A/N:

Hi everyone! Last chapter in this batch :) Thank you for reading, and I hope you like how everyone's night and mornings wrap up!
Cw / Pen talking about dealing with some homophobia in life, the death of a couple family members, his own death, and poisoning someone

Partners

Chapter 109:

La Vie en Radio Part 5: See the Light

After catching up with Charlie and Vaggie for a little while down in the hotel lobby, both Sev and Vaggie had noticed Charlie starting to yawn quite a bit. She'd been through so much the last few days, no wonder she was exhausted. While Vaggie lead her partner upstairs and get her to bed, Sev paced the lobby and try calling Helsa a few more times.

She didn't pick up though or answer any of his texts or leave him any messages anywhere else. With a sigh, Sev finally sat back down on the couch. He knew she was probably okay, but he was still worried. He just kept staring at his phone, dialing and redialing…

At some point his eyes must have closed and sleep must have found him. It'd be a long day and especially a long evening for him too.

"Sev?"

The sound of his name startled him awake. He blinked and looked around. "Helsa? I, uh…" His eyes found Vaggie, gently smiling down at him. He frowned and brought a hand to his head and realized he was still on the lobby couch. "Oh, Vaggie, sorry, I…I must have dozed off. I know it's late. I should have left hours ago. I'm just worried about leaving and Helsa not knowing where I am if she needs me. I don't want her to come back here and feel like I abandoned her." He looked up at her in worry. "I'm really sorry for putting you out like this. I can wait for her out on the front steps." He started to stand.

Vaggie sighed and picked up something from the end table — a blanket and a few pillows. "Sev, sit back down. You're staying and you're getting some rest. And you'll see Helsa here tomorrow, I promise."

"I…" he tilted his head, "but how…?"

Vaggie set the blanket on his lap and positioned the pillows behind him. "Cherri just texted me. She found Helsa and talked to her. Helsa's gonna crash with her tonight and come back here tomorrow so we can all clear the air and feel better. I already told Charlie. She was so relieved, she finally passed out asleep."

"Oh that's great!" Sev let out such a deep sigh. "She's with Cherri. Good. I trust Cherri a lot with her." He blushed a little.

Vaggie's eye widened. "Wait… are Cherri and Helsa…kind of like you and Steve?"

Sev's eyes widened and he blushed more. "I…I can't say." He pulled up the blankets protectively but then blinked. "Wait, you want me to stay tonight? Vaggie I can't put all of you out like that. You've been wonderful, but I shouldn't infringe on your and Char's space, and…"

"We insist." Vaggie assured. "We'd put you in a guest room but we don't have any spares that are cleaned up. Normally Crymini sleeps out here but she wanted to be close to Abel and Louise tonight in case they need anything, so Charlie put her in her office upstairs. The fire should keep you warm, and if anyone comes back early you'll be the first to hear," she assured.

Suddenly the idea of actually trying to make his way to any other location in the Pentagram felt exhausting and the idea of staying here curled up on this warm couch with so many kind people nearby felt wonderful. He settled in. "Thanks, Vaggie. Seriously." He swallowed. "And thanks for…being cool about me and Steve. I want to come by sometimes to see him. And to see Char. And to see you too. And Helsa will want to come by too, when she's ready. If that's okay."

"Sev." Vaggie's smile was warm, but her tone was firm. "Listen to me. I promise, we like having you here. Both of you. And you're always welcome to visit or spend the night. It's a hotel, that's kind of what it's for. And it's a better place with you two here."
He blinked and nodded, trying not to cry as another wave of relief washed over him. "Vaggie, would it be weird if I hugged you? I could use a hug right now, but Char's sleeping and I—" He stopped talking when Vaggie put her arms around him and gave him a little squeeze.

She pulled back. "Feeling a bit better?"

Sev just nodded, wide-eyed.

"Good." Vaggie released him and stepped back. "You have a good night. Help yourself to the kitchen if you're hungry. Charlie and me will probably be up by dawn but breakfast usually doesn't happen since we've got a lot late sleepers. We'll save Cherri and Helsa some plates if they aren't here by then."

Sev smiled, settling against the pillows, eyelids already heavy. "Sounds perfect, Vaggie. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Sev." She dimmed the lights and headed upstairs.

He closed his eyes and kept his phone held close and just hoped his sister was feeling better from her time with Cherri. He had a very good feeling that the sassy but sweet one-eyed sinner was probably exactly who his sister needed right now.

Getting an injured Tom to the porn studio was easy, but moving him inside and wrangling some bouncers to pick up Katie and then waking up the nearest studio 'medic' (a stripper in a sexy nurse costume who also happened to have real medical training) and convincing that this wasn't some elaborate role play trick from Val — now all of that was hard. It took a while before Vox finally got Tom laid out on a cozy crushed velvet chaise lounge in an empty VIP room. His shoulder was dislocated and he seemed on the verge of some kind of asthma attack. But otherwise there were no major injuries except for his shot nerves and sheer exhaustion. Resetting the shoulder was the worst part — Vox stayed with him and gripped his hand, and he winced when Tom cried out as the medic and two of her fellow strippers reset the limb. Once it was finally back in place, Tom seemed to calm down. A tranquilizer, a pain killer, and a puff from an inhaler did the trick all the way. Tom immediately got drowsy, and his breaths slowed and deepened like he was heading to sleep. Vox frowned and did the only final thing he could think of to help — he pulled some electrical tape from his vest pocket (he always kept a role handy for his own repairs) and used a piece to cover up the crack in Tom's gas mask.

The dancers promised to keep an eye on him in shifts for the next couple hours and then to fill in the medic from the porn crew that would arrive at sunrise to set up for the day's shoots.

