceptively gentle grip, gentle squeezes offering reassurances as the sobs escaped her.

When Verosika arrived at Lu Lu World, she'd had full intentions of going about her usual activities. Now she stood in the arms of the ex-boyfriend whom she truly missed, the past finally catching up with her in ways she never predicted.

In hindsight, maybe she should've figured that John may have calmed down, that things would've changed… but it was hard to think that way, knowing how he was when they were together.

But now… for the moment, none of that mattered. She was in the arms of the one man who ever truly loved her, and he was providing comfort and assurances she wasn't sure she deserved.

Verosika supposed that's one thing that hadn't changed. No matter how vicious John was willing to get, underneath all those rough layers lied the heart of a boy who cared more than he could ever admit.

No, no… John wasn't just a boy. He'd have turned twenty-one not too long ago, Verosika still remembered when his birthday fell. And even if his body is locked at the development of a seventeen-year-old, he doesn't let that affect him badly.

Sometimes, it was easy for Verosika to forget that the man she'd been with was still a sinner at all. Sometimes, she'd find herself wondering if he was truly a demon, or some other type of powerful entity that merely thinks it's a mortal soul.

But he wasn't. Underneath all that power, all that gruesome visage… John hadn't changed a bit. Not since she'd met him.

That was another thing that overwhelmed Verosika. Her worries, her doubts, her regrets… they all spilled out in the form of what seemed to be ever-flowing tears staining his shirt as she held his neck tight in an embrace, unable and unwilling to let go of what she'd lost.

This was still the same man she'd fallen for. Truly fallen for, not some teenage fling and not some lucky guy that she saw as a routine fuckbuddy.

This was the man who had given her confidence when she had none, the man who showed care where her other peers showed scorn. The man who would hold her in his arms and offer words of encouragement whenever she felt like she was struggling.

It was the man who changed her life in many ways.

And how did she repay it?

"I'm so sorry…" Verosika couldn't stop the apology if she'd tried, nor the stream of them that flowed from her lips as she felt her fingers tighten against his neck in an almost desperate attempt to never let him go until he understood. "I'm so fucking sorry. I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

John spoke no words in response to her apologies, but she felt a hand move up her back and gently grip her shoulder, his thumb rubbing circles along the center of her back in act of reassurance as she felt his chest against her own.

"Calm down, get it out…" His voice rumbled in a soft whisper, reverberating through her ears like a pleasant train horn, offering reassurances that only he knew how to give.

Verosika wasn't sure how long they stayed like that. It was long enough for her to feel a small pang of embarrassment as her sobs finally died to small sniffles, but not enough for that embarrassment to outshine the relief she felt.

Why did she feel so relieved? This didn't change anything, she'd still cheated on John and effectively destroyed their relationship, and nothing could fix that. So why did she suddenly feel so light, so… happy?

"Better?" John asked, pulling away from her and leaving his hands resting upon her shoulders as he offered her a small smile.

Verosika's response was a mix between a sniffle and a giggle as she brought her hands up to her eyes, trying to wipe away the soreness and whatever tears remained as she replied. "You're such a dork."

"I regret nothing." John replied with a small chuckle, before standing back to his feet and letting his hands slip from her shoulders as she brought her gaze up to meet his own.

Verosika managed another giggle at his response, before finally nodding her head, sniffling a little as she finally regained a bit of control over her composure. "Well, I do feel a little better." She finally replied with a slight shake of her head. Her expression switched back to a sad one, however, as she spoke again. "But… John, I can't say it enough, I really am sorry."

"I know." John's own smile faded as well, nodding his head as his expression changed to a more sad one, his eyes falling away from Verosika's own and towards the tarmac of the ground. "I know, but… well, I still got things to work out." He admitted, his head jerking up to stare off at he side for a few moments, before a chuckle escaped him. "But hey… it's still nice to have my best bud back." He assured her as he moved closer and let a hand wrap around her shoulder once more, tugging her into his side with a smile.

Verosika simply returned the smile with one of her own and let her head fall against him, resting against his side as his muscular abdomen provided a pleasant warmth against her skull.

It wasn't perfect… but it was a step in the right direction. A step towards fixing things.

"You should stop staying away." John spoke up once more, causing Verosika to bring her gaze up to his own as he offered an amused smile. "Hell, stop in at the Hotel from time to time. I meant it when I said I missed you, and I'd like to see you some more."

