"So that was some dinner, huh?" Vincent asked as he and Lauren and Lisa and Lee sat around Lee and Lisa's bedroom and talked about Thanksgiving.
"Are they always like that?" Lee wanted to know.
"No, usually my sisters are a lot more pleasant," Vincent replied. "The attitude is highly abnormal for both of them, especially Angelica. Sorry she was so rude to you."
"Oh, you don't have to apologize for her," Lee shrugged. "I know I'm a bit of an intruder."
"No, you're not!" Lisa said. "Lucifer invited us to come so you had as much right to be where you were as Angelica did." It hadn't escaped her notice how Angelica's words had hurt her husband, even if he was doing his best to act like they didn't. "You don't have to pretend. If you're not okay, you can say something."
"I just...I don't like her attitude!" Lee exclaimed. "I never did anything to her! So I don't know why she's being so mean!"
"Well, for one thing she's got an ego that's huge just like my father," Vincent told him. "She's wonderful as long as she doesn't see you as a threat to how she looks at herself or the relationships she holds dear. She loves the fact that she and Dad are closer than the rest of us and probably thinks that since Dad's looking out for you, that means he loves her less, and for an extremely competitive person who has to have the most and be the best, that's a tough pill to swallow."
"It's just Angelica being Angelica," Lauren tried to comfort him. "I know that's not a lot of help, especially if you're the target of one of her tantrums, but you get used to it."
"Really?" Lee asked. "Do you think she'll ever like me?"
"Maybe not, but there'll probably be other things that will take your place in her mind so she'll at least ignore you," Lauren got out.
"Did she ever hate you?" Lee questioned.
"No, I...I had it pretty easy when I came here," Lauren admitted. "I mean, Lucifer was against Vincent and I having a real relationship at first cause I was human and all, and he wanted me to just be a fling, but then Vincent and I got married and had Nicky and Lily-Eleanor and I think he got used to the idea of me being around at least."
"He likes you now," Vincent assured her. "Don't worry."
They were then interrupted by a cry from Lily-Eleanor.
"I'll get her, don't worry," Vincent proclaimed and stood up. "Be back in a jiffy."
And he was, carrying the little girl with him. She'd just woken up from her nap and had a serious case of bedhead.
"Hold onto her would you?" Vincent asked Lee and stuck the little girl in his lap. "Thanks! If I don't brush out her hair, it's going to just drive me nuts!"
He came back a few minutes later and the rest of them watched in amazement as the normally squirmy little girl remained still in Lee's lap while her father gently worked the brush through her hair and then stuck a bow in it.
"There you go," Vincent smiled with satisfaction. "Now you look even prettier!"
Lily-Eleanor giggled at the compliment and reached for her father, sitting nicely in his lap for the rest of the time Lee and Lisa visited and was still there when they got up to leave, sending them off with a wave and a cheerful "Bye-bye!"
"What a nice girl that Lily-Eleanor!" Lee remarked as they made their way back to their rooms in another part of the house. "When we have a baby, I hope it's a girl just like her."
"Oh, you want to have kids?" Lisa asked in surprise. "With me?"
"Of course with you!" Lee said. "You're my wife. Who else would I have them with?"
"Yeah," Lisa nodded. "Right...It's good to plan for what's gonna happen in a few years. Didn't think you were capable of that much foresight."
"A few years?" Lee asked in amazement. "Why would you want to wait that long? I was thinking as soon as possible!"
"As soon as poss..." Lisa's jaw dropped and she sat heavily on the bed. "No, that's not happening any time soon. Why do you need to do it so quickly?"
"Well, you heard what Vincent and Lauren said," Lee told her. "Once they got married and had kids, Lauren was more fully accepted in the family. Don't you want that for me?"
"Well, of course I do!" Lisa nodded. "But you do realize that when it comes to having kids, I'm gonna be the one doing most of the heavy lifting right? And I'm just now getting used to us being married since it happened so fast! I need time to adjust to one major life change before I take on another. And it's gonna be a big change! Having a demon/witch/vampire baby is a lot different than just having a witch one."
"So you think that because you don't want one yet, I have no say," Lee got out.
