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The glimmering swan floated up into the air spreading three pairs of glittering wings among the stars and planets also made out of the golden dust.
The tiny princess Charlotte Morningstar stared in wonder from her father’s lap as he continued to tell her of the magnificence of Earth, and the creatures he had created that live up there now.
“You know I once tried to combine a duck with a beaver” Lucifer let out a small laugh before, frowning slightly. “Of course the elders didn’t like that…” He said dejectedly. “Threw it down in Australia with most of my other creations.” He then let out a small slightly conceited laugh. “Jokes on them though. Platypuses are one of the most beloved creatures all over Earth.
“Wait…” Lucifer questioned himself. “Platypuses… or is it platypi…?”
Charlie watched her dad pause scrunching up his eyes, and mouth, he raised an eyebrow and his lips moved back and forth as he started thinking. He looked so silly that the little princess started to laugh.
Lucifer’s thoughts were interrupted by his daughter's laughter. A sound that could lift him from even the darkest of his moods. His heart warmed and he grinned at her.
“What’s so funny, little lady?”
Charlie put both her hands on her fathers cheeks. “You’re face is funny!” She giggled
“Oh? Well your face is adorable!” Lucifer put on a mock mischievous grin. “So cute I could kiss it right off!” He leaned in and began planting furious kisses to his daughter’s cheek, tickling her and making her shriek with laughter.
“Heehee DADDY!!” She giggled giving him a playful push.
Lucifer pulled back and looked at his sweet little princess in his arms with a smile. He was so lucky to have her in his life. She made him want to fight through the darkness of Hell, of everything to watch her grow, so that he could always be there for her.
“Oh there you are Charlie” Lilith’s voice chirped from the doorway. “What are you doing in here?” She asked moving into the room.
“Daddy is telling me about his platypuseses and duckies!” Charlie said excitedly from her father’s lap.
“That’s nice of him. But you know Charlie, you really shouldn’t bother your father when he’s in here.” Lilith leaned down and scooped up Charlie. “You know how busy he is.”
Lucifer reached his hand out to his daughter as her mother took her from him. He wanted to say something. Wanted to clarify that he was happy to have Charlie there. That he would entertain her as long as she liked. That her being there made him WANT to create new and fantastic things. But he didn't. He never liked showing venerability in front of others. That was for his own selfish pride. But he especially didn't want to seem weak in front of his daughter. He didn't want her to become discouraged. To loose hope like he felt he was doing more and more each day in Hell.
In the end, he just settled for giving a small sad wave to Charlie as she looked back over her mother’s shoulder at him.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
It was Charlie’s 800th birthday! The young princess was so excited. She had popped out of bed first thing in the morning and was running around with delight all day playing with her new toys she had gotten that morning.
Early in the afternoon as she excitedly ran past the kitchen Lucifer poked his head out of the kitchen and scooped her up.
“Alright Char Char, time to take a break for lunch.” He proclaimed.
“Then cake?!” Charlie asked, wiggling excitedly in her father’s arms.
“No, sorry kiddo, not quite yet I’ve got to make it first” He put Charlie down and walked over to the counter. Charlie climbed up on a step ladder that was near the counter and leaned over looking at the pictures of the cakes in the book as her dad flipped through.
“Ooooh! That one looks funny! I like it!” Charlie pointed out as Lucifer opened a page with a cake shaped like a rubber duck.
“Great minds think alike!” Lucifer grinned. “That’s my favorite too!”
“It’s got popcorn hair!” Charlie giggled.
“And a potato chip beak?” Lucifer added, cocking his eyebrow. It was a strange combination. He wasn’t sure if a young child would be interested in trying it.
Charlie seemed enthusiastic though and began jumping up and down excitedly on the step ladder. “I want that one! I want that one!”
“Woah woah woah woah Charlie be careful you’re going to fall!” Lucifer lunged over to grab his excitable daughter and slow down her jumping. When she was calm he looked over the recipe. “It looks complicated… but I think I can do it! If that’s what you want.”
“Can I help!?” Charlie asked.