Vox sighed and thanked them all and then slipped them some money and mentioned that he would strongly prefer if this story didn't end up all over the internet any time soon. The girls nodded. And he trusted them. He didn't need to use fear and demand their obedience. He was kinder to them these days, and the staff was now very happy to follow his requests. He had a feeling they'd do the same for Val too one day as long as the moth kept being halfway respectful of them.

And then suddenly Vox remembered Val and Vel…and Vark! Vox had only meant to leave them the baby shark for an hour but almost three had passed. He had to get Vark home, and then he had to get himself some sleep and then he had to deal with Katie first thing in the morning and definitely come back here to check on Tom too. He didn't know how he was going to spin this media transition, and his head was too fried to figure it out right now.

With an exhausted yawn, Vox headed up to the VIP lounge. This time he just gave a few gentle raps at the door. There wasn't an emergency anymore, and he didn't want to wake up Val and Vel if he didn't have too. It Vark ended up staying the night, it would probably be okay as long as Vox came to get him first thing. Vark hadn't been away from him for any long periods of time so far, after all.

He was really expecting no answer.

Instead his light knocking immediately brought footsteps followed by the door opening slowly. There stood Val in his robe.

Vox blinked at the unexpected sight. "Val! Hey…sorry, I hope I didn't wake you up. I know I'm late. Things got complicated with Katie."

"Oh, no, it's fine," Val assured. "I was up anyway. I just…didn't feel like sleeping." He shrugged, but the yawn he barely resisted doing made Vox think he really needed to try sleeping soon. "And, you know, if Vark woke up in the middle of the night and needed something, I wanted to be available. He's been sleeping like a rock though, heh." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, uh, did Katie do anything particularly bitchy? Do I have to send some BDSM specialty hookers to rough her up or something?"

Vox smiled a little. "I appreciate the thought, but it's okay, I got her subdued. And I just sent four bouncers to escort her off the television studio premises. It just took a little while to deal with her when I got there and then to get Tom taken care of." He frowned a little. "She…laid hands on him just before I got there. I didn't realize she'd been abusing him like that." He looked down. "I need to be better about catching that stuff in my crews." He shook his head slowly. "Anyway, he was banged up and fading, so I drove him here. That naughty nurse medic you've got on call popped his arm back into its socket and gave him some meds. He's gonna rest in a lounge downstairs til tomorrow when I figure out what to do with him, and with Katie, and with the whole news show." He put a hand against the upper corner of his screen, sighing, and the sigh turned into a yawn.

Val's mouth went small. "You wanna spend the night?"

Vox blinked and looked up at Val, head tilted, eyes wide.

Val straightened up. "I-I mean, you're tired and you're already here and Vark is already here and it's like three hours til morning anyway. And…I don't know, there's room. You could even take the bed if you want. Vel's in there, but I could wake her up and—"

"Velvet's in your bed?" Vox's eyebrows pinched together slightly and a faint pixelated blush came to his features. "I didn't realize you'd gotten that, uh, close…."

Val, who had been gazing at him in some kind of confusion, almost jumped a little and wrinkled his nose. "What? Ugh, no, she's in there cuz she said I snore and that she wanted to sleep somewhere big enough to cuddle with Vark. I'm not…" He sighed, brow furrowed in frustration. "Fuck, Vox, I'm not getting laid by Vel. Come on, I CAN have a friend without trying to bang them." He bit his lip and glanced away, arms crossed his arms over his chest and color rising in his features.

Vox frowned. "Oh, no, I didn't mean… I know you can. You DO! I just wasn't sure… I'm sorry, I'm tired and not thinking straight. The thing with Tom rattled me a little. He…almost stopped breathing." He looked down.

"…Really?" Val's voice was softer, questioning. His eyes turned back to Vox. "I…didn't know you cared about the guy that much…"

"I…guess I didn't either." Vox shrugged. "I think I'm just weirdly more in tune with my feelings ever since I mellowed out a little, gave up the old media rivalry, became kind of a dad, heh?" He looked Val seriously. "I'm sorry for assuming…about you and Vel."

"It's okay," Val assured. "My reputation for using casual sex to cope with all of life's troubles didn't exactly help." He swallowed. "But I wouldn't ever try with Vel. Along with the whole 'friendship' thing she's very, uh, violently firm about her boundaries. It's kind of impressive and scary as fuck all at once…"

Vox smiled a little. "I know what you mean. No one fucks with her for a reason." He raised an eyebrow. "Come to think of it, I actually don't know what kind of people she's into anyway. Guys, women, everyone, no one…?"

"Yeah. I don't think she's ever brought anyone around or taken services from one of the club members. But she's watched some kinky shit on the show floor with us and seems to like it." Val shrugged. "You know, lately, every once in a while, she says something that makes it sound like she's got some dating plans cooking now that we're all getting along better. Like she doesn't have to 'babysit' you and me anymore and is ready to get out there."

Vox laughed. "She's not wrong — you and I are a lot more stable now. So I guess that means she can use her stable moments to spend time with someone else. Good for her."

Val smiled a little. "Yeah. Good." He smirked. "Of course, relationships can fuck with judgment a little. So if she brings someone by and they are in any way shitty to her, I guess you and me will have to handle it."

Vox's grin picked up on one side as a yawn finished. "I think Vel can handle herself. But yeah, if anything rough does happen we'll be there for her." His gaze softened. "By the way, I'd love to stay the night. Thank you."

Val's antennae perked up for a moment and then he quickly cleared his throat. "Oh, uh, yeah, yeah…. I'll uh, wake up Vel. You and Vark can take my bed, and…" His eyes went down, darting around behind his glasses for a moment like he was a little overwhelmed.

Vox resisted a chuckle. Val was trying to hard to figure out how to be a good friend and host right now. It was sweet. He crossed his arms over his chest and interrupted in a gentle tone. "How about we let Vel stay sleeping with Vark in the bed. You stay on the couch and I'll grab the easy chair. Then we can all get breakfast in the morning and I can make sure Tom's still okay too."