"Well, once you are able to get pregnant and have a kid then sure, you can make the final decision," Lisa told him resolutely. "But until that happens, I think my feelings should take precedence. And it's not like there can't be other ways to ingratiate yourself. I'll help you find them. Is that fair?"
"Fine," Lee huffed. He'd never not gotten his way before. It was irritating to say the least. "If we must."
"We must," Lisa assured him. "No way around it."
Angelica was taking a food break after one of her appointments (this one for a child's birthday party) and was chewing on a bit of roast beef sandwich when her phone rang. When she saw it was Sammy, she groaned like usual and even thought of handing the call over to Valerie, who, aside from manning the schedule and handling difficult, drunk relatives (this was especially useful at weddings) also took charge of problematic phone calls and the occasional customer who refused to pay. And in return, all she asked for was her pick of leftovers from the workroom fridge, which Angelica thought was not too much to ask.
"Don't hang up or give me to your sister," Sammy said. "It won't do you any good."
"Oh, fine, what do you want now?" Angelica huffed. "I moved out! I'm done with you!"
"I'm sure you're not," Sammy purred. "I know you miss me...and all the things we used to do at night. I know you liked wearing all that leather and having your way with me. I saw the ecstasy on your face and you can't hide that."
"Whenever I'm tempted," Angelica got out, trying not to think of what he was talking about in too much detail cause that would undermine her whole stance) "I just remind myself how horrible you are and how I never want to be associated with you ever again! You can go to Hell for all I care! In fact, I can probably arrange a well-deserved spot for you!"
This made his voice change, from good-humored and teasing to vicious and sharp. "Fine, you bitch!" He spat. "You know I could have anyone I want. Anyone! I'm not gonna waste my time with some frigid uptight prude when I can have any woman anywhere with a snap of my fingers! I'm a musician, you know. And ladies love musicians. Goodbye! Forever!"
He hung up, and though Angelica should have been relieved, she felt tears fall from her eyes. Since the break up declaration had come from Sammy, it was really over. And even though he wasn't the man she loved anymore, that still really stung. She began to cry in earnest, her tears falling onto the napkin in her lap. She stood up, blew her nose on it, then went to hand the rest of her lunch to her sister cause she wasn't hungry anymore."
"Wow are you okay?" Valerie questioned and put her arms around her. "I don't have to take anyone down, do I? Cause you know I will."
"It's...it's Sammy!" Angelica sobbed. "He broke up with me and he says he wants to sleep with other girls!"
"Damn, I'm sorry!" Valerie replied. "But look...it's almost happy hour at the club. We can go and get trashed and find you someone to go home with!"
"Thanks, but that...that's not gonna work for me," Angelica sighed as Valerie handed her a tissue.
"Well, okay...what about thinking how Sammy just might die because of this?" Valerie asked. "Would that cheer you up?"
"How would he die?" Angelica wanted to know.
"Well, Grandpa set you two up, remember?" Valerie gave her the unnecessary reminder. "And like, he punished you for not dating Sammy, maybe he'll punish Sammy for being a jerk and not dating you."
"He made my dates have heart attacks," Angelica reminded her. "He never did anything to me." She paused. "Well, except for the amnesia. That wasn't fun." She paused. "Well, you know, maybe you're right. Maybe I should go apologize to Grandpa, and if I do, he'll enact some terrible vengeance against Sammy for going against his wishes!" She looked at her watch. "Oh, and I'm just in time for dancercize at the gym too. Mom and Grandma Sarah have been wanting me to come forever. They think it'll help lighten me up."
"I don't know how well it'll work, but good luck," Valerie told her. "I'll hold down the fort while you're gone, don't worry."
"I know you will," Angelica nodded. "Thanks!"
But much to her frustration, the apology didn't work.
"It's nice to see that you're finally understanding that I know best," Steve told her. "And I'm so sorry you and Sammy have parted ways, but it won't be forever."
"Now that I've apologized, will you do something horrible to him cause he's not doing what you want by loving me?" Angelica asked. "You know, like when you gave me amnesia cause I wouldn't date him and gave all my other dates heart attacks?"
"No," Steve shook his head. "You're gonna have to wait this one out."
"Why?" Angelica whined. "I apologized and everything!"
"But you only did that so I would help you and that's not good," Steve told her. "Now go to your dancercize. It'll be good for you."
