Alastor

After the incident in the kitchen, I noticed Juliette was different than before.

It reminded me a lot of the day I finally snapped, and suddenly, the world became a stage for me to simply perform upon.

I'm by no means complaining, just observing.

She's bolder, more upfront and a lot less timid.

She's pointed a knife at me more than once when I make her angry, and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't excruciatingly exciting.

It was like whatever inhibitor in her brain that controlled her fear and restraint had been switched off.

On top of that, we had made wonderful progress with healing from her losses. Despite her recently unhinged mental state, I still occasionally would find her crying in the dark.

However, that happens less and less with each passing week.

The murder she committed had just been chalked up to one of mine, which that in itself told me enough about the state in which she left the body.

After my worry had worn off, I was proud of her for standing up for herself so wonderfully. I wish I'd been there to see it!

Since then, I haven't let her walk alone if it's during the night time.

She may have been able to protect herself that time, but I wasn't taking any chances. No, not with her.

Speaking of taking chances... every day I grow closer to giving her that ring and asking her to be my bride.

Lovers. Partners. Friends. Whatever it is that we are, I want it to be her forever. No one else can take her place, that I'm sure of.

I love to spoil and torment her. Pestering her is beyond entertaining, and I just adore the way her cheeks puff up when I've gotten on her nerves.

Humming to myself, I rounded the corner into the kitchen and found my precious doe preparing dinner.

We alternate on cooking, taking turns to make each other meals.

Sauntering up behind her, I leaned down and nearly rested my chin on her shoulder, watching her cut through vegetables with a large kitchen knife.

"Carrots tonight, my dear?"

"Mmm"

That was her soft response, as she was focused on her task. I wanted to tsk and pluck the knife from her hand to get her to pay attention to me.

Though, I got a better idea and a mischievous smile broke across my lips as I lowered my eyelids and pressed my cheek against hers.

"What a shame. We had carrots the other night when you cooked... running out of ideas, darling?"

I teased her lightly, and the knife came down against the cutting board a little rougher this time.

Hehehe...

Without a second of hesitation she turned to me, and I stood up as she pointed the tip of her knife up at me, eyes narrowed and lips formed into a pout.

"Come again, wise ass?"

The smile on my face grew as I fully planned to fan the flame. She's so adorable when she's angry.

"I believe you heard me, dear."

I doubled down and waited, though I wasn't waiting very long before she snatched the front of my suit, pulling me down to her level.

She was now wearing a smile that matched my own, her pupils slightly constricted as the sharp tip of the knife was pressed against my cheek.

"Maybe I'll cut the tongue out of your face and cook that up instead, hm?"

My heart rate increased, but I wasn't afraid.

"Oh? Now, that sounds exciting!"

There was a slight growl behind my voice as I pressed closer to her, causing her to backup against the counter.

She grunted softly and a few things rattled, but I hardly cared. My arms went on either side of her and caged her there.

The energy between us had been feeling tense and electric lately. We were having standoffs like this much more often, but they would always fizzle out and we would go back to our usual activities.

Her eyes narrowed as she looked up at me, and she dragged the edge of the knife down my cheek to my jaw, making the hair on my arms stand on end as my fingertips turned white because of my grip against the counter.

"Oh, does it? Then open up, let's see how much you bleed..."

She purred at me, leaning closer with a smug smile on her face and my suit lapel clutched in her fist.

Normally, this is where it ends.

Today, I'm not sure what happened. A bit of my restraint slipped, and in an instant I had her wrist in my hand.

She gasped softly and dropped the knife in her surprise, but before she could utter a single word my lips were on hers.

There was a soft squeak that came from her throat that melted into a quiet moan as she returned my affection, wrapping her free arm around my neck.

She pushed back against me and I growled against her lips, wrapping my other arm around her to pick her up.

My kisses cascaded from her lips down her jaw to her neck, where I felt the deep desire to bite into her flesh.

Both of our breaths were ragged and I felt her nails dig into the skin on my neck, creating a painfully pleasant sting.