Val snapped out of his daze and nodded. "Yeah… Cool." He n stepped aside. "Uh, come on in. There's leftover cupcakes if you're hungry. There's ALWAYS leftover cupcakes with how much time Vel is spending here now."

Vox laughed and followed him through the door. "She's unexpectedly domestic ever since Vark came along, isn't she? I'm glad he's making her happy. He makes me happy too. And I hope he makes you happy too."

"Yeah. I love him…" Val replied softly.

Vox blinked, pausing for a moment. Then he smiled so tenderly. "I think he loves you too." He caught sight of a turned away Val giving a smile before clearing his throat and resuming an indifferent look as they settled in for the evening.

Vox cuddled up under a blanket on the lounge chair and glanced with sleepy eyes at a resting Valentino. He felt like he trusted the man with his whole heart for the first time in a long time.

After their milk and cookies, shared in a somewhat strained atmosphere of affection, Niss had insisted a tired Pentious turn in for the evening and said he would stay in the ship's guest room. Niss gave the excuse that he wanted to stay up late in case his brother or sister checked in, and he didn't want to disturb Pen's rest. Pen had agreed, but the sadness in his eyes had made Niss's heart heavy as the snake slithered away to bed.

Niss did go to the guest room and smoke a cigarette or two while keeping an eye on his phone. But he knew it was late enough that his brother and sister must be sleeping…probably beside their men…and he knew he couldn't rest knowing his man was sad and maybe hurting tonight. So, in boxers and nightshirt (now didn't feel like the best time for the new pretty nightclothes he had bought), he wandered to Pen's room and gave a light knock then gently pushed open the door a crack. "Pen? You awake? I, uh…was up and I figured… Well, it's lonely sleeping alone once ya get used to sleeping near someone special, heh." He cleared his throat. "I missed you."

Niss was surprised to see one of the oil lamps on the nightstand lit, revealing Pen sitting up in bed in his pajamas, clearly wide awake, and….looking through old letters. Really old letters — ones written on faded parchment in swirling loops of ink.

"Archie!" The snake carefully but quickly folded up the items into a bundle together. Then he set them aside and finally spoke to the spider. "I couldn't sleep either. I missed you too."

Niss approached the bed. "Pen, I'm sorry for bringing up your family so casually like that and upsetting ya. You don't ever have to talk about your other life if you don't like to. We can focus on this life here together instead. We got so much going good for us. And I'm looking forward to sharing even more good things with you, forever…if ya want." He blushed, gazing up at the snake with such sincerity and longing.

Pen smiled a little, a real smile now. "Thank you, Archie." He swallowed then patted the side of the bed. Niss sat down next to him. "And I'm okay with forever. And…I'm quite all right with focusing on this life instead of the past. But I also want to tell you about the past — and my family — truly." He picked up the bundle of letters, holding them close. "It's just that it…I…" His brow furrowed, and his tail curled in a little.

Niss moved closer. "If they didn't treat ya right…like how my Pops treated me…then I'd be proud to be your family now instead, if you want."

Pen looked at him, hood flaps perked up in wonder. "Oh Nissy, I do want. Very much." He moved closer. "But they weren't harmful to me, like your father. It's not that. The situation was just complicated and I'm not sure what you'll think about the truth. And I'm not sure how painful it'll be for me to go over it with another person. I never tried before." He swallowed. "The memories are a source of great hurt…but also tremendous hope for me. It's complicated." He shrugged and sniffed and his smile wobbled.

Niss took his hand. "Whatever you wanna tell me, whenever you wanna tell me, is okay. And all I'm gonna think is what I think right now — that I love you and support you. And that I'm with you to face all the hurt and hope together, Pendleton."

The snake's emotions got the better of him at being called by his given name, and he kissed the spider on the cheek. While Niss blinked with a giddy grin, Pen set his letters carefully down on his lap. "You always know just what to say, my Archie. Thank you. I think I'm ready now."

Niss came out of his daze and turned his full attention to the snake as Pen took a deep breath and began his story. "I was alive quite a while before you, as you know — the victorian era in England. My parents did die when I was a child, leaving me a grand estate, and I was mostly raised by tutors as I said. But I had a family after that… by which I mean…" He gripped the blankets and and bit his lip. "There were certain expectations in that era, and to be left to my devices I had to fulfill them and, well…"

"It's okay, Pen. I promise it's okay," Niss assured.

Pen looked him in the eye, almost fearfully. "I had a wife. And we…had a son."

Niss went perfectly still. "I…Oh… Oh!" He considered, tilting his head in confusion and thought. "Wait, but…you don't like girls, so…" He blinked and a deeply pained expression came to Niss's features as tears gathered in his eyes. "Oh, Pen. I'm so sorry. I know what it's like to try and make yourself… I can't even imagine what you…"

"It was…tolerable," Pen assured. "She and I — we both agreed to the marriage for the sake of propriety. Neither of us fancied the opposite sex. She was an old family acquaintance, and the arranged marriage was the best situation we could manage together." He swallowed. "But engaging once in the bedroom for the sake of an heir wasn't easy on either of us." He frowned. "It was another social expectation, but also she wanted a child, and it seemed like having one might give us some joy. I grew quite excited about the idea myself during the pregnancy, though I was also a nervous wreck, heh…" He swallowed, and then his face took on such a look of sadness. "She seemed happy too, but after the birth…such a deep depression came over her. She was unhappy about living our lie, unhappy about never getting the chance to find true love, unhappy that her son would grow up in the same restricted world… She passed from the depths of her melancholy a little after the baby came."

Niss listened so intently, blinking back heavy tears.

