Daughter Dearest

forty-three

Days passed and there were hardly any changes to Venus's state. 

Her cycle ended and she gained some color back, yet she still remained unconscious. Even with the extensive Asgardian technology, the healers could only assume that the goddesses body was fighting the poison that lingered. 

What remained was still enough to kill a regular human and she was still weak, though not as weak as she was. 

Still, she made no signs of waking up anytime soon. 

Odin had made all of one visit to the healers ward to see the girl he raised, only to remind everyone in the room that if she were to die, Hell will have waged war on Asgard. 

And it would be a brutal, vengeance filled battle to avenge the death of the Princess who guided army fleets and slayed a bilgesnipe. 

It would be far worse than any war Heaven could've possibly dreamed of, with damage far more severe than each and every Extermination Day combined. 

Lucifer didn't like the thought of any more war. . . But if Venus were to die, he wouldn't be responsible for any of his actions until the point was made loud and clear: you don't mess with the people I love and get away with it. 

It was on a day where rain took over the golden realm, clear droplets of water pelting the stone and greenery below. Dark clouds covered the sky, hiding the sun from view entirely as thunder rumbled above, shaking the realm. . . It wasn't Thor's doing. 

Lucifer very rarely left Venus's side, much to the irritation of the healers who were just trying to do their job. He needed to hear her breathing and feel the slight pulse in her wrist every time her heart beat, silently hoping it would get stronger. 

It had gotten late and everyone was forced to go to bed with the promise of being alerted if there was any change in Venus's condition. 

Early morning on the eighth day of being unconscious, there was a drastic change. 

The odd looking machine that monitored her heart rate was measuring flat and beeping rather loudly, which alerted nearly the whole palace. 

Lucifer woke up just in time to be pushed out of the way by the healers who were panicked, as well as family members who entered unannounced. . . Until they saw what had happened. 

“Lucifer. . .” The voice called out weakly and he perked up, sleepiness gone from his system as he pushed to be at her bedside once more. 

He reached the front and saw her barely conscious, but alive. Alive and talking, with her beautiful blue eyes trained on him and him alone. 

Tears sprang to her eyes as she got a good look at him. “Luci!” She cried and he carefully got her into the sitting position so he could wrap his arms around her. He stroked her hair as she breathed his scent in and adjusted to the lights that had previously been out. 

“Shhh. . . Hey, it's okay. . . No one will ever be able to do something like that again. . . I'd never allow it to happen.” Lucifer whispered in her ear in attempts to calm her down. 

Venus's hold on him tightened. She didn't know what happened, all she knew was that it had something to do with Lilith and Valentino. 

They went too far.
They struck a nerve. 

“We need her to stay for a while longer for observation, however, she'll be in her own bed tonight if all is well.” One of the healers spoke and Venus barely heard it as she pulled away from Lucifer slightly to look at those around her. 

“That's fine.” Frigga replied to the healer. 

Her eyes widened at the sight of her mother and a select few family members staring at her. “Mor!” She slipped into her native tongue, seemingly fully conscious now, running on a quick burst of adrenaline.

Frigga chuckled tearfully and brought her daughter into a motherly hug. “I knew you'd be strong, my dear. . . You've always been a warrior.”

“You scared the shit out of us, Venus.” The Asgardian goddess looked over her mothers shoulder to Angel Dust, who looked as if the situation had hit him the hardest. 

Then her heart dropped. She remembered Angel mentioning how he died one night when he was absolutely plastered. . . Their situations were by no means the same, but it couldn't have been easy on him. 

She frowned and whispered. “I'm sorry.” 

“You're alive, that's all that matters.” Charlie cut in with tears in her eyes. “We were so worried.” 

Frigga slipped away from the hug, allowing Charlie to sit on the bed and begin telling Venus of everything she missed, despite the early hour. 

Vaggie, Lucifer, and Angel stuck around while a groggy Thor and Loki disappeared back to bed along with their mother — the three knowing they'd be able to rest better knowing that Venus was alright. 

★†★

It was another six hours before Venus was allowed to stand and get used to walking again. The first thing she did was walk to the grand dining hall where she could smell the various brunch options being set out. 

It was about 10:30 when she and Lucifer finally reached the dining hall, with the others in tow. 

Her stomach growled loudly as she immediately went to a seat where those who had grown protective in the last few months could sit around her while she piled various pastries, fruits, and proteins on her plate. 

Asgardian food wasn't much different than food on Midgard or food in Hell, except for the fact that some ingredients were only native to Asgard. 

Thor and Loki sat across from her, whereas Lucifer sat to her left with Charlie, Vaggie, and Angel to her right. Sif and the warriors three joined at some point, keeping closer to Thor. 

They mainly ate in silence, watching to see how Venus would do after not eating for over a week. 

But once there was only one cherry turnover remaining on the golden tray before them, the three siblings locked eyes and simultaneously lunged for it at the same time. 

Venus jabbed a fork into Thor's hand and dodged one of Loki's daggers, smacking him in the face with her napkin long enough to distract them both and swipe the last pastry. 

It was then Venus looked over to Charlie and smiled, holding up the very last cherry turnover. “I always get the last one.” She reminded her. 

Frigga shook her head with a smile. Venus would be good to go in no time.

(HELP THIS FIC IS ALMOST OVER 😭 I'm not ready — major timeskip coming kinda soon.)