The night stars sparkled outside. Light of the moon poured in through the large windows, glistening across the polished checked floor. The ballroom had a refreshing scent, untainted as if it was brand new. It was revitalizing to step inside and see so many happy faces. No matter their personal problems, they finally had a chance to relax and enjoy each other's company.

"I wouldn't expect you to be so melancholy at a celebration." Finch commented to Emerson.

The elf watched his older brother across the room, being the life of the party. He swirled around the wine in his glass, responding, "The last time I was at a formal event, it didn't end well. I suppose I'm just having some bad flashbacks... What about you? Why aren't you dancing?"

"I have no one to dance with. That's alright by me, though." He smiled gently, "I'm alright not having a romantic partner, as so long as I have my family. They may not be my blood, but they are my family."

Emerson managed a small grin. You really didn't have to tell him how important family was. The thought of romance was far from his mind most the time. However, he and Finch both did enjoy the idea of romance. The problem with love, though, is it is just an idea. It's a concept we've developed to ignore the wrongs of life. No matter how much you love someone, it won't prevent them from getting hurt. That's why romance is best left as a theory.

Some people are able to look past the pain of love. Those were the ones lucky enough to get second chances. People like Felix, who got a second chance to love Marci, or his parents, who got a second chance to love their children. Then there were ones like Kettil that just stared at happy couples with contempt.

Friday wondered over to him, her kitten in her arms. "Why are you in the corner all alone?" She asked curiously.

He kept his arms crossed, glaring down at the big eyed vampire. "Me solum relinquatis."

"I'm sorry... I don't understand your language." She frowned, "I know you can speak some English though. I've heard it before."

Kettil closed his eyes a moment to keep himself from blowing up at her. "I... do not know... Much."

"I didn't know much English either when I came here. Micah taught me though, the best he could. I bet he could teach you, if you wanted to." She suggested.

"No," He turned his head away, avoiding looking at her sweet face. It reminded him too much of his own daughter, whom he hadn't seen in years. "I do not want that."

Micah walked up to her, delicately setting his hand on her shoulder. He leaned down to her level. "Sweetheart, leave him be. He doesn't want to be bothered. Have you given the little button a name yet?" He asked as he gently scratched the kitten's head.

"Booties!" She responded proudly, "Because the white on her feetsies makes it look like she's got booties on!"

He laughed lightheartedly, "That's perfect." Micah picked Booties up, setting her on Paris' shoulder. "There we are. Princess, may I have the next dance?"

Friday blushed, accepting the hand he'd offered. Their relationship was that of a daughter and father. By their size difference, and the way he cared for her so deeply, you might've actually though he was her dad. He took her out to the center of the floor as a silence fell on the room. Music playing from the radio had been cut off.

It'd been awhile since Felix sang for a crowd. He didn't like to do it, but he couldn't really deny Jasper's request for him to perform. Marci was pretty happy to hear he'd be doing so, which meant he really couldn't back out. He sat down at the slick black piano under the towards the middle of the room. It was a surprise the keys didn't have dust on them. Just like that piano, he may not have practiced in awhile, but he was still just as good.

Across the room, Covey took note of his two youngest brothers finally walking in. "Where were you two?"

"Helping our guest of honor get ready." Thursday replied, smirking.

Kuza had showed up awhile ago without Croc, which was weird in itself. He broke away from Thursday to go find his love. Across the room, his new husband was playing catch up with Ricky. Croc leaned down and kissed his cheek. He then took Mojo off his shoulder, setting him on Kuza.

"He missed you." He said.

"Aw, hi, Baby." Kuza cooed.

Ricky stared a moment to process this. "That's not like... Your kid or anything, right?"

"Just because he's got scales doesn't mean he's our kid!" Kuza sneered.

"Well," Croc chuckled, "We do kind of treat him that way, but he didn't come out of Mike, if that's what you're asking."

"He's... Adopted. His name is Mojo. I guess if we did ever have kids, I mean if it was possible, there would be a high likelihood they'd have some reptile features."

"Not necessarily. They could easily turn out like any of my brothers."

Kuza shivered, "Thank fuck we're not having kids then because I do not want a spider for a kid. Speaking of, are you guys going to have anymore? Or is Annabelle your last?"

"Funny you should ask. We were just talking about that this morning. All our kids grew up in pairs. Dev thinks it'd be for the best of Annabelle has someone her own age to play with, to grow with." Ricky glanced back at his wife and daughter enjoying their time together. He sighed as his sights fell back to Knox, who was keeping to himself in the corner. "Then again, we always take the chance that one will lose the other. That never goes over well."

"You guys didn't lose Ripper. He's just not himself. At least, that's what I've heard the doctors say." Kuza replied.

