A Light in the Dark Part Twenty-One: A Meal Not to Forget.

Dean:

Standing in the kitchen, I wanted to make a meal to thank Lily. The store would be closing soon and I didn’t know where to even begin, Felix yawned as he helped himself to a cup of juice. Smoothing out his band t-shirt, it was eerie at how much of a teenager he looked. 

“Problem?” He grumbled under his breath, his lips hovering around the rim. “My best friend murdered me to get my girl. Betrayal sucks ass. Why are you standing like an idiot in the kitchen?” Leaning forward, I couldn’t help but to feel sorry for him. Parting my lips to speak, his bags spoke of the lack of sleep. 

“I want to make dinner for them.” I explained apprehensively, wishing that he had a chance at a new life. “I don’t know what to say about your death but if it makes you feel better I don’t know how to cook.” Huffing in disbelief, he tugged on a pair of leather gloves. Curious as to why, a depression dimmed his eyes. 

“I will teach you how to cook her favorite soup. Do you think you can manage to peel the carrots?” He sighed, setting the carrots down in front of me. “Before you ask, the leather gloves allow me to touch you. One touch from me and I would be reaping your soul.” Taking the peeler from him, he watched as I began to peel what he had given me. Chopping an onion, a sense of calm came over him. Finishing up the carrots, a sleeve of refrigerated biscuits spun in his palm. 

“Follow the instructions, while I throw everything together. I have to thank her for saving my life.” He pointed out simply, my mind wondering how he was holding it together. So many questions rested on the tip of my tongue, his words always spoke of life experience.

“Do you want to be my roomie?” He offered serenely, his brow raising with impatience. “The couch can’t be that comfortable. Don’t steal my shit and we are good.” His briskness at the last sentence had me worried for him, my lips pressing into a thin line.  

“I will accept your offer but I have my own bag of stuff to hoard, dragon.” I joked with a sly grin, a small chortle resting on his tongue. Focusing on the soup, I preheated the oven. Laying the biscuits on the tray, an awkward silence hung between us. Testing the thinly sliced carrots, he pulled out a blender. Pouring the soup into the blender, we watched a chunky liquid become a smooth soup. Dumping it back in, he seasoned it with every spoonful. Death entered the kitchen, her leather gloves shimmering in the light of the kitchen. Carrying a tray of chocolate cookies, both of our brows raised at the same time. 

“Did you do something wrong to her?” Felix teased mercilessly, raising the ladle in her direction. “Or are you spoiling her like usual?” Smoothing out her simple ruby dress, her eyes rolled. Was everyone obsessed with Lily? The door clicked open, Matty and Lily coming in with Selene in her car seat. The triplets ran into the house, their matching ivory dresses floating with each step. 

“I am sorry for the trouble but Sammy’s house doesn’t have power because of a storm. I brought home some leftover mac and cheese to make up for the food difference.” She apologized sincerely, a healthier Sammy coming in with overnight bags. When she first came up on my computer, she was far too skinny. Setting the bags by the door, the girls smashed into her legs. Fluffing all of their hair, she had her own container underneath her arms. Toby floated through the door, Boomer choosing to drop a ball at the girls’ feet. Turning on some kid’s show, the girls hopped onto the couch. Boomer crawled onto their laps. Rolling up her sleeves, Felix guided her to the table. 

“Tonight, you get to relax.” He ordered with a comforting touch on her shoulders, the triplets calling her over. "Your biggest fans want you to join.” Joining them with her genuine smile, Matty took his place in the kitchen. Sliding in the biscuits, his bags spoke of sleepless nights. Stirring the soup for Felix, the way his shoulders were slouched spoke of emotional agony. 

“Are you okay?” I queried cautiously, his head shaking. His whole body trembled, his grip nearly snapping the ladle. Staring into the soup numbly, nothing would escape his lips. My whole friendship with him consisted of him being the upbeat one while I sulked. How could I help him feel better?

“I called my mother’s phone today.” He wept brokenly, his wet eyes meeting mine. “I wanted to go over to her house. I only got her missed call message. Why did I call her?” Unsure of what to say, Lily was watching from the couch. Silent tears stained her cheeks, Death dancing over to her. Wiping away her tears, her bright smile returned to please the girls. Death sat on the other side of her, his voice snapping me out of my trance. 

“I wish that I could call her but she doesn’t get any reception up there. Hearing her say I love you would be nice.” He continued dejectedly, stepping out of the way of Felix. “I would cook her dinner and wait until she got home from her double shifts to eat with her.” Rubbing his shoulders, his hand hesitated to slap mine away. 

