CHAPTER ONE
One month later in hell, the battle was not going well. Adam and the angels had broken through Alistor's shield and now Adam was focused on Alistor. Charlie grimaced as she repelled each angel with her shield, instinctively shouting "sorry, sorry, sorry". Vaggie admonished her and Charlie reacted by blasting a half dozen angels to dust with hellfire from her fingers. It was strange though, how they had just come in on a pattern that was so easy to defend. Vaggie had explained what Carmilla Carmine had taught her about angels not fearing death, so not caring about armor or tactics but Charlie felt that they were unnecessarily opening themselves up with each and every attack, allowing her and her friends to easily reflect their assault. In fact, the angels were falling faster, and seemingly easier than she had anticipated.
It was in that very moment she noticed something that she'd missed before, an angel that was staying in reserve, far in the air, directing the angels into patterns of attacks, sending them down in small, manageable ways… in patterns that felt oddly familiar to her, allowing for her and her friends to easily counter. Charlie barely had time to comprehend what all this meant, and turned her attention to covering her lover's back.
A blast knocked her and Vaggie down and Charlie was shocked to see they'd come from Adam. "But! Alistor was supposed to handle him!"
In the sky, Angel, having convinced Adam and Lute to give him control of the mission's tactics, noticed Charlie looking his way, and his heart skipped a beat and a concerned growl escaped his lips. His brow creased, seeing Adam had just obliterated a large attack balloon. Angel knew what that meant, a possible turn in the tide that would end the life of the princess of Hell.
Immediately, he knew his next action had to be to thin out the attack and leave Adam alone and hopefully vulnerable. "Angels, flank the cannibals on the outskirts, do not let them escape!"
"Yes, sir!" Said most, but a couple shouted, "But? Adam!"
"He has the Hell-spawn's attention! This is what he wants, leave it to him!"
"Yes, sir!" The rest joined their sisters to go after the outskirts and now all he had to worry about was Adam and Lute. He knew Lute would go for Vaggie, so now he just had to figure out how to save Charlie. He had one option, but it would likely reveal his true intentions, but watching Charlie fly up on Razzle with Vaggie and Dazzle following, he had to risk everything. For her.
Trusting in the feeling swelling inside him, Angel concentrated and sent out a blast of magic, hoping it would not be noticed by Adam, or Lute, but by the one he sent the pulse towards. His eyes shifting quickly and nervously, he saw the angles following his strategy and he sadly grieved for the deaths he was helping to cause, both hell-spawn and angels alike. If there was any other way, but this was the way it was ordained.
Floating closer to the action while maintaining the air of being the strategist he was assigned to be, he watched with fear as Adam had Charlie by the throat, and was about to make a break for her when Lucifer appeared just as he'd hoped, saving Charlie and whipping Adam's ass. As Adam screamed at them that he was the man, the first… he was slain by Nifty to the shock of all. Lute saw this and broke down; "NO!" Cried Lute, "Sir! Sir! Stay with me, Sir! ADAM!"
Lucifer demanded they retreat, and Lute angrily ordered her angel army to do just that, and as she flew angrily through the portal with the others, Angel slid out of sight to avoid returning with them. He knew it would be moments before Lute discovered his betrayal and he figured it wouldn't be much longer before she realized he was the orchestrator of her army's decimation.
Landing just out of the sight of Lucifer, Charlie and the others, Angel pulled his mask away and dropped it to the ground and shed off his warrior outfit, a feeling of disgust at what it represented wafting through his soul. He had kept his cool when meeting Adam, planning the execution, and playing his part to get here, but what was about to happen caused the cracks in his confidence, and his emotions were starting to come back in full. Emotions he'd forgotten since dying and he cursed himself harshly for letting them go.
The dust was thick as he stepped forward, hearing Lucifer asking "So...Who's up for pancakes?"
Well, that's one way to open Pandora's box, isn't it? "Pancakes sound good." Angel said loudly as he stepped from the clouds of dust, his hands up in peace.
As if one entity, Charlie, Lucifer, Vaggie and all the others turned sharply, weapon's raised, glares across their collective faces, but the glare on both Charlie and Lucifer's faces changed to shock and astonishment.
"Angel!?" Charlie's voice cracked, as she dropped her pitchfork, and took a single step forward. Lucifer, on the other hand, had the faintest of smiles on his face.
"Of course it's an angel." Husk quipped in annoyance.
"Charlie!" Angel's voice broke equally, "You look just how I remember you, tail, horns and all."
Vaggie blinked in confusion and her heart skipped a beat as Charlie ran into Angel's embrace and grabbed him around the waist in a way a long lost lover would, and her throat tightened.
