After spending an evening with Katherine and Nex, Mila decided the term 'opposites attract' was portrayed perfectly in the odd couple. Nex barely spoke two words and seemed permanently annoyed, whereas Katherine was easily the sweetest person Mila had ever met. It was because of that, Mila somehow ended up agreeing to give Katherine her number so they could continue speaking. She wasn't sure what happened, or why she agreed to it, but now Katherine was texting her every day, asking how she was and reminding her that if she needed a friend, Katherine was a good listener.

That was when Mila realized why Katherine insisted on meeting her. She thought Mila's problem was that Mila was suicidal. Mila wasn't, but she'd let Marcus assume that and he in turn must've communicated that to Katherine who was too sweet a person to not do something when someone seemed suicidal. Mila almost wished that was her problem, at least that would mean Stella was safe.

Marcus tried so many things to change Mila's mind, and was always left with the same result. She'd turn it around on him, laugh, or just completely ignore it and remind him that either he could do what she asked, or stay stuck in the mortal realm. It pissed him off so much, he could've gone on an evil human killing spree. Except he couldn't do that either. Thanks to Mila, he couldn't hurt anyone except for the person she named.

Deciding he needed to take things further was how he ended up with Mila's towel while she was showering.

Mila finished rinsing and turned off the water. She opened the shower curtain and reached for the towel but it wasn't there. Frowning, Mila stepped out, not seeing the towel anywhere. She briefly wondered if she'd actually washed the towel but decided that was as likely as someone coming in to steal it.

"Looking for something?"

Mila screamed at the voice that came from behind her and jumped back, her wet feet slipping on the linoleum floor until she was about to fall. Marcus grabbed her arm and pulled her up against him before she fell, her naked wet body pressed against him.

"Dude, what the fuck?" Mila sighed. Then she remembered she was naked and quickly covered her breasts and crossed her legs, glaring at Marcus.

"I told you I wouldn't leave you alone for a shower, you didn't seem to care or believe me, so here we are," he said, narrowing his eyes at her and trying to keep his eyes above the neck. It wasn't easy. He may have been wearing clothes but that didn't seem to matter to his body that instantly craved more of her body against his.

"It's really fucking annoying that you're good at all the parts of being a demon except the part I actually need from you," Mila said, narrowing her eyes at him.

"It's really fucking annoying that you have a death wish and refuse to see a professional," Marcus countered. "It's also really fucking annoying that I can't go home and have to stay in a house where the couple living there never stops fucking," he said, taking a step closer. "It's also really fucking annoying that you won't give me another name despite the fact there's plenty of evil people to kill," he said, taking more steps forward until Mila was pressed back against the door with nowhere else to go, his body nearly touching hers as he stopped right in front of her, lowering his head so their eyes met and their lips were close. "Let's tally it up, Mila. I bet the list of things annoying me about you is much fucking longer."

"You have a lot of audacity to be mad at me for giving you an easy kill," Mila shot back.

"You have a lot of audacity to try to force someone else to kill you because you can't fucking do it yourself," he snapped.

Oh yes I could, Mila thought. That wasn't the problem. The problem was that even if she tried her hardest to make it not look like a suicide, there was always the chance it would be called one anyway, and then it would all be for nothing and Stella would waste away. If she was able to do the act herself, confident it would get the money for Stella, she would do it in a heartbeat.

"As cute as you are when you're mad, I have things to do," Mila said, dropping her hands and just staying bare to him. She didn't care. Or she thought she didn't care. But him being close, and the way his eyes dropped down to her chest the moment her hands were out of the way, all of it had her body warming. It wasn't her fault. She couldn't help that the demon she summoned was sinfully sexy.

Her mother would slap her with a shoe if she saw her lusting after a demon, of all things.

"Fine, where are we going?" He asked.

"We?" Mila repeated, raising an eyebrow. "We are going nowhere. I'm going somewhere."

"Good luck with that," Marcus scoffed, his eyes darting down to her naked body again. He could smell her response to him, the arousal filling his nostrils and making it difficult for him to drag his eyes back to her. He was annoyed with her, and part of the reason was because of this. Because she had an effect on him that he didn't want her to have. It was bad enough she was human, and trapped him here, and was suicidal, it seemed grossly unfair that on top of all of that, she had to be the sexiest being he'd ever seen.

