An Arrangement was Made

Chapter 24: Xanax

It had been a year. It had been a full year since the last time that Charlie had stayed at her father's house. He had let her visit every now and then, but he never let her stay the night. But tonight was going to be different! It was her birthday! He would have to let her stay for her birthday!

"Charlie! Lili! It's so good to see you. Come in! Come in!" He welcomed them.

Charlie and her mother entered the castle. Lucifer was strange to Charlie. His mouth was smiling too wide but his eyebrows were always crinkled uncomfortably. He was always really sweaty.

"It's good to see you, Luci." Lilith smiled at him. Lucifer laughed nervously.

"So, how have you been?"

"Well enough. Your daughter has been very excited to see you." Charlie clung to Lilith's leg. Lilith gave her a tiny push towards her father.

"Charlie! I have missed you so much. Come here!" He pulled his little daughter into a tight hug. Charlie didn't like it. The only person that ever hugged her was Lilith. She squirmed away from him.

"Oh. Sorry." He set her down. Charlie hid behind her mother. Lucifer wanted to curl up and die right there. He's never felt so embarrassed in his life. His own daughter. His own daughter didn't want to hug him.

"Why don't you go to the dining room Charlie? I bet your father has some treats waiting for you there." Lilith suggested. Charlie picked up her plushy, a black cat with one eye, and went to the dining room. She still remembered vaguely where it was.

"My own daughter doesn't want to hug me."

"Maybe she would if you would spend more time with her." Lilith sneered.

"I'm sorry Lili, I've just been going through a lot lately."

"What could possibly be more important than your own daughter?" Her tone was not angry. Lucifer didn't answer.

"Come on Luci. Talk to me. Please talk to me. Tell me what's wrong." She turned his head to face her and stroked his cheek.

Charlie looked on from her hiding place. They had been divorced for a year now, but maybe...maybe he could change? If he and mommy just talked to each other, maybe they could be a family again.

"I don't even know why you came today." Lucifer stepped away from her. And just like that, Lilith was mad at him again.

"You don't know?!" And just like that, all of Lilith's sympathy was killed.

"No?"

"It's your daughter's birthday and you didn't know?!" Charlie hated it when her parents argued. She ran off to the dining room like she had been told to do. She couldn't hear them yell at each other there.

There were no treats. There were no decorations. There were no presents. There was nothing. It was just another sad empty room, just like all the other rooms in the palace.

Your daddy doesn't care enough about you to remember when you were born.

Charlie started to tear up, then started to cry. She clutched her stuffed cat with everything she had. Lilith came in and picked her up a few minutes later.

"Come on, we're going home. I'm so sorry honey. I shouldn't have brought you here." They passed Lucifer on their way out the door. He was angled towards the wall with his hat tipped down so Charlie couldn't see his eyes.

"Daddy?" The doors closed shut behind them.

"I'm so sorry little one. I'm so sorry. I wish I had given you a better father." She stroked her hair on the car ride back home. "Don't worry, we'll fix this! I have lots of presents for you at home. And we'll have cake and ice cream and we'll invite all your friends."