Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The shock of the fall sent a shooting wave of pain up Lucifer’s forearm and knees. The tree roots were slipperier than he thought they’d be, and it didn’t help that he wasn’t wearing his own shoes. The sharp ache of the ankle he rolled hit him after a moment, and he moaned around a sob. But his belly was alright, the arm he landed on and the one he had wrapped around his stomach stopped it a few inches above the ground. Charlie wasn’t hurt, but they must have felt the fall, because they kicked him softly near his navel.

“I’m sorry…” Lucifer hiccupped. “I’m sorry baby.” Sitting back on his throbbing knees, he smacked his forehead. “I’m so stupid, stupid, stupid . ” Each hit got a little harder, until Charlie kicked him again, deeper, and snapped him out of it. Punishing himself wasn’t going to make the terrible situation he was in any better. He shouldn’t have ran out into the woods alone, but he didn’t know what else to do .

He refused to think about that phone call, refused to think about that face. That handsome face and those deep eyes and how he looked at him. How those looks made him feel . It was all for nothing. Nothing! What was the point when Lucifer was meant to die, had been meant to all along? Did he really believe that things would work out? That he and Charlie would be safe once they were born? Did he really let himself believe it?

“I’m sorry, Charlie. Your father is a fool and your mother…” Lucifer couldn’t even bring himself to finish the thought. It was too terrible.

Weakly, trying not to make the parts of him that hurt any worse, he kicked off the shoes that were just too big on him. He would’ve been better off going bare hooved, he realized. Not that it mattered now. Falling over onto his ass, Lucifer settled himself between two roots and leaned back against the trunk of the tree. It was the tallest in the immediate area, old and dark in color, somehow standing straight despite being on a slight incline. Lucifer had plenty of shade beneath its canopy of not yet fallen leaves, and from where he sat at the edge of a clearing he could see nothing but forest for miles around, no sign of civilization. He curled his legs up toward him and flinched at the sight of his right ankle. It was starting to swell, but he didn’t dare try to touch it and find out if it was broken. The knees on his pants were torn and bloody, the cuts soothed by the cool breeze while the rest of him shivered. The coat he wore was lined inside with pelts, and would’ve reached his knees if it wasn’t pulled around his belly. He hadn’t even bothered to put on something besides the pajamas he’d been given, and he regretted it now that the wind cut right through the thin material.

What was he going to do? He was stuck. Even if he got his strength back in a little while, it would be too dangerous to walk back with one busted ankle. It was going to be colder tonight than it had been the last few months. The leaves on the trees around him were turning red, orange, yellow, and brown for autumn. And these woods aren't safe…

Lucifer knew that he would be looking for him. There was no way that he didn’t know Lucifer had run by now. If he stayed put, he would find him…and there was a weak part of him that wanted to be found. That only made the tears burning his eyes fall at last, leaving hot trails down his cheeks. Lucifer should hate him. He should hate him more than anyone . But…but…

The rustling sound of the bushes across the clearing surprised him. Lucifer brought up his hands quickly to dry his eyes as best he could. When the blurriness cleared he was sure he would see him standing there, angry and ready to drag him back to the cabin no matter how he had to do it. What he saw instead stole his breath and made Lucifer become as still as he could be.

A deer. A female one, what did he say they were called? A doe! Lucifer had only seen a deer once before this, across the pond from the back of the cabin. Even then it had been in shadow, hidden among the trees, unaware of them. But this one, he could see every color of her coat. The soft pale brown, the white of her belly and down her neck, her black nose and deep dark eyes. She was staring at him as hard as he stared at her, ears and tail up and alert.

A minute of silent staring passed. Lucifer felt bad, knowing his fall must have been loud and startled her. After all, he was in her home, an intruder. Soon though, when he didn’t move, she started to. Very slowly, the doe stepped further over the line of bushes on the opposite end of the clearing. She turned her body to the side and that’s when Lucifer saw that her belly was almost as round as his. This was a pregnant, beautiful doe and Lucifer loved her immediately, as he did with most animals.

Letting himself move slowly, Lucifer had his back rest fully against the tree trunk, admiring her. She was a houses’ length away from him, but it was closer than he ever thought he’d get to see a deer. Just watching her move made him itch to have a pencil and paper in his hands to draw her. He wondered how far along she was, if she would have her baby soon, or if she had another month at least to wait like him.

The doe must not have thought he was a threat, because she soon looked away from him and began to nose at the grass and leaves near her. It was an odd time of year for her to be pregnant, and food must be a little harder to come by he imagined. When she started to chew on a shrub he felt relieved that it seemed there was plenty for her.

She stepped closer to it, her back leg coming down on a pile of leaves. Within an instant there was this terrible, blood curdling SNAP . The doe screamed and tried to jump in the same moment, only to fall down onto her side. A metal trap with horrible sharp teeth was clamped onto her leg, and when she kicked in pain it only made the chain it was attached to gleam wickedly in the light.

It happened so fast Lucifer hadn’t even realized both of his hands flew up to cover his mouth until he screamed into them. “No! No, no, no!” His stomach roiled and his chest felt squeezed as he tried to push himself to sit up. The poor doe was thrashing on the ground, not able to understand why she couldn’t get away. “Hold on! I’ll help you!”

He’d just gotten himself onto his painful knees when he heard it. The clicking sound of a shotgun being loaded. Whipping his head to his right, Lucifer stared down the barrel barely five feet away from him. “Don’t. Move .” His voice was colder than the wind. “I knew I’d find you…one way or another.”

Chapter Text

As far as Alastor was concerned, demons could be put into the same categories as animals. Take predators and prey, for example. Prey were the wait staff who stood in the alleyway outside the kitchen they worked in while on break, who didn’t think twice when approached by a stranger who asked if they were short staffed for the event happening that night. Then there were predators, who approached the wait staff to ask for a last minute job, knowing that they were short staffed, with the full intention of killing one of the most important guests that would be at the party. As Alastor lined up with the other waiters, red and black hair tied back, in a borrowed white coat with a red collar, bowtie fixed perfectly, white gloves over his dark hands, he knew that he himself was the worst kind of predator. The kind no one would give a second glance to, despite being a tall deer with the sharpest teeth any of his kind had ever had.

He almost felt bad for the people he was fooling, as they kidded with each other while waiting for directions from the head of staff. They had no idea of the part they played in what would happen tonight, how culpable they were. Still, this job was one Alastor had chosen for himself, and he didn’t regret it. Once they were free to take trays out into the waiting group of elites in the ballroom, he was as much a hapless, unknowing common man as any of them knew. He made sure of that.

The guest of honor, as far as Alastor’s interests went, hadn’t arrived yet. That was just fine with him. He was in no rush. Far from it. The opportunity would come for him to isolate his mark, if not tonight then another night. However, the source for this job assured Vox that he would be here tonight, and that he would soon step away from the main party. That was when Alastor would strike. Until then he bided his time.

It was on his second time back into the kitchen, empty tray handed to the dishwasher, that he and two others were pulled aside and asked if they knew how to pour drinks. When they answered yes, they were tasked with pushing carts with an assortment of beverages into the main area. The party was starting to get into a proper swing at this point. The open floor was filled with dancers moving almost perfectly in step to the piece the live orchestra was playing. A bit rigid for Alastor’s taste, but he didn’t let it show as he moved among the tables around the perimeter of the room. Even as he poured either sauvignon blanc, champagne, or chardonnay, he kept either an eye or an ear on the open doors to the ballroom.

Finally, an hour into the evening, they arrived. Alastor knew it was them by the murmuring of the guests around him. All eyes had turned to the doors, Alastor being one of the last as he set down a bottle on his cart. Which meant he didn’t catch sight of his mark before they were quickly surrounded by other guests coming over to greet them. The group moved as one toward the dance floor without stepping onto it properly. If Alastor didn’t get closer he might not get a better chance to see what he was working with before it was time to strike.

As he got close with his cart, the people at the edge of the group moved slowly out of his way. It took a few minutes, but Alastor soon caught sight of his mark’s wife. Lilith Morningstar stood, tall and beautiful, in a dark purple dress with a matching shawl around her shoulders. Her pale blonde hair fell down her back and nearly to the floor. The horns coming from her hair were large and curved back behind her head. Alastor found her lovely, with her full figure and perfectly symmetrical face. Others would call her gorgeous, ethereal, breathtaking, worth dying for, worth killing for. Alastor merely found her lovely.

Looking for signs of why he was hired, Alastor found none. The woman who captured the attention of nearly everyone in the room showed no sign of being anything other than pleasantly happy to be there. That only served to make him more sure of what he needed to do, if she could hide it so well.

Now closer to the center of the crowd, Alastor caught the middle of the conversation with the Morningstars. “--and I would hope all is going well with the business, Lilith?”

“Oh, but of course!” Lilith placed a hand demurely on her collarbone, beneath the more ostentatious amethyst necklace. “Father has been more than pleased.” She was referring to Lord Morningstar, her father-in-law. A sign of how close she was with him, or a way to show her status as one of the heads of the Morningstar Company? Who could say?

“What say you, Morningstar? You’ve been very quiet.”

A voice, which had been silent and was now a bit awkward, spoke. “You know me, I don’t know a thing about the business. Thank goodness for Lily or I don’t know how we’d manage.” That got a few amused chuckles from those around them. At the moment he answered, enough of the crowd parted for Alastor to finally lay eyes on him.

Lucifer Morningstar in the flesh was everything and nothing Alastor expected. He’d seen the eldest son’s photo in the papers before tonight, but they were the staged ones of him with either his wife or his siblings. Now that he’d seen him in person, Alastor realized that may be because they were attempting to disguise the man’s height. He hardly reached his wife’s shoulder! It was almost laughable!

Pushing aside his temporary amusement, Alastor took in other details about Lucifer. The man had pale blonde hair as well, combed back, though his was a warmer tone than Lilith’s. His nose was nearly flat, reminding Alastor of a snake. Lilith’s skin was a very, very pale purple, while his was pure white. All except for the spots of deep pink on either side of his mouth, which gave his face the appearance of a porcelain mask. How fitting. He was wearing purple also, to match with his wife. However he wore a lighter, softer shade, and the suit was cut to fit him perfectly. The only accessory he wore was a gold ring on his left hand, which was tucked into the bend of Lilith’s elbow. It sat in contrast to the black color of Lucifer’s hands.

“The poor man was up all night working on a project. Weren’t you, Dear?” Lilith asked, placing her other hand over his.

“...uh-huh. Yes. I was.” Lucifer never lifted his head to his wife when she spoke, and after he said the few words that he did, he looked away from her with a frown that he hid inside a smile. It was obvious just by looking at his eyes, where the smile didn’t reach. Alastor wasn’t the only one to notice it either, judging by the tone of the murmurings around him.

Lilith, in an effort to show that her husband’s actions weren’t anything to be concerned about, spoke again. “Perhaps a drink will make you feel better.” She hardly turned her head before she caught sight of Alastor. “Waiter!”

This was it. Pushing the cart with a smile, Alastor kept his head lowered but not low. He was given a clear path by the other guests and pulled to a stop right in front of the Morningstars. “What can I get you, Madam?” he asked, his tone carefully dull and different from his usual way of speaking.

“Oh look, Lucy! They have champagne. Your favorite. Pour him a glass, would you?” Lilith didn’t even glance Alastor’s way. If he wasn’t on a job the slight would bother him, not that it was any different from how he’d been treated by the other guests tonight. So he kept his mouth shut and started to do as she asked.

“I don’t think so.” Lucifer spoke with a hint of disbelief in his voice. “I’ll be abstaining tonight… Dear .” The endearment was said around clenched teeth, making Alastor’s hand freeze next to the neck of the bottle.

“Nonsense Morningstar!” One of the other guests said. “It’s a party! Live a little! Why don’t we all have a drink?”

“No that’s–” Lucifer was cut off before he could finish.

Soon Alastor found himself pouring many glasses for each of the people surrounding him and the Morningstars, and hoping none of them would remember his face. Before he knew it he’d emptied most of the bottles on his cart, save for a small amount of champagne.

“Two glasses.” Lilith said, accepting the flute when it was handed to her.

“Lilith…” Lucifer paused when Alastor offered him the other. In a move that surprised the deer, he politely declined. “Thank you, but I’d rather not.” Alastor couldn’t miss the way Lucifer’s eyes darted around when the others voiced their encouragement. “No really, I–”

“It’s only one glass, Dearest.” Lilith took the flute in her other hand, making Lucifer have to release her arm. “We don’t want to be rude.”

“I don’t want it.” Lucifer was no longer smiling, even to pretend.

Lilith looked unsure, caught between being a polite guest and a mindful spouse. “Just have a sip, Lu–”

“I said NO! ”

SHATTER!

The guests gasped in unison, many jumping back before falling silent. Lilith had lowered the flute toward her husband’s mouth, the movement natural, as though she’d done it many times. Alastor had only just seen Lucifer’s eyes get wide before he shouted and shoved his wife’s hand away from him. Whether he pushed her hard enough to make her let go or she was caught off guard and dropped it, no one, even Alastor, was able to tell. Either way it fell to the floor, spilling and breaking, yet somehow neither the drink or the glass managed to hit anyone. Still, now every single person was staring at the Morningstars for a very different reason. The band had even stopped, making the silence louder.

The stillness broke when Lilith yelled her husband’s name. “ Lucifer! What in the world is the matter with you?!”

Lucifer’s wide eyes snapped up from the broken glass to her face. His own turned from shocked at what happened to a mixture of anger and hurt. “I told you! I told you over and over! You didn’t listen! You never listen!” His voice cracked as he yelled back.

Another silence fell after that, this time worse. It only broke when Lucifer stepped back from Lilith, the sound of his shoes on the black marble floor echoing around the room. He looked so…uncomfortable as he tried to straighten his lapels. “Excuse me. I need to make a phone call.” With that he turned, walking toward the doors of the ballroom.

When the guests began chattering again at Lucifer’s abrupt exit, Alastor weighed his options. Following after him directly would bring him too much attention. Not following would most likely lose him his chance. Keeping his composure, Alastor had just picked up a towel from his cart in order to clean up the mess when a very large hand settled on his arm.

The tall spider who spoke had a deep voice. Alastor recognized him as the host of the evening, Zestial. “Leave it for one of the others. Go to the wine cellar and gather some more drinks for our guests. Especially the pinot grigio, there are a few of excellent vintage.” When Alastor nodded in understanding and handed the towel to another waiter, Zestial lifted a hand, flaring his black and green coat and capturing the attention of the crowd with ease. “Friends, let us not fret. Have we not all had days that are taxing to the mind and spirit? Allow me to propose a toast.” He lifted the glass in his other hand. “To the Morningstars, and our wish for your long lasting happiness.”

The other guests cheered, “To the Morningstars!” and clinked their glasses together. Even Lilith, who had been silent since the incident and now smiled demurely. She also sent a grateful look to Zestial when he brought his glass to hers.

Alastor was quick to take the cart and head out of the ballroom. When he had gone far enough from the party to hardly hear the music start up again, he kept his ears alert for any sign of Lucifer. He would have to take the stairs down to the wine cellar and use the dumbwaiter to bring up the bottles, but that would take him away from this floor. He couldn’t risk not following a direct order from the man who was running the party, but maybe if he was quick he could find Lucifer and fulfill his task before he was missed. The vintage wine would be a good excuse, being hard to locate in the cellar for those who weren’t familiar.

Stopping the cart under the opening of the dumbwaiter, Alastor scanned the area. That was when he heard a voice, coming from the stairs leading to the second floor. Approaching quietly, he listened. That voice had the same timbre as Lucifer, Alastor was sure. Thinking fast, he grabbed a tray from the bottom of the cart and lifted the pitcher of water that the guests had ignored as well as two glasses onto it, and balanced that tray as he slowly made his way upstairs.

Reaching the landing, Alastor looked first to his left and then his right. He managed to catch a glimpse of a purple suit pacing back around the corner. Approaching calmly and quietly, Alastor listened to the heated words that must have been spoken into a telephone.

“Adam would you please just–” Lucifer made a frustrated noise. “I know Dad hasn’t been feeling well lately. I’ve been taking care of him, too. This is important, I need to talk to him.” There was a pause while he listened to the reply. “I can’t tell him when we get back, he’ll be asleep by then. No, I’m not going to leave a message. Adam, I know we don’t get along. I’m sorry that we don’t, but I need you to help me out here. Please. ”

Alastor couldn’t help stopping at the sound of Lucifer’s almost desperate tone. Standing just around the corner, Alastor leaned forward enough to see Lucifer, his back turned to him. He held the receiver against his ear, the other hand tangled around the cord. Lucifer was tapping his foot as he listened, at least until the muffled voice Alastor managed to just hear answered him.

“You will?” Sighing, Lucifer’s body relaxed. “Thank you.” he said, gratefully. “I promise I’ll make it up to you. Just tell Dad that I need to talk to him about something important, something he definitely wants to know. I’ll give you a chance to talk to him and then I’ll call back in…ten minutes. Alright, twenty. Thank you, Adam. Goodbye.” Setting the phone back in its cradle, Lucifer groaned softly and rubbed his face with his hands. “I knew I shouldn’t have come here tonight…”

Seeing his chance, Alastor stepped fully around the corner. “May I help you?”

Lucifer jumped nearly a foot into the air. Turning, his ruby red irises in wide yellow eyes looked Alastor over. “Oh. Oh golly, you scared me.”

“My apologies. I thought I’d heard someone here. I wasn’t sure if you needed any assistance?”

Taking a breath to calm down, the man tried to put on a smile. “Just needed to use the phone. I’ll need to make another call in a bit.”

Alastor noticed how he tugged at his collar and tie. “Are you feeling a bit stuffy? I could show you to the sitting room just down the hall. There is a small balcony if you need some air.” It also was right above the alleyway outside where Alastor had parked his car.

“That…that sounds great.” Lucifer looked relieved.

“Right this way.” Stepping around him, Alastor was glad Vox insisted he memorize the blueprints to the building before tonight. He’d planned to end up in this sitting room one way or another, but he wouldn’t pass up the chance to have his target walk in there of his own volition. Alastor held open the door after stepping in and seeing it was unoccupied, watching that head of blonde hair as Lucifer followed. He was able to turn the latch slow enough for it not to make a sound after he closed the door.

“Thank you,” Lucifer said to Alastor. Without pausing to even admire the dark wood and emerald decor, Lucifer went straight to the balcony doors and pulled them open. It was French, with only enough room for two steps outside, but Lucifer still set his hands on the railing and took a deep breath. Alastor admittedly shared the sentiment, finding that the breeze removed the stifling feeling this entire building had since the evening started.

As Alastor put down the tray in his hand on the coffee table between two sofas, Lucifer looked back at him over his shoulder. “You’re the man from downstairs. The one who was pouring drinks.”

“I am.” Alastor admitted. It made him wonder whether Lucifer was that observant or if he’d made too much of an impression on the party as a whole. Though that debacle with the champagne would probably be what the guests gossiped about come morning. Straightening up, and being sure to block the line of sight from the glasses to the other man, Alastor turned to face him. “I apologize about the incident downstairs. I didn’t mean to cause any upset.”

Blinking in surprise, Lucifer took a step back into the room. “You don’t have to apologize. You were only doing what was asked of you. If anything it was…” He lifted his left hand to his right, twisting his ring around his finger. “...a… misunderstanding between a married couple. These things happen after seven years of marriage.”

What an interesting choice of a word. Misunderstanding. How many other misunderstandings had there been between them? From the information Alastor was given, there were several. “I see. If champagne isn’t to your taste I’d be more than happy to fetch something else?”

Lucifer’s answering smile was partly a grimace. “That’s very kind. I simply don’t have the stomach for alcohol tonight. The smell alone makes me nauseated.”

Odd. Though that meant Alastor didn’t have to leave the room and come back. “Then perhaps, water?” He gestured at the pitcher.

“That sounds much better. Yes, I’ll have some, please.”

Alastor kept in front of the glasses as he picked one up, careful of which held the little surprise in it. As soon as the water poured over it, the powdered pill quickly began to dissolve. A flick of the wrist set the water swirling, and soon there was no visible trace that anything was amiss. Turning to Lucifer, who had approached him, he handed the glass to the man and schooled his face to give nothing away.

Lucifer really was very short, the top of his head only reaching Alastor’s shoulder. He even had to look up to meet his eyes, which he did with a grateful expression. The sleeping pill might be too strong for someone his size. “I don’t think I caught your name by any chance?” Lucifer pointed at him with one of the fingers around the glass.

“Oh, my name is of no consequence, Mr. Morningstar.” Alastor answered politely, doubting that he actually cared what it was. Elites like him never did.

Yet Lucifer surprised him again by frowning slightly, lowering the glass that was almost to his lips. “Don’t say that. You’re a person before you’re a job…”

Alastor…found he didn’t know how to respond to that. At least, not in any way other than answering the question. Though where was the harm in that? There was no way for the shorter man to tell anyone before it was too late. “...Alastor.”

Lucifer tilted his head. “Alastor…?” He held the last syllable for a moment, asking without asking for his last name.

“Just…Alastor.” He hadn’t had the nerve to use his last name since meeting Vox, who also didn’t know it. He may have left his past behind, but all it took was one thread to lead someone out of the dark forest they’d lost themselves in. Alastor preferred to stay lost.

The answer earned him another head tilt in the other direction. “If you say so. Either way…thank you, Alastor. It was nice to meet a friendly person tonight.” Alastor nearly missed the sincerity in his voice because he was watching that glass approach his mouth again. This time his lips parted and he took a generous sip…only to stop, his cheeks full of water and panic in his eyes.

Alastor blinked, unsure what was happening. “Mr. Morningstar?” He reached out a hand for the shorter man’s shoulder only to find the glass hurriedly placed back into it. 

Lucifer was soon running back to the balcony and bending over it, spitting out what was in his mouth. “Ugh! Yuck! What was that? I thought you said it was water?!”

“It is…” Alastor’s wide eyes looked from his target to the glass. The pill was dissolved. There should have been no taste or odor at all. A quick sniff proved that to be true, and if it wasn’t a stupid idea he’d have tasted it, too. Perhaps it was defective?

“Peh! Peh!” Lucifer straightened up. “That was so gross…not that I’m much better after doing that. Sorry.” Patting his jacket, he groaned. “I forgot to bring a handkerchief? Really? Good job, Morningstar…” he muttered to himself.

“Here. I have one.” Alastor had to think fast. If the sleeping pill wasn’t going to work there was one more method for him to try before he’d have to resort to some form of violence. Which wasn’t his preferred style, having such little panache. 

Putting the glass down, Alastor opened the borrowed coat he had on to reach his own coat underneath. It had multiple pockets. He pulled a plain handkerchief from one and a small bottle from the other. Moving quickly he unfolded the cloth and pulled the lid from the bottle to dab the chemical inside onto the handkerchief in his other hand. He put the bottle down after closing it and approached Lucifer quickly, before the man attempted to turn around.

