It had been quite a year. Barnabus was incredibly busy. It started early even before dawn, meeting with Eon at the folds of time to receive the new list of souls to be collected. Then he would spend an hour or so assigning reapers missions and tasks. With his mentor's aid, Barnabus had completely reworked how Headquarters were run. Now instead of working reapers to the bone, they implemented a rank system as well as a one mission on, one mission off system. He also encouraged reapers to follow their passions. There was a surprising number of reapers who would rather cook, clean, heal, or tend to the new garden.

Gaia was extremely happy that some of the reapers were wanting to help revitalize the withered garden hidden in the depths of the headquarters. In the beginning, it was a beautiful space with statues memorializing beings and heroes from the first Fallen War. But due to all the drama among the reapers, the garden had been left to rot. But now... It was turning into a relaxing space for reapers to decompress after a hard mission. It was somewhere that Barnabus would frequent when he was feeling lonely and needed quiet to study.

After assigning missions and sending reapers on their way, Barnabus would spend a few hours processing souls, recording them in the Book of the Dead, and finally sending them to their final destination with their respectful deity or to be recycled into cosmic energy. Then, Barnabus would attend to his studies with Eon. He was learning his craft fast but the reaper was burning out quickly. There felt like no time to rest or even write to Rosa.

Barnabus worried that Rosa had forgotten about him or even found someone new. His heart would ache, thinking in his new position, he could never find happiness. Still, Barnabus kept hoping that one day, he could see her again.

Meanwhile, Rosa had very much not forgotten her reaper admirer. She loved getting his letters which were always delivered by a ruffled tawny owl. He had been gushing about how much he missed her and how he wished he could come back to her. Then one day... They had stopped suddenly. She would keep an eye out for the owl but after a few weeks of no letters, the young witch began to worry. Fiona encouraged her to check with her magic and pray for his safety but also reminded her that reapers were in danger always. She should not have gotten so attached, her mother would chide. After 3 months of no letters but her magic telling her he was alive, Rosa decided that she would go looking for him. 

Fiona was not happy about her decision but knew how headstrong her daughter was. The older witch helped her pack her bag, including protective amulets and medicine in satchels. She gave Rosa a blessing and warned her to always keep her guard. There had been reports of humans who were hunting those who were suspected of practicing witchcraft. Fiona had a terrible feeling that she could not shake yet she could only watch her only daughter walk away from the village.

Rosa's plan was to focus on towns and cities that had known significance for magic. When in town, she would question if anyone knew a reaper nearby or had heard where she could find their headquarters. She had visited the Isle of Skye, hitchhiking a ride on a ship carrying supplies. The witch found no reapers there but was surprised to meet a few fairies and elvish folk. They mentioned that Reaper headquarters were further south in a busy English city. She had to pay them for their information so Rosa had given them some of her amulets. Once back on the mainland, it took her another 3 months to make it to Glasgow. 

To help earn money to buy food along the way, Rosa would do some healing work or divination. She did not realize that by doing her craft in plain sight, she would be attracting some unsavory attention. It was in Glasgow that the hunters caught onto her trail. 

The hunters originally came from London itself. They were a part of a group known as The Witch Hunters Association. Made up of "god fearing" folk, mortal religious leaders, and those easily swayed with judgement of anything different than themselves; these hunters were the ones that Fiona was so worried about. Already they had burned 20 witches across the Isles.  They had heard of a witch traveling through the Scottish highlands, asking very suspicious questions and doing "ungodly" acts of healing and fortune telling. The group was determined to put an end to that. 

It was in a small town south of Glasgow that they finally caught sight of her. Rosa was giving an older woman some healing herbs. The woman had heard of a healer passing through and begged her to help her grandson who was sick with a terrible cough. 

"Mix this with hot water. Have him breathe in the vapors before encouraging him to drink the tea. It is important to keep him hydrated." Rosa advised kindly. 

"Oh, bless you!" The woman gushed, clutching the herbs close before she gasped seeing the group of men wearing black clocks and tall hats. "Run!"

