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Hazbin Hotel: Unwanted Visitors

After burping her, Angel placed Cassie in the little day bed he kept in the living room, switched on the radio at a low volume, and went off to take a bathroom break and to change into what he was going to wear for that day.   He didn’t dress very fancy in those days, at least not by his standards.  He emerged from his room in a plain off-white collared shirt, brown pants, suspenders, and leather shoes and got to work making coffee and preparing some breakfast for himself and Maggie. It was how Angel had been living for the past month.  It was a complete change from the partying and wild living he was used to.  Before Angel barely ever spent any time at home.  The drugs, alcohol, and good company were always a big enough draw to leave.  But with Cassie, it was different. With Cassie, Angel found that he didn’t mind spending so much time at home, especially since Maggie was there with him.  Even though their lives mostly consisted of cooking, cleaning, and taking care of Cassie, it somehow never felt boring.  He was practically a domestic and couldn’t be happier. Just then, a knock on the door interrupted his cooking.   Angel looked at his pocket watch and saw that it was just about 9am.  He wasn’t behind on rent, and even if he was, the landlord usually didn’t get over his hangover until about noon. The knock on the door sounded again, so Angel just shrugged his shoulders, took the food off the stove before turning it off, and said, “Yeah, yeah, I heard ya the first time.  I’m comin’!” Angel unlocked the door and muttered under his breath, “I swear to God if these are more Jehovah’s witnesses…” He opened the door to see his father and brother standing right outside.  It was surprising to say the least.   “So, this is where you’ve been,” Don Lucchese said.  “I wouldn’t have believed it unless I saw it for myself.” Angel shrugged in annoyance and said, “Oh, great.  It’s you.  What do you two want?” “Angelo, I’m surprised at you,” his father said in an overly sensitive tone that always managed to get on Angel’s nerves.  “Can’t a grandfather come to visit his first grandchild?” “What stopped you from coming by the first six weeks?” Angel asked skeptically.  “Molly’s been here at least half a dozen times.” “We were busy, little brother,” Eric retorted.  “We’ve had to deal with a lot of work, especially since you’ve been missing-in-action.” “Sure, blame me,” Angel said sarcastically.  “Look, I’m tired, so if you have nothing important to say, could you scram?  I have to go back to taking care of my six-week-old daughter…” Angel tried shutting the door, but Eric pushed his way through before he could shut the door and said, “Can’t I see my niece, Angelo?  Why do you have to be such a little bitch?” Angel sighed and reluctantly held the door open, so his father could walk in to join his brother.   His father looked around and said condescendingly, “Quite the little dive you have here.  I expected ya to be livin’ somewhere swankier.  Who picked out your furniture?” “It came from Maggie’s family,” Angel said with badly hidden annoyance as he shut the door.  “She didn’t want us to waste money buying furniture.” “Ah, so your dame is cheap?” Don Lucchese said.  “She doesn’t need to be with all the dough we have.  Not holdin’ out on her, are ya?” “No,” Angel replied defensively.  “She likes it the way it is, and I like to make her happy.” “Whatever you say, Angelo,” Don Lucchese said dismissively.  “I suppose it’s spiffy enough for what it is.  She keeps a nice house.” “Thanks, we try,” Angel retorted sassily. “Where is the little woman anyway?” Eric asked as he sat down on the couch. “She’s sleeping,” Angel replied.  “The baby kept her awake last night.” “So, you’re caring for the baby yourself?” Eric asked incredulously.  “Ain’t that what nannies are for?” “Why hire a nanny for a job you can do just fine yourself?” Angel retorted.  “Besides, I’ve enjoyed it.” “Explains why you haven’t been home in weeks,” Eric spat back.  “You’re such a daisy.” “Enough bumpin’ gums,” Don Lucchese interrupted.  “I want to see my granddaughter, Angelo.  Can’t you two put your petty bickerin’ aside for that?” Don Lucchese delivered a particularly pointed look to Eric, and he relented immediately.   Angel eyed them both suspiciously.  He knew that look only too well.  It was a look that said, “You know what we’re here for.  Don’t futz up this job for us.”  It was that look that let Angel know they had an ulterior motive for showing up. Angel covered his suspicion with an annoyed huff and said, “I’ll go get Cassie.  Don’t make too much noise now.  She fell asleep not too long ago.” He walked slowly and quietly as he always did when he hoped to hear them talk behind his back, but they were completely silent.  They were definitely hiding something. Angel arrived in his kitchen and stared at the calm baby lying in her bed swaddled in her blanket.  He stared at her peaceful sleep for a moment before he reached down and lifted her into his arms.  Angel held her closely and stared blankly out the window as she rested against his shoulder.   “Don’t worry, Cass,” Angel whispered quietly.  “I won’t let the bad people hurt you.  I promise.” Angel took a deep breath and walked back into the living room where his family was waiting. “Here, she is,” Angel said as he lowered her into his arms so they could see her face.  “This is Cassandra Maria di Lucchese.” Much to Angel’s surprise, Eric’s expression softened and his mouth hung slightly agape.  Not to Angel’s surprise, his father’s expression didn’t change. “Can I hold her?” Eric asked.   Angel visibly hesitated for a moment before Eric asked again. “Please?” Eric asked with pleading, excited eyes. Angel couldn’t believe what he was seeing or hearing.  He was so taken aback that he laid Cassie into his arms immediately. “Hold your arms out carefully,” Angel said positioning his daughter in his brother’s arms as carefully as he could.  “You have to support her head.  She’s been holding up her head more, but she still needs help.” “Like this?” Eric asked holding Cassie much like Angel did the first time. “Yeah,” Angel replied with a gentle patience that surprised him.  “You’ve got it.” Eric stared at Cassie in absolute awe.  It was an expression that he never thought he’d see from his cold-hearted gangster of a brother.  He wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t seen it for himself. Angel sat down next to Eric while he continued studying the baby’s face.   “She’s got Mom’s nose,” Eric finally said after a few minutes of silence.  “I swear.  It looks just like hers.” “She has her eyes, too,” Angel said.  “They’re green, just like mine.” “No kidding?” “Nope, you’ll see her eyes if she wakes up.  She took most of her face from Maggie, but she got some of our good stuff…” Just then, Cassie opened her eyes.  Once again, Eric was awestruck as she looked straight at him and studied his face like he was studying hers. “Hey there, toots,” Angel said as he rustled his fingers through her hair.  “This is your Uncle Eric and that guy over there looking all serious is your Grandpa.  Say hello.” No one said anything while Eric and Cassie continued to study each other’s faces.   “Well, what do you think?” Angel asked. “You were right about the eyes, Angelo,” Eric said holding Cassie up so that she could look straight at his face.  “They’re just like Mom’s.” “I told ya,” Angel said.  “She’s kinda funny.  She’ll stare at you all day with those eyes.  She’s such a curious little thing.  It’s kinda unnerving, but you get used to it.  I know she don’t mean nothin’ by it.  I read somewhere it’s a sign of intelligence.”   “Intelligence, coming from you?” Eric asked sarcastically.  “That’s rich, but I suppose it could happen.  You aren’t a dumbass all the time.” Angel paused for a moment and sat silently.  That was the sincerest compliment that Eric had ever given him. Eric cradled Cassie gently in his arms and said, “She’s a beauty, Angel.  I’ll give you that.” He then nervously glanced over to his father heightening Angel’s suspicions. “Hey, Dad?” Eric asked.  “Do you want to hold her?” “I can see her from here,” Don Lucchese replied harshly and gesturing with his eyes towards Cassie’s diaper. Eric looked away and then nervously shook his head.  Evidently, Don Lucchese didn’t buy it because he made the same gesture again. Normally, Angel would have stayed out of it, but this time, his bambina was on the line. “What the hell are you two up to?” Angel asked suspiciously.  “Come on.  Spit it out.  I know you two are hiding something.  What is it?  Why are you really here?” “You’re smarter than we give you credit for, Angelo,” Don Lucchese said while Eric, for the first time in his life, looked away in shame.  “I’ll get straight to it.  We know that you went out with your wife and the baby last night over to a cabaret…” “What the hell?” Angel asked angrily.  “Why are you tailing me this time?” “We didn’t,” Eric replied defensively.  “One of our informants just happened to see you there.” “Sure,” Angel replied sarcastically. “We know you dressed in drag, Angelo,” Don Lucchese retorted.  “The baby was dressed up too, but we wanna know what for.” “What are you saying?” Angel asked defensively. “Angelo, do we really have to spell it out for you?” Eric replied.  “Was the baby dressed in drag last night?  Is she actually a he?” Angel was too stunned to reply for a second, but then, he said, “No.  No!  Cassie’s a girl.  I was there when she was born.  I have been changing her diapers for weeks.  I bathed her this morning.  I have the fucking certificate from the hospital.  If Cassie was a boy, I would have figured it out by now.  Why the hell would I lie about something like that?” “Because you love your child and want to keep him from us?” Don Lucchese asked.   Angel gritted his teeth angrily, took Cassie out of Eric’s arms, and said, “Visiting hours are over!  Scram, the both of ya!” Cassie started fussing in Angel’s arms.  He knew it was probably because of the yelling, but he didn’t lose face in front of his brother or his father.  He couldn’t. Eric put a hand on his Father’s shoulder and said, “Dad, I didn’t feel any balls on her.  Angelo’s tellin’ the truth.  We should go…” “Not until I know for sure,” Don Lucchese said slapping the hand away and walking towards his frightened younger son.  “Let me look at her, Angelo.  Just one peak to be sure you ain’t lyin’ to me…” Angel held his crying daughter more defensively and snarled angrily, “Stay the fuck away from her, you goddamn pervert.” “Look, who’s finally grown a pair,” Don Lucchese said now standing over his son who was glaring him down for the first time in his life.  “Hand her over or show me yourself, Angelo.  Either way, I ain’t gonna be happy if you’re hidin’ an heir from me and I ain’t leavin’ till I know for sure.  I’m unhappy about this attitude, son.” “I don’t care.  