Gosh, I don't know how I managed to get through writing this chapter with me baling my eyes out. I'm going to TRY to finish this story before the series officially comes out and spoils my headcanon (oh well, still FANfiction, right?).

Title Song: "Stand By You" by Rachel Platten


The first week was the hardest. As Tina could barely lift a finger, Alastor had to do everything for her. Feeding her, cleaning her, tending to her burns, changing her sheets when she soiled them. Granted, he could take care of the stains with a snap of his fingers, but she could see the embarrassment in her eyes.

An hour after he had brought Tina home, Charlie called, insisting that he allow Dr. Whitetail to check in regularly. As much as Alastor hated having visitors during this trying time, especially a stranger, he knew his medical knowledge was limited in this situation. At least the doctor was female, so he wouldn't have to worry about her taking advantage of his wife.

Adjustments had to be made for Tina's recovery. As her lips and vocal cords were badly damaged, the doctor had placed her on a liquid diet. Even though Alastor hated modern technology, he got himself a blender to make what the doctor called "smoothies." He would then pour the strange, cold, fruity concoction into a cup, prop a pillow under Tina's head, and then hold the cup to her mouth so she could suck on the straw. For good measure, he mixed in some of his own blood to heal her faster. Not without telling her, of course.

Although Tina couldn't speak, Alastor knew she would get bored lying around all day. After the incident, he was more adamant than ever not to have a television in his home. So, to entertain her, he read aloud from her favorite books. When he had to leave the room, he turned the radio on for her.

He hoped he was doing everything right. Tina couldn't say anything otherwise, only blink once for yes and twice for no. And there were some things he was hesitant to ask.

The doctor had been right about Tina's burns healing after a week. However, lying in bed all that time had made her movements slow. Her fur and hair had yet to grow back. As a result, Alastor saw more of her smooth, coal black skin than he'd ever seen before. If not for her bat wings, she could pass for a human.

The doctor gave Tina the all-clear to bathe regularly. Until she could regain the strength in her legs, however, she needed assistance. At first, Alastor was nervous about bathing his wife. Especially since she had been recently compromised by the Vs. Throughout the whole process, he repeatedly asked her for permission to scrub her here or scrub her there. Her only response was a silent nod, but he couldn't help but notice her hunched shoulders and downcast eyes. As if she were ashamed.

Once the dexterity in Tina's fingers returned, Alastor provided her with a notepad and pencil. The first thing she wrote after several days of silence was: You kept my room the same all this time?

Alastor sighed, grateful to hear from her, even if only in written form.

"I dusted it, from time to time," he said, gesturing to the room decorated in purple, "but other than that, yes. I kept it just the way you left it."

He didn't mention the countless nights he'd slept in here. Bundled in her sheets, clutching her nightgown to his chest, inhaling what was left of her scent. It was the only way he could get any sleep. Other than a mountain of alcohol, that is.

Tina scribbled another message and showed it to Alastor. What happened to the Vs?

"Oh. Them." He snorted. "Charlie informed me that they, unfortunately, escaped. The others were more concerned about bringing you and me to safety than dealing with them."

She wrote again. What about Carrie? And Ethan?

He raised an eyebrow. "Ethan?"

Tina bit her lip. Her hand shook as she wrote the next sentence. The chameleon that was with the Vs was Ethan. The man I killed. Carrie was his wife.

Alastor was quiet for a moment. "That…explains things."

He had thought the canary might've been a mere pawn in the Vs' scheme. But it turned out she'd had her own vendetta against Tina. Alastor knew he'd never liked that bird.

As for the chameleon, he'd mistaken him for a mere underling. If Alastor had known his true identity, he wouldn't have left him alive.

Shaking off his simmering anger, Alastor perked up his grin. "Since you're in better sorts, darling, you should know that these started arriving shortly after your…accident."

With a snap of his fingers, the room was filled with various bouquets of flowers and gift baskets. Tina's jaw dropped, which made Alastor chuckle.

"Seems your employees are missing you." He grabbed a card from a bouquet of lilies. "Look. Proxy made this card and got everyone at the hotel to sign it."

Tina opened it, her eyes widening as she read the comments. Many of them were along the lines of "Get well soon," while some were more personalized.

Hope you have a speedy recovery and will come back to work better and brighter than ever! –Charlie.

