Standing at the desk, I waited patiently for the woman to finish her paperwork before she would guide Finn and I to Nocen's room in the back of the hospital. After a few moments listening to her pen scratch across a set of forms, the nurse finally stood to her feet.

"Right this way, Commander and Prodigy." She said, the name still sounding odd to my ears. The name was how many of the Guardians had decided to address me, Finn trying to explain that it was their way of showing respect.

"I'm the Commander, Cybele the General, and Secta the God of Light." Finn had told me. "They've seen how powerful you are, and they don't think Kate or Stratton seems appropriate any longer."

The nurse walked us towards the doors leading into the wards, the two of us on her heels. I took Finn's hand in mine, squeezing it softly. His eyes met mine, the nurse stealing a glance at us both with revelation in her expression.

Today I didn't want to be his job anymore; I wanted to be his girlfriend. A smile passed across his cheeks, a grin that I hadn't seen the entire day leading up to our visit to the hospital. He lifted my hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it just for good measure. We looked at each other, and I knew that he was just as happy to be public as I was, which only made me love him more.

Through the double doors, we proceeded down the halls, passing other nurses and doctors that looked up to stare. I knew that what they were looking at wasn't Finn and I's joined hand, but just the Commander himself.

His demon brother was being treated, a relative who had been kept a secret. According to Samaria, she'd never heard once about Nocen from either Finn or Cybele, and she was quite furious that Finn had never told her about him.

It was easy to understand why Nocen had been left as a mystery: Secta despised him, Cybele nearly sobbed at the mention of him, and Finn was hurt and angry by him. No one would have benefited from broadcasting Nocen's existence, and now with the dark stares Finn was receiving, I knew that they'd been right to hide it.

"Don't let them bother you." I said to Finn softly, meeting one nurse's cold stare by flashing my golden eyes at him. He stiffened and averted his gaze, turning to look at one of the doctor's instead.

"I know how to deal with this, Kate. It's not something that I'm unfamiliar with." He replied quietly as we turned down the hall. His words pulled on my heartstrings and I leaned into his shoulder before giving the back of his hand a soft kiss. Finn gave me a boyish smile before resting his arm across my shoulder, pulling me flush against his side. I couldn't contain my giggle as Finn leaned his head down to whisper in my ear, "you always give me a reason to smile, even now."

"I'm just repaying you for all the times you made me happy, which are numerous." I reminded him, feeling so warm and content with his arm around me.

"Repay me?" He said, shaking his head as he snorted. "I'm the one in debt here, 8-Ball. I'm just going to have to declare bankruptcy."

"Oh, you're so cheesy." I laughed. "What next? Are you going to say, 'never mind. I won the lottery with you and now I'm rich, baby.'?"

Finn cocked his head, looking at me with that playful sparkle in his eyes. "Seriously? After the sonnet you just poured out all on your own, you really think that I'm the cheesy one?"

I mumbled under my breath, rolling my eyes as I felt my cheeks turn red. "Let's settle this once and for all." I said. "Who can be the most cheesy right now in front of Nurse... What's-Her-Name. Ready set go. Gentleman first."

All he could do was blink in response before I gave him a nudge and he got the idea, jumping right into the game without hesitation.

"Forever seems like such a short time now that we're together." He said, just loud enough that I knew the nurse could hear as we proceeded down the hallway. I smiled, his quick wit admirable.

"Sweetie, you are so cute!" I cooed, resting my head against his chest. "I think we should get couple tattoos with the word 'Love' so that we can match for forever."

"You complete me, so of course." Finn replied in an overly sweet tone that made me snicker. " Do you know what I did last night? I looked up at the stars, and I matched each one with a reason why I love you, including the star we bought together."

"I can't believe how adorable you are." I touched his cheek. "Your eyes are blue just like the ocean, and Sugar Bunny Lovey, I'm lost at sea."

"Please pinch me because you're so fine that I must be dreaming."

"Commander, your brother is right through these doors. I'll leave you both... to it." The nurse said as she turned sharply, an odd look in her eyes. She slid around us and scurried back around the corner of the hallway.

As soon as she had gone, Finn and I looked at each other, and that one look was all it took for the both of us to burst out laughing. Our fingers intertwining, we couldn't stop for a few moments, the two of us chuckling as I leaned into his chest. He wrapped his arms and wings around me, using one hand to lift my chin so our eyes met.

"Thank you for this." He said, "I needed it before I had to see my brother."

"Anything for you." I replied, flashing him a smile. "Sugar Bunny Lovey, I love you."

He leaned forward, claiming my lips with his while his warm hands cupped both my cheeks. I kissed him back just as eagerly, rising up on my tiptoes as my mouth opened slightly to him. His tongue dominated mine, a warmth filling me up all the way from my toes.