Pen's eyes had tears too, flowing down his cheeks, "I couldn't stand our world for hurting her like that. So I put all of myself into being the best father I could manage. I didn't let our son be raised by tutors and servants. I thought him academics myself as well as ethics and kindness — the importance of loving and accepting others as they are regardless of social convention. I invented toys for him to play with and I encouraged him to pursue his own interests. I told him I loved him every day and that the best people in this world would love him unconditionally too. He seemed happy, I think he was happy. Dear heavens, I hope he was happy."

Pen's voice had started breaking and now he curled in on himself to sob for a moment. Niss brought a blanket around his shoulders and hugged him and patted his back.

After a long moment, Pentious took a deep breath and finally seemed calm again. He wiped his tears with a hanky and then hugged his stack of letters even more closely and managed to go on. "Our home was a happy one, but society back then… People were only content to leave us be if we didn't step a toe out of line. And I…was weak, I suppose." He blushed. "On occasion I would go into the city for…recreation. I just wanted companionship, even for an evening, with men." He cleared his throat. "None of them were particularly nice, but if I paid enough at least they'd pretend to be." He furrowed his brow. "I was caught once by a neighbor, threatened with exposure and extortion — I paid a few times but then they brought up shaming my son to try and get more, and I…" He scowled. "I murdered them. I used simple poison concocted at home, originally as a fun experiment but now as a deadly necessity. Then I disposed of the body by taking it back to my lab and hiding it under lock and key for anatomical study." He winced and barely glanced in Niss's direction, like he was waiting for the spider's judgment.

Niss just looked into his eyes, his voice serious. "You did what you had to do. Don't blame yourself for surviving, Pen."
"But I do, a little," Pentious replied simply. "I knew my crime would tear a parent, a sibling, a person away from their loving family — a family who searched for them desperately — but I didn't care. Anything was worth it to keep my son safe." He let out a deep breath. "Of course, then I started dabbling in more poisons just in case — ones that couldn't be detected or might seem like they came from sheer accidental exposure in the city. And I ended up getting myself killed from all my work in the lab — mercury poisoning." He frowned and held his tail close. "I passed when my boy was barely a young man, left him all alone in that cruel world to manage everything. And I never found him down here in all these decades. I've hoped that means he's safe in heaven, I've feared that means he's hiding in hell or worse… But either way I worry that he's alone with no one to keep him safe." He glanced upward. "I do hope he's up in heaven. I'm sure he is. Such a good boy." His eyes brimmed with more tears and his lip wobbled. "I wish I could at least know if he even remembers me…and I just hope it's a comfort to him if he does. I really loved him, Nissy." And then Pen was crying, collapsed on his side on the bed with the letters held to his heart.

"Oh Pen." Niss laid down beside him. "I know he loved you so much. And I know he remembers all the love you shared. You're good, and you did good for him. He'd want to know you." He kissed Pen's forehead and patted his hands clutching the letters. "Thank you for telling me. Thank you for letting me help you with how you feel." He looked at him seriously. "You are so brave and strong and brilliant and kind. You did right and kept things safe. You're a good man — and lover and father too. It's okay now. It's okay…"

Pen rested his head on Niss's shoulder in a mix of relief and exhaustion. The tears were already starting to calm. He let out a deep breath and found words once more. "I get sudden urges to seek him out again, just in case he's down here, perhaps avoiding me or not recognizing me. Lately the urge is coming back because I want him to meet you."

Niss blushed shyly. "Oh, really?" He smiled in wonder.

Pen nodded, pulling back to look into his eyes. "Of course! I want him to know the man I want to spend my life with!" He blinked and swallowed, looking down. "Oh, now I'm getting carried away. I don't mean to presume, Nissy, I just…"

"Hey…" Niss touched his fingers to Pen's chin. The snake looked back to his eyes, curious. Niss smiled gently. "I'm the one who said I wanted to be your family, right? Well, family is forever. We got a good feelings about each other. I think it's fine to acknowledge 'em." He pulled back his hand and shrugged sheepishly.

Pen chuckled. "Oh yes, yes it is fine, isn't it? Hmm…" He blushed shyly. "Oh! You could also meet his mother too if we found her and you wanted. She would like you. I hope she found a way to be happy too, wherever she is, and maybe the true love she always wanted." He sighed wistfully. "Sometimes I hope they're both up in heaven, keeping each other company." He glanced at his letters then held up the packet for Niss. "I had some imps retrieve these a few centuries ago. Letters she and I wrote to each other, and letters I wrote for my son. It just helps me to look at them sometimes…"

Niss nodded, eyeing the letters with a sudden reverence. "That's beautiful, Pen." He blushed shyly. "If it's okay to ask…what were their names?"

Pentious smiled a little. "She was Priscilla. And he was…my little Percy."

Niss squeezed Pen's hand and looked into his eyes. "If we ever find a way to bust into heaven of visit up there or even get a damn cellphone plan that reaches that far, I'll help ya find 'em, Pen. I know they'd want to see you."

Pentious sniffed, smiling more. "Just like how I know they'd want to see you."

Niss smiled shyly, and Pen wrapped him up in a warm hug.

They separated after a moment, sighing in relief and tiredness. They crawled under the covers together and cuddled close.

"You sound like a real swell dad, ya know. I wish I could have seen ya in action," Niss assured.

Pen gazed at him. "I wish I could have had you with me to help raise my body. You would most certainly be a charming father as well."

Niss blushed more. "I…I don't know. But I'd try."

"And you'd succeed brilliantly." Pen winked.

They shared a soft smile and a tender kiss. And then they just gazed at each other, holding hands until they fell asleep together.

Niffty and Baxter were both early risers. So it didn't surprise either of them at sunup when they opened their eyes, saw each other across Niffty's room, and smiled.

"Good morning, Baxter," Niffty whispered with a giggle.

"Good morning, Niffty," Baxter replied with a shy grin.