"Well, I'll have to make some plans then." Verosika replied with a hopeful smile, earning a chuckle and a nod from the behemoth in response.

"Please do."

While everyone was left adoring the young… sinnerborn? Charlie felt that was the best possible description to describe what type of demon Leo was. He was technically a hellborn, but he was also the only demon Charlie knew that was born to sinners. You know, the one race of demons meant to be incapable of procreating.

While everyone else had been left to adore the child, Charlie herself included, it hadn't escaped her attention that John and Verosika had managed to slip away from everyone. If she had to guess, they'd discussed topics they'd both been saving for privacy.

When they returned, they were laughing and giggling like old friends, as if nothing had ever happened between the two of them.

Meanwhile, Nea had been nice enough to fill the Princess in on the arrangement she and John had come to, and she definitely had no issues with it. John wanted to spend time with his son while he could. While the boy was still a kid.

And clearly, she wasn't going to face any disagreements. Vaggie had been watching the children play with a smile on her face, and the two had somehow managed to suck both Angel and Vanessa into a game of tag with them. And that wasn't even addressing the fact that both Vortex and Aunt Bee had joined before those two had as well.

Charlie severely doubted anyone still at the Hotel would cause any problems, though Niffty was one that concerned the princess. Not enough for her to say no, but enough for her to figure out how to handle the cyclops herself.

The last thing the Hotel needed was for John to go on a rampage, no matter the reasoning.

It still baffled Charlie, though. Even to her knowledge, the boy currently dragging her Aunt from a hiding spot behind a car shouldn't exist. And Charlie was unsure of how it happened in the first place.

Or who was at fault.

Okay, that may not be the correct way to put it, but Charlie was curious. Was there something about their union that had done this? Was it something to do with either sinner themselves? Or was there something they were missing?

Sinners grew more powerful with each century, that was an unfortunate truth Charlie had learned long ago. Would it be so hard to believe that John simply had that power?

Yes it would. Because infertility is one of the key punishments for sinners, and that wouldn't change no matter how powerful they became.

So how did the boy come to be? That was the million dollar question.

Nonetheless, it didn't make it any less joyful to see the child playing to his heart's content, and if his earlier act of quite literally dragging a woman three times his size out from behind a car was any indication, it's not just looks that Leo inherited either.

He has his mom's hair and eyes, but his father's overall physique. He looked a lot skinnier compared to his father, obviously, but he shared the same skin tone and facial structure that Charlie thought one would be forgiven for thinking John simply dyed his hair at first glance.

But he seems to have either inherited his father's pure physical strength, or that strength is a blend from both sinners considering Nea seems to be more than capable of handling her job for security at Lu Lu World.

Amusement park or not, Charlie knew for certain that Lucifer would spare no expense when it came to keeping his properties entirely secure. So the fact that a nudist still worked at the park as it's best security officer really spoke volumes. Not just in how strong Nea might be, but in how much her father truly trusted the woman, whether she realized it or not.

Nonetheless, time came when it was time for them all to leave the park. Everyone said their goodbyes, and Charlie made sure to get another hug from Bee and a promise to visit sometime, before they were all going their separate ways and getting ready to leave.

Well, almost, anyway.

"Here's the textbooks, his sippy cup, his favorite blanket, his favorite stuffed toy-"

"Is this me?"

"Does that surprise you?"

That one got a few sounds of amusement from everyone, Charlie herself included, but John simply looked at the stuffed doll made in his likeness for a moment before shrugging and tossing it up onto the considerable pile he held in his other hand.

"Oh, and his inhaler."

"His inhaler?" At that one, Andre's amusement fell as he stepped forward, looking at the two of them in confusion. "What's he need an inhaler for?"

"Because he got more from me than I'd like." John replied with a small sigh, glancing over at where Ray was currently helping Leo find everything he wanted to take to the Hotel with him. "He's got asthma and a peanut allergy, and despite whatever magic sinners naturally hold, they are real and they are something to watch."

"Has he ever had an asthma attack before?" Charlie asked, concern immediately taking over as she set out to find out anything she could. On the chance John was gone and the rest of the Hotel was left to take care of the boy, Charlie would make sure he would be as safe as he possibly could.

"Once, when he was six months old." Nea answered, a saddened expression on her face as she stole a glance at her son. "We're not sure why he seems to have inherited those particular conditions, but he almost died on us and I am not looking to repeat that incident."

