With a Smile
Vaggie walks into her fiancé's office wearing her best clothing. "Hey, Babe! You about ready? The camera guy should be on his way."
Charlie briefly looks up from the papers on her desk. "Yeah, Vaggie," she looks back down. "I'm still trying to figure out who do go with," the Hotel Owner switches papers. "So many applicants."
"Hun," the Fallen Angel wraps her arms around the blond. "It's still early. We don't even have a date set for the wedding. Choosing a planner can wait. But our first Family Picture Day? That's today."
The Princess smiles before kissing her fiancé. "You're right, Vaggie,"
"I love hearing that," the grey woman chuckles. "Now, let's go. Your parents are already downstairs waiting."
The couple then walk into the lounge to find Lucifer dipping Lilith already getting their picture taken.
"Okay, then," the King lifts his wife up. "Next, how about a more suggestive pose?" he smirks.
The Queen chuckles while running a finger down her husband's chest. "I could give you a sneak peak for tonight?" that causes Lucifer's smile to brighten even more.
"Mom! Dad!" Charlie whines covering her ears. "I am not hearing this! Not only are you guys trying to traumatize me, but you started without us!?"
"Sorry, Char-char," Lucifer tells her. "The camera was already here, and we planned on getting some individuals anyway. We didn't see any harm."
Charlie glares at him with crossed arms before releasing a relentless sigh. "Fine! Come on, Vaggie," she pulls the former Exorcist to where the camera was set. "Wait?" then she looks around. "Where's Celest? It won't be a Family Picture without her."
The family looks around and Lilith says. "We thought she was with you?"
Vaggie closes her eye. "She's most likely still in her room," and walks away. "I'll go grab her."
.oOo.
Celest had just finished the last touch of her recent work when her bedroom door is opened.
"Celest, Honey?" Vaggie walks up to her daughter and notices the splotches of paint on her current outfit. "It's picture day. You should've been ready by n…" she stops at the sight of the child's recent artwork.
Right there in all of his glory, with that disturbing smile of his for all to see is none other than Alastor painted on a large canvas.
"I know that he wasn't really a good guy, Mama. But Mr. Alastor was still family," Celest tells her mother as she walks over to where she kept her dress for today and starts getting ready. "I guess it doesn't feel right without him here."
Vaggie looks around and finds a small unopened rectangular box. Picking it up, she recognizes it as one of the gifts from her daughter's birthday.
"I couldn't open it," Celest walks up to her mother now in her simple dress. "I know it's been months, but I just couldn't. That box is the last thing Mr. Alastor gave me."
"Why haven't you opened it yet?"
The little hazbin looks down. "I'm afraid that if I do that, then he'd truly be gone," she is then wrapped up in her mother's arms.
"I'm not gonna lie," Vaggie gives Celest a sad smile. "I was never a fan of Alastor but as annoying and irritating he was, things were always more lively with him around," she then wipes away the tears forming in her daughter's eyes. "And if there's one thing that I know about Alastor, he wouldn't want you to be sad. He'd want you to face everything with a smile."
"I know," Celest sniffles. "I just don't see how this could be Family Picture Day without the whole family."
Vaggie thought for a moment and got an idea that even Charlie would love. "Hey! We can't disappoint your grandparents. They came all the way here for today."
"I know," the child sighs and leaves the room with the Fallen Angel.
"Hey!" her Mama takes note of something. "You still got a bit of paint on you," she points at a spot on her forehead. "Maybe you should go wash up before the picture? We'll meet you downstairs."
"Okay, Mama," with that, Celest goes to the nearest bathroom.
Vaggie takes out her phone and dials her fiancé. "Hey, Charlie. Gather everyone in the Lounge," she walks back into her daughter's room and heads for the newly finished portrait.
"Vaggie? What's going on?" Charlie questions. "And what do you mean everyone?"
"I mean everyone. Everyone in the Hotel. We're having Family Picture Day with the whole family," she hangs up and grabs the painting. "That includes you."
.oOo.
When Celest came down, she was confused at seeing everyone that lives at the Hotel in the Lounge.
"What's going on?" she walks up to her parents who are standing side by side in front of the wall.
The two women smiled at one another before stepping to the side to reveal her recent work of Alastor.
"I, I don't understand," the child looks away from the portrait and back at her parents.
"Well, Sweetie," Charlie kneels in front of her. "You're Mama explained that you didn't feel that it be a Family Picture Day without Alastor. We figured this would be the closest to the next best thing."
Celest suddenly hugs her and soon Vaggie joins them.
"Ahem!" the camera man coughs. "Look, I have other appointments to keep. I only have time for one more picture, so everyone is just going to have to…" Lucifer then hands over a stack of cash. "I can always reschedule," he then gestures to in front of the portrait. "Royalty fir…"
A burst of smoke and light enters the room and soon fades to reveal three Deadly Sins and two of their soon to be spouses.
"Hey, everybody!" Bee waves her arms round at everyone. "You're not starting the party without us are you!?"
"Aunt Bee!" Celest ran up to Gluttony to give her a big hug.
"Hey, Little Celest!" she hugs the child. "How's my favorite grandniece?"
