A.N.: Last chance to turn around. Seriously, you don't want to read this.

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Or you'll have to learn the hard way I guess. ~

I can't remember how I got this idea exactly, but somehow I liked it and thought it would be the best end. I'm not so sure anymore, but I changed my mind so often that I no longer know what really is for the best and what not. I hope it makes sense at least. It's a bit mythological/ supernatural, but well... it's what it is. 

*

"Let's have another round."

We probably shouldn't, but we did anyway. It was our third or fourth, I wasn't really sure any more and we were already at the hard stuff. It was one of those days you needed to start off with a whiskey. I took a drag from my cigarette. The smoke filled up the air and hung heavy in the room. It actually wasn't allowed to smoke inside, but I hardly cared.  The sparse light sources  where they were sitting made it nearly impossible to recognise the person sitting next to you, so I doubted anyone would even notice me smoking. 

"Omg.... Aren't that the ----"

I looked around and spotted the group of people  she thought to be the -----, I couldn't recognise much. I just shrugged. It wasn't the first time we met somebody who was supposed to be famous. We probably hung around too much at bars or clubs and after some time you had seen them all, or nearly. I don't know why we haven't run into one of them before. I didn't really care anyway, but she was a huge fan and it annoyed her terribly that she hadn't met them before.

"We should talk to 'em." She said.

I laughed and shock my head.

She raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

I shrugged. "We never talk to 'em."

"But they aren't the usual!" She exclaimed all excited.

I took another sip from my glass and shook my head. "And still does it make a difference?"

"Please for me." She begged.

I sighed. "We should have another drink..."

We heard somebody chuckle behind us. "I like your thinking. Hey," He waved at the barkeeper. "Give the lady's here something to drink and something strong for me as well."

"Ehh... thank you," she stuttered. Normally she was the talkative of us both, and even though she wanted to get in contact with them, it seemed like the sudden appearance of their guitarist made her lose her confidence.

"You're very welcome, love." He chuckled.

The barkeeper handed us our drinks and I waited for the next move. I was curious if she was going to use her chance or if she let it slide, because she was too nervous.

"Eh...eh..."

Definitely too nervous.

I laughed. "Seems like you haven't had enough to drink yet."

" Let me guess, she is a fan?"

I just shrugged as I saw her empty her glass in one rush.

"Actually Sharon, here is a big fan, but she is so antisocial and that always forces me to take action and well I guess I was a bit nervous, you know, you're rather famous."

I chuckled. Leave it to her, to make me seem like I was crazy about them.

"If you want you can come with me to meet the band, if you want?"

I could see that it took  everything she had to hide her squealing. She took my hand and pressed it for reassurance. I pushed the visions back at least her future didn't look that bad. Old & peaceful. Not a lot of people get that and I always wondered how she was one of them, considering how that girl partied, not that she didn't deserve a long life, I was just a tad surprised.

"Thank you that would really mean a lot!" I just nodded and we followed the guitarist back to their table. He told her something and she laughed. I didn't catch it and I supposed it didn't matter anyway. I was too concentrated getting through the people without touching them. My day had been bad enough without the idea of death following me around. Gladly there weren't too many and their table in the back was not too far away.

"Look, what I found, guys!"

"Hey! Nice to meet you!" she greeted them.

I just waved. She probably was right that I was antisocial, but I had seen too much and it was easier that way.

"Hello, luv! Have a seat" the singer said to her and before I could even blink she was sitting next to him. The guitarist put his arm around my waist and I nearly jumped from the sudden contact. I chased the vision away before I saw too many details, but it looked like he still had a long live ahead of him. I sighed relieved.

"Let's have a seat too or do you care for another round?"

I could hold my liquor really well, but at the speed we were going at the moment I knew this evening was going to end badly, but I didn't care.

"Another drink sounds good..."

"Your wish is my command." He bowed and went off. I sat down next to the other two members, but with enough space between us that I wouldn't accidentally touch them. Both seemed to be in a discussion and didn't mind me. She was all over their singer. She usually wasn't the girl for one night stands, but I guess her rules didn't apply for him. At least I get a couple of free drinks out of this, I thought.

"The asshole never brings enough girls for everyone... I shouldn't have come." One of them sighed. "Maybe I should head back home, it's getting late." He touched the other one on the shoulder, said goodbye to the singer, grabbed his coat and went away.

After that we sat there in silence, except for her giggling and her and the singer's small chatter. I had totally forgotten his name, but well watching them was the most interesting thing at the moment and she had mentioned it without her help I probably never would have recalled it. I shook my head. It was really clever of her to say I was a huge fan, when I didn't even know their names, but I supposed it didn't really matter.