"Well then let's not." John replies, managing to make it sound like a joke as he too took a hidden glance at Leo, before turning back to Nea. "Is this everything he needs?"

"Yeah, Ray's helping him pack up some toys to take with him too." Nea answered, turning her gaze back to John with a fond smile. "Take care of him, will you?"

John let a small smile come onto his own face as he gave a slight nod. "Of course." He assured her, his words earnest as he turned away from her and stepped into the RV. He was in there only a moment, before exiting once more without everything he'd had in his hand. "I… I'm really looking forward to it, if I'm honest."

"Dad!" Leo's own voice suddenly rang through the air, before the boy was running up to his dad with… what looked to be a styrofoam box filled with toys. "I got everything I need!"

John let an amused chuckle escape him at Leo's words, before stepping out of the way of the RV entrance and nodding his head towards the vehicle. "Get on in there, take a seat. We're not staying too much longer."

"Okay!" Without hesitation, Leo nodded and obeyed his father's instructions without so much as a question, immediately moving past the behemoth himself and into the RV. They all watched for a moment, before John turned his gaze to the now approaching form of Ray.

"I appreciate all you do for him, Ray." John's words left him in an honest breath, offering the hellhound a smile as the man himself nodded.

"That boy has something that is harder to come by than people think: loving parents." Charlie refused to comment on how correct his words were, instead remaining silent and allowing him to speak. "Me? I'm just a stand-in, and I'm happy with it that way."

"You've been more of a dad to him than I could ever be." John replied with a small shake of his head, closing the door so that the boy couldn't hear the conversation, if he was even paying attention, as he turned back to Ray genuinely grateful look.

However, Nea seemed to take issue with his words.

"We both agreed on how to handle it, John." Nea's words were soft, soothing as she stepped closer and rested a hand on the behemoth's shoulder. "And it's not like you weren't ever around."

"I wasn't around enough-"

"That's trauma talking and you know it." Nea interrupted John with a stern gaze before he could even get the sentence out, before her demeanor changed back to a soft and kind look as she spoke in a reassuring voice. "You aren't your parents, John. You care and you make it a point to find whatever time you feel is possible with him. You are his dad, and there's no changing that."

"She's right, you know?" Angel, of all people, suddenly piped up. He had a smile on his face as his multicolored eyes met John's own with a raised eyebrow. "What, you think I'm fucking with you? You don't exactly hide how terrible your parents were, and I don't see none of them in you from what you've told me."

"Me either." Vanessa spoke up as well with a smile on her face. "You care and you try. How many other parents can say the same, both down here and on Earth?"

"See?" Nea asked, gesturing towards the two of them with a smile on her own face as she turned back to John. "You may not be around enough for you to be happy, but two people who didn't even know you were a dad think differently than you do, and they're sure of it."

"John, I love the little rascal like he's my own, I ain't gonna deny that." Ray spoke up, catching the behemoth's attention as both he and Nea turned towards the hellhound. "But I'm not you. It's all a matter of perception, I guess, but Leo's face lights up in a way I could never manage every time he's faced with the idea of seeing you."

"Looks to me like the kid looks up to you." Andre voiced his own thoughts, a reassuring smile on his face as he stepped closer to the behemoth with a chuckle. "I speak from my own experience when I say that the kid is lucky to have a father anywhere near the kind of person you are, John. He damn near idolizes you, even dresses like you."

"You're trying to give him the best childhood you can. In Hell." Vaggie spoke next, catching all attention as well as she made sure to crumble whatever doubts John still had with her words. "You're not some deadbeat dad from what I've both seen and heard, and I personally think it's time to stop thinking you are."

"I second that." Charlie agreed with a nod and a smile, turning towards the behemoth with a soft look on her face. "You want him safe and happy, and even with the arrangement you two made, you still made time for your son whenever you could. That means more than you think."

And Charlie meant every word she spoke. Her father was Lucifer Morningstar, an angel, the ruler of Hell… and he wasn't very good at being a father.

John didn't have that problem. He didn't struggle with finding time for his child, he didn't struggle to establish some kind of relationship, and he didn't treat Leo as an inconvenience. One look at the two together was enough to see how much John adored his child.

She could still hear the utterly joyful laugh that had escaped the behemoth the moment Leo laid eyes on him earlier and came running.

John looked around at all the eyes on him, his expression one of shock, as he took in everyone's words in a bewildered state. After a few moments, he finally spoke.

