It was a particularly hot day and the diner had been packed the entire time. I finally managed to lock the door deep into the dark of night after the last guest had left. I was beat, tired, exhausted. I wanted to go to bed so badly, but as I made my way back into the kitchen, I stopped in my tracks.

Sylus stood at the sink, slowly washing a dish. It was unlike him to be so inefficient. His tentacles hung down his back, idly writhing rather than working. The look on his face belied his own exhaustion.

“Hey.” I made my way to his side. “You know I can get you a bigger apron, right?”

He smiled. “This one works just fine.”

“It barely covers your belly!” I reached around and undid the strained bow behind his back. “There’s barely any slack back here!”

He chuckled.

“Come on, big guy.” I leaned up on my toes to lift the apron off over his head. “Let’s go for a walk.”

“Hm?” He turned to me. God how sunken his eyes were.

“Come on. Some fresh air then bed. How’s that sound?” I pulled on his arm.

He sighed as he put the plate on the drain rack.

“Not far. To the tree and back.”

“Jeron…”

“I just think we need to get out of here for a bit.”

He tossed his rag into the sink. “Alright.” He breathed as he let me weave my fingers between his own.

We made our way out the door at the back of the kitchen, past my truck, and into the green expanse beyond. Into my mother’s field of violet irises we marched, hand in hand. On the far side stood the weeping willow my parents planted when I was a child. This was where we came as often as we could. Life had pulled us away from simple places like this.

Bloody battles and deceitful negotiations were our lives. Wheeling and dealing with Lords and spawns was an everyday occurrence for us. Togetherness was rare, but since being home and away from it all, we’d found some spare few moments to simply be with each other. I aimed to make this one of those precious moments.

I was practically dragging Sylus behind me. He was more of a dead weight than usual. Somehow working the diner took more from him than a bloodbath with our foes. Even after a lifetime in the diner, I felt the same. He was always the type to hide his discomfort, but not now. He was a big guy, but he’d never felt this heavy.

Once I stood beneath the wispy branches, I pulled Sylus to my side. He stumbled forward. I pointed to the base of the tree.

“Have a seat.”

He let loose a deep breath. Releasing my hand, he sat down heavily. Legs out, belly in his lap, tentacles hanging limply around him, his hands wringing together. I smiled. I’d fought so hard to make him mine. I sat down beside him, hands in my lap. Tilting my head back against the bark of the tree, I let loose the stress of the day. He did the same, though it was more of a growl than a sigh.

“You okay?” I slid a hand onto his belly and patted him gently.

“Tired.”

“I know.” I patted him again. “I know.”

Our stomachs growled in unison.

“And hungry, it seems.” He breathed.

The comfort of the moment faded as I accepted he’d have to leave me soon. “Go on.” I squeezed his shoulder before standing up. “Go. I’ll be home in bed. Just snuggle on in when you get back.”

A tentacle wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me back down beside him. He reached through the veil and into his pocket of the Void to retrieve none other than a wicker woven basket with a red and white checkered cloth poking from beneath its lid.

“A picnic basket?”

He nodded as he placed it between us. Reaching back in, he pulled out a blanket, a kettle, and a matching set of cups.

“I came prepared.” He grumbled.

“A picnic?!” I gushed. “How long have you been sitting on this?”

“I forgot when I prepared it, but you know nothing spoils in the Void.”

I stood up and threw open the blanket. He lifted himself on his tendrils before settling back down. Once again, I joined him. Giddy, I threw open the basket. At least a dozen little sandwiches wrapped in wax paper sat delicately inside.

“Sylus!” I cried out.

“Three types. Turkey with cranberry compote on pumpernickel, cucumber with cream cheese on white, and tapenade on whole wheat. I, uh, I made it all myself.”

“Even the bread?” I reached in for a random sandwich.

He nodded as he picked up the kettle. It heated up in his hands until it whistled. Reaching into the basket, he retrieved a small wooden box and offered it to me.

Holding the sandwich in my mouth, I opened it. A variety of tea bags awaited within.

“A little bit of everything.” He muttered.

I bit my sandwich. It was as delicious as I’d hoped. Everything he ever made was amazing.

“Mm.” I fingered through the teabags. “I know you like the black teas.” I caught him cocking a brow as I flipped through until I found a white tea bag. “I’ll have this.”

He snorted.

I set the bag in my cup and he poured steaming water over it.

He retrieved a bag of earl grey and did the same.

I was munching on my third sandwich when the smallest thing caught my eye. Sylus was a big guy. Massive, in fact, but he held that little tea cup so delicately. I don’t know if it was out of instinct or etiquette, but he had his pinky out. He looked so soft and content sipping his tea and nibbling his sandwiches. The Devourer quaintly enjoying his picnic.

I couldn’t help but reach over and run my fingers through his thick sideburns, down through his beard, and caressed his chin. He paused and met my gaze.

I smiled. “Something about the way you just exist makes me so damn happy.”

He leaned over and planted a small kiss on my lips.

“That’s my sweet little squid.” I patted him on the cheek before returning to my food.

He growled and hummed happily as he continued his deceptively adorable ways. Life had returned to his tendrils. They were wiggling and flicking around. Every so often he’d hum his little song. The nameless melody he’d been quietly singing ever since we met.

I never once lost my love for him, but at this moment, I felt myself falling in love all over again.

Stars glistened above. Distant worlds and galaxies hung frozen in time, a side effect of the Void’s presence on Earth. Indescribable colors swirled through the heavens. The broken moon hung gaping open, the Void’s umbilical, a fleshy tendril breeching through space and time, tethering it to our world. Life and death danced all around us.

The seaside air was brisk, the Mist that surrounded our world glistened in every glint of light. The soft chirping of lesser spawns and native creatures filled the air. The limbs of the willow danced on the sea breeze. Heaven and hell all at once.

Between the alien sky and the world I’ve watched warp over time, happiness and comfort shouldn’t have been possible. Only shadows and memories of the past remained. The future was much darker than I could have ever imagined. And yet…

With him at my side? Anything, anything at all was more than possible.

Six sandwiches and a few cups of tea later, I was full and the exhaustion was returning. I started nodding off. Instead of letting my head hit my chest, I leaned over and rested it on Sylus’ belly; my favorite pillow in all the realms.

I heard the clink of his cup on its saucer and felt a wave of familiar magic fill the air. The picnic was gone. It was just us now.

“You must still be hungry.” I murmured. “That definitely wasn’t enough for you.”

He hummed. “It was plenty. For now, at least.”

“Oh come on.” I cuddled up closer to him. “Take me home and go eat.”

“No.” He grumbled as he wrapped his arms around me.

“Sylus…”

I closed my eyes and felt my mattress appear beneath me. We were home. He laid me down on the bed and settled himself behind me.

“This was nice, Sy.”

“Mm.” He rested his chin on my head.

“We should do it again sometime.”

“Mm.”

I rolled over to face him. “How about for our anniversary?”

“Mm.”

“Maybe get some ice cream next time.”

“Mm.” His voice rumbled in his throat and sent a shiver down my spine.

“Let’s not open tomorrow.” I wrapped my arms around him. “How about a quiet day in bed?”

“Mmmmm.” He squeezed me tightly. “Sounds perfect.”

“Good. Because that’s what we’re doing.”

“As you wish, love. As you wish.”

It wasn’t long before we were both asleep in each other’s arms. Waking or asleep. Together or apart. It didn’t matter. He was mine and I was his.

It was small moments like this that solidified that in my heart and soul and made every tomorrow worth living for.