{Four Months later}

A small cabin sat quietly in the sleeping forest that was slowly being nudged by the waking sun. A few birds sang their sweet songs but only they were awake to say good morning. Inside the cabin was quite a different story.

Azrael ran around frantically trying to find a decent dress while Raden was still sound asleep without a care in the world. She had yelled at him twice but both fell on deaf ears.

"Get your lazy ass up or so help me I'll zap you out of bed!" Azrael threw a pillow at Raden's face. He groaned and rolled to the side. "We're going to be late."

Muffled by the pillow Raden had covered his face with he said, "We can't be late something that can happen without us."

"But it's the decency of being on time," Azrael rushed out as she pulled a light purple dress over her head. "Come on get up." She began braiding her hair when Raden sat up on the edge of the bed watching her.

She turned to glance at him rolling her eyes before disappearing into the other room. Azrael moved several letters from the table to a drawer that were needing to be answered. They would be eventually.

The last few months were chaotic, to say the least. After that meeting had finished, Lorcán let information slip on what was happening. Many weren't happy with the fact that an angel and mortal would be taking on the roles of the most powerful deities in the universe. Some threatened to kill both Raden and Azrael, but that was quickly put to rest. Libena made it clear that if anyone, God or Goddess, lay a hand on Azrael or Raden; it would be grounds for death. This seemed to end the ongoing threats. Lorcán however stayed true to his word and practically ran them out of the city. Rumor now had it that the citizens of Ifera were not happy as word spread. How? No one really knew.

Azrael didn't much care to be around Lorcán from that point on and Raden well he was just happy to go anywhere with Azrael. They both agreed that helping with King's City would be a top priority once things had calmed down. With the help of the Death Angels and Archangels, the city began being rebuilt. It had been a tough few months there as they dealt with both physical and emotional wounds. Funerals were being held every other day and that took a toll on most of the city.

One funeral in particular that was incredibly hard was Rosemary's. Azrael cried for days leading up to it and after. Raden had only been able to hold her while she cried for hours on end. During the funeral though almost the entire city showed up to say their goodbyes. It had seemed that Rosemary had made an impact on some part of the lives here. That had been a dark day indeed.

Slowly though King's City was becoming more and more like its former self. The king's daughter had been crowned queen of the city two months after rebuilding had begun. She had been the sole survivor of the massacre. A party was held for a week in celebration of the new queen. Azrael and Raden stayed for the festivities before heading off. The queen had granted them immunity within the Eastern Kingdom and was grateful for all they did.

"Raden, are you up?"

"Yes, I'm up," Raden whined as he walked in. His hair was a mess and he only had on the pants he wore to bed.

Azrael folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"You said am I up? Not if I was ready." Raden argued.

She scoffed and began to walk by until Raden grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder. "Come on just a few more minutes in bed. Our lives are about to change forever." He kissed her cheek.

Azrael closed her eyes letting herself melt into Raden's embrace for just a millisecond. In this moment of silence, the realization finally washed over her. She was about to become a Goddess.

"We need to go." She pushed away from Raden as he reached out for her. Azrael whacked his hand with a towel. She giggled as he pouted but that was the wrong thing to do. A mischievous smirk crossed his face and Azrael knew she was in trouble. "Don't you dare?"

Raden grabbed by the waist and Azrael squealed in protest and laughter. He attacked her with kisses across her cheek and down her neck. She tried pushing him off but he held tightly this time. "Just a few minutes," he mumbled into her neck. "Please."

Azrael hummed in protest and shook her head pulling away in victory.

"Gods you're a tease."

"I know," Azrael shot back and smiled.

