Only You Can Change Your Life

"Hello?"

The dispatcher on the other end of the phone paused for a second, not having even been able to get out her normal; this is 911 emergency, how may I help you? drill. He wasn't in the mood to wait, so Church had spoken before her. And since she wasn't continuing as quickly as he'd like, he spoke again.

"I need you to connect me to the downtown police department, head officer, if he is available."

She stuttered for a moment before finally finding her voice.

"Sir, I can help you."

"No. You can't. Get me the officer or I will kill you."

That made her much easier to manage. "Yes sir," she replied and, without a moment's hesitation, connected him to the other department. He heard the phone ringing and counted the seconds as his eyes looked around the busying street. The storm kicked back up and died down while he'd taken time to go through his plan, so now the snow plows were getting to work so that stranded vehicles could be freed and others could get to work. The local department likely had trackers on all of their pay phones, so he didn't want to stay in his current spot for more than a few minutes.

"Hello?"

Hearing the familiar officer's voice from when they'd questioned him back at the precinct, Church smirked and hurriedly told him what he needed.

"My name is Church, and you know the rest. I want answers and I want them in the next two minutes. First, who attacked my dog?"

He waited for two seconds before he growled into the receiver, getting the first answer he wanted.

"Demons came and took him from an officer who had carried him out of the building with the intent to take him home until a new one was found."

Nodding, Church ran his fingers through his hair with his free hand and sighed.

"Okay. So, next question. I want my freedom. What do I have to do to ensure I get it?"

He could hear the man try to muffle a laugh, but he didn't care. It was hilarious that a demon would ask for such a thing, especially one who was technically free at the moment.

"You can't think that I would be able to do that, especially after you killed a man recently. I'm sure there were others, too."

Rolling his eyes, Church ground his teeth together and reigned in his temper, knowing that he was going to need to run any second now.

"Yes, I killed him, because he burned my priest. The others were only to keep the hoards of demons from going insane, but I'm tired of it. I want my freedom and I want my family to not have to be put through this."

The man laughed again and Church wanted to rip his throat out. Happy thoughts. He told himself as he heard the plastic casing on the phone begin to splinter in his hand.

"You called to tell me a demon has fallen in love with a priest and wants to raise the little boy he stole after his demons killed the child's parents?"

"Yes," Church said without an ounce of hesitation, which immediately shut the officer up from sheer surprise. "Tell me officer, how many demon attacks have occurred since I left your compound?" Silence took over the line and Church let his grim smirk return.

"I want my freedom, and in return I will take care of any demonic issues."

The officer grunted on the other end. "So you mean to tell me you'll be the peacekeeper between demons and humans for your own freedom?"

That had Church laughing, though it sounded much harsher than he had intended.

"No. I will kill them. Most demons in this city cannot be reasoned with. I thought that killing was the only way to sate them, but then they wanted more, bigger game. Eventually it lead to humans, but I am tired. I just want away from it all, but I know that can't happen. So, I give you my offer. Think it over, and I will see you tonight."

Before he could reply Church hung the phone up and darted. The sirens from police cars rang just a few streets away but they just barely missed seeing him as he ducked behind a convenience store and disappeared into the neighborhood, heading for the forest.

It was past dark before he finally stepped out of the forest across the street from the station they'd only just escaped from. He'd put his clothing back on, having needed his demon to make the journey manageable with the time constraint. Time to do something for someone else for once. He thought that his inner demon would be annoyed that he was basically sacrificing himself, but he was content with his decision, and that just strengthened his resolve further.

"I will come back to you, Hanna, Michael. Just wait for me."

"Happy birthday, Hanna!" Michael said with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. A cloud of depression hovered over his head, but he did his best to keep Hanna from being affected. He knew the boy missed Church as much as he did, possibly even more so... but there was nothing they could do to bring him back. He was honestly trying to put on a happy face, too, as he stared down at the small chocolate cake he'd bought with three candles sticking out of it.

"Blow out your candles and make a wish, but don't say it out loud or it can't come true."

He knew what he was going to wish for as his worried, tear-filled eyes glanced up at him, then back down at the candles. He took in a deep breath, then huffed it out over them. They flickered and went out and Michael quickly got the cake cut and onto a paper plate for him.

"Here you go, eat up."

The look on his face told Michael that he really didn't want it, so instead, he set the plate aside and handed him a small box. It wasn't much, but he knew they had to be careful with the money Church left them until it was safe to go looking for a job.

The hype should calm down in a few weeks... hopefully.

Sliding up onto the messy bed, Michael scooted back to lean against the pillows stacked by the headboard and patted his lap. Hanna crawled into it quickly as he got the TV on and the boy tugged at the ribbon on the box. The TV always started on the news as a default and Michael intended to change it immediately, but then he felt his heart leap into his throat as the anchor began speaking into a microphone outside of a hotel that looked disturbingly familiar.