Get better, Mrs. Tina. In the meantime, have fun with Al playing your nursemaid! –Niffty

Hey, Bat Girl. I know Smiles is taking care of ya. But until he mans up, here's a little something for ya to take care of yourself. –Angel.

Next to the last one was a winky face, which caused Tina to scrunch her nose.

"I assume you've gotten to Angel's signature." Alastor groaned as he held up a basket of toys and magazines of a sensitive nature. "He also left this for you."

She snorted and shook her head, as if to say, "That's Angel for ya."

"They're also asking if they can visit you," Alastor said. "I, ahem, wanted to make sure you were comfortable with that before inviting them."

Tina pondered on this for a moment, then wrote her answer on the notepad. Let's wait until I'm a little less bald. I look like RuPaul. Then she looked up at her shining scalp.

Alastor chuckled. "I have no idea who this RuPaul is, but I did always call you my little bald mouse."

She scowled.

"And look at it this way, darling. At least you won't have to worry about lice."

She struck his arm with the notepad, which only made him laugh harder.

"I'm only teasing, sweetheart." He reached for her hand. "You're still as beautiful as ever."

The moment his fingertips grazed her hand, Tina recoiled. The radio on her bedside table crackled. Alastor resisted the urge to frown.

While he'd been required to touch her to tend to her needs, there were times she would suddenly flinch from him. He wondered if her skin was sensitive in its hairless state. Or if there was another reason.

He wanted to ask, but didn't think he would like to see the answer in writing.


It would be another three weeks before Tina was ready for visitors. Once again, her skin was completely covered in golden brown fur. Her hair, on the other hand, had only grown long enough for a pixie cut. Tina wrote that now she looked like Eartha Kitt, whatever that meant.

Although she was still fatigued, when Charlie and Vaggie asked to come over, Tina agreed, though insisted it just be them as a room full of people was more than she could handle.

Forever a ray of sunshine, Charlie burst into Tina's room with a bright smile and arms open wide. "Look at you! You look so much better!"

Tina wrote, It's great to see you two.

Charlie frowned. "So, your voice hasn't come back." Her smile quickly returned. "That's okay! Vaggie and I got you a gift!"

Vaggie handed Tina a whiteboard, marker and eraser. "We figured this would be more convenient than pen and paper."

Tina immediately tested the gifts out. How is everyone at the hotel?

"Oh, they're great!" Charlie said. "Believe it or not, they've all been on their best behavior!" She paused. "Well, uh, except for—"

"Dana left," Vaggie said.

Tina's eyebrows shot up.

"Yeah." Charlie rubbed the back of her neck. "She, uh, was really upset after she found out about Dinah and Hildegard. I tried to tell her just because her sister had a girlfriend now didn't mean she loved Dana any less, but…"

Vaggie shook her head. "The sad thing about this project is that we have to accept that some demons just don't want our help. Maybe Dana will come around later, but that's not for us to decide. I just hope she doesn't run back to Valentino."

Tina scribbled on her new whiteboard. She will NEVER go back to him. That much, I'm sure.

Charlie's smile remained, though it was very small now. She turned to Vaggie and Alastor, who had been watching from the doorway all this time.

"Hey, can you two give us the room for a minute? I'd like to talk to Tina in private, if you don't mind."

If it were anyone else, Alastor would've been hesitant to leave Tina alone in such a vulnerable state. But he knew the Princess wasn't anything like her father, and wouldn't take advantage of the situation.

Vaggie stepped back while he closed the door. Then Charlie faced Tina again.

"They miss you," she said. "Everyone. Even Husk, though he won't admit it." She twirled a strand of her blonde hair in thought. "They don't blame you for what happened. The photos, I mean."

Tina glanced downward, covering her chest with the whiteboard.

"They know why you did it. A lot of them said they were grateful, even. I mean sure, it was…awful, and I bet really embarrassing for you, but…it was for a noble cause. And I know there were worse alternatives you could've taken.

"However," Charlie's voice lowered, her brow furrowing, "Vaggie and I agree that you should've let us know about this sooner. If we're running this business together, we all need to be in the loop. Because what you do affects the hotel as well. This turned out alright in the end, I mean, we actually got more business because of this incident, but…it can't happen again. Okay?"

Tina stared at Charlie for a moment, then wrote her reply. You talk as if I'll still be working with you.