“I lost my whole team and I can’t get them back. He cut me up and I almost joined them.” I informed him with a sad smile, his kind eyes falling on me. “I can’t bring them back.. I was wondering if we could go get a drink one of these days or we could get a couple of beers and drink them in the woods like we used to.”  His eyes flitted between his family and me, Lily popping up behind me. Dropping the cup in my hand, she had to stop doing that. Catching the cup with the water still in it, her kind smile disarmed me in a second. 

“Why don’t you do that? Go out and drink a couple of beers in the woods tonight. I will have my hands full with the girls. I am glad you felt comfortable enough to stick around.” She suggested with a coy smile, Matty gazing at her with the love he always had for her. “My father will be stopping by anyways. Be a dear and help Felix set the table.” Disappearing again, the shock had me bewildered and frightened. Helping him set the table, it was minutes until we all sat around the table. Dishing out our food, no one knew what to say. Lily tapped her glass, a nervous grin twitching on her lips. 

“Thank you for the food everybody.” She chirped cheerfully, the girls devouring their mac and cheese. “You guys did a great job on the soup.” Crimson painted my cheeks, Felix not doing much better. Selene cooed in her arms, the way she looked so natural as a mother had us watching in wonder. Kissing the top of her head, a pleasant conversation made us look like we were friends our whole life. Some time passed, the cookies came out for us to eat. Lily rushed to get milk for the girls, Matty staring off into space. That wasn’t like him, his bowl still almost full. His chair groaned as he stood to his feet, he dumped the soup down the drain. Felix offered to clean up, Matty grabbing a couple of beers. Asking if I was coming, Lily pecked him on his cheek before returning to the chaos. Tugging on a light sweater over my white t-shirt, we were walking into the treeline. Matty was far from okay and I didn’t know what to do. Tossing me my beer, he stopped inches from a cemetery. The ghosts watched him from behind their stones, his cap popping off. Gulping down half the bottle, a sigh poured from his lips. 

“Life is moving around me and I can’t get over my mother’s death. I keep seeing her getting shot by her uncle. I still hear the sound of her coffee hitting the concrete. Did you know that the crumbs were around for the next couple of weeks?” He commented coldly. “I snapped at Lily again and I keep getting angry for no reason.” Finishing his beer, my heart broke for him. This was the first time he had experienced grief in its roughest form, glass shattering as he threw the bottle against the nearest tree. Trembling in his spot, his mother had always been his rock. Seeing him so broken had me scared for what else he would do. Sinking to the forest floor, a tree held him up. 

“The worst part is the hurt expression that she gets when I lose my temper, her body immediately starts shaking.” He continued while burying his head into his palms. “I keep breaking her when I am supposed to be healing her.” Having grown up with anger issues, my chance to help had presented itself. Sitting down across from him, I set my beer aside. 

“I used to get angry in school and what would you do?” I expressed calmly, his wet eyes meeting mine. “You used to tell me to bury my hands into my pocket and imagine what makes you happy. Maybe picture her smiling or your beautiful little girl smiling.” Letting out a maybe, the branches crunched behind me. Life stepped out of the bushes in ivory robes, his whole friend group confusing me to this day. Snapping his head in his direction, a growl rumbled in his throat. 

“What the hell do you want!” He barked hotly, instantly regretting his words. “Sorry.” Sitting down next to him, a smartphone glistened in his palms.  Glaring at the phone, its shrill ring had the two of us looking at it with a mixture of fear and bewilderment. 

“Pick it up, dummy.” Life urged with an eager grin, Matty taking the phone. Picking up the phone, quiet sobs wracked his body. His mother said hello repeatedly, Life leaning back against the nearest tree. Letting out a shaky hello, his personality returned slowly. Telling her all about Selene, they broke into a natural conversation. Resting with him for hours, silent tears stained his cheeks every minute of it. Hanging up, a hushed thank you left his lips as he attempted to hand it back to Life. Waving his hands around, Life rose to his feet.  

“Ellie told me that you were having a hard time not speaking to your mom so I created a cellphone that you two can use when you are missing each other. Call her whenever and try not to be so mad, ‘kay?” He assured him with grace about him, Matty not knowing what to say. I have a new life to bring into existence and all. Don’t forget to call your mother for me.” Disappearing in a flurry of golden ribbons, the way he clutched his phone to his chest spoke of their relationship. 

Better?” I inquired with a thumbs up, his back leaning against the tree. “You look like it.” Flipping me off, my friend had returned to his base personality. Rising to his feet, a determination burned in his eyes. Helping me up, the color had returned to his face. What a momma’s boy, I thought lightly to myself.  Walking back with more energy, he paused in front of the door. Regret dimmed his eyes, the door swinging open. Lily opened the door in one of his t-shirts. The hem floated to her knees, her finger resting on her lips. 