"I mean it, you can't come with me," Mila said, setting her hands on her hips.

"Fine," he said, quirking a smile. "I'll cum first, and I'll think about letting you cum after, but only if you behave for once."

"What are you, thirteen?" Mila asked, trying to ignore how warm that made her, how every time his eyes drifted, she would grow even warmer. "Give me my towel."

"Give me a different name."

Mila sighed, fixing a glare on him. The water was rolling off her hair and skin and piling onto the floor in a puddle. "You're getting my floor wet."

A smirk formed on Marcus's face and he braced a hand above her shoulder, against the door. He leaned in so close, their lips almost made contact. When he whispered the next words, another flush of warmth left Mila craving cold of water, ice cold water to try to quell the flames on her cheeks and between her legs. "It's not the only thing I'm making wet."

That water sounded necessary to Milaa after his statement. She needed it. Her mouth was dry, her throat was dry, it all headed south without bothering to wave or say goodbye.

Mila and Marcus stared each other down, neither moving, neither speaking, the only exchange a noticeable increase in the number of breaths that had to be taken. The spell might've lasted if not for Mila's phone going off, snapping her out of the moment and reminding her she needed to leave so she wasn't late for babysitting Stella.

"I have to go," Mila said, snatching the towel from Marcus and trying to act unaffected as she began drying off and he stayed there. Watching. Staring.

Mila did her best to ignore him as she dried off quickly and got dressed even faster. She worked leave-in conditioner in her hair but skipped the makeup. The odds Stella would want to do her makeup were high, so there was no point in putting any on.

Marcus refused to move from his spot by the door, forcing Mila to squeeze past his large frame to exit. It brought their bodies closer than ever, making hers rub against his and bringing back that thirst for some cool water. Mila hurried to grab her jacket and purse then left without saying goodbye or even glancing his way. If he was as annoyed with her as he said, she hoped it would be enough to keep him from coming with her.

Mila took the bus and was standing in front of Terry's house, giving herself a mental pep talk before having to face her brother again. The fact she even needed to made her sad, but she shook it off, focusing her eyes on the door and thinking of Stella. Or at least, trying to. She hated how tense things were with her brother, especially because up until a few years ago, he was her best friend. Unfortunately, life happens, and life happened to pull them apart so far she didn't feel like healing was even possible anymore.

"I got the impression you hated your brother, why are we at his house?" Marcus asked. Mila screamed and jumped, not realizing he'd appeared right next to her.

"Dude," Mila groaned, smacking his chest with her purse. "Stop fucking doing that."

"Give me a name and I will," he shrugged, giving her a side-glance. "Why are we here?"

"You can't be here," Mila said, turning to face him with a glare so intense, it actually caught Marcus off-guard. And may have also slightly turned him on. He hadn't seen her so angry but now that he had... He wondered how easy she was to get angry because he wouldn't mind seeing it again. "You leave now before I hurt you."

"You hurt me?" He laughed. "That's adorable, Mila, really."

Mila went to smack him again but her purse went right through him. She frowned. He cocked an eyebrow and turned towards her, crossing his arms. "Go ahead, try as many times as you like."

"Ugh, you're such a fucking..." she trailed off, unsure what to say. "Demon."

"Yes, and?"

"Go to hell," she snapped.

"I'd love to," Marcus said honestly. "You can make that happen by giving me a name. Go ahead," he said, rubbing his hands together. "I'm ready."

"Mila."

"A different name," Marcus growled.

"There isn't another one," Mila shrugged. "Now leave."

"No," Marcus clipped. "I said I'd follow you everywhere and I will, whether you like it or not."

"Marcus," Mila said angrily. He was surprised that it was actually intimidating, as was the aggressive look on her face as she stepped closed to him. "Let's get a few things straight. You are not stuck here because of me, you are stuck here because of you. Because you refuse to do one simple fucking task. You making my life hell because you don't get your way does nothing but make you look like a spoiled toddler. You are not fucking welcome in this home and I swear to God, if you try, I will call my old catholic priest, and drag him here to throw holy water at you, got it?"