“Yes. But lunch first.” Lucifer said, trying his best to be stern but his delight at Charlie’s excitement and the thought of getting to bake with her made him smile too much.
Still, he was able to get Charlie to calm down and eat a peanut butter sandwich. She insisted on standing at the counter however and looking over her dad’s shoulder as he read the recipe.
“Hmmm…” Lucifer screwed his lips. "It needs several different pans and bowls… Are you sure you don’t want another one sweetie?”
Charlie looked at her dad a little sadly. “Please Daddy I want the ducky cake.”
Lucifer smiled and sighed “Alright, I’ll give it a shot.”
Lucifer got out practically every bowl and cake pan just to be safe. He hooked up as many mixers as he could and looked over the recipe several times before he went to work starting the cake.
By this point Charlie was done with her sandwich. Lucifer had her wash her hands and start helping him. She poured ingredients Lucifer had premeasured into the bowl and mixed them up as much as her little arms could before her father took over for her.
Charlie wanted to break the eggs for the cake. Lucifer handed her an egg, fully planning on telling her how to crack it properly. But before he had a chance the eager young princess hit it too hard against the side of the bowl and smashed the shell.
“Woah wait!” Lucifer said a second too late. Both the shell and the inner part of the egg spilled over both sides of the bowl. Lucifer quickly grabbed some paper towels to wipe up what he could and tried to keep as much of the failed egg from pouring into the mixture as he could.
“Sorry!” Charlie said with a slight whine.
“It’s okay sweetie it happens.” Her father replied now using a fork to pull out the shells. “We just gotta clean it up.”
But Charlie was sniffling now. Her father smiled sympathetically and gave her an awkward hug with his arm that wasn’t currently holding goopy paper towels. “Don’t cry Charlie how about we crack them together?”
The small princess looked up at her father puzzled. “What’d’a ya mean?” She asked.
Lucifer handed the princess another egg. She took it eagerly but looked at it unsure. He then stood behind her and took both of her hands in his. He gently guided them to tap the egg firmly but not too firmly on the edge of the bowl and then carefully crack it open over it.
Lucifer did not account for the extra fingers when he applied pressure to crack the egg, and it didn’t break as smoothly as he thought. All of the yolk and white went into the bowl but so did more than a few pieces of shell.
“Oopsie!” Charlie said, this time giggling.
“Yup oopsie is right!” Lucifer laughed along with her reaching a fork in to grab the shell pieces.
Charlie wanted to help out too so she stuck her her little hand into the bowl and grabbed a few pieces of shell. “Ewwww, it’s gooy!” She giggled and wiped her hand on the front of her dress.
Lucifer was about to delicately tell her not to stick her hand in the food when he was interrupted by a voice from the doorway.
“Charlie! Why are you playing around and getting your clothes all messy!” Lilith exclaimed.
“I’m helping daddy make a duck cake!” Charlie proclaimed proudly, continuing to wipe her hands over the bodice of her dress.
Lilith sighed and walked into the room. “That’s sweet honey but look at you!” She furiously brushed at her daughter’s hair with fingers, puffs of flour flew out. “You’re a mess, we’ve got to get you cleaned up before your party.”
“Can’t I help dad finish the cake?” Charlie whined.
“I wish dear but, some of this might take a while to get out. We need to make sure you’re all washed and dried in time.” Lilith answered.
“It’s alright sweetheart, there isn’t much left to do before the cakes have to go into the oven anyway.” Lucifer said softly as he saw his daughter begin to pout again.
Charlie let herself be led away by her mother but was still frowning as she did.
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Charlie came running back into the kitchen, only after she had promised her mother she wouldn’t touch anything and ruin her nice clean outfit, and looked up at the counter. There sitting on a cake stand was a slightly dilapidated but still recognizable duck cake.
“You did it daddy!” Charlie squealed, clapping her hands delightedly.
“Yeah, it’s a bit messy though.” Lucifer rubbed his neck embarrassed but the tiny princess neither noticed nor cared.
“It’s cute! It’s the cutest little duckling!” She proclaimed.
“You’re the cutest little duckling Char-Char!” Lucifer said smiling at her.
