Loud sobs escaped out of Cherri. Pentious could only watch, unsure of what to say. Tears of his own slid down his face as the feeling of guilt grew. He never imagined that his sacrifice affected Cherri the most and he felt responsible for her heartache. Yet he could see it in her face; the dark shadow under her eye, the red bloodshot in her eye, her hunched over form. Slowly, he bent down to her level. He had to say something, and the first thing to say would be the first lesson he learned from Charlie.

"I'm…sorry. I never meant to hurt you, Cherri Bomb. Or everyone else back at the hotel." He sighed. "You know, during the battle, I saw that the angels were getting the upper hand. At that moment, all I could think about was my friends. I wanted neither of them to perish, and that includes you as well." He gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "I wanted them to live to have a better future. I wanted you to have that future. I knew that the chances of me surviving were slim but I still took that chance. Because I care. Because…I love you."

Cherri looked up. "Ya know, that was the second time you said that without actin all nervous and hesitating."

Pentious's cobra hood shot up, matching his very surprised expression. "My word, you're right. I guess all you need is courage to speak up."

Cherri chuckled. "Then how come it was so hard for you to speak up before?"

Pentious's hood fell as he looked disappointed with himself. "I…was just so nervous. I mean, we were rivals for so long but secretly I admired you for your cool and brash personality. How unafraid you were to speak your mind and how you would always come through for those you were close to. That'ssss what I liked about you. I just couldn't say it before until I started focusing on becoming a better sinner."

"Ah, that explains the nervous attempts."

"Miss Charlie was there for moral support but in the end, I couldn't say it until it came to the point where I might never see you again and I didn't want to die without expressing how I felt."

Cherri beamed. "That is either the most romantic or most corniest thing I ever heard. But, I would rather hear that from you."

Pentious's eyes widened, tears of happiness welling up in his eyes.

"Really?"

"Oh yes, Pents. You are ten times cooler than any tough thug or junkie I've met in my lifetime."

"Oh Cherri…" Pentious couldn't hold himself back any longer.

He threw himself towards her, pulling her close to him, their lips touching into a deep kiss. Cherri wrapped her arms around the angelic serpent, the moment a repeat during the battle but with no exorcists to face off this time. It was just them now and the two of them surrendered to the moment of euphoria.

They laid atop the mountain, making out as the stars twinkled above them. Pentious felt like he could die again, but this time from happiness. He was with the woman he loved and it was what he had wanted more than anything. Cherri relished in what she was feeling. She still couldn't believe it. Sir Pentious was alive, and had come back to her. This experience was better than any drug she had taken. Even if this was just a dream, this was far too real to be anything imaginary.

Suddenly some bright lights caught their attention and the lovers looked up.

"Fireflies…" Cherri breathed. "I didn't think it would be possible to see them around here."

"Anything is possible in a dream." Pentious stood up straight and stuck out his hand. "May I have this dance, Cherri?"

Cherri hesitated. "I'm not much of a dancer."

"Neither am I, but I think we both can make an exception."

Blushing, Cherri took hold of Pentious's hand.

For a while, the two of them danced in the glow of the fireflies. Their footing was off balance and their tempo wasn't perfect but neither of them cared. This moment was so perfect, it was a celebration of two lost lovers reunited.

Then a much bigger and brighter light began to emerge. Looking up from their dance, Pentious and Cherri saw the sun start to creep over the mountainside.

"Pents, your body." Cherri said.

Penitous looked down. His body was beginning to shimmer and turn blurry. It must be the spell wearing off. It was morning.

Sadly, he turned back to Cherri. "I must go now, Cherri."

Cherri looked taken aback. "What? No, no, you can't leave. Not when I just got you back. Stay with me please."

Pentious felt his heart wrench at her pleading. "I wish I could. But the spell only allows me until the sun comes up, which I believe it now issss in the real world. I must go back to Heaven now."

Cherri was about to protest but then stopped herself. She could sense the truth in his words. As much as she wanted him to be with her, there was no stopping the mystical forces at play. Her single eye watered once more.

"I'll miss you, Pents."

"As will I, Cherri. But we won't be too far. And one day I know we will reunite and we will be like this again. I can feel it."

Cherri shrugged. "Well, good behavior isn't one of my best skills, but if it means seeing you again, I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

"And I know you will be sucesssssful. Please let everyone know that I'm alright."

"Will do. They'll be surprised."

With his body becoming more shimmery and blurry, Pentious pulled Cherri in for one last kiss.

"I love you Cherri."

"And I love you, Pentious. Thank you for this wonderful dream."

Pentious smiled before his body faded into the light, and Cherri watched the sun finally rise above the horizon, with an equally warm smile of her own.