It took all of Charlie's willpower not to give the demon standing there a gobsmacked look. She had expected Alastor's father to look twisted but not more so than his son. Or at least, she didn't expect him to have a creepier smile.
"Well boy are you going to invite me inside or are you just going to stand there?" He asked impatiently.
"Of course, please come in...Dad." Alastor said making room for the demon to enter. "Would you like me to carry your bag?"
"No thanks, I've got it." He stepped into the hotel lobby and pulled his son into a tight hold. Alastor went stiff in discomfort but remained smiling. "Glad to see that you're still better looking in the afterlife, Cap. Better looking than me that is."
He had a very think Cajun accent.
"How are you Dad?" Alastor asked once he had been released. "Well, I hope?"
"I live in Hell son, hard to be well down here." He said. "Although ripping out people's teeth and peeling the flesh from their bones brings me a brief period of pleasure."
Alastor nervously looked at Charlie, waiting for her face to express any form of fear or disgust by what his father had just said. But her face showed no reaction.
The demon then turned to look at his wife, who unlike him, had ascended into Heaven after death.
"Marie." He said.
"Etienne." She replied.
"How have you been?"
"Just splendid. Much more so now, because I'm here with our boy."
"So does that mean you didn't miss me?"
"Well my therapist always said I shouldn't, but I did, and I'm glad to see you darling."
"Likewise." He said. "Now son, where is this new sweetheart of yours that I've been hearing about?"
"That would be me." Charlie said stepping up to greet him. "Hello sir."
"Etienne!" He introduced by taking her hand. "Pleasure to be meeting you Cher, quite a pleasure. Looks like my boy didn't take my advice about finding a woman who wasn't too good for him. I always told him, go for the dented car, the dead end job, and the less attractive girl."
"Oh Etienne!" His wife scoffed in disapproval.
"What? I like her! She's beautiful! But remember this Cap, beautiful women are harder to hold on to. Your mother is a perfect example of that."
"Oh don't you listen to him Alastor." Marie said. "He thinks he knows everything about women, but he actually knows nothing."
"I know more about them than my father did."
"Etienne why don't you go on up to your room and sleep off that gas you've been breathing?" Marie suggested. "We wouldn't want you dizzy at dinner."
"I guess you're right. One more spritz though." He took another whiff of nitrous oxide and laughed. "Damn, that's good stuff."
Alastor facepalmed.
"Don't worry dear, I'll knock him out before he can say or do anything else." Marie whispered to her son.
"Thank you Mother, and please make sure he doesn't torture anyone."
Charlie gave the couple their room numbers and the two went upstairs with Etienne carrying both of their suitcases.
"Ugh..." Alastor groaned, thinking that the meeting had gone worse than he thought.
"Don't be upset Alastor." Charlie said. "I like them, they seem very nice."
"Please don't lie, I know what my father said about the teeth and the skin disturbed you."
"Okay I'll admit it was a bit off but you used to be a cannibal and I got past that."
"I was a cannibal in death and I ate demons. My father was a cannibal in life and he ate people."
Charlie fought the urge to gag.
"No one is perfect Al and I love you despite your flaws, so I'll love your family despite theirs."
"Really?"
"Really."
Alastor smiled at Charlie the exact same way he had smiled his mother, and taking her into his arms, he internally asked himself,
"What did I ever do to deserve this belle?"
Her arms circled around his neck and she pecked a kiss to his mouth.
"Now no more worrying about what I might think about your father." She said. "I love you dearly and nothing is going to change that."
"You promise?"
"I promise." She assured him. "But if I may ask, what's with the laughing gas?"
"Oh...Well my father loves to laugh." Alastor said. "A little too much. I really hope that's going to be a problem."
"No it's not, and you know, despite his questionable aspects, I can tell that he loves you and your mother a great deal."
"That's probably his only redeeming trait. He'll torture and cannibalize anyone who makes him angry, but he'd shoot himself in the head before he ever raised a hand to me or my mother." He said. "You know, he was the worse serial killer in Louisiana. Way worse than me. But the law finally caught him when he murdered a bank owner, a judge, and a lawyer."
