Lucifer's lecture was surprisingly not as bad as I remembered. It only lasted an hour instead of the usual three. I was given a very stern warning about allowing myself to be dragged into such petty acts of sabotage and snooping. He brought up my history involving my bad habit, including my multiple brushes with death, and my actual death. He warned that next time, I may not be so lucky to escape, and I should keep that in mind as a human in the Devildom.

Satan was fussed at for the various degrading things he insinuated while trying to open the secret study. He went on and on about how he had hoped Satan had grown out of this immature phase, to which Satan merely grinned mischievously. This made Lucifer redouble his lecture, reminding his brother that he was one of the seven rulers of the Devildom, and should try to act like it for once. I think he just gave up after a bit, because Satan's smile never faded.

Belphegor, as the mastermind behind the entire plot, was severely reprimanded for even thinking about ruining his vintage Demonus. Dragging me into his plan got him especially yelled at, considering his record with me and getting me hurt/killed. Belphie actually seemed cowed by this, and swore he'd never let something like that happen again. Shockingly, Satan stood up for Belphie there, saying that spiking Demonus with hot sauce was just a harmless prank. Belphie seemed happy by the support, and Lucifer did concede to Satan's point. Still, he insisted that I be left out of their future schemes for my own safety, and they agreed.

When it was over, I decided to take Belphie and get out of the House of Lamentation. We still needed to get Diavolo his birthday presents, and I could tell he could use some fresh air. We headed out into the shopping district, hand in hand as we walked.

"So," I began, looking at the various shops that were available, "where should we start?"

"I don't know," Belphie replied, shaking his head slightly. "It's hard coming up with ideas for presents, especially when it's someone like Diavolo."

"Tell me about it," I nodded. "I mean, he's the Lord of the Devildom. If he wants something, all he has to do is snap his fingers and he gets it. How the hell are we supposed to find a present for someone like him?"

"Normally, I'd say we should look for something he might buy for himself for fun, but even that is a tall order," Belphie groaned. "Maybe we shouldn't even try and just get him a gag gift instead?"

"Honestly, I can't think of anything better, and knowing Lord Diavolo, he'll get a chuckle out of it. Lucifer may get mad, but I doubt he'll be able to do much since we did get the present."

"I guess. I mean, it's our only option at this point." Belphie took a deep breath, running his fingers through his hair to try and brush it out of his face. "Alright, there's this promising looking store not far from here. We just need to take this side street up ahead, and we'll get there."

We began heading towards the side street, passing by one of the many shops that filled the area. As we did, the doors to the shop opened and Solomon came slipping out. When he spotted us, he smiled and waved us down.

"Hello Belphie," he greeted, approaching us. "Belle. I must say, this must be my days for encounters in the shopping district."

"Hey Solomon," I waved. "Whatcha mean by that?"

"I saw Asmodeus not far from here, flitting through Majolish. From the amount of bags he had on his arms, it was clear he's been one one of his usual shopping extravaganzas. Honestly, I'm surprised he was able to carry all that stuff, but then again, I should know better than to underestimate him."

"Well, Asmo has always liked shopping," Belphie mused. "Sometimes, he's as bad as Mammon when it comes to maxing out his cards."

"Though thankfully, he's much better at paying off his debts," I added. "After all, he can't allow himself to be caught up in one of Lucifer's punishments. It would ruin is skin care routine and sleep schedule, and absolutely nothing will stand in the way of him maintaining his already stunning beauty."

"And here I thought you were Asexual, Belle," Solomon mused.

"Just because I don't feel like sleeping with anyone doesn't mean I can't appreciate an amazing view," I corrected.

"Of course, my apologies. Now, back to you and Belphegor, what brings you both out here this afternoon? Certainly not a spree like Asmo's."

"We're trying to find a present for Lord Diavolo's birthday party."

Solomon snapped his fingers, perking slightly.

"Ah yes. Now that you mention it, that is coming up soon, isn't it? That would explain why you're picking out presents together. I didn't realize you two were so close."

He pointedly looked down at our hands, which were still entwined with one another. Belphie turned red and hastily dropped my hand, stuffing both into his pockets. I laughed lightly, crossing my arms comfortably.

