Nico had disappeared into the garage muttering something about fixing the Jukebox, leaving Nero to clean up after breakfast. With the kids dropped off and the house quiet, he let his thoughts wander while he scrubbed. Their morning was rowdy, as usual. However, Nico was really pressing the intimacy issue. She was clearly bored and needed a distraction. Giving little digs at the pair all morning without being outright with her words was annoying, but at least the kids didn't get it. Well, he hoped not. He was not willing to have the "chat" with the boys just yet. Actually, scratch that. Not ever.

Just behind him stood a large, open sliding door. It gave way to so much sunlight and a light breeze in the warmer months. It was like a painting just beyond its threshold. Cobblestone guided up towards the clothesline. Marigold, violets and Hyacinth bloomed freely over the sides of the untamed path. And there, placed between two washing baskets, was Kyrie. Removing and folding all the newly cleaned clothes and bedding. All perfectly white and crisp under her gentle touch. The house was falling apart in some places, and the boys had to share a room. But this view was a wonder and made the location perfect.

'Do you need a hand?' Nero yelled out while shaking off the last of the water from his hands. The Songstress turned her head in his direction and smiled brightly.

'No. But I'd love company.' At this, the Demon hunter jogged over to stand with his love. She placed folded linen into his hands and had him deposit them in the baskets. Kyrie was grateful that Nero was so eager to help. The two of them were making a home together and they equally contributed.

'Thank you for not being too bothered by the fact I slept in your bed last night. I know I startled you.' she watched her hands remove the pegs on the shirt she was removing to avoid looking directly into Nero's eyes. It felt way too difficult.

'I will always love having you wake up next to me,' he beamed from ear to ear. 'You did give me a shock though. You were clutching my arm for dear life. Would'a hurt if you weren't so sleepy. You been working out while I was away?' Their laughter was contagious. Filling the silent air with a comfortable joy that the pair never seemed short on. As they got older their personalities became less severe. Nero didn't brood as often and Kyrie did worry about him, but she trusted him to come back after every job. And with that, they both found it so easy to talk about their true feelings. She knew her boyfriend would never say something harsh or hurtful, and he accepted that even though swearing was a bit of a stretch for his love; she did allow many of his antics to happen without any judgement. Like him keeping weapons in the house and the sometimes sexual conversations that he had with Nico. For a child of a cult, she was very open to new and sometimes sacrilegious activities happening in her home.

'I had no idea I was holding on that tightly. I clearly can't be trusted to know what I do while I sleep.'

'Oh, you knew. You crept into my bed just so you could feel me up.'

'Don't tease! I just wanted to be close to you. I missed you.' Their features softened and they stood hand in hand.

'I missed you, too. I thought about you every day.'

'It was so much harder to get up and fall asleep knowing you were in Red Grave, fighting for the safety of others. It is noble and a cause worth fighting for, but I admit my selfishness. I wanted you safe at home. Your arm being gone made you vulnerable. Even though you would never admit it outright.' She paused and looked at the folded linen in the basket. Nero was hurt, she could tell. Not enough to walk away, but enough to think on it.

'My arm being gone was a bump in th' road. I would like to think I adjusted well. I was reloading Blue Rose with one hand!' The Devil Hunter exhaled slowly and trained his frustration. 'I was a little reckless leaving without saying anything the first time, but what could I do? Dante was in trouble.'

'You could have told me. Yes, I wouldn't have wanted you to go, and we would have fought over it. But, I would have agreed eventually. And you could have discussed with Nico, too. Her help was greatly appreciated only after you nearly died the first time.' The words were biting and gave him no room to argue back. She was right. His carelessness nearly cost everyone their lives. The Qliphoth and Urizen, no, Vergil could have done so much more damage. Kyrie and the kids would have been in trouble if the tree didn't fall and Vergil did not revert back.

'Kyrie, I-I'm sorry. I was stupid and I should have at least discussed it further with you the first time.'

'You are absolutely right!' She puffed out her cheeks and lifted the basket into her hands. 'But, I also don't just want to be right. I want to work on our communication for future catastrophic events.' Nero laughed and took the basket from her arms.

'You think there'll be more, huh?'

