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Lucifer paced back and forth in front of the chairs he had conjured specifically for his visits with Charlie. They hadn’t gotten as much use as he’d hoped. But they were about to be filled. With him and Charlie. And then he was going to talk. He was going to tell her about Alastor. About their relationship. About the relationship that they had been secretly having for months and fuck he forgot to tell Alastor that he was going to tell Charlie about them tonight and really should do that first and call this whole talk with Charlie off because this was starting to seem like a terrible—
“Knock, Knock,” Charlie called through the door.
Lucifer jumped, then nearly tripped over his own feet to get to the door. He took a deep breath and opened it.
“Charlie,” he called cheerfully.
His ray of sunshine stood in the doorway with two mugs in her hands and a bright smile on her face.
“Hi, Dad! I brought hot cocoa, with extra marshmallows!”
Lucifer beamed.
“Thanks Sweetie.” He took the offered mug and nodded toward the overstuffed chairs. “Have a seat.”
Charlie hummed happily to herself as she followed him to his small parlor. He settled down in the chair on the right—Alastor always took the one by the door when they weren’t on the loveseat—and took a sip of his drink. It was just the right temperature, perfectly sweet, and helped settle his nerves a little.
“I’m so sorry I haven’t been by more often. Things have been soooo busy lately that my personal life has sort of been pushed to the back burner, but I didn’t think it was bad enough that my own Dad had to make an appointment to visit with me!”
Her cheeks were flushed when she finished and her eyes were laser focused on her drink.
“It’s not an appointment Charlie,” Lucifer said gently, “it’s a date.”
She smiled softly at him.
“Besides, I’m the last person to judge someone for getting swept up in a project,” he said with a wave of his hand. “Looks like you’ve got a bit of your old man in you after all.”
She laughed. “Of course I do. I’m a dreamer just like you.”
At her words, his heart ached in all the best ways.
“So,” he said, taking a small sip, “what exactly has you so tied up?”
It was like Lucifer had popped the cork on a bottle of champagne. Excitement laced words began spilling out of his daughter, complete with hand gestures and vivid expressions. He leaned forward, hanging on her every word, nodding in sympathy, gasping in shock, and laughing along with her at all the right times. His mug was long empty—and hers gone cold—when she finished filling him in on her recent escapades.
She collapsed back against the chair with a dramatic and heavy sigh.
Lucifer picked up her mug, reheated her drink, and offered it to her.
“Oh! Thanks, Dad.”
“No problem.”
Charlie took a careful drink and hummed appreciatively. “So, what have you been up to lately?”
He laughed nervously.
Just falling head over heels in love, nothing major.
“Yeah, well, um…what have I been up to…well you know, the usual. Tinkering. Paperwork. Fixing things. Socializing,” he added proudly.
“You’ve been doing a great job getting to know the staff and you’ve been amazing at making the guests feel really welcome!”
“Really?”
“Yeah! You’re doing great Dad. Everyone around here thinks so.”
“Right, thanks.” He took a deep breath and fixed his eyes on her mug. “Listen Charlie, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“Of course Dad. You can talk to me about anything.”
Not everything Kiddo. He thought as he stared down at his bouncing leg.
His stomach clenched and any words he had to start this conversation fled.
“Sure…sure, sure, sure.” He sighed heavily. “Right.”
Charlie’s hand came to rest on his knee and he stilled. He stared at her shiny red nails as she gently patted his thigh.
“It’s about Mom, isn’t it?”
Lucifer’s head shot up.
He found himself inches away from his daughter’s warm vermilion eyes.
He leaned back, the knot in his stomach tightening.
“Why—why would you say that?”
Charlie moved her hand to place it over his.
“You’ve been playing with your wedding ring since you started talking.”
His eyes darted down. Sure enough, the golden band was pinched between his fingers underneath his daughter’s gentle touch.
He huffed out a laugh.
“Well fuck.”
“It’s okay Dad. I can handle whatever it is you need to tell me.”
He nodded. Charlie could handle whatever he was going to tell her, but could he ? Lucifer let go of the golden band on his finger and took Charlie’s hand in his. Lillith was as good of a place to start as any. This ring and its connection to her was the catalyst for this whole conversation after all. He took a deep breath and looked up at his little girl.
“I’ve been wearing this ring since they became popular in ancient Rome. I thought the whole concept was so romantic and your mother always went along with my silly ideas.” He smiled sadly down at his ring. “After she left, I always stayed alone at the palace, remained faithful to my vows so that…when she came back…I…I could apologize for whatever I’d done to push her away and…she’d forgive me and we could pick up where we left off. Just like we always did.”
