Chapter One

Never Leave Me Again

With his medium brown hair draped over his face and some strands tickling his nose, Kevin laid his head against Charlie's shoulder and listened to her tell the tale of how the Hazbin Hotel came to be. His soft golden brown eyes admired Charlie as she regaled in the story, lost in the memories of the last six months and seemingly overjoyed to get to tell a tale that was much more lively than their own had been.

On her other shoulder, Vaggie dozed, having fallen asleep shortly before the sixth tale of nine that Charlie was relishing in telling. She had tried to stay awake and offer her own views on some of the events, but exhaustion had caught up with her after listening to Angel and Charlie share their own adventure earlier in the night.

However, story time wasn't free of painful memories. When Charlie got to the day of the battle—which Kevin knew very well—she choked at the point of the death of Sir Pentious. She had told Kevin in detail about who he was, how he came to the hotel, and how he grew as a person. How, on the eve of the battle, had confessed to her his affections for Cherri Bomb. The reminder caused a break in her voice, and she stopped.

"Hey." Kevin whispered, lifting his hand to brush her cheek and turn her eyes to his, "It's okay. He's a hero, princess. You should be proud."

"I am." Charlie whispered back, but her eyes still bled with tears.

Kevin set himself upright, leaned in, and gave Charlie a gentle kiss; only the third one since he'd come to Hell. The first had nearly destroyed her relationship with Vaggie, but the second one was the start of a new, intricate, and mysterious relationship between the three. Charlie hummed softly and returned the kiss with no hesitation.

Only Vaggie's soft mumble, a result of her body shifting due to Charlie's movements, interrupted them. They smiled warmly into each other's eyes, "I really should get Vaggie to bed."

Kevin looked past Charlie to Vaggie, "May I?"

Charlie gave Kevin a soft, confusing look and watched him stand. He reached past her, slid his strong arms under Vaggie's body, and carefully lifted her up into his arms. Charlie's eyes melted, and she awed softly.

"Would you lead the way, my princess?"

"Yes, my knight." Charlie stood and straightened the hem of her suit. "You helped build the hotel, so you know our suite is on the top floor."

"I hope I'm not resolved to a couch this time?"

Charlie giggled as she led the way to the elevators down the hall, while Kevin trailed behind, holding Vaggie in his arms. "Of course not, silly. With you here now and this new arrangement, Vaggie and I are going to figure out how to place you. For tonight, I believe one of the rooms just one floor below us will suffice.

Charlie stopped suddenly, and Kevin almost ran into her. He oomphed quietly, and Vaggie stirred a bit but did not wake. "Charlie?"

She turned, "I don't like this! Sending you away tonight. I want you to know that, Kevin. I want you in our bed, with us. But I have to talk to Vaggie first. I don't quite understand what she's opening up here."

"It's okay." Kevin smiled. "I'm not sure what she's expecting, either. I stayed because she… you… demanded it." He paused. "In all honesty, I had no desire to leave. I just didn't see any other way."

Charlie turned to continue the walk and said, "I understand. I get why you were going to go, Kevin; I do. I was an idiot thinking you could stay as if nothing had changed."

"No, Charlie. Don't think that." Kevin sighed.

"But it's true." Charlie huffed, "All those memories were so fresh in my mind it was like we were back at the Gazebo by the river, drowning in each other, but this time I wasn't going to disappear. You were. Then Vaggie tells you not to go, offering this…this…?"

"I think the term's called a 'hinge' relationship." Kevin said matter-of-factly.

"Yeah. That." Charlie slowed a bit but didn't stop. When she felt Kevin's warmth closer, she turned her head and smiled, "Just…give me and Vaggie time to talk this out, okay?"

"I waited years to die just so I could find you again." Kevin tilted his head and let his brown eyes peer through his messy hair. "Thanks to Vaggie, I only have to wait a little longer. Take the time you both need."

Charlie's smile fell a bit. "I'm so sorry, though. It was too soon for you. And Cassie? Losing her little brother? I wish I could tell her you're okay. I miss her so much."

"Cassie knows Heaven and Hell exist more than almost any other human being could understand. In her heart, she knows I found you and that I'm happy. I know you miss her; she misses you so much, too. You are her sister, too."

"Maybe Father will let us visit her." Charlie started getting excited by the idea, "He could borrow Stolas's grimoire again."