"Oh, speaking of which, that reminds me," Solomon spoke up again. "Belphie, are you planning on making a pact with Belle?"

Belphie turned even redder at those words, and I choked on air.

"Huh..." Belphie let out. "Me, make a pact with Belle?"

"Yes," Solomon nodded, a playful edge to his voice. "And by the way, I'd like to make a pact with you myself, Belphie. What do you say?"

"Not interested," Belphie replied bluntly.

"Yeah," I nodded. "Belphie spent several months as a prisoner in his own home. You really think he's going to sign away his freedom after barely two weeks?."

"I know, and I expected as much," Solomon admitted. "However, I'm shocked he's not even going to consider it."

"What do you expect?" Belphie piped up, "Having to follow someone else's orders would be annoying. And like Belle said, I just got my freedom back, so I'm gonna enjoy it for a while before I even consider making a pact with a human."

I noticed him glance at me out of the corner of his eye, as if gauging my reaction to his words. I just gave him a reassuring smile as I reached out and squeezed his shoulder. Solomon also noticed, smirking a bit.

"I get the feeling you're already considering it," he remarked,

Belphie's hand shot out of his pocket grabbing mine once more.

"Look, if you don't need anything, we'll be leaving now," he declared curtly. "We're kind of busy. Let's go, Belle."

And with that, I was unceremoniously dragged off. Watching us go, Solomon gave a playful wave, his smirk never fading.

"If you change your mind about the pact, let me know Belphie. I'm always open to the idea."

"I won't!" Belphie promised from afar. "So forget it!"

…

As it turns out, the shop Belphie led us to did not have a gift that we felt was a worthwhile gag gift for Lord Diavolo. As much, we ended up spending the rest of the afternoon, and a good part of the evening searching for something. Luckily, we eventually managed to find a gift that we both liked, and our Grimm reserves were just enough to get it. With our mission complete, we returned to the House of Lamentation, our feet sore and our faces plastered with smiles.

"Man, I can't remember the last time I spent this much time out shopping," I spoke up, sliding my shoes off as I sat down on the stairs with a grunt. "Still, I had fun."

"Me too," Belphie agreed, plopping down next to me as he too kicked off his shoes. "Then again, I've probably had a much bigger gap in time since my last shopping visit."

"Well, I'm glad you had fun," I declared, swinging an arm over his shoulder. "And, I think Lord Diavolo will like the gift we found."

"He better, because that was all of our Grimm. We can't afford another one if he doesn't." Belphie then let out a large yawn, stretching as I backed off to give him room. "Well, we've still got some time before dinner. You want to head back to my room and-?"

"THERE you are!" Asmo exclaimed, skipping down the stairs towards us. "Ugh, just how long were you planning on making me wait for you?"

Both Belphie and I gave Asmo confused looks, his outburst making no sense to either of us. He just rolled his eyes at us, grabbing us both by our arms and pulling us back onto our feet.

"Come on you two, let's go!"

"Wait, what?" Belphie let out, stumbling along behind his brother.

"Go where?" I asked, also stumbling to keep up. "Asmo, what's going on?"

"We're going to my room!" Asmo declared. "Now hurry up! Come on!"

He pulled us up the stairs and down the hallway towards the flowery door that led to Asmo's room. He pushed the door open, ushering us both inside. As he did, I took the opportunity to look around at the room, this being my first time in it.

The room looked like something out of a fairytale, a large canopy bed with pink, silk sheet curtains rested against an ornate, white wooden panel wall. The canopy itself was a beautiful golden piece of art, covered in fleur de lis and delicate golden flowers. A beautiful chandelier hung from the ceiling, and light pink cloth spread out to every corner of the ceiling in artful ribbons. He had a beautiful vanity set along one wall with a large mirror framed in spiraling rose gold. Various skin care products and high quality make-up could be seen neatly arranged across its surface. There was a chaise lounge by a large window that looked like it was plucked from the titanic itself from that iconic scene. I could see another flowery door that no doubt led to Asmo's personal bathroom, but what really stood out was the massive amount of pink rose vines growing across his bed and window pane.

"This is your room?" I gasped.

"Oh that's right," Asmo realized. "You've never had the pleasure of coming in here, have you? Well, don't be shy, come on in. Both of you."

