When Charlie's screams and cries of pain had finally stopped Lilith felt she could finally breathe a little easier.
Before Charlie wanted to transition to the water Lilith did everything she could up to that point to comfort her daughter. Breathing through the pain with her, helping hold the nitrous oxide gas mask to her face when Alastor wasn't already doing it, and letting her daughter simply cry in her arms, all while trying to not burst into tears herself.
But all of that was surprisingly easier compared to having to wait just outside the bathroom door in her daughter's bedroom as she anxiously paced, frequently leaving the room to answer her husband's constant calls. The horned demoness was glad that he stayed back at the palace, she knew that he would dissolve into a puddle of a mess if he heard the sounds coming from the other side of that door, or even worse. Not knowing what to do with himself would target his frustrations at their daughter's boyfriend for "doing this to their sweet apple pie". So yes, she was glad he opted to stay home.
Her pacing stopped upon seeing the bathroom door open and Alastor emerging from behind it. What she saw made her want to instantly bolt into the bathroom.
The red demon's clothes were soaked in patches of blotchy crimson; however, instead of darting past him she stopped in front of him, deciding it was best not to go against her daughter's wishes despite the anxiety beginning to bubble over within her. "What the hell happened in there?! Is Charlie okay?" The horned demoness asked him, but he wasn't even able to answer her question before she started calling out towards the door he had just shut. "Charlie, honey are you okay?!"
"Yeah, I'm actually doing a lot better, Mom." Charlie's voice, although very tired sounding, relieved Lilith's anxiety immensely.
"Terribly sorry for giving you such a fright, Lilith, please excuse the current state of my attire." He said nonchalantly, like he didn't currently look like he just exited from a crime scene. "She's actually doing quite swell in there and should be out soon after she's done with the doctor. "
It was then that Lilith noticed that he was carrying something in his arms. Something that moved just underneath the fabric of the towel as he readjusted the bundle in his arms before continuing. "Could you possibly do me a favor and look after Rosalie while we wrap things up in there? "
"Rosalie?" Lilith questioned, not even realizing that her hands were already reaching for the small bundle.
It took a few moments for her brain to register the new weight and warmth in her arms, realizing she was holding the newborn. She didn't even acknowledge that Alastor had already quickly retrieved Charlie's robe and pajamas, leaving the Queen alone with the infant to be at Charlie's side.
The tears that Lilith held back for daughter's sake finally spilled over as she got a better look at her granddaughter. The demoness smiled through her tears as a pair of eyes that were very similar to her husband's and daughter's stared up at her.
"Hi, Rosalie. Aren't you a little cutie, angel-face." She cooed as she headed towards the bed, wiping her tears away, deciding to dress the baby in something warmer and drier than the damp towel she was currently swaddled in.
As perfect timing would have it, there was a small knock at the door. "Do you guys need any more towels or anything?" Nifty called out as she poked her head inside the bedroom. The little cyclops's pupil narrowed and she gasped before zipping over, dumping the clean towels she had brought with her onto the bed as she jumped up. "Good golly is that her? She's so tiny! Look at her wittle ears! Can I hold her?" She excitedly asked.
"Only if you stop jumping on the bed." Lilith stated sternly at the hyper demoness as she grabbed one of the clean towels.
"Oh, sorry." Nifty apologized as she plopped down and folded her legs underneath her skirt.
After Nifty sat down Lilith went to work swaddling the infant in the clean towel. Her granddaughter was not too pleased about being unwrapped from her warm cocoon as Lilith attempted to dry her pink ears and hair, all while the little girl flailed her small limbs and let out little whimpered cries at the tall demoness.
"I know, I know, sweetheart. Just please bear with me for a moment." She said as she finished patting her dry before swaddling her in a dry, clean towel. The whimpers stopped as Lilith sat down on the bed with the baby girl in her arms.
Nifty scooted closer next to the Queen as she peered over from her spot. "Can I hold her?" The cyclops asked, much more calmly this time compared to a few moments ago.
Lilith was hesitant at first, but gently lowered her granddaughter into the short demoness's arms, instructing her to support the baby's head and how to properly cradle her. Once she felt certain Nifty had a handle on it, she got up from her spot to go retrieve the infant some clothes and a diaper. The horned demoness bubbled with excitement as she retrieved the adorable polka dot onesie she had brought for her grandbaby, just one of several outfits.
