Work Text:
Due to her rough beginning, Bella had a few health issues. It was not until her second birthday that she was able to walk without help. Still, her big girl wings grew in just fine, without her needing to go into a cocoon as Angel had feared. Val used to make jokes like that.
In contrast to Bella's legs, her wings were strong and healthy, and she could fly before she could walk independently. This might have been a relief for Angel, were it not for the fact that a flying toddler came with rather unique issues.
One morning, Angel woke up to Fat Nuggets squealing his head off. He got out of bed as his pig ran frantically around his room and then through the little pet door that let Nuggets go between Angel's room and the nursery.
Oh no, not again! He ran into the nursery to see his giggling girl flying in circles over her crib. Angel may have been tall, but not tall enough to reach Bella from where she flew.
“Uh, Bellina?” Angel called, trying to hide his panic. “You wanna come down?”
“No!” Bella said, still laughing. “Fly! Volo!”
“Do you want to come down and have some breakfast?” Angel asked. That usually worked.
Not today. Instead, Bella flew right out the door. Angel and Fat Nuggets chased after her, with Angel being so frantic he even knocked over another guest. He ignored the other guest cursing at him, as his only focus was on Bella.
“Bellina! Bella! Bella Maria, you come down right now! Stop flying! Smetti di volare!”
Usually, Bella would listen better if Angel told her to do something in Italian, but she seemed to be in a rebellious mood, today. She hadn't even hit the terrible twos yet, so Angel hoped this was not foreshadowing of what to expect.
Angel had to chase Bella all the way downstairs, with his daughter remaining out of his reach. Normally, Angel had Husk's or Vaggi's help if Bella was flying and wouldn't listen to Angel, but Husk was not currently at the bar, and there was no time to look for Vaggi.
Worse, some idiot had left the front door open. Angel hoped it wasn't Charlie, given that she knew better. Charlie had helped to child-proof the hotel.
“BELLA, NO!” Angel screamed as Bella happily flew towards the open door. “Danger! Pericolo!”
But Bella ignored Angel, flying right out the door and circling the memorial statue of Dazzle. Angel wasn't sure if he could climb the statue and catch Bella. Fat Nuggets looked like he wanted to climb the statue, but his little piggy legs were not made for such a thing.
“HUSK!” Angel yelled. Where was Husk? Not hungover, Angel hoped, or else-
No, Bella was flying even higher!
“NO!” Angel screamed, all eight of his spider eyes open in horror. Fat Nuggets' panicked squeals joined Angel's scream.
Even if Angel could have climbed that statue, Bella would still be too high for him to reach. He felt tears in all of his eyes. What if he lost her?
Angel collapsed onto the ground, sobbing, until Fat Nuggets nudged him.
When Angel looked up, he saw the King of Hell flying just above him, his wings spread out in all their regal, angelic glory. Lucifer carefully held Bella in his arms, and Bella looked quite happy.
“Ciao, Mama!” Bella called innocently, blowing a kiss.
Lucifer landed and Angel sprang to his feet, just as Husk arrived at the front door.
“Oh, mi Bellina!” Angel cried, his tears now from relief and joy. He took Bella back from Lucifer and held her close. “Non farlo mai piu! Hai spavento la mamma!”
“Scusa,” Bella said in a tiny voice, looking relieved when Angel kissed her.
Then, Angel was back on his knees in front of Lucifer.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you!”
“Don't worry about it,” Lucifer said, looking a little surprised. Husk didn't blame the king. Husk had never heard Angel call Lucifer “Your Majesty” before, just “Short King” or other cheeky nicknames.
“I mean,” Lucifer went on, “I'm your little girl's guardian, so I have to guard her, right?”
A few minutes later, Angel sat at the bar, with Fat Nuggets in his lap. Husk poured him a particularly strong drink.
“Sorry I didn't get there sooner, Legs,” Husk said, and he looked embarrassed. “I was...I was in the john.”
“Don't worry about it, Husky,” Angel replied, though his hand trembled slightly as he gulped down the drink. “I mean...when ya gotta go, ya gotta go.”
Bella was flying again, but not alone. She was back in Lucifer's arms as he flew in careful circles, and the little girl laughed with delight. Lucifer thought back to how he would fly with Charlie when she was Bella's age, in spite of Lilith not fully approving. Lately, he had been wondering what it would be like if Charlie and Vaggi (he kept having to remind himself of her name) had their own child. If Angel could miraculously have a kid, maybe they could too, but Lucifer knew he should not push them.
“'Ank you, Ma-jee-ty,” Bella said with the cutest toddler pronunciation as they landed.
Lucifer smiled, a mix of fondness and nervousness.
“You're welcome, sweetie. You can...you can call me Grandpa if you want.”