As Belphie and I stepped in, we took notice of what looked like a very large changing screen, also an ornate, golden piece with floral designs carved into the woodwork, that was practically covered with various outfits. There was also a large mirror, like one you'd find in a dressing room at the mall.

"What is all this?" Belphie questioned, looking even more confused than ever. "There are clothes everywhere. You're usually so much neater than this."

"Well, I can't help it," Asmo whined, gently pushing his brother so he was sitting on the chaise lounge. "No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to make a decision!"

"Is that why you bought so much stuff from Majolish?" I asked. "Solomon said he saw you flitting around in there with a mountain of stuff." I glanced at the large piles of clothes. "I'm guessing this is the stuff."

"Right you are, Belle," Asmo declared, taking my arm and making me stand in front of the three-fold mirror. "Now, I need you to tell me what kind of outfit you prefer."

"Hmm," I let out, tapping my thumbnail against my bottom lip. "I'd have to say something simple. I've never been one for over the top outfits."

Asmo thought that over, then began going through the pile of clothes he'd picked out. He grabbed a long sleeve, turquoise shirt and a pair of dark jeans. He then snagged what looked like a darker leather jacket, and a lighter brown corduroy scarf. He held them up for me, arranging them so I could see all the pieces together.

"So, something like this?"

I gave a nod, honestly picturing myself wearing that particular outfit. Belphie leaned forward, glancing at the outfit.

"The overall image you project is important as well though, right?" he said. "It can completely change the impression people have of you."

"This is very true," I noted. "I know when I don't want people to bother me, I wear just a hoodie and sweats. That outfit basically screams 'leave me alone'."

"And what about this outfit?" Asmo asked, moving so Belphie could get a better look. "What do you think it says."

"I say it's a more mature, subdued look," Belphie answered, "and I think that fits Belle well."

"Aww, thanks Belphie," I gushed.

"And with that fiery red hair of yours, the turquoise will go great," Asmo insisted, slipping a hand free so he could hook a piece of back-length hair to compare to the shirt. "See?"

"Lilith always looked good in blues," Belphie noted, smiling as he said it. "Her hair was just like yours, Belle. Though it was a lot wilder and curly. She had to keep it braided just so it didn't look like her head was on fire."

"Thankfully, I inherited my father's stick straight hair," I recalled, running my fingers through my hair to remove some tangles.

"I think your hair looks lovely, Bella," Asmo insisted, sliding the outfit off the hangers before folding it and handing it to me. "Make sure to wear this on the day of the party. Oh! And wear those knee-high boots you have. The dark ones, got it?"

"Wait, really?" I questioned, taking the bundle of clothes in shock. "You're just giving these to me?"

"Yep!" Asmo declared, beaming from ear to ear. "Thanks for all the help, both of you!"

Belphie just shrugged.

"I didn't do much," he insisted.

"Nonsense," Asmo dismissed, waving his hand. "You knew Belle's style, and the right colors for her hair color and style. You must really pay a lot of attention to Belle, huh Belphie?"

"Huh?" Belphie choked, turning red again. "What? Why would you say that? Just because I have a sense of fashion, it doesn't mean I'm paying a lot of attention, now does it?"

"Oh come on," Asmo gushed, sitting down and pulling his brother into a hug. "Don't be embarrassed!"

"I'm not embarrassed..." Belphie groaned, though he made no moves to get out of the hug. "I'm not, really."

I watched the two sit there, silently putting a mental check mark by Asmo's name in my head. It was clear any hard feelings held by the lustful demon were long gone, meaning four of Belphie's brothers were once again back on happy terms. I slipped out of the room to give them some privacy, celebrating my unintended win.

…

The next day, I had managed to finish all of my homework for the day, so I decided to do something to relax. Thankfully, Levi was quick to offer up one of his games; Rags to Riches: The Paradise and Underworld Life Simulation Game. After triple checking to make sure that this game wouldn't end up sucking us into an alternate reality, we started playing. Mammon ended up joining in on the fun, but much like in real life, he completely sucked at the game.

"Oh come on!" Mammon exclaimed, nearly chucking his console across my room. "I lost big on the stock market again!"

"Well I just adopted my third kid," I said with a grin, making gimme motions with my hand. "I'll be awaiting my congratulatory check."