Just then, her phone rang.
"My darkest star, I know it hasn't been that long since I've called, but is everything going okay over there? Is our little honey crisp okay? Should I head over?" Her husband rambled in her ear through the phone.
She turned her phone on speaker before placing it on her daughter's nightstand.
"No need to be worried, angel-face." Lilith stated as she took the infant back into her arms from Nifty before laying the baby back down on the bed to change her. "Everything couldn't be better over here." She said to Lucifer before turning her attention back to her granddaughter. "I have so many outfits for you to wear. You're going to be the most stylish demoness in all of Hell." Lilith cooed as she began to unwrap the towel, the baby already protesting again when the cool air hit her bare skin.
"Is-is that-"
"Yes, it is! And honey, she's so adorable. You should really head over here soon- Oh! And can you bring those two suitcases I've left in our bedroom?"
"Her ears are so soft!" Nifty interrupted as she readjusted herself on the bed, laying on her stomach near the baby's head as she petted the fawn's ears. "Only when Alastor is in a good mood does he ever let me pet his."
"I thought you took two suitcases with you already? Are you staying there for a week or a few months? And did I just hear that she has deer ears?" Lucifer's voice questioned through the speaker.
"Well…." Lilith started as she finished placing a diaper on the newborn, thankful that the ones she had purchased were for imp babies, so granddaughter's tail wouldn't be squished. "She does resemble Alastor a little, but honey, you'll just absolutely fall in love with her when you see her face. She reminds me of the day our Charlotte was born. Was that really over a hundred and fifty years ago?" Lilith began to ramble, feeling quite emotional, tears beginning to prick her eyes again as she finished dressing the fawn in the colorful onesie, cradling her back into her arms. The newborn became no longer fussy as she cuddled into Lilith's warm embrace, comfortably snug. "Like I said, I think you're going to absolutely love her." The horned demoness beamed as she sat back down.
"If she looks so much like him I wouldn't be too certain about that, dear." Her husband scoffed.
###############
"Aren't you adorable little Luci-loo, yes you are, yes you are." The King of Hell shamelessly cooed at the sleeping baby in his arms while he rocked her in the rocking chair that had been brought in from the nursery along with a few other extra chairs that were much needed in Charlie's bedroom.
A bedroom that was steadily becoming more cramped with so many demons visiting and overcrowding the space, Charlie noted as she glanced around her room from her spot on her clean bed. Her mother sitting at the end of the bed with Razzle happily sitting in her lap while Dazzle lay comfortably near the rocking chair, her boyfriend, now in a less bloody outfit, chatted with her mom as he sat next to her, Nifty could be heard from the bathroom, scrubbing away at what could be considered a horror movie set, and Vaggie, Lily, and Husk were due to arrive at any moment with a cart full of dinner from the kitchen for everyone.
Charlie was quite glad Mimzy and Rosie didn't plan on stopping by until tomorrow, but that wasn't what she was most glad about. What she was most glad about was how fond her dad was over her daughter, already coming up with a strange nickname originating from the fawn's middle name, Lucinda, that Charlie had chosen for her. Although, she was fairly surprised that her father was focusing on the middle name honoring him and not on his granddaughter's surname. A last name which Charlie decided she wanted her daughter to have.
Carlon.
Alastor's last name.
However, someone did pick up on that, but she was holding her tongue about the matter.
For Lilith, this was even more of a reason for those two to get married, especially for Rosalie's sake and now that she was here. But she knew that this wasn't the right time to speak her opinion about it. Not when she had just gained back her daughter's trust and was staying at the hotel to help out for the next week. So, for now she planned to keep her thoughts about it to herself.
"Anybody order room service?" Vaggie joked as she entered the room, holding the door open for Lily and Husk who were close behind her pushing in the cart full of a variety of dishes.
Charlie was quite surprised, yet relieved when she didn't see a certain brown furred she-wolf trailing behind them.