'I don't know. I do, however, wish to be better prepared. We have more to worry about now. The kids need us to be more prepared and we have a home to maintain. In your line of work, this is something we need to anticipate.' The songstress dragged out the last word and threw the last of the pegs into the receptacle. 'You are a "Devil Hunter" now. You were always up for the challenge, but we aren't. Credo-,' her voice hitched in the back of her throat. Why did she have to think of him now?

'You don't have to say it. I know.' It still hurt for them to both think of. Their parents, and then Credo. They were all that remained of their past life in the Order of the Sword.

'I would like for us to be a stable home. You and I are from broken families that have, sadly, given us more trials than I think we deserve. I want us to be capable of providing a loving home for the children that we raise.' The Hunter blushed a little and threw his head up in surprise.

'You want to have kids with me?'

'No! I mean- yes, uh. Nero! I meant Carlo, Julio and Kyle!' He nudged her shoulder with his as they walked back through the open doors.

'In all seriousness, I would love to add one or two more to the family.' He smiled and began arranging the clean linen into piles to be put away.

'You think we should open our home again? Take in more kids? I mean, we would need a bigger house, but I'm not sure we earn enough yet to make that a possibility. But, I could convert my room into a second nursery...' Her thoughts were interrupted by Nero's arms wrapping tightly around her shoulders.

'Kyrie, I love you.' He gently planted a kiss on her forehead before continuing on. 'I didn't mean adopt. I meant have kids of our own. You know, make 'em. But, you so quickly started thinking of how you could help others. You have a big heart and such a way with kids that you don't think twice about if we should adopt more kids. Just how. You amaze me, Kyrie.'

'So you did mean that. There are so many displaced kids that it seems selfish to make more.' They both paused and contemplated the need versus the want. The songstress wormed her arms around Nero's waist and held him just a little tighter. 'I do know that sometimes a higher power has the last say on our fate. Maybe we will conceive a child one day and it will be out of our hands. Even Sparda could not prevent his own fate.'

The quarter-demon chuckled at the words. 'Yeah, that's true. But, this child would be calling Sparda Great-grandpa.' He laughed and then felt a shiver overcome him. 'Sparda is my Grandfather. Those words feel so odd to say out loud, ya know?'

Kyrie looked up at her love through the gap in his arms . 'I had yet to realise that. Mr. Dante and Mr. Vergil are his sons.'

'Yeah, my old man is a direct descendant of Sparda. And, so am I. I guess I was hasty to think of our own children. My kids will not be completely human... A life of struggles awaits them.' His smile faded and he let go of Kyrie. 'Well, I guess that answers th' question. Sorry to bring this up.'

Crisp linen and shirts were distributed and Nero grabbed a pile to return to it's rightful place. As he turned, Kyrie reached out and held his elbow in place.

'Don't brush it off like that. I get to be apart of the decision, too. And even though you are not completely human, I love you. On top of that, you live a life that is filled with more joy than sorrow. We can't let our past define us. Let the possibility of our future give way to light.' She warmly smiled and placed a hand on his lower back. He was warm and as human as he needed to be.

She let him go and grabbed more clean shirts to put away. They walked through the house up to the second floor and disappeared through the bedroom doorways. Each letting the silence remain a little longer. Closing cupboard doors and sliding dresser drawers shut were all that echoed through their home.

The sun spilled into each room through the large windows, warming the floor and melting all the confusion and frustration. Kyrie wandered back downstairs and collected the bedding for her room. Upon lifting it up to her chest, she felt childish. Her feet carried her to her room, only for her to look at the walls within and feel stifling.

Why do we sleep in separate rooms? I've known Nero my whole life. This is ridiculous.

Her bed felt uncomfortable under her as she sat upon the edge, and the floor looked so empty. Yes, she had cleaned it, but it was void of any meaning.

Her small collection of books sat neatly at the dresser edge, and the few photos she kept for herself sat on her bedside. It was a place for her to wallow in her sadness and worry. Nero's room kept mementos of all their past trials, but so many future projects and things to look forward to and work on. He was always tinkering on his weapons and drawing up plans. Some for future weapons and some for home projects. He knew she needed improvements on the house and he diligently drew up crude designs to help him figure it all out. The seat in the patio was not the straightest and creaked a lot, but it was made by Nero out of Kyrie's whim.

Now, looking out the door to the hall, the songstress longed for a change. If not now, when?