She stared at him for a moment before her expression softened. She swung for a second longer before standing up and stepping toward him. "I never forgot you, Luce. Even when I didn't know you, you haunted my dreams. My first thought, when I opened my eyes and found myself sitting on this swing, when I remembered every second I'd ever existed, was that someone had gotten it wrong, because this wasn't where I wanted to be."

"It wasn't?"

"No."

The air was disturbed around them before she could elaborate, loud pops as others apparated into the area. Serah turned away from him in just enough time for Hannah to descend upon her, grabbing her friend in an excited hug as Michael's voice cut through the air.

"Serah," he said, sounding about as nervous as he'd told Lucifer not to feel.

Serah pulled away from Hannah to look at him, smiling kindly. "Michael."

Before either could say anymore, another loud pop rocked the area. They all turned, and Lucifer froze when Samuel appeared in all his angelic glory. His mortal body had died months ago, appearing in Heaven back in his true form. Lucifer had avoided him, and Samuel hadn't sought him out. It was the first time they'd come face to face since the day he'd visited him at the gate so many years ago.

Serah gasped, rushing right at her brother. He picked her up, swinging her around in a circle as he hugged her tightly. "Told you," he whispered to her, just loud enough for Lucifer to hear. "I knew we'd have so many wonderful moments to come."

Serah smiled, clinging to him, before Hannah pulled her away again. Samuel greeted Michael casually with a slap on the back and turned to Lucifer, nodding, before once more stealing his sister back away. They vied for her attention, and Lucifer backed away, quietly giving them space. He turned to leave when arms suddenly wrapped around him from behind, stalling him. Sighing, he closed his eyes, taking a moment to savor her touch. "Angel."

"Luce."

He pulled her into his arms as he whispered, "I love you."

"I love you, too," Serah said, clinging to him. "When I opened my eyes, I didn't want to be here, because I didn't think you'd be here. I thought you'd be down there again, back in the pit, and I'd take an eternity in your Hell before I took a single second in my Heaven without you."

Those words wiped away all his worry, all his doubt, leaving him with a warm glow beneath his skin. She loved him. She did.

He pulled back some, opening his eyes to stare down at her. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her eyes sparkling brown with specks of a greenish hue. Shades of peach and tan coated her, pale in places, freckled in others. Her lips were naturally cherry red.

Leaning down, he softly kissed her.

He'd never appreciated color so much before...