Katherine hummed to herself as she mixed the batter, jumping as the radio kicked on and the song began to play. She chuckled to herself. "It's exactly what you think it is, Pigeon." She muttered to the radio.

With a shadowy cocoon of tendrils her son was over her shoulder, reaching a clawed finger around to scoop a taste of batter. She swatted his hand with the spoon before he could succeed and laughed at the indignant crackle of static.

"Keep your fingers out of the bowl," she scolded playfully.

"Mama you always used to let me eat the batter," he pouted, leaning against the counter next to her.

"Start on the icing and maybe I'll change my mind," she said firmly, a smile playing at her lips. Alastor's eyes lit up as he got to work, grabbing up ingredients.

"Whatcha making King Cake for anyways," he asked as he started to mix alongside her.

"Tomorrow's the big day," she shrugged. "Might as well make a night of it. Wouldn't begin to know the date so it could be Fat Tuesday for all we know."

"I think everyday in Hell's Mardi Gras on Bourbon," he joked. She fought back a laugh. "I think you're onto something though Mama. The princess outlawed drinking tonight so might as well give everyone a treat. Nothing beats King Cake."

They hummed along with the radio as they prepared everything, Alastor speeding up the work by manipulating the oven so the cake was done in seconds. He summoned his microphone to announce to the others to come down but stopped when she caught his wrist.

"Alastor," she said softly. "I wanted to talk to you."

He pulled away, smile falling. "Mama, I really don't need you scoldin' me about the whole Lucifer thing-"

"No baby," she said warmly, cupping his face in her hands and pulling him down to her height. "I want to tell you how proud I am of you."

His mouth opened but no words came out. She let go and wiped at her eyes. "We all lose our way. I'm so upset you won't be coming back with me. The selfish part of my heart's furious with you, boy." He winced.

"But what you did for all of them. You turned out to be such a good man."

He ducked his head bashfully. She pulled him in for a hug.

"It's not how we fall down…" she started.

"...it's how we get back up," he finished.

They stayed embracing for a while, sniffling.

"I'm gonna miss you Mama," he choked, burying his head in her hair.

"I'm gonna miss you Alastor," she squeezed him tighter, tears streaming down her face.

It was a moment before she playfully shoved him away, dabbing at her face with her apron.

"Get your friends down here while the hotcakes are still hot."

He grinned, summoning his microphone back. Katherine covered her ears as his staticky radio voice suddenly boomed in an echo from himself and the radio next to her, coming through every speaker in the hotel. "Attention all sinners, for our last night's festivities you may join my mother and I in the dining area for all of our…" his voice dropped into a low and ominous tone, "...Last Supper."

Katherine laughed and pushed the microphone away from his mouth, pinching his cheek.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So what the hell is this anyways," Angel asked curiously, throwing himself into a chair.

"Language," Katherine scolded.

"Is that King Cake?" Husker shouted, coming in sniffing. "Oh Hell yeah, Kat."

"Language!" She scolded again.

"What is…King Cake?" Charlie asked curiously, jumping as Nick put his hand on her shoulder, taking a dramatic inhale.

"Only the best sweet treat in Na'lans," Nick smiled.

"It's a cake we only eat on Mardi Gras," Nifty chimed in, rushing past her.

"The best things only come once a year," Husker, Nifty, Alastor, Kat, and Nick recited in unison.

Vaggie made a face. "This feels like a cake cult."

"Awww try a bite sweetie," Kat winked, "It might make you smile for a change."

Vaggie opened her mouth to remark and Nifty took advantage to dart a piece onto her tongue. Vaggie's eyes lit up for a moment at the delicious morsel but quickly put herself back in check. "It's alright," she muttered, moving to get her own piece.

Soon everyone was gobbling it down, seated around the table. Charlie couldn't help but glow with happiness. It looked like a family. The kind of family she always wanted. Husker, Alastor, and Katherine traded stories and memories, the two boys earning a yank of the ears every now and then. Nifty and Angel Dust fed cake to Fat Nuggets, cooing over the pig. Nick and Vaggie enjoyed theirs at the counter, passing judgements and laughing to themselves about the others. She felt a churning in her heart. All she ever wanted was family. All she ever wanted was to help people. And now she would lose her found family BECAUSE she had helped them. But she was happy. Wasn't she?

"Watch feedin' that pig that he doesn't choke on the baby," Kat casually shouted towards Angel Dust and Nifty. Angel Dust froze.

"Baby?!" He shrieked. "Mama Smiles did you put a-"

"Not a real baby, Annie," Nick laughed. Charlie noticed that Angel Dust no longer got angry at the name. "It's a little plastic one. You put it in the cake."

"Something about the three wise men bringing Jesus presents," Husker added.

"Thank God your redemption isn't based on a book report of the bible," Nick quipped and Alastor was surprised to see Husker laugh along.

"Whoever gets the baby in their piece of cake is supposed to bring the cake for everyone next year," Katherine added.

A silence suddenly settled over the room.

"Wow this…really is…kind of it, isn't it." Angel Dust's voice cut through the tension like a knife.

"IF you all pass," Alastor joked, half-heartedly.

"Either way though," Angel Dust looked around, "We're not all gonna….I mean not to be sappy but…"

"Regardless of what happens tomorrow," Charlie said softly, "Let's all just enjoy tonight?"

Vaggie came and put her arm around her. Eyes grew wet around the table. Alastor looked up to see Nick watching him. Their eyes met and Nick raised an eyebrow. He chuckled at the challenge. Lifting his fork, his radio voice shown through, "Raise your forks everyone. Cheers to the sinners of today and the angels of tomorrow." Everyone laughed and clinked their forks, the energy lifted. Nick gave him an approving nod.

Alastor took another snap of a bite and felt his teeth crunch into something hard. As inconspicuous as he could he pulled the mangled plastic baby from his teeth. A pang shot through him. He could bring the cake next year but…

He looked around the table at all the faces he would no longer see. Across from him, his eyes met Charlie's and he could see sadness there as well. He held up the piece of plastic for her to see and silently gave her a genuine smile and a nod and she did the same. The two of them would have to.