Rosa looked over her shoulder to see what the commotion was about before finally taking off.  The men chased after her, some throwing rocks at her to cause her to stumble. She managed to make it out of the town before a ditch in the path made her trip and roll. Within moments, two of the men roughly grabbed her and held her up. An important looking man with a raggedy beard looked her over. "Search her." He ordered.

"Yes General." One of the men responded curtly before forcefully rummaging through her bag and attempting to feel her up. Rosa struggled and even kicked him when she felt him squeeze her bottom. "Just some plants and rocks sir. This one is feisty." The man explained, rubbing his hip where Rosa had kicked. The general only glared at the witch before noticing a glint of light of her hand. He grabbed her wrist and held it up. 

"Here is our proof men. Look! She wears the ring of the Devil!" He exclaimed scornfully. The General attempted to take off the skull ring before a zap of energy forced him to stop. Apparently, it had a spell to protect it from being involuntarily taken. He growled in frustration before ordering his men to find the town dungeon to keep her while they make preparations.  

"Aren't you going to interrogate her?" One of the men asked, almost gleeful. 

"I may but that ring alone is proof she is an instrument for the Dark Lord." The general remarked scathingly. 

"Can we?" Another asked as they started dragging her back. 

The general waved a hand dismissively. "It matters not to me. Just leave her alive for her trail and execution."

"Aye sir." The men almost seemed excited over the idea of interrogating a witch. Rosa however was not. She fought, kicked, and screamed the entire way to the dungeon, {which was just an old wine cellar in an abandoned villa.}

Once in the cell, the men violently poked and prodded her with needles, hot irons, and even threw a freezing bucket of water on her. All to try to get her to admit she was a witch. Rosa was but she was not about to let them know that. Even when the general tried and he was more reckless than the others. She never said a word. Human mortals, especially the religious ones, were not willing to put aside their prejudices for the truth. So she endured the torture to the best of her ability. Rosa was strong-willed but when they finally left her alone hours later to get supper; the young witch wept bitterly. 

She curled herself into a ball within the corner, trying to make herself small. "Oh Barnabus..." Rosa whimpered, looking at the silver and opal skull ring on her finger. "Please, please, please...." She twisted the skull around the band three times with each plea. "Barnabus! Please help me!!" Rosa begged. She waited a moment before beginning to weep again when her reaper failed to appear. 

Miles away, Barnabus had been studying with Eon when he suddenly got a terrible feeling. "Barnabus?" Eon questioned, seeing the young reaper zone out. "Whatever is the matter?"

"I think something is wrong with Rosa." Barnabus murmured in a worried tone. He began searching for a mirror to use for scrying. They had finally covered that spell. 

"Who is Rosa?" Eon asked, even though technically, he already knew the answer. 

"My Rosa! She had saved me a couple years ago and we really... Hit it off. I gave her my old scythe ring for protection. There was a spell on it that she could use to let me know she is in trouble." Barnabus explained impatiently. "She must have just activated the spell... I have an awful feeling in my gut." 

"Now Barnabus... You really mustn't act on such feelings." Eon tried.

Barnabus only shook his head before making a satisfied noise when he found a small mirror. "Intentio revelare" He ordered. The surface of the mirror shimmered as if silvery water before revealing Barnabus' intended target. His heart broke at the sight.

Rosa looked miserable in a torn and tattered dress that was still sopping wet. She was bruised and bloodied. Even Eon winced at the sight. "Poor dear..."

"We have to do something!" Barnabus exclaimed. "She's been attacked!"

"Now, now. Let's not be hasty, young man. You don't even know where she is!" Eon remarked. "And you mustn't jump into something without a plan!"

The young reaper have a huff of dissatisfaction before pulling out a map of Europe from his studies. He pulled out a silver pendulum and held it above the map. "Show me where she is." The pendulum swung gently before settling in above the Scotland. 
"That narrows it down." Eon remarked sarcastically before huffing as Barnabus dug around for a map of Scotland."Now dear boy. Even if you do figure out where she is, what are you  going to do? You can't just go in, swinging your scythe wildly. Think of the impact it would have on the mortals." 