"We'd like you to. Despite the hiccups, you managed to get us further to our goal than either of us ever could. Maybe it wasn't enough to get a demon to Heaven, but you did a lot in your short time with us." Charlie leaned forward. "What I'm saying is that both Vaggie and I think your trial period was a success, and that, once you're fully recovered, we'd be honored to have you on as our official partner."

She laughed and held up her palms. "Just in business, of course! Don't get the wrong idea!"

Charlie expected the Songbat to be leaping for joy. Well, as much as she could be leaping in bed, anyway. Instead, Tina focused on her whiteboard, her mouth in a tiny line.

Charlie frowned. "What's wrong?"

Several minutes went by before Tina wrote her next message. How can you still want me back, after I messed up so badly?

"I told you," Charlie said. "Everything worked out in the end. We took care of the photos on the website, and everyone at the hotel understands you didn't mean for this to happen. Besides, don't you think what you went through with the Vs was punishment enough?" She covered her mouth. "Not that you deserved to be kidnapped or…"

She shook her head. "The point is that we all make mistakes, and that we forgive you."

Tina did not look the least bit cheered up as she scribbled. You and Al are too forgiving. I've betrayed both your trust, and yet you forgive me. But what's the point of forgiveness when we're already in Hell?

The Princess nodded. "You're right." She shrugged. "You're right. The truth is, Tina, that I have no idea how my redemption idea is going to work here."

She gazed up at the canopy of the bed, imagining the angels gazing back. "I've never met Grandfather, but I heard He's supposed to be the most forgiving being in the universe. And there are all these stories of people leaving their lives of sin for something better. If they can do it on Earth, why can't they do it here? I still don't know how I'm going to make it happen, but…you helped me realize part of the problem with my approach."

She looked back at Tina. "I keep saying we just have to try to be better, that if we work hard enough to be good, we can win God's forgiveness and ascend. But in the end, it doesn't matter if God forgives you, does it? It doesn't matter if I or Al or anyone forgives you."

Charlie laid a hand over hers. "Not if you can't forgive yourself."

Tina retracted her hand, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"Think about it," Charlie said. "Even after your horrible boss was gone, and there was no one abusing you anymore, you still abandoned your baby. Why?"

Tina didn't even touch her whiteboard to answer.

"When you cheated on Alastor, and he was willing to try again, you still left him. Why?"

Tina's claws pierced the comforter.

"Sorry." Charlie scooted back an inch. "I didn't mean to upset you. What I'm trying to say is that you were offered a second, third, lots of chances to turn your life around, to prove that you could change, but you didn't take any of them. And I think it's because you've convinced yourself that you don't deserve them, that you're not worthy of redemption. And I get it. You've got a lot to regret. But you know what else I think?"

She leaned in. "The fact that you do regret, shows that you are worthy. I believe you are. And frankly, I think Alastor does too."

Tina lifted her gaze as Charlie tilted her head towards the door. "If he didn't, do you think he would've brought you back here to be your own personal nurse? That man loves you to death. If I were you, I wouldn't give something like that up."

Tears filled the Songbat's eyes. She sniffed and wiped them away.

"You don't have to take my offer," Charlie said, "but think about it, okay? And be kinder to yourself. Because the things you do to protect those you care about, not many souls down here would do that."

Instead of writing a reply, Tina threw her arms around the Princess. Charlie laughed and returned the hug. Words were no longer needed.


The only sound in the kitchen was the occasional tapping of Alastor's claw on the table. Vaggie sat across from him, an arm over the back of her seat, her eye wandering.

"Err, care for a drink?" Alastor asked. "Coffee? Tea? I know you don't approve of liquor."

Vaggie snorted. "Like I'd trust anything a serial killer would give me in his home."

"Fair enough." He turned his attention to a crack in the wall.

The last time these two had been alone in the same room together had been most unpleasant. The words spoken between them rang in both their heads.

"And aren't you supposed to be sober now?" Vaggie asked. "Why do you still have liquor in your house?"

He huffed. "This is my home, and you are not the boss of me here."

"But you still work at the ho—"

"In case you didn't notice, Vagatha," Alastor said between his teeth, "I don't give a flying feather about your little rundown hotel. My only reason for being there is now here."

