'He closed his eyes as his claws inched ever closer to their target despite the sweat on his brow and aching in his body, fighting against it. He couldn't ignore her screams as they drew louder and more pained. This felt more like when he would torture his victims. Only this didn't bring the normal joy and satisfaction. This brought emotions he didn't care to admit.

Did she know this pained him too? He was going to kill her. He couldn't fight it anymore and he didn't want to draw it out any longer. She had suffered enough. In one quick heartbreaking movement, her screams stopped and her breath shortly followed as she lay underneath him eyes wide and unseeing. His hand shook as the heart slowed, taking its last few shuddering beats, before it too finally ceased. He held it delicately, like it would break if he moved too quickly, not that it mattered anymore.

The coppery smell filled the air, a scent he was familiar with but this left a sour taste in his mouth, it made his stomach twist in disgust.

He was a monster, there was no denying it now. He felt his chest ache in a way he had only ever felt once before. The day he had lost his mother. He was broken. But even more so, he was angry. Perhaps more angry than he had ever felt. She didn't have to die. This was Lilith setting an example and that only made him seethe more.

Lilith's laugh echoed through the shop. "Same old Alastor. Always does as he's told. Now I believe we have a contract to finish." Her grin was vicious. "I don't think I need to worry about that marriage loophole now. You've learned your lesson right?"

He stood shaking. A lesson? This wasn't a lesson, this was a punishment for breaking his contract. His anger now unbridled, but her heart still in his hand, held with all the care in the world. He couldn't stomach looking at Ellen on the floor, his gaze anywhere else.

There was no more weight in his chest, no trace of her soul anymore. She was gone. He was free. He had his soul again. No chains to hold him anymore. And yet, it brought him no relief, no solace that he answered to no one again. He shifted into a partial demon form no longer caring about Lilith. He was ready to burn all nine circles of Hell to ashes, ready to snuff out all life in Hell. He was ready to let the world burn no matter the cost. A thought that may have terrified him before, but now felt like it was the only way to end it all.

Green flames engulfed the room as he stepped from the shop. The exhaustion he felt before disappeared as Hell filled with screams. He slowly made his way down the street, the fire burning everything it touched following along the edges of the street.

He should have never fallen in love. It ended horribly and he should have known better. This was Hell, no one ever kept anything good. Ellen was weak, they had discussed her safety many times and yet, it seemed like it was all a waste. He never once thought harm would come to her, not from his hands. He was slipping, losing control. No amount of blood shed or carnage would ease the ache, the pain, the anger, the loss. His gaze turned to his hand again, her heart slowly being crushed under the shaky, but tightening grip.'

He bolted awake a hand clutched to his chest, his heart beating so hard he was sure it was hitting his ribs. He took a few seconds to get his breathing back under control, his body felt like he had just sprinted a marathon. He was drenched in a cold sweat, his eyes having a hard time adjusting to his surroundings. He wasn't in his room. He blinked hard trying to clear his head. He was in her room.

There was a moment of panic. Why was he here and where was she? He closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. He focused his mind on her, their connection. He could still feel it, the weight of chains he carried from being bound to another. Being bound to her. She was still alive. He looked over to the small clock on the nightstand. Six hours. This was the longest he had managed to sleep in weeks. Though it seemed the nightmares still refused to leave.

He wiped his hands down his face, recollecting himself. He slowly got himself up and showered before dressing and slipping into his room. He wasn't surprised Rosie sat in the chair next to his bed. He fell heavily into the seat next to her, his eyes refusing to look at the unmoving form in his bed, instead his gaze on the floor.

"No changes. She's still holding on."

He only nodded. "Thank you my dear. I'll keep an eye on her for a bit."

She silently stood but rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder for a few seconds before heading for the door.

"I'm heading down to the kitchen. Can I bring something up for you?"

"I'll eat later." It was a lie and she knew it, but she didn't say anything.

He finally willed himself to look up at her face. He could fool himself into thinking she was simply sleeping and not in an induced coma. Her body needed rest and she was too stubborn to stay in bed for long, so after some discussion, Lucifer had finally convinced him this was best for her recovery. That was two weeks ago. He sighed at the thought of her stubbornness.

He had just stepped out of his room to get his nerves under control. Ellen would not stay in bed, despite the many times he instructed her to. She needed to rest to heal, yet it seemed every time he turned his back she was on her feet shuffling around the room. He didn't need the ability to feel her pain to know she had slipped out of bed again. He could hear the attempted stifled wheezing she now had regularly. He let out an annoyed sigh.

He had learned quickly he could no longer shift into the room while she tried sneaking about. He would always end up startling her and in turn caused more pain in her chest. Even the simple act of breathing was a challenge, yet she continued to push herself beyond her abilities. Stubborn as always.