"Angel? Is it really you?" Charlie's eyes glistened, wide and unbelieving, but she gripped him tight, shaking, afraid to let go and the illusion disappear. He quickly reassured her.
"It's me, Charlie, I promise!" And the crowd gasped as he bent and kissed Charlie who not only accepted it, but returned it, passionately.
"Charlie?" Vaggie took a single step forward, swallowing hard.
Charlie gasped and breaking the kiss, turned her face towards Vaggie, who looked devastated and betrayed, her eyes pleading for answers.
Breaking the tension was Lucifer, stepping forward, hand extended, "Angel, I am not often surprised, but it is good to see you."
Angel was looking at Charlie staring sadly at Vaggie. He opened his arms for her to step away, which she quickly did, giving him a sad smile. Angel turned to Lucifer to grip his hand, "You too, Sir. It has been a very long time."
"It seems you kept your promise. Died young, too, I see?" Lucifer remarked, eyes soft.
"Yes, doing all I said I'd do and keeping the promise I made to Charlie years ago." He side eyed Charlie going over to Vaggie, realizing he may have caused a serious issue, but he continued to Lucifer, "I fought to save as many lives as I could, even though I knew it may mean going to heaven and never seeing Charlie, again. I don't regret any of it, but…"
Lucifer nodded, "But you didn't know things had changed."
"No." Real shame colored Angel's face, "And I'm such a damned fool for assuming she'd be the same Charlie I lost."
"She's more than that, now, but you can't blame yourself," Lucifer said, placing a hand on Angel's shoulder, "I know how much you loved my daughter, and I haven't forgotten how you saved and protected her when she was trapped in the living world. So, I am not going to get involved in how you all work this one out. Just know that now that you seem to be stuck here in hell, you have a spot in my administration if you want it."
"Thank you, sir, "Angel sighed, "Considering what I've done, betraying heaven and Charlie, I've earned my place in exile."
"No, "Lucifer admonished, "She ran to you, too. In the moment she saw you, she saw the man she said goodbye to and was lost in the moment. I don't blame her, and in time, I don't think Vaggie will, either."
They turned as Charlie and Vaggie were now out of ear shot of everyone, and Charlie's body language clearly told everyone she was trying to explain things. The others turned towards Angel and Lucifer and they did not look happy, at all.
Angel Dust was the first to speak up, "OK, pal, who the fuck are you?"
Cherry Bomb, on the other hand, just saw another Angel and quipped, "Nifty...angel!" Pointing towards Angel. Nifty swiftly ran forward knife in hand shouting 'stab stab'
"STOP!" Lucifer shouted, causing everyone to freeze and then he looked at Nifty, "He is not to be harmed!"
Nifty pouts and steps back to the group, but Husker shakes his head, outraged, "But he kissed Charlie!"
"Yeah, he just grabbed her like some cheap pu…" Angel stopped himself abruptly, cursing that he almost insulted Charlie, "Like he owned her!"
"And you're defending him, acting like he's an old college bud?" Cherry Bomb asked, temper rising.
Lucifer gave them all a look that stalled their arguments. His eyes softened when he saw Charlie walking back to the group, they all went to her so she could feel them close in support. She gave them all eyes of gratitude, then turned towards Angel, eyes red and biting her lip, "Angel, I'm so sorry. I..I should.. I."
Angel stepped past the group and embraced Charlie, who melted, "NO, Charlie, I'm sorry! I didn't know! I assumed once I found you you would be just as I left you.. I did not think.. did not consider your feelings, your heart… i. I'm so fucking selfish!"
Charlie looked up into Angel's pained face, her eyes watering more, "It's not your fault! I lost it when I saw you, all those memories came rushing back. Memories I'm shocked I'd forgotten to begin with! I grabbed you because for a moment I thought you were just an illusion. I kissed you, desperate to make you real.. blinded and in that moment I hurt Vaggie so-SO much!" Charlie sobbed the last words.
"What did you tell her?" Angel wiped a few tears away from Charlie's cheek.
"Nothing really, I barely could get out how sorry I was, that you were from my past, long ago and I was so shocked you were here." Charlie sniffed, "She said she needed to be alone, and walked off to the ruins."
Angel looked over Charlie's head to the destroyed hotel, biting his lip, he steeled himself and said, "We have to tell her everything, and Charlie?" He looked down to her, "If I'd known… I would not have shown myself to you this soon...I am so sorry for causing you strife."
Charlie tightened her grip around Angel, "I am so so so happy to see you. I am so so so glad you are here, now!" She broke the grip and took a step back, "I never stopped loving you, but I am in love with Vaggie. I can't lose her!"
