This chapter is mostly filler with a little bit of plot. I'm mainly waiting for the full Hazbin Hotel season to come out before I continue with the main plot, as, how Hell and Heaven works will significantly change how this story progresses! (This chapter was written on January 12th.)

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The next morning was the same as most others on the outside.

On the inside, Sam felt very... awkward.

He woke up to a cold room, as expected for this time of year. He almost didn't want to get out of bed, the soft silk comforter kept him nice and warm in the cool room.

But of course he couldn't stay in bed forever, surely Alastor wouldn't allow it.

Groaning to himself, Sam pushed the covers on him and dragged himself out of bed, yawning every so often. The clothes he put on were nothing too special just a light yellow dress shirt with a black tie. The dark brown u-neck sweater vest he wore over it was made of a soft wool and was plain without much design on it, long sleeved of course to keep him warm in the winter weather. His light brown pants were similar, designed to try and keep its wearer warm.

Had he never met Alastor, he and his sister would no doubt be freezing in an alleyway somewhere. Who knows if they would have even survived this long?...

Sam shook the thought out of his head, adjusting his tie and hair before heading into the hallway, taking a quick peek into Edith's room.

The teen chuckled lightly, shaking his head as he saw her still fast asleep.

With a small smile on his face, he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, shaking the young girl gently.

"Edith~" Sam cooed a few times, continuing to shake her.

Edith groaned lightly as she was stirred from her dreams.

"Edith, it's morning now. Time to get up." Sam spoke, still soft but slightly louder now.

"I'm too tired. Five more minutes.." Edith responded sleepily, her eyes shutting tighter as she rolled over, facing away from her brother.

Sam sighed, rolling his eyes playfully. "I know you're tired Edi, but-"

"But the sun is shining, the weather is nice, and the birds are singing a wonderful jazz tune!" A voice exclaimed from the doorway, a complete turn around from Sam's soft and quiet tone. There was no way Edith was still half asleep now, though her eyes remained stubbornly closed.

The teen looked back and there stood Alastor, dressed in a pale red dress shirt and medium gray vest with matching pants, his black bow-tie and sleeve garters giving an elegant final touch.

"It's a wonderful day! It would be shameful to spend it inside! Wouldn't you say!?" Alastor asked ecstatically, not giving time for answers before rolling into the next sentence. "Besides, now that Samuel is better I was thinking perhaps we could go out for breakfast today! What do you two think?!"

With no time for Sam to react, Edith sprang up with a bright smile on her face. "Really?!" She exclaimed, sitting up.

"Yes! Really!" Alastor replied, walking over and opening the wardrobe closet that was against the wall. "It would be a nice treat, wouldn't it, getting out of the house?" He asked, pulling out a pastel pink dress with matching woolen stockings, gloves, and scarf.

"Now then, Samuel." He turned back towards the teen after he put the clothes on the bed neatly. "It is rather cold out today so best you go and grab yourself a coat from your wardrobe. I did go out and buy you a quite few whilst you were ill."

The way Alastor said 'whilst you were ill' so casually and confidently caught Sam off guard. The man said it in a way that made even him question everything that had happened.

"Samuel?" Alastor spoke, snapping his fingers in front of the teen's face.

Sam blinked and looked up. "R-Right! Yeah, I-I'll go g-grab one." He stuttered, getting off the bed and walking over to his room, grabbing a dark brown woolen coat. He put it on and looked in the mirror that hung on the side of the closet.

It fit him very well. Perfectly as a matter of fact.

He had to admit, he looked nice. He was clean, healthy, warm, well-fed, hydrated... and he still had his sister by his side...

A small smile began to form on his face. Is this what real happiness feels like?

"Sammy?"

Sam turned around and saw Edith, all bundled up in her warm pink outfit. "Are you coming!?" She asked, still giddy from excitement.

The teen's smile widened his sister was happy, he was happy... what could be better?

"Yeah. Yeah I'm coming Edi." He said, walking towards the girl and grabbing her hand, heading down the halls to the stairs.

"I'm so exited!!" The girl exclaimed, jumping up and down and she tried to hurry her brother to go faster.

Same chuckled, "I can see that Edi! It's pretty obvious."

Edith giggled as she pulled on her brother's hand. Sam thought of just how lucky he was to be the big brother to such an adorable little sister. She's always had such a bright and contagious smile that could light up an entire room of depressed people in seconds.

When the two reached the foyer of the house, they saw Alastor putting his coat and hat on. The coat was a deep crimson color and his hat was a gray fedora with a maroon trim both of which complimented the rest of his outfit. Alastor looked up and saw the two walking towards him. "Ah, splendid you're both here and bundled up quite well." He said, looking at the two's clothing before zoning in on Edith.

He smiled brightly, "Edith, darling, would you be a dear and quickly grab my work papers from the dining room table for me?"

"Okay!" She said before skipping away down the hall towards the dining room.

When she was out of sight Alastor turned towards the teen. "I trust your memory is well enough to remember our little chat from yesterday? Or do you need a reminder?" He said rather quietly, his tone, unreadable.

"No. I don't need a reminder. I remember." Sam said, copying the semi-quiet talking level. "I didn't lie to you. I don't want to run away anymore. I don't."

"Wonderful! There won't be any issues then!" Alastor said, slightly louder, the tone brightening. Especially when Edith came skipping back towards them, a small stack of papers neatly in her hands.

When she got to the two she held up the stack of papers to Alastor who gladly took them. "Thank you, dearest! What a big help you are! Well, best we be off then!" He said as he opened the front door, stepping aside for Edith and Sam to step out first.

