Syn

"No?" I asked in shock.

I was completely taken aback at my father's refusal to halt his adoption papers for James. It was painful enough that he was all grown up when I came back, but now there was a chance I couldn't legally make him my son?

"I'm sorry," he said again.

I clicked my tongue and clenched my jaw at the confirmation of his denial. Who did he think he was? I appreciated everything he did for James after all of these years but what made him think he could just keep him.

I looked at Queen who looked at me worriedly and I passed her Saint. She took him into his arms and when he was secure, I took a step towards my father.

"What makes you think I'm asking?" I questioned.

"I'm not going to let you take him, Syn," he said. "I've been with him for all these years."

I scoffed and looked at him like he was crazy. "I didn't abandon him, I died! This isn't your second chance to be a father. He's MY son!"

The baby began crying softly in Queen's arms and she held him against her chest. She gave him a couple of kisses on his forehead and he quieted back down. With that, I turned back to my father for his response.

"Syn, you've spent less than a year with him all together. I've taken care of him for almost four years now. I gave up Hell, the Underworld, and my life to give him a better one. He's become my everything now and I can't let you take that away."

"I'm your son," I said lowly as I stepped towards him. "He is your grandson. I am alive and he belongs with me."

"No," he countered. "He belongs with me, Syn."

"Is that what he wants?" I asked.

"It's not about what he wants," he said. "He is a child. He's been through a lot. He doesn't need someone who may die on him. He needs stability."

"And that's you?!" I snapped. "You're stability?!"

"I am," he said. "You're about to become the King of Hell, I'm sure. Hell isn't a place to raise a child."

"You raised me in Hell!"

"And look how you turned out!"

"W-..." I trailed off in pain as I looked at him. He must've realized the mistake in what he said because he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "What is that supposed to mean?"

He dropped his hand and shook his head. "I didn't me-"

"No, you can't take that back. Tell me," I insisted. "How did I turn out?"

"Unhappy, alone, violent..."

I burst out into laughter and held a hand over my stomach. My eyes were brimming with tears but I ignored them and laughed. All my life, my father's approval meant everything to me. He hardly spent any time with me but I was sure that he was at least proud. To hear these words coming from his mouth was beyond painful.

"You say turn out as if you hadn't handcrafted me to become who I am. I was unhappy because you made me feel nothing! I was alone because I couldn't understand people! I was fucking violent because YOU made me that way!" I yelled. "You don't get to stand here and act as if me being the way I am is a result of my actions."

"I know," he whispered. "I've changed, Syn. Everyone in this room has. The world didn't stop when you died. Right now, I'm the best option for James and if you care for him at all, you won't take him away from the only true parent he's ever known."

True parent...

"You can visit him all you'd like," he offered. "But he will be permanently staying with me."

He turned his back to walk away from me and I shook my head. "I'm going to ask him, Lucifer."

He turned on his heel to face me once again but I held my ground. "I will be asking James what he wants to do because THAT'S what a parent does. They don't take choices away from their kids. If he wants to stay with you, I'll step back. If he doesn't, I'll get him back. No matter what."

"Do what you must, he won't be going anywhere," he said as he left the room.

My mother gave me a sympathetic look and followed him out and I let out an irritated breath. I never expected to be in a situation like this with him. War was not something that I wanted to start with my father but if there needed to be one...

I'd win.

Queen came in front of me and cupped my cheek. I looked down at her and she gave me a small smile. It was obvious that she was crying and I hated that it was because of what just happened.

"We'll figure it out, okay?"

"I know," I said.

Someone cleared their throat from behind us and I turned to see Cain standing up. "So are we all going to ignore how your mother said nothing?"

Mia stood up and walked to Cain's side. She put her hand on his shoulder and shook her head. "We're not doing this again."

"Please don't touch me," Cain said dryly as he shrugged away his hand.

"Oop," Cleo said as she sipped on her soda. "Why are you treating your girl like that, Cain?"

"I don't have a girl."

"Damn," Caspian muttered.

I took Queen's hand into mine and walked to my chair. Queen moved to sit down on her chair but I pulled her into my lap and wrapped my arms around her waist. I looked over her shoulder to Saint who was sucking on a pacifier and I sighed.

I didn't like that he had to witness how fucked up our family was in his first few days with us. I wish I could've controlled myself more while he was around but I couldn't go back in time. I moved my finger to him and he removed his hand from his blanket and wrapped it around my finger.

Queen laughed softly at the gesture and I kissed her shoulder as I turned my attention back to everyone else. They seemed to be having some sort of discussion but I had no idea what it was about.

"You've been chasing her for three years!" Xavier exclaimed.

"Right?!" Cleo said. "You guys literally belong together!"

I looked at Cain who seemed to be stressed out by everyone's words as he slumped into his chair. He downed the liquor in the glass in front of him and leaned his head against the chair as everyone continued talking.

"You're not a quitter, Cain," Caspian said with a smirk. "You're so close."

Mia laughed softly as she sat back down in her seat and I rolled my eyes. I understood that it's been years for everyone but for me, it was just months ago that she murdered Queen, left her to bleed out, stalked her, kidnapped...and tortured her.

I hated her with a passion to this day but since everyone seemed okay with her, I bit my tongue. As long as Queen was happy, it was none of my business.

"You realize you're all encouraging me to continue pursuing a woman who loves another man," he muttered.

"But once you finally get her it'll be worth it," Cleo said as she wiggled her brows.

"You guys are talking like I'm not here," Mia said. Suddenly her phone dinged and she lifted it. After looking down at it, she gasped and squealed as she stood up. "I got to go. I'll be back later guys."

"Is everything okay?" Queen asked.

"Yes! I think I've managed to get you and Syn an interview on Juva Daily. I'm going to the office to check my emails!" She scurried out of the room and I rolled my eyes again as I looked back at the table.

"Now that we're alone," Queen started. "What's going on with you and Mia?"

"Nothing," Cain whispered.

"You guys are so cute together," Cleo said excitedly. "Imagine that love story. With the way y'all met, that's so adorable and you can tell your kids and stuff."

"Mhm," Cain hummed.

"Jackson maybe now, but the two of you are endgame," Xavier said. "You just need to hang in there."

Cain nodded at their words as he listened unenthusiastically. In the middle of Cleo and Xavier saying something else about him and Mia, Cain stood up and walked outside. He didn't say anything as he walked away and everyone else in the room was left dumbfounded.

"I should go check on him," Queen said as she stood up.

"No," I said as I gently took her hand. "I got it."

꧁꧂

Author's Note
A lot of y'all readers were Cleo and Xavier in this chapter🤭 I said it.

So entering this little custody feud...whose side are y'all on? Syn...or Lucifer?💀
As for Cain, why do y'all think he just up and left?
Lmk your thoughts ✨