Then she managed to catch me off guard and used her arm as leverage to push me off balance.

With that change of power, she used my weight to her advantage. My back was against the wall now and she looked up at me with a wide smile and hazy eyes, color dusted across her face as she caught her breath.

"Alastor... what are you doing?"

She purred at me and I just stared down at her, my chest rising and falling as my heart beat rapidly behind my rib cage.

"Just playing, sweetheart."

My eyes narrowed and before she could even blink I switched our position and she gasped as her back hit the wall.

"Promise."

Our faces were barely an inch apart, and she was looking at me with so many emotions swimming in her eyes that I thought I might drown in them.

I had her wrists pinned beside her head and she was helpless in this position. Anyone who found themselves at my mercy like this usually had terror in their eyes, but not her.

Oho, no. Not her.

She pushed off the wall and backed me up slightly, brushing her lips over mine as she started to speak.

"You think you scare me, big man?"

Her voice was low and dripping with temptation, and she brushed her nose against mine gently.

"Not even close..."

My breath caught slightly in my throat when her voice turned from playful to genuine, and I felt that familiar beat in my chest. A pulse that seems to come straight from my core.

A deep affection the I only feel with her.

Our lips collided and I let go of her wrists, wrapping both arms around her body to lift her up slightly.

Her newly freed limbs made their home around my neck, and she melted into me the same way she always does.

It's not often that we do this... but when we do, it's genuine. There are never any fake emotions between us, or forced physical interactions.

After our kiss had broken, I just stood with her in my arms for a moment, leaning down so I could bury my face in her floral scented hair.

My heartbeat had slowed, the heat in my body simmering back down as we gently swayed back and forth together. I could feel her fingers playing in my hair.

"Marry me..."

I whispered against her hair, and I felt her freeze.

"W-what?"

I pulled away from her, that sadistic look gone from her eye and replaced by the innocence I'm so used to seeing.

I wasn't hesitant anymore. I smiled at her warmly and took her hands in mine.

"Marry me."

She stared up at me with wide, unblinking eyes.

Then they grew glossy, and she smiled, holding my hands tighter.

"You... you want me... to be your bride?"

Letting go of one of her hands, I cupped her cheek. She leaned into my touch and closed her eyes, and I swiped the tear that fell.

"I do... and I have a gift for you...from your mother."

This made her eyes open once more, and she looked up at me with a curious expression before she stepped back slightly in shock when I lowered down onto one knee and reached into my pocket.

I had the ring on me because I had been trying to work up the nerve to ask her over dinner, but this moment seems much more fitting.

Pulling it out, I offered up the diamond, ruby encrusted ring.

Her hand went over her mouth and she looked from me to the ring and back to me.

"W-where did..."

"She trusted it to me the first time I was over at your home... I've held onto it ever since. I wasn't sure then, if I was capable of committing myself to a domestic life... but... I know now that whatever it is that I do, I want you to be there with me..."

I waited patiently for her answer, and judging by the way her eyes were lit up and filling with tears, I wasn't very worried.

"Oh, Alastor!"

In an instant she practically tackled me to the kitchen floor, throwing herself against me in a tight hug.

One of my arms went around her, and we stayed that way for a moment. Then, she whispered something in my ear that made it feel like time stood still.

"I love you..."

For a second, we were frozen. Right there. Nothing could've pulled us apart.

"I..."

The words got caught in my throat. For some reason, it was difficult to say it.

Painful memories flooded my mind, but they had nothing to do with her. Expressing my emotions was never easy for me...

After a second of my silence, she pulled away and I was worried maybe I ruined the moment, and she'd be angry with me.

But when I looked at her, she was smiling warmly, and her hands came up to hold my face.

"Don't worry, darling... I know..."

Her words were soft, and reassuring. They lifted the weight off my shoulders, and filled me with relief, merely solidifying that I'd made the right choice.

When I slipped the ring onto her finger, it was a perfect fit. It sat so beautifully against her skin.

Together we sat, just reveling in this shared intimate moment between two broken hearts.

Then, once the shock had worn off, we got up and finished dinner together.