“I’m not a duckling silly!” Charlie giggled.
“You’re my duckling.” Lucifer smiled and scooped up his daughter. She was getting very big but Lucifer was still an angel after all and it felt like nothing.
“Dad can you and me and mom just stay in the kitchen and eat cake and play with my new presents? The party is gonna be booooooooring. There aren’t any kids!”
“I know, Char-char, but it’s important to your mother.” He set her down. “You can always talk to me.” Lucifer grabbed his daughter’s hand smiling. “C’mon Duckling let’s go!”
Charlie smiled and walked out of the kitchen with her father.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Lilith and Lucifer were casually sitting in their living room relaxing with their respective readings when they heard the sound of the palace doors flying open and their daughter sobbing.
The King and Queen ran upstairs in time to see Charlie run into her room and slam the door. From the other side of the door they could hear her crying.
Lucifer knocked slightly on the door. “Charlie, honey, can we come in?” Charlie stopped sobbing for a second but didn’t say anything.
Lilith reached over her husband and knocked a little harder. “Sweetheart, why don't you tell us what’s bothering you.”
There was a brief pause before Lucifer and Lilith heard a weak “okay…” and a sniff.
When Charlie’s parents entered the bedroom she was laying on her bed crying into her pillow. They made their way over to her bed as she sat up, her parents sitting on either side of her.
Charlie disheartened, leaned onto her father’s shoulder. Lucifer wrapped his arm around her shoulder, while Lilith placed a hand gently on her forearm.
“Now sweetie, what’s got you upset?” Lilith asked gently.
Charlie sniffed again. “Sev- Sev dumped me!” She sobbed out.
“What?” Lucifer felt his demon rage rising at the thought of someone making his dearest Charlie cry. Even the son of one of his longest friends. Lucifer quelled his anger though, what was important now was comforting his daughter.
“Charlie I’m so sorry,” Lucifer brought his other arm around his daughter and hugged her to him. “Is there anything I can do.”
"You can make Charlie her favorite meal to comfort her.” Lilith suggested.
"I'd like that…" Charlie spoke up softly.
Lucifer smiled sadly at the thought, he wanted to stay beside his daughter, but maybe this conversation was one Lilith was more suited to. It was certainly a situation she could relate to. “Okay, I could do that. Anything in particular you want, Duckling?” He asked Charlie.
Charlie was now leaning on her mother. Her eyes were focused on the ground, but she looked up briefly at her father, “Pancakes?”
“You got it, Duckling.” Lucifer said, before leaving the room. He turned back briefly looking over his shoulder. Lilith turned Charlie to face her.
“Now, dear, tell Mother all about it.”
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Charlie put down one of the last boxes of items for her new apartment on the kitchen counter her mother trailing behind her with another. Once these two boxes were unpacked the princess would be officially moved in.
“Well, it's a nice enough place. I appreciate your desire to live among your people but you didn't have to live quite so humbly. I'm sure your father would fund whatever accommodations you would like.” Lilith commented flatly.
Charlie turned around. “I know, but I think the best way to understand the citizens of Hell is to live like they do.”
“Yes, getting to know your subjects is definitely an admirable trait in a ruler.”
Charlie cringed. She agreed with her mother but she knew she only had said it as a cheap jab at her father. The two didn't really fight anymore, they stewed in silence at opposite ends of the house. To Charlie that felt even worse.
“I hope things work out darling. I hate the thought of you going it alone…” Lilith trailed off.
“I'm not alone! I know I can always lean on you and dad for support.
Lilith frowned. She paused for a long moment. Opening then closing her mouth as if she decided not to say something on her mind after all. This was unusual for her mother and Charlie took notice.
“I'm not sure your father is will understand. He’s not like us darling. He's lost his desire to help the citizens of Hell.”
Charlie bit her lip in frustration. What her mother was saying was true but Charlie could sense the petty vitriol in her voice.
“He’s just having a hard time handling it all. But don’t worry mom, I’ll make him see that our people are worth saving!”
