Standing Together

Chapter 132

A/N I already posted this one but I'm reposting it because it didn't show up for everyone. The new chapter is after this.

"Hey, Alex, guess what?" Lucifer says with a grin, getting the attention of not just Alex but everyone else in the room as well.

"Wha?"

"I talked to Miss Kelly, and —"

"Kitty!" Alex yells, bouncing up and down.

"Yeah, she's gonna bring her kitty!" Lucifer says.

"I love kitty," Alex sings. "I love kitty! I love kitty kitty kitties!"

"Aw, that was such a good song!" Lucifer coos. "You should be a singer when you grow up!"

"No," Alex says. "Kitty!"

"You want to be a kitty when you grow up?" Lucifer repeats, amused.

"Yeah!"

"Well, that's gonna be fun," Lucifer says. "You're gonna be the best kitty."

"Uh, Luce?" Dean says. "Can I ask when 'Miss Kelly' is coming up with her cat?"

"New Year's Eve eve," Lucifer says. "With Jack and Peanut, obviously."

"Ew!" Alex says.

"Ew?" Lucifer repeats, confused.

"Doggies, ew!"

"Me too, kid," Dean says. "Me too."

~~

"Hey, Lucifer," Dean says, catching him later that day while his daughter is asleep.

"That would be me," Lucifer replies. "What up?"

"Remember last time Jack brought his cat, and --"

"And it was freaking awesome?" Lucifer finishes. "Of course I remember it. What about it?"

"Right, okay, and do you remember when you told me that when you let them bring the cat, you forgot that I was allergic to said cat?"

Lucifer nods. "Yes, I do remember that. What's your point?"

Dean scoffs. "And yet you're having them bring the cat back anyway? Gee, thanks, Lucifer. Love all the concern."

"But you love Lord Tyrion!" Lucifer protests.

"No, I love the idea of Lord Tyrion," Dean says. "But I don't want to see him through anything but my phone screen. I'm way too allergic for this."

"Welp," Lucifer says with a shrug. "Guess you'll have to leave before they show up."

"And then not come back until you vacuum the entire house twice," Dean deadpans.

"Just give Alex a little vacuum," Castiel says. "Little kids love housework."

"Yeah, they love it when they suck at it," Dean says.

Lucifer gasps. "How dare you say my child sucks at anything?"

"Am I wrong, though?" Dean asks.

"No, but you didn't need to say it," Lucifer says. "My child deserves so much better than these haters."

Castiel cocks his head to the side, squinting his eyes slightly. "Why'd you look at me? I didn't even do anything."

"You said I should start using child labor," Lucifer reminds him.

"Wow, suddenly I don't feel like the bad guy," Dean says. "And, as someone who tries to be the bad guy, that's a big feat, Cas."

"You know," Castiel says, faking a sob, "I came out here to have a good time and I'm honestly feeling so attacked right now."

"I can't believe you just used a Tumblr meme," Dean says. "Apparently, we're back in 2014 now."

"Is that actually from Tumblr?" Castiel asks. "I've always wondered where that came from."

"Excuse you, Cassie," Lucifer says, acting much more offended that he is. "I'm your favorite meme dictionary. How dare you have a meme question and not ask me?"

"I tried asking you how Tumblr worked once and you couldn't help me," Castiel reminds him. "I kinda gave up on you after that."

"Okay, ouch," Lucifer says. "It's not my fault that Tumblr's confusing!"

"Can you guys actually not figure out how Tumblr works?" Dean asks, amused.

"It's actually really confusing," Castiel says.

"It's literally a website," Dean says. "How confusing could it be?"

"You try making a Tumblr," Lucifer says. "You'll feel our pain."

"Sure, Lucifer," Dean says sarcastically. "Sure I will."

~~

"Uncle Casseel?"

Castiel almost doesn't know what to do at first. He's been visiting the house every couple days for the last month, and Alex has never spoken to him before.

After a brief moment, he kneels down in front of her, almost down to her height. "Hi, Alex. What's up?"

"I have kitty," she says, sounding sort of shy, but also excited.

"You have a kitty?" Castiel repeats, pretending to be excited for her despite knowing she doesn't have a cat.

"Yeah!" She seems more energetic after that response, continuing, "Kitty's name Whitey!"

"Aw, that's such a good name!" Castiel says.

"Whitey's white, so she Whitey," Alex explains.

"Will I get to meet Whitey?" Castiel asks. Is she an imaginary friend? Is he going to have to pretend to play with a fake cat?

"I get White?" Alex offers.

"If you want to," Castiel says.

"I go."

Castiel watches her run off, then looks at Dean with a smile. "She's talking to me."

"I see that," Dean says.

"She's going to show me her cat," Castiel adds, beaming.

"Ah, yes, the wonderful Whitey," Dean says. "Because that's not a weird name."

"She's literally not even two," Castiel reminds him. "That's a perfectly reasonable name for a not-even-two-year-old to come up with."

"Actually," Lucifer says, somehow hearing their conversation from across the room, "she's even better than a not-even-two-year-old. She's super smart. She shouldn't even be making real sentences yet."

"Define 'real' sentences," Dean says.

"Sentences," Lucifer replies. "Like, actual sentences. She's no English major, but she's way smarter than your average 21-month-old."

"You're raising a child prodigy, huh?" Castiel says, grinning.

"Looks like it," Lucifer says. "Although she probably won't have much of a head start in a few years. Kids usually even out once they get to elementary school."

"You've done your research, haven't you?" Dean remarks.

"Of course I have," Lucifer says. "Can't let my daughter down."

Almost as if on cue, Alex runs into the room, holding a stuffed gray cat. "It Whitey!"

"Aw, that's Whitey?" She's not quite white, but...

"Yeah!" Alex says. "You hold?"

"Sure?"

Alex hands Castiel the cat. He cradles it in his arms, making a show of taking good care of her.

"I love her," Castiel says.

"Cute!"

"Yeah, she is cute," Castiel agrees. "Thank you for showing her to me."

"Kitty." Alex holds her hands out, and Castiel hands the cat back. "Thank."