Baby Girl "Antony Who?"

Kathrine Ann was lost deep in her thoughts. She was contemplating how allowing some of the Heavenly souls to live in Hell would impact the world she now called home. She was also trying to piece together the snippets of information she just learned with the bit of knowledge of Heaven and Hell she had already had.

"Speaking of opinions. Baby Girl, what do you think of all this?" Lucifer asked, bringing her back to the room where both men stared at her, waiting for a response.

Kathrine Ann uncrossed her arms and brought her glass to her lips before realizing it was empty. Lucifer pushed off the cabinet and walked to his bedside before reaching for her glass. She scooted across the bed and gave it to him. In turn, he handed her his drink, which she took and smiled at him. Despite everything, the simple gesture of giving her his drink made her happy.

She took a sip from the glass, "Well, I don't know if I'm the best person to ask, but I think Luce is right about discussing this idea with the people of Hell. They should have a say in something this big. To assume that they would be okay with it because they know the souls exist is pretty shitty." She stated as Lucifer refilled the empty glass and once again leaned against the cabinet, "I mean, I know spiders exist, but I don't want to be surrounded by them."

"The souls cannot interfere with the living," Micheal began.

"Really?" She scoffed, "Do I need to remind you why I am here?"

"That is different, Kathrine Ann. What you did is a lot more complicated. We can make sure the souls I am speaking of will not be able to interact with the living—"

"Do they know that? What would be the point of them being here if they can't interact with the world? Have you asked these souls what they want? I assume they expect more than just floating around with a no-contact rule."

There was a pause, "I suppose we have not." Micheal admitted.

"Look, I'm not saying it's a bad idea, but I just think that if this is to be considered, it will need to be approved by the people of Hell, and if we're going to bring it to the people, then we need details like that. What can the souls do? Where can they go? Also, will the full demons attack these souls? Is that going to be an issue? If so, how do we protect the souls without violating the rights and freedom of the demons that call Hell their home?"

"The demons?" Micheal laughed, "Their opinion means nothing—"

Kathrine Ann snapped, "This is their home, not yours or the souls that wish to return. They have rights, and just because you don't like them doesn't mean you can take any of those away."

"She is right." Lucifer defended, "As long as they don't cause problems, they have the same rights as any other citizen. Their opinion will have to be considered. Also, I agree that we need to figure out the details of this situation before bringing it up, and I think that will start with you figuring out what these souls expect if allowed to return here." 

"Very well. I can agree with that," Micheal nodded.

"Okay, now that all that is done, you may see your way out." Lucifer smiled.

"Not quite. There is one more issue. This one concerns Kathrine Ann."

"What is it?" She asked.

"It involves one soul that wants to live their eternity in Hell."

"Who is it?" She asked, a little excited, "Is it my mom? Can't be my Dad, he's already here—"

"His birth name is Antony Cursner," Micheal interrupted.

"I don't recall anyone by that name." She replied, confused.

"Oh?" Lucifer chimed in, "I know him. Not a full half, but he was useful. I didn't realize he had died."

"I thought it was your job to know everything about the halflings?" Micheal mocked.

"He wasn't half, nor possessed any demonic abilities except for longevity. A check once every couple hundred years was all that was necessary. So, if you don't mind, let me handle my job, and you concentrate on yours." Lucifer huffed, glaring at his Uncle over the rim of his glass, "Now, what does he have to do with Kathrine Ann?"

"Did you know that he had a couple of different aliases?"

"Yes," Replied Lucifer suspiciously, "As I just explained, though he was only about a third, his life was longer than the average human's. He had to relocate a few times."

"Did you know what Antony's last alias was?" Micheal asked, and Lucifer thought about it momentarily before shaking his head.

"I don't recall if I ever asked. Our last meeting was a quick one. At the time, I was tracking down a halfling in Chicago." Lucifer paused, his lips pursed as if trying to recollect something. Meanwhile, Kathrine Ann froze, the glass of whiskey at her lips. She couldn't believe it. There was no way, she reassured herself, pushing the intrusive thought away as Lucifer continued, "Yes, he was living in a small town named Geneva," Kathrine Ann stifled her gasp, "and since I was nearby, I decided to pop in and make sure he was behaving and see if he had any helpful information on the woman I was looking for."

"William Dubois. Your husband, Kathrine Ann." Micheal confirmed.

"Really?" Lucifer hummed, pushing off the cabinet and shooting his entire glass while Kathrine Ann tried to collect thoughts and emotions. She couldn't believe it. William wanted to come here, but why? Wasn't his last wife and kids in Heaven with him? Even if they did end up here, he wouldn't be able to see them.

"Yes. He claims you told him he always had a place in Hell if he wanted it." Micheal explained.