Lilith smiled sadly. “I hope you're right darling.” She walked over and gave her daughter a tight hug. Even though Charlie had grown, Lilith still towered over her. “Now darling be careful. Most of these sinners don’t care that you want to help you or that, you’re their princess. Make sure you lock every door and window at night. And black out all the windows on extermination day. Do not set a foot outside until you’re sure it’s over! You may be a Hellborn but those brutal bitches won’t know if they don’t have their masks on. They never bothered to learn the difference.”
“Of course mom.” Charlie hugged back. “But don’t act like this is goodbye. I’m just moving out of my childhood home, I can still call you and you can visit me whenever you like!”
Lilith pulled away and looked her daughter up and down sadly. “Right, of course. But I am allowed to worry about you.”
“Thanks mom.” Lilith kissed her daughter on the top of her head before turning to leave. As she walked out the door she turned to take one last look at her daughter and smiled a proud melancholy smile.
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A day or two later Charlie tried to call her mom to tell her how things were going. When her mother didn’t pick up Charlie didn’t think much of it, she was Queen of Hell after all she was likely busy. Charlie left a cheerful voicemail expecting to hear from her mom soon.
A few days passed however and Charlie still hadn’t heard from her mother. Charlie was confused but not all that concerned. She knew her mother was certainly in no physical danger, though it was odd for her not to want to speak to Charlie.
She tried calling her father instead. Charlie felt guilty as she did, knowing it was only another attempt to contact her mother or at least find out what happened to her.
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. She did want to talk to her father. She had wanted to since the day she moved out. She had avoided doing so however. Her dad felt very differently about her decision to live among the human souls of Hell.
“Charlie! Hi! How are you? Are you okay? Are you safe? Do you need me to come get you?” Lucifer answered almost immediately. His voice started out excited but quickly shifted to concerned.
“No, no Dad, I’m fine, I’m just resting at home.” Charlie responded.
“Phew, that’s a relief. So what’s happening?”
“Well…” Charlie tried to think how to best approach the subject. “It’s just… I mean, I’ve wanted to see how you’re…I mean, I’m sure you’re well but I’m a bit concerned abo- well not concerned just unsure I… It’s just I haven’t heard from Mom in a few days, which is odd so I don't know if she’s… I mean maybe just let her know I’ve been trying to speak to her… if you can…”
There was silence on the other end of the phone. Charlie felt each second like an eternity, she felt awful for how she must have made her father feel used. Finally, he spoke. “Charlie… Lil- your mother moved out shortly after you did… She didn’t tell me where she was going… I barely even noticed her leaving… like she was trying to snea-.” Her father paused for a moment before he spoke again in a more chipper tone of voice. Or at least that’s what he was trying to make it sound like “Well anyway, you don’t need to worry about that! I’m sure she’ll call you back soon!”
“Right, thanks Dad.” Charlie felt even worse for her father. He was now alone, and she knew he didn’t do well with “alone”.
“Well, um…” Charlie tried to think of a way to continue the conversation not wanting her father to feel unimportant to her. “It’s good to talk to you, it’s been a bit. How are you doing dad?” Stupid, stupid question “Um… I mean otherwise I mean… Uh… Are you working on any new projects at the moment?”
Charlie could hear the sad smile in her father’s voice when he replied “No… no inspiration lately… But what about you, Duckling? How is life in the new apartment?”
“It’s good, a little weird being in such a small place after being in that huge palace for so long. And I’m slowly learning how to do laundry, but I guess you taught me a bit about cooking, well pancakes at least.” Charlie heard her father laugh on the other end of the phone. Her heart felt light again, she was having a fun and normal conversation with her dad.
“But it’s fun to get to see what else Hell has to offer. I miss not seeing you everyday though.”
“You should come home, back to the palace, I mean, Duckling. It’s better for you.”
“It’s okay, I mean you’re only a short limo ride or a phone call away right? I’m sure I’ll get used to it.”
“It’s just, Charlie I worry about you living alone among those sinners.”
There it was. Exactly what Charlie had been afraid of hearing from her father. Sure Lilith had expressed concern about the citizens of Hell also, but that was more just to remind Charlie how to live on her own. The way her father had spoken, it was clear just how much he hated his own people.