Lucifer had hardly taken a breath, maybe to thank him yet again, when Alastor struck. He took the handkerchief and quickly clapped it over the man’s mouth and nose, dragging him back in from the balcony and holding him tight against Alastor’s chest. His victim, once he understood what was happening, started to fight. One hand came up to claw at Alastor’s arm, the other was caught in Alastor’s free hand, having tried to reach up to either claw at Alastor’s eyes or hair. Lucifer managed to hold his breath, too. Alastor had to admit, the short little cretin had good survival instincts.

“You’ll have to breathe eventually.” He cooed, feeling Lucifer twitch with the need to take in air. They always looked so pathetic at this point. “How does it feel? To have your life in someone else’s hands? To know that you’re at their mercy? It must be frightening, being on this side for on–AGH!”

While he’d been rambling, the one thing Vox told him he shouldn’t do, Lucifer had made a move of his own. He’d taken a foot, kicked it forward, and then slammed it back as hard as he could into Alastor’s shin. Thankfully he only hit with half of his foot, the rest sliding off, otherwise that amount of force might have broken something. Instead it managed to get Alastor to loosen his grip for a moment, and a moment was all he needed.

Lucifer pulled Alastor’s hand away from his mouth, gasping in a desperate breath. Getting both feet under him, he tried to run, only to be stopped by Alastor’s empty hand snatching at the back of his hair and pulling him back. He had enough air in his lungs now. “ HELP–! ”

Alastor covered his mouth again quickly, furious, his teeth clenched from the pain in his leg. “Don’t even think about it!” Before the smaller man could attempt to attack him again, Alastor lifted him from the floor with his other arm around his middle. Lucifer beat and clawed at that arm in particular, not letting up even as he struggled again to hold his breath. His legs kicked uselessly in the air, Alastor careful to keep him out of reach of anything in the room. With the struggling he had even less time before he had to give up and breathe. A few hot bursts of air against the handkerchief and slowly but surely he started to weaken.

“ No …” Lucifer’s muffled whimper escaped him before he slowed his attack on Alastor’s arm. Within a minute his body became limp in Alastor’s hold, his head falling back against his shoulder and his legs hanging above open air.

Letting out a sigh, both of frustration and relief, Alastor was half tempted to drop the little pain in the neck to the floor. He didn’t. Instead he set him down on one of the sofas while he gathered his bearings. He would have bet good money that Lucifer would have been a beggar rather than a fighter. You never knew when it came to these things.

Pulling off the borrowed coat, two sizes too large on him, he tossed it aside in order to reach for the rope he had tied around his waist under his own. If anyone had tried to touch his back they might have felt the crude hook he’d made at the end of it. Setting this down, and putting the bottle and handkerchief away in his coat again, Alastor thought about how he would do this. Tossing Lucifer over his shoulder would work, but he’d have to use one arm to keep his body balanced. He also had to be quick, because while the alley under the balcony was on the side of the building with less traffic, there was still a very minor chance that someone would walk by. Getting rid of a witness would be too much work.

Then he remembered the tape he had in his coat. The idea that came to mind was a bit odd, but would leave his hands free. Pulling out the roll, he brought Lucifer’s hands together and started to tape around his wrists, making sure they were tightly bound. With that done Alastor double checked he’d left nothing of his behind in the room, and poured the laced water down into the alley for good measure. It was simple enough to get the hook firmly attached to the balcony railing and drop the fifteen feet of rope down. The end hung half a foot from the ground. 

Thankfully Lucifer was both short and petite, so when Alastor put the circle of his arms around his neck and lifted, he hardly weighed anything at all. He was even able to support him better with an arm under his posterior. Carefully climbing over the railing, Alastor grabbed the rope firmly in both hands and began to lower them down. Only when his feet were firmly on the ground did he let go.

The alley itself was wide enough for two cars, and his was where he’d parked it hours ago once he was sure no one would see him near it. It was a smokey gray station wagon with wood along its sides, kept in as good a condition as it was when Alastor bought it. The size was more suited for it to be a family car, but that was the point. No one would think a man living on his own, no relationship, no family, would need a car like this. The trunk size alone made it the perfect car, able to fit at least two bodies of average size, or one large with room to spare. Yet another way no one would know he’d made himself blend in.

Pulling his keys from his coat, Alastor approached the trunk side and opened it. The tarp he’d laid along the floor was still there, and before putting Lucifer down he rolled the edge of it to hang out of the car by a few inches. In case the blood dripped. The thought pulled a smile from his lips, knowing his job was nearly complete.

He sat Lucifer on the edge in order to pull his arms back over Alastor’s head. Then he laid him down sideways, so Alastor could see his full body at once. What a picture he made. His bound hands rested somewhat awkwardly over his chest where Alastor set them, but otherwise he already looked like a body laid out for burial. Alastor closed Lucifer’s slightly parted lips, making his expression something like sleep. His skin was so pale, what would stop anyone from thinking of him as a corpse? It was ruined by the gentle rising and falling of his chest, the only sign of life. If Alastor didn’t know better, he would think it a shame to kill a man who looked so fragile and innocent.

Shaking his head, he reached over Lucifer to the bag he kept just behind the tarp. Alastor didn’t have to think long before pulling out the hunting knife he kept sheathed inside. It was a small blade, being under four inches, but would be perfect for a quick kill. He could have used something else, but he didn’t plan to draw this out like he would for other targets. Lucifer, entirely unknowingly, had earned himself this one bit of mercy from Alastor. The smaller man could have easily acted as snobbish and stuck up as the other partygoers Alastor dealt with tonight, but he didn’t. Up until Alastor showed his hand, Lucifer had been nothing but respectful. If he weren’t a worthless, wife beating, abusive lowlife…well…then Alastor wouldn’t be there at all, would he? A shame for Lucifer and Alastor both.

Setting the knife down by his victim’s hip, he pulled Lucifer's tied arms up over his head. Alastor began to remove Lucifer’s clothes for easier access. He opened the suit, undid the purple tie at his throat and, one by one, pulled the buttons on his shirt until he had to untuck it from his pants. Spreading the shirt to the sides, Alastor took in the swath of pale skin in the sparse light from the streetlamp outside the alley. His bare chest and stomach made the perfect blank canvas, and Alastor was dying to see how they would look dripping with fresh blood. He couldn’t help taking a finger and pressing a line from the dip in his collarbone to the rise of his sternum, from there reaching the end of his ribcage to fall down the length of his flat–

Stopping suddenly, Alastor’s eyes widened. Lucifer’s stomach wasn’t flat. It hardly stuck out, most people wouldn’t be able to tell by looking. It was only because his finger dug in just that slight bit for him to feel the firmness under his touch. At this revelation parts of the night came back to him in pieces. Lucifer refused any alcohol, claiming the smell made him sick, to the point that it made him act so rashly in front of other people in order to keep that champagne away from him. Then there was the pill, which he shouldn’t have been able to taste or smell, unless…no. It couldn’t be. Could it?

Straightening up, Alastor looked at Lucifer’s stomach. Even in the poor lighting, knowing what he was trying to see, Alastor could admit that maybe there was a bit of roundness to it. Not that it couldn’t be explained by a large meal or a possible start of a beer belly. Or Lucifer was merely gaining weight, it could happen. Still, he was only guessing and he had to be sure. 

Knowing there was one way to tell, Alastor tried to remember what he learned in those medical classes Vox paid for. Taking both of his hands, he laid them flat, fingers out, on either side of Lucier’s stomach, below the navel. Pressing down gently, he was met with something firm and not terribly large right where someone might have a uterus. He’d felt the beginning of a pregnancy once, when the person in question was twelve or so weeks along. This felt very similar.

Alastor cursed under his breath, removing his hands to grip at the part of his hair that wasn’t tied back. For a couple minutes he stood there, looking between the man in the back of his car, the balcony where the rope still hung, and the two entrances to the alley. One thing was clear. Alastor couldn’t kill Lucifer. Killing him would mean killing the child inside of him. He may respect anyone who had to make that choice for themselves, but he could not, would not , make that decision for them. Despite the work he did, what he was hired for, all of the lives taken by his hands, it had never been a child and never would be.

Lucifer would be knocked out for another two hours if he was lucky. That would give Alastor enough time to cover him up, lock him in the car, climb back up to the second floor, get dressed, get the wine Zestial asked for, and then make a polite excuse to leave his volunteer job as a waiter with time to spare for the forty-five minute drive out of the city. If he was quick, he’d even have time to stop and pick up something that would help with this insane idea he’d just come up with. All he needed was a large length of chain and a plate to anchor it to…

Chapter Text

The first thing Lucifer realized when he started to almost wake up, was that his head was pounding behind his eyes. Stars above, he felt awful. He knew it was probably his own fault. Lilith was right, he’d stayed up very late working on that stupid card he made for her. Then he had been too nauseous and anxious to eat anything the next day, only to realize that not only were they expected at Zestial’s party that night, which she hadn’t told him enough times for him to remember, but also that she seemed so damn intent on not discussing the baby. Every time he tried to bring them up it was always, “Can’t this wait, Lucifer?” or “Tell me later, darling.” Every time, and each time it hurt more and more. Then they were at a party, somewhere they could’ve announced it publicly. Yes, he wanted to tell his dad and siblings first, after Lilith, but that would’ve been a great time to get it out of the way. He knew she’d had a lot on her mind lately, there’d been so many more business meetings she’d had to go to since Dad got sick. But this was their child. The one they’d tried for years to have…

He only realized he was being carried when he was set down gingerly on a bed. Lucifer still hadn’t opened his eyes, and knew that if he did he might throw up. Had he been drinking? No. No, he wouldn’t. The doctor told him it wasn’t good for the baby, and his body must have known that because the smell alone made him feel ill. Unless he was sick with something else…that would explain the headache…

A hand slid under his head, lifting it up slowly from the pillow beneath it. Lucifer felt the rim of a cup press against his bottom lip, something wetting it after a moment. “Mm…” He didn’t want to drink it, what if it was…was…he couldn’t remember. Whatever it had been tasted terrible, he knew that. This however smelled like normal water, and when a bit more touched his lips he couldn’t help taking a few slow sips. It was cool and clean, and helped soothe his dry throat.

The cup was taken away after he’d drunk maybe half of it. Whoever held him up lifted him more, and began to slowly remove his shirt and coat that were already undone. The rest of his clothes were taken off just as carefully, like they were trying not to wake him. Pajamas were soon put on him too. Lucifer felt himself smile softly.

“Lily…” It had to be her. His wife had put him to bed a few times after a handful of glasses of champagne made him a little silly and very sleepy. She hadn’t carried him in months…not since that night when she’d brought him to their bed and followed him into it with kisses and caresses that lit up his skin and broke his voice. That had been a beautiful night. He’d missed her so much…

The hands that had been buttoning his shirt stilled when he said her name, but after a moment their voice quietly shushed him. Smiling more, he hummed softly before yawning. Gosh, he was tired. He should have stayed home and waited for her, but he didn’t want to let her down again. If Lilith was taking care of him she must have forgiven him. Settling deeper into the mattress, he felt two things before sleep claimed him. Something heavy closing around his right ankle, and the covers being laid over him.

In the morning he felt much better. Not perfect, but not sick anymore. Shifting under the covers, Lucifer rolled from his side onto his back. The bed felt stiffer than he was used to, not necessarily uncomfortable, though. He thought Lilith had taken him home last night, but maybe he’d been so sick that they needed to get a room at a hotel in order to get to bed as soon as possible. That explained why the pajamas he was wearing didn’t feel like his. These were cotton, he typically wore satin. She must have gotten them from the hotel staff.

Lifting his hands from under the covers, Lucifer rubbed at his eyes. He could vaguely smell something delicious. Breakfast sounded like a great idea right then. He’ll have a little bit to eat, read the paper, and listen to the birds singing outsi–

Eyes flying open, Lucifer stared at the wooden ceiling above him. He could see the slope of it, and there was light coming from his right. Turning he found there was a paned window level with the middle of the bed, cracked a bit to let the morning breeze in along with the sounds that just didn’t come from the city. Birds yes, but also the soft rustle of trees in the wind. It was beautiful…and absolutely nothing at all like the penthouse apartment the Morningstar’s had in the heart of the city, or the condo they had on the east side. Something was wrong…

“Oh good! You’re awake!”

Jumping in shock at the unexpected voice, Lucifer sat up as quickly as he could, bunching the covers up against his chest as he did. He always felt so vulnerable when someone who wasn’t Lilith saw him in bed, even though he knew that was silly. However once he saw the person who belonged to that voice, he felt much less silly.

The man who walked in, carrying a tray with that breakfast he smelled, was tall. A deer demon, if Lucifer wasn’t mistaken. He had small black antlers between the red and black pointed ears on top of his head. His hair was red too, with black ends along the bob cut just under his jawline, though it was higher in the back. His choppy bangs were pushed to one side, revealing a taupe colored face. The wide smile should have been the most unsettling thing about him, with his sharp ochre teeth, but it wasn’t. It was his eyes. Blood red pools holding irises only just lighter red in color. They were intense and horrifyingly familiar.

“You!” Lucifer yelled.

“Me!” The man, Alastor, answered. He seemed amused when Lucifer balked at his reply. “I don’t know if I should consider myself flattered that you remember me, but after all it was a…rather memorable night for both of us.” As Alastor spoke he walked further into the room. The closer he got the more Lucifer tensed, until he veered away from the bed in order to set down the breakfast tray on the desk next to it. “I hope you have an appetite this morning, though I understand if you are still nauseous.”

Lucifer couldn’t understand how this man could blatantly overlook what he’d done to him last night. “You…you drugged me! You attacked me! ”

The smile never left Alastor’s face, though it got smaller as his eyebrow twitched. “Technically if you had drank the water I’d given you I wouldn’t have had to. Though really, I hardly call lifting you off the floor attacking. Don’t you think you’re being a tad dramatic?”

Funnily enough if anyone, anyone else besides Alastor, had acted so blasé about how they treated Lucifer, he might have caved and taken the blame for how he was acting now. Sometimes he was dramatic, sometimes he was too much . Stars know Lilith had said that to him plenty of times recently. But when it was this guy talking, Lucifer felt all manners go flying out the window. “Dramatic? Dramatic?! You think I’m being dramatic?! You drugged me, attempted to drug me, apparently, and you grabbed my–”

A cold feeling, like ice, slid down Lucifer’s body from his head to his hooves. The memory of Alastor holding tight around his middle came back to him. All worry about himself disappeared as he frantically pushed the covers away from him so he could look down at his belly. He set his hands over where he knew his baby was beneath the red striped pajamas. The doctor said there would still be weeks until he could feel them move inside him, but right then he wished he could feel something, anything other than the slight roundness that didn’t even really show yet. Were they alright, were they hurt?!

“Your child is unharmed.”

Looking up at the deer, Lucifer saw what he thought was sincerity on his face for the first time. His ears weren’t as tall as they’d been before, and his eyes were looking carefully, with purpose, at Lucifer’s stomach. One of his hands was even slightly raised in his direction, as though he would have reached out.

Clearing his throat, and moving that hand to his mouth, Alastor explained, “I checked you over last night. Twice.” He stood a little straighter, trying not to look as…open as he had a moment ago. Though the smile had never left, it looked forced right then. “From what I can tell you are still…expecting.” He wouldn’t meet Lucifer’s eyes as he started to say, “I would be able to tell if you’d mis–”

“DON’T.” Lucifer’s eyes closed, his hands now open between them. “Don’t say it. Don’t even think it.” When Alastor didn’t respond he looked to find the man staring with wider eyes at him. “So…my baby is okay?”

“Yes…” Alastor answered, giving him a once over, as if concerned whether he was alright in the head or not.

Lucifer sighed with relief. “Thank goodness…” His hand rubbed over his belly gently. “I don’t know what I would have done if something happened to Charlie…”

Alastor raised an eyebrow. “You’re hoping for a boy?”

“No.” Lucifer shook his head. “If they’re a boy, Charlie will be short for Charles. If they’re a girl, it’ll be short for Charlotte.” He couldn’t stop the small smile that pulled at his lips. “I always loved the name Charlie…I can’t imagine another name for them. Lilith isn’t too keen about it, but I hope she’ll come around.”

He’d never admitted that to anyone else before, and he trailed off after, unsure what else to say. The awkward silence sat between them for a minute, seeming to bother them both but especially Lucifer. He wanted to thank Alastor for checking on his baby, it seemed like the right thing to do. Until he remembered where he was, and how he’d most likely gotten there. Despite what his siblings believed, Lucifer wasn’t that naive. This man was a stranger to him, and despite the civil way he’d been acting so far, that didn’t mean they were safe from him. He was willing to bet they were alone in this cabin, away from the city, with no one knowing where they were. He, and more importantly Charlie, were at Alastor’s mercy.

“...what do you want from me?” Lucifer asked, finally raising his eyes to look at Alastor’s face. “Money? Properties? If…if you’re in need, I can help you.” Alastor’s face changed, the smile he wore getting smaller and his brows pulling together. “Honest. Name your price. I’ll make sure you get it, with no prob–”

Alastor’s hand slammed into the wall above the head of the bed, cutting Lucifer’s words off with a startled yelp. He’d seen the demon start to move, but hadn’t expected that. Lucifer found himself falling back against the headboard awkwardly, arms around his stomach as Alastor leaned into his space. The deer’s other hand pressed into the bedding by Lucifer’s hip, keeping him balanced as he stared Lucifer in the eye. Those intense red eyes looked at him like he was an insect, the same way he had last night. Only Lucifer had been so lonely, so stupid, that he had fooled himself into being flattered at the attention. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had given him all of their focus. Now he wished he didn’t have it, that Alastor was looking anywhere else.

“I think there has been a misunderstanding here.” Alastor’s voice was quiet, holding a silent warning for Lucifer not to speak. “I don’t want anything from you. I am no kidnapper, Morningstar. So you can kindly forget any idea of some sort of ransom absolving you of what you’ve done to make someone call me to deal with you. I will make one thing perfectly clear. If your child didn’t depend on you to live, you wouldn’t be alive. ”

Lucifer released the shaking breath he’d held as Alastor spoke, feeling a tremble move down and then back up his spine. He’d never had anyone talk to him with such raw malice before, and it indeed was malicious. Alastor wanted to hurt him. It was clear in his eyes, the frustration in them because, apparently, he can’t hurt Lucifer but he wants to.

Finally after a minute of silent staring, Alastar moved away from him, hands leaving the bed and the wall. Yet it didn’t put Lucifer at ease, and only made him more desperate to scoot himself further up the bed away from the deer still watching him. Only, when he started to pull his legs closer to himself, he found that his right ankle was heavier than his left, and something moved under the covers when he did.

Alastor, seeing Lucifer now looking at the covers over his legs, exhaled through his nose. His hands, as dark as Lucifer’s own but red at the ends of his fingers, gripped the covers and pulled them off the bed completely. Lucifer had flinched, closing his eyes at the sudden movement. When he opened them again, he stared in horror at his right ankle. A metal cuff was around it, thick enough to not break easily, but small enough that he couldn’t hope to slip his hoof through it. A chain as thick as their fingers was attached to it, most of the length in a coiled heap by the foot of the bed. The rest went over the end of the mattress, attached, Lucifer was sure, to either the bed or the floor.

Lucifer felt his breathing start to get faster, his heart racing even as his stomach dropped. Giving in to panic, he pushed himself into the corner made by the wall and the headboard. The chain quietly rattled as he did, straightening along the sheets. This couldn’t be happening. It was one thing for Alastor to be some random person in need of money so bad he was willing to ransom Lucifer and his baby for it. This…this wasn’t that…

“What…why…” Lucifer’s arms moved to cover his stomach even more. Looking at Alastor now, Lucifer felt real, true fear cover him from head to hooves. “Why did you bring me here? What are you going to do?” The only thing strong enough to cut through the terror inside him was the precious life also inside of him. “Leave Charlie out of this. You can do whatever you want to me, but I won’t let you do anything to my baby, even if it kills me!”

“Ugh…” Alastor scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Clearly you lack the ability to listen when someone is speaking to you.” Grabbing the chair at the desk, he pulled it to the side of the bed and sat in it. He even folded his legs, like this was a more casual conversation. “I have no intention of harming your child, Morningstar. That would defeat the purpose of me keeping you alive so far.”

Lucifer didn’t uncurl from the corner he was in, even though he wanted to believe that Alastor wasn’t going to hurt his baby. “Then…why…”

“Obviously,” Alastor interrupted, “I had no idea of your…delicate condition. If I had, I wouldn’t have laid a hand on you.” Seeing Lucifer’s confused expression, he explained. “I am the one that is called when someone needs a person…removed, you could say.”

“...you’re a killer.” Lucifer realized.

“Only for people who are deserving. From what I’ve heard, you more than fit the qualifications.” Here he looked at Lucifer like he was an insect again.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Lucifer racked his brain, trying to think of why someone would want him dead. Kidnapped, sure, his family was one, if not the most well off in all of Pentagram City. When they’d been children there’d been a few attempts, not that he knew about them until he was an adult. But killing him? “I’m just a house husband…”

Alastor didn’t look amused. “I don’t intend to indulge your fantasies of victimhood. You know what you’ve done, even if you won’t admit it to yourself. I wouldn’t have been hired otherwise. You can judge me for that as much as you like. I’ll lose no sleep over it. 

“I may be a killer, I may even enjoy it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have rules.” Here he paused to look at Lucifer’s stomach. “I’ve never harmed a child, and I never plan to. Judging by the way you speak about them, the child inside you is very much wanted.” He shrugged. “You’ve tied my hands. I’ve already taken you away from the last place you were seen, and returning you brings with it the risk of discovery. I can’t kill you, and I can’t let you go. That leaves us at a rather awkward impasse.”

Head starting to hurt again, though now from all of the information he was attempting to understand, Lucifer looked at the man sitting across from him. “You…you’re letting me live…for as long as I’m pregnant?”

“I have little choice otherwise. Though it does make me wonder if the person who wants you dead had any idea what state you were in. I have a few things to sort out at a later time. Not that it changes anything.” Clapping his hands together once, Alastor leaned forward. “I don’t see why we couldn’t work out a little arrangement in the meantime. Until either you give birth or until I get a damn good reason why not to kill you, I’ll let you live. What do you say?” That constant smile beamed at him, the jackass actually pleased with himself.

This was insane. How could this be happening? Lucifer pulled his knees up to his chest and lowered his forehead on them. Someone wanted him dead, enough to hire someone to do it even. Yet he had no idea why. He may have been annoying to deal with sometimes, and his jokes were terrible, but that’s not something anyone should get killed over. Lucifer had never stolen, killed, or even told a lie in his entire life. When he was in school he was labeled a weirdo and a goody-two-shoes, and between those two things he didn’t have many friends. If his father hadn’t had other parents bring their children over, he would have never had anyone to play with at parties. Nowadays he stayed at home as much as possible and made sure the penthouse stayed clean and organized for when everyone came home, and he cooked sometimes when he felt like it. None of that added up to him needing to be killed.

Lucifer lifted his head when Alastor carefully set the tray from the desk down on the bed next to him. “You should eat. For your child if not for yourself. The venison bacon and the fruit are fresh.” There was also a piece of toast with jam, an egg cooked sunny side up, and water. All served precut on wooden plates and cups, with a spoon on the side, but no knife or fork. All of it looked handmade, the tray included. There was even a cloth napkin. If he was presented with these things any other day, he would have talked Alastor’s ear off about where he’d gotten them, or if he’d made them.

