It's A Wonderful Afterlife (Sequel to 'A New Life')

Chapter 10: Big Changes, Part One

Betelgeuse awoke after a brief slumber of half an hour. He looked around the room, noticing that the lamp and glass had been taken, and then walked up to his bedside table. It was quarter to one o'clock. He stretched, leaped out of his hammock, and then stretched again, very loudly cracking his back in the process. It felt fantastic. He exited his room, closing the door properly so no one could see the damage, and realise the lamp on the desk was missing. He floated to Charles and Delia's bedroom after levitating a few inches off the ground. He knocked three times before being welcomed by Delia, who let him in.

"Hey, Del," As he walked through the door, Betelgeuse smiled and looked at the life coach, who sat on the bed next to her phone. She then proceeded to lay on the bed, scrolling through her phone.

"Hey, Beej, feeling better?" Delia asked.

"Yeah. thanks." Betelgeuse gave a warm smile.

"That's excellent. Would you like to continue our conversation?" Delia inquired, patting the spot next to her that Betelgeuse sat on, the bed sagging slightly under his weight.

"Yes please".

"Okay. "Where did we end up?"

"Um, in the last chapter the author wrote, you told me what pansexual was before tucking me in and tickling me." Betelgeuse told her, his arms tucked beneath his head.

"Oh yes. Wait, what?" she inquired.

"Nothing."

"All right, okay. Pansexuality is defined as a preference for persons regardless of their gender. It has no bearing on whether you find someone appealing." Delia informed.

"That's me, I'm pan." Betelgeuse spoke up, a tiny smile pulling at his lips and a strand of orange running through his hair.

"You know, I'm really delighted you've figured out who you are now." Delia smiled as she rose to cuddle the demon. Betelgeuse didn't have to think long before he sat up and encircled Delia's body with a slew of arms.

"You're such a sweetheart towards me." Betelgeuse stated the truth.

"It's because you've earned love and trust." Delia grinned as she ran her fingers down the demon's back.

"Can you- can I, maybe, I was wondering if i-i-if i-i-if i-i-if i-i-if i-i-if I" Betelgeuse froze, nervously touching the back of his neck, his hair turning a dark gold colour.

"Don't worry, honey. It's okay. Anything you want to say or ask me, go ahead and say it, okay?" Delia reassured him.

"Could I possibly refer to you as 'mom'? I understand how strange it is for me to be an actual demon and older than you, but you are so sweet and I feel like you are a mother figure to me. I feel comfortable with you; I know I can trust you; you're everything a mother should be, and you'd be a million times better than Juno. Since I returned and our connection improved, I've felt like that around you. In my mind, you're a picture of a perfect mother." Betelgeuse exclaimed quickly, He was speaking so quickly that it sounded like he was rapping.

"Do you really think that way about me?" As tears welled up in his eyes, Delia inquired, her voice shaking. Betelgeuse believed he'd made a mistake, that he'd made their friendship difficult by telling her, and that he shouldn't have informed her. He did not get the response he had anticipated. Delia responded by wrapping her arms around him and crying unmistakably happy tears.

"I've always wanted a child," she said, motherly kisses smothering his face.

"I've always wished for a good mother." Betelgeuse smiled, joyous tears streaming down his cheeks. They kissed one other on the cheek and gripped even tighter.