He turned and knocked on the door calling in to announce his presence.

"Ellen, you should be in bed."

He opened the door to find her clutching to the bottom bedpost.

"I'm going to the bathroom."

He sighed again. They've done this many times before. "You simply ask and I will help you."

"I can do this."

"My dearest, you can not. Not on your own yet." He was too tired to be angry, normally he would have given her a stern glare, but even that was too much effort right now. He already knew how this was going to end, even she knew how this was going to end, yet he didn't have the energy to fight her on it.

"I don't want help."

He moved to take her arm and the two slowly made their way across the floor. She didn't fight the assistance. She could barely make it five feet on her own let alone the twenty to the bathroom. The entire walk, or shuffle more like, she remained silent occasionally looking up to glare at him. When they made it to the bathroom door she shook him off.

"I can do this by myself." She leaned against the doorframe catching her breath. She clearly forgot he knew she was in pain. And it was only getting worse.

"Ellen…"

She glared at him but she couldn't hide the tears in the corner of her eyes. "I'm fine. I'm not going to have you stand in the bathroom and watch me pee, Alastor. I'm not…" She took a few long breaths before continuing. "I'm not weak, I can do this."

He could understand that feeling. She wanted to be independent, wanted to be okay. If she could do this on her own she could push herself to do other things. She didn't want to feel helpless. But right now, she was in no state to fight herself. She needed rest. Though if the situation was reversed, he too would have been just as stubborn.

"And if you can't? If you fall?" He raised an eyebrow curious if she would finally admit defeat this time.

She clenched her jaw and turned away. "Fine. I'll call out if I need you. But you're not going in with me. And if that door handle even jiggles before I call out I swear I'll…I'll…do something you won't like."

He simply nodded and waved her in, remaining outside despite his better judgment. There was a soft 'click' as she locked the door. He rolled his eyes at the action. A simple lock couldn't stop him, he could just as easily slip in through shadows. Which was usually the case.

He found it very difficult not to listen. He didn't want to hear her relieving herself, but he did want to hear her footsteps, her breathing, anything he could pick out that may suggest he needed to go in and help. She had managed to stand after flushing and made it to the sink. She did not make it any further than that. He heard her collapse, he felt it as well, a large wave of pain came from her. His hands fidgeted waiting. He said he would wait. He didn't wait long.

"Alastor…?"

He shifted in and found her on the floor, hand pressed to her chest and tears slipping from her eyes. Her breaths were short gasps. Each one was pained. As much as he wanted to snidely remark 'I told you' he couldn't. He positioned himself behind her so her back was leaning against his chest. She pulled her hand away from her chest to find it had blood on it. Popped stitches again.

He didn't know what to do. He couldn't help her, no more than he already had and even then he knew Ellen was getting annoyed by his presence and constant need to help. It was bad enough he couldn't get more than two hours of sleep at a time and no matter how much he pushed himself to be there when she needed it, to help in any way possible, he still couldn't shake the feeling of guilt. She was suffering like this because of him.

He hugged her gently, not wanting to cause her more pain. "I'm so sorry my little doe." The words barely made it past his lips in a whisper as he tried once again to be whatever she needed at that moment. To do whatever he could to make up for something he didn't think he could apologize enough for in a million lifetimes.

He stood and leaned over her pulling the blanket down to her waist. He had dressed her in a silk button down pajama shirt, much like his own. It made it easier and less invasive to check on her chest. He hesitantly undid the top few buttons making sure not to expose her anymore than needed. He had done this many times in the past few weeks but it still made him feel uneasy. It felt unsettling to undress her in this state even though he was her husband and he was checking on her recovery. She hadn't bleed through the bandages in about a week so they felt she didn't need them anymore. Less time she was exposed.

His hands shook as he looked at the hole he had made. It was healing well but he was certain it would leave a permanent scar. Though none of them would be able to know how her cracked rib was healing. He gently redressed her, pulling the blanket back up and fell back into his seat. He couldn't remember being so miserable before in his afterlife.

There was a light knock on the door followed by a, "can I come in?" It was Angel.

He didn't want company, not even Rosie, though that was Charlie's doing. After three days of no sleep and refusing to leave Ellen's side, Charlie asked Rosie to come help. He knew better. While Rosie did watch over Ellen, she was here to keep an eye on him. She was the one to push him to eat and rest. To leave his room and walk around the hotel to stretch his legs. Charlie was correct, no one else in Hell would be able to get him to do those things. He couldn't admit it, if he did he would have to admit Charlie was right. That he needed someone to look after him right now.

He sighed and called out to Angel to come in. He took the seat beside him.

"How's she doin?"

