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"You've been away, Your Majesty," Alastor greeted in an accusatory manner when he finally saw Lucifer enter the hotel. Though no one dared to ask him, Alastor has obsessively kept track of how long it's been since the last time Lucifer's been at the hotel.
"I haven't been feeling well..."
"...you're an angel. King of Hell. You can't be ill."
"Not normally, no."
"Were you hurt? Has Heaven been bothering you?" Alastor demanded. Even if he wasn't proud of how his battle went, didn't mean he wasn't invested in the fight still. Now more than ever since his thing with Lucifer has become what it has. Thinking about Lucifer getting into some sort of trouble on his own away from everyone made his blood boil. Lucifer wasn't as permanent of a fixture at the hotel as the rest of them now were. Lucifer had responsibilities and a palace that was deeply rooted in enchanted power that was drool-worthy. For as many Sinners who would fall to Lucifer's feet, there were also those stupid or bold or angry enough to try and harm him at a chance of bettering their situation.
"No, not like that. If anything, if I'm ill it's your fault!"
"My fault? However is that it my fault?"
"Because when I said I'm ill, I meant I'm pregnant!" Lucifer hissed.
"...what now?"
Lucifer sighed, far too exhausted to deal with Alastor's shock. He wasn't sure how the demon would react to it, but he was prepared to be a single father. He's had enough practice of it already with Charlie after his and Lilith's split. So he told Alastor the facts, "I felt strange. It's been a good two hundred years since it happened, so it's been a while, but then it became familiar. I did a few tests and...it's positive. I'm expecting."
"A child?"
"Yes."
"Our child?"
Lucifer sort of expected a form of this question. Though he expected Alastor to call it just his, or ask if Lucifer was sure it was Alastor's at all. Yet, the deer demon was calling it their child. "Yes."
"...are there royal protocols in place? Will it be a royal? Or will it just be known as a bastard?"
"My child will not be a bastard!"
"...did you just ask me to marry you?"
"..." Lucifer felt his face heat up at that. Regaining his composure, he cleared his throat and said, "I meant to say...this child will have the same title and perks as Charlie did. They will be a Morningstar. Prince or Princess of Hell."
"And me?"
"...I won't force you to do anything you don't want. I'm damned for giving Free Will and will maintain it as a vital part of who I am. You're free to do as you wish."
"Then expect me to move into the palace."
"What?"
"Unless you're planning on moving more permanently into the hotel. We can work things around and have our rooms connected. Expand to make room for the child. At first, they won't need much, but they will need their space."
"You're...not freaking out?"
"I'm surprised. But you're not a liar, my dear. If this was just another attempt at bantering with me, this is not a topic you'd play with. There's no reason for you to say you are with child unless it's true. I'm also very aware of how and when this might have happened."
"Right. So. I'm pregnant. It's yours. And we're keeping it."
"And raising it. Together."
"Right."
"...do you want me to be the one to tell darling Charlie she's going to be an older sister?"
"Please."
"Holy fuck, don't do that!" Lucifer cried out when he woke up and found Alastor hovering over him.
"You didn't notice me come in. Nor feel I've been here for the last fifteen minutes."
"You were watching me sleep like some voyeuristic creep?" Lucifer deadpanned as he sat up properly and stretched a bit.
Alastor took the chance to sit next to him. He was gripping his staff firmly if only to help resist the urge to reach out and either wrap his arm around Lucifer or maybe even place his hand over the belly. Their relationship was a lot more about heated moments and fun arguments escalating to situations neither of them really expected.
"You're the king of Hell and are now with child. You should have more protection."
"I'm in my daughter's hotel. The only people in here are the people she trusts. And you," Lucifer stifled a yawn but also gave him a soft teasing smile.
Alastor frowned," I'm serious. I could have killed you."
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that, dearheart."
"Lucifer."
It was part of their game to call each other names. Insults that have become almost terms of endearment. Actual names...showed seriousness.
Lucifer sighed and turned to face Alastor properly, "A royal baby that's part angel, part...begrudgingly powerful overlord...takes a lot of energy. I get tired more easily. It's why I'm here. And not at the palace. When we rebuilt the hotel, I added extra layers of protection. It's not as safe as my palace, but it's safe enough for Charlie. And it's safe enough for this little one too."
"That still leaves you being...not to your usual strength," Alastor said quietly. There was a long pause before he dared to finally reach out and hold Lucifer's hand in his. "How dangerous is this for you?"
"I...don't know. Hellborns aren't exactly rare. But this isn't the typical case. But let's not forget who I am, okay? I'll be fine."
"Of course you will. Because let's not forget who I am. I'm going to take care of you. And you're going to let me."
"Hey! I am still king! You can't tell me what to do!"
"No, but I can tell Charlie you're not taking care of yourself and her puppy eyes will have you yielding in seconds."