"What is with all of you banning together to make me feel better?"

"How much have you helped every single one of us alone?" Vanessa was the one to reply, looking up at John with a smile as she stepped closer. "You do more for any one person than we could do for you. So we try where we can."

"Sometimes it can be a pain though, stubborn dick." Nea joked, turning to John with a smile on her face as she did so. "But… do you feel better?"

John met Nea's gaze with one of his own, before a chuckle of amusement escaped him as he stepped forward and gently pulled Nea into an embrace with a smile on his face. "I don't care who we're with, I still love you woman."

"And I love you too." Nea assured with a smile of her own as the two hugged each other in a heartfelt manner, before separating as Nea stepped away and moved next to Ray, letting a hand come down and rest on his shoulders.

Charlie thought it was actually a really touching site. Two people willing to express the love they still feel despite circumstances… and the husband of one simply watching with a smile.

"Now you better take off, he needs to be in bed by eleven or he'll never get up tomorrow." Nea gave both a warning and semi-farewell, and a few chuckles escaped everyone as John turned around and reopened the RV door with a nod.

"Alright, take care Nea. You too Ray." John bid them farewell with one last glance, a smile on his face, before he stepped into the RV.

As everyone began to load themselves into the RV, Andre turned to look at Nea with a small smile on his face.

"Thank you, Nea. For everything."

"He's a good guy, and he deserves some happiness." Nea replied, a soft smile of her own on her face as she eyed the RV that John currently sat in, before turning to face the hellhound. "You did good with him."

"Wasn't me, it was his grandfather." Andre joked with a soft chuckle, before shaking his head in amusement as he too stepped towards the RV. "Anyway, take care you two. Stop by sometime."

"We will." Nea assured them with a smile, before turning her gaze down to her husband. "Come on, Ray, let's go." It was a site to watch as the shark quite literally swept the man up into her arms, before turning around and making her way towards the SUV as she leaned down and offered a gentle kiss to Ray.

Charlie watched for only a moment, before turning to the RV herself.

"So, what have you been up to outside of starting school, Leo?" John asked his son, who sat atop his lap with the brightest grin on his face.

"Well, Ray's back is fixed." Leo replied with a grin, looking up at his father with a look that was nothing short of excited as he bounced on his leg. The boy had so much energy, and it honestly made Vaggie wish she could see a picture of the man himself as a child. If only to see how similar the two really were.

He really was the spitting image of his dad. And Vaggie had to say, she liked the kid.

The boy was honestly just that happy to see his dad, from what she could see. Even the action figure in Leo's hand remained mostly unbothered as he conversed with John, a look of admiration in his eyes every time he looked at the behemoth.

Honestly, considering his size… Leo would no doubt be a behemoth himself when he's done growing.

Still… it was almost like Leo's existence was yet another act of cruelty. Not to Vaggie, but to John.

The boy was growing quick, that much she'd learned. He wasn't even two yet, and he was already the size of an eight-year-old with the physique and look of a child two years younger.

Whatever time either of his parents had with him, they wouldn't be able to build many memories with Leo while he was still just a boy when one compared that to a literal eternity. Before anyone knew it, the young boy sitting in his father's lap with a look of excitement would be a grown man, and it would feel like it all passed by in a blur.

And that was all there was too it.

Unfortunately for Vaggie… that wasn't exactly the top priority on her mind.

She couldn't accept that she was attracted to John. She simply couldn't. How could she, when for so long she was so sure, so confident in her sexuality that any man even remotely attractive would earn nothing more than a passing glance from the proud lesbian?

And yet, this didn't feel like a simple attraction. Upon finding out what Verosika had done, Vaggie had quite literally been ready to find the succubus herself and return to her old ways, if only for one time. When finding out about his relationship with Nea, she felt a pang of what she now recognized as jealousy, over a woman she barely knew and that John clearly respected.

Even just hearing them express the love they still felt for each other had been as heart-wrenching as it was heart-warming.

And Vaggie hated that she no longer understood her own emotions.

Why? Why was John suddenly so interesting to her? Why did she now find herself stealing hidden glances at him? She tried to assure herself that she was just being cautious. Unlike everyone else, she'd seen first hand what John was capable of, what he was willing to do.

And yet… that didn't change the fact that she actually knew him now. She wasn't just exposed to the monster he was willing to be, she knew the man within. A kind-hearted man with a blunt tongue and more care for anyone than she could believe.