He sighed heavily. He and Lillith had done this dance so many times before. She had always been a free spirit and he had never forgiven himself for her fall. So he’d given her everything that his power could and had never begrudged her in her desire to wander to other rings or other beds, and she always came back. Why would this time be any different?
“I mean, what’s a few decades apart in the face of thousands together right?”
Charlie’s eyebrows scrunched together.
“Mom’s only been gone for seven years.”
He grimaced. “This time.”
“Oh.”
He squeezed Charlie’s hand and looked up into her eyes. “Charlie, after you were born I was sure we had figured it out. It was like everything slotted back into place again, you were our whole world and we were the happiest family in all of Hell.”
He sighed.
“But, the older you got, the less you needed us…I…looking back I can see that she wasn’t happy with me and I tried to fix it but…” he sighed and ran his hand down his face. “I knew she was pulling away and I know her leaving hurt you, and I was too wrapped up in myself to be there for you and I’m so sorry that I—”
“Dad,” Charlie said gently. “I know. I forgive you. You were here when I asked you to be, even when you thought it was a bad idea. You were here when I needed your protection from Heaven. You’re here now . That’s what’s important.”
Tears stung at his eyes. How had his daughter turned out so good, so kind ?
“What was I saying?”
A look of hurt crossed his daughter’s cherubic face and Lucifer regretted this whole conversation. “You and Mom…” She kept her gaze focused on him.
“Right.” He took a deep breath. “When you moved out and moved on…I guess that was her cue to do the same.”
“Oh, Dad.”
He shook his head. He didn’t want her sympathy.
“It’s not your fault Charlie. I need you to know that. God , if I could make her come back and be here for you I—”
“Dad,”
“I know, I know.” He let go of her hands to run them down his face.
Maybe starting with Lillith wasn’t such a good idea after all.
He dropped his hands into his lap and stared down at his ring.
Okay. Starting over.
“I kept wearing this ring because I kept telling myself that Lillith would come back, I kept hoping that she would come back so we could try again, but…I don’t want that anymore.”
“You don’t?” Charlie asked gently. She set her drink down and leaned toward him.
He shook his head. “In fact, I think I’m finally ready to take it off.”
“Y-you are?” She sounded genuinely concerned.
He looked up at her.
“I am.” He thought of Alastor and smiled. “I’ve started seeing someone.”
Charlie sat up straight, her eyes going round, and smiled wide enough to rival one of Al’s.
“Ohmygodohmygod! Dad, that’s amazing! Who is it? What are they like? How did you meet? When can I meet them? What’s their favorite color?”
By the time she had finished her barrage of questions she had pulled Lucifer to his feet, his hands clasped firmly in hers as she bounced up and down in front of him.
He couldn’t stop the laughter bubbling out of his chest at her joy, nor did he want to. Why had he been so worried about this?
She dragged him across the parlor to the loveseat, sat him back down, and perched herself beside him. Their knees were touching and their hands were still clasped.
“You have to tell me everything ! Oh my God. Is it someone I know? Is it—”
Lucifer held up his hand to stop her.
“Please don’t guess.”
“Right. Right, right, right, right, right. I’ll let you talk.” She pursed her lips together.
Lucifer laughed again.
Here goes nothing.
“He’s—”
A little squeak escaped from behind Charlie’s closed lips.
Lucifer chuckled and shook his head.
“He’s… definitely someone you know.”
Charlie bounced in her seat.
Lucifer took a steadying breath.
“It’s Alastor,” he said. He stared at Charlie’s face waiting for her reaction.
He barely had time to register her mouth opening before a high pitched squeal erupted from it. She wrapped her arms around him in a hug so fast and fierce they tumbled back onto the cushions.
“I’m so happy,” she shrieked after taking a deep breath. “I’m so fucking happy for both of you!” Her shoulders shook as she released a sob.
“Sweetie, are you crying?” he asked in alarm.
“Yes,” she wailed as she buried her face in his shirt. “My two favorite men are dating each other! It’s so fucking beautiful.”
He rubbed his hands up and down her back in an effort to soothe her. He felt the tension of the last several minutes drain out of him as he held his little girl in his arms. He smoothed her blond wispy flyaways back against her ponytail as he waited for her to settle. After a few more moments in his arms, she sniffled and sat up. Lucifer followed suit and offered her his handkerchief to dry her eyes.
“Oh, God. Dad, your shirt.”
He looked down to see two large wet spots framed by the telltale black splotches of mascara stains on his white button down. He waved his hand at her.