Vaggie had a feeling he wouldn't be coming back. Not that she wanted him back, but he did keep the rowdy customers in line. She would've been angry at his sharpness, if it weren't for his current appearance.

"Hey, are you…okay?"

Alastor cocked his head. "Since when do you inquire about my state of being?"

"I mean," she said, gesturing to him, "just look at you."

He wasn't wearing his jacket, but a white dress shirt. The buttons were uneven, his cuffs unfastened, his sleeves rolled clumsily up his arms. While his hair had always been wild, it stuck out in several places, as if it hadn't been combed in days. And the lines under his eyes were darker than usual.

"When's the last time you've gotten any sleep?" Vaggie sniffed and held her nose. "Or taken a shower?"

"I am perfectly fine, Vagatha." Alastor hastened to fix his sleeves. "As fine as I can be, when…" He paused, then widened his grin. "Sure you don't want anything? I have some leftover jambalaya."

"Uh-uh." Vaggie crossed her arms. "And who's in it?"

"Oh, no one." He waved a hand. "I'll have you know I haven't hunted anyone since…" The corners of his mouth twitched. "I mean it's not like I don't want to, but it's been so busy with…" He lowered his hand. "With… Oh, you know, right?"

"Yeah." Her voice lowered. "She looks like she's doing better."

"She is." Static crackled as he nodded. "I mean she is eating and can write and…and…"

Alastor couldn't take it anymore. He planted his elbows on the table and buried his face in his hands. The sound that came from him startled Vaggie.

"Are you…crying?"

"N-No," he uttered.

She rolled her eye. "You're a terrible liar. I knew that from the moment I met you."

"If you're going to make fun of me," Alastor growled, hunching his shoulders, "just leave."

She sighed. "I'm not going to make fun of you." She reached out to give him an assuring pat, but thought better of it. "Hey, I know we don't get along, but if you need to vent about something, you can do it with me. After all, it's not like you care what I think of you, right?"

She was right. While Alastor didn't like others seeing his vulnerability, he'd never had any interest in winning Vaggie's approval. And he had to talk to someone, or else he was going to explode from all the anguish that had been stewing inside him.

"A month," he sputtered. "Not one word. For an entire month." He ran a hand through his hair. "Not one word about what happened. Not. One. Word."

"You mean Tina?" Vaggie asked. "Didn't Dr. Whitetail said it could take a while for her vocal cords to heal?"

"Oh, they've been healed for weeks now." He massaged his forehead. "Physically, there's nothing stopping her from speaking."

Her expression softened. "I see."

"And though she's writing, she still hasn't mentioned…the incident. Other than asking what became of her attackers. I know they didn't do…" He cringed. "That. But I know they did something to distress her. I've been watching her at night—"

"You watch her sleep?"

"Out of concern for her wellbeing, thank you." Alastor scowled for a moment, then gazed down at the floor. "She's been having night terrors. I've asked about them, but she won't write me an answer. There was a time when she would confide in me when she was upset, when I would know instinctually how to comfort her, when I would know what she wanted just through one look, but now…"

He dropped his face back into his hands. "I don't know what else to do. The doctor says she's healing, physically. But emotionally and mentally…" He choked. "I want to make her better, but I don't know what I can do or say to fix her."

"You can't fix her." Vaggie shook her head. "Tina's been through a traumatic experience, and trauma is not something that can be fixed." She gripped her arms. "Believe me, I know. This is something she is going to have to figure out on her own. All you can do is stand by her as she processes what's happened to her. Once she has, she'll be ready to talk to you about it. Maybe on paper, maybe verbally."

"But the last time we talked…" He winced. "That argument was never resolved."

Tina had yet to mention that as well. Did she hate him for pressuring her? Did she still want children? Was their broken relationship too far beyond repair?

"You'll get to resolve it once she's better," Vaggie said.

"What if we can't? What if once she's fully recovered…she decides she doesn't want to be with me anymore?"

That, he feared more than anything. After all, Alastor had never asked Tina if she wanted to recover at the manor. Maybe the only reason she hadn't left right away was because she physically couldn't. There was also the deal they'd made that if she kissed him within thirty days, she would move back in with him. Contractually, he could stop her from leaving.

But if she wasn't willing to stay, could he really keep her here forever?

"If it turns out that way," Vaggie said slowly, "you gotta be prepared to let her go."