Alastor started to make his way toward the door. Lucifer had one question for him, and he needed to know the answer. “You aren’t going to kill me until after Charlie is born. What will you do then?”

Turning back, Alastor raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Straightening more, he looked his kidnapper in the eye. “I’ll be dead, but my baby won’t be. What will you do with them?”

The question seemed to surprise Alastor, as he blinked and faltered, not saying anything at first. “I’ve no reason to keep them. I’ll simply…return them.”

“To who? To Lilith?”

“Yes, of course. She is the mother, isn’t she?”

“ Yes she’s the mother. ” Lucifer snapped.

“Then naturally, the child will be returned to her!”

“How will you do it?”

Despite the, now barely there, smile, Alastor was starting to look frustrated. “What do you mean, how? I’ll…I’ll bring them to the fire station!”

“With no note? No way for anyone to know whose baby it is?”

“Fine, I’ll leave a note with them!”

“They’ll ask questions, you know. They’ll want to know how you got them.”

“I will tell them that I found the baby abandoned somewhere.”

“In the cold, by themselves? It’ll be near winter by then. You’ll have to let them get cold enough to make that a convincing story.”

“What are you, a novelist?!” Alastor finally snapped back. It may be terrible of him, but it brought Lucifer a little bit of satisfaction to see it. “There’s time before you are due. I’ll have come up with a plan by then.”

Lucifer folded his arms over his chest. “What about a car seat?”

“...a what? ”

“A. Car. Seat. ” Lucifer said each word slowly, like he was talking to a moron, which he was starting to think he was. “For the baby. How are you going to explain you having a car seat?” When Alastor continued to look confused, he went on, feeling himself getting a little mad. “What were you planning to do? Hold the baby while you drive? That’s illegal, you’ll get pulled over, and if you get pulled over they’ll ask you a ton of questions. I don’t give a damn if I’m dead and if they aren’t required in cars, you’re not driving my baby around without a proper car seat. All it takes is one bad driver hitting you and then WAM! ” Lucifer smacked his hands together, hard. “So? Are you going to get a car seat or not?”

Alastor’s right ear twitched, along with his eyelid. Then he seemed to think of something. “I’ll borrow one. I know someone who has one and won’t ask questions.” He raised his hands. “Happy?”

Damn…he thought he had the man. If he was telling the truth that he wouldn’t ever hurt a kid, Lucifer thought that if he stumped the man on how to safely bring them back then maybe…ah but it was a long shot. “...do you promise to bring them to Lilith? Do you swear?”

Alastor looked at him, really looked at him. Sure, he seemed confused by Lucifer, but at least this was better than the glare he’d gotten from the man. “...if I say yes, will you please eat?”

Blinking, Lucifer looked at the meal sitting on the tray next to him. It did look good. “...okay.”

Sighing, Alastor stepped back toward him. He held one of his hands out. “I promise that your child will be safe with me. No harm will come to them under my watch. Until they are born, I will see to your needs. After that, I will see to it that they are safely returned. Do we have a deal?”

There wasn’t much choice otherwise. Something was missing, some reason that got the two of them, or rather three of them, in this mess. Maybe Lucifer could get to the bottom of it, maybe he could convince his kidnapper of his innocence, or maybe in six and a half months Alastor would take his life, leaving his child to grow up without him. It wasn’t much consolation, but if Charlie’s safety was guaranteed, he would take it. He had to. Slowly, he lifted his hand and set it in Alastor’s larger one. “Deal.” Lucifer felt the calluses of the other man’s hand as they shook on it, storing that feeble hope deep in his chest.

“Good. Now eat before your breakfast gets cold.” Releasing hands, Alastor once again headed for the door. “As I am the one providing your meals, I will hear no complaints. You will have what you are given or you will have nothing.” With that he closed the door, with maybe a little more force than was necessary. Lucifer wanted to think he’d gotten under the deer’s skin, if only so he didn’t feel so helpless.

Yet, as he looked down at the cuff around his ankle, he felt the fear come crawling back in. Taking the cup of water in hand, he poured it out the window before setting it back down. As he ate, he decided then that he wasn’t going to let Alastor get another chance to drug him.

Alastor came back for the tray thirty minutes later, which Lucifer knew because of the small clock on the desk. That was when he encouraged Lucifer to stand from the bed. “The chain is long enough for you to reach most of the house, aside from the front and rear doors. You may as well get acquainted with the space while you are here.”

Lucifer set his hooves on the floor, appreciating the carpet beneath them. “Where are my shoes?”

“Those? Oh, I disposed of what you were wearing.”

“ What?! ” Lucifer couldn’t help yelling. Those were one of his favorite pairs of dress shoes! It was hard enough getting shoes meant for hooves in the first place, let alone ones that were his size.

“You can’t have expected to wear evening wear every day. It isn’t at all practical. Besides, you have hooves. You don’t need the shoes.” He didn’t even stay to hear Lucifer’s reply, walking from the room with tray in hand.

“That’s not the point!” Lucifer stood, his knees wobbling a bit. Probably an effect of the drug. He had to lean on the chair by the bed and then the wall by the door in order to follow. He also needed to pull up the pants of the pajamas so he wouldn’t trip over them, since they were too long on him. That meant he had to do an awkward, wide legged walk. This was just peachy!

Passing through the bedroom door, Lucifer found himself in an open room with a tall, sloped ceiling. He was definitely in a cabin, the walls out here made of wood too, and large log beams supported the roof. The bedroom was on the end, but in the space to the left of the door was a woodworking station. A half finished project was covered up on the table. In the middle of the wall behind that was a stone fireplace, not too large for the space. It was unlit, but there was a small pile of wood near it. Above the mantle was a mounted gun, the long kind meant for hunting. Lucifer ignored it, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to fire a gun, even to escape from here. Best case scenario, that could be a last resort.

The wall on the opposite side had a wide window, letting in the morning sunlight. The curtains on either side of it were a deep green. Against that wall was a comfortable looking sofa with two throw pillows, a coffee table with a stack of newspapers on top in front of it, and a high backed lounge chair with a footstool opposite the fireplace. Behind that was a small kitchen, with enough counter space and cabinets for one or two people’s worth of dishware and cutlery. Lucifer could see a kettle on the stove, a frying pan handle in the sink, a toaster tucked into a corner, and a percolator for coffee. A small window was over the sink, but its curtain was pulled shut. The refrigerator was the largest thing there, a bigger model than was needed for the space. A small round table in the kitchen had two chairs and no tablecloth. It all said that there was room here for two, but that company wasn’t expected much.

Besides the kitchen was an open doorway leading to what looked like a hall, though judging by the design of the house, Lucifer was willing to bet that one way led to the front door and the other to the back door. Alastor was standing in the doorway, watching him look around. Lucifer ignored him and looked along the wall to the right of the bedroom door. There were shelves along there. Between them was a stereo system, the sort that could play records but also had a radio built in.

Unable to help himself, Lucifer carefully walked out into the room in order to look at the stereo better. It was a beautiful model, wooden lid down over the controls, speakers on either side, the kind that looked like it didn’t have legs. Now this was classy. “At least you have good taste,” he remarked.

Alastor rolled his eyes. “What do you take me for? A rube? I’ll have you know my collection is nothing to sneeze at.” He waved a hand idly at the shelves, full of record boxes as well as books. A few records were on display. Mostly jazz and classical, neither of which Lucifer had any complaints about. “You may play them if you are careful. I won’t appreciate them being damaged. The same goes for the radio. I’d extend the offer to the kitchen, but you’ll only be able to reach the table for meals.”

Lucifer looked down at the chain, seeing he still had plenty of length left, but not an infinite amount. With one pull of his ankle he heard some of it fall with a heavy thunk onto the carpet, probably covering the metal plate he noticed that it was attached to, bolted to the wood floor.

“That reminds me.” Alastor went to the shelf on the far side of the stereo, reaching to the wall past it to open another door Lucifer hadn’t noticed at first. “This is the privy, should you have need of it.”

Tilting his head, Lucifer asked, “The what?”

“The privy.” At Lucifer’s blank face he looked frustrated again. “The commode? The water closet? The latrine? The pot?”

Lucifer blinked.

Muttering under his breath, Alastor came over and took his arm. Pulling lightly, he brought Lucifer to the doorway and let him look inside.

Taking in the toilet, the sink, and the bathtub with a shower, Lucifer understood. “Oh! The bathroom. ” Putting his hands on his hips, he looked up at the red haired deer. “How is it that I’m the one who comes from money, but somehow you’re the prissy one?”

“I was attempting to have some class. You should try it sometime.”

“The class or the bathroom?”

“I’m starting to have a better idea why someone wanted to kill you.” Alastor stated bluntly.

“How rude. Well use some of that class of yours and skedaddle.” He shooed Alastor back from the door. “If you need me, I’ll be in the privy. ” Stepping inside Lucifer turned and tried to close the door. It almost did, if not for the chain getting caught, leaving a gap of maybe half an inch. “Oh for stars’ sake!”

“Just put up with it!” Alastor called from the other side. “I have no intention of peeking.”

“Says the man who stripped me and put me in his clothes…” Lucifer muttered, looking at himself in the small medicine cabinet mirror over the sink. He could see Alastor in these pajamas, they would’ve suited him better.

From the other side of the door he heard a raucous laugh. “HA HA! Please! I wouldn’t touch you if you were the last being in a hundred thousand miles. So don’t go letting your ego tell you otherwise.” Lucifer listened to the footsteps of Alastor walking away. He heard a door open and close, but had no idea whether it was the front or back one.

Hugging his arms around himself, Lucifer told himself the words didn’t hurt his feelings. He knew he was attractive, multiple people had told him so over the years, and he could see himself in the mirror. Aside from the tiredness in his eyes, and his messed up hair, he looked the way he always did. Personal habits aside, he was a catch! It wasn’t as if the feeling wasn’t mutual anyway. Even if he wasn’t married, Alastor was the last man that Lucifer would ever let touch him. Even if he begged!

Huffing quietly, he did his business in peace. The room was cozy, with enough comfortable room between the three amenities to move without bumping into something. There was a small window set near the top of the room behind the tub, maybe big enough for Lucifer to fit through if he ever could have reached it. Someone Alastor’s height could, but not him. The only other thing was a small closet to store towels and other toiletries.

After washing his hands in the sink, Lucifer pulled open the medicine cabinet out of curiosity. There weren’t any medications in it, not even for a headache, which he thought was strange. There was a comb and a brush, a toothbrush and paste, and a small box. Opening the box he found…hoof trimmers and a rasp? They looked well taken care of, but not new. Wait…did that mean Lucifer wasn’t the only one with hooves? Alastor has them too? He was a deer, so it wasn’t that surprising, but still. So much for not needing shoes because they had hooves! Alastor had been wearing a practical pair of house shoes all morning! The hypocrite!

Putting the trimming kit back with a huff, Lucifer picked up the comb and ran it back through his hair. Just because he was kidnapped didn’t mean he couldn’t clean himself up the best he could. He even ran some water over his teeth with his fingers, unwilling to use Alastor’s toothbrush. It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do.

He’d just turned off the water in the sink when he heard the sound of a phone ringing. Peeking out of the bathroom, he heard and watched Alastor come in from one of the doors leading outside. He stopped in front of a small telephone table to the left of the doorway into the main part of the cabin. Before the phone could ring a fourth time, he answered.

“Hello?” Lucifer watched a slight look of relief and unease come over the deer. “Yes, good to hear from you.” Alastor’s fingers tapped on the table besides the phone. His eyes rolled. “I’m fine. I said I’m fine. Listen, about the job, it didn’t quite go to plan.” He paused so the person on the other end could speak. “There’s been either a mix up or the contractor wasn’t being entirely upfront with you.” Alastor looked up then, seeing Lucifer watching him. “No, he hasn’t been dealt with . No, he didn’t get away. I have him here with me.”

Alastor had to pull the phone away from his head. Lucifer couldn’t make out what the voice said, but he heard the pitch and volume of the voice. Possibly male, and not at all happy.

“Calm down.” Alastor said patiently after a moment into the mouthpiece. When the voice quieted, he held it properly again. “Listen, it’s just as I said. Whoever contacted you about this might have been missing some key information.” His ear twitched at what the voice must’ve asked. “Namely…that he’s pregnant.”

The voice was silent. Alastor was silent. Then, loud enough for both of them to hear, the voice hollered, “ WHAT?! ”

“What have I told you about yelling over the phone?!” Alastor snapped. “I have more sensitive ears than you! Does the box over your head affect your memory as well as your hearing?” Pinching the bridge of his nose, Alastor sighed. “I can’t talk about this over the phone. He’s listening.” Alastor raised his eyebrows at Lucifer, who met the look with a frown of his own. “I’m handling it for now, even if this wasn’t what I expected to happen. Just…call me back and tell me when we can meet next. I’ll explain everything then. After all, you trust me, don’t you?” The voice must have answered in the affirmative, because Alastor nodded. “As I thought. I know you have some projects coming up, so…yes. Yes, two weeks from now. Alright. Goodbye.”

Lucifer watched him set the handset back into its cradle. “Friend of yours?” he asked, sarcastically.

“Something like that.” Alastor said dryly.

His tone made Lucifer wonder. “A pair-a-more then?”

“The word is paramour. If you’re going to attempt French, don’t butcher it. It makes the ears bleed otherwise.” He walked past Lucifer, smirking when he shrank back into the bathroom when he got near. “Relax. We have an arrangement, remember?” Lifting the lid of the stereo, Alastor turned the radio on. The end of a song was playing on the station he chose.

Feeling uncomfortable, and honestly wanting to be as far away from the deer as he could get with the chain, Lucifer stepped out of the bathroom and began to make his way around his inescapable companion. Alastor didn’t even acknowledge him aside from lifting his feet one at a time so the chain wouldn’t get caught around his legs. Lucifer was at the bedroom door when the radio host’s voice came through at the end of the song.

She told her listeners the name of the tune before introducing herself as Katie Killjoy. Lucifer had heard this station before, they played music in between news segments. “This just in! Our sources have informed us that a local socialite has been reported missing to Pentagram City Police as of this morning. Lucifer Morningstar, eldest son of business mogul Lord Morningstar, was last seen attending a gala hosted by…”

Turning to face the radio fully, Lucifer listened carefully. They knew he was gone. Lilith knew. She was looking for him. It was stupid of him, but for a moment he thought maybe she wouldn’t. He didn’t even know why the thought crossed his mind. No matter what problems they’d had, he and Lilith were still husband and wife. She had to have wondered when she didn’t find him at the party later on. If she’d gone home and hadn’t found him, he could only imagine how worried she’d been.

Katie Killjoy continued. “According to guests that were in attendance, Lucifer Morningstar was seen acting oddly last night, getting into a bit of a tiff with his businesswoman wife, Lilith Morningstar. One guest even mentioned that Lilith seemed more than happy once her husband had made a hasty retreat from the dance hall, though we wouldn’t want to speculate over vicious rumors like that.”

“No, of course not.” Alastor spoke over her. “You’ll let your listeners do that for you. Harpy woman. ” Seemed like the deer wasn’t a fan of hers.

“That isn’t all! An anonymous source tells us that Lucifer was seen days prior at a family doctor’s office. He was seen leaving looking very happy and thanking the doctor over and over again. The doctor in question refused to answer our calls for questions, but this doctor is well known for being a specialist obstetrician for the rich and famous members of the city. Could it be true? Is the eldest member of the Morningstar brood expecting?”

Sadness and guilt clawed at Lucifer’s chest. This wasn’t how he wanted people to find out about Charlie. This wasn’t how he wanted his father to hear about this for the first time. Unless Lilth told him…

Yet he found himself shocked at Katie Killyjoy’s next words. “At the press conference in front of the Morningstar Company’s main office, Lilith Morningstar denied the allegations, claiming that if her husband was pregnant, she would know.”

Lucifer exploded. “YOU DID KNOW! I MADE YOU A FUCKING CARD!” He felt his face heat up even as he glared at the radio, wishing it was Lilith in front of him instead. “I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN YOU DIDN’T FUCKING READ IT! I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN!”  

Alright so he could admit it to himself, he and Lilth hadn’t been in a good place for a while now. They didn’t fight, not with words or any other way. That didn’t mean they really talked much either. He didn’t want to discount how hard she worked at the company, but she’d always worked hard, it was what convinced Father that she was worthy of working with the business in the first place. It hadn’t made her pull away from him so much in the seven years they’d been married before. Lucifer did everything he could to make it so that she could be comfortable and relaxed once she got home at the end of a long day. They’d find time for each other once things calmed down, he was sure of it. If she had a shorter temper with his antics, could he blame her? That night they’d been intimate had been the first time in months. She’d held him, kissed him, told him things would be better soon if he could just be patient with her. So he had been, and the small smiles she gifted him between one moment of being busy and the next made it worth it. Lilith made an effort not to lose her temper with him as much, and he appreciated that she was trying.

When he’d started to feel sick, she’d been worried. Lilith had been the one to phone up their regular doctor and arranged a check up. They’d wanted a home visit, for their privacy, but those were out of fashion now. So she’d sent him in the family car to the office, with a kiss and wishes for him to feel better soon. Neither of them suspected that the doctor would call him back days later after he’d given blood the first time. Lilith wanted to be there, too, but Father had started to become more ill then and she had to fill in so the investors wouldn’t get antsy. When Lucifer had gone back a second time, now nauseous when he smelled certain foods he used to enjoy, the obstetrician had been present at that appointment, too. That’s when she told him the amazing, incredible, wonderful news.

Pregnant. He was going to have a baby. Their baby. Lucifer thought he would float up to the ceiling, that was how happy he was. He’d hugged both doctors over and over, in between listening to their advice for keeping himself and the baby healthy. Maybe he’d been a bit too much while leaving, so much that he didn’t even notice he was being watched, but he couldn’t have cared less then. All he wanted was to get home and tell Lily that she was finally going to be a mother, after all these years!

Lilith had to leave for a business dinner that night after an afternoon meeting, she was going out the door just as he came in. There was only enough time for him to tell her that he was going to be okay and for her to give him a kiss before she had to leave. That was alright with him, it gave Lucifer time to work on the surprise. He spent hours making drafts before settling on the final design for the card. It was past midnight when he returned to bed and found Lilith there, the card already in his hands. He was tempted to wake her, but she looked so at peace for the first time in months that he couldn’t bring himself to. So instead he snuck into her home office and placed it on her desk, feeling giddy as he tucked himself in next to her. By the time he fell asleep it was very late, and Lilith had let him sleep in until almost noon.

He should have realized something was wrong when he couldn’t get her to stop for one minute to talk to him that day. If she’d known about the baby she would have dropped everything to be with him…wouldn’t she? Wouldn’t she be happy? They’d been trying for years, and when nothing seemed to happen she…but it was different now. Okay, so she didn’t see the card. Maybe she hadn’t even been in her office since she’d come home, and still hadn’t. It was fine. She’d find out as soon as Alastor brings Charlie…

Panting, Lucifer looked up from the radio. Katie Killjoy was still chattering on, but now about something else. Alastor was standing there, arms lightly crossed. He looked at Lucifer as though he wasn’t even slightly surprised at his outburst. As though he’d been expecting it…

Embarrassed tears pricking his eyes, Lucifer turned and ran into the bedroom. He slammed the door shut, taking the chair and shoving it under the door knob to keep it closed. Alastor could go straight into the ground and stay there for all he cared! He wasn’t going to apologize for having feelings, pregnancy or no pregnancy. Grabbing the covers Alastor pulled off before, Lucifer curled up on the mattress underneath them.

Chapter Text

Each day that went by made Alastor surer and surer that he was not going to keep his sanity for the rest of Lucifer’s pregnancy. It had already been a week, which brought the expecting father to thirteen weeks along. Officially, that meant he was finished with the first trimester. Leaving another twenty five weeks, nearly six months. If Alastor had his numbers right, that is. Stars above, he hoped he did.

After his outburst at the news he’d heard of Lilith on the radio last week, Lucifer had barricaded himself inside Alastor’s room. Alastor only learned this when he attempted to bring the man lunch. He’d been annoyed, but not worried. Even if Lucifer tried to climb out the window, the chain would only let him get so far. That didn’t stop him from banging his fist on the door and demanding Lucifer come out and eat. All it earned him were some choice phrases from his captive through the wood of the door, each colorful and less than complementary.

Alastor preferred when Lucifer looked at him in fear, or even the strange quiet compliance he’d done when he realized the scope of his situation. This pouting, hiding version was the last thing he needed on top of everything else. When the behavior continued at dinnertime, he’d had enough. Going out the back door, Alastor circled around the cabin until he got to the window of his room. Then he climbed inside.

It meant he had to step on the bed on the way in, startling Lucifer when it jostled him. “ What are you doing?! ” he’d asked after his head popped up from beneath the covers.

Pointedly not thinking about or saying anything about the way the other man’s eyes looked slightly reddened, Alastor ripped the covers off his own bed for the second time that day. “Get up.” It took effort not to raise his voice, but he had no intention of letting this little worm get under his skin any more than he already had. “You will not block the doors in my own home from me. I don’t give one damn why you would want to. You’ve already been promised safety here, and you will act like a civilized guest until that changes. Now, get. Up. ”

He waited, tapping his shoe covered hoof on the carpet. Timidly, though half glaring all the while, Lucifer slowly sat up and then stood from the bed.

“It is time for dinner.” Alastor leaned into the smaller man’s face. “Go into the kitchen and sit at the table until you are served. You will eat, and then you will spend the rest of the evening and night not being a thorn in my side. Am I understood?”

“...” Lucifer didn’t answer, having looked down and away from him while he’d been speaking. He watched while Alastor removed the chair from under the doorknob. Wordlessly, Lucifer walked from the room after, chain rattling softly behind him. Sighing through his nose, Alastor followed.

Lucifer put himself in the chair closer to the bedroom door, the chain starting to run out of length. When Alastor measured it before cutting, he made sure to give the man enough for him to reach the privy without need for the chain to be removed. He wasn’t a monster that would deprive him of that dignity, especially because he wouldn’t always be at home to handle him.

His guest only looked up when Alastor placed a steaming bowl of hearty stew in front of him, with a slice of the French bread Alastor had made the day before on the side. Despite his attitude, Lucifer did take in the smell of the food in front of him with interest. Alastor had sat himself across from him with his own portion of dinner when Lucifer dipped his spoon into the bowl. A cube of tender venison with a bit of carrot and potato disappeared into his mouth. There was no way to mistake the look of enjoyment that briefly crossed that pale face.

Noticing he was being watched, Lucifer sent a slight glare his way. He didn’t say anything while he ate, but continued with a vigor Alastor could admit he was flattered by. He didn’t often cook for anyone but himself, and the last time he had he was politely told the dish was spicier than expected. Lucifer made no such complaint, spooning up the broth when there was nothing solid left in the bowl, until that too was gone.

