(For clarification, this is not a continuation of "Happy Ending." This is a separate ending, made to continue after "Pants." Again, I'm sorry that the last chapter was stupid. It might be hard to transition from that chapter into this one :')) Keep in mind that the time passed between this chapter and the last is around two or three weeks. Yes, this chapter is similar to the happy ending.) I SWEAR THIS AINT CHARLASTOR-
Charlie quietly opened the door to Alastor's room. Alastor was in quite a happy mood, humming to himself and organizing his bookshelf, along with finding other small things to do just to pass the time. The past few days had been calming, and he had finally excepted his new life at least a week before. He had more appreciation for his partners at the hotel, and yes, he finally considered them friends.
He turned around, noticing Charlie in the doorway, and grinned at her. "Hello dear, what can I do for you?" he asked. She glanced to the side, pausing for a moment. "Well, I guess I need advice," she said, looking back up at him. He tilted his head slightly and paused. He didn't expect anyone to come to him for advice.
"Of course. Take a seat if you'd like," he suggested. Charlie nodded and walked over to the edge of his bed, sitting with her hands in her lap and her head down. "You seem distressed," Alastor said. She sighed and shrugged a little. "I am, actually. That's why I'm here at all," she said. He nodded and waited as if telling her to go on. "It's been three weeks, Alastor. Not one of our few residents has been redeemed. I'm starting to lose hope," she said.
Alastor let out a sigh as he took off his monocle and started cleaning it. "You must understand- if redemption is possible, it will take time. Patience is key my dear," he said while wiping off his monocle and placing it back on his face. She glanced up at him, a bit surprised. "Since when were you the type to keep anyone's hopes up?" she asked.
"You were the one who came to me in the first place," Alastor said with a smile. Charlie gave a small, fake laugh. "I guess you have a point there, Al." There was a pause between the two before Charlie let out a breath and hopped off the bed, standing to face Alastor. "I should be going... I'll see if Vaggie needs help with anything," she said. Alastor nodded, though it was the shortest conversation he'd ever had. He watched her walk out the door and slowly shut it behind her.
A few days passed before something worthwhile finally happened. Alastor was talking to a hotel guest before he heard Angel call his name from the lobby.
"AL! ALASTOR!"
He turned his head, wondering what Angel could want at this time. "Excuse me," he said to the demon he'd been talking to, "it seems a colleague needs my help." He made his way towards Angel's voice, but before he could walk even ten feet, Angel ran up to him and took his hand, out of breath. "Al-- Al you gotta see what's happenin' out here-" he said, panting. Alastor had a confused expression as he watched Angel catch his breath. "Calm down, what's happening?" Alastor asked, almost concerned. Angel took a deep breath before pausing and looking Alastor in the eyes.
"Charlie was right."
Alastor stared at Angel for a moment, processing what Angel could ever mean. "Right about..." Alastor trailed off, mid-question, as he saw Charlie peak around the corner. "Charlie?" he said. Angel turned and looked at her as she quickly made her way up to them. "You'd better hurry, or you'll miss it!" she said.
Alastor followed closely behind, anticipating what he was about to see. They made their way to the front doors of the hotel, Alastor's eyes widening.
Standing before them was a human, a very familiar one to say the least. She turned and looked at them, smiling. Alastor's ears went back as the human waved to him. He was both confused and slightly frightened as an angel appeared, a hand on the human's shoulder. "What..." Alastor whispered, "in hell..." Charlie noticed Alastor's expression and unusual demeanor, smiling a bit. "Alastor," she said, "that's Niffty." Alastor looked down at her, noticing a few tears in her eyes.
"She's being redeemed," Charlie said.
Vaggie put an arm around Charlie, comforting her. Alastor looked back up as Niffty said her last goodbyes and parted ways, leaving with the angel who accompanied her. Husk had been standing to the side of the group for the time, watching it all happen. He took a few steps closer to the group and let out a breath, for the first time without a bottle in his hand, or anywhere to be seen, really. "I'm gonna miss that little punk," he said. Charlie was crying as Vaggie nodded. Charlie was sad to see Niffty go, but she was also happy for her friend, and happy that she had been right about everything. "We all will," Alastor said, slowly lifting his ears back up. "But look at it as a positive thing. The hotel is a success, is it not?" he said.
