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“Come away with me now and I shall take you home,” Death said, holding her hands so tenderly.
Franz had been gentle but never like this… Elisabeth nodded and lightly squeezed his cold hands in return. Death smiled at her and led the way through an ocean of mist, never once releasing her hand. It seemed forever before they reached a strange bright opening.
Elisabeth stood still, unsure of what she was supposed to be seeing but Death stepped behind her and muttered in her ear, “Your eyes must adjust to the underworld, my love.”
“What do you see?” She asked, blinking as she struggled to make out the slowly forming shapes.
“I see our home,” He began, draping his arms around her shoulders, “there are lights in the windows, two dear children are waiting for us…”
Elisabeth gasped and looked at him for a moment before turning back. Before her she saw a grand mansion, carven of white marble and surrounded by beautiful plants she did not even know the names of.
Noting that she could now mostly see, Death took her hand and gestured forward, saying, “Shall we?”
Together they entered the grand halls of the house, the walls were lined with servants resembling Death and golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling. There was the sound of running feet and soon Rudolph stood before them, looking just as he had the night Elisabeth had turned him away but his eyes were bright now, lively as ironic as it was.
“Mama!” He said, taking a deep breath before throwing his arms around her.
Elisabeth returned the embrace, beginning to weep. Death watched on in silence, understanding how much they needed this moment.
“Forgive me!” Elisabeth sobbed, holding her son tightly as though he might vanish if she let go for a second, “Forgive me for my selfishness. If I had just…”
Rudolph smiled sadly, rubbing her back before saying, “Mama, there's no need. We're together now. And things are better here than they ever were there….”
Elisabeth calmed slightly and Rudolph looked up to Death who was now giving him a slightly concerned look.
“Did you leave her alone?” He asked.
Rudolph looked back towards the hall he had come from and said, “I left a servant with her, she's not completely alone.”
Death rolled his eyes and smirked, saying, “You should have brought her with you.”
“Brought who?” Elisabeth asked, looking up.
Death began to walk down the hall but made no sign for them to follow so they remained.
“I wasn't the only child Papa took in,” Rudolph said, guiding his mother to a seat.
“Papa?” she repeated, gratefully sitting down. Her legs felt a little weak suddenly from the burst of activity her new body was unaccustomed to.
“That is, I asked if I could call Death Papa…Father was never there for me but Papa always was, no matter what… he's a better father than…. I'm sorry,” Rudolph stopped himself, unsure how to address his blood father in front of his mother.
“It's alright,” she said, gently touching his hand, “in a way I'm glad. You weren't completely alone. If I had just listened to Death when I was younger… Perhaps we could all have lived happier lives. But it's all in the past now.”
“Mama, if you had married Papa back then, I wouldn't have been born,” Rudolph brought up, “Life was rough but I wouldn't do anything different if I had another chance.”
Elisabeth smiled, she hadn't thought about how her children wouldn't have been born if she hadn't married Franz. Perhaps her and Death would still have children but they wouldn't be the same and she couldn't bear the thought.
The sound of heels echoed down the quiet hall as Death returned carrying a bundle.
“Elisabeth, I have kept her just as she was for you,” he said, gently rocking the bundle before extending his arms for Elisabeth to take it from him.
Taking it, she looked into the little round face of her firstborn, Sophie. The baby was asleep, warmly bundled in shimmery cloth. Elisabeth held her close to her chest as Rudolph's hand was on her shoulder and Death stood beside her. She felt as though her heart would burst, surrounded by her loved ones.
Tears of joy flowed from her eyes and she gently rocked her child saying, “Thank you…thank you…”
Death smiled and knelt down, taking Rudolph's hand, his other resting lightly on Sophie. He pressed his forehead to Elisabeth’s and closed his eyes. This was his family, the one he had fought so hard for. The long battle was over now and he would do everything he could to make them happy.
He sighed thinking of making wedding arrangements. The lord of the underworld marrying was simply unheard of but so was adopting the children of a lover he hoped to have. It didn't matter the trials they would have to face. They would never be apart again.