The only issue during that dinner was when Lucifer lifted his slice of bread and then looked for a knife to spread some of the butter from the dish in the middle of the table. Alastor was the only one with a knife, the others all moved to a cabinet in the kitchen that Lucifer wasn’t able to reach with the chain and his ridiculously short height. He kept the one he had close to him, out of reach from the smaller man. “You didn’t think I’d be stupid enough to put a knife in your hand, surely?”

Lifting the wooden handled blade, Alastor briefly pointed it in a loose hold at Lucifer. The jolt of fear that went through those ruby eyes pleased him for the moment he stared the smaller man down. Then, calmly, Alastor lowered it to take a pat of butter for his own bread. Looking up, he smirked. “Would you like some?”

In answer, Lucifer tore his bread to dip it into the stew. Unconventional, but not a bad idea, as he ate the entire thing before his stew was finished.

It was only when Alastor stood to collect the dishes that he noticed Lucifer hadn’t touched the cup of water he’d been given. It was full. Holding it up, Alastor asked, “Aren’t you thirsty?”

Lucifer narrowed his eyes at him. “Why? Are you going to drug me again?”

Unamused, Alastor put the cup back down. “I didn’t drug you the first time, remember? You spat it out. Besides, what would be the point of that now?”

“You’d find a reason.” Lucifer said as he stood from the table. “I don’t know how your twisted mind works. I’m not going to give you the chance.”

Turning his back on him, Alastor showed his teeth to the back of that blonde head. “You know…drinks aren’t the only way to get drugs into someone. Hm?”

Freezing in his path back to the bedroom, Alastor could see the realization hit Lucifer as his hands went to cover his stomach. It was a petty thing to say to someone already at his mercy, afraid for the life of their child. Alastor found he didn’t care. An abuser had no right to accuse him of having seedy intentions.

Lucifer didn’t say anything. He changed course from the bedroom to the bathroom. Alastor watched as he leaned under the sink faucet to drink straight from the tap, rubbing his teeth after with a finger to clean them. Then he went back into the bedroom, hiding for the rest of the night. When Alastor went to gather pajamas for himself later, he saw Lucifer flinch on the bed when he came in. The man was bundled beneath the covers, his back facing Alastor. The deer stared at him for a moment before retreating to the main area, where he would spend yet another night on the couch.

That was how they’d spent the rest of the week as well. Lucifer barely spoke to him, and when he did it was with comebacks and sass. Otherwise he hid in Alastor’s room. Alastor for his part avoided the smaller man as much as possible. He’d only left the house twice. Once to go hunting in the forest and to look for signs of that damn trespasser who’d been giving him trouble for months, and then later to bring the buck he’d shot to the cold cellar for butchering. The second time he went into town to bring part of his hunt to the local butcher for trade, and to fetch other groceries. Each time he returned he found Lucifer wandering in the main part of the cabin, though whether he was sating his boredom or trying to find a way out, Alastor didn’t know. He always left when Alastor came in, and he refused to drink a drop of whatever Alastor offered.

Now Alastor sat on his front porch in the rocking chair he’d bought from that charming shop after moving into the cabin. On the small table next to him, he had a mug of the coffee he’d percolated that morning. Rubbing his face in his hands, Alastor groaned quietly to himself. He was completely out of his depth. What could he say? “Sorry, but this is my first time kidnapping. I thought you’d be dead and I would have put you far from my mind by now. I hate how you pointed out that I clearly didn’t think this plan all the way through before bringing you into my personal home.”

That was another thing. Now he had to share his space with a second person. He knew that little worm had used Alastor’s comb on his hair, and if he hadn’t seen it for himself he would’ve thought Lucifer had used his toothbrush, too. He’d lent him the pajamas he’d first been wearing, and Alastor soon realized he couldn’t give him other clothes without removing the chain. If the man hadn’t started to smell, Alastor might not have cared. He couldn’t simply unchain him so he could use the shower or tub. If it were Alastor, he’d use that moment to make a break for it, and he knew Lucifer had enough of a brain to realize that himself. The chain was going to stay on, or within a day Alastor would find himself lined up to be publicly executed once word had gotten out of what he’d done to one of Pentagram’s City’s golden children. He would simply have to come up with another way for Lucifer to get clean…

Finding his ears twitching at the sound of a familiar chime, Alastor sat up quickly in his chair. The gravel road to his front door was on a slight decline. As he watched, a bicycle coasted down the path easily. When the rider saw him, he chimed the bell twice more and waved. “Good morning, Mr. Alastor!”

Alastor lifted one hand to wave and picked up his mug in the other. “Good morning, Husker!”

The thirteen year old kit pedaled backwards until his bicycle came to a smooth stop just behind Alastor’s car. Lowering the kickstand, Husk got off, careful not to drop his bag of newspapers. He adjusted the flat cap between his pointed ears before hurrying up the porch. “Wait’ll you hear what happened this week! It’s bananas!” At his exclamation, his small wings fluffed up behind him.

Taking a sip of coffee, Alastor couldn’t help the smile on his face. He quite liked Husk, had since the first day they were introduced. After the last paperboy had…“mysteriously” disappeared, he wasn’t sure he would want to keep the service if it meant someone could go snooping on his property again if he took too long to come to the door. If they saw something they weren’t supposed to see, Alastor might have to do something he’d never forgive himself for. That was of course before a truck had pulled up in front of his house that next Saturday morning two years ago.

It wasn’t often someone pulled onto his stretch of road. He wasn’t so deep in the forest that no one could find him, but he was far enough from his neighbors that they all tended to keep to themselves. So when Alastor heard a car approaching, a thousand thoughts ran through his mind. Hurrying outside, he found the new paperboy, a young kitten with wings, hopping out of one side of his father’s truck. His father came out of the other side, and both approached together.

“Good morning, gentleman! How can I help you?” Putting on a pleasant air, Alastor smiled at the father and son.

After a light tap on the back from his father’s tail, the kitten stepped forward. “Are you Mr. Alastor?”

“I am.” He did his damnedest not to smile harder at the high pitch of the eleven year old boy’s voice.

“I’m your new paperboy.” When his father cleared his throat, he added. “My name’s Husk, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Why, it’s a pleasure to meet you, my good man, quite the pleasure.” He shook Husk’s paw, still large for his body because of his age. His ears and yellow eyes were big, too. The kit had dark gray fur, a white face, chest, stomach, arms, and feet. The whiskers above his eyes were red, along with the tips of his ears. His wings had red and black feathers, and so did the end of his thin tail. His wings were about the length of his fully extended arms nowadays, back then they’d hardly reached his elbows.

After their introductions, his father stepped forward. “Griffin,” he said by way of greeting. Alastor accepted a handshake from him as well. The cat was a thick set man, a bit taller than Lucifer. He had black fur, with just a bit of white around the muzzle and on his paws, his eyes copper in color. His own wings were long enough to almost drag the ground if they weren’t tucked back, the feathers black and white, with stripes and spots on the inside. The tips of his ears each had a black spot on the white inner ear and a mirrored white spot on the black outer ear. When Husk was grown, he’d be taller than his father, and would probably gain some patterns on his fur and feathers. Both were wearing pants held up by suspenders, to accommodate for their wings.

“Forgive me, but have we met before?” Alastor asked. They both had a distinct appearance that would be hard to miss, and something was tickling the back of his mind.

“The jazz bar off central street. The Cat’s Cradle. I’m the owner. I think you used to work for that delivery business we use?” Griffin had a rather direct and monotone way of talking, but there was genuine emotion underneath. Alastor could appreciate the candor.

“That’s right! I used to work for them when I first came to the city. I remember you now, good to see you again.” Alastor was quite a fan of that little speakeasy. When a friend of his needed work and a place to go, Cat’s Cradle was the first place he thought of, and they were kind enough to hire her.

“You recommended that one supplier. Worked out in spades. Whenever you stop by, you get a drink on the house.”

“Well! How could I say no to that? It would be my pleasure. Now tell me, is this your son?”

Griffin’s tail trailed along the ground, coming to rest loosely around Husk’s feet. A move that showed protectiveness but not restriction. “Husker. It’s his first job.” The kit nodded silently, having watched them talk with wide eyes. Alastor got the feeling the boy was intimidated by Griffin, but not in a concerning way. Husk simply wanted to make his father proud, as most children do. It was sweet.

“I’m saving up for a bike.” Husk added sheepishly, his wings fluffing a bit in embarrassment.

“In that case, let me help.” Alastor pulled coins from his pocket. “Here’s the money for the papers.” He handed them to the boy and took a week’s worth of newspapers in return. “And here’s something to help get you started.” He placed one more large coin on the boy’s paw pad.

Husk’s eyes had gone even wider, his ears perking up. “A whole quarter just for me?! Golly Mr. Alastor, thanks a lot!” The kit’s tail twitched back forth happily, and Griffin even cracked a small smile at his son’s excitement.

“That’s very generous.” Griffin said.

“Not at all. A young working man deserves a leg up every now and again.” Alastor patted the boy on the head. “If you keep up the good work and mind your manners, there’ll be more where that came from.”

“Oh boy! I sure will!” Yellow eyes practically sparkled as he pocketed the coin separate from the others.

Griffin ruffled the fur on Husk’s head with a paw. “Go wait in the car.”

“Okay, Pop. Bye Mr. Alastor!” Waving goodbye, the kit hurried back to the car.

“Level with me,” Griffin asked once his son was out of earshot, “what happened to the last paperboy?” His copper eyes narrowed. “Did he really get attacked by a wild animal? If there are a lot of them around here…”

“Oh, stars no.” Alastor reassured. “There are some, but if you stick to the roads and don’t go out on foot at night you have nothing to worry about. Husker will be perfectly safe.”

“Yeah? No bears, no wolves?”

“Not this far from the mountains.” Alastor gestured far back behind his cabin. “The wolves aren’t within a hundred miles of here, and we’ve never had bears from what I’ve heard. A coyote from time to time, but they avoid us demons. That last boy, if you could even call him that seeing as he was nineteen, was always going too far onto the property lines. I warned him to stay out of the woods, but he never heeded me. Your boy seems much smarter than him, not to speak ill of the poor fool.”

“Mm, you’re right about that. Still, I’m going to drive him along the road, even after he gets his bike. Just in case. I’ll have him run or ride down then come back where I can see him.”

“You’re a good father, Griffin. Husker is lucky to have you.” Though Alastor had said the words more animatedly, he meant them truly. Fathers like him were becoming fewer by the year, it seemed.

Now, two years later, Husk had himself a fine red bicycle from saving up from his job. The bell was a gift from Alastor, so he would always know when the boy was coming. Alastor had started to make a ritual of Saturday mornings, sitting outside with a cup of coffee to greet Husk and talk about the week that had gone by. But that wasn’t all.

“Oh?” Alastor asked. “Bananas, is it?”

“Yeah! I bet a nickel you’ll never guess.” The kit pulled the coin from his pocket. Part of his tips from the other people on the route. Husk’s voice was getting deeper, now that he was practically a teenager. Still boyish, though. The gleam in his eye was something Alastor had seen before at poker tables on the faces of demons much older than the kit.

“I’ll take that bet.” Alastor pulled out the money for the papers as well as his own nickel. He knew he shouldn’t be feeding the boy’s betting habit, but it was all in good fun. Alastor also liked to think it taught Husker a lesson sometimes, like today.

“Okay. Something happened Saturday night, but no one knew until the next morning. It has to do with a big shot, too.” Husker tossed his nickel once and caught it, eyes challenging.

“Oh my. A big shot, you say?” At Husk’s nod, Alastor put down his mug so he could tap his chin. “How big?”

“Are you asking for a hint?” Husk looked pleased. Their usual rules didn’t allow for hints. Either Alastor guessed it in one try, or he didn’t.

“No, no, I’ll get it. Hm. How about those Morningstars?”

Husk’s ear twitched, a giveaway that Alastor was right. “Well… which one? ”

“True, there are several.” Alastor leaned back, rolling his nickel along its edge between his thumb and forefinger. “Oh, how about the eldest one, Lucifer?”

“Aw man!” Head falling back, Husk’s ears drooped.

“Was I right?” Alastor put on a show of being surprised, even though he had known the answer from the beginning. Since Husk had become the regular paperboy they’d started their little bets that they’d do from time to time a few weeks after meeting. Alastor usually knew the answer anyway, thanks to his connections. He hoped that by seeing to it that the boy lost more than he won, that he hopefully wouldn’t get into too bad of a betting habit. Usually they bet pennies, Husk must’ve felt very confident to bet a nickel. Once in a blue moon he let Husk have a win, when Alastor was feeling generous.

After handing over the coin, Husk pulled out Alastor’s papers. He handed all but one to him, instead pulling off the rubber band in order to unroll it and show Alastor the headline. “MORNINGSTAR MISSING, FATHER FARING POORLY”.

“Missing?” Taking the paper from Husk, he made a show of looking it over. “When did that happen again?”

“Saturday night. I’m surprised you didn’t hear it on the radio, everyone’s been talking about it.” Husk’s ears perked up again. “He went to a party with his missus, but he went into another part of the building and then he was gone! No one saw him leave, either. It’s a real mystery!”

Alastor nodded along, reading a bit of the article. “Did something happen to Lord Morningstar? It says here he was hospitalized.”

“Oh yeah, it’s real sad. He was supposed to give an interview on TV talking about his son, but in the middle of recording it he collapsed. Happened on Tuesday. Someone at Pop’s bar said that they think he had a heart attack. He heard from someone who heard from someone that when the ambulance got him out of the studio, he was clutching at his heart.” Scuffing a foot on the porch, Husk looked back at the road he came from. “Pop said any dad would get sick like that if their kid was missing. He’d have to be heartless not to.”

“And he’s right.” Alastor folded up the paper and put it with the others. Part of him felt guilty, knowing that Lord Morningstar was only in that state because of him. From what he’d observed over the years, men like Lucifer could come from parents who were just as bad if not worse. Yet just many times their parents were wonderful people and their children chose to go down a terrible path all on their own. Whatever the case was, Lord Morningstar wouldn’t be sick if Lucifer hadn’t made the poor choices he had. Yet another supposed innocent hurt by that tiny little pissant. “You should go before Griffin starts to worry.”

“Okay. See you next week!” He called over his shoulder as he ran up to his bike. Alastor waved as the kit rode back up to the main road, until he was out of sight.

Sighing, Alastor placed the newspapers under his arm. He gulped down what remained of his coffee, dreading going back inside. Husk’s visit made him feel the way he had before this entire debacle. Now he had to go back to having to deal with Lucifer day in and day out. At least until next week, when Vox would hopefully call to set up a meeting. His associate would have some kind of plan by then, surely.

Heading back inside, Alastor shut and locked the front door behind him. As soon as he passed the telephone and rounded the corner, he almost started in surprise to see Lucifer standing as close to the doorway as he could with the chain, looking up at him.

“Someone was here.”

Alastor raised a brow.

Frowning, Lucifer’s hands clenched at his sides. “I heard you talking to someone out there. Who was it?”

Did the man think someone had come looking for him? Well, he was about to be disappointed. “It was the paperboy.”

Blinking, Lucifer looked surprised. “The paperboy? You have a paperboy?”

“Excuse me for indulging in a bit of news over breakfast.” Alastor replied sarcastically. He took one of the rolled up papers in his hand in order to shoo Lucifer back from the doorway. The chain rattled as he stepped backwards. “He comes every Saturday with the week’s papers. I’m rather attached to the boy, so I wouldn’t suggest doing anything to let him know you’re here. After all, we wouldn’t want to drag him into this, would we?”

Alastor could have put more malicious teasing into the question, but the fact was that he hated the thought of it. Husk was thirteen now. He’d told himself that if there was no other choice, if it was either his secrets or Husk’s safety, Alastor would have to make a sacrifice now that the kit couldn’t be called a child. If he could relocate the boy instead of hurting him he would, but Griffin being just down the road made that nearly impossible, and it would be a damn shame to kill the man. There was little he’d be able to do that wouldn’t cause Husk pain, and he’d never forgive Lucifer if he did anything to force Alastor’s hand. He’d make him answer for it once the baby was born, of that he swore.

Just as Alastor put his mug down on the counter, he felt the newspapers under his arm getting pulled away from him. His ears twitched as he heard them hitting the floor. Feeling his anger flare, he whipped around to glare at Lucifer. “You little–!”

Once he caught sight of the smaller demon’s face, Alastor found the words dying in his throat. Lucifer was holding the folded paper with the headline about his father, his eyes wide and frightened. Opening it, those red orbs moved over the lines in the article frantically, becoming even more so as he opened to the rest of it on a page farther in. Alastor watched as his eyes began to water. “No… Dad …” Looking up with those shining eyes, he begged. “Is it true?! Is my dad really in the hospital?!”

Feeling out of sorts, Alastor could only say, “I just learned of this myself. I didn’t hear anything on the usual broadcast–”

“But is he still there? Is he alright?!”

“I don’t know.” Alastor answered, holding up his hands placatingly.

Looking down at the papers on the floor, Lucifer was soon kneeling down and picking them up. “They have to say something .” He pulled the rubber bands off, pulling them open hurriedly to read them over. “Dad can’t be in the hospital. He wasn’t that sick!” Tossing the paper aside he pulled open another. “We don’t have any sort of health trouble in the family!” Seeing this paper had nothing he tossed it aside too. “He’s fine, he has to be! ” Tears started to fall. “I can’t lose my dad…I can’t!”

Alastor slowly lowered himself down next Lucifer. “Morningstar, you have to calm down.” He watched the smaller demon throw yet another paper when it also didn’t have the information he wanted. “Stop that!” He caught Lucifer’s wrists before he could pick up another. “Listen to me. If anything had happened to him it would have been headline news. Everyone would be talking about it. It would be all over the radio.”

Blinking, Lucifer seemed to realize something. “The radio. The radio!” Ripping his hands free, Lucifer pushed himself to his feet and ran toward the stereo. He caught one of his hooves in the chain and nearly fell over but managed to catch himself before he did.

What alarmed Alastor more than this behavior was the fact that he’d reached out to catch the man once he saw him lose balance. “Be careful!” he scolded as he stood up. Coming up behind Lucifer, he listened as the radio station started to play once Lucifer got it going.

For several minutes they stood by the radio, waiting to see if Katie Killjoy had anything to say about Lord Morningstar. She didn’t. Lucifer was soon tuning in to other stations, waiting for a handful of minutes on each. It was all the same, banal chatter about local politics, opinion pieces on hot button issues, music or entertainment, and not a word on the state of the head of Lucifer’s family. With each station lacking news, Lucifer seemed to become even more distraught. On the last one, talking about the weather and nothing else, Lucifer began to quietly sob, his shoulders shaking.

Hesitating for a moment, Alastor couldn’t take it anymore. He took Lucifer’s shoulders in hand, turning him around to face him. The pure grief on his face nearly made him say something he wouldn’t normally. “Morningstar you can’t be upsetting yourself like this. You’ll hurt your child. I’m sure your father will be–”

A fist hitting his chest shocked him. “Don’t you dare!” Lucifer yelled, glaring up at him behind his tears. “Don’t you dare pretend that you care about my father!” His other fist hit him this time. Soon he was bringing them down on Alastor one after the other.

Alastor flinched lightly. The hits hurt, but not enough to make him try to stop Lucifer. After all, he was right to be angry with him. Putting aside what Lucifer had done, Alastor could admit that his worry was valid. If it were him and his mother…

“The only reason he’s in the hospital is because of you! I should be with him! Not stuck here in this stupid cabin in the middle of the woods! He could be dying…!” The words seemed to hit Lucifer then, his hands no longer hitting as they gripped Alastor’s shirt. He lowered his head. “He could be dying and I’m not there…I won’t get to say goodbye…he’ll die and have no idea what happened to me…” Heavy sobs started pouring from him then. 

Lucifer shoved his face against Alastor’s shirt, hiding his weeping there. The deer wasn’t sure what to do, his hands lingering on the smaller man’s shoulders. Guilt wanted to sweep over him then, but Alastor pushed it down. What could he do? Give himself up to let Lucifer see his father again? It wasn’t possible. What Alastor did, horrible as it was, was too important to give it up for the regret of one person.

However…there was one thing he could try.

Sighing, Alastor pulled Lucifer’s hands from his shirt gently. He guided the still crying demon to the armchair. Once he was sure the smaller man was settled, he walked past the mess of newspapers on the kitchen floor and into the hall. For a moment he debated whether or not he should even do this, before picking up the phone and putting in a number he knew by heart.

The dial tone droned for a minute before a pleasant voice picked up. “This is Rosie’s shop, how may I help you?”

“Good morning, Nancy. Could I speak to Rosie, please?”

“I’ll fetch her right away. Who should I say is calling?”

“Tell her it’s Alastor, and that it’s urgent but not an emergency.” Alastor heard Lucifer become quieter from the other room, his sobs now hiccups.

“Of course. Please hold on for just a moment.”

“Thank you.” Putting his hand over the mouthpiece, Alastor wondered if he was being stupid. Then he thought of the state Lucifer had worked himself up to just at the news that his father had been taken to the hospital. If he could get any information to put his captive’s mind at ease…

Ear twitching, Alastor felt himself smiling genuinely at the sound of his friend’s voice. “Hello? Alastor?”

“Hello, Rosie! Your voice is like music to my ears!” Alastor heard Lucifer becoming silent, and turned so his back was facing away from the doorway to the main room.

“Oh you flatterer! How are you, doll? Did your little job go well?”

“Ah. About that…I can’t really speak of it over the phone.” Or with Lucifer in the room, the one time with Vox was awkward enough. “I was hoping I could get a bit of news from you? I know you have the best connections in the city.”

“Of course I do. Go ahead, ask away!” Alastor could imagine her sitting beside the phone, the way her chin would rest in her hand in interest.

Glancing toward the doorway, Alastor asked, “Have you heard anything about Lord Morningstar? Specifically, do you know if the poor fellow is still in the hospital?”

Rosie, ever the wonderful woman she was, told him all that she knew. Without even asking why he wanted to know, at least for the moment. Alastor made the appropriate hums to show he was listening, all the while trying not to pay mind to the sound of the chain as Lucifer got up and walked over. Thankfully the smaller demon said nothing while Alastor was still on the phone.

“...and that’s all I have, for now. Does that answer your question?”

“It does, yes. Thank you so much. I’ll stop by soon with a gift. Do you need anything?” At her answer he smiled. “Antlers? I have them in spades. Some bones, too? Of course. Anything for you, dear. Until then? Yes. Goodbye!” Alastor set the phone back on its cradle. Not allowing himself to show hesitation, Alastor turned to face Lucifer, telling himself he was ready for whatever state the smaller demon was in.

Lucifer was an arm’s length away from him. He looked up at Alastor with eyes that still shone with yet to be shed tears. His hands were in front of himself, fidgeting with the wedding ring on his finger. There was dread and hopefulness in his eyes, each emotion taking turns showing itself. Yet he said nothing, just stood waiting for Alastor to say something. Perhaps afraid that if he asked outright that Alastor would tease and torment him, dangling the information over his head.