Niffty stretched a little. "Wanna go get ready for the day and start breakfast for everyone?"

"Maybe…in a little bit. For now could we just stay like this?" Baxter's smile grew. "I like being here with you in the quiet and the dark.

"Yeah, I like it too," Niffty nodded. She bit her lip shyly. "We can do this more often, you know. And maybe when we're ready, when we wake up in the mornings sometimes we can…cuddle in bed together, if you want…"

Baxter blushed but beamed, "I think I would like to work on being ready for that together, yes please."

They shared a little laugh.

Then Niffty's voice became soft and shy. "Baxter, I'm pretty sure I'm falling in love with you."

Baxter's heart raced. "Oh…I'm pretty sure I'm practically already in love with you, Niffty."

They both beamed at each other like they were sharing a special secret together. And then they spent some time just resting and savoring each other's happy presence and all the closeness and peace their relationship could provide.

A few hours later, as the morning progressed, Husk and Molly woke up in separate beds. No previous night of passion. No doting good morning texts to each other. No eager plans to sneak over to one another's rooms for stealing kisses and making breakfast plans. Husk just stared at the ceiling and Molly just stared at her wall, and neither of them were happy.

Husk found himself holding the empty ring box and thinking deeply.

Molly found herself looking at the bare ring finger of her hand and flinching in confusion and emotion.

Eventually they each sat up, scowling in frustration with themselves and each other, pacing their rooms, talking to themselves about the situation in whispers. They kept this up for a while, both a bit stubborn and a bit dramatic and a bit overwhelmed by everything.

Finally, though, they both came to the same conclusion. They needed to talk to each other and get this whole thing settled, whether it resulted in tears or more complications or even their first fight. Because the way they were right now wasn't working. And they loved each other too much not to try and make it better.
Of course, they were both a little nervous and both wanted to perhaps talk to others first. They determined to do just that before lying back down and trying to rest a bit more in preparation for whatever chaos or uncomfortable situations today might bring.

Alastor felt his eyes flutter open as the first bit of morning light glowed against his red curtains. He knew right away he was in his room at the hotel, he knew right away that his bed held Angel beside him, and he knew right away that he had experienced an intense amount sexual release last night and that his body was slowly returning to a very rare fully relaxed and peaceful state. He only got this pleasant experience after particularly good radio shows — not a bit of tension anywhere in his body or mind or heart. It was nice, so nice.

But Angels' presence was the nicest thing of all.

With a deep breath, Alastor shyly managed to turn himself over to face his darling.

Angel was asleep and facing him, hair tousled and mouth slightly open and pink freckles catching the light in the most innocent way.

Alastor moved closer to him. He was okay with being touched again now, and he just wanted to bask in the spider's warmth. His shift forward must have caused his ears to tickle Angel's nose though because the spider gave a light snort and then Alastor tilted his head up to see Angel yawn and blink open his eyes sleepily.

"Hmm…oh…morning, Smiles." Angel stretched his neck to one side, still seeming groggy, but then went wide-eyed and looked in Alastor's direction. Angel just gazed at Alastor in silence for a long moment, and Alastor smiled gently back at him (and maybe glowed quite a bit).

"Good morning to you too, darling," Alastor replied softly in return.

Angel swallowed and found his voice again. "You're back to talking. Does that mean you're doing okay from last night?"

"I am doing perfectly," Alastor assured with a pleased sigh. "I feel renewed." He glanced down modestly. "How do you feel?"

Angel's blush grew. "Like I got thoroughly loved up by the studly stag of my dreams."

Alastor's smiled widened and his eyes flickered to flustered radio dials for a moment before returning to normal. "I don't often have nights like those. But when they do come, it's nice to know I'll no longer have to manage them alone." He sighed. "Thank you for…how you respected my needs."

Angel grinned and tilted his head. "You don't have to thank me, that's what beaus do for each other." He shrugged. "But as long as we're thanking each other for stuff, thanks for how you let me be your cohost in every way." He winked.

"Oh. Anytime, mon ange…" Alastor assured with a shy chuckle.

They were both quiet for a moment, thoughts drifting in and out of their still minds. Then Alastor gathered his courage and said, "Anthony…would you come away with me?"

Angel turned scarlet and grinned. "Al, I thought we already decided 'running away together' was off the table for our relationship."
"Ha, no…" Alastor rolled his eyes shyly, "What I mean to say is…I would like to take you away for a weekend. To my place. My radio tower apartment. We can be alone and work on the finer points of our relationship without the pressures of a hotel full of people or random attacks by interlopers or sudden shifts in the political climate." He took a deep breath. "We deserve a brief rest from it all. And I would very much like to be alone with you on our own terms for an extended period, Anthony. I think that's the next thing I need, if you would indulge me."

Angel's hand took Alastor's under the blankets and squeezed. The spider looked into his eyes. "I wanna go away with you for the weekend. No drama or danger or rivals. Just whatever we want to do together." He blushed a bit pink.

Alastor sighed and added softly, "Some of what we address will arguably be erotic, as I'm sure you can surmise. But there are other things I'd like to touch upon too. I just want a few days of simply spending a life with you before…" His eyes hazed dreamily.

"…Before?" Angel prompted curiously.

Alastor blinked. "Before, er…all the busy business that'll close out this year, ha! Abel and Louise's wedding, hell's continued drama about the hotel, the inevitable build up to the next extermination day." He tried to smile innocently. "I just want to be a in a fully safe, fully private, fully familiar space with you, Anthony. I liked what we did last night and I like you and I'd like to know more while I'm feeling cheeky enough at this early hour to ask for it, ha!"

Angel laughed so sweetly and fully. It was enough to make a man's heart soar. The spider finally subsided and wiped a tear from his eye. "Well, in that case, any time, cutie." He grinned. "If you're taking requests, I'd love to see those hooves of your during our little weekend."

