EPILOGUE

Morning in Hell was easily one of her favorite times of day. When almost every day in a four year stretch you got the opportunity to wake up next to the love of your life, maybe you developed a bit of bias. And the fact that she opened her eyes the day after only to be greeted by the perfect view of a satisfied smile on the face of the sleeping beauty herself only helped to solidify Vaggie's opinion.

She reached out and gently, so not to wake her naughty devil, brushed a bit of the wild burst of bed head from Charlie's face. Then she kissed her fingertips and placed them, ever so carefully onto the princess's black lips and slowly sat up in bed.

Charlie was a heavy sleeper, so she didn't stir as Vaggie quietly slipped out of bed and grabbed her silk teal robe from the hook on the wall nearby. She slipped it on and tied it, all the while gazing at the perfect form lying on her side, cuddling a pillow, and couldn't help but shake her head in wonder at the tremendous miracle that she belonged to such a remarkable woman. Her heart fluttered in her chest as her eyes lingered on the smooth flesh of Charlie's bare torso, the slight, pleasant swell of her hips, her slender shoulders, her beautiful breasts.

She stepped around the bed and drew the covers up over Charlie's shoulders. She was tempted to rouse the princess from sleep for another go at the night's exhilarating activities, but she had something important to do, and she wanted to do it before Charlie woke.

She adjusted the robe against her small frame to ensure that she was at least mostly presentable, retying the sash, and with one final look at her beloved devil, she pulled the door to their room open and stepped out into the hall. She frowned as she stared down at a package sitting there at her feet. She bent over to pick it up, and knew immediately that there was a book inside. The label bore fine, pristine handwriting: "I apologize for missing last night's festivities. I trust everyone had fun. This isn't much but I do hope you will find enjoyment in it. Happy Anniversary and Best Wishes, Alastor."

Vaggie considered the package for a long moment. She hadn't expected Alastor would care to participate. Probably why he had scheduled a visit to New Brimstone in the first place. He didn't strike her as the type to care about dates like anniversaries and holidays. He probably had been the kind of kid in life who hadn't even cared about his own birthday, so she was a little touched to find something waiting at the door with his name on it.

She glanced back over her shoulder and saw that Charlie was still snoozing happily in bed. The fact that she hadn't rolled over in bed at all was a surprise. The princess was a bit of a restless sleeper, and often tossed and turned in her sleep. Vaggie smiled as she lay the unopened gift on the cabinet just inside the room and stepped outside, closing the door softly behind her.

She turned and immediately headed for her destination. It was a room on the same floor, one of the fancy suites reserved for long-term guests. As she slowed to a standstill just outside the door, she drew a deep breath and glanced down self-consciously to check her robe. She decided she was presentable enough, and reached up to knock.

She had known the occupant would be up. He would have to leave for work within the hour, but that would be plenty of time for her to have a conversation. When the door opened, and the tall spider demon peered out, twin pink irises, one surrounded by a light yellow sclera, and the other nearly black in the dim light of his room.

He was still wearing his nightclothes, and there seemed to be bags under his eyes.

He frowned. "Vaggie?"

"God, Angel. You look like hell. Didn't you sleep?"

"Not well," he admitted quietly. "What is it? I need to start getting ready for work."

She looked up at him with a concerned expression, but she knew better than to press him on his own problems if he didn't want to talk about it. Maybe she could give him an opening, but first, she had something to do.

"Look, mind if I come in? We need to talk."

He stared down at her and then shrugged. "Sure." He stepped aside, and she joined him just inside the door. She'd never been in his room before. At least, not since before he'd moved his stuff in after the hotel was rebuilt six months ago. Finally, she turned and looked up at him. "What's this about?"

Vaggie sighed and then fixed him with her most serious expression. "First things first. A dildo, Angel? Seriously?"

He shrugged his shoulders. He looked as if he had expected this conversation.

She stepped close and gently tapped his chest with a finger. She felt a bit ridiculous, as he towered over her by a good three feet. "All I'm gonna say is that's super inappropriate, Angel. I'd like to say I can't believe you'd do such a thing."

"Uh, look, Vags… I really am sorry about all that. I–"

"Shut up, Angel," she said through a smile. "You big goof."

She surprised him by throwing her arms around him and hugged him for what felt like forever. It took him several long seconds to return the hug, Carefully wrapping his lower arms and holding her to him. "Well this is nice," he said. "But, I don't get it. Wassup?"

"Angel, listen. You never have to apologize for being yourself. Not under this roof. Not to me. The truth is, I owe you an apology. I yelled at you without even trying to understand. I think it's a side effect of Conceited Halo Syndrome."

Angel lifted a brow, and had to smirk at the mental image that gave him

"And the funny thing is, I was wrong about the whole thing." Vaggie hugged him again. "I just can't thank you enough for last night. It was amazing, it really was. I was really inconsiderate the way I treated you and come to find out… let's just say Charlie and I had a lot of fun last night."

"This doesn't sound like a typical Vaggie and Angel conversation," he said slowly. "You're scaring me."

Vaggie grinned. "I'm scaring myself," she said, parting from him. "But all I can say is I haven't had so much fun with Charlie in a long time. Not that it's been subpar or anything. But I just want you to know… I really do appreciate what you did for us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

He grinned back. "Sure. I… I'm glad I could help."

"Just do me a favor and be a bit more thoughtful in mixed company. But if Charlie ever wants advice, by all means. Fuck, I might ask for some advice myself on occasion."

"My door is always open," he promised.

"I should let you get ready for work."

"Sure. Thanks. Hey, can you and I meet down at the bar after I get off for a couple a drinks? There's a few things I wanna get off my chest now that we're bein' open."

Vaggie considered him for a long moment and then she smiled. "Sure. I don't see why not. Am I in trouble?"

"I don't think so."

"Are you in trouble?"

He shrugged. "Always. But that's not what I wanna talk about."

"Okay. Angel, you have a good day."

"Sure, you too." He watched as she started to turn away, and then held out a hand. "Hey wait. I gotta ask."

She looked back. "Yeah?"

"You really never had anything that big before?"

She frowned, but before she could ask just what he had meant, it dawned on her. Her face flushed. She tried her hardest to look angry as she glared at him, but she felt her mouth twisting into a big grin nonetheless. "Angel! Boundaries!"

The look on her face told him everything he needed to know. He grinned back.

"You're welcome, toots."

THE END