He could do that. Yet…his heart wasn’t in it. “Your father is in recovery.” Alastor heard the small breath of relief Lucifer let escape, but continued. “It was a minor heart attack, but the doctors are hopeful that he’ll be alright after the surgery that they performed yesterday. They only plan to keep him for a week or so before he can go home.”

Alastor expected an interrogation. He thought he’d be bombarded with questions, namely about how he could get this information, or who Rosie was that she knew it when the public didn’t. Lucifer didn’t ask. He closed his eyes once briefly, a tear dropping from each. The fear seemed to leave him then, as he let out one more shaking breath.

Those rubied eyes met his. “ Thank you. ” he said, as genuine, if not more so, than he’d been for Alastor’s supposed kindness at the party. The smallest smile pulled at Lucifer’s lips, pretty and soft in a way it had no right to be.

What was he meant to say? The words “you’re welcome” would be disingenuous. After all, he did it for himself and not to help Lucifer. It was only a phone call. Looking at the newspapers across the floor of the kitchen, he knelt to pick them up. “You should eat. I’ll make something.”

Lucifer had to wait until Alastor had gotten out of his way, but once he did he took a seat at the kitchen table without another word. Alastor would realize later that this was the beginning of one of Lucifer’s drops into a state of melancholy. At the time, he took it as a victory that his captive was suddenly behaving more subdued and quiet. It meant less of a headache for him then. If only he’d paid better attention.

Chapter Text

Hand trailing over his belly, Lucifer tried to think about Charlie. They still weren’t really showing, unless he pushed his hand down, which he didn’t want to do. But he didn’t have much else to think about. He was sitting in the armchair in the main room, facing the window. His legs were tucked up onto the chair, being careful to avoid the cuff digging into his leg. Part of his forehead was resting against the high back of the chair, making it easy for him to stare outside and let his mind wander away from him.

From the corner with the work table, his ears had tuned out the sounds of Alastor whittling away at whatever he was making. The deer had to prompt him to get up from the bed that morning, and when he had, Alastor placed him in the armchair after breakfast and left him there. After cleaning the kitchen he had stopped by him, stared at Lucifer for a moment that felt like an eternity before settling himself at his woodworking table. It was closer to noon now, and Lucifer knew Alastor had been sending glances his way not just today, but ever since Saturday…

Closing his eyes, Lucifer forced away the image of his dad when it appeared in his mind against his will. Lucifer hadn’t been in the hospital since he was little, when he’d had that high fever that wouldn’t go down. Back then Dad had been there to sit next to his bed, hold his hand, and tell him everything would be alright. Dad had been younger, healthier then. Nothing like he’d been the last few months. Tired, frail, forgetful…Lucifer couldn’t bear to think how he would look in one of those big metal beds, tubes and wires attached to him.

Sighing quietly, he went back to staring idly at the trees. Every now and again he would see one of those birds he’d heard since his first day fly by. One or two would linger on a branch for a moment before taking flight again. Lucifer wished he could do the same.

The sounds of woodworking stopped. “...are you…” Alastor’s voice trailed off almost as soon as it started.

Turning his head without lifting it, Lucifer looked at the deer demon.

The ever present smile was still on Alastor’s face, but Lucifer had learned since that first day that it never really left, and it didn’t mean the man was happy. Like now, with the way his brows pulled together. If it were anyone else, Lucifer might let himself think Alastor was concerned. What a stupid thought.

It took more effort than he cared to use, but Lucifer managed to ask, “Am I what?” His voice came out dull even to him.

Alastor set down the piece of wood in his hand, and the whittling knife too. For a moment it looked like he might say something, then he turned to sit right way round in his chair. “Nothing. Never mind.” he said quickly. Standing up, he covered up the work table again. “Do you want to eat?”

“...it’s only eleven. Stop trying to feed me all the time.” There was no heat in Lucifer’s voice. He’d hardly been eating, picking at the things Alastor had given him at each meal. They tasted good, he couldn’t lie. Lucifer had watched him make one, and the seasonings he used were varied and beyond delicious. Yet he wasn’t hungry, no matter how much he made himself put in his mouth. It all felt like too much trouble to be bothered with. He’d gone longer without eating at all, Lucifer didn’t really care.

He wondered if Alastor did, if that was why he kept offering him food. Those two red and black ears lowered slightly, even though he didn’t look up from the cloth over his project. “You need to eat more than you have. You’ll get sick, and your child will get sick, too.” Finally, he raised his head, red eyes meeting his. “I know you care about your child, Morningstar. Can’t you make the effort for them?”

Lucifer knew the deer was right. He loved Charlie more than anything, and he wanted to do right by them. He just felt so…hollow and sad and he hated it.

“...at least drink something. Seeing you drink from the tap is…obnoxious.” Lucifer wondered if he was going to say a different word then, as Alastor didn’t seem to mean it as much as he could have. “What can I say to convince you that I’m not going to put anything in it?” Alastor stepped up to the chair, his long legs making it a short trip. “I’ll say whatever you want if it means you’ll stop denying your thirst. You don’t have to have only water, either. Do you want milk? Juice? That god awful soda pop swill? If I don’t have it, I’ll buy it. It isn’t a hassle.”

Looking up at the man Lucifer was forced to share a space with, a sudden rock of guilt landed in his stomach. He wasn’t sure if this man, a killer, deserved his consideration. Still, he couldn’t help it. Lucifer couldn’t stand to be a bother to anyone. Ever since he was a child he tried not to be in the way. Circumstances aside, Alastor had been making sure he’d had his basic needs, all for Charlie’s sake if not Lucifer’s. Now this offer on top of it all?

Eyes burning, Lucifer pressed his lips together so they wouldn’t shake.

Alastor had a small look of alarm in his eyes, his ears standing at alert. “What did I say?” he asked, thinking he’d done something wrong. He had, but it wasn’t that.

Wiping his eyes, Lucifer set his hooves on the floor. The chain clanked as he did. “Nothing.” The word came out wobbly. “I just…excuse me.” Standing up, he quickly made his way into the bathroom. Alastor didn’t try to stop him.

Closing the door as much as he could, Lucifer lowered his pants to sit on the toilet. Crying in front of Alastor felt like such a loss. That first day, before he’d heard Lilith on the radio, he’d told himself that he would keep a brave face until he either got out of there or was found. Alastor didn’t need to know how afraid he was, how every step he heard the deer make caused him to jump a little inside his skin. The deer certainly didn’t care whether Lucifer lived or died. At the same time, Lucifer couldn’t call him a heartless killer either. Killer, yes. Heartless…not as much. How he’d gone out of his way to make sure Charlie would be okay after this was over, and the way he’d talked about the paperboy spoke of a softness Lucifer didn’t otherwise see in him. It didn’t make sense that he could be both of these people in the same body. That made him scary and unpredictable. Letting himself fall apart in front of someone like that felt like such a defeat.

Taking a breath, Lucifer told himself that he had to calm down. Alastor had offered yesterday, entirely on his own, to call his friend Rosie back in a day or two to see if she knew anything else about Dad. How she was able to get that information, Lucifer didn’t know. He wouldn’t complain about it, not if it meant being left in the dark. If she had the information, Lucifer wanted to know it. Knowing he was alright would make being trapped here easier.

Lucifer stretched his legs out in front of him, feeling stiff from being in one position in the chair for too long. That’s when he spotted it. Setting his hooves down on the tile, he leaned forward to look down at the inside of his underwear. His own pair, that he’d been wearing the night he was taken. They were white…ish, and honestly did not smell great since he’d been wearing them for a week. What he saw were a few small dots on the seat of them. The sight made his chest suddenly feel cold.

No. Not this. It can’t be. Desperately, Lucifer hugged his arms around his stomach, his breath starting to shake as it came out. He can’t do this, not again. Not Charlie, not his little baby…

The sobs started soft, one hand trying to cover his mouth and keep them in. Yet when the realization that he was going to lose his baby hit him fully, he couldn’t hold them back anymore. Lucifer’s chest shook as he hunched over, despair hitting him even harder than it had before as the sound of his crying filled the bathroom. He wanted Lilith. He wanted Dad. He wanted his baby. He couldn’t do this alone!

The sound of knocking on the door frame jolted him out of his head. “Morningstar?”

Lucifer still cried, feeling the tears on his face and neck for the first time. Now though they came out in hiccups. Alastor was here. Could he tell him? Wouldn’t this mean that Alastor had no reason not to kill him? Was that what Lucifer wanted at this point?

“Morningstar.” Alastor said more firmly. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

“G-Go away!” His voice suddenly burst out. “Don’t c-come in!”

“Then tell me what’s happened.” When Lucifer sobbed harder, Alastor made a point to soften his voice. “If there’s something hurting you I can help. I told you that I checked on your child the night I brought you here. I’ve taken some medical classes, including a bit of information on pregnancies.” That made Lucifer’s sobs quiet a bit. “I promised to look after you. How can I do that if I don’t know what’s wrong?”

Feeling torn, Lucifer didn’t know what to think. Could Alastor stop this? It didn’t feel the same as last time. Could it hurt to have him check? “I…I’m bleeding. ” Lucifer hiccupped. “I-I don’t know w-what to do…”

“...I’m coming in.”

Though he said that, he waited almost a full minute before he actually pushed the door open. Finding Lucifer on the toilet, he quickly turned his eyes away. Opening the small closet, Alastor took a towel, opened it, and draped it over Lucifer’s lap to cover him up. Then he crouched on the floor. “What do you mean you’re bleeding?”

Unable to say it out loud, Lucifer pointed down at his underwear. He watched Alastor look inside them. Then he met those red eyes as they looked back at him.

Alastor being calm right then helped more than Lucifer expected. “Did this happen just now? It looks dried, as though it happened yesterday.”

“It does?” Lucifer made an effort to steady his voice.

The deer nodded. “Are you bleeding right now?”

“I…I’m not sure.”

Taking a bit of toilet paper, Alastor handed it to him. “Check. I’ll…” He pointed over his shoulder. Then he made a point of turning around so he wasn’t looking. Lucifer could admit in his own mind that he appreciated the way the taller demon had handled finding him like this. He certainly wasn’t forced to be this chivalrous.

Nervously, Lucifer reached under the towel to wipe himself. When he lifted it he found a single drop of brown liquid on the toilet paper. “Is it…supposed to be that color?”

“May I?” Alastor waited for Lucifer to agree before turning around. Looking at the spot, he frowned. “...it doesn’t look like blood.”

Feeling his face heat up under the tears drying on his face, Lucifer started to say, “Well it’s not–”

“I know it isn’t that. It smells like blood.” He ignored Lucifer’s face at the comment about smell. He’d like to see Alastor not smell after wearing the same clothes for over a week without bathing. “Are you in any pain, either in your stomach or back?” Lucifer shook his head. “Any cramps?”

“No, nothing. I just…I just looked down and saw my underwear like that and…” Lucifer tossed the toilet paper into the bowl beneath him. Now that Alastor asked all these questions, he felt like he’d overreacted and made an ass of himself. “Look I was scared, okay?!” He said defensively, not even trying to stop himself.

Alastor massaged his temples lightly, but he didn’t look annoyed. “I suppose it’s understandable, this is your first child after all.”

“...what are you going to do if something does end up being wrong? You’re not a doctor. I bet you can’t even tell me why this happened.” He gestured at the spots in his clothes.

Lucifer watched Alastor stand up. “I’ll call Rosie. She’s done a lot of work as a midwife, assisted in multiple births and pregnancies. Perhaps she’ll have an idea of what the matter is.”

Before he could leave the room, Lucifer couldn’t help saying, “You trust her.” Alastor must, if he was willing to tell another person, besides whoever he spoke to a week ago, that Lucifer was here.

Alastor didn’t turn around. “More than anyone else.” Then he left the door as closed as it had been after stepping out.

Once he was gone, Lucifer rubbed the tears off his cheeks. He flushed and washed up after fixing his clothes. He left the towel on the toilet seat only because he didn’t know but was fairly sure Alastor would want to wash it after having it on his smelly body. In the middle of it all, he heard Alastor speaking into the phone from the hall. At first his voice sounded mildly pleasant, but after a minute or so, he started to sound…contrite? Lucifer listened more carefully after turning off the tap.

“Clearly this was an unexpected turn of events! If I’d known…yes Rosie, I understand how badly this could go. You don’t have to tell me that, I’m very aware. The fact of the matter is that I need to know whether this spotting is a sign of something to be concerned about or not.” After another pause, Alastor became shocked. “You can’t be serious!”

Unable to help himself, Lucifer opened the bathroom door and stepped out into the main part of the cabin. He was just in time to see Alastor’s ears droop more than he’d ever seen before as the female voice on the other end of the call started to scold him. Even if Lucifer couldn’t tell what was being said, the tone was clear.

“Rosie it-it simply isn’t possible! There are too many risks! I can’t just–” Those red eyes became wide. “You don’t mean that, surely?” After listening for another minute, Alastor gave in. “Alright I’ll…I’ll do what I can. Can I count on your help if this goes wrong?” Rosie must have answered in a good way, because Alastor’s constant smile became more relaxed. “Should it be today? Wouldn’t that be last minute? No? If you’re sure. Give me an hour. Goodbye, dear.”

The phone settled in the cradle easily. “What did she say?”

Alastor met his eyes, and then looked him up and down. It made Lucifer squirm a little. “She wants to meet you.”

“...what?” Lucifer wasn’t sure he heard right.

The deer walked into the room, heading for the kitchen to get himself a fresh cup of water from the sink. “According to her she will be able to tell us what’s wrong only if she can give you an examination herself.” After taking a long drink he poured himself a second.

“Wait…does that mean…?” He didn’t want to get his hopes up. “Does that mean we’re going back into the city?”

Sighing, Alastor set the now empty cup in the sink. “Yes, I suppose it does.” His eyes narrowed as they turned to face him again. “However, if we are going to do this, then you will do everything exactly as I tell you. Any funny business, any at all, then you and I will be on worse terms than we already are. You will cooperate if you want this examination. Is that understood?”

There was no question about it. If something was wrong, that meant Charlie could be hurting. Lucifer would do anything to help Charlie, so he nodded his ascent. “I’ll do whatever it takes. When do we leave?”

Tapping the red end of his fingers on the counter, Alastor’s mouth pulled to the side. “First thing’s first, you’ll have to have a change of clothes. No, not first thing. Just…” He gestured to the kitchen chair. “Sit down for a minute. Let me get a few things prepared.”

So he did. Lucifer watched as Alastor walked out the back door. A few days ago Lucifer had looked out the window in the bedroom properly. From there he had a good view of the large pond at the back of the property, but also he was just able to catch sight of the basement doors set at an angle into the ground leading under the cabin, flush against the back of the building. He assumed Alastor had space to store things down there. Lucifer had watched him walk out into the forest, bringing a bag of supplies and the shotgun from over the mantle with him. Alastor had come back dragging what Lucifer thought was probably a deer based on what he could see peeking out from the tarp, taking it down into the basement. A while later he came out with a few wrapped packages of meat, as well as a bag that rattled with what sounded like bones. That must have been where he worked on bodies of all sorts, animal or otherwise.

After ten minutes Alastor was back. Over his shoulder he had a length of rope, and in his other hand he had a set of keys. One of them was very small, the kind used on cuffs. Lucifer held his breath, only to let it out when Alastor walked past him toward the bedroom. After another minute he came out with a shirt and a pair of pants, neither of which could possibly fit Lucifer but that he knew were for him.

The deer demon made a point of setting the rope down on the table next to Lucifer. “I’m going to remove the chain. It’s the only way for you to be able to change. Remember what I said, no funny business. ”

Lucifer nodded silently, holding his breath again when Alastor knelt in front of him with the key in hand. As soon as he felt that cuff fall off his ankle, Lucifer felt as though he could breathe again, in more than one way. Even when Alastor took his elbow and helped him stand up again, that feeling lasted.

They walked into the bathroom together, Alastor closing the door fully behind them. “Change into these.” He handed over the clothes and turned to face the door, his back to Lucifer.

It was…odd to change with someone he didn’t know in the room. Lucifer was glad to get rid of those stinking pajamas, don’t get him wrong. Yet every few seconds he couldn’t help looking at Alastor to see if he was peeking. He wasn’t. Eventually Lucifer left the used clothes in a pile on top of the towel from before. He had to have the pants pulled nearly up to his ribs, while the shirt hung off him like a tent. The pants needed to be held up by his hand while Alastor guided him out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom, or else they would fall down.

He didn’t know why Alastor had grabbed two cloth scarves, one white and one red, and a pair of sunglasses from the wardrobe in the bedroom. Grabbing the rope from the kitchen, he guided Lucifer out past the front porch and down the steps until they were outside by the car. A station wagon of all things, which seemed like some kind of joke. Alastor also had the keys with him to unlock the car door, and once Lucifer was sitting in the passenger seat, legs hanging out the side, he knew why they needed the rope. “You’re going to tie me up?”

Alastor was kneeling by his hooves, winding the rope around his ankles and making a knot Lucifer didn’t think he’d be able to undo easily. The rope wasn’t painful, but it was tight. “You mean to tell me that if I didn’t, you wouldn’t take the first chance you could to run away?”

“Well…I suppose I would. ” He let Alastor take his hands so he could tie them with the same rope. It left his hands in his lap, with a length of rope attaching his tied wrists to his tied ankles.

“If you don’t try to lift your hands, no one will be able to see unless they press their faces up to the window.” Alastor folded the white scarf into a blindfold and brought it towards Lucifer’s eyes.

He couldn’t help leaning back a bit, making the deer pause. “Do I have to wear that?”

Sighing, Alastor answered bluntly. “Yes. I won’t have you memorizing the way back here, in case you do get away. The blindfold is the only way to guarantee it.”

“I think you’re giving me too much credit…”

“Do you want to be checked over, or don’t you?”

“...I want to be checked over.” Lucifer sat still while the blindfold was tied on, ignoring the warm breaths from Alastor’s nose that brushed over his face. The white blindfold would blend in with his pale skin, especially after Alastor slid the sunglasses on over it and settled the larger red scarf over his head and around his shoulders, making a sort of hood.

Alastor practically lifted him in order to turn him and place Lucifer’s legs inside the car. He wasn’t rough with his touch, but Lucifer couldn’t help the tiny flinch when the door closed next to him. He heard the key turn, locking him in. After a minute, when Alastor probably went to lock up the cabin, the door on the driver’s side opened. He felt the car dip slightly as the deer demon got in.

The station wagon started smoothly, the engine coming to life and causing the slight shaking all cars do. Lucifer had never noticed it before as much as he did now. He heard the sound of Alastor moving the gear shift, felt the way the car backed up only to turn and drive up a small incline. The gravel of Alastor’s driveway turned into a dirt road, with all its little bumps and dips. If Lucifer had to guess, he would assume they drove on that road for thirty minutes before they were on a smoother one.

“Are we in the city now?” He asked, having been bored that entire time but unwilling to try talking.

“Sure. Why not?” He didn’t have to see to know Alastor had rolled his eyes.

“...stars above, you are an ass. ”

“I can still turn this car around if you can’t be civil.”

“And make Rosie mad at you again?” Lucifer snarked. He almost regretted it when Alastor put on the brakes with a little more force than was necessary. If his large hand hadn’t come over and flattened over his chest, Lucifer might have smacked his head on the dashboard. “What are you, a teenager?! Have you driven a car before?!” Another car honked behind them, which was when Lucifer finally noticed all sorts of sounds coming from outside the vehicle. They were in the city alright. “Now look what you did!”

Alastor removed his hand, the car moving again shortly after. “Don’t speak to me about Rosie. She is a far more decent demon than I am, and you should consider yourself lucky that she would even give you her time. Stars know you don’t deserve it.”

“If she’s so amazing, why is she friends with you? ”

“I’ve asked her the same question, she won’t give me a straight answer.”

The car lapsed into silence after that. Lucifer tried to do what Alastor thought he would, counting the turns and timing things, if only to fight off the boredom again. No matter how hard he tried, after a few turns he would lose count and get mixed up. People take for granted how much sight and visual markers help them remember things. As far as Lucifer knew, they could be right outside his family’s apartment building and he wouldn’t even know it.

Another few minutes passed, though it could have been twenty with how they dragged on, and they pulled to a stop. “Don’t say a word.” Alastor hissed to him quietly. Lucifer heard the sound of Alastor cranking the window down a bit. “Hello. Rosie is expecting me.”

“Of course, Sir.” The voice that spoke was young, a teenager, possibly male. “I’ll open the gates for you.”

“Thank you, my good man.” It was unnerving how easily Alastor could throw on the charm. Though Lucifer guessed no one had to live with the deer long enough to know how prickly he could be.

After the window was put back up the sound of a gate hinge reached Lucifer’s ears. It didn’t sound like a metal one, like the ones around Dad’s factory, but what would he know? All he knew was that Alastor was soon driving through and parking the car. Before he could ask to be untied, Alastor was already opening his own door and getting out.

“Alastor!” A lovely voice called out. “There you are!”

“Rosie!” Alastor called back. He quickly shut his door, leaving Lucifer tied, blinded, and unable to hear hardly a thing but muffled voices.

Slumping back against the seat, Lucifer let out a slow breath. It was too late to back out of this whole thing now. Rosie sounded nice, but she was being nice to Alastor , the demon who’d kept him trapped in his cabin for over a week. He didn’t like to judge people, but what did that say about her if she knew about this and didn’t do anything to stop it? On the other hand, she was the one who insisted that Lucifer come so she could check him over and make sure Charlie was okay. He was grateful, really he was. Even if…even if it was too late.

Thinking that made his eyes fill up behind the blindfold. He tried to stop it, but a few drops wetted the cloth around his eyes when they slipped out. It felt so stupid to cry here, in a car somewhere in the city, surrounded by people who probably couldn’t give two shits about him and his baby. So why couldn’t he stop?

From outside the car he could hear the sound of two people arguing, and that snapped him out of his own mind. The voices were getting closer, and before he knew it, there was the sound of a key being put into the door next to him. When it was quickly flung open, the voices suddenly stopped, only to be followed by a gasp.

Turning his head toward the sound, Lucifer didn’t know what to do. A gentle hand touching his face made him jump.

“Oh sweetheart…it’s alright honey, don’t worry. No one’s gonna hurt you.” The voice, soft and soothing, was Rosie’s. Her hand gently held his cheek. “Can I take that off?”

Lucifer could only nod, grateful for the way she was speaking to him. After this week, he wasn’t sure he’d ever have anyone speak kindly to him again.

She pulled off the sunglasses, only to gasp softly once more seeing the blindfold and then again after taking the scarf off his head. He let Rosie pull him away from the seat so she could reach behind his head and undo the other scarf. The bright sunlight once it was gone made him squint until he got used to it.

When he could finally see, he took a look at Rosie. Lucifer hadn’t expected her to look a certain way, but still found himself surprised. She seemed a decade older than them, perhaps in her thirties. She wore a dress with a high neck and long sleeves, in burgundy, with a matching hat. Her skin was a pale gray, bright with life in her cheeks. Short white hair framed her face, flipping into small curls at the ends. It was her eyes that Lucifer couldn’t look away from, though. Large, and black as fresh ink, shining and reflecting Lucifer’s face back at him behind dark lashes. Rosie was tall, pretty, and seeing her now Lucifer really didn’t know why she was associating herself with anyone like Alastor.

