Aria's POV

Slowly I blinked my eyes open. I was confused for a moment, forgetting where I had fallen asleep.

I used my hand to feel around and came into contact with something hard and warm. My eyes opened a bit more and I realized I was laying against Alastor.

The thing I had touched was his chest.

His chest rose and fell evenly and I realized he's asleep. We were still in the same position as before, sitting in the nook.

My eyes wondered to the window and it had stopped raining. The water droplets that were left against the glass glittered, and there was soft birdsong drifting through from the outside.

From the look of it, it seems to be sometime in the afternoon now.

I stretched, wincing slightly before maneuvering myself to where I could see Alastor a bit better. His face was peaceful, his head was rested against the window.

Some of his hair had fallen into his face, so I reached up and pushed it back, then I just watched him.

God, he is so attractive...every time I look at him I just can't help but think that.

My cheeks heated up slightly. Whenever I'm given more than 2 minutes to think about his and my relationship, I just get flustered.

"Don't you know staring is considered rude...?" He spoke suddenly, not opened his eyes. His voice was deep and tired, and my cheeks flushed.

"You're just...really attractive..." I said softly. I feel the need to let him know.

It was his turn to blush, and his eyes opened just barely.

His relaxed expression lifted into a smile. I felt his hand that was against my waist gently rub against my side.

"Well someone woke up on the sweeter side..." he mumbled and I rolled my eyes.

"Never mind, you're gross," I shot back and his eyelids lowered.

He chuckled and sat up slightly, "there you are," he said before sighing. His eyes squinted shut as he stretched and then he wrapped his arms around me and squeezed.

I squeaked and he gave a little evil laugh. I punched him lightly in the rib cage and he jumped.

"Owww..." he whined and I rolled my eyes.

"I wish I could've gotten that moment on video just so I could blackmail you in hell when I die," I said and he started laughing. His chest vibrated with the noise and it caused me to smile before I pushed off of him and sat up, moving to the opposite side of the nook.

My back was against the other wall, now, and I was facing him. I took the blanket with me.

"If you did that it would quite possibly ruin me," he said matter of factly and I chuckled.

I pulled the blanket up to my chin, just staring at him. He was smiling softly, the lighting from the window causing him to have a glow.

His hair was a bit fluffy, and his ears were relaxed instead of pointing straight up.

"So...did you get everything done down there that you needed to...? Can you spend the rest of today with me?" I asked him hopefully and he looked out the window thoughtfully before looking back to me.

"Well, I...dear, it's not as simple as just...getting work done..." he explained and then he sighed, "if you want my "job" in layman's terms, I am on call...if one of my associates informs me I'm needed, I return to hell...make sense?" He finished, looking at me.

I pouted softly, looking out the window, "so...in other words, there's a chance you'll get called away..." I grumbled and he stayed silent.

After a moment he shifted slightly and I didn't look at him, just figuring he was getting comfortable. My eyes focused out on the trees, and I watched as a single leaf fluttered down to the ground.

I didn't even realize the movement happening across from me until he touched my cheek and made me face towards him.

I barely had any time to process what was happening before his lips were on mine. My eyes stayed wide open and he pulled back after a second.

I could see then that he had shifted into his human form, and those brown eyes looked back at me.

"Let's pretend..." he whispered, "right now it's just us, dear..." he slid off the nook and took my hand, leading me into the patch of light the window was creating.

He stood there with me, just holding my hands.

"It's just you...and me...and let's say..." he waved his hand and I gasped. My room shifted appearance, turning into his room from when he was alive. My eyes widened even further when sitting on the bed was a little Dakota.

She was curled up and asleep.

"It's 1926..." he said, still using that soft voice. I looked away from the illusion he created and into his eyes.

He was looking down at me with a look in his eyes that was new. No one has ever looked at me the way he is looking at me right now.

"And it's just us..."

With that a soft jazz song started to play and he started leading a slow dance. He took my hands and put them around his neck before he moved his hands down to my waist.

It's just us...

I smiled and swayed with him to the soft music, and then I took a step forward and laid my head on his chest. I felt him sigh softly and press his nose into my hair.

We just swayed for what seemed like hours, and I felt perfectly content just wrapped up in his arms.

"Aria..." his voice sounded softly and I pulled away from him to look up into his eyes. He was just staring down at me with that same expression.

His eyes flicked around my features and he looked like he wanted to say something.

"Aria...I..." he closed his mouth and I blinked, tilting my head. He took a deep breath.

"Aria I think—"

Suddenly a loud knock sounded from downstairs and both of us jolted. The illusion dropped immediately and Alastor's eyes shifted towards my door, a low growl leaving his throat.

His eyes slowly turned red and I chuckled, removing myself from him.

"We'll continue later," I said and walked over to my door, heading downstairs.

He didn't follow me, so I answered the door alone. Looking back at me were Eliot's soft baby blue eyes.

"Hi!" He chirped and I smiled.

"Howdy!" I responded and he snorted and rolled his eyes.

"Howdy..." he mumbled, shaking his head and walking in, "my mom wanted me to stop by and invite you over to our place for thanksgiving next week," Eliot explained as he intruded my home.

I blinked, completely forgetting thanksgiving even existed. I haven't celebrated it in about 5 years.

"Really? That sounds great, Eliot," I said with a smile and then suddenly Alastor appeared right next to me.

Eliot was facing away from me, so he didn't see it, but I gave him a look anyway. A look that said 'don't do that you fucking moron'.

He merely rolled his eyes and looked towards Eliot with a tight smile and lowered eyelids.

"Hello, Eliot," he said, and Eliot nearly jumped out of his skin.

He spun around with wide eyes and glanced at me and then Alastor and then the stairs.

He pointed between us and then up the stairs, a confused look on his face

"How...did you—?"

"Unimportant! To what do we owe this pleasant interruption?" Alastor asked, his arms behind his back. I glanced at his hands and my eyes widened when his claws were fully extended.

I faced back towards Eliot with a nervous smile and wrapped my arm around Alastor's bicep.

"Max...Eliot stopped by to invite us to thanksgiving...right Eliot?" I said looking at him like 'say yes if you know what's good for you'.

Eliot just nodded after staring at us for a second, "uhhhh...yea, next week, you two can totally come..."

I looked up at Alastor, sincerely hoping he doesn't tear Eliot's head off his body. He seemed thoughtful and then took a deep breath, sighing.

"That sounds wonderful...we'll be there," he said, a lot calmer than I thought he was going to. I glanced behind his back at his hands and his claws had retracted. Silently I let out a relieved sigh.

The tension in the air slowly dissipated and Eliot slid past us, heading towards the door.

"Ok, well that's all I needed...see y'all then," he waved and I followed him, removing myself from Alastor's side.

"I'll walk you out!" I chirped and trotted over to him. He nudged me as we approached the door.

"Interruption? What were y'all up to..." he whispered to me, smirking. My cheeks lit up and I bumped into his side.

"Shut the fuck up..." I hissed back and opened the door for him.

He stepped out, and I sighed, shutting the door.

Then I turned to face Alastor, who was looking at me with an innocent smile. I shook my head.

"Don't look at me like that, you fucking prick..." I grumbled and he hummed and took leisurely steps towards me.

"You like me, though," he said teasingly and my cheeks flushed.

I crossed my arms and pouted, "actually you're the worst."

But he's so right...

I really do like him.