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For as Long as We Both Shall Live
“You know we don’t need to do this, right, Charlie?"
“I don’t need to do anything.” Charlie stands tall, the pale light of Hell’s night shining through the window to limn her naked body in silver and shadow. “I’m the Queen of Hell now, right?”
She is, and is has been a hard fought for position—one that has cost more than she wanted to pay.
One that she is determinedly holding onto, come any enemies that may, and Vaggie is proud to be at her side.
Well, to be kneeling naked in front of her. A supplicant before the throne of Hell, but that’s not because Charlie wants her kneeling; it’s because Vaggie can’t help but want to in the face of everything Charlie has made of herself.
She is so, so proud of Charlie for all that she’s done and all that she still wants to do.
Just like she is so, so stupidly honored that Charlie chose her for this. After everything—after all the times they’ve squabbled, after the lies and the half-truths, after the bloodshed and the tears wept—Charlie is still choosing her.
“There will be a princess in Hell again.” Charlie steps forward, and Vaggie shivers, her eyes caught on the runes that cover Charlie’s naked stomach.
Vaggie knows that the runes continue onto Charlie’s back; that they stretch down between her legs, and under and around her breasts; that they slide along her neck, a cradle for that beautiful head.
A guide for the magic that they’re going to be doing tonight.
Charlie’s fingers trail over Vaggie’s chin; dip down to touch Vaggie’s chest, above her rapidly beating heart. “Give me a baby, Vaggie? Give Lucifer a grandchild, so that he may smile from wherever his soul has gone.”
The room seems to spin, and Vaggie swallows, certain that it’s not all due to the blood she donated for the crafting of the runes that cover Charlie’s body. “I’ll give you anything, Charlie. Absolutely anything you want.”
“Then touch me.” Charlie’s hands trail slowly down Vaggie’s arms, her fingers teasing at the sensitive skin of Vaggie’s elbows; her touch practically scorching as her fingers close gently around Vaggie’s wrists.
So Vaggie gives her what she wants.
Vaggie surges forward, letting all of her desire, all of the fierce of protective love that Heaven never wanted, free.
Letting it surge through her and into Charlie. Into kisses, and tender touches, and not so tender bites into the soft flesh of Charlie’s neck and shoulder.
Lets her mouth kiss every inch of Charlie’s breasts, taking first the right and then the left nipple into her mouth, and the magic responds to every touch. The runes burn brighter, redder, and though there’s no heat, they seem to scorch Vaggie nevertheless.
Vaggie doesn’t back away, though. Doesn’t hesitate as she trails her tongue down, down, down, dipping into the hollow of Charlie’s navel, emerging again to trace the faintest pale line of hair further down, further down—
And then she’s on her back, not quite sure how she got there.
Charlie is sitting atop her, Charlie’s whole body pulsing with magic, a burning hole in the center of the world.
“Please,” Charlie whispers, and Vaggie feels the wetness of her as Charlie rubs helplessly against Vaggie’s chest.
“Anything,” Vaggie says again, because it’s true.
She guides Charlie up, parting hair and skin with the gentlest touch, and slides her tongue into hot folds. Charlie gasps and starts to move, a rhythm that Vaggie matches easily.
She brings Charlie to orgasm three times before the magic runs its course, leaving Charlie an exhausted and limp pile of limbs in their shared bed.
Vaggie pushes hair away from Charlie’s face, and kisses her pale cheek with lips that are swollen from all of their other activities. “I’ll get us cleaned up, all right?”
“Sorry.” The word slurs into a groan. “I should have—I wasn’t fair. I meant to return the favor, to get you off too, but I’m…”
“Exhausted from working a complicated magical spell. And maybe…” Vaggie moves her hand to cover Charlie’s naked belly again. The runes are just pigment and blood now, flaking beneath her hands. “And maybe pregnant with my child now. I think I can handle getting myself off. Especially since I already did once, just from how damn much you fucking wantedme.”
“Of course I do.” Charlie’s eyes open wider. “I’ll always want you, Vaggie. You’re mine.”
“And you’re mine.” Vaggie strokes a hand through Charlie’s hair again, then bends down to press a kiss to Charlie’s stomach. “Just like you’re mine, little one. I’m going to take the best care of both of you.”
Charlie smiles, her eyes drifting shut.
Vaggie fetches a bucket of soapy water and slowly, gently, cleans all the signs of the ritual off both of them before curling in next to her lover and letting sleep take her.
***
“I’m going to just burn Hell to the ground,” Charlie seethes as she slams her way into their bedroom. “Heaven too while I’m at it. Maybe Earth! Let’s just start fresh!"