"Maybe…" Alastor replied playfully with a wink. Angel giggled. Then Alastor came forward and tenderly wrapped himself around the spider in a hug, cuddling close. "I'd like seeing you too", he added shyly. Angel's only reply was a slightly curious nod. He didn't press for details. They didn't need to get into everything right now. Right now, they just needed each other.

Angel stroked Alastor's hair and the two drifted off for a little while in the morning light, perfectly at peace and here for each other in every way.

"Mmmfffrrr…" a sleepy Helsa groaned in bed — in this strange, small, kind of cheap bed — oh fuck, in Cherri's bed that somehow still felt like the best bed in the world and smelled like red wine and gun powder. She was awake because she was hungry. But she didn't want to be awake. She hated mornings and she hated THIS morning because it meant having to go back to the hotel and acknowledge every asinine thing she'd said last night. And maybe also because it meant she'd have to leave Cherri's bed. She wanted to live in Cherri's bed. She wanted Cherri to come in here and tear off her clothes and make her climax for the first time in…god, how long HAD it been…

"Helsa?"

Helsa's eyes shot open and she pushed herself up, silver hair spilling around her head. There was Cherri in the doorway, wearing a robe and holding two mugs of coffee. Helsa's mouth dropped open. She wanted to find words, but all that kept occurring to her was how pretty Cherri looked in the morning light and how intense her fantasy about the demon had just been.

"Morning, Helsa. Uh, I brought coffee. Black okay?" Cherri went on, stepping inside with a humble shrug.

"I…" Helsa blinked and finally got talking, "Yes, black is… well, usually I like it iced and full of cream and hazelnut syrup, but honestly black is definitely what's necessary this morning." She sat up and reached out a hand and now just tried not to think about Cherri seeing her with her hair a mess and her face lacking makeup.

Cherri put the coffee in Helsa's hand then sat down on the edge of the bed. "You doing okay?"

Helsa held the coffee and shrugged…then nodded.

"Good." Cherri smiled a little in relief. "I know last night was rough. But I promise it's gonna get better. Don't worry… Everyone just wants to be sure you're okay and safe."

"Everyone?" Helsa raised an eyebrow as she finished a huge gulp of coffee. "What are you—"

"The whole hotel gang — you know," Cherri explained. "I didn't have Sev's number so I texted Vaggie to tell her to let him know you were here and safe. She said Charlie was glad and that she hopes you'll come back to the hotel soon."

Helsa's look immediately went dry. "I made a severe emotional pass at her girlfriend. No way Vaggie asked me to 'come back soon'."

With her own dry look, Cherri showed Helsa her phone screen with a message from Vaggie saying exactly that.

Helsa sighed and groaned and grabbed a pillow to pull over her head.

Cherri just crossed her arms and grinned. "Helsa, all you did was admit to having feelings for Charlie when you were younger — before she even met Vaggie. I know the confession was a lot for you, but it's really not the end of the world." Cherri shrugged, glancing down. "It's not like you were…saying you're in love with Charlie right now and trying win her over." She bit her lip. "Were you…?" She cleared her throat. "No judgment, I just…wanted a clearer picture, if you wanted to share with me."

Helsa groaned "I can't believe all of you heard that. Fuck…" She released the pillow though and answered Cherri's question. "I want Vaggie and Lottie to stay together and be happy for a long time. Vaggie is wonderful for her. It's just…" she pouted in frustration, "she was my first love, my only love…and even now I'm still getting over her. And I'm still kind of attracted to her a little. But I don't want…" She shook her head. "I think I want love but not with Lottie, but I'm not sure if I know how to love someone besides Lottie. Even though I want to."

Cherri smiled in relief. "You do know how to love someone. Just give yourself time. And, hey, don't pressure yourself so much. You don't have to start by falling in love. Just find someone to have fun with, someone who's nice and who you like. And go from there!" She cleared her throat, smiling sheepishly.

"I've…been trying, I think," Helsa replied, pulling in her knees and looking down with a pout and a blush.

"Oh…" Cherri blushed too. Their eyes met for a quiet, full moment.

Finally Cherri swallowed. "Helsa, listen, um…" She took a breath. "So I'm attracted to you. And I like you. And I think I want something to happen with you. It's been a while." She crossed her legs. "But I don't want to go too fast and do anything you might regret. Or anything I might regret."

Helsa looked her in the eyes. "Cherri, I respect your rules about not getting intimate with people who are in delicate situations. But I also know myself and know my needs and my limits. I can make these decisions. Last night obviously would have been a terrible idea, and that other night at my club it would have been even worse. But now I'm calmer and we know each other better. I like you and I'm attracted to you too, okay?" She crossed her arms. "And it's also 'been a while' so…yeah, I could really use some affection too."

The two women sat in blushing silence. Finally Cherri nodded. "Okay, fair. But I'm not sure what I'M ready for yet…if we really are gonna try something together…"

"I didn't say I was ready yet either, just that I'd know when I was," Helsa offered stubbornly. "But I'm…glad to know that trying something together is at least on the table."

Cherri nodded, blushing so much. "Yeah. We could, like, get dinner and maybe go for a walk?" She rubbed the back of her neck and shrugged. "Sorry, it's been a while since I did an actual date. I'm just going off of what Angie and…I-I mean, what Angel usually does when he's into a guy. Kind of sentimental stuff. It's not exactly me but it might be a good place to start."

Helsa grinned a little. "Okay, fair. But…I'm not very sentimental either so let me know what you think of this slight change? Consider it the 'efficient' version of seeing how we are at dating each other. We stay in cuz socializing is exhausting. We order some pizza and heroes because take out is amazing. And then we try hours of potentially therapeutic and fun no-pressure sex and see where our feeling are after that." She shrugged. "Honestly, I'm better with just diving in rather than going extra slow and steady, and also I'm overdue for like a thousand orgasms."