All of them looked at him with a bit of a surprise. There was a pause before he noticed. "What. Did I say something?" he said. Charlie giggled a bit. "I think we're rubbing off on you, Al," she said. Alastor rolled his eyes and put his hands behind his back. "Quiet, you," he said.
Days passed, the hotel was a success. Demons were being redeemed left and right, and Charlie was as happy as ever. It was the group's goal to be redeemed as well, but Alastor knew deep inside that he wouldn't be redeemed, nor did he really want to be. It had only been a week before Husk was gone, just as Niffty. During that time, Angel and Alastor had realized that they knew Husk in their previous lives as well. His name was Henry, and he'd run a bar on the corner of a street Alastor would visit quite often. Angel had only known him through Alastor. Vaggie was the next to go, which had been the hardest farewell yet.
Every morning, Alastor dreaded the thought that it might've been the day he'd lose Angel. Waking up was a torment, but looking to the side each morning and seeing Angel still lying beside him was almost therapeutic.
It continued, until finally... one day.
It happened.
Alastor woke up, still with Angel beside him, as he got up and continued his morning routine. After getting ready, he'd always give Angel a small kiss on the head before heading to the lobby for work. It was another normal day, at least considering the fact that the hotel had been quite busy lately. At first, when he'd gotten up, it was quiet, but that was only because it was 5 am. Later that morning, business would always spike a bit after residents started their day.
Alastor stepped into the old hangout space that so many memories had taken place in. He looked around and sighed, turning his attention to the tack board where pictures of the group hung. He walked up to the board, silently studying the photographs and the people he'd grown to love, three of which were gone. He turned towards the rest of the room where he'd found some of his first feelings towards Angel, smiling as he remembered the chaos and the laughter they'd all had that night.
Charlie quickly walked up the hall, looking for Alastor. She'd already checked the lobby and his room for any sign of him, and there was only one more place she could think to look. She quietly stepped into the doorway of the hangout room as she saw Alastor from behind. "Al..." she said. Alastor was slightly startled. Charlie had snapped him out of somewhat of a daze. He paused before turning around to face her.
"It's Angel..." she said.
Alastor's heart broke into a million pieces as he heard those words, his ears going back and his smile coming so close to faltering. "Where is he?" he asked. Charlie beckoned him to follow her as the two quickly walked toward the lobby. Alastor already had tears forming in the corners of his eyes. He looked around for Angel as soon as they entered the lobby, then seeing him through the open door of the hotel. He ran through the lobby, pushing past a few demons and stopping in the doorway for a moment. He had hoped it wasn't true, but there Anthony was, standing before him.
"Angel..." he whispered. Angel wriggled loose of an angel's grasp, running up to Alastor and hugging him tightly. Bystanders were already collecting to watch it happen, as they often did when a demon was redeemed. This time was different, though. Alastor was a very popular face among hell, and none of them had ever seen this side of him before.
Alastor held Angel close to him and let tears run down his face, knowing this was it. His darling Angel was leaving. "You can come with us, Al! You can see your mom again..." Angel said in a whisper. Both of them had tears streaming down their faces at this point, and Alastor very gently pushed Angel away to study his beautiful face. "I've done too much, Angel. I can't come with you. Rehabilitation isn't possible for me." Angel started crying a bit harder, hugging Alastor and resting his head on his chest. Alastor held Angel's head closer to himself, his smile struggling. "No... Al, please! You... you can't stay, I'll never see you again," Angel spoke through his tears, hiccuping softly and ignoring the smeared mascara on his face.
"I love you, darling. Never forget that..." Alastor's voice was practically a whisper as he gave the most loving smile to Angel as possible through his tears.
The angels who had been standing by, allowing the last goodbyes, came forward and pulled Angel away by his arms. Alastor stepped back and watched, tears streaming down his face, but his permanent smile still plastered on. "NO!" Angel screamed, fighting to get out of the angel's grasp, though pointless. "ALASTOR! ALASTOR PLEASE, I WANT TO STAY!!" Alastor watched him, a melancholy look on his face. He studied Angel's face, being the last time he'd set eyes on it before he was dragged away, never to be seen by him again.
Alastor looked him in the eyes as Angel looked back. He lifted his hands and pointed to his smile.
"Smile... for me. You're never fully dressed without one."
The end.
Additional information and extras will be in the "Thank You" chapter.