"AGAIN?!" Mammon bellowed, groaning before flopping onto the carpet. "Ugh..."

"And… I just listed my company on the stock market," Levi declared with a shit eating grin of his own. "What was it you were saying? That you'd be running this game before the third round was over? I do believe I'm the one running it this time."

"I swear, this game is like the Devildom equivalent of Monopoly," I spoke up, laughing a bit. "And Levi's like my dad, the undefeated Evil Overlord of the Gauntlet."

"It's a dog-eat-dog world in Rags to Riches, Belle," Levi replied, relishing in my praise. "We don't play nice 'round these parts."

"Y'know what?" Mammon declared, sitting up and smiling. "Let's start over! Reset back to the beginning! Whaddya say?!"

"No way!" I declared.

"Yeah, as if!" Levi snapped before turning to me. "Go on, Belle. It's your turn next."

Before I could play, the door to my room was thrown open. I'll admit, I yelped at the sudden noise, but at least I didn't scream like Mammon did. Levi jumped as well, but managed to keep his composure as we turned towards the door. There, we saw Belphie stalking towards us, looking pissed. I felt Levi's tail sprouting from his back, wrapping around me carefully as Mammon carefully gripped my arm, ready to get me out of there if need be. Thankfully, it didn't come to that. Belphie just flopped down in front of me, planted his pillow in my lap, and proceeded to scream into it.

"Uh…. Belphie?" I let out, beyond confused. "Are… you okay?"

"You're not here to hurt Belle again, are you?" Levi asked cautiously.

"No..." Belphie grumbled into his pillow before lifting his head. "Sorry for scaring you like that. It's just… it's fucking Beel."

"What happened?" I asked. "Did you two get into a fight?"

"Yeah, we did," Belphie nodded.

"Seriously?" Mammon questioned, releasing my arm at the same time Levi's tail unwrapped from around my waist. "You and Beel had a fight? That's like… hard to believe."

"Yeah," Levi nodded in agreement. "You two are usually so close and all."

"Well, we did, and it's all Beel's fault." Belphie's face went right back into the pillow on my lap. "Seriously, I'm sick of it. Ever since I got back, he's been acting strange. Like, he'll keep glancing over at me, but then as soon as he realizes that I see him, he'll suddenly look away. It's like he's a preteen girl with a crush!"

"Hey, I'm sure it's only temporary," I insisted, gently running my fingers through his hair.

"Yeah, she's right," Mammon nodded. "It's just a now thing."

"Well I don't like this now thing!" Belphie snapped, raising his head again to glare at Mammon. "I mean, I'm known as his twin for a reason. I can pretty much tell what's going through his head at any time. He's feeling guilty because he didn't realize I was being held prisoner. I've told him over and over again not to worry about it, but he always says 'that's not possible'. He can be so stubborn."

"Yeah, that sounds like Beel alright," Levi nodded.

"Yep, he has some pretty weird hang-ups sometimes," Mammon agreed. "Things he can't accept."

"Heck, he was hung up on accidentally destroying the floor of my room for a full month, and I'm pretty sure he still feels guilty about my first near death experience in the crypt," I supplied.

"Well whatever," Belphie decided, finally curling up so he was laying down on his side. "We got into a fight and I walked out on him. I'm done, I'm moving out. Well, moving out of the shared bedroom, I should say."

"As someone who's slept in that room, I have to say it's one of the nicest in the House of Lamentation," I told him, resuming playing with his sinfully soft hair.

"Well, I think yours is better," Belphie argued. "So tonight, I'm sleeping here. You don't mind, do you?"

Before I even got the chance to answer, Mammon grabbed Belphie, yanking him off my lap and bringing him up so they were nose to nose.

"Oooh no you don't!" Mammon shouted. "No way you're sleeping in here!"

"Last time I checked, this was Belle's room, and I was asking her, not you," Belphie sneered, batting Mammon's hands away. "This is none of your business."

"You better bet it is! Belle! Tell him no! And be real mean about it!"

"I mean, if he wants to stay, he can," I said with a shrug. "He's not the first demon I've had sleep over, and I think he'll be the quietest roommate out of all of you."

