When her parents had left, Samantha said sternly:
"And now you show me your bathroom."
He pointed to the bedroom door and said:
"Through that door and to the right."
In the bathroom, she made his heavy black gear disappear and helped him into the shower. The Angel's blood washed out of his hair and off his face and arm. But there was more. He asked:
"How bad is it?"
"Very Alex, your bleeding from several scourge wounds, from a few even very badly as if they had only just been inflicted and the burn marks look like they are fresh. I've never seen them this bad before. Fuzzie would be pissed if he was here."
"Fuck, it hurts Red."
"I know Love. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."
He put his forehead against the wall of the shower and said with a tremendously tired voice:
"I still haven't found a solution Samantha. For six thousand years I've been searching and I'm not one step closer."
"I believe in you Alex. If there is anyone who can solve this it's you. Remember, nothing is impossible nothing."
A good twenty minutes later they came back into the living room. Their hair was still damp making it obvious that they had been in the shower together. Samantha had suggested he wear something with long sleeves, maybe a turtleneck but he had refused. Anyone could see what he looked like, he wouldn't hide anything. Alexander looked around for a moment at the people still present in his suite. The marks of the day were clearly visible on everyone's faces. But even they could see the scars and burns on his arms. No one said anything. The answers would come sooner or later.
"Gabe can you ask Jo if she's ready? And the rest of you, you look like something Max ate and then regurgitated? Go to bed, tomorrow is going to be a long day. Ella, Lucifer if you can stay a few more minutes?"
Everyone got up to do as Alex had asked. Michael said his goodbyes and walked to the door. Celine and Rae Rae walked to the temporary rooms provided for them. Gabe said:
"Jo is on her way."
Alexander nodded:
"Okay thanks Gabe, try to get some sleep too okay?"
He nodded wearily:
"See you tomorrow boss."
He left the suite after which there were only four people left in the living room. Ella, who was lying against Lucifer looked at Alexander. She looked for a moment at the scars and what were clearly burn marks on his arms. She knew all too well how they were caused on Earth but decided not to say anything about that for now. Instead she asked:
"Max?"
Both Lucifer and Alex shot into laughter:
"Oh yes Max! I'll have Crowley pick him up in the morning."
Lucifer to said Alex.
"You'll have to have a damn good toy because he'll be blaming you for a long time for not letting him come along on this little venture."
Alexander shrugged:
"I didn't think it was a good idea to bring Max when this place was full of Angels we couldn't trust, can you imagine the carnage. Well now yes I do have Amenadiel and the rest of those zealots. Would that be enough to appease him?"
"Oh deary me, I'm the Devil and even I'm not that mean. But I must admit if I sold tickets to my brothers and sisters I could make a fortune from that spectacle."
Ella and Samantha were still puzzled and Alex stated:
"Maximus is what is known as a Hell-hound. At least in this Hell, your Hell doesn't have them Sam. In Hell and in their original form they are an image from the worst nightmare. After Celine found out they existed she insisted that I pick one as extra protection in Hell from the Demons. After I first visited Hell six thousand years ago they weren't exactly eager to have a crown prince. Hell-hounds, however, change how they look when you give them a name and an identity, an existence. Then they adapt to that name and purpose. For example, if you named one of them Slayer he would slaughter anything and anyone put in front of him by his or her master. So I wanted a tough strong puppy from the litter of dad's meanest Hell-hound. And of course, softy as I am when it comes to animals I chose the smallest, the weakest from a litter because I felt sorry for that poor skinny scared thing being harassed by his litter-mates. I picked him up and put him in my coat to keep him warm, a bit like a kangaroo one might say. And I carried him around with me like that for a while. I learned only later that it is not only the giving of a name that changes them into their final form but also the intention you feel at the moment you name them. And how you treated them before you named them. I ironically called him Maximus, thought that was funny at the time, protector of the small, weak and innocent. Instead of turning into a dog as we know them on Earth, to everyone's amazement he turned into a black panther and grew up to be not such a little one either. He is really big, heavy and if you don't know him he can scare you in a heartbeat with just his appearance. You better believe he takes his identity as protector damn seriously. He likes to watch TV since there are cartoons. Somehow he made the laughter of Scooby Doe and Muttley his own. Pretty annoying at times if you ask me because sometimes it seems like he's staring at me and makes fun of me just to annoy the heck out of me."
Both Ella and Samantha had grown wide-eyed at that description.
"Is that even safe when there are children around?"
Asked Samantha.
Once more Alex shot into laughter and finally answered:
"I don't know why that one Hell-hound is the way he is. You would never think he is from Hell except when one of his protégés is in danger. Children are absolutely safe around Max. Children can do anything they want with him. They can drag him around the house by his tail or use him as a mattress. He will never show his disapproval on the contrary he would rather be disappointed if they didn't. But anyone who even looks at his protégés the wrong way will be shown Hellfire immediately. Let alone if anyone were to lift a finger at them..."
There was a gentle knock on the door and Alexander called in knowing very well who was at the door. Crowley and Aziraphael entered. Swiftly Alex made two glasses of expensive red wine appear on the table and said:
"Have a seat friends."
Barely had they taken their seats, they grabbed their glass and emptied it in one go before refilling it themselves. Tears could be seen on Crowley's cheeks. Azi who held his future husband's hand tightly said:
"I have never been the person who wanted to use violence. But this, this is ..."
"I know Azi, I know. However, I need a few more things from you guys if you would."
Crowley looked at him sternly and said:
"Anything boss."
