Maggie woke, surprised at how much more comfortable she felt. She nearly jumped off the bed as her eyes met Angel's sleeping face. Did she sleepwalk? Nah, Moxxie would have told her that. Once she realized she was indeed in Angel's bed, she settled. She watched Angel sleep. It's true what they say. Everything looks much more adorable when they sleep. Was it that they were more vulnerable? Who knows? Angel's little sleepy sighs made the imp smile. Did he put her on the bed? That was the only explanation, right? She took this as her opportunity to get dressed. Without disturbing Angel, she slipped off the bed. She walked over to the bag of clothes he bought her. She realized just how dumb she was being yesterday, thinking that Angel would hurt her, that he was putting up an act. She had another dream last night that involved them singing. Whatever that dream said, she felt like it was how she truly felt. She changed into her new clothes, and she looked in the mirror. It looked amazing. She smiled, and twirled to watch the skirt flow. She wondered if Moxxie would've liked it too.

Maggie frowned. She felt terrible for believing Valentino and acting so horrible to Angel yesterday. She had to make it up to him somehow. But how? She looked around for a notebook. A note was a good start. Myaybe she could draw him something too? But what? She didn't wanna snoop around Angel's apartment. She gave up, realizing she wasn't going to be able to go with her first plan. She thought harder. What could she do for Angel now? There had to be something. Finding nothing, she pushed the thought to the back of her mind. Once she found something, she'd make it up to him. She picked up the purple dress Valentino had her wear yesterday. He'd probably have her change into something a bit more…revealing today, but she wanted to at least bring the dress back.

Angel still slept. The room was mostly silent save for his occasional sleepy sighs. It was soothing to her if she was being honest. She looked over to the clock. They had about an hour and a half before they would be due at the studio. Out of the corner of her eye, Maggie saw what looked like a nice sketchbook. Perfect! She walked over to it, and she opened it. Turning the pages, she could see a lot of writing in it. She was a little curious, so she stopped on a page:

"Today, I started working for Val. He says he could make me a star. He changed my name too. I'm now called Angel Dust. That's ironic considering that's another name for PCP. If I remember right, that's the drug I overdosed from when I died. It's been a few years. Valentino says that Angel Dust will bring a bigger crowd than Anthony. Pops would probably have a heart attack if he knew what I was doing these days. Anyway, it's my first day, so wish me luck."

Maggie turned a couple other pages.

"Wow, twenty years since I started working for Val. I messed up a couple shoots, so he got pretty upset. I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt me. He just doesn't know his own strength. It's fine."

Maggie turned a few more pages.

"Fuckin Val, fifty years I've dealt with his shit! If I'd known how abusive he'd be, I'd have never sold him my soul. I thought he would protect me and love me, but that was my mistake. I can't wait til this contract expires."

Maggie's face fell with every piece she read.

"Val gave me a pig after our session today. I think it was his idea of an apology. I named him Fat Nuggets. He's pretty cute. I'll be damned…uh…again…if I let anything happen to him."

Maggie shook. Every entry got worse. Val didn't just hurt Angel. He abused him.

"I can't wait til I'm finally free of this bastard. Makeup covers my injuries pretty well, but sometimes I show up looking awful, beyond makeup's help. Val usually gives me the day off when that happens…especially if I'm limping and can't dance."

Maggie could feel tears in her eyes. She hoped to find an empty page soon.

"I met this girl named Cherri Bomb today. She's quite the firecracker of energy. We had some drinks and got fucked up. It was my day off, so Val can't say shit about it."

The entries started to get scrambled in Maggie's brain, and soon she couldn't even keep track of which one was newer and which was older.