"HEY!" Mammon exclaimed before growling and turning to Belphie. "W-well, I don't care what Belle says! As your older brother, I forbid it!"

"Says the guy who only uses the 'big brother' card when you want something," Belphie scoffed.

Levi was just recording the entire incident on his D.D.D, no doubt to post to Deviltube later, or maybe Devilgram. I just rolled my eyes, leaving the two to argue as I got up. Levi noticed me leaving and glanced over.

"Hey Belle, where are you going?" he asked.

"To find Beel," I replied. "I'm the bridge for you guys, so I better start acting like one. You just keep an eye on these two so they don't obliterate my room."

Levi shot me a thumbs up and I slipped out of the room, taking Belphie's pillow with me as I did.

…

Knowing Beel, I made a beeline for the kitchen, figuring he was either stress eating, or just eating in general. Heading inside, I was greeted by a smell that was, ironically, heavenly. Beel was standing over a massive wrought iron cauldron over the wood burning stove. I think he was making some sort of soup, as he was stirring the pot with a large, wooden spoon.

"Hey Beel," I greeted.

Beel glanced over, looking surprised to see me. He didn't say anything, so I slid closer, snagging a small stool from under the counter so I could see over the edge of the cauldron.

"Whatcha making? It smells amazing."

"Quetzalcoatl stew," Beel answered, holding out the spoon for me. "Have a taste."

I took a sip, the flavor running over my tongue as my eyes flew open. It made sense that the Avatar of Gluttony knew how to cook, but this was at a level on par with gourmet chefs.

"It's delicious," I said, licking my lips. "Am I detecting an extra helping of brains in there?"

"Yeah," Beel nodded, looking down under my arm, where I had Belphie's pillow tucked. "They're Belphie's favorite..."

I nodded, realization dawning.

"Let me guess, you're making the stew for him?"

"...yeah. He's in your room, I'm guessing."

"Yep. Barged in, face planted in my lap, and asked to stay. He's currently arguing with Mammon over his right to sleep in my room."

Beel looked away, letting out a noise that showed just how upset he was. I reached over, gently rubbing his back.

"Hey, why don't we bring the stew up to Belphie?" I suggested. "It'll get him to stop fighting with Mammon, and maybe we can talk out all these issues between you two. Alright?"

Beel looked up, and finally cracked a smile.

"Alright," he nodded, grabbing the handles of the cauldron. "You mind grabbing some bowls and spoons for everyone?"

"Way ahead of ya."

I grabbed five bowls, as well as five large spoons, and together, we ventured out into the dining room.

"Belphie's a nice guy, so I think he'll accept this stew when I offer it to him," Beel declared, before sighing and shaking his head. "But deep down, he won't have forgiven me."

"Well, what you're doing is pretty mean," I admitted. "I mean, why are you just assuming how he feels? The only one who knows how Belphie's feeling is Belphie himself."

"Sure… but still..."

"But nothing," I cut off, stepping in front of Beel so he was forced to stop. "Come up with all the excuses you want, but it still doesn't-"

"Belle," Belphie's voice called from the dining room door, "enough."

I stopped, shocked to see Belphie standing there. Mammon and Levi were flanking him, watching everything. Beel was equally shocked, setting the stew down on the dining table, approaching his brother cautiously. I set the bowls down, scooting over so I was standing by Levi and Mammon.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Mammon convinced Belphie to try and make nice with Beel one last time," Levi explained. "Told him it wouldn't do him any good to hide in your room and that the bad feelings would just keep festering."

"Huh," I let out, turning to Mammon. "Good job, Mammon."

Mammon just shrugged, and we turned towards the twins. Beel had yet to say anything, and Belphie just looked tired. Well… more tired than usual.

"Beel, we need to talk," the youngest brother declared. "You feel guilty for everything, and clearly you expect me to punish you for everything. Well fine, I'll give you what you want."

He turned on his heel, then socked Beel hard across the face. All three of us observers flinched at the blow. The force of the blow sent Beel's head snapping back, and he stood there stunned, a bruise welling up on his cheek.

"What the hell?!" I exclaimed once I regained my voice. "You're supposed to make nice, not punch him out!"

"No, it's okay Belle," Beel insisted, wiping his mouth.

