Barbatos's heart

Searching for Home (Finale)

The forest was darker than Devildom City's nights. Elaina had lost all sense of time. She couldn't even see the second moon or anything through the treetops for that matter. She thought she was getting closer to the spot Diavolo marked on the map, but she was terrible at directions. The only thing that kept her going was the thought of finding Barbatos. She felt like her connection was pulling her closer to him, although she wasn't sure if that's how it worked.

She felt like she was walking forever. She stopped to examine the map once more. However, the sound of footsteps didn't stop. Actually, they sounded more like claws dragging along the forest floor. Elaina looked to where the sound was coming from and that's when she saw the white, ghostly figure of a wraith. Not good... Elaina hiked up her dress and began to run. She realized that she was nowhere near the spot on Diavolo's map as she seemed to still be in the thick of it.

The wraith was catching speed as it haggardly wailed. If this even touched Elaina, she would be doomed. It was trying to take her bright, shiny soul. It would suck her dry and there would be nothing left. She realized how wrong she had been, she should have stayed in Devildom City, in the palace. Maybe Asmo was right, Barbatos would have come back but she was stupid and impatient. She said a silent prayer as she ran as fast as she could. She tried to use her wings but they were still too weak. The wraith loomed closer, closer... Suddenly she ran into a clearing with an old dilapidated cabin standing in its center. This wasn't on the map. Was it a trap? She didn't know, but she didn't have much of an option. "Hello!? Hello!? Someone, please help me!!!" She yelled.

Barbatos was making his evening tea when he heard a wraith's cry. He was rather confused since he was usually alone out here. However, he didn't think much of it. It was probably some young hikers that stupidly decided to ignore the warnings of the forest for the thrill of adventure. He ignored the cry and continued to pour his tea. "Hello!? Hello!? Someone, please help me!!!" Barbatos spilled his tea all over the table and dropped the pot in the process. "Elaina!!" He bolted out of the door as fast as his feet could carry him. The wraith, right on her heels.

She saw a blur pass her by as she continued to speed into the cabin. Barbatos had grabbed a vital weapon before running to save his beloved. He grabbed her celestial dagger he had taken from the palace. He knew what kind of creatures were out there and they could be taken down by holy water or holy celestial weapons. Most of them were smart enough to stay away from him, but this wraith was possibly the dumbest he had ever encountered. Nothing slowed it as Barbatos emerged. It was like it wanted to die as it flew right into the pointed blade, that or Barbatos had a fire lit under him and moved faster than he ever had as he thrust the blade straight ahead like a fencer with his lance.

After he made sure the wraith was good and dead, he rushed back to the cabin. Elaina was looking around in shock. She had found him. "BARBATOS!!" she cried as she ran and jumped into his arms. He was in shock. He just stood there, eyes wide and not embracing her back. He didn't know what to do. He didn't expect her to be looking for him. He was hurt, scared, furious, relieved, happy all at the same time. He fought back the tears and tried to keep himself together. "W-what are you doing here? How did you find me? Elaina, you can't stay here." He finally spoke. He had his love in his presence again but the cold truth was gnawing at him. He was a monster. He had hurt them. He had to stay away. "Barbatos, come home now! You had no right to leave me or our babies, they miss you. They need you, Diavolo needs you, I need you!" She continued to cry.

There were no words. Nothing he could say to be able to tell her how sorry he was. No way to defend himself that what he did was for their good. She wouldn't listen. He knew that. "Elaina, please... I will escort you out of this forest but you have to return to the palace." - "Not without you!" She argued. "Yes, without me." He choked. She punched him in the chest. It didn't necessarily hurt, but the shock was enough to earn a gasp from him. She did it again. "NO! No, no, no!! I refuse to leave here without you!! None of this was your fault! None of this was you! You're not a monster. You're my husband. Don't you remember our vows?" Elaina pulled back and looked him dead in the eyes.