“It’s fine dad… I’ll be fine…” Charlie responded flatly. “Anyway, I need to go now… it’s… well I have things to do…”
“Duckling…” Lucifer tried to reach out apologetically.
“Bye, Dad… please take care of yourself. If you hear from Mom, let me know.” She hung up, feeling regretful once again. When? When could she just talk to her father happily and normally? Just like from when she was a kid.
A few days later Charlie tried calling her mom again. This time however it went straight to voicemail. Charlie didn’t hesitate to leave a message for her mom just asking how things were and why she hadn’t heard from her.
Again however, there was no response. Charlie kept trying every couple of days but each time she would be sent straight to voicemail. At first Charlie would leave a voicemail each time but slowly she just hung up unless she had something major to report. And at some point she no longer called if she just wanted to talk. It was getting harder to handle each time there was no response on the other end.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
The most recent extermination had been merciless. The carnage stacking up worse than the past few. Princess Charlie had spent a whole week inside her apartment trying to come up with a solution to end the slaughter of her people.
After many scrapped doodles Charlie had finally come up with the answer! In order to put her plan into motion she would need the key to her parents’ old abandoned mansion. And in order to get the key she would need to go to the palace and speak to her father.
Charlie breathed deeply to herself opening the door to the palace. She hadn’t really talked to her dad all that much since her mother left. It wasn’t like she didn't want to see him, she just didn't know what she would say to him. She had no idea how he'd react to her plan. If she was lucky she could just grab KeeKee and leave without him asking any questions, but she knew that wasn’t going to happen.
Charlie slowly unlocked the door and walked in as quietly as she could but almost instantly she heard a door fly open upstairs and footsteps running down the hallway.
“Hello? Who's there? Lilith?! Lilith is that you?” Charlie’s heart broke a little for her father. Yes, she was hoping her mother would come back soon too, but she knew it wasn't as simple for her father as it was with her. He and her mother hadn't been on the same wavelength in a long time. Even if she returned from wherever she disappeared to, things couldn't just go back to the happy way they were when Charlie was a child.
“Uh no, Dad, it's me!” Charlie called out.
“CHARLIE!” Lucifer said with pure excitement, materializing in front of her with wide arms in a swirl of glittering gold.
Lucifer scooped Charlie up in a tight hug. Well, he tried to scoop her up at least, he was half her size, and didn't bother or think to use his angel strength.
“Uh… hi daaaaad!”
“It's so good to see you!” Lucifer pulled back, keeping his hands on his daughter's upper arms looking up at her with a bright expression. “Why didn't you tell me you were coming by?! You should stay for dinner! I'll cook us up something nice! Or we could go out! I mean I don't really like crowds sure but I know you like going out and it's been so long since we've seen each other-”
“Actually Dad I'm not staying, I just came by to get something.”
Lucifer’s shoulder fell a bit but he maintained his smile. “Of course, of course whatever you need from me is yours.”
“Oh I came by to get KeeKee.”
“Sure thing! I think she's up in my room or my workshop somewhere… Want to come help me look?” Lucifer swooped his arm to invite his daughter further into the castle.
“Wouldn't it be easier to just call her?”
Lucifer turned back to his daughter. A look of disappointment briefly crossed his face, before returning to his previous goofy grin. “Oh haha yeah. DUH.” He laughed nervously, slapping his forehead. Lucifer placed his thumb and pointer finger in his mouth and let out a loud long whistle.
It wasn't long before the cat-like creature appeared from down one of the long corridors elegantly swirling through the air, before landing gently in Lucifer’s arms.
Lucifer scratched KeeKee gently behind her ears. “There you are my cutie pie.” He cooed at the little cat demon.
Lucifer then grabbed KeeKee Under her arms and held her up to Charlie.
“Thanks Dad.” Charlie smiled, taking the cat into her own arms.
“Ya know…” Lucifer said sheepishly. “If you are getting lonely at your place you can always move back here.”
Charlie looked at her father before she realized why he had said that. “Oh, no thanks! I came to get KeeKee for another reason. I mean it'll be nice to have her around of course, but I need access to your old mansion up on the hill.”