"Yeah," He murmured, "I know. They say they can fix him, but I don't know. They inherited their mother's unstable mind. I'm not sure if there's any fixing them. I mean, after all this time, don't you think if they could've helped Ripper and Knox, they would've?"

"Some things take time." Croc responded, "I didn't want to believe everything Jasper had told me initially, but I've come to see he is right. Anything is possible for the Society of the Fallen."

Ricky's doubt still lingered. He wasn't that lucky. The fact that they got their sons back after losing them was already a miracle. He couldn't expect they'd be in one piece. It didn't matter. Ripper and Knox were always destined to have issues and the war pushed their minds over the edge.

The older of the two wasn't even allowed to attend the party. In fact, no one in Rest Point was. Kiapolo, Apollo, and Drake would make people far too uncomfortable. Asher and Dusk probably could've been trusted, but it just wasn't a good idea when their minds were imbalanced.

Knox kept leaned against the wall as he watched everyone enjoy their night of celebration. Hearing his older brother's voice sing the most beautiful love songs set pain in his chest. A vase of flowers sat on top of the piano. They were white and lavender dahlias. Did they have to be dahlias? That's it, he thought, I'm not going to stay here. No one would miss him if he left the party.

Felix just finished a song, giving him the opportunity to slip out. People wouldn't notice him leaving in the commotion of partners switching. Knox paused, hearing the first few notes on the piano. That song reminded him just a little too much of the person he missed the most. He couldn't explain it, but there was just something about tonight that made him think so much about Sixteen. Maybe it was just because talking about it yesterday in therapy dug up some old feelings.

"This Romeo is bleeding, but you can't see his blood. It's nothing but some feelings that this old dog kicked up. It's been raining since you left me. Now I'm drowning in the flood. You see I've always been a fighter, but without you I give up. Now I can't sing a love song like the way it's meant to be. Well, I guess I'm not that good anymore, but baby, that's just me.

Yeah I, will love you, baby, always and I'll be there forever and a day, always. I'll be there, till the stars don't shine. 'Til the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme. I know when I die you'll be on my mind. And I'll love you, always."

Knox shivered as he felt a cold gust of air blow through the ballroom. Instinctively, he turned around to find a source. One of the balcony doors had been blown open. White flower petals drifted through the air, sweeping across the floor. He froze in place as he set his eyes on a shadow outside. His mind was screaming at him to leave, that he was just seeing things, but his heart made him stay still.

It seemed everyone else in the room had stopped to stare. Their eyes gravitated towards him, but he didn't give a shit about them. The music continued to play per Jasper's request. He'd told Felix not to stop unless he said so. Of course, Felix didn't really mind that. He knew what was about to transpire.

"Now your picture's that you left behind are just memories of a different life. Some that made us laugh, some that made us cry, one that made you have to say goodbye. What I'd give to run my fingers through your hair, touch your lips, to hold you near. When you say your prayers, try to understand I've made mistakes, I'm just a man."

"Well," Jasper said, "It seems our guest of honor has finally decided to arrive. Won't you join us?"

He was hesitant. Thursday's promise had come to be true. Knox was here, right in front of him, and that terrified him more. Part of him had hoped he'd find nothing here. He didn't want to face the love of his life after he'd left him to die. On the other hand, he wanted to finally touch him again, to kiss him.

Sixteen took a few steps off the balcony, entering the ballroom. The light fell on him to allow Knox to see him. He was still the same as he'd remembered him; A vision in purple and black. There were whispered around the room about who this mystery demon was. He himself found his heart beating fast. Knox was frozen in place, just staring. Sixteen was expecting him to yell at him any moment. Much to his shock, he suddenly ran into his arms.

Tears streamed down Knox's face as he hugged Sixteen as tight as possible. "I knew you were alive." He said, "I could feel it in my heart. You were still out there. I love you. I love you- please, never leave again. I'm sorry-"

"I love you, too." Sixteen cut him off before his rambling could go on any longer. "I promise, I will never be as so foolish as to leave you again." He turned his head, connecting their lips delicately. Their kiss felt like pure heaven. Knox, the creature defined by the word numb, was feeling more emotions than he knew were possible. He never thought he'd feel again.

"If you told me to cry for you, I could. If you told me to die for you, I would. Take a look at my face. There's no price I won't pay to say these words to you. Well, there ain't no luck in these loaded dice, but baby, if you give me just one more try, we can pack up our old dreams, and our old lives, we'll find a place, where the sun still shines. Yeah I, will love you, baby, always and I'll be there forever and a day, always."

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A/N: For anyone who doesn't know, Sixteen and Knox are based on Patrik and Simon from BatAAr. I ship them irl and I lowkey have a theory their ship is canon 🌝

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Me solum relinquatis = Leave me alone.