"Go ahead," Marcus shrugged. "Doubtful he actually knows the right words to get rid of me and after living in hell for a few centuries, I'm sure I can survive the little sting holy water gives."

"Mila, why are you just standing out there?"

Marcus looked to the source of the voice, Mila's brother Terrence. He was standing on the porch, looking both confused and concerned.

"Do not fucking come inside," Mila hissed before putting on the best smile she could for her brother and heading up the stairs. "I'm here," she said to Terrence. "You can go."

"Are you all right?" Terry asked, crossing his arms.

"Fine."

Terry narrowed his eyes at her, she narrowed them back, then walked inside. Terry sighed and followed his sister inside, closing the door behind them. "She just finished dinner and took her pills. The only ones you have to worry about giving her are the bedtime ones," he explained, walking into the living room and picking up a tube of cream. "This is for the rash. We're not supposed to use it more than six times a day and we've already used it four times. Just rub it in really good when you put it on her. It stings and burns, but the doctor said that's just because her skin will feel that way with anything we put on it, it's not like a weird reaction. What helps is putting a frozen washcloth on it afterwards, but not directly on her skin, pull her sleeve down so the cream stays on, then put the washcloth on top. There are several in the freezer," he said, heading to the kitchen and opening up the fridge. "She's been having tummy trouble the last few days, probably from the treatments, but it's still important she gets her fruit and veggie serving for the day because it's supposed to help. Who knows if it does," he muttered, pulling a blender halfway full of a fruit and vegetable smoothie. "The smoothie has been easier for her than just eating the fruit and veggies, I'm not sure why, but it's the only way I can get her to take it, so, please make sure she finishes the rest of this before bedtime. It also has her vitamins and once a day pills crushed up in it, so she really needs it."

"Not doing vitamins and pills crushed in jelly anymore?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No," he sighed, putting the blender back in the fridge, closing it and leaning back against it. "She tasted it one day, I guess I didn't get the ratio right. Ever since, she watches me like a hawk when I make her PB&J's. The smoothie hides the taste better and it spreads it out more."

"Got it," Mila nodded. "Where is she?"

"She just finished her bath," he said, nodding to the stairs. "She's getting dressed and gathering her makeup and nail polish. I just got her new makeup, so... You know, beware. And no matter how much she begs and pleads, do not buy her the old stuff again or let her talk you into using some of yours. The new makeup I got her is all she can handle for now."

"Is she having a reaction?" Mila frowned. Terry nodded. "Since when?"

"Since today," Terry sighed, crossing his arms. "I was going to tell you. She was covered in welts for hours even after we washed it off. Had to call her doctor, got another cream, got it resolved, but she said we have to be careful with what we let go on her skin since it seems like..."

He trailed off on the end. He didn't need to finish it, Mila could continue the thought in her head. Since it seems like the lymphoma is spreading and now affecting her skin. Mila nodded so he'd know he didn't have to continue. While they were both painfully aware of the situation, it didn't make talking about it easier. Especially not when the topic was that things were getting worse instead of better.

Terry cleared his throat in an attempt to get rid of the lump stuck in it. "Anyway, she's not allowed to wear makeup for a few days so her skin has a chance to calm down. I did tell her she can do your makeup as long as you're okay with it, but she has to use gloves when she does. She does still have a rash on her cheeks but that was from the reaction, so don't worry about it. The cream the doctor gave us for that you only need to put on right before bed and it is..." he glanced around, frowned then realized where he left it. "It's actually upstairs, I'll get it and Stella. Feel free to eat and drink whatever like always," he said, vaguely gesturing at the fridge before heading out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Mila crossed from the kitchen into the hallway, dropping her purse on the sectional couch. She heard voices and what sounded like stairs. Despite the sadness, a smile crept on her face and she stepped out into the hallway in time to see Terry coming down the stairs with Stella in one arm and her oxygen tank in the other.

"Hi sissy!" Stella said, waving her hand around all crazy, a tube of cream in the other hand.