Cherri sputtered and blushed then snorted with laugher. "Oh, uh…okay, let's do it!" She smirked. "Have I mentioned I really like no filter in a woman?"

"Good, that's what you get with me," Helsa smirked right back at her.

Cheri shook her head with a grin. "A sped up version of figuring out how we work together really would be nice. I've been watching a lot of people around the hotel take their sweet time getting to know each other, and it's nice but I don't have the patience."

"See, you get me — love it!" Helsa raised her coffee mug high .

Cherri lifted hers too, they clinked mugs, and then they both drank deeply. Cherri sighed through her nose, feeling more grounded. "For now, do you wanna maybe swing by the hotel for breakfast, see everyone, talk things out?"

Helsa slumped down into the covers a little, not seeming distressed so much as exhausted. "No. Can we stay here a little longer first? I just need the morning."

Cherri nodded. "Sure. I'll go see what I can make us for breakfast and put on some more coffee. Oh and I think I might have some espresso around here from Angel, the really good stuff…"

"Yes to it all. You're a goddess." Helsa drank deeply, nearly draining her mug.

Cherri smiled a little more and left the room to head to the kitchen. House guest Helsa was very interesting. And potential girlfriend Helsa was wild and impulsive and would probably be so beautiful in bed. Cherri nearly groaned at the thought as put on a fresh pot of coffee and some espresso too. She shot Vaggie a quick text about Helsa's plans then moved on to preparing breakfast for her new potential girlfriend.

Charlie woke up a little late the next morning, but it was a good thing. She knew she had needed the sleep. Yesterday and especially last night had been a lot in a lot of ways. And today would probably be complicated too but she felt better able to handle it after a good rest.

She smiled as her eyes caught sight of Vaggie sitting in front of their vanity, brushing her hair. "Morning, Vaggie." She sat up and stretched, pulling her loose hair away from her face.

Vaggie smiled and turned to her, setting down the brush. She was already dressed, the sunlight playing so beautifully against the grays and whites of her outfit. "Charlie! Morning." She moved to sit on the edge of the bed, and the two of them shared a lingering kiss. They pulled back, resting their foreheads together, holding hands.

"Did you sleep good?" Asked Vaggie.

Charlie nodded. "Yeah. I feel better now, about a lot of things." She pulled back to glance up and bite her lip. "Did Helsa come back?"

Vaggie shook her head. "No, she's still with Cherri. But I just got a message from her — they'll come by later today."

Charlie smiled in some relief.

"I told Sev to stay over last night. He's asleep down in the lobby," Vaggie added. "He didn't seem like he should be alone. And it mattered a lot to him to be here for whenever Helsa came back."

Charlie's smile warmed. "Thank you so much, Vaggie. You're the best partner I could ever have…"

"You're the only one I'd ever want…and the best I could ever have too," Vaggie replied tenderly.

They shared a gaze and secret smiles.

"Just a few more months and then we tell everyone, right?" Charlie whispered, a sparkle in her eye.

Vaggie nodded sagely. "Then everyone can know. And until then, our little secret." She winked, and Charlie giggled.

A moment passed, then Charlie let out a deep breath. "Vaggie…any pushback from the Pentagram yet about Alastor's show — his second show?"

Vaggie cringed a little. "Yeah, kind of… It's not terrible. People online aren't mad exactly, they're just confused….and maybe a bit wary? We're supposed to be about redemption but…"

"But we're okay with one of our benefactors murdering someone on air, and one of our guests maybe being an accomplice. Yeah…" She nodded, eyes down. "They just don't understand. I'm not here to MAKE anyone 'be good'. I just want to give them the support they need to do good if and when they're ready. And that means loving each of them with all their complications and faults, unconditionally — the way everyone deserves to be loved. It's not contradictory, it's just complicated. And life is a big, beautiful, complicated, messy thing, and so are souls, and that's okay."

Vaggie sniffed and brushed away some tears. "You're the best princess, babe. You're gonna be the salvation of this whole place one day. I know it. And soon other people will realize it too."

"If I am," Charlie blushed, "it'll be because you're at my side. You save this place by saving me. And you'll be such a brilliant queen, Vaggie."

Vaggie blushed very much. "I'll…I'll do my best. Seriously. For you."

Charlie's dark eyes hazed. "Let's go get some breakfast and then just do our best for now to figure out how to get the hotel back on track."

Vaggie nodded, and they both leaned in to share another kiss.

But then there was a knock on the door. Specifically a series of small frantic knocks.

The ladies separated and Charlie looked to the door in concern. "Yes, who is it?"

Vaggie went over and opened the door, and suddenly Razzle and Dazzle tumbled into the room. They dashed right over to Charlie and started nudging her and pawing her to get out of bed.

"Whoa, hey, slow down you two. What's going on? Alright, alright, I'm up!" She laughed a little, an eyebrow raised. They didn't seem panicked, just a little frantic over something. "Do you two need a walk? I'm sorry you had to be pent up inside for so long yesterday. Oh!" Razzle had just grabbed her a fresh pair of dark slacks and socks and shoes, and Dazzle flung himself into her drawer and tossed out a fresh white blouse and her red jacket. "Okay, I…was gonna get dressed anyway. Uh, thank you for the help." Charlie tied back her hair and grabbed the clothes.

Vaggie closed the door and came over, eyeing the goats. "What is up with you two? Seriously? Is everything okay?"

The goats glanced at each other, communicating silently with furrowed brows, then started to nudge Vaggie toward the door. "Hey, wait!"

"Razzle, Dazzle!" Charlie flung on her pants and slipped on her socks and shoes. She grabbed her shirt and pulled it on just as she reached the door. Then one goat was pushing and nudging Charlie along as she got her jacket on while the other goat pushed and nudged Vaggie along and the demon just did her best to keep her balance. They were being led to the stairs.

