The building shook again and Ellen could faintly hear Vaggie's voice in the distance giving commands.
Alastor had her tucked close to him, an arm wrapped tightly around her while glaring at the king of Hell.
"Are you finished with your secretive chat?"
Lucifer rolled his eyes. "She was a lot more helpful than you ever would have been."
Alastor took a step forward, closing the distance between the two, leaning over the shorter man. "Are you implying that I-"
Ellen cleared her throat rather loudly, drawing attention to herself. "I think this squabble can resume at another time. There are more important things to deal with at the moment."
There was a moment's hesitation before Alastor straightened up. "Of course. Some of us have an actual job to do here."
He turned quickly. "Come my dear, let's get you somewhere safe."
"She was perfectly safe here, you know!"
He had a point, but Ellen knew better than to comment.
Alastor directed her down to the main lobby and helped her to a seat. "I'll be back shortly. Don't-" He gave her a stern glare. "Leave this spot."
Her face fell. She opened her mouth to argue. She was perfectly capable of looking after herself. She didn't get a word out.
"You are in a compromised state, not at all fit for battle. So you will sit here."
She already knew she wasn't going to follow his demands. She didn't hide her annoyance. "I make no promises." She crosses her arms over her chest, which looked a bit odd with her bump.
"You will give me your word Ellen. Stay put."
"I'm not a child," she mumbled.
He didn't respond, only giving her another look before turning and leaving her to stare after him. She only stayed for a few minutes before pushing to her feet. She didn't like being told what to do but even less being told what she couldn't do.
Sure she moved a bit slower, but that didn't mean she couldn't be helpful. This would be a good way of showing the denizens of hell that while she may be weaker than most sinners she wasn't helpless, she could still stand her own ground. She wouldn't go all crazy, just make a show of being able to defend herself on her own. That should be easy enough.
She started toward the kitchen only pausing once she passed the doors. Her eyes first looked at the knife block but her lips pressed to a thin line. It seemed like the smart choice, but she couldn't convince herself to take one. She let out an unsatisfactory hum. They joked about it all the time, but maybe a frying pan was the best choice of weapon for her. She mulled it over for a few more seconds before relenting and grabbing it. She really should learn how to properly use a weapon if she was going to be down here for a while.
She made her way to the front pushing the door open to find the front was an absolute war zone. She didn't know why but it seemed like half of the city had come to wage war on the hotel.
"There she is!"
Her head flicked to the sound, finding a bear looking man pointed in her direction, a swarm of sinners now charging her way. Maybe Alastor had been right, she should've stayed put. She may have fucked up.
Her eyes looked around at all the others, finding they were all lost in their own battles, she would be standing on her own and the thought of taking some of Alastor's power was quickly shoved to the side. This wasn't going to be a quick fight so the longer she could hold off without it the better, not to mention it was a very obvious sign she was getting herself in trouble. She was regretting not grabbing something other than the frying pan.
She would be foolish to believe she had this. There were far too many of them to take by herself even if she had a real weapon. Fuck. It seemed crazy the biggest worry wasn't for her life, it was the inevitable angry lecture she would be getting from Alastor for not staying inside. If she survived this.
By sheer dumb luck she had managed to deflect a bullet that was fired at her. She stood rooted unsure what she was supposed to do. There was no way she could take all twenty or so charging her way.
"Take her out now, before the others can interfere."
She took a slow breath before raising her frying pan, ready to strike. She had been so focused on the charging group in front of her she didn't notice the larger group charging her from the right, clashing into the mass in front of her. She stumbled a few steps back shocked as the group from the right started cutting down the others.
Did she make a run for it? Her eyes swept over the mass of people and she couldn't help but notice a friendly face.
"Franklin?"
The sea urchin looking demon spun meeting her gaze with a nervous smile.
"Hello Mrs."
Her body instantly relaxed, the frying pan hanging heavy at her side. "What?" She looked around at the battlefield to find that a whole other mob of sinners had joined the fight.