"You won't!" Angel affirmed, "We tell her the truth, all of it.. what happened to you. With us.. and our promise. We tell her that she changed the story, and the story is you two, now. Your hotel is about forgiveness and redemption, right?"
Charlie turned to the ruins, "What's left of it, yes."
"Then this time it's us that needs to ask for forgiveness."
Charlie agreed to this and turned to her friends. "I know you're all confused, and I will explain everything, I promise you. But right now, I need to focus on Vaggie. I need her to listen!"
"She will, "Lucifer promised, "I am going on ahead and have a word with her."
"Dad?"
"You said you wouldn't interfere." Angel reminded him.
"Don't worry, trust me" And with that, Lucifer popped out in a puff of sulfur.
Charlie shivered, and Angel put his hand on her shoulder, and the others came over and embraced Charlie, and Angel Dust said reassuringly "We will listen, Charlie. We trust you."
Charlie smiled gratefully and the group turned towards the ruins, their home. They took a few steps into the ruins when they came across the key kitten and Charlie picked her up, embracing her "Oh, there, there.. it's.. oh.. it's okay."
She watched Angel Dust reunite with his pig and she smiled, but it was fleeting as she then saw the fallen banner for Sir Pentious's first week in the hotel. Charlie choked.
"He sacrificed himself for us."
"I know. I saw." Angel sighed, "I focused on planning a strategy that would give you and your friends the advantage, but Adam wasn't so forthcoming with details about your friends. He didn't consider them a threat, so I had to strategize with the intel I'd been given."
"4-D chess." Remembering the past, Charlie stroked the kitty with a wistful smile. "In the end, he reminded me of you, Angel."
"How so?" Husk spoke up, curious.
"Charlie sighed, "It will all make sense, I promise. I just hope Vaggie will let me explain."
Vaggie sat on jagged ruins of the hotel, crying, and didn't notice Lucifer until he placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up, eyes hopeful it was Charlie, and sighed seeing it was her dad.
"I'm going to say something and you will listen to me and not interrupt. Are we clear?"
Vaggie nods, pursed lips, and Lucifer stated matter-of-factly, "You stood by and supported Charlie through everything to this moment, for her dreams, and you did it out of love. Love has many, many meanings, Vaggie. Among them, is giving the one you love a chance to prove themself. It's your duty as her lover to listen to her, to let her explain herself. But I will give you a bit of a spoiler, to help your heart decide."
Vaggie tilts her head, confused, staying silent as commanded and Lucifer looks over her shoulder in the direction of the group, a fondness in his voice, "If it wasn't for that man, Vaggie, Charlie might not be here, today."
"Sir?"
Lucifer holds his hand out, offering to help her stand, "It's one hell of a story, if you'll pardon a cheap pun. Come."
She nods and takes his hand to help her stand, her legs weak, but her will strong and Lucifer guides her back to the others.
Vaggie heard Charlie's fearful wish, as she stepped from around the ruins, and spoke firm "I will. Your dad told me that love means you listen, and I love you, Charlie."
Charlie ran to Vaggie, the kitty squirming away, and she embraced Vaggie tight, "I love you, Vaggie, so so so much. I'm so sorry I hurt you.. I'm soooo sorry!"
Vaggie mussed Charlie's hair while looking past her to Angel, "All Lucifer told me is that if it wasn't for you, Charlie may not even be here. That alone, you get my full attention.." looking at Charlie, "And my gratitude."
Confused looks cover the collective faces of Charlie's friends, and Angel looks around the ruins from the battle, "Thank you, Vaggie. I owe you an explanation for sure... But, it occurs to me that there is a lot of rebuilding to be done. Trust. Understanding…" He looks around the ruins, "A hotel?"
Charlie looked up, taking in the ruins in full, swallowing, "If only I could have gotten heaven on my side. I destroyed this hotel.. I could have done better, but I let all of you down."
Lucifer shook his head, "Come on, Charlie! You know, in the last ten thousand years, you're the first one to change this town, " firmly stating, "You changed my mind, and I see the potential, the possibilities. Heaven didn't listen to my dreams, but fuck it if we don't make them listen to yours!"
The others come to stand tall next to Charlie, and Vaggie grips her hand, "We can rebuild! Make the best hotel you've ever seen and help you fulfill your destiny!" She turns to Angel, "Will you help?."
With a deep breath, Angel steps up to Vaggie holding Charlie, the latter biting her lip as she watches, and he extends his hand, "I'd be honored." and she accepts his hand and Charlie looks to both of them, eyes full of love.. and hope.