"Fine," Angelica narrowed her eyes and stomped to the door. "Goodbye!"
"Goodbye!" Steve called cheerfully. "Thanks for coming over! It was nice to see you!"
"what a smug, judge-y, know it all," Angelica muttered. "'look at me, I'm God! I can take the high road about everything cause I'm so perfect!" She growled and kicked the front door before walking the rest of the way to her car and driving to the gym, hoping that it would, in fact, do something to quell this rage that was gathering inside her.
"I hope you're here for dancercize," Her uncle Patrick's wife Addison remarked as she strode through the door. "You really look like you could use it and your mom and grandma are just about to start."
"Good!" Angelica smiled. "Thanks Addie! Good to know I'm not late. Where do they hold it again?"
"Just down the hall and to the left there," Addie pointed after pushing some of her dark hair out of her eyes. "Oh, and they got strawberry for the smoothie machine if you're interested."
"Yes!" Angelica nodded. "Finally, I've been waiting for that." She then made her way to the room Addie had indicated, paused outside the closed door to zap herself out of her work clothes and into something that allowed a bit more movement, then opened the door and came face to face with her mother and grandmother, who were in downward facing dog on side by side yoga mats.
"Am I early for dancercize?" She questioned. "Where's the rest of the class?"
"For this particular time spot, this is the whole class," Sarah told her. "It's something your mother and I do to keep ourselves at ease and we thought you might find it useful too."
"Now I do especially," Angelica sighed, getting down on the mat and trying to do what they were doing, although she knew she wasn't as flexible. "Sammy and I are officially broken up."
"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry!" Ellie cried and hugged her. "I...when did it happen?"
"Not too long ago," Angelica sighed. "An hour or so, in fact. He called and wanted me to come back and when I told him there was no chance in hell, he just...he ended it and said he would try to go for girls who were easier. And that I was frigid and unlovable."
"You are not!" Ellie said. "I don't think it's wrong for you to not want to be with someone who makes you feel ill at ease. He was out of line!"
"I agree," Sarah nodded. "Sorry you had to go through that. But there are better men out there for you!"
"No there aren't!" Angelica cried. "That's the annoying thing. When he's in his right mind, there's no more perfect guy for me. I wish I could just move on from this, but I can't. Grandpa won't even help. He says I just have to ride it out. Which is not fair considering all he put me through when I wouldn't date Sammy, but there you go."
"Let's put the music on," Sarah suggested. "That'll make us all feel better."
"How do we do this?" Angelica wanted to know. "Any specific moves I should be aware of?"
"No, just listen to the music," Sarah told her and blasted "Walking On Sunshine" as she and Ellie began to dance. "Your body will know what to do."
Angelica didn't move right away because she felt self-conscious. but after a couple of songs, she just shrugged off her nervousness and began to dance, even though she knew it wasn't the most graceful display. Her grandma was right. It felt good. Real good.
"You feeling better, sweetie?" Ellie asked when they paused for a smoothie and water run.
"Yeah," Angelica grinned. "Not completely, but it's definitely a start."
"Good," Ellie smiled and hugged her. "Now, you wanna come with me? I hear they have strawberry in the smoothie machine."
"I'll get it," Sarah said and grabbed a beverage carrier with enough space for three smoothies and three waters. "You two stay here and talk. I won't be gone long, I promise. Three strawberry smoothies and three waters?"
"Yes please," Ellie and Angelica said in unison and watched Sarah go out the door, shutting it gently behind her.
After work, in an attempt to keep her mind off Sammy and his stupidness, Angelica and Valerie headed to the Underground for drinks and dancing. The first thing they saw when they stepped through the door was Sammy making out with another girl on one of the sofas.
"Don't look," Valerie told her and gripped her arm as Angelica strained against it and gnashed her teeth. "He's trying to get a rise out of you, it's what he wants."
"Just let me go," Angelica whispered. "I won't do anything dumb, I promise. I don't even care. He's completely different now. I won't hurt him or make a scene."
"Yeah, I doubt that," Valerie told her and marched her over to the bar.
"You got any idea what's going on over there?" She asked Roxie.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about it," Roxie replied. "He's just doing it to spite Angelica. She's the...tenth one today, I think."