"I promise to help you through whatever still haunts you. To show you that you are worthy of the love I will give you for the rest of our lives together. I promise to be a great mother to our child and a perfect wife to you. I will be the rock that keeps you grounded and I will be here to listen and to talk. You are not alone, and you never will be again." Barbatos repeated word for word, letting a tear finally fall down his face. He would never forget those vows. How could he? "I just... I... I betrayed all of you!" Barbatos finally broke down, falling to his knees. Elaina sank down with him and held him in her arms, letting him get it all out.

"I love you." He finally sniffed, looking up at her with red, water-filled eyes. "I love you too, Barbatos. The old king is gone, he is never coming back. You will never have to worry again. So please... Let's go home." Barbatos nodded, cleared his throat, and composed himself. "Aside from me, Diavolo really needs you right now. Aurelia is proving to be a handful." Elaina added. She knew Barbatos needed a distraction that didn't involve them. "How so?" He asked as he went to the fire and put on a pot of hot water. Always the courteous butler. "She isn't exactly stable. He's been keeping her in his suite, not by force this time though. No one knows what goes on in there, but we all hear screaming, and Diavolo always looks so exhausted... When we actually get to see him." This concerned Barbatos greatly. A human to demon transformation had never been done before, let alone a human/angel/demon transformation. He wasn't really sure, but he guessed her head was a complete mess right now.

After a long and painful talk, Barbatos agreed to come home. He was shaken by what he had done to his family and friends and he also realized that he had only done worse by disappearing. What he did was wrong, added by even more wrong behavior. He had to start making amends, to live up to what had happened. He had to realize it wasn't him, and he had to move on and be happy. He would never be able to apologize enough though, and Elaina had a feeling that it was going to last a lifetime, "I'm sorry" for eternity. "We will leave tomorrow. It's far too dangerous out there at night." Barbatos stated. "Yeah, like it's any better during the day." Elaina rolled her eyes. "I'll protect you." Barbatos whispered. "I know." Elaina kissed him.

Barbatos and Elaina made their way back to Devildom City the next day. There were plenty of obstacles in their journey and Elaina made Barbatos promise to never go back there again. He laughed and held her close promising to only take her to beautiful places. Deep in his heart, he would always have this guilt in his heart, but with Elaina by his side, he knew now and forever that he would get through it all. He should have known that from the first she told him. Maybe now it would stick, or maybe not... But he'd fight it.

Their first stop was the House of Lamentation to pick up Wendy and Hazel. Barbatos just wanted to hold his girls in his arms again. When they knocked on the door, Asmo didn't miss a beat. He slapped Barbatos clean across the face and then stomped off dramatically. Barbatos wasn't very shocked, but Asmo's bitch slap packed a punch. He didn't want to be on the receiving end of another one of those again.

"Daddy, daddy!!!" Wendy squealed as she ran down the steps to the main hall. "My darling girl!" Barbatos cried as he scooped her off the ground, holding her tightly and giving her little kisses. "I missed you, daddy..." She whispered. "I missed you too, baby girl." He looked around for Hazel and noticed her toddling out of the corner of his eye. "W-when did she s-start..." - "I... Don't know." Elaina smiled. "She started yesterday. I was watching her in my study and Simeon had stopped by to drop off some sweets Luke made. I left one on the coffee table and she tried to get to it." Lucifer explained. Hazel was very shaky on her legs but she was trying to get to her father anyway, grabby hands and all. Barbatos scooped her up in his arms as well and squeezed her tight. "You did great little one. All for treats too. When we get back home, I'll bake you some cookies. Sound good?" Hazel cooed. "Can I have cookies too, daddy?" Wendy asked hopefully. "Of course you can sweetheart." He smiled brightly.

He was with his family again, right where he belonged. His little departure had been the dumbest thing he had ever done in his entire being. He obviously wasn't thinking straight and just ran headfirst out the door. Never again would he be so careless. He had his family to consider. Elaina was right, as she always seemed to be lately, the old king was gone...forever this time. They have come a long way in their relationship, from him basically hating her to being so in love he couldn't even think straight. It had been a wild ride with ups and downs galore, but he wouldn't want to trade it in for anything. His beautiful wife, his babies his friends... He had such a wonderful, big family. From feral to positively domestic. Who would have thought?