"I'm better now that you're here!" the child then looks over at the other Sins. "Hi, Uncle Ozzy! Hi, Uncle Mammon!"
"Hey, Girl!" Lust greets.
"You acknowledge me as an Uncle," Greed pumps his fist before turning to Charlie. "That's how you should great family."
Still having the little girl in her arms, Bee turns to the Hellhound next to her. "Hey! I want you to meet your future great uncle! This is Vortex."
"Hey, nice to meet you," Tex greets. "Bee was right. You are adorable." the Hellhound is then pushed back by an extended robotic arm.
"Hey!" and imp clown pushes Tex out of the way. "I'm Fizzarolli! I can't believe I'm finally meeting my soon-to-be niece!" he laughs as he takes the little girl and spins her around.
Celest lets out a scream of delight.
"Easy, Fizz," Asmodeus catches the girl while giving a chuckle. "She's all dressed up for today. Don't want to ruin that nice outfit of hers. You look lovely by the way."
"Thanks, Uncle Ozzy," Celest hugs him before he sets her down.
"Alright, Everyone!" the cameraman calls out. "Let's try this again!"
First, everyone got an individual picture taken in front of the portrait, with the exception of the Egg Bois as none of them understood that only one was needed per picture.
Then, comes the group pictures with Charlie and Vaggie going first as a couple and then Celest gets in front of them for another one.
Lucifer and Lilith are up next with the King being stubborn, not wanting to do it in front of a painting of Alastor. With a smirk, Lilith started telling her husband something that caused Vaggie to cover her daughter's ears, Charlie to cover her own ears, Asmodeus and Bee nod in approval, Emily is holding a hand over her mouth as she's never heard anything described so explicitly, and everyone else stared wide eyed at what they're hearing. The Egg Bois just didn't know what was going on as they just shrug at one another.
With a wide smile, Lucifer agrees to the photo with his wife before his daughter, soon-to-be daughter-in-law, and granddaughter join in for another one, and eventually the other Sins and their future spouses got in on it as well.
Cherri Bomb drags Sir Pentious into a picture with just the two of them before pulling Emily by her jacket in between the two with the Egg Bois hopping in for the next.
Angel Dust managed to convince Husk to take one picture with him and even though the Cat Demon was hesitant, he did enjoy being close with the Spider for a single shot.
For the Sins pictures. Both Bee and Asmodeus each got one with them cuddling with their fiancés and then all four Sins got in on a group photo before Mammon insisted on one more with just him.
"All right!" the cameraman shouts. "Gather around for the big one!" with that, everyone starts to group together in front of the portrait but soon notices a newcomer.
"Am, am I late," a star eyed woman nervously looks at the group.
"Kayla!" Celest runs up to hug the woman. "I miss you!"
Kayla smiles as she returns the hug. "I miss you too, Celest."
Vaggie walks up to them. "I have to be honest with you. I wasn't sure that you'd show up."
"Won't lie," the Sinner looks down. "It's still hard being here without her," she then looks back up at everyone. "But the message said that the whole family should be here. How could I refuse?"
Charlie smiles at the young woman before leading her over to where everyone has been getting their picture taken. "So, how have you been?"
"Well, I'm about to start my first day on a new job," Kayla slumps a little. "For the fifth time. But I'm more hopeful working with Ms. Carmine. She seemed very interested and eager to have me for some reason."
As soon as she was standing in front of the painting, Kayla stood there with her best smile, and waited for the flash. Once done, the Sinner goes to leave but is stopped by a shout.
"Wait!" Celest gets in front of her. The little girl then closes her eyes and concentrates really hard as she waves her hands. Suddenly, a small frame appears in Kayla's hands. "I just finished it yesterday. I figure that she should be here with us. I hope you like it."
With a teary-eyed smile, Kayla tells the little girl. "I love it, Celest. Thank you," she turns around to reveal a portrait of Niffty with one of her more innocent smiles and the star-eyed woman gets picture with it.
"Okay!" the Cameraman seems a little annoyed now. "Are there any other unexpected guests going to drop in unannounced for pictures. How about Verosika Mayday? Or Prince Stolas? How about a random dude from the street? No? Okay? Last picture! This time for sure," he readies the camera. "I want to go home."
Everyone starts gathering around for the big picture.
"Hey!" Lucifer whispers to his granddaughter. "Nice trick with bringing that picture down here."
Celest smiles up at him. "I have a pretty good teacher."
Hearing that, the King raised a brow while maintaining his smile "Just pretty good?"
.oOo.
After the pictures were done, everyone stuck around for a mini after party/family dinner. Which came to an end when Asmodeus and Bee started arguing who should have Celest as the flower girl at their wedding and eventually, Vaggie jumps in pointing out that as her daughter, the little hazbin will be the flower girl and hers and Charlie's wedding.
At the end of the day, Celest walks into her room, tired from the day's events. After getting dressed into her nightgown, she notices the gift from Alastor.
Celest takes a deep breath as she retrieves the small box and finally opens it. The little girl smiles at what is inside.
Right before going to bed, the Little Hazbin sets something in a small frame before putting it on her desk. Within the frame is a strip of photobooth pictures from the time she, Mr. Alastor, and her grandpa were at Looloo Land. She never knew that the Radio Demon could be sentimental.