When they were allowing their friends to come in and visit she was expecting Tammy to be the first visitor, something she was finding herself actually dreading, but much to Charlie's relief she hadn't shown up. Out of curiosity, she asked Lily if she knew where the demoness was. Apparently, after Charlie's incident of screaming and cursing like an unholy banshee in the dining room; some of which those profanities being directed at Tammy for trying to encroach on boundaries again, the she-wolf turned tail and hadn't been seen since. Hearing that made Charlie feel slightly guilty for unintentionally scaring the demoness off and she planned to talk things out with her the next time she saw her; however, the uneasy feeling in her gut, seeming more amplified as of lately, suggested that she should keep her distance from Tammy.
"Why don't I take her off your hands, so you can eat with everyone else, grandpa?" Alastor offered Lucifer as he stood up before reaching for the infant.
"Call me "grandpa" again and you can enjoy the view of my study until the end of time as a severed head." The King of Hell said with a smile as he handed his granddaughter to the red demon.
"Duly noted." Alastor stated, his usual Cheshire grin un-faltered in the slightest by Lucifer's semi-empty threat.
"Luci, knock it off and come get something to eat." Lilith scolded as she rolled her eyes while she grabbed a plate of food for herself and Charlie.
"You don't want to eat?" Charlie asked her boyfriend with some concern. "You know there's a bassinet right there, I think she'll survive not being held for ten minutes."
"I'm not quite in the mood for it but don't worry, dear, I'll eat later." He reassured her as he readjusted Rosalie in his arms. Although he didn't show it, his stomach was still in knots from the evening's earlier events and was still slowly relaxing. Plus, it was an excuse to hold his daughter since Charlie's parents were quick to fawn over their new family member.
Upon hearing the familiar voice one of the newborn's ears pivoted towards the noise as she stirred lazily from her slumber. Her eyes opened halfway as she tried to focus on the tall man's face; however, still feeling drowsy due to a full stomach and the nice warmth of the arms holding her, she quickly fell back asleep as she clutched a tiny fistful of his shirt.
When Charlie saw the cute scene she slyly reached for her phone as she munched on her food, pretending to be more focused on dinner to not give herself away as she snapped a few pictures on her phone.
He'll thank me later.
As she hid her phone under her comforter she realized that someone else, who she actually wanted to be there, was missing.
"Hey Husk, you haven't of happened to see Angel have you?"
"That dipshit? He's hol'd up pretty tight in his room." The cat demon remarked as he bit into his sandwich. "Even offered him a free drink and he still wouldn't fuck'n budge."
"We even offered him a plate of food when we walked by his door and he still didn't come out." Lily added after she went up to the bathroom door to see if Nifty wanted to join them for dinner.
"Yeah it's pretty strange. I don't think I've ever seen him pass up on free stuff…..free anything for that matter." Vaggie noted.
###############
As much as she loved having everyone together in one small space, Charlie couldn't be happier to finally have her bedroom to herself again. Although, she wasn't completely alone.
She gently brushed her fingers through Rosalie's pink hair and soft, fawn ears while the infant suckled. The blonde demoness was finding her second attempt at breastfeeding a little easier compared to her slightly painful and awkward first attempt, her left nipple still sore from the improper latching but at least her daughter was fed right after birth.
Oh well, she thought as she caressed one of Rosalie's velvety, pinned back ears, at least we're learning this together. It was then that Charlie noticed something strange near her hand as she was supporting the baby's back.
"Alastor! Get in here!"
Barely even a second after she called out for him he was already materialized in her room, only a mere second ago getting ready for bed in the now spotless bathroom. And it showed as he manifested from his shadow wearing only his red plaid pajama pants and no shirt, white toothpaste foam in the corner of his mouth. "What!? What is it?" He frantically questioned his girlfriend.
"Look at these happy deer tail wags!" She excitedly pointed at their daughter's tail moving in quick little side to side motions as she fed. "Does yours do this too when you're happy?" She curiously beamed at him.
"….."
He gave her an annoyed look as he wiped away the drying toothpaste from the side of his mouth, but his muscles relaxed as he felt relief wash over. "I'm not answering that." He said as he turned around to finish brushing his daggers for teeth.
When he had turned around, revealing the rather large gauze pad on his back, Charlie's feelings of giddiness over discovering her daughter's cute quirk quickly dashed away.
