Zeev's POV
My world was suddenly right again, why was Harlee so glum?  She'd ordered me to never call her Mistress again or anything like it, I had permission to call her by her name.  I couldn't make her understand...I was free...

"How can you be free, if you belong to me?"  Harlee asked unhappily from the couch.

"Harlee-you're rummaging in my mind again, can you please take your hand off the Mark?"  I requested, then took her a drink because I sensed she was thirsty.

"Aw shit.  You know how hard it is to stop touching your face when you've been doing it all your life?"  She stopped leaning on her arm on the arm of the couch.

"Here, just do this."  I replied gently, placing a cushion between her arm and face.  She sighed.

"Zeev, will you just sit with me for a while?  This has been a really tough few months."  Harlee pleaded.

"If you wish."  I replied and sat down beside her, offering her an open arm because I knew she was ultimately looking to cuddle closer to her soul fragment.  But there was something more there too.  The Bond had created another layer of binding between us and I could feel her emotions tipping in my favor.  I would probably be the only Demon with a Master that just basically wanted company for eternity.  No aspirations.  I tsked.  But then again-wasn't that what I always wanted?  A peaceful life?  I sighed gratefully and settled into the couch, pulling Harlee tighter to me.  "Would you like to watch a movie?"

Harlee POV
I don't remember falling asleep.  I remember Zeev offering me something to eat and I refused.  I woke up in bed, sunlight streaming through the windows.

"Oh my God, I'm late!"  I yelped and jumped up.  A wave of dizziness hit me and I sat back down.  Zeev was there in an instant.

"I took the liberty of calling in sick for you today."  Zeev gently pushed me back down on the bed.  "You have tomorrow off too right?"

"Yeah, I traded with Kayla."  I said, holding my head.  "Oh God, I feel so weird."  Zeev grinned.

"Nothing godly about it-it's the Bond.  You have some adjusting to do."  He replied primly.

"Ugh, why don't you feel weird?"  I griped.

"Because I'm a Demon."  He grinned wickedly.  "Look at me Harlee-truly look."  He instructed and I squinted at him.  "Because of our Bond, you will be able to see creatures like myself, the Divine and the Demonic, for what they truly are now."  As he spoke, the human facade he maintained was superimposed with a corrupted, wicked looking creature.  Something in my mind screamed 'Fallen!' at me, but at the same time, there was a sudden soothing tug in my chest as the connection between us superimposed over the Demon image, the infinity sign wrapped around us with all the fiery gold thread tying us together, and lastly a little silver white string running from his chest to mine.  "That's your soul.  That's new.  It only happened because you now have my Heart, and I have half your soul.  It's pretty interesting.  I've never seen anything like it."  He reached out a hand and gently plucked the string.  There was an answering vibration in my chest.  I winced.  It didn't hurt really, it just felt, strange.  I shut my eyes.

"Ugh, how did I ever end up in all this mess?"  I whined.  Even with my eyes closed, I could sense Zeev as if I could see him standing there.  His expression looked sad and worried.  He was...guilty.  I snapped my eyes open to look at him and he tried to hid the expression from me.  "It's no use-I saw you."

"It's the connection we now share Harlee, I..."  Zeev sat on the bed and reached out a hand tentatively, then started to withdraw it.  "I really can't apologize enough for the pain I've inflicted on you.  He whispered.  I sat up and looked at him.

"That's only the second time I think you've ever truly apologized to me."  I told him, then sighed.  "Look, it doesn't erase the past, but you're trying to atone for it now.  I've just got to figure out how to move forward with that on my own."  He was avoiding my eyes.

"I understand.  You cannot accept my apology.  I will continue to offer it until you do."  Zeev murmured.  He seemed hurt.

"Well, from what you told me, you've got the time."  I sighed and collapsed back on the bed.  It sounded more harsh than I meant it, but Zeev grinned slightly.

"That I do."  He responded.  "That I do."