"Cheater."
"Hmm," Alastor only smiled. If that was cheating, it wasn't beneath him if it guaranteed making this easier for Lucifer.
"I need your help, if you have a moment."
Charlie literally dropped all the papers she had in her hands and rushed up to her dad, "Of course! What do you need? Is everything okay? Is it the baby?"
Alastor telling her about the pregnancy had been...a thing. She went through a whole roller coaster of emotions that ranged from disbelief to panic to excitement to...plenty more. Once she processed that her father and Alastor had been more involved than she could ever imagine, she did go into a weird mourning stage in realizing that her old family she dreamed would one day magically heal and be what she dreamed was probably not going to happen, she began to accept the new reality.
The responsibility she took upon herself in the attempt to help her people helped her have more insight. The people in her hotel were more than just a project. They were her friends, if not already family in her eyes and heart.
And now she was going to be a big sister!
It was still a secret, though Vaggie learned about it because she just needed someone to talk to! She understood why it wasn't something to talk openly about that went beyond how annoying gossip could be.
Alastor also warned her about her dad being weakened by providing a lot of his strength to the baby. She saw it more since she was looking for it, but she wasn't the only one. Some were concerned something deadlier was going on that Lucifer was dealing with that they weren't privy to.
"Whoa, there. Breathe, sweetie. Everything's fine. I'm fine, baby's fine, you're fine! We're all fine."
"We're all fine!" Charlie repeated.
"Right. Now, look. We can't keep this a secret forever. I'm dreading the initial reactions but I'm preparing for it as best as I can. If anything, I can just go back to the palace until the birth."
"Alastor's already kind of preparing for that anyway."
"He is?"
"We've been talking," She informed him.
"Huh. Okay. We'll talk more about that later. Before we go off on any more tangents, let me get to the point. This is Hell. Wedlock bullshit doesn't matter with us because why would it? Your sibling will be a prince or princess as much as you are. Title, perks, respect. All of it."
Charlie smiled, "Good."
"We are the royal family. When these things happen there are usually announcements and such. I don't know yet if Alastor will want all of Hell to know just yet his involvement, but you're my daughter, my heir, and their older sister. There may be an announcement I'll make once I start showing if I don't plan to keep inside, but once the baby is born, I want you to stand next to me as I present Hell to its second in line. Will you?"
"Of course!"
"Good. And sweetheart?"
"Yes?"
"You can go ahead and tell anyone else in the hotel if you really want to."
"Oh thank you! Thank you, thank you, I have been trying so hard!"
"I know. And I appreciate it. But I can also see how hard it's been for you, so if it comes up...you can."
Charlie hugged him in response.
The next time he walked through the lobby, which was about an hour later, he felt everyone's eyes on him.
He stared at all of them with an unimpressed expression, "Alastor will take the questions, not me." Then he turned around and made it back to his suite.
"You want me to go back to the palace don't you?" Lucifer asked while he rested in Alastor's arms as they lay in his bed.
"It's safer for you there."
"I hate being away from Charlie..."
"It won't be like last time. She'll visit more. We'll visit too when possible."
"We?"
"You're not getting rid of me."
Lucifer chuckled and smiled. Lifting his finger to one of his sharp teeth, he bit down hard enough to draw blood and then offered it to Alastor. The deer demon held Lucifer's hand before gently, and rather sensually, licking the dripping blood that ran down the digit before taking the tip of his finger into his mouth and suckling until the wound healed. Alastor pressed a kiss to the tip of the finger, and then the inner palm, and then kissed Lucifer's knuckles. "I'll miss how delicious you taste, darling..."
"Why would you miss it? Aren't you basically latching on and becoming my shadow?"
"I'm not taking the literal life essence from you or our child," Alastor deadpanned.
"Pft. Boo."
"You want me to bite into you?"
"...yeah. I like it. You do it well."
Alastor cupped Lucifer's cheek and they stared into each other's eyes. The heat that's usually there was present, but also something new. Maybe something that has been there for a while but they're now willing to see. Alastor leaned in and kissed Lucifer. Gently at first, but it slowly turned into a make-out session that slowly became more hungry and passionate.
When they pulled apart, they continued to steal kisses between shared pants of breath.
"My, my your Majesty, we might be recreating our child's conception all over again."
"Oh, there's no might about it dearheart."
"You asked about royal protocols. We usually present the latest heir together as a family. Charlie said she'd be with me...will you be there too? Or will you remain in the shadows?" He liked to bask in the post-glow bliss, but this was something that had been on his mind for a while. So though he felt fully sated and more than content, he turned his full focus and attention to Alastor.
Alastor simply pulled Lucifer closer still until Lucifer was on top of him again. His possessiveness over the King of Hell has only grown and it was becoming harder to remain subtle about it. "No nightmare of Hell nor army of Heaven could keep me away, darling."