Vaggie closes the door behind her, setting her spear carefully against the wall after making sure the locks are thrown. She still has her sword and her gun, though she makes sure both are carefully and properly sheathed and with the safeties on before approaching Charlie. “All right. I’ll help.”
Charlie turns to look at her, and the expression on her face shifts from fury to hesitation to helpless laughter in the space of five seconds. “You would, wouldn’t you?”
“If that’s what you really wanted? In a heartbeat.” Vaggie moves forward, pressing herself against Charlie.
“Mmm.” Charlie leans in, stealing a brief, almost chaste kiss. “And here I thought you were done just blindly following orders.”
“I don’t just blindly follow orders.” Vaggie gives her a deeper kiss. “But I will follow you, no matter where you go, no matter what you decide. And I trust that if we’re burning everything down, it’s because there’s really nothing else that we can do.”
Charlie draws in a deep breath and lets it out in a deeper sigh. Then she walks backward, and tumbles them both onto the bed. “How are you so good at getting me to calm down?”
“A lifetime of dealing with idiots with anger management issues means dealing with someone whose anger comes from empathy is a hell of a lot easier.” Vaggie glances down, and is pleased to see that Charlie’s shirt has ridden up, revealing the soft swell of her pregnancy.
Just two months along, but already it’s obvious that the ritual worked. That Vaggie and Charlie are going to be parents.
Which is, of course, part of the problem.
“I don’t understand what everyone’s problem is.” Charlie growls, rolling over and pulling her shirt up further. Without prompting she takes Vaggie’s hand, settling it over the hard swell of her pregnancy. “I thought we already sorted that Heaven and Hell aren’t supposed to be, like, perpetual things. Why does it matter to so many people that you used to be an angel?”
“Probably because I murdered some of their family?” The words don’t burn Vaggie as much as they once would have.
“Half of them have murdered some of their family!” Charlie’s anger has cooled, though, and she strokes her hand along the curve of her pregnancy, a soft smile stealing over her face. “It doesn’t matter, though. I’m happy about this. I want there to be a princess of Hell, and there’s damn well going to be.”
“What if this little one…” Vaggie kisses Charlie’s stomach. “Is a prince? Or a princex?”
“Then we just have to have more children.” Charlie squirms until she can wrap an arm around Vaggie, somehow scooting them closer. “Such a shame. Such hard work.”
Vaggie laughs. “You’re really enjoying being pregnant, aren’t you?”
“So far. Helps that I haven’t had the morning sickness, I suppose. But I also…” Charlie places her hand atop Vaggie’s. “This is your baby, Vaggie. Yours and mine. And that, oh, that makes me happier than I ever thought I could be.”
Vaggie has to wait a moment for the lump in her throat to move before she can answer. “Me too, Charlie. Me too.”
Vaggie settles her chin on Charlie’s bump, her hands moving to either side. Holding the child in the only way she can, for the moment; holding Charlie; loving that they are hers, that she is here, that this life she chose has turned into something she never could have dreamed of in Heaven.
Charlie pulls her closer, Charlie’s hips rising.
Vaggie tilts her head so that she can look up at Charlie. “Are you suggesting that we skip your next meeting?”
“I just think…” Charlie squirms again. “It might be nice…”
Vaggie laughs. “You’re turning into a little Lust monster, aren’t you? This is going to be the third time today.”
Charlie pouts.
“But I’m happy to assist.” Vaggie can already feel damp starting to collect between her own legs at the thought of undressing Charlie properly. Of seeing her changing body in all its glory.
“You’re really the best, Vaggie.” Charlie grins up at her.
“Can’t be, because you’re here,” Vaggie returns, and sets about doing what her Queen has requested of her.
***
“Do you think this is because we’ve been having sex too many times?” Vaggie runs her hands over Charlie’s incredibly swollen belly. “Is this a result of the magic?”
Little fluttering kicks follow her hands, and Vaggie smiles, pressing her cheek against Charlie’s belly.
“No, I think it’s because I’m nine months pregnant and we’re having twins.” Charlie sighs, closing her eyes as she allows her body to sink into the nest of pillows that Vaggie crafted for her.
Charlie isn’t wearing any clothes, but it’s not only because she’s still hornier that Ozzy on a hot date. Her breasts have enlarged as the pregnancy has progressed, and they’re incredibly sensitive. Vaggie has had to learn to be adjust her grip strength, to gentle her teeth and the suction she gives to each nipple as the areolas darken and the flesh becomes more tender.
But nothing compares to the sheer joy and wonder of watching the babes grow in Charlie’s belly. Vaggie allows the little one to kick at her hand for a moment longer, and then pulls her fingers away. She allows just the tips of her fingers to trace along the red stretch marks that criss-cross Charlie’s belly. “You’re absolutely beautiful, you know.”