"Now listen up, Beel, and listen good!" Belphie demanded, shaking his hand out before jabbing his twin in the chest. "Lilith getting injured in the great battle, me getting locked up in the attic… never one have I thought that any of it was your fault. Never once. And being the older of us two doesn't mean you have to worry over me for all eternity. I'm not a child."

Beel remained silent, seemingly stunned by Belphie's words. The youngest brother sighed, running his fingers through his hair before gathering his second wind.

"You have all this guilt, so you keep feeling like you need to make it up to me. But that actually makes things harder on me. Why don't you get that you idiot? Is it because you're all stomach and no brain?! Is that it?!"

"Belphie..." Beel let out softly. "I'm sorry. I'm… I'm sorry."

Belphie let out a small snort, shaking his head before hugging his twin.

"Beel, you idiot..." he said, burying his face in his brother's neck. "Is this hug enough for you to understand? Can you finally see how I really feel?"

"Yeah," Beel replied, wrapping his arms around Belphie. "Yeah, I do."

"And they finally made up!" Mammon cheered. "Nice goin'! Now, what is that amazing smell I'm getting from that cauldron?"

He went over to the cauldron, grabbing one of the bowls off the table and scooping up a heaping portion of stew.

"Uh, Mammon?" Levi called out. "Are you sure you should be getting into that?"

"Mammon, that's Belphie's stew," Beel growled, dislodging himself from his twin.

"Stew?" Belphie questioned, glancing at the cauldron.

"Quetzalcoatl stew," I explained. "Beel made it as a peace offering."

"You have five bowls here, Beel," Mammon insisted, grinning as he grabbed a spoon. "Clearly you were intending to share, so me taking a share shouldn't be a problem. Besides, I'm the one who convinced Belphie to make up with-"

"I'm gonna kill you," Belphie snarled.

"Instead of having stew, I'll have to devour you Mammon," Beel growled.

"Come on, seriously?" Mammon insisted, still treating this like a lighthearted joke as Levi's tail reappeared, pulling me to safety. "Why so serious you two? It's just some stew..."

I didn't see what happened next, as Levi had pulled me out of the dining room at that point. However, I could hear the sounds of Mammon getting absolutely pummeled.

"You know, whether it's in games or real life, Mammon always manages to screw up..." Levi lamented.

I just shrugged, knowing Mammon would be okay. More than that, Beel and Belphie were once again reunited. They'd finally gotten to the bottom of their issues, and their bond was stronger than ever. I grinned, letting Levi drag me off, knowing I only had one brother left to mend bonds with.

...

The next day, Lucifer came and found me during one of my free periods. I was bent over my desk, trying to get some of my homework done now so I wouldn't have to deal with it later. I felt his gloved hand on my shoulder so I glanced up, seeing him smiling down at me.

"Afternoon Belle," he greeted.

"Hey Lucifer, what's up?"

"I was wondering if you would like to accompany me on a shopping trip after class lets out. I've yet to find a present for Lord Diavolo, and I was hoping you could be of some assistance."

"Yeah, sure," I nodded, then a chuckle slipped out. "Provided you're not attempting to drag me into debt with you so I'll owe you a favor."

Lucifer chuckled lightly at that, shaking his head.

"No ulterior motives this time. You have my word."

"Then I'm in. See you after class."

Lucifer nodded, then took his leave, allowing me to return to my work. I watched him leave though and smiled, realizing just how comfortable I had become with Lucifer.

…

Shopping with Lucifer was surprisingly fun. Like me, he didn't have much patience for just lingering. He knew what he was looking for, and when he didn't find it, he left. He did let me have my magpie moments where I'd take a moment to look at the various shiny things I saw, but the trip was still relatively quick. When it was done, Lucifer brought me to Ristorante Six, snagging us a table for two.

"I must say, this has to have been one of the quickest and easiest shopping trips I've been able to have with another person," he mused as we glanced at the menus.

"I'll take that as a compliment," I replied, looking over the edge. "Thanks for the invitation."

The waiter came and we ordered. I tried not to order anything too expensive, which noticed and seemed to appreciate. Once the waiter left, I leaned in the table, propping my chin on my fist.

"So, why'd you really invite me out here?" I asked, a knowing smile on my face. "Clearly, you wanted me alone for a bit."