"I need to do something! I can't leave her to get hurt worse or even die! I'll figure it out when I get there!" Barnabus announced, brandishing his Scottish map. He repeated his command before glancing at the mirror again. "What are they doing?" 

In the mirror, a group of men had grabbed a hold of Rosa and were dragging her to another place. Eon and Barnabus watched as they took her to a pile of sticks and placed her on the top. It was a pyre. "By gods... They intend to burn her." Eon gasped. "How extreme." 

Barnabus frowned before turning back to his map. Now he knew where to go. "I'll be back." He muttered before disappearing in a flash of silver light. 

"Barnabus wait!" Eon called out before shaking his head. "He's going to do something ridiculous, isn't he?" He said under his breath before turning back to the morbid scene in the mirror. 

Barnabus landed on a roof near where the pyre was. He frowned, seeing Rosa tied up and doused with oil. The general was surveying his minions' work, holding an large torch. A small crowd began gathering too. Many had never seen a witch before, let alone one that was being put to death. They murmured softly, commenting on how innocent and pretty Rosa was. Finally, the pyre was finished being soaked with oil and more kindling. The men stood behind their leader who turned to face the crowd. 

"God-fearing people!! We are gathered here to give the final trail of this witch. Should she be innocent, surely God will save her!" He announced boldly. The general glanced an evil look towards Rosa. "Any last words, wrench?"

Rosa spat at her capture, blue eyes icy with defiance. "Go. To. Hell." She growled, before looking around at the crowd. The witch half-hoped that Barnabus would show now but seeing his absence in the crowd, a few tears fell. "May the gods have mercy on all our souls..." She whispered sadly. 

Meanwhile, Barnabus was forming a quick plan. He smirked hearing Rosa snark back the general as he slide down to an awning above a window. It was dark which was the perfect cover. Quietly, he whispered his incantation and began his plan as the general lowered the torch to light the pyre. 

Rosa whimpered as the wood caught fire quickly. The red flames grew larger and began to engulf her. She gave a scream, feeling the white-hot fire on her legs. Suddenly, the witch felt the ropes loosen around her and the crowd started making sounds of terror. Looking up, she saw a terrifying sight other than the fire. A large skeletal form with massive black wings was standing behind her. It's silver eyes were wicked and shining brightly. It sneered at the crowd as it easily scooped Rosa up. 

"Doom!!!" The figure bellowed. "You have brought doom upon your land!" 

The Witch Hunter General collapsed in fright and it was his deputy who managed to sputter out, "W-who are you?! You cannot be God..." 

The figure cackled, wings beating against the air to take flight. "Who am I? I am the Angel of Death!! The one who punishes good and wicked!" He swooped down to the crowd, brandishing his scythe. "Looks like today is your day!!" 

The crowd began screaming and running away, creating complete chaos. In the midst of the mayhem, no one noticed that the Angel of Death never took a soul and simply disappeared with the witch in his arms. 

Rosa had passed out in Barnabus' arms while he was tormenting the crowd. Fear and exhaustion, coupled with burns on her legs had been enough for her to lose consciousness. Once he had finished with the mortals, Barnabus used a teleportation spell to take them to Headquarters. His Angel of Death form waned as he ran into the Healing Ward. An older matronly looking reaper was in charge. She gave a little noise of surprise as her Lord Death came in rather unannounced. Her surprise was short-lived as she had to quickly take control of the situation. Barnabus laid Rosa on a bed and stood back. "She's been tortured, starved I think, and I just got her out of a burning pyre." He explained breathless. "Winifred, you have to help her!"

"Y-yes sir." She replied before noticing his paler than usual face. "Barnabus, sir? You need to take a seat." 

"I'm fine. Worry about her." Barnabus ordered, turning to leave the ward to find Eon. He made it halfway to his office before collapsing. The Angel of Death form still took so much out of him. Eon found him and shook his head disapprovingly as he helped the reaper up. 

"You are a fool." Eon chided, holding Barnabus up as they walked back to the healing ward. 

"I don't care." Barnabus muttered defiantly. "She was in danger and you were willing to let her die!" 