The guy we met at the bar was their guitarist and then there was the singer, but the other two, I didn't even know what instruments they played. Of course I had seen them in concert a few times and  the music was good, but that was what I knew about them. The blond one remaining here was either their bassist or another guitarist, I couldn't remember. The only thing I was sure of he wasn't their drummer, even though I had no idea what he looked like. I just knew that we shared the same name.

It was starting to get awkward. She was still occupied and my drink was empty. I started to wonder where the guitarist was getting these drinks. He probably was held up by something or someone. I sighed and started to play with my phone. 

"You can have mine, if you want."

I looked up from my phone and came face to face with the blond guy, who was holding a still half full glass in his hand, urging me to take it. If he wasn't holding it, I might have considered the offer, but I didn't want to touch anyone unnecessary.

"No thank you. I think I'll manage."

"Your loss. I'm Henry, but I guess you already knew." He smiled a bit. "And you?"

Actually I didn't know that, but it didn't matter anyway. 

"Sharon"

*

"If I were you, I'd given up by now. We both know I'll win in the end. "

The blond woman just scoffed at the man next to her.  He was a man in his middle or late forties in a suit, no doubt good looking,- not that she cared, but the gazes he got from the woman in the room bothered her. It was her everyone was supposed to look at and admire, not him. If they knew who he was they would run away screaming, she thought. 

"You do realise you haven't won yet" His laugh was dark and loud, though the room was filled with people and their chattering. "As far as I see it, I'm much closer to winning than you are."

Now it was his time to snort. She had hoped to get him out of his comfort zone, but it had been in vain. He played with the whiskey glass in his hand nonchalantly and still seemed far too amused. 

"Oh, because your boy is so good at avoiding death, Venus?"

She bid her lip. He had a point, she had to admit. Hanael did seem to have something of a death wish. It was after all mainly his fault why they were now here. As a messenger of love he was supposed to bring love to people, but not fall in love himself and especially not with death.

Acheron had been lonely, no wonder she had someday returned his feelings. All she had known before that was pain and death...  Venus couldn't even blame her as goddess of love it was her duty after all to bring love to the world and Acheron had though she kept record of the death book and condemned daily people to death, a good soul. 

If only she hadn't been death's daughter and Hanael not been Hanael, he might have gotten away with it. It was normal after all for their existences to fall in love with each other and have children. But Hanael? He was a butterfly, going from flower to flower, never remaining.... And Acheron was the most precious Possession of her father. 

Their story was as sweet as it was tragic.

She couldn't recall how it all had started, not that it mattered anymore. Hanael had fallen in love with Acheron... and in his tries to court her, he visited one time too often the underworld and nearly lost his life as a consequence. Acheron saved him by giving up her immortality... to her father's distress. Out of anger or in hope his daughter would come back he condemned Hanael to a short life no matter what. It was in vain, Acheron decided to be with him, even if their time was limited. It was so heartbreaking that she as the Goddess of Love couldn't ignore the situation any longer and had to step in. Yet what she could do was limited, Hanael was cursed and nothing in her power could have changed that. All she could do was to give them both more chances at their love. No matter time and space they would meet again and could be together. 

... which again had displeased the God of Death. All he wanted was his daughter back and she had basically ruined that chance. It had nearly lead to a fight, but the other Gods had stepped in and the whole situation had turned into a bet. After all they had all of eternity, and the God of Death loved gambling, especially when he thought he'd win. 

If Acheron choose her life over Hanael and ditched him, accepted her father's deal or simply didn't fall in love with Hanael, her father wouldd win and she'd come back to work for him.

If Acheron however gave up her life for Hanael, she somehow managed to save him or if she told him she loved him before he said it, Venus would win and they could spend eternity together. 

 It sounded a lot easier than it was. 

Acheron still had her gift and felt death, making her distant and a love confession highly unlikely... and tricking Death was nearly as unlikely. Venus had hoped she at least would sacrifice herself for Hanael, but the boy made it impossible. He made it clear that he couldn't live without her and rather kill himself than let her die for him... As a messenger of love obviously his love was more important than his own life. 

At least she wasn't the only one whose chances were low. Hanael and Acheron as sad as it sounded were destined by the red thread of fate. They would always fall in love with each other, they had no other choice. 

It probably was a stalemate, yet neither of them wanted to admit it and carried on their little game.

Venus sighed as she watched Hanael take Acheron's hand and her face turn pale.

"Here we go again," she mumbled and hoped this time would be different. 

*

Thanks for reading all the way until here. It's a long story, and it has been a long way- one i nearly thought I'd never finish tbh, but here we are.... I can't say it often enough, but a big thank you for everyone who encouraged me to get this far. I'd like to rewrite most of this story and hate a huge part of it, which didn't make it easier to wrap it up, but so many of you had so kind and sweet words, that it kept me going until here. So for a last time THANK YOU!!!!!!! <3<3<3

P.S. Comments, feedback and so on is very much appreciated. <3