You can push me around all you want.  But you ain’t layin’ a finger on my daughter.” “Hand her over, Angelo.” “No.” Don Lucchese then punched Angel in the gut as hard as he could.  Angel keeled over in pain as his father snatched his sobbing little girl out of his arms, unwrapped her blanket, dropped it on the floor, and peeked under her diaper.   Angel leered at his father in unbridled hatred.  His baby girl was crying even harder now.  The poor thing had no idea what was happening, only that it was wrong.  Angel couldn’t listen to it.  He forced himself to stand up despite the pain. “Looks like you were tellin’ the truth, Angelo,” Don Lucchese said coldly as Angel finally got to his feet.  “She’s…AHHHHH!” Without a word, Angel punched his old man in the face.  The punch was hard enough to leave him stunned and staggering in pain so that Angel could snatch back Cassie.  Eric just watched in stunned silence. Once he got her back, Angel held Cassie against his shoulder and started bouncing her up and down while saying, “It’s okay, bambina mia.  It’s okay…” “Have you lost your mind?” his father finally asked threateningly while rubbing his face. “I told ya,” Angel said as he confidently stared his father down again while rubbing his baby girl’s back.  “You can fuck with me as much as ya want, but you will never ever touch my little girl like that ever again.  Is that understood, Dad?” Don Lucchese straightened up, smiled at his son smugly, and said, “You really have grown a pair.  Haven’t you?  Who knew two dolls were all it would take…?” “Get out,” Angel interrupted firmly.  “Now.  You’re upsetting Cassie.” Don Lucchese laid a check on the couch, smiled again, and said, “Enjoy your paid paternity leave, Angelo.  We’ve got work to do.  Come on, Eric.” Don Lucchese showed himself out.  Eric gave Angel an almost apologetic look before he silently slunk away to join his father. When the door shut behind them, Angel allowed his face to show pain, but he gritted his teeth and held his crying baby daughter close. Angel cried a little, too.  They cried together at the fear and pain their family brought.  No matter how much time passed, they would always scare him, but now, he had to be strong.  Cassie needed him to be. Angel walked over to the couch and flipped on the radio to calm himself and his baby down.  He heard the opening trumpet chords as his new favorite Louis Armstrong song began playing.  Angel smiled and started bobbing Cassie up and down to the music.   The jazz calmed him down like nothing else, especially when it came to Satchmo.  Angel always felt connected to this man who like him faced a world of hell but always found a way to find beauty in it. Cassie began calming down as Angel looked into her eyes and started singing with Louis Armstrong, “Oh, when you’re smilin’, when you’re smilin’, the whole world smiles with you.  Yes, when you’re laughin’, oh, when you’re laughin’, the sun comes shinin’ through.  But when you’re cryin, you bring on the rain, so stop your sighin’ and be happy again.  Yes, and keep on smilin’, keep on smilin’, baby, and the whole world smiles with you.” When the instrumental trumpet and piano section began, Angel stood up and started dancing with Cassie to the music.  They looked at each other as Angel swayed with her to the smooth yet upbeat jazz melodies coming out of Louis Armstrong’s trumpet and from his accompanying band.   When he noticed that she was calming down, Angel started making his moves fancier.  He moved his feet around more smoothly.  He dipped Cassie.  He swung her in the air above his head.  She seemed to enjoy at the extra movements, and the exercise calmed Angel down, too. Then when the song finally closed, Angel dipped her one last time and smiled.  Much to his surprise, for the first time in her life, Cassie smiled, too.   Her eyes lit up.  Her lips spread open into a toothless grin.  She even squealed to show her happiness. Angel was dumbfounded for a second as he felt happy tears forming at the corner of his eyes. Then Angel smiled back and said, “Cassie, you’re smiling.  Oh, my God.  You’re actually smiling!  Maggie!  Maggie, get out here!” Maggie burst out of her room in her dressing gown with a handgun in her possession. “Angel, I heard almost everything from the bathroom,” Maggie said nervously.  “I’m sorry I took so long.  I had to get this handgun ready.  Where are they?  Did they leave?  Are you okay?  Is Cassie okay?” “Yeah,” Angel said nonchalantly walking over to her.  “But that’s not important now.  Look, Maggie!  Cassie learned how to smile.” Angel held Cassie out to Maggie, and sure enough, she was still smiling.   “Look at that,” Maggie said happily dropping her handgun into the pocket of her dressing gown, taking her baby from Angel, and cradling her in her arms.  “You learned how to smile.  Great job, Cass!  Keep it up.  You’re gonna be a cutie.  I can already tell.” “What are ya talkin’ about?” Angel asked taking his baby back, walking back over to the couch, and letting her lie on his lap.  “She’s already a cutie.  She’ll always be a cutie.  I don’t care if she sprouts six arms and turns pink.  She’d still be a cutie.” Cassie continued smiling at his words and waving her arms around even though she had no idea what they meant.  Maggie sat down next to them and continued watching her baby with her “husband.” “You have no idea how happy you make me, bambina,” Angel said rubbing his little girl’s head while she cooed happily in response.