"What are you doing here?"
He looked a bit sheepish moving to stand beside her watching the chaos. "A lot of these guys don't want you dead. Turns out I wasn't the only one you helped and when the word spread it kinda brought us all together." He shrugged. "You're nice just cause."
"But what's all this?"
"Oh we heard through the grapevine that there was going to be an attack, they want you dead. So a few of us gathered to stop it."
Her eyes moved back to the fight. There was more than just 'a few'.
He let out a loud whistle drawing all of his friends to him, the crowd much bigger than she realized. The thought that she had touched so many people made her lip quiver. Her head nodded up and down as she started putting together a plan.
"Okay." Her voice was too soft. She cleared her throat and tried again, stronger. "Okay, most of you should probably just go and wreak havoc, but be careful, no need to be reckless. I will need three to follow me. Anyone here a sharp shooter?"
No one responded to her question, but they all turned heading back into the fray. Franklin stood beside her and to his side stood a shark looking demon and a fox looking sinner.
"Alright well I guess you guys are with me." Her gaze moved upward and found of course snipers positioned on roof tops, though they at least were not a obvious as before. She looked over to where Vaggie was but she was busy. Next option, Alastor, he was also busy. Okay well she could try. She turned to face the three beside her.
"Any of you guys got a rifle?"
The fox pulled one from over his shoulder and her smile grew. It was a bolt action rifle, her favourite type. She thrust her frying pan into Franklin's arms taking a closer look at the gun. "Are the sights aligned?"
A shrug was her response. It didn't really matter, she wasn't exactly a great shot anyway.
"I know this is an odd ask, but can one of you get me a glass of water?"
She had shot rifles before, targets only but it was always in a prone position, something she wasn't able to do now being so pregnant. She knew she probably wouldn't hit but if she could be a distraction that was better than nothing. She cocked the rifle before carefully fitting the butt into the meaty part of her shoulder. Her smile stretched wider as she took aim.
There was a loud 'thwang' followed by a thud. She looked over to find Franklin had the frying pan wielded looking down at a sinner laying in a heap by his feet.
"Sorry."
She refocused on her shot. "No need to be sorry. You're doing great."
She smiled again as she heard the fox demon mutter something about the frying pan and it being an odd choice for a weapon considering guns were so readily available.
After a few steadying breaths she slowed her breathing before one final breath, holding to take the shot. With a final mental moment to align herself, she pulled the trigger.
A hand was on her back, keeping her from stumbling back from the recoil. It had been a long time since she had done this. She used the scope on the rifle to see how she did. As she thought, she had missed but she did chip a part of the roof which exploded itself over the sniper. She had definitely messed up their shot.
It also brought their attention to her. She quickly pulled the bolt back reloading another shot. Just as she was lining up another shot she watched through the scope a black tendril wrap around the distracted sniper before they were pulled from her field of view. She lowered the rifle looking over to Alastor who was definitely not happy to see her. A problem for later.
"Here." She tossed the rifle back to the fox who gave her an impressed nod before turning and making his way into the chaos.
"Uh the water?"
The shark demon had a glass of water stretched out for her to grab.
"Oh my god yes! Thank you." She drank greedily, finishing it in almost one gulp. She handed it back to the shark that took it but quickly turned, realizing he didn't know what to do with it.
She turned to see that things had turned quickly in their favour. Most of those still standing were part of Franklin's group and the rest seemed to be scattering.
She watched as Angel and Husker joined her, watching the rest of those that came to fight slowly disappearing down the hill and into the shadows.
"Hey, I remember that guy." Angel pointed to a frog sinner chasing a moth sinner with a knife held above his head. Her head tilted to the side. He had it in a reverse grip. Was that the proper way to fight with a knife?
"Wasn't that the guy you stopped and talked wit for like twenty minutes on one of our walks? He was going through some rough shit. What's 'e doin here?" He took another sweep of the area.
