Charlie felt suffocated and trapped.
Not the best way to come to after attempting to save the man you love, but beggars can't be choosers especially in Hell. Confusion seeped through her as she realized that she was standing up. She peeked open her eyes slightly and saw that she was standing in a kitchen. It wasn't the hotel kitchen either so that made her even more perplexed. A part of her still felt very uncomfortable being in an unknown place but something else started to bloom in her chest. The tiniest flicker of comfort swelled in her, even if it was just fleeting. She looked around the area slowly and saw that she was in a very small kitchen. The circular kitchen table had a basket filled with fruit in the middle, surrounded by beige placemats. The wallpaper was decorated with a pattern of small flowers, pink and budding. It eased the uneasiness in her stomach bit by bit until she felt completely welcome.
"Do my eyes deceive me or am I finally meeting the infamous Charlie Morningstar?"
The sweet voice startled Charlie, making her swiftly turn toward the hallway where it came from. There, she saw an older woman in the entryway. She had milk chocolate hair that was pinned in a high bun. Small rivers of silver ran through from her roots but she still managed to pull it off. Her emerald eyes looked over Charlie a few times until her smile grew. Charlie felt like she knew that smile from somewhere, but her brain was still a bit foggy.
"Um, hello! I'm so sorry but do I know you?" Charlie asked shyly. She loathed not being able to recognize people. She didn't want them to feel like they weren't important by her not remembering them. The woman chuckled, placing a dainty hand to her chest. She adorned a faded pink sundress with brown heels to match. She almost reminded Charlie of a chocolate covered strawberry and she had to suppress the giggle that formed in her throat.
"I would assume not. Forgive me for being elusive, we've never actually met before." She held out a hand for Charlie to shake and she couldn't help but notice a tiny tan line on her finger where a wedding band used to be. "My name is Cecile."
Charlie reached forward and grabbed her hand to shake as something clicked within her.
"You're Alastor's mother." There was no need to phrase it as a question. Cecile's smile stayed put on her face as she returned to her hand by her side. It looked so much like Alastor's grin, but much more sweet and less manic.
"You are as perceptive as I imagined you to be." She said with a nod of her head.
"How. How am I seeing you right now? Where am I?" Charlie looked around the room once more now with this new realization. They were standing in Alastor's childhood kitchen. They were in New Orleans and it looked like time had frozen from way back when. Cecile looked around the room as well, less curiosity and more adornment in her eyes.
"I've been able to reach Alastor through his dreams, as difficult as it has been. Traveling between realms is quite challenging." Cecile said casually. Charlie whipped her head to face her again, her eyes wide as the dinner plates that were in the oak wood cabinets.
"You're in Heaven."
"You are correct. Imagine my...devastation when I learn of my son's demise and he..." Cecile stopped, her jugular twitching as she fights down a sob. "Regardless. If the only way I get to see my son is through dreams, then so be it."
"He wouldn't have a clue that he was actually seeing the real you though! Isn't that awful?"
"Not as awful as never seeing him again. I did everything I could to comfort him while he was alive and in death. That boy is rather difficult, as I'm sure you've experienced." Cecile cocked her head and gave a sympathetic grin. Charlie chuckled lightly.
"You're...certainly not wrong about that." Cecile gestured to the kitchen table that now had two chairs across from each other. Charlie took a seat while Cecile followed suit. This certainly wasn't how she imagined meeting Alastor's mother, but to be honest she never imagined she would ever meet her so she would take what she could get.
"What am I doing here?" Charlie asked as politely as she could. She didn't want Cecile to think she was ungrateful about this unexpected meet and greet, but memories began to flood through her. Alastor being wounded.
Alastor being dead.
"I can see the panic in your eyes, dear. Let me be the one to tell you that you were successful in saving him. He's waiting for you, bedside for when you awaken." Cecile said with honey dripping from her tone. Charlie opened her mouth but didn't know what to say. Relief was filling her chest and it almost made her choke.
"He's ok?" She asked meekly. Cecile nodded again and Charlie couldn't hold back the tears that flowed down her face.
"That's...that's wonderful." Charlie cracked.
"I will never be able to repay you for saving my son. He would've been in eternal darkness if it wasn't for you." Cecile placed her hands on the table, folding them respectively. "I can see why he's so smitten with you."
Charlie felt heat go to her cheeks. More memories of Alastor's confession came to the surface of her mind. He loved her. He actually loved her.
Only because of a love potion though.