“I’ve got it on good authority that Niffty can handle any stain. Besides, I’ve got like, five more of these in the closet.”
She laughed. “So you two must be pretty serious if you’re taking off your ring.”
Lucifer felt that familiar sting in his heart at her words, but smiled anyway. He had no idea where Alastor was on the seriousness of their relationship. This was it for Lucifer, but Al…
“I’m…courting him,” he said by way of clarification.
“Adorable,” Charlie mumbled.
“We’re barely past the four month mark but,” he looked down at his ring, “it bothers him.”
“I’m not surprised that Alastor would feel jealous,” she said gently.
He shook his head.
“He’s never said a word about it.” He thought back to that night when Alastor had lost control. When the beast inside him had covered Lucifer’s left hand and growled out the word MINE . “And I don’t think he ever will. He probably thinks it’s not his place.” Lucifer shook his head. “But I don’t want him to question my intentions.”
Understanding crossed her face and her smile vanished.
“You fell hard didn’t you?”
He laughed. “I have a tendency to do that.”
Charlie threw up her hands. “Oh fuck! I didn’t mean it like that!”
“It’s okay kiddo, you’re not wrong. I fell so hard for your mom I took humanity with me. When I realized how I felt about Alastor…it was like hitting the ground all over again.” He buried his face in his hands. “I guess I’m an all or nothing kind of guy.”
He felt Charlie’s hand on his back. “That’s not a bad thing Dad.”
Lucifer sat back up. He thought of Alastor and slid the ring off his finger. He stared at the indent of lighter skin, then at the little gold band in his hand.
“It doesn’t feel right to just get rid of it,” he said, “it’s part of my story. Your mom and I grew up together, decided what it meant to be King and Queen of Hell. We made this place what it is,” he looked up at Charlie. “We made you.”
Charlie smiled gently at him.
“Would you be willing to hold on to it?”
“Of course, Dad.” Charlie opened her hands and Lucifer placed the ancient trinket in her palm. He closed her fist around it and felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
“Maybe someday we can use my power to reform it.”
Charlie’s eyebrows drew together.
“Make it a little more feminine, let a different angel wear it?”
Charlie instantly blushed and looked to the side. Lucifer bit his lip.
Was that too far?
“Some day,” she said softly, “I think I’d like that.”
He beamed.
“I’m gonna go put this somewhere safe,” Charlie said as she stood up. Lucifer stood and walked with her to the door. “I’m so happy for you two,” she said as bent down and pulled him into a hug.
“Thanks Sweetie. Your support means a lot,” he told her honestly.
She released him and opened the door. “Dad, from what I know about him, Alastor is an all or nothing kind of guy too,” she told him with an elbow nudge. He chuckled and tried to settle the sudden swarm of butterflies her words had let loose. “Good night.”
“Good night, Charlie,” he said as he closed the door and sighed in relief. He was just turning around to start getting ready for bed when he caught a flicker of movement from the corner of his eye. He turned back toward the door as Alastor’s shadow slid up the wall. It grinned at him.
Lucifer eyed the creature suspiciously. “How long have you been here?”
The shadow’s smile widened.
“The whole conversation?” He asked in a chastising tone.
The shadow shook its head in response.
Lucifer folded his arms and glared up at the sneaky thing.
“Just the important part?”
It’s smile widened.
“So Alastor sent you to—”
The shadow shook its head vigorously.
Lucifer blinked.
“You came here to spy on me…on your own …why?”
It whipped its head to the side and shrugged stiffly. It almost looked like it was embarrassed.
“Oh, is that how it is?” He teased. “Maybe your master and I—” The creature snapped its gaze back to Lucifer and shook its finger at him. Lucifer and he could practically hear Alastor’s ‘ah, ah, ah.’
“What?”
It began to dance around Lucifer forcing him to spin in a circle to keep his eyes on it. Then in a flash it was back on the wall grinning wildly at him, its shoulder’s bouncing in a silent laugh. It was clearly here to irritate him. Then remembered that he hadn’t told Alastor about his plan to talk to Charlie.
“You’re going to tell him, aren’t you?”
The shadow nodded vigorously.
Fuck.
“Not if I tell him first,” Lucifer shouted as he all but threw himself through a portal directly into Alastor’s room.
He scrambled to his feet and spun until he found Alastor. The demon sat placidly in one of his plush chairs beside the fireplace, blinking up at him with an open book in one hand and a glass of amber liquid—rye if he had to guess—in the other.
“Good evening, Lucifer,” Alastor crooned as he closed the book and set the glass down on the small table beside the chair. “To what do I owe the pleasure of tonight’s visit?”