His eyes couldn't look at her again, his gaze back to his shoes. "She's healing well." That seemed to be the only answer anyone could give. She was healing.

A solemn nod followed by an awkward moment of silence.

"And uh, how are you doin?"

He shook his head. He didn't want the sympathy or the soft tip toeing around him and his feelings. He was fine. Surviving. Only he knew that she was there because of him. If they'd known they wouldn't be asking about his feelings. Hearing their concern for him made him angry. They were concerned only because they cared about her. They didn't care about him and he hated that they pretended to be.

Angel looked down to his hands where two small black boxes were being fiddled with. "I uh. I know the timing ain't best and Ellen wanted to keep it a surprise, but I think you should see it." He handed one of the boxes to him.

He didn't need to open it to know what it was. It was the cause of all this trouble. A ring box. It was the one Ellen said she wanted specially engraved. She was so excited about it, certain he would love what she came up with. She had spent an entire day with Angel discussing it.

He took it, hand shaking, resisting the urge to throw it as far away as possible. If she had just accepted the plain bands. If she hadn't insisted on the specialty engraving. If she hadn't insisted it be a surprise. If she hadn't insisted on going to the shop. She would be okay.

He wasn't sure if he wanted to see it. It wouldn't matter how great it was, it would never be worth what it cost him. What it cost her.

"That one's yours."

He took a steading breath and opened the box. The black ring lay in a cushion of white. He very carefully pulled it from the box to examine it. The inside of the ring was the first thing that caught his eye, her name had been engraved in white and a white chain circled the whole inner surface of the band. Why the inside? No one would be able to see it. That and once the rings went on they couldn't be removed. He remembered telling her that, too.

Angel smiled as he watched. "It's you guys' little secret. No one else'll know about that detail 'cept you two. And well me too I guess but I ain't sayn' nothing bout it." He rubbed the back of his neck looking a bit nervous. "She kinda told me bout the tradin souls thing. It's why she chose white. Said that was your bond to her."

"It is." It slipped out before he realized what he had just admitted. He quickly turned to glare. Angel just smirked, holding his hands up in surrender.

"I ain't saying nothin. That stays between the three of us."

He let out a huff, his gaze back to the ring. He placed it back in the box, the soft sound of the lid closing filling the otherwise silent room.

Angel's grin grew. "Ya ready to see hers?" He looked almost excited.

"It's not the same?"

"'course not. You know Ellen. She said yours had to be discreet, she said nothin bout hers." He handed Alastor the other box.

He carefully lifted the lid and front and center was the letter 'A' engraved in red. A pair of red antlers adorned the letter. He pulled the ring out of the box to find his name embellished with a similar chain around the inside of the band. Although this time in green. Her bond to him. She had made it clear to anyone that looked at it, that she belonged to him. No one in Hell would mistaken that insignia for anyone else. It was simple, powerful and beautifully executed. He would have expected nothing less from her. She had been right, he was pleasantly surprised.

With shaky hands he quickly put it back in the box before pushing to his feet to walk the room. The guilt was starting to seep back in again. She was ready to permanently mark herself as his, for all of Hell to see, but did she still want that? He had no way of knowing, or even finding out. It was driving him mad. He couldn't imagine anyone staying by the side of someone that had tried to kill them. But he wanted her to. It felt selfish to believe she would. She was the reason she made out alive. Her plan had saved them both.

"Okay you win!" It came out as a growl. Alastor pulled himself as far as he could from Ellen. "I broke our contract through marriage." He was now using his other arm to help pull his claws from getting any closer to Ellen's heart.

"Marriage? Well I must say I never thought you'd get that desperate. Hmm. Simple fix." Lilith stepped forward.

"End this. She's not a part of this deal. You don't need to hurt her." He tried not to sound panicked or desperate, despite that being all he could feel at the moment. Very unlike him, but at the moment he didn't care.

"Hurt her? Why I'm doing nothing of the sorts, that's all you Alastor. Don't tell me you actually care for her?"

He bit his tongue, resorting to just glaring.

"First love?" She asked in a mocking tone. "Let me tell you how it ends. Heartbreak. You'll fall out of love, grow bored of each other to the point you wish for their death. It's all just temporary. You'll be doing yourself a favour by ending it now. Just finish her off and be done with it." She moved her hand across her neck to mimic an executioner's blade.

"So that's what happened between you and Lucifer." He was treading in dangerous waters now. He knew better than to bring up her husband. It was not a topic she ever spoke of. Surely there was a good reason. He just wanted to get her angry. He was making his next move.

He tried to ignore the gasping breaths coming from beneath him, but his ears couldn't help but twitch in that direction for every breath she took. There was now a small pool of blood around her torso, the sight and smell still making him nauseous.