"Okay, Razzle, Dazzle, seriously please cool it or we're gonna fall down the stairs," Vaggie chided. "Clearly there's a problem to help fix, so we're going, promise!"

"Yeah, we'll make it better. Just show us what's wrong," Charlie assured.

They had just reached the top of the stairs, and the goats (and consequently the ladies) paused as the sound of knocking from the lobby met their ears.

Charlie and Vaggie shared a concerned look. Far too many unusual visitors had knocked on their doors these last few months. Who could this visitor be now, and why were they upsetting the goats?

Vaggie and Charlie shared a nod and then headed down the stairs, the goats following worriedly in their wake. They made it to the lobby and paused at the door. Three more simple knocks sounded.

The girls shared a look.

"Maybe it's new guests?" Vaggie offered, trying to be optimistic.

"Maybe it's a bunch of unhappy citizens ready to air their concerns in an orderly manner?" Charlie couldn't help offering, trying to smile like it was definitely a joke.

Vaggie took Charlie's hand and smiled widely. "Well, let's meet them together."

With determined gazes the ladies walked forward and opened the door.

Charlie nearly dropped to her knees in surprise and doubt a ghost of lingering trauma.

Because on the front steps were her parents.

It wasn't like last time though. They weren't dressed in all their finery, looking imposing and gloomy. Her father wore a simple white blouse with red slacks. Her mother wore a black and purple sundress. They bore no crowns on their heads. They did have some boxes at their sides though.

Vaggie blinked, glancing to Charlie and then to a still silent king and queen. When Charlie's mouth opened a few times but no words came out, Vaggie took the lead and addressed the monarchs as levelly as she could manage. "Yes?"

The king and queen blinked and swallowed uneasily.

Charlie was steady on her feet again and able to find her voice, though her eyes were full of tears. "I told you…I told you no more. You aren't welcome here. Not until you…you understand what you did wrong and try to make it right."

The king and queen glanced at each other and held each other's hand.

They they turned to their daughter and bowed to her. And they stayed that way.

Charlie was frozen.

Lucifer spoke. "Charlie, my dear. We are so proud of you and we are so amazed by you and we are so very deeply eternally sorry."

Lilith spoke too. "We hurt you. Our intentions were good but our actions were thoughtless. And we only wish for the chance to make up for our faults." She blushed. "And we apologize to you as well, Vaggie. You've been the support we couldn't be and we can never thank you enough."

"You don't have to forgive us until you're ready, if you ever are ready, Charlie, Vaggie," Lucifer finished. "But we hope you'll trust us enough to help you and support you and listen to you now, as our daughter. But if you can't…" he faltered, tears shining in his eyes. Lilith squeezed his hand. "If you can't then…it's okay. It's maybe what we deserve. But any resources you need are yours because we love you — our child, our future queen. And we don't want to repeat the abuses of the past."

Charlie blinked a few times while Vaggie looked on quietly. "I…what? I… How… Why?"

The king and queen straightened up. "We listened to Alastor's radio show — er, the first one," Lilith explained. "We really listened. And we tried to understand. And we realized how foolish we'd been. Then we heard your message about his second show and all your supportive words. We worried that the sinners wouldn't understand, that your hard work might suffer and your hotel might suffer…and your family here might suffer." Her brow furrowed but she said the words plainly and with acceptance. "We knew we had to reach out to you, to offer what assistance we could. It was the least we could do."

Lucifer nodded, squeezing her hand, taking over as her eyes got misty. "So we spent all night…er, most of the night, coming up with ideas for how to help put your hotel back on track, regarding the sinners and regarding heaven… And here we are, with full plans ready to go." He gestured to the boxes of papers. "But we wanted to get your input and ask your forgiveness before we did anything, of course. Because this is your hotel, and you're an adult and we will not do things behind your back any longer — even out of misguided love. Full transparency and a fresh start. We hope…we hope it can help." He took a breath. "But if you don't want us here, if you're not ready for anything from us, just say the word and we'll go."

Lilith nodded. She was wiping at silent tears now. "If you don't want us to go, our first notion was to…ask Alastor to host another show with you here so we could be guests and tell hell ourselves how wrong we were and how right your choice to start this hotel has been. But if that's too much after everything with the television special…"
Lucifer patted Lilith's hand hand. "We're here for you, Charlie, in the right way now. For whatever you need…and whatever our people need, the sinners. We want to help them too, and we just wanted you to know."

Charlie was tired from many things. But maybe her parents were something she didn't have to be tired from any more.

She realized there were tears pouring from her eyes as she looked to Vaggie and Vaggie looked back at her. They shared a meaningful gaze, speaking without words. Then they shared a cautious nod.

Vaggie squeezed both of Charlie's hands in her own and turned to Lucifer and Lilith. She stepped forward. "I can forgive you," She said slowly, firmly. The king and queen's eyes widened.

"And I…I'm ready to try to forgive you. If you really mean it…everything…" Charlie looked at them, gaze a little harsh.

Lucifer nodded vigorously. "Every word, my little apple darling. You belong here in hell as its leader, and we just want to belong with you again too."

Then the sobbing began as Charlie stumbled to her dad who caught her in his arms for a big hug, while an awkward Vaggie hugged Charlie's shoulders and an even more awkward Lilith managed to embrace Vaggie by reaching around Lucifer and Charlie to hug all three of them.

Eventually the managed words again, and understandings and smiles.

They all headed inside the hotel.

Maybe hell was far from perfect, but it could have perfect moments, and this had felt like one of them for Charlie.

A/N:

And now this small arc of the story is done! Thank you all for reading these updates this week :) I'll be working on writing the next set of chapters to post soon. Thank you for your support!

Take care!

-Azure129