Lucifer sighed, though he kept his smile.

"Am I that easy to read?" he asked.

"Only to those who know you. So spill."

"Alright, alright." He held up a hand to wave me down. "Satan told me about what you've been doing for Belphie, how you've been acting as a bridge between him and the rest of us."

"I'm just doing what I can to help," I replied with a shrug. "I hate seeing family fight, and you guys have been at odds long enough. If me acting as a buffer can help bend menses for everyone, then I'm all for it."

"Considering what Belphie did, I'm surprised you're even willing to speak with him, much less help him."

"I'll admit, what happened did terrify me, but Belphie's making a conscious effort to be better. I swear, all I have to do is step into the room and he's acting like a docile puppy."

Lucifer laughed at my analogy, a rich, genuine laugh I don't think I've ever really heard.

"I must admit, that is a rather apt description," he allowed, nodding. "Still, thank you Belle… for everything you've done. Clearly, you were the right choice for this program."

I smiled at that, then a thought came to me.

"Hey Lucifer," I began. "You told me awhile back that I was chosen because the wind scattered your papers, right?" When Lucifer nodded, I continued. "What if… what if Lilith was the cause of that wind? What if she used what little influence she had to make sure I came. Maybe… maybe she knew I would be able to help her family, and she made sure I would be chosen."

Lucifer seemed to let those words sink in, seemingly stunned by the suggestion. Then, before I had a chance to say another word, he got up from his seat, moved around the table, and hugged me. He didn't say a word, just held me tightly. I returned the hug in kind, gently rubbing his back as gently as I could.

"If she did… then I truly am thankful..." he whispered.

…

We returned back to the House of Lamentation, a to go box in my hand.

"Y'know, maybe I should invest in a mini fridge in my room," I joked. "That way, I can guarantee I'll be able to eat my leftovers."

"Considering the amount of time Beel spends in your room, I fear the investment would be useless," Lucifer pointed out.

I laughed at that, seeing the logic in that statement. He followed me into the kitchen, watching as I stowed my leftovers. I left a note, hoping it would at least deter Beel from eating them, though I wasn't about to hold my breath. I prepared to head up to my room, but Lucifer caught my arm before I did.

"Belle," he said, causing me to stop. "Do you still have time?"

"Yeah, sure," I nodded, turning to face him. "What's up?"

"I'd like to spend a little more time with you, if that's alright. I..." he trailed off for a moment, then seemed to come to a decision. "Follow me."

Confused, but curious, I followed Lucifer through the halls of the House of Lamentation. To my surprise, we walked into the Planetarium, where Belphie was curled up on one of the couches.

"Ah, I thought I might find you here," Lucifer mused, gently nudging his brother.

"Lucifer, hey..." Belphie said groggily, sitting up and yawning before rubbing sleep from his eyes. "You're back pretty late, huh?" His eyes then fell on me and he smiled. "And Belle's with you too. Guess that explains why neither of you were at dinner tonight."

"Do you have a second?" Lucifer asked. "I want your opinion on something."

Belphie glanced at me, hoping for some context. I just shrugged, having no idea what was going on. After a bit, Belphie also shrugged, grabbing his pillow and standing up.

"Sure, I guess."

"Come with me," Lucifer requested. "Both of you."

…

To my surprise, Lucifer led us to the spot in the hallway that opened up to Lilith's room. He placed his hand against the wallpaper, whispering in what I could only assume was enochian. He was so quiet that we couldn't make out what he was saying, though I knew he was no doubt reciting the riddle needed to open the door. When the golden arch and white door shimmered into view, Belphie gasped, stumbling back slightly. I reached out on instinct, taking his hand in mine as Lucifer opened the door for us. As we stepped in, Belphie dropped his pillow in shock.

"This… this is… Lilith's room..." he gasped, voice trembling with emotion. "Her room from back in the Celestial Realm… how..."

"You put it here, didn't you?" I asked, turning to Lucifer. "You're the one who brought Lilith's room down here."

Lucifer nodded.

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you know about this place, Belle. It seems there's not a secret down here you're not privy too."

"Beel and I found this room on accident during that incident with Luke," I explained. "It's when he told me Lilith's story..."