"Val said my contract will be up in a few years. Thank FUCK! How long has it been? Sixty-five years? The first chance I get, I'm getting the fuck out of here. I dunno where I'll go, but I'm definitely not signing with Valentino anymore. I wish those exorcists would stab him in his asshole. I don't even feel pleasure when we fuck anymore…mostly because half the time he forces himself onto me. Every time I'm having a legitimate good time on stage, he has to ruin it by either pulling me into him to assault me or by taking the spotlight and making me feel humiliated. Cherri helps make it bearable…sometimes. She doesn't like when I rant about Val though. She's a 'good vibes only' sort of person. Once in awhile, she'll comfort me when I sob. I-"

Maggie couldn't read anymore. Her eyes became blurry as tears dropped onto the page. She closed the notebook but her face turned hot pink as she realized just what she read. It was not just a notebook…

It was Angel's diary…

Maggie panicked. Angel would be furious. She knew people kept a diary were extremely possessive and sensitive about others reading it. It was a private place to write down their thoughts when they couldn't tell anyone. Her tail stiffened as she heard Angel hum and stretch as he got up. Maggie slammed the diary down to the floor. She tried to hide the evidence…but…that wasn't fair. She had to come clean about her mistake. She couldn't betray his trust. She bit her lip nervously as Angel approached.

"Morning, Mags, how'd ya sleep?" Angel greeted pleasantly, but he could see Maggie nervous and she still had tears in her eyes, "Hey, what's wrong?"

Maggie stepped forward, holding the diary. She looked down at the floor sheepishly, and she held it out for Angel to grab. She tried to hide her tears, but that only made her cry more.

"Oh, my diary," Angel said as he grabbed it, "I haven't written in here in like a year."

Maggie grabbed the bottom of her skirt nervously.

"Why ya actin' like ya did something wrong?" Angel asked, and it dawned on him, "Oh…you read some entries…didn't ya?"

Maggie nodded sheepishly. She felt so bad invading his privacy like that. More than that though, she felt bad for how he's been treated…for seventy years now given it'd been five years since that last entry she read. There were more, but she couldn't bear to read anymore.

"It's okay," Angel reassured, "I ain't mad."

Maggie looked up at him, and he shrugged, "It's nothin' I'd keep from ya. Plus, it ain't like ya intentionally sought it out."

Maggie blinked, astonished. She really did get lucky with who she was paired up with here. She then remembered the entries, and her eyes started watering again. She'd suffered her twenty years, but Angel…suffered three times that. She couldn't hold back her tears.

"I'm…guessin' you read a few entries about…" Angel trailed off as his face became pained, "about…Val."

Maggie ran up and hugged Angel, sobbing. He really did understand her. They weren't so different now that she thought of it. They'd both been abused, and yet were so kind. Well, she at least tried to be kind.

"Hey, it…it's okay," Angel lied, but he was met with a tearful glare, "Okay, it's not…but…it's almost over."

Angel's face fell now as he realized after this, he was gone. He couldn't take Maggie with him. He had to leave her with Val. Maybe he'd stick around just…not under contract. Or…something…

"Though…maybe it's best if I stay. Someone's gotta protect you after all," Angel said sweetly as he pet the top of her head.

Maggie gave no response. She'd never want Angel to suffer anymore.

"How'd you like the bed, by the way? Did ya sleep better?"

Maggie had forgotten she woke up next to him. She gave a nod.

"Good, you can sleep on the bed every night. It's better than the couch, and it's big enough for both of us. Maybe this weekend we'll go shopping for a better blanket and pillow for ya."

So Angel had moved her. Maggie just continued to hug Angel. She really didn't wanna go today, but they had no choice. Angel sighed.

"We better get ready."

Maggie nodded, and she let go of him.

"I'm…sorry you read that," Angel apologized, "Nothin' in there is very friendly. I ain't mad though. It was an accident."

Maggie then looked up at him. She'd read that his name had been changed. While she preferred referring to him as Angel without the Dust, she wondered if he missed his old name. She grabbed the diary, and she turned to the page that had that entry. She half expected Angel to yank the diary away, but he didn't. He gently took it as she handed it to him.

"Shit. It's been that long since I been called Anthony," Angel chuckled, "I guess I've just gotten so used to Angel Dust it never really occurred to me. I kinda like being called Angel though. Heh, ironic since we're in Hell…but at least that name has some weight, considering I'm your guardian angel."

Maggie and Angel both widened their eyes. Did they have the same dream? Couldn't have!

"Uh…sorry…had a dream last night and…"

Maggie shook her head with a smile, and she took one of his lower hands. She would be happy to call him her guardian angel. Angel smiled back, and so the alarm went off.

"We…better get going. We don't wanna be late again."

Maggie nodded, and she followed Angel out, carrying the purple dress.

And so starts day three…