Raden sulked off in defeat and Azrael continued getting ready herself.

~~~*~~~

Libena had chosen to do the ceremony in the Empyrean forest. She said she enjoyed the beauty of it, but Azrael knew it was something deeper than that. Ever since the meeting, Libena had been trying to mend relations between her and Anéislis hoping that it would be the start of a new rule. Azrael thought it was a kind gesture.

It was midday when Azrael and Raden arrived. Erix was there to greet them. He bowed deeply and extended an arm for Azrael. She kindly took it and he did something unlike him. He hugged her. Azrael was caught off guard but returned the hug.

"I missed you as well." She pulled back and smiled. "When you're ready, lead the way."

Erix wasted no time as they began the journey. The forest was alive today. Whispers from the trees and scurrying across the forest floor kept their attention. Azrael giggled as she spotted the creatures that called this place home. Many would startle and hide again as she caught them looking others would wave frantically at their old friend finally returning.

Raden only watched as Azrael interacted with everyone here. He smiled as she carried on oblivious to his present now.

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They made it away when Raden flinched as someone screamed for Azrael.

"AZRAEL!" It was Orabel running full force towards them. Raden moved out of the way as they tackled Azrael in a hug. The two crashed to the ground as leaves flew up around them. "You're back!"

Azrael was giggling. "I told you I would be." Orabel pushed up on their hands but still over Azrael. "I hope it wasn't too long for you."

Orabel rolled their eyes. "Far too long." They stood and helped Azrael up off the ground. As she dusted off her dress, Orabel turned to Raden folding their arms. "You have been treating her right."

Not much scared Raden, but Orabel scared him slightly. "Uh... yes."

They looked him up and down before Azrael stepped in. "Stop scaring him, Orabel."

"Sorry sorry. Just making sure." They turned back to Azrael. "So you wanna explain why Anéislis is setting up my healing pool and not letting me see?"

Raden smiled. "See we weren't late at all."

"Shut it feathers," Azrael popped back rolling her eyes.

Raden mouthed 'feathers' getting a silent chuckle from Erix.

"Well, it's a long story that I'm not sure I can do justice to," Azrael admitted. Orabel gave her a strange look and glanced at Raden.

He rolled his eyes. "Death decided to kill Life and I killed him because he wanted to destroy the world using Azrael here. So, we accepted to take on the roles before a bloodbath could occur amongst the Gods and Goddesses that roam the earth." Raden rambled on quite boredly about it as if it was just an everyday occurrence.

Orabel stood speechless mouth slightly open as she listened. Before interrupting. "You killed an Ancient God?"

Raden nodded.

"And we're here to take on the mantles," Azrael said simply.

"This is a call for celebration!" Orabel erupted in again. Their personality exploded in a thousand different directions. "I'll get the grove ready. The fairies are going to be so excited that you're back. We'll need drinks and food. Oh! The fairies would love to decorate." Orabel kissed Azrael on the cheek. "I hope everything goes well! I've got to get all this started."

Azrael laughed as Orabel ran off. Raden stood with nothing to say but shook his head and smiled. He grabbed Azrael's hand and they followed Erix. They chatted along the way about what would be and what they would miss. It was a nice and comforting conversation that eased nerves.

~~~*~~~

Libena and Anéislis were talking quietly as the three entered the lagoon. Azrael remembered this pool from those months ago when they had crashed landed. How time flies. Libena smiled and held out her arms.

She wrapped Azrael in a tight embrace. "I'm so excited for you two." She pulled back and looked at Azrael caringly then over at Raden. "You two ready?"

"As ready as ever," Azrael sighed. Her stomach was flipping at least a dozen times as she peered over at the objects that sat in the sand.

Libena followed Azrael's gaze. "Ah yes. Okay, so a quick run-through of what will happen. We each have a chosen object that in the event of our passing is to pass our powers and role to the next. Merikh being his crown," SHe handed a crown of obsidian and opal to Raden. "And Arjan's botany journal." She handed this to Azrael. "What I have next for you is the water of the Gods. This is a powerful substance only consumed by the most powerful of deities. Very rare and hard to get so please do not spill. As you drink this and hold said object, I will recite an incantation that will begin the formation."

"Has this been tested?" Libena raised an eyebrow at Raden.

"Are we sure you are bright enough to take this role? No, Raden, this hasn't come up at any point in history. So, this hasn't been tested." Libena pushed passed Raden in annoyance. She picked up another book and flipped through the pages finding what she needed. "If you will, take your drinks and find a spot to lay down comfortably."