As Sam stepped closer to the nice red car that sat in the driveway, his amazement got more intense. Sure, he had seen the car from behind the house's windows before, watching Alastor and Edith go off to wherever it was they went, but he hadn't seen it up close.

When he actually got in and they started driving down the roads of New Orleans, he truly felt like this was all a dream. Alastor was driving while Edith sat in the middle and Sam was on the passenger side. His and Edith's parents never had enough money for a car. The only modes of transportation they had and could afford was the public trolley their mother used to take them on to run errands and an old bycicle their father used to use to go to work.

Never had he ever thought he'd get to ride in a car let alone such a luxurious one. He felt as though he was a prince and New Orleans was his kingdom.

Before he could even comprehend his own thoughts, the three had reached their destination. A cafe he and Edith knew all too well.

When they walked in there weren't too many people. Only two or three tables had people sitting at them with a young blonde waitress taking their orders along with an older gentleman wiping down tables who looked up at them.

"Sam?! Edith?! Is that you?!" A strong familiar voice rang through the cafe.

Sam looked up and almost instantly his stress levels decreased as he saw a face he had grown to enjoy seeing.

"Gus!" Edith exclaimed, running towards the man who was wiping down tables.

The man places his towel over his shoulder as he bent down, spreading his arms out as the girl jumped into his arms.

"Where have you two been keeping yourselves!?" Gus exclaimed as he picked the little girl up. "It feels like it's been years since you two have come to visit!" He said, swinging Edith around a bit before putting her back down. Meanwhile, Samuel and Alastor took their coats off, adapting to the warm interior of the building.

"We'd never keep ourselves too far from you, Gus!" said Sam as he approached the older man, giving him a handshake and small hug. "How could we?"

Alastor watched the three's interactions carefully. Clearly this older fellow had a history with his two new underlings.

"You can't! It's impossible!" Gus exclaimed, laughing while he ruffled Edith's long brown hair. "On a more serious note, look at you two! You both look wonderful! Clearly something has changed."

With that, Alastor began swiftly walking towards the trio, his hands placed firmly behind his back.

As he got closer Gus looked up and smiled at the man. "Mr. Ellsworth! A pleasure to see you again!" He greeted before gasping and taking a step back, taking note on how all three were dressed so similarly.

Gus looked at Sam before pointing at Alastor, shock and anticipation obvious in his expression. "Did he..? Were you..?" He stuttered in excitement.

Sam scratched the back of his neck, anxiety taking over. "I... Uh... Y-Yeah... He, um..."

"Adopted these children. Yes, I did." Alastor interrupted, ensuring Samuel's anxiety didn't have time to make him slip something that would best be kept hidden.

"Yes! This is... This is wonderful! Finally, you're both being taken care of again! I'm so happy for you both!" Gus spoke, holding Sam and Edith's shoulders.

The way he said 'again' in that sentence made Alastor feel unbelievably irritated... Being taken care of again. No. Finally, they're being taken care of period. Their parents were insufferable excuses of people.

"Jemima!" Gus shouted out, pulling Alastor out of his thought.

"Comin'!" A faint female voice rang out.

Only a few seconds later a young lady with creamy brown skin and curly black hair came out from the back room, dusting off her apron. Like the other blonde waitress, she wore a light blue dress with a white triangle collar and matching apron over the bottom half.

"Yes, Gus?"

Gus smiled at her. "Table for three, these guests are extra special so treat them nicely."

"O'course!" She responded before looking at the trio. "If ya'd kindly follow me." She said, beckoning towards them. Her voice was soft and kind and her southern accent wasn't as thick as Mimzy's but was still apparent.

Watching Edith happily skip along after the waitress was enough to put Alastor at ease and forget about his previous irritation.

The three ate their breakfast with slight small talk and conversation. Alastor listened to Edith excitedly talked about her dreams from last night as Sam laughed at her wild imagination.

As the conversations settled, Alastor sipped his black coffee as he gazed out the window they were seated next to, sneaking a glance at his pocket watch from time to time.

Sam looked towards the bar area in the middle of the cafe. It was strange to think just a few months ago him and Edith sat at those seats, relying on Gus's kindness to get by, having no idea who Alastor was or what significant role he would play in their lives.

In the middle of his thoughts suddenly, Jemima, their waitress, appeared in his line of sight, tapping him on the shoulder.

"'scuse me sir, but ma friend ova' there thinks ya look real dapper!" She whispered to him, pointing at the blonde girl who was wiping down a table. She didn't seem to look much older than him.

Upon hearing what her coworker had just said, the girl's face turned a dark shade of red as she jumped up, covering her face with her apron. "Jemima!!" She whisper-yelled, embarrassedly.

Alastor and Edith's attention were brought to the situation. As they looked on, they both shared different emotions, Edith was amused, while Alastor was slightly uncomfortable.

Sam's face turned a soft pink as he responded nervously. "U-Uh... well... thank you!"

The blonde girl ran up to Jemima pulling her away, giving Sam a shy wave before they both disappeared to the back kitchen.

Sam's swung his head to his left when he heard Edith giggling.

"W-What are you laughing at?" Sam asked, half-playfully.

"Your face looks like a strawberry!" She responded between her giggles.

The teen's eyes widened and as his blush intensified, he used a napkin to hide his face from the young girl's view.

After Edith's giggles had softened and his blush died down, Sam began to think. It was interesting. This had never happened before. The last time he was seen out in public, his hair hadn't been washed in weeks, his clothes were dirtied, ripped, and tattered, and his face was pale and malnourished. Now he re-emerges into the public with nice, clean, new clothes, brushed hair, and eyes filled with life and suddenly he already has two girls infatuated with him?

Very interesting indeed.