"Why did he kill them?"
"The bank owner had assaulted Mother one night when she was walking home and the judge let him off the hook after the lawyer made her look like a whore on trial. My father's trial was a quick one and he was given the death penalty but he died with no regrets. His last words were 'I avenged the woman I loved and her honor, I regret nothing you corrupt and bigoted hypocrites.' And then they flipped the switch on him."
"Sounds like he had a lot of guts."
"More than brains I'm afraid. But you're right. For all his faults, he loved us a lot."
"Now get ready to meet my parents." Charlie said taking a deep breath. "And my uncle."
"Do you think they'll like me?"
"I really hope so." She said taking a moment to fix Alastor's tie. "Not that there's anything wrong with you, it's just that my dad is a little picky about the people I go out with."
"Aren't all fathers picky about the men their daughters date?"
"Yes but not all of them expect a pedigree."
"I'm sorry, a pedigree?" He said with a quizzical look. "What am I, a dog?"
"What I mean is, he would much prefer that I go out with natural born demons. They're kind of like the purebreds of Hell."
"But we're not dogs my dear."
"It's a metaphor Al."
After giving his nose a little tweak, she looked out the window to see if her father and uncle had finally stopped arguing. They did, and they were coming to the front door. Charlie was quick to open it for them and Alastor turned his mouth into his most friendly and less malicious smile.
Lucifer looked just as he did in all of the photos Alastor had seen of him. Dressed sharply in a white and very dapper suit, short-blond hair that had been combed neat, and he carried himself with a very classy yet arrogant manner. In some ways, his appearance reminded Alastor of the very rich plantation owners who lived in his hometown. Lilith was a real statuesque stunner and dressed head to toe in glamorous black, making her an interesting contrast to her husband. At first glance, you'd think that she was just a trophy wife to the ruler of Hell but when the couple looked at each other, you could see nothing but love in their eyes.
Gabriel looked very much like his brother, they even dressed similar. But Gabriel's manner appeared to be more humble and modest. As though he wanted to look his best but not look better than anyone else. From what Alastor had seen and heard of the archangel, he was someone who took his position in Heaven very seriously, but at the same time he saw himself on equal footing with everyone else. Whether they were in Heaven, on Earth, or down in Hell.
"Charlotte." Lucifer said hugging his daughter. "I was most pleased to be invited to partake of this feast with you."
"And I'm glad that you chose to come." She returned the gesture of affection and was passed into her mother's arms. "Hello Mom."
"Hello darling." Lilith replied with a kiss to her forehead. "You look just gorgeous."
"Thank you Mom."
"Happy Thanksgiving Charlie." Gabriel said giving her the last hug. "I've been looking forward to this all November."
"I'm so happy that you were able to come Uncle Gabriel. I know it's a hassle to get down here."
"It is but I'd do anything to see my favorite niece, and I like what you've done with the hotel." He said taking note of the decor. "It's very honest and I can see a lot of effort was made in creating it."
"Thank you."
She pulled away from her uncle and walked over to stand by Alastor.
"Everyone this is Alastor, the radio demon. But I'm sure you all have probably heard of him." She explained. "We officially got together on Halloween but we've had strong feelings for each other for a very long time. I've invited you here to not only celebrate Thanksgiving but to meet him."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you all." Alastor said holding his hand out.
All three of them looked at Alastor, their eyes and head moving up and down. Really taking their time in studying his appearance and wondering what to think about him. Then Gabriel decided to make the first move.
"The pleasure is ours." He said shaking Alastor's hand. "Charlie has written to me about you in her letters. I admire your choice to seek redemption and I pray that you will succeed."
"Thank you sir."
"She's also told me about that little stunt you pulled for her on Halloween."
"Oh?"
"While I can't agree with everything you did, I'm glad that my niece has found someone who cares so much about her and is so willing to do anything to make her happy."
"Thank you again sir."