"Hey wait a second, I know that guy too. You helped patch up his arm after it'd been torn off."
"They're all friends of the Mrs." Franklin explained.
"The Mrs?" Angel raised a curious eyebrow.
Franklin's cheeks blushed red. "Well no one really knows much about her."
"Well let's fix that." Ellen turned smiling with her hand out. "You can call me Ellen."
He took her hand and shook it before his face fell looking over her shoulder. She turned to find the frog and fox demon struggling in Alastor's grasp.
"Aw shit." She turned, moving as fast as she could. "Alastor! They're on our side! Put 'em down."
They were dropped rather harshly as he slipped into shadow to stand beside her.
"I gave you very simple instructions."
She popped her arms wide, her smile filling her face. "And here I am, still standing. In fact one could argue my little posse was exactly what we needed to turn the tides."
He leaned down closer, face inches from hers. "I told you to stay. You shouldn't be out here"
"And I told you I made no promises. You didn't actually think I would just stay hidden away, did you? You know me better than that. I'm sure you also noticed I read the situation well. I left your power alone because you needed it more than I did."
"I conceded to your reckless behavior before but this will not continue. You are with child, I don't care whatever pride or self-importance you think you need to prove, it stops here."
"That's a bit rich coming from you."
"You're the one endangering my child."
Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline. "Your child?"
He back peddled real quick. "Our child, " he corrected.
She simply spun on her heels walking away. She did not want to have this conversation right now. She got herself in trouble and if Franklin and his friends hadn't stepped in when they did she would have been in a lot of trouble, but she wasn't going to admit that to him, not when he was already riled up. And not when she was having to deal with his child.
"Ellen! Where are you going?!"
She didn't reply, just linked her arm with Angel's and made her way to Franklin, who had gathered the group.
She watched Alastors' shadow dart across the ground moving to follow her. She gave it a look. "You can let him know he's in the doghouse."
The shadow tilted his head confused when Angel sputtered a laugh.
"He'll know what it means."
It hesitated for a second before it darted behind her.
"You puttin smiles in the doghouse? Geeze he's already bendin ova backwards for ya."
"He won't be there for long, it's hard to stay mad at him."
She turned to face the group of sinners that came to fight for her. After a second thought she smiled wider. If all of these people came to her aid and she did nothing to gain that favour maybe they were in the right place.
"All of you guys are welcome to come in and sit, have a drink. I can't thank you enough for what you've all done today."
She turned, giving Angel a small nod and he helped her inside. She had been on her feet long enough and the chairs in the parlor were calling her name.
She didn't expect all of them to come in, but a lot more than she thought did. She waved Charlie over and lightly suggested that it would be a great time to see if any of them wanted to give redemption a shot. Of course she was ecstatic about the idea.
She caught the glowing eyes and smile hidden in the shadows, observing from a distance.
Most didn't stay long once Charlie started her talk on redemption, the numbers very quickly decreased. Though it did seem a small handful were interested.
"Is he okay?"
Ellen turned to Franklin to find his gaze in the shadows. She chuckled.
"You don't need to worry about him. He's not too happy with me right now, but he'll be fine when this dies down."
"I hope I didn't get you in trouble Mrs."
"Not at all, I get myself into trouble. And Ellen is just fine, no need for the formalities."
He only nodded but stayed by her side standing unsure what to do, watching as the lobby slowly emptied.
When everyone had finally left Ellen made her way back upstairs to her room though she knew she wasn't going to make it without being stopped. Lo and behold Alastor stood in the upper hallway with an unhappy glare.
Ellen slowed her pace with a big sigh. She wasn't one to shy away from admitting her wrong doings but it still wasn't a great feeling.
She let the silence drag on for a bit wondering if he would speak first but he didn't, just continued to glare. I guess I'm going first than she thought with a deep sigh.
"You were right." Her gaze was cast downward sheepishly.
