"You may be her mentor, but you can''t expect her to live like a nun for the rest of

    her life, can you?"

    "She''s got her own life, hasn''t she? She didn''t sign her soul over to you or

    something, did she?"

    Ss lounged back on the couch, looking as nonchnt as ever.

    Uriah grumbled, "She even told me she liked me, but I think it''s just talk."

    "So what? You don''t like her. If you don''t, she''ll just go and like someone else.

    There''s nothing wrong with that."

    Ss stretched out, a yful smirk on his face. "Seriously, what''s your deal?"

    "It''s the twenty-first century, man. Nobody''s going to judge you for marrying her.

    It''s not like you''re a schoolteacher running off with a student or something

    scandalous."

    "You''re about the same age, aren''t you? If you want to marry her, who''s gonna

    say anything? If anyone does, I''ll send them a couple of nukes and let them go

    chat with Saint Peter."

    He shrugged, clearly not bothered, maybe even a little envious.

    Uriah didn''t have to worry about anything. Ss, on the other hand, wasn''t sure

    how much time he had left with Callie. He could be gone at any moment. He''d

    already given up more for her than anyone could imagine.

    But even if he had to leave, he''d make sure to clear every obstacle from her path.

    He wanted her to take on the world, fearless, with the whole world at her back,

    even if he couldn''t be there himself. He was always nning for her future.

    "But she''s been with me since she was a kid!" Uriah protested.

    "So what? You her dad or something? Childhood sweethearts always end up with

    the deepest bonds, don''t they?" Ss snorted. "Stop being so uptight. If you

    hesitated this much when you had to take someone out, you''d have been pushing

    up daisies a hundred times over by now."

    Uriah just stared at him, speechless.

    "I need some alone time. Get out."

    "And take your rabbit with you."

    "My rabbit? I don''t even own a rabbit!" Ss shot the furry creatures a look of

    disdain, hands stuffed in his pockets.

    But Uriah simply scooped up the rabbits, grabbed Ss by the arm, and shoved

    both man and bunnies out into the hallway.

    With a bang, Uriah mmed the door and locked it.

    Ss nced down at the two

    rabbits in his arms. He''d just seen

    them poop all over the ce earlier.

    He red sternly at them. "If you

    two dare take a dump on me I''ll turn

    you into rabbit stew, I swear."

    Just then, Blythe came strolling

    down the corridor. She spotted Ss

    and broke into a grin. "Oh wow,

    those bunnies are adorable!"

    "Ss, are these your pets?"

    He nced at Blythe, sizing her up. "You think they''re cute?"

    "They''re super cute!" she said, practically bouncing with excitement.

    "Great, then they''re yours!" Ss said, dumping the bunnies into her arms like he

    was unloading live grenades.

    Blythe blinked, baffled, not sure what just happened.

    Just then, Calliope came out and caught the scene-Ss gifting the bunnies to

    Blythe.

    Blythe was surprised for a split

    second, but when she spotted

    Calliope, she lit up and turned up the

    volume: Ss, you really get me!

    adore animals, especially bunnies. I

    love them so much! Thank you, this

    is the best gift ever!"

    She made sure to say it loud enough for Calliope to hear.

    Ss had just given her a present!