Erik slowly awoke, trying his best to remember what happened and gather his bearings, then it all came back to him. He had been shot. He gently moved his hand to where the bullet had buried into his shoulder. It was heavily bandaged, but with very little pain. Someone had managed to dig the bullet out of him, and his body had begun healing quickly. He sat up slightly, looking around the room. He spotted Sassy, curled up into a ball on a chair against the wall, seemingly asleep. He swung himself to a sitting position on the side of the bed he had been laying in, and slid off of it, keeping a hold of the bed to make sure his legs would support him. When he was sure he could walk without falling over, he crossed the room to where Sassy slept, and placed a hand on her shoulder, attempting to gently wake her. Her eyes shot open in surprise, and she almost shouted when she saw him standing in front of him. “ERIK! You’re okay! Why are you out of bed, you should be resting still.” She jumped out of the chair, wrapping her arms tightly around him. He hugged her with his good arm. “My body has already begun to heal itself. I’ll be back to full health in no time. Are you okay Sass?” He asked her, looking her over to make sure she hadn’t been wounded as well. “I am uninjured. The assassin didn’t have another chance to fire at anyone else. I dropped the ceiling on him.” She said, eyeing his shoulder closely, checking to make sure he wasn’t bleeding through the bandages. She led him back over to the bed, plopping him down on it to check him over. Other than the slight pain from the healing wound, he seemed in perfect health. No nasty side effects of whatever it was that the cult had dreamed up to attempt to assassinate him. “So do I get the all clear doctor?" He said, teasing her. She looked at him through narrow eyes and punched him in his good shoulder. “You big asshole. Why did you have to go and scare me like that! I thought you couldn’t be hurt, and when I saw all the blood I cried my eyes out. I thought I was going to lose you.” She said, trying not to cry out of happiness. Erik pulled her into his chest, calming her down a bit. “It’s going to take a bit more than some silver to bring me down. I am alive and healing quickly. I’ll be fully recovered in a couple of days dear.” He softly whispered to her, gently rubbing her back. She sniffled, wiping away tears. She looked up at him, and he leaned down, kissing her soft lips. He held her for a bit longer before she took a step back and spoke to him. “I need to fetch Lyndra. She’s going to want to give you the once over before you leave here, make sure there aren''t any side effects of whatever evil thing those cultists had dreamed up.” Before Erik could offer any argument as to his health and not needing to be looked over, Sassy turned and walked out of the room to search for Lyndra. Erik sat, awaiting her return, and touched the spot the bullet had struck him. ‘I had no worries about your ability to recover from this wound. You do possess a habit of healing extraordinarily quickly.’ Alastair chimed in. “Nice to see you’re still around to bug me.’ Erik replied, but with a slight smile on his face. ‘Well of course I’m still around. You shan’t be rid of me that easily.’ Alastair huffed back. ‘I wouldn’t have it any other way. Do you think we managed to get rid of them this time?’ Erik questioned Alastair. Alastair was silent for a moment before replying. ‘Unlike the first time we dealt with them, I was in the right state of being to sense if any were left. I do believe the assassin who attempted to murder you was the last-ditch effort for them. They won’t be bothering us anymore.’ Alastair stated with a sense of finality in his words. Erik didn’t reply, but relief rushed through him.


    A moment later the door to the room burst open, and in rushed Lyndra, with Sassy following closely behind. They both crowded around Erik, poking and prodding at him, giving him a full check over to make sure he was indeed recovering properly. After a half hour of thorough study, Lyndra declared that Erik was indeed almost fully recovered but warned him to leave the bandages on his shoulder for at least another day, and to do no strenuous activity for at least two more days. “Hey, you don’t have to tell me that. Tell her, she’s the one you have to warn.” Erik said with a sly grin on his face, indicating Sassy standing close by. She turned red and shot him a look that could’ve killed, and he laughed. Lyndra exited the room, and Erik pulled his shirt on, before turning to Sassy. “Well, Alastair seems to think that we have wiped the cult off the face of the Earth. They shall not be bothering any of us anymore. The people here are free to return to whatever homes and family they have left.” He stated. Sassy walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, tears beginning to form in her eyes again. “Thank you. For everything. You didn’t have to help us, yet you took it upon yourself to do so anyway and almost died because of it. But you saved all of us. We will always owe you our lives.” She managed to say, fighting back the tears threatening to overwhelm her. Erik wrapped his good arm around her. “No, none of you owe me anything. You all have become my people, the ones I was actually able to save this time. Thank you, Sassy, for believing in me.” He held her tightly, kissing the top of her head. “Come on, let’s go check on everyone else. I need to speak to Margrave about making plans.” Sassy looked up at him with confusion. “Plans for what?” She asked him. He smiled mysteriously at her. “Follow me, my dear. I have a surprise for all of you.”


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    Some months later


    Erik stood on a small, grass covered hill, looking out over his newest project, smiling. The community he had funded, and contracted some of the best builders to construct, was nearing completion rapidly. He turned his head as he heard footsteps behind him. Sassy, Margrave, and many of the other creatures he called his people approached him, smiles on every face. “Everything''s coming together quickly. Most of the families have already finished moving into some of the larger homes. This ambitious project of yours has finally given them a place to live and begin healing. None of us will ever be able to repay your kindness.” Margrave said, blank eyes wet with tears of happiness. “There is nothing to repay. I have created a community for our kind who has suffered, allowing them to rebuild their lives in peace. It’s something I have always wanted to provide, and now I have.” Erik said simply. “Besides, with none of the cultists resurfacing yet, it would seem that I have accomplished the goal I set out many, many years ago to do. It’s time for me to let go of the anger and hate and rebuild myself as well. I will have my own residence here as well.” He stated. Everyone but Sassy, who knew of Erik’s plan to stay and agreed with it, was shocked for a moment, then cheered. They all crowded him, offering hugs, handshakes, and claps on the back. After a moment the crowd dispersed, all heading off to handle the various different tasks still needed to be completed in the short amount of time remaining. Sassy stood by Erik, hand in his. “Everything is so wonderful. I have already had everything moved into our new home. I took the liberty of buying us some new furniture as well.” Sassy said with a giggle. Erik laughed, then replied. “I am not surprised. There is one other thing though that needs attention.” He said, a smile on his face. She looked at him, a questioning look on his face. “What do you mean? You’ve already done so much for everyone, what more could you possibly give us.” He turned to her and looked into her eyes. “This is something special, for someone very special. Sassy, in the short time I have known you, I have come to love you unconditionally. You have shown me that, even with what I am, that there is still something in this world worth fighting for. If you’ll have me, I would love to spend the rest of my life beside you.” As he spoke, he reached around his back, pulling something out of his back pocket. “Now, traditionally for my people, this would be done completely differently. But, seeing as the traditions of my people are somewhat outdated and would be difficult to accomplish, I thought this would work better.” He knelt down, pulling a ring out, holding it out to Sassy. “Sassy, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” Sassy was stunned, completely speechless. Tears formed in her eyes as she jumped into Erik’s arms. “YES, YES, of course I’ll marry you, you big dummy!” She said, crying tears of happiness. Erik slipped the ring on her finger, and they kissed, Sassy still crying. She heard cheering as all of her friends suddenly appeared around them. “You all knew this whole time, and no one said anything!?” She nearly shouted, still crying. Saphielle ran over to her, giggling. “Erik made us all swear to secrecy. You know how hard it was for me to keep this a secret.” Saphielle said as she hugged Sassy. Everyone gathered around the two of them, celebrating the love the two souls shared with each other.