He needed to be extra careful now. One small nick on her heart and it would be all over. Humans could recover from a broken rib, and he had been very careful to keep the wound as small and clean as possible. There was still a chance.

The whole atmosphere in the shop changed, becoming darker.

"What did you say?"

In a blink she was standing over him and though he couldn't see her eyes he was certain they were narrowed in anger at him.

"He misses you miserably, you know. A bit of a pathetic display of… " he couldn't finish the sentence. For once he felt he understood the pain and ache the King of Hell suffered. He couldn't imagine what he would feel if Ellen just up and left for years.

A hand clamped around his neck pulling him off Ellen. He had made his next move. He had been hoping for this. While he was now in more peril, he didn't have to worry about Ellen. At least not at the moment.

"You were to keep an eye on Charlie. Nothing else."

"Indeed. And Lucifer has joined her at the hotel."

"WHAT!?" The grip tightened, restricting air, but his grin was genuine. A battle of wits was a game he enjoyed playing.

She let out a frustrated cry throwing him across the shop. He slid on his knees, but managed to get back to his feet in seconds, finally getting back to his usual demeanor. She took steps toward him and he lightly brushed himself off. The game was still afoot.

"You can't kill me, so please do tell me, what are you planning on doing next?"

"I can replace you, Alastor. You're not the only heartless monster down here."

"If that's the case then why are you still here, hmm?" He asked, amused. He could tell she was seething.

"Hey! You still got me to deal with."

Behind Lilith Ellen stood, heaving heavily trying to keep herself upright. Her chest was still seeping blood, but she put on a show of strength and power. Her eyes still glaring at Lilith. The hazel colour looked darker and more fierce from the lack of colour in her face. Her eyes were puffy and red and she looked an utter mess, but it was a sight he had seen before, he knew she stood strong, never wavering to be there with him. The sight brought a twinge of pride to his chest. She barely had the ability to stand and she still stood ready to fight. Stupid and foolish. The corners of his smile pulled up tighter. Attagirl.

"You are not a concern to me. You're barely standing as it is. A fragile little damsel in distress."

"I'm not a damsel in distress, I'm the damsel of distress. I may be weak, but I'm smart and I'm two steps ahead of you."

He bit back a laugh at her words. She was indeed a 'damsel of distress.' Mostly to him.

The demoness laughed. "Hardly. You're wasting your breath. You're not worth the effort. Besides, Alastor works alone."

"He might" she wheezed out. "But I don't." Ellen's grin grew mischievous as her eyes drifted to his shadow standing beside her giving her a thumbs up. Behind her a portal opened revealing the rest of the Hotel's inhabitants stepping through, all ready for a fight. Lucifer's and Charlie's face fell once they discovered the other demon in the room.

"Mom?"

"Lilith?"

Alastor had never seen Lilith's demeanor falter before. He crossed his arms behind his back, his grin now smug. Ellen had outwitted them both.

He didn't know when, but she had managed to get his shadows' attention and sent it out to get the rest of the hotel. All she had to do was bide her time which she did by dividing Lilith's attention between the two of them.

"Checkmate." He didn't hide the smugness in his voice as Lilith flipped between him and the rest of them by Ellen, who's grin had become wicked. She knew there was no chance of a fight now. Lilith wouldn't try, not with Lucifer and Charlie there. Astute girl. She'd been playing the game all along. And no one even suspected it. Not even him.

Ellen wavered for a second before her legs gave out. He moved to reach her and Lilith threw her arm out to stop him, an easy dodge as he melted into shadow to reappear by Ellen. Angel had gotten to her first, his arms tucked under her armpits holding her up.

"Mom, what's going on?" Charlie pushed her way through the group. Lucifer seemed frozen in place, his mouth hanging open.

Alastor ignored the rest of the room, his focus was on one thing. He scooped her up in his arms taking her toward the portal. He couldn't shift her through shadow, not from this distance and not with a wound like hers. He may not have the strength left even if he thought he could.

"Alastor!" Lilith's voice echoed through the room but this time it didn't cause the hairs to rise on the back of his neck. It didn't cause him to stiffen, it did nothing. A voice like all the others in Hell, one he could simply ignore.

"This isn't over."

He didn't bother stopping, nor turning to give her any of his attention. "Ah, but my dear, it is." He stepped through the portal making his way to his room being extra careful not to jostle Ellen in his arms.

"Alastor?"

He softened his smile to the form in his arms. "Yes, my little doe?"

"Are you alright?" It came out barely audible in a wheezy breath.

His chest started to ache again. If he wasn't so exhausted he may have even laughed at the question. He had nearly killed her, and she wanted to know if he was okay.

"As long as you are with me, I could never be anything else."