Takes place before Monty shows up at the Hazbin Hotel in my What If book. And this one is shortly after Arackniss and Pentious had their child. I might add this to the Even Mobsters Need Love later on for a little Monty guilt trip. Enjoy.

Monty stood across the street, hidden in the shadows of a nearby alley. He wasn't sure why he was here, or why he hadn't just moved on with his life. But something had driven him to return to Pentagram City, and now, he was spying on his old lover's life. It felt like a punishment; a strange form of self-torment. He could still see the way Pentious had looked when Monty left him, the pain in his eyes after their heated argument. He'd been angry, bitter, and determined to forget, but seeing Pentious again seeing what he had now it was almost too much to bear.

Monty's eyes narrowed as he watched Arackniss walk up the steps of a house. He wasn't alone. In his arms was something small, wrapped up in a blanket. Monty's breath hitched as he caught sight of it, of them. Arackniss had a child. A baby. Monty couldn't help but feel a shock ripple through him, and for a moment, he felt frozen. He had no idea that Arackniss and Pentious had reached this point. A child? He hadn't expected this, hadn't even thought it was a possibility. With tentative steps, he moved closer to the house, careful not to make a sound. His heart was racing, an unfamiliar tightness forming in his chest.

He wanted to turn around, to walk away, but his feet betrayed him, carrying him forward. He had to see. Had to know what kind of life Pentious had now. What kind of life Arackniss had built with him. He crouched behind a nearby bush, just enough to get a clear view of the front door. Arackniss entered, the baby still cradled in his arms. Monty caught a glimpse of the child's strange features. A mix of both spider and snake traits, little arms, tiny legs, and the most unusual eyes he'd ever seen. It was their child, a perfect blend of both their worlds.

His breath caught in his throat as he watched Arackniss kiss the child's forehead before stepping further inside. Monty stood there, watching them; wondering if he was truly witnessing the life that had been built in his absence. After all the pain, the heartbreak, and the anger, this was what Pentious had now. His family. He felt an intense knot in his stomach, the bitter realization settling in that he'd had no place in this. He'd thrown it all away.

As Monty continued to watch, he saw the door open once more. Pentious emerged, his usual steely composure softened by something else, something Monty didn't quite understand. A warmth, a gentleness in his posture. He had a mug of hot chocolate in his hands, steam rising from it as he smiled at Arackniss, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as they exchanged words Monty couldn't hear. Monty swallowed hard, stepping back into the shadows. A dull ache spread in his chest.

He had known that Pentious would move on, he had no right to expect otherwise. But seeing him with Arackniss, seeing how they had built a life together, was like a punch to the gut. And then the baby. Their baby. It was too much. He watched them briefly before Pentious walked over to Arackniss, placing a hand on his back as they headed inside together. The sight of them, the family they had become, was a painful reminder of what Monty had thrown away. They were happy, truly happy, and he had walked away from that.

All because of a choice he made; a choice to follow Vox instead of staying by Pentious's side. He had abandoned the one person who had truly loved him, and for what? Monty sighed, shaking his head. The bitterness that had once fueled him seemed to dissolve, replaced by regret. His fingers twitched, yearning to reach out, to apologize, and to make things right. But it was too late. Arackniss and Pentious had each other, their family. Monty had nothing.

He was about to turn and leave when he saw the door open once more. Arackniss had returned to the porch, standing there with the baby in his arms, and Pentious was by his side, arms wrapped around his waist. The couple shared a quiet moment, gazing at the sky above them as the city buzzed in the distance. Monty could barely make out their conversation, but the sight alone was enough. He heard Arackniss's voice, low and affectionate, speaking to the baby. "Your dad's got this crazy idea about taking you to the park tomorrow," he said, a smile in his voice. "I think he's gonna have to carry you the whole way."

Pentious chuckled, resting his head against Arackniss's shoulder. "Don't pretend like you won't be carrying him too. We both know it's gonna be a team effort."

Monty felt the weight of their love in that simple moment. There was something so natural in the way they interacted felt so right. It was obvious how deeply they cared for each other, and how they had built something lasting together. Monty's chest tightened painfully. He could almost feel the warmth of their love radiating from the porch. Pentious glanced up at the stars above, his arm around Arackniss tightening. "You know... I never thought we'd get here. I mean, with everything we've been through, I never thought we'd actually... have a family like this."

Arackniss smiled, a soft, knowing expression. "Sometimes things turn out better than we could have imagined, don't they?" He gently kissed the baby's forehead. "I never thought I'd have a little one to spoil, but here we are."

Pentious laughed quietly. "I'm not sure who's going to spoil him more, you or me."

Arackniss snorted playfully. "I think we both know it'll be you, love."

The two shared a quiet laugh, and for a brief moment, Monty allowed himself to close his eyes. The love they shared was so pure, so effortless. He hadn't seen it coming; didn't know that Arackniss could find such happiness with someone else, and it stung more than he cared to admit. But he couldn't help but admire it too.

As Arackniss and Pentious stood together in the peaceful night, Monty found himself torn between the envy gnawing at his insides and the warmth that slowly crept into his chest. He knew they had what he would never have again, each other, a family, and the love that went with it. Suddenly, Pentious looked up at the house. "Come on, let's head inside," he said, his tone soft. "It's getting late, and we have a busy day tomorrow."

Arackniss nodded, and they both turned to enter the house, in sync. Monty's breath caught in his throat as they disappeared inside, and he felt a pang of regret so deep that it almost felt like it could swallow him whole. He stood there for a long moment, staring at the house that had once been a place of his own, now full of love and warmth that he had no part in. When he finally turned to leave, the weight of his choices hung over him. He had given it all up; and now, all he could do was watch from afar as they continued with their lives.