Turning from the car to said deer, it looked like she was wondering the same thing. She lifted her hand and smacked Alastor’s shoulder with each word she hissed in his direction. “What. Did. You. DO?! ”

Chapter Text

Alastor took the smacks to his shoulder without complaint, though his ears couldn’t remain fully upright in the face of his dear friend’s ire. Rosie wasn’t hitting hard enough to leave damage, but it would be a lie to say he didn’t feel a thing. He couldn’t remember ever making her this upset with him before, and that hurt more than the smack of her hand.

“What. Did. You. DO?! ”

He tried to look contrite while not dropping the smile he’d been taught to always wear. “I had to take precautions, Rosie.”

“Tying him up like a piece of meat is your idea of precaution?! ” She gave him one more smack.

“He would have run otherwise!” Alastor didn’t let his voice raise by much, but he still thought he was right. Lucifer all but admitted that himself.

Raising her hand, Rosie pointed a shaking finger at him, her mouth pressed in a thin line. “ Ooh! ” She dropped it by her side. “When you told me what happened I thought it would be messy, but this! How could you do this to an expecting person!”

When she gestured to Lucifer, sitting still and wide eyed in the passenger seat, Alastor pushed down a tiny feeling of guilt. He looked pale, disheveled, and frightened. It was clear he hadn’t washed in over a week, and that he’d hardly been eating. The smaller demon’s eyes were still reddened from crying before and from the newer tears on his lashes. Alastor had said he would see to his needs, and he’d thought he’d done as much as he could. Now though, he realized how much he’d overlooked because he’d chosen to ignore it until he couldn’t, and not because he’d missed it.

Trying to speak in his own defense, Alastor opened his mouth. “I…”

At Rosie’s held up hand, he snapped it closed again. “Just…untie him.”

Alastor furrowed his brow, looking between Rosie and Lucifer.

“He isn’t going anywhere.” Rosie gestured to the gate, which was being closed by Todd, her young assistant, now, and would be locked. It effectively left Alastor’s car trapped in the small parking lot behind her private home on one side and the back of her shop on the other. To get out, they would have to ask for the gate to be opened, and she wouldn’t let Lucifer get away now. Rosie had effectively made herself an accomplice, and she and her community were now as much at risk as Alastor was. “Untie him. We’re going to go inside, the three of us, and we’ll talk this out like civilized demons.”

Knowing she was right, and that he wouldn’t refuse her, Alastor lifted Lucifer’s legs out of the side of the car and knelt to undo the ropes.

Rosie bent over him, meeting Lucifer’s eyes and, undoubtedly, smiling kindly at him again. “Everything’s gonna be just fine, honey. Would you like to freshen up, take a nice bath upstairs and get into some better fitting clothes?”

Without lifting his head, Alastor looked up. The pure look of gratitude on Lucifer’s face made that feeling of guilt worse. “Yes.” he said, voice tight. “I’d really, really like that.”

“Of course, doll. I’ll get that arranged.” Rosie turned to Nancy, her other assistant, who had been standing nearby waiting. “Run upstairs and get the water running. Not too hot, and put in the usual oils for pregnancies and something with a nice smell.” Looking at Lucifer again, she added, “I’m thinking a fruit scent will do.”

“Yes, Rosie.” Nancy hurried to do just that as Rosie offered her hands to Lucifer, who was now untied.

“I hope it’s not too much trouble…” Lucifer started to say, his hooves now on the ground as he stood.

“Tut tut, I won’t hear of it. After the week you’ve had, a good soak will do you wonders.” She waved a hand at Alastor as he shut the door of the car. “I’m assuming you brought what you promised me, hm? Why don’t you get that and bring it in.” Before Alastor could try to get Todd to do it, Rosie sent the boy to fetch fresh clothing for Lucifer, a few each of pants, shirts, and underwear. She sent a small stern look to Alastor before setting a hand on Lucifer’s back and guiding him toward her house. “Now why don’t you tell me about this spotting you’ve had and I’ll try to get to the bottom of it?”

“Well…I just noticed it today…” As they walked Lucifer seemed to relax a bit, speaking more easily to Rosie than he had to Alastor.

Feeling a bit out of sorts, though he wasn’t sure why, Alastor went to the trunk to pull out the two pelt wrapped bundles he’d brought as a peace offering. One had a set of antlers from the buck he’d shot the last week, the other bones of all kinds, most that he’d found in the forest. He knew Rosie would use them in rituals or for tool making, if she didn’t sell them in her shop. Typically she would buy them from him, but Alastor wouldn’t dare ask for that today. He would be lucky if she forgave him for his behavior in the next decade.

Alastor placed his gifts in the back room with her other supplies, joining Rosie and Lucifer at the foot of the stairs to the second floor afterward. Rosie was patting the small demon’s hands as he looked at her with pure, naked relief on his face.

“You’re sure?” He asked, breathless and happy.

“Very sure. Happens all the time. Your cycle knows to come around every month, and sometimes, right during the first term, a little spotting will happen because your body is used to it. The color, the lack of pain you told me about, all that points to it being a normal, healthy pregnancy so far.”

The smile that pulled across Lucifer’s face was more charming than it deserved to be. “Oh, thank you! Thank you, Mrs. Rosie.”

“Ah, ah, just Rosie. Believe me, I didn’t put Franklin to rest just have people call me Mrs. for the rest of my life!” Rosie’s laugh at her poor departed husband’s sake pulled a chuckle from Alastor, too. “Ah, there’s Nancy. You take our guest upstairs and get him settled, be sure he has whatever he needs. By the time you’re done I’ll have drinks and snacks ready, and those clothes should be here. Then we’ll all chat. Go on, go on.” She shooed Lucifer up the stairs, watching to make sure they were both gone before rounding on Alastor again. This time she took off her hat to swat him with it, which he had to block with his arms. Thankfully, she had no pins in. 

Keeping her voice to a hissing whisper, she said, “If you weren’t my friend I swear I’d never speak to you again! How could you let him get into that state?! He’s filthy and he’s starving, which means you’ve let that child starve too, I’ll have you know!”

Rosie stopped swinging long enough for him to answer. “I gave him three meals a day, he’s barely picked at them!”

“Because he’s depressed and scared. To. Death! ” With a last few swats she let out one of those quiet, growling screams that Alastor had found only women could do well. “Here I thought you were a gentleman!”

The sound of her heavy, practical heels moving across the floor snapped Alastor out of his defensive stance. He followed her into her kitchen, just in time for her to toss an apron at him and point him at the rolled and prepped jam filled cookies she had in her refrigerator. Alastor put the apron on and took the cookies out to set them on the counter so he could start the oven. “Need I remind you that the man you have upstairs is one of my targets? The only reason I’m in this situation is because he was mistreating his partner, Lilith. You remember her, don’t you?”

“Of course I do!” Rosie was looking through her cabinets at her tea tins, trying to choose one. She’d tossed her rumpled hat on a chair that was nearby, and that left him able to see the conflict of emotions on her face more easily. “That isn’t the point, Alastor. No matter what he’s done, you can’t expect me to be alright with you mistreating someone carrying a child.”

“I never meant for it to get that far.” Closing the oven after it had preheated, cookies now left to bake, he turned to face her and lifted down the tin from the high shelf she was pointing at. “I had no idea that he was expecting, Rosie. If I had I never would have agreed to this job. Vox knows my rules, and the client would have had to agree to them before asking me to take him out.” He set her kitchen timer so the cookies wouldn’t burn.

Rosie let out a bark of unamused laughter. “Vox! That clout chaser. You think he didn’t know about this?”

“I know he didn’t. He knows I would never forgive him if he did, and he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize our arrangement. I understand why you don’t trust him, and I certainly don’t pretend I can trust him implicitly either. Not about everything. Still, he’s never pushed me farther than I was willing to go. That’s why this job works for us.” He watched her set the kettle on the stove to heat. “This job is the only reason you and I met.”

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “I remember…”

Two and a half years after Alastor had come to the city, two years after he started taking this kind of work, Vox’s hotlines had gotten a call from Rosie. She had suspected that someone was coming to her part of the city to prey on children. It wasn’t only her community that was affected, but once the child that was harmed wasn’t one of the Daepha, her people had been accused of being responsible. They already faced prejudices, this simply pushed those opposed to become more vocal. Rosie had tried leaving the matter to the authorities, and as usual they had turned a blind eye until a “normal” child was hurt. That was when she called Vox’s service.

Alastor had done another job in her community months before, that’s how she knew who to call in the first place, though what she called for was different from normal. When Rosie hired him to find the degenerate she also demanded that she get to meet Alastor. Of course she hadn’t known who he was until the day he came to her shop at the agreed upon time. Vox had been against it from the start, but Alastor detested those who preyed on the weak, and Rosie would only give him all the information she had access to if she got to see the face of the person that was going to help them. If he’d had to, he would have gotten rid of her, too, though it thankfully hadn’t come to that. So they met, and they talked multiple times over the course of a few weeks. They’d come to a quick and easy understanding with each other, and before they knew it Alastor had found and dealt with the one responsible for those children’s pain. He’d let Rosie deal with the remains once he discovered it was a member of her community after all. That was the last time Alastor had seen her fury until today.

After the dust had settled, Alastor had returned with the spoils of a few hunts. Pelts, bones, and fresh venison among other things. They were gifts to her community, in part because he thought they deserved them, and because he’d become very fond of Rosie. He hadn’t had a close friend since he moved here, or even before then. Soon Alastor found himself making regular visits to catch up with her, not just because she could give him information he’d struggle to get otherwise, though she would give him that, but because they’d only become closer as the years went by.

“How long have we known each other?” he asked her.

“Five years.” Rosie answered easily.

“In all that time, have I not earned your trust?” Alastor tentatively placed a hand over hers on the counter, beyond grateful that she reciprocated the touch. She didn’t have to answer for him to know that he did. “You don’t have to trust Vox. If you have faith in me, then you can believe in my trust for him. He easily could have let me take the fall for what I did to Niffty’s husband. He was as shocked about Morningstar’s pregnancy as I was.”

Sighing, Rosie only pulled away to take the whistling kettle off the stove. “Alright, so Vox didn’t know. What about your client?” She fixed her deep eyes at him. “You told me yourself that Vox’s people couldn’t look into the Morningstars the way they usually do because of how privately they live. So you had to go in blind to that party and make the best with the info Vox was able to get you. It makes me wonder, did whoever hired you know that Lucifer was expecting? Is that why you were hired?”

Alastor was silent, thinking long enough for the cookies to finish baking. He set them down to cool after taking them from the oven. “If they did…it would have to be someone close to him, as apparently Lilith doesn’t even know about her child.”

“Exactly. It all seems a bit fishy to me.” Rosie prepared her guest china, setting a tea bag in each cup. “As far as I can see, there are two ways this played out. Either everything is on the up and up, the info is good, and Lucifer expecting is the only thing preventing him from facing what he’s got coming to him, or someone is using you and Vox to get him and his child killed.” Her dark eyes met his as she let the magnitude of her statement sink in.

“...you didn’t see him at the party, Rosie. The way he spoke to her…the implication–”

“Is not proof.” She smoothly interrupted. “I’ve only talked to him for five minutes, but I just don’t get that feeling from him. Trust me, I’m a people person. I’m rarely wrong.” She used to say she was never wrong, but considering how they’d met she’d since amended the statement. It was that small chance she could be wrong that unsettled Alastor. “That’s why we’re gonna talk to him, find out what we can, so we can hopefully get you out of this mess. Since you’ve made said mess, I’ll be doing most of the talking while you sit and listen.”

Knowing he had little choice at this point, Alastor finished helping her prepare her refreshments, carrying the tray for her once it was all done. Leaving the apron behind, they settled in her sitting room to wait for Lucifer, the table prepared by the time Todd came in with the clothes. Rosie sent him upstairs with a set, sending Nancy once she came back downstairs to fetch a few more items that Alastor didn’t pay attention to as his mind thought over the possibility that the client had used him against an innocent person. Is it possible, yes, but Alastor didn’t think it was. It couldn’t be…

“This way, Sir.” Todd led the way into the room with Lucifer following behind him. Both Alastor and Rosie stood from the table to greet him, Alastor finding himself surprised by how much better the short demon looked.

Lucifer had on a pale rose colored shirt, buttoned all the way to his neck. It was tucked into light beige pants that were fitted to his thin figure, ending just above his dark feet and red hooves. His hair had some life back into it, mostly dry but still a bit damp, and his skin had lost the slight grayish pallor that Alastor hadn’t noticed until it was gone. Now that he had on clothes that fit him properly, he could also just make out the slightest swell of his stomach beneath where his shirt met his pants. When Lucifer’s hand went to cover his stomach that was when Alastor realized he’d been staring and looked instead into his eyes. His were staring Alastor down with equal intensity.

Rosie walked around the table. “You look better, doll. Do you feel better?”

When Lucifer turned from Alastor to Rosie his expression became softer, happier. “ Much better. I don’t know how to thank you. Nancy said it was okay that I used anything in there to fix myself up, so I did.” He looked a bit sheepish. That would explain the way his teeth looked freshly brushed. “I hope that was okay. She left to talk to you after she started washing the clothes I’d been wearing, so I couldn’t make sure.”

“Of course! That’s why I sent you to the guest bath. I’m going to give you a few more things to keep when you go so you can take care of yourself whenever you like. Something for your teeth, something for your hair…” She trailed off as Lucifer’s gaze drifted down to the floor. Gently she took his free hand into hers and patted it. “Is it alright if I call you Lucifer?” At his nod she smiled sympathetically. “I know you want to go home. There might be a way you can.”

Alastor felt his ears standing up in alarm as Lucifer looked at her hopefully. “There is?”

“That’s why we should talk. Come, have a seat here. Todd, why don’t you wait outside for Nancy to get back?” She watched the boy eagerly go. “Isn’t it sweet, I think he’s smitten with her. From what I hear the feeling is mutual.” Humming happily, she poured each of them hot water before sitting down.

Thanking her, Alastor left the bag to steep in the cup and took a bit of dried meat from the tin she had left open on the tray.

Lucifer thanked her too, but eyed the cup as though he expected it to bite him. “Forgive me if this sounds rude but…you didn’t put anything in this tea, did you?”

Rosie’s eyes widened. “Why no I…” Those dark pools narrowed and turned in Alastor’s direction. “ You didn’t… ”

Sighing, Alastor bit into the dry meat, his sharp teeth making quick work of it before he swallowed. “It was only a sleeping pill. One that he spit out before even drinking it. Now he thinks I’ll put something else in his drinks.”

“Can’t say I blame him…” She lifted the plate with the cookies and offered them to Lucifer, who took two. “Take as many as you like. I promise, these are normal cookies and normal tea.” When he took two more she smiled. “There we go.”

Lucifer looked up from behind his lashes. “He used bleach when the pill didn’t work.”

Rosie set the plate down with a clatter, glaring at Alastor.

“It wasn’t bleach.” After finishing another bite, he continued. “It was chloroform.”

That might have been the wrong thing to say. Rosie had gone from trembling rage to still and calm fury. It was intense enough to make Alastor’s ears drop, but only enough to show his contrition. “...you will apologize for that, Alastor. Now.”

He might have. She was angry because that chemical or the pill could have harmed Lucifer’s child, something he’d thought about more than once since he’d discovered his target was even carrying one. When he’d seen Lucifer was spotting he’d feared that the child was dead, and what he’d done had been the cause. It was why he’d brought the man to Rosie in the first place. However, he caught sight of Lucifer’s face before he even thought about apologizing. The little worm had hidden a smirk behind one of the cookies he was shoving into his face. He told Rosie that on purpose to get him in trouble!

“I don’t see why I should.” Alastor took an angry drink of his own tea. “It isn’t my fault that I wasn’t aware of his child. If anything it’s your fault.” At Lucifer’s affronted expression, Alastor continued. “The only reason the two of us were forced to cross paths was because of what you’d done. You put your own child in harm’s way by your actions and I refuse to apologize for them being caught in the web you wove.”

“How dare you?! ” Wiping his mouth, Lucifer threw his napkin and remaining cookies on his plate. “A killer has no right to look at me and tell me I deserve to be killed. If you have enough of a soul to feel guilty for hurting my baby that’s your own damn problem! I was simply living my life when you came crashing into it like a high speed collision and upended everything! And for what?! You still won’t tell me why you were hired in the first place, what I did that was supposedly so bad I needed to die for it!” Pushing his chair back from the table a bit, he glared vitriolic hate at Alastor. “You know what I think? I think you weren’t even hired at all, you probably did all of this to get your rocks off because of some sick thrill that you get out of it.”

“Lucifer, that’s not–! Alastor, don’t you dare–! ”

Alastor stood, using his height to lean over the table and the little worthless shit stain that had uprooted his life for the last several days. “You know damn well why, but if you plan to deny it until the bitter end then I’ll say it plainly, right here, right now.”

“Oh yeah? Go ahead.” Lucifer stood too, matching Alastor by showing his own sharp teeth in a snarl. “Go right ahead.”

“Fine then, I will. I was hired because you, ” here he poked Lucifer’s shoulder, ignoring Rosie’s gasp, “have been mistreating your wife. Not just mistreatment. From what I hear, you take any opportunity you have to beat her when your family’s back is turned. The only reason she stays married to you is because if she divorced you she’d be fired from your father’s company–”

Lucifer slapped him. His eyes had gotten wider and wider as Alastor aired his dirty secret, but he’d been otherwise utterly still right up until his left hand met Alastor’s cheek. Hard. They both heard the quiet scream of surprise from Rosie, but neither acknowledged her. Alastor didn’t let the hit cause him to look away from the shorter demon, even though the force of it was stronger than any Rosie had given him that day.

Hand shaking, it was Lucifer’s turn to poke him in the chest. “Don’t you ever, ever, speak to me about my wife. I love her. I would give her anything I have, anything I am. I would rearrange the stars for her. She is the best part of my life and I would never hurt her. Whoever told you that is lying. ”

Alastor caught Lucifer’s wrist in his hand, and it infuriated him that the man didn’t even flinch. How could he stand there and lie right to his face? Didn’t he have any sense of responsibility? Was he lying even to himself?

“Stop that, stop that right now!” Rosie stood and pushed them apart, forcing Alastor to let go. “Listen to me, both of you! Don’t either of you think it’s strange that you both have very different ideas about the nature of Lucifer’s relationship with Lilith? You can’t both be right. Sit down .” With a light push she got Alastor back into his seat, and then offered a hand to help Lucifer into his. “Don’t you see what I was telling you, Alastor? Would he defend himself this much if he was guilty?”

Alastor said nothing, though he had to admit Lucifer didn’t have any of the classic tells of someone who’d been caught doing something so terrible. That didn’t mean much. After all, Alastor previously had more than one target who’d been narcissistic and refused to accept their own behavior had brought Alastor to their door. Even to the bitter and sharp end of Alastor’s knife.

“I’m not guilty of anything! ” When Lucifer turned to Rosie there was a plea in his eyes. “I swear! It isn’t true!”

“I believe you.” Alastor couldn’t help the look he gave her. She gave him one in return. “I do. He has nothing to gain from lying to us now.” Taking her seat again, Rosie looked between them. “Let me ask you a question, Lucifer. Can you think of anyone who would want to hurt you?”

Lucifer looked down, idly turning one of the cookies he picked up between his hands. “I’ve been trying to think about that since he told me someone wanted to kill me. I know I’m annoying…but I really can’t imagine anyone who would hate me that much.”

Rosie hesitated. “Not even one person?”

Brow furrowing, Lucifer met her gaze. “No. Should I?”

Folding her hands on the table, Rosie looked at him seriously. “Just because you might not have an issue with someone personally, that doesn’t mean someone wouldn’t try to hurt you. Your father has been very influential to this city, and that can make as many enemies as friends.”

“You mean they might have tried to have me killed to hurt my family…” The realization dawned on his face. “Like my dad, or Lilith. If something happened to me they’d be the ones who’d be hurting.”

Rosie nodded slowly, her own thoughts clearing turning in her mind. “Yes, that’s a possibility. Especially if anyone knew you were expecting. Your child would be Lord Morningstar’s first grandchild.”

“No, they wouldn’t.” Lucifer shook his head. “My brother Adam has two boys, they’re three and five.”

“Your adopted brother.” Rosie corrected gently. Adoption was entirely valid to her of course, but to the elite?

“That doesn’t matter to us. They’re family. Dad made sure Adam knew it, he opened trusts for both of them as soon as they were born. He wants to do the same for all of our kids, just like he did for his children. Adam has always been family.” Based on the phone call Alastor had eavesdropped on, he wasn’t expecting Lucifer to defend this Adam so strongly. It seemed whatever issues they had didn’t change the way he cared about his brother.

Rosie focused on the other thing he’d said. “You all have trust funds?”

“Sure.” Lucifer shrugged nonchalantly. “Dad set aside some money for us, as well as shares of the company. When he…when he dies someday, each member of the family gets an equal share. For our spouses it’s different, because either we work directly in the business or, like me, we step aside and let our partners take our spot. Lilith had taken over my shares of the company once we got married. It was Dad’s way of making sure it stayed in the family.”

“Once Charlie is born, they will have a share, too.” Alastor spoke out loud once he realized this fact.

Lucifer blinked in surprise at him, either because he referred to his child by name or because of what he figured out. “That’s right…” He popped another cookie in his mouth, looking away from him.

Rosie tilted her head, looking at Alastor. “Charlie?”

“His child.” Rosie didn’t say anything, but Alastor knew she wouldn’t forget that information anytime soon. So he faced Lucifer again. “You mean to tell me that the more your family grows, the smaller the share each of you receives?”

Swallowing, he answered, “Yes, I…” Lucifer stopped speaking, his eyes narrowing. “What are you saying?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” Looking at Rosie, he saw that she understood what he did. “The ones who have the most to gain by you and your child being killed…are your own family.”

Chapter Text

Lucifer stared at Alastor, his words repeating themselves again and again in his head. The soft shortbread cookie, with its sweet and tart jam, coated the inside of his mouth. It made his tongue feel heavy as he tried to keep his emotions in check this time. For Rosie’s sake if nothing else. Lifting up his tea cup, Lucifer took a long drink. Bergamot and citrus, a perfect match to wash down the cookies. He set it down on its saucer and met Alastor’s eyes from across the table. “You’re wrong. My family would never do something like that.”

Rosie’s look of sympathy hurt as much as the disbelieving eyebrow that Alastor lifted.

“I don’t expect you to understand. You must think because we’re well off that we’re spoiled, selfish, greedy.” Eyes narrowing at Alastor, Lucifer frowned. “You don’t know my family at all. We love each other. Perhaps we aren’t as close as I want us to be, but that’s only because we have busy, full lives. Dad gave us everything we could ever want, and even after he’s gone we could still live the rest of our lives comfortably. The very idea that we’d try to kill each other over money, it’s just…well it’s stupid, that’s what it is.”