Zeev POV
I brought Harlee breakfast, despite her insistence that she wasn't hungry.

"You didn't eat anything last night either."  I scolded.  "The last thing I need is for my new Mistress to get ill."  Harley groaned.

"I told you, don't call me that."  She made a face.

"Fine then.  My Queen?"  I teased  "My Lady?  My Love?"  I moved closer to her as I set the plate on the bed.  She blushed.

"Oh God-if you have to use one, Lady is less offensive and sounds like something a boyfriend MIGHT use as a term of endearment.  If we're still using that story you can still use the usual things like honey, sweetie, whatever in public.  Just please don't make a scene!  I'm already mortified and we haven't even stepped a foot out of the house!"  She covered her bright red face.

"I keep telling you God has nothing to do with it, Darling."  I purred and she groaned.  "But you do need to eat.  Please."  She begrudgingly picked up a slice of fruit from the plate and popped it in her mouth.

"Good choice."  She moaned and I felt a little zing of pride.  She looked at the ceiling.  "How much of that is not real?"  She asked.

"Oh, it's all real.  It was just re-created rather than built.  You're seeing the workings of Demons, who've basically restored the ceiling to the way it was before the attack.  It's a bit complicated to explain, but think of it like the ceiling is on a different timeline now than ours."  I shrugged.  Harlee blinked.

"That's f'd up."  She whispered.

"It's one of the loopholes we exploit when making Contracts.  How else can we bring people back from the dead or restore someone's youth?  We just tamper with time a little."  I grinned again.

"So f'd up."  Harlee whispered and looked at me.  "Well, if all this had to happen to me in the end, I'm glad it was you Zeev.  I'm really glad it was you."  She sighed and her eyes began to drift closed again.  I caught her before she fell over and lowered her back to the bed.  I frowned at the fruit.  One slice.  Not enough.  Well I'd just have to keep an eye on her and take more drastic measures if it came to it.  In the meantime...I placed my hand on her Mark and allowed some of my Demonic energies to trickle into her body.  That should sustain her.

Harlee POV
When my eyes finally struggled open again, it was late afternoon.  I was just so tired.  I sat up slowly.

"Your body will adjust."  Zeev said quietly, stepping from the shadows.  I flinched, the image was much like the first time we met.

"I'm sorry about this, you were the closest one."  The memory whispered in my ears and I clamped down hard on it, afraid of reliving that trauma again.  Zeev winced and walked forward to kneel in front of me.

"What can I do to assist you?"  He asked, looking at the floor.  I could hear the thought running through his head that even if I chose to hit him, he would deserve it and take it without complaint.  I sighed.

"Stand up Zeev, I don't really like this overly gushy servant vibe.  What happened to your snappy comebacks and all?"  I pulled his shirtsleeve.  He looked up at me and his eyes lit up.

"I can be anything you want me to be.  You just have to let me know.  We are still in a holding pattern, you and I, you have not completely taken control.  I await your instruction."  Zeev remarked.  I smacked him on the shoulder.

"Stop that, it's irritating.  Just be yourself Zeev.  I liked you better that way.  If I want anything different out of you, we'll discuss it when it comes up."  I said with irritation.  He was pissing me off now.

"Yes my Lady."  Zeev replied, but he looked almost, happy?

"And I told you to stop that!  It's Harlee."  I fumed.  Zeev suddenly yelped and the Mark on his neck lit up briefly.  He held a hand to it.  "Aw shit, what did I do?"  I asked, sliding from the bed.  Zeev laughed lightly and pulled me into a gentle hug.

"You just manifested some control is all.  It was...shocking."  He murmured in my ear.  I shivered.

Zeev POV
My whole body sizzled with Harlee's proclamation, but it was my Demon's Heart that burned the brightest.  She liked who I was.  She didn't want to reshape me, she wanted to keep me the same!  The command burned through me, lighting up my core and our Bond.  I had never felt like this before...