It didn't change the fact that she felt something for him. A part of her found that interesting, but another part of her detested the idea completely.

It wasn't just because John was a man. It wasn't just because of her sexuality. She also struggled to tie John together with the beast of pure destruction she'd seen before. She struggled to understand how she could feel these emotions for someone who'd effectively traumatized her.

She struggled to understand these emotions… when her heart belonged to someone else.

That was another thing. Vaggie couldn't help but to feel guilty. Why, after only a few short months, was she attracted to John? Why was there a desire, a wish within her, a curiosity to see where it goes? Why did she feel all of this when she truly loved Charlie with everything she had?

What was it about John that drew her in? What was it that seemed to slowly be pulling her, making her wish for… something more with the behemoth when she was already dating the best person in existence?

What did John have that Charlie didn't?

Well, no, that wasn't the right way to put it. It wasn't really what John had, of that she was sure. Charlie had everything Vaggie could ever want in a partner…

Maybe that was it? Charlie and John are quite similar, though you wouldn't often know it at first. They're both kind-hearted souls who wish no harm upon others. Willing to do whatever they can to help, to assure, to provide a little bit of comfort to people openly unfamiliar with the concept.

Vanessa was a good example. Vaggie could see times where Vanessa would revert to the shy, almost ever fearful girl she seemed to be when they'd met. But more often than not, Vanessa was her typical teenage self, simply because she was comfortable.

At first glance, any soul even remotely sensible would run the other way as fast as their legs could carry them upon spotting John. But the behemoth has a way of soothing everyone with words alone, blunt honesty offering a glimpse into his true soul that not many get to see.

And it reassures people, knowing that this nine foot juggernaut really was willing to open up to people and allow them to see the benevolence that truly sat in John's heart.

John was willing to be a true monster… but he wished for nothing more than peace. He allowed people to see that, to experience someone like that, and decide for themselves if he's someone they can consider… safe, persay.

Vaggie had been exposed to the monster first, and she'd been hesitant to see the man underneath, having been wholly convinced that the man and the monster were one in the same.

And now she sat, mulling over her growing feeling for the goliath while her own girlfriend sat next to her.

Speaking of Charlie…

"What's on your mind?" Charlie's soft voice spoke up, catching Vaggie's attention as the moth turned to look at the Princess with a furrowed brow of confusion as she felt Charlie's soft hand come to rest upon her leg. "You've been looking at John since we left, and you've been acting a little weird since we found out he had a kid. Is something wrong?"

"No." Yes. Well, maybe, but Vaggie wouldn't tell Charlie that. Would she? "Well… I'm a little confused."

"About how he has a kid at all?"

Well, she was confused about that, but that wasn't what she was talking about.

A part of Vaggie felt too much shame, wanting to keep Charlie in the dark about the real reason for her confusion. How was one supposed to respond when they're partner says they're developing feelings for someone else? Let alone all the other established roadblocks that should've made it impossible.

However… she couldn't bring herself too. Vaggie had plenty of secrets, but this was one that could directly affect their relationship.

And no matter what may come of her still confusing feelings for John… she wasn't ready to lose Charlie. She didn't want to lose Charlie.

She couldn't lose Charlie. The Princess was the only thing keeping her sane, keeping her motivated after… everything.

"I…" Vaggie went to speak, but found her words falling short as she struggled for some kind of explanation, looking up at Charlie with a lost expression as she stole another glance at John, before letting a sigh escape. "I think I'm…" She stopped herself short, however, as she remembered another of the day's revelations. "Actually, can we talk later?"

Charlie's brow furrowed in confusion and concern at Vaggie's words, but nonetheless, the Princess offered a reassuring smile and a nod as the hand that was on her thigh left and moved to wrap around her shoulders.

"Of course." Charlie assure with a smile, refusing to question it. Vaggie was unsure of if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but she supposed it didn't matter either way. Charlie would be looking to have said talk at a later time, and she wasn't pushy in the slightest, so it came as no surprise that she'd accept that circumstance without question.

All Vaggie could do was turn and watch the behemoth once more, who was now laughing to his heart's content as he let his son climb atop his shoulders and sit as if he were king of the world.

Maybe… maybe that's what drew her in. An interest.

Not in what he is… but who he is.

Maybe… maybe she wanted to know about the man who controls the monster.