[ WP ] Your significant other is literally a demon . When they 're cross with you , they can make your life a living hell . Literally .

As quietly as I could, I pulled out my keys and clicked them into the front door, gently jangling them as I turned the lock. Once inside, I turned around to lock it again, carefully knocking the snow off my boots. Taking my thick coat off, I made to hang it on the hat rack when something creaked behind me. 
 
 I froze, and glanced nervously over my shoulder. 
 
 There he was, standing there in his red footie pajamas, arms crossed and hair messed up around his horns. I would have giggled if his expression were n't so furious. But his lips were turned down in a sharp frown, fangs exposed just a little, and his eyes were burning. Literally. 
 
 `` So.'' His voice was soft, belying the fury in his gaze. `` Where've you been tonight?'' 
 
 `` Uh... I hung my coat up, attempting to act like nothing was wrong. `` Out at the party.'' 
 
 `` Oh really. How was the punch?'' He flicked his fingers, and a few small sparks launched themselves off of his nails. ``... tasty?'' 
 
 `` That's funny.'' I knew he liked the trick questions. `` There was n't any punch, someone forgot to bring it or something.'' I turned toward him, careful to keep the small package under my jacket from slipping out. 
 
 `` Hmph. What's extra strange is that Maurice said you never showed up. In fact, she had n't known there was a girls night at *all* when I called to find out how long you would be. You left your phone at home, by the way.'' He held it up. 
 
 I gulped. `` Ah.'' I had n't even considered talking to Maurice about it. Leslie and Anna, yes, they knew about the'party' so they could cover for me. But I'd never told him Maurice's number. `` Well, uh...'' 
 
 `` What's going on, Frankie?'' He leaned in a little, and I could see embers dancing in his eyes. `` Where did you go?'' 
 
 `` I...'' My brain struggled to find an excuse. `` It's a surprise.'' I finished lamely. 
 
 *'' What's* a surprise?!'' He barked, sparks flying from his tongue and landing on the floor. They sizzled through the snow from my boots. `` You've never *lied* to me before!'' 
 
 I was struggling to breathe. I'd never seen him like this before, in the two years of dating and six months of marriage. He seemed likely to explode at any moment... but judging from the way his eyes glimmered, I was n't sure if it would be into flames, or tears. `` It's not what you think, Jerzy. Really!'' 
 
 He slid backwards away from me. `` That's what they always say! And then they leave for some other, stronger demon! I thought you'd be different!'' I noticed that flames were starting to lick up around his feet, spreading across the floor. `` I thought I could trust a human to not act like a... like a *demon! `` * 
 
 `` Hey! Now wait a minute, I mean it!'' I reached forward to grab his arm, but he pulled away. Two massive wings unfurled from his back, trickling flames, and he jumped into the sky, two holes burning their way into the ceiling and roof above, clearing room for him. I watched in disbelief as he soared away, trailing a scream. He'd never shown me his true form, not even after the wedding. And yet he used it to run away. 
 
 Finally, my brain kicked into gear. `` No!'' I spun around and slammed the door open, dashing out into the snow again. `` Come back!'' Keys in hand, I dove into the car and spun out of the driveway, following the trail in the sky. The roads were icy and slick, but I paid them no mind. If he got away from me now, back into the underrealm, he would likely never come back. 
 
 And I could n't let that happen. 
 
 I made a sharp turn, and the car careened onto the busy street, around several other vehicles in the process. Weaving down the road, I kept one eye on the sky and the other on the people around me. This was well over the speed limit, but there was no other way to keep up. I heard honks and shouts, but I ignored them. Rolling down the window, I screamed out to the sky. `` Come back! You have to listen!'' 
 
 That was when I hit the ice. All of a sudden the steering wheel was n't reacting to my touch, and my right turn slid into a glide. The screech of massive brakes reached my hears, and I hit something. The car jerked with the sudden force, and I found myself flying out of the window. I had n't even bothered with a seat belt. 
 
 I hit the ground hard, rolling a few feet to a stop. The world seemed to spin, and I could just see the front end of a massive semi that I'd collided with. The whole wreck was sliding toward me on the ice, the trailer turning. I heard more honks, the screech of metal. And just when it seemed everything had settled down... the trailer started to tilt over. 
 