Lucifer’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “Oooh? Really? Are you looking for something there?”
“Well… actually…” Charlie paused. She was really excited about her new idea, she wanted to tell someone, and her father really was currently her best, well, only option. Especially given she hadn’t heard from her mother in… more than a couple years.
Lucifer was definitely a dreamer like her, but she wasn’t sure he'd understand this dream. She knew how her father felt about their people. He was the one who agreed to the exterminations in the first place.
Still, maybe she could give him a renewed sense of hope, show him there are people down here worth fighting for.
“The truth is, Dad, I want to convert it into a hotel.”
“Oooh good idea! I was thinking of making another LuLu World there's a bunch of empty space behind the old mansion I co-”
“Actually Dad, I was thinking about the exterminations.” Lucifer looked at his daughter quizzically. “I thought there has to be a more humane way of dealing with Hell's population issue. So why not instead try to rehabilitate sinners, to get them into Heaven.”
An unreadable expression crossed Lucifer’s face before looking up at his daughter with a small sad smile. “You really are a dreamer aren't you Charlie.”
“What do you mean?” Charlie asked uneasily.
“Dreams are nice, Duckling. But you’ll have to wake up sometime. And are these sinners even worth -”
Charlie felt like she had been pierced by an angelic spear. “You don’t think I can do it?”
Lucifer rubbed the back of his neck, “Look Duckling I just…”
“Don’t call me that!” Charlie yelled, her demon form making an appearance. Lucifer stepped back intimidated.
"I'm sorry…" Charlie mumbled before sighing. “Goodbye Dad.” She turned KeeKee into her key form and stored her in her suit jacket pocket turning to go. It was a mistake to tell her father.
“Charlie, wait!” Charlie turned back to her father daring to hope he might apologize and try to understand and help her.
Lucifer placed his fingers in his mouth again. This time doing two short whistles.
Two goat demons appeared, one on either side of Lucifer. “Take Razzle and Dazzle with you, Charlie. They'll keep you safe, and keep you company.”
Charlie sighed. “Alright sure, thanks Dad.” Although she would enjoy the company of the new pets, she had hoped her father would have made more of an effort to help her. “Bye” she waved half-heartedly before walking out the front door.
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Lucifer watched his daughter leave. She really was so much like him. Dreaming impossible dreams.
You'll have to wake up sometime. Why did he say that? It was true but now he's pushed his daughter away even more.
But he also couldn't lie to her. There was no chance her plan could work. It's not that he didn't think she could do it, it's that it just simply couldn't be done. Even if by some miracle sinners actually wanted to be redeemed, and actually did become better, there was no way Heaven would ever agree to let them in. He knew that all too well.
But if Charlie really was like him then she would lose interest in this project within the year and move onto something else. Lucifer could only hope, that was better than her bright hopeful soul being absolutely crushed by Heaven.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Charlie was sitting across from Vaggie in the corner booth of their favorite café.
Charlie had found the other woman after the extermination a few months ago. Charlie offered Vaggie a room at the hotel after learning she had no home to return to.
When Charlie told her what the hotel was for, Vaggie had smiled and listened.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea!”
“Really, you think so!” Charlie perked up eagerly.”
“Yeah it's certainly way better than what we're- what’s happening now.”
“Do you think I can do it?”
“Of course you can, Charlie. You're so hopeful and forgiving, I'm sure you can inspire that in others too.”
Charlie had always found the other woman stunning and amazing but she definitely fell head over heels for her then.
Over the months they had known each other Charlie’s feelings grew more and more. She wanted to tell Vaggie so badly she felt as if the words would explode out of her, but she was also afraid of what it could do to their friendship if Vaggie didn't feel the same. Would it make things awkward? Would Vaggie want to leave?
“Charlie.” Vaggie interrupted her thoughts.
“Huh!?”
“I wanted to come out here with you today because I have something I need to tell you I… Well, I-” Vaggie nervously tucked her hair behind her ear. “Charlie I… like you, like really like you, in a romantic sense.”
Charlie’s mouth fell open wide. She was so shocked she couldn't even process the feeling of overwhelming joy washing over her.
