Two in one day just to prove I am back BAY-BEE! Also I looked back over the others and apologies that I apparently gave Katherine two other names during the course of the beginning of this. Not Joan, Not Nichole, Katherine.

Charlie wandered the halls of the hotel aimlessly, inspecting, checking rooms, looking for anything to do. Between Alastor's renovations and Nifty's cleaning her idle hands could find nothing to do but fidget nervously. It had been almost a week since the angel had left and they still hadn't heard any word. She knew from her Dad's business that other planes worked in different times than Hell and Earth so it was hard to tell if they were still discussing or if they had been written off as a lost cause.

She passed Alastor's room and paused for a moment. She wanted to knock but wasn't sure if she should. Or if he was even there. After a few days on the couch his form seemed to heal and he was back to his normal appearance. No more glitching between a mousy haired boy, a crimson deer demon, and his more terrifying demon form. Once that had seemed to settle he began to refuse the care and rags from Nifty and had waved away any other offers to help from the others as well. The last she had seen of him, he had moved himself to his room, still too weak to teleport and leaning heavily on his microphone staff. He could be fine and well, he could be dead again or the equivalent whatever that may be, he could be gone.

Charlie pressed her ear to the door, listening hard for any sound. No static. No music. No movement. She hoped he was ok. And she desperately hoped he hadn't left as he had said he would before. Giving up she began again to trudge down the hallway when-

Music drifted to her ears. A piano, a saxophone. It sounded...terrible. She winced as a squeaky note cut through the air and began to follow the sound to the lobby.

Her heart soared as she heard a familiar laugh fill her ears.

"Husker my friend, I'm afraid nothing will ever do to make me competent with this."

She creeped into the lobby and saw a peculiar scene that made her heart nearly burst.

Husker was on the low stage at the piano, plucking away idly at key and wincing as Alastor, perched on the edge of the stage, made another attempt at the saxophone. The same sour note prevailed and Husker gave a grunt of a laugh. "We gotta switch back, kid, you never could play that for a dime. Kat hated me for giving you one."

"The most dastardly thing you ever did," Alastor declared, tossing it back to the cat demon who scrambled to catch it before it hit the floor, taking a playful swat at the deer demon's ears, who only laughed louder. Charlie could have melted at the sight.

"Hey...Al," she cut it, trepidatiously. Both heads turned to her as she cautiously approached. Afraid her intrusion might end their fun. She was relieved when Alastor flashed her a smile.

"Charlotte my dear," he shouted, waving her over. "Do you play?"

She shook her head. Embarrassed. It was actually a big disappointment for her father. The archangel's daughter, unable to play a single instrument for the un-life of her.

"Neither can I," Alastor announced, jovially. "Except the piano. I'm quite good at those keys-"

"You ain't bad," Husker cut in gruffly, smirking down at the deer demon.

Charlie sucked her teeth as she watched him extend a hand to Alastor. She couldn't miss how much he leaned on the cat as he struggled to stand, wincing. He seemed in better spirits but it was clear he wasn't fully healed. She caught Husker's frown as he helped the man up, as well.

Alastor sat at the piano and cracked his knuckles before his fingers began to move over the keys. An upbeat rhythm began to fill the room as he played deftly, humming and singing a song she didn't recognize. Husker sat down on the edge where Alastor had sat, and closed his eyes for a moment, bobbing his head, and then bringing the saxophone to his lips.

Their duet was like magic. Charlie watched entranced as they looked to each other and improvised, jazz filling the lobby. Soon others began to wander in. Angel loudly, Nifty and Vaggie more quietly. She even caught sight of the demoness who had been mostly hiding in her room coming to stand in the entry to listen.

Angel sidled over to her and attempted a whisper. "Looks like Smiles is back on his game, huh Princess?" She nodded, and he continued, "Ol Pussy Cat's never looked less grumpy either. Looks like he's actually enjoying somethin' for once".

Charlie was about to excitedly agree when a flash of light filled the lobby. They all gasped as it faded revealing Katherine. Everyone stood stock still. Even Alastor had clumsily and painfully clambered off the stage but paused once his hooves hit the hardwood. Freezing up with the rest.

Katherine seemed dazed for a moment. Blinking fast. Her eyes darted frantically until they fell on her son.

"Pigeon," she breathed, flying across the floor to embrace him. He staggered back as she collided with him, her head buried in his chest. He limply wrapped an arm around her shoulder, seeming unsure of himself. "Are you ok? Are you hurt? You're so grey now it's hard to tell-" She pulled back and yanked his face down to meet hers, poking and prodding at him, even trying to push up his lip to check that he had all of his teeth.

"Ma-" he started, gently pushing her hands away. He cleared his throat and attempted his showman's smile, bared teeth to prove it. "I'm fine mother. Perfectly fine. It takes more than a little altercation to put me out for long."

She paused and breathed a sigh of relief. A warmth filling her eyes and her smile.

Alastor felt himself melt under her gaze and then-

He let out a yelp as she took hold of his ear and had again dragged him down to her height. "As long as you're ok, how about you start on explaining just WHY you found it fit to go out and put yourself in danger like that. I know I raised a smarter man than that and you had us sick with worry. Not telling anyone where you even went. Reckless and inconsiderate-"

Even under the wrath of his mother, Angel's snicker was not lost on Alastor and he again moved out of her grasp, this time a much tighter smile filling his face. "Mother, I assure you that was not my intention. It had slipped my mind the night at hand and I was only attempting to-"

"Alastor Thomas you KNOW how I feel about that darned radio voice."

The room fell silent and Alastor froze. His insides began to swirl in confusion. Shame at her admonishing, discomfort at everyones stares, unadulterated joy at having his mother to scold him again. He glanced up from her stern face to see a small smile tugging at Husker's lips and sighed.

His eyes fell to his shoes and his smile fell from his mouth. He cleared his throat again. "Mama I was just trying to do the right thing. I was gonna try to...well...I had a plan, I wasn't trying to scare nobody…" This time his voice was softer, with a lilt and drawl that seemed foreign to anyone other than Katherine and Husker.

"You and your plans…" Katherine massaged her temples. "I'm just glad you're alright. But we have to have a talk."

"Yes mama," he said quietly, not even lifting his eyes to the sound of Angel's bitten back snort.

Katherine looked to Charlie, her eyes softer. "I think ALL of us...should talk."