"Not that, you petulant boy!" Eon huffed back. "Did you even eat today? You know taking the Angel of Death form requires a tremendous amount of energy! You still haven't mastered it and you go and act like maniac in front of mortals!"

Barnabus pursed his lips in a childish frown. "I didn't kill anything of them. All I did was scare them. They deserved worse." He muttered.

Eon rolled his eyes before dropping the reaper onto a chair in the healing ward, not far from Rosa. "My point still stands. Assuming the Angel of Death form requires energy which you haven't supplied your body. I know you haven't been eating." 

Barnabus sighed. "I haven't even thought about eating." 

"Again. You are a fool. Barnabus, you are to set an example for your people. Here you are, chasing after witches and running yourself ragged. Before you take care of your job, take care of yourself." Eon ordered. He snapped his fingers and another reaper came forward. "Go get him something to eat." 

The reaper nodded before disappearing. Barnabus only groaned. "I could do it myself." He was silenced with a severe look from Eon. It did not take long for the reaper to return with a plate of fruit and cheese. 

"Eat. Then we can discuss your plan with your witch." 

While Barnabus reluctantly ate, Winifred tended to Rosa. It would be a few hours before she waked. Gaia eventually showed up and whispered a few blessings as Rosa's witch clan did worship her. The deity was impressed with what Barnabus told her about his daring rescue. The drama reminded her of someone and she did have a more romantic view of the world. Seeing that Gaia was supporting Barnabus, Eon chose to keep his more severe criticisms for another time. Gaia however, saw the look in her husband's eye and gave him a knowing smile. "You disapprove only because you worry that all your hard work will be ruined." She remarked to Eon. Eon only sighed and shook his head. 

"I'm still going to do my best." Barnabus piped up, energy returning as he finished eating. "I'll study and do my Lord Death duties." He cast a glance at Rosa. "But I also want to take care of her. I owe her that." 

"You are a lovesick fool." Eon told him before rubbing his arm as Gaia smacked him. 

"That is a grand plan, love." Gaia gushed. "Now go be with her. It will all work out. I have a good feeling about it all." 

Barnabus nodded and moved his chair to sit next to Rosa. He brushed a stray hair out of her face and rubbed her cheek. "I'm sorry I took too long... I'm here now." He whispered. Rosa's face seemed to soften in her sleep. 

When Rosa woke up, hours later, she was surprised to see Barnabus at her side. His head was resting on the bed, near her shoulder, as he had fallen asleep in his vigil next to her. She rolled over carefully as her body was still sore. The witch gave a little smile and leaned over to kiss his head. He began to stir with her movement and finally her kiss. Barnabus' eyes looked at her and he visibly perked up, seeing her awake. 

"Rosa!" He exclaimed, sitting up. The reaper helped her up gingerly and then held her hands.

"Oh Barnabus... You did come..." Rosa expressed gently. "Was that skeleton, you?" 

 Barnabus chuckled. "Yeah... It's a spell I learned with my new job... A lot has happened since my last letter." His smile fell and he looked down with regret. "I'm so sorry Rosa... Had I been there, you'd never have gotten hurt..."

Rosa cupped his cheek and urged him to look back at her. "I was looking for you... In the end. You found me." 

Barnabus leaned into her hand and placed his over hers. "I've missed you so much... Everything has been so... Crazy. I never stopped thinking of you though. I just never had time to write." He explained sadly.

"Barn... What happened? There is a light gone from your eyes." Rosa questioned, worriedly. 

"It was my dad..." 

"What did he do this time?"

Barnabus gave a harsh laugh before shaking his head. "This time... This time he fell." 

Rosa cocked her head. "Fell? Like those Fallen you mentioned?"

He nodded before giving a sorrowful sigh. "He killed my mother and my best friend. He was convinced that I was planning to take his throne. The maniac then tried to kill me." 

Rosa's eyes went wide. "Oh... Oh Barnabus..." She pulled him into a hug, even though her own body was aching. Barnabus returned her embrace before moving to sit on the bed to make it easier for Rosa. 

