Pardon The Way That I Stare

One Month Together

Charlie had woken up before sunrise. She quietly tiptoed into Lucifer and Alastor's room, careful not to wake the two, and placed a small, neatly wrapped present on the foot of their bed. It was a simple gesture, but one filled with love and pride. She glanced at their peaceful faces and smiled, tiptoeing back out of the room as silently as she had come in.

An hour later, Lucifer stirred, blinking sleepily. He yawned, stretching before noticing the gift.

"Alastor?" he whispered, nudging him. "What's this?"

Alastor blinked his eyes open, still groggy. "I have no idea," he replied, his voice thick with sleep.

Lucifer narrowed his eyes, suspecting Alastor might be teasing. "You're messing with me, right?"

"No, truly," Alastor insisted, sitting up with a yawn. "I don't know what it is."

Lucifer, curiosity piqued, sat up fully and tugged the ribbon off the gift, pulling the paper away to reveal a beautifully crafted photo frame with "One Month Together" delicately carved into the wood. His breath caught in his throat as he saw the collage of pictures inside: one of them asleep in bed, another of them sharing a kiss, and one of them laughing with drinks in hand. There was also a note, written in Charlie's neat handwriting:

*"I'm so proud of you two—two hurt souls trying to find a purpose, love, and happiness. It may have taken millennia, but you found it. I love you both. Love, Charlie."*

Lucifer's eyes welled with tears as he stared at the note, his heart swelling. He took a shaky breath and slipped out of bed, grabbing his robe.

"Where are you going?" Alastor asked, smiling at the sweetness of the gift.

"I have to go hug my daughter!" Lucifer called out, already halfway out the door.