"Hey beautiful," Mila grinned, crouching down and opening up her arms when Terry set Stella down. Stella grabbed her oxygen tank and rolled it with her as she ran to Mila.

Mila hugged her tightly, burying her face in Stella's curls, not caring they were still wet. She smelled good, and Mila never wanted to forget that smell.

Stella pulled back and smiled at Mila. Mila tried to be unaffected by the irritated bumps spread across both Stella's cheekbones, or at least tried not to let Stella see how it affected her. She kissed Stella's forehead and stood, holding out her hand. "Is that the new cream?"

"Yes, for bedtime," Stella said, placing the tube in Mila's hand. "My makeup doesn't work on me anymore," Stella pouted, sticking out her lower lip and gazing up at Mila with a look that had Mila's heart melting and dissolving into a puddle.

"I know baby, I'm sorry," Mila sighed, offering her hand. "I bet the new stuff will be much better anyway."

"Speaking of which, did you get that all gathered?" Terry asked.

"Oh, yeah, but I left it upstairs," Stella said, grabbing her oxygen tank.

"No, no, I got it," Terry said. He didn't want her going up and down the stairs a lot. Her lungs couldn't handle the exertion. "You two get set up in the living room and I'll bring it down."

"Okay," Stella agreed.

Mila and Stella moved into the front room and sat on the couch. Stella sank against Mila's side, asking about games on her phone. Mila surrendered her phone, glad she remembered to charge it before coming. Stella would play on it until it was completely drained.

"All right," Terry said, walking in the room and setting down the teal, black and white bag that held Stella's makeup and nail polish. He set it down, glanced around, patted his pockets and nodded to himself before focusing on his sisters. "Gloves are in there too. Everyone good?"

"We're good," Stella said without looking up, tapping on Mila's phone screen.

"We're good," Mila agreed. "Have a nice time. Stay out as late as you want."

"I'll be back no later than ten," Terry said, grabbing his jacket and shrugging it on.

"Doesn't have to be ten," Mila shrugged. "I don't even care if I spend the night, seriously. Have fun and don't worry."

"Not possible," Terry laughed breathily and Mila gave him a sympathetic smile. If nothing else, they could get along when Stella was the subject. Mila truly didn't mind staying all night. Her brother deserved a night off. He'd been taking care of a sick kid for two years, he needed more nights off than he would take.

"Well, try," Mila said. "We're okay."

"Okay," he nodded, patting his pockets again. "Uh... Yeah, you know everything. Just call me if anything comes up, all right? My ringer will be on."

"I know, so you say every time," Mila said, gesturing to the door. "Go. Have fun. We'll be okay."

"All right," Terry sighed. He put on the best smile he could as he bent down and kissed Stella on the head. "Bye sweetheart, I love you."

"I love you Terry," Stella answered, breaking her eyes free of the screen to lift her head up and nuzzle her nose against his in a bunny kiss. "Have fun and don't worry. Mila's got me."

Terry laughed and nodded, pulling her into a hug. "I know she does. I'm just a worry wart."

"The biggest worry wart," Stella agreed, dropping Mila's phone and wrapping her arms around Terry's neck tightly.

They broke away and Terry almost went in for a hug with Mila but thought better of it and stopped. Instead, he offered a small wave and awkward smile. "Thanks, sis. I'll see you guys later."

"Anytime," Mila said, wrapping her arm around Stella's shoulder as she picked up the phone again. "See you later."

Terry left and Stella stayed glued to Mila's phone, playing multiple games until she got bored. She asked Mila if she could do her makeup and Mila agreed on one condition. Stella had to drink a full glass of her smoothie. Stella made a face but agreed so Mila went and got that while Stella dug through her makeup and tried to decide what she wanted to put on her sister.

Mila returned with the glass of smoothie, finding Stella staring across the living room at one particular spot. Mila followed her eyesight and frowned in confusion, wondering what caught her sister's attention. Stella tore her eyes away and looked at Mila with furrowed brows. "Is he your friend?"

"What?" Mila frowned. "Is who my friend?"

"Him," Stella said, pointing across the living room.