"I've heard much about you too Alastor." Lucifer said. "Your reputation spreads like wild fire down here. You're probably one of the most powerful and feared overlords in Hell. Quite impressive for a mere sinner demon."
"Dad please, don't start." Charlie pleaded.
"I meant it as a compliment Charlotte." Lucifer said. "Most sinner demons are too inferior to reach your level. You must be less inferior than the average."
"Lucifer!" Lilith scolded.
"Excuse me, I think I should go check on the venison." Alastor said, exiting the lobby and entering the kitchen.
"Dad, what do you think you're doing?" Charlie asked her father. "You promised me that you'd be nice."
"I'm as nice as someone like myself can be." Lucifer said.
"So that means veiled insults." Gabriel said.
"Oh shut up goody-two wings!" He snapped at his brother, then quickly calmed himself down. "Charlotte I don't mean to cause trouble-"
"That would be a first." Gabriel muttered under his breath.
"But I'm a little disappointed by your new companion. I was under the impression that you had started a relationship with a successful gentleman."
"He is a successful gentleman." Charlie said.
"I'm sure he is, for any other woman perhaps, but not for a princess of Hell."
"Dad he is just perfect for me. Now I know he's not the natural born, royal demon you always pictured me marrying someday, but Alastor is better than that. He's honest, and charming, and dear. I can talk to him about anything and he's always supportive of me even if it's for something he doesn't agree with. He makes me happy and...And I love him."
"He is handsome." Lilith remarked. "And polite."
"Yes for once Lucifer, put aside your reservations." Gabriel said. "At least for the holiday."
"Very well." Lucifer conceded. "I'll try harder to be more friendly to this gentleman caller of yours."
"Thank you Dad." Charlie said. "Now I'll show you all to your rooms so you can freshen up and get ready for dinner. Alastor worked very hard on tonight's supper, and I'm sure you'll enjoy every last bite."
"Good-looking, polite, and he can cook." Lilith said. "You have good taste sweetheart."
"Does that mean you like him Mom?"
"Well I know about his record." Lilith said. "And he has one long record, but I've never been picky about a man's morality. I mean look who I married."
She pointed to Lucifer.
"All that matters to me Charlotte, is how he treats you. I'll decide if I like him or not, after I see his treatment of you."
"I understand. What about you Uncle Gabriel?"
"Well that depends, do you want me to be completely honest?" Gabriel asked.
"Uh-oh, here we go." Lucifer said. "Honest Gabe, once again pointing out everyone's flaws."
"Lucifer you know I only give my honest opinion if it is asked for." Gabriel said.
"And what is your honest opinion?" Charlie asked nervously. "Tell me the truth but please don't be brutal."
She was certain that her uncle would probably be the most critical of Alastor. After all, he was a natural born angel from Heaven. A being who was pure goodness and constantly surrounded by good people. He would most likely consider someone like Alastor to be a very poor choice. The worst possible choice even.
Despite his dislike of Gabriel's honest nature, Lucifer was secretly glad his brother was going to seemingly tell Charlie why Alastor would make a Terri match for her. Surely hearing a non-fallen angel list every worst quality in a sinner demon would bring Charlie to her senses and convince her to break off this ridiculous relationship.
"I can't lie, especially not to you Princess." Gabriel said. "From the bottom of my heart, I can honestly say that-"
Charlie went stiff and waited for the painful truth.
"You two were made of each other."
His answer caused Charlie, Lucifer, and even Lilith to go wide-eyed.
"Seriously?" Charlie asked.
"Yep and that's all I have to say on the matter."
She was so happy upon hearing those words. She gave him a huge hug and kiss, then hurried off to grab the room keys. When she was gone, Lucifer looked at his brother appalled.
"Are you crazy?" He asked. "How could you tell her that she and that maniac are made for each other?"
"Because they are." Gabriel said. "It's the truth and there's more to it."
"But how do you know that it's the truth?" Lilith asked. "How exactly do you know that they're made for each other?"
"Because he told me so."
"He who?" Lucifer asked.
But the archangel only answered by looking upward, causing his brother and sister-in-law to become speechless.