"Don't you see?" Static buzzed around them. "If I let her go, I'll be left with nothing."

She couldn't believe she was trying to reassure the Radio Demon of all people. "You'll still have this fancy house. And…friends?"

Was that the appropriate word for Husk and Niffty?

"I have no real friends." Alastor gestured to his surroundings. "And what good is this enormous house when there's no one to share it with? No. Tina was my only true friend. It would've stayed that way, had I not been so foolish as to fall in love with her. Had I not let her become my raison d'être." He glanced over at the spice rack he had labeled for her long ago. "I only wish I could be hers."

His words touched Vaggie. In all his boisterous, braggy behavior, she was amazed at his sincerity. It made her re-evaluate every interaction she'd had with him up until this point.

"She really means that much to you?"

Alastor nodded. "No one else ever ignited these feelings within me." He placed a hand over his heart. "She frustrates me, she calms me, she excites me, she grounds me. Even if she leaves me, even if I never see her smile again, I will still love her."

Vaggie squirmed in her seat. "I…underestimated you. You're still a psycho, but…you really do care about your wife."

"As I told you from the beginning."

"The truth is I kind of get where you're coming from." She traced a finger on the table. "I'm not good with people, and don't really have any friends. Charlie's all I've got. So, sometimes, I can't help but be afraid of what might happen if I lose her. What might happen if…our project works."

She swallowed the bile forming in her throat. "I think we're all afraid of losing our loved ones every now and then. We wouldn't care about them so much if we didn't." She looked the Radio Demon in the eye. "But I also know that if it is possible for sinners to go to Heaven, Charlie's not gonna force me to stay down here. And if something happens for Charlie not to wanna be with me anymore, I'm gonna do the same."

Perhaps Vaggie did understand. It couldn't be easy to be in love with the daughter of Lucifer. Although Charlie didn't show off her powers often, the power imbalance was there. Alastor wondered if Vaggie ever felt like she lived in Charlie's shadow, the same way Tina had felt with the Radio Demon.

"How do you do it?" he asked. "How can you be with someone, knowing it may only be temporary?"

Vaggie flinched at the question, but answered with a calm shrug. "Do we ever really know how long something might last? On Earth, people could die at any moment. Same in Hell, if we're not careful. And yet, we still seek out people to share what little time they have left, for whatever little time they're able to give. In times I doubt what'll happen in the future with Charlie, I try to focus on what I can do in the present. That's all you can do with Tina right now."

Again, she was right.

"I'm not going to force Tina. But…I don't wish to give up on her either. At the very least, I want her to know I'll always care for her." He returned his face to his hands. "But if she leaves me again, I'm not sure if I'm going to survive this time."

"You can't think like that."

"I cannot help it. You said so yourself, I'm beyond redemption. If there is nothing else for me down here, I might as well surrender myself to the Exterminators."

The Radio Demon was a murderer, a manipulator, a cannibal. Why should he deserve something so pure as unconditional love? And yet, for the first time, Vaggie thought that Charlie's impression of him hadn't been out of naivety."

"You're not…completely beyond redemption," she admitted with a cringe. "Not if you're capable of feeling this."

Alastor peered at her through his fingers. "But is it enough to make her stay?"

"Like I said, we can't know the future. Until Tina decides what her next step is, you keep doing what you're already doing." She leaned forward, reaching her hand across the table. "Don't try to give her advice, don't try to fix her, don't try to rush her choice. Just be there for her. And when she's able to talk again, listen."

Vaggie's hand stopped an inch from Alastor's arm. She did not touch him, but the gesture let him know she supported him. Maybe they weren't exactly friends, but in this situation, they were on the same page.

So, to both their surprise, he gave her hand a pat. "Thank you, Vagatha."


Charlie and Vaggie said their goodbyes to Tina and Alastor, then walked out into the swamp together. Once they were alone, Vaggie glanced at the manor, then at Charlie.

"So? What'd you find out?"

Charlie beamed. "Tina's still crazy about Al, but feels like she doesn't deserve him. You?"

Vaggie rolled her eye. "Alastor's still crazy about Tina, but feels like he doesn't deserve her."

"You know what this means, right?"

"Yup. They're both idiots."

"Idiots in love." Charlie laughed as she hooked her arm with Vaggie's. "Like us!"

Vaggie gave a soft smile. "Yeah."