She hadn't realized that she had used him like a scratching post earlier that evening and felt terrible every time she saw it. The first time she saw his massacred back, freshly painted red and still oozing, she apologized profusely non-stop for a good ten minutes, all while he had his shadow clean and patch him up, not wanting the doctor to touch him, as he told her that they'll heal or they'll at least be unnoticeable among the rest of his scars. Even though he reassured her that it was fine, she couldn't help but not feel fine about it.
She was taken out of her thoughts when she noticed that Rosalie was done feeding. Charlie readjusted her tank top and the corner of her robe before carefully placing the infant's head on the burping rag on her shoulder, gently patting the newborn's back. Once she was certain that there were no more air bubbles she was about to get up and try rocking her daughter to sleep in the rocking chair but stopped when she heard a distant knock coming from her door that lead out into the hallway.
"Who is it?" She called out, not feeling too enthused about the sudden visitor, wanting nothing more than to get a few hours of sleep before Rosalie's next feeding.
"I-It's Angel. Can-can I come in?"
She was not expecting him at this hour but was kind of glad that it was him at the door, even though the shaky tone in his voice had her worried. And when he entered her room it only confirmed what she already knew.
Both of his eyes appeared a bit puffy and the fluff on his face, along with the sleeves of his hoodie, were damp.
Upon hearing Angel enter the room, Alastor had emerged from the bathroom; fully clothed this time.
There were a few seconds of stretched out silence as Angel stood near the bedroom door for a moment before speaking. "I know I said sorry not too long after….it happened, but I really-"
"Close your head before I close it for you." The crackling feedback of a tuning radio heavily reverberated in the red demon's words. He had been doing a fairly swell job keeping his powers well contained for the past few hours; save for a few….well several, radios and stereos throughout Pentagram City that had "mysteriously" spontaneously combusted after being briefly turned on, playing undistinguishable, otherworldly whispers and screams before exploding. So yes, he had been doing a pretty damn good job reeling in his powers; however, he was getting close to his breaking point.
"What?" The spider demon asked.
"I don't want to hear it nor do I care to hear it." Alastor firmly stated before going back into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Charlie couldn't blame Alastor for snubbing Angel the way he did. She didn't know if he forgave Angel in the slightest, or ever would…..most likely not, she thought to herself as she readjusted the sleeping newborn in her arms. But she did know that he claimed to have moved on from what happened. The demoness also knew that she wasn't the only one exhausted. It must have been tiring keeping himself in check while he watched her lose control and cry out in pain for hours. She could understand why he didn't want to deal with Angel right now.
"Angel, why don't you come sit over here." Charlie called out to him as she patted the empty spot on the bed next to her. She watched him hesitate for a moment before slowly taking her up on her offer. Once he was seated next to her she asked, "Would you like to hold her?"
She took his quiet head nods as a yes before placing her daughter into one of his sets of arms.
Rosalie slightly whimpered as she was moved out of her mother's arms and into the limby stranger's, grasping onto one of his hoodie's strings.
"Hopefully, you'll be getting that back." Charlie joked as she attempted to loosen Rosalie's hold. "Babies have such strong grasping reflexes." But she stopped when she felt an unexpected drop on her hand. She didn't even need to look up at his face before knowing that she needed to grab a few tissues from her bedside table, handing them into one of his free hands.
"C-Charlie, I'm so so sorry, toots! You've done so much shit for me and- and I'm just a lousy fucking freeloader who just screws everything up and hurts everyone. I-I'm a sorry excuse for a friend who does nothin' but cause ya grief and-and-and…" He blubbered as he blotted the tissues to his face, trying to keep up with the nonstop tears that he was surprised were flowing so much.
"I know, I know." Charlie soothed as she leaned against his shoulder, making sure his tears didn't land on Rosalie as she let him cry it out.
Author's notes: I would like to thank another Charlastor writer, and overall a wonderful person and a joy to interact with, MuseValentine. Thank you Muse for allowing me to use the surname 'Carlon' for my fic 3
Go check out Muse's 1920's AU Charlastor fic 'Smiling Man' and/or check out the fun/funny posts she tweets out on her account MuseVlt. I promise you that her fic is the bee's knees and you'll have a swell time ^_^