Michael's attention went back to Hanna for a moment as he tugged the lid off the box and pulled out the little bracelet Michael had made. It had all of their names on it with little wooden block beads. He actually seemed to like it as he smiled back up at him and Michael leaned over, helping him fasten it around his wrist. When he was done, he pressed a soft kiss to his hair and then glanced back up at the television as a news story began.

"After several days of negotiations the New York police force has decided to try out a new tactic in controlling renegade demons. The first demon officer has been sworn in this morning at town hall. In order to obtain his freedom from scrutiny, he has agreed to the chief's terms and also agreed to wear an ankle monitor for the duration of his trial period. Church Remaro has been given two days before his training officially begins and is just about to return to the human family he is doing all of this for.

It is under very strange circumstances that he currently has custody of a small boy who had disappeared from a park after his parents were murdered months ago, but the police department has already investigated the matter and determined that Church played no part in the demise of the boy's parents, and had, instead, rescued him. They have since met the boy and evaluated him to be in good physical and mental health, so they have awarded Church guardianship as long as he keeps up with monthly welfare visits to check on the boy. It is also thought that his lover is none other than a priest, the other member of his family, but this is currently just speculation..."

The camera panned away from Church, who had been climbing the stairs as the reporter spoke and now... Michael's eyes looked over to the door where a shadow was easily seen from beneath it.

"The two demons responsible for committing several murders the last two weeks have also been killed by Church. They had tried to ambush him and the leading officer as they spoke outside the police station last night. More to come on this developing story later tonight at eleven."

Church.

There was a very faint knock against the door and Michael swore he had to fight himself not to toss Hanna aside and run for it. Instead, he gently set the boy aside and told him to wait a moment, then briskly walked around the bed and to the door.

His right hand was shaking so badly that he had to focus on actually moving the handle down, then pulling it back. When the door finally swung backwards Michael was left standing face to face with the demon he'd let steal his heart. He was still handsome, but now he was perfectly groomed, hair clipped into a short style that still allowed some of the curl it had at the tips of the strands. His clothing was all new, a Special Services uniform, and it looked damn fine on him. The tie though, that could definitely go, but he'd be sure to remove it as soon as they ended up getting some time free from Hanna when they hopefully moved back into the apartment.

"Chesh!"

Hanna suddenly appeared between them and literally began climbing Church's pants in his eagerness to get to his dad. Church might not have fathered the boy, but in Hanna's eyes there would never be another.

With a gruff chuckle Church handed Michael something he hadn't noticed was tucked under his right arm so that he could lean over and scoop up their crying boy. As soon as he touched the bundle of fluff Michael knew what it was and couldn't help but smile. The chunky puppy sneezed, then looked up at him with half-asleep eyes, then yawned.

"Hey Hanna? Look who Chesh brought to your birthday party!"

Hanna turned around in Church's arms slowly, then his tear-stained eyes widened and he gave a smile that had been absent ever since Church had left. Leaning over, Church pressed a kiss to Hanna's hair and smiled as he reached out with his free hand to pet the pup on its fluffy head.

"Mats had a few booboos that needed to be taken care of. Did you miss him, Hanna?"

Their boy nodded repeatedly, sniffling as he reached out for his puppy. As soon as Church set him back down on the floor Michael handed him Max, whom he promptly dragged over to the bed and shoved up onto it, before following.

Shaking his head, Michael turned his attention back to Church and felt a heavy weight lift from his shoulders as he walked into his open arms, sighing in contentment as they locked tightly around him.

"I've missed you, my priest. I apologize for not contacting you, it was not allowed," Church said as he leaned his face away a slight amount, making Michael curious.

He looked up, meeting his devilish smirk. "But I am free now, and we will be going home soon. No more hunting or running from humans for me."

Church leaned over and pressed his soft yet rough lips to his for a moment. "In fact, get packed now. I want to make my family dinner, bathe, then..."

His tongue ran along Michael's lower lip, making him part them so that he could invade his mouth. He pulled away again after a minute, leaving Michael panting in a dazed fog.

"Do you know how I will keep my demon in check from now on, my little priest?"

Michael couldn't really focus on anything besides his moist lips so he just shook his head slowly, making Church's smirk widen.

"I will deflower my priest over and over again, every night, until Hanna wakes up and comes and gets us to make breakfast each morning."

Michael's face burned a bright cherry red, but he had a feeling that come morning, Church might just not let him out of bed at all...

This is where the original ended but I will put up the epilogue chapter, too, but going to tone it down a bit.