“Really?” Charlie gives her a shy smile that looks so much like the girl who first saved Vaggie rather than the Queen of Hell.
“Oh absolutely.” Vaggie shifts her attention from Charlie’s belly up in a straight line, trailing kisses until she reaches Charlie’s lips. “You are still and always will be the most beautiful woman in all the universe, Charlie Morningstar.”
Charlie makes a little sound deep in her throat; a combination of desire and a need for reassurance, for support as her body becomes more and more bogged down in simply providing sustenance for her and their new hellspawn in the making.
Vaggie is happy to provide that support. To kiss her, and whisper promises of a long and happy life in her ear, and stroke every inch of her exposed body; to press their skin together until Charlie knows that every inch of her is loved.
To respond to Charlie’s hesitant, almost exasperated thrusts with exactly the touches she wants, Vaggie’s fingers—Vaggie’s fist—more than used to the exercise Charlie needs of it.
“It’s practice, you know?” Charlie giggles as she comes down from her orgasm, and she looks far happier, her hair in a disarrayed halo around her head. “Have to make sure these little bastards are going to make it out all right.”
“I will help you practice anytime you want,” Vaggie solemnly promises, kissing the tip of Charlie’s nose.
It’s a binding between them that both of them are more than happy to have.
***
Vaggie doesn’t scream words as she slashes with her blessed weapons, laying into hellspawn and heavenly host both.
She just screams.
She’s supposed to be with Charlie.
Charlie, who has spent the last six hours pacing their rooms in agony, working to bring their children into the world.
Charlie, who has only ever wanted to help everyone she saw.
Charlie, who isn’t safe, because no one wants a Queen of Hell who cares and is actively involved.
No one wants her having children who might inherit both her power and her optimism.
But Vaggie is not letting anyone get to her.
Vaggie is not going to let anyone hurt her.
Vaggie is going to kill every one of these people. No mercy. Mercy didn’t work. Mercy just saw Lute stabbing them in the back, and Vaggie is done with people hurting her, Vaggie is done with being betrayed, Vaggie is—
“You did it, babe.” Angel Dust talks fast, using one of his usually hidden legs to grab Vaggie’s arm. “You did it.”
“We did it!” Nifty squeals as she jumps into a puddle of blood. “Yay yay yay!"
“Go on.” Husk dusts off his arm, frowning at a bloody patch in his fur. “Get on up to your girl. And tell us when we can come see the brats.”
Vaggie stares at the bodies sprawled out around them.
At the proof that Hell might not be forever, but evil is.
Then she looks beyond the bodies. To the friends who came to help her. To the mixture of hellspawn and heavenly host who are standing beyond them.
To Emily, who smiles hesitantly at her, the girl’s hands covered in a mix of red and gold blood.
Tearing herself away from her friends, Vaggie sprints up the stairs towards her room.
Towards a well of silence that is as terrifying as the sounds of battle had been.
She throws open the door, struggling to drag in a breath, and finds…
Charlie.
Sprawled on the bed in a blood red robe.
Smiling.
And next to her, both wrapped tight against the cold of the world—
“Say hello to your other mama, babies.” Charlie doesn’t raise her head from where it’s resting on the pillow. “Do I need to get down there? I’m not completely spent. If you need my magic—”
“No. No, we handled it.” Vaggie takes slow, careful steps towards the bed, as though moving too quickly or making too much noise will break the moment. “You’re all right?”
“I am so tired, Vaggie. And I don’t think I ever want to have sex again.” Charlie laughs, a deep, exhausted, gleeful sound. “But look at them. Look what we made together.”
Vaggie kneels down by the bed, reaching out with one blood-spattered hand to touch first one babe’s cheek and then the other. “They’re perfect. They’re absolutely perfect.”
“They’re wonderful.” Charlie reaches out, her fingers twining with Vaggie’s. “And awesome. And I love them so much. Just as much as I love you."
“I love you too, Charlie.” Vaggie gently, gingerly, shifts the babes over, giving herself space to settle on the bed with them and Charlie.
“We’re going to make this work.” Charlie looks up at her with hopeful eyes.
“We’re already making this work,” Vaggie confirms. “And we’re going to make it even better, step by step.”
Charlie tilts her head back, and Vaggie sees the dreaminess come into her eyes; the evidence that a song will be the next thing coming out of her mouth. “ Step by step, day by day, with love always there to show us the way…”
Vaggie allows the song to move out from Charlie. To flow through her, enveloping the children, the room, their friends and allies… the entirety of Hell.
The entirety of the universe.
All theirs, to love and protect, and Vaggie will always and forever be honored to do so at Charlie’s side, for as long as they both shall live.