Apparently she was taking too long to respond because Vaggie started to visibly panic. “It's okay if you don't feel the same! I don't want to make things awk-”
“HOLY SHIT!” Charlie interrupted, finally processing what she had heard moments earlier. She moved to the other side table. “Oh my gosh are you serious?!” She screamed her words rushing together.
“Y-yes of course…” Vaggie stammered.
“I can't believe it!! I like you too Vaggie!!” Charlie yelled enthusiastically clutching the other woman's hands.
“Re- really…?” Vaggie smiled, seemingly surprised Charlie had returned her feelings.
“Of course!! Vaggie you're incredible!” Charlie beamed. “So are we girlfriends now!?” She asked excitedly.
Vaggie laughed, “Yeah, yeah we are.”
Charlie stood up pulling Vaggie up with her. She bounced on her heels as she spoke “Okay, we need to go somewhere, or do something extra special to celebrate, like to the garden park! Or out dancing!" Charlie gasped. "We've never done that before! And it'll be extra special now that we're a couple.” Charlie pulled back a bit. “Or… well what do you want to do Vaggie?”
Vaggie thought for a moment then smirked. “Ooh! Are there any of those ax throwing places around here?” She asked, miming throwing an ax over her head.
Charlie wiggled her lips nervously. “Yeees, but they usually use live targets.”
Vaggie paused a look of disgust and shock momentarily crossing her face before she softened again. “Dancing sounds great!”
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Later that night after the girls had both awkwardly retired to their separate bed chambers of the soon-to-be-hotel, Charlie was lying on her bed kicking her heels in the air excitedly. She still could not believe that Vaggie liked her back. The strong, protective, kind, beautiful, encouraging Vaggie!!
Charlie scrolled through the images on her phone she had taken of her and Vaggie (or even just Vaggie) that day and during their previous outings.
She closed out of her photos ap and went to her list of contacts. She felt like she was bursting to tell someone her good news but she really didn't have any friends outside of Vaggie.
Charlie scrolled down till she found her mother listed. She tried not to let her good mood be soured even slightly by the same pang of disappointment she got every time it went straight to voice-mail. Charlie still held out hope her mother would actually pick up.
“Hey Mom! I'm sure you're busy wherever you are at the moment but I just HAD to tell you! I! Have! A girlfriend! Her name is Vaggie and she's super cool! I think you'd really like her, she's tough and brave, but also so sweet and supportive! I hope you’ll get to meet her one day! Okay that's all I wanted to tell you right now. I hope you're well, call me back when you get a moment if it's not too much trouble. I'd love to catch up! Love ya, bye!”
As Charlie hung up, she briefly considered calling her father. He would most certainly pick up. He would also be overjoyed for her. She could almost hear the jubilation in his voice as he asked her a million questions about Vaggie and started prematurely planning their wedding.
Charlie smiled at the thought, it would be nice to have a warm and happy conversation with her father for the first time in a long while.
But she knew her dad would not be satisfied with just talking about her new partner. Once the conversation had run its course, he wouldn't let Charlie hang up, he'd want to talk with her as long as he could. He'd start to ask about other aspects of her life. The hotel would inevitably come up and he'd tell her how impossible he thought her dream was. It would bring her down from the incredible high she was riding right now. Even just the memory of their last conversation about it made her heart sink a little.
No, she wasn’t going to let that happen. Until she could prove to her father that what she was doing was good, was possible, she'd have to limit her interaction with him. She didn’t love the idea but she also couldn't risk him dragging her down.
Charlie was slightly sadder than she had been moments ago she refused to let that stand. She swung her legs over the side of the bed to go find Vaggie and see if she wanted to watch a movie or something together. Hoping it would get her mind off of her dwindling relationships with her parents.
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Lucifer appeared back in his workshop where he had been when Charlie had called him earlier in the day. When she had asked him to set up a meeting with Heaven, he hadn’t necessarily meant to dismiss it so quickly. His fear took over, he couldn’t bear to see his little girl get her heart broken, or worse. Though if he had given himself time to process he probably would’ve reacted the same.