With that one thought, it felt like all the sweet thoughts were filled with black tar. With all of the panic, she was able to easily push aside that fun fact. Now that she's calm and collected she has finally registered completely the weight of that. Alastor only loved her because of a love potion that Vox somehow was able to trick him into drinking. Was there a cure? Did Charlie want Alastor to be cured? Of course she did, she didn't want Alastor to hold such feelings for her if they weren't real.
Her feelings were very real though.
Their relationship would become very awkward if her love wasn't returned. Even more so after he would be cured, he would no doubt feel uncomfortable with her. They would never be the same again. Panic squeezed her heart all over again as her mind raced through all kinds of scenarios, none of them too good.
"Dear?" Cecile's kind voice interrupted Charlie's mental spiral. Charlie jumped slightly at the abrupt return to reality. Or whatever this was.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to space out like that."
"Don't be. I know why you're frightened." Cecile leaned forward and grabbed one of Charlie's hands. "You fear that Alastor's love for you isn't true." Hearing it said out loud made it all the more real, making Charlie feel even more hopeless.
"Well, I mean it's not. It's caused by a love potion." Charlie mumbled. She couldn't keep out the depression dripping from her lips. To her surprise, Cecile let out a deep belly chuckle.
"What is it?" Charlie asked.
"Oh nothing, my dear. All will be revealed in due time. Just don't lose faith in him."
"I could never." Charlie said defensively. " My feelings are very real."
"You don't have to convince me. Watching you two this past month has done more than show me." Cecile suddenly was drinking from a teacup and Charlie had no clue where it came from.
"Wait, you've been spying on us?"
"Spying is such a harsh word. I prefer watching over." Cecile smirked as she set down the ivory teacup.
"I'm starting to see the family resemblance." Charlie commented through a smirk of her own. Cecile shrugged with a smile and eyeroll pairing.
"As long as it's a resemblance with him and I and not-" Cecile paused as if to consider something, then stopped. Charlie's heart broke when she realized that she was speaking about Alastor's father.
"He's nothing like him." Cecile nodded in agreement.
"Thank Heavens, he isn't. He has always been a sweet boy. Used to be afraid of his own shadow, if you can believe it. I tried my best to raise him to be a kind soul but...well. You can see how well that worked." Cecile whispered into her empty teacup, not being able to meet Charlie's eyes. It was Charlies turn to reach forward and grab both of her hands, leaving the cup abandoned.
"Alastor is certainly...complicated. I know that he isn't evil like his father." Charlie bit her bottom lip. "Not to be rude."
"You're not being rude, you're being honest and I appreciate that. I would rather taste bitter honesty than sugared up lies." She let out a sigh. "August used to be a better man. I don't know where along the way he became so...well, evil. I knew that if I ran and took Alastor, he would find us and I didn't want to risk my baby's safety. All I could do was stay and try to not anger him."
Charlie dared not to interrupt. This was probably the first time Cecile was able to talk about this freely with anyone. She doubted that Heaven had any therapists up there doing any work considering that you were suppose to be worry free there.
"I shouldn't have provoked him that night. I should've kept my mouth shut and waited until he went to work the next day and left with Alastor. Perhaps I would have stayed alive and Alastor wouldn't have turned into..." Cecile let the sentence drift off, not wanting to finish. Charlie knew all too well about not wanting to say certain things out loud so she didn't push.
"You did nothing wrong, Cecile. You did the best you could, considering your circumstances. I actually admire your strength." Charlie couldn't help but feel the smallest bit jealous of Cecile. She was able to face most likely the scariest thing of her life, just to protect her son. If Charlie was able to face her feelings sooner, maybe she could've healed Alastor before everything went to shit. She could've saved him a lot of pain.
"While I appreciate the sentiment dear, my strength shouldn't be admired. It came from a very dark place and I wished that I didn't need that when raising my son. I fear that the strength that you hold in such high regards is the same strength that Alastor bears on his shoulders. It's crippling." Cecile's voice grew more stern, but not in an angry way. Charlie couldn't help but feel like she was a child being scolded right now. She bowed her head.
"You're right. If I was stronger sooner than maybe Alastor-"
"If I was stronger than I wouldn't have been murdered. If I was stronger then my sadistic pitiful excuse of a husband wouldn't have made my son hide my body that night." Cecile stood up and Charlie followed suit without thinking. "My point is, it helps nothing in looking at what you should've done differently. I also understand that I'm the pot calling the kettle black but please do as I say and not as I do. Don't let yourself get stuck in the past because it will no doubt shape your future. Learn the lessons and apply them to the present."