The door began to open, making us both pull our heads apart. A doctor shut the door behind her, Madeleine turning around to face us. I sunk back onto my flat feet, but Finn never let go of his hold on me.

"He's stable." Madeleine said, hardly seeing to notice Finn and I's hold on one another. "Considering I'm the only doctor in this damn place that was willing to put a hand on him, I'd say that he'll be owing me a nice thank you even though he sure as hell is throwing a fit over the fact that I won't let him get out of bed."

"Thank you, Madeleine." Finn replied, and she nodded her head.

"Your brother's a firecracker, but hey, that runs in the family I'm sure." She looked to me, scanning my face. "How's your neck doing?"

"Alright." I replied, watching her with narrowed eyes. Hell, I was confused...

"If it starts to act up, come talk to me." She said before adding quickly with a smile, "from the look on your face, I think you might need an explanation. I'm very into women; case closed. He's free for you two to visit, and if he gets grouchy, just open the door and yell for me."

With that Madeleine turned and walked down the hall, waving a hand at us from behind before she turned her attention to her notepad.

I whipped my head around to look at Finn, eyes wide. "Wait, you didn't...?"

"Never had any clue." He replied, shaking his head.

"But I thought that she... she acted like...?"

"Kate?" The sound on the other side of the cracked door made both Finn and I freeze, but a rush of emotion went through my body, the kind that urged me to get to Nocen as quickly as I could.

I darted through the open door, finding Nocen propped up on a few pillows underneath a white blanket. His green eyes met mine, blowing out a sigh of relief as he stuck his palm out to me. I walked closer, his hand taking mine.

"Bless Fate, I was worried about you." He replied, squeezing my hand as he looked me over before letting out a deep growl. "Your neck and that pretty face of your's... I'm breaking Felix's neck."

The door closed, and I looked over my shoulder, Finn's eyes darting from his brother to me. A darkness took over his features as he snapped with glowing eyes, "take your hand off her."

Without protest Nocen released my hand, resting it by his side. "Alright, I understand why you're upset with me, Finn, but you know that I'd never hurt her. I love Kate in a special way just like you love... her."

Finn's lip twitched, "upset doesn't even begin to cover it, and you can love her without putting your goddamn hand on her to save yourself from watching me break it."

"Hey, it's alright." I said, looking at Finn. Those glowing eyes began to settle, allowing their usual sky blue color to bleed through again. He shifted to stand between Nocen and I, allowing me to stand by his side but not take a single step closer.

"Where is... Cybele?" Nocen said, adjusting his position in bed with a grimace. His entire chest was wrapped profusely in bandages, his shoulder more thickly supported as well. A look of pain more severe than anything his injuries could have produced etched across his features. "Why hasn't she come to see me?"

"She's with Secta." Finn replied gruffly, "you were unconscious when she came, and she's been with her father since. He's still not so keen on her being around you."

"Oh, like he's the best judge of character." Nocen snarled, glancing at me. "Has he given you a long ass apology yet?"

"I haven't gone to see him." I replied, shaking my head. "I don't even know what to say."

"That he's an asshole." Nocen finished.

Biting my lip, I let out a sigh. "He is, but I understand why he does what he does, Nocen. In some weird way, I get him."

"Well, you might just be crazy." Nocen replied, and Finn gave him a low growl, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me against his side. "Just a little bit, not completely."

There was a moment of silence, the tension in the air so thick that a blade could slice through it. I swallowed, Finn and Nocen watching one another like hawks over prey. Neither seemed to know what to do with the other, Nocen appearing ashamed as Finn's rage continued to brew. I could practically feel the heat radiating off his skin, his protective arm around me still.

"Can the two of us talk, little brother?" Nocen finally asked him. "There's a lot I need to get off my chest."

"Oh, you think that you're the only one who has a lot to say?" Finn said, his voice dark and nearly shaking with his anger.

"I didn't say that. Listen, I've had a rough existence as a demon..."

"So you're the only one with a 'rough existence'?" Finn barked, even making me flinch as Nocen's face hardened. "Do you think my life was easy after what you did to me?"

Nocen snarled, "I was possessed for sixty years!"

"I was dead for part of it! And that was the only time I had any peace because of you!"

I slid out of Finn's hold, giving his arm a squeeze. "I'll be waiting for you at your apartment. I love you." Rising up on my tiptoes, I kissed his cheek before looking to Nocen. "Heal soon, alright?"

Neither twin said a thing besides Finn pressing a kiss to my forehead, the two still focussed on each other. With a breath, I walked towards the door, sliding out and shutting it behind me. As soon as the lock clicked to a close, all hell seemed to break loose on the other side as I heard their snarls and shouts. The only thing I could do was walk away.