"I don't think that would be a good idea." Kevin frowned. "And it would only cause her more pain when we had to return here."

"I guess you're right." Once they reached the elevators, Charlie pressed the express button for the one elevator that led to her and Vaggie's suite. "I am getting ahead of myself, aren't I?"

"Nah." Kevin chuckled, "You're just always filled with ideas and big dreams, and it's what makes you so special."

Lowering her eyes and blushing softly, Charlie whispered a loving "Thank you." and then peered up at the numbers as they chimed their way down to the main floor, until the elevator doors opened softly with a light whoosh. The two stepped in, and Charlie pressed the button for the suite. The doors closed, and the elevator began a quick, smooth rise.

"I assume I can choose any room on the floor below yours?" Kevin eyed the numbers as the elevator rose.

"Mmhmm, But I'd suggest away from the elevator. Niftty's up before the crack of dawn, and she uses them a lot as she cleans and hunts for bugs."

"That little demon has no rest in her, does she?"

"I think she sleeps a little but spends most of her free time working on her roach puppet shows." Charlie smirked as the elevator stopped and the doors opened to their expansive suite that took up half the top floor. Only an outside hallway from another elevator led to the far ends on both sides, where Charlie's father, Lucifer, stayed in a side suite while Alastor had his radio tower on the other side.

Kevin was impressed with everything they'd done to the sizable room as he entered it. It was like a small mansion of its own, with all the amenities any normal home would have, situated in an open floor plan.

To the immediate left of entering the room were the double doors to the bathroom, a word that in no way accurately described what all they'd had installed: a full-sized walk-in shower that could host a small gathering with a dozen shower heads at various levels. A standalone clawed tub, big enough for two, sat in an alcove across from the shower. Triple sinks, each with its own rectangle mirror, and glass sinks that sat on a long glass countertop, with open shelving below for all of the ladies various supplies. The toilet was tucked around a corner in it's own alcove, allowing for privacy, but had no door. The tiles were a mix of gold and dark crimson red that crawled up the walls to chest level before changing into a rich dark black and had receeded lights in the walls and ceiling.

In the main room, just past the bathroom doors, a wall stretched an easy fifteen feet with no furniture near it, showcasing portraits of Charlie's family and friends, including her mother, Lilith, her cousins, the sins, and those in the hotel, including Sir Pentious, and of course in the center, a larger than normal portrait of her and Vaggie. Kevin harbored a brief feeling of envy, wondering if he would secure a spot.

Past the display in the corner, a large fireplace sat unlit. Charlie had mentioned that while it never got cold in the Pride Ring of Hell, there were times she enjoyed the snaps and pops of a living fire while she and Vaggie would curl up and read to each other. A couch and three deep cushioned chairs sat casually around the hearth of the fireplace. Kevin was beginning to understand the significance of the number three as he glanced down at Vaggie, who was peacefully sleeping in his arms. He knew she had been as vocal about the design of her and Charlie's bedroom as Charlie had been. Had she been contemplating this change before she'd heard the story?

A couple of nicely decorated tables sat against the wall past the sitting area, on each side of a pair of large arched windows with their own built-in seating areas. The walls of the room were decorated in a similar wallpaper scheme of the old hotel, something Charlie had insisted on, to keep some of the old charm in tact. The floors were all a deep hardwood brown, and potted plants sat in various spots to create an almost forest-like feel, which contradicted most of the ascetic of the room and certainly all of Hell itself.

At the other end of the room sat a small kitchenette. An island counter with a soft-white top, with a sink built in, and two burners for cooking sat inlaid on the other side, and a wall oven tucked next to a large fridge, with only a three-foot counter separating them. A bowl of various weird fruits sat on the counter, an indication that Charlie had reverted back to being a vegetarian again.

In the final corner of the room was a small sitting area with a 50-inch LCD television and an old-style radio sitting on a tall stand surrounded by two couches and a few chairs.

In the center of the room stood the huge bed. Rather than separate it from the rest of their room, they'd opted for it to be the centerpiece of their private suite. The bed was the size of two California kings, both wide and as deep, under a mahogany canopy top draped in satin and silk curtains. The four wooden poles were intricately carved in the angelic wing designs, something Charlie had insisted on as an honor to her girlfriend, Vaggie, and possibly even for Kevin. A few adorable stuffed animals were on display at the foot of the bed, where a large red trunk sat on the floor. Charlie had refused to comment on the contents, but Kevin wasn't naive about the kind of relationship Charlie had with Vaggie; it wasn't a trunk meant for innocent eyes.

