Everyone else seemed to forget how to move but Soul. He took a few steps closer, his brow narrowed in disbelief, like he didn't want to allow himself to believe what he was seeing.

"Maka?" he asked again, his voice deep.

"Soul, I – I'm so sorry," she cried openly, but didn't move from her spot. Soul shook his head slowly before falling a few steps back. He just went hours – hours – truly believing that Maka was dead. He believed his Maka, his best friend, girlfriend and the mother of his children, was dead.

Maka watched his face with a heart broken expression before allowing her soul to flow into his. Soul's eyes closed slowly and he enveloped the soul that felt just as familiar to him than his own. It was then that it hit him. Maka wasn't dead. She was right there in front of him.

"Kids," He murmured as he took a step towards her. Then another. "Kids!"

Soul nearly reached her when he heard little feet scurrying into the living room, then stop abruptly.

Soul didn't turn. He just fell to his knees and hugged Maka around the waist and release his first sob as he heard his children scream for their mother.

"Mama!"

"Mum!"

They all ran, stumbling towards her as he did. He felt their little arms pulling and prying at him. He opened his arms before wrapping them back around Maka's hips, his children locked in the embrace.

"I knew it, I knew it, I knew it…" Amara sobbed, her face buried in Maka's side. Soul lifted a hand up to hold her face.

"You did, sweetie," he said thickly, but tried to give his daughter a smile.

Eventually, their friends cut in. They all wanted to hug Maka nearly as much as they did.

"Maka," Blackstar nearly crushed her in a hug, crying quietly as he held her. Soul watched her eyes widen before wrapping her arms around him. Soul realised it hadn't hit him that she was really okay yet – It probably wouldn't till he could really talk to her.

"Blackstar," she whispered before pulling away and grinning. "You're one of the reasons that I'm alive."

Blackstar pulled back, his eyes shining with tears but confused. "What do you mean?"

"The witches were still there after the bomb – They were waiting for those who survived to reveal themselves so they could…" She trailed off, not wanting the children to hear.

"How did I help?" Blackstar asked, still confused. Maka grinned, though her eyes glittered with unshed tears.

"'Dissolve in the darkness and erase your breath…'" she recited quietly. Blackstar's eyes widened before he pulled her into another bone-crushing hug.

"You fucking idiot," Soul just about heard him say. "I'm so glad you're okay. We all thought –"

"I know," Maka said, her eyes falling back on Soul's face and narrowing. She pulled away from Star and looked at his face. "I think I need a minute with Soul. Will you guys take the kids upstairs?"

Blackstar nodded. She hugged the rest of their friends and pulled each of her children into loving hugs, relishing at the feeling of them in her arms. Eventually, they filtered upstairs and Maka was alone with Soul.

"Soul?" Maka said slowly. She could sense he was still fragile. It was like his brain hadn't caught up with his eyes yet. He was still suffering.

"I don't – I don't know what to –" Soul stopped, his face crumpled up and he dropped his head to bury his face in his palms.

"I really thought you were gone."

Maka nearly sprinted forwards and more or less jumped into his arms. They wrapped around her instinctively and he buried his face in her neck as him sobbed.

"I've never felt pain like that," he whispered, his voice low and cracking. "Not when my parents or Wes died. It was like – My life was seriously finished. Not only was I so fucking devastated for myself but… But the kids – "

"I know…" Maka cried, tears flooded from her eyes the moment they did from his. "I couldn't imagine. I cannot tell you how sorry I am."

"But, wait – How did you survive? Kid said there was no way."

"I was in an elevator when the bomb went off," she whispered, holding onto him tighter. "It took nearly a whole day before it was safe for me to get out of the elevator shaft, and by that time I was so weak. Then I just had to wait for help and hide. I couldn't fight all of them, especially with how weak I was and without –"

"Without me." Soul growled as he pulled away from her. "This settles it. We are never going on missions separately ever again."

"Soul," Maka sighed. "I don't see how that would work."

"I don't care." His eyes flashed, and Maka had never seen him look so serious. "I don't care if Kid is furious. You are never going anywhere without a weapon ever again."

"I think I can agree to that."

Soul and Maka looked up to see Kid has descended silently down the stairs. He smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry to intrude. I heard Soul and thought some reassurance would be helpful right now."

Soul and Maka nodded and he continued.

"You're right. Regardless of how safe we thought Oceania was, Maka should not have been without a weapon. We lost so many people due to them being defenceless – " Kid trailed off and closed his eyes in grief. "I'll never forgive myself, but I can certainly try and make sure it never happens again. The thought that I nearly sent one of my oldest friend's to her death disgusts me."

Maka's eyes narrowed in sympathy. She pulled away from Soul but allowed him to keep hold of her hand when he wouldn't let her go.

"No, Kid," She began while she shook her head. "This wasn't your fault. You can't blame yourself for those witches actions. It was their fault alone."

Kid nodded slowly before straightening his posture and lifting his chin.

"Regardless, you will never be without a weapon again." He shook his head again and turned to make his way back upstairs.

Maka turned slowly to face Soul again and hold his face in her hands. He was so beautiful it hurt. Her face clouded with pain as she saw how much he had been through.

"I'm sorry I put you through this," she said slowly. "I couldn't call and by the time I got off the plane I just wanted to be home. I should've tried harder to call or contact you but I couldn't risk giving myself away."

Soul watched her and eventually nodded.

"I get that," he managed. Maka smiled at the sound of his voice sounding stronger. She had missed it so much. "It was just… trying to tell the kids you might now come home. Thinking of my future without you, not feeling your soul…." He trailed off, his eyes closed and Maka pulled him into a kiss.

"I'm not gone," she whispered against his lips before kissing him again. "I'm right here."

Finally, she felt his muscles relax and he sank into the kiss, his arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her so close it almost hurt.

"You're not leaving again for a while," he growled against her lips. Maka giggled and the sound sent shivers down his spine.

"I can agree to that," she said easily before pulling away to sit on the couch. Soul frowned.

"Don't panic," she said with a small smile. "But I think I should see Stein. I didn't eat, drink or sleep for nearly a week and was in some pretty rough conditions,"

Maka barely finished when Soul bent down to pull her into another brief kiss, then he turned and shouted up the stairs.

"Guys," he shouted. "We need to get Maka checked out by Stein."

He walked back over before anyone descended to pull her into another heart-breakingly beautiful kiss.

"I know I don't say it a lot, but I love you, Maka" Soul whispered, not watching how Maka's eyes widened in shock. "I know I'm a bit of a nightmare when it comes to expressing myself but this – I will never take you for granted again. You're one of the most important things in my life."

Maka watched him through wide, shimmering eyes before pulling him into a tight embrace. She breathed in his spicy, firewood scent and fought tears.

She was so lucky to have this man by her side. And she would never let him suffer again.