'Cause In The End, You Are Part of Who I Am

Slow Recovery

By the time Lucifer was finally moved to Bel's hospital in the Sloth Ring, six agonizing months had passed. With his natural healing pace restored, it was now expected that the King would be back on his feet within a couple of months—a drastic improvement from the last grim assessment.

But Charlie still couldn't see him. Every attempt to reach her father was met with forceful resistance, either being pushed away or teleported far from wherever he was. The Princess of Hell didn't want to admit it, but this felt all too familiar—a haunting echo of the isolation she endured in the early years after her mother left.

"Is this it? Are we starting this again?"

'I thought we were finally getting closer,' she thought bitterly, her nails digging into her arm as she pressed against the door that separated her from her dearest father. The sense of helplessness was overwhelming.

The Hotel was running okay, thanks to the support of her aunts and uncles, no longer the near-failure it once was. Progress was slow, but Charlie didn't let Lucifer's condition hinder her—at least, that's what she told herself. Yet, in moments like this, standing just one wooden door away from confirming with her own eyes that her father was truly okay as Aunt Bel assured her, her confidence crumbled into shambles.

She had managed to speak with Aunt Gabriel and even Uncle Michael, but no matter how she pleaded, they refused to reveal anything, insisting she wait to hear it from Lucifer himself. And so, here she stood, locked out once more.

"Charlie," a gentle hand rested on her shoulder. The Princess of Hell didn't need to turn around to know it was Vaggie.

"How about we hit the cafeteria before we head back? You skipped breakfast this morning... and lunch too." Vaggie's voice was full of sympathy as she gently tried to peel her girlfriend away from the door she'd been leaning on for hours.

"I... I can't leave, not yet." Charlie's voice wavered. "The visiting hour isn't over yet, and... what if the door opens while I'm away? I can't miss that."

Vaggie felt a pang of sorrow for her beloved, knowing the harsh reality Charlie was trying to avoid. But in this vulnerable moment, she knew Charlie needed her to be strong and take the lead, even if it meant guiding her through the painful truth.

"Charlie, I'm sorry, but that might not—"

Click.

The sound of the door unlocking interrupted her, leaving them both wide-eyed in shock. Charlie's breath hitched, her hand trembling as she reached for the handle. Her energy seemed to drain away as she hesitated, unsure if she should enter. What if it wasn't good? What if she wasn't ready?

"Hey," Vaggie's soft voice startled her but also grounded her. "Go." She gently pushed Charlie forward, offering encouragement.

Click.

Charlie stepped into the darkened room, her heart pounding. A golden butterfly fluttered down and landed on her nose before slowly drifting away, guiding her to where she was supposed to go. It led her to a familiar golden ring.

"Charlie..." A weak voice called out, and with that single word, the dam broke.

"Dad!" Charlie sobbed in relief, her tears flowing freely as she reached out to grasp his hand, where the butterfly had landed. The darkness of the room didn't matter—neither father nor daughter could see each other, but both were overwhelmed with relief, knowing the other is alive.

"Hey, Char Char, it's been a while, hasn't it?"

Charlie heard the familiar shuffling and a quiet grunt before feeling a hand gently place itself on her head, caressing her hair with the same fondness she remembered from her childhood.