"Why..." Belphie let out, his eyes still scanning the room in utter disbelief. "Why is this here…?"

Lucifer looked away, shame slipping onto his features. He sat down on the cloth covered bed, rubbing an arm in an almost nervous manner.

"After Lilith was reborn, I vowed never to forget her. I had every intention of keeping that vow, but I think that maybe, somewhere inside, the secret that only I knew about was weighing on me. The secret I was keeping from all of you, about what really happened to our sister..."

His eyes began to glisten, unshed tears welling up. Belphie and I said nothing, sitting down on the covered couch across from Lucifer and just waiting for him. He wiped his eyes, then continued.

"I wanted a place where I could unload it… a place to leave it so I wouldn't have to think about it. I was the only one who knew, and it was too big of a burden to bear. So, I tucked it away in here to keep it out of sight." He let out a shuddering breath, wiping his eyes again. "But, I don't need this place anymore. After all, thanks to a certain someone, my secret has been laid bare for all to see. And the hole in my heart, the sadness I felt having lost Lilith, times have changed. I have all of you."

Belphie sniffed, and I could see tears of his own trailing down his cheek. I reached up and gently wiped it away, feeling a bit of warmth flood me as he leaned into my touch.

"I… I still feel sad… and lonely with Lilith gone..." the youngest brother admitted.

"I know," Lucifer nodded, rising to his feet once more. "Which is why, Belphie, I want you to know that if you ever need this place, if you ever want to come here, you're free to do so whenever you feel like it."

Belphie perked, looking shocked.

"Lucifer, I..." he paused, looking around the room before giving a nod. "I've made my decision."

He stood up, pulling me to my feet as he did. He squeezed my hand, smiling warmly at his eldest brother.

"Lucifer, I don't need this place either. I'm sad Lilith's gone, but even if I had this room, that wouldn't change. And if we leave this room here forever, then I have a feeling that this sadness will never go away. I'll always have it inside me. It's be like when I was stuck up in the attic. I won't be able to move on… to move forward."

"He's right," I agreed, nodding as I returned the squeeze. "Lilith doesn't want you all to be clinging to the past. She wants you to move on… to be happy. And I think… I think letting go of this room is a great first step."

Belphie nodded in agreement.

"Even now, the smallest things still remind me of Lilith. She's still alive," he tapped the side of his head with his free hand, "right here in my memory. But you know… with you here Belle, I feel like there's a new spark in my life, something warm. I've got something better than this room right here beside me. Someone I want to treasure."

My free hand went to my mouth as I felt my own tears beginning to well up. Lucifer was equally touched, though much better at keeping his composure than I was. Belphie turned back to him, letting out a breath before straightening.

"So… it's okay Lucifer. I don't need it."

"Alright," Lucifer replied, smiling himself.

"Lucifer..."

"What?"

"Thank you for letting me be the one to make that decision."

"Sure, don't mention it. Because the truth is, I've wanted to do that for a very long time."

Arm in arm with one another, we walked out of the room together. Belphie turned back, just before the door closed, smiling warmly.

"Goodbye Lilith," he called out. "Be seeing you, okay?"

And with that, the door closed behind us. It began to glow brightly, then it faded away into nothing. I looked at the enochian words in the wallpaper, watching as they shimmered out of existence, the pattern becoming untampered and seamless.

"I'm glad you're here, Belle," Belphie told me, lifting my hand up and squeezing it between both of his. "I'm glad you came to the Devildom, and I'm glad you're here by my side now, despite how I first treated you." He then turned to his brother, smiling from ear to ear. "Thank you for choosing Belle, Lucifer."

Lucifer returned the smile in kind, no doubt thinking back to our discussion in Ristorante Six.

"There was no other choice to make," Lucifer replied. "Belle was meant to be here."

I let out a soft laugh, then gently pushed Belphie towards Lucifer. Both demons were stunned for a second, then pulled each other into a much needed hug. I leaned against the wall and just watched, feeling a warmness pass over me.

"I did it, Lilith," I whispered. "Your family is back together once more."

I didn't expect an answer, but a feeling of gratitude washed over me, like a weight I hadn't known I was carrying was suddenly liften. Deep down, I knew that was Lilith, her soul finally at peace now that her brothers were reunited once more.