"You will unfortunately have to play Angel-Uber a few more times. Daniel and Beatrice, Linda and baby Charlie have to go home. Mazikeen dumped somewhere in LA and Maximus needs to be picked up before he turns Hell well into Hell and scare the crap out of every Demon, and that along with the rest of my luggage. And finally Decker."
Ella said fitfully:
"If you would inadvertently dump her somewhere between LA and Las Vegas a bit in the desert and inadvertently forget to tell Alexander. Well what he doesn't know won't hurt I would say."
It was Aziraphael who said:
"Well I have been known to admit that my geography is not quite that what it should be for an Angel and I am a bit forgetful from time to time."
Alexander who pretended not to have heard the conversation took a sip of his drink and asked Crowley softly:
"Before you leave, would you like to take a look in the garden. There is a monument to the children. I would like to have, if possible, your green thumb make sure there is a multitude of roses around it with an emphasis on white roses."
Without even a second of thinking, Samantha said:
"But also white orchids, tulips, carnations and such."
Crowley stood up followed by Azi and he said:
"No problem I'll take care of it. Before the ceremony they will be there in all their splendor."
A few minutes passed in silence before there was another soft knock on the door. This time instead of calling in, Alexander stood up and went to open the door himself. In front of the the door stood Raphael with behind him Jophiel and two of her Angels. The three each carried a sleeping child in their arms. Alexander beckoned them in and pointed to the room he had provided for the children. Jo and her Angels walked into the room. Raphael dropped onto the couch and had a large glass of brandy filled to the brim appear which he emptied half in a heartbeat. He did notice the injuries on Alexander's arms but ignored them for now.
"What is your medical opinion of the children Raffa?"
"Physically they are more or less fine. Clearly malnourished so underweight and they were totally uncared for but that is simple to fix. Mentally? Who will say exactly at this point? We will have to wait until they are fully awake and observe them in their behavior. Therapy in a playful way so they digest it easier and benefit from it faster will be absolutely necessary. I think I will reach out to one of my healers for that, she has a special connection with children and loved working with them. At least until we healers were forbidden to go to Earth but I am confident Evi can do it. It would be quite possible for them to function normally for a few days but expect a setback. Night terrors, nightmares, and PTSD. They weren't exactly living in normal circumstances at the time. There will be a lot of trauma with these kids Alex, a lot. The smallest one, I think she could barely be three is the clear example that nobody cared anymore. Like they were lab rats. She is behind on her development, clearly evident in her speech among other things but Jo can tell you more about that than I can. Right now they are asleep and will remain so for the next 36 hours, maybe a little less. I've kept them in that sleep artificially for a while so their brains won't be short-circuited by all the sudden changes."
The three Angels came out of the room where they had put the children to sleep, and Jophiel gently sent the other two away and sat down next to Raphael. This time it was Samantha who spoke:
"You are Jophiel? May I call you Jo?"
The Angel got big eyes. By now all of Heaven knew that there was a crown princess, a future Goddess at the palace. Now this future Goddess asked her warmly if she was allowed to call her by her nickname. She nodded eagerly and Sam asked:
"Jo, what will those little ones need once they wake up?"
"All they can get is the short answer. Love, warmth, being surrounded by people who care about them and really want them to be there. In other words family."
Alexander nodded:
"If that is what they need then that is what they will get."
He drained his glass and said:
"I'm sorry but it's been a long day and I'm getting tired. Dad, Ella on this floor there is a suite provided for you and I think you two have a lot to talk about."
He added with a mysterious smile.
"I know I wanted to have a chat with you sweet Ella and make you a proposition but unfortunately that's going to have to wait a bit I'm afraid."
He stood up and pointed to a room:
"Jo, I have set up a room there for you. There's an even second bed provided in case you need an extra Angel to keep an eye on the kids."
She nodded and walked toward the designated room. Ella and Lucifer followed her, heading toward their own suite. Raphael got up from the couch after chugging the rest of his glass. At the door, he said unprompted and without looking:
"We patched them up and threw them in jail. But if I ever have a crazy idea again that I do not want to see injuries, just ignore me. It took the utmost of myself and also my people to heal them instead of destroying them!"
Without waiting for an answer, he walked out of the room. Alexander and Samantha were left alone.
"That second door there is a bedroom, if you want you can use it Samantha. Unfortunately I haven't had time yet to create a suite worthy of a Princess. I just don't know how to react or how to behave around you after the last two thousand years. I know I love you above all else and want what we used to have back then. I'm just a little lost right now, I'm sorry."
She slapped him gently on the arm:
"I'm not like that Alex, a simple bed is enough for me. And I don't want a separate bedroom, I want you next to me in bed, I want to be able to take you in my arms like always. I need you and you need me Alex, we belong together. Do you remember boyfriend girlfriend? I want to check on the kids before we go to sleep though."
"Yeah, me too. I'd like to see them without a sign of blood near them."
Hand in hand, they walked softly into the room. The three were quietly sleeping the sleep of the innocent in their beds. In front of the middle bed they remained standing. The youngest child, in their eyes so young, so much too young slept on her side with what had to be an Angel-made teddy bear pressed firmly into her arms. Samantha leaned against him and he pulled her more firmly into the embrace. Without a word they remained there for a while until she heard him mumble:
"Never again... You are my children; you are at home."
She got tears in her eyes again. Went up on the tips of her feet because he really was a head taller than her, pressed a soft kiss to his mouth and said:
"Lets go to bed my dear Alex, my dear God..."