"While that is true, it was also told when he was alive." Lucifer explained, walking to his bedside table, "But this simplifies the situation."

"Does it?"

"Indeed. There is no way in Hell, pun intended, that William Dubois, Antony Cursner, or any of his other aliases are spending eternity here. So, you can tell Grandpapa no deal. He can keep his souls in Heaven, where they belong." Her Devil smiled, but Kathrine Ann noticed his clenched jaw and tense movements. "If you have nothing else to say, I think we're done here," he stated, opening the drawer and reaching for a cigarette.

"Lucifer," Micheal sighed, "You need to be reasonable,"

"Reasonable?" Lucifer laughed, but there was no amusement in his voice. Putting the cigarette between his lips, he resumed, "Reason left the party hours ago, Uncle. If you wanted reasonable Louie, you should have brought this to me tomorrow after I had rested, bathed, and eaten. But I doubt it would change my answer."

"You're jealous—"

"You think?" He growled, "Let me make it crystal clear for you. My wife's ex-husband, the man whom she fucking damned her soul for, is not coming to live here in my home. End of discussion. Now, you may see your way out!" He ended with a shout.

Kathrine Ann watched as Lucifer lit the cigarette and walked out onto the balcony, slamming the door behind him. She was still trying to process when Micheal cleared his throat,

"Thoughts?" He asked.

"Why?"

"I don't know." He sighed, "I can't imagine why any soul would want to leave Heaven, but to my knowledge, he knows nothing about this arrangement. I doubt he even knows that you are here."

"His wife and kids are there,"

"Yes, and not just the ones from his last marriage," Micheal informed, causing Kathrine Ann's eyes to snap up, "As Louie explained, Antony, or William as you knew him, was part demon. Even a small amount of demon heritage can result in an unnaturally long life for humans. So, your husband—"

"Ex-husband." She corrected.

"You never divorced." He reminded.

"The 'till death do you part' clause took care of that small detail."

"Fine. Your ex-husband was married multiple times and fathered a handful of children." Micheal revealed.

"Right. Of course, he did because having a psychopathic murderer as a father wasn't enough. Oh no, I needed to go and find a demon for a husband." Kathrine Ann sighed.

"Then you married the Devil himself," Micheal mused, "Wonder how you're going to top this one."

"Now is not the time to try and prove you actually have a sense of humor, Micheal." She groaned, "Look, I'll talk to Luce, but you should have waited. I don't know what made you think bringing this up tonight was a good idea."

"At least now he can sleep on it." The archangel suggested, getting up.

"You really are an asshole. You know that, right?"

"I'll be back in a few weeks with more details," He replied, finally standing and walking out the door.

Kathrine Ann got off the bed and crossed the room before cautiously walking onto the balcony. Lucifer stood leaning against the railing, looking out into the chilly night. The lit cigarette that was forgotten between his fingers burned down.

"Let me guess, I'm overreacting and need to consider what's best for Hell and its future?" He sighed. "As the future ruler, I cannot and should not allow my emotions to dictate my actions."

"I was just going to start with hey." She replied.

Lucifer groaned, dropping his head, "What am I supposed to do? Just let him live here and watch as he steals your heart back,"

"Whoa there." She snapped, "Is that what you think? That I'm just going to run back into his arms?"

"You sacrificed your soul for him, Kathrine Ann!"

"Don't yell at me!" She shot back, "I have done nothing wrong, and screw you for thinking so little of me."

She couldn't help her eyes tearing up. She was angry and hurt.

"I'm sorry," He sighed, finally pulling from the cigarette, "But how am I supposed to compete with your first love?"

"Everyone is just filled with assumptions tonight, aren't they." She huffed. "William was not my first love nor my second. The heart heals and moves on. Sure, I was married to William, but I died. He moved on, and I moved on. I'm married to you now, Luce. I'm not just going to throw us away because my ex, who is now the dead one, reappears." She plucked the cigarette from his fingers and took a long drag, "Despite how this started, I like where it's going. If you haven't picked up on it yet, I like you, Luce, a lot, and I'm not leaving you for anyone."

Lucifer wrapped one arm around Kathrine Ann's waist and pulled her to him before kissing her sweetly. Unlike the heated, passionate kisses they had shared up to this point, this one was soft and comforting.

Pulling away, he rested his forehead on hers and sighed, "I still don't like the idea of him being here."

"What's it matter?" She asked, "Besides, he probably doesn't remember me after all the wives and families he apparently had."

"As much as I would like to believe that, I doubt one simply forgets about the woman who sacrificed her soul for him,"

"He doesn't know that," She countered, "For all he knows, I was nothing more than a dream."

"Fine. Then take it from someone who has been with more partners than your William could imagine. You, my wife, would be impossible to forget."