Chapter Text
Charlie was about nine when her parents split up. She barely remembered anything about the time before that, except for a few times she found them arguing loudly. When the divorce finally came, her mother Lilith had packed up everything she owned and moved out with almost no fanfare. Her father Lucifer, an admitted strange name, had kept their house and most of their belongings. All of this he had explained to Charlie as best he could, though he had changed some details for her sake. It wouldn't do much good for her to know her mother hadn't even wanted to arrange any sort of custody arrangements. He had eventually convinced her to see Charlie at least once a month, but that seemed unlikely to last long term. This he did not tell his daughter since he didn't want her to harbor any hatred against her mother if she didn't have to. He himself also just wanted to move on with their new lives.
Lucifer had waited to start dating again until a year after his divorce was finalized. He had refused to jump into a new relationship with any person who had just walked by, since he also had Charlie to consider on top everything. His daughter was the most important thing in the world to him and he wanted her to know that. He also wasn't ready for awhile, since he and Lilith had been married over ten years. They married very young and had a year later. Maybe it hadn't been the best idea in hindsight, but he wouldn't change any of it if he could.
It was his friend and neighbor Sera that suggested he start dating again. “If you're not ready this second, I totally understand.” She had said while they were at a coffee shop. “I don't want to sound dramatic, but it might be good for you. You don't need to be alone forever and it might be good for Charlie to have some more influence in her life that's not just the both of us and Emily.”
Lucifer took a sip of his coffee and nodded. “You’re right. The issue is I haven't found anyone I’ve been interested in that also is willing to accept Charlie. The last person who asked me out got pissed when she found out I had a daughter. Though I’m not really sure what she was expecting.” He shook his head remembering how his ex wife's former college rival turned best friend later on had asked him out in what could only be described as a humiliation ritual. Lute was a teacher at Charlie’s school at the time and had taken an interest in him, though that most likely had more to do with annoying Lilith at the time. After he had rejected her, the two women had bonded over their deep hatred of him. It didn’t matter to him, since neither of them were really in his life anymore.
Sera shuddered at the memory. “That was a mess. If you can help it, try not to date any more sorority girls. Mainly that sorority.” She looked over his shoulder. “Don’t look now but I think you have an admirer.”
Six Months Later
Charlie peeked around the corner in the hallway to see the newcomer in the entrance hall. He was taller than her dad, with brown skin and dark curly brown hair. He looked very nervous to be standing in their house. But right now none of that mattered to Charlie. What mattered was he was holding a teddy bear.
She approached him where he stood looking at her nervously. “Hi.You must be Alastor. Daddy talks about you a lot.” She nodded to the bear. “Who’s that for.?” Please say it's for me. She thought. She didn't have this one. It was holding a red heart and had a big smile sewn on.
For the first time the man she had correctly assumed was Alastor smiled. He handed her the bear. “It’s for you. Your dad tells me you collect them.” For the first time since he had set foot in his boyfriend's house, he felt himself calm down. Lucifer talked about his daughter all the time so he had been very nervous that she wouldn’t like him. If she decided she didn’t like him, he was never going to make Lucifer choose between them, but he would have missed him terribly.
Charlie smiled as she took it. “Thank you. I don’t have this one.” She looked him up and down, studying him. “So you’re the one my dad is dating. What brings you to our house?” Leave it to kids to ask the most direct questions.
Alastor laughed as he got down to look her in the eye. “Your dad wanted us to meet to decide if he and I should keep dating. He didn't want us to hate each other.” If she was going to ask him direct questions, he felt she deserved the most direct answer.
Charlie smiled and threw her arms around him. “I like you. You can stay.” Alastor hugged her back with a smile breaking across his face. He had hoped this meeting would go well, but he never thought it would go this well. Lucifer walked in on this hug and smiled at them. “I see you two have met.” He was also relieved at the turn of events of the evening. Charlie turned to her dad. “Daddy, I like him. Can we keep him?” Both of them laughed. “Yes honey, we can keep him as long as he wants to stay. Now let’s go eat.” Charlie skipped ahead with her bear while Lucifer turned to Alastor. “So now you've met the princess. What do you think?” Alastor smiled even wider and said. “I think I’m going to move in so I can adopt her.” They walked after her, both feeling hopeful for the future.