Charlie let those words sink in and realized that she was absolutely right. There is nothing she could do about what has already been done. What she can do now though is use her new found strength in protecting the people she loves on a higher level. Including Alastor.
Especially Alastor.
"Is it weird to say that I wish you could come with me?" Charlie asked, to which Cecile giggled. Charlie knew that she would miss that giggle like crazy.
"Only if it's weird that I would if I could." Cecile took a deep breath, deep in thought. "Heaven isn't truly Heaven without my Al."
"I understand. He makes Hell a bit more..." Charlie paused, finding the right word. "A bit more like home."
"I'm glad. Truly I am." Cecile winked at Charlie, making her feel lighter. A light began to shine through the kitchen window, too bright to be the earthly sun. Charlie knew that it was time to return to Hell.
"No I. I'm not ready to go! I have so many more questions for you!" Charlie rushed out. Meeting Alastor's mother was a dream come true and she didn't have nearly enough time with her. The more time she spent with her, the more she could see Alastor's good qualities within her. It was magical to see where Alastor came from and she wasn't ready to part with that.
"I'm sure Alastor would be more than happy to answer those questions, darling. I've kept you from him long enough. He hasn't moved from that chair in days!" Cecile laughed. Charlie cocked her head in confusion, but didn't dwell on it too long.
"Will I ever see you again?" Charlie asked, tears brimming her eyes. The light was borderline about to break down the door that lead to outside. Cecile placed a hand on her cheek.
"Dear, you can best believe that you will." Cecile returned her hand and folded them in front of her dress. "Besides, what kind of mother would I be if I didn't check in on my future daughter in law from time to time?"
Charlie's own smile stretched across her face at her kind words. She hadn't given any thought of marriage with Alastor, but when said out loud it did certainly sound like a pleasant idea. She turned toward the kitchen door and reached for the doorknob.
"Oh and dear?" Charlie looked over her shoulder at Cecile one last time.
"Yeah?"
"Please tell Alastor to not worry so much. Those crows feet will end up flying away if he lets them!"
Charlie once again cocked an eyebrow at the random bit of advice. She can also see where Alastor gets his cryptic way of speaking from.
"I uh. I certainly will."
Cecile gave her one last smile and wave before Charlie opened the door. The light all but sucked her into it's bright rays, claiming her entirely. She felt like she was in free fall until she landed in complete darkness. So noise. No light. No anything.
Until suddenly there was.
She jolted upright, her head pounding something fierce. She wasn't able to open her eyes yet but she could smell familiar things. The smell of her fabric softener. Her strawberry shampoo. Randomly, she could smell a whole bunch of fruit. Slowly, hearing came as well. A faint voice was still too far away but she could also hear the squeaking of her bed as she sat up. Finally, she was able to register things she was touching. She could feel someone have one hand on her back and one hand on her leg. The hand on her back was rubbing small circles repeatedly, comfortingly. She gripped her comforter tightly, trying to focus on one thing. She felt overwhelmed with so many things happening at once.
"Charlie? Can you hear me?"
That voice.
She forced her eyes open, burning of her retinas be god damned. She turned her eyes towards where the voice was coming from and felt her heart stop in her ribcage.
Alastor sat there, looking at her with worried eyes and the same damn smile he always had. The hands that were on her belonged to him, attempting to gently coax her back to him. She let her eyes adjust to the light until he became more and more clear.
"Charlie please say something!" Alastor begged. Charlie opened her mouth and pushed out her voice. It sounded hoarse and rough.
"You're here?" Alastor let out a breath that sounded like he had been holding for a year.
"I'm here." He confirmed. Before she could say anything else, he quickly wrapped her with his arms. He held her against his own chest tightly to the point that she couldn't move. She tried to wriggle out of his embrace but failed.
"Um Alastor you can let me go now." In response, he squeezed her tighter.
"I thought you were dead, Charlie. I need to fucking hold you."
Charlie shuts her mouth and without another word, melts into his embrace. His voice shook with fear and his muscles vibrated against her own. He was actually terrified. She took in a deep inhale and could smell his natural scent of cedarwood and old shoes. A smell that at first turned Charlie off, but now it comforted her in ways that she couldn't explain. He smelled familiar.
He smelled like home.
A/N: You guys :') Some of your comments have actually brought me to tears. I've always loved writing and to know that this story has made you guys so happy, it is indescribable. I can't wait for your surprise towards the end of this story! :) Until next time! Xx