Alastor’s shadow slid under the door. Alastor’s eyes narrowed and he fixed the creature with a glare.
“Where have you bee—”
“I told Charlie about us,” Lucifer shouted before the shadow could spill the beans.
A loud screech cut through the room as Alastor’s eyes went wide.
“You what ?” he asked carefully.
Lucifer laughed nervously.
“I…uh…I told Charlie about us. I sort of forgot to tell you that I was planning on doing that and I didn’t remember until she was already—”
“Well,” he set his book down with more force than necessary causing the table to shake and his drink to slosh in its glass, “I assume that means the rest of the hotel will know by tomorrow morning and we can expect the rest of Hell to be informed by the end of the week!”
He winced.
From the corner of his eye he saw Alastor’s shadow flick over to the wall. Lucifer followed its movement to watch it flop onto its back and start kicking its feet, its shoulders shaking with laughter.
“Enough,” Alastor snapped at it. The shadow went still, its eyes went wide. “Get back where you belong.” It instantly snapped back to Alastor’s feet.
“Look, Al, I know you value your privacy. I can go to Charlie right now and tell her to keep it between her and Vaggie.”
Alastor rolled his eyes. “Your daughter is about as capable of keeping a juicy secret to herself as you are.”
Lucifer opened his mouth to defend himself—and his daughter—but Alastor cut him off.
“I suppose I should be relieved you don’t want to keep me as some secret dalliance,” he said waspishly as he examined his nails.
Lucifer strode across the room and knelt at Alastor’s feet. He placed his hands on his lover’s knees and looked up at him.
“Alastor,” he said softly, “if I ever made you feel that way—”
“You didn’t,” he said, placing his hands over Lucifer’s.
“I never took you out because I thought—”
“You thought correctly, Sire.”
Lucifer sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask you first, Alastor.”
Alastor nodded. “Apology accepted. Though gifts and bribes to win back my favor are always accepted and appreciated.”
Lucifer laughed. He stood up and rested both of his hands on the arms of the chair, leaning into Alastor’s space.
“How much of that favor will a kiss gain me?”
Alastor tilted his head to the side and hummed thoughtfully.
“I suppose it depends on how good the kiss is.”
“I better make it good then,” he murmured as he leaned in.
“Indeed.”
Lucifer pressed his lips to Alastor’s. Gently, then with increasing pressure, and finally Lucifer pulled Alastor’s lower lip into his mouth. He sucked on it for a moment before he bit down with just enough pressure to leave indents of his teeth, but not to break the skin. He pulled back and stared into Alastor’s eyes.
Alastor hummed as he licked his lower lip.
“It’s a start.” He picked up his book, flipped it open, but kept his gaze on Lucifer. “Good night, Your Majesty.”
Lucifer smirked. “Good night, My Deer.”
Alastor picked up his drink and returned his attention to his book. Lucifer took a portal back to his room and got himself ready for bed.
About a month back Alastor had taught his cooking class one of his favorite breakfast comfort foods, biscuits and gravy. Lucifer had been planning on making the dish for everyone that Sunday, including a pot just for Alastor with the spicy sausage his favorite butcher had recommended. However, after Alastor’s patience last night, Lucifer had decided a more prompt breakfast surprise was in order.
Lucifer did a final taste test. The communal pot was just right and Alastor’s was too spicy (and full of people) for his tastes, but he knew the balance of flavors was perfect for the Radio Demon. He hummed to himself as he poured each saucepan of sausage gravy into its own gravy boat, red for Alastor, white for everyone else. Lucifer then began taking the piping hot biscuits off the baking sheet and dropping them into a large serving bowl.
He grinned as he heard Alastor had come in and start his coffee.
“What’s all this then?”
“Breakfast,” he said with a grin. “Yours is in the red boat.”
Alastor hummed and grabbed a spoon. He dipped it into the gravy dish and brought it to his nose for a cursory sniff. He hummed again. Lucifer was suddenly incredibly nervous. With a skeptical eye Alastor finally took a taste. He hummed once more, though this time it was closer to a moan.
Lucifer smiled in satisfaction.
“Excellent work for a first attempt.”
He accepted it for the compliment it was.
Alastor poured each of them a mug of coffee, leaving plenty of room for Lucifer’s cream and sugar without so much as a sneer. Lucifer leaned up and pressed a kiss to Alastor’s cheek then grabbed a gravy boat in each hand and scooped the bowl into his arms. He was about to open the door with his power when Charlie came through.
“Oh, Dad! Let me get that for you!”