As Lucifer took another drink, he saw the look exchanged between the two of them. Alastor made a small gesture with his hand at Rosie, perhaps asking her to talk some sense into him. The nerve of him to think he knew more than Lucifer did about his own family.

“I’ve met a lot of people in my life,” Rosie began as she added a sugar cube to her cup, “one thing I’ve learned is that some people can’t recognize when they supposedly have everything they could want. Some see that others have what they want, even if only a part of it, and they think that person has taken what’s theirs. Those people are willing to do whatever they think they have to, if it means righting what they see as wrong.” Stirring her tea, Rosie looked thoughtful. “That being said, and having not met your family, I have to assume you’re telling the truth about them.”

Before he could tell her that he was, Alastor butt in again. “What would he know? He couldn’t tell a killer was in the room with him until it was too late.”

To Lucifer’s surprise, Rosie smiled at Alastor. “Isn’t that a credit to you then? You know how to blend in seamlessly. I wouldn’t have guessed that about you when we first met. Remember? I thought you were bringing me a telegram and had lost your hat!”

They both laughed, a surprised and delighted sound. Even Alastor, whose brow finally relaxed for the first time that day as his perma-smile became real. “It was my fault for wearing that dreadful suit! That’s the last time I’ll take advice from Vox on anything to do with fashion.”

“Oh, you mean the man who wears horizontal stripes with vertical stripes doesn’t know how to dress? Shocker!” That sent them into another round, this time with a titter from her and a guffaw from him.

Lucifer looked between them, feeling amused and confused at the same time. The side of his mouth pulled up out of the need to not show that he felt like a fish gasping on land. These two were wackos, pure and simple. Alastor he knew about, but after the way she’d treated him he’d had a hope for Rosie. Though as he’d thought before, since she was friends with a hired killer he should have curbed his expectations a little. Still…the unbearable tension that had been hanging over him since walking into the room felt as though it was loosening a little bit. Maybe it was silly, but seeing that Alastor actually was capable of laughter made him seem like any other demon.

“Oh!” Rosie waved a hand in the air, trying to stop laughing. “We’re getting off topic. Now let’s settle down.” She and Alastor both took a calming breath. “Alright, I think we can all agree that we’re a bit stuck as things are. You don’t have to take my word for it Lucifer, but I promise as far as killers go, Alastor is the most decent one among them. If he took the job to go after you, it was based in good faith. That being said, I believe Lucifer has given us reason enough to have doubts about who hired you. After all, if they were lying…” here she trailed off, raising her brows at the deer demon.

“If they were,” Alastor continued, “then they were trying to use me to get an innocent person killed.” Alastor sat back in his chair, a look of contemplation on his face. “It would certainly cause a world of trouble for me if that is the case…” A world of trouble for him? What did that make Lucifer, chopped liver?

Alastor reached back into the tin on the tea tray, pulling out another piece of dried meat and tossing it between his sharp teeth and into his mouth. A minute passed quietly like that, with each thinking over this new development as they continued to snack and drink their cooling tea.

Wondering what Alastor was eating, and wanting something besides sweets, Lucifer put out a hand to reach for a piece of his own.

“Hold it!” Rosie’s hand quickly blocked his. “You wouldn’t want to do that, darling.”

Pulling his hand back against his chest, Lucifer felt confusion and suspicion in his chest. “Why? What is it?”

Rosie surprised him then by looking away from him. Was that…discomfort on her face?

Swallowing, Alastor’s smile became sharper. “It’s demon meat, Morningstar.”

“...” Lucifer felt he should have been more shocked. He was, really. However, he was now remembering the look of the local buildings that he caught a glimpse of in the brief time he was outside. Pink tones, older architecture. “Are we on Cannibal Street?”

“It’s called Carnegie Street.” Alastor answered drily. His eyes narrowed, and his hand moved to cover Rosie’s on the table. That was a protective gesture, there was no mistaking that. Yet another sign that Alastor wasn’t entirely heartless.

“It’s alright, Alastor. Even the children call it that when they think their parents can’t hear. I’m not ashamed.” She patted the deer’s hand. “After all, I am a cannibal.” She faced Lucifer again. “That won’t be a problem, will it?”

He watched both her and Alastor’s faces turn surprised as he quickly apologized. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to offend. I’ve never met a cannibal before, but I was raised to respect other people and their beliefs. Thank you for telling me, I know you and your people have been stigmatized, and what a risk it is to admit it to just anyone.”

Rosie’s hand covered her heart. “My…you’re more accepting than I thought you’d be. Which wasn’t fair of me to assume, really. I’ll accept your apology if you accept mine.”

“Consider it done.” Lucifer smiled at her, relief that he hadn’t offended her filling his chest. “Though, if I may…?”

“You have a question? Fire away, darling.” Rosie topped off their cups, looking somewhat comfortable again.

“Thank you.” He noticed Alastor watching him quietly from across the table, though the animosity in his eyes seemed to be gone for the moment. “In the first place, your people don’t call yourselves cannibals, do you?”

“We don’t. We prefer Daemophagite, though most around here shorten it to Daepha. It comes from Greek.”

“Meaning “demon eater”, I think. It’s been a while since my Latin studies, but the languages are similar.” Lucifer sat forward a bit in his seat when she nodded that he was correct. “My father taught us that there are many beliefs, going back thousands of years. They all center around death, and what we believe happens after we die. He said they all share similar roots, so the stigma around some is based in fear and not fact.”

“Lord Morningstar is very wise.” Rosie sat forward too, looking as interested as Lucifer felt. “Your family is Stellatian, then?”

“Eh…” Lucifer turned his wrist. “Loosely, not really practicing. We believe in souls, that those who lived good lives have their souls rise to join the stars, while those who didn’t have their souls remain within their bodies after they’re buried, trapped underground, never to join their loved ones.”

“That isn’t so different from Daepha beliefs. The main difference is that we believe in souls and spirits. Souls are what we are born with, blank and pure, the essence of any demon. As we live our lives, we create within us a spirit, shaped by experiences and how we interact with the world around us. The two exist together, two parts of a whole, and make up who we are. The soul leaves our bodies when we die, but the spirit remains within the flesh. That’s why we partake, eating as much of the body as possible. If a part of who a person is remains in the flesh, then by partaking we carry that part of them within us for the rest of our lives, passing that along when it’s our turn to go.”

Lucifer found his eyes watering a bit, and he dabbed them with his napkin. “That’s really beautiful, actually. Ugh, and now I’m all weepy again.”

Rosie giggled. “You’re pregnant, honey. That’s more than natural. Have another cookie, sweets always help.”

As Lucifer finished that cookie, Todd and Nancy, the two teens from before hurried in. The poor kids looked very frazzled. Nancy held the paper bag in her arms closer to herself, her pulled back blonde hair done up in curls bouncing as she shook her head. “Oh Rosie, it’s terrible. Ms. Susan is in the shop!”

Rosie groaned, rubbing her forehead with her hands. “Not Susan…”

He couldn’t help asking, “Who’s Susan?”

Alastor answered before Rosie could. “An ornery old bitch, that’s who.”

Todd snickered, pretending he didn’t by patting down his gelled hair when Rosie turned an angry glare on him. Nancy did much better at hiding the smile on her face. Lucifer had to press his lips together, too.

“Just because you’re right it doesn’t mean you have to say it out loud.” Rosie stood up. “I’ll talk to her.”

“No my dear, allow me.” Alastor stood too, fixing the shirt he’d been wearing all morning until it was tucked in and neat. “I could use the outlet. After all, I believe you have an examination you wanted to do?”

“You aren’t going to make a spectacle, are you?” Rosie asked with a raised brow.

“Not unless she starts it.” Alastor stepped away from the table. “May I borrow Todd? He ought to learn how to handle her.” He didn’t give the boy a chance to object, putting an arm around his shoulders and leading him out.

“Todd, don’t you listen to a thing he says! Oh! What am I going to do with that man?”

Nancy walked over and handed her the bag. “Never mind, the boys will handle it. I got the supplies you asked for, Ma’am.”

That seemed to perk her up. “That’s my girl. Lucifer, why don’t you finish up your tea so I can check on your Charlie, hm?” Picking up the small pile of folded clothing Todd had gotten for him, she walked into the hall.

Feeling excited and a bit worried at the same time, Lucifer did as told and then stood to follow the two women into a nearby room. There was a wooden folding screen they needed to walk around in order to get to a bed with many pillows, a table with what looked like herbs and medications, and a few chairs. Despite the simple layout, it felt cozy and safe inside.

“Now I always ask first, but is it alright if I look at your stomach? You’ll have to open your shirt.” Rosie set down the bag and clothes on the table, picking up something else.

“Oh. That’s fine with me, I don’t mind.” It seemed that Rosie meant him and Charlie no harm, at least. Plus she promised to take a look when she walked him into the house earlier. He let Rosie guide him to sit on the bed and lay down by the edge. Untucking the shirt, he opened enough of the lower buttons for him to pull it open over his belly and pushed his pants down just enough to show the lower half.

“May I stay, Mr. Morningstar?” Nancy folded her hands over her chest. “Rosie is teaching me how to be a midwife. I’ll only watch.”

At her eager expression to learn, Lucifer couldn’t help smiling. “Are you going to study medicine when you’re out of school?”

“I’d like to…” Her face fell as Nancy sat in one of the chairs, “...but I don’t think I’ll be allowed.”

Lucifer frowned. “Not allowed? Why not?”

Rosie answered for the girl. “Many demons feel uncomfortable around Daepha’s like us, especially when they’re sick or hurt.” She sat next to Lucifer, and he could see the displeasure in her eyes though she seemed to try not to show it for Nancy’s sake. “We have a hard time being hired for medical jobs, or receiving care. It’s why Nancy is learning from me everything I learned from my mentor when I was her age.”

“But…that’s illegal.” As soon as he said it he felt silly. Why would that stop someone from being closed minded? “How would they even tell? They aren’t allowed to ask anymore.”

“You didn’t notice we all have a similar look?” Nancy gestured between the two women. It was true they both had grayish skin, and big dark eyes, and so did Todd. But the color of their hair, the shape of their faces, none of those were exactly the same even if they were slightly similar. “Our community comes from the Old Country, where the Daepha practice started.”

“My great-great grandmother guided our people here to make a new home. We’ve lived in this city ever since.” Rosie looked proud as she said this. “Sure, we’ve had many demons of all different species join us in our beliefs, but those of us that look like the original Daepha…well let’s just say people have their ideas about us. I don’t want Nancy to be treated badly when all she’s wanted to do since she was a little girl was to take care of her fellow demons.”

The item Rosie had brought with her to the bed was a small jar. She dipped her fingertips inside it and spread the oil that came out over her hands. The scent of it filled the space, but it was nice even if Lucifer couldn’t name it. With a gentle touch, she ran her hands over Lucifer’s belly, only pressing lightly when needed. It was more comforting than Lucifer expected it to be.

“Still,” he said, trying to continue the conversation, “I wouldn’t give up. Maybe you could be a candy striper? One of those volunteers for hospitals. When I was a kid I had to spend a week or so in the hospital, and I really liked the kids that came by to volunteer, they were very nice. It might help get a foot in the door.”

Nancy seemed to light up at this idea, but she looked to Rosie to see what she thought before saying anything.

Her hands paused on Lucifer’s belly. After a moment, she smiled at Nancy. “It can’t hurt to try. Why don’t you discuss it with your uncle tonight and let me know if he approves?”

This reply made the teen as pleased as punch. “Oh I will! Thank you, Rosie!”

Rosie shared a smile with Lucifer, happy to see the girl happy. “Alright now, you sit still, honey. I think I found little Charlie.” Hands on either side of his stomach, she pushed down very, very softly. “Yep, there you are, little one. You seem about the right size for thirteen and half weeks.”

“Eleven and a half.” Lucifer corrected.

Blinking, Rosie checked again. “Huh. Actually, that does seem more correct. That would put them at exactly the right size then. You’re sure?”

Face feeling warm, Lucifer looked away with a blush. “Pretty darn sure, yes. Lilith and I haven’t…” he cleared his throat lightly, “...at least not since January…though I feel like I’m showing too much already…”

“I see. I wouldn’t worry, doll. You’re petite, but Lilith is fairly tall. You might just be carrying a big baby in there.” She carefully wiped the excess oil from her hands with the towel Nancy handed her, but encouraged him to let the rest soak into his skin as she closed the jar. “The oil is good for you, especially as you get bigger. There’ll be some cramping that can happen, and it will help your muscles relax. I’ll let you have this jar, just put a few fingertips or so worth on every night before bed. I’ll charge Alastor for it.” She winked as she said this.

“...” Lucifer sat up, doing up the buttons of his shirt as he did. “Rosie…I don’t want to go back with Alastor. Please. You said there was a way I could go home. Can’t I just…do that?”

Rosie’s face became serious. Turning to Nancy, she asked, “Would you go check on the boys, please?” It was clear that what she really meant was that she wanted them to speak alone. Once they saw her slipping through the door over the top of the screen, she faced Lucifer again. “I need you to be completely honest with me. If Alastor has laid a hand on you, in any way, then I will make him regret it. If he’s hit you or…”

The fierceness of her voice even as she trailed off almost scared Lucifer. He realized then that he could lie. He could accuse Alastor of horrible, unforgivable things and there would be no way for the deer to prove it didn’t happen. In the grand scheme of all Alastor had done, kidnapping, killing, what was an accusation of violence if it meant Lucifer could be free of him? If Rosie could keep him away from Lucifer long enough for him to call home, Lilith could be there to come get him before the hour was over!

Yet even as he thought this, Lucifer couldn’t bring himself to do it. Sure, he hated Alastor for what he’d done, but he wasn’t a liar. Alastor had never hit him, had never made a threat that he would. It would be wrong to accuse him of something he hadn’t done, even if he, in a way, deserved it. It wasn’t just that, either. The night Lucifer had learned that Dad had been in the hospital, Alastar had set his dinner plate in front of him and placed a hand very briefly on his shoulder before sitting down with him. When Lucifer had laid down to sleep, and Alastor had already taken his pajamas to change into, the deer had cracked the bedroom door open just enough for the sound of the record he’d put on to reach him in bed. The song had been slow and sweet, a piano piece that Lucifer swore he had heard live at the orchestra once and had always been a favorite. There was no way Alastor could have known that, but the idea that the deer demon liked the song himself had been strangely comforting in a way Lucifer couldn’t explain…

Lucifer shook his head softly. “No, he’s never done anything like that. I mean, aside from the night he took me, when he didn’t even know I was carrying. Since then he’s…well he’s said a lot of rotten stuff to me, but that’s all.”

Rosie’s face and body relaxed, no longer sitting rigid like she was getting ready to jump up and go throttle Alastor. “At least I don’t have to wring his neck for that …though it’s a small consolation.”

“Rosie…you said that among killers Alastor was the most decent one…what did you mean? If you expect me to keep staying with him, I have to know.”

Moving to sit more comfortably, she took one of Lucifer’s hands in hers. “You’re right. You deserve to know the full story. Let me tell you how I met him.”

And so she did. Lucifer sat and listened to two equally heartbreaking stories. One was about an evil man who preyed on children. Lucifer could barely stand to hear the bare minimum details about what he’d done without crying and feeling sick, which led to Rosie offering a handkerchief and cutting to the chase about what ended up happening to him. The other was about a woman whose wife had slowly isolated her from her friends and family, to the point that she wouldn’t dare leave her own house without her wife breathing down her neck. Some had seen the bruises, but she just couldn’t work up the courage to tell anyone how bad it was, not even Rosie, the leader of their community. She was able to watch television during the day at least, before her wife came home. That was how she came upon a program hosted by a man named Vox.

As far as Lucifer could tell from how Rosie explained it, and he wasn’t much for television anyway, what Vox did was tell stories about the battered and abused spouses in Pentagram City. At the end of the program a phone number would come up on screen, and Vox would encourage anyone who needed help to call in and tell their story, and Vox would use the generous donations of the viewers to help these people get away from their spouses and into a safer place to live, among other types of financial assistance. 

What most viewers and callers didn’t know was what happened to those who were in the most desperate need of help. They were directed to Vox’s private office phone, and they would speak to him in person about the kind of help that would solve their problems. Permanently. Not everyone accepted the offer, once they understood exactly what that meant. Most would though, because they had little choice. When their lives, or worse, the lives of their children were at stake, they were willing to make whatever kind of deal they needed to in order to survive another day. That’s where Alastor comes in. Vox sends him in only after having his people check to see if the situation is as bad as they claim it to be. 

At first Lucifer didn’t understand why they would need to try so hard to get proof. Rosie had to explain that the majority of the time abusers and spouse beaters are often pillars of their community, well liked and with a good enough reputation or enough power that no one will believe the ones being hurt even if they tried to get help. Between Vox’s people seeing the first signs that something wasn’t right, and Alastor coming in after them to watch even closer and catch sight of the things most people would miss, before long there was enough proof for Alastor to swoop in and catch the abuser off guard. One day they were there, and the next? Gone, never to be seen again.

“The thing is, they couldn’t watch your family because of how privately you all live. Alastor had to take the opportunity the party presented, otherwise there was little chance for him to get to you at all.” Rosie shifted in place from where she sat with her legs curled up by Lucifer’s knees. “I was against it from the start when Alastor told me how little he knew, and look how it turned out.”

“He tells you?” Lucifer wasn’t sure what to think now. Alastor was no longer a greedy man who killed for money in his mind. His motivation seemed to come from who he was killing instead of how much he was getting paid for it. A killer who killed abusers…who could’ve thought of it? Not Lucifer, and perhaps that was a sign that his life was easier than many, many others…

“Only with cases like yours. If he got caught he asked me to do a few things for him.” Rosie waved a hand. “I won’t get into that, since it’s his private matters, but he was worried even if he won’t admit it. Someone with as much power as your family can easily make any problem go away, and never face up to anything.”

“...I think I understand why he hates me now, why he thinks I hurt Lilith…” Stars above, no wonder Alastor looked at him like he was some kind of insect. The story of that poor abused woman shifted in his mind, until he imagined Lilith in her place. If Lucifer had really, truly been the type of man Alastor believed him to be, there would have been little to nothing Lily could do to stop him. She may have earned the high up position in the company because of her own merits, but would she have been overlooked for it if they hadn’t been engaged at the time? Would Dad let her keep her job and her holdings in the company if she wanted to leave him? Was that the only reason she stayed…?

He felt Rosie’s hand smoothing over his hair. “For whatever it may be worth to you, I know Alastor will keep his word about keeping your Charlie safe. He would never let anything happen to a child, even though he isn’t very familiar with them. He isn’t familiar with pregnancy either, besides what he’s learned in that class. It puts you both in a similar boat at least, what with this being your first–”

Lucifer interrupted her suddenly. “It’s not.”

She blinked.

“It’s not my first time. I…I was pregnant…twice before…”

“Oh Lucifer…” Rosie’s hand went to her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”

He felt a lump in his throat, but tried to talk around it. “I’ve never gotten this far before…this one could make it, and become my little Charlie…that’s why I’m so scared. I know Alastor had his reasons, but I can’t let go of the fact that he could’ve made me lose them…”

Rosie’s hands covered his, which were twisting the handkerchief she’d given him between them. “I won’t ask you to forgive him, or even to understand him. He needs to believe you’re guilty, because otherwise he needs to face the possibility that someone else he was hired to deal with might have been innocent, too. I hope he’ll change his mind about you.” She let those words sit between them for a minute before continuing. “What I will ask you to do, is go back with him to his home and stay there,” she kept speaking even as Lucifer shook his head, “just until I can get you both the info that you need to be able to put this entire mess to bed once and for all. Once I do that, you can go home and know for certain that you’re both safe.”

“Rosie, please. ” He dropped what he was holding to grab her hands. “Please, I’m so afraid of him, I–”

“ Lucifer, ” she interrupted him now, firm but not unkind. “Listen to what I’m about to say carefully, alright?’ They were quiet for barely a second, enough time for him to protest again, though he didn’t. “The person who hired Alastor not only knew you would be at that party, they knew you were going to step out to take a private phone call that night.”

For a moment, Lucifer didn’t understand. Then he did, and his lips parted with a near silent gasp. He had been planning to call Dad that night, and had said so to him earlier that day, before he and Lilith had left for the party. If things had gone differently, if he’d been able to tell Lilith about Charlie and they could’ve announced it then, he wanted to be able to let Dad know before he heard about it from someone else. What sent a shiver down Lucifer’s spine now, was that he realized the only people who could’ve known he would call, was whoever was present in the penthouse that day.

“You understand then.” Rosie reached up to hold his face, wiping a stray tear that fell without him realizing. “This may not mean it was one of your family members directly, but it had to be someone close enough to have heard what you were planning. Alastor got the call sometime around noon, and just managed to get in before the party fully started. Someone knew, and they let Alastor and Vox know, and whoever it was, they were in your home. ”

Lucifer’s blood ran cold in his veins. Whoever wanted him dead had been so close, and he hadn’t had a clue. He tried to think of who it could be. A friend of his siblings? A friend of his father? Business associates? A member of the house staff? Any of them, all of them, could have been there without the entire house knowing, there were so many rooms. That day had been particularly packed full, because some kind of business thing was being planned and nearly everyone was involved, every room nearly full of demons. Lucifer had been the odd duck wandering in the middle of it all as he tried to get Lilith alone for one minute before they had to leave. All day, from the moment he’d woken up to the moment he kissed dad’s cheek and said goodbye, there had been people all around him.

“Anyone…it could’ve been anyone. I can’t even narrow it down…” He let Rosie rub his shoulders to keep him calm before he could begin to feel panicked. “It really was someone close to us. I didn’t want to believe it.”

“Hey, hey, listen, this is a good thing.”

Looking into Rosie’s dark eyes, Lucifer tried to believe her. “How?”

“Whoever they are, they now believe you’re dead.”

Oh. Oh, they would believe that, wouldn’t they? Then he remembered Alastor’s phone call that first day. Rosie helped him realize that the deer had been talking to this Vox guy. “Vox knows I’m not, though. Would he tell?”

“No. Never.” She seemed so sure. “If he told them that he’d have to return the money, and they could easily come to his studio and raise all kinds of trouble trying to get it back. All that would do is paint a big X on him and on Alastor. He’d never do anything that would put Alastor at risk. He needs him.”

“Then as long as they think I’m dead, they won’t be looking for me.”

“ Exactly. That’s why you absolutely must not go back home right now. If you did, there’d be no way it wouldn’t make the news. Everyone would know exactly where you are, including the one who’s after you. Next time…they may not risk hiring someone. They may go after you themselves.”

“And I couldn’t just convince my family to keep everyone out forever…” A feeling of helplessness fell over him. “How do we figure out who they are then?”

“You let me worry about that. I have connections, too. The right person in the right place, acting like they aren’t listening to anything, ends up hearing a lot. It would be as simple as having them hired onto the cleaning staff or the cooking staff.” Lucifer could already see the gears turning in her mind, the plan forming even as she spoke it. “Now getting them hired would take time, and then they’d have to be working in your home for a while before they’d have access to most places. Who knows where or when this person could mention something to do with you…”

“We should have a name for them.” Lucifer suddenly said. “We can’t keep calling them “the person trying to kill me”. That’s a mouthful, really. They’re just a demon at the end of the day…”

“How about the Lion?”