She paused again waiting for a response but didn't get one. She pushed past her discomfort but her words became a bit more muffled, a pathetic attempt in admitting defeat.
"You were right, I should have stayed put. I was outclassed and if I hadn't been lucky I probably would have gotten hurt. I need to be more aware of the fact it's not just me I'm putting in danger now."
She slowly pulled her gaze up.
"And?"
Her eyes conveyed her thoughts. Really?
He raised an expectant eyebrow, leaning down enjoying the fact she was having to admit she was wrong. Something she could proudly say wasn't common, but to err is human. She was bound to mess up sometime.
"I will try-
"Try?"
She let out an annoyed huff pointing a finger at him.
"You're pushing it."
"Good, now you were saying?"
"I will put more consideration into your suggestions regarding my safety. I know you're just trying to keep me safe."
He straightened back up arms tucked behind him. "I don't suppose you will simply just follow my directives."
"Depends. You gonna to tell me I can't do something because I see that as a challenge. I don't like being told what I can't do."
"Clearly," he said rolling his eyes
"Hey, you're still in the doghouse sir. Be nice."
"Ah yes, about that…"
He moved beside her a hand on her back gently guiding her to his room where he leads her to the bed.
"I believe you've had a long morning so make yourself comfortable."
She eyed him suspiciously but did as he asked, getting changed into something more comfortable, glad to have her shoes off.
He had pillows plumped up so she could sit up comfortably, not something he had done before.
"Okay!" She called out. "I'm all comfy."
"Very good." He reappeared without his coat, hands on a tray and she didn't need to see the contents of the bowl to know what it was. The stack of grilled cheese sandwiches was a dead give away. She chuckled.
"I do believe this is my ticket out of your proverbial doghouse, yes?"
He placed the tray in her lap and she took a deep inhale giving a contented sigh from the comforting aroma.
"You can't help going above and beyond can you?, she laughed.
His grin pulled wider, sharp teeth on full display. "I'm just getting started my dear."
A quick snap of his fingers had the mp3 player in hand already set up for music.
"I believe some musical accompaniment will improve the atmosphere."
Ellen's grin stretched across her face but before she could ask he held up a finger halting her words.
"Ah, ah. I am in your good graces now, so I will not tolerate whatever pompous noise you're thinking of. Instrumental only. Something good for our child. Might I suggest classical perhaps?"
"Ooo. God you're good. Layering it on a bit thick though don't you think?"
"Whatever it takes to get me out of trouble. What's that thing you like to say?"
She laughed. "Happy wife, happy life."
"Yes, well, afterlife would be more appropriate."
"Instrumental it is then. I don't have a lot of instrumental songs on that though."
"Then it should be easy to pick one."
She let out a small huff before mentally sorting through songs.
"Alright, but only because I do really like this piece. Light of the seven by Ramin Djawadi. You might like it since it's basically just piano, cello and organ."
"I doubt it."
"Well I find it relaxing." She grabbed a sandwich and dunked it into her soup happily munching away.
Once the track was on he moved to sit beside her on the bed stealing a sandwich for himself.
"I was right, you know. Not at all fit for battle."
"I already admitted it."
"Yes but I was hoping you'd indulge me. I very much like hearing those words." He hummed amused before continuing in a more hushed tone. "Especially from you."
She opened her mouth to tell him off but stopped when her eyes caught sight of his tail slightly twitching. She could indulge him once more.
He didn't even notice that her eyes were on his backside, waiting as she gave him what he wanted, unknowingly giving her what she wanted.
"You were right, Alastor. I should have listened to you."
Her expression lit up with glee and she had to work really hard to hide the squeal that tried escaping as she watched his tail vibrate in merriment. Yup, he was definitely out of the doghouse now. How could she stay mad at that happy little tail and the man it belonged to?
AN: I did it! Lol you guys will get an extra chapter this week. Now I'm off too to make sure I don't run out of material. Haven't been as dedicated to writing this week so now I have to catch up. XD