"Ten?" Angelica howled. "That bastard!" She broke free of her sister's grip, strode over to the couch where Sammy and his friend were making out, and cried, "Nice to see you're moving on. I really don't care!" She then stomped away, pausing only when she heard Sammy's voice.
"Not even as much as a 'Hello' for me?" He asked, coming up behind her and pulling her close against him backward. "Is that really how you talk to an old friend?"
"Oh, go to hell," Angie squirmed. But he only held her tighter.
"Not much of a punishment now that I know you're down there too in a tight leather outfit," he whispered and nibbled on her earlobe as his hands moved down to cup her bottom. "Seems wonderful as a matter of fact. Just like all those fun nights we spent together. I know you remember those, even though you acted like you didn't on the phone." He then turned her around and kissed her soundly, getting her knee in his crotch when she felt him try and slip his tongue down her throat.
"Don't you dare!" She told him. "You wanna stick your tongue down somebody's throat, you have a friend over on the sofa who's more eager and willing than me." She then went to the bar, ordered a vodka and cranberry and spent the night going between the bar and the dance floor while pointedly ignoring Sammy and his attempts to piss her off.
As the days passed, Angelica was relieved that Sammy was angry enough that he didn't try to contact her in any way. They'd made a clean break. That was good. It meant that she wouldn't have to think about him anymore.
But then, she heard a song floating through her open office door from the front desk and as she listened, she realized with shock that the person singing was Sammy! She got up from her desk and headed out to the reception desk where Valerie sat with her tiny radio next to the phone, dancing in her seat and singing along.
"What's that?" Angelica asked. "That song?"
Valerie started violently at the sound of her voice, knocked the radio over, and scrambled to turn it off before staring up at her sister. "What song?" She asked. "I didn't hear any song."
"Yes you did! The one Sammy was singing! It was just on the radio!" Angelica cried. "And it doesn't sound like 'Beautiful Girl'."
"It's not...kind of the opposite." Valerie sighed. "He hates you now, and is expressing it through song."
"And you were chair dancing to it, you traitor!" Angelica huffed.
"I can't help it!" Valerie defended herself. "It's very catchy!"
"Yeah, but it's also really mean!" Angelica replied.
"I would try and comfort you by saying it has nothing to do with you but it clearly does!" Valerie continued. "Damn, you must've really pissed him off. He's singing about how he wants you to rot and die!"
"I just...I had every right not to be with him!" Angelica got out. "What's the number for Dad's lawyer? I'm gonna sue Sammy's ass off!"
"How should I know what Dad's lawyer's number is?" Valerie questioned. "Go ask him!"
"Fine, I will!" Angelica replied and zapped herself to her parents' office.
"Dad busy?" She asked her mother.
"No, I think he's free," Ellie told her. "Are you okay?"
"No," Angelica said between her teeth. "I'm not! Thanks for your help, Mom!"
She strode into her father's office, sat down opposite him, and said, "What's your lawyer's number? Apparently, Sammy's written a very catchy but unflattering song about me and I want him destroyed!"
"Don't you think that's a bit rash?" Lucifer asked. "I mean, wouldn't it be more satisfying to let it all roll off your back and make him believe none of it is affecting you? You getting angry is what he wants. Don't give him the satisfaction. Besides, we all have songs written about us that we don't like. I mean, look at me and 'The Devil Went Down To Georgia'. You think I like hearing that absurd song about my getting beaten by some hick every Halloween? Of course he damn well won. They had me playing the wrong instrument!" His face changed for just a moment before he took a deep breath returned to human, and gave his daughter a sheepish look. "But anyway...I just...I just let it roll off my back and I suggest you do the same. It'll be less of a headache for everyone that way. Just ride it out."
"Oh, that's what Grandpa said too!" Angelica huffed. "Why can't anyone support my desire for vengeance? I expected better from you. Or for you to let me do the immature thing."
"Well, as your parent, sometimes I can't," Lucifer told her. "I prefer to leave all that parental nonsense to your mother, but this time...I'm saying what she would say because I really think you'll be better for it."
"Fine," Angelica huffed and stole a handful of his gummy candy before turning her back on him. "Whatever, thanks for nothing."