Charlie had gone above and beyond with the decor, trying to make the room as intimate as the size would allow, and Kevin had marveled over how it had all come together during the last month. He'd only been in the room twice. Once to set up the security for the doors, and another time to help Lucifer seal the windows into the framing of the walls.

As Kevin moved to the bed, Charlie walked to the other side and motioned him over. She pulled back the thick red and black quilt that had been gifted to them by Alastor, and then the black silk sheets followed. Kevin stepped forward and bent gently, letting Vaggie's body melt into the thick, soft bedding. Charlie pulled the quilt up to rest against the fallen angel's chin, and she leaned down and kissed her gently on the forehead. Charlie stepped back and looked at Kevin.

"Hmm?" Kevin whispered so as not to wake Vaggie.

Charlie motioned her head towards Vaggie and said, "Your turn."

"Oh!" Kevin felt his cheeks burn. "Is it ok?"

"I insist." Charlie's voice purred.

Kevin nodded, learned to sit down, and planted a soft kiss in the same spot Charlie had. Vaggie shifted slightly, sighed as if content, and then began to snore lightly.

Charlie motioned for Kevin to follow her again, and they went back to the elevator. Charlie pressed the button to descend to the next level and waited for the elevator doors to close, then hit the button to stop the elevator from moving. Before he could ask why, she turned and slammed Kevin against the wall, kissing him passionately.

Well, the word kiss was a weak choice. What Charlie did was engulf Kevin into her. Their lips meshed together and became one. The kiss they shared on the night she was reclaimed by Hell was the same, but this time she would not be taken from Kevin. The way she pressed into him was a sign that she was his for eternity. Kevin's hands wrapped around Charlie, and he flipped her around and slammed her against the same wall. Charlie grunted in pain. And she loved it. She and Vaggie had all kinds of sex, but she recalled the one morning she had with Kevin, and she needed that again. She felt him, hard and large, pressing against her pants and pushing the material between the folds of her pussy, which was wet and swollen already.

"Charlie, my princess." Kevin moaned between kisses, "I've missed you so much."

"Kevin!" Charlie gasped, "Never leave me again."

She thrust a leg out and around him so he could press harder against her. As she did and basically rode him as he humped her, he stopped and pulled his head back to give her a wicked grin. "You will warn me if you?"

Charlie gave him a deep laugh and said, "My dear Knight, we can't fuck tonight. I have to talk to Vaggie first. But I needed to feel you. So badly. I hope I haven't upset you?" Even though she said the words, she knew he wasn't and his smile reassured her.

"No. I knew this was just a moment to let ourselves finally accept what we have. I can wait a little longer to strip you down, bend you over, and have my way with you."

"Kevin!" Charlie gasped, her lips wide and up, with giggling eyes, "You are such a fucking tease."

"I learned from the best bitch in Hell." Kevin winked.

She felt a little thrill at hearing Kevin say it and growled, "Say it again. What am I?"

Kevin leaned in and whispered it into her ear, nipping her lobe with his teeth. "You're a sexy, amazing bitch!"

Charlie breathed into his neck and remembered a moment from their past, a moment that threatened their relationship, and now she needed to twist those past words into something that was more akin to a promise: "I am your demon bitch!"

Panting, the two broke apart then and stared at each other with love and lust. Regret etched their features, yet it softened with the realization that time was finally on their side, not against them. Lifting her chin and acting primly, Charlie took three steps and released the elevator, which then started up, carrying them down one floor. When the doors opened, Charlie stepped back, and amazingly, she blushed, "I, uh, better not come with you to your new room. I may not leave."

Kevin smirked and took the steps to leave the elevator. "If you walked through my doors, my princess, you wouldn't."

Charlie licked her lips but moved into the back of the elevator. "I will see you in the morning, my knight."

"Good night, my Princess of Hell."

When the doors shut, Kevin stood there for a moment and let the past few minutes fill his soul. No longer did the pains of his life drown him; no longer did he have regret or fear. He trusted what Vaggie had promised and had high hopes that they'd find a way to make it work out.

As he prepared to explore the rooms at the end of the hallway, a shadow drew his attention. He turned, and his eyes fell upon Alastor, who stood in a nook at the end of the elavator's lobby.