At the time he hadn’t realized just how serious she really was. But he saw her desire to save her people was stronger than anything. She had an optimism and determination he had once had himself.
Charlie was kinder than he was. She was humbler than he was. The likelihood that anyone could get through to Heaven was extremely small, but if anyone could do it, his daughter could.
Lucifer looked at the conversation sphere he used to communicate with Heaven. He hadn’t touched it since Adam had asked to meet a few months ago. Now he needed to initiate a conversation with Heaven of his own. He needed to show vulnerability and humility to ask for an audience for Charlie.
He did not want to do this. He really, really did not want to do this. Just the thought was making his head feel tight and fuzzy. He wanted to lie down for a moment, he wanted to do something else before he talked to Heaven.
But he knew himself. He knew if he started something else now he would just keep finding excuses not to do what needed to be done. He’d put it off until it was too late, and he couldn’t do that. He couldn’t let Charlie down again. As unpleasant as it was, he needed to do this for her.
Lucifer took a deep breath and reached out to start the call with Heaven.
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Lucifer sat in his workshop. It was rare for him to leave his door open, in spite of living alone, but tonight he did in order to hear anything he may need to check on. After the hotel had crumbled from the battle with Heaven he had offered his daughter and his friends residence at the palace until it could be rebuilt.
The floor creaked outside the doorway to Lucifer’s workshop. Lucifer turned to see his daughter standing in his doorway looking forlorn.
“H-hey Dad c-can I come in?”
“Of course Duckling, always.”
Charlie smiled slightly although still maintaining her melancholy look. She stepped in delicately and immediately began to play with her hair.
“What’s on your mind, Charlie?” Lucifer asked, concerned sitting down in a chair near the table.
“I…I don’t know…” Charlie continued to play with her hair. “I… I’ve just been thinking about how much I’ve missed… how we… after the other day, well I guess a couple months ago.” Charlie sighed. “Dad, I’m sorry I never reached out more over these last several years…” Her voice was choking with tears.
Lucifer sighed and rested his forehead in his hand, “Don't blame yourself for that Charlie, I know I…” He rubbed his forehead, struggling to admit what he was about to. “I know I was never really that supportive of your dreams…”
Charlie crossed her arms and choked, “But… you were right…”
Lucifer looked at her sadly. "I… I don't know sweetie. After today, I'm…" He bit his lip briefly. It usually took a lot to admit he was wrong. "I'm not so sure."
"What are you talking about? This massacre and destruction all happened because Heaven didn't listen to me. Like you said they wouldn't." Charlie sniffled a tear rolling down her cheek.
Lucifer sighed. "Okay that's true but, I wasn't right about everything. The fact that you were able to get so many sinners to stand by your side. To risk… even GIVE their afterlife to defend you, each other, their home, proves that maybe I had them all wrong after all."
Lucifer leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment. "I mean okay, I know some of them were there because they were hoping to get something out of it. And maybe that was only a small handful of the population of Hell. But you proved to me that there are sinners that are in fact redeemable."
Charlie looked at her father and let out a half-hearted laugh. "I think that's the most supportive thing you've said to me in a while."
"Really? Well that's terrible, what I mean is…?" Lucifer trailed off trying to find the right words.
"It's alright Dad." Charlie smiled and pulled up a chair next to her father's. After brushing off the remaining rubber ducks from the seat she sat down. "You already told me after the battle. What was it you said, 'in the last ten thousand years. I was the first one to change this town'? It's just… so hard to see that right now. I couldn't sleep because all I can think of is the bloodshed, the destruction ." She choked. "Sir Pentious and Dazzle…"
Lucifer leaned into his daughter and held her tightly as tears rolled down her cheek. "It's all so fresh I get that. You should allow yourself time to grieve, but don't dwell on it." Because that's how you'll end up like me. He thought but didn't say. For once he knew this wasn't about him.
After a few moments the two pulled apart. Charlie wiped a tear from her eye. "Thanks Dad. You know… I'm glad… I'm glad we're close again." She smiled.
Lucifer paused for a moment then smiled back. "Me too, Duckling. Me too."