The stars were faint tonight, dimmed behind pale clouds that rolled slowly across the sky, casting soft shadows through the open window. Jack sat near the edge of the bed, his back to Maya, knees drawn up to his chest, the silence of the room making his every breath feel heavier. Maya watched him for a moment, her heart pulling gently toward him like a tide.

"You're being quiet again," she whispered, pulling the comforter around her bare shoulders as she scooted closer.

Jack turned his head slightly, but not enough to meet her eyes. "Just thinking."

She reached out and touched his shoulder. "About what?"

He hesitated, then finally murmured, "Everything. You. Us. The world... whatever it is that keeps reacting to us."

Maya smiled faintly, sitting up so she could rest her chin against his back. "You mean the sea turning into an aquarium after we kissed or the sky raining glitter last time you made me scream your name?"

A huff of laughter escaped him, though his expression remained contemplative. "Something like that."

"Jack," she said, brushing her lips along his shoulder, "I'm not scared. I just want to understand."

He turned fully now, meeting her gaze with those soft, ancient golden eyes. "What if understanding means... things have to change?"

She blinked slowly, her voice tender. "Then we change together. We deal with it together."

He reached out and cupped her cheek. "You make me feel more human than I ever have. More grounded. But maybe that's the problem. I'm not supposed to be grounded. I'm supposed to be above all this."

Maya caught his hand and brought it to her lips. "But you chose not to be. That has to mean something."

Jack’s throat moved as he swallowed, his fingers tightening ever so slightly. "It does. You mean everything to me, Maya. And yet, with each... connection we share, the universe seems to hum louder. I don’t know how much more it can take before something cracks."

There was a beat of silence, then she grinned playfully. "So what you're saying is... we're too hot to handle?"

Jack blinked. Then broke into a surprised, boyish laugh.

"That’s one way to put it."

Maya scooted into his lap, legs wrapping around his waist, her voice low and teasing. "Well, Dean did make a pretty good point earlier."

Jack tilted his head. "Which part? The celestial equivalent of an orgasm earthquake or the suggestion we... limit our methods?"

She snorted. "The latter. He did say oral’s on the table."

Jack’s breath hitched. "Maya..."

Her hands slid into his hair. "We’re not exactly celibate saints, Jack. But if dialing it down a notch keeps the universe from imploding, we should at least try... a sexy compromise."

His fingers found her waist, his touch reverent. "You really think this is manageable? That we can keep going without—"

She silenced him with a kiss, slow and warm. "We’re not stopping. Just... adapting."

Jack's eyes darkened as he pulled her tighter against him. "Then maybe we start tonight."

Her heart raced at the promise behind his words, but she nodded. "But before we get lost in all that... maybe we keep researching a bit longer? I want to know more. About what’s coming. About me."

Jack softened, pressing his forehead to hers. "Right. You’re right."

They moved to the table across the room, the walls lit with floating orbs of golden light Jack summoned with a wave. Old books—some human, some celestial—lined the surface. Ancient symbols glowed faintly from texts that hadn’t been touched in millennia.

Maya skimmed through a passage. "This one mentions a ‘Divine Transfer.’ Sounds like... a mantle being passed."

Jack glanced over her shoulder, voice low. "The last time something like that happened was when I became... what I am now. But this talks about another, a counterpart. One born not from Heaven or Hell, but from Earth."

She raised a brow. "You think that’s me?"

He nodded slowly. "I don’t just think. I feel it. The universe is nudging us toward that. Toward *you*."

She leaned back in her chair, exhaling deeply. "Well... crap. That’s heavy."

He chuckled. "Dean said something else interesting today. That we need to enjoy the moments while we still have them. Without fear. Without regret."

Maya’s lips curled. "Are you quoting Dean now?"

Jack shrugged. "He’s not as dumb as he acts."

They grinned at each other, and then the quiet settled around them again—until Jack’s fingers brushed hers, lingering.

"You still up for that compromise?" he asked, his voice lower now, threaded with hunger.

Maya bit her lip and stood slowly. "I thought you’d never ask."

She reached for his hand, guiding him toward the edge of the bed. The golden orbs dimmed into soft candlelight as Jack followed, his breath shaky now, his control on a thread.

There was no rush.

Just lips, soft against skin. Words murmured like confessions.

"You make me feel like I have a place in this world."

"You make me want to be touched forever."

"I want to taste every part of your love."

And when they fell into each other again, it was with reverence. With mouths and hands. With promises whispered and pleasure shared like something sacred. They worshipped each other in a language only they understood—hot, slow, intimate.

And for once, the stars didn’t shift. The world stayed still.

But it glowed a little brighter.

As if it *approved*.