Azrael looked into the small cup at the liquid. It looked like a small galaxy as the purple hues shimmered and danced around. She looked up at Raden one last time.

Raden kissed her on the forehead. "Everything will be okay." She nodded and both drank. It was an odd taste something Azrael couldn't describe.

They lay on the soft sand side by side. Azrael clutched the journal to her chest while Raden rested the crown on his stomach. He reached out grabbing her hand tightly and bringing it up to his lips to kiss.

Libena began to recite in a language of past Gods. Azrael tried to concentrate on what was being said but it seemed too far away. It began to be a challenge to stay awake and harder to fight. A warmth washed over her welcoming her and she no longer fought. Neither did as each entered into a deep sleep. Only Libena and Anéislis were the ones who would watch the transformation happen.

~~~*~~~

The moon was overhead when Raden and Azrael awoke. Raden woke first being welcomed by trillions of stars glittering in the sea above. He looked himself over and nothing had changed. He didn't feel any different either. Libena was sitting patiently for him to notice her.

"Welcome to the land of the living."

Raden chuckled at the irony. "I don't feel any different."

"You won't. You were already an eternal being. Only now do you have the gifts of death? You Raden are Death." Libena rose from her place in the sand and walked over to Raden. "I'll take that crown now. It's quite worthless. Unless you would like to keep it."

"It's only a reminder of an evil that no longer walks this earth." Raden looked at the crown remembering all Merikh had ever done to him. The anger he felt for Merikh would never go away fully. In an instant, the crown turned to a powder in Libena's hands. Raden was taken aback.

Libena smiled. "It seemed the transformation worked."

As she said this, Azrael began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open and she was greeted by Raden and Libena watching her. She sat up carefully without a word. Something was different here. The world seemed more alive. Azrael heard the whispers among the trees and felt the earth itself beat with her heart. She felt strong. Stronger than she'd ever felt before.

"Azrael?"

She looked up at Raden and then at Libena. "Did it work?"

"Let's see," Libena said. She moved to the side picking up the journal that had fallen into Azrael's lap.

Azrael placed her hand on the sand focusing. Small violets popped up through the sand as she dug deeper. The earth hummed under her touch like the mountain did with Anéislis. It had worked.

She looked over at Libena with a bright smile and laughed. "It worked!" Libena clapped her hands and stood. Azrael looked over to Raden who was waiting for patientlty. "It worked."

Raden grabbed her gently by the face. "It sure did." And kissed her deeply.

The world had two new Gods in it. A beautiful replacement for what was lost.

That night they celebrated in the forest with all the creatures that chose to join. They drank and sang and dance under the stars above. It was a perfect night to be merry.

~~~*~~~

News of what had happened spread through not only this world but those beyond the mortal realm. Some were against this and would never see Raden and Azrael as new leaders. Most, however, welcomed the new Life and Death with open arms. Celebrations were thrown all over the place for weeks on end. Festivals and parties among Gods and mortals. It was the beginning of a new age.

Deimos and the Archangels welcomed Azrael as their new leader graciously. It was all a whirlwind for her as she began her new life and reign over the world as Life. Raden stood by her side helping as much as he could along with doing his duties as Death. As the war ended, there was still much work to be done, and Azrael saught to it that this would be taken care of. So, Archangels were sent out as a gift of Life to help those that were affected by the war in any way.

Azrael still being a child of Anéislis but his equal as well wanted to begin new relationships with the other Forgotten Gods. Anéislis agreed. Though it would be a slow process. Azrael began work with the other three and Anéislis to find his brothers and sisters.

As for Raden and Azrael, their love grew every day. They were inseparable. Raden loved Azrael greatly and it showed throughout the universe. He never let a day go past without sneaking in kisses and an 'I love you'. Azrael never got tired of his antics and was grateful it was him by her side. They had made it. Through the mess of war and hardships, love deeper and more powerful than death or anger is preserved.