“Thanks Kiddo,” he stepped through the doorway and set everything neatly in the center of the table. Then, with a wave of his hand the table was set.
Vaggie—who looked barely alive—started at the sudden appearance of the plates and silverware. Niffty was bouncing in her seat. Alastor sat down at his usual spot to Lucifer’s left and set the mug down in front of him. Complete with cream and sugar. He smiled up at Alastor with what was probably a far too adoring expression. Charlie and Husk walked in with two mugs each. Charlie set one in front of Vaggie, while Husk set one at the empty place where Angel Dust always sat.
Interesting.
With an enthusiastic clap Lucifer encouraged everyone to dish up, warning them that the red gravy boat was Alastor’s. He was met with a sea of cringing faces. Thrilled that breakfast was going so well, Lucifer happily listened as Charlie began an energetic overview of the days’ upcoming activities. The dishes were passed around until everyone was eagerly eating.
Angel Dust strolled in, stretching as he walked.
“Thanks for waiting,” he groused.
Husk snorted, “If we waited for you every time we ate, we’d never have a hot meal.”
He flipped Husk off but flopped down into the seat beside him and began serving himself.
Alastor set his fork down and cleared his throat.
“Some of you are already aware, however it seems only prudent to inform the rest of you, that His Majesty and I are in a rather serious committed relationship.”
The table was silent for several seconds before Charlie started squealing.
“Holy fucking fuck,” Angel spat, “Which one of—”
“Ah, ah!” Alastor held up his hand. “You may each ask one question.”
Wait, what?
“Nope,” Husk announced.
“When’s the wedding?” Vaggie asked sarcastically.
“We have yet to discuss the political intricacies of our liaison.”
Niffty scrambled onto the table and grabbed Lucifer by the lapels. She stared unblinkingly at Lucifer with her wide twitchy eye.
“Can I make your wedding dress?”
“I’m sure that should a wedding be in the future, His Majesty would be honored to have his attire tailored by you.”
“Yay!”
She scrambled back to her seat, but continued to stare at him.
“Can I still wash your laundry ?”
Lucifer did not like the way she asked that question. And she broke the one question rule!
“No,” he snapped at the same time Alastor said, “Of course Niffty.”
Lucifer shuddered. Oh, they were going to have to talk .
“Which one of you tops?” Angel asked.
Charlie screamed and covered her ears. Husk and Vaggie cringed and did the same.
Alastor narrowed his eyes and leaned toward Angel, “What exactly does that mean?”
“You know,” the spider demon made a circle with the fingers of one hand and poked the pointer finger of the other hand through it, “who does the fucking and who gets fucked?”
Alastor’s smile widened and he leaned closer to Angel.
“We take turns.”
Lucifer’s mouth dropped open.
We do?
“Fuckin’ hot,” Angel said with a smirk.
Alastor settled back in his chair and took a sip of his coffee.
“Close your mouth Darling, you’ll catch flies.”
Lucifer snapped his mouth shut, still shocked that Alastor had answered the question. Even more shocked that they apparently took turns.
“Is it over?” Charlie asked as she and the others lowered their hands.
Angel nodded.
The three sighed in relief.
“They switch,” Angel announced with a wicked grin.
Charlie screamed and covered her ears again.
Husk slapped the back of Angel’s head.
“Ow!”
“I could have happily lived my entire afterlife without knowin’ that.”
“Alastor?” Charlie asked cautiously.
“Yes, my Dear?”
She looked back and forth between the two of them before settling her chin in her hands and smiling sweetly. “What is your favorite thing about my dad?”
Alastor blinked at her and set his mug down.
“My favorite thing about your father…” He was quiet for a moment, then chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” Lucifer asked defensively. Frankly, this entire conversation had been equal parts embarrassing and horrifying.
Alastor laced his hands together and set them on the table. He turned to Lucifer with a gentle smile. “It’s funny that my favorite thing about The Father of Lies is…his honesty.”
Lucifer blinked. Then he blushed.
“Aww,” Charlie cooed.
“Well,” Alastor said as he picked up his fork. “No sense in letting this marvelous meal grow cold.”
Lucifer’s face grew warmer at the compliment and he ducked his head. He felt a soft pat on his leg and looked up at his…boyfriend…partner…he’d have to talk to Alastor about that too.
Alastor smirked at him. As awkward as the whole affair had been, the mortification and frustration was worth it as long as he and Alastor were back on good terms.
“Thank you for breakfast, Darling,” he said quietly.
“You’re welcome, Deerest,” he said with a gentle squeeze of Alastor’s hand.