 I could hardly move, and something felt broken in my leg. Every motion sent a searing pain through my head, but I knew I had to get out of the way. I grunted, dragging myself by my fingernails. It was as if the whole world were slowing down. This was the moment when my life was supposed to flash in front of my eyes, but instead all I could see was flames. 
 
 Flames. On a snowy day, in the middle of a road. 
 
 I watched their flickering movements for a moment, waiting for the trailer to fall. But it never did. 
 
 I glanced upward. There was a monster standing above me. It's arms were massive, corded muscle, straining to keep the trailer up. The horns on the sides of it's head were curling and solid. It had a muzzle, instead of a mouth, with sharp teeth and curling lips. 
 
 But it's eyes were the eyes of Jerzy. He had come back. 
 
 The world went black. 
 
 -- - 
 
 *'' It was my fault. `` * 
 
 *We know. * 
 
 *'' You ca n't... you ca n't take her from me. Not yet. `` * 
 
 *We must. * 
 
 *'' No! No, not after she's taken me in, loved me. After all the trouble I caused, all the fires and broken walls, she still stuck with me. I will stay with her, and if you take her now I can not follow! `` * 
 
 *We regret. * 
 
 *'' I ca n't... I ca n't stay without her. She's all I have... Please. Please do n't blame her for what I did. `` * 
 
 *... * 
 
 *We understand. * 
 
 *'' You... you what? `` * 
 
 *We relieve you of your demonhood, Jerzebez. * 
 
 *'' I... I'm* free?'' 
 
 *We give you a second chance. * 
 
 *''... You do n't know what this means to me. I did n't even know it was* possible.'' 
 
 *We take our leave. * 
 
 *'' Thank you. Thank you so & mdash; Wait! No, you ca n't take her! It does n't matter if I'm a man again, if I ca n't stay with her. I'll give it all back, remain a demon, if you just let her stay for a little bit longer. `` * 
 
 *... * 
 
 *'' I do n't want to be human if she is n't there with me. `` * 
 
 *So be it. * 
 
 -- - 
 
 I woke up in a soft bed, with Jerzy standing over me, smiling. 
 
 `` Where... where am I?'' I groaned a bit, trying to sit up, but he gently patted me back down. 
 
 `` The hospital. You broke your leg and took a couple hits to the head back in that crash.'' He grinned sheepishly. `` You'll have to stay in a cast for a while, probably until late February.'' 
 
 `` But what about & mdash;'' I grunted as a small spasm traveled up my knee. `` Ouch.'' 
 
 `` Yeah, you need to stay still for a while. But that's okay, I'll be here.'' 
 
 I sighed. `` That's good. Thank you, Jerzy. I... I do n't think I would have made it if it were n't for you. 
 
 He blushed, a deep dark red traveling up his face. `` You... you saw that, huh?'' 
 
 I ran a finger down his cheek. `` Yeah. Looks like you're just as handsome in demon form as you are in human form.'' My eyes flicked up to his hair, where I could see two small horns peeking out. 
 
 `` Hey now.'' He chastised me gently. `` I know I do n't look too good either way, but no need to get personal.'' He was smiling. `` Anyway, changing the topic cause we can find a better time to talk about that, what is *this? `` * He held up a small green package, giftwrapped with a bow. `` I found it in your jacket during the ambulance ride.'' 
 
 `` That,'' I plucked it out of his hand and held it to my chest, `` Is a Christmas present for you. It's why I was somewhere else instead of a party last night. It was *supposed* to be a surprise.'' 
 
 His eyes widened. ``... Christmas? Oh... ooh no! I totally forgot about that holiday! Why have n't we set up anything for it yet? We need a tree and lights and... and tinsel, right?'' 
 
 I giggled at his confusion. `` It's still a bit early in the season to start decorating. But I wanted to get your present now, before the shopping chaos sets in.'' 
 
 He put a hand to his head. `` I have so much to learn. I'm... I'm so sorry, Frankie.'' 
 
 I took his hand off his head and held it. `` It's okay. We'll take it one lesson at a time. And really I have to apologize to you.'' 
 
 He blinked. `` What do you mean?'' 
 
 I pulled him closer and whispered, `` I heard what you did for me. Jerzy, why did n't you take what they offered? You would n't have to be... like you are anymore.'' 
 
 He clutched me close. `` Because that would mean losing you. And nothing else matters right now.'' 
 
 I buried my face into his mess of black hair.