"I'm okay... I was able to defeat him with the help of Father Time and now... Now I am Lord Death." He explained. "That's why I haven't written. I've been doing my Lord Death duties and learning how to be that. Apparently I was really behind on my training..."

"I wondered what happened. It was so sudden." She remarked. "I worried that you got yourself in trouble again." 

"In a way I had."

They shifted in the bed so that Barnabus was still holding her, and she snuggled into his side. "You were really looking for me?" Barnabus asked.

"Of course. I had to save you from another tree spirit. I was imagining you hanging upside down again." She teased.

"Ouch. But fair." He kissed her head. "I'm sorry again, Rosa." 

"Barnabus." Rosa looked up. 

"What?" Barnabus raised an eyebrow.

"Don't leave again." 

Barnabus gave a sound before giving her squeeze. "I won't... But..." He trailed off.

Rosa sat up, blue eyes worried. "What?"

He eased himself up too. "I can't leave my duty here... I wish I could... But I can't... I don't want to take you away from your village." Barnabus looked down in shame. 

Rosa grabbed his hand. "Barnabus... I left my village to look for you. I want to be with you." 

Barnabus felt a rush of emotion and cupped her face as he went in to kiss her.

Rosa smiled into the kiss as she returned it. When they finally pulled away, they rested their foreheads against each other. "So you'll stay?" Barnabus whispered.

"If you'll have me?" Rosa gushed. 

Barnabus chuckled before kissing her again. He then took her hand with the skull ring and held it up. "I guess I don't have to worry about a ring. I had already given you one!"

Rosa rolled her eyes playfully. "No, I guess not. But you'll need one." She teased. 

"True, true." He remarked.

Suddenly, there was a new voice. "How sweet! I can't remember the last wedding I've been to!" It was Winifred, flanked by Eon and Gaia. 

Both Rosa and Barnabus blushed deeply.

Gaia smiled widely. "I'm so happy for you! This is just wonderful news." She gushed. 

Eon was more reserved. "We'll figure it out. You both need to rest and catch up further." He told them before encouraging the women to leave the pair alone. 

Rosa and Barnabus laid back down and enjoyed the feeling of peace as they drifted back to sleep, though it was hard over their excitement for the future.  

The following months were a frenzy of activity. Gaia, Fiona {who had come to help her daughter heal}, and Rosa planned the wedding while Barnabus continued his work with Eon. The whole of Headquarters noticed the change in their leader. He was happier, no longer full of melancholy, and becoming more confident. Even the headquarters themselves were going through a change. Instead of being dark, decrepit, and depressing; over time it was becoming lighter, full of hope, and peace. No one knows how {except for the deities} but the bleak colored marble was turning to white which helped the mood. Rosa and Fiona even planted white roses from their village in the garden. That way, Rosa would have some piece of home in her new residence. Overall, everyone agreed that Rosa was the best thing to ever happen to Barnabus and to the reapers. 

The wedding was beautiful. They went back to Ròsan Geala since that is where it all began. There was a multitude of roses provided by the village and Gaia. Eon officiated the service. Barnabus wore a grey suit and his silver crown. Rosa wore a white dress that billowed in the breeze and had tiny white flowers woven into her hair. She too was given a silver circlet to wear that signified her new standing as the wife of the emperor of Reapers. They had a hand fasting ceremony and Rosa drank from the cup of Life. Since witches do not typically have a long lifespan due to being mortals; Eon and Gaia decided to grant her the gift of longevity. It tied her soul and life forever to Barnabus. When it was their time to pass, they would pass together. 

Rosa and Barnabus were happy. They had never expected when they met, 3 years later, they would marry. It had been a tumultuous time getting here. But now, the pair looked toward the future with excitement and wonder. Together, they would be a formidable pair. They helped rebuild the headquarters into a place of that anyone could call home, created the organization GRIM to aid in the fight against the Fallen, and made allies with beings across the realms. No one could have imagined that the bond between them would help bring about the next era of peace bringers. And eventually, their granddaughter the savior of the world. A True Being. But all that was not for a long time. For now, the new couple just relished in each other's company.