"How long have you been standing there, Radio Demon?"

"Long enough." Alastor's smile did not reach his eyes. Kevin wondered if it ever did. "You two took Vaggie's offer to heart."

"We did. And it's none of your damned business, demon." Kevin's stance became defensive, as if ready for a fight.

"Oh, calm down. I'm not here to stir the pot."

"Isn't that your thing, though?" Kevin growled, "Stir the pot, for your own entertainment?"

"Aha." Alastor nodded, stepping out from the nook and approaching Kevin. "Charlie told you everything."

"I know the reason you're here." Kevin thinned his eyes. "And the deal you made with Charlie. Yes, I know it all. Except what it is you want out of the deal."

"That's for me to know," Alastor said as he leaned forward, his voice dancing with delight, "and for you to find out!" He tapped Kevin on the nose. "When the time comes, of course."

"I swear to you, damned one," Kevin reached up, pulling his halo down in one swift motion. A flash of light and a sword burst forth, a golden saber pulsing with pure angelic power. "If you lay even one finger on the princess…" He levied the sword at him, its point now mere inches from the Radio Demon's chest. "Your soul will burn."

Eyes narrowing, Alastor's smile seemed painted rather than a part of him. "I would be very careful if I were you, fallen angel," Alastor said, all humor now stripped from his voice. "You may have been at the top of the heap up there, but down here…" His eyes flashed crimson. "There are plenty of overlords and sinners who'd love nothing more than to turn you into mincemeat and would not think twice about disappointing our dear princess when doing it."

"Do I sense a threat in your words?" Kevin challenged, pushing the sword a bit closer.

His smile widened. "Simply an observation." He glanced down at the blade and went to push it aside when he sensed it wouldn't be wise to do so. Interesting. He smiled at Kevin, "After all, we're on the same side now, aren't we? You, protecting the princess, me, serving as her loyal facilities manager…"

"For now." Kevin admitted as he withdrew his sword and let it reshape into his halo before settling it back above his head, the magic clicking it into place.

Alastor watched the action with singular interest, "For as long as I desire. Just as Charlie commanded as the Princess of Hell and heir to the throne. Words that I consider as binding as any handshake."

"Alastor." Kevin chose to use his name to find a little bit of calmness in the tenseness of the moment, "You know what I went through to get here. What I would do to protect Charlie. You may hold dominion here, powers untold, and a mystery no one has ever unraveled, but let's be clear from this point on: there are no threats you can make to me that will put fear into my soul. I will die for her. I almost did it twice before, and I will do so again if necessary."

"I know." The tone in Alastor's voice was unusually gentle. "And I would expect no less from you. I propose that we cover our shared animosity toward each other with a blanket of tolerance, for their sake? For the time being, at least?"

"I agree to that." Kevin stopped as Alastor's words sank in. He did not like the Radio Demon, and for good reasons, but why did Alastor share the disdain, "Shared animosty?"

"Good night, Charlie's "Angel"." Alastor bowed, with a hint of mockery, and sank through the floor in a black mist.

Kevin stood there for a moment. He recalled Rygen and almost missed the hellhound with the air of threat that surrounded the Radio Demon. When Kevin had to prepare the exorcist army to attack the hotel, he'd investigated and learned a tremendous deal about most of the hotel residents, but information on Alastor was fleeting at best. Then, during the month it took to rebuild the hotel after the battle, the only indication of Alastor's presence was the appearance of construction demons who helped everyone rebuild. It wasn't until the day of the new hotel's christening that Alastor actually returned. Kevin had already deduced he'd needed the time to heal from the losing battle against Adam, and it was intriguing information to know.

A sudden yawn grabbed at Angel and shook him hard as he let it out. When was the last time he'd slept? It seemed like a year, at least. Swiftly walking down the hallway, he chose the last room on the right, noting with fondness how it reminded him of his sister's apartment. The room was located at the end of the hallway on the right side, opposite her bathroom. He glanced across, but the door led to another room, which Niftty had already prepared for the guests they hoped would soon occupy the space.

He opened the door without a key, as they had not yet been coded, focusing solely on the king-sized bed that lay just fifteen steps away. Fifteen became zero very quickly as Angel fell face first onto the bed, used his magic to draw his wings inside him, and rolled over. With a single sigh, Kevin closed his eyes and let the waves of sleep wash over him.