“They are sleeping.” She whispered sweetly, letting us come in. “I have your bed ready, Dean.”  Smiling softly to herself, her thighs were rubbing together. Yanking him down by the collar of his shirt, her passionate kiss had me getting jealous. Melting into her arms, their love made sense. Excusing myself, they were upstairs doing what was sure to make him feel better. Death rose from the couch, her hands crossing as she stood in front of me. My breath hitched at her beauty, a tender blush rising to her cheeks. Wanting to stand by her side, her gloved hand rested on my shoulder. 

“I am sorry for the loss of your friends.” She apologized sincerely, my eyes focusing on her lips. “What are you staring at?” Struggling to find my words, I didn’t want to come off as a creep.

“Tell her if you like her. Don’t be chicken shit!” He shouted as he ran back upstairs with a bottle of water, her cheeks reddening. Lonely, the look in her eyes said that she was lonely. Letting out a sigh, I wanted to be able to stand by her side. 

“I think you are pretty fucking awesome and I want to date you.” I stammered nervously, Lucifer popping up behind me. Both of us jumped ten feet into the air, his sly grin dancing across his lips. Plopping into a chair, he blew on his fingernails. Leaning on his knees, his ornate suit glistened in the early morning  light. 

“Do you mean those words? I can make you a demon able to withstand her touch. You have to vow to serve me and abandon Heaven’s gates.” He offered dramatically, Death looking seconds from decking him. "Drink this and you will be like your friend.” Pulling a jug of blood from the bag hanging off of his arm, the thick liquid swirled into the nearest wine glass. The chair groaned as he rose to his feet, the glass shimmering in my face. Spinning it in his fingers, his silver tongue was one to contest with.  If it meant giving Death the life she deserved, the consequences would become a sweet reward. Gulping it down, Death caught me in her arms. A burning sensation boiled in my veins, the color draining from my hair. Catching my ruby eyes in the reflection of the oven, the sleeping kids kept me from howling in pain. Clutching me close to her chest, the agony faded away the moment her lips brushed against the top of my head. A sigh of relief flooded from my inky lips, a dark gray coloring my fingernails. Any health issues I had were a thing of the past, Death swinging me underneath her. An inky skull appeared on the bases of our necks, our mate bond becoming as strong as steel. Kissing me passionately, time stopped. Our heartbeat raced at the same speed, a bemused Matty laughing snapped us back to the moment. Spinning me to my feet, he patted my shoulder. 

“Welcome to the dark side.” He chuckled, getting a couple of the chocolate cookies. “You look great as a demon.” Leaving us to stew in our embarrassment, the deep scarlet wouldn’t leave our cheeks. Pressing her lips against mine softly, a goofy grin dawned on my face. How was I in her spell? Lifting up her chin with my finger like Matty had done to Lily, her cheeks burned brighter. 

“Kiss me already. I am squirming in anticipation.” She teased sensually, her hand cupping my cheek. Pressing my lips against hers passionately, she melted into my arms. Dragging me down the hall, her door creaked open. Sitting on the bed, her hand patted the bed next to her. This was moving way too fast but I couldn’t stop. The truth was that I had fallen for the moment I saw her, the way she took care of Lily only made me fall for her more. My last girlfriend tried to eat me, Death not giving off that energy.

“Can I hold you underneath the blankets? I want to be cuddle.” She requested coyly, pressing her fingers together. “I haven’t been able to hold anyone besides Lily.” Her excitement was adorable, my heart skipping a beat. Kicking off my shoes and pants, I crawled into her bed. Leaving only her button up shirt on, the bed dropped as she climbed in behind me. Holding her by the waist, her hair tickled my nose Turning to face me, her hands rested on my chest. 

“Thank you for accepting me.” She wept softly, the mixed emotions glittering in my eyes. “I liked you this whole time and couldn’t bring myself to say anything.” Resting her head on my chest, her snores echoed in the air. Matty poked his head in, his kind gaze falling on me holding Death. 

“I called your bosses and they said as long as you behave you are still hired.” He explained quietly, taking a seat next to me. “Be kind to Death. I know she can be a bit insane but I like her.” Rising to his feet, Lily wasn’t the only one loved here. Pausing in the doorway, his head tilted to the left. 

“I am happy you found someone after all of your hardships.” He spoke honestly, closing the door behind him. My life was looking up, my mate in my arms. Please grant us the peace we deserve.