Rosie and Lucifer both turned to face the folding screen blocking the view to the door of the room. Just over the top of it, the back of Alastor’s black and red ears could be seen.

Chapter Text

The buzz that Alastor had gotten from dealing with dear old Susan no longer sang in his blood as he listened to Rosie speak to Lucifer. Once he had gotten the old biddy to walk out of Rosie’s store in a huff, he had felt a sense of himself returning. Calm, collected, and with a wit and words that could tame even the most surly of old demons. Of course, she could have her moments of civility, but when she didn’t it reminded Alastor of the opinionated oldies back home. They more than prepared him to deal with a formidable woman like Susan. He set Todd to tending to the store alongside the worker behind the counter, heading back to the house once Nancy came in to check on them. That was when he followed his ears to Rosie’s care room.

He had paused at the slightly ajar door, listening to the two speak. Before he knew it, he was inside behind the screen, finding he didn’t want to step fully in and stop Rosie’s recounting of how they’d met. Especially as he heard Lucifer’s shocked gasp that quickly turned into upset tears. Alastor certainly couldn’t blame him, though Alastor was not a crier by nature. What happened to those children was a wretched, evil thing. Watching the life leave the eyes of that horrid bastard, from the bleeding parts of him that Alastor had cut off, was the only thing to calm the rage that nearly made him feel violent and feral. He only wished he could have severed him to pieces, but he had promised Rosie the body. By then she was his friend, and he felt she deserved to dispose of it as she saw fit.

If Alastor allowed himself to be honest, even within the privacy of his own mind, he could admit that he didn’t know what to think of Lucifer at this point. He said what he said over tea, about Lucifer abusing Lilith, because that was the entire reason they were in this mess. He never would have crossed paths with the Morningstars if Vox hadn’t gotten the call. He wanted it to be true, needed it to be. If it was, then all he needed to do was bide his time long enough and then he could kill Lucifer, return Charlie, and have everything go back to how it was. It would mean there hadn’t been this massive mistake, that he hadn’t made a mistake. If Lucifer is innocent, then Alastor can’t kill him, at least without Rosie never letting him live it down. Which means Lucifer would be free to go home, and what would stop him from going straight to the police? Deer demons aren’t uncommon in the city, but there aren’t that many either. All Lucifer would have to tell them is that he had red and black hair, was a deer, and had a cabin in the woods. As incompetent as the police could be, even they would be able to narrow it down. It wasn’t being found, being arrested and convicted, that bothered him. It was what would happen when the information made its way across the country and back home…

His ear twitched as he tuned back into the conversation. “For whatever it may be worth to you, I know Alastor will keep his word about keeping your Charlie safe. He would never let anything happen to a child, even though he isn’t very familiar with them. He isn’t familiar with pregnancy either, besides what he’s learned in that class.” She wasn’t wrong, and this gap in knowledge considering the situation he was in irked him. “It puts you both in a similar boat at least, what with this being your first–”

Lucifer spoke then, quickly, and barely holding back the pain in his voice. “It’s not.”

Alastor felt himself freezing in place, as Rosie no doubt was, too.

“It’s not my first time. I…I was pregnant…twice before…”

Stomach dropping, Alastor’s hand moved to partially cover his mouth. It was only with the knowledge that no one could see him that he let his ever present smile disappear. Even as he listened to Rosie gently comforting the man, and Lucifer explaining how this was the longest he had ever carried, Alastor found himself in a state of shock. He had to actively fight his mind to stop it from falling back into memories that should remain buried in the past where they belong. Instead he tried to listen as Rosie attempted to convince Lucifer that staying with Alastor was what was safest for him, even though the deer could hear the fear in the smaller demon’s voice. Why wouldn’t he be afraid of the one who had almost cost him the life of his child? If Alastor was wrong…he would never forgive himself for nearly causing Lucifer to face this kind of loss for a third time.

Whoever was behind this needed to be found, and punished. Alastor felt his ears pull back as a bit of that angry fire began to boil inside his veins. Though by the sound of things the suspect list was only barely narrowed down to an amount that was still far too large. It had to be greed that made this lie, if it was a lie, about Lucifer and Lilith be told, but greed for what? Were money and power really enough of a motivator to allow someone to let an expecting parent be killed, or were those with that power so jaded, so despicable that they just didn’t care about the harm they could cause? This demon, once proven to be a liar, was the exact type of target Alastor would relish in destroying.

“We should have a name for them.” Lucifer suggested. “We can’t keep calling them “the person trying to kill me”. That’s a mouthful, really. They’re just a demon at the end of the day…”

Forcing a smile back onto his face, Alastor found himself speaking. “How about the Lion?”

He could hear the judgement in Rosie’s tone as she asked, “How long have you been standing there?”

“Hardly a moment, and I’ve kept my eyes to myself.” This room was where Rosie kept all of her patients, and she didn’t tolerate anyone acting improper toward those she took into her care. He turned his head toward the end of the screen, but didn’t dare move to step properly inside yet. “May I come in?”

Alastor waited, knowing it wasn’t Rosie who would decide. She must be looking at Lucifer, asking without words if he wanted to let him in. For some reason, Alastor hoped he would say yes, if only so he could look the shorter demon in the eye.

“...yes, you can come in.” Lucifer said, voice holding a note of resignation and…something else.

Finding himself running his hands down his shirt to straighten it, Alastor stepped around the screen dividing the room. He found Lucifer sitting at the head of the bed, shirt closed but partially untucked as he held his hands over his stomach. Rosie was sitting across from him, her hand resting reassuringly on his leg. Her brow raised, waiting for Alastor to say or do something that she would have to chastise him for.

Clearing his throat, Alastor said, “Susan sends her love.”

That earned him a partial smile from his friend. “Does she?”

“That and a message. “Tell Rosie that I shouldn’t have to deal with this red haired, arrogant, pompous, know it all, asshole, brat when I have a complaint.” Though she was a mite more long winded in her tirade, I believe that was the gist of it.”  He made an effort not to show that he heard the short snicker that escaped Lucifer, though his ear couldn’t help catching the sound.

“That sounds more like Susan.” Rosie shook her head briefly. “Thank you for handling her.”

“Anytime, my dear. It was my pleasure.”

In the quiet that followed, Alastor met Lucifer’s eyes. Without the hostility or fear of the last week in them, they looked like rubies floating in pools of gold in the light coming from the small overhead chandelier. It was an odd thing for him to notice.

Lucifer shifted a bit, turning himself in Alastor’s direction. “Why the Lion?” he asked, curiosity on his face.

Alastor gestured at the empty chair beside the bed, waiting for the nod that let him know he could sit before lowering himself into it. “Lions, at least the males, tend to have the females do all the hard work for them, including the kills needed to feed their pride. The one I spoke to on the telephone was a man who hired me to kill someone for him. It seemed appropriate.”

He watched the way Lucifer took this information in. “I don’t suppose you recognized who he was?”

Shaking his head he answered, “Unfortunately, no. However, I do have an ear for voices. If I were to hear it again, I’d be able to tell you whether it was the same man as before or not. Not that I’m in the habit of associating with those of your class, you understand.”

If he wasn’t mistaken, a smile pulled at the corner of Lucifer’s mouth. “I’d certainly judge them if they had been associating with you.”

A soft chuckle escaped Alastor unbidden. “Naturally.”

Lucifer looked away, folding the handkerchief on his lap into squares. “I guess the Lion is a good enough name for now. Until we know more, anyway.”

“I assume you had a plan in mind on that front, Rosie?” 

Folding his hands together, he leaned forward and listened as she explained how she would have one of her people attempt to get a job working for the Morningstar family. From there they would hopefully gather as much information as they could, perhaps even the smoking gun that would point them at exactly who could be behind this. “That’s only one avenue to take, of course.” Here Rosie looked at Alastor. “You need to get Vox on board with this.”

“I’m expecting his call in the next few days. I’m sure he’ll want to get together for dinner, he always does. From there I’ll ask him what he knows, though we shouldn’t be surprised if it isn’t much. Many choose to remain anonymous when they call in, we simply assume that those I’m asked to deal with are tied to whomever called somehow. Either the victim, or a loved one of the victim calling on their behalf.”

A hopeful look appeared in Lucifer’s eyes. “Then it could be that someone was mistaken about Lilith and me, and they’re not someone who would gain anything by me being gone. It could just be a misunderstanding.”

Alastor held back the urge to say something cutting. He was in agreement that the two of them would have to continue living together until something changed, and it wouldn’t help him to stay on the shorter demon’s bad side. Still, that level of naivety wouldn’t serve Lucifer well if all things worked out for him and he got to be there to see his child grow up. How could little Charlie expect Lucifer to protect them if the man was willing to extend this much trust in spite of the clear signs of danger he was in? One way or another he’d have to learn that lesson, but it didn’t have to be from Alastor.

“I can’t say I fully believe that, but I suppose it isn’t impossible.” That answer seemed to mollify him for now. “Whatever the case may be, I know I can get Vox in on our cause. He tends to do whatever I ask of him.”

Lucifer’s brow rose. “And he’s not your paramour?”

The question made Rosie scoff. “He wishes.”

Clearing his throat, Alastor narrowed his eyes at her a bit. 

Rosie had the good grace to smile sheepishly. “Sorry, doll. Slip of the tongue.” She moved now to sit on the edge of the bed, so she could face them both. “Are we in agreement then? We’re gonna use my sources and whatever Vox can add to it to try to find out who the Lion is, and once we do we can, um…” Here she looked at Alastor.

Alastor in turn looked at Lucifer. “I’d be amenable to…changing the target.” At the conflicted face the smaller demon pulled, Alastor had to try harder to keep derision from his voice. “You can’t mean to tell me that if we could prove you were framed, and by who, that you’d be against him being punished.”

“I didn’t say that.” Lucifer’s voice was soft but firm. “That doesn’t mean I want him killed. Why can’t we just turn it over to the police at that point?” He seemed genuinely surprised when both Alastor and Rosie laughed humorlessly. “What? Why are you laughing?”

“We can’t blame him, he’s affluent.” Rosie said with the shake of her head. Alastor shrugged, neither agreeing or disagreeing.

“Hey!” Lucifer crossed his arms, offended but not angry. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means,” Alastor clarified, “that you don’t have the stigma of being a Daepha, bigoted as it may be, to cause the police to ignore any request for help you might make. Nor do you have the issue of being poor, which would make them overlook your problems in favor of the ones from people who could afford to keep their department funded through generous donations. Face the facts, Morningstar. Your lot in life is a lucky one, if you can believe in the help of the police so easily.”
He watched as the embarrassed blush turned the apples of Lucifer’s cheeks pink. “Oh.” As he’d done before, he fiddled with his wedding ring. “Maybe you have a point. Still, if that’s the case, then they should believe me if I tell them about the Lion!”

“They’ll need proof, at least the courts will if it gets that far.” Despite how frustrated she’d been with Alastor today, what Rosie pointed out next warmed part of his unfeeling heart. “Vox and Alastor won’t be able to tell their part in all this without getting arrested, so they can’t confirm anything. I’m all for helping you out Lucifer, but Alastor is my friend. I won’t let him get caught just for one person, not when we can handle it ourselves.”

“Even if there’s a chance I’m wrong about you, that doesn’t mean I’m willing to turn myself in.” Alastor leaned back in his chair. “That really only leaves us with one option, if it comes down to making the choice that will keep Charlie safe from the Lion. I know you know that, even if you don’t approve of what I do.”

Lucifer opened his mouth, closed it, and sighed. “I didn’t say I don’t approve, now that I know more about it…” His teeth bit into his lip lightly, his eyes clouded in thought. Then something seemed to occur to him. “You kidnapped me. Couldn’t you kidnap him, too?”

Alastor blinked. He let the grin appear on his face, watching the slight squirm it caused in Lucifer. “Are you asking me to commit a crime for you, Morningstar?”

“I’m asking you to help me. If we find out who hired you, and you brought them back to your place the way you did with me…look, I need to know. Even if I wanted you to… kill someone, which I don’t, if they died and I never got some kind of answer about why they wanted me dead it’ll drive me crazy for the rest of my life. If I did something that hurt this person, I want to try to make it right.” As he spoke, his head was up, facing Alastor without looking away. He really meant what he said, and that was what was so unnerving. “If I can’t then I’ll turn them in myself.”

“...I think perhaps I understand what you meant, Rosie.” Alastor rubbed his face with his hands. “He’s the supposed victim in this, and yet he’s talking about making amends with the person who wanted him buried and gone.”

“Take it as a compliment, honey.” Rosie told Lucifer, who grumbled a bit at Alastor’s comment. “For now, let’s focus on finding this Lion. We can meet back up and make further plans once we know what we’re dealing with. Which just leaves one question. Are the two of you going to be able to live together until then? No more fights, no more insults,” she gave Alastor a pointed stare, “no more threats of drugging. You don’t have to be friends, but if we’re gonna come out on the other side of this without being killed or arrested, you need to at least be civil.”

She was right, Alastor couldn’t deny it. Yes, he couldn’t fully let go of the possibility that Lucifer was lying, but he had his doubts now. At least, he had enough of them to need to find whatever other answer there may be. He had to make an effort now to have Morningstar trust him, so that if they went their separate ways, he could count on the man never turning him in, one way or another.

Alastor opened his mouth to offer Lucifer an apology, but the smaller demon beat him to it. “I’m sorry for smacking you. I lost my temper, and I’m not happy with myself for it.” The way he looked as he offered those words was genuine, remorseful even. Alastor’s cheek still stung a bit, but the slap had hardly fazed him, making the apology unneeded.

However, not wanting to be outdone, he gave an apology of his own. “I’m sorry for making a threat to drug your food and drinks. It was unnecessarily cruel of me. I promised to see to your needs, and then made you feel too afraid to eat. I may not have expected to have a guest, but that’s no excuse for being a poor host.”

Lucifer’s brow pulled together. “I wasn’t afraid to eat, I just…wasn’t hungry. I felt too sad for it, too...”

“Depressed?” Alastor supplied. At Lucifer’s nod, he sighed, sitting up properly. “We can’t have that. I’d like to make an amendment to our arrangement, if you’ll agree? I promise to see your and your child’s needs until we find the Lion or until you give birth. If Charlie should arrive before we can settle all of this, I swear that they will be safe and I will let no harm come to them. You will also be safe with me. I will not harm you, nor threaten to harm you. You’ll be treated as a proper guest in my home.” Here he paused, gesturing with an open hand and leaving the door open for Lucifer to add his own conditions.

“...you’ll let me bathe?” Alastor nodded. “Whenever I want?” Another nod, which made Lucifer lean in his direction eagerly. “Can I read your books?”

The ones on the bookshelf in Alastor’s bedroom? “You could have read them before today.”

“Really?” Lucifer looked surprised. “You didn’t say I could. You only mentioned your records and your stereo, not your books. I’ve been pretty bored, and you use the stereo most of the time when you’re there so I haven’t had a turn.”

…fair point. “Very well, you may read them. I don’t want you touching my wood working table, however. That’s the one area I insist remain off limits.”

“Alright, that’s reasonable.” Tapping his chin in thought, Lucifer asked, “Can I cook?”

“No, absolutely not.”

Now the short demon put his hands on his hips “Why not? I know how.”

“No one touches my kitchen, guest or not. You may use the refrigerator, or the sink, and you’re more than welcome to eat or drink whatever is in my home. I’ll even buy any particular groceries that you ask for, but no one cooks in there aside from me. I won’t budge on this.”

He thought Lucifer might argue, but instead he shrugged. “Alright, fine. One last thing.” Here he turned to Rosie, who’d been looking between them with a small peculiar smile on her face as they’d spoken. “I’d like your phone number. In case he doesn’t keep his word.”

If it were anyone else, Alastor would have protested. “Only Rosie. No one else is going to be called.”

“Oh Alastor, calm down. We all know what’s at stake now. I’m more than happy to be a mediator for you both. Especially since I can’t offer you a room here.” Rosie did look regretful about that. “I have people coming in and out of my shop and my home every day, at all hours. I couldn’t ask you to be confined in one room for the rest of your pregnancy, I was barely able to get a few hours of peace in order to meet with you both today.”

“No, I understand. You’ve already done so much, for both of us.” His hand rubbed his stomach. “I couldn’t put you out like that. Besides, we’re in the middle of the city here, but Alastor’s cabin is secluded. It’s less likely someone will find me there, and that’s for the best…at least for now.”

There wasn’t much else to say at that point, soon they were gathering up the bag full of supplies for Lucifer and heading back out into the small parking area. Rosie was gently but firmly telling Lucifer the importance of taking good care of himself. “It isn’t just for your sake now. Charlie can’t do anything without you, even once they’re born. They’ll need you to be healthy, and happy, and you can’t do that if you don’t at least eat well, sleep well, and whatever else will keep you feeling good.” She tilted up his chin when Lucifer started to look guilty. “I know you’ll do much better now. You’ve already got love in spades, right here.” Her finger tapped his chest. “You just gotta give a little to yourself, too.”

Following behind them, Alastor couldn’t help noticing that Lucifer’s smile was soft, grateful, lovely… “Thank you for doing this for me. I promise I’ll pay you back someday.”

“Mm, I’ll hold you to that, darling.” Stopping near the back of Alastor’s car, she placed a brief kiss on Lucifer’s forehead. “You relax for the rest of the day, alright? If you need anything, especially some bigger clothes, you call me up.”

Lucifer flushed lightly, nodding. “I will.”

Alastor stepped around them as they said goodbye, going to the passenger door and opening it. He saw the rope he’d tied Lucifer with on the seat, along with the scarves and sunglasses that disguised him. He tossed the rope into the backseat, before Lucifer saw it. Then he stepped back, the disguise in his hands as he gestured for Lucifer to get in.

He didn’t expect Lucifer to take the items from his hand, their fingers brushing. “I might as well put them back on. I wouldn't want to memorize the way back, would I?”

“Was that a shot?” Alastor asked, jokingly.

“You catch on quick.” Bemused, Alastor watched the shorter man climb into the car with ease, despite his tiny legs. “I guess you do have a sense of humor after all.” Now he was sure the blonde was smiling at him on purpose.

“I suppose so.” Alastor caught Rosie watching them again, her hand half covering her own smile. “Give me a minute to say goodbye, then we’ll be going.” He closed the car door, meeting Rosie near the back. “May I ask what you find so amusing?”

“The two of you, obviously.” Rosie crossed her arms, leaning against the car. “You know, it’s a shame. If things were different I think you fellas could actually be friends, or at least friendly rivals.”

“Please.” He rolled his eyes.

“Don’t “please” me. I know you, you don’t form a rapport with just anyone. Now that you two have made a truce, you’ve loosened up, stopped scowling.”

“I never scowl.” He gestured to the smile he’d put back on as soon as he showed his face to them inside.

“Not with your lips. Your eyes however,” Rosie cupped his chin, “they tell a different story. I’ve never seen you as out of sorts as you were when you got out of this car today. My point is that I know how tough this is for you. You put people into two boxes. Those you protect, and those you protect them from.” She gestured to these two supposed boxes with her hands. “When you had to spend your days with him, watching how he wasn’t a raging scoundrel every second of the day, that must’ve shook you up. Usually you would’ve taken the trash out by now.”

Alastor mirrored her, leaning against the car, too. “Are you going somewhere with this?”

“Yes. I’m just saying be careful. I don’t think he did what he was accused of, but I know you think there’s a chance. If I’m wrong again…I’d hate to see you get hurt.”

“Rosie, I can more than handle him. If he attempted to attack me–”

“That’s not what I mean.” Her hand rested on his chest, over his heart. “When you let people in, you don’t hold back. You’re a provider, Alastor. You look out for me, for Niffty, even little Husker. You try to look out for Mimzy, but you know how she is. If we ever needed you, you’d help us however you could. You’ll be taking care of him from now until who knows when. You could get attached.”

A chuckle escaped him. Taking her hand in his, he patted it. “You’re worrying over nothing. I don’t get attached in that manner, you know that.”

“Not yet, anyway.” Her eyebrow lifted. “You told me that you might one day, if the right person came along.”

“Now I know you’ve taken leave of your senses. If there were a right person for me, it certainly isn’t him. He’s married, he’s expecting , and he wants nothing to do with me. Friendship…alright maybe we could form one, but that would be all. If even that. Keep in mind, if he rats me out, I’m a dead man walking. I can’t let that happen, even if I have to tie him down and keep him locked up.”

“Mhm. You’ve already done that.” At his look of surprise, she rolled her eyes. “I saw the mark on his ankle, and he mentioned the chain.”

“Well…can you blame me?”

“No, but I can judge you.” She pulled him down to give him a kiss goodbye on the cheek. “Can I give you two last pieces of advice?”

“Always.” He was so grateful she hadn’t shot him on sight for letting Lucifer get into such a poor state, that he would let her say or do just about anything.

“First thing’s first, you can start calling him by his name.” Rosie held up a hand before he could speak. “His first name, not Morningstar. It’s more personal.”

“This advice from the woman worried about my getting attached.”

“Secondly,” she continued, though now less sure, “I think you should let him call his father. I know it’s risky,” she added, “but this could be the leverage you need to get him to promise never to tell on you. It would mean a lot to him. Besides, Lord Morningstar is out of the hospital. I meant to call and tell you, but you beat me to it. Just…think about it?”

Alastor did think about it. On the one hand, if Lucifer let slip any information about where he was now in hiding that would be the end of Alastor’s life as he knew it. Alternatively, if the motivation for having Lucifer killed was money, then it would be a good thing for someone to know that the man wasn’t actually dead. Sure, it would take time before he was declared legally deceased, but it couldn’t hurt to have someone who knew him to actually hear him speak with his own voice telling them he was alright.

Sighing, Alastor gave Rosie a smile. “I will think about it.” Pulling her into a brief hug, he said, “I’ll call you right after I meet with Vox.”

“Good. I’ll call if I manage to get someone working with the Morningstars. Now go on, don’t keep him waiting in there all day.” She shooed him off, her affection for him showing on her face. It seemed that her anger was at bay, for the time being.

Closing the car door, Alastor glanced over at Lucifer. The man had fashioned the red scarf over his head in a fashionable way, successfully covering the blindfold seamlessly from anyone looking from a distance. It was much better than the somewhat grandparent hood Alastor had managed to do when they left the cabin. 

“Ready to go?” Lucifer asked, looking in his direction, the paper bag sitting next to him on the bench seat.

“Yes.” Blinking, Alastor turned the car on. He watched through the rearview mirror as Todd hurried out from the back of the shop and opened the gate. Rosie stood next to the boy when Alaster backed the car up until they were beside the two Daepha. “You should give Rosie a wave goodbye.”

Lifting the sunglasses and blindfold with his thumb, Lucifer found Rosie with his ruby red eye and waved his hand. Alastor did as well, waiting for Lucifer to fix his disguise before pulling fully out onto the street. With a turn of the wheel and a press on the gas, they were soon driving back onto the streets of Pentagram City.